Students starting and the University of Virginia this semester will have the opportunity to do a special orientation on alcohol abuse. The program actually starts in August online and continues once school starts. This is sure to prevent a lot of college kids from needing an alcohol rehab center but what I can’t figure out is why this program is optional.

Shouldn’t it be for every student?  ”Every year we hear about students across the country dying from alcohol poisoning,” said Susan Bruce, director of the university’s Center for Alcohol and Substance Education. “We don’t want that to happen here.” So, if the school is so concerned, what is the deal with making it optional?

Another kind of strange thing about the program is the focus on ensuring kids don’t think the alcohol problem is that bad at UV. While UV is not even in the top 20 party schools, to UV’s credit, I hope this doesn’t have the effect of minimizing the situation or the dangers.

According to statistics, it’s likely that about one in five college students could use some time in a drug or alcohol rehab center. It really is time colleges  and universities cracked down. So, even if this program is not the ideal, it’s a big effort. And if it’s done right, it should keep a lot of kids safer and ensure an alcohol rehab center isn’t the next step in their education. Want more info. Check out these articles on alcohol and drug addiction treatment?

Popularity: 10% [?]

Want to get rid of drugs in your community? Check out what happened in Tallahassee, Florida. Several members of the community told the police that people were growing marijuana - in about 1/2 dozen different locations - and now the offenders are busted. The result could be a lot of kids who aren’t looking for a drug rehab in Florida.

The program that furnished the police with the information for the bust is called Crime Stoppers - it has, among other things, an anonymous tip line for members of the community who want to report criminal activity. The organization is funded by the State.

Great idea. In many communities it’s hard to remain anonymous when reporting something to the police. People think it’s dangerous to ‘get involved.’ And, in truth, it can be. Especially when you’re talking about drug addiction - drug addicts, and dealers, can get pretty nasty when someone comes between them and their drugs, or their money.

Check in with the police in your area to see if a similar program is available. There are literally thousands of drug addiction treatment centers in Florida and many are supported by taxpayers. Programs like Crime Stoppers could reduce the drug addiction problem, and enable communities to put their money into education and other beneficial programs.

Popularity: 9% [?]

I was recently reading information about drug rehab in Florida and the substance abuse problems in various Florida counties. I came across an alcohol and drug abuse survey from Hernando County that had a section on protecting your kids from drug use. In 2000 the drug problem was much different than it is today - prescription drug addiction and abuse is as big a problem as illegal drugs.

According to the Hernando County document, you are more likely to prevent drug use if your kids have healthy beliefs and clear standards, if you have bonded with your kids and are involved in their lives, if they have opportunities for development, if their efforts are recognized, if they have the skills necessary to be successful, and if they have a sense of hope.

Have you checked the above list as it applies to your kids lately? If these things are in place, and if you talk with your kids and let them know about the dangers of drugs, there’s a much better chance of them saying no when they’re offered drugs - which you can bet they will be. Prescription drug addiction is growing at epidemic proportions and often requires drug detox and drug rehab. In Florida there are several facilities to get help, but the only real way to be safe is prevention.

Popularity: 9% [?]

I’ve just run across some amazing statistics about drug abuse in Sarasota, Florida. Alcohol consumption is the highest rate in the state - as it is in any area - but centers offering drug rehab in Florida are being inundated with people taking prescription drugs. In fact, the number one cause of accidental death in Sarasota County is now poisoning, and 96% of those are from drug overdoses. And I can guarantee the majority of that involves prescription drug addiction or abuse.It’s worse than Tampa, worse than Miami - and those places are pretty bad.With so many drugs around, and with so much drinking going on, the chances of someone you know – even your kids or your spouse – not taking drugs or drinking to excess are slim to none.  One out of every ten high school kids have used prescription drugs illegally, and one in five young adults in college or work got high on some drug or other in the last month - those are Florida-wide statistics, but Sarasota is at the top of the list.Families should be aware of this problem and ensure that their kids, their husbands and wives and so on are aware of the dangers. And if there’s any kind of problem – with alcohol, illegal drugs, or which prescription drug addiction or abuse, get help immediately. Finding a drug rehab in Florida is easy, but finding one with a high success rate isn’t. Contact Drug Rehab Referral to get the help you need.

Popularity: 9% [?]

I read a blog today which referred to an article about drug testing in schools. The author was against the testing because, he said, the only drug that stays in the system long enough to be detected is marijuana.  This is apparently driving school kids to other drugs. This may also be one of the reasons for the increase in prescription drug addiction and the number of people on prescription drugs going into drug rehab. Florida is nicknamed the ‘pill state.’ That gives you an idea of how serious the situation is.

Personally, I don’t think drug testing is the source of the problem. I believe the majority of schools don’t do drug testing at all - and they have the same problems.

Prescription drug addiction is largely due to the accessability, acceptability, and convenience of prescription drugs. They’re in practically every household medicine cabinet, they come from a doctor so are considered safe, and you don’t have to find a drug dealer to buy marijuana or find a place to smoke it where the smell is not going to be noticed. You just pop a pill.

If your kids are already taking drugs of one form or other - and if you don’t know, you’d better find out - there’s a good chance they’ll also get into prescription drugs. And, believe it or not, they’re more dangerous than many of the illegal drugs around. Your best bet is to get help. Drug rehab in Florida is plentiful.  In the meantime, what about drug testing? Should it be stopped? 

Popularity: 9% [?]

If you’d like to get an inkling of what prescription drug addiction can be like, check out Addressing Addiction: A Letter to OxyContin. The author of the letter is getting help through drug court.

She’s a mom. Although, from the letter, it seems she’s now lost her kids. And her husband. And just about everything else she owned. Her prescription drug addiction took it all. For her, the drug was OxyContin. A drug that millions of people in America are taking right this minute, and most of them got the drug from their doctor.

And some will end up in the same condition as the author of this letter.

To find a drug addiction treatment center that can help you or someone you care about before it gets to that point, give Drug Rehab Referral a call.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Going into a drug addiction treatment center for a short time is not enough to handle a drug problem according to Dr. Drew. That’s no surprise to professionals who deal with drug addiction every day - and the stats are there to prove it. Long term residential treatment programs have better results than the two-to-four week stays in the luxury drug addiction treatment centers most frequented by celebs.

They are a revolving door, and they give people the idea that drug rehab doesn’t work.

In fact, it does. There are people who have gone to drug rehab over and over again without ever really devoting the time necessary to get through the addiction and get their lives turned around so they can stay drug-free. They get off the drugs and think that’s about all there is to it. Not so - you have to address the reasons behind the drug use. And those reasons are often deep-seated. They’re not going to go away in a week or two.

We’re talking about addiction, not just a physical dependency.

The first step is to realize you have a problem. Handling the problem begins with addressing the physical dependency on drugs but, once that’s handled, you still have to get down to the bottom of why the person’s using drugs in the first place. And that’s what a good, long-term residential drug addiction treatment center does. Make sure that’s the kind you choose if you have a drug problem - whether it’s with street drugs or prescription drug addiction. Drug Rehab Referral can help you find one. Check them out.

Popularity: 11% [?]

The number of deaths in Florida from prescription drugs is on the rise. In fact, an analysis of autopsies performed in 2007 showed that prescription drugs caused three times the number of deaths as illegal drugs. Although the deaths would have occured in a variety of situations, there’s no doubt that many involved prescription drug addiction and those people may still be alive today if they have gotten into a drug rehab in Florida.

One of the things that makes prescription drugs so dangerous is that people think they’re safe. They don’t expect to die from something prescribed by a doctor (even if it wasn’t prescribed for them) and they don’t expect to develop a prescription drug addiction and end up in drug rehab. Florida, fortunately, has more drug addiction treatment centers than any state other than California or New York. So, there’s plenty of help available.

It’s important to understand these drugs and to make sure that others do as well. If you know someone who might have a problem with prescription drug addiction, make sure you get them into one of the many facilities the offer drug rehab in Florida so they can get help. 

Popularity: 10% [?]

A National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Colombia University report says  84% of Internet pharmacies don’t require a prescription. Is it likely that the people buying drugs on these sites are looking for something to help their blood pressure? No - for that they would have a prescription. Chances are we’re looking at the specific drugs that are fuelling the prescription drug addiction epidemic.

Interestingly enough, Go Daddy - which focuses primarily on domain name registration plans  and Web site design and hosting packages - is taking an interest in helping to handle this problem. In 2007 their abuse department suspended 1,300 sites that sell prescription drugs without a prescription. They also said that most don’t even require age verification.

Go Daddy has challenged other companies that offer the same or similar products to do the same. Only recently has keeping the Internet safe included preventing prescription drug addiction, dependency and abuse. Kids who used to have their parents’ credit cards to download music are now ordering drugs. And, chances are, they’re also giving them to their friends.

If you find out your kids doing the same, look for a drug addiction treatment center that can help them get through drug detox, drug rehab and any other services they need.

Popularity: 13% [?]

I read an article today that said there are more facilities that offer drug rehab in Florida (as well as drug detox and other types of treatment) than in any state other than California and New York. And it’s a good thing - Florida is nicknamed the ‘pill state’ because of the huge volume of prescription drug addiction, dependency and abuse cases.

As of 2006, there were 668 treatment facilities and in March of that year alone they serviced 52,000 people. That’s 1677 a day - an amazing statistic from the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services.
 
Unfortunately, not all facilities that offer drug rehab in Florida are created equal. Some have low success rates - people leave clean after treatment but get back into drugs or alcohol afterwards. I would advise that someone looking for a successful program contact Drug Rehab Referral. These are pros who’ve been in the business a long time. They’re very familiar with the different types of programs available and can advise you of the best for your situation.

Prescription drug addiction isn’t the only drug problem in Florida although it’s probably more insidous than problems with other drugs: Often people don’t realize they have a problem - they think the pills are safe because they are prescribed by doctors. Eventually, when they try to stop taking them they find out it’s not easy to do. This is especially true of prescription painkillers like OxyContin. Taken for anything other than the shortest length of time you’re sure to develop a physical dependency and addiction is often not far behind.

If you or someone you care about is having a problem with prescription drug addiction or dependency - or you even suspect that might be the case - give Drug Rehab Referral a call. They can help you figure out if you have a problem or not, answer all your questions, and, if needed, help you find the right facility for drug detox or drug rehab. In Florida there are hundreds available - make sure you get one that will get the job done.

Popularity: 11% [?]