The general public typically doesn’t ask enough questions about prescription medications prior to taking them – and doctors might assume that people know what they're getting into when taking the drugs.
Spring Hill, FL (PRWEB) October 07, 2013
A growing number of Americans are struggling with substance abuse, with studies showing a fourfold increase in prescribing of opioid medications was associated with a fourfold increase in opioid related overdose deaths along with a six fold increase in patients requiring treatment for addiction related opioid pain medications (1). For brothers Kyle, Kirk and Bradley, the urge to use was more compelling than they ever thought and before they knew it, each was battling his own addiction. But with the help of drug treatment facility, Suncoast Rehab Center, the trio has managed to reclaim the lives they once believed were forever lost.
Recent studies show that that illegal substances are getting more concentrated and cheaper, which suggests the world's drug supply is increasing (2) - for three brothers, the availability of street drugs led to an increasing addiction that was hard to overcome. After several unsuccessful attempts to beat addictions to substances ranging from opiates to heroin, each brother had returned to a lifestyle that was slowly killing them, as well as taking a major toll on their father both mentally, emotionally and financially – with one close call, in particular, standing out for the boys’ father:
Brad had almost died from an overdose while in Minnesota. He called me on the phone going in and out of consciousness only to mumble he was sorry he was such a mess up. Fortunately, someone saw him lying in the parking lot and called EMS. I still remember hearing the sirens pulling in. The medic asked who I was and I said “his father.” She told me the name of the hospital then said “we have to go” and hung up the phone. I have never felt so helpless in my life, and remember walking outside asking God to take me and allow my son to live.
Kyle was the first to seek help from Suncoast – after discovering the facility and its novel approach to tackling addiction, Kyle realized his chance at sobriety was within his grasp. Suncoast designed a program that catered specifically to Kyle’s needs and he walked out of the facility sober man. Inspired by son Kyle’s success at Suncoast, his father saw the chance for all three of his sons to have a normal life once again. Despite limited insurance and personal funds, Suncoast made it possible for Kyle’s twin brother, Kirk, and younger brother, Bradley, to also complete treatment at the facility. Now experiencing a sober life for the first time in several years, each brother credits Suncoast for helping them get their lives back.
According the Suncoast Executive Director, Tammy Strickling, today’s greater access to prescription drugs, as well as people underestimating the addictive qualities of the medication, are both contributing factors to the rampant rise of prescription drug abuse. And the recent crackdown on prescription pill mills, which have limited their access, has led many people struggling with addiction to turn to harder narcotics, such as heroin.
"The general public typically doesn’t ask enough questions about prescription medications prior to taking them – and doctors might assume that people know what they're getting into when taking the drugs," said Strickling. "So once a person becomes addicted, they’re at a loss of how to get off the drugs. And when they lose access to the drugs, they look for alternative means to achieve the same high."
Strickling says that treatment is the first step in helping people reclaim their lives from substance abuse, but the key to stemming the rising epidemic is through public education about the potential dangers of drug abuse.
“The public needs to be made aware of how addictive these substances really are,” Strickling said. “They need to realize that they have options—without public education, people will likely continue abusing prescription drugs and then other illicit drugs such as heroin, even though they may wish to live a sober life.”
Suncoast enables its clients to take the first step in conquering addiction and reclaiming their lives from drugs. Suncoast’s medical team designs treatment programs to physically address the malnutrition created by drug abuse, and the SRC counseling team tailors client therapy to help provide insight into the past—all intended to help addicts confront life better, and without reverting to drugs.
To learn more about the Suncoast Rehabilitation Center and its rehab programs, visit http://www.suncoastrehabcenter.com.
About Suncoast Rehab Center:
Located in Spring Hill, Florida, Suncoast Rehab Center provides long-term residential treatment, intensive sauna detoxification, life skills and cognitive therapy and counseling. Suncoast is licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families, and was recently awarded a 100% inspection score for the third year in a row. Suncoast has a mission to educate youth and adults about drugs and the dangers of drugs, with the aim of preventing future drug use and abuse. Suncoast handles the physical deficiencies, weakness and problems created through drug use, without the use of additional drugs. Clients are helped to uncover the issues that led to their drug use through counseling, therapy and life skills that put the client back in control of his/her life and future. Suncoast’s purpose in drug rehabilitation is to heal the whole person and give the person tools and education to remain drug–free. For more information, visit http://www.suncoastrehabcenter.com.
1.Glatter, MD, Robert. "FDA Announces New Labeling Guidelines For Longer Acting Painkillers." Forbes.com. Forbes Magazine, 15 Sept. 2013. Web. 20 Sept. 2013. forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2013/09/15/fda-announces-new-labeling-guidelines-for-longer-acting-painkillers/.
2.Knafo, Saki. "Yet Another Study Proves The War On Drugs Is Failing." Huffingtonpost.com. The Huffington Post, 01 Oct. 2013. Web. 02 Oct. 2013. huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/01/study-drug-war_n_4025500.html.
