An alarming rate of people residing in the West Memphis, AR area continues to raise concerns about the drug addiction occurring in the county. In 2010-2011, Arkansas was identified in a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program report as one of the top ten states for illicit drug and non-medical prescription drug use. The abuse of several substances, including prescription drugs, synthetic marijuana, heroin, and methamphetamine, is on the rise, particularly prescription painkillers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayThose who abuse prescription painkillers or "opioids" may not even realize they have an addiction until it's too late. Users will often start using opiate painkillers, but will need increasingly higher amounts as they begin to build up a tolerance to the effects of the medication. When they then stop taking the drugs, they suffer withdrawal and, ultimately, death. An Arkansas state epidemiological report identifies the reason people start using prescription drugs because they are highly accessible. The same report indicates that people who start by abusing prescription drugs are likely to use illicit drugs later in life, including heroin. This is because prescription medications are becoming more expensive and individuals often turn to a cheaper substitute. This fact is reinforced by the regional director of the drug treatment center, Raymon Carson, who states that "what is happening is that as the supply of pills dwindles, individuals who seek this effect are will turn towards increasingly dangerous types of use.” Although prescription drug abuse (not prescribed to users) was reported to have declined in 2016 since 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that prescription rates for 9 Arkansas counties had rates of prescription higher than the total national average. Arkansas is only second to Alabama in percentage opioid prescription rate, and according to TalkBusiness, it has 114.6 prescriptions per person, double the national average. The United States Department of Justice has announced what it claims to be the largest anti-fraud action in the history of the Justice Department. The report says more than 120 people, including doctors and nurses, among other licensed health care professionals, allegedly participated in health care fraud schemes totaling $1.3 billion in false billings. The defendants were charged for their role in “the prescribing and distribution of opioids and other narcotics.” Attorney Patrick C. Harris said “prescription drug abuse, particularly opioids, is one of the largest health and crime problems facing Arkansas.” A report from the Arkansas State Epidemiologic Outcomes Task Force identifies 11 of 15 causes of death in Arkansas. 2010 as being linked to drug addiction. According to ArkansasOnline, 612 drug-related arrests occurred between 2017 and 2018. The National Drug Intelligence Center reported 8,861 admissions to state-funded treatment centers in 2002, including users of amphetamines, crack , powder cocaine, marijuana and heroin. In 2017, theUnited States Census Bureau has identified Arkansas as containing 3,004,279 residents. The county's median household income rate is $42,336, with 18.8 percent of individuals below the poverty line. Arkansas' preliminary unemployment rate stands at 3.7%, significantly lower than in previous years. Although high unemployment is generally linked to higher percentages of substance abuse (source: 12 Keys Rehab), this has clearly not been the case in Arkansas County. The fight against drug abuse and dependence can only be fought if addicts are informed and given help regarding their addiction. In case you or your loved ones are struggling with drug addiction, there are many resources available that you can use to get them the help they need. Over the past 15 years, Arkansas has seen a significant increase in its prison population, most crimes are non-violent, and those incarcerated are incarcerated for reasons related to alcohol and drug abuse. People suffering from addiction may often resort to crimes such as theft to support their addiction. There are alternative programs to prison programs that offenders can often be admitted to, but the likelihood of this happening is very unlikely in most cases. Therefore, addicts should get help before doing something they would not have done without addiction. State-funded rehabilitation centers are available for those who cannot afford private rehabilitation. Most of these programs are tailored to the needs of each individual and can provide excellent professional support to all those admitted. There are 68 different treatment centers listed online in Arkansas alone. It pays to do some research before selecting a treatment center, as some will have negative but honest reviews online. One of the main reasons drug addicts choose not to go to drug rehab is the high cost of it. AlcoholRehab lists several reasons why an addict may choose not to go to rehab or leave early, how to avoid leaving early, and why it is not beneficial for the patient to leave early. Another helpful online resource is AddictionNoMore, a site that has a phone number the addict can reach to talk about your options or find more information about the type of rehab that would be best for them. There is a directory of free and low-cost rehab centers on the website for all states, including Arkansas. The rehabilitation process can last six months to a year, and Christian or charitable volunteers often speak at meetings. Now, this article will discuss the processes and procedures involved once the addict decides to leave. in rehabilitation. The specific steps will vary from center to center, but the goal and main processes remain unanimous. The process can be broken down into four simple steps: Admission Upon admission, the person who has registered will determine if this is the right place for them. It is important at this point to ask the rehab center questions or address any concerns. The center will also ask the addict a few questions and may ask them to take tests to determine how best to personalize the program for the individual. This way, they can effectively meet all the needs of the addict. The questions asked by the clinic will probably help them know the stage ofaddiction the person is experiencing, their history of use, and perhaps their family history of substance abuse. The individual will want to ensure that the center they have chosen is one that can help them and is the one that suits them best. It is important to remember that there is no shortage of options and they are free to opt out whenever they wish. Detoxification This stage of treatment involves detoxifying any remaining substances in your body. Some rehab centers only admit patients if they have been sober for a while, but most will go through the detox stage. The individual may then be prescribed a “maintenance medication” to help ease withdrawal symptoms more comfortably. These cases are more common among those seeking help for an addiction to prescription drugs or heroin. The detoxification stage varies among individuals with different body composition and metabolism, type of medication, dosage, and duration of use and ingestion of other substances. Since the detox process can be potentially dangerous and serious, it is strongly recommended that individuals seek professional help and advice instead of attempting it personally at home. Withdrawal When an addict has ingested substances regularly for a long period of time, over time their body will adapt to the presence of the drug in their body. Once detoxification of all traces of the drug is complete, the individual could potentially experience withdrawal symptoms, ranging from mild to extremely severe. Depending on varying circumstances such as the type of substance and individual tolerance levels, symptoms may begin to appear within just a few hours. Typically during the withdrawal period, symptoms experienced may include: Suicidal thoughts/loss of will to live Extreme fatigue Body cramps, including muscle pain Increased heart rate Insomnia Inability to concentrate Easily agitated Vomiting Hallucinations Heart attack Before admission , a licensed professional will examine the addict to determine the pharmaceutical or therapeutic course of action to take during the waiting period. People who use prescription drugs and heroin will often need medication. The most commonly used medications are methadone, buprenorphine, barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Be warned that these drugs can also be addictive if abused – recovering heroin addicts can sometimes stay on methadone for the rest of their lives. However, individuals will be assessed beforehand so that the likelihood of replacing one addiction with another is significantly minimized. Therapy Once the withdrawal process is complete and the individual's withdrawal symptoms have disappeared or become manageable, they will continue therapy. Three types of therapy will take place at this stage of the treatment process: Individual therapy Group therapy Family therapy These therapy sessions effectively help the individual during their recovery process by discussing why they started using and why they started using drugs. which he began abusing his drug of choice. Therapists will guide them through strategies to implement when they feel like relapsing, such as finding a new hobby, disconnecting from friends who might encourage them to use, and discovering new interests. Patients will learn time management skills, to better optimize their time on a daily basis to reduce the possibility of thinking about relapse. The therapist will help.