Diversion and Abuse of Oxycontin and Other Opioids in Colorado
A 2008 investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration indicates that pharmaceutical diversion of drugs containing hydrocodone and oxycodone has become a serious problem. Vicodin is a popular and very powerful narcotic prescription drug that contains hydrocodone. It has the potential to be very addicting if taken at high doses or for extended periods of time. OxyContin and its generic equivalent contain oxycodone and are highly potent. Employee theft, forged prescriptions and the Internet are the primary methods used to divert these controlled substances in Colorado, according to the agency. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates there are more than 800,000 websites that offer prescription drugs with no questions asked. Pharmaceutical opioids are the drugs of choice among the medical professionals in Colorado who abuse these drugs, the DEA says. Vicodin and Darvocet are the two prescription painkillers most often abused among these professionals. They are able to obtain these drugs through various methods of retail diversion and prescription fraud, according to the agency. As with many other states in the country, diversion and abuse of OxyContin is a significant problem in Colorado.
Prescription Drug-Monitoring Program
In June 2010, the Drug Policy Alliance in New York called overdose deaths “an emerging national crisis.” The agency says that nationally, more fatal overdoses are caused by prescription drug abuse than all illegal drugs combined. Abuse of opiates certainly plays a role in these statistics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in 2009 that Colorado is one of 16 states that recorded more drug-related deaths than the number one cause of accidental deaths in the nation – car crashes. Many of these deaths were attributed to overdoses, especially of opioid painkillers such as methadone, fentanyl, OxyContin and Vicodin. The DEA says Colorado is one of 34 states that have a prescription drug-monitoring program in place. This is a database that allows doctors, pharmacists and other healthcare workers to share information on patients’ prescription histories. The program is designed to curb “doctor shopping,” diversion and abuse.
Colorado Opioid Detox: Waismann Method®
Colorado residents who become addicted to opioids, including prescription painkillers, now have a place to turn. Waismann Method® is one of the most successful opioid detoxifications available. Although the detox center has one exclusive location, patients worldwide fly to Southern California to undergo this treatment. Finding the best treatment program for opioid addiction is an essential step toward a successful recovery. The best detoxification centers have experienced board-certified doctors, several detox options, and a high success rate history. Waismann Method® maintains two decades of a reputation for superior care and is one of the most successful and well-recognized rapid detox centers globally.
