Drug Abuse by State: Colorado

According to a new report, Colorado drug abuse has the 24th highest drug overdose death rate in the United States, with 12.7 per 100,000 people suffering drug overdose mortalities, Prescription Drug Abuse: Strategies to Stop the Epidemic stated. Hundreds of individuals in Colorado are dying from drug abuse each day. But, the drugs behind a growing number of these deaths typically are not being obtained on street corners or from drug dealers — the drugs are most regularly found in household medicine cabinets.

Colorado Drug Abuse: Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs deliver help to millions of Coloradans every year, but the Colorado drug abuse of these strong and sometimes lethal drugs has become one of the severest problems facing Coloradans today. Three times as many individuals died in 2008 of prescription drug abuse, 562, than died from drunken driving-related accidents, 173. And the problem has increased considerably in recent years, from 298 prescription-drug-related deaths in 2000 to 562 deaths in 2008. For example, 49 percent of the drug-related deaths between 2003 and 2008 in Denver were caused by prescription drugs.

Colorado Drug Abuse: Youth and Drug Abuse

Colorado youth in specific are abusing prescription drugs at a disturbing rate. According to statistics from the Colorado Division of Behavioral Health and other state agencies, Colorado drug abusers ages 24 and younger comprised 20 percent of all admissions to Colorado drug treatment facilities to treat dependences to opioids, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. Colorado drug abusers ages 24 and younger comprised 29 percent of all admittances to Colorado drug treatment facilities to treat dependences to stimulants.

Colorado Drug Abuse: A Rising Epidemic

Ready access to prescription drugs has fueled this growing trend among youth over the previous decade. From OxyCotin to Vicodin, young Coloradans have ready access to powerful drugs often inside their own homes. According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 82 percent of individuals across the county recording prescription-drug abuse said they got the drugs from a friend or relative for free. Trends in young Colorado drug abuse of prescription drugs track together with national trends, as recognized by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, even as this demographic has testified deteriorating use of methamphetamine and inhalants, such as paint or glue.

For a state that gets distinguished for having health-focused, energetic, outdoorsy residents, new reports shed some upsetting light on a darker side of this state and the Colorado drug abuse. In Colorado, along with drug abuse there are treatment centers that can help you with your addiction. Colorado drug abuse may be on the rise but that doesn’t mean we can’t change that and have recovery be on the rise, too. Living the life of an addict is no life to live – I know from personal experience. Going down the rabbit hole is sure to make life more difficult and miserable for anyone. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse or addiction in Colorado, please call toll free 1-800-951-6135.

Source:

http://healthyamericans.org/reports/drugabuse2013/release.php?stateid=CO

http://www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/initiatives/prescription_drugs_abuse