VistaTaos

Former bass player of Alice in Chains, 44 year old Mike Starr passed away in his Salt Lake City home on March 8th, 2011. Lately, Starr had been known for his substance abuse problems more than his music. He was on both Sober House and Celebrity Rehab within the past few years, publicly battling addiction. The toxicology report can take as long as two months before the cause of death is indentified, but a friend of Starr said he was mixing Methadone and Xanax the day he died. His drug rehab attempts had failed him.

In February, he was arrested for having pain medication on his person without a prescription. Charges were still pending. That wasn’t his first run in with the law, because of his behavior, he was fired by his band in 1992. In Houston, Texas, Starr spent time in jail for stealing luggage from the Houston Airport. He had experienced friends and fellow musicians around him dying from overdose through the years, yet he never appeared to take drug rehab seriously. Of course, rehabilitation is best in a private location, not posted on cable television for the world to see. Many celebrities who go on these reality shows that promise drug rehab success (and cash for appearing) do often continue with substance abuse problems.

Vista Taos Renewal Center provides drug rehab in a quiet, private setting with one on one therapies (along with group counseling) to aid a person on the road to sobriety. There’s no filming, no fan base to impress and no ratings to keep high at Vista Taos. Your only concern at drug rehab should be sobriety. Call today to learn about the benefits of private, personalized rehabilitation.

There’s a lot of talk about the abuse of prescription drugs going on right now.  One of the reasons the addiction is so easy to fuel in Oklahoma, is that Mexican pharmacies allow for the sale of hydrocodone, as well as several other dangerous prescription drugs to be sold over the counter.  Just because these medications are created in a pharmaceutical lab by doctors who have nothing but good intentions for these medicines, these drugs are dangerous when abused and can lead to death.

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics takes a look at all of the autopsy reports for suspicious deaths in the state.  Yearly, more than a dozen of these deaths could have been prevented, had the person not overdosed on prescription pain pills.  Often, they were mixed with other drugs and even alcohol to intensify the euphoric feeling.  Ironically, these overdoses are from prescription pain medications such as hydrocodone (Vicodin and Lortab, which is the most common prescribed pill for moderate pain, but the most widely abused by addicts all over the United States.

Oklahoma drug abuse treatment center Vista Taos is more than aware of the growing pill addiction craze.  Vista Taos is a drug abuse treatment center with overall wellness in mind.  By treating more than just the addiction, the patient gets a sense of overall empowerment, thus improving the rate of sobriety.  Many other drug abuse treatment centers offer similar programs, but many do not offer the holistic approaches, healing environment and extended care services offered by Vista Taos that are essential for recovery.  The most important thing to know is that you’re not expected to fight your prescription pain pill addiction alone.  There is help

There are all kinds of factors that influence a person’s susceptibility to drug abuse and addiction. We know, for instance, that there are genetic factors that play a role. Certain genes predispose some people to alcoholism or other addictive behaviors, and many people who struggle with addiction can name several family members with similar problems.

In addition to genes, environment can play a substantial role in determining whether a person develops a substance abuse problem. It seems only logical that being surrounded by drug users will increase a person’s likelihood of developing a substance abuse problem. These two strong influences on addiction development--genetics and environment--also have a surprising influence on each other, as shown by a recent study on peer drug use.

This Washington University study looked at more than 2,000 female twins, comparing information on the women’s own substance use and that of their friends. What the researchers found was that a woman’s genetic tendency to use drugs was linked to her exposure to drug-using friends. In fact, associating with friends who use drugs seemed to increase the genetic influences on substance abuse.

Studies like these point to the importance of a residential drug treatment center like Vista Taos. At Vista Taos, people struggling with addiction have a safe and supportive environment in which to heal and regain control of their life. It is obvious that peer groups have a tremendous influence on our behavior, and a stay at a residential drug treatment center removes the negative influence of drug-using peers. At a residential drug treatment center like Vista Taos, recovering addicts are surrounded by a supportive group of peers who understand the difficulty and importance of the recovery process. Substituting the negative influence of drug-using peers with the positive influence of recovering users can have a hugely beneficial impact on one’s journey of recovery from drug addiction.

Choosing a drug rehabilitation center is often a difficult and overwhelming process, and one of the quickest ways to narrow down your list of options is by location. If you live in or near New Mexico, you'll find that you don't have to go far to find excellent addiction treatment services. When it comes to drug rehab, New Mexico has a great deal to offer. Whether you're looking for outpatient treatment, short term residential rehab, or a more extended stay in residential drug rehab, New Mexico is a great place to start your search.

New Mexico is no stranger to the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse. National statistics collected by U.S. government agencies have consistently placed New Mexico among the worst in the nation when it comes to problems related to substance abuse, and the state has been working to better serve its residents when it comes to issues of drug and alcohol abuse. In addition to drug rehab, New Mexico is working to implement laws, policies, and funding methods to improve drug abuse prevention and treatment.

The economic cost of substance abuse is of particular concern to New Mexico, which ranks as one of the poorest states in the U.S. With more than 18% of residents living in poverty, the fact that New Mexico has among the nation's highest rates of substance abuse-related health problems is troubling. For example, New Mexico consistently ranks as one of the worst in the nation on statistics relating to alcohol abuse. The state's death rate from diseases related to alcoholism, such as alcohol-related liver disease, have been 1.5 to 2 times the national rate for the past 15 years. During the same time, the death rate for alcohol-related injury stayed fairly steady at 1.4 to 1.8 times the national rate.

Alcoholism is not the only substance abuse problem New Mexico is experiencing. The state's close proximity to Mexico and the existence of two major highways have combined to create a serious problem with drug trafficking in New Mexico. Mexico is a source of illicit drugs like cocaine and heroin as well as prescription drugs, which can be obtained legally in Mexico and then diverted into New Mexico for illegal use. As these drugs make their way into the United States through New Mexico, they contribute to the state's problem with abuse of illicit and prescription drugs.

Since 2003, New Mexico has seen a 250% increase in deaths caused by illicit and prescription drug overdoses. According to 2007 statistics, prescription opioid painkillers—such as methadone, oxycodone and hydrocodone—were the leading cause of overdose death in New Mexico, followed by cocaine, heroin, tranquilizers and muscle relaxants, and antidepressants. Drug abuse starts young in the state, with high school students reporting rates of marijuana, cocaine, inhalant, heroin, methamphetamine, and Ecstasy use that are higher than the national average.

With an estimated 29,000 New Mexico residents over the age of 12 dependent on illicit drugs, the state has made prevention and treatment of substance abuse issues a priority, including offering drug rehab. New Mexico currently is home to 145 substance abuse treatment facilities that see more than 11,000 new admissions each year.

What are people being treated for in drug rehab? New Mexico sees the greatest number of substance abuse admissions for treatment of alcoholism (around 37%) and alcoholism with a secondary drug (13%). After alcohol, people in drug rehab in New Mexico are treated for abuse of cocaine (7.6%), amphetamines (7.3%), marijuana (7.1%), heroin (6.4%), and other opiates (2.5%). A few people each year are treated for abuse of other drugs, such as sedatives, inhalants, hallucinogens, PCP, and tranquilizers.

Who is being treated in drug rehab? New Mexico substance abuse facilities treat a variety of people, of different ages and ethnicities. In 2008, nearly 66% of drug rehab clients were male and the remaining 34% female. Men were more likely to be treated for abuse of nearly all drugs, with the exception of smoked cocaine, opiates other than heroin, sedatives, and amphetamines. More than 80% of people admitted to treatment in 2008 were between the ages of 21 and 50, and admission rates were about equal for Hispanics and non-Hispanics.

If you're one of the many residents of New Mexico suffering from a drug or alcohol problem, you have some great choices for drug rehab. New Mexico is home to about 30 residential substance abuse facilities that offer options for short term or long term residential drug rehab. These treatment centers are dedicated to providing a healing environment in which to start your journey to recovery, and one is bound to offer a combination of services that fit your needs.

New Mexico's Vista Taos Renewal Center is one of the few that offers both short term 30 day rehab or a longer extended stay program, so you can choose the treatment option that best fits your situation. Its holistic approach to addiction treatment is focused on healing the entire person, with services that address your physical, spiritual, and emotional needs. Vista Taos provides every client with a highly individualized treatment plan, incorporating group therapy, wellness programs, and family involvement in a way that maximizes your chance for a successful recovery.

Vista Taos is located near Taos, New Mexico, a small town in the northern part of the state. Established in the 17th century, Taos has a long and fascinating history that has made it a popular tourist destination. It has also attracted a number of high-profile residents like Julia Roberts, who enjoy the low-key beauty of the area. The residential accommodations at Vista Taos, nestled just outside this historic town, provide a safe and peaceful environment ideal for healing.

Even if you are not a resident of New Mexico, take a moment to consider the services offered by its centers for drug rehab. New Mexico is a beautiful state with a rich history of holistic medical treatments, and many find it provides them with the calming atmosphere they need to begin their journey to addiction recovery.