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.

Lillo Brancato Jr., a promising young actor who played roles in HBO’s hit The Sopranos as well as opposite Robert DeNiro is his film A Bronx Tale is living a nightmare that could have come straight out of the scripts of one of his movies.

In 2005, Brancato was involved in the death of the New York City police officer during a robbery where he and an accomplice were attempting to steal drugs from their dealer.

During the robbery, the drug dealer who owned the house fired at the men breaking into his house, but also killed his neighbor, police officer Daniel Enchautegui who heard the commotion and had come over to investigate.

That leaves Brancato accused of burglary and murder and could face life in prison as a result.  His trial in New York City began this past week.

The story of Lillo Brancato Jr., is extreme, but is also indicative of a lifestyle where easy access to drugs and alcohol can lead to addiction and criminal behavior.  Heroin addiction and cocaine addiction were constant issues with this obviously troubled young man, but because of his fame - and ironically, the types of tough guy roles he portrayed - few were there to say NO and reach out with help.

Famous or not, if someone you know is struggling with drug addiction, help them find a drug rehab facility that can provide the life-saving treatment they desperately need.

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.

During his life, Swedish psychiatrist and addiction specialist Nils Bejerot riled many individuals in the research community with his unique views on the origins and risk factors for addiction.

While most research stated (and continues to state) that addiction is the result of a combination of personal issues and socio-economic conditions, Bejerot contended that there were five external factors that represented the most significant risk factors to drug addiction and alcoholism.

Bejerot’s Five Risk Factors:

• Availability of the substance
• The money to acquire the substance
• The time needed to use the substance
• Models of the substance being used in the immediate environment
• A “permissive ideology” regarding using the substance

What was so revolutionary (and controversial) about this theory was that Bejerot believed that entire communities could be impacted by these factors, thus creating epidemics of addiction within a given society.

Bejerot believed that it is up to a society to punish drug addiction, not through the legal system but through social means.  This, he believed, was the only way to reduce the spread of addiction.

Individuals who are suffering from drug addiction or alcohol addiction, no matter what the circumstances or root causes, need to seek help from an addiction treatment facility immediately.  Through detox, counseling and aftercare, these facilities can help the individual develop the required skills to conquer addiction.

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.

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.

OxyContin addiction continues to be a significant drug problem in the United States.  Here are eight things everyone should know about this powerful prescription painkiller.

1. OxyContin is prescribed by doctors only for their patients who are suffering from high levels of pain as a result of illness, injury or surgery.

2. OxyContin is a time-release drug, meaning that it should only be taken orally when prescribed by a doctor thus allowing the active ingredients to be released into the bloodstream over time.

3. OxyContin is VERY dangerous when misued.  Individuals who snort or inject OxyContin are releasing all of the active ingredients at once, which can lead to overdose.

4. OxyContin Addiction is very similar to Heroin Addiction given the opiate nature of both drugs and the highly addictive qualities found in each.

5. Individuals who enter OxyContin rehab must undergo drug detox before beginning the program.  During detox, the toxins found in OxyContin are given a chance to leave the body.

6. Counseling plays a very important role in the treatment of treatment of OxyContin Addiction.  Individuals in OxyContin rehab will likely take part in both individual and group counseling.

7. Just because OxyContin is a doctor-prescribed medication does not make it safe.  There is just as high a risk of overdose using OxyContin as for “street drugs” if abused or taken incorrectly.

8. Young people find OxyContin and other prescription medications at home.  The medicine cabinets of friends and family members provide a ready source for dangerous prescription drugs.  Adults are urged to throw away old prescription medications or keep current prescriptions under lock and key.

If you or someone you know is addicted to OxyContin, there are drug rehab programs that can help!  Talk to an addiction treatment center in your area for more information.

According to a recent report released by the drug recovery group Narconon, teenagers who engage in alcohol abuse are more likely to become addicted to alcohol or drugs as adults than their peers who do not drink.

The report shines a light on the perception of alcohol consumption among teens as a “rite of passage” or even as “harmless fun” in some social circles.

The fact remains that underage alcohol consumption is against the law and the report from Narconon only serves to reinforce the seriousness of the teen alcohol abuse problem.

If you want to keep your children away from alcohol, there are some simple things you can do to make a difference in their lives, including:

• Lead by example - don’t drink large quantities of alcohol around your children.   Don’t get interbreated in their presence.
• Don’t have alcohol around the house - or at the very least, place it in a locked cabinet that the children cannot access.
• Talk to your kids about the dangers of alcohol - this is the absolute best way to make sure that your kids make good decisions about drinking for the rest of their lives.

If your teenage has an alcohol addiction, it is crucial to get them the help they need to turn their situation around.  Find an alcohol treatment center that understands the special needs of teenagers and adolescents and get them enrolled today.

Well known entertainer and former WHAM lead singer George Michael is back in trouble with the law after being arrested for possession of crack cocaine in Hamstead Heath, a park near the singer’s London home.

The arrest marks the latest brush with the law for the singer, who battle drug addiction for many years.

Although Michael apologized to his fans, his act seems to wearing thin as this arrest barely registered in Britain’s tabloid-crazy media.

Over the past decade George Michael has been criminally invovled with incidents involving marijuana, ectsasy and other drugs.   Add to this his arrest for lewd behavior is a public bathroom and you have a celebrity who either cares little about his public personna, or has a very real drug addiction problem that requires professional help immediately.

If you or someone you love is struggling with drug addiction, contact a drug rehab facility in your area.   Drug rehab programs help save lives and give all their patients a chance to start their lives again.