Prescription pain medication addiction
epidemic
Press Release 2010-11
Prescription pain medications, such as Vicodin (hydrocodone),
Percocet (oxycodone), OxyContin, methadone, morphine and
Dilaudid, are similar in nature to hard core street drug,
heroin. All these drugs fall into the category of opiates.
Prescription drug abuse has become increasingly more
serious in all parts of the US. School kids are using
prescription drugs at an alarming rate and contrary
to the popular belief these kids are from seemingly
well off families with stable family environment.
Urban drug abuse is baffling police and school authorities
alike. The complication in confronting prescription drug
abuse is due to the fact that, for the most part, these
drugs exist in regular households with legitimate need.
It is hard to demonize something that is legal and moral
to obtain.
It is equally difficult to ban the usage of a substance
when there are legitimate and proven benefits in its
usage. Further complicating the issue is that not all
addicted to these opiates are kids or people who are
using them recreationally.
Some addictions to prescription drugs may have started
by those in need of pain medication through simple increase
of dosage or increase in frequency of usage. The approach
to these types of addicts should be addressed differently
than the 14 or 15 year old high school kid abusing Vicodine
to get high with his or her friends.
Having said all that, just because there are good reasons
for the existence of a product, the misuse or abuse
of that product should not be justified, ignored or
its dangers underestimated. Prescription drug abuse
is not a new phenomenon; it has existed for years and
has been getting worse every year. Whatever the government,
media or parents have been doing so far does not seem
to be working. It is time to retool and re-plan this
battle against drug abuse in general, and prescription
drug abuse specifically.
The cost of addiction to prescription drugs is affecting
all of us. We pay through our taxes and pay socially
for every drug addict in our society. It is estimated
that in Somerset County, Maine, prescription drugs are
the primary drugs of choice and 43.2 percent of the
population known to be addicted to some sort of substance.
The health care cost alone, for people seeking treatment
in Maine is $22.3 million per year. Last year alone,
the legal costs, costs of Department of Health and Human
Services workers plus the cost of treatment for addiction
for state of Maine was $898.4 million. This was what
only the state of Maine spent on drug addiction last
year. That is $682 per every resident of Maine. One
can only imagine the high cost of drug addiction for
the other states and for the US in total.
Cost alone, especially in these tough economic times,
could be the primary force behind a comprehensive and
sustained drug treatment policy. On the private side,
there are many effective drug addiction treatment centers.
These rehab facilities as they are called, cumulatively,
play a positive role in solving this national problem.
We should start effective drug addiction prevention
and result oriented treatment that is available to every
addict seeking to clean up his or her life and start
a productive life.
Nine years ago things were different. Prescription
Drug was not the major reason for a drug addict to check
in to a rehab facility. Nowadays most treatment centers
across the country have added this new specialty to
their treatment programs. There are special programs
in place in many good drug rehab facilities dealing
specifically with prescription drug abuse. Two such
facilities are Inspirations for Youth and Families,
a teen rehab center, catering to 12 to 18 year old and
Cove Center for Recovery, an adult rehab center for
individuals 18 year old and up
Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone call away.
If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate
attention you may contact us:
Addiction Treatment for adults and young adults: 1-888-387-6237
Addiction Treatment for Teens: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com
You may also send us e-mail.
Please keep in mind that e-mails are answered within 24 hours Monday
through Friday.
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