Pain Killer Abuse/Addiction In Arizona
Painkillers, as the name suggests include a comprehensive range of analgesics
and medication that are prescribed by a physician in order to relive one from
severe pain after a major surgery, an accident or a chronic disease. Painkillers
are classified into narcotic and non-narcotic drugs. Of these, the former ones
like aspirin, ibuprofen, salicylates and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
are entirely safe and not habit forming. However, the latter category of
narcotic painkillers like opiates and opioids, which include the natural as well
as the artificial forms of opium can prove to be addictive, if not administered
properly and very often are also misused and abused. Discontinuing them without
proper supervision can result in severe withdrawal symptoms.
In the recent years, a rising trend of painkiller abuse and addiction has been
observed in the state of Arizona. These include narcotic drug medications like
oxycontin and vicodin. Most of these painkillers are abused very frequently
since they deliver effects similar to those of traditional drugs and are also
readily available at very cheap rates. Studies reveal that fifty percent of
admissions to drug rehab programs in Arizona are cases of prescription
medication abuse. Investigations clearly indicate that there is widespread abuse
of prescription painkillers like oxycodone products, hydrocodone and phentermine.
These over the counter painkillers that are prescribed to alleviate acute cases
of pain are very often abused by the young and old alike since they can be
obtained easily through forged prescriptions, employee theft and other similar
fraudulent ways.
In addition to the above stated painkillers, other commonly drug medications
that are frequently abused include benzodiazepines, codeine, methadone and
dilaudid. According to the phoenix Division of the DEA, lortab, percocet, and
various other hydrocodone products are also amongst the most commonly abused
pharmaceutical controlled substances in the state of Arizona. Findings also
point out to cases where addicts have also used soma along with various other
analgesic controlled substances like ultram and nubain. Abuse of painkillers in
Arizona has reached epidemic levels and consumption of these narcotic
medications surpasses the intake of conventional drugs. Drug addicts and abusers
are known to chew, snort, dissolve and even inject them in order to experience
an immediate and powerful high similar to that of heroin or any other
conventional drug.
A major reason for the steady rise of constant abuse of oxycontin is due to the
fact that a single dose of this drug is enough to give the victim the pleasure
and euphoria that lasts the whole day long as compared to other drug medication.
Reports also show that a significant percentage of deaths in Arizona are
contributed to overdoses of oxycodone and many times even surpass the number of
deaths caused by traditional drugs. Although, the abuse of painkillers is
observed in all age groups and all strata of the society, the epidemic effects
of oxycontin have greatly affected the average, middle aged, working class
population of Arizona. In order to combat the abuse and diversion of
painkillers, the government of Arizona has introduced legislations that will
help them to bring the epidemic situation under control.
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Information on this page last updated on 10/19/2007