Gulf Breeze Recovery on the Increase in Heroin Users of 135% from 2002 to 2016
Gulf Breeze, FL (PRWEB) September 28, 2017 -- Heroin was initially marketed by Bayer pharmaceuticals in 1898 as a “non-addictive” substitute for morphine. The drug is certainly not new; however, you may have noticed your newsfeed littered with articles concerning the new epidemic among us. According to the most recent government figures, the number of heroin users in the United States has jumped 135% from 404,000 in 2002 to 948,000 in 2016. Even more striking: the number of people who had fatal overdoses related to heroin has skyrocketed from 2,089 in 2002 to an estimated 13,219 in 2016 -- a 533% jump.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that about 91 Americans will die every day from opioid overdose; what’s worse is that this new number is triple the rates pre-1999. (US Department of Justice) From 2014 to 2015 there was a major spike in heroin use from 0.1% to 0.8% in teens and 1.8% to 2.0% for young adults. These percentages may not seem high, but that is about 200,000 more teens and 60,000 more young adults in just one year. Heroin has also been reported as the second most illicitly used drug among adolescents. (Rollins, 2016)
The use of heroin is historically viewed as a street problem that is detected in lower income, homeless, or otherwise individuals who’ve lost their way. However, this recent epidemic has shown that heroin addiction knows no socioeconomic status, no relationship status, no race, and no gender- it’s spreading all over the face of our country.
The CDC recognizes that the contributing factors to overdose deaths is due to the increase in prescription abuse as well as the accessibility of heroin. Additionally, abuse of prescription opioid painkillers increases the likelihood of dependency on illicit heroin by 40 times. (Brooks, 2018)
New information is frequently being gathered and analyzed, but the big question that we all need to ask is: what is being done to combat this?
• Trump Administration awards Grants to states to combat opioid crisis
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price, M.D. announced that HHS will soon provide $485 million in grants to help states and territories combat opioid addiction. The funding, which is the first of two rounds provided for in the 21st Century Cures Act, will be provided through the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grants administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
• The President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis
On March 29, 2017, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. ONDCP provides administrative and financial support for the Commission and its activities
When asked about the current opioid epidemic, Barnett Gilmer, CEO of Gulf Breeze Recovery stated the following:
One of the problems we face with the current crises is the ineffectiveness of the prevailing method of heroin addiction treatment in most residential drug programs. Most drug treatment centers are based on the disease management approach of the 12 steps of Alcoholic Anonymous, which was founded approximately 80 years ago. Another problem, at a much deeper level, is our failure to educate people on drug prevention based on the common misunderstanding regarding the source of where our feelings come from, what they indicate and how we actually experience life. We need more drug treatment centers based on our THRIVE non 12 step drug rehab program that focus on innate health, resiliency, and what is “right” with people. We need treatment programs that help people to see and understand why using drugs like heroin are an innocent but misguided attempt to find serenity, happiness, relief from negative feelings, etc. Programs that help people discover their insecurities and the driver of their actions, along with rediscovering who they really are enables them to become “captains of their own ship.” Our alternative to AA programs is not only effective as a means to attain sobriety but also as a way to achieve inner peace and happiness. It is a simple and sustainable way to achieve joy, experience more positive feelings and be less fearful of uncomfortable feelings. It is a way for people suffering with heroin addiction to finally improve their whole experience of life itself. A life where drugs and alcohol doesn’t make sense anymore. ~ Barnett Gilmer, CEO.
About Gulf Breeze Recovery: Gulf Breeze Recovery is changing the future of addiction treatment. Gulf Breeze Recovery’s THRIVE® program is designed for those who are looking for a drug and alcohol treatment program that may produce a different and positive result. This non-12 step program allows you to drive beyond your addictions and promotes a new outlook on life. Gulf Breeze Recovery’s THRIVE® program is designed for those who struggle with chronic relapse. Gulf Breeze Recovery is now accepting select insurance policies as a full or partial payment for all program costs. The exciting news is that people can now attend one of the most highly regarded drug treatment center in the country at little to no cost to them. For more information about our program or to speak with an Admissions Counselor, please call 855-973-3551.
Brooks, M. (2018). 'Alarming' new stats on US heroin epidemic. Retrieved from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/847651
Rollins, J. A. (2016). From the editor. heroin addiction: Not a laughing matter. Pediatric Nursing, 42(3), 109-111.
US Department of Justice. Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS). Springfield, VA: US Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); 2011.
Barnett Gilmer, Gulf Breeze Recovery, https://www.gulfbreezerecovery.com, +1 (855) 973-3551, [email protected]
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