April 30, 2022 is DEA Drug Take Back Day. It is the goal of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to make it easy for people to get rid of their unused or unwanted prescription drugs while also raising awareness of how easily these drugs can be abused.
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) sponsors this event to provide an opportunity for the public to rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
Drug dependence, which is a widespread problem in the US, has been on the rise for years. The term "drug dependence" is commonly used to create a link with "addiction" or illicit drugs.
Opiate dependency usually results from severe and chronic health conditions, with lots of pain in the process. Benzodiazepine dependence is a side effect of drugs such as Valium and Xanax, and it develops faster than opiate addiction.
One statistic reveals the number of individuals suffering from drug dependence in the United States: 1.8 million in 2016 and is forecasted to rise to well beyond 2 million by mid 2022.
In terms of the opiate class, opioid use disorder was the most commonly reported form of drug dependence in the US, with 694,000 people affected.
Sustained-release/long-acting formulations were the most frequently abused form of opiates, accounting for 556,000 addicts. Statistics also revealed that 202,000 people were diagnosed with detrimental benzodiazepine use disorders in 2016. Both forms of benzodiazepines are banned from medical use within the US due to their high potential for abuse.
This report estimates the number of new and continuing users of opiates and benzodiazepines. It also describes patterns of use among this population and compares rates of use with those for other drugs.
In the United States, the number of people struggling with benzodiazepine and opioid dependence continues to rise in the U.S. These millions of people have become dependent on opioids and benzodiazepines, and most didn't plan the dependency nor see it coming.
Drug dependence is now a huge problem in the United States. Millions of people have fallen into drug dependence and are now addicted to prescription medications like opiates or benzodiazepines.
They did not plan to need these medications, but many were prescribed by a doctor. Every day, thousands end up needing a narcotic just to feel normal. “Being sick and tired” is something people say in recovery circles, but also a phrase Addictionists and Psychiatrists hear daily from those who want to quit the cycle of dependence and withdrawal. At Solstice Pacific, we offer Sublocade and Partial Hospitalization for those in the dangerous cycle of use. The US government by way of the DEA wants to help you live in a safer society and we want to help you live in a safer mind. We will start by easing the chronic psychological and physical pain in your body, then with education, a rebalanced sleep cycle, hydration and nutrition, you will be able to think clearly about work, family, finances, even dreams.
Be cautious when taking narcotics and only use them if you accept the risks of dependency and can use functional medicine to ease the greater spectrum of your physical needs. Visit any of the 7400 collection sites throughout the country that you can find here to drop off narcotics that you do not want in your home anymore: https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1
A safer society does require support and action from the government. But, the safest society starts with people who develop routines to be mentally well. When we have both an accountable government and accountable citizens, it’s easy to imagine less deaths due to narcotics.
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