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Drug addiction is a disease that can result in death. The subject is certainly not pleasant to discuss. However, in order to save lives we must face this fact. More people need to be aware that drug treatment helps to prevent drug-related deaths.

Drug abuse and addiction results in death from several consequences. Overdose is the obvious one. These days it isn’t just the addict who injected too much heroin. Even those who use prescription drugs, like pain killers and benzodiazepines, ordered by their physician can accidentally overdose and be lost.

Stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamines affect the heart, causing possible heart attacks. And the erratic behavior of these users can lead them to destructive activities that can cause serious injury and death. The sad thing is that most of these users are seeking to be in that state of mind.

We’ve all seen individuals say they are okay to drive after an evening of alcohol abuse. Driving under the influence of drugs is equally dangerous. Drug users tend to actually believe they drive better on drugs, though, because of the false notion they are more attuned to things around them. Sadly, DUI and other factors of drug abuse leads to lost innocent lives.

Drug addiction leads individuals to commit crimes that harm innocent bystanders. The impaired mind of a drug addict only seeks to satisfy its need for more of the drug of choice. It is selfish and lacks remorse if when life is lost in the pursuit of its needs. This, above all other reasons, should persuade anyone of the urgency to get drug addicts into treatment.

Treatment helps drug addicts to stop using drugs and learn how to live productively without them. When drug detox is complete, entering residential rehab or outpatient treatment gives addicts a chance to understand why they use drugs and what may trigger a relapse. It is urgent that treatment is sought before a life is lost.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has released a report from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) about drug-related deaths in the United States. A portion is below, followed by a link to the full report.

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DAWN is a public health surveillance system that monitors drug-related deaths referred to medical examiners and coroners in selected participating metropolitan areas and states. Although the DAWN data cannot be extrapolated to the entire United States, the information can be helpful for analyzing the nature and scope of substance abuse-related deaths in the areas it covers.

For example, analysis of the 2007 DAWN Report reveals that among the 10 states participating fully with DAWN, rates of drug-related deaths ranged from a high of 21.0 deaths per 100,000 population in New Mexico to a low of 5.9 deaths per 100,000 population in Virginia. The rate for the State of Oklahoma saw a 79 percent increase from 2006; while Vermont’s rate dropped 12 percent.

— Source: https://dawninfo.samhsa.gov/pubs/ —

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides medical detoxification, and residential and outpatient treatment as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment. If you or a loved one needs help with drug addiction, please call us now at 888-777-8565 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.