Tag Archives: drugs

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

Drugs and Money: The Costs of Addiction (Guest Post)

Chances are that you know someone who currently struggling, or has struggled, with addiction. http://www.bestmastersincounseling.com/ has created an infographic detailing some of the statistics behind addiction, along with the costs and benefits of treatment.

The impact of addiction is shocking. From lost time at work to crime-related costs, addiction costs $600 billion per year. That number boils down to $1,800 per man, women, and child in the United States. $193 billion going to tobacco, $193 billion to illicit drugs, and $335 billion in alcohol.

And while you may think that addiction doesn’t affect you, 2 out of 3 drug users, are employed, and 1 in 12 full-time workers are using drugs regularly. Only 10 percent of individuals with substance abuse problems will seek treatment.

This infographic also details the cost of drugs like meth, cocaine, and prescription medications, along with the costs of jail time, treatment, and healthcare costs. For every $1 invested in substance abuse treatment, we save $7 in healthcare and criminal justice costs.

Feel free to like, comment, and share this infographic entitled “Drugs and Money: The Costs of Addiction” brought to you by http://www.bestmastersincounseling.com/.

 

General Safety Issues

OBSERVE NATIONAL DISTRACTED DRIVING MONTH

 April is designated as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Every day we should observe all the ways we need to be safe while behind the wheel. These ideas are for everyone who drives, no matter your age. How many times you have let some sort of distraction cause you to not pay attention to your safety and that of your passengers? 

Here are some ideas, which you all have read before, but we are going to keep trying to let you know how important this is. 

First of all, DON‘T talk on a cell phone while you are driving if you have children in the car. You may use a hands-free device, but you will still be letting your train of thought veer away from safe driving, and you are setting a bad example for your kids. If they think it’s ok because mom and dad talk or their cell phone and drive, someday they will, too. 

Here are some more driving DON’T’s: 

  • Don’t drink and drive, and never get in a car with someone who has been using drugs or drinking.
  • Don’t text and drive……ever! Pull over, please don’t take the chance!
  • Don’t make assumptions about what other drivers are going to do. Just because someone has their turn signal on does not mean they are actually going to turn. They may be like the rest of us, and have forgotten that it is on!
  • DON’T assume that other cars can read your mind, either. Make sure that you use your turn signals and give yourself, and the cars around you, plenty of room to maneuver.
  • DON’T tailgate other cars, pass on shoulders, fail to yield, run stoplights or stop signs (even if no one else seems to be around), or break any other rules of the road on purpose. If you act like you are above the law when you operate a car, you will sooner, rather than later, find out that you are not.
  • DON’T play your car stereo so loudly that you are disruptive to others, or so loudly that you are unable to hear train signals or emergency vehicle sirens.
  • DON’T engage in other activities, while driving, that distract your attention or reduce your reaction time. Eating, changing clothes, or putting on makeup while driving is dangerous. In some states, if you are caught doing these things while driving you can be cited for “driver inattention” and given a ticket.
  • DON’T treat a car like it is a toy. It is not. Don’t use your car to play chicken, race, or give another car a friendly “tap.”
  • DON’T let your emotions and frustrations get the best of you. Don’t engage in road rage, no matter how irritating another driver might be to you.
  • DON’T activate the cruise control when driving in wet conditions. There can be a build up of water under the tires, and could cause hydroplaning. (This is not a distracted driving tip, but an important DON’T to add to your list.)
  • DON’T drive if you are sleepy. Ask your passenger to drive, or wait until your head is clear. Needing sleep really distracts you from your driving responsibility. 

DO DRIVE DEFENSIVELY. If you have a group in your car, let them lead the conversation so you can keep your eyes on the road at all times. Stay safe and take this message to heart. If you let some distraction cause you to have an accident while driving, chances are someone will get hurt and you will be responsible. So “drive friendly”,  as we say in Texas, and drive responsibly!

General Safety Issues

APRIL IS ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH

April is National Alcohol Awareness Month, an observance sponsored by the NCAAD (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence) that promotes knowledge and education regarding all aspects of alcohol abuse and addiction. National Alcohol Awareness Month is in its 27th official year, with the slogan for 2013 being: “Help for Today. Hope for Tomorrow.”

Alcohol Awareness Month is designed to increase public consciousness and reduce stigma surrounding alcohol dependency and addiction issues. “National Alcohol Awareness Month is an excellent outlet to educate people about the huge weight of alcohol addiction and abuse in our society,” said Pax Prentiss, CEO and co-founder of the Passages Addiction Treatment Centers in Malibu and Ventura, California. “Through events like Alcohol Awareness Month, people become more educated about what causes addiction and other co-occurring disorders, causing stigmas to diminish and the quality of treatment to improve,” explained Prentiss.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 18 million Americans (8.5% of the population) suffer from alcohol dependency or alcohol abuse issues, and 25% of children have been exposed to alcohol abuse within their families.

One of the main goals of Alcohol Awareness Month is to promote prevention practices amongst teenagers and adolescents through education about health risks, drunk driving, addiction, coping skills, self medicating, depression, anxiety, and more. Communities are encouraged to participate through local, state, and national events including educational talks, social media engagement, or most notably the “Alcohol Free Weekend” challenge from April 5-7.   

Before one more high school student dies in an alcohol-related accident or another college student dies of alcohol poisoning or another family breaks up because of alcohol, the seriousness of the public health problems associated with alcohol and alcoholism must be spotlighted by public awareness. 

Alcohol is America’s most frequently used drug, resulting in more than 100,000 alcohol-related deaths each year, and young people consume it more frequently than they use all other illicit drugs combined. Alcohol is responsible for the deaths of approximately 6,700 youth (those under the age of 21) each year:

  •           Motor Vehicle Accidents: 2,400
  •           Accidental death by fire, falls and overdose: 2,400
  •           Homicides:1,600;
  •           Suicide: 300. 

The earlier children are exposed to alcohol, the greater the probability of alcoholism and addiction. In fact, recent scientific research suggests that early use of alcohol by teenagers may contribute significantly to dependence on alcohol and other drugs later in life, with 40% of children who begin using alcohol before the age of 13 becoming alcohol dependent at some point in their lives.  

Too many dismiss underage drinking as a “youthful indiscretion” or a rite of passage from adolescence into adulthood, and many underage drinkers are often first presented with alcohol in their own dining rooms, living rooms and kitchens. Alcohol is marketed to them aggressively and associated with athletic and social events that are popular with high school and college students. Bars and clubs that knowingly serve alcohol to minors, do so often with a wink and a nod to fake identification. 

Nationally, the annual economic cost of alcohol-related problems exceeds $224 billion. That equates to $746 per person — more than substance abuse and tobacco. Cost includes healthcare., business and criminal justice costs and costs due to lost productivity.  Alcohol-related problems and alcoholism affect ALL of us, directly or indirectly, and is our nation’s number one public health problem. Alcohol is a drug that affects every cell and organ system in the body, affecting judgment, coordination and long-term health. 
If you know someone who needs help with alcohol addiction, encourage them to seek help. The addict is the only one who can actually make it happen;  they have to want to stop this bad habit. Our teenagers should be warned about all the risks they are taking when they break the law and drink.  Life isn’t just One Big Party.  Too many times there are consequences to pay. What better time than now to have “Help for Today-Hope for Tomorrow.”

Sources: NCAAD;  PreventionFirst.net

 

General Safety Issues

AN IMPORTANT DECEMBER MESSAGE –

NATIONAL DRUNK AND DRUGGED DRIVING PREVENTION MONTH 

Truth be told, studies show that 97% of Americans see drinking and driving as a threat to them and their families.  Too often innocent lives are lost because of someone driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  Impaired driving is one of America’s most serious crimes.The entire month of December is time taken and sponsored by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), and Governors Highway Safety Association, to remind all drivers to leave the party “at the party”, not on the road.  This years’ theme is “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.”  

Officers know the cues to watch for when suspecting a driver is under the influence.  Citizens can do the same thing, and have a passenger call the highway patrol (or pull over and give the license number), if they see suspicious activity on the highway.  Some of the cues that officers observe that lead them to stop a driver are:

  • Weaving
  • Weaving across lane lines
  • Swerving
  • Drifting
  • Almost hitting another vehicle
  • Stopping in the lane
  • Accelerating for no reason; varying speeds
  • Failure to signal turns
  • Going the wrong way
  • No headlights on at night
  • Following too closely
  • Inappropriate or unusual behavior
  • Impaired appearance.

Again, if you suspect an impaired driver is traveling near you, call law enforcement, and possibly save someone’s life.

Employers can save time, productivity, money and lives if they have an employee-based traffic safety initiative.  Working Partners raises awareness about the impact drugs and alcohol have on the workplace, and helps employees and employers work together to ensure safety on the road, in the office, and at a worksite.  Individuals most likely to drive impaired – those between ages 21 and 34 – are well represented in the workplace and can provide a captive audience for prevention messages.  The NHTSA uses a three-pronged strategy: high-visibility law enforcement and supporting communication campaigns; enhanced prosecution and adjudication; and medical screening and brief intervention for alcohol abuse problems.  Special emphasis is placed on reach high-risk populations, including those between the ages of 21 to 34, repeat offenders, and high-BAC (blood alcohol concentration) offenders. 

So, during the holiday season, when there are more parties and festivities, remember to make plans to have a designated driver – or know how you are going to get home safely.  It’s not worth risking your life or the lives of innocent persons to get behind the wheel.  Not only during holiday season, but every day should be a safe driving day.  There is help for those who are fall the influence of alcohol or drugs on a regular basis, and if you know someone who fits into this category, try to encourage them to get help.  That would be the best Christmas gift of all.  

Drive safely and sober!

 NHTSA

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

A MESSAGE ABOUT ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION RECOVERY

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Each September, National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).  The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc., is a Planning Partner and has been a sponsor since it’s inception 22 years ago.  The observance is to educate Americans on the fact that addiction treatment and mental health services can enable those with a substance use or mental disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life.  The message of Recovery Month is that prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover.  

The vast majority of drug users are employed, and when they arrive for work, they don’t leave their problems at the door.  In 2005, there were 17.2 million illicit drug users aged 18 or older.  Seventy-five per cent of them were employed either full or part time.  Sadly, research has indicated that between 10 and 20 per cent of workers who died on the job tested positive for alcohol or other drugs.  Industries with the highest rates of drug use are the same as those at a high risk for occupational injuries, such as construction, mining, manufacturing and wholesale. 

Drug-free workplaces help improve worker safety and health and add value to American businesses.  Not only are those who abuse drugs and alcohol at risk for injury, either at work, home, or driving down the highway, they are endangering their fellow workers, families, or others on the roads.  A comprehensive drug-free workforce approach includes five components:

  1. An enforced policy.
  2. Supervisor training.
  3. Employee education.
  4. Employee assistance.
  5. Drug testing.  

One of the most significant challenges faced by NCADD and their affiliates is putting the problems of alcohol and drugs into a perspective that the general public can understand.  When alcohol is discussed along with other drugs, the general public, the media and policy makers tend to focus on the more dramatic issues of illegal drugs or just drinking and driving, as if it is the only alcohol-related problem.  

Recent results of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 92% of adults aged 21 to 64 in the U.S. with alcohol problems – those that meet diagnostic criteria for either alcohol abuse disorder or alcohol dependence – do not see a need for treatment.  Through this survey, the following question was asked of those persons with alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence: “During the past 12 months, did you need treatment or counseling for your use of alcohol?”  Survey results for Alcohol Abuse: NO: 98.8%; YES: 1.2%.  Survey results for Alcohol Dependence:  NO: 92.2%; YES: 7.8%. 

Chances are we all know someone who has had or has a problem with alcohol, and won’t admit or accept that there is a need for help.  You may have heard the following: 

  • “If you had a job like mine, you’d drink, too!”
  • “The cops in this town have always been out to get me.”
  • “I don’t need help.  I can stop anytime I want to.”
  • “My husband will never admit that he has a problem, or seek help.”
  • ”It’s not that bad, I don’t drink every day and I have a job.”
  • “If you’d just get off my back, things wouldn’t be so bad.” 

Alcoholism is a chronic and progressive disease, getting help NOW and not waiting is important.  If you had heart disease, diabetes, or other health problems, you would be looking for medical treatment to help you recover.  The sooner one seeks help, the better chances for recovery.  Many individuals and family members do not seek help for different reasons.  Those who abuse their bodies with drugs and alcohol victimize their families, and if they won’t ask for help or change their ways, there are avenues of support for families or friends. 

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that addiction is characterized by complex and intense cravings, along with compulsive behavior to satisfy those cravings.  This causes interpersonal distress to the user, family, friends and co-workers.  There are many types of recovery programs.  Certain persons may require several different types of programs, such as inpatient, outpatient counseling and support meetings.  Many times, support can be received through the employer.  With the lack of jobs in this country, those who are fortunate enough to have one should try to remain healthy, and draw on their strengths, rather than dependences. 

Source: OSHA, NIDA, NCAAD

General Safety Issues

AMERICA’S #1 HEALTH PROBLEM – ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG DEPENDENCE

Sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Alcohol Awareness Month is observed during the month of April.  There are many sobering facts about the effects that alcohol and drug addiction have on individuals and their families and friends.  The cost and consequences of these habits place an enormous burden on American society, as well.  Addiction strains the healthcare system, economy, harms family life, and threatens public safety. 

Substance abuse is everywhere, regardless of gender, age, ethnic groups, and people in every tax bracket.  Alcohol kills six times more young people than all illicit drugs combined.  It is a leading factor in accidents, homicides, and suicides.  Most high school students say it is fairly easy to get alcohol.  By the time American youngsters reach the age of 18, they have seen at least 100,000 beer commercials on television. 

Here are some eye-opening facts from the NCADD:

  • Almost half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related.
  • Between 48% and 64% of people who die in fires have blood alcohol levels indicating intoxication.
  • Heavy drinking contributes to illness in each of the top three causes of death: heart disease, stroke, and cancer. (And, untreated addiction is more expensive than cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined.)
  • One-quarter of all emergency room admissions, one-third of all suicides, and more than half of all homicides and incidents of domestic violence are alcohol-related.
  • Every American adult pays nearly $1,000 per year for the damages of addiction.
  • Alcohol and drug abuse costs the American economy an estimated $276 billion per year in lost productivity, health care expenditures, crime, motor vehicle crashes and other conditions. 

Diagnosis and treatment of this disease (yes, it is a disease) is of the utmost importance.  Treatment can save lives and also dollars that would otherwise be spent in other areas of social services and medical care.  For every dollar spent on addiction treatment, seven dollars is saved in reduced health care costs.   Many employers offer counseling to their employees who have problems with drug or alcohol dependence.  Studies have shown that when these workers  have been helped, work results showed less tardiness or absenteeism, problems with supervisors decreased, as well as less incomplete work and fewer mistakes in work. 

An individual that is hooked on alcohol or drugs is not only affecting his/her life, but the lives of family, friends, and co-workers.  If family and friends can get the assistance of a trained specialist to conduct an intervention, hopefully, the individual will want to stop.   Alcohol or drugs have the ability to alter ones’ personality to the point that they are completely different than when they are sober.   

Read the facts above  again, and know that there is no good reason to become addicted to anything.  Stay in control of your life for yourself and your loved ones.  Most of all, keep our future growing by ending underage drinking. 

Sources: NCADD, US Department of Health and Human Services

General Safety Issues

A SERIOUS THREAT

In November, the Texas Department of Public Safety released this warning to parents: Mexican cartels and gangs are recruiting in Texas schools and towns.  This is true not only in Texas, but other states that share a border with Mexico.  The Texas DPS is warning parents across the state to be aware of these violent organizations that are recruiting Texas youth in our schools and communities with the prospect of cars, money, and notoriety.  They send the message that if they get caught, the sentence will be minimal.

These cartels are constantly seeking new ways to smuggle humans and drugs into Texas and the U.S., and now use state-based gangs to support their operations on both sides of the border.  Juveniles that live along the Texas-Mexico border are particularly susceptible, due to the poverty level that their small cities have.  In 2008, teenagers from the counties along the Texas-Mexico border accounted for 9% of the population in the state, but 18% of the felony drug charges and gang-related arrests.

There are drug cartels operating training camps near the border.  They train recruits, ranging from Mexican Army deserters to American teenagers to carry out many assignments, including murder.  Young persons have no idea what they are getting into; they are risking their lives for the promise of riches.  Many do it to bring in money for their families.

Steven C. McCraw, director of the Texas DPS, warns: “As these dangerous organizations seek to co-opt our children to support their criminal operations, it is more important than ever that parents be aware of these risks, talk to their children and pay attention to any signs that they may have become involved in illegal activities.”

The U.S. Border Patrol has started a program this past year called “Operation Detour”.  Part of the operation is a film presentation that is shown to high school students, depicting the graphic side of what happens to youth who get involved with cartels.  The program will be expanded along the entire US-Mexico border.  Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and the District Attorneys in Texas border counties are working together to detect, disrupt and deter Mexican cartel-related crime along the Texas-Mexico border.

For the safety of our young people, parents must get involved if they suspect their kids are taking part in illegal activities.  The United States has a lot of work to do to curtail the demand for drugs and stop the flow of drugs into our country.

Source: Texas DPS

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

DRUG-FREE WORK WEEK OCTOBER 19 – 25

Are you aware that 75% of the nation’s current illegal drug users are employed, and that 3.1% of them admit that they have used illegal drugs before or during working hours?  Do you know that 79% of the nation’s heavy alcohol users work, and that 7.1% say they have consumed alcohol during the workday?  (Do you question how many there are that don’t admit it?) The Department of Labor’s Drug-Free Workplace Alliance is sponsoring its fourth annual “Drug-Free Work Week” October 19th through 25th.   The goal of this yearly drive is to have a drug-free week every week through the education of employers, employees, communities and organizations.

Working Partners in this endeavor are federal agencies such as OSHA, MSHA, ETA, ODEP, SAMHSA, SBA, combined with several unions and contractors.  Combined efforts are to promote creating a safer and healthier workplace through prevention and intervention.

When a person has to work with someone who either drinks or uses illegal drugs, everyone’s safety is at risk.  Regardless of the situation, whether it is a commercial vehicle driver, a forklift or heavy equipment operator, construction worker, food service employee, or any other type of employee, if they have used drugs before or during work hours, or had a few nips too many, coworkers or the public in general could suffer the consequences.

Here are just a few of many suggestions on the DOL website that could have positive outcomes for businesses:

  • Emphasize drug and alcohol awareness in safety meetings.
  • Encourage employees with problems to seek help.
  • Put out a press release regarding Drug-Free Work Week.
  • Ask your local mayor to proclaim “Drug-Free Work Week”.
  • Issue payroll stuffers with valuable information to employees.
  • Pass out pocket cards to workers.
  • Display several Posters, which are excellent communication tools.

We have some other ideas in articles we presented earlier:  Do Your Part to Keep Your Workplace Free of Drugs and Alcohol, and Facts about Drugs and Alcohol Abuse in the Workplace.  There were some interesting comments from readers with suggestions that you may find helpful.  It’s undoubtedly a subject that hits close to home in many workplaces or neighborhoods.  The smartest business and individual strategies to handle this problem are to constantly watch for signs of abuse of drugs/alcohol, and not enable someone who needs to deal it before they injure themselves or someone else.  For more important information, check out the DOL’s website.

Source: Department of Labor