America’s Overdose Problem

America’s Overdose Problem

As we’ve written about before on this blog, America is in the midst of an overdose epidemic of epic proportions – and it seems to be getting progressively worse. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) just released their annual statistics on the country’s overdose deaths, and the findings are more tragic than ever. The yearly survey collects data from the prior year, giving us our most accurate snapshot of the country’s substance abuse problem.

Overdoes Are Up

Last year, fatal overdoses were up by almost 30 percent—a record-setting 93,000, according to preliminary statistics released last week. It marks the largest single-year increase ever recorded.

The increases were sharpest in the South and West, and only two states were spared: South Dakota and New Hampshire.

The overall annual statistics weren’t the only ones that set records. Unfortunately, the year also saw record-breaking levels of overdoses from opioids, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.

Incredibly, the recent stats mark a worsening trend. Each of the previous years – save a brief respite in 2018 – was the worse we had seen so far. Since 2018, annual deaths from ODs had already risen above the peak yearly deaths from car crashes, gun violence, or the AIDS epidemic.

“It’s huge, it’s historic, it’s unheard-of, unprecedented, and a real shame,” Daniel Ciccarone, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, who studies heroin markets, told the New York Times.

Overdose and COVID

Many have speculated that the COVID 19 pandemic only made matters worse. As treatment centers and detox facilities were shuttered, recovery groups ground to a halt or shifted online, and many lost contact with the support structures they relied upon. Add in a historic loss of jobs, increased social isolation, and an enduring panic about the state of affairs and it’s no surprise the pandemic took a toll on mental and physical health.

Even as the world re-opens, many report struggling to find their way back to recovery circles and have expressed anxiety about returning to face-to-face events.

Addiction can be Beat

Thankfully, all is not lost. Like other chronic illnesses, addiction can be managed successfully. Treatment can interrupt addiction’s powerful influence on the brain and behavior and help people regain control of their lives. Seeking out help in a 12-step program, detox facility, or treatment center is a potent first step in getting free of addiction’s bruising grasp.

Scottsdale Providence offers PHP, IOP, and Evening IOP. Our therapists work with clients to identify their goals and develop a program that fits. Our comprehensive addiction treatment program includes individual and group therapy, psychiatric care, and 12-Step Facilitation. Our expert treatment team blends CBT, Motivational Interviewing, DBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Narrative Therapy, EMDR, Neurofeedback, and Occupational Therapy to promote long-term recovery. Psychiatric care, case management, discharge planning, acupuncture, yoga, and fitness all make up a truly comprehensive treatment experience.

For those that require an intensive experience, our safe, stable housing creates improved outcomes for individuals in the early stages of their recovery. We offer luxurious, comfortable housing in beautiful North Scottsdale, adjacent to our world-class treatment facility. Our gender-specific housing gives clients enrolled in our treatment program a serene place to call home as they get well.

Our upscale environment provides structure, accountability, guidance, and peer support – plus a chance to create positive relationships that will endure long past treatment. Clients are provided with all meals, along with daily transportation to our clinical center, auxiliary recovery activities, and weekly recreation outings.

We have assembled a world-class team of seasoned, compassionate, and trained professionals. We bring a combined 120 years of experience in the treatment industry and have helped countless people on the road to lasting recovery. We are more than clinicians, case managers, and counselors. Each member of our team shares an abiding commitment to every client that comes through our door. At Scottsdale Providence, our work is motivated by a genuine desire to connect people with real solutions – so they can live the lives they’ve always wanted.

Don’t be Another Overdose Statistic

Prevent someone from becoming another grim statistic. If you or someone you know needs help, reach out today.

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