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ALASKA
- Drug rehabs
throughout the country are not created equally.
It is important to get all the information
possible when it comes to drug rehabilitation
facilities and their treatment methods.
State to state,
prescription abuse issues vary. However,
prescription drug abuse overall has been
soaring. More readily available, and with the
misconception that if a doctor has prescribed
it, then it must be safe, more and more people
are abusing and becoming addicted to prescribed
medications.
The DEA1 (United
States Drug Enforcement Administration) reports
that in the United States, prescription drugs
are the second most abused drug by youth. The
primary methods of diversion of legitimate
pharmaceuticals continues to be illegal
dispensing and prescribing by physicians,
illegal distribution by pharmacists,
prescription forgery, doctor shopping, and drug
thefts from pharmacies, nursing homes, and
hospitals. Pharmacy burglaries are found
throughout the state. Diversion Investigators
are also encountering pharmaceuticals that have
been purchased via the Internet without a
doctor’s prescription. The abuse and trafficking
of oxycodone (OxyContin®, Percocet, Percodan),
hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab), and anabolic
steroids continues to be a concern.
The Office of Applied Studies2 in a
published report regarding the misuse of
prescription drugs states, "The prevalence of
dependence or abuse was higher among young
adults aged 18 to 25 for pain relievers,
tranquilizers, and stimulant compared with the
rates in other age groups; these findings were
based on combined data from the 2002 through
2004 surveys. Males and females aged 12 or older
had comparable rates of dependence or abuse, but
gender differences occurred within specific age
groups. Among youths aged 12 to 17, females had
higher rates of dependence or abuse involving
any psychotherapeutic drug, pain relievers,
tranquilizers, and stimulants than did males.
For young adults aged 18 to 25, however, males
were more likely than females to meet the
criteria for dependence or abuse involving pain
relievers. The rate of dependence or abuse for
any prescription psychotherapeutic drug was
higher for American Indians or Alaska Natives
and whites than for blacks or Asians. Regional
differences in rates of dependence or abuse for
psychotherapeutic drugs were small, although
some differences were significant."
In
June, 2008, the Anchorage Daily News3
reported on their online website, that
Gov. Sarah Palin had allowed a bill to establish
a prescription drug database in the state of
Alaska. The story reports, "Once the state
pharmacy board sets up the program, pharmacists
will add to the database the name of the doctor
who wrote the prescription, what the
prescription is for and who it is for.
The goals are to identify doctors who are
prescribing drugs in an unprofessional or
illegal way, people who are improperly getting
multiple prescriptions for the same drug from
different doctors and forged prescriptions.
The law says the database will be confidential
and not subject to public disclosure, although
individuals may get information on what the
database says about them. Individuals may
challenge incorrect information, and database
records are to be purged after two years."
 One thing is for certain, for
the drug addict of prescription medications, the
dwindling spiral will continue on its downward
path unless action is taken. NOW is the time to
do something before the addicted person winds up
in jail or dead of an overdose or accident.
Unfortunately past failed attempts to overcome
addiction only further depress the individual so
it comes as no surprise that fear and
hesitation.
In the state of Alaska there is an increased
need for effective drug and alcohol rehab and
addiction treatment centers as drug and alcohol
use continues to escalate. Drug use erodes the
quality of life not only for the user, but for
their families and communities. Marriages and
families are torn apart by mistrust, betrayal,
fear and anger. Careers are ruined; companies
lose millions of dollars in lost production
time; cities and suburbs become degraded by the
increased crime and violence that goes with drug
trafficking and drug addiction.
From city to suburb to rural life, drug and
alcohol use and abuse continues to undermine the
quality of life for Alaska citizens. To do
nothing for the addict, should not be an option.
Something can be done; help is available.
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Should a chronic drug or alcohol abuser
attend a treat program close to home? |
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 Drug
and alcohol addiction typically involves
habitual routines in the environmental
scope of the individual, i.e. the
locations of their drug or alcohol use,
the people they associated with in the
activities of drug or alcohol use, etc.
Drug or alcohol addiction is not just
drug and alcohol use, it revolves around
people and things in their immediate
environment which help to trigger the
addictive behavior. The abusers location
and routines of drug and alcohol use
further trigger drug and alcohol use. It
is the constant and seemingly
unstoppable drug or alcohol use and the
hopelessness of day to day existence
which perpetuates the problem and
inhibits the native desire to stop
ruining their life through the use of
drugs and alcohol.
The above factor should not be over
looked when considering a treatment
center location. The first two weeks of
treatment are always the most difficult
and there are many factors at work to make
this so. In addition to what has been
covered above, a more basic factor is
this; people are creatures of habit.
Even overwhelmingly positive and
beneficial changes in life, such as the
birth of a child or a new job does not
guarantee the individual will have no
thoughts of missing past negative
activities such as, drug or alcohol use,
drug or drinking acquaintances and other
associated activities. Factually this is
the normal reactive auto response of
most human beings; to do what they are
familiar with; good or bad. It is not
really that they yearn for these things,
it is just all that they have known for
some time. If the abuser is close to
home when overwhelming feelings manifest
themselves, there is a good chance he or
she will leave and get back to what they
know, drug addiction, as it is not very
far away . Due to these factors,
attending a drug rehab close to home is
seldom the correct treatment option for
chronic drug or alcohol abusers. It is
extremely therapeutic to be distanced
from their former association with drug
dealers, bars, the cabinet where the
alcohol was kept, the cigar box where
the cocaine was stored, etc. All these
triggers make the task of sobriety seem
insurmountable to the chronic drug or
alcohol abuser as these triggers
continuously stimulate a reminder of
their past addictive behaviors.
For individuals with a severe drug or
alcohol addiction problem, choosing a
long term inpatient treatment program is
another key to a successful outcome. By
providing a new, safe trigger free
environment, distanced from past
negative associations and surroundings
for an extended period of time, the
chance for success increases
dramatically.
Our program provides people with
positive circumstances to increase their
chances for a successful recovery. The
vast majority of students entering our
program, around (80%), are from out of
state or from other countries. |
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Healing Addicted Lives |
|
 Call
now and request a copy of Healing
Addicted Lives written by Gary W. Smith,
Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor
and Director of Narconon Arrowhead Drug
and Alcohol Rehabilitation and Education
Center.
Call anytime to speak with one of our
counselors about our program. We will
take the time to answer your questions
whether it be for yourself or a loved
one. It is possible to replace the loss
and pain of alcohol or drug addiction
with a productive, enjoyable life.
Call now (877) 340-3602.
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