Now, according to a recent Massachusetts news release, the state has passed a law requiring all pharmacies that dispense schedule II, III, IV or V prescription medications to make lock boxes available for sale at each location.

The new law, which adds Safeguards to the Prescription Monitoring Program and furthering Substance Abuse Education and Prevention, is expected to set precedence for other states in the nation.

The law suggests making available the Rx Locker, designed by Dr. Drew Pinsky, known as an addiction expert. This lock box is a storage device that is designed to hold as many as four prescription bottles, while still fitting inside the standard medicine cabinet. The box offers a metal combination lock to provide the necessary storage and security.

Part of the motivation for the lock box was the reality of the growing problem of prescription drug abuse among teenagers in the U.S. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, one in five teens have abused some sort of prescription medication, such as stimulants, pain killers, sedatives or tranquilizers. Of those who have abused, 70 percent claim they accessed the drugs from family and friends.
 

While some addicts have found the 12 steps to be the only path to recovery, there are other methods being deployed that seem to be viable options for some people. In many cases, these non-12 step rehabilitation programs are designed specifically for those individuals who have tried the traditional 12 step method and have determined they either did not like it or it did not work.

The traditional 12-step program relies on a Spiritual aspect, while a non-12 step program tends to be more clinical and scientific in its approach. Such programs tend to attract those who are more logically oriented in the way they do things as it follows a process more attuned to their disposition or personality.

The reasons for seeking out non-12 step programs are not as important as to what type of program will better suit the individual. It does stand to reason that an atheist or agnostic may not appreciate the Higher Power concept behind the 12 steps, but what type of program would such an individual be more inclined to find success?

One option may be the SMART Recovery program. SMART is an acronym for Self Management and Recovery Training. The Rational Recovery program is a family-based model that uses AVRT, Addictive Voice Recognition Technique. While not every solution will fit in every situation where a non-12 step process is desired, access to alternative options is important if the addict resists the potential of the 12-step program.

An individual with a drug addiction may seek a non-12 step program if they believe the 12-step program is designed only for those with an alcohol addiction. Non-12 step programs tend to work well in situations where the individual is seeking help voluntarily and for those who are directed to undergo treatment as part of a court-ordered program.

The type of treatment applied can depend fully on the treatment center selected, although many of the viable options today try to design their programs to cater to a wide range of addicts. Some prefer a holistic approach to overcoming their addiction, while others simply want to learn to live drug free. Whatever the motivation, the treatment center that can offer the program that best suits the personality and disposition of the individual is more likely to help drive a successful recovery.
 

Experts are blaming the Scottish Government for failing to make policies on drug abuse and failing to handle the issue of substance abuse. Professor Graeme Pearson, former head of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, said the situation is negatively affecting the economy, as business investors won’t want to come to an area with a high rate of drug abuse.

Afghanistan (where most of the world’s heroin is cultivated), Iran, Costa Rica, Russia, and Mauritius were the only nations with drug abuse rates higher than Scotland. Ecstasy use is one-third higher in Scotland than in England and Wales, with the rate almost doubling in the last six years.

Drug users spend an average of £1.4 billion a year on drugs, and there are about 50,000 heroin users and 750,000 cocaine users in the nation. Scotland also has more drug-related deaths than any other country. 1981, the death rate was 12 percent higher in Scotland than in England and Wales, and the figure increased to 15 percent in 2001.

In 2008, researchers estimated that about 32% of deaths in Scotland were attributed to drug use. Scotland’s crime rate is also more than double the rate in England and Wales, and six times the worldwide average.

Sources: Top News, Rasik Sharma, Drug Abuse Highest in Scotland: UN Survey, August 3, 2010

Herald Scotland, Helen McArdle, Scotland Among World’s Worst for Drug Abuse, August 3, 2010

The Post Gazette reported that a third man, Amir Ferguson, has been charged in the incident. This defendant told detectives that during the crime he was high on Ecstasy and cocaine. Ferguson was arrested at the hospital where he had been taken when he was shot in the arm during the gunfight.

The incident occurred when police arrived at a home seeking another individual on an unrelated warrant. People in the home had scrambled to escape when the police arrived. Ferguson reportedly charged at a deputy who had tried to arrest him. In the scuffle, he was shot when he ignored orders from the deputy to stop.

Other men in the house were high on drugs and readily engaged in the gunfire after the first shot was heard. Roughly 40 rounds were fired in the gunfight, which took the life of a mother of two. Ms. Hainesworth was 24 years old and reportedly not an innocent bystander.

Instead, Hainesworth was known to allow a drug dealer to use her apartment as a safe house for drug use and distribution. Police officers found about $50,000 worth of heroin in her purse.

Detectives are still unclear as to who fired the shot that killed Hainesworth, although insist the bullet did not come from a police gun. Hainesworth’s home was being ransacked by the accused men who were searching for the heroin they were told was in Hainesworth’s home.
 

Under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), all substances are categorized according to whether or not they have a medical application, the potential for abuse, anticipated safety of the substance and how easily people can develop a dependency, whether the substance is taken by prescription or for recreational purposes.

Substances that fall under Schedule III of the CSA are considered to have less potential for abuse than those substances that are listed under Schedule I or II. These substances do have an accepted medical purpose in treatment methods in the United States and abuse of such substances is considered to be moderate or low, although psychological dependence could be high.

Drugs that fall under Schedule III of the CSA include substances such as Anabolic steroids, codeine and hydrocodone with aspirin or Tylenol. There are some barbiturates that also fall under this schedule, although not all are included due to their potential for abuse.

For those manufacturers and retail establishments who distribute Schedule III substances, careful records must be kept on all distributions. Records do not have to be kept separate from all other documentation, much like the practice required for Schedule II substances.

Prescriptions written for Schedule III substances can be called-in to the pharmacy and refills can be assigned to the prescription. In fact, patients have the option of refilling the prescription as many as five times within six months of the issue of the prescription.

An interesting fact about the CSA is that it is written to allow for substances to be easily added and removed, or moved to another schedule if necessary. Substances that become a highly demanded drug on the black market may need to be included in a higher classification than originally determined.

The U.S. government relies heavily on historical data associated with certain substances in order to determine the risk for abuse. The trend toward abusing prescription medications has everyone taking a closer look at these classifications and security methods put in place to identify weak links in a system that could be improved.
As it stands, Schedule III controlled substances do not pose as high a risk for abuse as other substances, which make them easier to obtain. This ease, unfortunately, exists both in legal and illegal methods, which could ultimately change the schedule outcome in the future.
 

According to a report in the Winnipeg Free Press, the research was conducted by two Vancouver-based groups who argue that there is a significant disconnect between scientific evidence and policy.

Both research groups have demonstrated support for the Vienna Declaration, which is the official document of the International AIDS Conference. This document is laying blame on governments for ignoring research that demonstrates harm-reduction programs are helping to reverse the spread of HIV.

These programs include safe-injection sites and needle exchanges, which research suggests are much more effective at offsetting the negative aspects of the illegal drug trade, including the ongoing spread of diseases such as HIV.

The document also suggests that prosecuting those addicted to drugs only pushes their habits underground. In this environment, needles are shared, sex is generally unprotected and users are out of the reach of health-care workers or treatment for addiction.

It is also being argued that a focus on crime and punishment in drug addicts produces policy displacement. In other words, as more money and resources are poured into the war on drugs, there is less available to provide the help addicts actually need to overcome their addictions.

Canada, considered to be a conservative government, has recently been strengthening its drug laws as part of its agenda to be tough on crime. With this agenda comes harsher mandatory sentencing and attempts to close a safe injection site.
 

Drug rehab is a daunting prospect for many addicts. First, they see it as a place that will definitely make it hard for them to change their minds about using drugs. Second, they likely have all sorts of prejudices about drug rehab and the types of people who go there.

Drug rehab is a highly effective way to build a solid set of tools for recovery. It is just the first step, but it is a powerful one. If you are wondering if you should go to drug rehab or just try it on your own, consider these good reasons to choose drug rehab to start your journey to reclaim your life.

1. Drug rehab is a safe place where you can focus on the primary issues

A good drug rehab will help you do a comfortable detox, an aspect of addiction treatment than can actually be dangerous if not medically monitored. If detox is done right, you will be able to make it through without significant discomfort. You can then focus on why you developed an addiction – without all the distractions of your life. Think of drug rehab as a sanctuary where you are treated by professionals for the life-threatening disease of addiction.

2. A good drug rehab will help you identify other disorders

Rarely does a drug rehab see an addict who has no underlying issues. Often, people turn to drugs as a way to medicate away problems like depression, anxiety, ADHD, or PTSD. If you just quit drugs but don’t address the underlying emotional issues, it will only be a matter of time before you turn to drugs to “feel better.”

3. A good drug rehab helps you identify your triggers

Every addict has his or her triggers. These can vary dramatically from person to person. One person might be triggered by family gatherings – fights, criticism from a parent, or jealousies between siblings might make you feel depressed or anxious. If in the past, drugs relieved those feelings, you might turn to them again after a family event. For others, certain places or things can be triggers. For some, it’s certain emotions. While some might drink when something sad happens, others might drink when they are elated.

By identifying your triggers, you can start to develop strategies to deal with the feelings that come up when you encounter them. If you do not develop these strategies, you will be battling cravings much of the time. Addicts often cave to cravings, so it’s critical that you have a plan should you recognize that you are encountering one of your triggers.

4. Good drug rehabs offer effective treatment options

A drug rehab can be a single place to learn about treatment options that work for you. Maybe you experienced abuse as a child and that trauma continues to haunt you. If the drug rehab offers EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), you can try this therapeutic option and discover if it works for you. Some drug rehabs offer neurofeedback, a noninvasive technique for changing your brain’s ability to stay focused. Some people with ADHD have actually been able to permanently stop taking stimulants after a series of sessions of neurofeedback. Some drug rehabs also offer equine therapy, somatic experiencing, and other modalities that you may discover really do the trick for you. It’s a great way to really find the right path for you in a safe, secure environment. You can then take this knowledge with you and continue the most appropriate therapies when you return home if needed.

5. Drug rehabs understand who you are and why you do what you do

Most people with drug addiction experience prejudice and dismay by family members and friends. Many people do not understand addiction. They may tell you, “Just stop using drugs.” They have no concept of the changes in the brain that occur after long-term drug use. They do not understand cravings or compulsions. The clinicians and other staff at the drug rehab will fully understand your issues. They will not judge your addiction. You will find utter acceptance by your peers in treatment. Sometimes in drug rehab it is the first time the addict has felt like he or she is not the only person in the world with this problem. A whole new perspective is created as you learn about the disease of addiction and the reasons you turned to drugs.
 

According to a recent Delaware Online report, a mask wearing man grabbed a women in the rear parking lot of Manor Pharmacy in late April. The man put a gun to his victim’s head, planning to use her as a hostage to get the pills he was after.

The woman was a hostage for the man, Philip Maconi, as he demanded the pharmacist give him OxyContin. This was not the first attempt on a pharmacy by Maconi, but it was his first with a hostage. The same pharmacy came under siege by Maconi a month earlier as he sought the same reward.

In this latest attempt, the pharmacist gave Maconi what he wanted. Facing a gun put a whole new perspective on the crime – especially since it was so closely aimed at the head of another individual.

Officials claim the abuse of prescription drugs has soared so high over the last eight years that among young users, this habit now outpaces the use of crack and cocaine. In fact, prescription drug abuse is second only to marijuana.

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell was at a news conference in Washington recently and announced that prescription drug fraud arrests in his state have seen an increase of more than 600 from 2003. In that year, arrests were at 33; by 2009, arrests topped 220.
 

The evidence from DAWN’s latest data points to a rising problem among the U.S. population: suicide has become the third leading cause of death among adolescents ages 12 to 17 as well as young adults ages 18 to 24. According to SAMHSA, 34,598 suicides took place in the U.S. in 2007–almost twice as many homicides that year nationwide (18,361). Suicide attempts are considered to be a prominent risk factor for subsequent successful suicide; among U.S. young adults, an average of 3,500 successful suicides takes place each year, with one death occurring per 100 to 200 suicide attempts. Now more than ever, younger adults and adolescents who attempt suicide are resorting to pharmaceutical abuse. For 2008, SAMHSA estimates that 604,808 drug-related visits to emergency departments (ED) were made by U.S. young adults ages 18–24. Of this amount, 38,036 drug-related ED visits–or 6.3%–were suicide attempts using one or more substances. On average, almost one in fifteen drug-related incidents involving a young adult in the U.S. was a suicide attempt, most of which are made by females.

Even worse, SAMHSA’s statistics revealed that drug-related suicide attempts made by adolescents (under the age of 18) was 8.8% (almost one in every twelve ED visits), doubling the rate of those seen among adults ages 25 and older (4.4%). According to national ED data, an overwhelming 72.3% of adolescent suicide attempts involving drug intoxication were made by females. The majority of drug-related suicide attempts within other age groups were also caused by females, though not as significantly prominent: 57.6% of young adult suicide attempts and 57.7% of adult suicide attempts involving drug intoxication were made by females.

Most of the drug-related suicide attempts in 2008 had involved the combination of multiple substances. In total, drug-related suicide attempt cases involved an average of 2.2 substances per ED visit. Also, pharmaceutical drugs were the most common type of substance to be used in suicide attempt; 95.4% of adolescent drug-related suicide attempts and 92.8% of young adult drug-related suicide attempts were caused by pharmaceutical drugs. Despite this prominence of pharmaceutical abuse, the type of pharmaceuticals used in suicide attempts varied among gender and age groups.

Males were more likely to consume multiple substances than females in their attempts, but females were more likely to attempt suicide by drug use. Adolescent males were three times more likely than adolescent females to have used antipsychotic medications in their suicide attempts (14.3% of male cases vs. 4.3% of female cases). Female adolescents were most likely to have used acetaminophen products in drug-related suicide attempts (28.5% of these cases). Adult females ages 25 and older were most likely to have used anti-anxiety medications in their attempts (49.9% of these cases).

Surprisingly, SAMHSA found significant disparities in the type of aftercare administered to ED admissions involved in a suicide attempt based upon which drugs were used as well as the age of the patient. For example, 83.1% of adolescents who has used alcohol in their suicide attempt received aftercare treatment, while only 59.4% of adults ages 25 or older who had used alcohol were referred to aftercare. Over 90.2% of adolescent patients who had used antidepressants in their suicide attempts received aftercare treatment, but only 52.4% of adolescent patients were referred to aftercare treatment if their suicide attempt involved ibuprofen.

Not only do these numbers reveal which groups are most vulnerable to drug use and drug-related suicide attempts, but it also shows which substances are being used by the most vulnerable groups in their attempts. Pharmaceutical abuse continues to escalate in the U.S. and is common among all age groups, yet adolescents were the most likely group to resort to pharmaceuticals when attempting suicide. They were also more likely to experience suicidal ideation than any other group. Furthermore, the quality of aftercare that these suicidal patients received may very well affect the likelihood of them refraining or re-attempting suicide in the future. SAMHSA recommends the need for better aftercare to improve treatment for such critical situations as suicidal ideation and attempts.

SAMHSA’s complete series of drug-related suicides in emergency department visits nationwide can be accessed on SAMHSA’s website at www.samhsa.gov.

The report gathered data from the 1992 to 2007 Treatment Episode Data Set, a nationwide reporting system of substance abuse centers. Overall substance abuse treatment admissions for pregnant teens remained at about 4 percent from 1992 to 2007; in 1992, however, 44.1 percent of pregnant teen admissions were due to alcohol. Pregnant teens being admitted for marijuana abuse more than doubled between 1992 and 2007, jumping from 19.3 percent to 45.9 percent, and those being admitted for methamphetamine use soared from 4.3 to 18.8 percent.

The report also found significant differences in admission rates between ethnic groups. For example, fewer non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black pregnant teens were admitted (54.5 percent to 50.3 percent), but more Hispanic teens were admitted (15.7 percent to 21.4 percent).

Pamela S. Hyde, J.D., SAMHSA administrator, said that treatment is essential for young pregnant women as they need to address their substance abuse problems before giving birth—especially because drug use can seriously harm the child even later in life. She added that their findings will help researchers develop better prevention and treatment programs for young pregnant women.

Source: HealthDay, Patterns in Substance Abuse Admits for Pregnant Teens Shift, July 1, 2010