Opiates are a class of drugs stemming from the opium poppy in order to produce short- and long-term painkilling effects. These drugs include some of the world’s oldest medicines and are some of the most commonly abused. The United States has been no stranger to drugs such as cocaine, morphine, and heroin, and many have been combating addiction to a variety of drugs throughout history. However, there are new trends that need to be examined and focused on through treatment to help many addicts.
Throughout the 1990’s, heroin and cocaine were the most commonly abused drugs in urban areas of the United States. However, opioid analgesics became the main cause of drug related deaths by 2002, particularly methadone and oxycodone.[1] Domestic sales of these drugs have increased exponentially over the past fifteen years as a result of increase in prescriptions written by physicians in order to treat pain. A main cause of abuse and death of these drugs is caused by “the long duration of action of methadone and OxyContin… Abusers have learned to ingest and inject pulverized OxyContin pills, defeating the controlled-release mechanism and releasing dangerous amounts of the drug within a short time.”[2]
Many addicts are suffering from prescription drug and heroin abuses throughout San Diego County, and deaths as a result have increased. Dr. Robert Winokur has “seen an escalating trend of abuse of opiates… including prescription drugs such as OxyContin, Percocet and Vicodin.”[3] Parents who have experienced the death of a child due to drug abuse are trying to make a difference, speaking at school assemblies and organizing alternatives for teens. Far too often in the last decade, parents have found their child lying unconscious due to OxyContin and other analgesic drugs, these numbers have more than doubled in the last fifteen years.1
Some addicts suffer in silence, or don’t have full knowledge of their addiction, but others are desperately trying to stay sober. Addiction is a disease, and one that is responsible for far too many deaths within San Diego County. Southern California offers a wide range of opiate detox programs and treatment options, from inpatient to outpatient, which can help teens and adults find relief from their addiction. Speak to any parent who has lost a child due to this disease, and they will undoubtedly convey the importance of seeking treatment early, especially if the addict understands the dangers of their disease and wants to enter recovery. Long-term sobriety is not a simple task for anyone with a drug or alcohol addiction, but peers who have similar experience are available to help addicts get into treatment. The epidemic at hand in San Diego County does not need to result in the death of countless young adults, but rather, awareness and communication can help many enter recovery.
[1] Paulozzi, L. J. “Opioid Analgesic Involvement in Drug Abuse Deaths in American Metropolitan Areas.” American Journal of Public Health 96.10 (2006): 1755-757. Print.
[2] Drug Enforcement Administration, US Dept of Justice. Drug intelligence brief—OxyContin: pharmaceutical diversion. < http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/ pubs/intel/02017/02017.html>. Web.
[3] Galang, Stacie N. “Drug Abuse Awareness.” San Clemente Times. 29 Mar. 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2012. <http://www.sanclementetimes.com/view/full_story/18047315/article-Drug-Abuse-Awareness?instance=home_special>.
