Admissions for Methamphetamine Abuse Decrease; Admissions for Opiates Other Than Heroin Continue to Increase

The percentage of national admissions to state-funded substance abuse treatment facilities citing methamphetamine as a primary substance of abuse decreased slightly from a recent peak of 8.2% in 2005 to 7.5% in 2007, according to recently released data from the National Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS).

"We have seen a steady increase of patients seeking treatment for prescription drug addiction," comments Mary Rieser, Executive Director for Narconon Drug Rehab Georgia. "While there are many possible factors, much of this has to do with the perception that prescription drugs such as Oxycontin, Xanax, and other prescribed drugs are safe. After all, a doctor prescribed them, so they can't be bad. Unfortunately, these drugs, even though prescribed, are very addictive. We see many teens and young adults who have raided their family's medicine cabinets become addicted. In the other extreme, we see people in their golden years addicted to painkillers as well. They were never told that these are addictive, and kept taking them until it was too late."

These findings are consistent with other reports of declining methamphetamine use.

In contrast, drug rehab admissions for the primary abuse of opiates other than heroin, such as the prescription painkiller oxycodone, have increased five-fold since data collection began in 1992, reaching a high 5.0% in 2007. Admissions for the primary abuse of other drugs have remained relatively stable over the past few years (see figure below).

The lack of education on the dangers of prescription drug addiction have already caused headlines, such as the deaths of Anna Nichole Smith, her son, and Heath Ledger.

*Source: Center for Substance Abuse Research, University of Maryland, College Park.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an alcohol or other drug problem, contact Narconon today for immediate assistance.  Visit www.drugsno.com or call 1-877-413-3073.

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