Substance Abuse: The Opiate Crisis

Substance abuse is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, and the opioid crisis our country is facing is only compounding the issue.  From 2002 to 2015, there has been an almost three-fold increase in deaths from opioid overdose, with use of the powerful painkillers reaching commonality by uninformed doctors over-prescribing the narcotics with a falsely held belief that the potential threshold for addiction was typically fairly low.  Pharmacists and neighbors became unwitting drug dealers before the crisis’ severity came to light in recent years.

The face of the addict has changed.  The addict is no longer the stereotype you have always seen in the movies and on television: gaunt face, hidden in the shadows of a dark alley or begging for change on the street corner.  It is the face of your neighbor, your friend, your grandmother.  It might be the face in the mirror.

Were you prescribed opiate painkillers for legitimate reasons but have a difficult time not taking your medication?  Do you crave the feeling of relief or euphoria that opiates provide? Have you found yourself lying to your physician or doing other things that you once would not have considered to keep your supply of opiates? Please review the chart at the bottom of this page to see if any of these apply to you. If they do, you may have a problem.

Treatment is available though. Opiate addiction no longer is a lifelong sentence as we have developed improved understanding of the condition greatly over the past years. At Stonebriar Counseling Associates, we offer individual and group therapies to meet your personal needs in a confidential, professional and judgment-free environment, and look forward to helping you get your life back on track. Please feel free to contact us at any time.