As we approach Alcohol Awareness Month, we will look at different aspects of alcoholism, including economic cost, trends, treatment options, interventions, and cultural influences. The more we learn about and educate others about alcoholism, the closer we will come to treating this disease among more people.

While alcoholism can affect anyone, it tends to follow certain economic and ethnic groups. Many people start drinking at various stages of life, such as teen or college party years, over-worked middle age, and depressed and lonely elderly. Alcoholism also tends to run in families, so a son that is influenced by his alcoholic father may grow up to be an alcoholic himself.

Genetics and Alcoholism

Certain ethnic groups experience alcoholism on a wider level. Native Americans are one such group. Their rate of alcoholism is much higher than the rest of the population, and 1 in 10 Native American deaths is alcohol-related. Native Americans were first introduced to alcohol by the European settlers and traders. Alcohol was often traded for Native American goods, and possibly used to relax the Native Americans in order to get a better trade. The newness of the substance had a great influence on the Native American culture. But researchers over the years have shown that the effects of alcohol on this culture are also due to genetics. Looking from the genetic level, certain ethnic groups have a gene mutation that causes adverse reactions to drinking large amounts of alcohol. Groups that possess this “protective gene” include Chinese and Japanese populations, and it causes them to feel rapid heartbeat, headache, nausea, and extreme drowsiness. Other groups, including Native Americans, do not possess this gene mutation, consequently reducing the side effects of heavy drinking.

Culture and Alcoholism

The combination of genetics and the environment are what determine whether someone will be an alcoholic or not. Given the genetic tendencies of Native Americans toward alcoholism, cultural influences must also be measured. The decline of Native American culture when European settlers moved in led to an oppressed society. The cultural clash that still exists today between Native Americans and the dominant society around them has led to conflict, depression, and low self-esteem in the Native American culture. Poverty abounds, along with unemployment, poor education, depression, and drug abuse.

Nearly 12% of Native American deaths are alcohol-related. Traffic accidents and alcoholic liver disease are the most frequent alcohol-related deaths, along with homicide and suicide. In cultures like this that seem to be at a standstill when it comes to breaking free from alcoholism, there is still hope. Programs run by Native Americans for their own people can be a very effective way to treat alcoholism. Creating optimism for the future will help these people see beyond the grip of this disease. Prevention techniques and education are important, as well as studying their past. Native Americans, especially younger individuals, will benefit from learning more about their heritage and taking pride in their culture, so they can work towards preserving their future.

Sources

Fighting Alcohol and Substance Abuse among American Indian and Alaskan Native Youth. ERIC Digest. 

Genetic Influences on Alcohol Drinking and Alcoholism

Shawanda sows seeds of hope on First Nations disc

1 in 10 Native American deaths alcohol related

Alcohol among Native Americans

April is alcohol awareness month, a time of year that we dedicate to the education about and prevention of alcoholism and alcohol abuse. The problem of alcoholism in this country is staggering. The effects of the disease are far-reaching, so that nearly every life has been touched in some way by alcoholism.

One in every 13 adults, or 14 million Americans, abuse alcohol or are alcoholics. It is a problem that also affects young individuals. More than one quarter of young people ages 12 to 20 drink alcohol, while legally still prohibited from doing so. Alcohol abuse and binge drinking are also big problems in high schools and on college campuses.

Cost of Alcoholism

The economic cost of alcoholism and alcohol abuse has recently been estimated by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) to be $186 billion, taking into consideration cost of treatment, illness, job losses, criminal justice actions, and death. Alcoholism puts a huge burden on a person’s body. Cancer, liver disease, brain damage, and heart problems can all be attributed to heavy drinking. Alcoholism also puts a large burden on family members of the alcoholic. 75% of domestic abuse is commited while one or both members are intoxicated. Emotional and physical abuse often occurs as a result of parents or spouses losing control with family members because of alcohol. Drunk driving causes 16,000 deaths per year, and many more injuries. Many of the crimes in our society are committed by people under the influence, because of an impaired state of judgment, fit of rage, or desperation to get money for a drink.

Alcohol Awareness Activities

The purposes of this month include educating the public about health risks associated with alcoholism, holding events that teach about prevention, and encouraging others to get help. Less than 25% of alcoholics get the treatment they need.

Education and prevention are important to reducing the cases of alcoholism. Teens that experiment with alcohol before age 15 are four times more likely to become alcohol dependent when they are older than those that wait until age 20. For alcohol awareness month, SAMHSA will launch new public service announcements that target parents. These ads encourage parents of teenagers to talk to their kids about the dangers of underage drinking.

The month of April will be filled with activities on local, state, and national levels that work to educate people about treatment and prevention of alcoholism. Local chapters of Alcoholics Anonymous will likely sponsor events that create awareness of this disease that affects so many. Schools will use this month to teach students about the dangers of underage drinking, and other groups will be working to encourage families to get help for alcoholism. Check with local municipalities for events going on in your area.

Sources

28% of U.S. Kids Drank Alcohol in Past Month

SAMHSA Resources for Alcohol Awareness Month

April is Alcohol Awareness Month:

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

When we take the step to enter into treatment for substance abuse, we are turning our lives over to the professionals at the facility. It is a bit intimidating, knowing that the success of our recovery depends not only on us, but also a great deal on those working with us. Patients need to have trust in their counselors, doctors, nurses, and social workers to really feel comfortable with the program. Therefore, the process of finding the right facility should include a good look at the staff.

Many facilities will bring together different professionals to offer the best possible care for patients. Detox facilities will likely have doctors and nurses on duty for medical care. Other facilities may have only counselors, therapists, and social workers. With each professional contributing their piece of care, patients can have the best experience.

Education for Treatment Professionals

Training and education for treatment professionals varies, depending on the facility and its location. Doctors and nurses on staff will have completed their required medical training, and some will have specialized in the addiction field. Other professionals may have less training, but a college degree in the field of medicine or counseling is usually required for those offering medical care or counseling services. Some facilities require treatment professionals to be certified, and in other facilities, this process is voluntary. Check with your facility and also state regulations to understand what the certification process means in your area.

Once an individual has completed the educational requirements for their position, they will most likely need to go through hands-on training. This is when they get to work with patients for real, but under the watchful eye of a manager or administrator. The field of substance abuse treatment is so broad, that many workers also specialize in one area, giving them even more experience. Teen treatment, alcoholism treatment, relapse prevention, and intervention are just some areas that some professionals specialize in.

Difficulties of the Job

The world of addiction treatment is a difficult one, and treatment professionals have a hard job. High turnover rates affect some areas, as workers are unable to keep up with the stress that comes with their job. Those suitable for a profession in addiction treatment will generally be emotionally stable, composed in crisis, calm under pressure, and will have a desire to help others. Many workers in the substance abuse treatment field were once personally affected by drugs or alcohol in their own life. In fact, some of the best treatment professionals are recovering addicts. These people understand where their patients are coming from, and are dedicated to helping others get sober.

A good facility will have highly trained, motivated, and compassionate workers. By bringing in the right people, these facilities will offer the dedication, knowledge, and experience needed to aid in recovery.

Sources 

Substance Abuse Counselor

Strengthening Professional Identity: Challenges of the Addictions

http://www.treatmentsolutionsnetwork.com/staff.html

A great deal of time and money has been spent studying substance abuse; its causes, effects, statistics, and solutions. There are times when conclusions from these studies are conflicting, but it is important to keep studying substance abuse, because it is the only way we can really hope to prevent or successfully treat it. It is important to know why certain people are more likely to become addicted to something, and what kinds of treatment are effective in different situations.

Utah Study on Accidental Overdose

Utah recently conducted an in-depth study on the cases of accidental overdose in that state. Being a state with one of the nation’s highest overdose death rates, Utah’s Department of Health set out to investigate why that is. The study was done by interviewing family members of those who had died accidentally from a drug overdose. They interviewed 90% of the 432 families that lost someone last year to drug overdose.

The results are what we might expect. Many of these people were suffering from chronic pain, were unemployed, came from low income homes, and did not have access to proper treatment. More than half were male, and three quarters were between the ages of 25 and 54. A large number of these people that overdosed were also suffering from mental illness according to family members, but only 50% of them were being treated for it.

The most common prescription drug to cause fatal overdose in Utah last year was oxycodone, followed by methadone and hydrocodone. These were often drugs prescribed to patients by their doctor to treat some ongoing pain. Many of these people, however, did not feel they were getting enough pain relief, and one fourth got their medication from more than one doctor. Most were using their prescription pills to relieve anxiety or to help them sleep. Most family members told researchers they were concerned for their loved one in their last weeks, because they had become withdrawn, depressed, or impaired.

Solutions

These findings from Utah show how important it is that prescription drugs are used properly, regulated properly, and prescribed with caution. Pain clinics and doctors that are looking out for their patients will help regulate the use of prescription painkillers. Clinics can do a better job of screening for risk factors for drug abuse, and can monitor patients more closely for abuse. Studies like the one from Utah can help profile a possible addict, and can give doctors and clinics tools to know which patients are at a higher risk for abuse.

The goal is to stop the abuse and misuse of prescription drugs. The abuse has grown steadily in recent years; in Utah a person is now more likely to die from an accidental drug overdose than in a traffic accident. Utah and states like it are using these studies to determine the best way to stop these statistics from increasing.

Sources

Death by unintentional drug overdose an epidemic in Utah

Pain, money woes among factors in Utah drug ODs

Utah launches studies of its overdose deaths

Parenting is a tough job. We all want our kids to grow up to be wonderful human beings: successful, kind, respectful, and of course, to stay away from things like drugs and alcohol. We as a society, however, have a lot of learning to do about how to raise our kids more effectively. It needs to start when children are young, and parents should work from the very beginning to prevent their child from someday using drugs or alcohol. Below are five things parents can do early on to prevent their kids from using drugs.

1. Be a positive influence. Children often copy their parents’ behavior. If parents want their kids to stay away from drugs and alcohol, but abuse alcohol or marijuana themselves, they can bet their kids will most likely try these substances along the way. Kids need to know that their parents are able to avoid these things if they want their kids to do so also.

2. Teach them things. Children are able to soak up lots of information when they are young. They love to learn about the world, about how things work, and about possibilities for their future. Parents have a wealth of information that they should share with their children. It’s what helps shape them. Parents need to learn to communicate with their young children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol abuse, and how that can cause problems in their future. These talks should fit the child’s age, and can increase as the child gets older. Tell your kids what happens to people when they become addicted to something, and how drugs can hurt people

3. Talk about things that don’t matter. Parents should work to develop a good relationship with their children when they are young. Kids need to feel comfortable talking to their parents. Ask how their day was, and really listen to their answer. Learn what their interests are and show you care about what they care about. Don’t be a stranger to your own children, so that when the time comes, you both feel comfortable talking about things that really do matter.

4. Know what they’re up against. It’s the parents’ job to learn what temptations their kids will face as they get older. Do some research to find out that kids are likely to try huffing inhalants or have prescription drug parties. That way you can watch out for signs that your child is being tempted and help them stay away from these things.

5. Encourage, but don’t push. One mistake parents often make is that they try to control everything their child does. Kids will eventually rebel under this kind of pressure. Give your child encouragement, but give them chances to spread their wings and learn how to do things on their own. They will be more responsible, and more prepared to stand on their own two feet when faced with life’s problems.

Sources 

http://www.theantidrug.com/

http://www.drugfree.org/parent/#

http://family.samhsa.gov/

The new TLC show “Addicted” is striving to take a new focus on drug addiction and recovery. While it is following in the steps of “Celebrity Rehab” and “Intervention”, this show looks to offer real advice and help to viewers that are being controlled by addiction. More than simply showcasing people’s struggles, these shows can be used as inspiration for everyday people that need help.

Substance Abuse Affects the Entire Family

When a person in a family is addicted to something, the whole family is addicted. The nature of family units is that when one member suffers, they all suffer in some way or another. Family members suffer consequences such as poverty, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect when a member is caught up with substance abuse or alcoholism. Therefore, when one person in a family needs treatment for an addiction, the entire family will likely need some kind of treatment for the repercussions from the addiction.

Shame Among Families

Family members are also sometimes consumed with guilt because of the addiction, and often shame accompanies their everyday life. Parents may make excuses for their child’s drug problem. Children may try to cover up for their alcoholic parent or are maybe made fun of at school for their dysfunctional family. Spouses may feel isolated, not only from their addicted loved one, but also from friends because of shame.

For these reasons, many families become detrimental to each other when one member has an addiction. The shame that the entire family feels can lead to covering up the addiction, and instead of getting help for a problem everyone tries to deny it exists. Shows like “Addicted” help create awareness of addiction and the struggles that many families go through. The only way to heal an addiction is to acknowledge it, and get the help of a trained professional. When families try to hide the problem because it makes them feel like a bad family, everyone suffers.

Families Working Together

But families that learn how to cope with an addict among them can be the most beneficial resources for each other. Shows like “Addicted”, which take a family approach to treatment, help us see the value in family therapy. Families can be deeply involved with steps such as intervention, choosing the right facility, counseling, and life style modifications. An addict whose family has learned how to be supportive can encourage their loved one through treatment. Families do not always know how to be productive, and need to learn how to effectively interact with a drug addict or alcoholic in their midst.

The good thing about family counseling and treatment is that it helps the addict in the long run. Relapse is always a temptation, and many sober patients will turn back to their addiction sometime after treatment. But with a family behind them that cares and has been to treatment also, a recovering addict can look toward a brighter future. Families working together can help avoid relapse.

Sources

What Happens to the Family When Addiction Becomes Part of It?

Addicted: Another Intervention Show

Phoenix House’s Center on Addiction and the Family

People with successful or high profile careers are often bombarded by pressure and stress. It’s not uncommon for highly paid executives to find themselves struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. It all starts with using drugs or alcohol one, two or three times or more as a way to cope with mounting pressures at work or home. The business person that self-medicates to get themselves through a day can quickly become a slave to the substance. Before they know it, the successful business person is juggling work and drug abuse or alcoholism. Two of the most important things to professionals are time and reputation. Executive rehab strives to provide both of these, with treatment that is efficiently planned and confidentially carried out.

Privacy during Executive Rehab

As much as we would all like to hide our problems under the rug, there are times when we need to admit that we have a problem and do something about it. But getting help for an addiction does not have to be a public affair. Executive rehab programs are designed to be confidential and to help those in need of extra privacy and personalized care to receive treatment without anyone knowing. This kind of discreet care can allow a business executive to slip away from the office for some time, receive the rehab and treatment they need, and get back to work, feeling better than ever.

Efficiency

Besides privacy, time is important to executives. In this fast-paced business world, long periods of time off from work are not always possible. Facilities that offer executive rehab understand the need for swift recovery. By designing a personalized program, these treatment professionals are able to help executives fit successful treatment into their busy schedules. Time is money, and spending unnecessary time away from work will only add to the stress.

First Class Accommodations

Business professionals are often accustomed to receiving top quality care and hospitality when they travel. Executive rehab programs cater to those needs with luxury rooms and accommodations. These first class facilities give the relaxing feel of a vacation resort, often complete with massages, personal chefs, and fully furnished private rooms.

Successful Treatment

Of course, no rehab does any good if results aren’t achieved. The most important goal for executive rehab facilities should be to provide sobriety. When a business person goes back to work, they will encounter the same stress and problems that pressured them to use substances in the first place. Effective programs will help recovering addicts manage their stress in healthy ways. Support groups and after care counseling will help career driven individuals to stay sober.

Sources

http://www.drugabuse.gov/StressAlert/StressAlert.html

http://www.thecyn.com/drug-rehab/executive-drug-rehab-programs.html

http://www.treatmentsolutionsnetwork.com/executive-drug-rehab.html

Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 13, 1947, Methadone is a narcotic pain reliever, analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain with people who have not responded to pain relievers. Its main uses also include being given to patients who are battling narcotic addiction or in the maintenance treatment of narcotic drug addiction.

The drug targets the central nervous system and opioid-receptors in the brain to provide analgesic relief from pain. Methadone is a Schedule II narcotic under the United States Controlled Substances Act and has been a vehicle for potential drug abuse, addiction and misuse. There is a definite possibility several patients who take Methadone for withdrawal circumstances may develop a dependence which can lead to further abuse.

A Black Box warning was issued in 2006 for methadone, meant to alert healthcare professionals, patients and consumers about the chance of cardiac toxicities that may be associated with the drug.

Side Effects and Information

There can be a chance for developing a physical addiction or abuse when taking methadone. Patients who have a history of addiction or abusing other medications, alcohol, emotional problems may be at a higher risk for this. Different cases may apply to certain individuals, so speak with your personal doctor before stopping the drug.

Several serious side effects may occur when taking the medication. If any of these are experienced, please see a physician as soon as possible:

• Breathing that slows down
• Change in heart beat or chest pain
• Dizziness and confusion
• Drowsiness and faintness
• Hallucinations
• Shallow breathing

Do not combine methadone with any of the following medications, unless you have consulted with a medical doctor: anti-depressants, anxiety medications, muscle relaxers, narcotic pain medications, sedatives and sleeping pills.

By providing FDA alerts, drug information, interactions and drug side effects about prescription and over the counter medications, we can ensure an environment where patients have the best knowledge on their medical treatment and health.

Disclaimer:
This article is for purely informational purposes and does not intend to prevent, treat, or cure any disease. It was not written by a medical professional. If you have any questions about your own methadone use, or are considering using methadone contact your physician.

Young teens have been getting high from inhalants for some time now, and while the trend is still gaining in popularity, most teens (and their parents) do not know how dangerous it really is.

Inhalants like aerosol spray cans, markers, shoe polish, glue, cooking spray, and air conditioning refrigerant can be used to produce a drug-like high. Kids inhale these things, sometimes covering their faces with plastic bags or rags to keep the fumes in. The inhaling or huffing can cause hallucinations, slurred speech, loss of muscle control, the feeling of euphoria, and other effects similar to drugs.

Even though the effects are the same, many young people do not compare huffing to doing drugs. The thing that makes this type of substance abuse so dangerous is that many people can’t see the harm in it. The substances are legal and usually inexpensive, which makes them readily available. However, once they experiment with it a few times, teens can become physically and psychologically addicted.

Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome

Worse yet, some kids die suddenly from inhaling these substances. This can happen even the first time a teen experiments with inhaling. It is called Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome, and it happens most often because of stress on the heart. There is no warning before death occurs, and it doesn’t matter if a person has huffed many times before, or if it is their first time.

Education for Parents and Kids

It is important to create better awareness about risky trends like this one among young people. Parents are the ones that first need to get a handle on what teens and pre-teens are doing so they can watch for warning signs and talk to their kids about the risks. Parents should watch out for the glassy eyes, the change in behavior, or even the physical effects like inflammation of the throat. They may also find things like empty aerosol cans, discolored rags or clothes, or missing household substances.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released information last week about huffing among children. Their data shows that 12 year old children are more likely to get high from inhalants than to use cigarettes or marijuana. SAMHSA’s studies also show that nearly 7% of 12 year olds have used inhalants to get high.

There are people working across the country to put more programs in place to educate parents, teens, and pre-teens about the risks of huffing. Parents need to be taught that kids are doing this, and how to watch for warning signs. Kids need to learn that this is nothing to mess around with and even though it may seem legal and ok, huffing is really dangerous and can result in addiction or death.

Sources 

NIDA Community Drug Alert Bulletin – Inhalants

SAMHSA

Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome Kills With One Puff

When will we learn that, as cute and talented as they are, child stars often struggle with drugs, failure, and bankruptcy later in life? Another former child star has died, and drugs are the suspected cause. Corey Haim, the teenage heartthrob of the 80’s, has died at age 38. Sadly, this death was not a surprise to most.

We’ve seen this too many times before. A child actor realizes young fame, transforming their lives from a normal childhood to one of undivided attention, wealth beyond imagination, and freedom from every day chores and school. We should know this kind of life for an impressionable teenager has its consequences – we’ve witnessed it in numerous lives.

Corey Haim and Drugs

Corey Haim lived this life of conflict. He was known by every teenage girl in the 80’s, and starred in several films, including Lucas and Lost Boys. But sometime after that fame settled, he began taking prescription drugs. Valium was said to be his drug of choice, although he reportedly used others along the way. Fans that kept up with him saw him go from a funny, hyper child to a depressed, incoherent, miserable adult. Other things in Haim’s life began to suffer the effects; he couldn’t land good work, his weight increased drastically, and he went bankrupt. Like so many people addicted to prescription drugs, he didn’t care about other things in his life and his addiction simply got too powerful.

Haim’s drug abuse was evident to anyone who cared to watch. Videos of him doing interviews with slurred speech or garbled words are all over the web. He entered rehab a number of times and claimed to be drug free a few times in the last decade, but he always went back to the drugs. For anyone that has been through the struggles of drug addiction, or watched a loved one go through it, the Corey Haim story publicly depicts the pain a drug addict goes through on a daily basis.

Haim was eventually paired up with Corey Feldman, co-star of the 80’s, for the A&E show “The Two Coreys”. The show documented Haim living in Feldman’s suburban home. At that time Feldman, married with a child, tried to help out Haim, who was struggling with drugs and trying to get his acting back up and going. The show only lasted two seasons, and didn’t seem to improve anything in Haim’s life.

Corey Haim was then rumored to be recruited by Celebrity Rehab for their show, but turned it down, saying he didn’t need the help. Like so many of us, he denied he had a problem or needed real help, until it was too late.

It is tragic that another celebrity has died, reportedly because of drugs. It is more tragic, that we all saw it coming, and no one could do anything to stop it. This is the same sad story of many other people in this world caught up with drug addiction. 

Sources

Still Buddies: 2 Guys With One Name

Corey Haim Dies

Corey Haim, Actor, Dies at 38