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FLORIDA
- 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 unprecedented increases in levels of abuse
pose a serious threat to the health and safety
of Florida citizens. The Florida Medical
Examiners report that five people die in Florida
daily as a direct result of prescription drug
overdoses. Current investigations indicate that
diversion of hydrocodone (e.g. Vicodin®) and
oxycodone (e.g. OxyContin®) products are a
problem. Benzodiapezines (such as Xanax® and its
generic alprazolam) and methadone are also
identified as being among the most commonly
abused and diverted pharmaceuticals in Florida.
Primary methods of diversion include the
Internet, illegal sale and distribution by
health care professionals and workers, “doctor
shopping,” forged prescriptions and employee
theft. Florida has emerged as a center for
Internet holding companies which organize (and
sometimes control) websites, physicians,
pharmacies, and even pharmaceutical wholesalers.
The Tampa area has become “ground zero” for
Internet diversion.
In a letter dated
December 2007, the Florida Department of Health2
wrote to Governor Jeb Bush. In it they wrote,
"The Florida Boards of Medicine, Osteopathic
Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy thank you for
your continuing support of measures to reduce
prescription drug abuse in Florida.
Representatives of our boards met on September
19 to discuss this critical issue and agreed
that action is urgently needed to stem the rapid
rise of prescription drug abuse and deaths
related to that abuse. After review and
evaluation of the information provided at the
joint meeting our boards have ratified this
decision.
The joint committee and the Boards considered
alarming information provided by the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida
Medical Examiners about the situation we are
facing with prescription drug abuse. The 2004
Report of Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons
substantiated the following:
1. During that period there were
approximately 170,000 deaths in Florida. Of
those, 7,128 individuals were found to have died
with one or more of the drugs specified in this
report in their bodies.
2. Prescription drugs continued to be
found more often than illicit drugs in both
lethal and non-lethal levels.
3. Benzodiazepine occurrences rose 12%.
Alprazolam occurrences increased 21% and deaths
caused by Alprazolam increased by 37%.
4. More than 50 percent of the deaths were
caused by the drug when the drug was found;
Heroin (83 percent), Methadone (65 percent),
Fentanyl (63 percent), and Oxycodone (50
percent).
5. Oxycodone and Hydrocodone showed an
increase of 7% and 10%, respectively during 2004
when compared to 2003. Death caused by Oxycodone
rose 14%, while deaths caused by Hydrocodone
increased by 27%.
6. Methadone occurrences increased
significantly during 2004 by 40%, and deaths
caused by Methadone rose 51% when compared to
2003."
 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 Florida 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 Florida 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
& 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
& There 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 &
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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