Recovering Addict, Part 2

Today’s episode of Stories that Touch your Heart has the second part of Lee Drewa’s story. The recovering addict shares how he got clean in treatment and has stayed clean for 12 years. Only a small percentage of those who are addicted receive treatment, and the number of Americans who die from drug overdoses continues to rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016 from illicit drugs (like heroin, cocaine, amphetamines) and prescription opioids, which include: oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), morphine, and methadone. A provisional CDC report shows the trajectory for drug overdoses continuing to climb in 2017. While the numbers seem bleak, there is hope. Individuals who get hooked on these highly addictive drugs can receive treatment. “Research shows that combining treatment medications (where available) with behavioral therapy is the best way to ensure success for most patients,” according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Sources: https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/health_policy/monthly-drug-overdose-death-estimates.pdf