Posted by azdrugrehabctr on January 27, 2016 under AZ Drug Rehab News | 
One of the difficult things to overcome for addiction treatment providers is the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) syndrome, where residents of a particular area become opposed to having rehab centers or recovery homes in their neighborhoods. In most cases, this is discriminatory behavior and the facilities usually get protection from local, state or federal zoning laws.
However, in rare occasions there are housing companies that have group homes for people in recovery and pack them in with little to no supervision. Also called halfway houses or sober living homes, these residences are usually monitored with strict rules in place and are generally very safe and effective at helping people reintegrate back into society.
Given the climate and favorable laws, Arizona has become one area that has had many sober living homes spring up. Arizona state Representative Noel Campbell (R – Prescott) introduced legislation in an attempt to give more jurisdiction to municipalities so they can have better regulation of these residences. It also recommends having registration requirements, minimum square footage per person, fire safety standards and better on-site supervision.
The goal should be to aid the recovery process, not try to prohibit such needed homes from existing.
Any reputable treatment center gladly welcomes these proposed guidelines, as there should be standards put in place for this part of the continuum of care. If passed, this law could help ease concerns of citizens, force compliance of all housing operators and ensure better conditions for people in the recovery community.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on January 8, 2016 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News |
For several decades public officials have been waging a war against drugs, drug users and drug dealers. When the war on drugs was proposed by Richard Nixon it was heralded as the ultimate solution to the problem that was wreaking havoc on the country. Anyone caught using drugs, selling drugs or possessing drug paraphernalia would be subjected to legal action. This hard line approach was thought to be the best way to deter people from getting started on drugs at that time. Punishing those who were already using drugs was also thought to be the most beneficial. However, as time has passed, it has become very evident that punishment and scare tactics are not as effective as once was thought.
In fact, countries all over the world have begun to take a different approach to the drug abuse problem, and even the United States has come around to see that help is better than punishment. The United States, Canada and several European countries have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes, and sometimes even recreational purposes. Some people hope that by decriminalizing marijuana, the focus can be shifted to helping those who have serious drug problems, whether they are addicted to marijuana, heroin, alcohol cocaine, methamphetamine or other substances. Funneling resources that were once reserved to catching and prosecuting marijuana offenders into programs that are designed to help addicts get treatment may be more successful than prosecuting individuals.
Another significant change that is occurring throughout the world regarding the drug problem is that the United Nations is getting more involved. The UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs is expected to convene in the Spring. In 1998 the world political agency met and decided on universal policy that mirrored the United State’s War on Drugs. Now, in 2016, it is believed that much of the talks will be geared towards helping individuals and shaping policy that is designed to assist in treatment and recovery, rather than punishment.
Public understanding has also changed throughout the years. As more and more people become affected by drug use, either personally or through a loved one, it is becoming clear that more help is needed. When the War on Drugs began, many of its supporters were not dealing directly with drug use. Addiction appeared to be more of an inner city problem. Now that drug use has pervaded much of the country, more people are beginning to speak out against ineffective policies.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on December 14, 2015 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News |
When it was announced recently that Scott Weiland had passed away from a heart attack, the world began to mourn a lost artist. People flocked to social media to sing their praises for the man who had been an integral founding member and lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots. While his wife reassured the public that Weiland’s death was not caused by drugs, his ex-wife poignantly explains that drugs had everything to do with the star’s early passing. Mary Forsberg Weiland and the two children that she shared with Scott sat down to write an open letter about the dangers of addiction and how it very much destroyed their family.
The letter begins by explaining that Weiland’s struggles with addiction had changed him to the point where he was no longer a father, friend or even a star. Mary describes Scott’s life as an addict as only someone who was intimately involved can do. She points out that while the public has just learned about the death, she and her children basically had to say goodbye to Scott a long time ago. The picture of a rock star is quickly erased and replaced by a person who let paranoia, drugs and bad decisions take over his life. It is not the singer that the reader feels for, but instead his children. This is one of the many heart wrenching effects of addiction – the toll it takes on the family – one that echoes throughout the country.
Noah and Lucy are Scott and Mary’s two teenage children. They watched as their father faded out of their lives and chose drugs and people who negatively influenced him over them. While they did not expect their father to ever completely change, they always hoped that he would try a bit harder to be a part of their lives. Now that he has passed, so too has their hope for a father who is present.
Children of addicts are often the ones who suffer the most when a parent struggles with such a disorder. They are made watch over and over again how drugs can ruin lives. Mary explains that she wrote the letter to hopefully illustrate how focusing on the children and the countless times they are overlooked is much more important than mourning a lost star.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on November 15, 2015 under AZ Drug Rehab News |
One of the main functions of border patrol is to prevent the entry of illegal drugs into Arizona and other border states. This has never been as important as it is now that it has become exceedingly difficult to manufacture drugs like methamphetamine in the United States. Due to changes in laws around the sale of methamphetamine precursors, drug cartels in Mexico have stepped up their production to supply American addicts with the drugs they demand. An illustration of this is the amount of drugs that have been seized at the border. Officials report that heroin and methamphetamine seizures in Arizona have increased by 300%.
In order to come up with this statistic, the Drug Enforcement Administration tabulated information from reported seizures, arrests, investigations and drug enforcement surveys. This is an important number for two reasons. The first reason is that it shows how sophisticated border patrol has become over the years. In order to thwart the drug cartels from getting drugs into the United States, border patrol has to be ready for anything. By implementing drug dogs, technology and intense education, border control has been able to penetrate the drug cartel’s relentless invasion of illegal drugs across the border.
Another reason why this release of information from the DEA is important is because it shows just how many substances are coming into the country. An increase of 300% in seized drugs highlights the demand that United States citizens place on drug dealers and drug providers. While many people are becoming better informed about the dangers and risks associated with various drugs that are commonly abused, there still appears to be a growing demand. To underscore this point, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that in 2013 there were 2.8 million Americans who tried drugs for the first time. Most of these Americans were teenagers.
As long as border control continues to seize drugs out of the cartel’s hands they can help keep some drugs out of the hands of waiting Americans. However, this is certainly not the answer to the overall problem. While it can play a part as a form of intervention on our nation’s drug problem, the most effective ways to address the issue is with successful treatment and prevention.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on September 10, 2015 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News |
As part of the 2016 race for the presidency, Hillary Clinton has submitted her plan to target the growing drug problem in the United States. After listening to concerned citizens in New Hampshire and Iowa, Clinton has vowed to wage a strong attack against drug use and abuse. Her plan is to use $10 billion to increase drug prevention efforts locally, increase the treatment options for addicts and arm more first responders with life-saving doses of naloxone for those in the midst of an opiate overdose. Additionally, Clinton wants to spend part of the budget on further education for health providers to improve their skills in spotting and preventing early addiction signs.
“It’s time we recognize that there are gaps in our health care system that allow too many to go without care – and invest in treatment. It’s time we recognize that our state and federal prisons, were 65 percent of inmates meet medical criteria for substance use disorders, are no substitute for proper treatment – and reform our criminal justice system,” explained Clinton in her open letter to voters.
A major part of Clinton’s proposal is to treat addicts that are in prison. Currently, thousands of addicts are incarcerated for drug-related offenses and not receiving treatment for their problem. It has been found that that the recidivism rate for these offenders is incredibly high, as most of them go right back to their drug of choice after being released from prison. Because they are not receiving the proper treatment while in prison, addicts are bouncing back and forth from prison to the streets. This is a cycle that costs taxpayers millions of dollars and many believe can be addressed by solving the drug dependence that gets ignored while behind bars.
Clinton also developed an incentive for state governments to create more treatment options for addicts. For every $1 million spent by the state, Hillary proposes to grant $4 million towards the state’s efforts. While it is still early on in the presidential race, it is important that candidates are acknowledging the drug problem that has affected so many families throughout the country.
Drug addiction has been a focal point for several other candidates as well, and will be interesting to see how much of their platforms will revolve around the overall health of our nation and helping people inside our own country.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on September 1, 2015 under AZ Drug Rehab News, Prescription Drugs |
There are many different definitions for addiction, and whether you want to call it a disease or something else, there are more aspects that can be agreed on regarding the behaviors surrounding it. One philosophy is that there is a genetic predisposition, while another says that the individual has a hole that he or she is trying to fill with alcohol or drugs.
This concept of having a hole, or that there is something missing in life, has been described by many people who have later gone on to fully recover. Some wind up finding a way to fill that void themselves, while others look for other, more positive, activities. In the case of one Arizona man, working out replaced his prescription drug addiction.
John Williams was addicted to pills for 11 years, and then one day his 16 year old son confronted him about the problem, and he knew it was time for a change. Williams said that at the height of his addiction he was taking 20 pills a day or more. In addition to the prescription drug problem, he was very overweight, topping out at about 400 pounds. He decided to change is focus to working out and fixing his health.
Now, 4 years later, Williams is still sober and is still working out. He is able to be there and enjoy his family, and he is on a mission to help spread the word about ending addiction. John plans on traveling and sharing his story in hopes that it will inspire others to do the same and give up drugs for a healthier lifestyle.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on July 22, 2015 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News |
Despite the fact that a handful of states have approved marijuana for recreational use, youth perception of the drug has decreased overall. A recent study was published in the The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse looked at marijuana use statistics and youth attitudes about the drug.
According to the report, about 75% of adolescents aged 12-14 reported strong disapproval of the drug. There was also a 6 percent drop in usage for that age range. Meanwhile, teenagers aged 15-17 showed a decline in usage from 26% to 22%.
Our nation currently faces some interesting developments in the realm of substance abuse and treatment. On one hand there are more states voting to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for adults and regulate its sale. On the other, there are more people gaining access to treatment and drug courts and other treatment-oriented diversion programs are being used.
While some people get caught up in the debate over which drugs are worse, we choose to instead discourage people from seeking an escape through addiction and are advocates of treatment, intervention and prevention programs that work.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on July 6, 2015 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News, Prescription Drugs |
In the past, one tactic used in order to keep teenagers from experimenting with drugs was to pretend that the problem did not exist. This means that many parents and schools, in their fear about drug use, never discussed the inevitable curiosity that teenagers would experience and the definite dangers of substances like heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and prescription painkillers.
It soon became clear that this approach to drug education was not a good one. More and more teenagers find themselves in situations where they are presented with an opportunity to experiment with drugs or alcohol. Instead of hoping that one’s child will not succumb to peer pressure or curiosity, experts agree that it is best to arm children with facts about drugs and alcohol and help guide them into making the right decision. Children presented with facts have a better chance of not being tempted into drug use, and oftentimes those facts can counter the things their friends or other drug users may be saying to them.
Some helpful facts to discuss with children can include things like when an addiction is likely to start, what drugs do to the body and developing brain, how drug and alcohol abuse can affect one’s long term plans and what sort of danger the drugs pose.
According to a recent study, 90% of adults that are addicted to illegal drugs started using substances before they were 18. So, while not all teenagers who experiment with drugs are doomed to a life of addiction, the vast majority of addicts began their journey to drug addiction as a child experimenting with drugs. There is still debate surrounding marijuana if it should be considered a gateway drug (a gateway drug is a substance that opens the door to other substances can ultimately lead to an addiction). Some experts are saying that prescription painkillers are the new gateway drugs.
The popularity of pills like Roxycet, Percocet and Vicodin has led many people to dependency, and then on to a heroin addiction. Since heroin is cheaper and easier to obtain, prescription painkiller addicts often resort to this drug to keep their habit satisfied.
Teenagers are surrounded by pressures almost as soon as they get into high school. Drugs and alcohol may be one of the most common problems they have to deal with. In order to equip children with the best tools to stay away from drugs, parents and educators need to arm them with the facts. Overall, the more information that is shared about the devastation caused by substance abuse, the better the chances are that people of all ages will make healthier decisions regarding drugs and alcohol.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on June 23, 2015 under AZ Drug Rehab News |
An interview with Sen. Ron Johnson, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee exposed just how many illegal drugs were coming into the country. While border control agents work tirelessly to prevent cartels from smuggling thousands of pounds of drugs like; heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana into the United States, it appears that the cartels are getting the better of the agents. As the drug problem continues to get worse in this country, government agencies are looking inward to determine what sort of changes need to be made in order to put a dent in the increasing amounts of drugs available to addicts.
“If you really want a metric that lays out how completely unsecure our border is, and starts pointing to the root cause of the insecurity at our border, it’s our interdiction of drugs. We had Gen. McCaffrey testify that today we are only interdicting about 5 to 10 percent of illegal drugs coming into this country,” explained Sen. Johnson.
Johnson goes on to discuss the different things that make it difficult for the American government and law enforcement to minimize the amount of drugs coming into the country. He points out that the market is so strong for illegal drugs that it acts as a magnet for the drug cartels. Because of the seemingly unending demand Americans have for drugs, the cartels will find a way to get the drugs to them. He describes the whole thing as a business venture that spawns off into other markets. Because of the money coming in from the sale of illegal drugs, cartels also engage in sex trafficking, and exploiting their own countrymen’s desperate attempts to get into the United States. Using people who are trying to get into the country, cartels often force them to smuggle in large quantities of drugs. In order for people to make it across the border they have to pass through territory occupied by the cartels. Once discovered by the cartels, people are made to strap drugs on them and continue on their journey. Sometimes they get caught, but as Johnson points out, they often do not get apprehended and the drugs make their way to waiting consumers on the other side.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on June 19, 2015 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News |
A new report in Clinical Pediatrics shows that children under the age of five are being exposed to marijuana more than ever, with an increase of 147.5% from 2006 to 2013. There was an increase of 610% in states that had legalized medical marijuana before the year 2000.
According to the study, in states that have recently legalized marijuana, young children have an even higher rate of exposure than where it is not. Children under 6 years of age are exposed to marijuana 63% more than in states where it is still illegal. Perhaps even more alarming is the amount of children who are actually ingesting the drug. Researchers found that while most children were indirectly exposed to the drug, but it has been reported that many children actually ingest the drug. This is often because of the growing market of marijuana edibles.
“The high percentage of ingestions may be related to the popularity of marijuana brownies, cookies and other foods. Very young children explore their environment by putting items in their mouths, and foods such as brownies and cookies are attractive,” explained Henry Spiller, the co-author of the study.
A common argument for the legalization of marijuana is that the substance is not as dangerous as some other substances. However, the increase in exposure for young children may not have been predicted, and the harm done to developing brains hasn’t fully been understood yet. For people against legalizing marijuana, these represent valid enough arguments in themselves.
