National Public Radio stated that prescription drug abuse has greatly increased in rural areas and is the leading cause of death in young adults, with higher mortality rates than car accidents, heart attacks, and cancer.
“I have seen a significant increase in prescription drug abuse in the last year around the Oklahoma City area,” said Captain Chris Woodruff of the Special Investigations Division, Oklahoma City Police Department. “This has become a major problem amongst young teens in the junior and senior high school age.”
The distribution of prescription medication is leaving the medicine cabinet and entering the street trade, becoming an illicit drug of choice.
“Many individuals involved with distribution of more traditional controlled substances are beginning to obtain prescription drugs to sell also,” said Woodruff.
As prescription drugs become more prominent around the state, Oklahoma residents might wonder how they can help better this deadly prescription drug abuse epidemic.
Capt. Woodruff explains that there are actions that Oklahoma residents can undertake such as “…continued public support with local law enforcement , educate children, take advantage of prescription drug take back programs to clean out old, unneeded prescriptions.”
Derry Hallmark, Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor and Senior Director for Expansion for Narconon Arrowhead, agrees with Woodruff. “Through community involvement with drug education and rehabilitation for those addicted, we can put a stop to the devastation of prescription opiate addiction,” Hallmark stated.
Narconon Arrowhead, one of the world’s largest and most effective drug rehabilitation facilities, is located right here in Oklahoma. This non-profit organization offers a mobile drug education unit that travels the state and country, offering drug education to schools, companies, and any other groups who are interested.
“We are working to fight this prescription drug abuse epidemic at both ends,” says Hallmark. “We are sending our staff around the state to offer drug education on one front for preventative measures while at the same time we offer those struggling with a prescription drug addiction or any addiction a resource for help through our rehab program.”Narconon specializes in prescription drug addiction and has approximately a 70% success rate for permanent sobriety from prescription drugs.
For more information on prescription drug abuse or to get help for you or someone you know who is struggling with a drug addiction contact Narconon today at 800-468-6933 or log onto www.stopaddiction.com