As an iniative to help persons addicted to painkillers in the Oklahoma area, leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation center Narconon Arrowhead has launched its annual Oklahoma postcard campaign.
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control estimates that 87,000 citizens of Oklahoma are affected by prescription drug abuse. In the U.S., more people start abusing prescription drugs each year than any other drug, including even marijuana.
One of the dangers of prescription drug abuse is the potential for overdose and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Oklahoma's rate of death from unintentional poisonings increased 226 percent between 1999 and 2004, with the primary cause for the increase being higher levels of abuse of opiate painkillers. An increase in the abuse of sedatives also contributed to this increase. Oklahoma lost 522 citizens in 2005 to prescription drug deaths but drug enforcement officials feel the actual number may be higher since autopsies are not done for every death.
"Certainly there are people who need pain medication to relieve severe pain but when a person can't quit taking pain medication when their need is gone or when they are abusing the drugs, they need help," stated Ryan Thorpe, Director of Admissions at Narconon Arrowhead. "At Narconon, we've been helping our graduates build completely drug-free lives for over forty years from all over the country and especially in our home state of Oklahoma. Thousands of Oklahomans will be receiving an annual postcard from us that reminds them that our home state of Oklahoma has an excellent resource to help people struggling with painkiller addiction or any addiction for that matter. "
If you know someone who is abusing or has become addicted to prescription drugs, find out how the drug-free rehabilitation program at Narconon Arrowhead can help them build a new, lasting, drug-free life. Call Narconon Arrowhead today at 1-800-468-6933 or visit the website at www.stopaddiction.com.
The Narconon program was founded in 1966 by William Benitez in Arizona State prison, and is based on the humanitarian works of L. Ron Hubbard. In more than 120 centers around the world, Narconon programs restore drug and alcohol abusers and addicts to a clean and sober lifestyle.