March 15th, 2012
Parents are often the target audience of public health messages aimed at prescription drug abuse in teens. Stories like this recent one from Kentucky are common. They urge parents to talk to their kids about drug use, store prescription medications under lock and key and dispose appropriately of unused drugs.
Centers for Disease Control
There is reason, of course, to spread this message among parents. National survey data from 2007 suggests that 4.7 million teens (about 1 in 5) have abused a prescription drug at some point.
Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) published an update on the growing problem of prescription drug overdoses. During 2007 there were approximately 27,000 unintentional drug overdose deaths in the United States. According to the CDC, we are dealing with an epidemic of prescription drug abuse. Prescription painkilles are at the center of this epidemic.
The class of pain medication called opioid analgesics, in particular, has received special attention. The CDC update notes that since 2003 more overdose deaths can be attributed to opioids (like morphine and oxycodone) than to heroin and cocaine combined.
Problems with prescription opioid abuse and overdose are not unique to the United States. In Canada, the province of Ontario recently responsed to the problem by taking OxyContin (a long acting version of oxycodone with a higher than average abuse potential) off of the public drug benefit plan.
Studies can give us an idea of who is at the highest risk of complications from opioid abuse. A study in 2011 found unsurprisingly that patients who were prescribed higher doses of opioids (more than 100 mg per day of morphine or equivalent) had a higher risk of death from overdose.
Research from 2008 looked at 355 unintentional drug overdose deaths in West Virginia. The majority of those who died (93.2 percent) had taken opioids. The death rate among men was more than 2 times that of women. No deaths occurred in those under 18 years of age. (Those between the ages of 25 and 54 accounted for three quarters of all deaths).
Most (94.6 percent) had signs of substance abuse. Diversion (obtaining drugs without prescription) and doctor shopping (obtaining prescriptions from multiple health care providers) were common among those who overdosed.
This research suggests there is a distinct group of opioid users who are at highest risk for unintentional death from overdose. Others may not be as likely to die because of an overdose. But the CDC update points out that for each unintentional death there are 9 people admitted to substance abuse treatment, 35 people treated in the emergency room and 161 people who report opioid abuse.
To address these figures, the CDC suggests several prevention strategies. The strategies are focused on educating health care providers on appropriate opioid prescribing practices, developing new legislation to increase the monitoring of prescriptions, and increasing enforcement of existing laws and regulations.
From a population level this kind of plan makes sense. Based on the CDC numbers, it’s clear opioid abuse is a widespread problem. On the other hand a population level plan by necessity is far reaching and may have effects beyond those intended.
Pain control plays a central role in palliative care. Effective pain control depends on the availability of and patient access to opioids. It also depends on health care providers willingness to use this class of medications.
Regulation of opioids through legislation can directly affect patient access to opioids and indirectly stigmatize the use of these medications. Restricitive legislation can also indirectly influence physicians’ prescribing patterns. In the time I’ve spent working in palliative care, I certainly saw these barriers impact the pain control of individual patients.
The challenge for the public health response will be to find an acceptable balance. The goal will be to promote prevention strategies that halt the rising rates of unintentional overdose deaths among high risk groups and that make it harder for adults and teens to get their hands on prescription opioids without reinforcing the barriers to effective pain control that already exist.
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March 15th, 2012
© Your Teen Magazine 2012. Your Teen quarterly magazine and yourteenmag.com provide tips, articles and an open forum for parents of teens who need advice or want to help others. Hear the voices of other parents, professionals and teenagers as they weigh in on relevant topics. Pose questions, offer personal tactics and share in the joys and frustrations of parenting teenagers in today’s challenging world.
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March 12th, 2012
DAVE MOSIER/independent editor
 With substance abuse a major contributor to criminal court cases in Van Wert County — Common Pleas Judge Charles D. Steele recently implemented a new program to supplement after-care treatment available for those on community control probation terms in the county, as well as those go through the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation (WORTH) Center in Lima.
“About 90 percent of the people we have (in the court system), even though they’re not charged with a drug or alcohol offense, it’s part of their life,” Judge Steele noted.
The prevalence of drug-related crimes and crimes committed to raise money to buy drugs has led to the creation of a new drug treatment program to supplement programs already in place. Judge Steele said the new 20-week group counseling program, called Aftercare Recovery Groups, will be led by Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor Tom Schatzer.
Schatzer has more than 20 years experience of providing drug and alcohol counseling and related services in Ohio and Indiana. He is also an adjunct professor at Wright State University’s Lake Campus and a counselor at Restoration Counseling Center, both in Celina.
The Common Pleas Court program will focus on addiction issues, the processes of addiction and recovery, and on probationers making positive changes in their lives.
The new program will be funded by a combination of Common Pleas Court’s Special Projects Fund, as well as a $4,000 Community Corrections grant written by Adult Probation Office Jim Loughrie. The 20 weekly sessions, which began about a month ago, are held in the basement meeting room in the Courthouse.
According to Judge Steele, two groups of 20 probationers are now taking the program, with hopefully more being added in the future, depending on available funding and how much time Schatzer can devote to it.
Judge Steele said the WORTH Center program does a good job, with approximately 50 percent of those completing the program able to remain drug- and alcohol free. However, the judge also said he recognizes that an after-care program could increase that percentage.
“The WORTH Center is always pushing for after care, so we’re trying to do that,” Judge Steele said.
Although the judge said the local drug statistics could be worse, noting that out of a county of 30,000 people only approximately 200 indictments come through his court a year, he also called those indicted “the tip of the iceberg” when it comes to assessing the county’s real drug use situation.
Furthermore, with an increasing number of offenders on community control (probation), Judge Steele noted, meeting the treatment needs of offenders is an important factor in preventing further offenses.
Ironically, the judge concluded, those on community control with the county are more likely to deal successfully with their substance abuse habits than those who come out of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction’s Intensive Prison Program — an in-house prison program similar to the WORTH Center.
Judge Steele said that lack of state funding and manpower means that prisoners who go through the IPP and are given an early release from prison are not under the level of supervision those on community control are subjected to in the county.
“The (Ohio) Parole Authority doesn’t even have enough money to do drug tests (on those released early from prison),” the judge said, adding that supervision of prison inmates released early is much less than that given to those on community control under the supervision of the County Adult Probation Department.
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March 12th, 2012
By Join Together Staff | March 6, 2012 | 3 Comments | Filed in Addiction &Recovery
Ten percent of American adults consider themselves to be in recovery from drug or alcohol abuse problems, according to a newsurvey released today by The Partnership at Drugfree.org and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services(OASAS). The findings indicate there are 23.5 million American adults who are overcoming an involvement with drugs or alcohol that they once considered to be problematic.
The nationally representative survey found 10 percent of adults answered yes to the question, “Did you once have a problem with drugs or alcohol, but no longer do?” – one simple way of describing recovery from drug and alcohol abuse or addiction that was devised by Dr. Alexandre Laudet, a leading researcher in addiction recovery, now at National Development and Research Institute (NDRI).
“Bill White, a treatment and recovery champion, has said that there is ‘a science of addiction, but not a science of recovery,’” explained A. Thomas McLellan, PhD, Former Deputy Director, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. “That statement is completely correct. With the survey conducted by The Partnership at Drugfree.org and OASAS, we now have a very strong beginning to developing that science. Through past initiatives, we established some sensible definitions of what ‘being in recovery’ actually means – and this additional work provides fundamental information on how many people are in recovery. These are not only the building blocks for the ‘recovery science’ that have been called for, but they are the foundation for public understanding, acceptance and ultimately, the celebration of recovery.”
The survey also uncovered some basic demographic information about those saying they once had a drug or alcohol problem, but no longer do: more males say they are in recovery than females (12 percent of males vs. 7 percent of females). More adults ages 35-44 report being in recovery, compared to younger adults (18-34) and adults who are 55 years of age or older. The Midwest has a higher prevalence of adults (14 percent) who say they are in recovery compared to adults in the South (7 percent). In other regions of the country, the percentage of adults (not statistically significant) who say they are in recovery is 11 percent for the West and 9 percent for the Northeast.
“This research marks a vitally important step for those who are struggling with addiction by offering clear evidence to support what many know experientially – that millions of Americans have found a path to recovery,” said New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez. “It is my hope that this new evidence will strengthen and inspire individuals and those that provide treatment and recovery services to help the broader community understand that treatment does work and recovery is possible.”
The survey was conducted in 2011 by Opinion Research Corporation for The Partnership at Drugfree.org and OASAS via phone (landline and cell) among a nationally representative sample of 2,526 adults.
“The OASAS study is an important contribution to the public’s understanding of recovery, as it represents the actual voices of millions of Americans whose lives have improved because they are living free of alcohol and other drug problems,” stated Steve Pasierb, President and CEO of The Partnership at Drugfree.org. “This newlearning provides a big reason – more than 23 million reasons – for all those who are struggling with their own, or a loved one’s substance use disorder, to have hope and know that they are not alone. These findings serve as a reminder that addiction is a treatable disease and recovery can be a reality. We are just scratching the surface here and more research is needed in this area, but we are proud to collaborate with New York OASAS in this meaningful process.”
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March 10th, 2012
Whitney Houston’s last will and testament is released, and it reveals that her entire estate will go to daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown. The will was amended in 2000 while Houston was married to Bobby Brown, but he was not mentioned at all in the will. She left him nothing! Actually, their pre-nup ensured that Bobby Brown was banned from even accessing her will. The will stated: "Houston shall have the right to dispose of her Separate Property by Last Will and Testament is such a manner as she may, in her own uncontrolled discretion from accessing her will." Basically, in lawyer speak that means that Bobby Brown is dissed, for sure. Bobbi Kristina will reportedly get a chunk of her inheritance when she turns 21. She’ll get another portion on her 25th birthday and get the rest of the inheritance when she turns 30. Bobbi Kristina will likely discuss this among many other topics such as her substance abuse issues and her memories of her mom, when she sits down for her first interview with Oprah, which will air this Sunday!
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March 10th, 2012
Comments With Dr. James Haney Presents*Youth Health and Substance Abuse, with Alana McLaughlin, my nine year old grandchild who made her first appearance on Comments with Dr. James Haney, and has been a regular since. Youth Health and Substance Abuse is a repeat of an earlier show dealing with the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War, where she talked about the participation of the Africans in the fight for freedom. She has a large following and I want you to listen to her, Part 3. I need you to support and subscribe to this channel. Write me at james haney, PO Box 591, Mt. Juliet Tennessee, 37121-0591 or send me a few dollars at www.drjameshaney.com. I appreciate any help you can give, drjhaney
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March 9th, 2012
It is most likely that every culture, on a certain timespan or time, has indeed definitely had mood-changing drugs/substance topic to accessibility and also that there have certainly undoubtedly constantly been personals that make use of them in kind of procedures that the society does not recognize. In this sense, material reliance possibly taken into account wide-spread in addition to a customary occupation in various cultures. Nonetheless, substance misuse hinges on the procedures of a certain community.
Attitudes or ideas to medicines are frequently irregular as well as abstract. Some remedies are completely banned while others with quite similar consequences are made openly conveniently offered trusting in the endorsement of civilization. Utilizing some substance continuously occasionally create reliance, where, a dependent receives a psychological concept that a certain material is needed for his well being. Dependency could alter in magnitude kind illumination to romantic usage of the substance. In a lightweight situation, a person feels an inclination for a particular prescription or material whereas in an irresistible situation, an employee looks a tough preferring, wanting, essentially a key want for the medicine or substance. Acute dependence alters substantially in the opinion alongside opinion of the person; typically times, it induces a specified kind of activities taken into account taboo by the society.
A product reliant moreover has an incredibly elevated tendency to relapse after a period of chastity from the component. As well as considering a severe reliance on at self-administered medication is most certainly not okay by the society, material dependents are often encouraged, sometimes even obliged to undergo remedy shows. The phrase product misuse has certainly undoubtedly been specified in uncountable number of means yet generally, it is an actions pattern of steady as well as irresistible medication use with an exasperating involvement as well as usage of the medication.
Material misuse therapy centers in, on the additional hand, supplies a material reliant a possibility to acquire sobriety (often extended terminology) along with progressively eliminate the bad habit from their approach. It’s not an over night occasion; it is a collection of remedy that happens in assortment of techniques or sorts alongside uniformity for various lengths of time activity on just how remarkable the events is and most strikingly the co-operation of the apprehensive ones. Material misuse treatment is a long phrase approach that requires normal monitoring.
There are diverse approaches to managing and handling product reliance; product misuse remedy can promote behavior modification, remedies, or a combination of both depending on which technique the material dependent are visiting reply even more properly. Specified demand might rely on age, sex, sexual desire, society, as well as state of health and wellness and health. The target of material misuse remedy is to renew a substance reliant to an useful and okay state in the culture or culture.
According to investigation, substance dependents whom have definitely undoubtedly undertaken continuous treatment greatly enhance both their interpersonal along with society performance. So, as product reliance being a demanding state that dependents undertake, therapy centers most certainly aid yet the assistance of the loved ones alongside culture are visiting repeatedly be a lot more valuable.
Want to find out more about Mike Miller’s site on how to choose the best Substance Abuse Treatment Center In Colorado for your needs.
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March 9th, 2012
 Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristics of Hampden-Sydney College, right behind the fact that it’s all male, is a culture of self governance and accountability exemplified by the honor code. Hampden-Sydney prides itself on a strong Honor Code that is internally enforced and promotes a culture of self accountability and self governance. Our honor code system is administered, enforced and adjudicated by students. The legal relationship we have with each other at Hampden-Sydney is truly special and is something to we should be no less than extremely be proud of. However, our self governing culture is being tested via conflict over a new drug policy.
A little over a week ago, Hampden-Sydney students gathered on the Venable laws to protest the administration’s overstep concerning the implementation of a draft drug policy. A policy that includes random mandatory drug testing for drug offenders at their expense is not something all students are comfortable supporting, especially when it’s coupled with punishments that don’t involve a trial or capacity to appeal a disciplinary decision, and was proposed in a questionable manner. Recent conversations about drug related deaths have raised questions about where Students’ personal responsibility ends and where institutional responsibility begins; ultimately, this conversation has lead us to question whether or not random drug testing is congruent with the kind of self-governing Hampden-Sydney brand we want to protect. Understandably, most students do not want to be subject to random drug testing while the administration does not want students using drugs.
In its current draft form, the drug policy proposal would subject students found guilty of using illegal substances (probably including those who seek help from a drug counselor since they have admitted to using drugs) to random drug testing, at his own expense, for an indeterminate amount of time. This proposal is certainly not delusional; in fact, random drug testing appears to have its merits. Certainly if I am drug user, and I know that the college can test me at any time, I certainly have a marginally lower incentive to resist drug use. While this policy might punish drug users more harshly, it does not encourage a cultural change towards lower drug abuse; instead it encourages students to be more discrete about drug abuse to avoid being caught the first time. Furthermore, it would reduce the incentive for other students to inform authorities of their friend’s substance abuse since the penalties are so much higher.
The policy would make it harder to be your brother’s keeper. Thus, I do not think it is an effective solution to the drug problem. If the current proposal were enacted, a student using drugs would have a marginally lower incentive to seek out help from an on campus substance abuse program since by doing so, he would label himself as a drug user and be subjected to random testing, (along with possible expulsion from the college without trial or appeal) for making just one mistake—getting caught using drugs one additional time.
Under the current proposal, any student seeking substance abuse help would walk in knowing that they have in effect committed to quitting drugs cold-turkey or face expulsion. Ultimately, random drug testing for all drug offenders would raise the costs of seeking help for a drug abuse problem and for helping friends with drug abuse problems, which will only entrench the culture of permissibility for drug abuse.
We can preserve the self-governing culture and personal accountability aspects of Hampden-Sydney student life while simultaneously encouraging a cultural change away from drug abuse by enacting a drug policy that one, offers drastically different punishments for those caught abusing drugs and those caught abusing drugs who are seeking help for substance abuse, and two, asks those who are seeking help for substance abuse to voluntarily enroll themselves in random drug testing as part of the substance abuse program.
Under this policy, students with legitimate substance abuse problems would be incentivized to seek out help for their problems since doing so would grantee them statutory protection from harsher punishments. At the same time, those serious about getting help for a substance abuse problem could reap the benefits of random drug testing by voluntarily signing up for it as part of the substance abuse program. This policy would align the incentives of administration and the students discourage substance abuse, protect students from mandatory random drug testing, while also helping the student justice system distinguish between those who are taking responsibility for substance abuse from those who are not.
As we negotiate a new drug policy we need to keep in mind that a successful policy will align incentives without sacrificing our strong institutional culture towards self governance. A drug policy that rewards students for seeking out help for substance abuse and giving them the option to voluntarily enroll themselves in a random drug testing program as part of a substance abuse program preserves Hampden-Sydney’s “come as boys, leave as men” culture.
Related posts:
- Proposed Policy For Drug Violations:
- Unconventional Drug Testing Policies on Student-Athletes
- A Little Bit of Edge Might be Just a Little too Far.
- Chris Herren Pulls in a Crowd
- Student Seeks to Remedy H-SC Recycling Policy
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March 7th, 2012
While I normally cover people looking for either work or a new employee, I found a non-profit that I just fell in love with. Recovery At Sea (RecoveryAtSea.com) is a special counseling and treatment center that has an on-the-job training program attached to their system. Their non-profit was filed late 2011 and they are just now establishing their full 501(c)3 status. They treat for drug/substance abuse as well as for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Their on-the-job training is pretty unique because they teach their "students" how to rehab donated "run down" yachts. There is a ton of symbolism with this program. Rehabbing dilapidated old yachts by people going through recovery themselves is quite awesome. In this video piece, I introduce you to "Sundance". I have a unique connection with Sundance. On my way to my first visit to the facility at the Port of Los Angeles, I saw a big Indian hitchhiking about a mile to the marina. Feeling in a good mood, I decided to stop and pick the guy up. He didn’t look harmless, but I just thought he needed a ride. As he got in the car, I just assumed he was going to the end of the marina. He sat in. I introduced myself and shook his hand. We didnt talk much but I told him that I was on my way to visit a non-profit in the area. Good for me because he was a student of the organization. He took me to the yacht and I didnt really talk to him until two weeks later… the day of this piece. Sundance has had a pretty interesting life. A <b>…</b>
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March 6th, 2012
Addiction, even when it is not your own, but something that is currently plaguing a loved one, can be a powerful force to deal with. Not every person can effectively beat it independently, and require experienced help and care to finally control their demons and commence to take their lives back. A lot of people believe that it is a simple process, one that can be easily completed in thirty, sixty or perhaps ninety days. For some, that might be the way it is, but for most, it will take some thing intense than that to finally get clean, and grow that way. And they need to be in a substance abuse recovery center to get the help they need.
What happens at a substance abuse recovery center?
According to the type of center you or perhaps a loved one attend, you will be expected to adhere to a strict program meant to get you off of what drug or substance you had been addicted to. The programs themselves will change from center to center, most have similar standards of success. Step one is to get the drug through your system as quickly as possible, while monitoring your well being during that phase. Next is counseling and education on measures that can be taken to keep you off of that drug, including psychological counseling, group activities, and lessons on strengthening your resolve and avoiding lifestyle choices that resulted in the addiction.
How do you leave the guts?
Most patients are allowed to leave the guts if they have been there on an inpatient basis in the event the doctors are convinced that you are neat and in control of your choices. Some centers have followup counseling programs that you will be supposed to attend for some time after your release, and they should play an important part within your continued recovery. Everyone is inclined to try the drug we were holding addicted to after getting clean, as well as the temptation will be strong. Follow up sessions can help you reinforce that which you learned during your initial treatment.
How about outpatient treatment?
Completing abuse recovery through outpatient treatment could be more difficult to follow through on, particularly if your addiction has been a part of your life for years. Most outpatient recovery programs can even include some medicinal help, like methadone or a similar drug to help you take care of symptoms of abuse withdrawal, that is quite difficult to handle physically. Outpatient treatment programs usually take longer to graduate from, and therefore are strictly monitored by the center or even the judicial system.
Are there alternative treatment options?
Based on where you live, several states have sponsored alternative recovery programs that may appeal. In Arizona substance abuse treatment centers they offer physical enrichment courses that will help you build a healthier lifestyle in order that you do not return to using the drugs that harmed your overall health.
For more information about Alaska substance abuse treatment centers please visit our website.
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