VistaTaos

Xanax, a very powerful benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety and panic disorders, has seen a significant rise in use both legally and illegally in recent years. The drug has become one of the top ten medications sought by patients in the United States and has spurred addiction abuse throughout the country. That’s why it comes as no surprise that Seven Counties, a healthcare provider in Kentucky, chose to get its doctors to stop writing new prescriptions for Xanax and its generic version, alprazolam, this past April. Not only that, but they also plan to have doctors wean their patients off it completely by the end of this year.

Seven Counties plans to carefully watch how this experiment takes off and are hoping to see less people with an addiction abuse to Xanax. Many people have overdosed from the use and misuse of this medication and the abuse of it has to stop before more lives are claimed. Many states have focused their primary concern on pain medications such as hydrocodone and other narcotic painkillers, but recently states are becoming increasingly more aware that benzodiazepines are just as dangerous and just as addictive.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an 89 percent increase in emergency room visits nationwide was, sadly, related to non-medical benzodiazepine use between 2004 and 2008. In Kentucky alone, they have seen an increase in addiction abuse mainly with people combining Xanax and opiate painkillers and often with deadly consequences. Seven Counties is not the first provider to cut off prescriptions for controlled substances and will most likely not be the last.

What makes Xanax particularly dangerous is that it poses a much bigger risk for addiction abuse and causes significant withdrawal symptoms. The drug’s effects can be felt almost immediately after consumption but only last a few hours and then leave those using the medication wanting more. It is a dangerous medication with a high level of abuse. If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction abuse, please contact Vista Taos today to find out more information on how to lead a healthy drug-free life.

When someone struggles with addiction, they deal with the constant consequences of their misuse of alcohol or drugs when they give into their disease. But what many do not realize is that even those trying to recover from an addiction can run into severe problems if they do not detox safely.

In the recent death of singer Amy Winehouse, her father claims she was not using drugs for three years, but still struggled with giving up alcohol. He feels it was due to her struggle with alcohol that she had such an untimely death. The problem with alcohol detox is it is a process that takes time and cutting cold turkey can cause serious troubles internally within the body. It is reported that almost five percent of untreated patients going through alcohol withdrawal deal with seizures.

It is also estimated that a staggering 15.2 million Americans battle alcohol abuse and addiction each year. The human body has a hard time dealing with alcohol detox and it is not an easy process when your body has become so dependent on alcohol. Sadly, those struggling with alcohol detox could find themselves dying from a gastrointestinal bleed or from a grand mal seizure.

That is why it is so important to seek out a treatment center in assisting with alcohol detox. Through a safe treatment center environment, and under the care of those who want nothing but the best for their patients, overcoming an addiction can happen without the threat of death by detox. At Vista Taos Renewal Center, patients can overcome their addictions in an environment that is healthy for them and with the nurturing care of the medical and clinical staff to monitor their detox. If you or a loved one is suffering from an alcohol addiction, contact Vista Taos today to find out more on a safe way to becoming sober. You are not alone. Make the choice to detox safely and comfortably.

Pitcher for the Texas Rangers: C.J. Wilson has partnered up with DrugFree.org to teach others about the importance of being drug and alcohol free. This practice of drug-free living is what Wilson believes healthy competition is all about. His efforts have been titled Play Healthy. A big focus is on steroid use in sports. He has seen first-hand what happens when a person takes performance-enhancing drugs to make them “better” at the game, only to see it all crash and burn as fast as it started.

Wilson made a promise to himself at an early age to steer clear of street drugs, alcohol and performance-enhancing steroids. He knew that getting involved could be detrimental to his career, and his drive for success was great. Being a professional athlete, he believes it is important to maintain a clean image; he is setting the bar for other athletes who also are role models to the young children in the United States. Drug abuse can’t play a positive role in sports, no matter how enticing the drug may be; the outcome of using drugs can be a career killer.

If you’re in the Texas area and interested in learning more about drug abuse, Vista Taos Renewal Center is located in New Mexico and can assist with addicts living in Texas. C.J. Wilson will continue to give talks around the United States to parents, kids, coaches and law enforcement about tips and tools for drug prevention in sports. He will also be giving the second annual Commissioner’s Play Healthy Awards. This award is given to one youth coach and one youth player for their attitude of good team work and drug-free sports. Learn more at www.DrugFree.org/PlayHealthy

Narcotic related emergency room visits are on the rise all over the United States. New York City, for instance has seen a 40% jump in just a few short years. Prescription pain medicine is the second-most used illegal drug; marijuana remains number one. It is estimated by a survey from New York’s Department of Health that 263,000 people have used pain killers like oxycodone and hydrocodone. These are the numbers of people within the state who are using the drug for recreation, not to treat pain.

Seeing this shift towards narcotic pain medication as a way to get high is dangerous because the risk of overdose is high. These are highly–addictive medications that when used properly, treat pain and do not run a high risk of addiction. Many people feel they can take these medications with minimal risk to their bodies because they are often prescribed by doctors for pain purposes. However, doctors typically only prescribe pills like these for short periods of time. One reason is because it is to treat short-term pain, like that associated with surgery or injuries. Another reason is because people can become dependent after long-term use. These pills are great for masking pain until the problem subsides, but long-term pain needs expert help to find the root cause and another way to treat the issue. And finally, because these medications can damage your organs.

Pill addiction is a deadly game to play with your body’s organs. It is only a matter of time before a person will sustain damage to their liver, kidneys and other vital organs. Overdose is a reality. Once a person has consumed too much of a prescription narcotic, it becomes difficult for trained medical professionals to undo what has been done. Get help now for pill addiction to drugs like Vicodin, Percocet or OxyContin. Join Vista Taos Drug Rehab clinic in New Mexico to break the deadly cycle of addiction.

Many states in the lower part of the U.S. have seen increasingly higher numbers in the amount of users of methamphetamines. A recent study completed throughout the western states showed a significant amount of meth showing up in work drug screening tests done in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nevada, California, Wyoming, Utah and Arizona.

The study was prepared by Quest Economics and they found that Hawaii’s amount of positive screenings of meth were 410 percent greater than the national average. That number is astounding and brings into question why this state and other states with high meth users are so significant. What leads these states to have such an extreme amount of meth addiction users?

It makes one wonder if the state of the economy has anything to do with it. From people depressed about not having jobs to those who might choose to make meth labs as a method to make money because they cannot get a real job. But meth addiction is a dangerous and disfiguring disease. Not only does it destroy your insides, but it also ruins your teeth and skin.

For meth addiction users, the drug creates intense periods of euphoria, alertness, concentration, and energy as well as irritability, restlessness and aggressiveness. With the economy suffering, it seems more people are turning to this drug in order to “survive” especially those juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet. But there is a better way to function in life that does not involve drugs. Meth addicts have poor judgment, and wreak havoc on their loved ones and health. With the right type of counseling and treatment, those using meth as a means to survive can now find a healthy way to cope with the struggles of life without ruining their lives and the lives of the ones who love them the most.

If you or a love one is suffering from a meth addiction, or any other type of drug or alcohol addiction, please do not hesitate to pick up the phone and call Vista Taos today. They are there to help in the most positive and enlightening way possible and their mission is to help those in need get the treatment they need to lead a better life free of drugs.

In the past month, former WWE wrestler Matt Hardy has had many run-ins with law enforcement and more significantly, has been arrested three times. Back in August, Hardy had his first arrest when he crashed his 2009 Corvette into a tree and was cited with a driving while impaired charge. Then just last week, Hardy was charged again with driving while impaired. After that charge, Hardy posted a video online that was a “goodbye message,” which he quickly took down after many people reached out in concern for his well being.

Unfortunately for Hardy, this would not be the end of his legal woes. Moore County sheriff's deputies arrested Hardy on various drug charges once they searched his residence and found drugs, including anabolic steroids and ecstasy. After his third arrest, he released another video on his YouTube channel in which he announced that he was entering a drug rehab facility to seek help for substance abuse. He explained in the video how he has dealt with serious back and pelvic and spinal injuries that he sustained throughout his wrestling career. Hardy said these painful injuries led him to self-medicate just to get through the days.

Hardy will go into a drug rehab program for three months and he hopes to get drug-free and open up a wrestling school that teaches smarter ways to wrestle and lead a healthy life-style at the same time. Many professional sport players have had problems with getting addicted to pain medications due to injuries received during their sporting career.

But there is a better way of life than self-medicating or abusing prescription drugs. The best way for a person to stop self-medicating is to enter a drug rehab program and get hands-on care and help to lead a drug-free life. For more information on drug rehab and how it can help you or a loved one, please contact Vista Taos Renewal Center today. Vista Taos is located not far from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Located in the village of Taos, it sets the perfect scene for relaxed and superior drug rehabilitation.

For many years, car accidents have been a major cause of death for Americans. That is until recently when new data was published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that traffic fatalities are now surpassed by drug overdoses in the number of deaths in the United States. What might surprise people even more is that the drugs people are overdosing on are not heroin, methamphetamines, or cocaine. Shockingly, more overdoses are occurring with prescription medications.

In the new information published by CDC, it showed that drugs killed at least 37,485 Americans in 2009, which is more than the 36,284 deaths which were caused by traffic accidents. Of of these stats alone, we can now see that the death toll from drugs takes one life every 14 minutes. As this staggering number continues to rise, deaths from other causes are dropping. The main prescription drugs being abused are Vicodin, Xanax and OxyContin. The drugs are even causing more deaths than illegal drugs like heroin and cocaine.

It is scary to think of how many of those are suffering from an addiction to prescription drugs and are unable to stop. Many people struggling with an addiction believe they are hopeless or they might just be fearful of the thought of going to a treatment center. But there is always a way out of abusing drugs and a treatment center is one of the best ways to get the utmost care to lead a life without depending on drugs.

Americans dying from overdoses of prescription drugs are people of all ages. These numbers have doubled in ten year’s time and now is the time for those suffering to stop the numbers from increasing anymore. Now is the time to seek out a treatment center that can help to lead a drug-free life so that you or a loved one is not a casualty of addiction. For more information on how to lead a life that is not dependent on drugs, contact Vista Taos Renewal Center in New Mexico today.

In the latest report by the U.N. Office of Drugs and Crime, amphetamine-based drugs were found to be more common than ever and come in second in use to pot. One of the main reasons amphetamines, such as ecstasy and crystal meth, have become more common in use has a lot to do with how easily they are to make. Due to them being so much easier to make, manufacturers and dealers make and sell it cheaper, and more people are getting hooked.

This drug problem is worldwide and only seems to be getting worse. Even in Southeast Asia, the amount of methamphetamine pills seized almost tripled in one year from 93 million to a shocking 133 million. Medical labs have been raided more frequently in order for sellers and users to get more of the drugs they want. The saddest part of all of this is many people are turning to these drugs to find relief from their lives and think the high they get from these drugs will make them feel better when dealing with their daily struggles. But they are mistaken; most will end up in a drug treatment center, or worse, they will end up dead.

While users of this drug might be looking for some quick relief from reality, it is never the right way to go about getting help in dealing with multiple problems people go through in life. Through a drug treatment center, patients are able to get themselves off of being dependent on amphetamines and find a better way to cope with the stressors of day-to-day life. Drugs are never the answer and will only lead to a person’s life spiraling more out of control. There is help out there for those who need it so don’t hesitate when your life is on the line. No drug or high is worth a human being losing their life. Visit Vista Taos today to find out how you or a loved one can get better and stay drug-free. Vista Taos Renewal Center is located in the quaint village of Taos, New Mexico- directly north of Santa Fe. They specialize in exceptional alcohol and drug treatment, and are not your conventional clinic setting. Learn about the Vista Taos difference: the holistic, whole-body treatment processes that bring about success with addiction.

A 21-year-old college student who attended the University of Colorado, Michael Alexander Hoffman, recently died after a hard night of partying and using alcohol and drugs. The night before his tragic death, Hoffman was seen with a friend drinking and socializing at a party until the wee hours of the morning.

Hoffman was later found unconscious in his own vomit, which strongly smelled of alcohol, according to the police report. Police also stated in the report that Hoffman’s text messages show that he was trying to buy the prescription drug Adderall, which is a form of speed. The report also showed Hoffman was gray-toned and sweating all over. The person who lived at that home had never met Hoffman.

Paramedics rushed Hoffman to the hospital, but sadly, he never regained consciousness and died four days later. While alcohol alone can be deadly, mixing it with any type of medication can be lethal. Many college students, and sometimes high school students, are using alcohol and Adderall together for an additional high that helps them party all night long. Many would compare the feeling of Adderall to the effects of cocaine.

But abusing the drug can cause serious problems for the user. Not only does it have a high potential for abuse, but it also can become habit-forming. It can cause heart problems, blood vessel issues and even sudden death. Abusing alcohol alone can also have these same effects and, for many, the only way to get over using alcohol or drugs is through detoxification and treatment.

There are many ways to seek out alcohol treatment so that your life and the lives of your loved ones who might be suffering from this disease can learn to live a normal life free from alcohol and drugs. From Alcoholics Anonymous to residential or outpatient treatment, there is help out there and a chance to make a positive impact on your life and seek help. For more information on alcohol treatment, contact Vista Taos Renewal Center today.

Florida inadvertently was instrumental in shredding the myth of addiction and who’s abusing drugs. Their welfare program now requires drug screens, and to the surprise of many 98% of recipients passed!

When we look for addicts and the scourge of addiction, the general populace remains stubbornly attached to the notion that we’re looking at lowlifes, criminals, the chronically unemployed, and the homeless.

In an effort to save the state of Florida hundreds of thousands of dollars, the state spent tens of thousands of dollars proving that addiction and drug abuse is not concentrated and limited to lower socio-economic strata.

Enlightening the populace and politicians that addiction is not more prevalent among the poor has been a decades long effort by treatment professionals. And reputable study after study continually reveals that minimally 7% of the population of the United Sates is addicted to alcohol or drugs (legal or illicit). Studies from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration continually reveal that 48% of the American adolescent and adult population used a legal or illicit in just the past week! Clearly, our general awareness and ignorance of addiction is abusing the truth.

By the best and most learned estimates, 20% of the American population is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Most of these folks are functional: they work, they are in relationships, they are physicians, attorneys, teachers, coaches, professionals in every aspect of business and service workers. These functional addicts are cousins, siblings, parents, grandparents, friends and colleagues. It is believed that of every 5 people anyone in America knows or is related to, one of them is addicted to a drug or substance.

As has been the mantra of treatment professionals since the 1940s: Educate the Public about the realities of this disease. Addiction is a neurological and medical disease. Addiction can occur in anyone from any walk of life. Addiction Prevention is best served by education and public awareness. 12 step Programs are highly effective in treating addiction. Treatment Programs really work in treating addiction. Incarceration has been shown to be the least effective method of reducing addiction.

As has been the case for so many centuries – addiction remains caught in stereotypical definitions. It will be the strong, consistent and clear voice from addiction professionals and their advocates who will ultimately change the public perception of addiction and enlighten society to addiction treatment.

S. Darcy
Vista Taos Renewal Center