News / Education
ILLEGAL DRUG ABUSE DOWN BUT ADDICTION NUMBERS REACH EPIDEMIC
“[They should] compare it to cancer,” Michael Dennis says. “Cancer is a chronic condition. The earlier you catch it, the more successful treatment is.”
C.A.R.E (Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Education) FLORIDA, a holistic-based Florida drug rehab clinic continues to combat this cancer by taking into account the “whole” person in their process by understanding that each client is different in “order to create an individual drug treatment plan with each patient to ensure long term recovery.” Yet as C.A.R.E. takes into account the whole person, a great risk is taken when a patient, especially an adolescent one—one who could very well be your son or daughter—does not complete their treatment and returns home—a home and environment that still can very well hold the adolescent’s source of addiction.
Although recent studies indicate that illicit drug use is down in adolescents, non-medical prescription drug abuse remains high. A recent report from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission has concluded that prescription drugs have surpassed illegal drugs as a cause of death. An analysis of 168,900 autopsies conducted in Florida in 2007 found that three times as many people were killed by legal drugs as by cocaine, heroin, and all methamphetamines put together.
According to the numbers, over 2,328 people were killed by Opioid painkillers, including Vicodin and Oxycontin, and 743 were killed by drugs containing benzodiazepine, including the depressants Valium and Xanax. These deaths included adolescent deaths. In adolescents, non-medical prescription drug usage nationwide has increased 4 percent of U.S. 12th graders were using Oxycontin in 2002,by 2005 that number had increased to 5.5 percent.
C.A.R.E. FLORIDA Executive Director, Mitchell E. Wallick, knows all too well these numbers are “sickening”. Too often, Dr. Wallick has seen patient’s cajoling parents with threats into sending an early ticket home before completing their addiction treatment. Too often has Dr. Wallick heard the patient tell friends and family that “they will not use again,” before the completion of treatment. And too often has Dr. Wallick seen a patient who does not complete treatment return to drug abuse and are literally “killed” by their family.
It’s a sad consideration that many of these deaths could have been averted if these individuals were able to receive help they so desperately needed. It’s a sadder consideration that some of these deaths could have been averted if the patient completed the entirety of their treatment.
Even more dangerous is mixing these non-medical prescription drugs with alcohol. According to the DEA, prescription drug abuse has jumped in the last six years to seven million—more than those abusing cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, hallucinogens, and inhalants combined. The report by the Florida Medical Examiners Commission shows that Alcohol directly caused 466 deaths, but was found in the bodies of 4,179 cadavers in all. Many of these cadavers were also found to contain Opioid painkillers and benzodiazepine. Again, some of these cadavers were adolescents.
Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Chairman and President of the NCASA at Columbia University, is quoted to have said, “A child who reaches age 21 without smoking, abusing alcohol or using drugs is virtually certain never to do so.” The risk that is run with an adolescent’s life while mixing non-medical prescription drugs with binge drinking grows exponentially as their dependence and addiction grows. C.A.R.E. FLORIDA is here to help with their substance abuse program.
C.A.R.E. FLORIDA offers a substance abuse program that gives more than just a simple helpful hand in overcoming the abusive lifestyle allowing safe return toward the long road to recovery. Already C.A.R.E. offers several services. Under the comfortable and personable supervision of the C.A.R.E. staff, a client can option to stay in their own luxury, fully furnished apartment which contains all modern appliances. While on the C.A.R.E. campus, a patient can enjoy access to a boastful Olympic sized swimming pool, a chef that will prepare all meals to substantiate a well-balanced diet, as well as a world class personal trainer “that will help build a work-out regimen in [C.A.R.E.'s] private fitness center.” Also offered, is a yoga instructor and acupuncture, in the hopes of making a lasting impression toward a client's focus on recovery.
If you, a friend, or a loved one appears to be utilizing non-medical prescription drugs and/or in combination with binge drinking, it may be in their best interest to help them find help. And, although they may yell, scream, and threaten you into bringing them home—it’s best to turn the other cheek until they receive the addiction treatment they so very much need. Remember: a little bit of tough love never killed anyone, but drug abuse will.
For additional information on C.A.R.E. FLORIDA and their substance abuse program please call 1-866-494-0866 or visit www.CAREflorida.com
