Drug Rehab News
The news and information on this page is taken from many sources and is merely an effort to help inform the public. It does not necessarily reflect on the views and interests of the professionals at this drug and alcohol rehab site. Some of these news items are from government organizations and some from private companies. All sources are acknowledged and the information provided by those sources is presented in full.
Prescription Drugs Kill More People in FL than Street Drugs
According to the 2007 Report by Florida Medical Examiners Commission on Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons
Just this month a report was
released by the Florida Medical Examiners Commission stating that
prescription
drugs killed more people last year in the state than even the most
dangerous street drugs such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.
“The rate of deaths caused by prescription drugs is over three times as high as the rate of deaths caused by all illicit drugs combined,” said Director of the Office of Drug Control Bill Janes. “We have not yet implemented a statewide monitoring plan [prescription drug monitoring program] that will help reduce the problem. The monitoring plan is our priority effort, but that is not enough. We are working to increase awareness among our families by focusing our efforts on communities, schools, businesses, churches, and the media. Prescription drugs are not safe and must be secured..."
The report indicates that prescription drugs (Benzodiazepines, Carisoprodol/Meprobamate, and all Opiods, excluding Heroin) continued to be found more often than illicit drugs in both lethal and non-lethal levels. The drugs that caused the most deaths included Methadone, all Benzodiazepines (Ativan, Xanax, Valium, Librium, Klonopin, etc.), Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, and Morphine.
Recent surveys from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration have also found that prescription drug abuse has been on a sharp incline over the past several years among all ages.
For more information about prescription drugs or to get help for a loved one battling addiction, call 1-877-421-9659 or visit www.drug-alcohol-rehabs.org or www.prescription-drug-addiction.org.
2.4 Million Started Using Pain Relievers in Past Year
More persons initiated nonmedical use of narcotic pain relievers in the past year than initiated use of marijuana or cocaine. This is the finding of a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that extracted data from the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
The new report, “Nonmedical Users of Pain Relievers: Characteristics of Recent Initiates”, shows that 2.4 million persons ages 12 or older initiated nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers in the 12 months prior to the survey, 2.1 million initiated use of marijuana, and 1 million initiated use of cocaine.
“While overall illicit drug use continues to decline among our young people we are always paying close attention to the data to identify any potential areas of concern,” said SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie. “Abuse of prescription pain medication is dangerous and can lead to the destructive path of addiction. The initiation rates show we must continue our efforts help the public confront and reduce all drug abuse.”
The new report shows that 48 percent of new initiates used Vicodin®, Lortab® or Lorcet®; 34.3 percent used Darvocet®, Darvon®, or Tylenol® with codeine; 20 percent used Percocet®, Percodan® or Tylox®; 18.4 percent used generic hydrocodone; 14.3 percent used generic codeine; 8.4 percent used Oxycontin®; and 4.3 percent used morphine. Over half of persons who initiated nonmedical use of pain medications (54.9 percent) in 2004 were female.
Further, the report found that only 26.2 percent of the new initiates to pain medications started using pain relievers as their first illicit drug of abuse. Marijuana was used by 66.2 percent prior to starting narcotic pain medications; hallucinogens were used by 24.9 percent; and inhalants were used by 21.3 percent.
The report is available on the web at www.oas.samhsa.gov.
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