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consideration to making PSE a prescription- but the cost to consumers was addition, Mexico was identified as the to sources with the Missouri several southeastern Missouri cities prescriptions to obtain PSE, but went to Illinois to obtain their Illinois lawmakers changed their laws, the influx of Missourians purchasing agencies in Missouri, 2,006 meth labs 2012. As of September 2015, only state. Aggressive efforts to shut the decline in production of the male, blue-collar workers in rural, more diversity among users as abuse Widespread meth abuse has also been adults in their 20s and 30s, but far more numbers than any other aggressive action to help meth it hasn't happened yet. Perhaps abused in rural areas by blue-collar meth users have been prosecuted but painful reality is watching meth agree. problem across the U.S., and it 2009, according to the National (NSDUH). The age group with the use is adults from 18 to 25 years are minors. Approximately 1.5 current cocaine users, according news organization that focuses on points out that crack cocaine was cocaine back in the 1980s by the federal crack users are more harshly cocaine. This is still true today. The of cocaine? Bottom line, crack is a predominantly in the inner city, associated White cocaine is much more among the wealthy. Opioids has been a steady increase in Opioids are painkillers. Examples of prescription opioids include hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, and methadone. More than 165,000 people died from overdoses of prescription opioids from 1999 to 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). When opioid prescriptions for the more affluent suburbanite is no longer available or becomes too expensive, in droves they turn to less expensive illegal opioids, including heroin – one of the least expensive street drug. Linda Rosenberg is president of the National Council for Behavioral Health, and she points out that CARA helps to expand treatment of opioid addiction. The measures which have been taken help to change the definition of opioid addiction to a health problem instead of a crime. This is a huge contrast to the war on drugs that has been at the forefront for decades. As outlined by DrugPolicy.org, the following are a few things CARA accomplishes: ● Medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction has been expanded. ● Diversion programs direct people who encounter law enforcement in connection with low-level opioid drug law violations to evidence- based treatment rather than the criminal justice system. ● On an expanded basis, first responders and community members can administer naloxone to a person experiencing an opioid overdose. These efforts are receiving massive funding, according to Grant Smith, with Drug Policy Alliance. There are many different issues related to this story that could be cause for outrage, such as the fact that countless physicians are bought and sold by pharmaceutical companies, increasing the number of opioid prescriptions that are written. In theory, CARA offers a positive framework to help opioid users overcome their addiction and find a path to recovery. That is a good thing. The disconnect comes from a lack of parity, compassion and outreach for other drug addicts – like meth and crack users. Their road to recovery is sometimes muddied with yet another obstacle that may be even harder to overcome than their addiction – it's called felony conviction. In contrast, the justice system is less likely to be as harsh to an opioid addict. Again, one can only wonder if this is so because they are more likely to be suburban and more well off than meth and crack addicts who live in rural communities and the inner cities. accessHealthNews.net PAGE 7 Opioids vs. Pot, Crack, and Meth B I A S A N D ADDICTION Stephanie McHugh is a contributing writer for accessHealth News.