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ILLINOIS
- 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 the diversion of legitimate pharmaceuticals
is a significant problem in Illinois. The
problem of purchasing pharmaceuticals over the
Internet has grown dramatically. Ritalin®, a
controversial drug prescribed for attention
deficit disorder in children, may be gaining
popularity as a recreational drug for teenagers.
The most commonly diverted pharmaceutical drugs
continue to be those containing hydrocordone,
alprazolam, and phentermine. There has also been
an increase in the abuse of diazepam (valium®),
especially 10 mg strength tablets. There has
been a notable rise in the number of reported
incidents of diversion of pseudoephedrine and,
as a result, the number of investigations in
this area is on the rise. There has been an
increase in diversion of Canadian manufactured
pseudoephedrine products being smuggled into the
US, as opposed to domestically manufactured
products being diverted from the regulated
distribution chain. OxyContin® remains a highly
abused substance in the state. With increased
media attention on OxyContin® there has been a
shift to an increased use and abuse of
methadone.
Current investigations indicate that diversion
of hydrocodone products such as Vicodin®,
oxycodone products such as OxyContin®, and
pseudoephedrine continues to be a problem in
Illinois. Primary methods of diversion being
reported are illegal sale and distribution by
health care professionals and workers, “doctor
shopping” (going to a number of doctors to
obtain prescriptions for a controlled
pharmaceutical). Benzodiazepines (such as
alprazolam), methylphenidate, and methadone were
also identified as being among the most commonly
abused and diverted pharmaceuticals in Illinois.
Nineteen states
are currently operating PMPs including Illinois.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).
 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 Illinois 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 Illinois 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 |
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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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