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Oklahoma Watch: State of Addiction

Oklahoma Watch is a non-profit, investigative and in-depth reporting team that collaborates with other news organizations and higher education to produce journalism that makes a difference in the lives of Oklahomans. Their mission is to provide an accurate, clear and insightful analysis of the facts on issues of public importance.

Oklahoma is in a State of Addiction. We lead the nation in the percentage of people, 12 and older, using prescription painkillers for non-medical purposes. Another grim statistic, the state ranks among the top 10 for prescription painkiller sales and overdose deaths, according to federal statistics. Oklahoma Watch shines a light on this issue, looking at the impact, human element, background and possible solution for this State of Addiction.

Coverage

Oklahoma WatchMore>>
Faith Treatment
Faith Treatment
A colorful banner outside Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond doesn't promote a new sermon series or an enticing children's program, but instead elevates the needs of the addict. Faith communitiesMore >>
State Of Addiction: Oklahoma's Prescription For Pain
State Of Addiction: Oklahoma's Prescription For Pain
Oklahoma is ranked number one in the nation for prescription drug abuse.
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Austin Box, Sean Sutton, and, most recently, Whitney Houston -- all cases of prescription drug abuse that have been big news in Oklahoma. But for every one of these high profile cases, there are hundreds, if not thousands of similarly tragic cases that never warrant a headline or a sound bite.More >>
State Of Addiction: Campus Drinking
State Of Addiction: Campus Drinking
Drug use tops the list of concerns for many parents who are sending their kids off to college. However, there is something else abused that is even more deadly to young adults.
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State Of Addiction: Energy Drinks
State Of Addiction: Energy Drinks
Communication senior Britton Wimer thinks people will do anything to get a free can of Red Bull, which has lined the fridges of many college students, late-night gamer and overworked twentysomethings.
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State Of Addiction: Caffeine Addiction
State Of Addiction: Caffeine Addiction
Most people consume more caffeine than recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. National Geographic in 2005 described it as the world's most popular psychoactive drug. Nearly 90 percent of adults ingest caffeine every day, according to the Journal of the American Diabetic Association.
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State Of Addiction: Cost of Addiction
State Of Addiction: Cost of Addiction
Addiction costs Oklahoma and its residents an estimated $7.2 billion a year. That's more than the state government's budget of $6.7 billion. That's roughly $1,900 for every man, woman and child in the state. It's enough to create about 273,000 median-wage jobs, or to build nine skyscrapers like Oklahoma City's Devon tower.More >>
State Of Addiction: Dealing With The Drug War on the Streets
State Of Addiction: Dealing With The Drug War on the Streets
Outside a Stillwater apartment complex, a man dressed in all black emerges from a black sports utility vehicle. He carries a semi-automatic rifle and wears a bulletproof vest with one word emblazoned on the back: "POLICE." "Ma'am," the man says firmly to a woman standing outside with her kids, "please step inside with the children – Now!" The thunderous sound of a battering ram is heard crashing against the door of a nearby apartment.
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State Of Addiction: Former Addict Now Helping Others
State Of Addiction: Former Addict Now Helping Others
Days into detox, Sue Henson didn't think she was an addict. "I was not prostituting," she said. "I was not stealing. So I thought I wasn't an addict. That's for people who are criminals." When she entered detox, her plan was to get just healthy enough to return to her old habits.
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State Of Addiction: Oklahoma Man Decides to Live Sober
State Of Addiction: Oklahoma Man Decides to Live Sober
After decades of succumbing to addiction, an Oklahoma City recently made the decision to live a sober life. Forrest Coin had been drinking and drugging for decades before he decided to give it up a few weeks ago. Through the years, addiction to alcohol, pills and "just about anything I could get my hands on" landed him in drug treatment programs five times with no success. More >>
State Of Addiction: Case Studies Examine Drug Additiction
State Of Addiction: Case Studies Examine Drug Additiction
A sampling of nine fatal prescription drug overdoses investigated by state medical examiners illustrates the danger of combining opioid painkillers with other narcotics or alcohol. Story contains nine more bullet-point vignettes of victims and the drugs that killed them.
More >>

Oklahoma Watch - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |

Oklahoma Watch: State of Addiction

Oklahoma WatchMore>>

Faith Treatment

Faith Treatment

State Of Addiction: Oklahoma's Prescription For Pain

State Of Addiction: Oklahoma's Prescription For Pain

State Of Addiction: Campus Drinking

State Of Addiction: Campus Drinking

State Of Addiction: Energy Drinks

State Of Addiction: Energy Drinks

State Of Addiction: Caffeine Addiction

State Of Addiction: Caffeine Addiction

State Of Addiction: Cost of Addiction

State Of Addiction: Cost of Addiction

State Of Addiction: Dealing With The Drug War on the Streets

State Of Addiction: Dealing With The Drug War on the Streets

State Of Addiction: Former Addict Now Helping Others

State Of Addiction: Former Addict Now Helping Others

State Of Addiction: Oklahoma Man Decides to Live Sober

State Of Addiction: Oklahoma Man Decides to Live Sober

State Of Addiction: Case Studies Examine Drug Additiction

State Of Addiction: Case Studies Examine Drug Additiction

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