|
MICHIGAN
- 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 OxyContin® demand is increasing throughout
the state. The Michigan Automated Prescription
System (MAPS) program indicates that the state’s
OxyContin® prescriptions have increased by 31
percent. Michigan is ranked number 30 for its
OxyContin® comsumption per capita. Straits Area
Narcotic Enforcement (SANE) Task Force, located
in Cheboygan County, Michigan reported that 90
percent of the problems encountered are related
to OxyContin®. The number of charges for
OxyContin® abuse has also increased. In 2002,
there were 37 charges made as compared to 60 in
2003. OxyContin® abusers are obtaining this drug
through break-ins and robberies, doctor
shopping, stealing from legitimate patients,
selling parts of legitimate prescriptions, home
break-ins and forged prescriptions.
Pharmaceutical Diversion: The abuse and
diversion of prescription drugs, particularly
hydrocodone, oxycodone (Lortab, Lorcet, Vicodin,
and Oxycontin), and methadone, is increasing
throughout the state. Detroit is a source city
for OxyContin that is transported and
distributed to users in Kentucky and West
Virginia for a high profit margin. Primary
methods of diversion are illegal sales, “doctor
shopping”, pharmacy break-ins and robberies,
stealing from legitimate patients, selling
legitimate prescriptions, illegally obtaining
them from the streets, illegitimate
prescriptions, home break-ins, forged
prescriptions, and Internet pharmacies.
Arch Pediatrics released an
article entitled, "Prescription
Drug Abuse and Diversion Among
Adolescents in a Southeast
Michigan School District"2
Objectives: To determine the
prevalence of medical use of 4
classes of prescription
medications relative to
nonmedical use (illicit use), to
examine the relative rates among
the 4 drug classes, and to
assess whether gender
differences exist in the
trading, selling, loaning, or
giving away of medications.
Design: A Web-based
survey was administered to 7th
to 12th-grade students residing
in 1 ethnically diverse school
district; a 68% response rate
was achieved.
Setting: During a 3-week period
in May 2005, teachers brought
students to their schools’
computing center where students
took the survey using a unique
personal identification
number to sign on to the survey.
Participants: There were
1086 secondary students,
including 586 girls, 498 boys,
484 black students, and 565
white students.
Main Outcome Measures: Students
were asked about their medical
and nonmedical use of sleeping,
sedative or anxiety, stimulant,
and pain medications. Diversion
of prescription medication was
assessed by determining who
asked the student to divert his
or her prescription and who
received it.
Results: Thirty-six
percent of students reported
having a recent prescription for
1 of the 4 drug classes. A
higher percentage of girls
reported giving away their
medications
than boys (27.5% vs 17.4%,
respectively; 2 1=6.7; P=.01);
girls were significantly more
likely than boys to divert to
female friends (64.0% vs 21.2%,
respectively; 2 1=17.5; P .001)
whereas boys were more likely
than girls to divert to male
friends (45.5% vs 25.6%,
respectively; 2 1=4.4; P=.04).
Ten percent diverted their drugs
to parents.
Conclusion: Physicians
should discuss the proper use of
prescription medications with
their patients and their
patients’ families.
(Complete Report PDF)
 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 Michigan 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 Michigan citizens. To do
nothing for the addict, should not be an option.
Something can be done; help is available.
|
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. |
|
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.
|
|
