Texas OxyContin Rehabs

The DEA¹ (United States Drug Enforcement Administration) reports that the most common methods of diversion of pharmaceutical controlled substances continue to be illegal and indiscriminate prescribing and "doctor shopping." Hydrocodone, alprazolam, and benzodiazepene products continue to comprise the majority of prescription controlled drugs abused in North Texas. Oxycontin has surpassed hydrocodone as the drug of choice for abusers seeking pharmaceuticals in the Tyler area. The most commonly abused pharmaceutical drugs in Houston continue to be Hydrocodone, Promethazine with Codeine and other Codeine cough syrups, and Benzodiazepines (mostly Alprazolam). Oxycontin abuse is on the increase, with most illegal prescriptions being written by pain management doctors. In addition to the aforementioned, commonly abused pharmaceutical drugs in San Antonio include Morphine, Dilaudid, Diazepam, Xanax, Tussionex, Lortab, Vicodin, and Ketamine. The major avenues for diversion continue to be illegal and indiscriminate prescribing and dispensing, pharmacy theft, employee pilferage, and forged prescriptions. The diversion of prescription drugs continues to be a significant enforcement issue. Illegal or improper prescription practices are the primary source for illegally obtained prescription drugs, primarily in the oxycodone/hydrocodone families. Interdiction efforts also indicate that prescription drug smuggling from Mexico, where these drugs can be sold over the counter, contributes to the illegal distribution of prescription medications. Within the Houston Field Division, one of the newer avenues for the diversion of of pharmaceutical controlled substances is Internet pharmacies. Mexican border town pharmacies remain an important source of illegal pharmaceuticals seized in the Houston Field Division. Compounding this issue, is the state's severe shortage of qualified medical personnel which forces state authorities to grant prescriptive authority to practitioners not licensed in other states. New Mexico has recently become one of the few states to grant prescribing authority to psychologists who have no medical or pharmaceutical training.

The United States GAO (General Accounting Office) states in a published Prescription Drugs report entitled, OxyContin Abuse and Diversion and Efforts to Address the Problem, "DEA officials stated that the initial areas that experienced OxyContin abuse and diversion problems included rural areas within 8 states—Alaska, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. In July 2002, DEA told us that it learned that OxyContin abuse and diversion problems had spread into larger areas of the initial 8 states, as well as parts of 15 other states (including Texas), to involve almost half of the 50 states."²


The VA Office of Inspector General published a report regarding the diversion and abuse of OxyContin. They state, "Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is not immune to the upward trend of prescribing oxycodone as evidenced in the rest of the US. Between the first quarter of 1999 and the fourth quarter of 2000, VA has experienced an average 344 percent increase in the prescribing of oxycodone and its variants. Notable increases of between 500 to 800 percent occurred in Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISN) 7 (Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama), 8 (Florida and Puerto Rico), 13 (North and South Dakota and Minnesota) and 16 (Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana parts of Texas and Oklahoma). For the VISNs in those areas identified by the NDCI and DEA as indicated above, the prescribing of oxycodone increased 312 percent over the same period. Although this is less than VA’s average, this upward trend is still cause for concern."³

OxyContin Abuse News did a story in February 2002, stating that "Kentucky is among 15 states to have a prescription drug-monitoring program, with half a dozen other states considering them and advocates pushing for a national system to link the sate databases. Congress proved $2 million for this year to start prescription drug monitoring systems but advocates feel that is not good enough. The Supreme Court ruled in 1977 that state officials could track prescriptions as long as the information is kept private. Included in the 15 states that now have tacking programs are California, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, and Washington."⁴

Just in the state of Texas, there are many different types of drug rehab and treatment facilities. In the United States, there are thousands of drug rehab and treatment centers treating alcoholism to OxyContin addiction. Of course the common goal of all addiction treatment programs is to help end addiction for the individual. In Texas and across the United States, a variety of techniques and methods are being used. Some of the well known treatment methods in Texas include the twelve step method, relapse prevention, one-on-one counseling, drug rehabilitation, behavioral modification, cognitive therapy, support groups, sober living, therapeutic communities, AA , NA, inpatient, and outpatient drug rehab programs. There are many types of treatment centers available in Texas, so making a decision can be difficult. Unfortunately, many uninformed people in Texas go from rehab to rehab looking for the one that is right for them.

In Texas, there are many attempts being made to meet the needs of drug addicts, but statistics show success rates to be dismally low. What is needed and wanted is a drug treatment which not only handles physical addiction, but finds the underlying reasons why a person turns to drugs in order to free the person forever. What Texas addicts, alcoholics and their family, friends and loved ones need is a real and effective drug rehab treatment center; one where they are not on a time schedule or use other drugs to get the addict off the original drugs. The addict needs a reliable proven program where when they are done, their drug addiction is a thing of the past and they are now able to live full productive lives free of the stronghold of drugs or alcohol.

For individuals with a severe drug or alcohol addiction problem, choosing a long-term inpatient treatment program is another key to a successful outcome.

For individuals with a severe drug or alcohol addiction problem, choosing a long-term inpatient treatment program is another key to a successful outcome. By providing a new, safe trigger free environment, distanced from past negative associations and surroundings for an extended period of time, the chance for success increases dramatically.

Our drug rehab treatment program provides people with positive circumstances to increase their chances for a successful recovery. The vast majority of students entering our program, around (80%), are from out of state or from other countries.