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NEW
MEXICO
- 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 prescription drugs
continues to be a significant enforcement issue.
Illegal or improper prescription practices are
the primary source for illegally obtained
prescription drugs, primarily in the oxycodone/hydrocodone
families. Interdiction efforts also indicate
that prescription drug smuggling from Mexico,
where these drugs can be sold over the counter,
contributes to the illegal distribution of
prescription medications. Compounding this issue
is the state's severe shortage of qualified
medical personnel forcing state authorities to
grant prescriptive authority to practitioners
not licensed in other states. New Mexico has
recently become one of the few states to grant
prescribing authority to psychologists who have
no medical or pharmaceutical training.
The Center for the
Advance of Health2 released a
statement in April 2006 called Deaths from
Accidental Prescription Drug Overdose on Rise in
New Mexico:
Accidental overdose deaths in New Mexico caused
by prescription drugs increased at a higher rate
than those caused by illegal drugs such as
heroin and cocaine, according to a new study
covering a 10-year period.
Opioid pain relievers — such as codeine, Demerol
and morphine — accounted for the majority of the
deaths caused by prescription drugs in the study
from the May American Journal of Preventive
Medicine.
“The increasing role of opioid painkillers in
unintentional drug overdose deaths suggests that
overdose prevention efforts would be well
targeted at this drug class,” said lead
researcher Mark Mueller, an epidemiologist with
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Using statewide medical examiner reports,
Mueller and colleagues determined that of the
765 prescription drug-related overdose deaths in
New Mexico from 1994 to 2003, more than
three-fourths were caused by opioid pain
relievers. A third of deaths were caused by
tranquilizers, and one-quarter were caused by
antidepressants. (Because some deaths were
caused by multiple drugs, the total exceeds 100
percent.)
Unintentional prescription drug overdoses
accounted for 1.9 deaths out of 100,000 deaths
at the beginning of the study period, rising to
5.3 overdose deaths out of 100,000 deaths. This
represented a 179-percent increase over a
decade, compared with the 121-percent rise in
unintentional overdose deaths due to illegal
drugs.
New Mexico has had the highest drug-induced
death rate in the United States since the 1990s,
according to background information in the
study.
Sidney Schnoll, clinical professor of internal
medicine and psychiatry at the Medical College
of Virginia, acknowledged that prescription drug
abuse is a growing problem. “However, I would be
concerned about extrapolating these findings.
New Mexico is a relatively rural state, and one
of the things we know about prescription drug
abuse, particularly prescription opioid abuse,
is that it is more of a problem of rural areas
than urban areas,” Schnoll 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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico 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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Related Websites: |
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HELP IS POSSIBLE
(877) 340-3602
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The
Program -
If you
are seeking help for yourself or for a
loved one, you should be educated in
order to make an informed decision about
the correct treatment option. |
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Contact Us -
Either call our hotline, email us or
fill out our free online assessment. One
of our trained counselors will be
available to answer your questions. |
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Sources:
1 - DEA - New Mexico Facts -
web page
2 - Center for Adv of Health -
web page
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Contact Us Call (877) 340-3602
Or fill out the form below and one of our
trained counselors will contact you |
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Review the
following conditions for drug addiction; a
person only has to comply with a few to be
considered dependent:
The user continues to use even if they know it
is damaging for them.
Damaging effects due to drug use on the addicts
themselves and people in their environment
(includes problems at work or school, arguments
with other people, illnesses).
Failed attempts to control the drug use or the
their behavior.
Psychological dependence (desire, varying from
very little to very severe).
Tolerance (need more medication to still feel
the effects).
Use more frequently and in higher doses than
planned.
Use the substance or carry out certain behavior
to reduce the withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms (get all kinds of physical
reactions after one stops) |
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