Pharmaceutical drug abuse is a growing threat to the state of Virginia, and as with other areas of the country, the primary culprit is opiates. Prescription painkiller dependence has skyrocketed in the last decade as more and more prescriptions are being written and they become more accessible through legal and illegal means. Prescription opiates such as OxyContin, morphine, methadone, Suboxone and Vicodin are incredibly valuable to millions of Americans but are notorious for being habit-forming if taken for a prolonged period. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration acknowledges that widespread abuse and diversion of these drugs is a serious concern around the country. In Virginia, the drugs that pose the biggest threat include OxyContin (brand name and generic), products containing hydrocodone, methadone, fentanyl, Dilaudid and Percocet.
In 2008, the DEA’s Washington office formed a task force that operates in northern Virginia and Washington D.C., to control pharmaceutical drug diversion in the area. The group investigates doctor shoppers and those who forge prescriptions, thereby violating the Controlled Substances Act and other laws. The state has also established a prescription drug-monitoring program to curb diversion. This is a database that helps identify cases of abuse and diversion. Most people who become dependent on their prescription medication don’t intend for this to happen. Taking prescription opiates for a prolonged period can cause a tolerance to develop, requiring that they take more and more. A dependency can soon develop if patients take more than they’re supposed to. The physical and psychological need for these drugs can become unmanageable, and some people might turn to illicit behaviors to get their drug of choice. The DEA said popular diversion methods in the state include doctor shopping, employee theft and illegal sale and distribution by healthcare workers.
Waismann Treatment Can Be More Effective than Most Virginia Detox Centers
Virginia Detox centers are reporting more cases of people seeking treatment for prescription painkiller and heroin addiction. Some officials say the problem seems to be worse in Virginia’s rural areas, dotted with coal mines where dangerous work makes injuries very common. Many people who become addicted to these drugs seek out help from a methadone clinic but end up dependent upon that too. For many, opiate replacements such as methadone and Suboxone become a way of life. Waismann Method’s renowned opiate detox quickly and safely eliminates opiate addiction once and for all. The program does not rely on opiate replacements to wean patients. Instead, it uses a medical procedure performed in a full-service accredited hospital. More and more patients have sought our heroin withdrawal treatment, due to its safety and success. Eliminating the fear and suffering of opiate withdrawal is so important to success and lasting recovery.
