Windsor Genova – Fourth Estate Cooperative Contributor
Santa Ana, CA, United States (4E) – Drug addiction is an epidemic afflicting millions of people across the globe. In the United States, more than 24 million people above 12 years old are suffering from this malaise in 2012, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA).
The same organization also reported that more than 20,000 individuals die each year as a result of illicit drug use.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimated that drug addiction costs more than $600 billion each year in damages, health care, treatment and prevention. Aside from the staggering cost, drug addiction also has emotional cost to the drug dependent, to the family and to the community. Among the problems stemming from drug addiction are violent behavior, loss of trust, stealing and other criminal activities, and accidental injury or even death.
The number of people suffering from the addiction increased by more than 500 percent in the last 20 years, the SAMHSA report said. The growth has resulted to loss of time and decreased productivity in the workplace, which in the long run have a negative impact on the economy. It is so widespread that it has afflicted even politicians, doctors, teachers, lawyers.
A common misconception is that addiction happens to persons who are emotionally weak or are not morally upright. The truth is, addiction is a disease, it changes the chemistry of the brain. And just like any disease, drug addiction needs to be treated by experts. Professional treatment, detoxification, and counseling are needed to treat chronic drug abuse.
Unfortunately, data shows that only about 10 percent of substance abusers seek professional help. Majority of drug abusers choose to remain untreated. To address this problem, substance addiction treatment and addict rehabilitation company BioCorRx Inc. (OTCQB: BICX – http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=BICX) has expanded its alcohol addiction treatment program or Start Fresh Program to include treatment of opioid addiction.
“Expanding our cutting-edge treatment program to help individuals addicted to painkillers is a natural next step for us,” according to Kent Emry, CEO of BioCorRx (http://www.startfreshprogram.com).
The Start Fresh Program uses Naltrexone, a pharmaceutical approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of addiction and has been used successfully for this purpose for many years all over the world. BioCorRx does not manufacture Naltrexone but merely uses the product as an implant for their treatment program. The innovative Naltrexone Implant reduces the cravings for opioids and alcohol by releasing therapeutic levels of the drug to the body.
The Start Fresh Program™ has two components used by various addiction clinics in the U.S. The first is an outpatient implant procedure done by a licensed physician. The second component is a customized coaching program for alcoholics and drug addicts.
The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) has expressed support to BioCorRx’s program.
“We support the full range of all forms of medication being made available to people trying to reduce or stop their opiate abuse,” said Meghan Ralston, DPA’s harm reduction manager. “People are different, so they should have a range of treatments and medications available to them along with social and psychological support that promotes well-being.”
BioCorRx is banking on its campaign against workplace alcoholism in eradicating opioid addiction. Workplace alcoholism affects 15 million full-time employees making it one of the biggest concerns of employers because of its impact on productivity, health and safety of workers.
Alcohol Concern, a national charity working on alcohol issues, said drinking before a shift or during lunch breaks or even during working hours make workers prone to errors of judgment and poor decision-making that damages customer relations. The group also said that workplace alcoholism results in procrastination, inconsistent performance, neglect of duty, poorer quality of work, less quantity of work and more frequent mistakes.
Meanwhile, around 40 percent of accidents at the workplace would be attributed to alcohol use, according to the International Labor Organization. In a survey by YouGov for PruHealth, it found that the after effects of drinking can also impair work attendance and performance.
The Start Fresh Program has benefitted both employers and employees.
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