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MONTANA
- 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 following national trends,
OxyContin® has become a pharmaceutical drug of
abuse in Montana. Quantities of OxyContin® are
being illegally distributed in various areas in
the state. Dilaudid® and other opiate pain
killers are also in demand on the illicit
market.
Current investigations indicate that diversion
of hydrocodone products such as Vicodin®
continues to be a problem in Montana. Primary
methods of diversion being reported are forged
prescriptions and employee theft. OxyContin®,
benzodiazepines (such as Xanax® and Valium®) and
Adderall® were also identified as being among
the most commonly abused and diverted
pharmaceuticals in Montana.
The Missoulian.com2
News online service published an article
entitled "Prescription for Addiction: Abuse of
Painkillers Fastest-Growing Drug Problem in
Montana. The stated, "While gruesome images of
meth addicts grab the billboards, the number of
people abusing prescription painkillers
statewide has skyrocketed, with a startling
increase in fatal overdoses.
More Montanans die of prescription drug
overdoses than any other kind, including illegal
drugs such as heroin and cocaine.
Last year, the state recorded 141 deaths
directly related to the abuse of four kinds of
prescription pain relievers, according to
toxicology reports at the state crime lab in
Missoula. That's one death every 2.5 days. In
another 324 deaths, painkillers were present but
not necessarily the primary cause of death. Meth,
by comparison, killed eight people in Montana
last year."
The Daily
InterLake.com news website also reported in a
story entitled, "Prescription Drug Fraud on the
Rise in Montana" in August 2007:
Prescription drug fraud is on the rise in
Northwest Montana. And as the sale of
painkillers continues to skyrocket, law
enforcement officials say they have just
scratched the problem’s surface.
“We believe the public really has no idea how
large the problem is,” said Northwest Drug Task
Force Commander Geno Cook.
The task force investigated more than 80 cases
of prescription fraud and illegal possession of
prescription drugs between 2004 and 2006.
Between March and June of this year, they have
investigated 30 cases related to prescription
fraud, said the Northwest Drug Task Force’s
prescription drug diversion agent, who asked not
to be identified because of the undercover
nature of his work.
Eleven of those cases went to the Flathead
County Attorney’s Office for prosecution. In
addition, the task force is working 12 active
prescription drug cases.
“We’ve confiscated over $6,000 worth of pills
this year,” the task force’s diversion agent
said.
 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 Montana 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 Montana 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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