Answer Addiction

Author: The Fix

  • Ed Sheeran Talks Anxiety: "It Creeps Up On You"

    Ed Sheeran Talks Anxiety: "It Creeps Up On You"

    Sheeran detailed his experience wih social anxiety in a recent interview.

    In a new interview with Breakfast Club radio host Charlamagne Tha God, pop singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran revealed that he had recently married his childhood friend Cherry Seaborn.

    “I wake up every day with Cherry and I’m like why the f*ck are you with me? You could be with whoever you wanted and you’ve chosen me.
    “I’m saying all the things that I think are wrong with me and you still want to be with me and I find that amazing,” the 28-year-old said.

    In the wide-ranging, candid interview Sheeran also opened up about living with anxiety and how it has impacted his professional and personal life.

    Sheeran confessed that he struggles with social anxiety. “It creeps up on you. I’ve been working on it for eight years and I closed off from reality.”

    Circle Of Trust

    He told Charlamagne how he has trimmed his social circle down to just a handful of his closest friends to feel safe.

    “Whether it’s getting rid of our phone or only looking at emails twice a day,” Sheeran says. “Or cutting down my friendship group to the bare minimum just so I can trust everyone. I let people in from a, ‘Let’s hang out place.’ There is letting in and then there is letting in.

    “I have social anxiety. I don’t like large groups of people, which is ironic given I play shows to thousands of people…I have no problem with talking to people. But it’s when people film me and stare at me. It makes me feel like I’m not human,” he said.

    The Grammy winner said that after the chart-topping popularity of his hit single “Shape Of You” living a private life became nearly impossible and he made the decision to move to the country in an effort to retreat from the spotlight that followed him while he lived in central London. 

    “I lost the ability to go to a supermarket and buy a loaf of bread about three years ago. People around here treat me pretty normally, but in London it’s different,” Sheeran explained.

    While Sheeran lives with daily anxiety, he also knows he’s very lucky to have his career and a great significant other in his privileged life. “I don’t mean to be complain-y, because I have a very cool life and job, but if I can avoid it [the scrutiny] I will.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Santé Center for Healing

    Santé Center for Healing

    The owners of Santé Center wanted to create an addiction treatment program which prioritized the well-being of their clients over the company.

    The Santé Center for Healing, located high atop a hill in Argyle, Texas, emphasizes integrated, individualized addiction treatment that combines traditional and modern, evidence-based approaches. They offer detox, residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, and transitional living services. Owners Deb and Rip Corley created Santé Center after leaving their previous employment at an addiction treatment program which they felt valued the company over their clients. Now, they tailor the treatment to the individual, stressing that the length of an individual’s stay at the center should match their needs.

    Santé Center promises cutting edge treatment that mixes trauma resolution therapy such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with medication, all in a restful environment surrounded by beautiful views. In addition, Rip and Deb have partnered with the Center for Professional Health at Vanderbilt and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in order to offer a specialized course on maintaining boundaries.

    Former residents of Santé Center described a structured environment that kept them busy and accountable with basic chores. Most reported having roommates and described fellow residents as diverse in age, income, profession, and education level. The biggest age range reported was 20s to 60s, but alumni report that the differences only improved their experience:

    “I love how there were younger people and older people mixed because you get to hear stories about the younger people’s struggles and then you hear the older people’s struggles and how they were going through the same thing as us younger people.”

    Accommodations were generally rated well, with clients describing a “peaceful and low stress” environment, feeling “welcome,” and appreciating that “they gave us a lot of privacy that other places didn’t really give,” although one alum noted “it may be time to perform renovations on the living quarters.”

    Amenities at Sante Center include sports such as volleyball, frisbee golf, soccer, and ping pong. In addition, there are options such as “Gym, pool, yoga, [and] equestrian therapy.” Alumni praised the personal trainer who was “available twice a week” and the yoga instructor.  

    Regarding entertainment, “We were not allowed to use the internet or tv but had movies on Friday and Saturday night.” Residents are allowed to use the phone at designated times, with one reporting that the amount of time you could use the phone depended on where you were in the program, so more advanced patients may get more access than others. Another alum said that there was “Very limited phone, internet and TV time.”

    The food is served cafeteria-style at the center with many healthy options that were generally described positively, although one person said that the “portions left something to be desired.” Coffee, snacks, and salad bar are always available. Another complained about a lack of options for those who don’t like vegetables. Favorite meals included steak, chicken tacos, grits, and chili, though some alumni were less fond of the crab cakes and fish dishes.

    For rule infractions, alumni described a “phase and level system.” Rule infractions are met with “tickets” that can lead to “demotions” in your level, which comes with a loss of certain privileges, including phone time. Most alumni found this system fair and helpful, saying it allowed them to “practice boundaries and rules in a safe and accountable environment.” One respondent found this system “juvenile.”

    In terms of treatment, residents can expect 12-step meetings, therapy, and classes designed to help educate people about addiction. Therapy is designed to get to the root of issues underlying addiction disorders, and “rigorous honesty” is stressed in individual and group sessions.

    Religion is not emphasized: ”Religion really wasn’t forced on anybody they let you choose your own path.” Spirituality as practiced in 12-step programs “was discussed,” with varying reactions. Most found it helpful. “Initially it made me feel uncomfortable given I was agnostic however I ultimately found my God again so all worked out.”

    The tone of the treatment is generally described by alumni as “strict” and “tough love,” though most appreciated this helpful and necessary approach because it helped them stay accountable and face their issues. One individual described it as “situational,” with another saying the tone was “fairly tough love, but low stress.” A third said the treatment was overall “reasonable” but called the rules “absurd at times.”

    Doctors or physician’s assistants are always available on site and are described as being very “helpful,” “great,” and responsive to residents’ concerns. One alum liked how the medical staff “explained their recommendations and decisions,” which fits the center’s emphasis on education. Case managers also received praise, as well as various modalities like psychodramas which were described as “touching and memorable” and EMDR which “helped so much.” One alum, however, felt that “Most classes and meetings were valuable, but some were clearly “filler” just to take up time.”

    Most of the former residents surveyed have remained sober since graduating, with two describing occasional “slips” or “bad moments,” but both added that they’re better off today than they were before entering treatment at the center. When summing up their experiences at Santé, alumni were quick to mention the “amazing” and “great” therapists and the “helpful” one-on-one time and small groups with case managers. One individual explained how their extended stay helped them to become a better person:

    “Being there really helped me open my heart up. I’m a genuine, good person still battling addiction until the day I die, but I have been sober since August 2018 and I just want to thank Santé for that.”

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  • The Joy of Saying YES to the Addict I Love

    The Joy of Saying YES to the Addict I Love

    Karen had to let go of her addicted son in order for them both to heal. Years later, her son is sober, healthy, and helping others. Here is their journey in their own words.

    In November 2016 I wrote an article for The Fix titled Saying NO to the Addict I Love, about how hard it is to let go of someone you love who is an addict. You try everything you can to help them, but you only succeed in becoming a bigger part of the problem. At that time, the measures I finally took to change my bad habits were so drastic that I put what little possessions I had left into a storage unit, packed a bag, and left the country. My son, Harry (others call him Harrison), and I had to go our separate ways, and I had to trust that God or the universe or whatever you want to call it would lead us both where we needed to go. 

    Addicted to Intervening

    I landed first in Sucre, Bolivia, one of the most out-of-the-way places I could find on the map that still had decent internet. Once there, the knowledge that I was impotent to do anything ate away at me like parasites. I couldn’t even make a phone call to my son. Guilt wracked my body. Being so far away forced me to see things more clearly. I started to realize that I, too, am an addict of sorts. I am addicted to intervening, to cleaning up messes so I can pretend they aren’t there, to giving and giving, even when it’s detrimental and makes no sense. I simply can’t stop myself. 

    The withdrawals from this habit were intense. Alone in my small garret room, besides suffering from severe altitude sickness, I sat on my bed at night and compulsively rocked back and forth in mental anguish, sometimes for hours. I began to worry I had some physical ailment but I’ve since learned that this type of rocking is a product of PTSD. 

    That was the beginning of three years of wandering the globe. I morphed into a digital nomad. During that time I didn’t see my son. Slowly, I learned to let go of those feelings of panic and despair and focus on what fulfilled me. I traveled to places as diverse as Costa Rica and Morocco, and most recently Luxor, Egypt, where I’ve spent the past year. 

    I started to find gratification in my travels; I’m a writer and kickboxing coach, so I worked on my urban fantasy series and connected with boxing gyms where I’d teach and train. On my terrace in Luxor, I hung the first boxing bag to ever be seen in the West Bank villages and began training girls. I started My World Project, a volunteer program connecting kids in far-flung places through writing and art. 

    Shortly after I arrived in Luxor last April, I learned Harry was in jail again and facing serious prison time. The familiar feelings of panic and despair washed over me. Resolutely, I took a few deep breaths, put on my gloves, and punched the bag. Martial arts and kickboxing training have saved my life and my sanity on many occasions over the years. 

    Hope Is a Scary Thing

    And then, a few weeks later, the news that Harry had been accepted into the Salvation Army. The upsurge of hope I felt also made me afraid. Hope is a scary thing. Yet, as the days and weeks went by, he seemed to get better and better. When I returned at Christmas, I had the joy of hugging my sober son—my artistic, intelligent son, with the clear blue eyes and the big smile. Few moments have felt as good as that embrace. My son had followed his path and done what he needed to do. I had done the same. And now, here we were.

    Three years ago, I hardly would have dared to believe this day would come. Yet I have the joy of saying YES to writing this follow-up piece with him. My son is an incredible human being and my love for him knows no bounds. It is with great pleasure that I turn the story over to him.

    *****

    Hello, my name is Harrison, and I’m an addict. 

    From a young age I never felt like life made any sense. Everything hurt, nothing was fun, and being a good kid seemed very dull. I was a reader and a writer and probably thought too deeply and darkly about things. 

    I will always remember the first time I got loaded: the world seemed to light up around me, nothing hurt, and boring became fun. When I was high or drunk, it was like the weight of the world was lifted from my shoulders. I didn’t care that my father wasn’t really around and that I felt like a black sheep in my home. I didn’t care if kids at school liked me. Nothing really mattered. Soon drugs had become the solution to all my problems. In middle school, I went to school intoxicated, ditched class, and had few friends. Most of my peers hadn’t begun experimenting with drugs and alcohol while I was trying everything under the stars. 

    Choosing a Life of Crime

    As middle school came to end, though, curious minds began to show interest in me and my small circle of friends. We began providing drugs (for a small fee, of course). We went from outcast loners to the most popular kids in our area. Everybody knew who had the dope. It started with small stuff like marijuana and pills, but when somebody wanted to step up their game and try the real thing, well, we had that, too. Slowly but surely I lost the little interest I had in school. I knew what I wanted to do with my life: I was going to be a criminal. 

    Drugs were my escape and they worked for a while, but a few years later they weren’t even scratching the surface anymore. I was 23, with two daughters, a strung-out girlfriend, and completely lost. All I knew how to do was hustle. L.A. County Jail was a frequent pit stop for me. Every time I got out, I’d say “I’m never coming back here” but shortly afterwards I’d be in that blue get-up, once again behind bars and writing letters to the outside world. 

    My mother got the worst of it, watching my kids when I was too fucked up and getting thrown out of apartments because the neighbors knew her son was selling drugs. 

    In and Out of Prison

    It got so bad that my mom literally left the country and we stopped talking for a long time. I continued walking the same road, knowing I was hell-bound and not really caring. I kept getting locked up, I was used to it. But my imprisonment didn’t end when they let me out. The world felt dark, cold, and bitter. I began to resent the people around me. In a room full of people—close friends, family, didn’t matter who—I felt alone. 

    I think I perfected this drugged-up, criminal lifestyle to the best of my ability. I had a cycle: I would get out, hustle some money together, get some stuff like cars, nice clothes, electronics, and even a mobile home one time, and hold onto it until the cops found me. Get locked up and lose everything. Do my time. Get out, and repeat. I was stuck on a weird hamster wheel. 

    Finally I got sick of it.

    The last time I got locked up, I was looking at some serious time. I guess that was around the time my mom was in Egypt. I was withdrawing from heroin again and I was in pain. I knew nobody would answer my calls, so I didn’t bother. I knew I couldn’t make bail, so I didn’t bother. I didn’t want to get out and do the same shit again. So I did something that I never did: I prayed to God and asked for an answer. I asked for him to release me from this strange cycle of anguish that I was trapped in. I asked him to show me how to live. 

    Now, prior to this, my belief in God was non-existent, but the very next day I got a visit from someone who interviewed me for a rehabilitation program. In order to get in, my paperwork had to be approved by the judge. But when I finally made my way to the courtroom and faced him, it looked like I was going to be denied. 

    So, before the hammer dropped, I spoke.

    Give Me a Chance to Change My Life

    “Your Honor, if I get sentenced time in prison, chances are when I get out, I will do the same thing I always do and you or another judge will see me again shortly. Give me a chance to change my life. Allow me to try a different way.” 

    Miraculously, the judge did a complete turnaround and let me into the program. I’d made a million promises to stay sober before. But this time, the moment I stepped through the door of the Salvation Army, I surrendered. The program was strict and you had to work hard; it was exactly what I needed. Day by day, I changed deeply ingrained habits. They taught me how to live a normal life. 

    While learning how to actually hustle and work my ass off legally, I learned another very important lesson: Wanting to change will not make anything different. Action is what will make things different. Henri Nouwen’s quote really hit home for me: “You cannot think your way into a new way of living, you have to live your way into a new way of thinking.”

    I used to think about changing my life, as if it meant something, and even talk about it. But nothing happened. Then I started actually doing stuff, like my laundry and making my bed—simple stuff—and it changed my mentality. It’s been over a year since I stood in front of that judge and made that promise. And just last month I stood in front of him again, clean and sober, and he congratulated me.

    From Criminal to Hero

    Today I work in a rehab helping people with the same struggles I know so well. I used to be a criminal, and now I’ve heard people call me a hero. It took a lot before I was ready for recovery, and I don’t know what finally flipped that switch. I wish there were some magic words I could say that would make you understand, but the truth is, back in the day you could have told me anything and I wouldn’t have cared. My experience is what defined me. I used to be the best at being the worst. Now I use my powers for good. 

    My Mom is proud of me today. Even though my children are on the other side of the country, I’m able to be the best version of me, one day at a time. 

    Life is good…. Like ACTUALLY good.

     
     

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Luxury Rehab Guide for Xtampza ER Addiction

    Luxury Rehab Guide for Xtampza ER Addiction

    We can help you find the best luxury XTampza ER rehab.

    Table of Contents

    1. What is Xtampza ER and What is it Used For?
    2. Can the Xtampza ER Tamperproof Formula Prevent Addiction?
    3. How Xtampza ER Works in the Brain
    4. Xtampza ER Addiction Symptoms and Side Effects
    5. The Risks of Xtampza ER Overdose
    6. Diagnosing Xtampza ER Addiction
    7. Xtampza ER Withdrawal and Detox
    8. Medication-Assisted Treatment for Xtampza ER Withdrawal
    9. Xtampza ER Addiction Co-occurring Disorders
    10. Xtampza ER Addiction Treatment Programs
    11. Finding the Right Xtampza ER Rehab Center for You

    It takes hard work and a determined attitude to defeat any type of drug addiction. But narcotic painkiller dependency can be especially difficult to overcome. Consequently, people who develop an addiction to Xtampza ER should seek professional help from trained addiction specialists.

    There are excellent Xtampza ER rehab facilities located across the country, offering addiction treatment services with a proven track record of success. When you find the right Xtampza ER rehab, their experts can help you regain your sobriety and improve your physical, mental and emotional health. 

    What is Xtampza ER and What is it Used For?

    Xtampza ER is the brand name for an extended-release version of oxycodone, a potent painkiller in the opioid class. Oxycodone is a medication prescribed for moderate to severe chronic pain. Xtampza ER was specifically created to help people whose pain is significant and experienced on a 24-hour basis. 

    Extended release means that Xtampza ER delivers oxycodone gradually, in carefully controlled mini-doses. Each Xtampza ER capsule is engineered to release a steady supply of oxycodone for up to 12 hours. The medication should be taken twice daily, to make sure it works around the clock. 

    Xtampza ER is considered a drug of last resort. This means it should only be given if alternative methods of pain control are not practical or effective. The reason why doctors only prescribe it when other options aren’t available is because it is addictive. 

    All opioid medications are potentially addictive, if taken for a long time or in large amounts. In addition to their painkilling effects they also cause mild-to-moderate euphoria, and that is what traps so many people.

    Xtampza ER prescriptions normally limit users to 72 milligrams per day, or 36 milligrams per dose. If you limit your consumption to this level, you should be safe. But if you use more Xtampza ER than this, your risk for Xtampza ER dependence will skyrocket. 

    For those who suffer from long-term, chronic pain, the temptation to misuse this medication is very real. Opioids of all types are highly effective at reducing pain, and that is what lures people into abuse. Still others take Xtampza ER and other opioids because they like the feelings of euphoria and relaxation that the drug produces. 

    Either way, using Xtampza ER in ways that are inconsistent with a prescription is playing with fire. 

    Can the Xtampza ER Tamperproof Formula Prevent Addiction?

    One unique aspect of Xtampza ER is its resistance to tampering and abuse. Many people who misuse oxycodone will crush the tablets or capsules and snort them or inject them. This delivers a concentrated dose of the drug directly into the bloodstream, which amplifies the oxycodone high.

    This can be a problem with conventional extended-release oxycodone formulations. But Xtampza ER is manufactured differently. It is comprised of crushproof microspheres that contain tiny doses of oxycodone in powder form. These microspheres are too strong to be smashed open and will only release their medication as they dissolve in the stomach. 

    In this case, extended release performance is guaranteed.

    The manufacturer of Xtampza ER, Collegium Pharmaceuticals, has patented their method for producing tamper-proof, extended-release oxycodone under the name DETERx. It represents a true breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to combat oxycodone and prescription opioid abuse. If recreational users and oxycodone addicts attempt to crush Xtampza ER and use it for a quick high, they will be frustrated and disappointed. 

    But the tamperproof formula of Xtampza ER only makes it harder to abuse. It does not eliminate the risk of Xtampza ER addiction. 

    People who want larger doses of this drug can simply take more of it. They can double, triple or quadruple the normal dosage to get a stronger painkilling and euphoric effect. It may not deliver a rapid high if used in this way, but it will satisfy your cravings if you’ve developed Xtampza ER dependence.

    Top-quality addiction treatment centers do provide Xtampza ER rehab services, because they know this drug is addictive and can cause enormous problems for people who abuse it. If you’ve been misusing Xtampza ER, thinking it’s safe because of its extended release formula, you could be setting yourself up for a fall. An Xtampza ER rehab facility can help you recover your sobriety, and a failure to ask for help could end up costing you dearly. 

    How Xtampza ER Works in the Brain

    The human brain contains a dense network of natural (endogenous) opioid receptors. Their role is to relieve pain and to promote feelings of calm and relaxation, eliminating panic and anxiety that can make your suffering worse. 

    When you experience pain, your body can produce its own opioids that bind with these receptors. This triggers a natural analgesic (painkilling) response. Their presence also spurs the brain to release ample quantities of dopamine, a neurochemical that causes feelings of happiness and exhilaration. 

    Opioid painkillers can bind with these receptors as well. When pain is severe, endogenous opioid production may be inadequate to the task, and that is when powerful medications like oxycodone can be especially helpful. Opioid medications stimulate robust activity when they bind with opioid receptors, and that is why they bring so much relief to those who use them for pain. They also produce stronger feelings of relaxation and euphoria than natural opioids, which makes them attractive to recreational drug users. 

    Unfortunately, the benefits of Xtampza ER come with a price. Frequent overstimulation of opioid receptors from Xtampza ER use will cause a gradual loss of sensitivity. This means the receptors will react less vigorously when the medication is present. Xtampza ER abuse causes an increase in tolerance for the drug’s effects, forcing you to use more of it to achieve the same effects. 

    Another consequence of Xtampza ER abuse is that interferes with your brain’s capacity to produce dopamine, the pleasure chemical that floods the brain when you first start misusing opioids. Over time, you come to depend on the dopamine to make you feel happier and less anxious. But when your brain struggles to produce enough, it can push you into compulsive drug-taking. This is another aspect of growing tolerance for Xtampza ER and a reason why increased tolerance can lead you deeper into addiction. 

    Using too much of this medication for too long will prevent your brain from functioning properly. Xtampza ER addiction will be the final result, and at that point Xtampza ER rehab may be your only true hope for recovery. 

    How Xtampza ER Addiction Develops

    The origin of Xtampza ER abuse can be found in unwise behavioral choices. No one intends to become addicted to Xtampza ER, but even extended release versions of oxycodone can produce dependency when they are used incorrectly or recklessly.

    There are four primary ways that people become addicted to Xtampza ER:

    #1 Overuse following a prescription

    Physicians carefully customize dosages of Xtampza ER and other opioid painkillers to make sure they’re taken in safe amounts. In fact, the whole point of the extended-release formula is to give patients adequate quantities of painkiller without flooding their system. But when you suffer from chronic, severe pain, the temptation to overuse any medication that brings relief is strong. 

    When you have pain in excess of what Xtampza ER in normal doses can handle, the proper course of action is to talk with your doctor to explore alternatives. Taking more of the drug on your own is a form of Xtampza ER abuse and will not keep you safe in the long-term. 

    #2 Self-medicating behavior

    Oxycodone is a well-known painkiller in all of its formulations. Consequently, many people suffering from persistent or severe pain will use it even without a prescription. 

    Regardless of the circumstances, this type of self-medicating behavior is dangerous, no matter how careful you plan to be. Self-medicating with opioids is inherently hazardous and should be avoided, even if the drug being abused comes in an extended-release formula. Xtampza ER is a relatively safe medication if used with restraint, but is highly addictive if used otherwise.

    #3 Recreational Xtampza ER abuse

    Oxycodone products like Xtampza ER can produce pleasant side effects. They can make you feel calmer and more relaxed and produce bursts of joyful emotions. In general, the more oxycodone you take, the more intense its euphoric effects, and that is why some people abuse it as a way to get high.

    There is a thriving black market for opioid medications of all types. If you purchase Xtampza ER from illicit sources, you may hear it referred to by a number of street or slang names. These may include:

    • Oxy 80
    • Oxycat
    • Schoolboy
    • Loads
    • Hillbilly Heroin
    • Goodfella
    • Juice
    • Dillies
    • Apache
    • Dance Fever
    • Tango and Cash
    • Doors and Fours
    • Murder 8
    • White Stuff
    • Dummies
    • China White
    • Friend
    • Jackpot
    • TNT

    If you’re getting your opioids from an illicit source, anything you purchase and consume could lead you into addiction. Recreational use of opioids is always a form of drug abuse, whether you realize it or not.

    #4 Mixing with other drugs, including other opioids

    One additional complication with recreational use is that opioids are often mixed with other drugs.

    Xtampza ER is a central nervous system depressant, which means its impact will be increased if it is combined with other depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines. Conversely, people who’ve been using the drug too often or in heavy quantities may feel overwhelmed by Xtampza ER side effects. To compensate, they may consume stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine.

    As you can imagine, this type of behavior is extremely dangerous. Escalating your drug use increases the odds of addiction and puts you at grave risk for a drug overdose. It can make your Xtampza ER addiction more difficult to treat, since you may have become dependent on multiple substances, all of which you’ll need to stop using to achieve sobriety. 

    If you mix Xtampza ER with other opioids, this behavior can lead to Xtampza ER addiction quite rapidly. 

    The opioid receptors in your brain will bind with opioids interchangeably. It recognizes no difference between these drugs. This means you can satisfy your Xtampza ER cravings by taking any kind of opioid, including fentanyl, hydrocodone, other oxycodone products or heroin. 

    Mixing opioids can put you on a collision course with serious Xtampza ER dependence. If you’ve been abusing multiple opioids, that is a sure sign you have a problem and need to seek out Xtampza ER rehab services immediately. Given how deadly opioids can be if misused, you cannot afford to take any chances.

    Xtampza ER Addiction Symptoms and Side Effects

    It is common for people who use this medication to experience side effects. Xtampza ER side effects are typically mild and unlikely to cause serious discomfort—if Xtampza ER doses remain within the normal range. 

    But with continued misuse, Xtampza ER side effects may transform into true Xtampza ER addiction symptoms. These symptoms will have a negative impact on your life and make it harder for you to function. They are warning signs of trouble and should not be ignored.

    Your descent into Xtampza ER dependence may be too gradual for you to identify or acknowledge. But the symptoms that reveal the truth will be evident after enough time has passed and your Xtampza ER addiction has deepened.

    Common Xtampza ER addiction symptoms include: 

    • Chronic drowsiness, during the day as well as at night
    • Constant fatigue
    • Muscle weakness
    • Disruptions in normal sleeping patterns (i.e., nighttime insomnia, sleeping late, falling asleep during the day, etc.) 
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Dry mouth
    • Itchy skin
    • Slow heart rate
    • Loss of appetite
    • Respiratory difficulties (shallow breathing)
    • Constipation
    • Mental confusion
    • Memory loss
    • Sudden mood swings
    • Poor coordination
    • Low blood pressure
    • Slower-than-normal reflexes or reaction times

    All of these Xtampza ER addiction side effects are consistent with the overuse and abuse of central nervous system depressants. Such symptoms could be made worse by the use of alcohol, other opioids or benzodiazepines. Mixing these substances with oxycodone will only act to slow nervous system activity even further.

    If no action is taken to prevent the progress of your Xtampza ER addiction, these symptoms will only worsen. The only antidote to Xtampza ER dependence is to stop taking this drug and other opioids, entirely. This can be hard to do on your own and possibly even hazardous to your health, which is why you should enter an Xtampza ER rehab facility where your withdrawal can be managed safely.

    The Risks of Xtampza ER Overdose

    If you don’t seek treatment for your Xtampza ER addiction, you may pay the ultimate price for that decision. 

    In 2017, more than 70,000 Americans lost their lives to a drug overdose. Opioids were responsible for two-thirds (nearly 47,000) of these deaths, proving once again that the opioid abuse epidemic is the main reason why overdose fatalities have ascended to such appalling heights.

    Opioid overdoses occur when tolerance develops to such a great extent that your body cannot handle the doses you’re taking. Even taking opioids in an extended-release version is not enough to protect you from this danger. If you continuously escalate your Xtampza ER use, or start mixing it with other substances that hinder central nervous system functioning (alcohol, other opioids, benzodiazepines), an oxycodone overdose could be a part of your future.

    Overdoses are usually a product of drug addiction. Of all the central nervous system depressants, none are as deadly as opioids. Whether you’re taking prescription medications or illicit street drugs like heroin, the risk is the same.

    Heavy use of Xtampza ER will likely produce symptoms that aren’t entirely different than those associated with Xtampza ER overdose. It is the severity of these symptoms that will let you know that something out of the ordinary is happening.

    The distinctive signs of an Xtampza ER overdose include:

    • Extreme drowsiness
    • Confusion, disorientation
    • Low blood pressure
    • Slow heartbeat
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Dilated pupils
    • Bluish tint to lips and fingers
    • Significant respiratory distress

    Severe respiratory suppression can result from an Xtampza ER overdose. This is the condition that can cause opioid overdoses to turn deadly. 

    Quick intervention following an Xtampza ER overdose can prevent the worst-case scenario. Paramedics and emergency room personnel may be able to halt the progress of the overdose by administering a drug called naloxone. 

    Sold under the brand name Narcan, this drug actually blocks opioid receptors and stops opioids from binding with them. If it is given before the overdose progresses too far, it can greatly increase the odds of survival.

    Diagnosing Xtampza ER Addiction

    People suffering from an addiction to Xtampza ER will need to be officially diagnosed before Xtampza ER rehab can be offered. Trained addiction specialists and mental health professionals can diagnose drug dependency, based on the presence of certain physical, psychological and behavioral symptoms. 

    There are 11 symptoms of Xtampza ER abuse that can be used to diagnose a substance use disorder. You must report two or more of these before the Xtampza ER addiction can be confirmed.

    These diagnostic criteria include:

    1. Consumption of Xtampza ER that frequently surpasses planned levels.
    2. Previous attempts to quit using the drug have all met with failure.
    3. Extraordinary amounts of time have been spent using Xtampza ER, obtaining more supplies or recovering from its effects.
    4. Occupational, educational, professional and personal responsibilities have been neglected because of constant Xtampza ER abuse.
    5. The use of Xtampza ER has been interfering with social activities and important relationships.
    6. The presence or recurrence of physical or psychological problems caused by drug abuse has not led to a change in drug-taking behavior.
    7. Favorite activities and hobbies have been neglected or forgotten, for reasons related to drug use.
    8. Xtampza ER abuse has led to, or been implicated in, reckless or dangerous behavior and possibly to accidents or arrests.
    9. Tolerance for Xtampza ER has continued to increase.
    10. Cravings for the drug are frequently experienced.
    11. Xtampza ER withdrawal symptoms accompany interruptions in normal patterns of Xtampza ER use.

    If you’ve been using other opioids to satisfy your cravings for Xtampza ER, you might be diagnosed with a general opioid addiction, rather than an Xtampza ER addiction specifically. Either way, a facility that offers Xtampza ER rehab services should be your next destination.

    Xtampza ER Withdrawal and Detox

    Overcoming opioid addiction requires you to stop taking Xtampza ER altogether. If you’ve been mixing oxycodone with other drugs or medications, you’ll need to get off those substances as well.

    But you cannot stop taking opioids all at once. Xtampza ER withdrawal symptoms can be overwhelming if you do this, causing you tremendous physical and emotional distress and making your sobriety difficult to maintain. 

    Should you stop taking Xtampza ER too suddenly, you will likely experience some intense withdrawal symptoms. They will usually begin a few hours after your last dosage and peak in intensity three to five days later. It may take a week or more before these symptoms become truly manageable. 

    Some of the most common Xtampza ER withdrawal symptoms include:

    • Agitation, restlessness
    • Muscle and joint aches
    • Loss of appetite
    • Persistent nausea
    • Runny nose
    • Tearing up
    • Heavy sweating
    • Headaches
    • Insomnia
    • Tremors, shakiness
    • Fatigue
    • Diarrhea
    • Intense physical and psychological cravings

    While the most serious physical symptoms will usually recede after about a week, powerful psychological symptoms of oxycodone withdrawal may arise to take their place. Psychological Xtampza ER withdrawal symptoms may include depression, anxiety, irritability, poor concentration and sudden mood swings. If you have any pre-existing mental health conditions, their symptoms may become noticeably worse.

    In some instances, you might develop post-acute withdrawal syndrome, or PAWS. This condition can leave you feeling depressed, irritable, anxious, and agitated for up to two years after you’ve stopped taking opioids. PAWS is more likely to develop if your addiction to Xtampza ER was severe or long-lasting.

    Fortunately, the worst of Xtampza ER withdrawal can usually be avoided, if you start your recovery from addiction in a medical detox facility. The best Xtampza ER rehab centers offer detox services that commence as soon as you are officially admitted. They know that managing your withdrawal symptoms successfully will give you a much better chance of staying clean and sober for the long-term.

    Medically-supervised detox for Xtampza ER dependence will take place in a clinical or hospital-like setting. While in detox, you’ll be monitored and cared for on a 24-hour basis. All of your personal and medical needs will be addressed, with every effort made to make you feel comfortable, calm and content. 

    If you need mental health treatment, as you may if you have a dual diagnosis for both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder, that may begin while you’re in detox. Appropriate treatment for any physical health problems you have will also be provided.

    Most medical detox programs last for 7-10 days. Their main goal is the stabilization of your mental and physical condition, which will prepare you to accept formal addiction treatment services.

    Medication-Assisted Treatment for Xtampza ER Withdrawal

    The best way to avoid Xtampza ER withdrawal symptoms is to reduce your drug use gradually, over the course of a few weeks or months. Tapering of dosage lets the brain and body adjust to living without opioids. This process will start during detox and continue on through treatment, and likely into aftercare.

    But most Xtampza ER rehab centers won’t ask you to taper off of that drug specifically. Instead, they will use medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help you make the transition to an opioid-free lifestyle. During MAT, you’ll be given replacement opioids that can bind with opioid receptors in the brain, but without causing the euphoria associated with oxycodone products. 

    Medication-assisted treatment can protect you from severe withdrawal symptoms. It can also stop the downward spiral and compulsive behavior so often caused by drug addiction, which is frequently driven by the desire to get high. Taking away that possibility can help reduce your psychological dependence on Xtampza ER. 

    Tapering of dosages may begin within a few weeks or may not start for a few months. But either way, these opioids can be taken safely, giving you peace of mind as you continue the healing process.

    For many years, methadone was the preferred opioid replacement drug, particularly for those who had been abusing heroin. The most common replacement opioid in modern MAT is buprenorphine, which is usually prescribed under the brand names Suboxone and Subutex. 

    The latter contains buprenorphine exclusively, while the former includes small amounts of naloxone, a medication that can block opioids from binding with opioid receptors altogether. The naloxone in Suboxone will only be activated if you attempt to abuse the drug by injecting it, which is the only way to get high from buprenorphine. 

    These medications will help prevent you from suffering the worst symptoms of Xtampza ER withdrawal. Eventually, you should taper your doses down until you are off buprenorphine. But that will only happen when your therapists are convinced you’re ready to make the transition to complete sobriety.

    Xtampza ER Addiction Co-occurring Disorders

    A previous history of mental illness and having previous troubles with substance abuse are two of the largest risk factors for Xtampza ER addiction, or any type of opioid addiction. 

    About 50 percent of those who become addicted to medications like oxycodone will also have some type of mental health disorder. Depression and anxiety disorders frequently develop in those who suffer from chronic pain, and they may be more vulnerable to abusing Xtampza ER than people who don’t develop these problems.

    Among recreational drug abusers, mental health problems are often present and likely play a role as a causal factor for the abuse. When men and women have undiagnosed mood disorders, anxiety disorders or personality disorders, the temptation to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol is strong. Self-medicating behavior often leads to the use and abuse of multiple drugs, which is why people with Xtampza ER addiction may develop additional substance use disorders.

    Complicated medical histories are common when Xtampza ER abuse is the issue. When you go through the diagnostic process, addiction specialists and mental health experts know this and will perform extensive evaluations to make sure all existing conditions are identified. 

    Xtampza ER rehab programs will be comprehensive and inclusive, to make sure you receive treatment for all of your symptoms and conditions. True recovery from Xtampza ER will not be possible unless all of your health issues are addressed. The best Xtampza ER rehab centers will always make your overall health (in all its aspects) their number one priority.

    Xtampza ER Addiction Treatment Programs

    Your time in Xtampza ER rehab will challenge you like few experiences have before. This is unavoidable when you go through an addiction treatment program. But if you remain focused on healing and refuse to accept your Xtampza ER dependence as a permanent condition, you can move past your substance abuse issues and move forward with your life. 

    The best Xtampza ER rehab centers will offer you both inpatient and outpatient treatment options. Inpatient treatment is generally recommended, especially if you have co-occurring mental or behavioral health disorders that will need to be treated at the same time as your Xtampza ER addiction. Inpatient treatment programs for Xtampza ER addiction will let you concentrate completely on your recovery, in a supportive, healing-centered environment where outside distractions are kept away. 

    However, if you have life situations that need your attention, outpatient programs that can be tailored to fit your time requirements and lifestyle may offer you the best odds for healing. The best Xtampza ER rehab facilities will work with you to design a flexible outpatient treatment plan that lets you manage all of your responsibilities without neglecting your recovery.

    The top Xtampza ER rehab centers will provide you a full menu of evidence-based treatment services, regardless of whether you live onsite or spend a few hours a day on center grounds before returning home. Your inpatient or outpatient treatment plan for Xtampza ER addiction recovery will be comprehensive, personalized and as intensive as it needs to be to help you regain your sobriety. 

    Comprehensive Xtampza ER addiction treatment plans will include daily individual therapy sessions. In these private settings you’ll be able to discuss your past, present and future, as you attempt to come to terms with your substance abuse and the life experiences that may have led you down the path to dependence.

    In addition to individual therapy, your recovery plan will also include group therapy sessions that let you interact with your peers in recovery. During these meetings, you’ll be able to forge new bonds of support and mutual understanding with people who know what you’re going through and can relate to your struggles.

    Family therapy options are usually offered by the best Xtampza ER rehab centers as well. Family therapy sessions will give you the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones you may have pushed away during your battles with substance abuse. The people who care about you the most are usually anxious to help, and the love and forgiveness you receive in family therapy can help inspire and motivate you in your quest for recovery.

    To round out your treatment program, high-quality Xtampza ER addiction treatment facilities may usually offer a range of complementary therapies and services. Holistic healing therapies like yoga, meditation, acupuncture, Tai Chi, arts and music therapy and massage therapy can help you restore your physical health and emotional equilibrium, and they have become standard amenities at many centers. 

    Life skills, coping skills and relapse prevention courses are also frequently offered by the best Xtampza ER rehab facilities. This type of instruction can be invaluable, once you’ve returned to your former life and are asked to confront circumstances that may have triggered your drug use in the past.

    Once your 30- to 90-day treatment program has ended, you’ll make the transition into an aftercare program. Aftercare services will include a mixture of individual, group and family therapy, along with regular monitoring of your medication-assisted treatment regimen if MAT was included in your long-term recovery plan. 

    Finding the Right Xtampza ER Rehab Center for You

    There are many excellent Xtampza ER rehab facilities available, in the United States and elsewhere around the world. After some research and a few visits, you’ll likely be able to find one or more near your home. Doing so could be important if your primary interest is in outpatient treatment. 

    But if you’re thinking about inpatient treatment, you should broaden your search to include rehabilitation facilities in other locations (assuming you’re able to travel). Even if you prefer outpatient treatment, many facilities provide off-campus housing options for those who come from elsewhere. 

    When you visit Xtampza ER rehab centers, your loved ones should accompany you if possible. They should be encouraged to join you in asking questions and requesting further information from staff members, administrators and addiction treatment specialists. 

    Personnel at high-quality Xtampza ER rehab facilities should be able to explain the admittance process in its entirety, while giving you detailed information about how your recovery plan will proceed. They should seek your input and the input of your loved ones as well, since their primary responsibility is to construct an Xtampza ER addiction treatment plan that meets all of your physical, psychological, emotional and personal needs. 

    As you speak with their representatives, tour their grounds and explore their treatment options in more depth, you should feel uplifted by the experience. You should be impressed by how well-organized they seem to be and by their professionalism and overall preparation. They should make you feel accepted as an individual, acknowledging you as someone with a unique background and life history.

    After you’ve met with them, your doubts, fears and uncertainties should begin to fade. You should feel more prepared to meet the immense challenges you’ll face and be anxious to start your recovery as quickly as possible. The addiction treatment specialists you meet should instill you with confidence, and the treatment plans they propose should be comprehensive enough to give you great hope for your future.

    The best Xtampza ER rehab centers are dedicated to helping you recover your sobriety, of course. But their ultimate goal is to help you find lasting wellness, which is your best long-term protection against relapse. 

    Superior Xtampza ER rehab services can be your lifeline. If you’re willing to put in the effort to change, they can make a profound impact on your life. Any good-quality Xtampza ER rehab center could be the right one for you, if you’re sincerely ready to accept their guidance and commit yourself to embracing sobriety as a permanent lifestyle choice.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Rehab Options for Triazolam Addiction

    Rehab Options for Triazolam Addiction

    Looking for information about Triazolam? Use this helpful guide to learn the side effects, warning signs of dependence and addiction, as well as how to find a Triazolam rehab.

    1. What is Triazolam and Why Do Doctors Prescribe It?
    2. Other Names for Triazolam and Halcion
    3. Side Effects of Triazolam
    4. The Potential for Overdose
    5. How Do Triazolam Dependence and Addiction Occur?
    6. Detox Marks the Start of Addiction Recovery
    7. Settings for Your Recovery
    8. Proven Treatment Options
    9. Choosing Your Destination for Addiction Care

    If you or a family member are affected by triazolam addiction or damaging triazolam abuse, treatment by trained professionals is a necessity, not a luxury. Only rehab specialists of high caliber can support every phase of your recovery and provide all required help. Begin your journey to top-quality treatment by learning the basics of triazolam addiction and the most effective therapy for your recovery. With a little preparation, you can make the choice of appropriate triazolam rehab as straightforward as possible.

    What is Triazolam and Why Do Doctors Prescribe It?

    Triazolam is the generic name of a prescription drug called Halcion. Along with many other prescription drugs, it’s classified in a family of substances known as benzodiazepines. Substances in this family get grouped together because they have similar effects inside your brain and spinal cord (i.e., your central nervous system). Namely, they increase production of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). This chemical serves as the main mechanism for preventing overactivity in the speed at which your nerve cells communicate back and forth.

    When nerve communication levels are reduced, things begin to slow down inside your central nervous system. In turn, this slower pace can have sedating effects that decrease irritability and agitation. It can also make you feel calmer or more relaxed. Because benzodiazepines produce these kinds of effects, they are used as anti-anxiety (i.e., anxiolytic), tranquilizing, sedative or anti-seizure treatments.

    The benzodiazepine family is split between short-acting drugs and long-acting drugs. Short-acting medications in this family only change your normal body chemistry for a few hours, while long-acting benzodiazepines have a more lasting impact. Drugs in both categories can vary in how long it takes for their effects to begin. They can also vary in how long it takes for your body to fully metabolize them.

    Triazolam/Halcion is a short-acting benzodiazepine produced in tablet form. It acts as a sedative, and doctors use it for the short-term treatment of serious insomnia. It doesn’t take long for most people who consume the drug to feel drowsy, and this effect lasts for some time. For these reasons, you should only take triazolam if you plan to go to bed soon and can devote between seven and eight hours to sleep.

    Other Names for Triazolam and Halcion

    Apart from Halcion, no other brand-name triazolam product is sold in America. However, your doctor may prescribe a generic equivalent. The list of known street names for Halcion/triazolam includes:

    • Tranks
    • Downers
    • Candy
    • Sleeping pills

    The same nicknames may also be used for other benzodiazepines.

    Side Effects of Triazolam

    As a group, triazolam/Halcion and other benzodiazepines are safer for you to use than tranquilizers and sedatives classified as barbiturates. But safe doesn’t necessarily mean trouble-free. Even if you take triazolam/Halcion as directed, you may experience side effects that range in seriousness from mild to severe.

    Mild effects associated with consumption of the drug include:

    • Excessive drowsiness
    • A restless mental state
    • Nausea/vomiting
    • A tingling feeling on your skin
    • Headaches
    • Feelings of lightheadedness or dizziness

    You may also experience coordination disorders/ataxia. These roughly equivalent terms are used to describe loss of your normal ability to control your body movements. Your doctor will only become concerned about mild side effects if they don’t disappear or appear in an intense or severe form.

    In contrast, contact your doctor right away if certain other, effects appear, including:

    • Skin symptoms such as itching, hives or rash
    • Problems swallowing or breathing
    • An unusually hoarse voice
    • Narrowing or closing of your airway
    • Swelling that affects any part of your throat or face (including your lips, tongue or eyes)

    The Potential for Overdose

    If too much of a benzodiazepine circulates in your system all at once, you can experience a non-lethal or fatal overdose. Short-acting drugs like Halcion don’t make you as overdose-prone as their long-acting counterparts. Nevertheless, a notable risk still exists.

    Some of the symptoms of a triazolam overdose are especially severe forms of the medication’s potential side effects. Examples here include intense drowsiness, altered breathing and coordination disorders/ataxia. Other symptoms that can appear if your system gets overwhelmed include slurring of your words, a confused mental state, convulsions (i.e., seizures) and the onset of a coma.

    Your chances of overdosing go up whenever you combine the use of two or more substances that slow down your central nervous system. In addition to benzodiazepines, the most widely used substances of this type are opioid drug/medications and alcohol. Any mixture of alcohol or opioids with your triazolam intake can put you in significant danger. In line with the stark reality, law enforcement and public health officials find benzodiazepines in the bloodstreams of roughly a third of all opioid overdose victims.

    How Do Triazolam Dependence and Addiction Occur?

    Physical dependence is a common phenomenon in people who take benzodiazepines. However, when it comes to these substances, a dependent state differs from an addicted state. Dependence begins when your brain decides that any given substance “belongs” in your system, just like your own naturally occurring chemicals. If this change affects you, your doctor can help control it and keep you from developing any significant problems. In the case of Halcion, your doctor can also help prevent dependence by prescribing its use for no more than 14 to 21 days at a time.

    Even if they never transition into triazolam addiction, dependent users of the drug may develop symptoms of withdrawal if they rapidly halt their consumption. They can also trigger withdrawal by cutting their normal dose at a speed that’s too fast. In some cases, withdrawal only produces a general feeling of malaise or unease. However, you may also develop more serious symptoms such as cramping in your muscles or abdomen, vomiting, hallucinations, a depressed mood or uncontrollable body tremors. In addition, a very small number of patients experience symptoms in the form of full-on seizures.

    Triazolam addiction can follow dependence under certain circumstances. In most situations, the driving force in this transition is prescription drug abuse. This dangerous behavior occurs whenever a person who receives a prescription drug from a doctor uses it in ways other than authorized. That means that you can abuse triazolam/Halcion by taking it in excessive doses. It also means that you can abuse the medication by not waiting the prescribed amount of time between doses. A third category of triazolam/Halcion abuse covers people who lack a prescription. Everyone in this category qualifies as an abuser.

    Triazolam/Halcion addiction and life-disrupting, non-addicted abuse of the drug are both considered forms of the same condition:sedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic use disorder. Some of the symptoms of this condition are primarily addiction-related. In Halcion/triazolam users include:

    • An intense urge for continued abuse of Halcion
    • Taking the drug at greater frequency and/or in greater amounts than appropriate
    • Having a record of failure when trying to put limits on your habitual triazolam intake
    • Increasing resistance to the mind-altering effects of any particular dose of the medication (also known as drug tolerance)
    • Unwillingness or inability to halt your pattern of drug abuse despite knowing what it does to your basic functions
    • Creation of a daily routine that puts a priority on acquiring triazolam/Halcion, using it or recuperating from its impact on your system
    • Symptoms of withdrawal that arise if you try to reduce or cease your accustomed level of drug intake

    Other symptoms of the disorder are mainly indicators of non-addicted abuse. Possible issues here include:

    • Unwillingness or inability to halt your pattern of triazolam abuse despite knowing that it hampers your ability to keep up with your vital relationships
    • Experiencing problems at work, at school or at home that are caused by your Halcion abuse
    • Using excessive amounts of the drug more than once in situations that pose a threat to life and limb

    Triazolam addiction and disruptive triazolam abuse are grouped together by doctors because they often appear together, not on their own.

    Detox Marks the Start of Addiction Recovery

    Before you can enter the main phase of triazolam/Halcion rehab treatment, you need to detoxify from your addictive/abusive substance intake. Rather than trying this on your own, you must seek professional help. Otherwise, you can go into rapid-onset withdrawal and experience the worst effects of the withdrawal process. 

    When you detoxify under the care of trained doctors, you can avoid this risk. In some cases, the goal of withdrawal intervention is to slowly eliminate benzodiazepines from your system. However, if needed, you may instead remain on a maintenance dose of a less powerful prescription drug alternative to Halcion.

    Settings for Your Recovery

    In most cases, the best place to undergo your rehab treatment is a live-in facility that practices inpatient care. Inpatient addiction rehab is preferred because it gives you everything you need to focus on your recovery while in a safe, secure environment. While it can benefit anyone, this approach to treatment is standard for people with moderate or severe substance problems.

    Outpatient rehab treatment is the main alternative to inpatient care. Treatment of this type has proven effectiveness for people with mild substance problems. However, it inevitably trades some of the safeguards and benefits of inpatient rehab for the convenience of a more flexible, less intensive treatment approach.

    Proven Treatment Options

    Behavioral therapy is a treatment mainstay of effective rehab programs for people addicted to benzodiazepines.Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) serves as the favored option for successful outcomes. Therapy of this type helps your recovery in several ways. 

    For starters, it improves your understanding of the mechanisms of benzodiazepine addiction and addictive benzodiazepine use. CBT during rehab will also help you understand how your reactions to certain situations make that addictive drug use more probable. In addition, this form of therapy provides the help needed to change your abuse- and addiction-supporting reactions.

    Choosing Your Destination for Addiction Care

    You’re now ready to begin choosing your ideal destination for Halcion abuse/addiction rehab. Keep in mind that the minimum standard for effective rehab and recovery from triazolam addiction is appropriate treatment in the form of behavioral therapy. In addition, any treatment intervention you receive should be conducted by experts, not by personnel with little or no experience in effective recovery. Before your rehab program truly gets underway, an addiction recovery specialist should conduct a comprehensive screening. As well as identifying your symptoms of abuse/addiction, this screening should look at the larger picture of your general state of well-being.

    The best rehab recovery programs don’t just stop at the baseline level of treatment for Halcion addiction recovery. Instead, they take a variety of steps to provide you with a much higher level of care. One element of top-level rehab treatment is a facility that puts an emphasis on both comfort and security. Within that facility, you may be offered a range of customized options designed to meet your particular set of circumstances. As a rule, these options aim to treat you as a whole person rather than as a random triazolam addict.

    From withdrawal to establishment of long-term sobriety, rehab is not an easy process. However, the rewards you receive far outweigh the rigors of effective treatment. By adding supportive care while staying focused on the core aspects of recovery, the best programs do everything they can to help improve your odds for success.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • How Myanmar Became A Global Center For Meth & Other Synthetic Drugs

    How Myanmar Became A Global Center For Meth & Other Synthetic Drugs

    Authorities claim that while seizures happen on a regular basis, they have only managed to halt about 20% of the drugs produced in Myanmar.

    The Southeast Asian country of Myanmar has become one of the world’s biggest producers of methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs, and both the military and United Nations appears to be at a loss as to how to stop it.

    The region remains one of the world’s leading sources of opium, but a combination of civil and economic insecurity, geographical proximity to China and Thailand, and a growing demand for synthetic drugs in Asia has given rise to a methamphetamine industry overseen by traffickers, organized crime groups and armed militias.

    Authorities claim that while seizures happen on a regular basis, they have only managed to halt about 20% of drugs produced in the country.

    Civil War

    A report by the UNODC outlined the problems in Myanmar that has allowed its synthetic drug trade to flourish. The country has been locked in a civil war with armed rebels for more than a half-century, resulting in population displacement and economic insecurity that in turn, has allowed drug production to take root and flourish. Opium was the region’s most profitable drug for decades, and placed Myanmar second on the list of the world’s leading producers of opium and heroin.

    And while that aspect of the trade remains largely intact, recent efforts by government forces to destroy the poppy fields that produce opium have allowed methamphetamine to become the country’s most in-demand drug.

    According to the UN report, methamphetamine has become the drug of choice across East and Southeast Asia and neighboring regions. 

    As an NPR report on Myanmar revealed, the country’s Shan state, which is located at the borders of Thailand and China, appears to be the hub of its methamphetamine trade. The state is home to some of the largest rebel organizations that oppose the Myanmar government, as well as criminal organizations that have set up labs to produce not only methamphetamine but also ketamine and possibly fentanyl.

    The Shan state’s close proximity to China provides access to the chemicals needed to produce synthetic drugs, while in certain areas, little more than a river separates southern Myanmar from northern Thailand, which provides routes to Australia, Japan and South Korea.

    Rebel Forces Clash With The Government

    Law enforcement and military regularly patrol the borders, but as an Al Jazeera report uncovered, they estimate that only 20% of meth and other synthetic drugs are being netted by their efforts. A reduction in tensions between Myanmar’s government and rebel forces, as well as concentrated coordination between the countries involved in the trade may provide greater support, as the UNODC report noted.

    “There is a direct connection between drugs and the conflict in the country, with the drug economy supporting the conflict and in turn, the conflict facilitating the drug economy,” wrote the report’s authors. “Providing solutions to the conflict requires breaking this cycle.

    Jeremy Douglas, regional representative for the UNODC in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, put the stakes into a global context for NPR.

    “Unless Southeast Asian gets its act together and starts to deal with the conditions that have allowed these organized crime figures to scale and have allowed them to become what they are now, which is just massive Pablo Escobar types, this region will become a global point of production for synthetics,” he said.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Doctors Continue To Prescribe Benzos For Depression, Despite Guidelines

    Doctors Continue To Prescribe Benzos For Depression, Despite Guidelines

    A new study explored the prevalence of doctors prescribing benzos as the sole treatment for depression.

    Nearly 1 in 10 patients treated for depression are only given benzodiazepines, like Valium and Xanax, despite clinical guidelines that say benzodiazepines should not be used alone for the treatment of depression. 

    The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, show a disconnect between established best practices and what is actually happening in the treatment of depression patients. 

    “Depression guidelines discourage benzodiazepine monotherapy and limit use to short-term adjunctive therapy with antidepressants; however, patients with depression continue to receive benzodiazepine monotherapy,” study authors wrote. 

    They continued, “Whereas practice guidelines consider antidepressants and psychotherapy as primary treatment options, they either do not mention or fail to endorse benzodiazepine monotherapy for the treatment of [major depression].”

    Who’s More Likely To Get A Benzo Script?

    The study also identified patterns in which depression patients were solely being treated with benzodiazepines. Older patients (ages 45-64) and those with Medicare were more likely to be prescribed just benzodiazepines than younger patients and those with private insurance, according to Psychiatry Advisor. 

    In addition, having other medical conditions including epilepsy, pulmonary disease and opioid use also increased the likelihood of being given just benzodiazepines, despite the known risks of benzos for people with these conditions. 

    “A number of these variables contradict known concerns about benzodiazepines and their risk of dependence and delirium, especially with concomitant opioids,” Emily Pond wrote for Psychiatry Advisor. 

    The “X” Factor

    The study found that the most common benzos that were prescribed alone to people with major depression were alprazolam (brand name: Xanax) which made up more than 42% of prescriptions; lorazepam (brand name: Ativan), which made up nearly 28% of prescriptions; clonazepam (brand name: Klonopin), which made up 20% of prescriptions; and diazepam (brand name: Valium), which constituted nearly 14% of prescriptions.

    Although benzodiazepines are effective for treating anxiety, they are also potentially dangerous. According to a presentation by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “most people” will become dependent on benzos in less than 6 weeks, and only 30% of people who have become dependent on benzos will ever fully get off the pills. In part, that’s because withdrawing from benzos can be dangerous. 

    Researchers pointed out that doctors need to be better educated about the risk of treating depression solely with benzodiazepines.

    “Educational or technological interventions to minimize benzodiazepine monotherapy utilization should be implemented to raise the awareness of the impact of this treatment modality on patients with [major depressive disorder],” the study authors wrote. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Facebook Users Promoting Harm Reduction Face Bans And Deleted Pages

    Facebook Users Promoting Harm Reduction Face Bans And Deleted Pages

    Facebook is reportedly “still investigating” cases of entire pages and groups for harm reduction being deleted.

    A new Facebook campaign to combat the opioid crisis appears to have unintentionally targeted harm reduction efforts on its own social media platform as ads for fentanyl-testing kits result in bans and pages created by harm reduction organizations are deleted.

    A report by Vice found and interviewed multiple individuals who have been targeted by the platform in ways that are hampering their efforts to prevent overdose deaths.

    Facebook recently teamed up with Partnership for Drug-Free Kids for the “Stop Opioid Silence” campaign, but their efforts to fight drug trafficking on the massive social platform looks to have created more opioid-related silence.

    This is causing serious problems for organizations such as the Southside Harm Reduction Services that post warnings on their Facebook pages about local batches of illicit drugs that had been found to contain fentanyl, the extremely potent opioid responsible for many of the overdose cases and deaths in recent years. These posts are being rejected or experiencing “reduced distribution,” meaning that those that do get posted are not being seen by the community.

    In one particularly severe case, the social media manager of BunkPolice, Colin Marcom, was permanently banned from placing any ads on Facebook after he used the platform to advertise BunkPolice’s fentanyl testing kits.

    These simple kits can easily test for fentanyl, which is a tasteless and odorless synthetic opioid easily mixed in heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, and other common illicit drugs.

    “Facebook banned my personal account from ever being able to place ads on Facebook again, b/c of an ad, with this picture, that they approved for $20 & it ran for 7 days,” wrote BunkPolice in a Twitter post. “7 days, no warning – right to suspension – I submitted a sensible appeal, they said I was promoting drug use.”

    While harm reduction efforts like these have been repeatedly found to save lives without increasing drug use, as some people feared, Facebook seems to be treating these efforts like they’re a drug-trafficking scheme. To make matters worse, recent attempts to appeal bans and deleted posts and pages have been rejected. 

    After Vice contacted Facebook for comment, multiple posts from harm reduction pages that were previously flagged and deleted were restored, suggesting that the problem may be automated. It’s also possible that the vague language in their “regulated goods policy,” that allows for posts about drug use “in a recovery context,” was misinterpreted by employees who reviewed the appeals. 

    An extended report published by The Verge earlier this year found that Facebook moderators are chronically overworked, confused by ever-changing policies, and in some cases have been diagnosed with PTSD from viewing so much extremely disturbing content.

    According to the report, these moderators spend less than 30 seconds on an average flagged post before deciding whether to allow or delete.

    Facebook is reportedly “still investigating” cases of entire pages and groups for harm reduction being deleted.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • When Does Hardcore Video Gaming Become An Addiction?

    When Does Hardcore Video Gaming Become An Addiction?

    Experts weigh in on the World Health Organization’s decision to add gaming disorder to its International Classification of Diseases.

    Many gamers know the feeling of playing for too long into the night and being just useless the next day, but that’s now something that could be indicative of gaming disorder as defined by the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases.

    The WHO officially recognized gaming disorder last year, defining it as “impaired control over gaming.” The diagnosis is applicable to gamers who put their video gaming time ahead of everything else in their life, including work, study or relationships.

    Is It Really An Addiction?

    Many experts, including Dr. Kenneth Woog, were unsure if gaming should really be considered addictive.

    “In 2002, a lot of people [were] laughing at it and scoffing at it, saying it was ridiculous,” said Dr. Woog, who now treats gaming addiction. “But after doing my research in 2003 and 2004, I was pretty much convinced. I’d seen a few more clients and after I surveyed mental health professionals across the United States, I became convinced that it could be a real thing.”

    People may be slow to accept gaming as addictive because there isn’t a chemical component acting on the brains of gamers, suggests Dr. Alok Kanojia. The purely mental nature of video game addiction also means that a hard approach that includes abstinence is often not necessary.

    “I think sobriety for gamers involves understanding why do you play the game?” said Dr. Kanojia. “To understand the drives behind the game, and to try to replace those drives with healthy alternatives.”

    Personal Experience

    Dr. Woog and Dr. Kanojia, who play video games themselves, say that there are a lot of benefits to playing video games. In particular, social games like Fortnite are replacing the malls of yesteryear as a space where children can socialize. Dr. Kanojia says that he tries to help his patients find a healthy balance between video games and life, a lesson he himself had to learn as a university student.

    “I basically had less than a 2.0 GPA after two years of college because I was just playing a bunch of video games every night,” Dr. Kanojia recounted. “I was on academic probation, really trying to figure out what was going on and didn’t understand why some days I would wake up and be able to go to class and then other days not.”

    He took a break from school to study yoga and meditation in India.

    “I started to study myself, and figure out how games interact with me, what is it about the game that I really like, why can’t I wake up in the morning?” he revealed.

    Unfortunately, video game addiction isn’t being taken seriously enough in the United States, where proper diagnosis and treatment for gaming disorder is hard to find.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Ariana Grande Among The Dozens Of Celebs Helping To End Mental Health Stigma

    Ariana Grande Among The Dozens Of Celebs Helping To End Mental Health Stigma

    People magazine has given props to Ariana Grande and 45 other celebs who have opened up about their mental health.

    The stigma surrounding mental health is being dismantled as people go public with their own struggles, including celebrities who have used their platform for advocacy. To celebrate, People put together a list of big names who have come forward.

    Among the celebrities mentioned was pop star Ariana Grande, who has struggled with PTSD and anxiety after a bombing attack at one of her performances in Manchester, UK.

    “I think a lot of people have anxiety, especially right now,” Grande said. “My anxiety has anxiety… I’ve always had anxiety. I’ve never really spoken about it because I thought everyone had it, but when I got home from tour it was the most severe I think it’s ever been.”

    The pop star provided fans with an update on her mental health in a now-deleted Instagram post.

    “I feel everything very intensely,” she wrote, “and have committed to doing this tour during a time in my life when I’m still processing a lot… so sometimes I cry a lot!”

    Kid Cudi Opens Up

    Singer, rapper and actor Kid Cudi was also featured, having spoken before about being “ashamed” to discuss his mental health

    “I was really good at keeping my troubles hidden… even from my friends,” Cudi said on Red Table Talk. “I really was good with that. And it’s scary because you hear people say, ‘I had no clue.’ I really went out of my way to keep what I was going through hidden because I was ashamed.”

    Riverdale actress Lili Reinhart made the list too, once announcing that she was seeking treatment for depression in a February Instagram post.

    “Friendly reminder for anyone who needs to hear it. Therapy is never something to feel ashamed of. Everyone can benefit from seeing a therapist. Doesn’t matter how old or ‘proud’ you’re trying to be,” she wrote. “We are all human. And we all struggle. Don’t suffer in silence. Don’t feel embarrassed to ask for help. I’m 22. I have anxiety and depression And today I started therapy again.”

    The Royals Lead The Way

    Even Prince Harry was recognized, having made big strides in the UK as he spoke openly about his depression and advocated for mental health.

    “We were all beginning to grasp that mental fitness was an issue worth talking about, for every one of us,” he said in a speech. “And while just talking doesn’t cure all ills, we are now shattering the silence that was a real barrier to progress. People are now really talking about their own well-being and how to help those around us.”

    Many more made the list as advocacy for mental health continues to gain traction, including Janet Jackson, singer Camila Cabello, and comedian Pete Davidson.

    View the original article at thefix.com