You've realized you have a problem with substance abuse. Perhaps that latest alcohol binge did the job, or maybe you're beginning to experience the many devastating physical side effects of a dependency on drugs. Whether you quit cold turkey in a rehab facility or more gradually on your own, it's definitely time to put down the bottle, set aside the joint and just stop using. If you don't end this problem now, you could wind up joining the alarming group of statistics related to annual drug overdoses.
Prescription Painkillers
Surprisingly, the overwhelming majority of drug overdose deaths occur as a result of prescription painkillers. This problem is becoming especially prevalent among middle-aged women, for, as the
Huffington Post reports, 15,300 women fell victim to painkiller overdoses in 2010. Often, these overdoses occur as the result of innocent misreading of medication instructions, or sometimes, a complete failure to check out the directions on the prescription's label. But many overdoses occur as a result of addiction to such painkillers as Oxycontin and codeine. As you need continuously larger doses to get the same fix, you put yourself at greater risk.
Alcoholic Beverages
Excessive drinking also a top killer in the United States. The United States
Centers for Disease Control reports that, in 2006, 1.2 million emergency room visits resulted from overdosing on alcoholic drinks. All in all, there were there are 80,000 alcohol-related deaths each year in the United States, although not all of these were specifically attributed to overdoses. But that doesn't make such tragedies any less of a concern. Alcoholic beverages are already quite dangerous when consumed in excess, but they become all the more potent when combined with prescription medications or other substances. As such, if you already are struggling with alcoholism, be sure to avoid combining drinks with other substances at all costs. You're already putting yourself at enough risk -- there's no need to maximize the hazards related to already dangerous behavior.
According to the
Centers for Disease Control, a staggering one hundred people die from drug overdoses every day. Don't allow yourself to be a part of this unfortunate statistics -- it's time to seek help and kick that hazardous drug habit!