“So you don’t think you have a drinking problem? Prove it.” How many times have we felt like saying this to someone? How many people should have said this to us? During the remainder of the summer, we’d like to issue a challenge: Stop drinking so much.

Too Much Drinking

Our society has glamorized alcohol to the point that many people consider it normal to consume large amounts of alcohol. But our society would be better off if we all drank less. We’d reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents or injuries, reduce the incidence of alcoholism, improve our health, and save a lot of money along the way.

People that abuse alcohol don’t often think about their drinking as a problem. The challenge to stop drinking so much will help determine who has a dependency problem and who doesn’t. If we ask everyone to stop drinking for 90 days and see what happens, we’ll find that those that do not have an alcohol abuse problem will be able to do this; the rest will struggle and fail. Someone that is dependent on alcohol will not be able to go even a day without it, and needs medical help to detox from it. These people should go through therapy and support sessions to learn how to abstain from alcohol altogether. For those that aren’t addicted, let’s just start with drinking less, because alcohol abuse is also a problem. If we cut down on the number of drinks we have each day, or every week, we can gain some control over our behaviors and tendencies.

Tips to Reduce Drinking

To drink less, first keep track of how much you actually drink. You might be surprised at the amount you consume. The healthy normal is 1 drink daily for women and 2 for men. If you are consuming much more than this, seriously consider cutting back.

Set a goal, and spell out your reasons for that goal. You know why you should drink less – maybe it’s to improve the relationship with a family member, or to improve your health, or to take charge of your life. If you do plan to drink, don’t let it be more than one or two drinks per day. And set aside some days to not drink at all. Knowing that you can accomplish this will be empowering.

To keep yourself on track, empty out your alcohol cabinet at home. Keep only a few drinks in the house in order to avoid temptation.

Slow down your drinking. Start with a glass of water, and then take your time with the alcohol.

Replace drinking with positive activities. Get involved with a community group, take up a hobby, or go to the gym. Surround yourself with friends that won’t pressure you to drink.

There is much more to life than alcohol. Too often we forget about what’s really important and focus only on having a good time or relieving stress. This summer, make it a goal to drink less alcohol. Encourage friends to do the same. If you find you are not able to control your drinking, get help.

Sources

Alcohol intake of friends, family impact your drinking habit

Drink too much? How to tell

SAMHSA

Prescription drug abuse has risen dramatically in the last 12 years. The latest news from SAMHSA says that prescription painkiller abuse jumped 400% between 1998 and 2008. That’s not just a gradual increase that should be expected over time. This rise means this type of drug abuse is a huge problem in our country, and all of us are likely to know at least one person that is addicted to pain pills. This also means that people are suffering more ill effects because of the abuse. Fatalities from drug abuse are now more common than deaths from gunshot wounds, according to Gil Kerlikowske, the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Prescription drug abuse spans every race, age, ethnicity, education, and employment level. Prescription painkiller abuse is a big problem, to put it mildly.

Reasons for the Widespread Abuse

There is a combination of reasons for the spike in painkiller abuse. At first when these meds came out, patients were not always given as much pain relief as they needed – they were under prescribed. There was a conscious effort by doctors to increase the level of medication, in order to provide their patients with the best care. But now so many people are on prescription painkillers that the pills are everywhere, making them easily accessible to addicts. Another reason for the increase is that since the pills are legitimately taken by many people, their danger is not always apparent. And finally, there are many people and companies that have realized the profit in selling prescription drugs, and have set up pill mills and facilities that prescribe and dispense these pills for nonmedical use.

Legalize It?

So what should be done about prescription painkiller abuse? Should something be done? Some groups are in favor of more lenient laws, or legalizing drug use altogether, in order to do away with the underground market for the pills. After all, prohibition didn’t keep people from drinking alcohol, why would prescription drug use be any different? And there is also the argument that if drugs were legal, people could feel more comfortable getting help for their addiction, rather than worry about legal consequences.

Negative Effects

But the effects of prescription drug abuse are too dangerous to let the abuse continue on. Prescription pills are very addicting, and many people find themselves dependent on the drugs in a matter of days. Many other people die from overdoses or side effects caused by the drugs. While some people are able to hold a job and are functioning addicts, enough other people’s lives are devastated by the drugs.

In order to control the abuse of prescription medications, there should be more collaboration between law enforcement, doctors, pharmacists, and treatment professionals. Instead of automatically charging and punishing people that abuse prescription pills, these people should receive quality treatment to help them get over their addiction. There should also be more education for the general public, to continuously remind people about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs.

Sources

Drug Control Policy Director Talks Prevention

Why Rx Abuse is Up 400%

Study: Prescription Pain Pill Abuse Up 400%

Our children are exposed to more medication today than ever before. It’s sad when kids grow up thinking that taking a pill will solve all their problems, or will help them have a good time. Some parents are too quick to give their kids medication, even to the point of overmedicating. There are many tragic stories about kids that are negatively impacted, injured, or killed because of medicating by their parents.

Medicating Unreasonably

There is an overall attitude among some groups of parents today that it is ok to give their kids pills if it makes the parents’ day easier. For example: Benadryl. This wonder drug can reduce the symptoms of allergies and colds, and stop itching from mosquito bites and poison ivy. It can also make a child fall asleep. It’s common knowledge in some circles that if you need your child to sleep on a long car ride or if they have trouble going to bed at night, a small dose of Benadryl will give them sweet sleep. No more arguing, no more hassle, no more having to yell at your kids, thanks to the little magic pill.

How unfortunate that parents have resorted to these measures! In some cases, ADHD medication is the same way. Some kids are misdiagnosed as having an attention disorder and put on meds that sedate them, when really it is a behavior problem. Parents need to be taught how to lovingly discipline their kids from the time they are young, while watching out for serious medical disorders, rather than make them pop pills to get a moment’s rest.

Any medication given to a child can have side effects: increased heart rate, seizures, coma, weight gain, stunted growth, delay in brain development. A couple in San Diego killed their baby because they gave him dose after dose of sleep aids, acid reflux medicine, and Benadryl, and sadly, they are not the only ones that have done this. Medications are not something to play around with, and we shouldn’t be too quick to reach for the pill bottle, especially when it comes to our child’s health.

Necessary Medicine

There are times, however, when medical intervention is necessary with our kids, and one of those instances is mental illness. In fact, mental illness is the one area that parents, in general, under medicate their kids. Parents, especially in inner city or low income areas, aren’t always aware that kids can suffer from depression, insomnia, anxiety, ADHD, and other mental disorders. In the case of mental illness, parents should seek out a trusted physician to diagnose and prescribe medication, if necessary. Parents should be aware of possible side effects, and closely monitor their child for any problems. A cautious approach to medicating should always be taken in the case of our children.

Children need to be taught to respect medication and only use it when necessary. It starts with parents being good role models for their kids by leading and encouraging a healthy, more natural lifestyle.

Sources

Father Accused Of Fatally Overmedicating Baby Pleads Not Guilty

How to Avoid Overmedicating your Child

Are We Overmedicating our Kids

Generation Rx is what the newest generation of young people in our country has been dubbed. This unfortunate name is sadly fitting, given the amount of prescription drugs these kids are surrounded by and abuse.

Prescription pills are really everywhere. There is a pill for nearly every ailment, and rare is the person that lives their life without taking anything. Maybe it is our age of modern conveniences, short attention spans, and quick-fixes, but it sure seems like we are quick to jump to medical intervention for the littlest thing. There are plenty of people that truly need their medications; to manage pain, discomfort, or just life, but many, many more have turned to self-medicating, pill popping, and abusing prescription medication. No wonder prescription abuse is such an epidemic for our young people – they were brought up in this environment.

Generation Rx – sad and disturbing as it may be – there is no denying the statistics. Nationwide, 26% of 12^th graders have taken prescription drugs at least once without a doctor’s prescription. The trouble is that young people have been so exposed to these drugs throughout their life, that they don’t see a danger in taking these pills. Students, especially college students, may actually think they are doing themselves a favor by using prescription drugs. In order to stay up late to study or concentrate for an exam, they take Adderall. Ambien helps them sleep when they need to. They’re used to solving problems on their own, including self-medicating if necessary.

Dangers of Prescription Abuse

Even though some people don’t see the drawback to being called Generation Rx, the dangers of abusing prescription drugs are real. Whether people want to admit it or not, kids that abuse prescription drugs are more likely to someday abuse illicit drugs. And these prescription drugs are dangerous and have serious side effects. Emergency room visits for abuse of prescription drugs is now as common as visits due to illicit drug abuse. These pills can cause increased heart rate, cardiac arrest, seizures, depression, and many other side effects.

Putting an End to Prescription Drug Abuse

Yes, there is work to be done; education young people and parents and creating an overall awareness about the dangers of self-medicating. Ohio State University’s College of Pharmacy has created the Generation Rx Initiative, which provides safety resources and information for teachers and students. The project makes available toolkits, symposiums, and community events that work to educate people about prescription drug abuse. Programs like the one at OSU can be very beneficial in putting a stop to drug abuse, and can help students and young people learn how to live a substance-free life.

Sources

The Generation Rx Initiative

Prescription Drug Abuse

Illicit Drugs on Campus Are Increasingly the Rx Variety

Young people’s use of drugs such as Ecstasy is increasing, despite warnings about such substances. Ecstasy is commonly seen in bars, at concerts, and at raves, and its popularity today suggests the message of its danger is not getting across.

Ecstasy is a hallucinogen and a stimulant that is often smuggled into the U.S from foreign countries. It is the drug of choice for partiers because of its effects. The stimulant in Ecstasy keeps the user’s energy high, and can sustain partygoers for hours. The hallucinogen “makes everything more fun”.

Drug use and raves go hand in hand. Young adults that attend these music and dance events that go on for hours and hours usually do so with the intent of doing drugs. Very few people go to raves simply to hear music – the dancing and partying while under the influence of drugs is the main priority.

Damaging Side Effects of Ecstasy

Many people would classify Ecstasy as a safe drug, and since so many people use it at raves, many people don’t think twice about using it. But Ecstasy has its consequences and side effects, and a number of people have been hurt or have died as a result of it. Ecstasy causes a rise in body temperature and extreme thirst, which causes the user to drink large amounts. The over intake of water can actually interfere with neurons in the brain, causing coma or seizure. On its own, Ecstasy can do damage, but other drugs are also commonly mixed into the Ecstasy, causing even more effects. Methamphetamine, ketamine, and other chemicals are sometimes found in Ecstasy, causing increased heart rate and body temperature as well.

Danger of Raves

Teens at raves get so caught up with the party and heightening their experience that they may not realize they or someone else is in danger. By the time it is evident that someone is in real trouble because of the drugs they took, it may be too late.

Many people are concerned about the safety of raves. There is often little adult presence, and the young people are almost all under the influence of drugs. Los Angeles has had several incidences at recent raves, including the death of a 15 year old girl last weekend. Because of this incident, the commission that oversees the L.A. Coliseum and Sports Arena announced a temporary ban on new contracts with rave producers. A meeting next week will determine the future of raves at this venue.

Preventing Ecstasy Abuse

Kids will be kids, and teenagers that attend these events want to have a good time. But putting people’s lives in danger is not worth it for a few hours of fun. The deadly side effects that these drugs cause should to be explained to young people, and teens should find alternatives to drugs and raves. Parents need to help educate their kids, and make sure they are supervised and safe, and find a better way to have a good time.

Sources

Ecstasy Facts

Drug Abuse Facts

Death at Electric Daisy Carnival draws attention to connection between raves and Ecstasy

A Closer Look: How Ecstasy harms

http://www.latimes.com/news/health/la-he-closer-ecstacy-20100712,0,7955199.story

People are always pointing fingers over the prescription drug epidemic in our country. One of the groups that many people have been blaming for a while now is the pharmaceutical companies. Concerned with their profits, these companies are being investigated more and more.

Big Pharmaceutical Companies

Big drug companies make their profit from selling prescription pills. Sales of prescription medications have skyrocketed in recent years, along with their abuse and addiction. There is constant competition between pharmaceutical companies to have the best, most widely-used drugs. The companies stand to lose a great deal if their sales of these medications fall, which is why they have resorted to advertising their products. It is simple product marketing, something nearly every business has to deal with, but it just doesn’t seem right when it involves our health.

For example, should a big drug company be telling me about the best medication for my problem, or is that my doctor’s job? These companies aren’t concerned with my welfare at all; they want to sell their drugs, and they hope I go to my doctor and ask about the medication. But my doctor should already know about it, and should be educated enough to know what is best for me.

The Problem with Marketing

The problem is that with all the competition out there to sell their products, the pharmaceutical companies go to great lengths to market their medications. Tv commercials, printed ads, internet adds, and even representatives marketing directly to the doctors are commonplace. So now even the care of our health is determined by who does the best job at being convincing. The problem is big enough when considering everyday ailments like allergies or dry eye. But when we are talking about very addicting, potentially fatal pain medications, we really need to be more careful.

King Pharmaceuticals came out with a new extended release painkiller last year. Embeda, which is morphine sulphate and naltrexone hydrochloride, was launched in September 2009 as a painkiller that hinders abuse. The pills give no high if crushed and swallowed, and it was widely marketed as such. But the FDA recently sent King a warning letter for neglecting to say in a video news release that Embeda can be fatal if crushed and swallowed. Marketing, which can so easily make things seem better than they are, has no place in the prescription drug dilemma.

Patients that truly need pain meds need to hear about medication options from their doctor, not on the tv. Doctors should be more objective about the pros and cons of medications for each individual. Advertisements often target people that would self-medicate or are drug seekers, rather than those that follow their doctor’s orders.

There are many to blame when it comes to prescription painkiller addiction, and ultimately the addict himself makes the choice to abuse the drugs. But the atmosphere of pushing these drugs on people by companies trying to make a profit isn’t helping the situation.

Sources

King, J&J Won’t Need to Register Painkiller Users

FDA Approves Embeda

FDA: King Forgot to Say Embeda Can Kill You

With all the heartbreaking stories we’ve heard about lives destroyed by drugs or alcohol abuse, it’s easy to get discouraged. The problem seems too big and difficult to conquer, and it may look like we as individuals couldn’t possibly make a difference. But there are things we can do, and we’ve listed some resources to help you get started.

Volunteer at a Shelter

Many drug addicts and alcoholics find themselves with nowhere to go but to the local shelter. By volunteering your time there, you may be able to give a little encouragement to both the addict and the staff, and may even help some of them connect with treatment centers that are able to help.

Promote the Best Facilities

In the same way, you can help promote successful treatment facilities near you. Maybe they need someone to hand out flyers at homeless shelters or organize a fundraising event. If you’ve got a great facility in mind that is doing positive things, contact them and see if you can donate some time or resources. Maybe a local nonprofit group that is helping with substance abuse prevention could use your help, or there might be some volunteer possibilities with the local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Help Promote Drug Screenings

Drug screening clinics help create awareness for addiction and helping people get treatment if they do have a drug or alcohol problem. There are more and more of these programs starting across the country at colleges, medical offices, and other locations. Along with these screenings should come treatment options for those that need it. The Office of National Drug Control Policy has resources on their website, as does SAMHSA.

Organize Anti-drug Activities at a Local High School

Schools are in need of effective drug education and prevention techniques. A positive activity may be setting up a pledge signing day where students learn about the dangers of drugs and then commit to staying sober. Or maybe a school that has lost someone to drugs may want to hold an annual day of remembrance in honor of that person, focusing on the dangers of substance abuse. Foundation for a Drug Free World has resources for schools, and theantidrug.com also has information.

Contact Your Local Government

Contact local officials and ask them to pass stricter laws for things like drunk driving. Many states are working on reevaluating these laws, and they need to hear your voice on the matter. For a list of current laws and the latest news, see duidrivinglaws.org.

Help Promote Red Ribbon Week

This week-long celebration is held every year in memory of a murdered DEA agent and has become a unified pledge to end drug abuse in America. This year Red Ribbon Week will take place October 23-31. Anyone can organize an event in their area.

Encourage a Loved One

Offer to get help for a loved one struggling with addiction. Sometimes we don’t have to look any further than our own family to see how we can help.

Sources

AA

The Anti Drug

The Office of National Drug Control Policy

SAMHSA

Drug Free World

Red Ribbon Week

“The abuse of prescription drugs is our nation’s fastest-growing drug problem,” Gil Kerlikowske, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said recently. Sometimes it feels like we are constantly talking about the dangers of prescription drug abuse, but according to the latest statistics, people either aren’t getting the message, or they don’t care.

Prescription Drug Abuse on the Rise

Prescription painkillers are both dangerous and addicting. Just because they come from a doctor or pharmacist, doesn’t mean they aren’t harmful. In 2008, an estimated 1 million emergency room visits occurred because of people that abused prescription drugs or over-the-counter medicines. That’s about the same number of visits that took place by those that overdosed on all illegal drugs, such as heroin and cocaine. The emergency room numbers represent a 111% increase in prescription painkiller abuse over a five year period.

The study, which used data from SAMHSA’s Drug Abuse Warning Network, may come as a surprise to many. We still don’t generally consider prescription drugs as being as big of a problem as illegal drugs. This should be a wake up call to our country that this is a huge problem that needs to be addressed now.

Drugs that are Easy to Abuse

There are a few possible reasons for the spike in prescription drug abuse. One is that more and more doctors are prescribing these medications, in an effort to help those with chronic pain. With more pills out there, there is the potential for more abuse. A second reason for the spike is the increase in marketing campaigns by pharmaceutical companies for their products.

Prescription drugs can be just as harmful and addicting when abused as illegal drugs are. But many people feel a false sense of security about using these drugs to get high because they are prescribed by a doctor and approved by the FDA. So some people think that experimenting with them or selling them to others to use won’t cause any harm. Other people, taking the medications for legitimate pain, can become addicted to them over time, or because they begin taking too much.

Help for Prescription Drug Abuse

This could be a difficult problem to solve. When there are so many people that depend on these medications to make their pain bearable, it is going to be nearly impossible to keep the drugs out of the wrong hands. And there is a huge problem with doctors and pharmacists that will provide these drugs to patients without caring if they are abusing them or not.

Once again, education is important in dealing with this problem. We need to let more people know about the dangers of these drugs. We need to encourage those who have a problem or who know someone who does, to seek help. 

Sources

Painkillers

Abuse of meds sends as many to ER as illegal drugs

Pain drugs abuse requires urgent action: CDC

I have been so busy the last few months with a new baby my son James Lee (born Dec 14, 2009); seeing to it that our company runs smoothly and opening our new facility Leading Edge Recovery Center in Hamilton, New Jersey (the grand opening was in March), that I have neglected my blogging. This is always my dilemma – managing priorities and deciding what is the most important thing. It seems like every time I get bogged down by the day to day, something happens to bring me back into focus.

Last week I received an email about a client of ours who after helping his wife prepare for their son’s birthday party, drove to a rest stop on the Georgia/Florida border and shot himself. I am always careful not to take credit for any of the success of our clients because then I would feel like I was on the hook for the setbacks; however, whenever something like this happens I cannot help but feel that somehow we failed.

We sell hope to our clients and families and in this case we failed to close the deal. This particular client suffered from chronic pain and was caught in a very difficult situation – he couldn’t deal with the pain and he didn’t want to return to the opiates. We are seeing more and more cases of chemical dependency issues associated with chronic pain conditions. I recently heard the term generation RX and realized how painfully true that really is.

A great number of the cases we deal with these days involve prescription medication. Many of the cases have to do with legitimate pain management issues, such as this case, while others are the same ole story of abuse and self-destruction. 

While I realize that our company will never have 100% success with all those we treat, it is times like this when I stop and take stock of everything both personally and professionally. Stories like this fuel my fire and get me motivated to strive for improvement. So we press on at Treatment Solutions Network. We don’t forget to breathe, feel or take the next step. Just like finding our individual freedom of addiction, we take it one day at a time and realize that you only grow if you continue to move. Treatment Solutions Network applies the same process to our corporate vision – keep moving forward and learn from the setbacks. As long as we learn from the missteps, nobody suffers in vain.

Depression affects millions of people every year. It is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorders, yet many people continue living with this disease, without getting the treatment they need for it.

The cause of depression is still being studied, but we do know that it can be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain due to things like hormone changes. Other things can cause depression, such as substance abuse, the circumstances someone finds themselves in, or the events that take place in someone’s life.

Symptoms of depression include lack of energy and motivation, self loathing, oversleeping or insomnia, and weight changes. A person that is clinically depressed will often lose interest in the things and people in their life, and will struggle just to get out of bed in the morning. Someone with depression may also have trouble concentrating, and will find it difficult to do even the simplest, everyday tasks.

Dual Diagnosis

Dual Diagnosis refers to patients that have both depression and an addiction to something. These two diseases often go hand in hand, and increase the symptoms and side effects of each other. A person that has both depression and is addicted to drugs or alcohol will need to be treated for both conditions together for the best chance at recovery. Many facilities now offer dual diagnosis treatment because treating one and leaving the other will cause the patient to continue in an ongoing cycle of recovery and relapse.

We know that drug and alcohol addiction often occurs alongside depression, but it has been unknown which condition typically comes first or causes the other. A study that was reported in last year’s Archives of General Psychiatry suggests that alcohol abuse causes depression more often than a person’s depression causes them to self-medicate with alcohol. The study’s conclusion proposed that alcohol’s depressant characteristics may lead many people to be mentally depressed, and that the stress and circumstances brought on by alcohol abuse may also be the cause of depression in many people. We do know that people with a drug or alcohol problem commonly feel ashamed of their behavior and may suffer legal, financial, and social consequences because of it, all of which could cause depression.

Getting Help for Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Our mental health is not something to take lightly. It can be so difficult to come out of a depression, and the habits and behaviors that are formed during times of mental illness are hard to overcome. Treatment is available and can be very effective. For long term mental health, and to help prevent depression, it may be helpful to join a support group or group therapy. Other things like a healthy diet, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and engaging in some exercise have been found to help prevent and also treat depression.

Sources

Study links excessive Internet use to depression

Alcohol Abuse May Lead To Depression Risk, Rather Than Vice Versa

Relationship between depression and substance abuse