Answer Addiction

Author: The Fix

  • Megan Rapinoe, World Cup Winner, Pays Tribute To Brother In Recovery

    Megan Rapinoe, World Cup Winner, Pays Tribute To Brother In Recovery

    Rapinoe’s brother is now 18 months sober.

    Professional soccer midfielder and newly crowned World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe gave a shoutout to her brother for his birthday during a post-win interview with Fox Soccer.

    Her brother, Brian, has struggled with addiction for much of his life to the point of experiencing legal troubles, including a total of 16 years in prison.

    “Just one thing: Happy birthday, Brian. I love you so much,” Megan said at the end of the brief interview just before blowing a kiss to the camera.

    The Road To Re-Entry

    Brian is currently spending the end of his latest prison sentence in a rehabilitation program that allows inmates with addiction disorders to spend their last 12 months working on themselves and taking classes as they prepare to re-enter society.

    Due to the fact that he is still technically serving his sentence, he could not travel to France to witness his sister’s victory in person.

    However, according to a profile by ESPN, Brian had been watching the tournament in the common room at the San Diego Male Community Reentry Program with his recovery buddies.

    “He sat on a couch in his red USA jersey, watching on a 60-inch flat-screen, and felt ‘f—ing great,’” reported Gwendolyn Oxenham. “He had accomplished a major goal for himself: to get out of prison in time to watch his kid sister play in her third World Cup.”

    Brian’s Story

    Brian’s struggles with substance use began at age 12 and his trouble with the law began at 15 when he brought meth to school. He later ran with white supremacist gangs, a not-uncommon result of being in and out of the prison system, though he now rejects and regrets that part of his past.

    Before that, Brian was the treasured big brother who taught Megan (and their sisters) how to play soccer, setting up cones in a field across from their church.

    “And it wasn’t like he drilled them. He let them do it their own way,” their mother Denise Rapinoe told ESPN. “It was just the cutest thing, and we remember it so clearly.”

    Now 18 months sober, Brian is the one looking to Megan for inspiration. At age 38, he says he has finally turned a corner and is looking for ways that he can use his experience to participate in early intervention programs for at-risk teens.

    “I want to make a difference,” he said. “I want to be like Megan.”

    Megan and Brian have kept in contact via letters and texts over the years and remain very important to each other. Two months before Megan’s latest World Cup win, they had a long talk about racial prejudice and police brutality. The soccer star is incredibly happy about her brother’s progress.

    “It would be such a shame if he left this world with nothing but prison sentences behind him,” she said. “To be able to have him out, and to play for him, and to have him healthy, with this different perspective that he has now: This is like the best thing ever.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Ben Affleck Clarifies Support For Refuge Recovery's Noah Levine Amid Misconduct Allegations

    Ben Affleck Clarifies Support For Refuge Recovery's Noah Levine Amid Misconduct Allegations

    Affleck lauded Levine with professional praise as part of a trademark lawsuit being brought against the Refuge Recovery founder.  

    Amid allegations of sexual misconduct against Buddhist teacher Noah Levine, the founder of the non-profit addiction treatment program Refuge Recovery, actor Ben Affleck has come to his defense.

    The actor, who is in recovery, spoke highly of Levine in a statement reported by The Blast.

    “Working with Noah and his Refuge Recovery program has, quite literally, turned my life around,” said Affleck. “Today I am sober, happy, healthy and have custody of my three children. All of those things are a result of having Noah in my life. I don’t know what I would have done without him.”

    Affleck described Levine as being “without a doubt the person with the most integrity, the most honor, the most genuine compassion and the least motivated by self-interest I have ever known.”

    He said that Levine was “a gift not only to me, but also to the many scores of people I have personally known who he has helped, in addition to the thousands more he has reached through his books and the Refuge Recovery program he created.”

    Refuge Recovery, which has been covered on The Fix, is grounded in the belief that “Buddhist principles and practices create a strong foundation for a path to freedom from addiction.”

    Affleck Testifies

    Affleck clarified to The Blast that his statement regarding Levine was part of his testimony in a trademark legal dispute between Levine and Refuge Recovery, the organization that has since removed him from the Board of Directors.

    Levine and Refuge Recovery are suing each other over the use of the “Refuge Recovery” name, which according to the original non-profit organization was being used inappropriately by the Buddhist teacher.

    The organization was “deeply concerned about several conflicts of interest caused by Mr. Levine” through his use of the organization’s name for his book and a for-profit treatment center business.

    “Under federal and state laws, a non-profit business cannot benefit any one individual or business entity, if they in any way control the non-profit. The consequences for this could be fines and/or potential loss of non-profit status,” the organization said in a statement.

    Affleck said that his relationship with Levine was “strictly professional” and stated that he “was not and am not aware of what allegations have been made against him.”

    According to Good Times, an LAPD investigation “did not find enough evidence to bring charges against Levine” but an investigation by Against The Stream (ATS) another non-profit that he founded, determined that he had “likely broken the group’s rules,” and the group was closed by September 2018.

    According to The Blast, a police report was filed against him by an anonymous woman but “no charges were ever filed.”

    Levine’s Response

    Levine issued a statement in response to the allegations of sexual misconduct.

    “I take full responsibility for anything that I have actually done… To the women who have come forward and expressed a sense of suffering because of interpersonal experiences with me, I am sorry I caused you harm and I ask your forgiveness,” he stated.

    “It is important to me that any woman who felt harmed, now feels heard. I want to understand. It matters… This has been a very painful way to wake up to the reality of who I am and how I am seen by others.”

    Despite everything, Levine says he’ll continue his work.

    “I have every intention of carrying on with my calling and mission, that is to practice the Dharma, to embody wisdom and compassion as best I can and to share the teachings of the Buddha with all who are interested to receive it.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Teen Throws Massive Sober House Party To Share Important Message

    Teen Throws Massive Sober House Party To Share Important Message

    More than 200 people showed up to “The F—ing Sober Party” thrown by the 17-year-old Wando High School student.

    One high schooler is rejecting the notion that teenagers like him need drugs and alcohol to have a good time.

    Dean Geraci, a 17-year-old student at Wando High School, invited hundreds of his peers from six high schools to his home in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, for a sober house party—or as he called it: TFSP (The Fucking Sober Party). His family did not expect such a high turnout. More than 200 people showed up, WCSC reported.

    The Power Of Social Media

    Geraci organized the event on social media. “We were talking about how a lot of teenagers are pressured into thinking they can only host a party if there’s alcohol, drugs,” he told WYFF. “I’m just trying to hope to inspire more people to think, hey, I don’t have to be pressured into having a certain substance at my party in order for kids to come to my house and have fun.”

    “I think it’s great,” said his mom Angela Geraci. “It’s a great way for him to communicate and get his message across and people can respond to him.”

    Footage of the sober house party can be found on Geraci’s Instagram stories. They show the family’s home buzzing with young people, inside and out. There’s great ambience. And good vibes all around.

    Words Of Encouragement

    Geraci is a young activist who, judging by his social media presence, is creative and enterprising. Through his original videos, he addresses mental health and substance abuse among his peers. Amid rising depression and anxiety in his age group, Dean lets them know there is another way. He even encourages his audience to reach out to him if they need to talk.

    “Money, grades, your weight, how many likes you get, how many friends you have… we do have to realize these are all just NUMBERS,” he says in one post. “Stay happy and don’t let those numbers get into your head.”

    “Not every single day is going to be easy,” he continues. “But how are you suppose to know what a ‘good day’ is, without going through some bad ones?”

    Teens in the Mount Pleasant area will be happy to know that Dean has been hinting at a second TFSP in August.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • "Weed To Know" Campaign Informs Expectant Mothers About Pot Use

    "Weed To Know" Campaign Informs Expectant Mothers About Pot Use

    The campaign focuses on providing expectant mothers with the possible outcomes from marijuana use on unborn children.

    Health officials in Spokane, Washington are using a public information campaign to encourage young pregnant women to exercise caution when using marijuana.

    As coverage in the Spokesman-Review noted, the Spokane Regional Health District’s “Weed to Know” campaign is intended to provide information to expectant mothers who may have “less concern” about using marijuana, which is legal in Washington state.

    Starting a Conversation

    Representatives from the district know that while definitive information about the impact of marijuana use on a fetus has yet to be produced, they want to “stimulate some conversation” in order to give mothers information to make informed choices.

    According to statistics cited by the Spokesman-Review article, marijuana use among pregnant women remains relatively rare at 7%, but that number is higher than data culled in 2014, when just 3.9% of pregnant women reported using marijuana. That number was enough for the Spokane Regional Health District’s Community and Family Services division to launch “Weed to Know.”

    The campaign focuses on providing possible outcomes from marijuana use on unborn children, including the chance of negative impact on brain and body development.

    As Melissa Charbonneau, a public health nurse with the Community and Family Services division, pointed out, the information featured on the site was culled from studies that used lower-income mothers who utilized public health care in other countries, and who had used other substances, including alcohol or tobacco, while pregnant. 

    More Research Needed

    Efforts to obtain more conclusive evidence have been also been historically hindered by the federal government, which has classified marijuana as a Schedule I drug. “It is frustrating, because [we] don’t have all the answers,” said Charbonneau. “But the answers we do have, I think, are enough to give you pause.”

    Charbonneau also points to statements by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists and Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, both of which encourage medical professionals to dissuade expectant patients from marijuana use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as support for their concern. 

    They also look to a pair of studies, one of which is being conducted in Spokane by the Washington State University Nursing School, which is looking into how information about marijuana use is being disseminated to mothers by health care professionals and marijuana retailers. A second, recently funded study at the University of Washington hopes to use in-utero imaging to determine if marijuana use has any effect on the formation of the fetus’s brain.

    As the Spokesman-Review noted, research such as these efforts is crucial in developing a more cohesive understanding of marijuana use during pregnancy without the studies cited in the “Weed to Know” campaign, which are skewed by other substances. 

    “Universally, we would all like to see good research that would answer these questions,” said Crystal Oliver, director of the cannabis advocacy group Washington Sungrowers Industry Association. “We can exclude things like tobacco use.”

    Until those studies are produced, the Health District plans to continue to advise mothers on the possible side effects of marijuana use on their unborn children.

    “We don’t have all the answers, but we want people to think twice about this before I’m going to be put in charge of children, before I’m going to breastfeed my child, before I’m going to get pregnant, or even while I’m pregnant, let’s have some conversations here.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • FDA Issues Consumer Warning On CBD Products

    FDA Issues Consumer Warning On CBD Products

    The FDA is working to research the safety of CBD and other cannabis products to better understand how to regulate them.

    The Food and Drug Administration has issued a consumer warning urging people to proceed with caution when using CBD products for themselves or their animals. 

    “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes the significant public interest in cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds, particularly CBD,” the warning reads. “However, there are many unanswered questions about the science, safety, and quality of products containing CBD.”

    The FDA has only approved one CBD product, the anti-seizure medication Epidiolex. Despite that, many other products make health claims as they relate to people and animals, but the FDA cautions consumers that these claims are unsubstantiated. 

    More Research Is Needed

    “The FDA has not approved any other CBD products, and there is very limited available information about CBD, including about its effects on the body,” the warning said. 

    The FDA is working to research the safety of CBD and other cannabis products to better understand how to regulate them. This includes looking at the way that CBD affects the liver. Research has indicated that CBD can be linked with liver damage, which is cause for concern as people use the product liberally. 

    More importantly, the FDA points out that people should not use CBD products as a replacement for medical care. 

    “Misleading and false claims associated with CBD products may lead consumers to put off getting important medical care, such as proper diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care,” the warning read. “For that reason, it’s important to talk to your doctor about the best way to treat diseases or conditions with existing, approved treatment options.”

    Protecting Public Health

    The agency has issued warnings to companies that market their CBD products as ways to relieve the effects of certain diseases. 

    “The FDA’s top priority is to protect the public health, and that includes making sure consumers know about products that put their health and safety at greatest risk, such as those claiming to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure serious diseases,” the organization wrote. 

    In addition to better understanding how CBD affects people, the FDA is researching how CBD affects animals, and whether it is safe for animal use. Right now there are many CBD products marketing for animals, but the claims for their effects are unproven, the organization said. 

    The organization is collecting public comments online through July 16. The public input will help inform policy going forward. 

    “The FDA continues to believe the drug approval process represents the best way to help ensure that safe and effective new medicines, including any drugs derived from cannabis, are available to patients in need of appropriate medical therapy,” the organization wrote. “The Agency is committed to supporting the development of new drugs, including cannabis and cannabis-derived drugs, through the investigational new drug and drug approval process.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Model Bridget Malcolm Gets Candid About Eating Disorder Recovery

    Model Bridget Malcolm Gets Candid About Eating Disorder Recovery

    “Moving away from any addiction is utterly terrifying. You are left without a form of self-containment,” the Aussie model wrote in a blog post.

    Australian model Bridget Malcolm struggled with disordered eating for a long time. She’s in a place of recovery now, but acknowledged the fact that it is a daily challenge. It does not happen overnight, but rather with every step taken toward a good place.

    During a vulnerable moment, she shared her thoughts on her recovery in a new blog post. “My body dysmorphia is bad right now,” she wrote.

    Malcolm has been candid about her eating disorder recovery. Last September she reached a full year without losing her period since she was 16 years old. “Losing my period was always such a thrill for me, it meant my destructive habits were working and I was really actually skinny,” she wrote on her blog last year.

    Exploring The Roots 

    In her new blog post, the model explores the roots of her body image issues. “My desire to starve comes from a place of feeling unheard and worthless. I was a sensitive and shy child. As an adult I used starvation as a means to separate myself from me. I felt less, spoke less and needed less when I was starving.”

    She admitted that there’s nothing easy about recovery. “If anything, the feelings are extra loud and insistent. You have taken away your coping mechanism,” she wrote.

    Breaking Old Patterns

    Without the comfort of her old patterns, Malcolm has had to transform her mindset and re-wire old habits. “Moving away from any addiction is utterly terrifying. You are left without a form of self-containment. All that remains is the intense craving to go back to your dangerous safe place, a craving that you cannot give in to, or you risk dying.”

    She acknowledged that she’s on the right path but recovery is still new to her, and takes time to master. Since she’s struggled with her body image and disordered eating since she was in her teens, she has a lot to un-learn.

    “I know now that I spent the majority of my life cultivating the thought processes that eventually led me down the path of disordered eating,” she wrote. “What this means is that my two years of recovery pales in comparison to the 23 or so years I spent in the throes of my eating disorder. I am still very much a beginner in this thing.”

    She’s now putting in the work toward killing off her old habits by “think[ing] through” her eating disorder. “Reliving the high and sense of control it gives me… Remembering the exhaustion of climbing stairs, the constant anxiety, the distance from my loved ones.”

    Getting to a place of recovery is an accomplishment in its own right. But it requires hard work, focus and dedication, as Malcolm said. “I am not the result of one massive lifestyle change. I am a culmination of every little action I do throughout the day. Living in recovery is extremely challenging.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Traveling While Sober: Will I Still Have Fun?

    Traveling While Sober: Will I Still Have Fun?

    Just as in everyday life, the biggest battle with alcohol while traveling is internal. But with some preparation, you can go anywhere and have a great time, sober.

    We arrived breathlessly at the Vedado home, a stately stone structure with a newly refurbished interior, ready to learn the secrets of Cuban cuisine. My new husband and I were famished in the way that happens when you travel, lost in time and space, not realizing we were hungry until the situation felt dire. We pulled up to the table, lovingly set with custom flatware and bejeweled napkin rings, ready to chop and dice our way into full. But first, Mojito time! 

    I should’ve known. 

    Alcohol as Social Lubricant

    From my very first international trip—a self-funded excursion to France at 15—drinking had always been a big part of traveling. At bars it was easier to meet people, I often said. Was it really a big deal if that occasionally involved throwing up on them? 

    I continued to believe that alcohol was critical to my so-called social life, even if, toward the end of my addiction, said life mostly involved knowing where Columbus’ most private bathroom stalls were located. Yet, I worried. Besides travel, I couldn’t imagine how I’d date/make friends/comport myself at fundraisers if I wasn’t able to drink, completely overlooking how the trajectory I was on did not include indoor plumbing. 

    When at last I did quit drinking and using, and the time to travel actually came, I wasn’t so worried. By then, I had the shelter of a husband who liked to drink. One look at us and it was clear somebody needed to stay sober. I didn’t realize the pressure this relieved. 

    Until our marriage ended. 

    Escape to Borneo

    That first summer as a divorcee, I was desperate to escape my life, at least for the duration allowed by my accrued vacation time. I wasn’t a fan of group travel, but then I found something called, “The Extreme Headhunters Tour.” Those days I wanted nothing more than to see some heads roll, and though I knew I wasn’t going to get to do any actual beheading myself, the idea that I would learn about others who had was intriguing. Better still, the excursion was billed as physically challenging, while also offering the rare opportunity to sleep overnight at a headhunters’ longhouse. I would meet real Borneans, and other travelers (i.e., men) with the physical stamina and means to book such a tour. 

    I signed on, only to realize the group was largely comprised of retired female librarians. That was the least of my concerns, however, once happy hour hit. 

    Our night with the headhunters consisted of playing a little game. I’m sure there was some food, but what I remember was the drinking. The evening’s entertainment was built entirely around tuak, a kind of coconut liqueur that’s popular in Borneo. The game went something like this: buy one for you, then buy one for me. The crowd was visibly disappointed that I didn’t drink, especially since the librarians were in bed. It was so uncomfortable—and then there was the whole divorce situation—that I briefly considered putting us all out of our misery and throwing back some tuak, but I was lucid enough to know I might not make it out of Borneo if I did.

    “You’re on Vacation, Live a Little!”

    Having traveled the world sober and not sober, I’ve learned that I take my addiction with me everywhere, whether I’m indulging it or not. So it would be an outright lie to claim that those Mojitos in Cuba held zero interest. The glasses had been chilled, crushed ice and fresh mint were on hand, and some beautiful amber liquid awaited my pour. Worse yet, the alternatives were Fresca sweetened with extra sugar and lime juice, or tap water. In my daily life, I pass on sugary drinks like soda. Begrudgingly, I took the water.

    I refuse to let fear keep me from traveling. Getting sober isn’t an event, it’s for the long haul, so I have to be able to do the things I love, such as meeting people whose lives are nothing like mine and coming together with them in an everyday way, like over a meal. The good news is: with some preparation, it’s increasingly possible to avoid these triggering episodes altogether.

    In the case of Cuba, I should’ve realized that cocktail mixing was part of the itinerary when I booked it. The activity was on the booking page, but at the bottom of the list. I have traveled enough to know how squeamish others can turn when faced with nondrinkers like myself. Over the years I’ve heard all the objections: “You’re on vacation, live a little!” Or the ever-popular, “Everyone must try this.” And my personal favorite, “Who will know?” Out of context they’re laughable, but I know how my brain can work. Or not work. Anyway, why test this the hard way?

    Managing My Ego

    For our first anniversary trip, I didn’t want to constantly deal with these objections so when I booked rooms or tours, I notified hosts that my husband and I didn’t drink. This was surprisingly difficult for me: My ego wasn’t so thrilled about drawing attention to the fact that there’s something I can’t handle. After a couple of decades without a drink, the terminally unique creature in me apparently decided that it wants to be just like everyone else. Fortunately, my centered self at home could spot and manage these mental objections. By the time I hit the streets of Paris, I was ready to ward off potential threats to my sobriety.

    “A cup of glass!” I blurted out in my best high school French. The server looked at me curiously. Just as I suspected, I thought, coolly repeating the phrase. She can’t even understand what it means to drink water with a meal instead of wine!

    I’d like to say I laughed and corrected myself, but that would be a lie. I was tweaked to the point of leaving the restaurant, only realizing my error when I reached the street. From then on, I fixed my phrasing to ask for sparkling water.

    Not ordering alcohol had no effect on the way I was treated. The servers did not care whether I drank or not, which is very different from the reception I receive in the U.S. Here, where tipping is a significant portion of pay, the check total matters. There, where tips are more nominal, they could care less. 

    The “worst” experience with alcohol was in another cooking class. The host, despite knowing ahead of time that we didn’t drink, had only tap water on the table. But I put that word in quotation marks because everything else was absolutely delightful. Our host turned out to be a TV personality who was having boyfriend issues. I was happily riveted to my chair for hours. 

    In Lisbon, I expected something less cosmopolitan and thought there would be less knowledge or acceptance of sober travelers. Yet there was a similar nonchalance from servers, tour guides, and everyone else we met. Best of all was the cooking class, where four of eight of us were non-drinkers. I took one look at the sober hipster newlyweds and said conspiratorially, “I assume you’re doing it one day at a time?” To which the wife replied, “What are you talking about?”

    The Freedom to Go Anywhere…Sober

    Just as in everyday life, the biggest battle with alcohol while traveling is internal. It helped enormously to pave the way ahead, letting guides and hosts know I wouldn’t be drinking. But the most valuable part of this practice was that it forced me to acknowledge my own roadblocks so that when my ego cropped up mid-travels, I didn’t have to believe what it was telling me. Unlike my experiences in Borneo and Cuba, I never felt trapped, which is a trigger. 

    Knowing what steps to take ahead of time, I can go anywhere.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Top Rehab Options for Abstral Addiction

    Top Rehab Options for Abstral Addiction

    Questions about Abstral addiction? Use this handy guide to help you easily recognize the signs and symptoms.

    1. What is Abstral and What is it Used for?
    2. Other Names for Abstral
    3. How Abstral Abuse Occurs
    4. Abstral Rehab – How Do I Know if I Need it?
    5. The Risks of Delaying Abstral Rehab
    6. Abstral Withdrawal Side Effects and Detox
    7. Types of Treatment in Abstral Rehab
    8. Abstral Treatment – How to Choose the Best Rehab for You

    Abstral rehab is the best way to overcome addiction to this strong, dangerous opioid drug. Known generically as fentanyl, Abstral is a risky drug to misuse because of the high likelihood of becoming addicted and because overdosing is easy to do. An overdose on fentanyl can quickly be fatal.

    If you are abusing this drug or know someone else engaged in Abstral abuse, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Any degree of misuse of fentanyl can quickly escalate or become fatal. And anyone abusing fentanyl can benefit from rehab that includes therapy and medical treatment. Reach out for help or offer your assistance to a loved one struggling with this awful drug.

    What is Abstral and What is it Used for?

    Abstral is a brand name for the generic opioid fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, which means it was designed and is made in laboratories and is derived from natural compounds found in the opium poppy. Like other opioids, it works in the brain to change the response to pain and is prescribed as a painkiller. 

    Unlike other opioids, like oxycodone or hydrocodone, Abstral and other fentanyl products are only approved for treating specific patients. Abstral is supposed to be restricted to cancer patients 18 years old or older who are already using opioids to manage pain. When these patients become tolerant to other opioids or experience breakthrough pain that is not controlled by these other drugs, they may be prescribed fentanyl.

    The reason Abstral is so restricted is that it is extremely potent. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, a natural opioid. It is also more potent than heroin, an illicit drug. Abstral is a tablet that is placed under the tongue to dissolve. Its potency can make Abstral very risky for anyone without some opioid tolerance. 

    Other Names for Abstral

    Abstral is just one brand name for fentanyl. Others include Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Onsolis, and Sublimaze. These are important medications for cancer patients living with severe pain, but Abstral and fentanyl are often sold and used illicitly. Some names for fentanyl and other opioids on the street include:

    • Captain Cody
    • Cody
    • Doors and Fours
    • Pancakes and Syrup
    • White Stuff
    • Pain Killer 
    • Apache
    • China Girl
    • China White
    • Friend
    • Goodfella
    • Dance Fever
    • Juice
    • Dillies

    How Abstral Abuse Occurs

    Abstral and other fentanyl products are Schedule II controlled substances. This is because they are highly susceptible to abuse. In addition to relieving pain, opioids like Abstral can induce euphoria, an intense high. Some people abuse Abstral because they want to get high, while others do so because they have become dependent on opioids and don’t feel normal or comfortable without them. 

    Abstral dependence can occur quickly because it is such a potent drug. Any misuse of fentanyl, from using it without a prescription to using more than prescribed or taking more frequent doses, can easily lead to addiction. Even people who are not misusing this drug, patients with a genuine need for pain relief, can become dependent and addicted. 

    Abstral Rehab – How Do I Know if I Need it?

    You don’t have to be addicted to this drug to benefit from or need Abstral rehabilitation. Rehab is treatment for a drug addiction, but any level of misuse may require treatment. If you have lost control to any degree over your use of opioids or are concerned about the health risks, reach out for help and get treatment. 

    If you aren’t sure if your behaviors or those of someone you care about constitute an addiction, ask these questions:

    • Do you crave fentanyl often?
    • Have you tried to cut back but found you couldn’t or failed often when trying?
    • Do you regularly end up using Abstral more often than you meant to or using larger doses than you had planned?
    • Has a lot of your time been taken up with trying to get Abstral, using it, and recovering from using it?
    • Have you had to give up other activities because of the time drug use takes up in your life?
    • Are you often failing to meet responsibilities because of Abstral?
    • Does use of Abstral cause relationship problems, which in turn do nothing to stop you using the drug?
    • Do you continue to use drugs even though they are causing health problems? Or making them worse?
    • Have you developed a tolerance to Abstral, needing higher doses or more frequent doses to get the desired effect?
    • Do you start to go through withdrawal when not using?

    These are the criteria that professionals use to diagnose an opioid addiction and are the symptoms of Abstral addiction. Answering yes to even just two of these questions may indicate that you have a substance use disorder. Abstral effects are dangerous enough that even a mild addiction warrants a trip to rehab to get help before it’s too late. 

    The Risks of Delaying Abstral Rehab

    There are a lot of very serious risks of using and misusing this dangerous drug, including the risk of more frequent and severe Abstral side effects. Even recommended use of fentanyl can cause side effects, but the more you misuse it, the greater the risks you will experience them. Side effects may include:

    • Drowsiness and sleepiness
    • Slowed, shallow breathing
    • Constipation
    • Nausea
    • Confusion
    • Headaches

    There are also more serious Abstral effects you put yourself at risk for by taking larger amounts and more frequent doses: heartbeat changes, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, hallucinations, sexual dysfunction, dizziness, rash, and seizures. 

    While the side effects can be uncomfortable or even present real health problems, an Abstral overdose is the most serious risk of all. This potent drug can quickly cause a fatal overdose. Signs include slowed breathing, shallow breaths or difficulty breathing, a lowered urge to breathe, unresponsiveness, loss of consciousness, confusion, and fainting. Emergency medical attention is essential in the case of an overdose; the opioid antidote Narcan can be administered to reverse the overdose. 

    Abstral Withdrawal Side Effects and Detox 

    Abstral withdrawal effects are another consequence of abusing and becoming addicted to fentanyl. As the drug leaves your system and your brain tries to adjust, you will be going through detox and withdrawal. Opioid withdrawal causes early, unpleasant symptoms like anxiety, difficulty sleeping, agitation, aches, runny nose, sweating, yawning, and tearing. 

    As detox continues into the later phases of withdrawal, you may also experience diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, chills, and goosebumps. How long detox takes depends on the severity of your addiction and the last dose of Abstral you took. It can be very easy to relapse during this process, so don’t go it alone. Supervised detox is more comfortable and safer. 

    Withdrawal from fentanyl is not dangerous in itself. As uncomfortable as it is, it will not cause serious health problems. However, the big risk of trying to detox alone is relapse. And a relapse when you’re feeling this desperate for the drug could easily lead to an overdose. Always detox with some degree of supervision, if not with real medical care. 

    Types of Treatment in Abstral Rehab

    Abstral addiction requires treatment, and Abstral treatment can be effective if you get the right care. Detox is the first step, but don’t make the mistake of thinking it is enough. In order to have a successful recovery, you need long-term treatment that includes therapy and medical care. Therapies you can expect to benefit from in rehab include:

    • Behavioral therapies. These are therapies that focus on recognizing and changing problematic behaviors. A therapist will help you explore the reasons behind some of the choices you make, triggers for drug use, emotional awareness, and making positive and lasting changes. 
    • Trauma-focused therapies. Traumatic experiences often underlie drug abuse and addiction. A good treatment facility will evaluate your mental health and prescribe the appropriate treatments. If you have trauma in your past, you can benefit from a therapy that helps you face and reprocess those negative experiences. 
    • Motivational therapies. A type of therapy useful in treating drug addictions focuses on uncovering your internal motivations for making positive changes. It may involve goal-setting, reflection and mindfulness, and rewards for meeting milestones and avoiding relapse.

    The other important aspect of treatment for fentanyl addiction in rehab is medical care. Opioid addictions are among the few that can be managed effectively with prescription medications. Medical treatment must be used along with therapy for the best outcomes, though. 

    The kinds of drugs you may be prescribed to treat Abstral addiction include methadone, buprenorphine, and naloxone. The first two are used to manage cravings and withdrawal. They activate the same receptors as Abstral and keep you from going back to fentanyl. Naloxone blocks those receptors. If you are given a 30-day injection of naloxone, any attempt to use an opioid to get high will fail. You will get no effects from it. 

    Abstral Treatment – How to Choose the Best Rehab for You 

    The best Abstral rehab will be long-term, at least a few weeks, and will include both therapy and medical treatment. These are the most basic things you should look for in a rehab. Additionally, consider whether you need inpatient care, with the 24-hour supervision and safe, treatment-intensive environment, or whether you would benefit from being able to stay with family and go to treatment on an outpatient basis. 

    With a potent drug like Abstral, it may be safest to go to true rehab, a residential facility, for a few months. This gives you the chance to focus on your care and avoid relapse. But ultimately, the choice is a personal one and should be made with your own best interests in mind. 

    There are other factors to consider in your treatment choice. For instance, you want a treatment facility that will fully evaluate you on intake and treat you as an individual with unique needs. There is no single treatment plan for addiction that works for everyone, so you need a team of professionals with the flexibility to adapt plans for your needs, limitations, and abilities, as well as your preferences. 

    Abstral addiction help is available. You just need to ask for it. It can be scary to admit you have a problem and to submit to treatment, especially in a residential rehab. But doing so could save your life, or the life of someone you care about. Push for treatment, ask for help, and get the care you need to overcome this addiction. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Finding Luxury Rehab for Valium Addiction

    Finding Luxury Rehab for Valium Addiction

    Need help finding a luxury Valium rehab? We can help.

    Table of Contents

    1. The drug
    2. Uses of the drug
    3. Slang names
    4. Definition of addiction
    5. Problems with addiction
    6. Addiction symptoms
    7. Withdrawal symptoms with the drug
    8. Drug Rehabs
    9. Types of rehabs
    10. Payment for rehab loans and insurance
    11. Conclusion

    The drug

    Valium (generic name diazepam) is a powerful drug that is used to treat anxiety, stress, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, as well as seizure episodes. It’s a benzodiazepine derivative. The drug is a colorless or light yellow crystalline compound, which is insoluble in water. 

    Uses of the drug

    Valium is used for the treatment of anxiety disorders, stress, and tension in everyday life. People suffering from acute alcohol withdrawal often resort to Valium because it helps in providing temporary relief to muscle cramps and tremors that are caused as a part of withdrawal syndrome. It also helps relieve acute agitation in patients, along with assisting them in calming down. It’s also effective in treating acute delirium tremens and hallucinosis, which is caused as a part of withdrawal syndrome. 

    Slang names

    The drug is commonly known as Valium and is used popularly among people all over the world. Some of the common Valium slang names are:

    >> V’s

    >> Yellow V’s

    >> Blue V’s 

    >> Benzo’s 

    >> Dead Flower Powers

    >> Foofoo 

    Definition of addiction

    Excessive use of Valium can cause an addiction in users. Valium affects the body through brain cells. It starts acting up by entering the central nervous system through your bloodstream and changes the cells in the brain’s pleasure center. Benzodiazepines weaken a group of cells that prevents the neurotransmitter of the brain, dopamine, from flooding through. Since these cells are inactive, dopamine is released in the brain thereby leading to a feeling of pleasure and intense joy. This also helps relieve the user from stress and anxiety. Soon, the brain gets used to this euphoric feeling and craves for more Valium. The person under addiction seeks more Valium for its pleasure-inducing effects. The more the person consumes Valium, the more the brain wants it; this pushes the user from a controlled user to an addict who can’t do without Valium. Gradually, the user becomes an addict and starts to lose control over themselves, as the drug craving episodes start controlling their actions and emotions.

    Problems with addiction

    Valium addiction is a significant problem that leads to an extreme craving for the drug. When the drug is denied, it can cause acute withdrawal symptoms, as well as muscle cramps and tremors. In severe cases, rehabilitation is needed for the recovery to be successful. Most people who are addicted to Valium are the ones prescribed to have it for a prolonged period. However, with an accepted gradual increase in the dosage, they become addicted to it and start craving for more. Over time, the users become tolerant to the drug. This means that they will need Valium every time they need to get that feeling of relief, along with the achievement of the desired sedative effects. This leads to increased consumption of the drug, in a larger dosage. Thus, pushing the patients into a more profound addiction. This causes the cycle of addiction, craving, and dependence to continue. 

    Addiction symptoms

    The initial addiction symptoms of Valium include the difficulty in controlling the use of the drug. The more the addict consumes, the more Valium he requires to get the desired effect of pleasure and sedation. As the addicts become more tolerant, they consume more Valium, thus leading to addiction. Other physical symptoms, while consuming the drug in excess, include heavy heartbeat and dry mouth. The addict will feel nervous and confused, having delusions of well-being, and paranoia along with frequent suicidal thoughts; these signs are relatively common in Valium addicts. With the increase in addiction and consumption, extreme health conditions such as seizures, slipping into a coma, and the risk of fatal overdose can also be categorized as a symptom of Valium addiction.

    Withdrawal symptoms with the drug

    Withdrawal symptoms from Valium are extreme and can cause various unpleasant physical symptoms, such as tremors, muscle cramps, or fainting; this happens when you’re trying to quit the drug suddenly. Addicts will also witness a significant increase in craving for the drug. The withdrawal symptoms can be categorized into four types:

    • Physical symptoms

    This includes various physical pain and illness, such as severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, intense stomach pains, extreme cramps, and tremors. Loss of appetite and dry mouth is also caused as a part of the withdrawal symptoms.

    • Cardiovascular symptoms

    This includes changes and fluctuations in the cardiovascular systems such as a sudden increase in blood pressure, variation in heart rate, sudden increase and decrease of pressure, and so on.

    • Neurological symptoms

    Neurological symptoms include a confused state of mind, lack of clarity in thoughts and actions, the development of seizures as well as lack of consciousness of mind. Reduced reflexes are also seen among the addicts.

    • Psychological symptoms

    People under withdrawal symptoms suffer from intense craving, extreme mood swings, sudden depression, and panic attacks. They may also face rebound anxiety due to the denial of the use of Valium.

    A variety of medications are given to addicts to help them fight and overcome withdrawal symptoms. The first step towards treating a Valium addiction or any other drug addiction is detoxification. This is done to ensure that the negative effects and the intake of drugs are completely removed. This helps the patient to become less tolerant of the drug than before and reduces dependency. This process of detoxification is done gradually in order to avoid fatal attacks. 

    Gradual reduction of the intake of Valium, along with other medications to reverse the effects of the drug helps the body get accustomed to performing normal body functions without Valium. If the dosage of Valium is stopped abruptly, it can cause adverse effects in the body, and in extreme cases, even death. During this process of detoxification, the addicts usually experience extreme physical conditions such as diarrhea, abdominal pains, irritation, mood swings, nausea, intense cravings, and so on. Extreme withdrawal symptoms such as joint and muscle pains, rapid breathing, fluctuation of heart rates might also be caused. Detoxification helps the addicts gradually get used to the fluctuating dose along with controlling the craving for the drug. Patients are usually given a certain amount of Valium initially. Once the medication reaches a certain level, it’s slowly tapered down and finally discontinued. Once the intake of Valium has stopped completely, the withdrawal symptoms can become worse. The medication list that is included to tackle withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings are as follows:

    SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

    This is a class of antidepressant medications. These are often effective to smooth out the instant effects of withdrawal symptoms, though results may vary from person to person.

    Melatonin

    It’s a hormone that is proven to ease anxiety, irritation, and induce sleep. This helps address tolerance and reduce the extreme effects of intense withdrawal symptoms.

    Anticonvulsants

    These are used when patients develop a seizure. Anticonvulsants are useful in reducing the overall effects of withdrawal symptoms and helping patients control the craving of Valium.

    Drug Rehabs

    One of the effective methods of treatment for Valium addiction is rehab centers. Choosing the most suitable rehab for addiction is essential since there are hundreds of centers all over the world. It’s important to select Valium rehabs that have a quicker rate of recovery. Moreover, for individuals suffering from Valium addiction, the approach is vital. Rehabs offering evidence-based medication are the best and most effective in treating substance abuse addicts. Evidence-based medication professionals are specially trained to use the latest technology, medications, and approach to treating patients suffering from prescription drug addiction and overdose. 

    Types of rehabs

    There are mainly three types of Valium rehabs for treating addicts. They are as follows: 

    Inpatient Rehabs

    Inpatient rehabs should be the choice for patients suffering from intense addiction of Valium. In these rehabs, the patients need to stay for round-the-clock observation under the supervision of doctors and counselors. In these rehabs, the treatment or rehab program varies between 30 days to 90 days, depending on the condition and needs of the patients. The treatment may go on for a longer time. The duration depends on the seriousness of the addiction and the recovery rate of the addict. The first step is medical detoxification, where the patients are treated with several medicines to detoxify the body from the effects of Valium. During this phase, the patient is monitored for withdrawal symptoms or seizure. Physicians keep the patients under constant monitoring, preventing them from fatal attacks.

    Inpatient rehabs often include the patients taking up daily chores of life as they recover gradually. This helps the patients interact with other addicts who are going through a similar phase of life and get motivated by each other. Patients find similar people around and hence, don’t feel out of place or isolated. This environment with similar people helps patients recover and get back to their normal life quickly. These rehabs are luxurious and aesthetically beautiful since the patients residing there should have a feeling of positivity and motivation, in order to restart their lives as a normal person that’s free from addiction.

    Outpatient Rehabs

    In these types of rehab centers, the patients have to make an appointment, and they can take part in the treatments and go back home, instead of staying back at the rehab. These rehabs are suitable for patients who have mild addiction or have recovered from addiction, and regular treatment is being done to prevent relapse. It’s seen that patients after they have been successfully treated in the Inpatient rehab and sent home, experience an addiction relapse, and they start consuming Valium again. This is done to prevent relapse and continuously monitor the patients even after they are sober. 

    Outpatient rehabs have become quite useful and accessible. These rehabs check the patients regularly and ensure that they do not indulge in drug addiction again since relapse is a common problem seen in most drug addicts. Counseling sessions are also a part of the treatment in the outpatient rehabs. This helps patients with self-motivation and keeps them away from drugs. Moreover, meditation sessions are also conducted, thus helping in self-reflection and realization. 

    Outpatient rehabs have special significance for the patients who are already treated in residential rehabs and are free from drug addiction. Patients who are cured of Valium addiction also get additional treatment, medication, and counseling to control the craving of drugs and lead a healthy life by forgetting the past.

    Residential Rehabs

    Often, it has been seen that patients resort to drugs and addictions again after being successfully treated in rehabs, and once they leave the inpatient rehabs. For such addicts, residential rehabs are the perfect option. Here, patients are kept under constant observation, along with counseling and meditation sessions. People staying in these rehabs undergo medication, take part in various activities and learning sessions, along with counseling sessions, which prevent them from indulging into addiction yet again. Residential rehabs offer long-term programs and treatments, especially for people who had been treated more than once, yet were taken to addiction once they went back to their normal course of life.

    Residential rehabs focus on motivating the patients along with treatments and activities, such that they can drive and motivate themselves to lead a normal life and refrain from Valium abuse and addiction. Residential rehabs involve the addicts into various individual and team activities, keeping them engaged and thus preventing the use of drugs again. These activities also help the addicts to reskill themselves and learning things that will help them earn a living or be employable once they leave the residential rehabs.

    Behavioral therapies play a key role in helping patients recover. The following are some of the therapies that the Valium addict patients must undergo:

    • Individual therapy

    The basic yet effective forms of behavioral therapy are individual therapy. In this kind of session, the counselor meets the patients for a one-to-one discussion. In these sessions, the patient can speak his heart out to the counselor; this helps the counselor understand the patient. Here, counselors can give separate time to each patient and motivate them to refrain from further drug addiction or relapse. Confidentiality and privacy are taken care of by the rehab centers and the counselors.

    • Group counseling

    Counseling a group of similar people, having the same difficulties in life, helps in empathizing with each other. These sessions help the patients to understand the disastrous effects of drug addiction and the importance of positivity. They also get inspired by each other’s journey towards a normal life. They also take part in various creative and recreational group activities, helping them to reskill themselves and become employable after they leave the rehabs.

    • Cognitive behavioral therapy

    This therapy is all about controlling your impulses, instead of your drug craving managing all the activities. This helps individuals regain positivity and get back to the mainstream of life. This kind of therapy guides people to help themselves and become their controller in matters of drug addiction and to refrain from any form of addiction. 

    Payment for rehab loans and insurance

    Rehab loans, as well as insurance, are available to financially support the addicts such that they can continue their treatment in the center for a long period. Since treatments in rehabs are expensive, and the duration of the programs are long term, the insurance and loans help the patients and their families cope with the cost of treatment.

    Conclusion

    Valium rehabs have helped thousands of drug addicts to quit drugs forever and get back to a healthy life. Rehabs form an essential part of treatment and recovery for drug addicts. People addicted to drugs for a long term need to undergo the entire process of detoxification, medication, rehabilitation, counseling, and medication to give up on drugs finally. Chances of drug addiction relapse are high since lack of acceptance in society, along with poverty caused due to drug addiction and unemployment in most cases, forces the patients to resort to the drug again. This is where friends and family need to play an active role. Support from close ones, along with motivating them to move on in life helps the addicts get back to the ordinary course of life.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Simon Pegg: The Universe Gives Back When You Quit Drinking

    Simon Pegg: The Universe Gives Back When You Quit Drinking

    “You just can’t rely on any kind of stimulant to make yourself feel better and expect it to solve anything,” Pegg said.

    Actor Simon Pegg knew his depression was getting the best of him when his career started taking off, but he was still feeling down. 

    “I remember thinking, ‘Wow! This is happening.’ And at the same time I couldn’t understand why I was still feeling down. It was like, ‘This is all going well. Why don’t I feel good?’” Pegg said in a recent interview with GQ.

    Even as he became more successful, staring in roles in Star Trek and Mission: Impossible, he continued to grapple with depression and turned to alcohol to get through it. However, when he eventually quit drinking around the time he turned 40, he realized that life was better without the booze. 

    Managing Depression

    “What I found was that as soon as I stopped, things started to go my way,” Pegg said. “It’s a strange thing and I have had conversations with other people about this, that when you quit drinking the universe starts to give back to you a little bit. Maybe it’s because I figured out why I was drinking, which was to combat the depression and so I was able to get on top of what was the real issue. I spoke to people and got proper help. That’s when you realize you don’t need to get drunk because you don’t need to escape from things. By actually confronting it, my reward has been these last 10 years.”

    Although being sober didn’t make the depression disappear, Pegg was better able to handle the condition. 

    “What I have come to realize from back then is that depression is always there,” he said. “No matter what I did. I don’t think you ever really lose your demons. You just try to find a way to keep them in their place.”

    Now, he is able to do that in healthier ways, like working out, without trying to drown his troubles in a manner that never worked very well anyway. 

    “You just can’t rely on any kind of stimulant to make yourself feel better and expect it to solve anything,” he said. “At some point the effects wear off and you need more and more. And so with something like alcohol, you just end up being drunk all the time.”

    The Public’s Reaction

    Pegg, who first spoke out about his mental health and substance use challenges last year, said that he is happy his experiences can help others. 

    “I think I was just ready to talk about it, you know?” he said. “Before then, I hadn’t really been prepared to give that much of myself over. It isn’t something I think should be seen as shameful. It’s something that a lot of people suffer with. And what was nice was the response I had from a lot of people who said, ‘Thank you for saying that, because I felt that way too.’ And that’s what I would have hoped for.”

    View the original article at thefix.com