It is no surprise that the prescription drug addiction epidemic has been destroying lives throughout the country. It is a sad fact that deaths from prescription drugs have overtaken those deaths from heroin and cocaine.
Prescription drug addiction has taxed the judicial system, overwhelmed law enforcement and created an overwhelming demand for
drug treatment programs in every part of the United States.
In a report from the Centers for Disease Control, the number of accidental overdose deaths from prescription drugs exceed the number of suicides and car accident deaths in some states across the country. In 2007, prescription drug-related deaths account for 36 percent of all poisoning suicides, and in some states, exceeds the number of deaths from heroin and cocaine combined. It was noted in the report that there were 27,500 accidental deaths in 2007, with the majority being attributed to prescription opioids like oxycontin or vicodin.
Prescription drug addiction kills people every day - fathers, mothers, sons, daughters. People from every walk of life are becoming addicted to these seemingly innocent pills. They often don’t believe that they will become hooked on the pills that are relieving their
chronic pain. They think the pain pills are safe simply because there is a doctor’s signature at the bottom of the prescription paper. These drugs are no less dangerous than an illegal substance bought from a dealer on the street.
Despite the sobering statistics, there is hope for people who find themselves addicted to prescription drugs. With a comprehensive drug treatment program, addicts can escape a certain death sentence and turn their life around. These drug treatment programs not only help addicts get clean, but they educate them about how to live their lives without a reliance on pills to cope with chronic pain. It will not be an easy road, but it is possible to enjoy life without an addiction to prescription pain pills.
