Answer Addiction

Tag: opioid

  • Vicodin Addiction: How To Find the Best Rehab

    Vicodin Addiction: How To Find the Best Rehab

    Looking for information about Vicodin? This helpful guide has all the information you need about side effects, warning signs of dependence and treatment for opioid addiction.

    1. What is Vicodin and What is it Used For?
    2. Vicodin and the Brain
    3. The Path to Vicodin Addiction
    4. Abusing Vicodin with a Prescription
    5. Abusing Vicodin without a Prescription for Medical Reasons
    6. Abusing Vicodin for Recreational Purposes
    7. Vicodin Addiction Symptoms
    8. Diagnosing Vicodin Addiction
    9. Vicodin Withdrawal and Detox
    10. Vicodin Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation
    11. Finding the Right Vicodin Rehab Facility for You

    Vicodin addiction is a natural consequence of Vicodin abuse. If you take more of it than you should, you may develop a dangerous drug dependency.

    Defeating Vicodin addiction is not easy. But the situation is far from hopeless. If you enroll in an addiction treatment program at a high-quality Vicodin rehab center, you’ll have an excellent chance of overcoming your substance use disorder. You can choose sobriety over addiction, and during your time in Vicodin rehab you’ll learn how to do it.

    What is Vicodin and What is it Used For?

    In 2018, Vicodin and other painkillers with a similar formula were the top-selling prescription medication in 10 states. Vicodin is given to medical patients suffering from moderate to severe chronic pain, including those who are recovering from injuries, illness or medical procedures. 

    The active ingredients in Vicodin are hydrocodone, a moderately strong opioid, and acetaminophen, the over-the-counter substance sold as Tylenol. Standard Vicodin tablets contain just five mg of hydrocodone and 300 mg of acetaminophen. But it is the hydrocodone that gives Vicodin its potency. 

    Vicodin was long considered a relatively harmless narcotic drug. Consequently, many physicians prescribed it for only mild pain, or even as a precaution for conditions that might be accompanied by some level of pain. 

    But in fact, Vicodin is just as addictive as any other type of opioid. In addition to its painkilling abilities, hydrocodone causes feelings of pleasure, relaxation and mild euphoria that users find very alluring.

    Now that physicians know the truth, they are being more careful about handing out prescriptions. But Vicodin is still highly effective against chronic pain, which has helped it retain its popularity with both doctors and patients.

    This drug can be used safely. But exceeding recommended doses, or taking it without a prescription, is risky behavior that could leave you addicted and unable to control your Vicodin consumption.

    Vicodin and the Brain

    Vicodin works by linking with opioid receptors in the brain. The human body can manufacture its own opioids, in response to pain, and these receptors are designed to connect with these endogenous products. But opioid receptors do not discriminate and will bind with any opioid molecules they encounter, including those in medications like hydrocodone.

    While they share similar chemical structures, naturally-produced opioids are less powerful than opioid medications. Vicodin will provoke a stronger pain-killing response from opioid receptors, enough to take the edge off of pain that endogenous opioids cannot counteract. Opioids also trigger the release of the neurochemical dopamine, which is what causes the pleasurable sensations associated with Vicodin consumption.

    None of this is especially disturbing, as long as doses of Vicodin are carefully controlled. But if you begin taking more Vicodin than you should, two things will happen. First, your brain’s opioid receptors will adjust to the presence of so much hydrocodone, and they will gradually lose their sensitivity to its effects. This will force you to boost your Vicodin consumption to compensate, causing your Vicodin dependence to blossom.

    The second result of excessive Vicodin use is an escalating desire for the pleasurable effects caused by dopamine. You’ll crave the euphoric feelings this chemical can cause, and once that happens you’ll have another incentive to keep increasing the size and frequency of your Vicodin doses.

    Eventually, it becomes almost impossible to function without heavy quantities of Vicodin. Brain chemistry becomes seriously altered, and you are no longer able to gain any satisfaction from Vicodin unless you’re consuming levels that are neither safe nor sustainable. 

    The Path to Vicodin Addiction

    The fall into Vicodin dependence is a slippery slope. As your addiction deepens, you’ll become trapped by a pattern of behavior that only makes the problem worse. Your descent into the abyss will accelerate, reinforced by decision-making that becomes increasingly compulsive and uncontrollable. Without Vicodin rehabilitation, you may be unable to reverse course and turn your life around. 

    Abusing Vicodin with a Prescription

    Most men and women who receive prescriptions for Vicodin listen to their doctors and limit their doses. But others become so enamored of the drug’s effects that they push beyond the limits. They take more than they’re supposed to, to deal with some residual pain, or simply because they like the way it makes them feel.

    They may convince themselves that this is okay, and not risky as long as they don’t exceed recommended doses by much. But they underestimate hydrocodone’s addictive power. Soon their Vicodin abuse will carry them into the danger zone and into Vicodin dependence.

    Abusing Vicodin without a Prescription for Medical Reasons

    Some people who suffer from severe pain don’t go to the doctor for help. Or they do see a physician but become dissatisfied with the course of treatment, which does not remove all of their pain. In these instances, some men and women will self-medicate with Vicodin, which isn’t hard to do since the drug is so widely available. Their friends or family may have bottles of it sitting around, or they may have some of it themselves, left over from expired prescriptions. They may even know where to find it on the black market.

    No matter how cautious they try to be, they are putting themselves at grave risk for Vicodin addiction with this type of behavior. There simply is no way a person can properly regulate their Vicodin consumption without medical supervision. If they try, the chances are great that they will use too much of it and become Vicodin dependent.

    Abusing Vicodin for Recreational Purposes

    In some instances, people use Vicodin for reasons that have nothing to do with medical need. Instead, they use it because of its mind-altering side effects. They often use it in combination with other drugs or alcohol, in order to increase the intensity of the high or enhance the feelings of relaxation.

    Recreational Vicodin abuse alone is hazardous enough. But when it’s used in combination with other intoxicants, the risks of addiction and drug overdose will skyrocket. Recreational opioid abuse leads many people to heroin, which highlights how dangerous this reckless this behavior really is.

    Vicodin Addiction Symptoms

    Vicodin is expected to produce some side effects, even if taken as prescribed. But ever-escalating consumption will bring new and more intense Vicodin side effects, signaling your slide into addiction. 

    The most common Vicodin addiction symptoms include:

    • Frequent drowsiness
    • Mental confusion or detachment
    • Memory problems
    • Poor coordination
    • Weakness
    • Slow heart rate
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Unexplained muscle cramps or pains
    • Trouble urinating
    • Fatigue, lethargy
    • Bouts of agitation or anxiety
    • Shallow breathing or respiratory difficulties
    • Depression

    If you experience these symptoms and have been gradually increasing your consumption of Vicodin, there is reason for concern. 

    One of the most disturbing and frightening signs of Vicodin addiction is an overdose. Almost 50,000 people in the United States died from an opioid overdose in 2017, and many of these unfortunate victims were abusing Vicodin in combination with alcohol, benzodiazepines, cocaine and other intoxicants. 

    Vicodin overdose symptoms include overwhelming grogginess, unresponsiveness, a loss of coordination and balance, nausea and vomiting, dilated pupils, lips turning blue, low blood pressure and respiratory distress. 

    If you don’t get help when these symptoms first appear, you could pay the ultimate price. Of course, the best way to save yourself from a Vicodin overdose is to seek help from a Vicodin rehab facility before anything this drastic happens.

    Diagnosing Vicodin Addiction

    Under standards listed in the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the criteria for diagnosing Vicodin addiction include the following behavioral and emotional symptoms:

    1. Vicodin use is often heavier than planned.
    2. Using and obtaining Vicodin, and recovering from its abuse, has become overly time-consuming.
    3. Cravings for Vicodin are frequently experienced.
    4. Vicodin use is linked to a variety of social and interpersonal difficulties.
    5. Important personal, familial, occupational and educational responsibilities are neglected because of Vicodin abuse.
    6. Vicodin use has led to reckless or physically dangerous behaviors.
    7. Abuse of Vicodin is connected to the development of serious physical and mental health disorders.
    8. Favorite hobbies and other enjoyable activities have been abandoned in favor of Vicodin abuse.
    9. Attempts to reduce Vicodin consumption have been made, but have all proven unsuccessful.
    10. Growing tolerance for Vicodin has led to increased usage.
    11. Withdrawal symptoms are experienced when Vicodin is not taken for a few hours.

    The severity of your Vicodin addiction will depend on how many symptoms you report. 

    Half of all people with Vicodin addiction will have co-occurring mental health disorders or additional substance use disorders. So, medical professionals who evaluate you for Vicodin addiction will screen for these conditions at the same time.

    Vicodin Withdrawal and Detox

    Vicodin withdrawal symptoms will likely be experienced approximately six to eight hours after use of the drug ceases or is significantly reduced. They will peak in intensity within 48-72 hours and endure at levels that cause physical and emotional discomfort for a week or longer. 

    The most frequently experienced Vicodin withdrawal symptoms include:

    • Anxiety and agitation
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Muscle aches
    • Heavy sweating
    • Insomnia
    • Racing or uncontrollable thoughts
    • Irritability
    • Lack of energy
    • Diarrhea
    • Chills and other fever-like symptoms
    • Powerful cravings 

    Needless to say, experiencing such symptoms for several days could be enough to destroy anyone’s determination to stay clean and sober. But the worst of Vicodin withdrawal symptoms can be avoided, through your participation in a medically-supervised detox program. 

    The main purpose of detox is to help patients reach a sustainable level of physical and emotional stability, to prepare them to receive addiction treatment. The best Vicodin rehab facilities offer detox services onsite, in clinical settings where all of your medical needs can be addressed and monitored on a 24-hour basis. Addiction specialists and mental health professionals will be available to meet with you at all times, and physicians, nurses, physicians and support staff will provide any additional healthcare services you require.

    If your addiction to Vicodin is mild to moderate, you may begin to taper off the drug during detox, at a reasonable pace that prevents the appearance of significant Vicodin withdrawal side effects. Or, alternatively, you may be given a maintenance medication called buprenorphine, which you can take as a replacement for Vicodin. This opioid satisfies Vicodin cravings but without causing euphoria, changing the psychological dynamics of addiction and making your transition to full sobriety easier.

    You will still have to taper your opioid consumption over time, as you pass through detox, treatment and aftercare. But studies show that buprenorphine use decreases the chances of eventual relapse. Since it doesn’t cause euphoria, buprenorphine won’t reinforce your addiction and will therefore be easier to give up completely. 

    Other medications administered in opioid detox include methadone, which traditionally has been taken as a replacement drug for heroin, and clonidine and lofexidine, two non-opioids that can reduce the intensity of Vicodin withdrawal symptoms.

    Detox programs generally last from a week to 10 days, after which you’ll be officially admitted as a patient in your chosen Vicodin rehab facility.

    Vicodin Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation 

    Once you’ve been admitted, you’ll spend between one and three months in your Vicodin rehab facility. Inpatient or outpatient treatment programs will both be available, and your choice will depend on your personal preferences and medical needs. 

    In either inpatient or outpatient treatment, your recovery plan will be comprehensive and diverse. It will include services for mental health disorders, if they’ve been diagnosed in addition to your drug dependency.

    Your Vicodin addiction treatment plan will include a mixture of:

    • Individual therapy. With your counselor you’ll work through any personal, psychological or emotional issues that made you susceptible to drug dependency.
    • Group therapy. This involves counseling sessions shared with peers who can give you advice, understanding and acceptance.
    • Family therapy. Loved ones can boost your chances of recovery by offering unconditional love and moral support.
    • Life skills and relapse prevention classes. You’ll emerge from these sessions with more self-comprehension and better ideas about how to cope with life’s stresses.
    • Instruction in holistic healing practices. Mind-body therapies like yoga, acupuncture, medication and biofeedback will help you manage stress and anxiety, which can easily sabotage your sobriety.

    The top Vicodin rehab centers rely exclusively on evidence-based treatments with an established record of success. You’ll be in good and caring hands throughout your time in treatment, and as you transition into aftercare services at the end you’ll be well prepared to embrace your new drug-free lifestyle.

    Finding the Right Vicodin Rehab Facility for You

    Before choosing a Vicodin rehab center, you’ll want to visit multiple institutions to make sure you find the one that offers the best combination of healing services. 

    Your needs are unique and your story is your own, and staff and administrators at the rehab you select will understand that and respect it. They will rely on proven treatment methodologies but still customize your treatment plan to ensure it gives you a great chance to find lasting sobriety. 

    You’ll ask many questions during your visits to Vicodin rehab centers, while seeking the input of your loved ones as well. The best addiction treatment professionals will welcome your questions and give you answers that leave you feeling hopeful and encouraged.

    When you find the right Vicodin rehab facility for you, the choice will be obvious. The peace of mind you feel after that initial visit will stay with you as your treatment progresses, and it will be a major asset in your efforts to overcome your Vicodin dependence. Qualified treatment professionals can help you turn your life around once you’re ready to embrace the challenge.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • How to Talk with Clients about Chronic Pain and Opioids

    How to Talk with Clients about Chronic Pain and Opioids

     

    ARTICLE SUMMARY: These guidelines will help you bring hope and healing to clients who may be in the midst of a battle with opioid addiction and dependency, stemming from chronic pain.

    ESTIMATED READING TIME: 7 Minutes.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    The Need to Talk

     Although I have written at length about The Opioid Crisis, it remains a long-term public health concern for Americans. In fact, the latest death toll estimates from the CDC put the number at 72,000 fatalities from overdose in the first half of this year.

    Chronic pain, which is one of the leading drivers of opioid overprescribing and subsequent addiction, affects 133 million Americans and 65% of them seek care for persistent pain at some point in their lives, reports the American Cancer Society. And the National Institutes of Health reports that an estimated $100 billion is spent annually to manage pain, including healthcare expenses, lost income, and lost productivity at work and home.

    Since this is an issue that impacts many families, friends colleagues, and loved ones in every stretch of the country, I’ve developed some tips for opening honest dialogue about this issue for healthcare professionals, clinicians and therapists to talk with their clients.

    Guidelines for Talking to Clients

    As a clinician and interventionist, I know first-hand how it can be difficult to broach this topic in an informed and compassionate manner. However, with these guidelines you’ll be able to bring hope and healing to clients who may be in the midst of a battle with opioid addiction and dependency, stemming from chronic pain.

    1. Meet Your Client Where They Are.

     I recently wrote The Definitive Guide to Addiction Intervention: Collective Strategies. In this textbook, I discuss the importance of starting where your client is. This means understanding who they are, where they come from, their family dynamics, experiences and their place in the world. The best theory in the world won’t take into account this human element. With unique people, a multitude of cultures, gender expressions and the changes in our genetic diversity, we must embrace difference as a teacher. That way you can help plan a strategy that meets their unique needs, not a preconceived cereal box of a model.

    This approach also leaves judgment at the door. Addiction – in all its forms – is a disease, not a moral failing, and should be discussed in terms of the best way to bring healing to the person experiencing the disease. When we do this, we see the person for who they are and that can open the door to recovery.

    2. Understand Your Client’s Trauma and Talk About It.

     Trauma is defined as an overwhelming experience that cannot be integrated and elicits animal defense mechanisms and dysregulated arousal. It can come from a host of experiences – a car accident, a dislocated knee or strained back, physical and sexual abuse, etc.

    Trauma can be both objective and subjective:

    • Objective trauma is the event that took place
    • Subjective trauma is how the person perceives what took place and the emotional aftershocks

    When we understand and discuss the trauma that took place, we then see how the door was opened to an opioid misuse problem. For example, a client may be a collegiate baseball player who tore his rotator cuff during a game. He undergoes two surgeries to fix the rotator cuff and is prescribed pain killers to aid in the healing process. But the player does not want to miss any more games, so he misuses the amount of painkillers he should take in order to “play through the pain” and stay in the game. As such, he develops an addiction and continues to take pills long after the rotator cuff healed. That you discuss the trauma in relation to the client’s pressure to succeed as a baseball player illuminates a detailed treatment plan for recovery.

    3. Teach Your Clients About Opioids and Chronic Pain.

    • The National Survey on Drug Use & Health found that 92 million US adults, or about 38 percent of the population, took a legitimately prescribed opioid like OxyContin or Percocet in 2015. Prescription opioids are easy to come by and are impacting people from all walks of life.
    • 11.5 million people, or nearly 5 percent of the population, misused prescription opioids they obtained through illicit means.
    • In 2015 more than one third of all adults were prescribed opioids.
    • Over 259 million prescriptions were written in 2012, which is enough to give nearly every person in the US regardless of their age their own prescription bottle
    • A study authored by Bradley Martin, a professor of pharmaceutical evaluation and policy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science, found that with a one-day supply of prescription painkillers, there’s about a six percent chance “of being on opioids for a year or longer.” A five-day supply jumps to 10 percent. And a ten-day supply bumps the user to a 20 percent chance they’ll still be using a year later.
    • Pain has been considered the fifth vital sign. That being said, 90 percent of all pain is emotion.
    • The differences between acute & chronic pain. See chart below:

    4. Educate Your Clients on Alternative Pain Management Solutions.

     There are emerging evidenced based methods to help individuals, including:
    •  CBT
    • Breathing exercises
    • Qi chong
    • Physical therapy
    • Acupuncture
    • Mindfulness

    A study published in the journal Addiction in 2016 by a team from the Veterans Administration Ann Arbor Healthcare System’s Center for Clinical Management Research found a non-drug approach that combines psychological therapies with a social element. In the study, 55 veterans took part in therapy rooted in the psychological theories of pain and felt the effects last up to a year.

    The theory behind this approach is a self-management of pain. According to Medline Plus, the person experiencing the chronic pain needs help learning to think, feel, and do better, despite the persistence of pain. Self-management programs engage the individual in problem-solving, pacing, decision-making, and taking action to manage their pain. And they do it in a supportive environment where the social element plays a huge role because research shows that there is a link between pain and depression. Pain is responsive to mood and mood is responsive to social support, thus working through pain in a social environment posts strong results in healing.

    With research showing that the support of others aids in recovery, centers willing to address the issues of pain management and recovery, and the medical community rethinking how opioids are prescribed, there are new ways developing to more effectively deal with chronic pain and the mental health and lifestyle issues that arise from these conditions.

    Another alternative pain management solution that is gaining traction is meditation. Scott Weiss, clinical director at Bodhizone Physical Therapy and Wellness in New York City, who works with professional athletes, regularly prescribes meditation. “People often find meditation hard to swallow,” Weiss tells Outside Magazine, “but with the right instructor, they can start finding relief in just one session.” In fact, Weiss claims that half of the injured athletes he sees use meditation, and of those, 80% report reduced pain.

    A Call to Action

     I urge all of my colleagues in behavioral health care to rethink how we talk to our clients about opioids. We must educate them on the risks of taking prescription opioids, open up honest dialogue, and work with friends, families, coworkers and communities to promote lasting change. Lastly, since chronic pain is a leading driver of opioid use and opens the door to addiction, we must educate our clients in alternative pain management forms to promote healthier ways of living. These changes begin with open dialogue with our clients, so we can work through this crisis together.

    If you have a client that is experiencing difficulty with depression, anxiety ,chronic pain and/or opioid misuse, please give me a call. There is hope and solutions!

     

    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • Did You Know Carfentanil Is 5000 Times Stronger Than Heroin?

    Did You Know Carfentanil Is 5000 Times Stronger Than Heroin?

    ARTICLE OVERVIEW: Recently, drug dealers have been cutting heroin with carfentanil to increase profit. However, this medicine is not meant for human use. In fact, carfentanil was originally designed to tranquilize large mammals. This article reviews what you need to know about carfentanil, the dangers associated with it, and tips for finding treatment if you’re struggling with an addiction. At the end, we invite you to ask questions. We try to respond personally and promptly to all real-life questions.

    ESTIMATED READING TIME: Less than 10 minutes.

    Table of Contents:

    What is Carfentanil?

    Carfentanil is very similar to the synthetic opioid analgesic, fentanyl. To date, it’s not only one of the most potent opioids available, it’s the most potent opioid on the streets. In fact, it’s estimated to be 100 times stronger than fentanyl. And fentanyl is already 50 times stronger than heroin!

    Carfentanil is estimated to be 10,000 times stronger than morphine.

    However, carfentanil wasn’t created for people to use. Back in 1986, the chemical was labeled under the brand name “Wildnil”. It was used in tranquilizer darts designed for large mammals such as elephants. Carfentanil was the perfect drug for this task, as the overdose risk is similar to that of its cousin, fentanyl, but still contains much higher opioid activity.

    The risks involved with human consumption of carfentanil are HUGE. Overdose risk is extremely high. All it takes is 1 microgram to provoke psychoactive effects. With that in mind, it’s understandable why drug dealers are cutting it with heroin. Even the smallest amounts of the opioid cause dosing reaction, and in this way, a small supply of the drug can cause heroin profits to soar.

    But how does such a powerful drug affect the brain?

    How Does it Affect the Brain?

    Effects of carfentanil are similar to other opioids. The chemical components of these drugs attach themselves to opioid receptors within the brain which are responsible for:
    • Dopamine
    • Norepinephrine
    • Serotonin

    These receptors are attached to neurotransmitters which then carry chemical signals throughout the rest of the body. This can be highly effective if you’re experiencing severe pain in a particular area, as these neurotransmitters travel to where a pain is most intense and change the way that we perceive pain. Opioids can also case euphoric effect, the feeling of being high.

    The effects of opioids are strong and very addictive. Short-term effects from taking an opioid drug like carfentanil include:

    • Drowsiness
    • Feelings of euphoria
    • Pain relief
    • Sedation

    People develop an addiction to opioids through a chemical change in the brain and body. Over time, the body becomes drug-dependent; we chemically develop a necessity for the drug as a means of feeling normal. Without the drug, the body goes through withdrawal.

    Though this happens over a period of time, it should be noted that it doesn’t take long to develop dependence on opioids: usually, drug dependence can occur with about 3 weeks of regular use. When use persists, a person is unable to stop despite the negative effects the drug has on her/his life. In these cases, an addiction can begin.

    Why Overdose Happens

    Opioids are already dangerous in and of themselves. A synthetic opioid like carfentanil that is thousands of times stronger is even more dangerous. As mentioned above, it only takes 1 microgram of carfentanil to trigger activity within a human brain. However, at 20 micrograms, the dose becomes lethal.

    In fact, it’s been determined that of all the dangers of carfentanil, overdose is most likely. Cincinnati, Ohio experienced these consequences in just one weekend where 30 people overdosed because the drug was added to heroin. In the same area, the following weekend, another 78 overdosed.

    An overdose occurs when you take too much of a drug. It literally overwhelms the body. In particular, opioids affect the regulation of breathing and heart rate. When you take too much of an opioid drug, your respiratory and cardiovascular systems slow until they stop. How can you prevent an overdose?

    There are signs to be aware of when someone is experiencing an overdose:

    • Body goes limp.
    • Breathing or heartbeat slows or stops.
    • Face grows very pale and/or seems clammy upon touch.
    • Lips or fingernails turn a purple or blue color.
    • Seizure.
    • Unable to be awakened or cannot speak.
    • Vomiting or making gurgling sounds.

    Overdose Precautions

    So, what should you do if someone overdoses?

    IT’S VITAL YOU CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY!

    A fatal overdose can be prevented under the right medical attention. Calling emergency services needs to be your first priority. However, there are a few steps you can take in order to administer immediate action:

    • If naloxone is available, administrate it. Most likely, the medical professionals who arrive will use it as a means of stopping the overdose. Naloxone quickly blocks the effects of opioids within the body. You can either inject it into the muscle or spray it into the nose.
    • Attempt to keep the person awake by talking to him/her and try to keep them breathing, through CPR if necessary.
    • Make sure the person is placed on their side. This prevents them from choking on bodily fluids.
    • Stay by the person’s side until emergency services arrive. When it comes to an overdose, there’s no telling what can happen within just seconds.

    When it comes to opioid overdoses, most can be prevented through careful steps. When it comes to carfentanil, the story is a little different as it’s so powerful of a drug. Since so little can cause an overdose – and most don’t know whether or not or how much of their drugs are cut with carfentanil – there are GREAT risks involved.

    And these risks go beyond an overdose.

    Carfentanil Health Risks

    Synthetic opioids cause rapid depression within your central nervous system as well as immediate effects including:
    • Drowsiness
    • Increase in blood pressure (particularly, in the brain)
    • Lethargy
    • Muscle spasms
    • Nausea
    • Paranoia
    • Postponed or decreased respiratory function
    • Respiratory arrest
    • Tightening of chest muscles

    However, just as with other opioids, there are also long-term problems which can occur from a prolonged period of use. These include:

    • Abdominal distention and bloating
    • Addiction
    • Brain damage
    • Constipation
    • Development of mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety
    • Development of tolerance
    • Heart complications
    • Liver damage
    • Nausea and vomiting

    Furthermore, since carfentanil can be laced with heroin, there are health risks involved for people who inject as a means to get high including:

    • Gangrene
    • Hepatitis B (HBV)
    • Hepatitis C (HCV)
    • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

    According to medical examiners and coroners, the number of deaths due to carfentanil increased by 94% from the second half of 2016 (421 deaths) to the first half of 2017 (815 deaths).

    Carfentanil Trends and Statistics

    The Center for Disease Control and Prevention analyzes opioid death through death certificates from 32 states and the District of Colombia. Of their analysis of fatal opioid doses between July 2016 and June 2017, it was discovered that – of 11,045 opioid overdose deaths – 1,236 (11.2%) had positive test results for carfentanil.

    Furthermore, the trends of overdose have been found to be area specific.

    • Within 2016 and 2017, Ohio had the largest number of carfentanil laced opioid deaths with September of 2016 being the peak month at 86 deaths.
    • Opioid overdose deaths where Carfentanil was present increased across the world in the second half of 2016, from 54 countries affected to 77.

    These trends are able to give us insight into how Carfentanil has only recently made its way into the illicit market. For the most current drug-related trends, including where synthetic opioids are making an appearance, you can follow the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Emerging Trends and Alerts for all the latest information.

    Basic to Treatment

    If you or someone you love is currently struggling with an opioid addiction, it’s vital to seek help. The risks are too great. You are literally playing with your life. From experience, we promise you:

    You or your loved one has the ability to stop and start a new life!

    Addiction treatment typically works like this:

    1. First, a Medical Assessment

    Medical assessment forms the basis of any treatment plan. When you’re ready to get help, a team of doctors, nurses, and therapists will perform physical and mental exams. You can expect to go through a full medical exam, provide blood and/or urine samples, and go through interviews. This first assessment is crucial to your treatment plan. A good medical assessment should take from 1-2 hours to complete.

    2. Then, Medical Detox

    In order to get past physical dependence, your body must undergo withdrawal. This is the process of removing an opioid from your system and getting back to your natural body chemistry – a state known as “homeostasis”.

    Since opioid withdrawal has some risks such as dehydration and relapse, it’s important you find a detox facility. This will allow you to be in a controlled and safe environment while medical treatment to ease withdrawal symptoms. You can expect to be in detox for about a week, with symptoms peaking 72 hours after your last dose of opium. These symptoms include:

    ◦ Abdominal cramping
    ◦ Agitation
    ◦ Anxiety
    ◦ Diarrhea
    ◦ Dilated pupils
    ◦ Goosebumps
    ◦ Increased tearing
    ◦ Insomnia
    ◦ Muscle aches
    ◦ Nausea
    ◦ Runny nose
    ◦ Sweating
    ◦ Vomiting
    ◦ Yawning

    3. Psychotherapies

    Once an opioid is out of your system, you’re going to experience strong. This is due to the fact that your brain has been dependent on opiates and must readjust back into day-to-day life without it.

    Typically, psychotherapies are designed to teach you how to handle everyday emotions and life stressors. They are highly effective not only in showing you how to live a sober life but also in helping with any mental health conditions which may have arisen due to your opiate use. Furthermore, psychotherapies will reduce cravings. Typical therapies include:

    ◦ Behavioral Therapy
    ◦ Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
    ◦ Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT)
    ◦ Contingency Management
    ◦ Dialectical Behavior Therapy
    ◦ Group Therapy
    ◦ Family Therapy
    ◦ Individual Counseling
    ◦ Integrative Approach
    ◦ Motivational Interviewing
    ◦ Multidimensional Family Therapy
    ◦ Narcotics Anonymous (NAA)

    4. Pharmacotherapy (Medication)

    Medications can help to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. When it comes to opioid withdrawal or longer term maintenance, typical medications prescribed are:

    ◦ Buprenorphine
    ◦ Loxifidine
    ◦ Methadone
    ◦ Naltrexone

    5. Education and Aftercare Services

    Once you begin to learn enough to get back into your day-to-day routine, you’ll have the option learn more. Addiction treatment programs should educate you about how drugs affect your brain … and how to cope without them. You may also be invited to go to meetings to connect with others who are going through the same thing. A support system helps maintain sobriety and stops you from isolating. Other aftercare services include ongoing counseling, sober living houses, and alumni programs.

    Where to Find Help

    When trying to find treatment, it can be difficult to know where to turn. Luckily, addiction treatment is more understood and accepted as a medical condition within the healthcare system. Medicare and Medicaid are being updated to include reiumbursements for addiction treatment. Likewise, state and federal grants aim to increase your access to needed medications and treatment.

    So, where do you go first? The first point of contact can be your general doctor or family physician. S/He can perform a brief assessment and then refer you to treatment centers within your area. From there, you can begin researching different types of treatment programs and their requirements. You can also find help through specialists like:

    Furthermore, keep an eye out for support groups either outside or within your treatment program.
    The people involved in these will help you along the recovery process. If you need to reach out to someone immediately, here are some hotline numbers to contact:

    • Drug Hotline: 877-736-9802
    • National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI): 800-729-6686
    • National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Hope Line: 800-475-HOPE (4673)
    • National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Service 800-622-4357
    • National Suicide Prevention Helpline: 800-273-TALK (8255) or 800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
    • Substance Abuse Helpline (available 24/7): 800-923-4327
    • Relapse Prevention Hotline: 800-RELAPSE (735-2773)

    When you’re ready to look for treatment, we’re always glad to help! Feel free to give us a call. Or, you can leave us a personal question in the comment section below.

    Your Questions

    Still have a question about carfentanil? If you have any questions, we invite you to ask them below. If you’d like to share information about carfentanil or offer some advice about opioid addiction, we’d also love to hear from you.

    We try to reply to each comment in a prompt and personal manner.

    View the original article at

  • Are Dentists Still Overprescribing Opioids?

    Are Dentists Still Overprescribing Opioids?

    A new study examined the opioid prescription patterns of dentists who care for patients with private insurance. 

    While dentists have been writing a declining number of opioid prescriptions in the past few years, two new studies indicate that there still may be reason for dental professionals to take precautions when prescribing. 

    According to PEW Trusts, one such study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association in April examined the prescribing patterns among dentists who tended to privately insured patients. From 2010 to 2015, opioid prescriptions per 1,000 patients increased from 131 to 147, study authors found. 

    “The fact that we’re still prescribing opioids when we’ve demonstrated that nonsteroidals are as effective most of the time is a little disturbing,” Dr. Paul Moore, co-author of the analysis and professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s dental school, told Modern Health Care.

    The study found that the biggest increase—about 66%—was in those ages 11 to 18. The study also noted that for all age groups, almost one-third of the opioid prescriptions written were for visits that were not surgical in nature, for which study authors state non-opioids could also be effective for pain.

    According to Modern Health Care, an analysis of five studies in the Journal of the American Dental Association found that nonsteroidal anti-inflammation drugs like ibuprofen are effective for dental pain.

    The second study was published at the same time in the same journal, and examined outpatient care for Medicaid patients. Researchers found that from 2013 to 2015, nearly 25% of those patients filled a prescription for opioids. They also discovered that emergency department providers were more likely to give opioids to patients with dental issues.

    The study found that 38% of patients who sought care in an emergency department then filled an opioid prescription in comparison to 11% of those who went to the dentist.

    “Dentists are providing substantially less opioid prescriptions compared to their medical colleagues for pain treatment following a dental diagnosis in the Medicaid population,” study authors wrote. “When considering pain management for dental and related conditions, dentists should continue with conservative prescribing practices as recommended.”

    According to PEW Trusts, the results of the study come at a good time, as the American Dental Association recently released an interim policy on prescribing opioids.

    The policy lays out a number of guidelines for providers to follow and encourages continuing education about opioid use for dentists. It also states that dentists should follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines about dosage and length of opioid prescriptions.

    View the original article at thefix.com