Monday, December 17, 2012

Painkiller Sales Soar Across the Country

According to recent studies, the overall sales of prescription painkillers have increased shockingly from the year 2000 to 2010. The prescription drugs involved are all opiates.

The Associated Press analyses state that the highest increases were seen in Appalachia and in suburban communities. This is significant, as the epidemic abuse of prescription drugs originally saw their highest figures in urban areas, poor Appalachian communities, and near the Mexico and Canadian borders; now, new data shows that the trend is migrating outward from these epicenters at an alarming rate. Drug rehabs in California are seeing many more patients suffering from addiction to painkillers entering their 12 step treatment centers, than from heroin, cocaine, or any other illicit drugs.

In 2008, terminal overdoses from oxycodone and hydrocodone rose to a staggering 14,800 deaths. This, coupled with sales of the drug raking in more than a billion dollars per year, is evidence of the obvious epidemic.

While pharmacies are literally on every single corner, there simply aren't enough drug rehabs to counter the rampant availability of these drugs, so the war against them is a losing battle. Doctor-shopping is often the way that addicts get their drugs. Going from one doctor to the next, and one pharmacy to the next. This makes it easy for addicts, as if they are red-flagged as a possible abuser of the prescriptions, they simply move on to the next doctor or pharmacy.

If you or one of your loved ones is suffering from an addiction to prescription drugs, there is hope for them. Above It All Treatment is a drug rehab in California that knows how to treat those with severe addictions to prescription drugs. To learn more about how a 12 step addiction recovery program can help those abusing prescription drugs, visit us online at:

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