Posted by azdrugrehabctr on June 1, 2015 under AZ Drug Rehab News, Opiate Abuse | 
It appears that heroin has not only made its way into Native American reservations, but that it is claiming many addicts along the way. While it is not news that heroin is seeping into many neighborhoods throughout the country, some Native Americans were taken off guard by the swiftness the drug began to take over. With a past that has been laden with relocation, segregation, and conflict with others, heroin seems to be preying on the emotions that are deep within many people living on the reservations.
In addition to the emotional pull towards heroin, there are reports that Mexican drug cartels are specifically targeting Native American communities. Because of high unemployment rates and histories of alcohol and meth addiction, the cartels are able to convince some American Indians to sell and transport drugs for them. While local law enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration are aware of the heroin trend in many Native American communities, it is proving difficult to police. “And we show up and then there’s nothing. I think they have the knowledge of us not being everywhere or the short manpower that we have. They know it, so they’re getting smart about it,” explained Donald Seimy, a Navajo police officer.
Additionally, some drug cartel members, or drug dealers within the reservation are intentionally sabotaging police efforts to curb the heroin abuse problem. Because of the lack of officers throughout the reservation if one issue comes up it generally pulls many of the on-duty officers off their patrol. There have been instances of false accident reports being called in, likely to clear the roads for drug trafficking in other parts of the reservation.
Because law enforcement within the tribes is minimal, it appears that heroin is no match for the small police forces on the reservations. The problem with lack of monitoring and policing only leads to more addictions. Past studies have shown that a child who grows up in households where one family member is abusing drugs makes it more likely that the child will follow down the same path. Because of this, the close-knit community on the reservation gets overrun with heroin addicts.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on May 17, 2015 under AZ Drug Rehab News |
Keeping drug abuse a secret has proven not to help anybody. The addict suffers because they are able to continue using the substances that are killing them. Families suffer because they oftentimes feel that they have no one to talk to or anyone to provide advice for how to deal with their loved ones. Members of the community suffer because they are not aware that the drug problem is infiltrating their towns, schools and neighborhoods. In order to bring communities together, some areas are conducting surveys. The surveys are intended to provide a truer, deeper look into the drug activities of residents. Understanding this information will better help law enforcement and public officials monitor the drug scene and create better, more effective programing.
“It is extremely important for individuals to participate in this survey. The results of this survey will give us a glimpse into the needs of the community as we work on prevention and treatment efforts,” explained Kirsty Nichols, a coordinator that is working with communities to better handle the drug crisis.
One particular survey that is being administered in New Mexico by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation is geared towards finding out about the drug use and perceptions about drugs and alcohol in the community. The survey asks questions regarding drinking and driving, mental health, specific questions regarding past drug and alcohol use and how survey takers feel about narcotics. Understanding these types of topics will help to create more tailor-made programming for community members. The goal is to make drug and alcohol abuse something that people feel comfortable discussing and getting out in the open.
New Mexico, in particular, is a state that has an extreme problem with drug and alcohol abuse. However, it is not the only state that is suffering from the drug epidemic that is sweeping throughout the country. The hope is that other states will agree to become more involved with their residents and find out how drug and alcohol abuse is affecting families throughout the country.
Maybe parts of Arizona can emulate similar practices to help reduce the drug problem in our communities as well.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on April 20, 2015 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News |
Public officials and lawmakers in some states are calling attention to the amount of people who are on welfare programs like Medicaid and have substance abuse issues. They say that people are unable to get off of welfare due to drug problems, transportation problems and the lack of a high school diploma. In an effort to address the growing welfare problem and provide services to people that allow them to provide for themselves, it was necessary to take a look at the difficulties that welfare recipients faced that kept them near the poverty level.
“There are a lot of things that have happened in these people’s lives to get them to the situation where they’re so heavily dependent on public assistance programs, and it’s not going to be overnight that they’re suddenly going to get off,” explained Joel Potts, head of one state’s Job and Family Services Directors Association.
There also appears to be a disconnection between employers and potential applicants. A recent survey revealed that many people on welfare claim that there are not enough jobs, while many employers responded that there are not enough applicants who appear committed to working or who can pass the required drug test.
As more and more states take a look at their budgets and realize that more effective programs need to replace those that are not producing, getting people off welfare and more viable on their own becomes more important. Research shows that the best way to achieve this goal is by providing more one on one counseling, at-home visits and more individually-based treatment. This is much different from the current standard of practice, and also requires more time and resources to achieve it.
In order to properly help those that are suffering from an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol with the eventual goal of getting those on welfare into more stable, higher paying jobs, more attention needs to be paid to treatment and counseling programs. If these effective services aren’t implemented to help reverse the trend, many people will either wind up losing the benefits they need or the money will be pulled from other programs. The goal should always to help people become healthy and productive as soon as possible.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on April 18, 2015 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News |
Everyone seems to be in agreement that more effective treatment centers are needed throughout the country. As the drug problem across the nation has become more widely discussed, more people seem to be willing to acknowledge that acceptable care is needed for the millions struggling with addiction.
However, despite the acceptance of treatment centers and the welcomed help, Few people want to live by a treatment center. This poses quite a problem for centers looking to establish facilities that are accessible to addicts and in a location that allows for commuting without a car (something many addicts do not have) and easy access to jobs and support groups. It seems that despite the acceptance, there are still plenty of prejudices that are alive and well.
“Our homes are in jeopardy. Our families are in jeopardy. These people can fall off the wagon. We are all in favor of some form of help for these folks, but not at this risk,” explained one concerned citizen. While this seems to be a common opinion throughout many communities who have been approached by treatment centers in an attempt to open a facility, the statistics do not actually support this.
What is true though is that because there are not enough treatment facilities, those trying to get help are often told that there is not any available beds for them. Instead of being able to receive help when the person is looking for it, they are put on a list and told to wait until a bed opens up. Oftentimes this is just the excuse that addicts need to keep using, or the cravings become so intense that they cannot stop themselves from going back to drugs and/or alcohol before they can enroll.
While many people are nervous to have a treatment center in their city or town, it may be the best solution. The drug problem is continuing to grow, as evidenced by the escalating overdose fatalities, and without adequate treatment facilities many more addicts will never receive the help they need.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on March 30, 2015 under AZ Drug Rehab News |
In order to effectively fight against the drug traffickers that continuously smuggle illegal drugs in the country, law enforcement has to make themselves aware of all the tricks of the trade. One of the most common ways the cartels are able to get their shipments across the U.S. border is by employing “spotters”.
Spotters are people who stake out certain areas along the drug route and warn the people carrying the drug supplies, called the “mules”, if any type of law enforcement is on the path. Despite the fact that law enforcement knows that these people exist and are warning the drug mules, it is very difficult to arrest and prosecute them because there are currently no laws prohibiting these types of actions. Currently the stake outs are along drug routes in Mexico as well as in Arizona.
In order to combat the use of scouts, a new bill has been introduced to the senate. The Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act is designed to prevent and eliminate the use of scouts.
“The scouting network provides a continuous view of law enforcement presence on both sides of the border, making it easier to direct loads around law enforcement presence. The scout’s role is fundamental to the drug organization’s success in supplying drugs to the U.S. cities,” explained Elizabeth Kempshall, the director of the Arizona High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
Former ONDCP director Barry McCaffrey described what a typical spotter is like, “As he walks in his five miles of U.S. farm here, there are dozens of cartel scouts wearing camouflage uniforms, with padded boots…with $2,500 solar power encrypted satellite phones, with AK47s. That’s who is in control of the border.” There are many farms and ranches along the borders of the Southwestern United States where the spotters and mules are used to bring in dangerous drugs.
If the bill is passed, law enforcement would be able to arrest anyone providing information to drug cartels about the whereabouts of police and border patrol. If found guilty, scouts could receive up to ten years in prison and because many of them carry firearms, an additional ten years could be added on to their sentence.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on March 15, 2015 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News |
In order to keep the lucrative drug empires going, Mexican drug cartels use violence and fear. Due to the incredible demand for drugs in the United States, the cartels have used their power to dominate Mexican citizens and the media. With the millions of dollars pouring in from America, the cartels are able to use that money to employ thousands of soldiers who are deployed to kill, kidnap or injure anyone who stands in the way of the incredible profit from the sale of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and illegal guns.
Reporters in Mexico have been a target for the cartels because of their attempts at furnishing Mexican citizens with reports on cartel violence and agendas. As retaliation for publishing stories having to do with the cartels, many editors have been killed, kidnapped or beaten as warnings to stop reporting on the activities of the drug cartels. Due to the treat to life, many editors have determined that it is safer to report “soft” news and stay away from anything that has to do with the illegal drug trade.
“We have been threatened twice. But this time we said yes we are going to publish…and after that, we will have to return to self-censorship. Criminals have taken over the editorial line. They say what to publish and what not to publish, and there are consequences,” explained Hildebrando Deandar, the General Director of El Manana Publishing Group.
After the abduction and beating of Enrique Juarez Torres, editor of the newspaper, the publisher decided to step back from reporting on the activities of the drug cartels altogether. Despite police guards, many people from the newspaper resigned in fear of their lives. The drug cartel’s method of fear worked well in this situation, preventing any more publicity of their activities.
The United States’ role in the drug cartel’s ability to overpower newspapers and wreak havoc on entire towns cannot be overlooked. The demand for drugs in the U.S. is so high that the power given to the cartels often trumps that of the Mexican police forces and government.
While some people believe that legalizing more drugs in our country will reduce the amount of violence associated with trafficking, it is unlikely that that will ever happen. Instead, many substance abuse treatment professionals point out that focusing on reducing the demand
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on February 26, 2015 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News |
People often crave all sorts of foods and snacks after they have smoked marijuana. Scientists have recently looked into this phenomenon to find out why the brain gets affected in this way. Since marijuana is becoming legal in some states and has started to achieve broader acceptance, it is vital that more research is conducted on the drug and how it reacts with the body and what the long-term effects of using marijuana are.
Researchers from Yale University noticed that when people consumed marijuana an interesting thing occurred in the brain. There are neurons that are responsible for telling the body to stop eating. This prevents people from overeating and maintaining a healthier lifestyle. However, when marijuana enters the body the neurons change their job function. Instead of telling the body to stop eating, they tell the body to continue eating.
“It fools the brain’s central feeding system. We were surprised to find that the neurons we thought were responsible for shutting down eating were suddenly being activated and promoting hunger, even when you are full,” explained Tamas Horvath, the lead author on the study.
While this research may not be groundbreaking, it does highlight that the drug has a significant influence over brain chemistry. Altering the job of neurons is a powerful task, and marijuana seems to do it with ease. Many in the science community are calling for more research on the drug to understand all the implications of its use.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on January 13, 2015 under AZ Drug Rehab News |
Border Patrol Agents working near the state line in Arizona were busy in 2014. The law enforcement agents spent their days policing the border and ensuring that illegal drugs like marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine did not get into the country. Public officials have known for a long time that most of the drugs consumed in the U.S. originate in Mexico and other South American countries and have set up agents all along U.S. borders to prevent as much drugs from getting into the hands of U.S. citizens as possible. By the end of the year, the border control agents had seized more drugs at the Arizona state line than in any other year prior.
Marijuana is one of the most popular drugs that the drug cartels attempt to smuggle into the country. In 2014 border patrol was ready, and seized more than 2,183 pounds of marijuana. When officials divided the pot up in dosages (the amount an average user would consume) it was found that the marijuana that was seized equaled almost one million dosages.
“I think it’s important to note how many dosages this involves. When you see how many doses, you get an idea of how many people would have been using these drugs,” explained Randy Moffit, a lieutenant in Arizona. While it is unclear how much marijuana actually made it into the country, officials can say that the amount of weed that was seized this year added up to a street value of almost $4 million dollars. Agents were pleased to announce that they seized more than twice the amount that was intercepted in 2013.
In addition to marijuana, agents seized heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine. In Arizona alone, fourteen pounds of heroin was taken before it could hit the streets and be dispersed to other states in the country. In the past, methamphetamine was manufactured in the United States, however 2014 saw much of the drug being made in Mexico and smuggled into the U.S. Agents were able to prevent 177 pounds of the drug from making it to users, this is more than four times the amount that was seized in 2013.
Preventing illegal drugs from coming into the country is a vital part of Arizona border patrol agents jobs, and in 2014 they managed to exceed almost all numbers from the previous year.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on November 15, 2014 under AZ Drug Rehab News |
Federal law enforcement took action against hundreds of websites participating in activities ranging from selling illegal goods and services, including dozens of “dark market” websites selling illegally selling drugs. According to the United States Department of Justice, the website addresses and computer servers hosting these websites was seized early this week as a part of an international law enforcement collaboration.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell stated that criminals are using advanced technology to commit and conceal evidence of their illegal activity. “The global law enforcement community has innovated and collaborated to disrupt these ‘dark market’ websites, no matter how sophisticated or far-flung they have become,” Caldwell said.
“Dark market” websites are designed to work through anonymity of both the seller and the buyer. The sites are only accessible through the Tor anonymizing network, and payments to the sites for illicit goods and services are made via anonymous virtual currency like bitcoin.
The operation involved the seizure of more than 400 Tor website addresses (.onion addresses) and the servers hosting them. Examples of the websites seized during the operation are “Pandora” (pandora3uym4z42b.onion), “Blue Sky” (blueskyplzv4fsti.onion), “Hydra” (hydrampvvnunildl.onion) and “Cloud Nine” (xvqrvtnn4pbcnxwt.onion). These sites are similar to Silk Road 2.0. They offered illicit goods and services ranging from illegal drug sales, selling medications without prescriptions, counterfeit money and fake identification documents.
The investigation into these “dark markets’ is an ongoing effort between federal, state and international law enforcement agencies.
Associate Director Peter Edge of Homeland Security Investigations said that underground websites like Silk Road and Silk Road 2.0 are like the Wild West of the internet. “We will continue to use all of our resources and work closely with our U.S. and international law enforcement partners to shut down these hidden black market sites,” Edge said. He also said he wants to hold criminals responsible for using anonymous internet software to conduct illegal activities.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on November 11, 2014 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News |
In a state where drugs are a constant threat, whether because they are smuggled across the border or because many residents are addicted to some sort of substance, it may not be too shocking that a third of Arizona students are using illegal drugs. State officials recently reported that more students in the Arizona are abusing drugs than ever before.
Surveys conducted last spring and reported their findings earlier this month, which showed that one-third of the 48,000 school-aged children in 8th, 10th and 12th grades reported that they had used drugs within the past month. When questioned on where they obtained the drugs, 75% of the children reported receiving drugs from their friends. Friends were responsible for providing alcohol, tobacco products, prescription drugs and marijuana.
Due to the fact that more people are able to obtain marijuana from a medical marijuana card, the number of young people receiving marijuana from those who have legally obtained the drug rose as well. In fact, that rose from 11.6 percent just a couple of years ago to 14.3 percent this year.
The hope is that with this new information law enforcement, teachers and parents can make a more concentrated effort on handling the drug problem among Arizona children. Understanding and knowing where children are obtaining their drugs is a good step. Parents can be more aware of their children’s friends and monitor their activities more closely. While these new efforts will by no means eliminate the drug problem among children in Arizona, officials hope that the information can be used to their advantage.
Staying on top of current trends in drug use and associated behaviors will allow people to adapt and develop new programs for drug education and prevention.
