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ARIZONA
- 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 current investigations indicate that the
diversion of oxycodone products (such as
OxyContin®) and Percocet®) and hydrocodone
products (such as Vicodin ®) , continues to be a
significant problem in Arizona. Primary methods
of diversion being reported are illegal sale and
distribution by healthcare professionals and
workers, “doctor shopping” (going to a number of
doctors to obtain prescriptions for a controlled
pharmaceutical), forged prescriptions, employee
theft, and the Internet. During 2007, there were
42 incidents of thefts from pharmacies,
specifically for OxyContin type products.
Benzodiazepines (such as Xanax®), codeine,
Dilaudid®, and methadone were also identified as
being among the most commonly abused and
diverted pharmaceuticals in Arizona.
Rodgers M. Wilson, M.D.,CHCQM, Arizona
Department of Health Service Division of
Behavioral Health Services2
published a report title, Adolescentws and
Prescription Drug Abuse for the Arizona
Department of Health Services.
17% of substance abusers obtain drugs by
presenting pain to multiple
physicians(SAMSHA,2006)
Strategy:
A. Individuals who refill five prescriptions
with five or more pharmacists in one month(
schedules II, III, IV). APMP will notify the
prescriber.
B. Doctors will be able to query the databank
with a username and password.
Initial implementation September ‘08 with full
implementation by March 2009.
Arizona's next steps...
1. Prevention education with School Systems on
the use of prescription drugs.
2. Increasing emphasis on coordination care
between PCPs and Behavioral Health
Medical Providers related to opiates.
3. Prescription Monitoring Program and
participation by providers
4. Evidence-Based Practice Detoxification
Protocols for Adolescents
5. Arizona Substance Abuse Partnership
Collaboration
The White Mountain Independent Online Edition
news source ran a story in October, 2008 called
Operation Drop Drug Educates Public on
Prescription Drug Absue, Safety.3
"In Navajo County, one in five 12th graders, one
in seven 10th graders and one in 12 eighth
graders has reported using a prescription drug
to get high, according to the 2006 Arizona
Criminal Justice Commission Arizona Youth
Survey. Those numbers are expected to increase
in the soon-to-be-released 2008 survey, says
Navajo County Coalition Against Drug Abuse
Coordinator Debe Campbell.
Prescription drugs are now the most commonly
abused drugs among 12 to 13-year-olds, according
to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
'These startling figures are what drove us to
hold Operation Drug Drop,' said WMR Community
Relations Director Barbara Bruce, host of KRFM's
weekly DrugNet talk show.
'Half of all teens taking prescription and over-
the-counter drugs are getting them from the
medicine cabinet at home, from friends or
relatives. They erroneously feel they are safer
than street drugs and that they are not
dangerous to use because they are originally
prescribed by a doctor.'"
 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 Arizona 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 Arizona 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? |
|
 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 2 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 |
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 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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