An interesting commentary article from the Phillipines talks about enablers – people who somehow support the bad habits of their friends and family. Gamblers who are loaned or given money, and drug abusers, and dealers, whose parents and family members turn a blind eye instead of getting them into an addiction treatment center where they can get help.

One of the problems mentioned in the article, which leads to ‘enabling,’ is trying to avoid conflict. I would say that’s a major problem – especially within a family.

When someone tries to talk to their husband, wife or kid about their drug or alcohol problem, there’s a good chance they’re going to meet with hostility. The addict, or alcoholic, will throw everything you’ve ever done wrong in your face, or will be beligerant and angry, will storm out of the house or go into another room and slam the door, and so on.

In other words, they attack the person who’s trying to help them and make the situation so uncomfortable the person either backs down or gets so embroiled in the argument themselves they can no longer do what they’d set out to do.

How can you avoid this? First, don’t try to speak with the person when they’re currently on drugs or drinking. When they’re sober they’re more likely to agree they have a problem. Second, try not to get upset when they do so you don’t give them anything to fight with. Generally, it takes two to argue.

Third, and most important, be ready to take them to an addiction treatment center right then and there. Have it set up beforehand so as soon as you get the person to admit they have a problem, you can put them in the car, on a plane, whatever it takes, to get them into treatment before they change their mind.

If you can’t do this, get help from an interventionist. They can help you see the whole thing through to the end. In fact, most interventions aren’t what you would expect. A good interventionist can get the job done without a lot of drama.

All the reasons you have wanted a loved one to stop drinking or taking drugs, all the fears you’ve had about it, are a reality. If you haven’t yet experienced the worst of it, ask anyone who has. And then get help through a drug addiction treatment center.

Popularity: 18% [?]

A recent news report called Xanax the new date rape drug. It’s usually prescribed for anxiety, is addictive, and can have pretty serious side effects. A girl quoted in the report said it’s commonly being given by guys to their dates, then followed with alcohol, at which point the girl becomes quite unaware of what’s happening cause she passes out.  At least she knew she was taking the drug. She could have refused.

Others aren’t so lucky. The medical director of a substance abuse treatment program said it’s becoming more and more common for guys to crush the pills and put it into girls’ drinks. They never know what hit them.

The girl interviewed, Leigh, not her real name, said prescription drugs are becoming very popular in college, for all kinds of students, not just in date-rape situations. She says they’re easy to get - all you have to do is go to a doctor and complain about the right symptoms. The students also give them to their friends. Or sell them.

As if all that weren’t enough, there’s the possibility of prescription drug addiction – not something most students think about because they believe that pills that come from a doctor are safe.

What can you do about it as a parent, a friend, or a college student? Educate others. Not just about date rape, but about prescription drugs in general, their dangerous side effects the possibility of addiction. And if you know someone who’s already taking them and can’t, or won’t stop, get them into an addiction treatment center. 

Popularity: 14% [?]

People in Everett, Washington, are taking OxyContin addiction and abuse seriously – they’ve formed a new group specifically to address the issues related to prescription drug addiction and abuse. OxyContin abuse is one of their primary concerns.

More communities should form similar groups. Not that there aren’t groups like that out there but most of them are government groups, not local citizens.

If I were forming such a group, one of the first things I would do is hook up with Drug Rehab Referral. We are aware of all the different types of addiction and abuse treatment available and which are best for specific drugs and situations. We can also help find a treatment center that is within your means and has a good success rate.

This is going to be one of the most valuable resources for any group interested in getting people off drugs. It’s hard to figure out what to do when someone has a drug problem – especially when it’s with prescription drugs. It can be harder to get off them than street drugs, and discontinuing them abruptly can be dangerous.

One thing I would comment on is the Everett group’s use of the phrase “Help Us Save Our Kids.” Yes, our kids need help. But adults may be an even bigger problem. Getting adults who use prescription drugs into a drug addiction treatment center will help win the battle with the kids. Parents who don’t take drugs are a lot more able to handle drug problems with their kids, or any problems for that matter.

Popularity: 16% [?]

In the town of Gloucester, Massachusetts, they are attempting to address the  prescription drug addiction problem with a medication disposal program. Old or unused medications are being taken out of medicine cabinets, where those for whom the drugs are not prescribed can get at them, and dropped off at one of several designated disposal centers.

This is a good solution, but I’m sure there are many people who don’t do it because some of those drugs cost a lot of money – something that some of us are finding a little harder to come by these days. Lots of people keep their prescriptions around so they’ll have them if they need them again – painkillers like OxyContin, which is one of the major concerns of those who organized the program, are a good example.

At this point, it’s pretty widely known that young people, especially, take drugs from the household medicine cabinets to experiment with them to see what effect they’ll create. They rarely know anything about the drugs or whether they’re safe. In fact, surveys have shown that the majority assume that since the drugs came from a doctor, they won’t hurt you.

Have you looked at your medicine cabinet lately?  Getting rid of your pills may be expensive, but it costs far less than a drug addiction treatment center.

Popularity: 14% [?]

It’s unbelievable to me that various states are fighting to keep their drug court funding. It costs far less to send someone to drug rehab than to prison and they get rehabilitated so they can stay off drugs, hold down a job and live a better life. They also stop their involved in the drug-related crime that affects so many lives in addition to their own and costs individuals, businesses, health insurance companies and the government so much money. When you consider that the majority of people who go to prison end up back in prison, the expenses are even higher. There are so many things desperately in need of the tax dollars used for prisons – all the money saved could be diverted to something other than locking someone up.

Nevertheless, lawmakers are threatening to cut drug court funding in Virginia (which has a serious prescription drug addiction problem and needs help more than most other states).

This is an issue the general public really should be up in arms about. It helps everyone – parents who are worried about their kids being exposed to drugs will have less to worry about, the environment will be safer overall, the cost of private health insurance could go down if we’re not paying for people showing up in hospital emergency wards because of overdoses or drug-related accidents – the list of potential benefits goes on and on.

As taxpayers, we have the ability to influence how our tax dollars are spent. If you don’t want our money to be wasted on systems that don’t work, like our penal system, get active – speak to your congressman to get them to back up drug courts, addiction treatment centers and other things that can effectively handle the drug problem.

Popularity: 17% [?]