Thirty years ago, there were only a handful of drugs that were commonly abused in this country. Marijuana was the main one, followed by cocaine, heroin, morphine, and LSD. Sedatives Valium and Miltown, sleeping drugs and diet pills also began to be abused. rnThe new millennium has seen an increase not only in the number of young people abusing drugs but also in the pattern of abuse and the number of substances that are available to abuse. rnThe past few years, media reports have been surfacing about young people using prescription drugs to self-medicate their moods or their performance in work or study. Stories in the Washington Post and the New York Times alike describe college students and young professionals using prescription stimulants such as Ritalin or Adderall to increase clarity during study or to stay on the job longer while maintaining their sharpness. Drugs from the benzodiazepine class, such as Xanax, are also highly popular. rnThe painkiller market has also provided new substances to abuse, with OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet and other drugs leading the list. And now, even drugs being used for substance abuse treatment are drugs of abuse, such as methadone and suboxone. rnAt the same time, the potency of marijuana has escalated from an average of 1 percent potency of THC, marijuana's active ingredient, to nearly 9 percent, greatly increasing the threat of addiction.. rnOur young people are finding themselves surrounded by an array of pharmaceutical and illicit drug solutions, stated Derry Hallmark, Director of Admissions and Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor at Narconon Arrowhead. Narconon Arrowhead is one of the country's leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, located in Canadian, Oklahoma. If any of them lack the confidence or life skills to succeed in life, it's just too easy to reach for a chemical solution. After all, so many of their friends are doing it. But most of these drugs are addictive." rnIn 2006, a survey of young Americans aged 12 to 13 found that more than a million of them had already used an illicit drug. Nearly half a million had used a prescription drug for non-medical reasons, most of them trying one of the addictive pain relievers that get them high when improperly used. rnThese are kids who should be playing baseball and chasing their dogs around the yard," added Mr. Hallmark. The handling lies in improved drug education, and with parents taking an active part in their children's lives, being sure to discuss the dead-end road that lies ahead of them if they use drugs. At Narconon Arrowhead, we help so many of these early drug users overcome the drug habits that became addiction once they were adults. As a result of our program, seven out of ten of our graduates go on to live drug-free lives." rnAs a country we need to come together and fight this war on drug addiction. People need to be aware of how it is ruining lives and killing people everyday. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol please seek help immediately.
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