Back to School

Back to school—a time filled with both dread and excitement. A time for old friends, new friends, different experiences and situations which may bring new peer pressures that aren’t always positive. While some parents may believe their child is immune to such things, in reality they are mistaken. With fall traditions such as school dances, football games, and back to school parties right around the corner, now is one of the most crucial times to address the many dangers that can come from alcohol and drug abuse. For some under the radar shocking statistics and a heart wrenching story to help guide you and your teen in the right direction for the new school year, click here.


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Poppies Are More Than a Pretty Flower

How can something so beautiful be so deadly? While visually beautiful, poppy fields hold a more sinister side as one of the largest factors in producing the lethal drug—Heroin, a growing epidemic amongst today’s youth.

It’s no secret that we are currently in a recession and because of that fewer jobs are available for everyone as well as teenagers. Fewer jobs equal less money which leads today’s younger generation searching for new ways to get a cheap high; and that’s where heroin comes in. Mexican drug traffickers have since expanded their reach throughout the United States, covering the Midwest and Atlantic Seaboard in addition to their already heavy presence in California and Texas making the lethal and addictive drug more accessible.

Heroin’s appeal has also changed. What was once considered an “inner-city” drug is now a drug that can be snorted or smoked, and is appealing to suburban and even rural high school youth. Heroin is the new prescription pain reliever. Those pills often cost upwards of 50 to 80 dollars a tablet, while at around 15 dollars a hit, heroin is considerably cheaper; therefore leading to an upwards rise in heroin usage and addiction among teens.

Find more shocking statistics about the rise in Heroin abuse here


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The Lesson Behind Celebrity Relapse

“Amy Winehouse back in Rehab!” One of many headlines taking over the Internet, heard on the radio, talked about around the “water cooler” at work… Yet another celebrity is going back to rehab! How are we supposed to trust that rehab actually works if we are constantly inundated with headline after headline of celebrities that are going back into drug rehab time and time again?

Assuming you’ve been caught a gossip column or two, it seems as though celebrities are using drug rehab like a revolving door. If these celebrities, some of which are role models for today’s youth, and others respected by the masses, aren’t able to overcome their addiction is there any hope for the average person considering celebrity access to drug rehab facilities that are starting to resemble upscale resorts. With so many posh treatment facilities near Hollywood it is easier than ever for stars to check in and out, as if they were on a mini vacation. Yet as luxurious as some may seem, checking into a drug rehab facility often isn’t the first choice for a celebrity who’s in trouble. As Stacy Kaiser, Los Angeles-based psychotherapist and panelist on the reality TV show “Celebrity Fit Club,” says, "You really have to hit your personal bottom in order to get better. Sometimes these celebs are going into rehab simply to avoid going to jail, so they haven't really hit their bottom," Kaiser says. "Or else, they've been dragged in by the law or suggested by their agents or families and don't want to go on their own accord." For instance, in Amy Winehouse’s case, it was her father who pushed her back into rehab again; furthermore, Winehouse is entering drug rehab in order to be ready for performances in Europe this summer, not for her own well-being.

However, many of the celebrities that end up checking back into rehab time and time again, highlights the fact that in order to be successful one must fully commit to the drug rehab program that they are in for it to be effective treatment. According to research statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, patients in a drug rehab program will reach a milestone in their recovery after 3 months, however, that doesn’t mean that everyone’s recovery is done after only three months or that additional treatment will not be helpful. When people leave treatment early their chances for a full recovery drop significantly. Addiction is a chronic disease, something that since there is no cure for, needs to be constantly managed. While there are plenty of celebrities relapsing and reentering drug rehab programs, there are some that set a good example by fully acknowledging that you need to take control of your addiction in order to manage it. Take Mathew Perry for example, who pressured by a manager or parent, wasn’t forced to do so by the law, isn’t only trying to get ready for some new project, and didn’t even relapse; yet he has reentered a drug rehab facility to work on his ongoing recovery.

Lesson to be learned—Effectively treating alcohol and drug addiction requires hard work and dedication; one cannot simply go through the motions to recovery expecting a miraculous “cure.” Celebrity or not, addiction is a disease which requires constant monitoring, and through a combination of individualized treatment and a dedicated work ethic, long lasting recovery is definitely possible…don’t let the headlines scare you from making the choice to live a healthier life!


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Inhalant Abusers Are Older Than You Think

My mom is doing what??

While traditional thinking has led us to believe that adolescents are the ones most likely to try inhalants, a new report has shown that a significant number of inhalant abusers are actually adults. The term inhalants, refers to the vapors from toxic substances which are inhaled in order to reach a quick high. People who abuse inhalants inhale the chemical vapors directly from open containers, also called “sniffing,” or breathe the fumes from rags soaked in chemicals, also called “huffing,” and “bagging,” where the user may inhale fumes from substances inside a paper or plastic bag. Some even go so far as to spray the substance directly into the nose or mouth, or pour it onto their collar, sleeves or cuffs and sniff them periodically. Inhalants can produce mind-altering effects; while chronic use can also cause irreversible damage to the brain, kidneys and lungs as well as death.

There are more than 1,000 products that can be abused by inhalants and can be found simply laying around the house. You know that glue you bought to help your daughter with her arts and crafts? It is one of the products most often abused as an inhalant. These are products that are easily purchased at drugstores and other stores alike throughout your neighborhood. As we have been under the belief that adolescents were the ones most likely to abuse inhalants, it has become commonplace for store employees to refuse to sell certain items that can be used as inhalants to those under 18. However, most don’t think twice when selling the same product to an adult, under the impression that they are all responsible enough not to abuse it.

Yet, as stated above, a new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA, has shown that 54 percent of treatment admissions related to inhalants abuse in 2008 involved adults ages 18 or older. For example, Erin Davis, a 42-year-old mother of a 16-year old daughter explained, “I am an adult, not a teenager, and know firsthand how these inhalants can destroy your life.” She explained that she inhaled computer duster for two years, starting when she was 38 years old and went on to say that, “the people that I used with were all over the age of 34.”

The findings from SAMHSA’s study highlight the magnitude of the inhalant problem among adults, finding that an estimated 1.1 million adults over the age of 18 have used inhalants in the past year. Now that’s a pretty big number. As H. Westley Clark, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., director of SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment said, “Inhalant abuse is an equal opportunity killer that does not discriminate on the basis of age, background, or gender. Although we have been understandably focused for many years on the danger huffing poses to our kids, these new data highlight the need for everyone to be aware of and effectively address the serious risks it poses to adults and all segments of our society.”


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Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center Smoking Bans

Can smoking cigarettes during your drug rehab and alcohol treatment determine whether you have recovery success or not? Rehab centers are beginning to think so.

Recently, a new tobacco-free policy was instituted at an Ohio women’s drug abuse treatment center. While tobacco-free treatment facilities began in New Jersey during the 1990’s, this treatment center was the first in Ohio to go tobacco free. Tobacco-free facilities have begun to make their way to other parts of the country as well.

Now did banning smoking really make a difference at the treatment center in Ohio? Yes…just not in the way they were expecting.

In a study done during the first few months after the tobacco-free policy was instituted, it was found that both smokers and non-smokers alike were more likely to leave treatment early. The researchers also found that the percentage of patients who completed their program at the women’s center decreased from 70 to 42 percent. The success rate wasn’t the only thing that dropped, the average number of days that patients remained in the program dropped from 61 to 48 days. Those are both pretty substantial decreases in just a few months.

Drug rehab and alcohol treatment facilities have generally tended to allow patients to smoke because many believe that treating someone for smoking in addition to other substance abuse is just too difficult and will likely end in failure. In addition many facilities fear that simply, banning smoking will cause them to lose business. The other train of thought is that since many patients use cigarettes as a crutch to help them cope while trying to defeat other addictions, their smoking could pose to be just as much of a problem.

Gretchen Hammond, who works for Amethyst Inc. in Ohio stated, “You behave very similarly with a cigarette as you would with any drug. For example, if I’m having a bad day I’ll try to smoke it away verses talking to someone or going to therapy and working on the problem.”

Now which train of thought is better? There is no definite answer yet. The results from the previously mentioned study in Ohio, don’t necessarily mean that treatment centers shouldn’t try and implement smoking bans, but rather shine a light on the challenges that are associated with implementing a new policy which goes against years and years of conventional thinking.

Have you ever tried to change an extremely stubborn friend’s mind? It’s hard isn’t it? With no definite answer, the question remains, to ban smoking in treatment centers or to not ban smoking?


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CHARLIE SHEEN PLAYS US LIKE JOAQUIN

April Fool’s!

Unfortunately Charlie Sheen is still heavy on his reign of terror unlike Joaquin Phoenix’s hoax brought to light back in September of 2010. It doesn’t seem like the biggest hoax of our time was over six months ago, but here we are in April of 2011. 


April 1st is commonly known as April Fool’s day. Did you know that April Fool’s Day originated way back in the 1500s? It’s believed that the term was coined when the Gregorian Calendar was introduced by Charles IX around 1582, which declared January 1st as New Year’s Day instead of the week of March 25th through April 1st as New Year’s Week. Since News traveled at molasses speed in the 1500s some people weren’t aware of this change until years later and were labeled fool’s for continuing the New Year’s celebrations in late March.


Many years later and the first of April is still considered the day where practical jokes are both accepted and expected. But don’t let the allusion of trickery keep you from seeing the signs of addiction. Are you struggling with an alcohol or drug addiction? Does a friend or family member seem to have picked up habits from out of the ordinary—Habits that could be signs of a battle with the disease of addiction?


We can get caught up in the excitement of special days that pop up throughout the year and forget to take care of more important matters, like our health, or our loved ones. 


Have some fun on a day dedicated to jokes and laughter, but don’t be fooled by its tricks. 

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THE 40 DAY CHALLENGE

Catholics around the world are observing this particular Wednesday, March 9th, 2011, as Ash Wednesday. As many of us know, Ash Wednesday marks the starting point for the Catholic tradition Lent–a time of sacrifice for Jesus.  Lent is traditionally 40 days long, starting on Ash Wednesday and ending on Easter, where those participating in the tradition sacrifice something from their daily lives for the entire period. Common ‘sacrifices’ include meat, coffee (caffeine), or alcohol. 

Certainly, Lent is not a tradition everyone partakes in, as it is from Catholic origin, but the idea behind it is something we can all relate too. 

We all have our vices… Some more obvious than others, and all of which we could probably ‘sacrifice’ in becoming a better person. 

Many of you have spent the last few months challenging your will power and strength. Now in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction you can continue to test yourself and become the best version of you. 

I would like to challenge all of you to 40 days of sacrifice, even if it’s as little as cutting back on a daily “cuppa joe,” and then tell us about it. What are you giving up? What’s the hardest thing about giving it up and what have you put in place of those habits? Maybe instead of watching TV you've taken up reading and instead of fast food you’ve planned out your home cooked meals.  Either way, challenge yourself. 

As humans we are constantly growing—dare to flourish in the inevitable growth. 

View Original Post, The 40 Day Challenge 

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ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL

The National Institutes of Health Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has researched and documented what The Recovery Place knows, and has addressed, from the beginning:

Addiction is a family disease!

Comprehensive alcohol and drug rehab programs must support family members just as fully as the addict or alcoholic is being supported.  The Recovery Place exceeds the support most rehab programs offer.  

“Our commitment to including the family leads to higher levels of success for our clients and instills hope and guidance to the families that support them,” emphasizes Pamela Hand, Program Director at TRP. 


“The Recovery Place weekly family contacts, the weekly family support group, and the quarterly family weekend,” explains Pamela, “help to develop strong awareness and support for the client and their family.”  


At The Recovery Place this support starts from first contact and continues after discharge.  It is available whether family members live near TRPs alcohol and drug rehab center or in a far distant state.  


Weekly contact can take place via phone or internet, if loved ones are too distant to come to our Fort Lauderdale location.   We know that the more support we can provide family members, the better the chance of family recovery from the stress and problems that addiction causes both short-term and long term. 



View Original Post, All For One and One For All

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WINNING?

Charlie Sheen has been the trending topic of discussion for the past couple weeks. From his multiple rants via radio interview, countless articles about his drug addiction causing the demise of one of televisions top rated shows Two and a Half Men and his egotistical opinion of him  “winning” the battle (with both CBS and drug addiction). Needless to say he has been the highlight on American entertainment for quite some time. 

During this time we have also seen Christina Aguilera run in with the police for public intoxication and it seems we can’t get away from Lindsay Lohan’s messes. 

So when is enough…enough? 

I was listening to the radio this morning and the DJs were debating this very argument—should celebrities, entertainers, professional athletes, those who are supposed to be role models for modern day youth have a “three strikes and you’re out” clause? Should something be put in place affirming after three (or less) major blunders with the law, such as we’ve seen with Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan, that they can no longer work in the industry? Should athletes that assault women, go to jail on drug charges, get multiple DUIs or fight dogs no longer get signed to new teams or be able to renew contracts?

Kids, from the moment they turn on a TV find people to admire—to follow in their footsteps. Are we enabling destructive future generations by allowing people who act above the law to be admired and to make more money than those that don’t have records, or providing such extensive habit feeding salaries? Obviously this is a topic to never be touched within the entertainment industry, but worth a little debate. 

What are your thoughts? 




View Original Post, In Light of Recent Events

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POWERLESS TO POWERFUL THROUGH CHRISTIAN ADDICTION REHAB

The Recovery Place March blog series takes a look at the specialized treatment tracks that help addicts, alcoholics and their families find the program that best meets their unique needs

“Powerlessness is the first step to finding any type of spiritual growth,” explains Charlotte Day, Lead Clinician for the Christian Program at TRP.  “A critical step for addicts is realizing that they are powerless to choose to stop using.”   This is where recovery begins. 

Through a dynamic new video series, Charlotte explains the Christian 12-step approach to addiction recovery, and how it supports rehab and recovery from drug and alcohol abuse. 

The Recovery Place helps those who believe a high power and Christian approach is the best way for them to obtain, and sustain, long-term abstinence from drug and alcohol abuse.  It is also available to those who seek a first-time or renewed relationship with God. 

By combining Bible-based therapies with traditional ones, an even more powerful treatment plan is available to those attending TRPs Christian alcohol and drug rehab program. Bible study and church services are frequent and important parts of this track. 

Admitting that you are powerless isn't an admission of defeat, except in the sense that you, or a loved one, are being defeated by the drugs or alcohol. Admitting that you are powerless means that you are ready for God’s help and that of the treatment team in the Christian addiction rehab program here at The Recovery Place

View Original Post, Powerless to Powerful Through Christian Addiction Rehab 


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MESSING WITH MOTHER NATURE

Drugs change, correct, add to, or take away from what Mother Nature already has set into place.  Stimulant drugs are a good example of a type of drug that can be helpful or harmful.

Stimulants such as Ritalin, Adderall and methamphetamine all affect how much of a substance called dopamine is saturating the cells of the brain.

Surprised to hear two drugs used in the drug treatment of attention deficit disorders coupled with a drug that is pretty much confined to the arena of drug abuse? Let’s explore why.

Ritalin is a stimulant drug that increases the ability to focus on tasks and sharpens attentiveness and alertness. It is prescribed to children and adults to help them control impulsive behavior and increase attention in school or work, when they have been diagnosed with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).   Other uses are for narcolepsy, a medical condition where someone falls asleep suddenly and uncontrollably, even when driving or walking the dog. 

Ritalin is ordered by a physician at lower doses, and is slowly and carefully increased over time until just the right effect is achieved for the patient.  This is where the difference between “use” and “misuse” begins.

Stimulants are misused by taking frequent and higher doses so that the brain is flooded with dopamine.  This creates a “high”, a pleasurable sense of well-being. 

Adderall is a combination drug made up of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine.  It, too, is a stimulant drug used to treat ADHD in adults and children.

Both Ritalin and Adderall can be misused and abused, and have become an increasing problem as more and more prescriptions have been written for legit uses and then turned into illegal ones. 

Methamphetamine is a bad guy in the stimulant bunch. Although it has some medicinal use, it is more widely abused in order to obtain the high that is achieved by the rush of dopamine to the receptors in the brain.

While cocaine, another stimulant, is removed from the body rather quickly, methamphetamine stays in the body much longer. From the addict’s perspective this is a positive, but there are severe consequences.

Recent studies on methamphetamine drug abuse shows that long-term users have actual permanent changes in the brain, none of which are good. These changes affect memory and emotion. 

Stimulants have a high potential for dependency and drug addiction.

They should only been taken under close and ongoing medical supervision.


View Original Post, Messing With Mother Nature

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SONG LYRICS AND STIMULANTS

Stimulants are a class of drugs that work on the brain to temporarily increase physical or psychological abilities and functions.

Stimulants make the user more alert and aware, talkative and energetic. There are many drug stimulants, including caffeine and nicotine, but let’s take a closer look at crack and crack cocaine.

Crack and crack cocaine are illegal and highly addictive stimulants, and quite often addictive from the first dose.  The original level and duration of pleasurable sensations are almost never achieved, no matter how much cocaine is used in the future.

During laboratory studies, all tested animals became addicted to cocaine.  In one study a monkey had to press a bar to receive a dose of cocaine.  After a dose was given by pressing the bar, no more cocaine was available by repeating the same action, but the monkey pressed the bar 12,800 more times until another dose was given.  12, 800!  Addiction. Sadly, humans become their own personal lab experiments when they become addicted to drugs or alcohol.

There are so many street names for cocaine that it would take paragraphs to list them all.  This alone indicates the widespread use and effects of cocaine. 

Cocaine can be sniffed or injected, smoked, or ever rubbed into the skin. Crack cocaine is the crystallized form of cocaine. 

Internationally know guitarist and balladeer Eric Clapton is a recovering addict and alcoholic.  He made famous the JJ Cale song “Cocaine”, but in his concerts makes clear that it was written as—and still is— an anti-drug song that emphasizes the physical, social and emotional destruction of cocaine, and that cocaine use will keep you from getting back everything that you’ve managed to lose in your life because of it:  family, job, security, friends, health or a future. 

Cocaine effects on the body over time

• Increases the heart rate, blood pressure and temperature, all of which cause heart and tissue damage
• Nose bleeds or holes in the partition that separates the nostrils:  sniffing cocaine causes scarring and damage to the nose tissues 
• Breathing problems—wheezing and even bleeding of the lungs (“crack lung”)
• Neurological damage that can cause body jerking, eye blinking and other symptoms (often called “crack dance”)
• Seizures and strokes 

Cocaine and crack cocaine addiction require professional detox and rehabilitation if a user hopes to regain physical and emotional health. Recovery is possible, but it can't be reached without specialized help. 

View Original Post, Song Lyrics and Stimulants


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NAME YOUR POISON

Body cells are very quick to snap up alcohol when someone takes a drink, particularly on an empty stomach.  This ability (disability!) of the cells to do this is what causes the deadly condition of alcohol poisoning. 

Alcohol poisoning occurs when multiple drinks are taken over a short period of time.  The level of alcohol in the blood (BAC) shoots up rapidly, as high as 0.40% or more.  Alcohol intoxication, or being legally drunk, is a BAC above 0.08%, so it is no surprise that 12 times this level can be deadly. 

Since hard liquor has a higher amount of alcohol per drink than beer or wine, someone who is rapidly drinking straight whiskey, vodka or other spirits can reach a dangerous BAC much more rapidly. 

Alcohol poisoning can occur in binge drinkers or long-term alcoholics.  

Symptoms of alcohol poisoning: 

• Confusion
• Vomiting (a person can die if they inhale vomit)
• Breathing less than 8 times a minute 
• Pale, bluish skin (caused by too little oxygen in the body)
• Cold and clammy skin
• Seizures
• Anger that is so uncontrolled it can cause harm 

Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency. If you think your loved one has these symptoms during a bout of drinking, call 9-1-1! 

Maybe you haven’t seen this extreme drinking in your friend or family member, but something is telling you that there is a problem. How do you tell the difference between social drinking and alcoholism? 

Here are some solid indicators that drinking has become a problem: 

• Responsibilities at work, home and school are no longer fulfilled
• Alcohol is drunk in risky situations, such as when driving or using machinery
• Legal problems come up, such as DUIs, fights or not paying bills
• Letting go of relationships with family and friends 

Here are some symptoms of alcohol addiction: 

• A strong and persistent craving for alcohol 
• Being unable to stop drinking,  even if it means losing a job or family member
• Not being able to limit the number of drinks one has
• Symptoms of withdrawal when unable to find a drink (in as little as 3-8 hours!)

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ALCOHOL CAUSES 4 PERCENT OF ANNUAL DEATHS

Startled by that headline?  It’s a fact.  

Early this month the World Health Organization (WHO) announced statistics on the primary causes of death in the world.  Alcohol-related deaths account for 2.5 million deaths a year.  The same WHO report shows that 15.3 million people of the world’s population have drug-addiction problems. 

In the United States 52% of adults state that they drink on a regular basis, and 14,406 people die from alcoholic liver disease—this isn’t even adding in the deaths caused in some way by injuries and accidents relating to alcohol.

“But I just drink beer.”

It isn’t the kind of alcoholic beverage, but many other factors that account for the effects of alcohol. Here are a few: 

• One 12-ounce beer has the same amount of alcohol as a 5-ounce glass of wine or a 1.5 ounce of hard liquor 
• Alcohol of any kind is rapidly absorbed through the lining of the stomach and goes to every tissue of the body.  Drinking on an empty stomach makes this absorption of alcohol even faster.
• The liver can only metabolize a half an ounce of alcohol per hour, so the faster someone drinks the more quickly, and longer, they experience the effects 

Short term or long term effects of alcohol—both can be deadly 

In this week’s blog well take a look at the short term effects of drinking alcohol.  Next time we’ll focus on the long term effects.

ETOH is the chemical compound for ethanol, which is the alcohol found in varying amounts in beer, wine or hard liquor.   ETOH abuse is the common medical term for alcohol abuse or addiction.

Ethanol has a direct effect on the central nervous system of the body.  It causes euphoria (another word for “high”) initially, but as the level increases in the body it tends to have a depressant effect.  Even when the blood alcohol level is low in the body, impaired judgment, poor physical coordination and a shortened attention span begin to occur. 

Judgment. Coordination. Attention span. Obviously these three things are crucial when driving, so it is easy to see the connection between alcohol and driving accidents.

Loss of inhibitions are also a short term side effect of ETOH, and this loss of inhibition and judgment can lead to behaviors (whether aggressive, promiscuous or risk-taking) that someone normally wouldn’t show when they aren’t drinking alcohol.

Beer and wine have been around for over a thousand years.  There are cheap to make, readily available, and have a long history of causing misuse and addiction.

Consumer watch groups have noted that children and teenagers are exposed to over 1000 beer or wine related commercials a year.  Although television commercials advertising hard liquor haven’t been around for years, there is no actual legal ban, like there is with cigarettes.  Many companies that make and sell liquor are pressing to advertise their products on television again. 

Do you think it is harmful to more freely advertise hard liquor on radio and television? 

Share your views with The Recovery Place blog!

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ANOTHER KIND OF DRUG VICTIM

In The Recovery Place blog addiction education series this week, we are taking a further look at the benzodiazepine class of drugs, or benzos.

If you or a loved one is fighting addiction, then you understand that drugs and alcohol have a wide and destructive reach.  Benzos claim another kind of victim that you may not have thought much about.

Rohypnol is a benzo that isn’t prescribed or even manufactured in the United States.  In the 1990s it began to be smuggled in by drug traffickers, and a new kind of victim was created by this “date rape” drug.

Roofies (a common slang term for Rohypnol) began to be slipped into the drink (often in an alcoholic drink in a bar or party setting) of the victim in order to make them unaware of what is happening or unable to resist a sexual assault.

Rohypnol, like many benzos, is a powerful hypnotic drug, meaning it causes sleep or sedation.

Roofies are also used as a “party drug” to enhance the effects of alcohol, or to counteract the side-effects of stimulant drugs.  Many cocaine or methamphetamine addicts use Rohypnol to soften the rebound “crash” of these drugs as they begin to wear off.

Recreational drug users use benzos for the side-effects that they have:  sedation, drowsiness, dizziness and a relaxed feeling.

Ativan (lorazepam is the generic name) is another benzodiazepine important to the treatment of a variety of medical disorders, but also very high up on the list of benzos that are misused and abused. 

Ativan is frequently used for anxiety disorders and specific kinds of seizures.  Physical and psychological dependency to Ativan can occur after only a few weeks of use.

Addiction to prescription drugs is on the rise in the United States, Canada and many other countries.  These addictions may come about from the legitimate treatment of a medical condition, or from the recreational use of a teenager who finds some leftover Ativan or Codeine in a parent’s medicine cabinet.

Benzos like Ativan are among the most highly misused and abused prescription drugs.  And withdrawal from these drugs can be tough, as tough as withdrawing from heroin, and should be done under a physician’s guidance.

Klonopin (clonazepam) is another frequently prescribed benzodiazepine that is very effective in treating anxiety, panic disorders and some types of seizures.  It has legitimate uses that have to be very carefully weighed against the hard fact that prolonged use can cause a physical or psychological dependency.

Known as “K-pin” in street drug terms, Klonopin abuse is on the rise among high school students in the United States.  It is cheap to buy on the street, and sometimes too readily available when friends or siblings have been prescribed Klonopin for anxiety or other problems.  It is often combined with Vicodin or other narcotic medications by teens

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