The results of the Opium Research 2014 Drug Survey paint a very dark picture of British drug use. According to the research, 31% of the 1,080 adults surveyed admitted to having used an illegal substance at least once. Among these, 21% said they still use illegal substances on a regular basis. Doing the maths demonstrates that as many as 7% of British adults are using illegal drugs. That says nothing of legal drugs that are also being abused.

The most surprising aspect of the 2014 survey is the fact that drug use among adults is on the rise. Just six years ago, only 27% of adults admitted to using illegal substances. A four-point increase in just six years is alarming by any measure. As you might guess, an obvious result of all of this is an increase in drug addiction.

At BlueSkies, we have seen first-hand how devastating drug addiction can be to both individuals and their families. Drug addiction destroys physical and emotional health, can ruin family relationships, consume finances, and can even lead to permanent physical harm or death if left untreated.

BlueSkies assists people of all walks of life to overcome their addictions. We see clients with a range of different addictions, from cocaine to sleeping medication.

The medical community divides drugs into categories based on their chemical properties and how these affect the brain. Examples include opioids, stimulants, and depressants. We have found it beneficial to divide drugs into different categories for a more practical application:

• Illicit Drugs Illicit drugs are the big name illegal drugs we are all familiar with. These include things such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, etc.
• Legal Highs These drugs are classified as legal highs because they are legally sold in head shops as plant food or bath salts. It is illegal to purchase or possess them for human consumption. These drugs are highly dangerous as well because purity can never be guaranteed.
• Prescription Medications Addiction to prescription medications is a reality. Some of these addictions are the direct result of legally prescribed medications taken by patients. In other cases, medications are stolen or purchased on the black market.
• OTC Drugs There are some very addictive over-the-counter (OTC) drugs available at your local pharmacy. Addictions to these drugs make up a small percentage of Britain’s total drug addictions.
• Household Chemicals Lastly, household chemicals and solvents can be addictive as well. As with OTC addictions, household chemicals make up a small percentage of the drug addiction problem in Great Britain.

We have listed the drug categories above to demonstrate how widespread drug addiction can be. Addiction is not confined to just a small handful of substances such as heroin and cocaine. Anyone using a drug, whether legally or illegally, can potentially become addicted if conditions and circumstances are right.

BlueSkies wants you to know that overcoming addiction is very possible. The right combination of treatment and support makes it possible for any addict to break free from addictive behaviour in order to go on to a drug-free life. Our compassionate and fully trained staff is standing by to help you or a loved one right now.

Do not wait another day to deal with your drug abuse. Whether you are visiting our website for yourself or a loved one, there is no better time than right now to begin the recovery process. The longer you wait, the harder it is to achieve recovery. We urge you not to wait. Contact BlueSkies right now and let us talk. Your recovery process can begin today.