Over the counter drugs (OTC drugs) are often heavily abused – especially by teenagers – and often used in the creation of other more lethal drugs, like crystal meth. Though OTC abuse and addiction are serious problems in the United States, the latest research says that a relatively small percentage of those seeking treatment for any drug and alcohol addiction in the United States were seeking that help for OTC addiction only.

In fact, researchers commissioned by the Department of Health from the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse found that just over 32,500 patients sought treatment in 2009 and 2010 for addiction help that included OTC drugs and that only 11 percent of those reported that their addiction issues were solely related to OTC medications – only about 3700 patients.

Meanwhile, addiction to prescription drugs like OxyContin, Percocet, Lorcet, and other painkillers as well as anti-anxiety medications like Valium and Xanax are on the rise.

Common OTC Drugs of Addiction

In recent years, many states have begun to better regulate the sale of certain medications containing specific drugs of abuse.

• Dextromethorphan (DXM). DXM is commonly found in strong OTC cough syrups. Between 1999 and 2004, the number of poisonings and overdoses related to the drug increased seven times over. The majority of patients reported experiencing DXM overdose and poisoning? Teens aged 15 and 16.
• Pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine is found in a number of OTC cold medications – all of which are now kept behind the pharmacy counter at drugstores and grocery stores. This OTC medication is often used in the making of crystal meth and is regularly abused by teens in its pill form for a stimulant high.
• Diet pill and laxative abuse. These two OTC medication are most often abused by teen girls in the interest of losing weight. Laxatives are used in large amounts to quickly get rid of excess food eaten before the body has a chance to process the calories while diet pills are taken in place of food to maintain energy without eating.
• Sexual Performance Enhancing Medications. These drugs are available over the counter and online and many teens take them in large amounts together with alcohol in order to enhance sexual pleasure. In large amounts, these drugs can cause heart problems in the short-term and in the long-term with continued abuse.

OTC Addiction Treatment

Drug addiction treatment can help those who are living with an active addiction to over the counter medications. Contact us today at The Canyon to learn more about our drug rehab programs and get started building a life for yourself without drug and alcohol abuse and addiction.

Jeff Conaway, famous for his role in the movie Grease, the TV show, Taxi, recently died after remaining in a coma for days. Perhaps due in part to his longstanding addiction to painkillers and his stint on Dr. Drew’s Celebrity Rehab on VH1, the biggest discussion is whether or not his death was due to a drug overdose. Most news reports stated from the outset that a drug overdose put Conaway in the hospital, but Dr. Drew himself visited Conaway in the hospital and offered a different story, saying that the issue was not directly related to drug addiction.

Judging from his family’s behavior, it appears that some in Conaway’s family may have a different theory. Before his passing, Conaway’s ex-wife and sister filed a restraining order against his ex-girlfriend, Vikki Lizzi. She had been visiting him in the hospital since he was admitted but the restraining order put a quick stop to that – even though Lizzi had power of attorney over Conaway’s estate and wanted to continue to visit him. After his death, the two women worked to get an autopsy for Conaway to figure out exactly how and why he died. Was it the power of attorney that had the women in Conaway’s life worried about Lizzi’s motives? Or was it her erratic behavior and her own drug addiction – both chronicled on Celebrity Rehab when she visited Conaway during his drug rehab stay and spoke with Dr. Drew? Perhaps it was the ongoing court battle that Conaway had started against Lizzi, alleging that his ex had injected him with painkillers and planted cocaine in the home they once shared.

For her part, some reports say that Lizzi believes that Conaway was given the drugs that ultimately caused his alleged overdose by a man he was staying with after the relationship between Conaway and Lizzi fell apart.

Still other reports say that Conaway’s coma and eventual death were suicidal in nature, that Conaway had purposely taken more drugs than he could handle in an effort to end his life. He was still on the mend after a near-fatal fall last year and, clearly, his home life was anything but calm and supportive.

No matter the cause of Conaway’s death, his life serves as a caution for those who are struggling with prescription drug addiction due to chronic pain. Treatment that is effective and ongoing is necessary, not only to preserve life but to improve quality of life. It’s not easy, but it is possible. If you would like to learn more about our painkiller addiction treatment program here at The Canyon, contact us today for more information.

Suboxone, a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of opiate withdrawal symptoms experienced by those undergoing opiate detox after heroin addiction, OxyContin addiction, Percocet addiction, and addiction to other painkillers. Once billed as a drug that was impossible to abuse, reports are showing now that Suboxone abuse has been a growing problem in the past two years.

The Good Side of Suboxone

Suboxone can be a crucial component to opiate detox. For those living with long-term heroin addictions or an addiction to a narcotic painkiller, a Suboxone prescription can dramatically change their lives, providing them with a far smoother and safer detox experience than they would have without it. Patients who use Suboxone to detox off of opiates report that their withdrawal symptoms are far less severe than without the drug; some even report that Suboxone provides some anti-depressant effects.

Additionally, Suboxone is available by prescription. Methadone, another popular drug used in opiate detox, is given to the patient daily and in person – he or she has to go to a methadone clinic to get their dose of the drug. Many felt freed from the stigma associated with these clinics when they found that they could get help for opiate addiction with a prescription they could take in the privacy of their own home. It made recovery from addiction finally seem possible for thousands who had previously considered the prospect of treatment to be far too emotionally and physically damaging to attempt.

The Bad Side of Suboxone

One of the drug’s biggest selling points was that it couldn’t be abused. Though Subutex, or a pure form of buprenorphine is used in the first few days of opiate detox, Suboxone includes a drug called naloxone, which can cause immediate withdrawal symptoms in users who attempt to abuse the drug or augment it with heroin and other opiates. Supposedly overdose proof and abuse proof, it seemed like a miracle drug for opiate addiction.

It appears now, however, according to the latest anecdotal evidence and early reports, that Suboxone not only has the capacity to be abused but could be highly dangerous when used incorrectly. Some say that while combining Suboxone and heroin is ineffective, combining Suboxone with methadone can increase the euphoric effects of both drugs. Some even say that, in low doses, patients who have a low opiate tolerance will experience a high when snorting the crushed Suboxone pills.

Fighting Suboxone Abuse and Addiction

The growing concern about Suboxone has caused many doctors, previously certified to prescribe this heavily regulated drug, to stop dispensing prescriptions. Though not impossible to find a prescription for the drug, many who are interested in getting the addiction treatment help they need are turning to private drug rehabs for assistance. If you would like to learn more about our addiction treatment programs here at The Canyon, contact us today for more information.

Emotions can wreak havoc throughout your recovery but never are they more striking and severe than in early recovery after prescription drug addiction. After months or years of numbing your emotions with Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet and other drugs, it’s difficult to adjust to the ferocity and sudden nature of your emotional responses.

Sometimes it’s a positive thing; the ‘pink cloud’ described by recovering addicts is pleasant and leaves you feeling like there’s nothing you can’t accomplish. The problem is that, like other clouds, pink clouds pass eventually and storm clouds come along as well. It isn’t easy to undo long-term habits and create new positive ones at the same time, while rebuilding relationships, making new friends, keeping up at work or trying to find a new job and staying clean and sober.

Increasing Positive Emotions During and After Prescription Drug Rehab

One of the best ways to help you cope after prescription drug addiction treatment is to make yourself happy. When you feel better, you take better care of yourself, treat others better, and increase your opportunities in the world. When you’re more successful in your relationships and your career, you’re less likely to relapse on prescription drugs – and it all starts with taking care of you and your mental health and wellbeing.

How to Make Yourself Happy During Prescription Drug Addiction Recovery

Here are a few things you can do to make yourself happy in recovery:

• Work out
• Get a good night’s sleep
• Take yourself to a movie
• Go for a walk
• Take a road trip
• Get a pet
• Practice stress management techniques
• Do something silly and fun
• Go roller skating
• Call a friend
• Keep a journal
• Read a book
• Watch your favorite TV show
• Cook yourself your favorite meal or order out
• Listen to your favorite band

Get Creative in Your Recovery

You know what makes you happy better than anyone else does. What relieves your stress or cheers you up when you’re sad? Are there certain people or places you like to visit? A specific song or band that always makes you feel better? Do you enjoy losing yourself in the art of writing or painting? Do you like to go to museums or spend the day laying around in the park? Make a list of all the things – even the little things – that make you happy and refer to it whenever you start to feel overwhelmed or tempted to revert back to prescription drug abuse.

It’s been a long road for Dr. Conrad Murray. Since the day Michael Jackson died due to an overdose of a drug provided by Dr. Murray, he has dealt with intense media scrutiny and legal conflict. His legal battles still aren’t over, and he’s added a new angle to the discussion. Now Dr. Murray is claiming that Michael Jackson’s death, though caused by an overdose of Propofol provided by Dr. Murray, was Michael’s own fault. Is it a desperate attempt to avoid conviction for the involuntary manslaughter charge, or is there any truth to Dr. Murray’s claim?

The idea that Michael Jackson committed suicide using a lethal dose of Propofol is likely not going to fly, but even if he could have inadvertently given himself too much of the medication and died as a result, Dr. Murray would still be to blame for providing him with the drugs and implementing the treatment in the first place. It’s the treatment itself that is undergoing the most scrutiny right now and whether it was Michael Jackson himself, Dr. Murray or a random visitor to Neverland, the fault still falls squarely on Dr. Murray’s shoulders.

Dr. Murray’s legal team has thrown another name into the mix: Dr. Arnold Klein, a longtime friend of Jackson’s. They have filed documents claiming that it is Dr. Klein’s fault that Jackson developed an addiction to Demerol and other strong narcotics in the first place and that the Propofol overdose was a result of that initial action. Their paperwork said: “Due to Mr. Klein’s actions, Mr. Jackson became physiologically and psychologically dependent on Demerol.”

The point? If he can prove that there was no little chance of saving Jackson physically by the time he signed on as his doctor, then he might be able to avoid having to take responsibility for creating the treatment plan he did for Jackson to follow and, allegedly, abuse.

There’s more. Dr. Arnold Klein was not just a friend of Jackson’s. He is also rumored to be the biological father of Jackson’s kids, Paris and Prince. This makes him a closer-than-average kind of friend and may have influenced the defense’s decision to pinpoint him as a suspected instrument in the development of Jackson’s addiction that ultimately led to his death. They even claim that he gave Jackson “scores” of Demerol injections in the months before he died. “Scores” translates to 51, according to medical records, but this may or may not even be relevant to the case. It’s up to the judge to decide.

What do you think? Is Michael Jackson responsible for his own overdose or is it the fault of Dr. Murray? Should Dr. Klein shoulder all or part of the blame for playing a part in the development of the addiction that eventually killed him?

One office manager brought her painkiller addiction to work with her – and then she allegedly brought thousands of painkillers home from work. Kathryn Watters has been brought up on criminal charges for ordering almost 6000 hydrocodone pills through the veterinary clinic where she works. According to the complaint filed at the local court house, Watters divided the pills between her and her boyfriend, and her boyfriend sold the drugs on the street.

How did she pull it off? Well, given the fact that she has been brought up on charges, not very subtly. She is said to have placed 11 orders over a three-month period. When each order arrived at the clinic, she is accused of destroying the invoice and putting the painkillers in her car.

Part of what gave her away was the fact that that veterinary clinic that Watters worked for did not use the hydrocodone pills that the office manager ordered. An associate veterinarian found 10 bottles of hydrocodone in a shipment at the beginning of February and alerted the appropriate authorities.

But the crime of stealing prescription pills isn’t the only thing on Watters’ arrest sheet. She is also accused of forging $4500 worth of checks from the clinic’s bank account and making them out to herself.

According to the report, Watters does not deny any of the claims. In fact, she says that is addicted to hydrocodone and “was not thinking right.”

Given the fact that she is facing 11 counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and five counts of forgery, it will be interesting to see whether or not the judge sentences her to drug addiction treatment or to jail. These two offenses – possession by any means of a controlled substance and fraud – are the two most common charges among women in prison.

But depending upon her history with the law and the state’s laws on drug rehab as a potential sentence, she may very well be given the opportunity to wipe the slate clean by attending a hydrocodone rehab. She is not charged with violence of any kind, which would preclude her from inclusion into a drug rehab sentence in most states. If offered prescription painkiller rehab has a sentence, she will need to stick closely to what is demanded of her by her probation officer and the rehab. Should she successfully complete the program as ordered, remain drug-free, check in with her probation officer as required, and commit no more crimes, she may be eligible to petition the court to wipe her record clean.

In the end, getting caught for her alleged crimes may be a blessing in disguise. Many are forced to criminally procure multiple prescriptions for painkillers or purchase drugs on the street in order to maintain their hydrocodone addiction. If that describes you or someone you love, don’t wait for a judge to order you to get the addiction help that you need. Contact us today to find out more about enrolling in our prescription drug rehab and avoid standing in front of a judge tomorrow.

It’s not easy to recognize the signs of prescription drug addiction among seniors. Many older folks live alone and those who visit them aren’t always sure whether the warning signs they are seeing really represent a problem or just an off day for their loved one. Fewer seniors drive, so it’s harder to identify the problems that arise from driving under the influence, and even fewer seniors work so job-related issues caused by drug addiction aren’t a warning sign. Early alcoholism and drug addiction is often misdiagnosed as depression among seniors, and yet it is estimated that about 17 percent of those over the age of 60 are affected by prescription drug abuse. Another study estimates that about 11 percent of women over the age of 59 are addicted to psychoactive prescription drugs and yet another study by Harvard University reports that 28 percent of seniors, about 7 million people, are taking prescription drugs that are hazardous to their health. Many think that the Harvard study only scratches the surface that as many as 33 percent to 50 percent of seniors are taking drugs that are harmful, in doses that are just too high for what they need.

How do we get seniors struggling with prescription drug addiction the help they need?

Prescription Drug Addiction and Senior Injuries

Many seniors are prescribed painkillers and tranquilizers that make them sleepy and unable to balance easily when they walk. Already unsteady on their feet, the incidence of slip-and-fall accidents that result in hip injuries increase exponentially among seniors prescribed sedative drugs. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that 32,000 seniors will fracture their hips as a result of falling while under the influence of painkillers or tranquilizers.

Psychological issues are not uncommon among seniors due to prescription drug use, and many organic disorders are exacerbated by these medications. The former president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine has said that as many as much as 50 percent of the delirium among the elderly admitted to hospitals is a side effect of their prescription medications.

The Dangers of Combining Alcohol and Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs are hard enough on seniors, but when combined with alcohol the effect can be lethal. It is estimated that about 10 percent of seniors drink heavily – about 12 to 20 drinks per week. Many don’t report the extent of their drinking even in the face of evidence like health problems directly related to alcohol abuse because they are embarrassed. Liver problems, kidney failure, heart disease and other ailments associated with alcoholism are prevalent among the elderly as well but few doctors identify alcoholism as the cause or a contributing factor due to the age of the patient.

Helping Your Loved One Accept Prescription Drug Addiction Help

Helping a senior family member recognize that they have a problem with prescription drug addiction is a difficult thing. Few want to believe it and even fewer will accept treatment. When you talk to your family member about the problem, wait until they are clear headed and sober, point out what they are missing by living in a haze, and let them know the risks associated with continuing to take dangerous prescription drugs and/ or drink heavily.