A recent study conducted by University of Buffalo physicians suggests that prescription pain killers are the new gateway drug to illicit drug addiction.
A study published by UB shows that 31 out of 75 patients hospitalized for narcotic detox first became addicted to drugs as a result of legitimately prescribed narcotics for pain. Another 24 individuals obtained their drugs via a friend’s left-over pills or from a family member’s medicine cabinet. The remaining 20 patients said they got hooked on street drugs.
A startling 92% of the patients within the study said they turned to buying heroin off of the street as it is less expensive and produces a stronger high than any prescription narcotics.
After their pain was resolved, however, most reported that they continued to use the prescribed drugs to help deal with the emotional stresses of day to day life and to feel better, in general.
“This is a disturbing trend,” remarks a spokesperson for Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcoholism Treatment Center. “While effective for short-term pain management, prescription pain killers can be quite dangerous for some people. When these medications are prescribed it is best that patients be advised of the various ramifications that can occur and, if they begin to feel any dependence, they should tell their doctor. It can be very useful to bring in a pain management specialist for patients requiring longer term use. It’s troubling that a useful medication can cause such physical and psychological dependence, necessitating a program like our
drug rehab New York program.”
Researchers found that about 51% of those who use illicit drugs first used narcotic pain killers for back pain, after surgery or an injury. The remaining 49% began using drugs simply because they were curious or a peer had narcotics readily available.
This is one of the reasons that treatment centers such as Mountainside aim to educate society on drug and alcohol abuse – it is crucial to the future of America.
The compassionate, caring treatment team at Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center is comprised of licensed and certified counselors and social workers as well as an on-staff Nurse Practitioner and a Registered Nurse, both of whom have specializations and extensive experience in drug addiction and alcohol treatment. For clients who may have psychiatric issues and/or a dual diagnosis, Mountainside provides the services of a Psychiatrist who also has specialization in addictions. As a result of their unique, innovative approaches to addiction treatment over the past 12 years, Mountainside has become the model for the addiction treatment field.
The program, along with its professional addiction treatment team, has earned national recognition and resulted in Mountainside being invited to Washington by the White House to meet with the White House Drug Czar, John P. Waters, for an in-depth meeting on what makes its program so successful. These accolades did not go unnoticed within the addiction treatment field and resulted in the adoption by many throughout the country of a more holistic approach to drug addiction treatment.
If you or someone you love is addicted to drugs or alcohol, or if you have any questions, please contact Mountainside
Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center for a confidential inquiry at 800-762-5433.
