Prescription Drug Addiction On The Rise

 Drug Addiction

The reports shows that among those addicts entering treatment aged 12 and up prescription pain pill (opiates) admissions increased 6% from 1999-2009 and accounted for 1/3 of all opiate addiction treatment admissions during that same time. Prescription drug addiction to opiate painkillers rose 25% from 8- percent in 1999 to 33% in 2009. Along that are the continued barrages of Drug Policy Reform Activists who want to legalize marijuana under the mantra "end the war on drugs". We know that marijuana is 30-40 times more potent than it was in 1960's when its abuse really took off.


Government studies seem to lag behind what is already known by many of us in the treatment field. For years we have experienced ever-increasing treatment admissions for prescription drugs. A new study has been released as statistics are in with the new national report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration showing treatment admissions for addicts aged 12 and up has risen in the prescription opioid drugs, alcohol and marijuana categories.

Many addiction treatment professionals experienced with addiction trends know how to predict the future based on current market trends with pharmaceutical companies, drug policy reform and budget cuts. We can watch stock market reports and press releases to see what lies down the road for people entering substance abuse and drug rehab programs. In 1996, when the drug Oxycontin was released, many with either added or increased the size of their investment portfolios by adding this drug in hopes to increase their retirement fund.
Little did they know, or possibly didn't care, they were shooting themselves in the foot by causing increased detrimental liabilities to society by creating more drug addicts. This of course increased health care costs, flooded emergency rooms and filled up treatment centers and mental health institutes. Maybe those that invested in these highly addictive drugs knew what was to come and invested in those areas as well. As it happens studies have shown those that abuse marijuana, particularly people starting at younger ages, will develop depression and anxiety issues.

Treatment admissions for Benzodiazepine drugs like Xanax, Klonopin and Valium increased 200% during this same time frame. According the DrugFree.org over 7000 kids a day try a prescription drug, and if we are now promoting to our kids that marijuana has medicinal purposes and should be legal, treatment admissions for marijuana addiction is up, and drugs to treat anxiety and depression issues are more widely prescribed, then maybe the people who stand to profit actually do know what they are doing by destroying humanity and costing thousands of lives while they are filling their coffers.

Lee Otis is an addiction treatment professional and contributing editor to many drug rehabilitation information resources that includes San Jose Drug Rehabs

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