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IDAHO
- 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 Idaho, prescription drugs are largely
abused. The primary methods of diversion of
legitimate pharmaceuticals continue to be
illegal dispensing and prescribing by
physicians, prescription forgery, doctor
shopping, and drug thefts from pharmacies and
hospitals. Pharmacy burglaries are prevalent
throughout the state. Diversion Investigators
are also encountering pharmaceuticals that have
been purchased via the Internet. The abuse and
trafficking of oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet,
Percodan), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab),
methadone, and anabolic steroids continues to be
a concern.
Nineteen states
are currently operating PMPs including Idaho.2
A prescription monitoring program (PMP) is
a system into which prescription data for
designated schedules of controlled substances
are reported dispensers to a central location
(e.g. a state agency) where the information is
entered into an electronic database. A PMP can
perform three primary functions: 1) data
collection, 2) respond to requests for reports
by those authorized by statute/regulation/rule
to make such requests, and 3) optimally, data
would be analyzed to spot trends and identify
diversion and addiction issues early with
reports going proactively to those who could
respond (e.g. physicians, pharmacists,
occupational licensing, certification and
regulatory personnel, law
enforcement).
Idaho RADAR3
(Regional Alcohol Drug Awareness Resource)
Network Center Fiscal Year 2007 in Review:
The RADAR Center’s continual challenge is how to
provide current substance abuse prevention
information to the people of Idaho in a
cost-effective manner. A highlight of the year
was the presentation given by Georgia Girvan,
director, and Dottie Blackwell, video library
manager, at the international conference of
Substance Abuse Librarians and Information
Specialists (SALIS), held in Boston in September
of 2006. The presentation focused on how a
substance abuse clearinghouse and resource
information center acts as a conduit of
information between various agencies,
organizations, legislators, and at-risk
populations to indeed link policymakers,
professionals, and the populous. During the past
year the Center staff responded to 2,261
requests for material that was distributed to
35,242 persons in 43 of 44 counties. In an
11-month period an estimated 57,527 youth and
19,477 adults viewed 3140 videos/DVDs from a
collection of over 1700.
 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 Idaho 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 Idaho 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 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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