In 2016, Oklahoma Still Struggles with Prescription Drug Abuse

A new report reveals that Oklahoma still tops the list of states with prescription drug abuse problems. According to the most recent national survey on drug abuse, a higher percentage of Oklahomans aged 12 and older abused prescription drugs — about 5% of the population —than in any other state.

When you break out these drug abuse statistics by age group, that’s where the real problem becomes obvious. Among young adults (aged 18-25), more than one in ten misused or abused a prescription medication. That means they used a drug wrongly, for example, without a prescription or at a greater dosage than recommended. It can also mean that they were using the drug to get high.

Of course, anyone misusing these drugs is at risk of becoming addicted to them. For some people, the first time they abuse a drug like oxycodone, hydrocodone or alprazolam, they find a solution to some pain or problem that was hard for them to bear. The pill made their worries and pains go away. The temptation to continue abusing these pills was great. Those who continued covering up their problems with these drugs could quickly find themselves addicted.

Even if there’s money on hand to buy more pills in the beginning, there’s usually a point where jobs are lost and cash runs out. An addicted person may turn to criminal activities to be able to keep buying these drugs. This individual can quickly become trapped in a vicious circle of getting money for drugs through criminal activity and then blotting out his guilt and pain with more drugs.

Heroin Follows Prescription Drug Abuse

In areas like Massachusetts which had a raging painkiller abuse problems for many years, heroin finally made its way into the state to offer a cheaper alternative. When money got scarce, those addicted to painkillers could get the same high from heroin at a fifth the price. Now, Massachusetts struggles with more than 1,200 drug overdose deaths each year, many of them due to heroin. And between 2013 and 2014, that number was still growing – up nearly 19% in one year.

In Oklahoma, more than 700 people lost their lives to drug overdoses in both 2013 and 2014. Heroin is not a big part of these deaths — more people lose their lives to methamphetamine than heroin. But while the number of heroin fatalities is still low, it’s increasing rapidly.

Of course, these drug problems contribute to other social problems like crime, incarceration costs, child welfare costs, public health costs and loss of the productivity of Oklahomans. Beyond that is the heartbreak and pain of families across Oklahoma when a loved one becomes addicted — or worse, loses their life.

The Solution to Addiction in Oklahoma

In Southeast Oklahoma, Narconon Arrowhead has been providing drug rehabilitation services for more than 20 years. Here, it’s possible to find a completely drug-free rehab program that focuses on helping each person recover their true nature — the personality that was destroyed by years of drug or alcohol abuse.

Internationally, the Narconon program has been helping the addicted find lasting sobriety for fifty years. It’s been discovered that when a person can recover his self-respect and integrity, and when he gains sober decision-making skills and finds relief from crushing guilt and cravings, lasting sobriety is a very real possibility. It’s a challenging job, but the Narconon drug rehab program has effectively helped thousands of people through this process. Day by day, step by step, Narconon staff guide those in recovery through the actions that help repair the damage and teach new life skills.

In just eight to ten weeks, life can look very different for a person who’s struggling with addiction today. Call Narconon Arrowhead today to learn how this program can help you or someone you care about. Call 1-800-468-6933 today.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6450a3.htm

http://newsok.com/article/5454452

http://www.news9.com/story/28142969/heroin-deaths-in-oklahoma-increase-tenfold