Posted by azdrugrehabctr on November 11, 2016 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News | 
The election has come and gone. Some people are overjoyed with the results and some people are devastated. It is safe to say that this has been one of the most divisive elections in history. However, the presidential election is not the only thing that has polarized people. In 2012 citizens in Colorado voted to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes. This was a first for the country, but since then more states have decided to bring the issue of legalized pot to voters. So, while the country was struggling with determining who would be our next commander in chief, marijuana legalization was placed on ballots in California, Massachusetts, Nevada, Maine, Arizona, Florida, North Dakota, Arkansas and Montana. Some of these measures were for medicinal use and some were for recreational use.
And, just like the presidential election, the results of these measures are just as polarized. Not all states gathered the required number of votes to legalize the drug. Residents of Arizona did not approve the ballot measure in the state, but voters in California, Massachusetts, Nevada and Maine all chose to legalize the drug for adults aged 21 and older. This continued shift in the public opinion of marijuana actually highlights the fact that there is still a great divide between those that want marijuana to be legal, and those that do not want to legalize the drug.
For those that have advocated marijuana legalization, the passing of recreational marijuana in some states was a celebrated event. However, many actively fought against the passing of these bills, and were disappointed with the results. “We were outspent greatly in both California and Massachusetts, so this loss is disappointing, but not wholly unexpected. Despite having gained considerable ground in the last few weeks, the out-of-state interests determined to make money off of legalization put in too much money to overcome,” explained Kevin Sabet from Smart Approaches to Marijuana.
Despite the profit-driven push to make weed more legally prevalent, there are millions of Americans who still see past the rhetoric because they know how destructive the drug can be to individuals and communities in multiple ways. For example, researchers have confirmed that marijuana use by teens can damage their developing brains.
We are happy that Arizona citizens stood up to the pressure to legalize pot and hope that more states are able to remain as resilient in the future.
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 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 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 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 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 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 September 10, 2014 under AZ Drug Rehab News |
Despite the mounting efforts exhibited by Arizona border control, there is still an alarming amount of heroin getting through from Mexico. Once the heroin crosses over into the United States, it is then shipped throughout the country.
Unfortunately, as the heroin spreads through to different cities and states, suburban youth are the most targeted clients of drug dealers. The work that Arizona border control is doing to police the thousands of people who attempt to come into Arizona on a daily basis is helping somewhat, but there is more work to be done to put a significant dent into the heroin trafficking into the United States.
Heroin can be hidden in just about anything. Arizona border control has learned that heroin can be strapped to a baby, hidden in any part of a car, even inside tires. Another scary trend that is being noticed throughout Arizona is that some people are simply walking across the state line carrying the heroin themselves. Agents have picked up grandmothers and children carrying heroin for drug cartels. Had the heroin not been intercepted it would have gone on to safe houses where it would have been distributed to waiting transporters for further distribution.
Once the heroin leaves Arizona it usually travels to major cities throughout the United States, and the usual destination is often into teenagers’ hands. The alarming number of youth who are abusing heroin is growing at a rate that is shocking law enforcement and families throughout the country. “We’ve seen a number of deaths and overdoses among young people – people who are naïve about heroin,” says Gil Kerlikowske the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
In the past, young adults have had to travel to the inner city to obtain the heroin they are seeking. Now, because there is such a demand for the potent drug, most teenagers can get their hands on heroin without ever having to leave their town. As the drug makes it way from the Arizona border into the homes of many American families, it may be time to look at alternative ways to combat the growing heroin problem in the country.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on August 15, 2014 under AZ Drug Rehab News |
When a couple living on a ranch in Arizona suspected that illegal immigrants were sneaking through their property, they set up hidden cameras in the hopes of catching the trespassers. What they found indicates more of a problem than they originally thought.
Jim and Sue Chilton have long feared the immigrants sneaking through their property – simply because of the illegal activity. They have come face to face with armed trespassers and even caught them sneaking through their home. The Chiltons were sure that these immigrants were also smuggling drugs through their property and had alerted law enforcement several times. Because of the demand on law enforcement in the Arizona towns that border Mexico, it was hard to get anything done without proof that there was a problem.
When law enforcement failed to provide assistance, the Chiltons turned to SecureBorderIntel.org, an advocate group that helps people protect their property from drug smugglers. The group helped to set up cameras on the Chiltons’ 50,000-acre ranch in the hopes they would catch the smugglers in action. When the group came back to check the video footage, they found several groups of men carrying backpacks known to be used in the smuggling of drugs.
Illegal immigration and the smuggling of drugs into Arizona is a problem that ripples throughout the state and the rest of the country. Trespassing and smuggling is so prevalent in this area that families like the Chiltons have resorted to walking around their property in groups, rather than go out alone. Illegal immigrants smuggling drugs into Arizona are oftentimes armed and dangerous.
Now that the Chiltons have gathered evidence proving their land is being overrun with smugglers, law enforcement in Tucson have increased their security in the area. “Tucson Sector has rancher liaisons who are in constant contact with our stakeholders, including the Chilton family…Tucson Sector has deployed additional resources at the Chilton ranch to include personnel and technology,” stated the Tucson Police Department.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on August 5, 2014 under Opiate Abuse, Prescription Drugs |
Prescription drug abuse is a widespread epidemic that is sweeping the nation. Most addicts report that they obtain prescription painkillers by searching through medicine cabinets and stealing anything they find. Many people will have a prescription for these drugs, use what they need and then forget that they have the drugs in their home. In order to handle this problem, the Arizona State University Police Department and other law enforcement agencies throughout the Phoenix area are working together to bring awareness to the necessity of disposing of any unused prescriptions.
Ten new drug collection containers will be placed throughout Phoenix police departments. “ASU’S Police Department is committed to the safety of the university community, and this service is available for any citizen to use. Dropping off unused prescription drugs for safe disposal by police ensures that dangerous substances won’t be used for illicit purposes,” explained Michael Thompson of the ASU Police Department.
Getting these harmful and highly addictive drugs off the street is a high priority for police and policymakers. Phoenix is a city that is filled with college students and children who do not need to fall victim to a prescription drug abuse problem. New statistics show that most heroin addicts started their opiate addictions by consuming prescription pain medication. The hope is that by reducing the availability of prescription painkillers, lawmakers are effectively preventing people from becoming addicted to heroin in the future.
Making sure that residents of the community have a safe place to drop off unused medications is not a new thing; but the more communities that implement this service the more difficult it is for addicts to get their hands on the drugs. The hope is that more and more communities throughout Arizona will follow Phoenix’s lead and establish drop off sites within their own communities. While Arizona State University’s container has yet to be installed, it will be soon. Until the container is installed, anyone can dispose of their unused medications in other containers throughout the city. Arizona State University has also created an interactive map on their website where people can locate the nearest drop off site.
