No one disagrees that narcotics addiction is an increasing problem in the United States. There are thousands of cases of death due accidental overdose, intentional overdose, and drug related accidents every day. According to the Centers for Disease Control, opioid use and overdose have reached epidemic proportions.

This epidemic is mostly perpetuated by the over use of prescription opioids but many of them are also due to illegal narcotics such as heroin.

Narcotics that People are Likely to Overdose on

There are a variety of narcotics that people are likely to overdose on. These narcotics come from a variety of sources including illegal drug dealers, doctors, pharmacies, and thefts. The most common narcotics that people overdose on are:

• Methadone – methadone is relatively easy to overdose on both intentionally and accidently. Since methadone interacts with many other drugs and alcohol, any respiratory depressant can cause an accidental overdose.
• Oxycodone – also known as OxyCotin is a prescription painkiller that is highly addictive. Oxycodone is implicated in both accidental overdose and intentional suicide. Like methadone, it is also easy to mix it with other drugs or alcohol and send yourself in respiratory arrest.
• Hydrocodone – hydrocodone is a scaled down version of oxycodone but just as deadly. Any respiratory depressant taken with high doses of this drug can easily cause an overdose.
• Heroin – heroin is an illegal opiate made from the opium poppy. People inject, snort, or smoke heroin to get high. This imprecise dosing makes overdosing on it easier than other drugs to overdose on.

If you are addicted to any of these drugs, you need to get help as soon as possible. Overdose is not the only danger that these drugs carry. If you have a problem then call 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) . We can help you find the treatment that you need before you become another overdose statistic.

Deaths Related to Narcotics Use or Abuse

Aside from the epidemic of overdoses from narcotics abuse or addiction, there are a number of deaths related to narcotics that are not technically overdoses. A few of these are:

• Secondary infections – due to high risk behaviors narcotics addicts contract deadly diseases such as bacterial infections, hepatitis, and AIDS,
• Driving related deaths – driving while on high doses of narcotics can easily cause a fatal accident,
• Other accidental deaths – people who are on narcotics do not feel pain. Many deaths that are not strictly attributed to narcotics happen because of this lack of pain. It is easy to fall and seriously injure yourself when you cannot feel how badly you are injured.

Finding Treatment for Narcotics Addiction

There are many other reasons why the Centers for Disease Control is now calling prescription and nonprescription narcotics use an epidemic.

The rising rates of use and risks associated with that use are apparent to anyone who studies the statistics. Narcotics have one of the fastest rising addiction rates in the United States. This is why if you are addicted to a narcotic, it is important to seek treatment now. For a treatment center near you call 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) .