Opponents of the controversial pilot program say it is a violation of civil rights.
The growing population of mentally ill and drug-using San Franciscans has come to a head.
Faced with a crisis, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted last Tuesday (June 4) in favor of a pilot program that will “force some people with serious mental illness and drug addiction into treatment,” ABC News reported. However, opponents of the pilot program say it is a violation of civil rights.
San Francisco and the greater Bay Area have struggled to deal with mental illness and drug use, forcing officials to consider unconventional solutions.
One radical idea was presented by Oakland Councilman Noel Gallo, who introduced a resolution in May to decriminalize entheogenic plants including psilocybin (magic mushrooms), ayahuasca and iboga. “We need all the help we can get to deal with the mental health issues that we have,” said Gallo. The measure passed last week.
The controversial pilot program in San Francisco would “allow a court to appoint a public conservator” for a person who has been committed for psychiatric hospitalization “at least eight times in a year,” according to ABC News. Treatment could last as long as one year.
Currently the pilot would only apply to five people in San Francisco, but pending state legislation could expand that number to 55—the amount of people who currently match the criteria of having been committed at least eight times for a mental health issue.
There are an additional 48 individuals who have been committed six or seven times, according to the health department.
Clearly, the need for some kind of intervention is dire. San Francisco Mayor London Breed insists that the pilot program will help. “Allowing people to continue to suffer on our streets is not acceptable or humane, and I am glad the Board of Supervisors supported our approach to finally make a change,” Breed said in a statement.
State Sen. Scott Wiener, who co-authored legislation at the state level that would allow pilot programs in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego counties, agreed. “Too many people are deteriorating and dying on San Francisco’s streets, and we have a moral responsibility to help them,” he said.
The proposal for the pilot program passed by a 10-1 vote. According to ABC News, more supervisors signed on after the program was amended to require that the individual be given multiple chances to accept voluntary help. Mayor Breed also promised more funding for treatment in a proposed budget.
Supervisor Shamann Walton was the only “no” vote, voicing concern that the program did not account for the potential negative impact that it would have on people of color.
Another critic, Curt Child, legislative director of Disability Rights California, told ABC News, “This is a major civil rights issue in the sense of confining people against their will.”
The daughter of music legend Elvis Presley opened up about her struggles with opioids.
Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley, wrote about going public with her struggles with painkiller abuse in a foreword for the new book, The United States of Opioids: A Prescription for Liberating a Nation in Pain by Harry Nelson.
In the foreword, Presley tells the story of the first time she spoke publicly about her experiences with addiction.
Last August, Presley was on Todayto promote Where No One Stands Alone, a gospel compilation album featuring archival recordings of Elvis’ vocals with new instrumentals and mixing. When the interview took a turn towards the topic of addiction, Presley did not shy away.
“I’m not perfect. My father wasn’t perfect, no one’s perfect. It’s what you do with it after you learn and then you try to help others with it,” said Presley, referring to her father’s famous substance abuse problems.
On the show, she also revealed what life was like prior to finding recovery.
“I was not happy,” she said. “And by the way, the struggle and addiction for me started when I was 45 years old. It wasn’t like it was happening all my life. I have a therapist and she was like, ‘You’re a miracle. I don’t know how you’re still alive.’”
Presley chose to open up in hopes of helping others, she revealed in her foreword.
“I had never openly spoken in public about my own addiction to opioids and painkillers,” she revealed. “I wasn’t sure that I was ready to share on such a personal topic.”
Her own problems with painkillers began in 2008 when she was prescribed opioids while recovering from having her twin daughters, Vivienne and Finley. Her substance abuse problems began earlier than that, and she credits Scientology for getting her clean after a big, final bender.
“I was on a 72-hour bender,” she said. “Cocaine, sedatives, pot and drinking—all at the same time. I never got my hands on heroin, but it’s not like I wouldn’t have taken it. I just couldn’t be sober. I don’t know how I lived through it.”
She eventually found recovery and hopes that stigma will be abolished.
“It is time for us to say goodbye to shame about addiction… Across America and the world, people are dying in mind-boggling numbers because of opioid and other drug overdoses,” wrote Presley in the foreword. “Many more people are suffering silently, addicted to opioids and other substances. I am writing this in the hope that I can play a small part in focusing attention on this terrible crisis.”
Any one of these Tribeca favorites will provide a solid cinematic escape, especially if you’re in the mood to dig a little deeper into the human psyche.
Summer isn’t known as the best season for movies—but this year has some fine offerings. Perhaps film studios understand our chronic need to chill after each long day of WTF news. If you’re feeling stressed, you are not alone. Taking a movie break can provide liftoff—far away from the news into another place and time. These recent movies will take us time-traveling to focus on human frailties and quirks of the mind.
Some pictures on this list are somber in parts. We see persistent inequalities and what seem like insurmountable obstacles. Yet, each film also shows how people rise above their circumstances, inspiring me to keep on keeping on. Despite nagging obsessions that may try to suck you into a leviathan hole, you can triumph and channel your compulsions into positives.
Puppies remain the best antidepressants but movies are a close second. And air-conditioned theaters, ahhhh.
“You’ve gotta kill the person you were born to be to become the person you want to be.”
It was a given I’d be dazzled by Rocketman because I’m an Elton John fan. But I had no idea how Oscar-worthy this flick is nor how deeply it would affect me. I mean, everyone knows the formula of a rockumentary: Our hero sets off on a dream then hits a soul-stomping struggle. Nail-biting, we witness their crushing despair (while feeling half-jealous of their unwavering determination). Ultimately, their refusal to quit becomes an unhealthy obsession. We’re worried. That is, until the adrenaline rush that comes with their meteoric success.
Favorite offerings in music biopics (Bohemian Rhapsody, Amy, Ray) levitate us to fantastical heights. And even though we know what’s coming, our hearts inevitably crack open when the star’s fame bubble bursts. From gig to gig, loneliness ensues. Our beloved musician plunges into addiction. Some survive. Many don’t.
John has been open about his war with chemicals, yet he’s still standing stronger than he ever did, lookin’ like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid. He’s been sober for nearly three decades—that’s why he lived to watch his odyssey on screen vs. the typical post-mortem tribute.
Last year’s Bohemian Rhapsody earned four Oscars including Best Actor for Rami Malek who became Queen’s Freddie Mercury. This year’s rock feature is even better, perhaps because Dexter Fletcher directed Rocketman from start to finish instead of rescuing the Queen biopic after original director Bryan Singer was fired. Lee Hall (Billy Elliot) wrote Rocketman’s winning screenplay. Lead actor Taron Egerton, who sings throughout, morphed into John. Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot) is superb as John’s career-long lyrics writer and closest friend, Bernie Taupin.
The high-budget cinematography by George Richmond is mesmerizing, as are the glorious replicas of John’s eye-popping costumes by Julian Day. The cast includes Bryce Dallas Howard as John’s jaded mother, Steven Mackintosh as his distant father, and Richard Madden as salacious and smarmy manager John Reid. Scene stealer Tate Donovan plays Doug Weston, owner of L.A.’s star-making nightclub the Troubadour. Despite some sad subject matter, you will be levitated. I’ll stop here. No spoiler for the best scene in this outstanding film.
This powerful indie brings you into an African American, god-fearing community in rural Louisiana. Helen Wayne (Karen Kaia Livers) lumbers across a yard toward an aging dog, trying to treat the poor pooch who is riddled with mange. Her strained movements and brow full of sweat communicate a hard life under the scorching Southern heat. Years of disappointment have settled into her features.
Wayne is determined to help the animal out of discomfort but despite her repeated efforts and pleas to god for help, nothing is working. With the poor dog’s rash worsening, she heads to church for strength. Her faith is strong but it can’t soothe her daily feelings of helplessness. The dog isn’t the only loved one she is pained over. She bears witness while two men descend into alcoholism.
One is the Reverend Pastor Joseph Tillman (Wendell Pierce). The other is her only surviving child, Daniel (Dominque McClellan). Recently out of work, her son has become a reluctant stay-at-home parent to his young son, Jeremiah (Braelyn Kelly). The boy seems checked-out, so removed that he seems dissociated; half-alive. His mom works long hours and Jeremiah is left with his hard-drinking, self-pitying dad who throws him a half-hearted tidbit of childrearing now and then. Despite its tough topics, the film is deeply engaging with Livers as a heroic woman trying to keep everything from falling apart.
Burning Cane took home three awards after premiering at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival (TFF). It’s mind-popping that Phillip Youmans, the youngest filmmaker accepted into the festival, won its top prize: Best Narrative Feature. Youmans seems an old soul. He wrote, directed, shot, and edited the feature film during his final years of high school and took home the award for Best Cinematography. And Wendell Pierce’s portrayal of the alcoholic preacher earned the Best Actor honor. Now, age 19, Youmans said, “The church is regarded as a beacon of hope and guidance, but it is also used by some to manipulate and control voices within the community. Making this film was therapeutic because it allowed me to work through my own personal conflicts.”
In an interview with BlackFilm, Youmans said, “The biggest inspiration behind Burning Cane was my upbringing in the Baptist church. I had a lot of questions that I never really got any answers to in terms of my ideological differences with the church. That’s where the emotional root of it is, but in a more literal sense, the film is about me humanizing the sorts of people I grew up with [who] surrounded me in that southern black ethos.”
Not only is he the youngest filmmaker ever to enter and to win at TFF, he is also the first African American to win their highest award.
The Quiet One wowed audiences last month at TFF and was quickly scooped up for distribution. It hits theaters June 21. This is filmmaker Oliver Murray’s debut documentary.
The doc begins with an intriguing visual perspective of its subject, Bill Wyman, a founding member of the Rolling Stones and their bass player for 30 years. The opening shot is as if you’re staring at the faraway end of a long road. Not only a clever metaphor, it’s the “A-frame” device used in alluring masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance. That artistic aid grabs and directs the viewer’s eye to the subject. On each side of the “A” we see what appear to be endless cabinets, shelves, VHS tapes, notebooks, film reels, books, mysterious shapes, and unknown objects.
Murray takes us through Wyman’s museum-like collection of photos, videos, and memorabilia, with voiceovers predominantly by Wyman but with additional narration sprinkled throughout from Eric Clapton and Bob Geldoff. With the discipline required by a musician to master an instrument, Wyman also diligently kept a diary to record his 82 years on the planet.
I’d assumed that all of the Stones indulged in the hard-partying lifestyle of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards due to their access to boatloads of money, the superpower of fame, a gazillion groupies, and cling-on fans who would’ve done anything just to be near them. But Wyman never fell into that typical rock ’n roll trap of addiction, though he did struggle with his own demons. We see indications of Wyman’s obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in his meticulously archived life.
Oliver Murray, the doc’s writer and director, granted The Fix an exclusive interview, candidly revealing something about himself:
“Coming from a music background myself, I’d seen friends go that way. It never happens overnight from what I’ve seen. It’s when you look back and see such brilliant potential went to waste. I think the sadness for Bill [Wyman] is especially around the early death of Brian Jones. It is still an open wound for him. He goes back into his archives every day. So he comes across figures like Brian.”
Twenty years have gone by since Wyman left the band searching for a less fraught life. Meanwhile, the Stones are still going. Murray said that from Wyman’s viewpoint, “Brian should have had a long, healthy life. That’s the bit he has to live with but also keep his own life going forward. You can only analyze by going backward. I think Bill gets equal amounts of nourishment from the archive as he does sadness because with his compulsion to go back, to study his life, trying to understand it, he relives it.”
Murray acknowledged Wyman’s severe OCD and described the bass player as a completionist.
“The way Bill lived in the Stones was not suited to someone with OCD,” said Murray. “Like in the film, he said, ‘Fuck it, I’m going to do this.’ But it became a wild beast. Being in the Stones was like living in a goldfish bowl.”
I found the doc fascinating. Murray reveals a complex man you probably know little about. Even a hard-core Stones fan or semi-informed loyalist to the band will find new information here. I expected to hear more about Wyman’s huge scandal 35 years ago regarding the vast age difference between the rocker and his second wife. It was a predictably short marriage. This documentary shows Wyman’s world as it is, without judgment.
For me, the archive itself was the fascinating star.
Documentary 17 Blocks, which also premiered at TFF last month, introduced me to the treacherous D.C. neighborhood only 17 blocks from the U.S. Capital. Washington’s wealthy “suits” drive by on their way to six- and seven-figure jobs, earning tax breaks while the working class and poverty-stricken struggle to feed their children. The irony is sickening. A local shop prints the names of people who were killed by guns on T-shirts for grieving loved ones.
In this high-crime area, nine-year-old Emmanuel Sanford-Durant began filming his family in 1999. His passion to record rubbed off on family members and for two decades, the Sanford family documented their daily lives which included poverty, racism, oppression, devastating violence, and drug addiction. The footage is raw and breathtaking, as is their resilience.
Twenty years of intimate moments span four generations, beginning with Emmanuel, his older brother Smurf, sister Denice, and mother Cheryl. In between multiple hardships, we are treated to a family full of love, redemption, and hope.
After the premier screening, Filmmaker Davy Rothbart and members of his Sanford “family” took the stage. The packed crowd welcomed them with a deafening standing ovation. 17 blocks won TFF’s award for Best Editing in a Documentary Feature.
Rothbart described his strong connection with Cheryl to The Fix.
“She always says she ‘adopted’ me. I knew Smurf because we played basketball. I showed Emmanuel my video camera and showed him how to use it. Ten years later, in 2009, I’d grown close to the family and it was a thrill to see Emmanuel graduate high school, get engaged. He was excited talking about becoming a firefighter.”
A few months later, disaster struck. On New Year’s Eve, Smurf’s drug dealing led to an unthinkable tragedy. Rothbart rushed to be with the Sanfords as soon as he heard. Despite her anguished state, or perhaps because of it, Cheryl demanded Rothbart keep filming. Cheryl wanted him to show everything—the failures, struggles, and crime. During the editing process, she insisted Rothbart include Cheryl’s battles with addiction. Not for pity, but to show the underbelly—the institutional violence of high crime and poverty that creates trauma in entire communities.
Too many are living in chronic poverty with limited options and turn to drugs. Cheryl also wants to show that even in the face of harsh living conditions, recovery is possible. Smurf survived his feelings of guilt and loss by turning his life around. It’s inspiring to hear Cheryl talk about therapy, family love, and facing her demons.
I’d never heard of Marion Stokes until I saw Matt Wolf’s documentary, Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project. In 1975, just as the 24/7 news cycle was taking hold, Stokes began recording television sporadically. Then in 1979 the Iranian Hostage Crisis triggered a sense of urgency. She set multiple VCRs to tape all day and night, every day. She kept that up for 33 years until her death in 2012. Stokes left behind an astounding 700,000 VHS tapes—all labeled. The doc explores her life before and after her obsession took over.
The public didn’t know that television stations had been throwing away their archives for decades. What Stokes saved is now being digitized. Many of her recordings are the only video evidence of what was going on during the three decades she taped.
Stokes owned multiple Apple Computers, approximately 50,000 books, and piles of furniture. While watching the movie at TFF, I wondered if she suffered from more than hoarding and OCD. Was she also prescient, predicting a future era of #FakeNews? Or maybe that’s just a titillating thought. She worked as a librarian and read constantly; she may have based her beliefs on the history of wealthy people manipulating information in order to oppress the less fortunate.
Stokes obsessively recorded programs on multiple televisions set to different channels. Her determination to preserve history is surprising because it wasn’t generally known that broadcasters didn’t save what they produced. Stations could dispose of programs and deny they ever existed. She saw the potential danger of people promoting “alternative facts.”
To some, she may have been labeled paranoid. We know better. Stokes knew that angles could shape information and influence audiences.
Marion Stokes died on the day of the Sandy Hook Massacre. Her VCRs continued to record, capturing the unfolding tragedy.
Any movies you’d add to this list? Let us know in the comments!
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing population in the United States, representing numerous cultures, histories, languages and socio-demographic characteristics. While recognizably diverse, Asian and Pacific Islanders are not so different when it comes to their attitudes about mental health. Stigma associated with mental health problems is common in Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Shaming related to mental health problems is a cultural norm in some Asian communities, leading many who have mental health problems to avoid seeking help despite the need.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for Asian American and Pacific Islander youth aged 12-19 years old. In light of this issue, the Asian Pacific American Officers Committee launched the Healthy Mind Initiative, in January 2018. The goal of the Initiative is to raise awareness about mental health among adolescents. This collaborative effortfocuses on increasing mental health literacy among Asian American and Pacific Islander adolescents and parents by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate education. Since October 2018, the Committee has reached over 1100 individuals in underserved Asian American and Pacific Islander communitiesthrough the Initiative events and trainings. Additionally, the Montgomery County Council in Maryland recognized the Healthy Minds Initiative in May 2019 with a proclamation for their commitment to raising awareness about mental health and efforts among Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
The Cambodian Family has developed capacity to implement to promote healing from trauma and build resilience in their community. As the result of The Cambodian Family’s participation in SAMHSA’s NNEDLearn trainings, the organization was able to expand and sustain mental health services for refugee and immigrant families. Furthermore, The Cambodian Family was awarded approximately $500,000 from the Well Being Trust to implement the Body, Mind, and Spiritual Wellness program and approximately $37,000 from the County of Orange Health Care Agency to support the implementation of Early Intervention Services for Older Adults.
Asian Pacific American Officers Committee and The Cambodian Family have led the way in starting an important and needed conversation in Asian and Pacific Islander communities about mental health. By lifting up the culture and language that is innate in many Asian and Pacific Islander and immigrant communities, both groups shine a light onto a potential pathway to destigmatizing mental health.
Addiction is a serious issue, but it’s not the end of the world. People with addiction problems are usually looked down on because of their poor life choices. A lot of addicts suffer from the dilemma of whether to get help or keep mum about their problems. The percentage of people taking drugs for recreational purposes is comparatively less than those taking it to address serious health and psychological issues. Studies have shown that children with a family history of domestic violence or with either of the parents into addiction have high chances of becoming an addict as they grow up. Then there are youngsters who have grown up in a suitable environment but have given into addiction due to peer pressure.
Some people take drugs and alcohol as a means to escape stress, relationship problems, and work pressure. Drugs and alcohol can react with brain receptors and change the way someone perceives pain or negative experiences. Once a person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they experience a momentary euphoria, which helps them feel happy even if their life is falling apart. Most people who experience this euphoric feeling for the first time, keep getting back to drugs and alcohol until they become entirely dependent.
Almost no addiction victim can realize their problem unless it’s too late. This is because, in the beginning, people hardly experience any side effects from addiction, but later on, they experience numerous side effects which are known as withdrawal symptoms in medical terms. The intensity of withdrawal symptom can range from mild to violent, depending on your addiction level and many other factors. Addiction problems should never be ignored even if you do not experience any major changes in your physical or mental health. Seeking medical supervision at the right time can help you bring your life on the right track and give up on substance abuse before it’s too late.
Prescription drug abuse
Prescription drug abuse is as severe as any other substance abuse problem. Prescription drugs are often recommended by doctors for patients suffering from serious ailments like cancer, arthritis, and neuropathic pain. People suffering from these medical issues have to regularly deal with breakthrough pain which cannot be suppressed with normal pain relief medicines. A prescription drug like Oxycet is highly addictive. It’s composed of Oxycodone, a strong opioid analgesic, and acetaminophen, when is a mild over-the-counter pain-reliever.
How is Oxycet used and why is it harmful?
Oxycet is available in tablet form, and it must be taken only with a glass of water. Consuming Oxycet with other opioid or alcohol can lead to slow heart rate and breathing problem. Some people also experience serious allergic reactions like skin rashes or itching when the drug is taken without medical supervision. A few other Oxycet side effects include:
The general dosage of Oxycet depends on the personal need of each person. Generally, the dosage varies from 2.5 mg to 10 mg twice daily, but that doesn’t mean that someone who is on a 2-3mg dose can take 10 mg of Oxycet without consulting the doctor.
Oxycet abuse is very common due to its strong pain-relieving effect. Many people overdose on it because they feel that a stronger dose will work more effectively. For recreational purpose, it’s often taken in addition to other potent drugs. Oxycet has a very short half-life, which is why it doesn’t stay in the system for long as compared to other drugs. On average, Oxycet takes around 19 hours to flush out from your system completely. In case of an overdose or extreme withdrawal symptoms, rush to the nearest drug rehabilitation center for help.
Any addiction is best treated in an In-house rehab facility, and Oxycet addiction is no exception. Rehab focuses on holistic healing of a person by making him physically and mentally free from the dependence of drugs. There are different types of rehab programs you can sign up for. Unless your addiction level is very serious, you have the freedom to choose from flexible rehab programs.
Before starting a rehab program, one must undergo detoxification. Detoxification helps to remove all the traces of the drug from a person’s body and prepare him for the rehab program. Most patients experience withdrawal symptoms during the detox sessions. However, these days, people can opt for rapid detox instead of normal detox to lessen the pain.
Rapid detox is medically induced detox where an anti-opioid drug is used to reduce dependence on the opioid. For most rapid detox, patients are kept under sedation so that they don’t experience much pain. The effect of withdrawal can be lessened naturally as well if you can adopt some healthy habits like exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, drinking enough water, and getting proper sleep at night.
Once you complete the detox sessions, you will be put under a customized rehab program. Your doctor will conduct various tests to analyze the best program that you need. Most of the rehab program will consist of specific physical and mental therapies, counseling sessions, and group activities to help people recover with many others who are struggling with the same problem.
There are mainly two types of rehab facilities- Inpatient and Outpatient. Inpatient rehab comes with accommodation facilities for the patients where they can stay for the entire duration of their program. The inpatient rehab program is best suited for people who have serious addiction problems and need round-the-clock support. The inpatient rehab program is scheduled daily, and the nature of treatment is very intense.
Outpatient rehab services don’t require patients to stay in the facility for their treatment. The patients need to visit the outpatient rehab center at regular intervals to make sure that their treatment is getting continued without a gap. Outpatient rehab services are cost-effective and help you to balance your personal and professional life alongside the treatment.
Other than these two types of rehab facilities, there are private rehab services for people who don’t want to undergo addiction treatment with other patients. A partial hospitalization program allows patients to spend most of their time in the rehab facility except sleeping at night. This is an affordable version of Inpatient rehab and can be availed by addicts who have someone to take care of them at home.
How to find the best Oxycet rehab near me?
Finding a good rehab is a matter of time. Since the first step of recovery from an addiction problem is detox, your friends or family can utilize the time to find a good rehab facility for you. You can also try searching for a suitable rehab yourself. The first step to finding a good rehab is the inquiry. Ask for an information booklet and talk to the rehab manager to know in details about the facilities and services available. If you’re finding it hard to decide on a single rehab facility, judge them on these factors.
Location
Find an Oxycet rehab that is convenient for you and your friends and family to reach. In case they want to visit you, they can do so with ease. A rehab that is located a little far away from the main city would be ideal for people with serious addiction issues and mental health problems. Choose a rehab that is located in a calm locality and has a touch of nature to it.
Facilities and Services
Choose a rehab that is well equipped, uses state-of-the-art technology, and has a qualified team of doctors and medical staff to address every patient with care. If the rehab facility is big, it should have enough staff to manage all tasks and at the same time, see that the patients are well-monitored and treated effectively.
Reputation
You should always trust online reviews and ratings when it comes to judging something. If you want to know about a rehab, check what people have to say about it. It will give you a fair idea of whether to proceed with the rehab facility or choose another one.
Value for money
Finally, go for a rehab program that is value for money. Talk with the rehab manager to find you a program that’s well suited for your need, and you can analyze for yourself whether it is a good deal or not. If you have medical insurance, try to find a rehab that offers you insurance benefits, in this way, you can save a lot of money.
How important is aftercare for Oxycet rehab?
An aftercare program is a part of addiction treatment. Unfortunately, some patients do not realize that. Your months of sobriety can go down the drain if you don’t follow the aftercare services properly. Once you complete all your therapy sessions and counseling and get free from the addiction problem, there are still chances of relapse.
For most addicts, a mild trigger can lead them to get back to the addiction that they have left with all the determination and hard work. To ensure that you’re well in control of your relapses, aftercare sessions are necessary. Aftercare programs conduct different activities to keep encouraging people to stay away from drugs. With proper aftercare, you can ensure that your addiction problem will never come back again.
Addiction problems cannot be wholly eradicated unless people change their mindset towards it. Instead of treating addicts as a disgrace to society, if we can offer them enough support to get out of their problem, it will lessen the number of addicts over time. Parents can monitor their children and talk to them from time to time to ensure that their kids are not into substance abuse. For any problem in your personal or professional life, it’s better to go for mental therapies and counseling rather than trying to escape the situation using drugs.
The usage of drugs through injections can give rise to even complicated issues like HIV. Reusing or sharing syringes to take drugs can lead to HIV. Drugs taken without knowledge can lead to serious side effects and can damage major organs like the brain, liver, and heart. Control your addiction problem before it’s too late because it will not only damage you as a person but will also affect the people close to you. Learn to be responsible for your actions and stay away from addictive substances like opioids, heroin, sleeping pills, and cannabis. If one person with an addiction problem can stop being irresponsible, it will encourage a thousand others to follow the same path and improve their lives.
Vicoprofen is an amalgamation of opioids and anti-inflammatory drugs. It’s a potent painkiller that is prescribed to patients who suffer from chronic and severe pain that is caused due to cancer and severe injuries. It’s estimated that one tablet of Vicoprofen is equal to two tablets of Tylenol. The FDA approves this painkiller, it was granted prescription status in 1997. It is generically available, but is strictly regulated and is only given if you have a valid prescription from your doctor or pharmacist.
What are the slang terms for Vicoprofen?
To avoid a potential Vicoprofen overdose, you must be familiar with the slang term of the painkiller. Slang terms are code words used when the painkiller is being distributed illegally, that is, without a prescription. Drug dealers use slang terms so that they don’t get caught by the authorities. It’s vital that medical professionals are aware of the slang words for Vicoprofen; this will help them diagnose the overdose symptoms quicker before the situation escalates further. Here are some of the standard terms that are used as slang for Vicoprofen:
Vikes
Vics
Vicos
Hydros
Lorries
Fluff
Scratch
Norco
Idiot pills
Watsons
Tabs
How do you use Vicoprofen?
If you want to get the optimal usage of Vicoprofen effects, you have to follow the prescription and advice given by your doctor. This painkiller is used for a short term, and the doctor will suggest that you use it for 10 days max, and not exceed the period. If you go beyond the suggested time, there are chances that you will get addicted to the painkiller. There is a high chance that you will get addicted to this drug, and experience withdrawal as well.
This is an oral medication, and it comes in the form of tablets, which you will have to take it every four to six hours or as directed by your doctor. It’s best consumed with a full glass of water unless you’re told otherwise. Avoid lying down for ten minutes once you take the tablet, and you can take the drug with or without food. If you experience any nausea, then it’s best that you take it with food. If nausea persists then consult your doctor as soon as possible. There is no standard dose for the painkiller, it depends on your current health condition and your response to the medication. To reduce the risk of adverse side effects like stomach bleeding, the doctor will suggest that you start with the lowest dose for a short period. Once they notice the results, the dose will be adjusted accordingly. Once your prescription schedule is done, avoid taking the medication. Don’t extend the period of the medication longer than necessary, and avoid taking matters into your own hands by increasing the dose. This is the starting point of substance abuse and can lead to severe addiction.
It’s recommended that you take no more than five tablets in a day, by the manufacturer. It’s best to take a painkiller when you start noticing the pain if you wait until the pain increases the medication will not work as well.
Can Vicoprofen interact with other drugs?
It depends on your current medication, and painkillers don’t universally interact well with all medicines. So, you have to update your doctor about the medications that you’re currently having and let them know about your current health condition as well. This will help him determine the dosage of the painkiller more accurately.
What are the signs and symptoms of Vicoprofen addiction?
Vicoprofen addiction takes place when you exceed the dosage prescribed by your doctor. When you begin using this painkiller outside the prescription guidelines, it’s considered as abuse; this happens when you take a higher dose than suggested. Purchasing the painkiller without a prescription or illegally falls under substance abuse, crushing the tablets and snorting them as well. The physical symptoms of addiction include sleepiness, avoiding social activities, constricted pupils, vomiting and constant itching.
When you indulge in any substance abuse, it can lead to adverse side effects that can affect your physical and mental health; especially with opioids. The longer you take painkillers, along with a heavy dose, the more addicted you get. Substance abuse of painkillers can also cause withdrawal when the drug is suddenly stopped. Here are some of the common Vicoprofen side effects that are connected with substance addiction:
Nausea
Constipation
Confusion
Shallow breathing
Slow pulse
Dry mouth
Mood swings
Mental fatigue
The trouble with memory and motor skills
Addiction is a mental disease that can take over your life, if not treated at the earliest. It can affect your behavior and physical health. Addiction is diagnosed by the symptoms that a person displays; it can go from moderate to severe. When a person succumbs to Vicoprofen addiction, the use of the drug is not in their control. They use it compulsively to get the euphoric relief from the medication, even if there is no cause to take the drug. Some of the significant addiction signs include:
Consuming the pain medication more than the dose suggested even though you know about the negative consequences.
Trying to stop but failing
Developing a physical dependence like shaking or trembling until you consume it again
Avoiding professional and social responsibilities because of the addiction
Focusing on marinating the supply of your drug
Taking risks to obtain more of the drug (especially when it’s illegal)
Obsessing over Vicoprofen
Financial problems
What are the signs and symptom of Vicoprofen withdrawal?
Typical symptoms are as follows:
Extreme mood swings paired with bouts of irritability, anxiety, and confusion.
Major changes in your appetite, this includes drug cravings and reduced hunger
The physical symptoms are pretty evident. You will get tremors, dilated pupils, vomiting, sweating, diarrhea, salivation, goosebumps, fast and shallow breaths, muscle aches and cramps. Irregular sleep patterns, insomnia, and exhaustion. You will have constant symptoms of cold and flu, like a congested nose, fever, chills and runny nose.
What is the timeline for Vicoprofen withdrawal effects?
The average timeline for Vicoprofen withdrawal symptoms is usually 7-10 days. However, it can depend on the severity of your addiction, and sometimes if your addiction is terrible the withdrawal can last you months. Vicodin can remain in your body for eight hours and when it ultimately leaves your body is when the withdrawal symptoms begin.
Some people prefer to quit cold turkey so that they can get over the withdrawal symptoms once and for all. However, this is not recommended for someone who has a high dependence on the drug. It’s best to taper the use of the painkiller and eventually stop using it; this can be done by reducing the dose over time. In this way, the withdrawal won’t be as intense as quitting all at once. Tapering the use of Vicoprofen will help bring about positive results.
What is Vicoprofen rehab and is it beneficial?
Rehabilitation centers are necessary for addiction and substance abuse treatment. Self- care treatments can be really difficult and it’s very easy to relapse if you’re not under professional care and supervision. The first step towards getting sober is accepting you have a problem. This will make it easier for you to get treatment and accept help. However, before you check into a rehab center, you will need a plan. This plan should revolve around restraint and will power. Rehabilitation centers are useful if you’re dedicated to getting better. Your testing point comes during the withdrawal process. Your self-control will be challenged but once you come through the process successfully (with professional help), you can go forward with therapy and medication.
What are the various rehab facilities that are available for treatment?
When you are looking for Vicoprofen treatment, there are three types of rehabilitation centers you can search for:
Outpatient Treatment Center:
This treatment facility and plan involves the patient visiting the center for an allotted time, wherein they can get the treatment they want. This includes therapy, medical assistance, and medication. You can go about your daily routine, and you wouldn’t need to live at the rehab center. This plan works out well if your addiction is not severe. The Outpatient Rehab treatment is recommended for patients who feel they won’t be triggered by the outside world and have restraint over any cravings. The patients will have regular sessions with professionals to ensure they are on the path to recovery.
In-patient treatment facilities:
These rehabilitation facilities are suggested to patients who have a severe addiction and behavioral issues. Here, you will be admitted to a center that resembles hospital settings. You will be admitted as a patient, and you will go through intense treatment sessions that will include medical counseling, assistance, and medication.
Residential Rehabilitation Center:
These centers are quite similar to In-patient facilities, but the treatment plans are not held in a hospital setting, preferably in a house-like setting that encourages the patients to live in a secure and pleasant environment without feeling overwhelmed. This way, the patients are surrounded by people who are going through the same problems, and they can be treated together. Vicoprofen addiction treatment is done best in a secure environment, wherein you can get proper help from professionals as well.
What is the treatment process for Vicoprofen addiction?
Every rehab center has a similar admission and treatment process; they may not be the same, but there are similar aspects. If you find the right treatment center that caters to your needs, it would be better to sign up immediately. Even though there is no formal process followed by rehab centers, the stages of sobriety are pretty standard in all treatment plans. The most monitored process is listed below:
Detoxification/ Withdrawal:
This step involves the patient quitting his Vicoprofen addiction. This is also known as the detoxification process wherein the doctor will ensure that every trace of the drug is removed from your system. This will lead to withdrawal, which is your body trying to regain its chemical balance before the drug took over. To be honest, this is not a pleasant process, and depending on the severity of the addiction, the withdrawal process can be intense. Once you’re done detoxifying, you’re clean and ready to move ahead with therapy.
Therapy and professional help:
You will begin your therapy sessions at this stage. This will take place once the detoxification stage is completely done. You will be signed up for therapy and counseling sessions that will help you get sober. Bringing someone back to their healthy personality after they suffered going through addiction and substance abuse can be a tough task, but it’s not impossible. With dedication, restraint, and support, it can definitely be done. Here, counselors will inform patients on what the triggers for their addiction are, and how they can be sidestepped.
Aftercare services:
Once you’re done with therapy, you will be given a plan that is developed as an aftercare service. This plan is made so that the patient can execute it once he is done with the in-house treatment. Aftercare services are done so that you don’t relapse into substance abuse once you’re done with your rehabilitation. This would be a waste of all the effort you put in over the last few months. When a patient leaves the secure bubble of a rehab center, the outside world can be quite intimidating, and there may be potential triggers that may cause you to relapse. Aftercare plans help avoid the onset of deterioration, by scheduling therapy sessions with counselors; these sessions will help keep track of your progress and suggest various ways for you to keep getting better.
If you or anyone you know is under the influence of Vicoprofen, you need to get help immediately. Contact the nearest rehabilitation center as soon as possible.
Of the 9 million commercially insured people with depression, 2 million—or about 22%—are not getting treatment.
The cost of getting healthcare keeps many people with depression from seeking treatment, even if they are commercially insured, according to a new survey published by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
The survey found that 9 million commercially insured Americans have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder (for comparison, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America estimates that more than 16 million Americans have major depression). Of the 9 million commercially insured people, 2 million, or about 22%, are not getting treatment.
Cost is likely a barrier to treatment, the survey said.
Fifty-six percent of Americans believe that there are not enough options for treating depression, the survey found.
“It’s important for patients to be able to find the right balance of treatments that work best for them, whether that’s therapy, prescription antidepressants or a combination,” said Dr. Vincent G. Nelson, vice president of medical affairs at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Depression diagnoses have increased among younger people, rising 66% among teens and 47% among millennials. Young people were more likely to think that there are not enough options for treating depression.
“As more Americans, especially millennials and adolescents, are diagnosed with major depression each year, it’s increasingly important that there’s continued research and resources allocated towards new ways to treat depression,” Nelson said. “The more options there are, the greater the likelihood is that we can find the right course of treatment for each person suffering from major depression.”
Another survey released last week found similar increases in depression among millennials. Young people are especially at risk for depression because they are undergoing so many changes, said Ran Zilca, the chief data scientist at Happify Health, which administered that survey.
“Young adulthood is a transitional time when we’re often just entering the workforce, figuring out who we are and what we want to do with our lives, which can be very challenging and, for some, can cause very negative psychological reactions while not having yet developed the skills to combat those feelings,” Zilca said. “While this analysis doesn’t tell us if the causes are internal or external to their employment, we know from prior Happify research that younger adults tend to be more stressed and worried about job-related matters than older workers.”
Acacia Parks, chief scientist at Happify Health, said that having too many options can also put pressure on millennials.
“They have access to so much information via the Internet—a universe where the possibilities are endless—which can be both exciting and overwhelming,” Parks said.
The doctor, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, could face 15 years to life for each count if convicted.
A former critical care doctor is facing multiple counts of murder, accused of administering fatal doses of fentanyl to patients.
While a typical dose of fentanyl is between 25 and 100 micrograms, as the Cincinnati Enquirer noted, William Husel gave patients between 500 and 2,000 micrograms of the powerful opioid.
Husel allegedly “purposely caused the death” of 25 patients; he “shortened their life and hastened or caused their death” by giving lethal amounts of fentanyl between February 2015 and November 2018, according to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office.
Husel surrendered to police on Wednesday (June 5) and pleaded not guilty to all charges. He could face 15 years to life for each count if convicted.
The intensive care patients that came to Mount Carmel Health System, where Husel worked until he was fired last December, were already suffering from cancer or other ailments. “In many instances, relatives had given permission to not resuscitate their family members,” the Enquirer noted.
Husel’s attorney argued that the patients’ health would have declined whether or not Husel treated them. “The patients that we are talking about are end-of-life patients,” Richard Blake said according to the Enquirer. “The people were being kept alive primarily due to equipment in the hospital. They are going to die whether Dr. Husel was on or whether another doctor was.”
Blake maintained that “at no time did he ever have the intent to euthanize anyone,” according to NBC News.
Husel was fired from Mount Carmel last December after working there since 2013. Around Christmas, relatives of the deceased were informed by the hospital that Husel’s over-prescribing had led to their family members’ deaths, the Enquirer reported. This triggered lawsuits against Husel, the hospital and staff. His medical license was suspended in late January and a criminal investigation was launched.
Mount Carmel CEO Ed Lamb recently released a video statement in which he said, “We take responsibility for the fact that the processes in place were not sufficient to prevent these actions from happening.”
Husel is also the target of 19 wrongful-death lawsuits, according to NBC News. Eight other lawsuits have been settled.
Dozens of employees who worked at the hospital were placed on leave or no longer work there. This case has left many wondering how Husel’s actions went unchecked for years under Mount Carmel’s system of care.
“What remains unclear is how Husel could circumvent apparent rules that would require him to order medications through an in-house pharmacy team and then convince a nurse to administer the drug,” NBC News reported.
Troy Dean Shafer, star of the home renovation show Nashville Flipped, died of a drug overdose, according to toxicology reports released this week following Shafer’s death in April.
Shafer died “due to combined drug toxicity,” the Erie County (Pennsylvania) Coroner’s Office said, according to People. The office did not say which drugs were found in his system.
Shafer died on April 28 at the age of 38. His brother, Tim, told TMZthat Shafer died in his sleep and that the death was unexpected since he did not have any medical conditions that the family knew about.
Shafer starred in Nashville Flipped alongside his wife, Becky. On the DIY Network show, the duo flipped old houses around Nashville and completed custom renovations for homeowners.
At the time of Shafer’s death the DIY Network expressed its condolences.
“The DIY Network family is sorry to hear about the passing of Troy Dean Shafer, a dedicated, driven entrepreneur and restoration expert who was admired by everyone who worked on the series Nashville Flipped,” the network said at the time. “We continue to extend our deepest condolences to Troy’s family and friends during this difficult time.”
Shafer initially moved to Nashville to pursue his music career, but when that didn’t pan out he fell back on his construction skills. Nashville Flipped launched in 2016, with a second season the following year.
“I continue to find myself so incredibly grateful for the opportunity provided to me (and my incredible team),” Shafer wrote in a 2016 Instagram post, according to People.
“People taking a Percocet from a friend or relative are not thinking, ‘One day I might end up on heroin.’ We need to make people aware these are connected,” Dr. David Reagan, chief medical officer of the Tennessee Department of Health, told The Tennessean in April 2016.
Since then the state has cracked down on opioid prescribing in an effort to reduce overdose rates. Still, the state’s mental health court system has struggled to keep up with the demand, according to The Tennessean. In part, that is because the state had cut funding for mental health care.
“As soon as TennCare went away, the numbers skyrocketed,” retired Judge Dan Eisenstein told the newspaper. “Mental health court wasn’t set up to handle the numbers we were seeing.”
The legendary entertainer’s son opened up about focusing on his own healing since losing his father as part of an awareness campaign.
Robin Williams’ oldest son, Zak Williams, is speaking out about his grief and moving on after suicide as part of a campaign to support people who have had a loved one take their own life.
Williams, 36, appears on the Instagram page for FacesOfFortitude.
“There’s no education in place to tell you how to deal with this,” Williams said in the first post. “To balance how to grieve privately with your family and then also to have to grieve publicly. While it was nice to be heard, I was spending time on the outer layer instead of on the inside. It wasn’t just the survivor network for me, it was the whole world.”
Robin Williams took his own life in August 2014 at the age of 63. In addition to Zak, Williams left behind two other children, Cody and Zelda, who are younger than Zak.
In another post, Zak talked about how he has had to focus on his own healing over the past few years.
“I started to feel bad for myself, I was seeking solace and healing through my grieving,” he said. “Once I took out all the inputs and elements of self medications, it all became really raw. It was super painful. I had to stop thinking big and expansive to heal everyone and look inward. I found a lot in there. I realized I wasn’t broken. There was a lot of strength I didn’t know was in there.”
This isn’t the first time that Williams has spoken about his father’s death and their relationship. He told a biographer that is was difficult to watch his father’s well-being fade, according to Vanity Fair.
“It was really difficult to see someone suffering so silently,” he said. “But I think that there were a series of things that stacked, that led to an environment that he felt was one of pain, internal anguish, and one that he couldn’t get out of. And the challenge in engaging with him when he was in that mindset was that he could be soothed, but it’s really hard when you then go back into an environment of isolation. Isolation is not good for Dad and people like him. It’s actually terrible.”
Williams also told the biographer that his father carried a lot of guilt about ending his marriage to the mother of his children, despite the fact that the kids told him he needed to move on.
“He couldn’t hear it. He could never hear it. And he wasn’t able to accept it,” Williams said. “He was firm in his conviction that he was letting us down. And that was sad because we all loved him so much and just wanted him to be happy.”
Today, Williams serves on the board of Bring Change to Mind, an organization started by actress Glenn Close to reduce the stigma around mental illness.
