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.

It’s more common than anyone likes to admit: suburban stay-at-home moms who abuse stimulants and other prescription drugs. With the myriad responsibilities and never ending “to do” lists, it’s easy to want a boost. When it works once, experimental use can become more regular and soon stimulant addiction is a problem – an embarrassing one that no mom wants to admit to. Getting treatment becomes increasingly more difficult to seek the longer the addiction lasts until the problem is so severe that family members are left with no choice but to stage an intervention.

If someone you love is addicted to prescription stimulant medication, contact us at The Canyon today. We can help you secure a spot for them in our prescription drug rehab program and help them – and you – find balance in life.

Suburban Moms and Stimulant Addiction: How it Starts

Stress. It’s a problem in almost every American life and stay-at-home moms are no different. The various classes, school schedules and supporting a working partner can mean that all the details – all of them – fall on the shoulders of the stay-at-home spouse. As a result, suburban moms are often tempted to get a stimulant prescription to help them stay on top of things –some even abuse their children’s Ritalin prescription, a common prescription for ADHD. Though Ritalin can calm children, it has a stimulant effect on adults and some moms use this to help them get through their long list of responsibilities with a little more energy.

Suburban Moms and Stimulant Addiction: Why It Continues

Like all drugs, once you start, it’s hard to stop. It becomes harder and harder to get things accomplished without stimulants once you’ve experienced doing them with assistance. Also, the crash afterward is difficult to deal with. Few moms have the ability to go to bed and recover for days at a time. As a result, they pop another pill to combat the exhaustion and keep going. It’s a never ending cycle.

Suburban Moms and Stimulant Addiction: Interventions

Families who are concerned about the stimulant addiction issues of their loved one can take action. Staging an intervention is one of the best ways to bring up the problem in a safe, nonjudgmental way and help your family member get the addiction help they need. Including the children is an option, depending upon their ages, and can help bring home the point that something needs to be done. Showing your loved one how her choices are hurting her and others in the family is a big part of a stimulant addiction intervention, but it’s especially important to make it clear that your loved one can be just as effective without the drugs.

Suburban Moms and Stimulant Addiction: Get Help at The Canyon

If you are ready to set up an intervention for your family member, secure a spot for her in our drug rehab program here at The Canyon before you begin. Call us now for more information about our program and how to get started.

Jenna Jameson has evolved into a household name. Most notably, her career within the adult entertainment industry has gained her widespread notoriety. Less frequently do we hear about her struggles with prescription drugs. Us Weekly stays on top of celebrity gossip – and Jenna Jameson is no exception. The magazine published an article on April 27, 2010 outlining Jenna’s battle with an addiction to Oxycontin. It sounds as though suicide attempts have been an integral part of Jameson’s struggle throughout the past year, and her recent relapse invoked another suicide threat. Ups and downs are familiar aspects of Jenna’s year-long battle with opiate addiction.

Family members and friends are distraught as they attempt to wrap their minds around the insidious nature of addiction. They tiptoe between helping Jenna progress in her sobriety and enabling her addictive behaviors. The balance is difficulty for any family to achieve; a family’s difficulties are even more pronounced when a celebrity family member exists.

Jenna’s experience illustrates the volatility, emotional pain, and drama that often shadows an addiction. Her tiffs with estranged husband Tito Ortiz have been linked to drug use. Threats of a restraining order against Tito have been made by Jenna, only to be withdrawn “for the sake of the children”. Jenna’s unpredictable behavior is not atypical for someone battling an addiction to drugs. Opiates, in particular, have a nasty list of withdrawal symptoms that users undertake upon cessation of opiate use. Perhaps this is why relapses on opiates are so common – the physical and emotional discomfort associated with withdrawal from the drugs is seemingly unbearable.

Us Weekly quotes Tito’s lawyer as saying, “When you’re dealing with people on OxyContin they don’t always have the best sense of balance,” Matthews continued. “Jenna and Tito have [13-month-old twins sons] together. They planned on spending the rest of their lives together. They want nothing more than to work together on this.” As much as Tito’s lawyer may aspire for amicable relations between Tito and Jenna, the addiction may determine otherwise. Nobody can control the outcome of a person compulsively drawn to opiate drugs, despite their best intrinsic intentions to stop. An addiction is characterized by compulsive desires to use drugs despite negative outcomes, an acquired tolerance to drugs, and severe withdrawal symptoms upon stopping drug use. Jenna fits all of the criterion. As much as she may want to stay sober, nobody can invest in her sobriety with fool-proof fortitude. The motto in Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous is “one day at a time” for a reason. Regardless of the drug of choice, abstinence is difficult, and emotional healing progresses slowly. According to the website on oxycontin addiction treatment, “Oxycontin, like other addictive prescription drugs is able to short-circuit your survival system. It artificially stimulates the reward center, or pleasure areas in your brain, without anything beneficial happening to your body. As this happens, it leads to increased confidence in Oxycontin, and less confidence in the normal rewards of life.” Thus, Jenna’s probability of relapsing is not unique to the fact that she is a celebrity, has children, or any other separating factors. She suffers from a physical craving, a mental obsession, and a spiritual malady – just like any mere mortals without a track record in the adult film industry. Appropriate measures must be taken to ensure Jenna stays the course.

Darvocet is one of several narcotic pain medications used by countless people around the world. It made news recently by being pulled off the market due to heart health risks associated with the drug. The biggest concern was the development of irregular heart rhythms during use. This was revealed by a new research study released in November 2010.

After two previous requests to pull the drug off the market, the FDA finally decided that the pain management benefits no longer outweighed the risks. Prescription pain medication could be in your future, so it’s vital that you learn more about what happened with Darvocet.

Health Risks Too Much For Darvocet To Be Used

This just adds more proof to the idea that legal doesn’t always mean safe. Medications are an ongoing experiment, even the ones that have been used for a long time. Sometimes the research methods improve, sometimes a well-publicized event highlights a dangerous trend, or sometimes the data just shows the need for a change. For Darvocet, it was the research that acted as the final straw.

Does that mean other similar pain meds might produce dangerous effects? Not necessarily. However, it’s always important to ask your doctor about these kinds of risks before you start taking any type of powerful prescription painkiller. Whether you take it for occasional back pain or for a long surgery recovery, get the facts and stay alert.

Part of The Larger Problem With Prescription Drugs

Prescription pain medication certainly has its place in today’s society. It can give true relief for people suffering massive pain, the kind that can completely immobilize you for long stretches of time. For people in this type of long-term recovery, good pain relief is essential for maintaining quality of life.

For those who use pain medication more occasionally, it can make the difference between enjoying a family trip or staying in bed as soon as you arrive at the hotel. People who do stressful seasonal work like landscapers and farmers can have painful ailments during their busiest times. Carefully used pain medication can keep a person working when their livelihood depends on it.

Proper use depends on good medical monitoring and strict adherence to the prescription. Even a small deviation can lead to possible abuse. And in light of the current pulling of Darvocet, even proper use can put someone’s health a risk. Alcohol use, even small amounts, could increase the possibility of liver damage. Darvocet contains acetaminophen, which can be toxic to the liver in higher amounts. The combination of Darvocet and alcohol can be disastrous for the liver.

Anyone using more than the recommended amount of prescription pain meds could expect various health risks to develop. However, the irregular heart rhythm risk was present at even normally prescribed levels. With these additional risks, imagine how dangerous it is for someone to abuse or even become addicted to Darvocet.

Prescription Pain Drugs Controversial

Prescription pain pills are making controversial headlines. Prescription drug addiction is reportedly on the rise, and now Darvocet is pulled off the shelf. What’s the future for medically prescribed pain management? There’s no certain answer to that question, but one thing remains clear. The need for prescription drug addiction treatment is strong.

Fortunately, many treatment centers have responded by ensuring their programs deal with the specific needs of prescription drug addiction. Yes, many elements of addiction remain universal. But narcotic, opiate drugs require a specialized approach for best results. Also, programs have to be ready to help people from all walks of life and all ages, especially those who had good reasons for using the drugs in the first place.

With the rise in prescriptions handed out for painkillers like OxyContin and Percocet, benzodiazepines like Xanax and Valium, and a variety of stimulant medications, more and more people are concerned: what exactly is addiction and how do you know when you are in danger of developing an addiction to your prescription?

Many people believe that withdrawal symptoms equal drug addiction. If they feel ill when they are late taking their prescription, take too little of the drug or try to stop using the pills altogether, they immediately assume that they must be dealing with a prescription drug addiction. This is not the case. Even the DSM-V, the latest version of the diagnostic manual for the psychiatric and medical community, was updated to show the difference between physical dependence as characterized by withdrawal symptoms and substance abuse addiction.

What Withdrawal Symptoms Signify

Withdrawal symptoms mean that you are physically dependent upon your medication. This can happen with a number of different prescription drugs – not just those that are addictive in nature. Certain anti-depressants, blood pressure medications, and anti-spasmodics can create withdrawal symptoms if you stop using them suddenly, but not one of them will get you high or make you psychologically dependent upon the drug to function socially.

When Addiction is an Issue

Though it is true that withdrawal symptoms do not necessarily signify addiction, they are one of the criteria for an addiction diagnosis. In addition to withdrawal symptoms, those who are addicted to their prescription will also exhibit the following symptoms:

• Psychological cravings. If you feel like you simply have to have your drug of choice in order to get through the day, deal with uncomfortable emotions, accomplish tasks during the day, or interact socially then this is a sign of addiction.
• Compulsive behavior. Even those who want to stop using their drug of choice often feel like they can’t. They feel compelled to get high even when their rational self wants to stop using the drugs completely.
• Augmenting prescriptions. Many addicts crave more and more of the drug and when their doctor stops increasing the dose, they will seek other means of increasing the effect. This can mean duplicating prescriptions fraudulently, using alcohol to intensify the effect, or buying street drugs.
• Negative effects due to drug use. Almost everyone who lives with an active drug addiction finds it difficult to function. Money problems, work problems, relationship problems, health problems – the list of negative consequences of addiction are practically endless.
• The inability to quit. Despite the negative consequences of addiction, those who are addicted to their prescription are completely unable to quit on their own. No matter how many times they promise themselves or loved ones, it’s almost impossible to stop using alone. In these cases, addiction is clearly a problem.

How to Treat Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms related to addiction can be treated at a drug rehab center. Through inpatient or outpatient treatment, you can receive the medical care you need to fight the withdrawal symptoms and the psychotherapeutic treatment necessary to combat the other issues inherent to addiction. Contact us at The Canyon today to learn how we can help.

The senior population is the group most often prescribed controlled substances. About 17 percent of seniors over the age of 60 will be affected by prescription drug abuse according to one study, and another study says that 11 percent of women over the age of 59 are currently addicted to prescription drugs.

Recognizing prescription drug addiction in seniors is tricky but hugely important. The health effects can be devastating and the money spent on unnecessary prescriptions crippling. If you or someone you love is over 60 and dealing with prescription drug addiction, call us at The Canyon for treatment.

Senior Prescription Drug Addiction: Unnecessary Prescriptions

A recent study done on a group of seniors over the age of 60 showed that about half of all tranquilizer, sedative and painkiller prescriptions were prescribed unnecessarily or should have been prescribed for a shorter period. Seniors seeking prescription pills only need to mention pain to get the drugs they’re looking for. It is, unfortunately, extremely easy for seniors to begin and perpetuate prescription drug addiction due to the high number of prescriptions given to people in their age group.

Recognizing Senior Prescription Drug Addiction

It’s difficult to recognize senior prescription drug addiction. Family and friends aren’t always around so they may not notice changes. Few work outside the home so their addiction doesn’t show up in front of co-workers. Seniors also seem to get fewer driving under the influence charges, so it isn’t always recognizable that way. For this reason, it is important to notice other signs of addiction: mood swings, depression, irritability or agitation, inability to concentrate or stay involved in a conversation. Too often, these symptoms are brushed off as nothing more than signs of old age, but in many cases, they are far from normal.

Senior Prescription Drug Addiction: Risks of Drug Addiction

The risks of senior prescription drug addiction are huge. In advanced age, it’s easier for people to get hurt while under the influence or have accidents that hurt those around them, and accidents later in life can be deadly.

Mixing prescription drugs is especially dangerous for seniors as well. About 10 percent of Americans over the age of 60 drink heavily, defined as 12 to 21 drinks per week. When combined with sedatives and opiates, this can easily lead to an accidental overdose. Sedatives or sleeping pills are warned against for seniors for this reason. Even taken alone, accidental overdose through a misused prescription is a danger for seniors.

Senior Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment at The Canyon

Most seniors will not admit to prescription drug addiction or addiction of any kind. Even fewer will willingly opt for drug addiction treatment. However, withdrawal symptoms can also be devastating for those over the age of 60, so it is extremely important that seniors get medical drug addiction treatment if they are addicted to their prescriptions.

If you would like to help the senior in your life get the prescription drug addiction treatment they need, call The Canyon today.