Author: The Fix

Drinking While Pregnant Becoming More Common In The US

More than 10% of women reported drinking alcohol while pregnant, according to a new survey.

Over one in nine pregnant women consume at least one drink per month and about 4% engage in binge drinking—consuming more than four drinks at a time—according to a new survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

These numbers come from between 2015 and 2017, and are up from 2011 to 2013. In the earlier period, a little over one in 10 women drank while pregnant with a bit over 3% engaged in binge drinking.

Any amount of alcohol consumption while pregnant is considered to be unsafe for the developing embryo or fetus by the CDC.

Rates of drinking while pregnant appear to be associated with stress levels. Unmarried women were found to be twice as likely to consume alcohol during pregnancy and three times as likely to binge drink, and researchers pointed to the “financial stress associated with being the sole provider as well as lack of social support” as a possible factor. The youngest age group surveyed, ages 18-24, were also the most likely to binge drink. However, the age group most likely to drink at all was the oldest, ages 35-44.

In spite of the many warnings against drinking while pregnant, the idea that it’s safe for pregnant women to drink small amounts persists. However, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, even a single glass of wine increases the risk of health problems and fetal or infant death.

“There is no safe amount of alcohol when a woman is pregnant,” says their fetal alcohol syndrome FAQ page. “Evidence-based research has found that drinking even small amounts of alcohol while pregnant can increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, or sudden infant death syndrome.”

These risks increase substantially the more a pregnant woman’s blood alcohol level increases, making binge drinking even once during pregnancy more dangerous than an occasional single drink.

At the same time, a study published in JAMA Psychiatry in 2017 found that drinking and alcohol dependence are on the rise in the U.S., particularly among women and people of color.

The study found that “high-risk drinking,” defined the same as binge drinking in the CDC survey, increased by 58% among women from 2002 to 2013.

The CDC survey also found that women who engaged in binge drinking before becoming pregnant were more likely to do so during pregnancy.

To address the problem, the CDC recommends regulating the number of stores that sell alcohol in a given area, screening and counseling for “unhealthy alcohol use” for all adults 18 and older, and “alcohol use screening for all women seeking obstetric-gynecologic care, including counseling patients that there is no known safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy.”

View the original article at thefix.com

3 May 2019
Doctor Receives 20-Year Sentence For Reckless Opioid Prescribing

The Manhattan doctor was convicted on 10 counts of unlawful distribution of oxycodone without legitimate medical purpose.

A family doctor based in Manhattan’s Upper East Side was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Tuesday (April 30) for recklessly prescribing opioid painkillers that played a role in one patient’s fatal overdose.

Dr. Martin Tesher, 83, was convicted in July of 10 counts of unlawful distribution of oxycodone without legitimate medical purpose to five patients, including 27-year-old Nicholas Benedetto.

In March of 2016, two days after visiting Tesher and receiving prescriptions for oxycodone and fentanyl patches, Benedetto fatally overdosed on the drugs.

According to SILive.com, one month before his death, Benedetto’s mother called Tesher asking him to stop giving her son prescriptions because he needed treatment. She told authorities that her son was smoking the fentanyl patches.

Tesher prescribed oxycodone and fentanyl patches to Benedetto and four other patients “after he learned, or had reason to believe, that these patients were addicted to drugs,” according to the Justice Department.

An expert witness testified that none of them “had verified medical conditions that would require the prescription of Schedule II opioids.”

Benedetto, while under the doctor’s care, tested positive for cocaine, heroin, morphine and methadone in addition to the oxycodone and fentanyl prescribed by Tesher.

Twenty years was the minimum sentence Tesher faced for his crime. The maximum was life in prison.

“In the midst of an unprecedented opioid epidemic, Dr. Tesher used his medical skills to harm, not heal and in doing so he cost a young man his life,” said U.S. Eastern District Attorney Richard Donoghue. “Such criminal conduct is an utter betrayal of the trust our society places in doctors and it warrants the severe sentence imposed today.”

The DOJ has recently cracked down on health care providers and drug companies accused of playing a role in fueling the opioid crisis.

Also last month, 60 people were indicted for the illegal prescribing of painkillers including doctors, pharmacists, nurse practitioners and other licensed medical professionals.

According to the Washington Post, the indictment included “doctors who prosecutors said traded sex for prescriptions and a dentist who unnecessarily pulled teeth from patients to justify giving them opioids.”

View the original article at thefix.com

3 May 2019
David Carr’s Daughter Pens Memoir About His Life and Addiction

Erin Carr’s memoir details the pain and joy of life with her father, as well as her own experiences with alcohol dependency.

The loss of New York Times columnist and author David Carr, who died in 2015, was felt keenly throughout the journalistic world, as well as by those in recovery impacted by his powerful 2008 memoir The Night of the Gun, which detailed his lengthy and destructive dependency on drugs and alcohol.

But few felt the loss of Carr from their lives like his daughter, documentarian Erin Lee Carr, whose relationship with her father was marked by both complexity – in the depths of his dependency, he put Erin and her twin sister, Megan, into foster care before seeking sobriety – and deep emotional connection.

Carr has written her own memoir, All That You Leave Behind, which details the pain and joy of her life with Carr, as well as her own experiences with alcohol dependency.

Carr, whose work as a documentary director includes 2017’s Mommy Dead and Dearest and the upcoming I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth v. Michelle Carter, said that writing the book was a way of retaining a connection to her father, despite the emotional turmoil it produced.

“I was with him, in a way,” she told NPR. “I really wanted to educate myself in all things David Carr, not just the father which I experienced. But I found it to be so painful to, like, to get access to him in his words in these emails and yet not have him anymore.”

Delving deep into her father’s life in dependency, and by extension, her own life as a young girl during that period, also had its emotional perils. Carr recalled a similar experience while reading her father’s memoir, which reminded her that he had left her and her sister alone in a car while buying drugs. “I sort of choked on the emotion,” she said. “I thought how close I came to not being there anymore.

“It wouldn’t be the last time he would put my life at risk because of drugs and alcohol. We said something in our family: that drugs explain everything, and excuse nothing. So we had to reconcile that he was still the person that left us alone.”

But just as her father would be at the core of some of her darkest experiences, Carr said that he also served as a beacon for her to emerge from her own struggles with alcohol. After relapsing on the six-month anniversary of his death, Carr recalled telling herself that a life in addiction was not the life her father wanted for her.

“I took it very seriously, because I was trying to work towards him, what he did,” she said. “He was part of my decision to get sober, and I’ve been sober since August 23, 2015. And it is crazy what has happened since then. I could not have written this book if I was drinking. There is no way.”

Carr’s life and career have bloomed in remarkable ways since gaining sobriety – in addition to the book, she also completed At the Heart of Gold, about the sex abuse scandal involving former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, for HBO – but her success has a bittersweet patina.

“Just being able to call him and ask him a question – I mean, he was brilliant,” she said. “When I no longer had that, the only voice I could really listen to at the moment was myself. And so I think that he had to leave and pass away in order for me not to rely so heavily on him.

“But… I would completely rather have him be here and me have no work. I think that is the most profound loss I will ever experience, and nothing that has happened outweighs the pain of him being gone.”

View the original article at thefix.com

3 May 2019
Healing the Self: Yoga as Addiction Treatment

Yoga offers a healthy outlet to cope with daily stress and triggers, aids in preventing relapse, and reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

In the classical definition of Yoga given by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras, ahimsa (non-harming) has a place of relevance. It is the first of the five yamas. And its definition is clear: nonviolence. As the first yama, it also means that it comes before all others, perhaps the most important of them all, the guiding force and motivation to live a life full of serenity.

In its most literal sense, nonviolence may be interpreted as not hurting or killing others. And it is, indeed. The goal is to practice compassion toward all sentient beings, including self. Embodying ahimsa extends beyond this literal interpretation to include not just violent actions but also thoughts, feelings, and words. We must pay constant attention, be vigilant yet compassionate. What do we do with inclinations toward hostile behavior, harmful thought, and hurtful speech?

Practice Non-Violence to Self, First

While it might feel natural to practice non-violence towards the world around us, the best way to start a true non-violent lifestyle is to start with self. When we love self, we naturally aim to remove unnecessary suffering. Non-violence doesn’t just address action, but thought. First, we must learn to speak to self with compassion.

The act of self-love says that we’re on a mission for healing. It says that putting self first is not selfish, but rather necessary in order to achieve greatness and effect change. It says that loving others cannot happen without first loving self.

By being an example of love, by committing to a practice of non-violence towards self, we’re better equipped to teach others. As a result, we learn to love others more because we love ourselves. Or in some cases, through giving love to others, we can finally begin to give and accept love for ourselves.

Non-Violence in Consumption

Food, drink, and substance are not the only things we consume. We ingest through all orifices, including the eyes and ears. Non-violent food choices promote higher vibration through connecting with the world around us. Non-violent consumption of visual and auditory stimuli facilitate a more balanced life. In today’s world, non-violence is nearly impossible, so the best option is to reduce violence as much as possible. Yoga teaches non-violence as a road to success, abundance, and happiness. Of course, these terms are not used in the conventional sense. Success is encountering a new sense of self. Abundance is receiving and giving large amounts of love, support, and compassion. Happiness is found inside and not outside the body.

Non-Violence in Design

If you know your triggers, design a lifestyle that helps eliminate them. Places and people can trigger our need to return to old, negative, destructive patterns. But if we’re well-equipped with that knowledge, we can change the entire atmosphere. That means avoiding those aspects of life that don’t allow for growth. If passing a certain street corner gives you an urge, avoid it at all costs. If seeing a specific person reminds you of former ways that you’d rather forget, take action so that you do not see that person regularly. Yoga is a powerful reminder of how much we can push into growth edges by facing uncomfortable feelings and sitting with them, fully aware that they are temporary and will eventually fade away or transform. Set up your day with yoga to reinforce positive habits, but also to fortify your brain, body, soul connection. With high vibration surging through the body early in the day, we’ve already set ourselves up for success in healing. The brain, body, and soul will recognize this and start to align with similar vibrations, thereby pulling us into a vortex of healing and possibilities.

Benefits of Yoga on Addictive Behavior

According to eastern religions, addiction is not treated separately as it often is in western religions, it’s simply one of the various forms of suffering. We are all destined to suffer, however, we can reduce the amount we give and receive with the help of yoga. Yoga offers a healthy outlet to cope with daily stress and triggers, aids in preventing relapse, and reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Yoga is not a religion, but it is spiritual in nature. It requires a small space, a mat, the body, and intention. With these tools, people gain skill sets to better approach and heal from the suffering of addiction.

Trains the Brain

Meditation and yoga make the best duo. Their objective is to train the brain for optimal living. One of the biggest causes of unhappiness in today’s world is stress. It creates the need to escape from reality and keeps us in a constant fight of flight mode. Once stress creeps in, and it seems to be doing this even in young children, the desire to escape increases. Yoga regulates and balances some of the stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These chronically high levels of hormones are toxic to the body and central nervous system. And they’re not only hard on the system, they are hard on our emotional selves, pushing many people to seek substances to cope. With a yoga practice, stress hormones are reduced which reduces negative behaviors that can accompany it.

Builds Better Habits

Yoga promotes stillness, mindfulness, breathing, and awareness. These are the keys for living a balanced life. When we become more aware of what we’re feeling and why, suffering can shift from impossible to manageable. In yoga, we find moments of reflection so palpable. We shift to seeing a craving as a lack of something rather than a need to fill the hole. We find space to recognize the craving rather than react to it immediately. Yoga becomes the new method for attack as it is full of slow, sustainable, steps that promote new, healthy habits built for long term success.

Accepts Suffering and Change

We cannot escape suffering, but we can diminish it. Yoga has proven itself over the centuries to be both a teacher and a best friend for those struggling with addiction. Spending time on the mat brings a sense of acceptance for what is, what has been, and what will be. Yoga embraces an “as if” attitude rather than “what if.” Suffering and change are challenges that promise healing and growth if used the right way. Yoga offers a way that may not be perfect, but it is surely a way that’s helped many achieve an addiction-free life based on non-judgement and accepting self as is, full of potential to be better each and every time. It’s a series of steps on a path towards non-attachment, the ultimate goal in rejecting suffering.

Fosters Heightened Confidence

Yoga focuses energies inward and increases a sense of ownership over emotions and actions. There’s a new sense of control and in gaining that control back, confidence is boosted. Subsequent actions then take on a whole new meaning. This promotes self-reliance which is essentially empowerment. When power is regained in the body and mind space, the need to escape or harm is reduced. Yoga is a tool for empowerment that should be used not only to battle addiction, but to live a life full of healthy thoughts and actions.

View the original article at thefix.com

3 May 2019
Candidate Amy Klobuchar Wants To Reform Clemency

“The next president owes it to the people of this country to leave no one behind,” Klobuchar wrote in an op-ed.

Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar, a U.S. Senator from Minnesota, wants to streamline the federal government’s clemency process, addressing criminal justice reform and helping free thousands of people who are serving long sentences for non-violent drug crimes.

“The next president owes it to the people of this country to leave no one behind,” Klobuchar wrote in an op-ed for CNN published in April. “Reforming the presidential pardon system through the creation of a clemency advisory board and the addition of a dedicated, criminal justice reform adviser to the White House would move us one step closer to an America that’s as good as its promise.”

Klobuchar’s plan would rely on executive action to establish a clemency advisory board. This body would consider clemency cases and make recommendations to the president on whether to grant clemency.

Today, clemency applications need to go through a long seven-step process, law professor and former federal prosecutor Mark Osler told Vox.

“The problem with the system we’ve got now is it’s vertical,” he said. “You got one person making a decision, passing it on to the next person who makes a decision, passing it on to another person who makes a decision. And there’s seven levels of review like that.”

In addition to being a faster process, Klobuchar’s advisory board would also be entirely separate from the Department of Justice, which handles most of the clemency application process today in what Osler said is a conflict of interest.

“It’s hard to imagine a stronger conflict of interest than leaving the idea of clemency to the people who had asked for the sentences in the first place,” he said. “And I say that as someone who was a prosecutor… What does it feel like to me to have someone tell me that I put someone in prison for too long? I’m going to be defensive about that, probably.”

Klobuchar’s staff said the clemency board would be bipartisan and comprised of people from a variety of different backgrounds, including law enforcement, prison reform and social justice. Her clemency campaign would focus mostly on non-violent offenders who have shown they’ve been rehabilitated during prison, her staff said.

Twelve percent of prisoners in the United States are in federal prison, and half of those are drug offenders, Vox reported.

Osler said that taking a strong stand on clemency would also change how prosecutors pursue drug cases that haven’t yet been sentenced.

“Clemency is a way that the president can signal to prosecutors where she is at,” he said. “When President Obama started to grant clemency to narcotics traffickers serving very long sentences, it sent a signal to prosecutors that this is not what we want to do. While clemency doesn’t directly affect, for example, statutes, it is important signaling to how prosecutors use their discretion. And how prosecutors use their discretion is kind of the whole ball game.”

View the original article at thefix.com

3 May 2019
Best Treatment Options for Duragesic Addiction
If you or someone you know is dealing with Duragesic addiction, you must call on professional help to make your recovery.

Rehab and treatment centers around the country advertise their services in print and online. However, not all options will meet your specific needs. To support your own best interests, you must be familiar with some of the basics of Duragesic-related problems. You must also familiarize yourself with the most effective addiction treatments and identify rehab facilities with a proven track record for top-quality care.

Table of Contents
What is Duragesic and What is it Used For?

Duragesic is the trademarked name of a prescription medication that contains the powerful opioid fentanyl. It comes in the form of a transdermal patch applied to the skin. The patch’s fentanyl content is gradually absorbed into your bloodstream over a period of several days.

Like all opioid prescription drugs, Duragesic/fentanyl decreases your pain sensitivity by blocking normal pain signaling in your body and brain. Secondary effects of the medication include sedation and intense feelings of pleasure and happiness. These feelings help explain fentanyl’s potential as a drug of abuse. That’s true because patterns of abuse often begin as the consequence of a desire for repeated mood elevation.

Doctors should only prescribe Duragesic to people who meet certain strict criteria. First, to qualify for legitimate use, you must have pain symptoms that are chronic and severe enough to call for 24-hour treatment. In addition, you must have tried other treatment options that failed to provide you with adequate relief.

Finally, you must have a considerable, pre-existing tolerance to the effects of opioid drugs or medications. The level of intake required to meet the definition of tolerance varies from substance to substance. (Some people qualify for Duragesic use after becoming tolerant to weaker prescription opioids. Others may have a prior history of using heroin or other opioid street drugs.)

These precautions are due to Duragesic’s high fentanyl content. Fentanyl, a completely synthetic or manmade medication, is one of the world’s strongest opioids. When used improperly, it produces heightened risks for two serious problems: addiction and overdose. In fact, fentanyl and similar synthetic products are currently responsible for more deaths than any other opioid medication or drug.

The list of additional fentanyl-based prescription drugs includes Sublimaze and Actiq. When abused or sold through illegal means, fentanyl products are often known by street names such as:
- Jackpot 
- China Girl 
- Friend 
- Dance Fever 
- Tango and Cash 
- China White 
- Murder 8 
- Apache 
- Goodfellas 
Development of Duragesic or Fentanyl Dependence

Duragesic can be vital for the treatment of opioid-tolerant people coping with severe, chronic pain. However, since this prescription drug contains fentanyl, it has the clear potential to produce both dependence and addiction. In the case of opioid drugs and medications, dependence and addiction are not the same thing.

Since Duragesic is used to help people with chronic pain symptoms, its consumption often continues over extended periods of time. Long-term intake of any prescription opioid can make you dependent. In the case of Duragesic, a state of dependence occurs when your brain comes to expect regular doses of fentanyl. If those doses don’t arrive at the typical time or in typical amounts, you may experience symptoms of withdrawal.

Early symptoms of classic opioid withdrawal range from excessive tear and mucus production to increased sweating, uncontrolled yawning and disrupted sleep. If withdrawal progresses further, you may develop additional symptoms such as dilated pupils, goose bumps and abdominal and bowel problems.

Fentanyl dependence is a manageable condition. Your doctor can work with you to provide a dose of the medication that provides adequate pain treatment and steers you clear of withdrawal. Every day, people dependent on Duragesic remain functional members of society with the proper medical help and oversight.

Development of Duragesic Addiction or Fentanyl Addiction

Untreated fentanyl addiction or Duragesic addiction is something else entirely. People who pass from controlled dependence to uncontrolled addiction experience clear, damaging changes in their physical and/or mental well-being. They also typically lose their ability to maintain functional and stable lives.

It’s critical to note that you can develop an addiction to Duragesic even if you take this prescription drug exactly as intended by your doctor. However, your risks for addiction increase significantly if you engage in a pattern of misuse or abuse. Abuse of fentanyl or Duragesic can be divided into three forms or categories.

If you hold a legitimate prescription for the medication, you can fall into abuse by consuming it more often than your doctor indicated. You can also meet the standard for misuse/abuse by taking the drug in larger amounts than indicated. The third category of Duragesic abuse includes anyone who uses even a single transdermal patch without a prescription.

A doctor or addiction specialist can diagnose the presence of a fentanyl addiction by looking for the presence of certain symptoms. These symptoms form part of a condition called opioid use disorder, or OUD. Doctors and public health officials use the OUD label to describe substance disorders triggered by the use of opioid drugs or medications. The terms for opioid use disorder also include people who are not addicted, but nevertheless experience serious, opioid-related harms.

Possible Opioid Use Disorder Indicators in Duragesic Users
- Regularly using Duragesic too often or in higher-than-prescribed amounts 
- Losing your ability to gain control over your intake despite multiple efforts 
- Using the prescription drug repeatedly in dangerous situations 
- The presence of strong urges for further Duragesic abuse 
- Maintenance of a pattern of use that you know harms your physical or mental health 
- Maintenance of a pattern of use that you know interferes with important relationships 
- Rising tolerance to the painkilling or pleasure-producing effects of fentanyl 
- Establishment of Duragesic/fentanyl abuse as a major element of your daily schedule 
- Replacement of former activities or hobbies with Duragesic abuse 
- A failure to meet important life responsibilities that’s the result of your prescription drug consumption 
- The onset of withdrawal if you switch to a lower-strength patch, use Duragesic less often or completely stop use of the medication 
It’s possible to have mild, moderate or severe symptoms of opioid use disorder. Part of that determination is based on the overall number of symptoms present within a 12-month period. You may also have specific symptoms that vary in intensity or duration.

Fentanyl and Duragesic Recovery Begin with Enrollment in Detox

Effective help is available for people affected by Duragesic addiction or fentanyl addiction. The first step in the road to lasting recovery is participation in a medical detox (detoxification) program. Detox begins when your consumption of a drug or medication comes to a halt. With no more of the addictive substance flowing into your bloodstream, you will begin to go through the process of withdrawal.

Unfortunately, people with an addiction to Duragesic and other forms of fentanyl are susceptible to severe withdrawal symptoms. These severe issues can take the form of disrupted sleep, overwhelming urges for continued drug intake and a combination of diarrhea and vomiting. You may also experience problems such as involuntary movement of your legs, pain in your bones or muscles, or goose flesh accompanied by cold flashes.

No matter what type of substance you abuse, the severity of withdrawal symptoms during detox can make you want to halt your recovery efforts. This is especially true for people enrolled in detox for a Duragesic addiction or fentanyl addiction. In these cases, severe symptoms can appear just a few hours after medication intake stops.

In recent years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved some new treatment options that may help make the process more tolerable. One option now available to anyone struggling with severe fentanyl withdrawal is the non-opioid medication lofexidine. This prescription drug widens your blood vessels and increases blood flow in your circulatory system. In turn, this increased blood flow helps ease the intensity of Duragesic detox.

Your doctor may also prescribe an electrical, nerve-stimulating device called the NSS-2 Bridge. When placed behind your ear, the NSS-2 sends periodic pulses of electricity to the cranial nerves at the bottom of your brain. These pulses alter nerve function in a way designed to help control your detox symptoms. You may receive treatment with the device for as many as five days.

The Impact of Co-Occurring Mental Disorders and Addiction

The time you spend in detox before active rehabilitation has other vital uses. For instance, it gives your doctor a chance to assess you for additional problems that may be damaging your well-being. One problem of particular importance is the presence of a serious mental health issue other than opioid use disorder. When mental health disorders appear in combination with OUD or other substance use disorders, you may qualify for something called co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis.

Co-occurring disorders are relatively common. That’s unfortunate, because their presence can make it much more difficult to provide adequate treatment. In some cases, fentanyl addiction (or other drug or alcohol problems) may appear before the onset of separate mental illness. In other cases, diagnosable symptoms of mental illness appear prior to the onset of addiction. To recover from co-occurring disorders, you must receive treatments that address mental illness as well as your prescription drug problem.

Depression is one of the most frequent mental illnesses in people affected by dual diagnosis. Other conditions known to appear in combination with substance addiction include schizophrenic disorders and anxiety disorders. Personality disorder (PD) is also on the short list of the most likely contributors to dual diagnosis.

Duragesic Rehab Is a Necessary Next Step

To make good on your recovery from fentanyl addiction, you must enter Duragesic rehab after you complete the detox process. If you fail to follow up your detox participation with a rehabilitation program, you run several major risks. First, without follow-up addiction treatment, you can quickly end up returning to a pattern of fentanyl abuse. Relapses are not uncommon in people in recovery. However, they pose a special danger for people recovering from fentanyl- or Duragesic-related problems.

Since fentanyl is one of the strongest opioids in the world, it has a tremendous potential to trigger the symptoms of opioid overdose. In recent years, the number of overdoses related to use of this powerful drug have skyrocketed. Throughout the nation, public health officials view this rise in fatalities as a major threat and challenge.

Why is this information important to people who detox from Duragesic? During the detox process, you will gradually grow less tolerant to the drug effects of fentanyl. When detoxification is complete, you’ll feel the impact of doses far below your previous, accustomed level of intake. If you try to “pick up where you left off,” you may be on a fast track to an overdose with a potentially lethal outcome. For these reasons, addiction experts view relapse and overdose as the primary dangers of detox.

There is another huge reason for entering a rehab treatment facility after detox ends. To make lasting changes in your fentanyl-related behaviors, you must develop your awareness of how addiction works. You must also develop the crucial skills that will help you avoid substance abuse in various daily situations. Duragesic rehab programs are specifically designed for people with fentanyl/opioid problems. By enrolling in them, you optimize your chances for a sustainable short- and long-term recovery.

Options for Successful Rehab and Recovery

Successful rehabilitation from prescription drug addiction can occur in one of three places. Most people receive the treatment they need in inpatient rehab facilities. Facilities in this category are residential. Throughout your enrollment, you will live onsite, rather than at home.

This residential setup gives doctors and support staff the ability to monitor your mental and physical state at all hours of the day and night. It also makes it easier to make any necessary adjustments in your current treatment plan. In addition, enrollment in inpatient rehab provides 24/7 access to emergency help if you should experience any treatment complications.

People who experience milder symptoms while going through detox may be able to meet their needs in an outpatient fentanyl rehabilitation program. If you enroll in outpatient care, you’ll remain at home during treatment. On a given number of days per week, you’ll travel to your chosen rehab center for checkups and assessments. Even if you have moderate addiction or withdrawal symptoms, you can sometimes choose outpatient care. This is especially true if you can’t make the time commitment required for inpatient addiction treatment.

The third possibility for Duragesic rehab or fentanyl rehabilitation is hospitalization. As a rule, only people with severe and/or life-threatening withdrawal symptoms qualify for this option. People who start rehab in hospitals may be transferred to inpatient or outpatient care at a later date.

Since Duragesic or fentanyl abuse can lead to severe addiction and withdrawal side effects, outpatient care is often not an option. However, unless you also abuse other substances, opioid withdrawal is not typically life-threatening. Taking these two factors into account, it’s probable that inpatient Duragesic rehabilitation is your best option for effective addiction recovery. The presence of a co-occurring disorder also increases the odds that you will need to receive addiction treatment through a residential rehabilitation program.

Duragesic Treatment Plans

The standard option for treatment of any form of opioid addiction is a combination of medication and behavior-modifying psychotherapy. The medications used during fentanyl rehab may have any one of several purposes. Like lofexidine, they may help ease the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. You may also receive medication in order to reduce the intensity of any ongoing cravings for opioid use. In addition, your treatment plan may include medication designed to stop opioids from having a drug effect in your brain and body. All three of these approaches help keep you sober and reduce your chances of relapsing back into active substance abuse.

Buprenorphine and methadone are two of the frontline medications for Duragesic addiction treatment. While it may seem unusual, both of these options also belong to the opioid family of prescription drugs. Buprenorphine is a relatively weak opioid, while methadone has a stronger effect. However, both medications are less powerful than fentanyl (which can be up to 100 times stronger than morphine, the source of all heroin.)

During fentanyl rehab, substitution of buprenorphine or methadone for Duragesic has some important benefits. First, it allows you to go through detox without going “cold turkey” and triggering severe, withdrawal-related side effects. At the same time, your dose of these prescription drugs won’t be enough to get you “high.” Instead, your controlled intake will limit your opioid cravings and make it possible to stabilize your condition. As you improve, you doctor may gradually taper your medication dosage down to nothing. However, some people continue to receive ongoing, maintenance doses of buprenorphine or methadone.

The third well-established medication for treatment of Duragesic addiction is naltrexone. This anti-opioid enters your bloodstream and blocks the pathways that normally give opioids their brain-altering powers. With naltrexone in your system, you can’t really get high. For this reason, you’ll have far less motivation for a relapse from Duragesic rehabilitation. You can only safely take naltrexone if you’ve completed opioid detox. Otherwise, the rapid shutoff of opioids’ brain access could lead to the onset of heavy withdrawal symptoms.

There are several behavioral therapy options shown to support successful Duragesic rehabilitation. One evidence-based method is called motivational interviewing. It uses counseling techniques to help you get clear about your reasons for halting your substance abuse. Another approach, called contingency management, uses a combination of a point system and prizes or vouchers to help you stay motivated and meet your stated addiction treatment goals. A third choice for therapy, called community reinforcement or CRA, relies on similar methods.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a fourth option with proven usefulness for fentanyl rehab. This form of treatment aims to help you understand your reasons for getting involved in prescription drug abuse. It also helps you change your daily behaviors and turn away from actions that make abuse more likely to occur. Possible rehabilitation therapies also include 12-step facilitation and family behavior therapy. Depending on your situation, you may receive help in the form of group therapy or individual sessions with your caregiver.

Identifying Preferred Treatment and Rehab Facilities

In today’s world, even substandard prescription drug rehab centers may produce impressive advertising for Duragesic rehabilitation. To wade through the static and find a truly effective program, you should focus on certain key areas. First, look for programs that use treatments backed by scientific evidence and recommendations from authorities in the addiction field. The doctors who administer these treatments should have extensive experience treating patients with opioid-related problems.

Whether you call a hotline or make contact in other ways, rehab programs on your preferred list should offer detailed information on their methods and practices. They should also help resolve any questions you may have about the recovery process.

No reputable fentanyl rehabilitation program will treat you without first conducting a thorough assessment during intake.This assessment is necessary to make sure your recovery takes place in an appropriate setting. It’s also necessary to help identify any factors that may affect the course of addiction treatment. That includes overlapping mental health issues such as PD, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia-related disorders and depression.

The best programs enlist you as an active participant in the rehab process. To this end, they explain each step of treatment and listen to your opinions and observations. In addition, top programs for rehabilitation from Duragesic addiction make sure you feel well-supported at all times. That means hiring well-trained secondary staff and maintaining a safe, secure facility. In a best-case scenario, it also means offering holistic services that help you feel like something more than just another addiction patient.

Only you can make the final call on which treatment program provides the best options for recovery from fentanyl addiction. With a firm understanding of the variables involved, you can choose your rehab destination with confidence. Regardless of your chosen facility, the goal remains the same: sobriety and a return to a lasting, substance-free routine.

View the original article at thefix.com
3 May 2019
Anthem Blue Cross Coverage for Drug Rehab and Behavioral Health
Anthem Blue Cross alcohol rehab centers, drug addiction rehab facilities, and behavioral health treatment centers are important providers of mental health care coverage.

Substance use disorders, alcohol abuse, drug addiction, and behavioral health issues are all important mental health conditions that can cause significant dysfunction in your life. They often occur together too, which can make symptoms worse. There is hope, though, as these are all conditions that are treatable and manageable. Anthem Blue Cross alcohol rehab centers, drug addiction rehab facilities, and behavioral health treatment centers are important providers of mental health care.

Table of Contents
Defining Substance Abuse, Alcohol Addiction, and Behavioral Health

Substance abuse is any misuse of a drug or alcohol. If you misuse drugs, you are not necessarily addicted, but you are at significant risk for it. Alcohol or drug addiction refers to a serious illness characterized by being unable to control your use of the substance. Some of the Anthem Blue Cross substance abuse criteria include:
- Intense cravings 
- Regularly using more than you intended 
- Being unable to stop using or to use less 
- Spending a lot of time on using 
- Spending less time on other activities because of substance use 
- Failing to meet your responsibilities because of substance use 
- Using a substance in spite of problems it causes with friends and family 
- Continuing to use a substance even though it causes or worsens health problems 
- Using in dangerous situations, like while driving 
- Needing more and more to get high 
- Having withdrawal when you try to stop using 
Substance abuse, addiction, and alcoholism are all considered to fall under the category of behavioral health. These are conditions related to how you react to the world and how you behave and the choices you make, such as alcohol use or drug use. You may need Anthem Blue Cross Substance abuse care if you find you can no longer control your use of alcohol or drugs.

But behavioral health also includes mental illnesses, like depression, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders. These are conditions that have no known causes but plenty of risk factors, like genetics and substance abuse. Anthem Blue Cross mental health coverage is important because it will cover these mental illnesses that require treatment.

Does Anthem Blue Cross Cover Substance Abuse Treatment and Alcohol Addiction?

Most insurance companies do cover treatment for addiction and substance use disorders, although the degree of coverage depends on each individual plan. Anthem Blue Cross providers may offer detox services, medical treatment for certain types of drug addiction, treatment in rehab facilities, and outpatient therapy. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield subsidiaries offer coverage in a number of locations.

It is important that you understand your own Anthem Blue Cross substance abuse policy so that you know what to expect. There may be certain criteria you must meet, for instance, in order to be covered. You may also be facing some co-pays or a deductible, so know what these are before you enroll in treatment.

Does Anthem Blue Cross Cover Mental Health Treatment?

Yes, as with substance use disorders, most insurers do also cover treatment for all types of behavioral health, including mental illnesses. With Anthem Blue Cross mental health providers, you will have access to a great network of professionals. This includes therapists, counselors, physicians, psychologists, and psychiatrists. You also have access to Anthem Blue Cross approved mental health facilities for residential treatment if necessary.

Understanding Anthem Blue Cross Substance Abuse Coverage

What your coverage includes for alcohol addiction or substance abuse depends on the plan you have. Make sure you read over the materials you have for your policy so that you can make better decisions about treatment. Consider factors like deductibles, whether you have to stick with in-network providers, if treatment in an inpatient center will be covered, the costs and coverage for prescription drugs, and more.

Understanding Anthem Blue Cross Mental Health Coverage

With mental health care, you will also need to understand your specific plan or policy before making treatment decisions. You may be required to get treatment from in-network providers or to pay a certain amount in deductible before insurance payments kick in. Read your Anthem Blue Cross mental health policy carefully before deciding on care, and call if you still have questions about coverage.

Anthem Blue Cross In-Network Providers or Out-of-Network Providers?

You may have a choice to make in your treatment services between in- and out-of-network providers. Your policy may require that you choose doctors, therapists, and facilities that are in a group of network providers. This is known as an EPO, exclusive provider organization.

Or, your policy may allow you to choose from any provider. This is a PPO, a preferred provider organization. Choosing an out-of-network facility or physician may cost you more money, so be sure you know what your policy says.

Types of Substance and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Covered by Anthem Blue Cross

When seeking treatment for a substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder, you may have a lot of choices, including between Anthem Blue Cross psychiatrists, therapists, and treatment centers. The first big decision to make is between outpatient and inpatient treatment.

Inpatient care is intensive, residential treatment. You will live in a facility for a few weeks or months to get treatment on a daily basis. This type of care provides around-the-clock supervision, a safe environment, other residents to work with, and a larger team of caregivers to provide different types of therapy and support services.

Some benefits of outpatient care include being able to stay at home, being with family more, and being able to keep going to work. On the other hand, you don’t get as much time to focus on your wellness with just a few sessions of therapy per week.

The choice you make will depend on your particular needs, your Anthem Blue Cross substance abuse policy, and your preferences. Many people find they need the intensive care of a rehab facility, while others find success in outpatient therapy.

Types of Mental Health Care Covered

Treatment for mental illnesses can also be inpatient or outpatient, but it is more often provided on an outpatient basis. If your policy does not cover residential care for mental illness, you can still get effective treatment from Anthem Blue Cross therapists and other providers.

Anthem Blue Cross depression providers, for instance, offer one-on-one therapy sessions on an outpatient basis that can help patients manage their symptoms. This kind of treatment can be very effective as long as you stick with it, get good medical care, and practice healthy lifestyle habits recommended by your therapist.

Coverage for Aftercare Services

Aftercare is an important part of treatment for substance and alcohol abuse in particular. If you spend time in a residential facility, the transition back to home and work can be difficult. Your Anthem Blue Cross substance abuse care policy may include coverage for ongoing therapy on an outpatient basis. This, along with attendance at support group meetings can help you make a smoother transition and reduce the risk of relapse.

Types of Services Anthem Blue Cross May Not Cover

You may have the best policy, but there still are some mental health and addiction services that you’ll find are not covered by your insurance. For example, your Anthem Blue Cross approved alcohol abuse facilities list is not likely to include any luxury centers.

And don’t expect coverage for a private room or some extra services a facility may offer. Things like music therapy, massage, yoga and other exercise classes, or cooking instruction are useful services. However, they may not be covered by your policy.

Choosing the Best Mental and Behavioral Health Services

Your choices may be restricted to some degree by your Anthem Blue Cross substance abuse professionals list or mental health care providers. However, you will still have options, and you shouldn’t have to settle for treatment that doesn’t work for you. Narrow down your list by coverage options, location, and extra costs.

Once you have a list of facilities or treatment providers that match your needs, visit those facilities and speak with staff. Ask any questions you have about the treatment program, and speak with residents if possible in a rehab facility. Make a choice based on practical considerations, like what your policy will cover, but also what works for your personal needs and preferences.

Using Anthem Blue Cross Insurance for Behavioral Health Care

Most people will need some type of behavioral health care at some point in their lives. For you it may be alcohol addiction treatment or depression management. To get the most out of your insurance policy, make sure you understand it. Know what is covered and what is not, what extra costs you face, and which providers are in your network. Find out if you need pre-authorization or a referral.

Good mental and behavioral health care is essential for living well, but too few people actually get the treatment they need. With Anthem Blue Cross you should find that you can get treatment and that the costs will not totally come out of your pocket. Working with your insurance company is an important part of getting good care, so don’t hesitate to call if you need help understanding and using your policy.

View the original article at thefix.com
3 May 2019
How to Find Butrans Addiction Treatment
Trying to find a Butrans rehab? Look no further than our guide on finding the best options to recover in luxury.

Table of Contents

1. What is Butrans and How is it Used?
2. How Buprenorphine Dependence Occurs
3. How Buprenorphine Addiction Occurs
4. Potential Abuse and Addiction Symptoms in Users of Butrans/Buprenorphine
5. Detox and the Road to Recovery
6. From Detox to Buprenorphine Rehab
7. Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment
8. Evidence-Based Treatment and Recovery Options
9. Choosing the Best Rehab for You

What is Butrans and How is it Used?

Butrans is the brand name of an extended-release, transdermal medication made from the opioid prescription drug buprenorphine. Transdermal treatments deliver medication to your bloodstream through a patch applied to your skin. Once the patch is placed, you gradually receive your prescribed treatment over an extended period of time.

Buprenorphine is not a full opioid like medications such as morphine, oxycodone or fentanyl. Instead, it belongs to a group of substances called partial opioids. Substances in this category are strong enough to produce a drug effect, but that effect is weaker than the one produced by a full opioid.

When it enters your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), buprenorphine does several things. First, it alters your nerve perceptions in a way that reduces pain. The medication also produces notable sensations of pleasure. In addition, like all other opioids, buprenorphine decreases the speed of cell-to-cell communication within your central nervous system. In turn, this drop in activity triggers a significant slowdown in your breathing rate and certain other involuntary nerve functions.

Butrans is designed to treat pain in specific circumstances. First, to qualify for legitimate use of the medication, you must have long-lasting pain so severe that it can only be controlled with ongoing, 24/7 treatment. You must also be unsuited for the use of non-opioid medication or other, less risky treatment options. (Reasons you may not benefit from these safer alternatives include a lack of adequate pain relief and an inability to tolerate their side effects.) In addition, you cannot receive Butrans only on an occasional, as-needed basis.

Butrans comes in several strengths. A low-dose version of this prescription drug is available for people who have never taken opioids before. There are also four higher dosages available for people with previous opioid exposure. Once applied, a patch of the medication stays in place for one week. Potential side effects of Butrans use include sleepiness, lightheadedness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth and constipation. They also include itching, skin redness or rash at the site of the patch.

When sold or used illicitly, buprenorphine-based medications are sometimes known by certain street names. These names include:
- Stops
- Strips
- Buse
- Sobos
- Subs
How Buprenorphine Dependence Occurs

Butrans can form an important part of a plan to control serious, long-term pain. However, since it contains an opioid as its active ingredient, its use can trigger a state of substance dependence. In the case of Butrans, this state is defined by a reliance on the drug effects of buprenorphine. Since a transdermal patch delivers the medication to your system around the clock, dependence risks are relatively high.

The most common sign of dependence is the appearance of opioid withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking Butrans or switch to a much weaker medication strength.When withdrawal first begins, you may experience symptoms such as a runny nose, increased sweating and mucus production, frequent yawning and disruption of your normal sleep patterns. If withdrawal progresses, you may also experience symptoms that include nausea, vomiting, loose bowels, cramps in your abdomen and abnormally widened pupils.

Opioid dependence and opioid addiction do not have the same effects on your health and well-being. Dependence is a manageable reliance on opioids commonly found in long-term patients with legitimate prescriptions. You can work with your doctor to keep this condition in check while you lead a normal life. Crucially, the parts of the brain affected by opioid dependence differ from those affected by opioid addiction.

How Buprenorphine Addiction Occurs

Buprenorphine addiction marks a transition from a controlled, relatively safe pattern of medication use to an uncontrolled, dangerous pattern. Unlike dependence, it cannot be managed as a stable condition. Instead, it produces a serious, damaging impact on one or more areas of your daily life.

You can get addicted to Butrans even if you take the medication according to your doctor’s instructions. However, your addiction risks escalate when you take actions that qualify as prescription drug abuse. If you have a legitimate prescription, these actions include applying patches to your skin more often than directed. They also include using multiple patches at once or using a single patch with a higher dosage than prescribed. If you don’t have a Butrans prescription, drug abuse occurs when you use even a single patch of the medication.

Buprenorphine/Butrans addiction is one specific example of a diagnosable illness called OUD or opioid use disorder. You can also receive a diagnosis for this condition if you’re not addicted, but still suffer significant harms as a result of your medication abuse.

Potential Abuse and Addiction Symptoms in Users of Butrans/Buprenorphine
- Inability to control how often you apply the medication to your skin
- Inability to control how much of the medication you apply to your skin
- Using Butrans abuse as a substitute for recreational or leisure-time activities
- Establishment of a daily routine than centers on your medication abuse
- Rising tolerance to the effects of accustomed buprenorphine intake
- Continuation of a mentally or physically damaging pattern of patch use after you become aware of its impact
- Continuation of a pattern of use that you know disrupts your ability to sustain personal, intimate or social connections
- Strong desires for buprenorphine use while doing other things
- A pattern of medication intake in situations that carry a risk for physical harm
- Withdrawal symptoms that arise if your brain doesn’t get its expected medication intake
All cases of OUD are graded as mild, moderate or severe. Milder cases are limited to just two or three symptoms that appear over the course of a single year. If you have four or five of the possible symptoms during that same timeframe, you fall into the category of moderate OUD. If you have at least six symptoms, you will qualify for a diagnosis of severe OUD.

The most severely affected people have all 11 of the potential symptoms. The intensity of individual symptoms can vary between people, and may have a meaningful impact on your ultimate diagnosis.

Detox and the Road to Recovery

To begin your road to addiction recovery, you must break the cycle of uncontrolled substance use. This process begins during an initial step called detoxification or detox. The goal of detox is to halt (or, in some cases, significantly reduce) your medication intake while avoiding or limiting the worst effects of withdrawal. No one can tell in advance how long you will take to detox from Butrans addiction. While the average timeframe is a week to 10 days, factors specific to your situation may alter this estimate.

The symptoms of opioid withdrawal can leave you feeling awful. However, on their own, they can usually be managed without endangering your life. This does not mean that detox is free from the potential for life-threatening complications. For instance, untreated diarrhea and vomiting during withdrawal can trigger medically serious dehydration. If you inhale particles of your vomit during detox, you can develop a serious lung infection.

Despite the reality of these risks, the main dangers to your health during opioid detoxification are undoubtedly relapse and overdose. This is true because the process of detoxing lowers your tolerance to the drug effects of buprenorphine. As a result of this change, a dose of Butrans that was once safe for you to use may now stop your central nervous system from functioning normally. And without prompt medical attention, you may die as a result. Every day of the year, fatal opioid overdoses in the U.S. claim an average of more than 100 victims. The mixing of opioids with alcohol or benzodiazepines can significantly increase your overdose risks.

As a rule, detox and addiction treatment are more difficult for people who have substance problems combined with mental illness. That’s true whether you abuse opioids, alcohol or any other addictive drug/medication. It’s also true whether you suffer from anxiety disorders, depression, a personality disorder (PD) or any other serious mental health condition. To provide adequate care, doctors must address both abuse/addiction and mental illness. Without treatment for both issues, your chances for a sustainable recovery will diminish.

From Detox to Buprenorphine Rehab

When your time in buprenorphine detox comes to end, addiction experts strongly recommend that you move on to a Butrans rehab program. This recommendation is based on a couple of critical points. First, after detoxing from the medication, you will have a much smaller tolerance to its effects. If you relapse back into a pattern of abuse for any reason, this susceptibility to the impact of buprenorphine can put your life in danger. Participation in a rehabilitation program is the best possible way to avoid a quick relapse and its unwanted consequences.

But Butrans rehabilitation does more than help you decrease your short-term relapse risks. It’s also designed to give you the tools to learn how to stay sober long-term. Rehab programs achieve this goal in three ways. First, they help you clearly understand what addiction is and how it works. Rehabilitation also helps you recognize the behaviors, thought patterns and life attitudes that contribute to substance abuse. In addition, it helps you make new choices that keep your future abuse risks in check.

Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment

The vast majority of people with opioid use disorder receive addiction treatment in either an inpatient or outpatient facility. Inpatient rehab is a residential approach that requires you to live in a facility while you receive treatment. During your stay, you receive the benefit of constant support and staff availability. You also have the opportunity to put aside everyday responsibilities and focus on your efforts at recovery. And if any complications arise, immediate medical care will help keep you safe.

Inpatient Butrans rehab is typically recommended for anyone with moderate or severe varieties of opioid use disorder. (In some situations, treatment for severe symptoms may begin in a hospital, instead.) Outpatient rehabilitation is the destination for many people with mild symptoms. This non-residential approach requires you to make periodic visits to a substance treatment facility while you continue to live at home. During your visits, you will do such things as participate in counseling sessions, undergo health assessments and receive any needed medication adjustments.

Outpatient addiction treatment is an excellent way to make effective rehab part of your ordinary, daily routine. However, even people with mild symptoms of buprenorphine addiction sometimes seek inpatient care. The presence of serious mental illness is just one of the reasons for addressing mild addiction in a residential setting.

Evidence-Based Treatment and Recovery Options

The twin pillars of modern opioid addiction treatment are medications and behavioral therapies with demonstrated usefulness for your recovery. If you have Butrans-related problems, you may be surprised to learn that buprenorphine is also a frontline treatment option. It helps to understand that Butrans itself is not used for addiction rehabilitation. Instead, doctors use other medications that contain smaller amounts of buprenorphine. When given to you in the proper dosages, these medications help stabilize your condition, but they don’t get you “high.” Another opioid-based option, methadone, can also be used to achieve the same goals.

When all opioids have left your system, your doctor may help you avoid a relapse by prescribing the anti-opioid medication naltrexone. When present in your bloodstream, this medication creates a chemical barrier that opioid substances can’t cross. By doing so, it prevents the reactions in your brain that make use of these substances feel pleasurable.

Behavioral therapy for Butrans addiction can take several different forms. If you’re unsure of your reasons for seeking help, a technique called motivational interviewing can help you gain needed clarity. Two evidence-based therapies (contingency management and CRA, or community reinforcement approach, plus vouchers) produce results by offering rewards or incentives when you make progress in your program.

A fourth well-known approach, cognitive behavioral therapy, helps you gain insight into how your habitual actions and attitudes support substance abuse. It also helps you establish alternative thoughts and behaviors that don’t provide such support.

Choosing the Best Rehab for You

When making your choices for Butrans rehab, your search should begin with reputable programs that meet modern standards for evidence-based therapy and medication. Your list of options should also be limited to programs that rely on expert caregivers with plenty of addiction-related experience. To make the most of your recovery efforts, look for programs that pair this level of expertise with secure and well-maintained treatment facilities.

Today, most addiction centers have a hotline that you can call for advice and information. When you call a hotline, you should have access to someone who can answer all your questions and help you sort out your possible options. The person you speak to should be ready to address any of your concerns.

At all professional, well-run programs, a doctor or addiction specialist will conduct an interview and assessment as the first steps in the intake process. One of the main purposes in these procedures is to determine the extent of your addiction and identify your specific symptoms. Your doctor or specialist will also take the opportunity to identify PD, anxiety disorders or other mental health conditions that must be addressed during treatment.

Once you know that the facilities on your short list follow these accepted practices, you can look for the extra benefits provided by truly exceptional buprenorphine rehab programs. The best programs view their participants as individuals, not faceless victims of addiction. This holistic approach can be an essential factor in making you feel comfortable and welcome. It often includes personalized supporting treatments that focus on mind and body wellness. Top programs may also offer cutting-edge, supportive options not found in most facilities.

Once you complete primary treatment, aftercare can also play an important role in your long-term recovery. Look for rehabilitation programs that allow you to check in periodically for follow-up assessment and assistance.

No matter which program you choose, only you can take the gradual steps that lead to sobriety. However, by choosing your buprenorphine rehab options wisely, you increase your chances of making that journey a reality.

View the original article at thefix.com
3 May 2019
Surfer Sunny Garcia Hospitalized Amid Depression Battle

Garcia has been very open about living with depression on social media.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK).

Professional surfer Sunny Garcia, who has been open about his battle with depression, has been hospitalized following a suicide attempt.

“With heavy hearts we confirm that Sunny Garcia is in the ICU in the hospital,” the World Surf League confirmed on Twitter on Monday. “Sunny has always been a great champion of surfing, both in and out of the water. Our prayers are with him and his loved ones at this deeply challenging time.”

Garcia—whose real name is Vincent Sennen Garcia—posted a picture of himself as a teenager on Sunday, prior to his hospitalization.

“If I told this kid the things he would go through and things he would achieve he would tell me I’m crazy,” Garcia, 49, wrote. “Wow it’s been a crazy ride since this photo was taken.”

On March 20, Garcia opened up about his depression on Instagram, something he had done in the past as well.

“Doesn’t matter what kind of mental illness you suffer from, we all suffer in silence and deal with it best we can and most people that don’t suffer can’t understand the pain and frustration that we go through,” he wrote.

“I have a incredible life surrounded by people that love and care for me, and I get to travel to beautiful places to surf and meet different people from all over the world but I can tell you when I get down that none of that matters,” he said.

Garcia wrote that he “spent the morning curled in my dark closet feeling like I just didn’t want to be here anymore”—but said that he knew that ultimately things would get better and he was determined to speak out.

“I just feel like nothing or anyone can help me at the particular time so I just keep sharing my feelings hoping that it helps any of you out there that suffers from anything and encourage you to reach out and talk to others like yourself because this life can really be beautiful. If we all just talk and let it out so others see that it’s ok to share and we are not alone in this suffering.”

Garcia first posted about his depression in December 2014, when he asked his followers for advice.

“Depression is no joke waking up feeling like you’re ready to take on the world then a couple hours later feeling down on life and wondering what’s wrong with you,” he wrote at the time. “Well I know I’m not alone and I’m not sure what’s wrong with me because I have no reason to feel the way I do. It’s been happening for about two years and would love to hear from any of you who suffer these feelings so I can figure out what I should do.”

View the original article at thefix.com

2 May 2019
NYC Bans Alcohol Ads on City Properties to Reduce Problem Drinking

NYC joins LA, Philadelphia and San Francisco in restricting alcohol advertising on city-owned spaces.

Alcohol advertising will no longer be displayed on New York City-owned property such as bus shelters, newsstands, phone booths and wifi kiosks.

Mayor Bill de Blasio issued the alcohol advertising ban via Executive Order, effective immediately. The ban will affect most city-owned properties except for venues that serve alcohol like Citi Field.

Despite a foreseeable loss of advertising revenue of around $3 million each year, city officials say it’s worth it to try and reduce the effects of problem drinking. In the 2018 fiscal year, alcohol advertising generated $2.7 million for the city. These advertisements occupy about 3% of city-owned advertising space.

“There’s no doubt that far too many New Yorkers struggle with serious substance misuse issues, among them excessive drinking,” said de Blasio in a statement Tuesday.

In 2016, NYC counted 110,000 alcohol-related ER visits, and 2,000 alcohol-related fatalities from car accidents, liver disease, etc.

“In New York City, we see far too many deaths related to alcohol,” said city health commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “We know exposure to alcohol advertising can lead to drinking more alcohol, more often behavior that can be harmful and even fatal.”

City officials cite research that have linked exposure to alcohol advertisements with drinking behavior. By minimizing New Yorkers’ exposure to alcohol advertising, they are hoping to reduce problem drinking in the city.

There is plenty of research on the subject.

“Parents and peers have a large impact on youth decisions to drink. However, research clearly indicates that alcohol advertising and marketing also have a significant effect by influencing youth and adult expectations and attitudes, and helping to create an environment that promotes underage drinking,” according to the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Johns Hopkins University.

Eighteen months ago, the city’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) banned alcohol advertisements on NYC buses, subway cars and stations.

Los Angeles, Philadelphia and San Francisco have also banned alcohol ads on city property.

“Too many people in our city struggle with excessive drinking, and irresponsible advertisements for alcohol make the problem worse―especially when they target communities of color,” said NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray. “Today, New York City is taking a stand to protect the health and well-being of all of our communities.”

View the original article at thefix.com

2 May 2019