Pico Rivera Addiction Treatment Centers

Prescription drug abuse is a growing, serious problem in Los Angeles County, including in small cities like Pico Rivera, California. A 2013 report found that prescription drug abuse is such a serious problem in this part of Southern California that it is now the number one cause of emergency room admissions, and one of the leading causes of accidental or premature death.¹

According to the news report, between 2000 and 2009, about 61% of the 8,265 drug-related deaths in the county involved either prescription or over-the-counter medicines. Most of these involved opioid painkillers, but other drugs include stimulant medications like Adderall and Ritalin, and sedative drugs like barbiturates and benzodiazepines, such as Xanax and Valium.

Results from a 2011 LA County Health Survey found that 5.2% of adults who received a prescription drug abused or misused the substance. Most of the people who abuse prescription medications are young adults, ages 18 to 29. About 7.3% of this age group in Los Angeles County has misused a prescription drug.²

In many states, marijuana is no longer the first drug that is abused; instead, it is a prescription opioid painkiller, sedative, or stimulant. If a loved one struggles with misuse or abuse of prescription drugs, we can provide information about evidence-based treatment programs that can help. Call today to talk to one of our recovery advisors.

1. CBS Los Angeles. (2013). Report: Prescription Drug Abuse Growing Problem in LA County.
2. County of Los Angeles Public Health. (2013). Prescription Drug Abuse in Los Angeles County: Background and Recommendations for Action.