Answer Addiction

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  • The Heart of the Matter: Substance Use Disorder and Heart Health

    Any time you’re drinking too much — whether overall or in one sitting — it can have a big impact on your immediate and long-term health.

    When you think about a healthy heart, what comes to mind? We all know the importance of regular exercise and avoiding too many saturated fats when it comes to keeping our cardiovascular system operating at its best. But living a heart-healthy lifestyle goes well beyond just diet and exercise. Drinking and drug use, especially when it crosses the line into addiction, can have a massive impact on heart health.

    Since cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for adults in this country, it’s important to reflect on all the ways that behaviors can impact our cardiovascular health — including the choice to drink or use drugs.

    Alcohol can affect blood pressure: for better or worse.

    Everyone loves to hear how a glass of red wine — or dark chocolate for that matter — is good for heart health. While it’s true that some research has shown a connection between moderate consumption of red wine and health health, the American Heart Association emphasizes that correlation doesn’t equal causation. The benefit for heart health likely has more to do with people’s actions, like living a low-stress or active lifestyle, than their consumption of wine.

    What’s crystal clear, however, is that drinking heavily can raise your blood pressure. Having high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, increases your risk for heart attack and stroke. If you have high blood pressure and consume more than one standard drink a day, your doctor will likely talk to you about reducing your alcohol consumption as part of an overall heart-healthy lifestyle.

    Boosting your blood pressure isn’t the only way that alcohol use affects your heart health. Drinking heavily is one of the leading causes of cardiomyopathy, a disorder where the heart isn’t able to pump blood efficiently. People who develop cardiomyopathy due to alcohol use often experience heart failure, and many need a heart transplant in order to survive.

    Alcohol may make heart disease more common among young people

    In most cases, cardiovascular disease becomes more common as people age, and is relatively rare in young people. However, a new study finds that alcohol and recreational drug use can increase risk of premature cardiovascular disease. Researchers found that people who drink alcohol, use tobacco or use recreational drugs including cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis all had increased risk for heart disease.

    “All subgroups of recreational substances were independently associated with a higher likelihood of premature and extremely premature,” cardiovascular disease, the study authors wrote.

    The more substances you use, the higher risk you are at. The study found that people who use four or more substances regularly had a nearly 9-times increased risk for heart disease.

    Alcohol as part of a heart-healthy lifestyle

    Even if you’re concentrating on your heart health, it’s ok to have an occasional glass of wine. You can even substitute in a beer or cocktail, but it’s important to only drink in moderation. That means having no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. Remember, that means standard drinks — not a generous pour.

    If you have trouble sticking to that limit, it might be time to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol. Unhealthy patterns like binge drinking can exist alongside or without substance use disorder. Any time you’re drinking too much — whether overall or in one sitting — it can have a big impact on your immediate and long-term health. You might need professional guidance to change your interactions with alcohol and switch to a healthier drinking pattern.

    Taking care of your mental health, including addressing any underlying traumas or illnesses, can reduce stress. Keeping your stress to a minimum is important for controlling your blood pressure and cardiovascular health.

    Heart health is important, but it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Taking care of your heart means taking care of your physical, mental and emotional health. Think about the steps you can take to be a healthier version of yourself.

    Learn more about Oceanside Malibu at http://oceansidemalibu.com/. Reach Oceanside Malibu by phone at (866) 738-6550. Find Oceanside Malibu on Facebook.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Hard Conversations: Talking With a Loved One About Their Drinking

    Talking with a loved one about their drinking or drug use can seem impossible, but it can also help plant a seed of recovery.

    Watching a loved one struggle with drugs or alcohol can be incredibly painful. Oftentimes, as a family member, you will notice problematic behaviors before your loved one sees them or is willing to acknowledge them. That can put you in a powerful position to point out your concern and help your loved one get into substance abuse treatment before things reach a crisis point.

    In an ideal world, talking to a loved one about addiction can bring you closer and get them into treatment. But this can also be a fraught conversation ripe with pitfalls and opportunities for hurt feelings. To make the discussion go a bit more smoothly, it’s best to prepare ahead of time. Here’s how.

    1. Evaluate your own emotions and responses.

    Before you involve your loved one, start by taking an honest inventory of your own emotions and feelings. Oftentimes, we bring our own history into the current situation, which can cloud how we see things and confuse the conversation. Maybe you have your own personal experience with sobriety, or perhaps you grew up with a parent that was an alcoholic. Either of those scenarios can make you more sensitive to a loved one’s substance use and more likely to react, rather than have a thoughtful and logical discussion.

    Be sure that you’re expressing genuine concern for your loved one, and that you’re not merely being triggered by their behavior. If you have a trusted third-party — like a therapist or confidential friend — to talk through your concerns. Practice formatting your concerns in a way that centers your loved one, not yourself. Putting your own experiences aside might help your loved one take you more seriously.

    1. Organize your talking points.

    People in active addiction often don’t realize the ways that their behavior has escalated. Helping them see their actions can highlight that they really do need help. The key is doing this in an objective way. No one wants to feel scolded or judged; instead they want to feel seen.

    Think about what behaviors you are most concerned about. For example, you might say something like, “I noticed you’ve been drinking every day after work,” or “The kids mentioned that you slept through your alarm three times last week.” Show your loved one their behavior through your eyes, but don’t shove it in their face.

    1. Use “I” statements.

    It’s easy for difficult conversations to escalate, becoming more and more emotional. An emotional, reactive discussion rarely leads to a productive place. One way to deescalate the situation and remove some of the negative emotion is by using “I” statements.

    Here’s how it works: rather than coming at your loved one with everything they’ve done, you focus on the impact that has on you. For example, instead of saying “You’re drinking every night and ignoring your responsibilities,” say “I have to take care of the animals and dinner chores alone when you’re drinking after work.” I statements can incorporate emotions and feelings, too. You might say, “I get scared when you’re out late and I haven’t heard from you.”

    Using “I” statements removes some of the arguing and pushback. Your loved one might disagree about the details of their behavior, but they can’t argue with your experience.

    1. Keep expectations realistic.

    Everyone is familiar with the idea of a big, dramatic intervention that results in someone leaving immediately for treatment. In reality, your discussion is unlikely to look like that. Your loved one might not even agree that there is a problem. That’s ok — this can be the first step in an ongoing conversation. That’s why it’s important to have a positive conversation and leave the door open for your loved one to come back to you after they’ve thought about what you said.

    Of course, there are situations where waiting isn’t the right answer. If your loved one is endangering themselves or others, or having a negative impact on your emotional or mental wellbeing, it is entirely ok to set boundaries and stick with them. Only you can decide what boundaries are right for you at a given time.

    1. Be prepared to offer help.

    Even after a person realizes that they might need treatment, the logistics can be overwhelming. Be prepared before you even start the conversation by gathering some resources on recovery options, different programs, local meetings, and more. That way, you can capitalize on your loved one’s willingness to accept help as soon as they express it.

    Only the person who is struggling with drug or alcohol use can make the decision to get treatment. However, as a family member or close friend, you have an important role to play in encouraging them and planting the seed for recovery.

    Learn more about Oceanside Malibu at http://oceansidemalibu.com/. Reach Oceanside Malibu by phone at (866) 738-6550. Find Oceanside Malibu on Facebook.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Outpatient Detox: An Important Option

    Outpatient detox lets you access medical care while still sleeping in your own bed at night.

    Before you can start the work of recovery, you need to go through detox — the process of allowing all drugs or alcohol to leave your body. For many people, detox is the most intimidating part of the recovery process. It can be physically painful and even dangerous. That’s why many people opt for going to an inpatient detox. For others, however, the thought of leaving their home and family can cause even more distress. If you’re one of those people, outpatient detox can be a great option.

    During outpatient detox, like that offered at Vanity Wellness Center, you’ll meet with a medical team every day. They check up on you to make sure that you’re healthy, and also provide the accountability that can make all the difference during the tough moments of detox. Wondering if outpatient detox is right for you? Keep reading to find out.

    What is detox?

    If you’re using drugs or alcohol frequently, you might be tempted to just stop. Well-meaning friends and family members can give that advice as well. However, suddenly stopping drugs or alcohol can make you very sick and be dangerous.

    That’s because when you use, your body becomes physically dependent on your substance of choice. You need more and more of it just to feel normal. If you don’t use, you might experience symptoms of dope sickness, like nausea or sweating, or symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, including tremors and anxiety.

    The physical and mental effects of detox can be severe. Because of that, it’s important to have a medical team by your side. They know what typical detox looks like. They can help you understand what to expect and where you are in the process. And if you experience complications — like hallucination — they’re at the ready to get you the medical help you need.

    How does outpatient detox work?

    When you sign up for outpatient detox, you’ll talk with your providers about what to expect. Part of that discussion will include how long your detox process is likely to last. In most cases, withdrawal from alcohol and opioids lasts about three days, but some people experience symptoms for less time or for longer.

    When your detox begins, you’ll visit the treatment provider each morning. They’ll take your vital to make sure that you’re stable. They’ll discuss symptoms, talk to you about coping strategies, and possibly connect you with other people who are going through detox. After that visit, you’ll return home or to another safe space to continue detoxing. You’ll return to your provider again the next morning.

    Medical supervision of detox is incredibly important. So is the fellowship that you’ll feel knowing that someone else is on your team. Detox can be isolating — you’re beginning to cut yourself off from the people you used drugs with, and your sober friend or family don’t understand what you’re going through. In that vulnerable moment, the support provider by your outpatient detox center can make the difference between failure and success.

    Does outpatient detox work?

    Some people have more success detoxing when they’re completely removed from their day-to-day lives. For these people, an inpatient detox is a good option.

    However, inpatient detox isn’t for everyone. Many people feel more comfortable in their own homes, around the people they love. With the support of an outpatient detox program, you can clear your system of drugs or alcohol just as safely and effectively at home as you can in a residential program.

    When you use an outpatient detox program you have a team of professionals ready to help you meet the challenges that daily life presents. They’ll help you figure out how to talk to your boss about your illness, or cope with your children’s questions. All of that can make it easier to get through detox. Most importantly, the team will connect you with treatment immediately following detox so that you have a clear next step in your recovery process.

    Unfortunately, outpatient detox isn’t a quick fix or easy option. Simply put, there’s no quick and easy detox. But for many people, outpatient detox is the best of both worlds: it provides you peace of mind through medical supervision, and optimizes your comfort by having you stay in your own bed. If that’s appealing, outpatient detox can be the first step toward your new, sober life.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • The Physical Toll of Alcohol and Drugs

    You don’t have to be addicted to have an increased risk for disease associated with alcohol or drug use.

    Addiction can have a massive impact on your relationships, emotional health and mental well-being. That can make it easy to forget that using drugs or alcohol — even recreationally — can raise your risk for some physical illnesses, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Considering the physical impacts of substance use can be scary, but there’s good news: getting sober or reevaluating your relationship with drugs or alcohol can help you reclaim control over your health.

    Here’s what you should consider about the physical impact of drugs and alcohol, and how they fit within the larger social, environmental and personal framework that impacts our health.

    What drug and alcohol do to the body

    The exact physical effects of addiction will depend on your drug of choice. Most people know that drinking alcohol excessively can take a toll on your liver, while using meth can deteriorate your oral hygiene and the appearance of your teeth. Living with active addiction can impact your sleep patterns and nutrition, leaving you looking haggard or generally unwell.

    There are also links between drug and alcohol use and serious illness. It’s important to recognize that you don’t have to be addicted to experience these effects. Even recreational use can raise your risk for disease. For example, people who have one drink per day are at increased risk for cancer compared with people who don’t drink. It’s estimated that about 20,000 people in the United States die each year from cancers that are alcohol related.

    Recreational alcohol use can also have an impact on your heart, which is especially concerning considering that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for adults in the U.S. and Canada. This trend holds true among young people, who are generally at a lower risk for cardiovascular disease. According to a 2021 study, young people who use cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol increased their risk of premature heart disease by up to three times. People who use four or more different substances recreationally had a nine-times higher risk of heart disease than their peers who didn’t use drugs or alcohol recreationally.

    Physical illness, addiction and trauma

    Research shows a clear correlation between substance use and chronic illnesses like cancer and cardiovascular disease. But the story of causation is trickier to pinpoint. People who are at higher risk for substance use might also be at higher risk for certain diseases.

    Consider the research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). These are potentially traumatic events in childhood, ranging from abuse to having a parent with mental illness to having an incarcerated parent. These events can create toxic stress, which changes how the brain and body function. Because of that, people who experience a significant amount of ACEs are more likely to experience mental illness, addiction, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

    People who drink heavily or use illicit drugs might wonder if those decisions impacted their cancer diagnosis or heart health. The truth is that a complex variety of biological processes, behavioral choices and environmental factors influence our health over the lifetime.

    Sobriety and physical wellness

    It’s never too late to take charge of your overall health. The first step is getting treatment for substance use disorder and evaluating the past traumas that might be impacting how you interact with drugs or alcohol. Counseling can help you understand the ways in which your past is still affecting your current behaviors and future health.

    When you stop using drugs and alcohol, you might notice some immediate changes to your physical health. You may begin sleeping better or notice a change to your weight. Your immune system, which can be depressed by alcohol, will likely rebound, offering you more protection against everything from a cold to COVID. In addition, paying more attention to your health can help you notice concerning symptoms and connect with care early on, preventing more serious outcomes.

    Over time, the health implications of drinking less and not using drugs add up. People who drink less alcohol and don’t use recreational drugs are less likely to develop heart disease or cancer than those who indulge heavily. It’s too late to change the past, but you can take control of your future health today by exploring sobriety.

    Sunshine Coast Health Centre is a non 12-step drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in British Columbia. Learn more here.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • 5 Ways to Support Your Loved One During Recovery

    Support from friends and family is crucial to the person’s success in recovery. It may be difficult to know exactly how to provide that support in a time of crisis.

    According to current statistics, an approximate 23 million people are in addiction recovery in the United States. Recovery, in any modality – inpatient, outpatient, 12-step, or otherwise – can be an emotionally, mentally, and physically challenging experience for the person seeking to break the grip of addiction, and for their friends and family. Recovery holds special challenges for the latter group, who have seen their loved ones struggle with addiction, and in some cases, may have endured negative experiences because of that addiction.

    However, support from those around the addicted individual is crucial to their success in recovery. It may be difficult to know exactly how to provide that support in a time of crisis. Following are 10 ways you can support a family member or friend as they take their first steps in recovery.

    1. Supporting isn’t enabling – know the difference.

    Cynical wisdom may suggest that any support for an addict is enabling their behavior. However, the two actions are not the same: support is offering help while maintaining healthy boundaries, while enabling is support at the expense of your own well-being. Support requires honesty, while enabling excuses and even participates in addictive behavior (“he/she can’t help it”). And support allows you to question addictive behavior while maintaining love and affection; enabling strangles healthy inquiry for fear of reprisal or recrimination.

    2. Educate yourself on recovery.

    Misinformation is a hot button topic of late, and the addiction and recovery worlds are no stranger to misguided, judgmental, and just plain wrong material in both print and online form as well. So it’s important that you know a few facts as your loved one undergoes recovery: addiction is not a sign of physical, mental, or moral weakness. It’s an imbalance in the chemical components of the brain which undoes impulse control and leaves the individual with a neural road map studded with triggers that, when tripped, set off addictive behavior, often without the individual’s conscious choice. It’s also important to understand that relapse is a common occurrence with individuals in recovery: there is no such thing as a “cure” for addiction. Understanding these core truths provides you with a foundation for a fuller and more accurate picture of the struggles your loved one is facing.

    3. Communicate clearly and without judgment.

    Remember that it’s okay to ask your loved one how they are feeling, and let them know that they can communicate with you as well. Assuring them that they can speak without fear of judgment allays a lot of concerns experienced by individuals in recovery. If they seem unsure of how to begin the conversation, give them a question that allows them to elaborate on their feelings, rather than a yes/no query (“Are you feeling all right?”). Though you may also experience anxiety about your loved one’s condition, try to avoid an interrogatory tone when asking about their well-being. Be honest: saying that you’re unsure or uncomfortable, but that you still want to ask about them, is the sort of honesty they crave. Choosing words that don’t carry a lot of negative freight helps, too: some people don’t mind the words “addict” or “rehab,” but your loved one may feel like those terms carry a stigma.

    4. Help them build good coping skills.

    External and internal stressors play havoc with everyone’s sense of well-being, but for individuals in the grip of addiction, or in the process of recovery, they can lead to a relapse. Your loved one will hopefully learn many ways to contend with stress while in recovery, but there’s simply no way to completely remove all stressors from life. Illness, personal loss, professional changes, and even differences in daily routines can all spark a stressful response. You can help by listening to your loved one when they feel stressed, and help them process and address their feelings. Discuss practical ways to solve those stressors, if possible, as well as coping mechanisms they’ve learned as part of their recovery.

    5. Know the signs of relapse.

    Relapse is a common occurrence during and after recovery. The National Institute for Drug Abuse notes that 40 to 60 percent of individuals with a substance addiction will relapse. To that end, it’s important for loved ones to first understand what a relapse is. From a clinical standpoint, relapse occurs when a clinical condition that had previously improved experiences a sudden decline. In terms of addiction, that typically means a return to substance use. Relapses are not only troubling in terms of the individual’s emotional and mental wellbeing, but they also pose physical danger: tolerance levels drop for many people who abstain from substance use over an extended period of time, and returning to drug use may lead to an overdose.

    Relapses don’t appear without provocation. The typical signs of relapse began with a change in the individual’s outlook: they may seem more negative about recovery, or downbeat about their existence. Old patterns of behavior may return: they may have mood swings, bursts of anger, or resistance to taking responsibility for their actions. From there, the individual withdraws from help, turning away from family, friends, and the support provided by recovery. Return to actual substance use is usually sparked by an emotional conflict of some kind; it could be a major issue, like family clashes or exposure to addictive substances, or it could be a less combustive concern, such as apathy, depression, or an encounter with a location where addictive behavior took place.

    If relapse occurs, it’s natural for both you and your loved one to feel a lot of emotions: anger, shame, grief, and even despondency. It’s important for you to follow some of the guidelines mentioned here: establish boundaries, listen to your loved one, offer support where you can without enabling, and most importantly, understand that relapse isn’t failure. Your loved one has experienced a setback, and needs to return to treating the disease.

    Tarzana Recovery Center is a luxury addiction treatment center in Tarzana, CA. For more info, visit their website or Facebook, or call 866-514-1748.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Differences Between Illicit and Pharmaceutical Fentanyl: What You Need to Know

    Understanding the difference between these two types of drugs is essential, as they have very different purposes and implications.

    Fentanyl is a powerful opioid that has been making headlines lately because of its role in increasing overdose deaths across North America. There are two main types of fentanyl: illicit fentanyl and pharmaceutical fentanyl. Understanding the difference between these two types of drugs is essential, as they have very different purposes and implications. In this blog post, we will discuss the differences between illicit and pharmaceutical fentanyl, the dangers of both types, and tips to stay safe.

    What is Fentanyl?

    Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that was introduced into the medical field as an intravenous anesthetic under the trade name of Sublimaze in the 1960s. It is a powerful, short-acting painkiller that’s about 100 times more potent than morphine. It has high lipid solubility and quickly crosses the blood-brain barrier to produce relief from pain.

    Pharmaceutical grade fentanyl is currently available as:

    • Actiq®– oral transmucosal lozenges, commonly referred to as the fentanyl “lollipops.” 
    • Fentora®– effervescent buccal tablets 
    • Abstral®– sublingual tablet 
    • Subsys®– sublingual spray 
    • Lazanda®– nasal spray 
    • Duragesic®– transdermal patches, and injectable formulations.

    In 2015 there were six million prescriptions dispensed per year, with two thirds going to patients with cancer or other painful medical conditions. Still, during peak times for the opioid crisis (2016-2017), this changed drastically when widespread abuse led many doctors to stop prescribing them altogether because they could not distinguish between legitimate patient needs and addiction, which caused many patients to feel abandoned and desperate.

    Illicit Fentanyl

    According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), synthetic opioids — namely illicit fentanyl — remain the primary cause of fatal overdoses in the United States. 

    China is the main country of origin for illicit fentanyl, and its analogs are trafficked into the United States. In 2019, China fulfilled a pledge to U.S. authorities by placing all forms on a regulatory schedule designed primarily as drug substances or raw materials used in the manufacturing of fentanyl. While China’s shipment of these lethal materials directly into America has decreased, shipments coming in through Mexico have been increasing at record numbers. 

    The connection between China and Mexico has grown due to increased fentanyl precursor sales by Chinese traffickers. In March 2021, Matthew Donahue described this situation as “an unlimited supply” that would keep arriving at Mexican cartels’ doors without end — a description which perfectly fits the tasks currently facing law enforcement agencies throughout both countries today. 

    The waves of fentanyl coming into the United States from Mexico are not just reaching our shores, they’re crashing on top of us. In recent months, multiple busts with arrests and seizures link these pill mills in Juarez to make finished Chinese sourced precursors for trafficking across America’s US – Mexico border right here at home!

    Hidden Fentanyl Deaths: How Drug Makers Are Killing Americans 

    Fentanyl is currently found in most counterfeit oxycodone pills and other medications. It is difficult to distinguish between the actual medications from the illicit ones because, as they can easily pass for legal drugs due to its near-identical appearance with many different manufacturers’ logos on each pill or capsule. When this lethal drug is found in other substances, like benzodiazepines, cocaine, and methamphetamines, users with no tolerance to opioids are at much higher risks of dying. Some advocates consider hidden fentanyl deaths as murder by poisoning.

    The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) data, shows that fentanyl is now widely encountered in powder form and as prescription drugs such as oxycodone or Xanax. The danger of illicit fentanyl comes from its potency. A tiny granule of this lethal substance can cause override the body’s natural reflexes to breathe, leading to respiratory depression and death.

    Border Crisis Continue to Fuel Fentanyl Deaths

    The United States Drug Enforcement Administration has seen a record number of seizures along the southwest border, with agents remarking that one reason for this uptick in drug trafficking is due to increased migration from Central America. 

    During last year’s surge in illegal immigration, Border Patrol agents were relocated to process the migrants. This surge led to the closing of inspection checkpoints, allowing drug traffickers to go undetected. The unprecedented upsurge of fentanyl coming into the USA has had disastrous consequences on our citizens and generations to come. Unfortunately, this tragic situation continues to evolve.

    Fentanyl Overdose and Narcan 

    Narcan (naloxone) is a life-saving drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The issue is that not everyone who needs Narcan knows how to use it or where to get it. Many people believe that Narcan is only for police or first responders, which is not the case. Narcan can be administered by anyone – a friend, family member, or stranger.

    It is vital to let the public know about Narcan’s ability to reverse an overdose, where to get this life-saving medication, and how to use it. We need to make sure that people have access to this life-saving drug in case of an overdose.

    If you are using illicit drugs, be especially careful and take steps to reduce your risk of exposure to fentanyl. These steps include not using drugs alone, carrying naloxone (Narcan), and being aware of the signs of an overdose. If you think someone may be overdosing on fentanyl, the symptoms may include having trouble breathing or swallowing; extreme sleepiness with no response when called upon. The most common overdose responses are:

    • Lips turning blue
    • Gurgling sounds 
    • Body stiffness or seizure-like activity
    • Foaming at the mouth
    • Confusion or bizarre behavior before becoming unresponsive

    Getting Treatment

    If you are struggling with fentanyl dependence, please seek help. Many resources are available, including medically assisted detox treatment centers, drug rehabs, and support groups. Don’t let fentanyl take your life – there is hope for recovery.

    It is essential to clearly understand the differences between a medical detox program and substance abuse rehabilitation. At the same time, both help those struggling with drug addiction, medical detoxification monitors and manages the physical symptoms of withdrawal, while rehabs mainly offer psychological and peer support.

    Fentanyl addiction is frightening and, more than ever, a dangerous activity. Withdrawal from fentanyl can be challenging and intense; although opioid withdrawal is generally not considered life-threatening on its own; however, some of the medical and psychological symptoms may lead to complications that can be deadly. It is always good to get assistance from medical and mental health professionals through detoxification who can utilize multiple strategies for managing withdrawal effects while keeping patients safe.

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    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Writers In Treatment: Melding Recovery, the Arts, and Information

    The primary purpose of Writers in Treatment was to promote treatment as the best first step solution for addiction and other self-destructive behaviors.

    When people in the addiction treatment industry consider the most innovative recovery figures, their thoughts often turn to Leonard Buschel. As the founder of the nonprofit Writers in Treatment, he started the REEL Recovery Film Festival, the Experience, Strength and Hope Awards, and the weekly Addiction Recovery eBulletin. All of these ventures have survived the test of time, thriving year after year by offering a vision of hope that life doesn’t end once a person embraces the path of sustainable sobriety. In truth, recovery opens the door to creativity and long-term success.

    For the past twelve years, Leonard Buschel has been an instrumental force in adding flavor and culture to the recovery community by filling a creative and intellectual void while helping those in need. As he expresses with passion, “There is life after sobriety. Getting sober doesn’t mean losing touch with the creative and intellectual side of your personality. You don’t have to be bored or boring.”

    People recovering from substance abuse disorders and alcoholism often talk about how they could realize their dreams of giving back if they only had financial resources. However, when a person actually experiences a windfall, they tend to buy a new condo, a shiny sports car, or stash the cash away for a rainy day. They never seem to put their money where their heart is. They never take the big risk.

    What’s inspiring about Leonard and his impressive achievements is that he is a noted exception to this rule. Hearing about how his friend, the late Buddy Arnold, had founded the Musician’s Assistance Program to help musical artists recover from addiction and mental illness, Leonard decided to do the same for writers. But where could a guy working as a counselor in the treatment industry find the capital to make it happen?

    Driving his Volvo home one night from his job at a Los Angeles rehab, Leonard experienced a life-changing event. Without warning, a distracted driver in an SUV ran a red light and T-boned Leonard’s car, sending it flying through the air. He did not realize this near-death experience was the beginning of his new life. Given a well-deserved insurance settlement, he took the funds, paid off some of his debts, bought tickets to a few plays and concerts, and hired an attorney to form a 501-C3 non-profit organization called Writers In Treatment (WIT).

    From the beginning, beyond sending people in the field of the written word to rehab with scholarships, the primary purpose of Writers in Treatment was to promote treatment as the best first step solution for addiction and other self-destructive behaviors. Struggling to raise funds, Writers in Treatment decided to rent the historic 175-seat Silent Movie Theatre in Los Angeles and put on the seminal REEL Recovery Film Festival.

    The first feature shown was Permanent Midnight, written by Jerry Stahl and starring Ben Stiller. Based on Stahl’s novel, it is one of the best films about the journey from addiction to recovery. Afterward, Jerry Stahl and Ben Stiller had a conversation about the film in front of a packed house. Engaging, fun and informative, everyone loved it, and Leonard Buschel knew he had stumbled upon something truly exciting. The promises were coming true as he envisioned a film festival to promote recovery.

    For the past twelve years, the REEL Recovery Film Festival & Symposium has focused on increasing awareness about the prevalence of substance abuse and mental illness in society. Unlike many one-and-done film festivals, it has continued to grow and expand year after year. The REEL Recovery Film Festival helps to reduce stigma through honest, realistic depictions of the difficult challenges plaguing families nationwide. It also provides opportunities for filmmakers to show artistic and innovative shorts, documentaries and features. Moreover, Leonard and programmer Ahbra Kaye have given away thousands of free tickets to rehabs and sober livings on both coasts.

    The REEL Recovery Film Festival has become a recovery staple in Los Angeles and New York. It also has taken place on multiple occasions in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver, Houston, Fort Lauderdale, and Vancouver. Leonard transformed an innovative idea into a valued institution by focusing on consistent execution and precise marketing. Time and again, professionals in the recovery and film communities nationwide ask if REEL Recovery can come to their city.

    Beyond the REEL Recovery Festival, Leonard Buschel is also the creative force behind the Experience, Strength and Hope Awards. Held annually at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, it is a cherished event in the SoCal recovery community. The genesis of the ESH Awards was a party celebrating the publication of Christopher Lawford’s recovery-oriented memoir. From that moment, a cutting edge awards show was born to honor the courage behind such published stories. In the past decade, honorees have included Academy-Award winning actor Lou Gossett, Jr., astronaut Buzz Aldrin, actor and activist Mackenzie Phillips, Emmy-Award winner Joe Pantoliano, Duran Duran bass player and co-founder John Taylor, and actor Jodie Sweetin who said in 2019, “It’s incredible that such an inspirational event has now been happening for over a decade.”

    In 2012, wanting to do more than these annual events, Writers in Treatment began publishing the Addiction Recovery eBulletin, a comprehensive news source with over twenty thousand subscribers. The weekly newsletter is now the most widely-read and highly-regarded source of information and news among industry professionals for the latest addiction and recovery stories. Beyond sponsorship of the festival, the Addiction Recovery eBulletin offers advertisers access to the eyes of the industry.

    Twelve years later, one man’s passion for recovery continues to pay dividends, both in relation to giving back and adding an unconventional dimension to the sober world. Today, as the COVID-19 pandemic restricts cultural offerings nationwide, Leonard Buschel continues to think outside the box. He started a topical online recovery web series, Chasing The News… Stone Cold Sober, with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. As hosted by William Cope Moyers and featuring many well-known sober artists and celebrities, it provides an engaging online Zoom-like offering for people in recovery and beyond. Indeed, there is no question that after thriving for so long and through so many challenges, Writers In Treatment and The REEL Recovery Film Festival continue to turn this sober vision into a vibrant reality.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • The Stigma of Addiction

    Repeated addiction treatment is prevalent because rehabs do not adequately address each patient’s medical and emotional needs.

    Stigma creates harmful misconceptions surrounding people suffering with substance use disorder. A term that in the dictionary is defined as “a mark of disgrace or infamy,” one that has detrimental consequences to those struggling with harmful substance use or mental health issues. Although substance misuse often causes erratic behavior and impaired judgment, research shows that most of these adverse effects stem from chemical changes to the brain. Yet, those suffering from addiction continue to be stigmatized by society.

    Understandably, stigma causes embarrassment and shame among those suffering from addiction. The combination of personal shame and public stigma is considered one of the primary barriers to effective prevention and addiction treatment. This fear and shame prevent too many individuals from getting the help they need.

    Studies show that only one in ten Americans suffering from substance use disorder receives professional care for addiction. Furthermore, society’s stigma, negative attitude, and perceptions towards addiction keep people under-diagnosed and under-treated. Also, research and treatment programs are under-funded, especially compared to other primary health conditions currently affecting our nation. While substance abuse continues to be one of our nation’s most prominent public health issues, there is a lack of effective treatment and mental health resources.

    Substance Use Disorder is a Treatable Condition

    Sadly enough, most people see addiction as a moral or criminal issue rather than a health one, despite scientific findings establishing the condition as physiological. Understanding the physical effects of addiction remains mostly misunderstood and widely marginalized by mainstream medical professionals. Consequently, our country continues to suffer from the devastating effects of the deadly opioid crisis. We continue to pay the high price for years of neglecting the effective and adequate healthcare resources required to confront highly stigmatized addiction issues.

    Time for Change

    It is time we stop seeing and treating those suffering from addiction as immoral or dangerous. No one wants to feel lesser than, especially those struggling emotionally. Drug and alcohol abuse have only increased over the last decade, and overdose rates have skyrocketed. Individuals often lose their family, friends, and careers. They continue to use drugs despite the physical and emotional consequences. Sadly, many end up losing their life to an overdose. However, this condition is not only preventable in many cases, but also treatable.

    Stigma in Healthcare

    The addiction and mental health crisis continues to worsen without much change in the healthcare system. It takes a great deal of courage to ask for help and admit there’s a problem. It is our job as healthcare providers to respond with compassion and understanding. It is all too common for a patient admitting their substance use problem to be met with criticism and even let go by the provider due to being considered a risk. This type of medical rejection often leaves patients feeling hopeless and without the courage to seek further resources or support.

    Emergency Rooms and Drug Addiction

    Hospital emergency rooms receive an influx of patients suffering from opioid withdrawal. ER staff are often busy, overworked, and have to operate with limited resources, especially now during COVID-19. These facts, along with a lack of education about drug addiction, often leads to them dismissing patients –who desperately need immediate medical help–as ‘drug-seeking.’ Rather than turning their backs on patients, ER should have specialized staff to direct these patients into medically assisted detoxification, followed by providing mental healthcare resources. Instead, addicted people go back to the streets and continue using drugs. 

    Sadly, this fault in our healthcare system perpetuates the cycle of addiction. Each time a healthcare worker misses the chance to provide the appropriate level of care, a life may be lost.

    The Need for Change in Addiction Treatment

    Rehab centers across the nation are overcrowded because there is not enough access to addiction treatment, let alone adequate care. Repeated treatment is also prevalent because rehabs do not adequately address each patient’s medical and emotional needs. Consequently, the real issues that led to addiction go untreated, and immediate relapse is inevitable. 

    To ensure those suffering from addiction or mental health conditions receive the help they need, we must fix the broken system. We need to educate the public about how different substances can affect the sympathetic nervous system and how most people affected by substance use do not have enough control over their actions and behavior.

    All levels of healthcare professionals must receive training on the intersection of drug abuse and mental health, as well as how to provide adequate care for those patients. Then they can begin the healing process by treating patients compassionately and with the right level of care.

    The Benefits of Medically Assisted Detox

    There are many types of drug treatment centers, but medically assisted detox should be available as the standard of care. Medically assisted detox is the most effective way to help a person withdraw from opioids safely and comfortably. The chance of completing detox is almost certain, yet the healthcare system does not recognize this treatment.

    As it is now, only those who have the resources to seek private treatment can receive this level of care. There is no reason why everyone in need should not receive the best form of treatment for opioid withdrawal.

    Knowledge and understanding breeds empathy, an excellent tool against stigma. The sooner we educate the public, the more lives will be saved. We must change public views on substance abuse and treatment so that this crisis ends.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • The Role of Trauma in Treating Addiction

    People who have suffered trauma often need to address its lasting effects before they can get a handle on their substance use.

    The word trauma is used today more than it ever was ten years ago. While some people might feel like the word is overused, many mental health professionals would say that we’ve just become better at recognizing the lasting impact that events — from losses to abuse — can have on our psyches.

    Many people with substance use disorder have trauma in their backgrounds. Trauma causes residual lasting mental pain. If you don’t address the trauma, you might find yourself self-medicating to escape the mental pain. Although that might work for a moment, using drugs or alcohol to cover your mental pain will just cause more difficulties in the long run. That’s why it’s so important to find a treatment center that understands the interplay of trauma and addiction.

    Understanding Trauma

    The American Psychological Association (APA) defines trauma as an emotional response to a terrible event. What constitutes a terrible event varies from person-to-person. An event that is traumatic for one individual might not cause trauma for other people, even if they experience the very same event. Anything from abuse to a natural disaster to an accident can cause trauma.

    It’s normal to experience some psychological distress after a major event. Consider the stress that we all experienced early on during the pandemic. But, for most people, the stress gets better with time. If you find that your stress continues to interfere with your life, you might have trauma. Symptoms of trauma can include flashbacks, headaches and nausea.

    Sometimes, trauma can evolve into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is characterized by lasting effects of trauma that impacts life. People with PTSD might have flashbacks or nightmares; they might avoid certain situations that remind them of the traumatic event.

    The Connection Between Trauma and Addiction

    There’s a close connection between trauma and addiction. A 2019 study compared people who were getting treatment for opioid abuse disorder with healthy individuals. It found that the people in treatment reported more severe traumas and more instances of trauma in their lives. The study found that the more trauma people experienced, the more likely they were to experience addiction.

    The connection can be particularly strong for people who experience trauma as teens or children. Among teens who needed addiction treatment, 70% reported trauma in their backgrounds. In addition, 59% of teens with PTSD go on to develop a substance abuse problem.

    Research like the ACEs study — which looked at adverse childhood experiences — have solidified the connection between trauma and addiction. Even seemingly minor ACEs, like growing up with divorced parents, can increase the risk for substance use disorder later in life.

    Treatment for Trauma

    If you have experienced trauma or ACEs, and particularly if you believe you may have PTSD, you need to access a recovery center that is trauma-informed. Trauma-informed treatment centers have knowledge about the ways that trauma impacts the brain. They are able to help you address your substance abuse disorder, while also helping to control your trauma.

    Of course, it is also a great idea to get specific treatment to help you overcome PTSD, if you are experiencing that condition. EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — is a type of therapy that is particularly effective for treating PTSD. During EMDR, you recall your traumatic event while doing to back-and-forth eye movements. Scientists don’t understand exactly why this is so effective at reprocessing the traumatic event, but research shows that people make huge improvements in just a few sessions.

    The Takeaway

    Trauma is extremely common: up to 70% of American adults have experienced a traumatic event in their lives. Some people recover on their own, while the trauma lingers for others. Too often, people use drugs or alcohol to try to numb or escape the trauma.

    Oftentimes, people need help to overcome trauma in their lives. Finding and utilizing a treatment center that has a trauma-informed approach to treating substance use disorder can help you understand the role that trauma plays in your addiction. Then, by addressing the underlying cause of your addiction, you’re better able to stay sober long-term.

    Learn more about Oceanside Malibu at http://oceansidemalibu.com/. Reach Oceanside Malibu by phone at (866) 738-6550. Find Oceanside Malibu on Facebook.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Understanding Dependence Versus Addiction

    Opioid dependence and opioid addiction are closely related, but two distinct conditions.

    Opioids are powerful substances, whether they’re being used in a medically-sanctioned way or abused. Any opioid is likely to have an impact on your health and wellness, but how that plays out will vary greatly. Most people who use opioids regularly will experience some level of physical dependence, and others will develop opioid addiction.

    Understanding the difference between physical dependence and opioid addiction can help you find the treatment that you need.

    What is opioid dependence?

    To understand physical dependence, you need to understand a bit about how opioids work in the body. Opioids attach to opioid receptors. Normally, these receptors can be used to send pain signals; having opioids bound to them prevents pain signals from being sent. That’s why opioids are commonly prescribed for pain.

    However, over time your brain adjusts to the opioids that you’re taking — even if you’re following doctor’s orders. You might need more opioids to experience the same pain relief.

    The brain changes that happen as a result of taking opioids can lead to opioid dependence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines dependence as experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking an opioid medication or using illicit opioids. Symptoms of opioid withdrawal can include anxiety, nausea, diarrhea and sweating.

    Over time, if you continue to take opioids — whether prescribed or illicit — you’ll likely need more and more opioids to feel normal and avoid the symptoms of withdrawal. This is because your opioid tolerance has increased. That can lead to addictive behaviors.

    What is opioid addiction?

    Opioid dependence is a physical condition brought about by brain changes, whereas opioid addiction is a condition that can happen as your physical dependence becomes more acute, according to Waismann Method® Opioid Treatment Specialists.

    Addiction to opioids is a pattern of physical and emotional responses that stem from your physical dependence on opioids. As you try to avoid withdrawal symptoms, your behaviors can change. This can have a devastating impact on your life and impact your career, friendships and family relationships.

    People who are experiencing opioid addiction can display uncharacteristic behaviors, like:

    • Ignoring responsibilities to family or work because you are focused on obtaining opioids.
    • Having trouble controlling your emotions or behaviors.
    • Fixating on how and when you will next be able to obtain opioids.

    With time, these symptoms of addiction can erode the bedrock of your life.

    Treatment for opioid dependence and addiction

    Whether you are struggling with opioid dependence or full-blown opioid addiction, the first step toward treatment is detoxing from opioids. Detox is the process of removing opioids from your body, so that you no longer need opioids to function at a normal level.

    Detox can be painful, because it brings about the symptoms of withdrawal. However, there is a medical detox option that provides the highest level of comfort available. Rapid detox allows your body to be flushed of opioids while you are under anesthesia in a fully-accredited hospital. Because you’re sedated, you don’t feel the acute symptoms of withdrawal. Using a combination of medications, detox can happen much more quickly than it would under normal circumstances if you tried to detox on your own.

    Addressing physical dependence is only one step toward recovering from opioid addiction. After you have detoxed from opioids, you can address the pain — whether physical or emotional — that drove you to use opioids in the first place.

    At Waismann Method®, people who undergo detox receive continued care at Domus Retreat, where they can make a plan for an individualized approach to life in recovery. There are no set schedules or required meetings, but there is space to rejuvenate and recover, and guidance toward the next steps that are right for you.

    A dignified approach to treating opioid dependence and addiction

    Waismann Method® understands that opioid addiction is rooted in the physical brain changes that take place when opioids enter your body. Furthermore, addiction often results from using drugs to cope with underlying physical, emotional or mental health issues. There is no shame or blame in treating opioid addiction — just an understanding that no matter your past, you can have a new opioid-free beginning.

    View the original article at thefix.com