Every month nearly 9% of the
American population engages in illicit drug use. Nearly 3% mis-use
prescriptions and 16 million are categorized as alcohol abusers or alcoholics. Reports
indicate that drug use is rising at alarming rates with those as young as 8
years old.
The main culprits include marijuana,
prescriptions and new synthetic drugs that mimic the effects of illicit
substances like methamphetamine and pot. And costing our country $468 billion a
year the main question we ask is how we can combat this growing problem?
Ways
To Combat Drug Use
Narconon reviews on the subject of
drug use point to a few little-known facts which are:
- Drug abuse begins as a problem in which a person does not have a solution for. They become a temporary solution alleviating unwanted feelings.
- Because of the nature of these substances, users get “hooked” and are both mentally and physically unable to stop.
- Drugs store in the body causing physical cravings years after use further complicating the issue of quitting and being the reason for up-trending relapse rates in the country.
- With professional, long term and drug free treatment a person can fully and completely recover from addiction.
So how do we start with combatting
use?
One of the first ways to do this is
through prevention efforts. Studies have shown that parents who talk to their
kids about the dangers of drugs minimize the possibility of use by 40%. This
paired with drug education lectures in schools, through community groups and
extra-curricular activities can be even more effective at stopping use before
it starts.
The next step in battling drug use
is through early detection and handling. Parents should be educated on the
signs and symptoms of drug abuse, the types of substances most abused by teens
and how to know when someone is ‘under the influence.’ If they see the symptoms
of use with a loved one, they should not pass this off as “growing pains” or
“experimentation” but help stop it through getting treatment for their loved
one.
The earlier the treatment is gotten
the easier the problem can be remedied and the better success the individual
will have with long term and permanent sobriety.
Another key component of stopping
the rise of abuse is getting addicts rehabilitation. Of the 23.5 million people
addicted to illicit drugs in the United States only 3% enroll in treatment
every year. That leaves a lot of people that suffer from the negative
consequences of the problem like health issues, overdoses, crime and lost
production in the workplace; not no mention the devastation it puts on
families.
Friends and family members of those
addicted have to see to it that the drug user gets help. The best type of help
is a program lasting 3 months or longer, residential and that does not use
drugs to get someone off drugs or subscribe to replacement drug therapy
approaches. Drug court rehab programs are also another avenue of treatment for
those who have found themselves in the position of having criminal charges resultant
from their addiction.
Most importantly, when it comes to stopping
addiction it is key to confront the issue head-on with workable solutions.
Source:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/druguse.htm
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