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Oklahoma
- 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 most popular pharmaceutical
substances abused /diverted in Oklahoma are
hydrocodone products. Oxycodone products as well
as alprazolam, and phentermine are also often
abused/diverted. Methadone is a pharmaceutical
drug of abuse on the rise in Oklahoma. Much of
the diversion is through indiscriminate
prescribing by physicians , unscrupulous
pharmacists, the passing of fraudulent
prescriptions, doctor shopping, pharmacy
break-ins, and hospital thefts.
Current investigations indicate that diversion
of hydrocodone products continues to be the most
common drug of abuse/diversion. As indicated
above, the primary methods of diversion are
indiscriminate prescribing (Physicians issuing
prescriptions for controlled substances without
a legitimate medical need), pharmacists
diverting controlled substances from pharmacies,
“doctor shopping” (going to multiple physicians
to obtain prescriptions for a controlled
pharmaceutical), forged /falsified
prescriptions, and thefts. Methadone has
recently been identified as a growing abuse
problem in Oklahoma.
Government
Technology2 released a story in June
2006 entitled, Oklahoma to Track Prescription
Drug Abuse. The story states: Oklahoma law
enforcement officials have a significant new
weapon in efforts to crack down on prescription
drug abuse, Gov. Brad Henry announced today.
Under a statewide database program to be
administered by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics
and Dangerous Drugs Control, authorities will
track instances in which substance abusers try
to fraudulently acquire prescription drugs. The
Comprehensive Oklahoma Narcotic Tracking and
Regulation On Line (CONTROL) project will let
doctors and pharmacists check whether a person
has been "doctor shopping" to obtain
prescriptions that he or she subsequently has
filled at multiple pharmacies.
"The CONTROL project is a vital tool that will
help crack down on prescription drug abuse and
help get desperately needed treatment for people
suffering addiction," Gov. Henry said at a state
Capitol news conference.
"While our state has made tremendous strides
forward in combating substance abuse --
particularly when it comes to the epidemic of
methamphetamine use -- we cannot afford to
neglect other fronts in the drug war. This
monitoring program is certain to prove
invaluable in stemming the ever-growing problem
of prescription drug abuse."
WECT.com3,
out of Wilmington, OKLAHOMA released a story
online entitled, Lifewatch: Prescription Drug
Abuse in October 2008:
According to the Partnership for a Drug Free
America, one in five teenagers abuse
prescription medications to get high.
While prescription painkillers and other
medications help some people live more
productive lives, abuse of these drugs has
dramatically increased.
Many people feel that prescription drugs are
safer and less addictive than street drugs, but
in reality the abuse of these drugs can be
deadly.
Gary Neal of Oklahoma is on a mission to help
stop teenagers from abusing prescription drugs.
"They're taking it out of people's drug
cabinets. They're not taking bottles. They're
taking 2 or 3 pills and trading it with their
friends," said Neal.
Neal believes a combination of someone else's
prescription painkillers and cold medication
proved deadly for his 17-year-old son in 2006.
"Intentionally abusing prescription drugs is not
safer. In fact can be every bit as dangerous as
legal street drugs," said Neal.
Neal has teamed dup with the Partnership for a
Drug-Free America to promote a program called,
"Not in my House."
 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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma 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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