YOU ARE NOT ALONE

In 2007, I was a clinician at SSTAR, a co-occurring Acute Treatment Program in Fall River, Massachusetts. It was evident and the top discussion with fellow counselors that an epidemic of opioids was on the horizon, as the rise of patients with drug dependence was increasing. It was clear that there was a sea-change coming; heroin was dirt cheap and there was an exponential rise of synthetic opioid use. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse – NIH, their findings as of now, 2018, are astounding: “Every day, more than 90 Americans die after overdosing on opioids. The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the total "economic burden" of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement”.

The New York Times reports that in 2015, more than 52,000 Americans died of drug overdoses. Nearly two-thirds were linked to opioids such as OxyContin, Vicodin, heroin, and fentanyl. This figure has quadrupled since 1999 and is now the highest on record, exceeding the death toll of past heroin epidemics, the crack epidemic of the 1980s, and the peak of the AIDS epidemic in the 1990s. A preliminary analysis by The New York Times­ estimates that there were 59,000 to 65,000 such deaths in 2016. It’s even possible these figures are too low, because many deaths that result from opioid-induced conditions—such as pneumonia—aren’t being counted as overdoses.

According to a report by CNN in 2016, deaths from overdoses are rising in all 50 states. Drugs are now the number one cause of accidental death. Now that drugs are moving ahead of guns and cars as a danger to citizens, lawmakers are scrambling to do something about the epidemic. In the meantime, the need for treatment is critical. The problem is so severe in some small towns that locals are struggling to keep up with the demand for services. Narcotic addiction creates changes to the brain that merit the need for therapy. Some people can quit “cold turkey,” but only in rare cases. Almost all people suffering from addiction to drugs require assistance to get their lives back on track. These statistics are sobering, no pun intended.

SKILLS IN THE KEY OF LIFE

Skills in the Key of Life/LifeSkilllsKey (LSK) was developed to assist the ever-growing needs of individuals with substance abuse disorders; LSK will assist them in recovering their lives. The need of specialists who can identify the complex issues that surround substance abuse is growing. LSK will meet these needs through detailed assessments, individual and group coaching/counseling, treatment and mentoring.

Substance Use Disorders (SUD) treatment and Alcohol and Other Drug (AoD) treatment services are those combinations of interventions designed to address and provide help for people with substance abuse and dependence. Research-based therapeutic services provide the assistance one might need to move forward when suffering from addiction. At LSK, it’s understood that each person and each addiction is different.

LSK understands that every individual needs his or her own path forward and a plan that reflects his or her specific challenges and goals. LSK services are available for individuals and families. LSKis dedicated to serving individuals and families in their journey of recovery from alcoholism and addictions. By providing support and guidance through counseling, LSK ensures best possible outcomes.

Are you ready to take the next steps to Recover you Life? Contact Us Today