Unfortunately, the opioid epidemic continues to spread. It’s also one of the worst epidemics that America has ever seen. On October 26, 2017, the president declared it a public health emergency. Below is more information about the reality of this problem.
Who’s to Blame for the Opioid Epidemic?
There’s no one factor that has made this epidemic as bad as it is. However, two key factors have played major roles in its growth. One is the cheap price of heroin. Right now, it’s one of the most affordable illegal drugs on the street.
Overprescribing is the other key factor. Doctors hand out hundreds of millions of opioid prescriptions each year. Some of them even get kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies for it. Unfortunately, these drugs are just as easy to develop an addiction to as their illegal counterparts.
A Look at the Numbers
The opioid epidemic isn’t going away anytime soon, and statistics show it. In 2014, 26 to 36 million people abused opioid drugs across the world. The majority of them were in America. In fact, the United States is the biggest consumer of prescription pills in the world.
However, prescription drug abuse isn’t the only type that’s on the rise. In 2012, nearly 467,000 people had an addiction to heroin. Both types of drugs are to blame and are extremely addictive.
To make matters worse, the number of overdoses keeps increasing. Since 1999, opioid overdose deaths have quadrupled in number. Studies show that between 2000 and 2015, over 500,000 people were the victims of drug overdose. A very large portion of these deaths involved opioids.
The death toll from the opioid epidemic far outweighs other epidemics in American history. It’s even greater than the peak of the AIDS epidemic in the 1990s. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that it continues to sweep the nation.
Drug Rehab Centers Can Help
For most people who have an opioid addiction, it’s not too late to get help. Rehab centers all over the country can show them how to fight back. These facilities employ experts who can provide the tools that people need to get their lives back on track.
Some of the best rehab centers are in Colorado. They focus on a holistic approach that reduces stress during rehab.
Let Denver Recovery Center Help You
At Denver Recovery Center, our goal is to stand up and fight against this epidemic the only way that we can. We help people just like you understand what it takes to beat addiction. We create custom drug addiction treatment plans for every client using various services such as:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Family therapy
- Residential rehab
- Outpatient rehab
- Holistic therapy
Don’t become yet another statistic in this epidemic. Gain access to the tools that you need to fight back. Reach out to us today at (844) 602-3175 so that we can put you on the road to sobriety.
