As the prescription painkiller problem continues to escalate, authorities are working to create more stringent regulations, in an effort to stop the abuse of these drugs. From educational programs, to cracking down on pain clinics, to disposing of unused pills, programs are continually being brainstormed and implemented that try to stop the abuse of prescription painkillers.

Monitoring the Dispensing of Prescription Painkillers

It is the hope of many that some additional regulations will keep these medications out of the wrong hands. One of the newer programs that is being developed in states across the country is a computerized database of prescription painkillers. Like all new programs and policies, this one has had its share of controversy surrounding it.

These databases are present in at least 12 states so far, and others are considering it or working to start one. Statewide databases store information about purchasers of prescription painkillers. Pharmacies have access to the information, and someone that doctor shops and that visits multiple pharmacies would easily be caught by a pharmacist that checks the system.

Problems with the System

But there are a few snags with the database that need to be worked out before it becomes truly effective. First of all, even creating the database and going through the legal work to put it into practice can take a great deal of time. Funding is also an issue. Some states have taken on the financial responsibility; other states, like Florida, have to raise money through grants from private donors. With more and more states struggling to make their budget and some cutting drug and alcohol prevention programs, finding an extra million dollars to set up the database will be difficult.

Another thing that is hindering the effectiveness of a prescription painkiller database is confusion over what professional is responsible for investigating or reporting suspicious cases. Right now, pharmacists and doctors can check the list, but they are not required to do so.

There is also the question of what to do about patients that genuinely require large amounts of pain meds. How do we allow for their level of pain management in a system that has the goal of preventing this?

A final concern that many people have with this database is the patient’s privacy. These people argue that having authorities monitor residents’ prescription history is an infringement on their privacy. This side of the debate warns that the implementation of a prescription database will turn honest citizens with medical issues into instant suspects.

Working to Prevent Prescription Abuse

If states are going to spend the money on a drug regulating system, it should be done right the first time. By requiring doctors to check the database before prescribing pain pills, and pharmacists to monitor prescription usage, drug seekers can be caught and stopped more often. Certain exceptions can be made for those that require larger amounts of painkillers. By using this database in the doctors’ offices and pharmacies, it should effectively help curb the excess buying of prescription painkillers.

Sources

Sheriffs’ proposal crosses boundary

In Tough Times, Grandpa Pushes Pills

Federal lawsuit challenges Florida ‘pill mill’ law

It isn’t easy to take away a doctor’s prescription pad

Some Florida doctors have recently filed a lawsuit to block new state laws that would crack down on pain clinics. These doctors say the new laws are unconstitutional, but others say the doctors are just afraid of losing sales.

The Pill Mill Problem

Florida has finally begun taking action against its many pain clinics, which are known for prescribing medications to anyone that walks in the door. In a country with a rising prescription drug problem, 98 of the top 100 doctors who dispense oxycodone right out of their offices practice in Florida. Some of these doctors see 80 patients a day, and patients are commonly found lined up outside of some of the most popular clinics. While pain management is important for doctors to provide for their patients, many prescribe unnecessary drugs to known addicts, simply as a way to make a profit. Doctors at these “pill mills” can become very wealthy through these dishonest practices. But with abuse of prescription drugs can come overdose and death, and an estimated 7 Floridians die a day because of prescription drugs. In fact, from 2005 to 2009, Florida had 5,887 deaths from prescription drugs. That’s equal to three times the number of deaths from heroin, cocaine, and other illegal drugs combined.

New Laws

Thankfully, Florida has begun to make laws that would shut down pill mills. Included in the newest laws is one that bans clinics from selling more than a 3 day supply of pills to those paying cash or credit. Pain clinics will be required to register, according to the laws, and doctors must get training in pain management. Doctors will also need to examine patients before prescribing drugs, which many find hard to believe was not a requirement before.

There has been much disagreement and blaming going on over the Florida painkiller dilemma. State officials in Florida blame their slow response on unawareness of the issue, because no one reported it to them. The state health department, law enforcement, and the community all need to be working together in this to effectively shut down these obvious violators.

Even with laws already passed and in the works, shutting down pill mill doctors is proving to be difficult. Slow processes can cause months or years of waiting before disciplinary action is taken place. Some doctors get a slap on the wrist and then are allowed back in practice. Lack of communication between the health department and others involved allows many convicted doctors to still keep their license, and others that should be convicted can pick up and close shop before they can be investigated and  found out.

When pain clinic doctors sue over a bill that would regulate the immense prescription painkiller market, it becomes mighty suspicious. Whatever their reasons, their underlying concern is that they don’t want to lose their revenue. When we are talking about the touchy subject of prescription painkillers and the lives of patients, we need to be looking out first of all for the patient and the public’s best interest.

Sources

Federal lawsuit challenges Florida ‘pill mill’ law

Doctors sue to block crackdown on pain clinics
Law’s sponsor says suit motivated by greed

It isn’t easy to take away a doctor’s prescription pad

Recovery Month is coming to a close, and we are happy to have had the chance to celebrate yet another year of recovery, sobriety, and those individuals that help make it possible. The month is not over yet, and many great activities are planned for the end of September and into October. Check out the Recovery Month website for information on events happening yet this year. This is also a great time to think about getting involved with an activity for next year’s Recovery Month, or an ongoing program, because the struggles and successes of recovery go on all through the year.

Most Recovery Month activities fall within a few main categories:

• Informational seminars help create awareness for substance abuse and recovery, such as a workshop given by a treatment professional.
• Support programs bring together those in need to gain strength from others.
• Walks or rides for the cause create awareness and sometimes raise money for local shelters or community recovery programs.
• Annual contests aim to get people thinking about recovery and putting their ideas into the form of posters, songs, essays, or videos. Treatment Solutions Network is hosting its very own student essay contest that will conclude on September 30th.
• Viewings of films or plays that relate to the recovery theme help bring the journey of recovery to life.
• Fun activities are common, such as bowling events, dances, fairs, campouts, picnics, and music concerts.
• Events sometimes feature celebrities that are passionate about addiction recovery, or politicians pushing for drug regulations.
• Sporting events may enlist the support of MLB, NFL, or other pro sports teams.
• Ethnic activities bring together groups of people to help preserve their culture, and celebrate the recovery their families have gone through.

Anyone can organize a Recovery Month activity. The Recovery website provides toolkits for those looking to start an activity on their own, and it lists all activities throughout the country that have been submitted.

A Recovery Month event doesn’t have to be extravagant or pricey, or take a long time to plan and organize. Here are some ideas that have been organized across the country that have succeeded in gaining attention for Recovery Month.

• Paint the Town Red – Groups sell red ribbons that are then tied on trees across the city.
• School Supply/Recovery Education Party – This event combines recovery education with giving impoverished families free school supplies.
• A-MAZE-N Recovery – A walk for Recovery is made into an educational maze filled with addiction information that participants must navigate through.
• Hands Across the Bridge – Participants join hands to span the Interstate 5 Bridge between Washington and Oregon.

All takes is a little planning and a group of people willing to make it work.

Sources

2010 Recovery Month Web Site Launched on January 2, 2010 

Local Non-Profits Form “Voices for Recovery Coalition” 

Recovery Month

Every child needs a role model. However, over the years, young people’s options for good role models are becoming limited, as drugs, alcoholism, and bad choices are plaguing celebrities, athletes, and people in the public eye.

Young people naturally watch others and learn from them. They may learn how to treat others, how to dress, how to work hard, how to not give up, and how to be successful. Celebrities, athletes, relatives, teachers, and classmates can all be role models for our young people.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse

So what happens when so many athletes are now taking performance enhancing drugs? How do our teens learn to try their hardest in sports, but accept their abilities as they are and not try to artificially boost them with drugs? How do our kids learn how to work hard, save their money, and stay away from drugs when so many child stars get swept away by a life of partying and drugs?

Lindsay Lohan is again in the media for her lack of control when it comes to drugs and alcohol. Just when we think maybe she will finally get it together, she relapses, or it becomes clear that she was never sober at all. Paris Hilton has recently joined the ranks of Lindsay with her cocaine possession charges, and many other stars have had their place in the spotlight recently for drug and alcohol abuse.

Learn What Not to Do

Who can our kids look up to? Maybe they can actually learn a lot from Lindsay and Paris; like how not to act. They can learn from celebrity addicts what a struggle this way of life is, and how completely drugs and alcohol can grip people. They can learn how people can lose everything: money, friends, family, reputation, and career when they get involved with substance abuse.

Parents as Role Models

Young people do need a positive person to learn from and admire. There are celebrities and athletes that work hard to be a positive role model for kids. But research actually shows that teens look up to their parents for guidance much more often than we might think. Parents don’t always give themselves enough credit, but here’s a fact: Your kids are watching you, and are modeling themselves after you. Don’t let them down. It is the parents’ job to first of all teach their kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and then help them develop ways to stay away from substance abuse. It is also the job of parents to model good behavior for their kids. Parents can show drug-free habits, and help their kids learn the importance of hard work, kindness, and a healthy lifestyle.

Sources

Good parenting helps create drug-free kids

10 Ways To Be A Positive Role Model

Parents. The Anti-Drug

Lindsay Likely Going Back to Jail, Expert Says

It’s not uncommon for new drugs or synthetic substances to come along that pose a danger to users. But it’s a little less often that a substance causes such a stir that it gains popularity quickly among new users.

K2, also known as “Legal Weed”  or “Spice” is not new, but there is a new craze for it right now. It was created in the mid 90′s by a Clemson University chemist. The chemical, similar to pot, can be sprayed on herbs, flowers, and tobacco leaves, and smoked. It was picked up and used right away by some pot users that were looking for the same effects as marijuana. However, it was not until this year that is became a part of the teen scene.

The Popularity of K2

K2 is growing in popularity quickly. This year, more than 1259 calls have been made to poison control centers about this substance, compared to 14 calls last year, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Last year, no one knew about the drug, and this year, experimenters are finding themselves in the emergency room with symptoms like high temperatures, racing heartbeat, and high blood pressure. It has many of the same effects on the user are marijuana, it is cheaper than marijuana, it is hard to detect, and it is still legal in 39 states.

The Debate over Banning

In a world where there is such a debate over the legalization of pot, K2 will most likely add to that debate. Already, because of the negative side effects and the rush for young people to get their hands on K2, 11 states have banned it. However, the way this drug can be marketed makes it hard to regulate. It can be sprayed on herbs and sold under different names, or marketed as incense or even bath salts, making it hard to monitor.

For those people that are pushing for the legalization of marijuana, K2 is an easy alternative. They argue that you can’t control every substance that comes along, so these less potent drugs should be left alone so people can have a good time.

Negative Effects of K2

There are a few problems with K2. First of all, people are not using it responsibly if they are making calls to poison control about it or visiting ERs because of it. Secondly, the spike in popularity itself is cause for concern. Just like many of the other trends that teens find for fun, there is the possibility for it to become a misused substance very quickly, if it isn’t already. Thirdly, this substance is known for its contaminants. There is sometimes no telling what all is in a batch of K2.

The most important thing is for people to be educated about the dangers of this and all substances. Sometimes the fact that things are legal makes people forget that they can still be harmful. It should not be necessary for the government to make something illegal before people realize the dangers of abusing any drug.

Sources

Fake-Pot Panic 

Synthetic Marijuana Gives Users Legal High  

K2 also known as legal weed

Prescription drug abuse is such a growing problem that there has been much time and thought put into finding ways to stop it. New initiatives have been created, focusing on education, prevention, and treatment, and millions of dollars have been pumped into the cause. But still, prescription pills continue to ruin countless lives.

The DEA recently announced a nationwide “Prescription Drug Take-Back Day”. It is scheduled to take place Saturday, September 25, at various locations across the county. This initiative is just one more way people are working to stop prescription drug abuse.

Prescription Painkiller Disposal

Prescription painkillers are all over the place. Doctors are sometimes quick to prescribe them, and patients are sometimes given extra pills just in case they need them, or they quit taking them once their pain is gone. Taking pain pills in moderation as prescribed often leaves patients with extra pills in their medicine cabinets or purses. This, of course, poses a problem, as many other people are in search of these extra pills to feed their addiction. We are not surprised anymore when we hear about teens stealing their grandparents pills, or friends sneaking their friends’ pills out, or even neighbors snooping around in search of pills. Sometimes these pills even become a temptation to their owners, who may find themselves taking them unnecessarily or selling them.

There is a big enough stock of these extra pills in medicine cabinets across the country that it is necessary to find a way to properly dispose of them. Flushing them down the toilet can contaminate water supplies, and throwing them away can cause them to get into the wrong hands. And so, these prescription drug take-back programs have been established in certain cities across the country. Communities that have done these in the past have been amazed at the amount of pills that are brought in. Tens of thousands of dollars worth of drugs that are in demand on the street can be expected to turn up at a take-back.

DEA Initiative

The upcoming take-back is being coordinated by the DEA, and details and locations can be found on the DEA website. This free program will allow people to drop pills off without question, and the pills will be properly destroyed.

The prescription drug take-back program does a lot to cut down on the access and supply of prescription pills, but we still need to work to decrease the demand. We need to continue to educate everyone about the risks of prescription pills. From pre-teens and teens who are looking for a good time, to a middle aged person with chronic pain or stress they want to forget, to the elderly individual who is given prescription pills for a variety of health issues, prescription abuse can happen to anyone. With more education aimed at each demographic, we may be able to stop the increase in prescription abuse and start to see some positive changes.

Sources

DEA

DEA to Host Take-Back of Prescription Drugs

ISP’s Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Treatment Works! was the theme of the first Recovery Month, held 21 years ago. Since 1989, events, programs, and tool kits have effectively educated the public about recovery.

The first year of organized celebrations was 1989, when the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) began a campaign that was the first of its kind. Their focus of Treatment Works! was truly new, and it created some much needed awareness that drug and alcohol abuse can be effectively treated. This was a huge milestone in the treatment world, because it was the first time many people came to the realization that they could overcome an addiction.

The Awareness of the 1990′s

The stigma of substance abuse has gradually changed over the last 21 years, and more and more people today have a greater appreciation for the process of recovery from addiction.

The 1990′s were important years for recovery, as the medical field expanded to include addiction treatment. SAMHSA was founded in 1992 and NIDA was made a part of the National Institute of Health. Addiction Training Centers were first established in the 90′s, and the first anti-drug campaign for teens was launched. Treatment Works! was celebrated for the first few years of the 90′s, and then SAMHSA took over and expanded it gradually each year since.

The Advances of the 2000′s

Beginning in 2000, major advances were made in the addiction treatment field. Research turned up new medications for treatment, such as Suboxone, and allowed for the safe use of other medications, such as methadone. Treatment since 2000 has become more individualized, giving patients more effective treatment to suit their needs. Increased confidentiality and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) have made it easier for those addicted to drugs or alcohol to gain access to treatment.

For the last decade, Recovery Month activities have spread across the country. Beginning in 2002, all 50 states have held events annually to support recovery education. With the increase of forms of media, Recovery Month activities are now accessible to billions of people each year. Public Service Announcements now can be heard or seen on tv, on podcasts, on the radio and in the written media. Recovery Month announcements can be found on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, and new activities are being planned every year.

We no longer live in a world where addiction is a hidden disease that no one talks about. Thanks to the advances in the last 21 years, there is greater awareness for recovery and the possibilities for someone who is caught in an addiction. Sobriety is still a hard thing to achieve, and making the decision to get help can be a difficult one to make, but the celebration of Recovery Month can help make the journey easier.

Sources

20 Years of Recovery

2010 Recovery Month Web Site Launched on January 2, 2010 

Local Non-Profits Form “Voices for Recovery Coalition”

Recovery Month

Nine years ago, our country was attacked. The loss of life and devastation have greatly impacted our country. As we remember September 11, we can learn how to heal and how to move on.

For the first few years after the Trade Center attacks, every anniversary of September 11 was a full day of remembrance. Extensive news coverage, lots of local memorial activities, and moments of silence across the country. This year, it seemed like the celebrations were kind of lax. Or maybe they were overshadowed by current religious controversies. But it seemed like we were forgetting what the day is all about, and how we’ve changed since September 11, 2001. As much as we’d like to forget the whole disaster ever happened, it is important to remember.

Remembering Helps PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is an unfortunate result of the many people that witnessed 9/11 firsthand. With PTSD, victims suffer from anxiety, sleeplessness, and depression because they keep reliving the traumatic incident. But even in these cases, it has been shown that counseling that involves talking about the event is beneficial. In these cases, patients are encouraged to remember so that they can work through their anxious feelings surrounding the event.

Remembering Helps Recovery

When someone goes through treatment for an addiction, they may want to forget their old life, with its substance abuse and its consequences. But in some ways, the most successful patients are ones who don’t completely forget. It helps to remember the pain that drugs caused, as motivation to stay away from them. Remembering the strained relationships with family or friends gives incentive to stay sober. We naturally try to shut the bad things out of our minds, but over time, it is ok and sometimes helpful to remember.

A person that is sober will remember every single day how their life used to be when on drugs, or the way they used to feel, and that’s ok. By being open about our past, and continuing to talk through it, we actually help time to heal our wounds. Counseling and therapy can help work through past problems, past triggers, and past consequences that have shaped our lives. With the right kind of help, these negatives will remain a part of our past, but will no longer be a burden we have to carry. Instead, remembering the past will show our accomplishments and how far we’ve come in our sobriety.

We will never forget. When a painful thing happens in our life, whether it is witnessing terrorist attacks, or hitting rock bottom because of substance abuse, we don’t need to run and hide. As humans, we are pretty resilient. We have the ability to pick ourselves up and move on. Even with something so devastating as the loss of a loved one, or the utter disaster that a life of addiction can become, we can recover. With the right kind of help, we can use our memory to learn from these experiences, and create a better future for ourselves. Never forget, but always move forward.

Sources

Nine years, pain still lingers

PTSD

NIDA InfoFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction

We all long for that perfect relationship with our teen; to have them listen to and respect us, to be honest and trustworthy. Part of the growing up process involves teens beginning to separate from their parents, in anticipation of the day they are grown and truly on their own. It is the natural progression of life.

Signs of Substance Abuse

However, it is not normal, nor is it necessary, for teens to completely withdraw from their parents or families, or shut them out of their life. Adolescents have many ways of showing they have gotten caught up in some sort of trouble like drug or alcohol abuse. Parents should watch for signs that their teen is involved with something they shouldn’t be:

Change of friends: If your teen stops hanging out with their good friends, and instead they start hanging out with a questionable group of friends, you may have a cause for concern.

Too much privacy: Teens may have stashes of alcohol, drugs, or drug paraphernalia in their rooms, in which case they will not want you snooping around. Teens should be allowed to have more privacy than younger siblings, but a teen that is desperate about their privacy very well may have something to hide.

Moodiness: It may be hard to distinguish the mood swings of a normal adolescent from those of a teen on drugs, but close observation may help. A teen that doesn’t want to communicate with family or always seems depressed, may need help.

Keeping a Teen Off Drugs

The best way to keep a teen drug-free is to follow some advice while they are growing up:

Build a relationship: The most important way to keep your child off drugs is to develop a good relationship with them, one that includes open communication and family activities.

Listen to your child: Sometimes our children tell us more than we actually hear. We get busy and forget to really listen about how their day went, or about their fears or concerns. If we’re not really paying attention, we may miss their attempt to ask for help.

Don’t believe everything: Even though it is important to listen to your teen, it is also important to realize that your teen may not always tell you the truth. Yes, even your child has the potential to lie to your face. Of course, a good underlying relationship will help keep your teen from feeling the need to lie. But don’t just take their word for it when they say they haven’t tried drugs or alcohol, especially if you suspect otherwise.

Parents are sometimes too naive when it comes to the things their child is exposed to. Other times, parents feel so helpless and overwhelmed that they don’t even try to keep their child away from substance abuse, saying that it’s a rite of passage that every teen goes through. Parents, however, have the power to be the most effective influence on their child, and should make every effort to use that position.

Sources

Parents can make positive impact on at-risk behavior

Parents: Be Role Models for Your Children

Parenting Advice

Bipolar disorder is a disease that affects one in five teens, and 5.7 million adults in the U.S. This disorder can be debilitating, with the sufferer going through unpredictable moments of either depression or manic episodes. Bipolar disorder can often result in drug or alcohol abuse, criminal activity, or suicide. It can be managed with modern medications and therapy, but many Americans go without effective treatment.

Bipolar Medications

Traditional treating of bipolar disorder consisted of using sedating tranquilizers. The effect of this type of treatment was that patients were heavily drugged and not able to live a normal life.

Newer medications are mood stabilizers that aim to provide relief from depression without sedating the patient, and without causing manic episodes. These drugs block brain receptors that regulate mood and behavior, and help restore the balance of brain neurotransmitters.

Psychotherapy is an important component to any modern treatment of bipolar disorder, because it helps teach the patient to comply with medication regimes, how to diminish stress, and how to manage interpersonal relationships.

Natural Methods

There are concerns anytime a patient is in need of medications for life, such as in the case of bipolar medications. Some drugs have negative side effects on the body, causing organ damage or weight gain. Others are habit-forming and lead the patients into a life of addiction.

It is for these reasons that many people hope for a better way to treat disorders such as bipolar depression. Paul Huljich, an organic food pioneer, claims to have successfully treated his own bipolar disorder with a 30 day routine. By using organic foods, exercise, proper sleep, and stress reduction techniques, he now is living symptom-free and drug-free, and he promotes this type of treatment for others with bipolar disorder.

Proceed with Care

Natural treatment techniques may work for some people suffering from bipolar disorder, but it is something that needs to be done with special care. Under the watchful eye of a physician, some people are able to regulate their brain functions without the burden of medication. But for many people, more aggressive treatment is needed. In these cases, medications are used to regulate mood, while psychotherapy is used to counsel the patient.

Perhaps over time, a person that at one time needed medication for bipolar disorder will be able to live a more natural life with the help of psychotherapy, natural foods, and exercise. But this is not something that can happen overnight. Someone who is unstable cannot safely stop their medications abruptly. Many stories can be told of terrible crimes being committed by someone with bipolar disorder that stopped taking their meds. We simply can’t take the need for medications lightly.

A trusted doctor is the best place to start. With the help of a good treatment professional, patients can help create their own treatment plan; one that they are comfortable with. If the goal is to eventually reduce the reliance of medications, a trusted professional can help work toward that goal.

Sources

The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America

Treating Bipolar Disorder

There’s No Place Like Home: Paul Huljich

Paul Huljich’s MWellA