VistaTaos

Prescription drug abuse is on the rise in seniors and disabled beneficiaries who use the Medicare program. It was recently reported that this abuse cost the program nearly $150 million in 2008. In the report, it shows that some patients went to at least five doctors in order to receive multiple prescriptions for drugs that are often misused or abused. These are drugs on the FDA “Controlled Substances” list. They are prescription drugs like: Oxycontin, Vicodin, Percocet, Xanax and Valium.

About 170,000 individuals enrolled in the Medicare Part D prescription program were found to be “doctor shopping” for drugs ranging from oxycodone to hydrocodone. That means that approximately 1.8 percent of the total 43 million Medicare patients had these prescriptions. The study was started in 2010, using the data obtained in 2008.

One shocking example shows a patient who received prescriptions from 87 different doctors in a single year. That means some patients have gone to great lengths to have the government feed their drug addiction and need for these medications. Not only are these patients taking advantage of the system, but they are also fueling an addiction to medications that will ultimately land them in trouble.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have also been receiving many complaints lately regarding this type of drug abuse. When CMS receives these complaints, they then notify doctors about patients who could be abusing prescription drugs in order to stop abuse on their end. Prescription drug abuse is very dangerous and many people believe just because a doctor writes a prescription that it makes it okay to for them to ingest. This is far from the case and can lead to deadly consequences.

If you or a loved one needs help with prescription drug abuse, please contact Vista Taos Renewal Center today. They are a holistic drug abuse treatment center located 85 miles north of Santa Fe in New Mexico that can help anyone and everyone get their life back on track. Now is the time to get help and live a better life.

A new bilingual helpline was recently created by drugfree.org to aid parents and families who may not have access to other resources in dealing with family members who might be struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction. Many parents struggle with how to educate their children on the dangers of substance abuse. It is never an easy process and parents need as many resources as they can get in order to know what their kids might be involved in and how they can help them stay drug-free. Remember: start talking about the dangers of drugs and alcohol now. The sooner the better, but it’s never too late!

This new toll-free hotline for parents, 1-855-DRUGFREE – (1-855-378-4373), is staffed by social workers with sensible experience in substance abuse intervention and drug treatment. The social workers will offer advice on how to help parents plan a course of action when dealing with a child who is struggling from an addiction as well as supply them with resources and treatment facilities that are local to where the family is living.

It must be noted that this hotline is not a 24-hour crisis line, but it will be staffed and open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm EST. Through this, the staff is able to work with parents to understand the unique needs of their children so that they can then help them find drug treatment options while promoting support and family involvement through their recovery process. Helping a child dealing with substance abuse is never an easy process and takes a lot of support for the parents and the child. At Vista Taos, the upmost drug treatment care is provided to those struggling with the disease of addiction. Now is the time to seek help in healing our youth and educating them on the positives of leading a drug-free life.  If you are 18 years of age or older and need help with addiction, Vista Taos can help you.

Doctors have possibly been prescribing the wrong medicines for the wrong conditions, including drug and alcohol abuse. Those seeking treatment for drug and alcohol abuse from general psychiatrists rather than specialists in rehabilitation centers like Vista Taos have often been prescribed antipsychotic drugs.

These antipsychotics have been used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with satisfactory results. However, when the drugs containing risperidone (which include the brand names Risperdal, Abilify, Zyprexa and Seroquel) are prescribed for drug and alcohol abuse, they do not effectively treat the patients.

In fact, the side effects of risperidone-based drugs include stroke, tremors, weight gain and fatigue. When the drug is not effectively treating drug and alcohol abuse and is producing unwanted side effects, it is a wonder that psychiatrists would prescribe it to those whom it does not benefit.

Unfortunately, psychiatrists may just be grasping at straws when they prescribe these antipsychotic drugs to addicts. Those unfamiliar with drug and alcohol abuse treatment can sometimes prescribe medications as a trial and error, which can prove to be very difficult for addicts hoping to recover.

Rehabilitation centers like Vista Taos of New Mexico, however, are well-versed in drug and alcohol abuse treatments that work well. At Vista Taos Renewal Clinic, for example, the rehabilitation center focuses on treating the whole person, including any underlying issues. Treatments include individualized counseling, family counseling and after care services. 

When weighing your options in alcohol and drug abuse treatment, you may wish to consider rehabilitation centers over general psychiatric help. Those trained to treat drug and alcohol addictions can often better treat your addictions.

Addiction treatment might be experiencing a change in how to treat it. Dr. Kim Janda, a San Diego-based chemist, has spent the last 25 years working on a vaccine that will help to eliminate addictions such as smoking cigarettes or using cocaine. This would basically mean that when a person consumed his or her drug of choice, that they would feel nothing from the experience, thus eliminating the urge to use again.

Dr. Janda claims the vaccines are not imminent but are well on their way to being developed to help those struggling with addiction. He explained that the vaccine would be administered after someone finds themselves addicted to a substance that they cannot let go of, and that it would be designed to make the immune system create antibodies that would shut down the narcotic before it was able to take control of the body or brain.

Dr. Janda has already run trials with cocaine addicts who have been injected with one of his vaccines and then snorted cocaine. The participants said the coke tasted “dirty” and they did not get the high they would usually get from using this drug. Dr. Janda feels that attitudes have changed toward addiction treatment and that doctors are becoming more willing to promote medical solutions to drug problems in the United States. While the thought of such a vaccine coming onto the market might sound great, it might not be the solution for everyone.

Struggling with an addiction can be life-draining and the help for addicts needs to be provided quickly in order to help save their lives and get them back on the right track to leading a sober life.  If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction, contact Vista Taos today for answers on how this struggle can become a distant memory. Medical-based treatment is a good option, but it may not be enough. New Mexico’s Vista Taos Clinic focuses on more ways to cope with addiction, not just western medicine. Learn how holistic care can be the solution to tread substance abuse.

Earlier this year, law enforcement officials disclosed the amount of drugs seized in an Austin, Texas raid. The drugs seized were only a small part of the total amount transported in a huge drug-trafficking operation.

The Texas Syndicate gang has run a mega-sized drug trafficking operation, often transporting up to 20 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and a half ton of marijuana each month. The gang focused on transporting the drugs from Mexico to Austin, Texas via Interstate 35. From there, the drugs were distributed to many other locations in America.

This Austin, Texas news has led to a greater awareness of the problems faced in methamphetamine addiction. Also known by its shorter name Crystal Meth, the drug creates a chemical imbalance in the user. Used properly as part of a medical treatment for ADHD or obesity, this can provide energy, alertness and concentration for those who have a legitimate need for this medicine

However, when the drug is abused, it can lead to methamphetamine addiction, severe psychosis, hallucinations, cardiovascular damage and “meth mouth,” a severe deterioration of the user’s teeth. In addition, the methamphetamine addiction can be very difficult to break; the withdrawal period can last several months to a year, making it harder for the user to resist the drug.

At Vista Taos Renewal Center, the approach for methamphetamine addiction recovery centers around more than just drug treatments. The holistic approach focuses on both the addiction and the underlying reasons that instigated the addiction; healing the whole person, not just the methamphetamine addiction. Vista Taos’ clinic is located in New Mexico; it can cater to persons in the Austin Texas area looking for help with drug or alcohol addiction.

Recently, Bob Forrest, a long-time recovered addict and also one of the creators of the show, Celebrity Rehab, opened up about his thoughts on creating a reality show about celebrities going through addiction rehabilitation. He claims when he first created the show, he wanted people to see how difficult battling an addiction can be and that the rehabilitation process is not a joke, but a serious process. He hoped that by showing the process to America, that it would bring more empathy and a different perspective to those who struggle with addictions.

When someone is suffering from a problem with substance abuse, their lives are usually slowly falling apart before their eyes. So when someone makes the decision to get better and gain their lives back by going to addiction rehabilitation, the last thing they need is to be on display for all to see as they wean themselves off drugs and try to get their lives back.

Forrest is seen on Celebrity Rehab as one of the counselors to the celebrity patients on the show and works with the patients during group therapy. He now states the show has not turned out the way he thought it would and that the editing of the show is skewed. The tragic fact is two celebrities featured on this show have lost their lives through their addiction struggle, while others are still very publicly battling drug addiction. This can only lead to one conclusion, that documenting addiction rehabilitation is not a good idea and is the wrong way to truly try and get better and become drug-free. If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, contact Vista Taos Renewal Center for more information on a healthy way to get sober and live a better life free of drugs. Private, peaceful rehabilitation is what Vista Taos’ New Mexico clinic is offering; it is the best choice for drug treatment because you are allowed to be yourself and heal without the watchful eye of media, strangers or producers.

Going to jail, a treatment center or dying are three of the promises that active addiction gives a person.  In just the past 2 weeks Amy Winehouse, Teen Mom Jenelle Evans, rapper Big Boi are just a few of the bringing focus on the perils of life in drug addiction.  There’s a better life in recovery.

Whether a person is trying to enhance their feeling of euphoria or using to manipulate their mood, those whose use attracts public attention, a notice in the newspaper or the negative attention of family, colleagues and friends has got a problem.  Drug addiction knows no economic boundary, there are no geographical borders and celebrity, fame and fortune can be catastrophic as opposed to bringing on happiness.  Drug celebrities addiction ceases to be ecstatic and for too many – nearly 1 in 4 deaths can be attributed to substance use and drug addiction.  Those of us who work in the addiction treatment field witness the success of thousands as they commit to recovery and sobriety – a life second to none.

Drug addiction comes with built-in denial so the addict is not aware of the depth or seriousness of their addiction.  Riding the high of celebrity is not typically a death wish. But fame is hard to handle and chasing the illusion that all pain and anguish can be erased by money, popularity and taking in mood altering drugs has been the demise of some of our most talented performers, from as long ago as Lenny Bruce, Elvis, Judy Garland, Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin to more recently the overdose of Heath Ledger.

Addiction is deadly, but there’s hope and there’s a way of life in recovery that truly works to restore happiness and sanity.  In more recent years, many public figures have gone public with their sobriety hoping to obliterate the stigma of addiction and help others break down their denial.

Vista Taos Renewal Center provides a place for addicts to conquer their addiction and save their lives. Happiness can be restored without having to kill yourself finding it;  call Vista Taos today and get the help you need.

During the week of 15 August 2011 the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) labeled addiction as a chronic brain disorder not just a behavioral problem.  A couple of major points need to be underscored here. 

“This disease is about brains, not drugs. It's about underlying neurology, not outward actions" says Dr. Michael Miller, past president of ASAM.  The neurological disorders can be targeted, treated and healed much more effectively through treatment and recovery than applying external behavioral punishments such as jailing, institutionalizing or otherwise stigmatizing addicts. 

What’s extraordinary is that it took four years and consultation with over 80 different clinical experts from a variety of fields before making this announcement.  This definition for addiction is intended to be incontrovertible.

"Choice still plays an important role in getting help. While the neurobiology of choice may not be fully understood, a person with addiction must make choices for a healthier life in order to enter treatment and recovery. Because there is no pill which alone can cure addiction, choosing recovery over unhealthy behaviors is necessary," Dr. Raju Hajela, past President of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine, said.

The sophistication of brain function is impossible to adequately describe in this limited forum. What we can state is that the brain’s reward system is hijacked by alcohol and drug use and about 10% of the American population suffers from some degree of addiction to these substances.  An interesting footnote is how some foods, gambling and other behaviors hijack the brain in a similar way.

Addiction re-defined should open the door for those reluctant or too stigmatized to seek help.  This new focus on addiction should help medical doctors make the referral to treatment for their patients who suffer from addiction.

In the words of Dr. Miller. "We have to stop moralizing, blaming, controlling or smirking at the person with the disease of addiction, and start creating opportunities for individuals and families to get help by providing assistance in choosing proper treatment."

Keywords:  Addiction, treatment, recovery

S. Darcy

Addiction is a scary thing, especially for those who start at a young age. Shockingly, nearly half of all American teens smoke, drink or use other types of drugs. Teens are starting themselves on a self-destructive path of alcohol and drug addiction and already half of young users can be categorized as having an addiction.

If you know a teen or are a teen that thinks you might need help to stop using alcohol and/or drugs, now is the time to find recovery and get involved in addiction rehab to live a successful life. Thankfully, teen’s use of cigarettes, marijuana and alcohol has decreased in years, but recently it has flat-lined. It begs the question of where do we go from here in order to get young adults to realize how destructive a life of addiction is to not only to themselves, but to their friends and family as well.

In a recent report, it found that two thirds of high school students use more than one addictive substance. Not only that, but a quarter of the students questioned felt marijuana use is harmless. This is why it is so important for young adults to educate themselves and realize what might be “fun” now, is a lifetime of misery later.

Vista Taos provides a place for teens to go to addiction rehab and get the help they need before it is too late. Rehabilitation centers can seem like a scary thing, but in actuality, they provide ambiance, strength and love and help individual’s persevere through this dreadful disease. If you are struggling to get your life back from addiction, contact New Mexico’s expert rehab facility: Vista Taos Renewal Center, and get on the right track toward sobriety.

Online pharmacies are popping up left and right, providing prescription drugs without a prescription and causing quite a stir in the medical community. These pharmacies are often located outside the United States, but provide pills like Xanax, Percocet, Vicodin, Oxycontin and more to those who only take the drug to abuse it.

It wasn’t long ago that the method to getting these drugs was to purchase them without a prescription at a Mexican pharmacy. Prescription pill smuggling is a billion-dollar industry, leaving many southern cities like Dallas, Texas or Albuquerque, New Mexico with some of the easiest access to narcotics without a prescription. Because of the internet, these pills can be shipped anywhere. It is not only that these pills are being abused, but that often times, people are not getting the medicine they ordered, leaving them with other, dangerous side effects to treat.

Pill addiction is quickly replacing other illegal drugs, like marijuana, cocaine and heroin. People feel that because these pills were created in a laboratory, by medical scientists and doctors, they can provide a safe high. That is completely false. These pills can treat pain safely under a doctor’s care and only for a limited time. Products like Vicodin have acetaminophen in them; it can be detrimental to your liver over long-time usage. There is no safe high. Each pain pill and sedative on the market come with dangerous side effects if misused. So many lose their lives each year because of pill addiction.

Vista Taos Renewal Center in Taos, New Mexico knows how hard it can be to overcome pill addiction. That’s why they’re ready to talk to you about treatment options 24 hours a day. It is possible to more comfortably detox from pain pills and overcome aching process your body goes through while it retunes itself to live healthily, free from narcotics. Please call Vista Taos today, don’t be a pain pill addiction statistic.