Medical and healthcare institutions are supposedly safe places for therapy and recovery. The sad fact, however, is that treatment facilities are vulnerable avenues for exploitation like sexual abuse. This becomes alarming with the fact that the
2017 data showed that there are 19.7 million adult (older than 12 years) drug users in the US with around 20.7 million adults requiring treatment for substance abuse-related disorders.
Drug rehab centers are crucial in helping drug-dependent individuals. There are already obstacles against drug rehabilitation but the chances of a successful recovery are further compromised when sexual abuse happens in a treatment place.
How Sexual Abuse Can Happen in Drug Rehab Centers
Due to the fact that the federal government does not clearly define what a drug treatment or rehab facility should be, the said establishments are not held under the same standard as medical hospitals and other healthcare institutions. Operational requirements differ in each state and there are no medical background prerequisites for owners. This makes patients in rehab or detoxification centers prone to different types of abuse like physical, sexual, and financial maltreatment.
Because of loose regulations, business owners have capitalized on the drug abuse problem in the country. With billions of budget primarily geared towards treatment rather than prevention, drug treatment centers become lucrative exploits for entrepreneurs. The National Drug Control Budget requested a $34.6 billion dollar budget, 45% of which was allotted to treatment, and only 6.2% for prevention. The 2017 State of Illinois Opioid Action Plan reported that in 2016, nearly 1,900 Illinoisans died of drug overdose. The document also estimated that in 2020, about 2,700 Illinoisans will die of an overdose.
Aside from legislative deficiencies, some patients may not be coherent enough to understand that they are being abused or are too weak and scared to report the abuse. These are only some of the obstacles present in addiction which is why it’s important to maintain an open line of communication with a loved one who’s admitted to a facility. Playing an active role in their recovery and keeping in touch with them and the facility can potentially help you recognize signs of abuse.
Possible Signs of Abuse in Drug Rehab Centers
There are a number of street drugs easily accessible to at-risk users like ecstasy, cocaine, methamphetamine, methaqualone, and heroin. Medical opioid users, for example, normally start with prescription drugs but move on to cheaper, more accessible, and more potent drugs like heroin. The top three most used drugs are marijuana, heroin, and cocaine.
As with other demographics, there are telltale signs of abuse. While abuse of drug-dependent patients can happen in different forms – physical, financial, and emotional – signs of sexual abuse include:
- Difficulty sitting and walking;
- Bleeding, redness, or rashes in the genital area;
- Frequent urinary tract infection (UTI);
- Frequent headaches or stomach aches;
- Bruises in the inner thighs and genitals or breasts;
- Unexplained anal or vaginal bleeding, irritation, or pain;
- Sexually transmitted disease (STD);
- Behavioral changes (mood or appetite changes);
- Unusual injuries.
Dealing with sexual abuse or any type of maltreatment in a rehab center can be tricky considering the laws and regulations, or lack thereof. If you or a loved one has been maltreated in a drug treatment facility, getting an experienced attorney should help you navigate your legal qualms. Our attorneys at America’s Consumer Lawyer work hard in getting abusers accountable while providing a safe space for clients.
We see you as a person, not just a client – and that makes us better at what we do. We listen. We learn your story. And, as we help you get the money you deserve, we go above and beyond in a way most law firms never could and never would. Because we’re not just lawyers. And you’re not just a client. We’re friends, neighbors, family. We’re all people and here at America’s Consumer Lawyer, we put people first.
