New OxyContin formula sparks an increase in heroin abuse

New OxyContin formula sparks an increase in heroin abuse

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Many people are well aware of the prescription drug addiction trend in America. For many, it is deemed more acceptable than abusing street drugs because the medication can be obtained with a doctor’s permission. Prescription drug abuse doesn’t hold the same stigma as other hard drugs, yet it takes more lives than all other illicit drugs combined. According to the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, nearly four out of five people who use heroin started with prescription painkillers. Ironically enough, an attempt to hinder the excessive abuse of the popular prescription opioid OxyContin has actually caused a spike in the amount of people switching over to heroin. Read more

The problem of prescription drug abuse

The problem of prescription drug abuse

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Prescription drug addiction is a life-threatening epidemic in today’s society. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, prescription drug use is the highest among illicit drugs, coming second only to marijuana use. The rate of prescription drug use has shot up exponentially over the past decade and these drugs continue to take more lives than all other illegal drugs combined.

The number of prescriptions filled for pharmaceutical opioids, such as Oxycontin, Opana, Dilaudid and Vicodin has increased at an alarming rate. From 1999 to 2007, the milligram-per-person use of prescription opioids in the United States has increased by 402 percent. Additionally, between 2000 and 2009, retail pharmacies dispensed prescription opioids at a rate that has increased by 48 percent. These numbers demonstrate the increase in abuse across the country. Read more

Is there a link between addiction and intelligence?

Is there a link between addiction and intelligence?

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Unfortunately, some still hold onto the stigma that alcoholics and drug addicts brought their addictions onto themselves; that they decided to experience hardship and other negative occurrences. By now, research has proven otherwise and has discovered many different factors that can influence why an individual may fall prey to a substance addiction. One of these factors may even be intelligence.

There have been numerous studies conducted to research the correlation between IQ-based intelligence and alcohol consumption. Some research has even shown a positive correlation between the two variables and could even suggest that those with higher IQ scores are more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs. Read more

Interrupting addiction by starting recovery

Interrupting addiction by starting recovery

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According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), approximately 23.5 million Americans suffer from addiction every day. Somehow though only 2.6 million (11.2 percent) people receive treatment in a specialized drug addiction treatment facility. The treatment rate in America has increased slightly since 2002 but for the most part it has remained fairly consistent.

Drug and alcohol treatment programs provide clients with a safe place to focus on sobriety and improve their lives. These treatment programs help interrupt the self-destruction that plagues addicts by placing them in a more structured, recovery-based environment. In this setting, those focused on achieving sobriety have access to therapy groups, individual counseling and recovery support groups. Therapy sessions and these other resources are key in maintaining sobriety during and after treatment. Read more

America’s need for treatment

America’s need for treatment

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America’s war on drugs has spanned over 30 years. It has spearheaded the implementation of stricter policies and led to many non-violent drug offenders spending time behind bars. Despite the efforts of law enforcement to lower the substance abuse trend, drug addicts will keep finding another way to get their fix.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s survey on drug use and health, 23.5 million Americans struggle with addiction every day, and only 2.6 million (11.2 percent) of them received treatment in a specialized drug addiction treatment facility. These numbers have increased slightly over the past 13 years but, for the most part, have remained fairly consistent. Read more