Prescription Drug Abuse in Cape May County, NJ
To say that the problem of prescription drug abuse has gotten out of hand might actually be an understatement. More than 12 million Americans reported involvement with prescription drug abuse in 2012. In the eleven years between 1999 and 2010, the number of people who died as a result of prescription drug abuse in America quadrupled. In fact, more people die as a result of prescription drug abuse than from the use of all other drugs combined. This has led the Centers for Disease Control to call prescription drug abuse an epidemic.
The History of an Epidemic
It hasn’t escaped the watchful eyes of public health experts and officials that the significant rise in prescription drug-related deaths closely corresponds with the concerted effort to understand and treat chronic pain that began in the late 1990s. Around this time period, researchers were encouraged to put more effort into understanding the mechanics of chronic pain treatment, and health care providers were urged to be liberal in the prescription of pain medications in order to promote what was referred to as “compassionate care.”
This pivotal moment in American public health history didn’t take place behind closed doors. In fact, Congress itself declared a “decade of pain control and research” beginning in 2001, and many organizations were founded on this basis, including the American Academy of Pain Medicine and the American Pain Society. For the next several years, no area of medicine reflected more growth or public interest, and prescriptions for pain medication increased radically in frequency and dosage.
Where Does That Leave Us Today?
Then and now, the overwhelming majority of prescription drugs that are abused were obtained with a legitimate prescription. That doesn’t mean that doctors are at fault for the epidemic however. Many factors have made prescription drug abuse a difficult problem to remedy. Pharmaceutical drugs are an important part of modern medicine’s ability to effectively treat so many conditions, but their sale is also a huge source of profit for those who manufacture and distribute them. Responding to the issue appropriately is a work in progress, and requires that all factors be considered and addressed, while also ensuring that proper medical care isn’t unnecessarily withheld from those in need.
Treatment for Prescription Drug Abuse
Fortunately, the methods we have for dealing with prescription drug abuse at the individual level are somewhat less complicated and significantly more effective. With a combination of medical detox, focused therapy, and ongoing care under the supervision of knowledgeable health care providers, individuals facing addiction or abuse disorders can reclaim their health, self-confidence, and sense of purpose in life, all while learning to live a balanced and happy lifestyle in spite of their condition.
At Cape May County Drug Treatment Centers, we wish no less than this for anyone. If you are interested in finding out more about our recovery programs, or have questions about prescription drug abuse, please feel free to get in touch with us at (609) 756-3686 today.
