Statistics paint a compelling picture of drug abuse. Whilst drug addicts do vary by race, gender, age grouping, and ethnicity, they come from all walks of life. Drug addiction affects everyone.
Even those who live in one of the most beautiful and affluent states of the U.S, where the sun supposedly shines nearly every day of the year, are not immune from addiction.
However, it is important to realize that those who suffer from drug addiction are not alone. Nobody with a drug addiction has to suffer in silence. Nor do they have to resign themselves to leading an unhappy life.
Here’s how substance abuse programs can help fix the OC drugs epidemic.
Moral And Professional Support
One of the biggest challenges involving OC drugs is ensuring that those with drug addiction problems feel they have a space to talk openly. They must first admit that they do have a problem and this can be hard to say to close family or friends.
Drug users often hide their problems. Knowing they are one of 27.1 million U.S citizens who have been addicted to drugs in 2015 is a helpful way of ensuring they do not feel alone.
Out Patients vs Residential Clinics
A substance abuse program clinic can offer this support. These clinics come in two different types. A residential clinic where clients check-in and stay.
An outpatient clinic is where patients continue to live at home but attend classes at the clinic. A survey has found that in Orange County over half of the patients chose outpatient clinics over residential rehabilitation.
Orange County also has an alcoholics anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups. They have a 24/7 hotline and offer free meetings for those in need. Meetings are held in locations across the county from Garden Grove to Santa Ana and usually last one hour.
There is also an Adult and Older Adult Behavioral Health (AOBH) Services Substance Use Disorder Treatment that is specific to Orange County. They offer assessment of individuals, crisis management, counseling (with family members as well, if necessary) and outreach programs to schools and the community.
AOBH also offers a perinatal program for mothers or mothers-to-be who believe they have a drug addiction problem. They are primarily an education program and help mothers to fully understand the risks of taking drugs whilst pregnant or around newly born children.
All of these clinics offer support and a chance for addicts to meet others suffering from the same addiction and they are free. This means they rely on donations and can be limited. A clinic like North Bound Treatment could be a better option.
We have both outpatient clinics and a residential program for those that need it.
Helplines
Although substance abuse clinics might ultimately be the best idea for any drug addict, Orange County also offers a number of substance abuse hotlines. These are for people that feel they might have a problem.
Drug Rehab is a national non-for-profit service that offers a freephone service across the country. By phoning this number those suffering from drug addiction can speak to a certified drug and alcohol counselor. This can be a much-needed lifeline. Sometimes it can be too difficult or awkward to speak to friends and family members.
There is also the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Abuse (SAMHSA), which is country-wide and is run by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. This means they have a budget from the federal government, rather than relying just on donations.
They also have a national helpline. This line can help those seeking support to find services located near to them.
Changing Attitudes to Drugs
Changing attitudes to drugs could help to significantly reduce the number of addicts. With legalization, more people are being encouraged to speak openly about their drug taking and their attitudes to certain drugs without the fear of prosecution or stigmatization.
The legalization of cannabis, which took place in the State of California in November 2016, was a significant step.
In fact, cannabis is now legal for personal use in two terroirties, 10 U.S States, and D.C. In Canada, it has also been legalized and other countries are expected to follow.
Stronger drugs like cocaine, crystal meth, methamphetamines, and heroin are not likely to be legalized. However, legalization of cannabis and the arguments raised during the debates have been useful.
Legalization has helped to show that drug addiction is a debilitating illness that is best treated with compassion and serious medical attention. It is not treated by throwing offenders into prison or giving them a criminal record without any support.
This could result in the person becoming addicted to even stronger drugs. Research has shown that a person released from federal prison is 129 times more likely to die from a fatal overdose.
OC Drugs – A Clear Way Forward
It is clear that OC drugs are an epidemic and a growing problem. But it is also clear that there are many services which can help someone with an addiction. These services operate at both state, country and Orange County level.
Substance abuse hotlines, which are free, can be used for those suffering from drug problems. These are people who are in real and immediate danger or who need someone to talk to.
There are also sessions run by Narcotics Anonymous that addicts can attend which are also helpful.
But to really get the help that those with drug problems need, it is worth considering Northbound’s Orange County rehab programmes which can really help transform lives. Click here to start the process today.
