Drug Addiction Treatment Indiana: The Kentucky Drug Problem

Without question Kentucky is one of America’s most historic states having produced legends like Daniel Boone, the Kentucky Derby and thoroughbred race horses. Kentucky’s fertile soil made possible the production of protein enriched European bluegrass, and is called the Bluegrass state. Unfortunately this highly fertile soil and vast rural areas produced Kentucky stills and marijuana crops as well. In recent years Kentucky has been plagued with substance abuse and addiction problems more than any other state. Ranking in the top ten for many drug abuse statistics that include past month marijuana abuse, marijuana production, illicit drug dependence and prescription drug addiction. The Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, an organization composed of many agencies bound to combat the drug problem, covers 67 counties in three states that include Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. Of the 67 counties 29 are located in Kentucky.

Prescription drug addiction is a major problem in Kentucky with treatment admissions for opioid pain relievers having increased over 1250% since the year 2000 according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). In 2000 treatment admissions for opiates other than heroin, which are typically prescription pain killers, were at 424. In 2010 that number skyrocketed to 6,249. Treatment admissions for all drugs including alcohol have risen nearly 20% during that same time frame. The biggest jump in Kentucky addiction treatment admissions involve prescription drugs and marijuana,with alcohol treatment seeing a slight increase.Drug induced deaths are well above the national average (12.7) in Kentucky at 17 deaths per 100,000 residents.

Meth lab incidents jumped from 297 in 2007 to 706 in 2009 (138%). Although the final numbers are not in, 2010 meth lab incidents are even higher than previous years. In an effort to slow the production of methamphetamine, stricter laws were passed controlling the sale of cold tablets that contain the key ingredient used in meth production, pseudoephedrine. Meth cooks and dealers creatively found their way around this by developing methods of obtaining the tablets called “smurfing”. Smurfing involves several addicts making the rounds to several pharmacies gathering their limit for compilation later. Adding to the problem is a new method of meth production called “shake and bake” using various chemicals to produce a reaction that transforms ephedrine into methamphetamine in smaller quantities virtually anywhere without drawing attention.

There is a continuing ebb and flow of illegal drug trafficking activity in and out of Kentucky. Kentucky ranks fourth in marijuana production. Although there are a high percentage of people in Kentucky who smoke marijuana, production still outpaces consumption by a long shot. Marijuana is shipped to dealers in Illinois, Ohio, New York, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington, DC. Drug traffickers take advantage of the prescription drug addicts into Kentucky by diverting pharmaceuticals from South Florida pain management clinics back into the state. Pain management clinics are now popping up in Eastern Kentucky as well, which produce many of the states addicts.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reports nearly 50% of Kentucky high school seniors surveyed in 2009 reported lifetime marijuana abuse. While it cannot be proven that marijuana abuse will cause addiction to harder drugs, it is known that nearly 100% of addicts who seek drug addiction treatment for those harder drugs started out abusing marijuana. To give you an idea just how bad it is, 287,000 drug addicts or alcoholics needed but did not receive addiction treatment in 2007, with only 24,100 addicts receiving drug rehabilitation or alcohol treatment that same year. Results clearly show less than ten percent of the addicted population receive rehabilitation or treatment in Kentucky.

ADHD Prescription Drug Abuse @ College-so what? – Ashley, a College student is interviewed by Dr. Charles Shinaver about prescription drug abuse at college. Is Adderall Abuse or the Abuse of other ADHD Drugs on College Campuses a Big Deal? Students ask ADHD Students all the time to sell or give their ADHD drugs to other students. The line between use and abuse is blurry, doctors prescribe them. Faking ADHD is easy. Coke, Dr. Pepper, coffee, tea, energy drinks, ADHD meds, where is the line? Pick me ups vs. Lock me ups.

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