Drug addiction is obviously a bad thing.  Almost everyone knows about the physical, psychological, financial and social toll drugs can on an individual and his or her family.  Yet well over half of those who suffer with drug addiction do not get the treatment they so desperately need.  WHY IS THAT?

A recent survey performed by the producers and researchers of the hit HBO documentary series Addiction asked addicted individuals that very question.  What follows are the fascinating results.

Why People Don’t Seek Treatment

• 94.4% did not feel that they needed treatment
• 4.1% felt like they needed treatment and did make an effort to get it
• 1.4% felt like they needed treatment and did not make an effort to get it

Even more interesting are the responses from those individuals who did seek treatment, but did not receive it.  Among these individuals the reasons for not getting treatment were:

• 44.4% said cost/insurance barriers kept them from getting treatment
• 21.2% said they were not ready to stop using drugs
• 21.1% named other access barriers
• 18.5% said they were afraid of the negative stigma of drug addiction treatment
• 9.4% said they did not know where to go for treatment
• 3.8% said they did not have time for treatment
• 0.4% said they thought treatment would not help them

Help remove these barriers!  If you have a drug addiction problem, contact a professional addiction treatment faciity today.

Despite all the research that speaks to the contrary there are still a large number of people who are unaware of the many potential dangers of cocaine addiction.

And while most users and non-users probably know the “basic” symptoms and side effects of this addictive stimulant, such as talkativeness and nosebleeds, there are plenty of other reasons why those who are using this drug need cocaine rehab as soon as possible.

1. Irritability.  Once the stimulant effects of cocaine begin to wear off, the user can become quite irritable and agitated.
2. No sense of smell.  Cocaine damages the nasal membranes and surrounding areas which can cause the individual to lose their sense of smell entirely
3. Prenatal and post-natal problems.  Cocaine has been found to cause premature birth, low birth weight and other related disorders.
4. HIV and Hepatitis. Shooting cocaine using dirty needles can advance the spread of these deadly viruses.
5. Lung disease.  Smoking crack has been found to cause significant damage to the lungs.
6. Bowel gangrene.  Ingesting cocaine can also cause this painful internal condition.
7. Decreased appetite.  Individuals on long cocaine “benders” have been known to go days without eating.
8. Sleeplessness.  Even when not using the drug, many cocaine addicts report a restlessness that keeps them from sleeping through the night.

A drug rehab facility can help individuals break the cycle of cocaine addiction.   To get help for yourself, or a loved one, contact a program in your area.

As if the rise in teenage prescription drug abuse wasn’t bad enough, now many young people are mixing a variety of different medications together in attempt to achieve a more potent euphoric effect.  Unfortunately, as the death of actor Heath Ledger should have proven, mixing prescription medications is an incredibly dangerous activity that has caused the death of hundreds of young people each year.

One such case involved Phillip Ray Cottle, a 21-year old from Baytown, Texas who suffered from cystic fibrosis.   Phillip died several weeks ago after taking a mixture of Hyrdrocodone (the generic term for Vicodin) as the powerful painkiller OxyContin.   Phillip’s death was one of nine to hit young people in the small town in recent months.

The most popular, and subsequently dangerous mixtures include Vicodin, OxyContin, Xanax and Soma (the latter two being powerful muscle relaxant).

The most frightening thing about teenagers and presciption medication is that research surverys have found that young people are more likely to try Vicodin or Xanax as they would marijuana or alcohol.  This stems from a lack of basic information about prescription drugs and emphasizes the parents role in drug awareness.

It is absolutely essential that parents educate their children about the dangers of prescription drug use.   Many teenage children (and younger) are under the mistaken impression that just because something is prescribed by a doctor that is inherently safe.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  Individuals who abuse and misuse a drug such as OxyContin are exposing themselves to a substance as addictive and potentially deadly as heroin.

If you, or someone you love has been abusing prescription drugs, find a drug rehab facility in your area that can help them get treatment before it is too late.

Every day, millions of people turn to products with names like Red Bull, Monster or Redline for a burst of energy that will (if the advertisement prove correct) help give them an energy boost and enhance their focus.  While the claims of these products is still up for debate in terms of validity, many drug addiction professionals are becoming concerned that they made lead to something much worse.

A recent study by the American College of Health found that individuals who consumed multiple energy drinks each week were much more likely to engage in other damaging behaviors such as cigarette smoking and the abuse of prescription drugs.

While it is hard to prove a causational link between the two behaviors, another study from the Journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependence raised more serious concerns by associated heavy energy drink usage with caffiene toxicity and eventually, addiction to stimulants and other hard drugs.

Both these studies are still making their way through the scientific community, but whether or not they lead more findings, there is no denying that energy drink consumption, when not in moderation, can lead to a variety of health problems, including:

• Dehydration
• Kidney failure
• Heart failure
• Seizures
• Coma

Energy drinks have drawn the attention of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in recent years, so watch for more studies about the potential health hazards of these “wonder drinks.”

Obviously, these problems (and the link to drug addiction) are not applicable to the majority of individuals who consume energy drinks.  However, if you or someone you know has seen their health suffer as a result of their addiction to energy drinks, stimulants such as amphetamines or cocaine, or any other drug, it is important to contact a drug rehab facility immediately.

Proving once again that it is better to be famous than lucky, Ryan O’Neal’s 23-year old son has managed to avoid serious jail time after his recent arrest on charges of Methamphetamine and heroin.  Instead, Redmond will return for another stint at drug rehab which, to this point, has been unable to help this obviously troubled young man get the help that he needs.

Redmond’s recent arrest drew headlines because police also took his father Ryan into custody when they found the drugs in the family home.  Speaking through his attorneys, a surely-humiliated O”Neal maintains vehemently that the drugs belonged to his son only.

The judge in the case hopes that a two-week drug detox program will hope get Redmond O’Neal back on track.  But as anyone in the addiction treatment industry will attest, detox is only part of the equation - and is not a solution in and of itself.

Once detox is complete, the individual can then move forward with the counseling and therapy that makes up the backbone of any good drug rehab program.  It is in these sessions that the root causes of addiction can be addressed, and real solutions can be found.

In October, the Drug Enforcement Agency’s travelling museum exhibit, Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause, made it’s way to Los Angeles for an extended run at the city’s California Science Center.

The exhibit is a truly unique way to spread the word to kids age 11 and up that drugs can destroy the bodies and their future.

Some of the highlights of the exhibit include:

• A “drug running” tunnel that kids can crawl through to gain an understanding of the dangers of the narcotics trade.
• A chance to shoot basketballs into a hoop while wearing 3D glasses to help simulate the effects of drugs.
• Recreated scenes from the “drug lifestyle” to design to put a scare into kids about the problems caused by addiction.

The DEA and local museums around the country are to be commended on this effort to reach kids outside of the classroom in a manner that speaks to them in a language they can understand.  Kids are at the greatest risk for developing a drug addiction - the impact of which can mean health and social problems that follow them on through adulthood.

If you know a child who is experimenting with drugs, or has developed a substance abuse problem, contact a teen-friendly drug rehab program in your area immediately.

Look, if someone you know has become addicted to heroin, they’re probably NOT going to come right out and tell you themselves.   But the problem is that, they need help!   So that means you are going to have to figure it out for yourself and that means knowing the signs and symptoms of heroin use.

The top ten signs of heroin use are:

1. Constricted pupils

2. Euphoria

3. Shallow breathing

4. Abscesses or scars on the arms (or other areas where heroin might be injected)

5. Often seems confused or disoriented

6. Has contracted Hepatitis B/C or HIV/AIDS

7. Poor performance at work or school

8. Has withdrawn from friends and family (and begun hanging out with a new, “sketchier” set of friends)

9. Has asked to borrow from you (and has been secretive about the reasons why they need it) or has stolen from you.

10. Has had run-ins with law enforcement - after never having encountered any before.

If a friend or family member is exhibiting one or more of the signs and symptoms above, they may be using heroin - and if so, need your help! Contact a drug addiction treatment facility in your area to learn how you can get that special person the professional assistance they need to get well.

After an alcohol fueled binge with his 20 year old girlfriend, Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood entered into rehab for alcohol addiction, drug addiction and compulsive sexual behabvior.  The 61 year old is now facing legal troubles as his wife prepares to sue him for divorce.

Certainly living and working alongside Keith Richards for decades is not going to do anyone’s health any favors, but Wood has seemingly entered a cycle of addiction that, at his advancing years, will be difficult to dig out from underneath.

Couple that with the financial problems that seem to be right around the corner and, despite being part of the most popular band in the world, Wood’s golden years don’t look to be so sweet.

This latest trip into rehab is one of many - and one can only hope that he benefit from the chance to spend some time away from his party-heavy lifestyle.

When individuals such as Wood fall from grace, we tend to shrug our shoulders and say “told you so.:  This attitude however, will not suffice when helping one of our own friends or loved ones through a difficult alcohol or drug addiction.

The only way to make sure that an individual gets the help they need is to hold an intervention and get them into an alcohol or drug rehab program immediately where there are professionals who have made it their life’s work to get people clean and sober.

The hit VH1 reality show Celebrity Rehab kicks off its second season on October 23^rd and brings with it a new batch of famous people from the world of entertainment who have set their careers aside to work with host Dr. Drew Pinsky in an effort to achieve recovery from alcohol and drug addiction.

The cast includes the return of former Taxi star Jeff Conway, who has faced a series of setbacks since his last appearance on the show including several back surgeries that have caused him to relapse into his habitual use of pain medications.  Joining him in the rehab program are a wide variety of celebs including:

• Sean Stewart (Sons of Hollywood)
• Amber Smith (model/actress)
• Rodney King
• Nikki McKibbin (American Idol)
• Steven Adler (Guns n Roses)
• Tawny Kitaen (Actress).

Perhaps the most notable appearance of the season will come from actor Gary Busey.  The actor is over a decade removed from his cocaine addiction, but will take the other residents on what is being billed as a “spiritual journey” and share experiences from his own recovery.

Questions about the quality of the show remain, but certainly anything that raises awareness about the availability and effectiveness of quality alcohol and drug rehab programs can’t be all bad.

Celebrity Rehab will run for 8 episodes every Thursday beginning on October 23^rd.

A small town in central India has recently taken their fight against drug addiction to some rather extreme measures.

The village of Bongaon, India has decided to bar all male drug addicts who live in the town from becoming married.

Inexpensive drugs and a high unemployment rate have led a high percentage of young men in the area to become addicted to heroin, marijuana and other drugs - which consequently led to the passage of this unique law.

To those who live in the Western portion of the world, this penalty may seem odd and even a bit ineffective.  But Indian culture places great emphasis on marriage, in particular arranged marriage, which can impact the long-term financial health of the entire family.  Under the new ordinance, parents are forbidden from offering their daughters’ hands in marriage to any young man who is a known or convicted drug offender.

Just as accountability is an important part of helping break the cycle of addiction, so too is drug rehabilitation.  A top drug rehab program can help individuals around the world address both the physical and psychological components of addiction.    This is accomplished through:

• Drug detox
• Individual counseling
• Group counseling
• General wellness and health programs
• Aftercare