Drug addiction is a topic that is often swept under the rug. It makes people uncomfortable to talk about. It could be because they have suffered from an addiction at some point in their past. It could be because they have a friend or loved one suffering from addiction, but don’t know how to bring the issue up. Or it could be because so many of us are currently in the throes of addiction and don’t know how to get out. 

But addiction is nothing to be ashamed of. Since the 1990s, the Sackler family has been using all of their considerable resources behind the scenes to try to ensure that Americans get and stay addicted to their medication. Drug use has been granted an air of legitimacy from its place in the medical community.  More here https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/about-the-epidemic/index.html about the insidious nature of the prescription drug crisis. The problem is so prevalent that the government has labelled the level of opioid use as being at epidemic proportions. 

If you’re looking to overcome an addiction, know that you’re not alone. Over sixty percent of the adult population report that they have an addiction. If you happen to live in or near Aurora, Colorado, the rates are even higher than the national average. Many individuals are affected, and their addictions affect the people they love.

In the last two years, nearly every metric related to drug abuse has gone up. More people are trying drugs, abusing drugs, and dying from drugs than ever before. Children as young as seven years old report having tried illegal drugs. 

If you count yourself among those suffering from addiction and would like to get help, read on for more information.

Scope

Over seventeen thousand people suffered fatal overdoses in 2020 in America. Numbers are rapidly on the rise. Alcohol abuse rates have gone up by 34% in the last eighteen months. Fentanyl use in a similar period increased by 547%. That means that usage has more than quintupled over the course of five years. Whether the gains are large or small, the picture is clear – we are losing the war on drugs.

The picture in Colorado is even more striking. More than three percent of the population is currently suffering from an addiction. That equals tens of thousands of people at any given moment who considers themselves an addict. Even more are suffering silently, still convinced that they can control their substance abuse problem instead of the other way around. That means that the odds are good that everyone has encountered someone who has an addiction. 

Those seeking treatment are not alone – even if they may sometimes feel like it. There are many resources available to those looking to make a change. 

The Problem

So, what qualifies as an addiction? The Center for Disease Control keeps a number of statistics on the subject. Check out more here for information about both illicit and legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco.

The most common addiction in the United States is to alcohol. Unfortunately, it can be just as deadly as illegal substances. More than 30,000 people die every year of alcohol-related illnesses. Add to that the more than 3200 deaths from intoxicated driving to get a more complete picture of the problem. Being legal doesn’t mean that it is safe.

Marijuana, newly legalized in Colorado, is another substance that can have an adverse effect on the lives of the people who choose to use it. While no one has ever died of a marijuana overdose, intoxicated driving remains a concern. Because it has been legal for a relatively short amount of time, not as much is known about the long-term effects of marijuana abuse. The picture will begin to become clearer as the drug becomes destigmatized.

Opioids are a serious threat to our population. Over seventeen thousand people die of drug related overdoses a year. The vast majority of these are due to opioids. The death rate in Colorado alone has gone up by more than thirty percent over the last two years, with no signs of slowing down. 

One of the substances driving this increase is fentanyl. An extremely potent substance, it is more than ten times as strong as heroin. The overdose rate has gone up more than twenty percent in the last five years. Fentanyl is relatively cheap to produce, and as a result is often cut together with other drugs. Any uninformed user is very likely to use too much, often with fatal consequences. 

Treatment Makes the Difference

Seventeen out of every one hundred citizens of Colorado are currently suffering from a drug addiction. Seeking out help from a local facility ensures that the staff is well acquainted with the unique needs of the community. There are plenty of drug rehab centers in Aurora that can provide compassionate care. With high-quality available close to home, patients don’t need to be completely uprooted from their lives in order to get well.

Time is of the essence

When dealing with drug addiction, there is no time to delay. Many have tried to tangle with the beast before only to find that they weren’t able to conquer it on their own. There is no shame in seeking help in order to improve your life and safety. 

The number one cause of death in America isn’t Coronavirus. It isn’t heart disease or violence or car accidents, either. Neither is it terrorist attacks. The number one cause of death is from drug overdose. That’s to say nothing of the toll it exacts in health and quality of life, which impacts thousands more people.  The sooner you decide to seek treatment, the sooner you can get back to living your life the way you want to, not the way the drug wants you to.

Why Seek Treatment?

When your life is at stake, there is nothing more important. The difference between receiving care at the hands of a qualified professional and not could also be the difference between life and death.