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% [?]

The University of Georgia has the right idea about preventing and handling alcohol and drug addiction. They have a program called SAAF (pronounced ‘safe’ - stands for Strong African-American Families program), and its statistics show alcohol use reduced by 28% two years after starting, 25% six years after starting, and a decrease in sexual behavior problems, marijuana use, and caregiver depression. They also estimate that the likelihood of conduct problems was reduced by 74% – they checked that after two years.

They’re really changing lives. And that’s what it takes to get rid of or prevent problems with drugs and alcohol.

Unfortunately, the program is only for African-Americans. God knows there are just as many caucasians and other races that need the same thing.

How do they do it? With videos, games and activities, the parents learn how to monitor their kids and how to communicate with them and give them emotional support. The kids – both younger and older kids - learn to set goals, handle peer pressure, and build strong relationships with their parents and other adults.

The program also includes instilling pride in being African-American. Something I’m sure Obama’s election also strengthened.

Someone should Obama about this program so it can be used more widely.  And parents who are having trouble with their kids or want to form a better relationship should find out more about it. Even if they don’t live in Georgia, they may be able to get some helpful hints on how to do something like it on their own.

Parents whose kids are already involved in drug or alcohol abuse - or parents in the same position – should get into an addiction treatment center for help. A good alcohol or drug rehab program will actually address some of these issues.

But if your kids aren’t taking drugs or drinking, and you want it to stay that way, consider something similar to SAAF. It will do a lot more than curb alcohol and drug abuse.

Popularity: 20% [?]