VistaTaos

Teens have latched onto a new drug craze, synthetic pot, and the new drug can leave emergency room doctors confused. ER docs have not caught up to the new drug use and the bodily effects, which makes it much more difficult for doctors to provide a diagnosis and effective treatment in the case of an adverse drug reaction.

The new drug is called K2 or Spice, and it is made synthetically to produce effects that mimic those of marijuana. Unfortunately, the production is not regulated, and many unknown chemicals can be mixed to make up the K2 cocktail. With so many different chemical components mixed in, the drug can cause any number of ill effects, including aggressiveness, restlessness, agitation, confusion, sweating, unresponsiveness and difficulties communicating, and it can even cause a catatonic state.

Doctors and researchers are unable to estimate how many teens have used K2 or how many have suffered drug reactions because the effects of the drug can vary from case to case. This variation is mostly due to the high numbers of different recipes for the drug; each set of drugs could contain different chemicals, herbs and plants.

Parents of teens are encouraged to open a dialogue about the new drug. Should parents be concerned that their teen is using K2, they should contact a drug rehabilitation treatment center like Vista Taos. Employees at the treatment center can help guide parents to the necessary resources. Treatment centers are also always available to anyone who suffers from addiction to K2 or any other drug. Contact your local treatment center for more details. Those in the New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas or Colorado area are very close to a superb treatment facility. Vista Taos Treatment Center in New Mexico is staffed with an experienced and highly-educated team of people working together to help addicts face their demons.

Police in New Mexico have reached out to cell phone users in an attempt to crack down on drunk driving. And it’s working.

The #DWI Drunk Busters campaign works to connect citizens with police by opening an easy line of communication between the police and citizen cell phone users across the state. Whenever a citizen sees a potential drunk driver on the road, he can call #-D-W-I for access to police assistance, making it much easier for citizens to report the potential DWI crime.

Once the call comes in, police dispatch alerts officers of any details the driver had to offer about the potential drunk driver. Officers then pursue the offending driver.

New Mexico State Police have been running the #DWI Drunk Busters campaign for months, and the preliminary data shows that the campaign was successful in the months of January and February. The program led to about 1400 calls per month, roughly 140 traffic stops each month and around 25 DWI arrests per month. In fact, exact numbers show an increase in the program’s success from January to February; 23 DWI arrests were made in January while 30 DWI arrests were made in February.

While the numbers are promising, arresting drivers who drive drunk is only the first step the state makes in addressing the overwhelming drunk driving problem. New Mexico rehab centers also play an integral part in the state’s plan to minimize the high volume of statewide drunk driving. New Mexico rehab centers like Vista Taos Renewal Center can help those convicted of DWI or those seeking assistance with alcohol rehabilitation.

If you or someone you love suffers from alcoholism, call Vista Taos Renewal Center today. The average cost of a DWI after fines and lawyers have been paid is around $7,000.00. Your money is better spent elsewhere. Seek help before you see those flashing lights in your rearview mirror.

Those who suffer from insomnia may have an alternative to high-dose sleeping pills. A new drug, Intermezzo, hit the market, and the lower-dose drug could be a solution for middle-of-the-night insomnia.

The pill was developed to specifically target those who wake up in the middle of the night, as opposed to its sister drug, Ambien, which is formulated to help people fall asleep and stay asleep all night. Intermezzo, on the other hand, uses a lower dose and a new formula of Ambien.

With a quick-release formula, Intermezzo works more quickly than Ambien and lasts for a shorter time, lasting four hours as compared to Ambien’s traditional eight hours. For those who can fall asleep but wake up consistently during the night, the pill could be the solution to sleeping woes.

Even despite its lower dose formula, Intermezzo is just as dangerous as Ambien and other drugs. Intermezzo is also an addictive substance; it may affect reflexes the following day; and it can lead to sleep-walking, sleep-driving and sleep-eating. The drug, like all sleeping pills, can interact with underlying medical issues, like heart disease, asthma, cancer and sleep apnea, making the death rate higher among users of sleeping pills. 

Additionally, the pill could encourage abuse. The pill is highly addictive, and the hallucinogenic affects could lead addicts to use the drugs in ways other than intended, which may lead to overdose deaths and hallucinogenic addiction.

When used properly, the drug could be helpful as an occasional relief to middle-of-the-night insomnia, but when used improperly, addiction could become an issue. Thankfully, prescription drug rehab centers like Vista Taos are available for those who become addicted to sleeping pills. If you or a loved one are in need of prescription drug rehab, check out a prescription drug rehab center near you.  New Mexico based Vista Taos Renewal Center can help you or someone you care about get the help they need.

The popular prescription sleep aid, Ambien, may be a vehicle for increased rates of death, according to a new study completed by Scripps Health Research Institute.

The study focused on 10,000 individuals prescribed sleeping aids through Pennsylvania’s Geisinger Health System. The participants were of various ages, lifestyles and general health, but the average age of the participants was 54-years old.

As the study progressed, it became clear that those who used prescription sleep aids were much more likely to die early than similar individuals (based on age, lifestyle and health) who did not use sleep aids. In fact, when the final numbers were tallied, prescription sleep-aid users were four times more likely to die prematurely, even if their drug use was very minimal.  

Unfortunately, the study may not be entirely conclusive because it did not follow the participants closely for the cause of death; many underlying factors could have contributed to the death rate increase, including depression, mortality due to reactions with other drugs, and accidental use of the sleep aid while operating a vehicle. More conclusive evidence is needed.

However, whatever the cause of increased death rates among sleep aid users, it seems rather clear that the drug should be used as sparingly as possible, if only to prevent these underlying causes of death from occurring.

Additionally, in other Ambien news, it’s important to note that many physicians and pharmacists would deem the drug as a narcotic drug, despite the drug-maker’s claims that sleeping pills are non-narcotic and non-habit forming. Ambien is even advertised on television as being a safe sleep aid, but many people will argue differently. Ambien is very much an addictive and abused drug, it has a street value and is often sold by drug dealers.

Due to these findings, it may be beneficial to attend a rehab program if you suffer from Ambien abuse. Whether you take the prescribed dose to get to sleep night after night or you are taking it for the hallucinogenic side effects, addiction rehabilitation can help you break the habit.

Vista Taos Renewal Center in New Mexico will work with you and your loved ones to build a customized inpatient therapy program complete with family counseling if needed. You will reclaim your natural sleep cycle and return to a less dangerous lifestyle. If you are in the New Mexico area, contact Vista Taos any time to discuss intake procedures. Vista Taos welcomes people from all over, so even if you’re not in the immediate area, call to learn why Vista Taos’ rehab program stands tall above the rest.

Drunk driving is an offense that is not immune to any profession, it seems. Doctors, lawyers, corporate presidents and even police officers can be caught behind the wheel after drinking, often with grave consequences.

That’s what happened in McIntosh County, Oklahoma earlier this spring. A nine-year veteran of the Oklahoma City police force was arrested for drunk driving after he crashed his car. Thankfully, the single-car accident did not afflict any other drivers.

Sergeant Benjamin Nikkel was arrested after a McIntosh County Sherriff’s deputy and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol found Nikkel near the crash. Nikkel was off duty at the time, but alcohol abuse was suspected. Moving forward, more details about the accident and crime should become apparent through a criminal investigation.

Sadly, cases like these are much too common in professions of power and prestige, which begs the question: should those in certain professions be punished more heavily? As of now, the answer is elusive. However, one answer to the troubles in any career is alcohol rehab.

At alcohol rehab centers like New Mexico’s own Vista Taos Renewal Center, people from all walks of life who have become dependent on alcohol can benefit from alcohol rehab services. There, speaking to counselors and working with others who suffer from alcohol addiction can help alcohol rehab patients turn to different ways to deal with stress, pressure and emotional distress. Oklahoma alcohol rehab can be easily placed in the hands of Vista Taos, a successful and serene addiction center unlike many traditional rehabilitation programs for drugs and alcohol. Seek help, do not let addiction cost you your job, your family or your pride.

Saying ‘no’ to drugs has reached a new level: Colorado medical marijuana dispensaries located within 1,000 feet of schools must close their doors or face criminal charges. The pot shops have 45 days to relocate before legal action will be taken.

While medical marijuana dispensaries are still legal in Colorado, U.S. Attorney John Walsh has decided that pot shops located near schools pose a threat to Colorado schoolchildren. The Colorado U.S. Attorney is within his rights to target marijuana dispensaries; Walsh cited that the U.S. Justice Department has authorized all federal prosecutors to use their discretion when working to abolish marijuana trafficking.

Even so, as Walsh moves forward in his discretionary targeting of pot shops, a new law may go into effect that would legalize marijuana possession for Colorado residents over the age of 21. The November 2012 ballot initiative would allow residents to possess small amounts of marijuana, even without a doctor’s prescription.

Voting could be close, though. Debate about marijuana use and medical marijuana dispensaries has been ongoing for years. In fact, despite their state legality, pot dispensaries have been banned from 85 Colorado communities.

The debates usually center on the relative safety of the drug versus the gateway potential. Pot is considered to lack the addictive powers of other drugs, so many people consider marijuana a “safe” drug. On the other hand, the drug has been proven to be an introductory drug for many users, leading users to more addictive and dangerous drugs.

No matter a person’s stance on the safety or gateway potential, marijuana remains an illegal drug that can interrupt drive, ability, and functionality in users. For those reasons, many people seek marijuana rehab facilities like Vista Taos in New Mexico to assist them with marijuana rehab.

If you or a loved one are in need of marijuana rehab, call Vista Taos Drug Rehab clinic today. Those living in Colorado, particularly in the southern part of the state are a short distance from the Taos treatment facility.

A retired Denver sheriff who was awarded the 2001 Sheriff of the Year Award hasn’t been out of the legal limelight since his retirement. Former sheriff Patrick Sullivan became involved with the law again after a 10-year hiatus; only this time, he was on the wrong side of the badge.

Sullivan, 69, was arrested for methamphetamine use, distribution, and solicitation of prostitution in exchange for the drug. The former lawman pleaded guilty to the charges after being presented with video evidence that depicted Sullivan distributing meth to men in exchange for sex.

The former Arapahoe County sheriff (1984 to 2002) seems to have fallen far from his glory days as the2001 Sheriff of the Year and 1995 appointee to the National Commission of Crime Prevention and Control. The highly acclaimed sheriff even had a Colorado jail named in his honor, which in an ironic twist, is where he will serve his 38 day sentence. 

Sullivan was hopeful that he may serve his time, seek forgiveness and move his life forward in a positive direction, according to his statement to the court at sentencing. This apology and these realizations may be the first step Sullivan needs to take to overcome his meth addiction, and his court-appointed substance abuse treatment will be the next crucial step to his meth addiction recovery.

As Sullivan moves forward, he will attend a substance abuse treatment center like Visa Taos Renewal Center, where he can focus on recovering from his meth addiction. Soon, the lawman may be moving forward in a positive direction, just as he hoped, with the assistance of a meth addiction recovery center.

One of Santa Fe’s most high-profile criminals is facing charges once again for violating his parole. Daniel Martinez, 46, was acquitted for a murder and a rape charge in 1992, and the highly publicized trial has made him a well-known local criminal. However, his run-ins with the law have been numerous in the years since, and Martinez has spent many years in prison, off and on, in the two decades following his acquittal.

Many of Martinez’s crimes have been drug related, although one of his more recent non-drug-related crimes, a May 2010 kidnapping led to a probation charge in effect through October 2016. Since his sentencing in the kidnapping case, Martinez has been arrested twice for probation violations. Recently, Martinez and his wife allegedly attacked a woman in their home, but charges were dropped in this January 3, 2012, incident.

This most recent arrest occurred Wednesday, March 21, after Martinez tested positive for cocaine use, which is a violation of his parole. Martinez alleges that his doctor prescribed him medication that contained cocaine. He is scheduled to be released on May 29th barring any delays.

It may seem obvious to some that the man needs drug rehabilitation from a New Mexico treatment center. An addictions treatment center, could help. The renewal center focuses on rehabilitating those in need through counseling and other treatments, much of which focuses on treating the underlying causes of drug addiction. If you or a loved one are in need of a New Mexico treatment center, contact Vista Taos today.

A 4-year old and a 5-year old are lucky to be alive after their mother drove while high on drugs. The 24-year old mother, Feleasha Hicks, was high on methamphetamines when she crashed her car at the corner of SW 29th Street and Portland Avenue in Oklahoma City on Friday, March 30.

Police responded to a citizen call about an injury accident at around 8 p.m. They found Hicks and her two children unharmed. The airbags had deployed. The car suffered a broken headlight.

Upon arrival, police found Hicks to be agitated. She touched her face often, grinded her teeth, and fidgeted. Oklahoma City Police Department officers issued a field sobriety test, which Hicks failed. They also found marijuana on her person. She was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and booked into the Oklahoma County Jail. Her young children were taken into protective custody.

Hicks was no stranger to driving under the influence. The mother lost her license due to a DWI conviction ten days prior to this arrest.

As she moves forward in the legal system, Hicks faces charges for all of her offenses, but she could also lose custody of her children due to child endangerment. Her meth addiction could cost her the most important people in her life.

Sadly, Hicks’ case is quite common in the meth addiction community. The draw to meth is often so strong that those who suffer from meth addiction can put their loved ones in harm’s way, even their young children.

There is hope, though. Meth addiction can be beat with the help of the caring staff at rehab facilities like Vista Taos Renewal Center in New Mexico. Call today for more information.

Ever since Oxycontin changed its formula, addicts in rural America have sought new ways to get high. And now they may have zeroed in on a new drug of choice: Opana.

Opana is a potent prescription pain reliever made from oxymorphone, an opioid-based drug. Abuse of this prescription medication has been rising, and it has overtaken the previously favored drugs of meth, Oxycontin, heroin and cocaine to become the drug of choice in rural America.

The ease with which those who suffer from pain killer addiction can obtain the drug may be the leading reason for the rise in abuse. Opana is an expensive drug, and many people prescribed the drug for legitimate pain have begun to sell their prescription drugs to addicts – for as much as $90 per pill on the streets. Additionally, “dirty” doctors may prescribe Opana for simple pain rather than for the intended usage for cancer, chronic back pain and osteoarthritis, which makes it much easier to obtain.

Opana’s formula may also be partially to blame for the rise in pain pill addiction. It is easy to crush and reformulate into a drug that can be snorted or injected. While Opana’s manufacturers have realized the mistake in formulation and plan to make changes similar to Oxycontin’s reformulation – which made it impossible to reconstitute the pill – the pill is still available in a crushable form as of right now and remains a drug of choice. 

Unfortunately, this leaves rural counties dealing with the effects of citizen pain pill addiction. Poverty, increased crime rates, and decreased property values top the ill effects of pain pill addiction, but the increased death rate in those under the age of 25 years old due to accidental overdose may be the most disheartening effect.   

Pain pill addiction can be conquered, though. If you or a loved one need assistance with pain killer addiction, call a treatment center that can carefully see you through prescription drug detox. Vista Taos Renewal Center of New Mexico can do just that and more.