 |
|
Find A Drug Rehab |
|
Drug Addiction News |
Nation's ER's Report: Abuse of Anti-Anxiety Drugs Up
The number of drug-abuse related visits to hospital emergency rooms (ERs) involving benzodiazepine medications exceeded 100,000 in 2002, a 41 percent increase since 1995, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration's Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN). Nearly half of the emergency department (ED) visits involving benzodiazapines -- which include such psychotherapeutic sedatives as Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, and Ativan -- were connected with suicidal ideation, gestures or attempts.
> Read the Nation's ER's Report |
Prescription Drug Abuse in The Military
Today, some of the most pressing substance-abuse concerns in the U.S. military involve prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Some health officials contend that too many troops are being authorized to take antidepressants and sleeping pills, while others are worried about the illicit sharing of prescription drugs and the overuse of OTC meds by men and women in uniform.
> More on Prescription Drug Abuse in the Military |
For
Many, Stress Leads to the Use and Abuse of Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco...
Some of the Basic Facts
Stressful events can have a direct affect on the use of alcohol
or other drugs. Stress is a major contributor to the initiation and
continuation of drug addiction and alcohol abuse, as well as to relapse
or a return to drug use after periods of abstinence.
Stress is one of the major factors known to cause relapse to smoking, even
after prolonged periods of abstinence.
Children exposed to severe stress may be more vulnerable to drug use. A number
of clinical and epidemiological studies show a strong association between psychosocial
stressors early in life (e.g., parental loss, child abuse) and an increased
risk for depression, anxiety, impulsive behavior, and substance abuse in adulthood.
> More on Stress Related Usage
|
Contact Us |
Today's Date Is:
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
OxyContin ® Diversion and Abuse |
|
The
abuse of oxycodone products in general has increased in recent years.
In April 2000, The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
published a study, which examined two data collection sources. The
DEA Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS) data
tracks the distribution of oxycodone and other opioid analgesics and
the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) Medical Examiner (ME) and Emergency
Department (ED) data ascertained the health consequences associated
with its abuse from 1990 to 1996. The JAMA study found a 23 percent
increase in the medical use of oxycodone with no corresponding increase
in the illicit abuse of the drug. However, 1998 DAWN ME data reported
a 93 percent increase in oxycodone mentions between 1997 and 1998
and the number of oxycodone-related DAWN ED mentions increased 32.4
percent from 1997 (4,857) to 1999 (6,429).
OxyContin ® is designed to be swallowed whole; however, abusers ingest the
drug in a variety of ways. OxyContin ® abusers often chew the tablets or
crush the tablets and snort the powder. Because oxycodone is water soluble, crushed
tablets can be dissolved in water and the solution injected. The latter two methods
lead to the rapid release and absorption of oxycodone. The alcohol and drug treatment
staff at the Mountain Comprehensive Care Center, Prestonsburg, Kentucky, reports
individuals who have never injected drugs are using OxyContin ® intravenously
and they have never seen a drug "proliferate like OxyContin ® has since May
2000." The staff at this center has over 90 cumulative years' experience conducting
drug evaluations.
OxyContin ® and heroin have similar effects; therefore, both drugs are attractive
to the same abuser population. OxyContin ® is sometimes referred to as "poor
man's heroin", despite the high price it commands at the street level. A 40 mg
tablet of OxyContin ® by prescription costs approximately $4 or $400 for
a 100-tablet bottle in a retail pharmacy. Street prices vary depending on geographic
location, but generally OxyContin ® sells for between 50 cents and $1 per
milligram. Thus, the same 100-tablet bottle purchased for $400 at a retail pharmacy
can sell for $2,000 to $4,000 illegally.
OxyContin ® is, however, relatively inexpensive for those covered by health
insurance, since the insurance provider covers most costs associated with doctor
visits and the prescription. Unfortunately, many OxyContin ® abusers whose
health insurance will no longer pay for prescriptions and who cannot afford the
high street-level prices are attracted to heroin.
Opioids, Pain, and Addiction
Addiction to opioids used for legitimate medical purposes under a
qualified physician's care is rare. According to the National Institute
on Drug Abuse, however, many physicians limit prescribing powerful
opioid pain medications because they believe patients may become addicted
to the drugs. Recent evidence suggests that, unlike opioid abusers,
most healthy, nondrug-abusing patients do not report euphoria after
being administered opioids, possibly because their level of pain may
reduce some of the opioid's euphoric effects making patients less
likely to become abusers. |
|
 |
Source: National Institute on Mental Health |
|
 |
|
 |
|