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COLORADO
- 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
diversion of hydrocodone products such as
Vicodin®, and oxycodone products (such as brand
name and generic OxyContin®) continues to be a
problem in Colorado. Primary methods of
diversion being reported are forged
prescriptions, employee theft, and the Internet.
Benzodiazepines (such as Xanax® and Valium®),
methadone, MS Contin®, Darvon® and Darvocet®
were also identified as being among the most
commonly abused and diverted pharmaceuticals in
Colorado.
Pharmaceutical opiates/opioids are the drugs of
choice among drug abusing medical professionals
in Colorado. Hydrocodone (Vicodin) and Darvocet
are the two controlled substances most commonly
abused, with various forms of prescription fraud
and retail diversion being the methods for
obtaining them. The diversion and abuse of
OxyContin (oxycodone) is a significant problem
in Colorado.
 In
the article2, Colorado Moves to Stop Presciption
Drug Fraud, posted in July 2008, It's a
staggering number. Seven million Americans are
addicted to prescription drugs, according to the
federal government. Now Colorado has a new tool
to deal with the problem.
Last year Rick Sallinger of CBS station KCNC-TV
in Denver reported the state had approved a
computer system to monitor prescription drug
abuse, but years later still hadn't put it in
place. Now the system is up and running, but
some are questioning whether it goes far enough.
Here's how it works: Doctors and other medical
professionals must enter each
prescription for controlled substances into a
computer. Pharmacists must then enter where the
prescription was filled and how it was paid for.
They can then tell if someone has been going
from doctor to doctor or pharmacy to pharmacy.
While the state computer system is being seen as
progress, it's not foolproof in stopping
abusers. It only contains information from
pharmacies in Colorado, not out-of-state
mail order or Internet prescriptions.
The Summit Daily News3
reported in September 2008, Prescription Drug
Abuse Increases in Summit. In the article they
state, "A sharp rise in the abuse of
prescription drugs — and eight fatal overdoses
in Summit County since 2003 — has local
authorities following their counterparts
nationwide in cracking down on the “legal” way
to get high.
“A lot of people don’t think it’s abuse because,
at the end of the day, these are legal drugs,”
said Summit County Undersheriff Derek Woodman,
the leader of the drug task force.
In addition to prevention and education through
local law-enforcement agencies, the state
recently developed an electronic database to
ensure that all pharmacies have access to
patient prescription histories. The Electronic
Prescription Drug Monitoring Program database
maintains records of prescriptions that have
been dispensed by Colorado pharmacies and from
out-of-state pharmacies that ship prescriptions
into Colorado.
“Chain pharmacies use this database to look up
every patient’s prescription history,” Jim
Driscoll with the Colorado Retail Council said.
“That data in turn checks for abuse or doctor
shopping.” The program allows pharmacists to
gather information about the patients they serve
and to ensure that their prescribing and
dispensing is appropriate for the circumstances
presented.
 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 Colorado 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 Colorado 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 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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