With, seemingly, a new celebrity in rehab every couple of weeks, drug abuse has recently been discussed with humorous connotations. The reality, however, is that drug abuse and addiction are causing severe problems for millions of families in today’s society. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimates that in 2006 there were over 23.5 million Americans (ages 12 and up) needing substance abuse treatment, yet only four million were treated. Of those four million, only 2.5 million went through specialty centers, such as a drug rehab facility, hospital or mental health center. The remaining amount received treatment through less successful means, like jail, and self-help groups.

The direct effects of harmful and addictive drugs are obvious. But there are many other indirect health issues associated with drug abuse that can increase the risk of medical problems like cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and lung disease. Common diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and other STDs are often associated with severe drug use.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that in 2002 illegal drugs cost society around $181 billion. After tobacco and alcohol costs are thrown into the mix the total balloons up to $500 billion, annually. These figures consist of the money spent on drugs as well as the health care, criminal justice, and lost productivity expenses. Successful rehabilitation dramatically reduces this annual cost; drug related crimes are reduced by $4-$7 for every dollar spent on rehab. For some, the savings are closer to $12:$1.

Breaking the cycle of addiction is the main purpose of drug rehabilitation; however, it is not the only purpose. An individual’s drug habit may have contributed to other factors that need to be addressed. Legal and financial obligations, along with social and psychological elements stemming from a person’s destructive habits will also need to be dealt with.

There are several methods of rehabilitation, including the cheap but prone to relapse, ‘cold turkey’ choice. The odds of success can be greatly improved by enrolling in a professional rehabilitation program that has experienced counselors, proven and researched recovery methods, and a supportive community. There are 11,000 specialized drug treatment centers in the US alone. Read the rest of this entry »

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