Answer Addiction

Author: The Fix

  • Ariana Grande Gives Mental Health Update During 'Sweetener' Tour

    Ariana Grande Gives Mental Health Update During 'Sweetener' Tour

    Grande took to Instagram to address her recent public display of emotion during her Sweetener world tour.

    While on her Sweetener world tour, Ariana Grande went on Instagram to give an update on her mental health.

    During a July performance in Missouri, Grande had a moment, holding back tears while singing “R.E.M.” The song was co-written by Pharrell Williams and some speculate it was written about Pete Davidson, Grande’s ex-boyfriend.

    “Tour is wild,” Grande began. “Life is wild. I’m grateful for the sea of love I have around me everyday and for the people who come to these shows and give all of us every ounce of energy they’ve got… I’m grateful for my voice and my team. I’m grateful for this music.”

    In the now-deleted post, Grande said she was grateful for “the opportunity to sing to thousands of people every night. It’s a dream come true. No matter how hard it gets or how many feelings come up that are screaming at me to be processed and sorted through one day, I’m grounded by gratitude and promise not to give up on what I’ve started.”

    Overcome With Emotion

    “I feel everything very intensely,” she said, “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!”

    “I thank you for accepting my humanness,” she told her fans. “I’m not sure what I did to deserve to meet so many loving souls every night / to feel so much love, but I want you to know that it really does carry me through,” she added. “I feel it and appreciate it.”

    Grande has been recovering from two horrific blows. First, her concert in Manchester, United Kingdom, was attacked by a suicide bomber, killing 22 civilians. Grande was left unhurt but traumatized, and grieving for the fans who lost their lives.

    In September 2018, Mac Miller, Grande’s ex-boyfriend, overdosed on opioids and died.

    Grande reached out to her fans more directly at the end of her message. “If you are hurting, you can push through and are not alone.”

    “It is hard to balance taking care of the people around you, doing your job, and healing…at the same time…but I want you to know…I think you’re doing great.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Will Nearly 2,000 Pending Opioid Lawsuits End In A Master Settlement?

    Will Nearly 2,000 Pending Opioid Lawsuits End In A Master Settlement?

    Attorneys are attempting to put together a settlement that would make a “meaningful impact on the deeply tragic opioid crisis.”

    There are now nearly 2,000 opioid lawsuits pending in federal court. States, counties and cities across the U.S. are seeking to hold drug companies like Purdue Pharma, Johnson & Johnson and McKesson accountable for fueling the national opioid epidemic.

    The companies are accused of aggressive and improper marketing of opioid drugs like OxyContin and downplaying the risks of developing a drug use disorder.

    With so many lawsuits seeking money damages for the devastating impact that opioid abuse has inflicted on American communities, the question of how they will be dealt with remains.

    The Master Plan

    In June, a group of attorneys representing 1,200 counties, cities and towns proposed a plan to reach a settlement with two-dozen drugmakers and distributors. One of the attorneys, Joe Rice, was the architect of the 1998 Master Settlement between 46 states and major U.S. cigarette manufacturers, WBUR reported. “Tens of billions of dollars would be needed to make a significant—a real significant impact on this epidemic,” said Rice.

    The plan is “ambitious and creative but fundamentally flawed,” according to attorney Mark A. Gottlieb, executive director of the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University School of Law. Gottlieb, wary of its potential impact, emphasized the importance of making a strong statement with the massive settlement that would provide closure for both parties. Ideally it would be a symbolic end to the opioid crisis.

    “While any new ‘master settlement’ must primarily compensate the plaintiffs for their losses, a settlement that simply moves money around, as the tobacco settlement did, has no chance at having a meaningful impact on the deeply tragic opioid crisis,” wrote Gottlieb in his commentary.

    Safeguarding The Future

    Gottlieb proposed securing a portion of the settlement that will go to future safeguards against similar crises. He suggests an independent foundation to serve as a watchdog over the pain management and addiction treatment industries, to provide opioid prescribing education, to fund treatment and prevention programs, to fund addiction-related medications such as naloxone and buprenorphine, and to advise policymakers on relevant legislation.

    “We must ensure that we do not squander the opportunity to address the opioid crisis through a coordinated public health approach in the next settlement,” Gottlieb wrote.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Kratom For Pain And Addiction Treatment: Is It Safe?

    Kratom For Pain And Addiction Treatment: Is It Safe?

    A new study explored the side effects and deaths linked to kratom.

    A recent study by a team at Binghamton University in New York found the drug kratom to be a threat to public health. The researchers looked at cases reported to the National Poison Data System—the data warehouse for the 55 poison control centers in the U.S.—and found 2,312 “kratom exposures” that led to toxicity.

    Of those, 935 cases involved just kratom, and negative symptoms reported included agitation, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, hallucinations, and coma.

    What Is Kratom?

    Kratom is a drug derived from the leaves of the Southeast Asian tree of the same name. The substance appears to interact with the opioid receptors in the brain, resulting in some pain relief properties similar to opioid drugs like heroin or OxyContin. It can also produce some stimulant and psychotropic effects.

    Kratom is still legal in the U.S. and has been increasingly marketed as a supplement that can relieve pain and even treat opioid addiction. 

    This marketing has led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to send official warnings to companies making these claims. Though it is legal, the FDA has not approved kratom for any treatment and considers the substance to be potentially dangerous.

    Toxicity Cases

    According to the Binghamton University study, four of the toxicity cases reported to the National Poison Data System resulted in deaths that were primarily caused by the kratom. This was potentially due to the fact that the drug acts like an opioid, the researchers say, therefore making it possible to experience dangerous overdose symptoms such as respiratory arrest.

    “Although it is not as strong as some other prescription opioids, kratom does still act as an opioid in the body,” said William Eggleston, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Binghamton. “In larger doses, it can cause slowed breathing and sedation, meaning that patients can develop the same toxicity they would if using another opioid product. It is also reported to cause seizures and liver toxicity.”

    Of the reported cases, 6.1% included seizures, 4.8% included hallucinations, 2.3% involved coma, and 0.6% involved cardiac or respiratory arrest. The study concluded that “kratom is not reasonably expected to be safe and poses a public health threat due to its availability as an herbal supplement.”

    Eggleston believes that kratom could be involved in treating opioid use disorder in the future, but his team concluded that more research is needed and it is not currently safe for use as an herbal supplement.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Chef Ludo Lefebvre’s Daughter Films Touching Drunk Driving PSA 

    Chef Ludo Lefebvre’s Daughter Films Touching Drunk Driving PSA 

    The eight-year-old made the PSA after losing her grandmother to a drunk-driving incident back in February.

    The daughter of Ludo Lefebvre, the French chef known for his innovative influence in the Los Angeles dining scene, shared a PSA about the dangers of drunk driving.

    Eight-year-old Rêve made the PSA after losing her grandmother, Peggy Stewart Braun, to a drunk-driving incident in February.

    “Over 29 people a day die from drunk driving,” said Rêve in the PSA. “You do the math, that’s too many. One of those persons was my grandmother and I miss her very much.”

    Powerful Moment

    Rêve  presented her PSA to the judge at the time of the sentencing of the driver who caused the fatal accident. There was not a “dry eye in the house” according to her mother Krissy.

    “The judge later stated that in her many years on the bench, she had never seen anything like Rêve’s message,” said Krissy. “Rêve hopes and we all hope that hearing what drinking and driving can do from the mouth of a child will really make people think before they drink.”

    In the video, Rêve also sings a song she wrote for her Nana. “The power of [Rêve’s] words was so strong. She was saying/singing exactly what the entire family was feeling,” said Krissy.

    The Accident

    Peggy Stewart Braun was in the car with her husband Bill and two other family members at the time of the accident in Golden, Colorado on February 22. Braun died at the scene, while the crash inflicted serious injuries including broken ribs and vertebrae on the other family members.

    William Randolph Lenox, the driver who caused the accident, registered a blood alcohol level of .136 at the time. 

    On July 2, Lenox was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to all charges related to the accident, including vehicular homicide and reckless driving.

    Drunk-driving crashes cause more than 10,000 deaths each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Approximately one-third of all traffic accident deaths in the U.S. involve drunk drivers.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • The Link Between Genetics, Depression And Being Bullied In Childhood

    The Link Between Genetics, Depression And Being Bullied In Childhood

    Researchers found that bullying affected mental health in the short and long term. 

    People who are bullied as children and who have a genetic predisposition for depression are more likely to become depressed adults, according to a recent study that looked at the interplay between environmental and genetic factors in developing depression. 

    The study, published in JAMA Open Network, found that there is a complex interplay between environmental and genetic risk factors. Many factors are at play in determining a person’s risk for depression. 

    Researchers found that bullying affected mental health in the short and long term. 

    “Our findings highlight that being bullied in childhood is associated with both short-term and long-term consequences. Whether exposure to bullying has a lasting effect may depend on genetic liabilities to depression and bullying,” study authors wrote. 

    Risk Factors

    Speaking with Medical Xpress, study author Alex Kwong said that understanding that bullying is a risk factor can help identify children who may need additional mental health support as they grow. 

    “It’s important that we know if some children are more at risk of depression long after any childhood bullying has occurred,” Kwong said. “Our study found that young adults who were bullied as children were eight times more likely to experience depression that was limited to childhood. However, some children who were bullied showed greater patterns of depression that continued into adulthood and this group of children also showed genetic liability and family risk.”

    Dr. Rebecca Pearson, who studies psychiatric epidemiology, said that the results from the study can help guide professionals in spotting at-risk children. 

    “The results can help us to identify which groups of children are most likely to suffer ongoing symptoms of depression into adulthood and which children will recover across adolescence,” she said. “For example, the results suggest that children with multiple risk factors (including family history and bullying) should be targeted for early intervention but that when risk factors such as bullying occur insolation, symptoms of depression may be less likely to persist.”

    Environment vs Genetics

    Study authors pointed out that it is difficult to understand exactly how genetic and environmental factors come together to influence risk for depression. 

    “For example, stressful life events may cause more severe depression symptoms, but it is possible that genetically liable individuals may be more prone to stressful life events, thus making it hard to determine the direction of effects,” study authors wrote.

    “Therefore, while we cannot yet separate whether a risk factor operates through genetic or environmental mechanisms, examining both genetic and environmental risk factors could build better prediction models and provide a new understanding that could be translated into improved prevention and interventions.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • 10 Steps to Leaving Your Joyless Job and Finding Your True Purpose

    10 Steps to Leaving Your Joyless Job and Finding Your True Purpose

    I used to pray for a small enough car accident in which no one got hurt, but my car would need work and I’d get out of the office for a day.

    No Addiction Is Ever as It Seems 

    I’ve heard people say “the problem is never the problem.” No addiction is ever as it seems. In terms of my drug and alcohol addictions, the problem was an inability to cope with the realities of life: The smell of springtime, the first fireflies of summer, all of Earth’s elements struck me with the desire to drink and use. If avoiding “people, places, and things” was going to work for me, I’d have had to relocate to a new, less intense planet.

    Instead of avoiding life, I had to learn new skills to deal with it. I had to have new thoughts. I had to create new neural pathways that made my hand reach for my phone instead of a bottle. I learned to share openly and honestly about the way I felt instead of shoving my feelings down. The root of my drug and alcohol addictions was a fear of being open and vulnerable. By facing that fear, my need to drink and use dissipated. The problem was never the substances themselves.

    Through this process, I learned that I had other problems, with their own underlying problems! I learned that I am also a sex and love addict. Orgasms were never the problem. Sleeping with a married man is ethically unsound, but really wasn’t it more on him than on me? He’s the one who’s married! Morally wrong or not, the weight of the disgust I had for my actions brought me to my knees once again, wherein I learned the real problem: intimacy.

    After working on my intimacy issues, I uncovered another problem:

    I was staying in a job that I hated, and it was making me miserable both in and out of the workplace.

    When Your Job Negatively Affects Your Health

    Most of us have seen Office Space. The truth in life is that most people have to work, except for a few kids with trust funds who never seem all the better for it. But what happens when our work is affecting us negatively? How do we confront this beast while keeping a roof over our heads?

    Working itself is obviously not the problem. Working provides us with money for our homes, our families, our needs and hopefully some wants. Having a strong work ethic is a good thing. The name of the game at this level of recovery is self-worth, and not even so much in terms of money. Money comes and money goes, but how you value yourself, your time, your health, your emotions, and your priorities should remain constant.

    Pay close attention to the way you feel when you wake up in the morning on a workday. Are you looking forward to it? I used to pray for a small enough car accident in which no one got hurt, but my car would need work and I’d get out of the office for a day. It’s so obvious to me now that that was another subtle form of insanity. I thought everyone felt that way. I thought the daily grind was supposed to make you miserable, because if it wasn’t miserable, how would you be able to commiserate with people, and if you couldn’t commiserate with people, what would you even talk about?

    I had no idea that personal development, self-care, growth, fulfillment, and joy could be a part of a career path, or anything my friends would want to talk about. I realize now that constant complaints about hating work are boring, and banter about projects that light us up are a welcomed breath of fresh air.

    If you are stuck in the wrong job, your inner dialogue probably sounds something like the following:

    “I need this job. I’m not really good at anything. I’ve been here a while. I’m not qualified to do anything. I hate my boss, but where else am I going to go? Ugh, today sucks. I’m so over today. I bleeping hate this place.”

    How to Change Your Life

    If you want to make a change, you can, but it will require work, introspection, courage, faith, and, initially, some pain. The following steps got me out of a job I hated and onto a career path meant for me:

    1. Meditate every morning. Listen to your inner monologue from the witness seat. Hear the sounds around you and feel your full feelings as they bubble up in your body.
    1. Set an intention to check back into this quiet part of you three times during the workday. Set alarms on your phone to do it. Ask yourself, “Do I feel healthy? Does my body need anything? Am I happy?”
    1. Write a letter to your boss. Don’t give it to them, but write it. Write all the things you’ve never said but always wanted to, and read it every night for one week.
    1. Decide how you want to feel. For example, I wanted to feel respected, confident, creatively free, relaxed, and motivated. Decide how you want to feel and assess if your needs are met in your current workplace. (For help figuring out how you want to feel, I recommend The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte)
    1. Journal. After you’ve gotten used to morning meditation, add journaling afterward as part of your morning ritual.
    1. Set a date—one that intuitively speaks to you, and on that day, write down what you really want. No limits, no judgment, no fear. Maybe you want to be able to work from home and raise a family. Maybe you want to be able to travel the world while you work. Maybe you want better health benefits and more beneficial perks. Whatever it is, get it down on paper.
    1. Let go. Affirm that the Universe has heard you, that it is an active forcefield of energy and working on your behalf. Create a ritual to do this. If you pray, say it in prayer. Write it down and burn it. Write it down and stick it under your pillow. Speak it out loud to an understanding friend. Whatever resonates with you, do it.
    1. Follow the clues. Signs will appear. You will be inspired to take actions that may seem crazy, weird, or out of your natural rhythm— you should probably take them anyway. I know you’ve heard that the magic happens outside of your comfort zone, and now is the time to get uncomfortable. For support in taking scary leaps of faith, I recommend reading The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, by Mark Manson.
    1. Listen to “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton. Sing it in your car at the top of your lungs. Actually, forget that—sing it at karaoke. This one’s not just for fun—singing and dancing release your heart vibes into the world and create feel-good chemicals in your brain. Plus, at karaoke, you’ll be uncomfortable, confirming your commitment to 8. Go. Sing.
    1. Continue following the clues and report back. Keep us posted. This process may take days, weeks, months, or years, but set it in motion now and see where you’re at in one year, five years, and ten years. Remember—the best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Guide to Finding the Best Rehab for Percocet Addiction

    Guide to Finding the Best Rehab for Percocet Addiction

    Find out all you need to know about the effects of Percocet and how to recognize the signs of Percocet addiction with this helpful guide.

    1. What is Percocet and What is it Used for?
    2. Percocet Abuse
    3. When Percocet Rehab Becomes Necessary
    4. The Risks of Avoiding Percocet Rehab
    5. Detox and Withdrawal – How Long Does Percocet Stay in Your System?
    6. What Happens in Percocet Rehab
    7. Inpatient vs Outpatient Percocet Rehab
    8. Other Factors in Choosing Percocet Treatment

    Percocet is an opioid narcotic prescription drug used to manage pain. It is highly susceptible to abuse and can quickly lead to dependence. If you or someone you care about has been misusing Percocet, it is essential that you recognize the signs of addiction and reach out for help if needed. Percocet rehab can help you go through detox, learn to manage your cravings, and reduce the risk of having a relapse in the future. Effective Percocet addiction help is available through rehab and with therapy and medical treatment. 

    What is Percocet and What is it Used for?

    Percocet is a brand name for a combination drug that includes the over-the-counter painkiller acetaminophen and the opioid narcotic oxycodone. It is available in several different tablets and solutions, with differing amounts of each substance. Percocet is prescribed to treat pain that is moderate to severe and that can’t be controlled with other, non-opioid substances. 

    In addition to Percocet, this combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen can be found under several other brand names: Endocet, Magnacet, Narvox, Oxycet, Perloxx, Primalev, Roxicet, Roxilox, Tylox, Xartemis, and Xolox.

    Percocet Abuse

    Like other opioid drugs, Percocet abuse is always a risk. The Drug Enforcement Administration schedules controlled substances and has placed Percocet in schedule II along with other opioids. Drugs in this schedule are considered to have a high potential for being abused, which in turn can lead to dependence. 

    It is important to understand that even regular, long-term use of his drug can lead to Percocet dependence. Misusing or abusing it increases the risk significantly. Abuse can include taking any oxycodone without a prescription or, if you have a prescription, using it more frequently, for longer, or in higher doses than your doctor recommended. 

    When Percocet Rehab Becomes Necessary

    You may need rehab if your use of oxycodone has gotten out of control, if you want to or know you should stop misusing this drug but cannot. It’s not always easy to come to terms with needing help, but listen to your loved ones and your own inner voice. Know the Percocet addiction symptoms so that you can better determine if you need help or someone you care about could benefit from rehab and treatment:

    • You want to stop using Percocet, or at least slow down your use, but you keep failing in your attempts.
    • Your cravings for it keep leading you back to Percocet use.
    • You repeatedly use more of the drug than you want to, or for longer. 
    • Too much of your time is taken up by drug use, which results in failing to meet your responsibilities, giving up other activities, or both.
    • Drug use is causing harm to relationships important to you, and yet you keep using.
    • In spite of health problems caused by Percocet, physical or mental, you continue to use it.
    • You have used Percocet in dangerous situations more than once. 
    • Over time, you have developed some tolerance to Percocet. 
    • You are exhibiting signs of withdrawal when not using oxycodone. 

    The Risks of Avoiding Percocet Rehab

    Misusing Percocet and failing to get help for your addiction puts you at risk for a number of dangers and health problems. For instance, when you use more than is recommended, you can experience Percocet side effects like nausea, rashes, loss of appetite, bad breath, chills, headaches, fever, vomiting, and fatigue. 

    You also increase the risk of having more serious Percocet effects like difficult urination, back pain, mouth sores, a cough, and bleeding. And the acetaminophen that is combined with oxycodone in this drug can also cause problems when you take too much. Higher doses of this over-the-counter drug can cause serious liver damage. 

    There are also, of course, all kinds of life consequences of becoming addicted and avoiding rehab. From missing time at work to being fired, getting in trouble in your family to getting arrested, having accidents or being a victim of violence or assault, the repercussions can be lifelong and severe. 

    One of the biggest risks of putting off getting Percocet addiction help is having an overdose. Too much of any opioid can repress breathing, heart rate, and central nervous system activity to the point that you stop breathing and die. It’s reversible but only if you get help in time. Signs of Percocet overdose include struggling to breathe, excessive sleepiness, limp and weak muscles, cold and clammy skin, slow, shallow breathing, and loss of consciousness. 

    Detox and Withdrawal – How Long Does Percocet Stay in Your System?

    Once you recognize that you have a problem with misusing Percocet, you will have to go through detox. This is the process of cessation of drug use and letting it leave your body. It will throw you into withdrawal and some very uncomfortable symptoms and cravings that may trigger a relapse. For this reason, you should detox with supervision only, professional if possible. 

    How long it will take for oxycodone to leave your system depends on how much you took last. Expect withdrawal to kick in about 12 hours after that last dose and for Percocet withdrawal symptoms, including the following, to last a couple of days to a couple weeks:

    • Mood changes, including anxiety and agitation
    • Achy muscles
    • Increased tearing, sweating, and yawning
    • Runny nose
    • Insomnia
    • Cramps in the abdomen
    • Nausea
    • Vomiting
    • Diarrhea

    What Happens in Percocet Rehab

    Knowing what happens in rehab and how your addiction will be treated can make the important step of seeking help a little easier. Once you have completed a detox program, you can expect to undergo a thorough evaluation on intake to rehab. This should include a diagnosis of your substance use disorder and any mental illnesses you may also have. The best, most effective treatment for addiction will include care for mental health issues at the same time. 

    Your Percocet rehab will then begin with a tailored plan for your needs and preferences. Generally, this will include a combination of medical care and behavioral therapies. Medications are available for opioid use disorders, and the best rehab will make them available to you if appropriate. 

    Two of these, methadone and buprenorphine, are partial opioid agonists, which means they stimulate the same receptors as oxycodone and other opioids. They are less susceptible to dependency, though, so they can be used in a controlled way to wean you from Percocet and manage withdrawal. Naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, is a medication that blocks the effects of opioids like Percocet. If you have it in your system, relapse becomes pointless because you will experience no effects. 

    Never choose a Percocet rehab facility that only offers medical treatment. You need ongoing therapy in addition to medications to overcome this addiction. Behavioral therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy, are important in providing tools for lasting recovery. They will help you learn how to identify and manage drug use triggers, set and reach goals, make positive lifestyle changes, and cope with negative emotions while also changing harmful, negative patterns of behavior. 

    Inpatient vs Outpatient Percocet Rehab

    The choice you make for Percocet addiction treatment should at the least include an evaluation, treatment for any mental illnesses, an individualized treatment plan, and a combination of medical treatment and therapy. It is possible to get all these necessary components in either outpatient or inpatient care. There are pros and cons to each, and it is a personal decision. Some benefits of residential rehab are:

    • A safe, secure environment
    • Care and support 24 hours a day
    • The ability to focus on recovery, away from home
    • A large variety of therapy types and support services
    • Treatment from a diverse staff with various areas of expertise

    There are also benefits of outpatient care that many people find outweigh the downsides to not staying in a residential rehab center:

    • Staying at home, which may be more comfortable and supportive
    • Being able to go to work
    • Caring for family and home responsibilities
    • Greater flexibility in treatment and scheduling

    Inpatient treatment is not for everyone, but if your addiction is severe, your home life is not safe or supportive, or you struggle with relapse, it may be the best option in the end. 

    Other Factors in Choosing Percocet Treatment

    There are a lot of things to consider when choosing rehab for your Percocet addiction. It can feel overwhelming, and one of the most important things you can do is get help as soon as possible. To help you make this big decision, rely on someone you trust. This person can narrow down your options and make the choice a little easier with guidance and support. 

    In addition to the inclusion of therapeutic and medical treatment, inpatient and outpatient care, and being provided with an individualized plan for care, you have a few other things to consider. Most importantly, choose a facility, treatment program, and care specialist that makes you feel comfortable. Visit a rehab center before committing to treatment there. Talk with therapists and other staff, and get referrals from previous patients. 

    These are the kind of less tangible factors that will play a big role in how good you feel about your treatment and how effective it is. When you feel right about the decision you have made for care, you will devote yourself more fully to the process. But, of course, most importantly of all, you need to get Percocet addiction help and treatment as soon as you possibly can.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Best Rehab Options for Diazepam Addiction Treatment

    Best Rehab Options for Diazepam Addiction Treatment

    Our guide can help you find a luxury Diazepam rehab.

    Table of Contents

    1. WHAT IS DIAZEPAM?
    2. WHAT ARE THE USES OF DIAZEPAM?
    3. WHAT ARE THE SLANG NAMES FOR DIAZEPAM?
    4. WHAT IS DIAZEPAM ADDICTION?
    5. WHAT ARE DIAZEPAM ADDICTION COMPLICATIONS?
    6. WHAT ARE DIAZEPAM ADDICTION SYMPTOMS?
    7. WHAT ARE DIAZEPAM WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS?
    8. WHAT ARE DRUG REHABS?
    9. Types of rehabs
    10. Payment for rehab loans and insurance
    11. Conclusion

    WHAT IS DIAZEPAM?

    Diazepam is a benzodiazepine derivative, a prescription drug that is often prescribed by doctors and physicians to treat extreme anxiety and unmanageable stress. It’s a tranquilizer and acts as a muscle relaxant, thus reducing tension and anxiety. This drug is colorless or light yellow and is a crystalline compound that is also water insoluble.

    WHAT ARE THE USES OF DIAZEPAM?

    Diazepam or Valium is a medicinal prescription drug often prescribed by doctors for the treatment of extreme anxiety or stress. It’s also useful in treating hypertension. This drug acts as a muscle relaxant and helps patients relax and unwind from the daily stresses in their lives.

    Diazepam is also useful for people suffering from acute withdrawal symptoms due to alcohol addiction. This helps the victim in getting relief from muscle cramps and tremors, along with other extreme physical symptoms caused as a negative side effect of the withdrawal effect. Patients suffering from acute agitation and irritation due to denial of alcohol are also prescribed Diazepam to help them calm down. 

    WHAT ARE THE SLANG NAMES FOR DIAZEPAM?

    There are several slang names that are used for purchasing Diazepam without a prescription. These names are used when a person is addicted to medicine and tries to make a clandestine purchase. With that said, here’s a list of some common slang names for the drug. 

    • Moggies 
    • Vallies 
    • Jellies
    • Eggs 
    • Blues
    • Yellows 

    WHAT IS DIAZEPAM ADDICTION?

    Diazepam, which is a prescription medicine, is popularly used by doctors and medical practitioners all over the world as a tranquilizer to help recover from stress or anxiety. However, with prolonged use of this drug, patients might become addicted to it. Excessive use and overdose of Diazepam cause addiction, as the patients start becoming tolerant of this drug with time.

    Diazepam affects the body through the brain cells. It mainly works on the cells in the brain’s pleasure center, thus triggering the feeling of joy, pleasure, and stresslessness. Diazepam or Benzodiazepines, as a whole, work on a group of cells that prevents dopamine from flooding into the brain. Thus, dopamine is released in excess in the brain when overdosed or consumed for too long.

    This leads to a sensation of pleasure, which the patients enjoy and would love to cherish for a longer time, thus consuming even more of Diazepam. Once the consumers get this intense feeling, the brain starts craving for more Diazepam. The more the person consumes, the more Diazepam tolerant he becomes.

    The pleasure-inducing effects are intense, and they need more of Diazepam to get the desired intensity, thus slipping deep into addiction. With more indulgence of Diazepam, the patients become addicts and start getting controlled by Diazepam, thus losing control over themselves. 

    WHAT ARE DIAZEPAM ADDICTION COMPLICATIONS?

    People suffering from Diazepam addiction have an extreme craving for the drug. When denied, acute withdrawal symptoms are seen in the patients, along with severe and adverse physical symptoms such as muscle cramps, pain, and irritation. Rehabilitation is the only way for successful cessation of the addiction for patients suffering from prolonged Diazepam addiction.

    It has been observed that most Diazepam addicts were once patients who were initially prescribed to take the drug for treatment. However, they have, over a prolonged period, a self-imposed increase in the dosage, leading to addiction. With regular overdose, the users become Diazepam tolerant, which leads to more craving of the drug. 

    This cycle goes on, and the addicts need more dosage than the previous time to get the feeling of intense pleasure and satisfaction. 

    WHAT ARE DIAZEPAM ADDICTION SYMPTOMS?

    Some of the addiction symptoms of Diazepam are pretty much like an addiction to any other drug. People witness difficulty in refraining themselves from the use of the drug. They develop a lack of interest in various activities and are unable to focus. As the addicts consume Diazepam in more massive amounts, they become more tolerant towards the drug.

    Physical symptoms may include a soothing state of mind, fluctuating heart rates, dry mouth, dizziness, and being in a subconscious state of mind. The addict feels nervous and confused. Other symptoms include delusions of well-being, and they often have random suicidal thoughts. These symptoms increase with time if not detected and treated immediately.

    WHAT ARE DIAZEPAM WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS?

    Once the victim stops having Diazepam, severe withdrawal symptoms can be seen, causing various extreme physical conditions, such as intense pain, shivering, tremor, muscle cramps. The victims might even collapse if they don’t take Diazepam for an extended period. This happens typically when the addict tries to quit the drug. The withdrawal symptoms for Diazepam addiction can be categorized as follows: 

    • Physical symptoms

    The main physical symptom of Diazepam withdrawal is severe pain, including headaches, muscle cramps, joint, and abdominal pains. Other symptoms are vomiting, shivering, and tremors. Addicts also experience loss of appetite and dry mouth.

    • Neurological symptoms

    Diazepam addiction causes the victims to feel confused and experience a lack of clarity when they stop having Diazepam. The lack of synchronization between thoughts and actions causes failure in comprehending properly. 

    • Cardiovascular symptoms

    The cardiovascular system of the body is adversely affected as a result of Diazepam withdrawal effects. Fluctuating heart rate, shortness of breath, and sudden rise or fall in blood pressure can cause discomfort in addicts. In extreme cases, cardiovascular fluctuations might even prove to be fatal.

    • Psychological symptoms

    Psychologically, not having Diazepam causes depression, extreme panic attacks, and increased cravings. Addicts often become violent and try to get their hands on Diazepam.

    The sudden stop of Diazepam, after a prolonged period of consumption, can be fatal for the victims. A wide variety of medicines are given to the patients as a part of the Diazepam withdrawal process to keep them calm and prevent fatalities. 

    As a first step, detoxification takes place, where the addicts are detoxified with medications to gradually decrease and then nullify the effects of Diazepam from the body. This helps the patients become less tolerant of the drug.

    Initially, the patients are given a certain amount of Diazepam, after which the doses are tapered down. The dose of Diazepam is finally discontinued, depending on the response of the patients. The medicines that may be used for the withdrawal symptoms include selective serotonin, melatonin, and anticonvulsants. All these are antidepressant medications that can reduce the effects of intense withdrawal symptoms.

    WHAT ARE DRUG REHABS?

    Rehab centers are the most effective places for the treatment of people suffering from any addiction. Rehabs take complete care of the addicts, and they are treated by expert teams, experienced doctors, and consultants. There are thousands of rehab centers, but not all of them are effective or best for treatment. It’s essential to choose the most suitable rehab care after considering the following factors:

    • The severity of the addiction
    • Success rate
    • Number of renowned and experienced doctors
    • Cost
    • Ambiance 

    Rehabs that offer evidence-based medication are most effective in treating Diazepam addiction. Rehabs using this medication technique have professionals who are specially trained and use the latest approaches, technologies, and medications for treating people with Diazepam addiction. Each patient is first analyzed and then treated based on the severity of the condition.

    Types of rehabs

    The rehabilitation centers can be categorized into three types. Here are the most common ones. 

    Inpatient Rehabs

    This is one of the types of rehabs popular for a severe Diazepam addiction. These are quite similar to the residential rehabs, where the patients need to stay until the treatment goes on. The patients are kept under observation all the time and are attended by the doctors and counselors.

    The period of treatment varies depending on the physical condition and the kind of improvement seen in the patients. Once the detoxification is carried out successfully, other therapies and medications, along with counsellings and motivational sessions, are planned and executed. This ensures that the patients can come back to a healthy life soon after the treatment period ends. 

    Inpatient rehabs are often more beneficial since they keep the patients busy throughout the day with a series of activities and leave no time for them to resort to addictive behavior again. Since these rehab centers accommodate lots of patients, each person interacts with other addicts and gets motivated from their journey.

    Since all have similar issues, no one judges the other, thus making the process of recovery smoother and comfortable. These rehabs offer training sessions and courses, helping the addicts in becoming employable after they complete their duration of treatment and are ready to go back to their regular routine. 

    Outpatient Rehabs

    Outpatient rehabs do not have in-house residential facilities. Patients can make appointments with the consultants and counselors for the required treatment. These rehab facilities are popular for patients who are being pushed to the verge of addiction or who has just recovered and are facing relapse of addiction.

    A regular visit, treatment, and checkup at these rehabs prevent relapse of drug addiction. Patients who have completed treatment and are sent home often face recursion of addiction. They start readministering Diazepam. To prevent that, outpatient rehabs keep monitoring the patient constantly through regular treatment and sessions even after they are free of addiction.

    Residential Rehabs

    Residential rehabs are rehabilitation centers where patients can stay and take up the course of treatment. These rehab centers offer 360-degree treatment with special care devoted to the physical and mental well-being of the patients. Mental and psychological treatment is equally important for curing Diazepam addiction.

    Medication only provides a short-lived relief from an addiction problem. A patient needs to develop a determination to lessen the chances of relapse. Residential rehabs help instill confidence and motivation. The residents also take part in various positive and creative activities, along with learning and counseling sessions. These activities help them build the determination to prevent them from indulging in drugs again.

    Residential rehabs also offer team building activities, helping the patients restore their social and human qualities, thus helping them prevent the use of drugs in the future. These activities are designed to reskill the residents and help them make their living and recognition after they leave residential rehab. Among the various treatments and therapies, some of the most effective ones are as follows. 

    • Individual therapy

    This is a basic form of therapy that has proved to be the most effective among all types of behavioral therapy. In this kind of treatment, the counselors meet the patients individually and indulge in a personalized discussion.

    In these sessions, the patients are encouraged to speak without hesitation and let out all the issues and problems in front of the counselors, who ensure the protection of privacy and confidentiality.

    These sessions are most effective because, after all, besides medications and efforts, it is the addicts themselves who have to realize the adverse effects of drugs and Diazepam addiction and pull themselves out of it. 

    • Group counseling

    Working in groups helps patients enhance human qualities and adapt to social regulations. These sessions of counseling a group of similar people who are suffering from a similar problem help in strengthening empathy in individuals.

    The patients interact and learn from each other, thus understanding the importance of refraining from drugs and moving towards positivity. They also get to interact with recovering drug addicts who might have much of advice to provide. That way, the patients who are still under treatment get inspired by the survivors and regain confidence.

    Payment for rehab loans and insurance

    Treatment for Diazepam addiction in rehabs can be expensive. Since the duration of the treatment, sessions, and medication takes time, financial assistance can sometimes be inevitable. Loans and insurances are available to support the expenses of treatment at the rehabs. These loans ensure that the victims who need treatment can continue their medication and courses at the rehab facility. You can consult the bank or your insurance company to know more. 

    Conclusion

    Diazepam addiction treatment has been made a lot easier with the help of rehab solutions. Mental health awareness has also helped in encouraging more people to take the necessary steps to treat mental health issues, like an addiction. For more information on the above, you can always conduct a search online.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Rip Torn Dies; Oscar-Nominated Actor Struggled With Alcoholism

    Rip Torn Dies; Oscar-Nominated Actor Struggled With Alcoholism

    The actor was 88.

    Actor Rip Torn, a larger-than-life presence in film, on television and stage for more than a half-century, died at his home in Connecticut on July 9.

    Though Torn was perhaps best known for comedic roles—he won an Emmy for his turn on The Larry Sanders Show and was an inveterate scene stealer in Albert Brooks’ Defending Your Life, 30 Rock and the Men in Black franchise. But he was also a Tony-nominated stage actor and earned an Oscar nomination as a hard-drinking bayou resident in Cross Creek (1984).

    Torn also struggled with alcohol in real life, and earned headlines in the late 2000s for a series of run-ins with the law that led to a suspended jail sentence in 2010.

    Born Elmore Rual Torn Jr. in Temple, Texas on February 6, 1931, his unique moniker was a tradition passed down to all the men in his family. He headed west to launch an acting career in Hollywood, but found more success in New York, where he studied under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio, and later helped his cousin, Sissy Spacek, join their ranks.

    A connection with director Elia Kazan led to early roles in films like Baby Doll (1956) and the original Broadway run of Tennessee Williams’ Sweet Bird of You, which led to a supporting role in the feature film version in 1962. Torn’s co-star, Geraldine Page, would become his second wife, and they remained married until her death in 1987.

    Torn eventually settled into character roles, playing intense, complicated figures including Judas in King of Kings (1961) and a selfish country singer in the cult favorite Payday (1973).

    He also forged a reputation as a difficult, even volatile actor. He famously assaulted writer-turned-director Norman Mailer with a hammer while filming the experimental drama Maidstone in 1970 (the fight remained in the film), and successfully sued Dennis Hopper in 1998 over claims that he had pulled a knife on the actor during the production of Easy Rider (1968), for which Torn was originally slated in the role played by Jack Nicholson.

    Despite his reputation, Torn was in demand as a character actor, and shifted away from heavies to play ornery, avuncular comedic roles in the ’90s and early 2000s.

    A turn as a heavenly defense attorney in Albert Brooks’ Defending Your Life led to his role on Larry Sanders and six consecutive Emmy nominations, including a win in 1996. Torn was soon a staple of film and TV comedies, including an Emmy-nominated recurring role on 30 Rock and memorable appearances as Zed in the Men in Black films, Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and other films.

    At the height of his career, Torn’s struggles with alcohol became a matter of public record. He was arrested three times between 2004 and 2008 for driving under the influence, and in 2010, broke into a bank branch office in Connecticut while intoxicated.

    Charged with carrying a firearm while intoxicated and first-degree burglary, among others, Torn was released after his lawyer told the judge that his client needed treatment for alcohol dependency.

    He eventually pled guilty to reckless endangerment, criminal trespass and other charges, and received a two-and-a-half year suspended sentence and three years probation.

    Torn returned to sporadic work in independent features, and logged his final role with voice-acting work for the Comedy Central animated series TripTank. At the time of his death, he was 88. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Sinead O’Connor Talks Public Breakdown, Dr. Phil

    Sinead O’Connor Talks Public Breakdown, Dr. Phil

    O’Connor says she’s bringing charges against the rehab facility that Dr. Phil sent her to because of the “trauma” she reportedly experienced.

    Sinead O’Connor was once known only for her singular, powerful voice. These days, she’s also known for battles with mental health, which often went down in public.

    Giving a lengthy interview with the Irish Independent, Sinead looked back at her suffering with a dark sense of humor, anger and compassion.

    “There is a Muddy Waters song that goes, ‘If I don’t go crazy I think I’ll lose my mind’—it was a bit like that. Throughout it all, it wasn’t that I was chemically crazy, I was crazy because of the situation and the things that were going on, which I can’t go into. I had chronic endometriosis and had a hysterectomy which I reacted very badly to. They took out my ovaries, which sent me into surgical menopause, which made me mental. I only had paracetamol to get me through it, and I lost my fucking marbles. I was behaving like such a monster that nobody wanted anything to do with me, and so I fucked off to America.”

    Sinead’s behavior came to the attention of Dr. Phil, who reached out to Sinead, doing an interview with her and placing her in a mental health facility.

    On his show, she spoke about her bipolar disorder diagnosis and the emotional and physical abuse she suffered from her mother. Sinead says that going on the show was a decision made out of desperation.

    The Dr. Phil Show

    “Dr Phil is on the phone and you sort of feel like Cinderella—to begin with,” she explains. “When you are desperate, like I was, you will reach out to anyone. He went on Jimmy Fallon afterwards and he said I contacted him, but that’s not true. He tracked me down after I put that notorious video on Facebook.

    “After the interview, I never saw him again and I am bringing proceedings against the facility he sent me to, from the trauma I went through there. He was like the Wizard of Oz. He said to me; ‘I never fail,’ and I was like, ‘You are gonna fail.’”

    After failing to get the treatment she needed in the United States, Sinead returned to Ireland and St. Patrick’s Hospital in Dublin. It was there that she was able to begin to cope with her past.

    “There is no fixing it, but you learn to live with it. I can, however, update myself and how I treat people. I’m not different from someone dealing with physical pain. The doctors taught me how to live with it and then add in other things. I just have to accept that sometimes I’ll feel like shit, or maybe even suicidal for a minute or two, but I know that impulse is bullshit.”

    Moment Of Reflection

    Looking back over her years of struggle, Sinead told the Independent, “In public or in private, there are things I regret saying. I regret that it became necessary to communicate the way I did, and that there was a war, and that in the war I became a terrorist. But you have to understand someone only becomes a terrorist when all else has failed. But good wins in the end—in the family, I mean.”

    View the original article at thefix.com