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  • Are Relapse Dreams More Prevalent In Early Recovery?

    Are Relapse Dreams More Prevalent In Early Recovery?

    A new study examined whether the amount of time a person has in recovery affected the number of relapse dreams they had.

    Relapse dreams – which are characterized as dreams that center around the experience of a primary addictive substance or activity – can be a common occurrence for individuals in recovery. Little is known about their meaning or cause, beyond the obvious connection to the dreamer’s dependency, or in regard to their relation to relapse during conscious hours.

    But a new study has suggested that for those who have experienced more severe dependency issues also may have more relapse dreams, the frequency of such experiences decrease as the individual gains more time in recovery.

    The study, conducted by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital Recovery Research Institute, and published in the January 2019 issue of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, sought to determine, from a demographic and clinical standpoint, who experienced relapse dreams and if their rate of frequency was lessened by time in recovery.

    To that end, the researchers employed an address-based sampling method that randomly selected individuals from 97% of U.S household. Participants were determined by those respondents who were 18 years of age or older and answered positively to the screening question (“Did you used to have a problem with drugs or alcohol, but no longer do?”)

    More than 25,229 respondents were ultimately chosen for the survey.

    The survey, which was administered over a period of 19 days between July and August 2016, asked participants if they had experienced a relapse dream while in recovery, and if so, were asked how recently it had occurred.

    They were also asked 15 questions about the types of substances they had used, as well as age of first use, frequency of use, and if they were still using or no longer using that substance, and considered themselves in recovery. If they answered yes to the latter, the participants were asked about the type of recovery (inpatient/outpatient, 12-step program).

    Upon analyzing the responses, the researchers found that approximately one-third of respondents reported experiencing a relapse dream after entering recovery. Those who did report having recurring relapse dreams tended to have more severe substance use histories.

    “We found that the individuals in recovery who reported at least one such dream had received help fro treatment and mutual-help organizations in the past, reflecting a more serious clinical disorder and impact on the central nervous system,” said lead author John F. Kelly, PhD and founder/director of the Recovery Research Institute.

    They also found that for those participants that did report having at least one dream, the length of time spent in recovery appeared to have an impact on the decreasing frequency of these dreams. That association suggested that “as the body and mind gradually adapt to abstinence and a new lifestyle, psychological angst about relapse diminishes,” said Kelly.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Ariana Grande Celebrates Brother's Sober Milestone

    Ariana Grande Celebrates Brother's Sober Milestone

    Ariana and Frankie Grande took to social media to celebrate his sober milestone.

    Ariana Grande tweeted out an emotional congratulations to her brother, Frankie Grande, helping him celebrate 20 months without drugs or alcohol. 

    Ariana said in a tweet that she struggled to find the words to acknowledge the milestone for her 36-year-old brother. 

    “man, i love u @FrankieJGrande. happy. twenty. months. been staring at this drafting n deleting bc everything i write makes me cry. jus know i think you’re a superhero and u make me v proud. everyone knows how hard this is and how strong you’ve been. congratulations and thank god.”

    Frankie has previously said that Ariana’s former boyfriend Mac Miller, who died of an overdose last September, helped him get sober. 

    “He was the reason I went to the rehabilitation center where I was detoxed safely from all of the drugs alcohol and medications I was taking, when I couldn’t imagine living without them,” Frankie said. “It was the place where I found the community of support that showed me that living life without drugs was a possibility and I would have never discovered that if it weren’t for Malcolm.”

    This week, Frankie took to Instagram to discuss the ways that sobriety has changed his life. 

    “i have 20 months sober. i am extremely proud,” he wrote in the post. “this hasn’t been easy. when you get sober… life still happens. you have to deal with all the same highs and lows as you did when you were using but now you don’t have the ability to numb yourself. you feel it. you feel everything. good and bad. but there is also beauty in that. over the past 20 months i have felt loss but i have also felt love. i felt joy but i also felt grief. but the bottom line is… i felt. and that is such a gift. 

    Today, Frankie said, he looks forward to the future with excitement, rather than the anxiety he experienced when he was using.

    “today, when i look in the mirror i see a completely different man than i did 20 months ago. i see a man who knows that everything is exactly as it is meant to be. a man liberated from the prison of being stuck in the past or obsessing over the future. a man grateful for his life… exactly as it is. a man excited for the next chapter… and ready to face it… no matter what…. sober.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Pot Legalization Moves Forward In New Hampshire Despite Opposition

    Pot Legalization Moves Forward In New Hampshire Despite Opposition

    High overdose rates in the state has been cited as one of the main reasons opponents are against legalizing cannabis.

    Despite strong opposition in a state reeling from the opioid epidemic, marijuana legalization came closer to New Hampshire on Thursday (Feb. 21), when a bill to legalize cannabis in the state moved forward by just one vote. 

    According to New Hampshire Public Radio, the measure passed the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee by a vote of 10 to 9. It will now be considered by the full House of Representatives, but Governor Chris Sununu, who recently started his second term, has vowed to veto the bill if it gets that far. 

    New Hampshire, known as a popular vacation destination because of its scenic lakes and mountains, has in recent years become known for a more sinister reason: the prevalence of opioid addiction in the state. New Hampshire has one of the highest per-capita overdose rates in the country.

    At the same time, the Granite State has been a holdout in the march toward legalization of recreational marijuana, becoming the last New England state to ban cannabis use. 

    Sununu and others in New Hampshire feel it would be irresponsible to legalize cannabis when the state is fighting what often seems like a losing battle against opioids. According to The New York Times, the governor spoke out strongly against legalization last fall. 

    “When we are dealing with opioids as the single biggest health crisis this state has ever had, you are going to tell me legalizing more drugs is the answer? Absolutely not.”

    Sununu is a Republican, but in New Hampshire there is bipartisan skepticism about marijuana legalization. Both U.S. senators from New Hampshire, Democrats Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, have expressed concerns or actively opposed legalization. 

    Ronald G. Shaiko, a senior fellow studying public policy and social sciences at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, said that residents in the state feel that the government hasn’t responded well to the opioid epidemic, and are wary of adding more drugs into the mix. Because of this, Sununu’s opposition is resonating. 

    “He’s hitting a chord,” Shaiko said. 

    Tym Rourke oversees treatment and addiction programming at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. He said that even if marijuana is only dangerous for some people, that is not a risk that the state can take when hundreds of people are dying from opioid overdoses each year. 

    He said, “For some people, it’s unsafe. And as we are grappling with a high volume of individuals struggling with the consequences of substance misuse, do we really want to create a system that puts another substance more into the marketplace or more into their presence?”

    However, proponents including State Representative Renny Cushing, who is sponsoring the legalization bill, argue that increasing access to marijuana can actually reduce rates of opioid overdose. 

    “What we’ve come to understand is that marijuana in many instances is an exit drug, not a gateway drug,” he said. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • The Push To Provide Pregnant Women With Mental Health Services

    The Push To Provide Pregnant Women With Mental Health Services

    New recommendations for expanded mental health care access could impact up to 15% of new moms.

    A government task force is recommending that primary care providers provide counseling services, or referrals to counselors, to all pregnant and postpartum women who are at high risk of developing depression. The move could increase access to counseling for these women, since insurance providers will now be required to cover counseling for pregnant and postpartum women. 

    The recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force could affect up to 15% of new moms. People at high risk of developing depression before or after giving birth include young moms, low-income women, and women with a past history of depression. For these people, early screening and intervention via counseling can be very effective. 

    “I am very happy to see anything related to prevention, whether it’s mental health generally or perinatal depression specifically. If we can prevent problems from occurring, not only do we do a great service to humans, but [the health care system] saves a great deal of money,” Jeff Temple, a University of Texas psychologist in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, told Time. 

    However, Temple added that there are still barriers to access to mental health care, especially for at-risk women. These include an already understaffed and overburdened mental health system. 

    “If we need to see 15% of perinatal women, there’s absolutely no way that we have the ability to do that. We need to put more money and effort into training more psychologists and counselors,” he said. 

    Ideally, doctors who are taking care of women during pregnancy would integrate mental health services and counseling into their practices, said Temple. 

    “If these women are screened and they’re recommended to someone [for counseling] and it’s kind of a cold handoff, very few will follow up with it. But if one implication of this is that OB/GYN departments start to incorporate counselors and psychologists within their services, then we’ll see a huge benefit. If we did that, I am 100% positive we would see declines in perinatal depression.”

    Temple believes this will happen in the future, as the country grows more aware about the importance of mental health.

    “I think we’re starting to understand the importance of mental health as a society, and the importance of prevention,” he said. “The future is definitely going to be psychologists within primary care departments.”

    American Counseling Association president Simone Lambert said that focusing on mothers’ mental health could improve outcomes for women and babies. Being proactive is the best way to do that, Lambert said. 

    “The benefits of increased maternal and infant wellness and decreased stigma to seek mental health assistance would likely lead to less of a toll on our healthcare system than when mental health concerns are unaddressed.” 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Michigan Company Sells Books, Gifts Marijuana, In Legal Gray Area

    Michigan Company Sells Books, Gifts Marijuana, In Legal Gray Area

    Blaze Michigan’s book bundles come with a special “edible” gift.

    While marijuana users in Michigan must wait for legal marijuana shops to open their doors, one store has found a clever workaround—gifting marijuana edibles to people who purchase book bundles. 

    Blaze Michigan sells bundles of books, which can be picked up in person or delivered. Consumers purchase the books, and if they are 21 or older they’ll receive a free gift. With bundle names like the Brownie Edible Book Bundle ($65), Full Vape Book Bundle ($90) and Mary Jane Flower Books ($80), it’s easy to guess what the free gift might be. 

    “You’re buying gifts, and then the gift is unknown. We try to hint at what the gift is going to be, by how we name our book bundles,” Blaze Michigan owner Stephanie Swearengin told WSBT 22. 

    The bundles are a big hit, Swearengin said. “Pretty much demand has been hard to keep up with for the most part.”

    Michigan became the first midwestern state to legalize recreational cannabis in 2018, but until shops begin opening in 2020, there are no outlets to legally purchase marijuana.

    Swearengin believes she has found a workaround, as she explained on Blaze Michigan’s website. 

    “We’ve talked to multiple lawyers about the issue and as far as we can tell it’s just a large gray area,” she said. “Just like medical dispensaries. I mean with the state and the federal law, it’s already a gray area. Even though medical marijuana has been legal, they can still get shut down by the feds. So if you ask me it’s all kind of gray.”

    However, Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz was not convinced that Blaze Michigan’s business model is legal. “People engaging in this activity are definitely subjecting themselves to potential prosecution.”

    Despite the semantics, the intent of businesses like Blaze Michigan is clear, Fitz said. 

    “Certainly when you’re gifting marijuana as part of the incentive of a transaction, that can very easily be interpreted that you are doing it for profit,” he said. “It’s wise for people to follow the law. Tread softly and be cautious. The step you make may end up in causing you to be in court resulting in a civil infraction, a misdemeanor, or even a felony conviction.”

    In 2017, a Massachusetts store was shut down for charging an admission free and then distributing free marijuana gifts to consumers. Recreational marijuana had been legalized in the state, but shops that could legally sell pot were not yet open. 

    “He can no longer do business like he’s doing right now—taking a cover at the door, leaving with a gift of marijuana,” the local police chief said at the time. “It’s not legal in the state to do that. He’s not a licensed distributor of marijuana. That’s yet to come.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Police Station Evacuated After Possible Fentanyl Exposure

    Police Station Evacuated After Possible Fentanyl Exposure

    The substance believed to be fentanyl made its way into the police station after being confiscated from a suspect at See’s Candy.

    Sunnyvale, California police headquarters were evacuated this week after fentanyl sent multiple officers to the hospital.

    It began with a patrol officer at the Department of Public Safety headquarters. The officer was exposed to what police were told was the deadly synthetic opioid, fentanyl, according to a police report on Thursday, reported The Sacramento Bee.

    The report noted that the officer immediately felt “severe respiratory distress,” according to The San Jose Mercury News. The respiratory distress happened very quickly, according to Sunnyvale police spokesman Jim Choi.

    Police officers are aware of the risk of an accidental overdose due to fentanyl exposure, now more than ever. The Drug Enforcement Administration issued an officer safety alert (that included all first responders) warning of the possibility of such an overdose, the symptoms, and how to respond. Fentanyl is 30 to 50 times more potent than another deadly drug, heroin.

    Police officers can, according to some experts, have a dramatic and overdose-mimicking experience after contact with fentanyl that is essentially a placebo effect. Scottie Wightman, a Kentucky emergency medical technician, went unresponsive after one call. He was treated with naloxone, but a drug test later showed there were no drugs in his system.

    As a precaution, six officers from Sunnyvale’s Department of Public Safety were hospitalized and evaluated for possible fentanyl exposure. All of the officers have since gone home and the evacuation was lifted on the evening of the incident.

    However, Choi said the building was still under a “Level A” quarantine the next morning while crews processed police headquarters for hazardous materials, reported KTVU.

    After the headquarters were completely evacuated, a hazmat team entered to retrieve the suspected fentanyl and “decontaminated the affected areas,” police said.

    “The exposure was contained to DPS Headquarters and there is no threat to the community,” police wrote in a news release. “Police, fire and EMS services were not affected during this incident.”

    The substance believed to be fentanyl made its way into the police station after an officer responded to a business called See’s Candy. A call had been made that a man was urinating in public, and police eventually arrested the suspect on two outstanding warrants in San Luis Obispo County, according to police. The suspect’s name was not released.

    The suspect had a baggie that the police confiscated. The bag was filled with suspected narcotics, and the suspect reported to the police that fentanyl was part of the mix. Results are currently being procured at Santa Clara County’s crime lab, which according to Choi, is likely to take “some time.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Recovery Housing Program For Rural Areas Launched By USDA, HHS

    Recovery Housing Program For Rural Areas Launched By USDA, HHS

    “The opioid crisis has hit rural communities hard, and we need to leverage all possible partnerships to support these communities,” said an HHS official.

    A new federal program will allow nonprofit organizations to purchase homes in rural communities for use as transitional housing for individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.

    The initiative is a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and aims to address the national opioid crisis by providing greater access and support to rural areas, which have shouldered a substantial portion of the epidemic’s overdose and death tolls.

    USDA Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, Anne Hazlett, said in a press release that the program is part of President Donald Trump’s policy to address opioid dependency, which he declared a national public health emergency in late 2017.

    Through coordinated efforts between the USDA’s Rural Development and HHS’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), non-profit organizations will be able to purchase USDA’s Real Estate Owned (REO) single-family housing properties in rural communities at a discounted price for use as housing, treatment, job training and other services for individuals in recovery for substance abuse issues.

    The initiative extends the two organizations’ collaborative efforts, which were launched in 2018, when SAMHSA supplemented USDA Cooperative Extension grants to help communities in the fight against opioid abuse.

    “We know that the opioid crisis has hit rural communities hard, and we need to leverage all possible partnerships to support these communities,” said Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz, HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use. “Housing plays a vital part in the recovery process for those living with opioid use disorders.”

    The opioid crisis has cut a particularly devastating path through rural communities in America. As the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) noted, only 20% of the U.S population lives in areas designated as rural communities, but the rate of opioid-related overdose deaths in such locations is 45% higher than in metro counties.

    Studies have found that the rate of babies born with opioid withdrawal symptoms and teens who use opioids is much higher in rural communities.

    Adding to the problem is a lack of health care facilities—83 rural hospitals have closed since 2010—and access to mental health and substance treatment facilities. According to the NRHA, in 55% of all American counties, most of which are considered rural, there are no psychologists, psychiatrists or social workers.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • "Smiling Depression" Explained

    "Smiling Depression" Explained

    Low mood is not the only feature of depression. 

    Depression is associated with sadness, crying and an inability to get out of bed. However, up to 40% of people who have depression may have “smiling depression” and not exhibit these symptoms.

    “It can be very hard to spot people suffering from smiling depression. They may seem like they don’t have a reason to be sad – they have a job, an apartment and maybe even children or a partner. They smile when you greet them and can carry pleasant conversations. In short, they put on a mask to the outside world while leading seemingly normal and active lives,” Olivia Remes, a doctoral candidate at the University of Cambridge, wrote for Science Alert.

    Many people are able to “keep up appearances” even while they’re feeling down. Marissa, a 22-year-old from New Jersey, posted a picture of her smiling at an adorable puppy, with the caption, “Sometimes it’s the little things that bring the most joy.”

    However, Marissa told Women’s Health how she really felt that day: “I wish I had half of this puppy’s joy. Earlier today I was driving, and looking for objects to crash into. My life feels so overwhelming that I just can’t deal.”

    Smiling depression isn’t a medical term, but depression with atypical features is. People who suffer from depression with atypical features might have primary symptoms including weight gain or appetite increase, sleepiness, or social isolation.

    However, they can still experience positive reactions to good events, whereas many people with typical depression might not be able to tap into the joy brought by good news or positive occurrence. 

    This can make it hard for some people to recognize that they’re depressed, Dr. Michelle B. Riba, of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Depression Center, told Health.

    “Many people will come to their doctor complaining about sleep problems, or headaches, not realizing that it’s a mood disorder because they don’t have low mood. Not all symptoms of depression always occur at once.”

    Another woman who spoke with Women’s Health posted a picture of herself in a shirt that said “Be kind always.” However, that didn’t actually fit her mood, she explained. 

    “I feel so down I almost broke into tears at the grocery store today. I wish I could have extended this kindness to myself,” the 33-year-old said. 

    The feelings of smiling depression can sneak up and be surprising, said Rebecca, 36, who posted a photo of herself smiling at a friend’s wedding. 

    “After this, I snuck out of the reception to cry in my hotel because I suddenly felt depressed without knowing why,” she said. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Can Fruits & Veggies Help Your Mental Health?

    Can Fruits & Veggies Help Your Mental Health?

    For a new study, researchers explored the potential link between intake of fruits and veggies and mental well-being.

    Eating your fruits and vegetables may be just as important for your mental health as it is for your body, according to CNN’s “The Conversation” column. 

    The column is written by the authors of a recent study done on the topic: Neel Ocean, research fellow in behavioral economics, and Peter Howley, associate professor of economics at the University of Leeds.

    For the recent study, the two drew from a 2016 study done in Australia which found that an increase in fruit and vegetables consumption led to improvements in a person’s psychological well-being. 

    Howley and Ocean wanted to determine whether the outcome was the same with a larger pool of participants. So, they studied more than 40,000 individuals from the UK Household Longitudinal Study.

    “Our analysis showed that increases in the consumption of fruit and vegetables are linked to increases in self-reported mental well-being and life satisfaction in data that spans a five-year period, even after accounting for other determinants of mental well-being such as physical health, income and consumption of other foods,” Ocean and Howley wrote. 

    According to the researchers, adding just one serving of fruits or vegetables daily may have as many benefits for mental well-being as adding seven to eight walks per month to your physical regimen.

    In this case, they define “one serving” as one cup of raw veggies, half a cup of cooked veggies, or one entire piece of fruit. 

    Howley and Ocean did point out that their research alone is not enough to establish a solid link between eating

    fruits and veggies and mental well-being. They also point out what they call the “substitution effect.”

    “People can only eat so much in a day, so someone who eats more fruits and vegetables might just have less room in their diet for unhealthy foods,” they wrote. “Although we accounted for bread and dairy in our study, ideally, future research should track all other foods consumed to rule out alternative explanations.”

    The two also a highlight a commentary on their findings by the researchers of the 2016 study in Australia. 

    “The authors show that the number of fruit and vegetable portions eaten in a day can predict whether someone is diagnosed with depression or anxiety two years later,” Howley and Ocean wrote. “But the reverse does not seem to be true. Being diagnosed with depression does not appear to be a strong predictor of fruit and vegetable consumption two years later. This suggests that it is perhaps more likely that eating fruits and vegetables is influencing mood and not the other way around.”

    In the end, the two say that while their findings are encouraging, more research on the topic is needed in order to draw definite conclusions. 

    “We are not suggesting eating fruits and vegetables is a substitute for medical treatment, but a simple way to improve your mental health could be to add a little more fruit and veg to your daily diet,” they wrote. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Drug Court Helped Man Turn Life Around

    Drug Court Helped Man Turn Life Around

    After struggling with drug addiction, a Missouri man was able to change his life with the help of a drug court program.

    A year ago, Casey Barbero was using drugs and getting into fights, a pattern that had defined more than half his life. When an argument with his father turned physical and the police were called, Barbero was ready to surrender.

    “I just sat there and waited for the police with the drugs on me. I knew it was the right thing to do. It was the right time,” he told The Missourian. Instead of being sent to jail, Barbero agreed to attend drug court, a program that connects people with treatment and jobs in an attempt to help them stay sober and out of jail.

    Nine months later, Barbero is the type of success story that the more than 3,000 drug courts around the country strive toward. 

    “He made up his mind from the get-go, ‘This is what I want, I want a different path in life.’ And he’s done that,” said Felecia Jackson-Qualls, a recruiter for Job Point, an organization that works with the Missouri drug courts to help people find employment. 

    Jackson-Qualls said that Barbero’s progress is inspirational and shows what can happen when the justice system opens doors rather than closing them for people who have struggled with substance use disorder. 

    “It brings tears to my eyes because I’m seeing where he’s coming from. And I see where he’s got to. When you see someone go through those different steps and those hurdles and you see them advancing, then we know we’re doing a good job. That makes all the difference in the world to me,” she said. 

    Barbero said that he’s eager to not even think about drugs, but for now he has to confront his substance use disorder each week when he reports on his progress in front of the court. 

    He said, “I pretty much am there now. I am reminded of it because I have to be for drug court. It’s good to remember, but I definitely don’t need to dwell on it.”

    Barbero now works in construction, and has dreams of owning a home and starting a family, things that seemed far away when he was in active addiction. 

    “I want to be in a place where I firmly know what I am, what are my goals for the future and my future plans. Right now, I have a good idea,” he said. 

    Although some people balk at the strict drug court program, Barbero said that the guidance and work requirements have been helpful. 

    “It’s better to be doing that than the stuff I was doing. I’m taking all that time I did waste and learning about things I’m interested in doing.”

    View the original article at thefix.com