The addiction to opioid painkillers is a major epidemic in the United States. More than 200 millions of these kinds of drugs are prescribed each year to help people get through injuries. They are meant to be a short-term solution for relief but instead are highly addictive and according to USA Today, contribute to more than 16,000 deaths a year.
You are addicted to painkillers if:
- You are taking opioids even though you are no longer in pain.
- You are constantly thinking about how you will get the money to pay for, or get your hands on your next prescription.
- You are asking for the same prescription from multiple doctors.
- You are using painkillers to change your mood.
- You have had to increase the amount of painkiller you are ingesting because your body has become so accustomed to it.
The path to drug addiction can start at a young age. Young adults are often exposed to marijuana, meth and ecstasy as early as middle school. Prescription drugs like Oxycodone are often found in the medicine cabinet at home. The addiction results in uncontrollable craving and can be deadly. It’s important for parents and caregivers to talk with their teenagers about drug and alcohol use and abuse at an early age. Studies show that the more educated the young adult is about the topic, the higher the chance that they will not partake.
The good news is that drug and alcohol users can be successfully treated for their addiction. If you or someone you know is going down this path, or could use some drug education, than taking an online drug class is a good way to start. Online classes are available for participants to take from any computer device that is connected to the Internet. For self-improvement purposes an individual would most likely choose an 8-hour drug class online to begin. Simply register and the class becomes available to you on the screen in front of you. This can be from an IPad, Smartphone, PC or laptop. The participant does not need much computer experience, simply scroll through and read the material.
It is highly recommended that you choose a program that is designed by a licensed and practicing psychotherapist and expert in the field of drugs and alcohol abuse. This will ensure that you are learning the most recent information and skills available. Do a thorough background check to make sure that the class has an A+ rating from the BBB and a customer service number to call if any questions should arise while you are taking the course.
A quality drug education class online will also include all the information that the courts require so that it can be used to fulfill a court mandate as well. Just check with your judge, probation officer or attorney to make sure that a distance learning class is acceptable for court purposes. If so, be sure that the class issues a Certificate of Completion free of charge when you are done so that you can prove to the court that you fulfilled legal requirements.
Effective treatment of drug or alcohol addiction may take counseling as well as education. An online drug class is a convenient, stress-free way of learning new skills for sobriety.