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IOWA
- 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® continues to be a problem in Iowa.
Primary methods of diversion being reported are
illegal sale and distribution by health care
professionals and workers, “doctor shopping”
(going to multiple doctors to obtain
prescriptions for controlled pharmaceuticals),
forged prescriptions, employee theft, and
Internet purchases. OxyContin®, benzodiazepines,
and codeine were also identified as being among
the most commonly abused and diverted
pharmaceuticals in Iowa.
 During
a Senate hearing2, Sherry Green with
the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws
testified, "Iowa and Mississippi have determined
that they can, per their Controlled Substances
Act, establish PMPs through rule changes by
their Boards of Pharmacy; these changes are
currently being pursued to ready these states to
being operating monitoring systems.
Additionally, the following 18 states are
actively pursuing legislation/regulations/rules
and/or planning the structure necessary to begin
these programs.
Iowa publications:
Talking About Prescription Drug Misuse -
PDF link
Talking To Kids About Prescription Drug Abuse -
PDF link
The Daily Iowan
published a story in February, 2008, called
"Prescription-Drug Abuse Eyed". They report,
Prescription drugs are becoming the substance of
choice for a growing majority of teenagers
across the country, and government agencies are
now making an effort to educate parents about
the issue.
The White House Office of Drug Control Policy
concluded that only 36 percent of parents have
discussed the risk of prescription-drug
overdoses with their children.
In Iowa City, parents and councilors have become
increasingly aware of this growing problem.
"Teenagers believe that prescription drugs don't
hold as much danger as drugs such as meth," said
Kelly Vanderwerff, a prevention supervisor at
the Mid-Eastern Council on Chemical Abuse in
Iowa City, 430 Southgate Ave.
Prescription drugs hold more glamour, said
Vanderwerff, a former counselor at City High,
1900 Morningside Drive.
The DesMoinesRegister.com in
November, 2008, released a news story called "Rx
Meds 'Drug of Choice' for Iowa Youngster".
They reported: Authorities have tightened
the chokehold on Iowa's methamphetamine
epidemic, but the abuse of prescription drugs,
particularly among young people, continues to
rise, new statistics show.
State drug agents report a 79 percent increase
in "pharmaceutical diversion" cases. Meanwhile,
the amount of seized prescription and
over-the-counter medications has more than
tripled.
"More teens abuse prescription drugs than any
illicit drug except for marijuana. And among 12-
to 13-year-olds, prescription drugs are their
drug of choice," said Mike Wenger, prevention
specialist for Employee and Family Resources in
Des Moines.
"Because these drugs are so readily available
and are viewed as safe, teens who wouldn't
otherwise touch illicit drugs abuse prescription
and over-the-counter drugs. There also exists a
serious lack of knowledge by parents on the
problem."
Five Urbandale high school students were
arrested Oct. 16 after they allegedly brought
alcohol and prescription pain pills to school.
 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 Iowa 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 Iowa 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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