Some people will do anything to get high, including stealing and taking animal medications. Veterinary clinics have been broken into throughout recent years for their stocks of medications, by desperate people trying to get their hands on some drugs, any drugs. It sometimes doesn’t even matter to an addict what they are injecting or popping – as long as they think it might give them a high, they will try it.

In the last 15 years, vet clinics have had to tighten down their storage practices of controlled substances. Human drugs like Ketamine, Morphine, Buprenorphine, and Diazepam are commonly used also in animal medicine. Addicts have now started to break in and raid the drug cabinets, which, until recently, may not have even been locked up very securely.

Dangers of Animal Drugs

Many of the veterinary controlled substances are exactly the same as the human ones, but there are sometimes differences, which at times can be deadly. The strength is likely to be different – for example, a veterinarian treating a horse or a cow will have stronger meds than human doctors. If a person is searching for drugs to get high on, they aren’t necessarily thinking of their own safety. They are not going to sit and figure out the dosage needed for their body weight. In fact, more is usually better in the mind of someone coming off a high. Mixing drugs can also be common, as well as injecting something they aren’t even familiar with.

Burglaries in the last few weeks have been particularly disturbing and dangerous. Thieves in Calgary last week stole, among other controlled substances, some vials of Euthasol, the drug used to euthanize animals. If someone mistakenly got a hold of it and decided to inject it, it would be immediately fatal. Other medications designed specifically for animals can be just as harmful.

Abusing Veterinary Prescription Pills

Humans also sometimes abuse animal prescription medications. More and more animals are being maintained on things like Valium and Phenobarbital pills to manage pain or seizures, or as a sedative. Just as addicts go from doctor to doctor, requesting more pills, so some people take their pet from vet to vet. Since the animal can’t communicate how much pain they are or are not in, it can become very difficult to prove that a person is just on a pill hunt for themselves.

It is unfortunate that drug addiction has gotten so bad that not even animal medicine is safe from drug abusers or dealers. Many vet clinics have developed stricter ways of recording their controlled substance usage and storage. Many vets have also begun to look more closely at pets that are on prescription pain pills, because the danger of these getting in the wrong hands is real.

 Sources

Burglar found sleeping inside vet clinic

Police issue warning after euthanasia drug stolen from Calgary vet clinic
Dangerous drugs stolen during vet clinic break-in

Sometimes many of us might feel like we want to do something more for our troops. These people have put their lives on hold, left their families, and risked injury and death to fight for our country. Ask any soldier and they will tell you that it is rewarding when they are applauded by onlookers at an airport, or thanked by civilians at the mall. But it seems that we should be doing more to thank them than a quick hello and thanks when we see them out and about in their uniform, or standing for them when they pass by in a Fourth of July parade.

Soldiers and Substance Abuse

One area that we can help our soldiers with is substance abuse. Soldiers have always struggled with substance abuse. Their tasks are stressful and traumatic, leading to mental illness sometimes, and self-medication with drugs or alcohol other times. There are so many veterans from wars throughout the years that now live lives of addiction and alcoholism. Too many soldiers go on to be homeless or depressed, or plagued by some other addiction or illness, all because of the things they experienced while fighting for our freedom.

Opiate Production in the Middle East

Recent statistics suggest that substance abuse, especially opiate abuse, is rapidly increasing among our soldiers today. The actual numbers state that there was a nearly 500% increase in soldiers enrolled in substance abuse counseling for opiates between 2004 and 2009. It could be that more soldiers are just now reporting substance abuse and getting help for it. But authorities believe that at least part of the jump in recent years is due to an increase in addiction, due to an increase in the availability of opiates.

Afghanistan is the world’s leading opium producer, and our soldiers have at times become their buyers. With an increase of troops in Afghanistan, our soldiers are put right in the middle of the opiate production. Opiate abuse is more common among Afghan forces, but it also affects U.S., Canadian, and NATO troops. Many people who are taking note of this issue are concerned not only about the way opiate abuse affects our soldiers, but also about the way it benefits the Taliban. When Afghans sell their opium, the sales help fund the Taliban’s efforts. This group taxes poppy farmers and the processers of the drugs, giving us another reason to keep our troops away from opiates.

Treatment for Soldiers

We as a country need to set up better prevention techniques, more screening opportunities, more effective treatment programs, and better long-term care for our troops. Every soldier should be screened for substance abuse and mental illness, and be encouraged to come forward and get help for these problems. The sooner after the conflict that a solder gets help, the better the chance at recovery. We need to educate our soldiers more effectively on how to manage stress and avoid drug abuse in the first place. When drug abuse does occur, we need to follow up with treatment designed specifically for soldiers.

Sources

Afghanistan opium harvest a dilemma for Canadian Forces

Army surgeon general notes concern about drugs prescribed to wounded soldiers

Number of Soldiers Seeking Opiate Abuse Treatment Skyrockets

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.

Recently, I hit another milestone in my life. My 4-year old daughter told us that she wanted to run away because we didn’t love her and were mean to her. The precipitating event for her decision was the fact that her mother would not let her eat chocolate before bedtime. The nerve of that woman, how could a mother be so cruel!

I sat down on the couch with my daughter and helped her decide what she would need to pack; some food in case she got hungry, some warm clothes in case it got cold, some toys in case she got bored – but only a couple of her favorites because she couldn’t carry too many, and of course an umbrella in case it rained. Wow, lots of stuff! After our discussion, she decided she didn’t want to run away anymore and could suffer some chocolate deprivation.

I refer to this as a milestone in my life because I have used this example with many client parents we have had in treatment but had never experienced it firsthand. I have told many parents whose children call them to report, “the treatment center is locking them in the closet and beating them with sticks,” that situation is not unlike the little kid who wants to run away. If you let them go they get down the street and look at the great big world, it won’t be long before they hightail it home.

It is not unlike that with some of our clients; they are confronted with their pain and told that they are going to have to relinquish their coping skills and deal with it in unfamiliar ways. The whole experience is extremely painful. Their first instinct is to run but it is a well known fact that most addicts do not have the ability to sustain their addiction without some support, therefore we encourage family and friends to withdrawal any support other than supporting treatment and recovery.

I have had many clients prematurely leave our facilities, but once they found that no one would support/enable them, they quickly returned and began a meaningful treatment experience – not unlike the little kid who runs away from home.

I am somewhat making light of this but the analogy is a basic reaction. I know that absolutely nothing rivals the anguish and pain family members go through when they have to cut a loved one off in order to save the addict’s life…especially parents. It is completely against every paternal instinct and inclination. It is however, always necessary.

I am reminded of a story I once read about a missionary who was in a remote location in India and had a son born there with a clubfoot. This condition could easily have been corrected with surgery; however, there was no hospital for miles. One of the missionary doctors explained that everyday this man would have to turn and hold his son’s foot for 20 minutes. This was very painful for the little boy. The missionary spoke of how painful it was to cause such pain for his son. He spoke of how his son would scream, cry and yell, “I hate you,” while he turned the boy’s foot and how those words broke his heart. Then he spoke of the joy he felt when some years later he watched his son run across the soccer field.

The fact is, it is very easy to focus all of our attention on the addict and neglect the pain that their loved ones are suffering. We are constantly asking parents and significant others to practice behaviors that are completely unnatural to them. I don’t know what I would have done had my daughter got up and walked out the door or if I would have had the wherewithal to stand back and allow her to fully experience the consequences of that action; would I be able to sit on my hands until she decided to come back; honestly, I doubt it. I just want to say that we at TSN try to be aware of the family’s needs while we are taking care of their loved ones but I believe today I have a better understanding of what we are asking of them and I know I will be more empathetic. It is not that what we are asking them to do is wrong – it truly is the best thing they can do. That does not make it easy and we need to have patience with them. I also know that without stories like the young girl’s in the article below, I don’t think I could go on in this business. I am including it because I believe it may give some parent out there hope. This young girl came in kicking and screaming and wanted to leave after a week.

By Ann DeMatteo, Assistant Metro Editor
NORTH HAVEN

For the first time in four years, Barbara Hoffman is clean. ??

A drug user since 14, the 18-year-old is living in a halfway house in Florida after 60 days of treatment. “All my energy is back. My head is a lot clearer. I don’t need to lie, cheat or steal from my parents,” said the teenager, who estimates she stole money and goods from her parents worth $20,000 from the time she started drinking and using marijuana, cocaine, Ecstasy and prescription painkillers like OxyContin and Xanax.?

Her parents, Adam and Joanne Hoffman of North Haven, knew their daughter smoked pot, but were shocked to learn she was addicted to prescription drugs. Now that she’s in rehabilitation, they’re coming forward because they don’t want another family to suffer their pain.?Their world blew apart when they learned a week before Barbara Hoffman was to leave for college in September that she was on a downward spiral, addicted to OxyContin.?“I want to save another parent, another kid, from going through what our family has gone through,” Joanne Hoffman said. “Drugs should not be a secret. That’s how they thrive.”??Prescription pill addiction became an issue in North Haven about a year ago, when more than a dozen people were arrested for numerous burglaries, some dating back to 2006. Police said the burglaries appeared to be connected to the abuse of prescription drugs by some of the young people arrested.??

In North Haven in 2008, there were seven arrests involving illegal possession of OxyContin and 26 heroin arrests, according to Capt. James Merrithew, who runs the detective division. In 2009, police made 16 heroin arrests and 19 arrests for pills. Authorities said most users graduate from pills to heroin because it’s cheaper.??Police believe the addictions force users to take advantage of any opportunity to commit burglaries or larcenies.??The town’s Substance Abuse Prevention Council recently created and mailed a brochure to residents about the dangers of prescription painkillers. The town also plans to apply for a $125,000 federal grant that would help the town fight the problem, said Director of Community Services and Recreation Gerardo Sorkin.??

The council will continue to educate the community, and this spring hopes to have a program so residents can get rid of their unused prescription drugs. Talks also are planned for the schools.??“We’re very concerned that kids don’t understand how serious addiction to prescription drugs can be,” said Superintendent of Schools Sara-Jane R. Querfeld, a council member. “We’re not seeing any evidence of it at the high school but that doesn’t mean they’re not doing it.”??FROM A GOOD HOME??North Haven parents have been reaching out to Parents 4 a Change, a Southington organization run by Mary Marcuccio, a woman credited with saving the lives of numerous young people, including Barbara Hoffman.??“It’s sad, but the good thing is families are getting help,” said a North Haven mother whose daughter is no longer addicted to OxyContin. She and her daughter continue to be active with Parents 4 a Change.??Parents 4 a Change instructs parents to create an unfriendly environment for their children if they suspect drug use. Parents need to know their children’s friends and need to know where their money is going. Parents in the group said their kids have taken money from their bank accounts or have stolen items from their homes to buy drugs.??

The mother said the parents involved in Parents 4 a Change are caring people who were close to their children and made extraordinary efforts to help them once an addiction became known.??Take the Hoffmans, for example. Married for 25 years, Adam Hoffman owns Godfrey-Hoffman Associates, an engineering and surveying firm. Joanne Hoffman is a nutritionist who runs her business in her husband’s building on Broadway. Joanne Hoffman was a room mother when her daughter was in elementary school. She belonged to the PTA, she was a Girl Scout leader, and Adam Hoffman never missed a soccer game.??“I never thought my kid would be involved” with drugs, said Joanne Hoffman.??“The Hoffmans are a good example of parents who are willing to educate themselves and take productive steps to help their child,” said Marcuccio, whose monthly meetings at Derynoski Middle School in Southington now draw 80 people. “Parents are coming out of the closet.”??

Barbara Hoffman, 18, graduated from North Haven High School in June. She earned almost straight A’s, took Advanced Placement psychology, was a CAPT scholar, a varsity soccer player for four years and was in the Latin Club. She was planning to major in business.??But a week before she was to leave for Bryant University in Rhode Island, her parents found out she had an OxyContin problem. They had been aware, previously, that she smoked pot, and asked her to stop.??Barbara Hoffman said that starting at 14, she smoked pot about five times a day, every day. It wasn’t that hard to get. Drinking was more of a weekend thing, when friends would steal liquor from their parents’ homes or liquor stores would sell to underage youths.??

Barbara Hoffman said her parents didn’t know what she was doing, but some kids had parents who didn’t care that they drank.??When she was 16, she started to experiment with other drugs, OxyContin being the first. She was addicted immediately. Drug-addiction experts and many medical studies, including at Yale University, have linked addiction to genetics. In other words, some people may be genetically hard-wired to become addicts.??“We were just bored. We thought it would be fun. We thought it would be a good idea,” she said of the people she used to hang out with. She tried cocaine a couple of times and didn’t like it, but she liked Ecstasy. When her friends stopped doing it, she continued. When her parents saw the pills, she convinced them they didn’t belong to her.??“I’m a good talker,” she said.??

Her parents forbade her to smoke pot, and they started testing her for drugs. So, she stopped smoking and picked up OxyContin, which the tests didn’t pick up.??“During this time, I was breaking up with my boyfriend of three years. I started doing Oxys every day,” going from a few 40-milligram pills to 10 80-milligram pills a day.??She had a job so she had her own money.??“I stole from my parents a lot. … I pawned all my gold, my parents’ gold. At the time I didn’t think it was a big deal because it seemed like everyone was doing it. Now I feel terrible. They worked hard for that stuff and I just took it and sold it like it was mine. I can’t even go by a pawn shop any more,” she said.??INTERVENTION??The moment of truth was Aug. 27, 2009.??“We confronted her with it. … Her new boyfriend, from Hamden, was the dealer,” Adam Hoffman said.??“It was right out of a movie. She acted like a caged animal and said she wasn’t an addict. It was horrifying,” Joanne Hoffman said.??During the confrontation, they had Marcuccio on the phone and she told them what to say.??“Without Mary, the kid would be dead,” Adam Hoffman said.??She was taken to the Stonington Institute, but ran away three times and came back home, saying she could get clean on her own. She then received outpatient services at the University of Connecticut Medical Center and received a shot of Naltrexone, an opiate blocker. She was going to Narcotics Anonymous meetings.??Barbara Hoffman said she hit rock bottom on the night of Oct. 30, when she totaled her car on Interstate 91 after snorting crushed Xanax pills. She was arrested.??

Her parents gave her an ultimatum: out-of-state rehab or be kicked out of the house.??On Nov. 3, she was flown to Treatment Solutions of South Florida on the recommendation of Parents 4 a Change.??“She can probably never live in North Haven again because of the sights, sounds and smells. Everyone she knows does anything from drink to use heroin. She can’t handle it,” Joanne Hoffman said.??Adam and Joanne Hoffman attended three “intensive days” of instruction about pharmacology, drug addiction and its causes through the Treatment Solutions Network. They’ll have to attend Nar-Anon, which helps parents of addicts.??They believe that their daughter took drugs to feel better.??“She tried it and had no reason to stop. It made her feel good,” Joanne Hoffman said.??Michael Blackburn from Treatment Solutions Network says there’s a need for what his group does.??

Barbara Hoffman had 60 days of inpatient treatment before being transferred to the halfway house, where she lives with five other young women. “She’s doing well,” Blackburn said.??“This rehab is like no other. They call you on your (expletive). It was good, honest. It’s the first time I’ve been to rehab where I actually want to be clean,” she said.??Being in an area in which a recovering addict is unfamiliar helps because the person doesn’t have access to dealers. It challenges the person to get well on his or her own. “The program teaches life and living skills,” Blackburn said.??“She’s seeking a job with the support of Treatment Solutions,” Joanne Hoffman said. “She’ll start college in the fall, knock on wood.”?

If you are in love with someone who is struggling with an addiction we have many resources listed on our website www.treatmentsolutionsnetwork.com/families

Jim Bevell
CEO Treatment Solutions Network
561 577-3174
jimb@tsnemail.com

I thought I’d take a quick breather from health care reform this week to refocus the attention on the reason I am so passionate about the topic in the first place…addiction. Listen, I know all of us have grown somewhat desensitized to the horror stories and cautionary tales that plague the headlines each day with regard to addiction; however, those of you who know me realize by now that I’m not afraid to shake things up when it comes to speaking my mind and now is one of those times. There are too many talkers out there and not enough walkers when it comes to pretty much everything, especially addiction. It has been this way for far too long and frankly, it is one of the biggest reasons our country is in such a precarious addiction predicament.

This week I am introducing a new regular segment to our humble little blogosphere here at Treatment Solutions, and that will be called the “Bevell Blast”. It is simple really, whenever anyone in the public eye comes out and publicly states that they have experienced a drug or alcohol ‘setback’ and vows to give back to the community as a result, I will immediately extend a hand to them and provide them with some ways in which they can take action. If they choose to ignore my invitation to walk the walk, and do not offer any proof of how they are supporting their “vow” to give back, they will instantly be put on “Bevell Blast”. Trust me, they will wish they weren’t. I will simply use my humble public forum to illuminate the individual’s hollow promises and lack of follow thru. Keep in mind, all they need to do is their part by giving back some of what they learned from their own experience and they will be immediately removed from the “Bevell Blast” and praised publicly for being part of the solution.

I want to be clear – I am not interested in doing anything but providing a little push wherever needed. I will be the first to admit that from experience, addicts are strong starters and lousy finishers so consider the “Bevell Blast” a good-faith insurance policy. Sadly, the court of law will let celebrities and public figures skate by on empty promises; however, there is a new sheriff in town and my domain is the court of public opinion…and this courtroom is never out of session. Just to reiterate, unless you have made a public statement that you are going to ‘give back’, you are safe. My team and I have grown tired of empty promises and through our network have designed some very simple ways for high profile individuals to give back, so there is no room for excuses.

Our very first subject is an individual that has impressed me as an athlete, an actor and a man over the years. Sadly, due to a pretty common set of circumstances. he found himself in a battle with addiction at the hand of prescription medication. He has battled with addiction in the past and is now in a position to save lives. In fact, he has been quoted as saying…

“I felt that in spite of the fact I am supposedly a big tough guy, I couldn’t beat prescription drugs on my own. I’ve worked hard to get off of them and really hope other people will realize they need to seek professional help, rather than ignoring the problem or trying to get off of the prescriptions on their own.

“This has been a challenging time for me personally, and I really appreciate the outpouring of love and support from my fans, friends and family. I am looking forward to getting back to teaching and working.”

That is a beautiful statement and I am here to help him follow thru. If you aren’t familiar with the story, that individual is Burt Reynolds and the details can be found here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/dailydish/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=47925

Burt, I am extending an open invitation to you – please contact us and let’s discuss how we can work together to make an impact on this terrible disease and save some lives. I look forward to hearing from you and truly hope you never find yourself on “Bevell Blast”. You are too special a human being to go out like that.

Jim Bevell

CEO TSN

561 577-3174

jimb@tsnemail.com

The debate about the safety of Ibogaine has gone on for years.  Some people think it is the greatest drug ever found for addiction treatment and can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t give it a second thought.  Other people believe that the drug is dangerous and the risks far outweigh the benefits.

History

Ibogaine comes from the roots of an African shrub, Tabernanthe iboga, and has been used by Shamanic tribes for centuries in rituals that connect humans with the spirit world.  The use of Ibogaine in the treatment of drug addiction was discovered by accident in the 1960′s, and the use of it for treatment has been argued about ever since.

Addiction Interrupter

Ibogaine at low doses is a mild stimulant.  At higher doses it causes hallucinations and an experience that interrupts a patient’s addiction to a variety of substances.  Ibogaine is known by scientists to have anti-addictive properties, and actually seems to alleviate withdrawal symptoms of substances such as heroin, cocaine, nicotine, and alcohol.  The problem is that the experience that comes with taking Ibogaine is severe and scary and dangerous to the patient.

Effects of Ibogaine

Someone that has taken a high dose of Ibogaine will experience two phases.  The first phase is the visual phase and it consists of hallucinations of objects moving around the room, colors flying, memory impairment, and dreamlike sequences.  This phase can last up to four hours before the second phase begins.  The introspective phase consists of a feeling of euphoria and thought clarity.  The patient will often reflect on their lives and the background behind their drug addiction.  This phase can last one hour, or it can last a few days, depending on the patient.

Risks

It is the experience that comes with taking Ibogaine that has many people concerned.  The patient is not in control of their body, and often is paralyzed by their altered mental state.  There have been a number of deaths from Ibogaine, possibly caused by interaction with other drugs, or pre-existing medical conditions.  But because of all these things, the U.S. government put Ibogaine on Schedule 1 in 1967, making it illegal in this country.  Other countries have banned Ibogaine as well, while there are as many as 12 countries that do allow its use.  Canada and Mexico both are among those that do allow the use of Ibogaine in clinics.

Future of Ibogaine

Boston’s Northeastern University recently held the Boston Ibogaine Forum, where those interested in the future of Ibogaine met for a conference filled with information about the drug.  Supporters want more research to be done on the drug in the hopes that it will soon be legal to use.  Perhaps, though, it is actually the study of the drug that both sides are waiting for, to determine whether or not it is as effective and safe to use as some say.

Sources

Greene, Doug Feature: The Boston Ibogaine Forum — from Shamanism to Cutting Edge Science 3/1/09

Sanchez, Carolina Banishing addiction forever? March 17, 2009

Why Choose Ibogaine for Drug Detox?

There has been much talk in the past about the best way to help addicts come clean from heroin, with some people arguing for the use of drugs like methadone to treat patients, and other people holding firm to the idea that you can’t successfully treat a drug addiction with a drug.

Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence to conclude that either way is better.  Numbers do show that the use of methadone is successful in getting patients to give up heroin, but then the patient does not really end up being drug-free because they are addicted to the methadone.

History of Heroin
Heroin has been around for a long time, and is currently grown around the world, with large supplies in the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.  The drug had been a problem in the United States for decades, but the Nixon administration actively tried to diminish supplies of heroin when he declared a war on drugs in the 1970′s.  It was during this time that methadone maintenance treatments came to light, and experiments were done to measure its effectiveness.  However, incomplete data recording, complex situations of treatment, and inconclusive evidence have all aided in the differing of opinions that we have today.

Heroin Withdrawal
What we do know is that heroin is a hard drug to beat.  The addict’s body quickly becomes so dependent on the substance that to go without it would mean a severe withdrawal.  Nausea, vomiting, pain, sweating, fatigue, depression and insomnia are what an addict goes through when trying to quit.  But, if a patient is put on methadone when stopping the heroin, the symptoms are not nearly as bad.  The patient will need to work to withdraw from the methadone, but that can often happen over weeks or months.

Another thing we know is that addicts that are required to quit heroin without the use of medication are less likely to stay in treatment than those that are assisted by drugs such as methadone.  Perhaps it gets to be too big of a task before them to be rid of drugs completely, but whatever the reason, more heroin users will stay in treatment if it involves using methadone or another medication.

Methadone Treatment Facilities
Many drug treatment facilities have built their programs around these pieces of information.  By using medications such as methadone, physicians are able to ease the withdrawal symptoms and to keep the addict in treatment.  Facilities may not be able to come up with statistics that say their patients have completed their program and are clean and drug-free, but that they are heroin-free.  According to many, this is a better alternative.  Many facilities work to help their patients become responsible members of society, by keeping a job or taking care of their family, something heroin addicts find almost impossible.  For those patients that require the use of methadone to achieve those goals, the benefit of living a normal life is worth it.

Schneider, Eric The War on Drugs Redux 1-12-09

Mooney, Bette From Yale to Jail

Mattick, RP Methadone maintenance therapy versus no opioid replacement therapy for opioid dependence

http://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/teds05/TEDSD2k5Hi.htm

If you or someone you love is considering treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction, there are many decisions you may need to make in order to find the right facility. Below are some things to consider when choosing a facility, as well as things to expect once you get there.

First of all, it might be necessary to call a hotline to get immediate help for an addiction. This would be used when a person doesn’t know where else to go for help, or possibly someone is in immediate danger. If this is the case, the individual on the other end of the phone can give you valuable information about immediate treatment options.

Types of Facilities and Programs

If the decision is something that is thought about for a while and discussed, there are many different types of programs that might be useful. The first questions might be whether the facility offers residential, in-patient, or out-patient treatment, or a recovery house or long-term care. Some facilities are gender or age-specific, which might be particularly helpful to adolescents or females who might feel more comfortable in a setting with their peers.

It may be necessary for the treatment facility to have a detoxification program for the individual to rid their body of harmful substances while being monitored by a staff of medical professionals. After the physical dependency of the substance is addressed, the patient can begin counseling and treatment to manage the psychological dependency. Many treatment facilities have different activities to aid in this part of the recovery process. Things such as group therapy and family involvement have proven successful in treatment, as well as the 12-Steps for recovery. Some specialized facilities also provide programs such as equine therapy, recreational activities, cooking opportunities, and other things geared toward giving the mind and body something positive to focus on.

Recovery is an Ongoing Process

It is important for patients to be directed to long-term care to assist them in staying sober in the future. By learning about the risks of relapse and the skills needed to cope with stress and addiction triggers, an individual will be more likely to stay substance-free. A facility should provide follow-up services to give the recovering patient a support base when they move back into their lives. Recovery is an ongoing process. The groundwork is laid when an individual goes through treatment, but recovery continues on as the person is put back into their lives and families and has to effectively put what they learned into practice.

Entering into a treatment facility is a scary thing for most people. The unknown is hard to face. But the right facility can ease discomfort with their caring staff and positive programs. It still won’t be easy, but the goal is for the treatment to be successful. By working with counselors and staff to learn about oneself and taking accountability for the addiction, an individual can actually aid in the recovery process. So while you can expect treatment to be a challenge, it will hopefully be the best thing you’ve ever done.

Sources

T., Buddy Components of Effective Treatment Programs What Makes Alcohol Treatment Programs Work? January 22, 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_rehabilitation

Drug abuse in the workplace can be a big concern in any occupation, but what about when the addict is a doctor, or more specifically, an anesthesiologist? Some may think that this group of employees should understand the risks and dangers of controlled substances better than anybody. After all, they deal with these drugs everyday and have studied them in depth.

This may be the exact reason some doctors are able to successfully support a drug habit without getting caught. They have easy access to the drugs, being around the drugs every day may lead to cravings for the drug, they see the positive results patients experience with the drugs, and they know the symptoms of drug abuse and how to hide them without getting caught.

Anesthesiologists and drug abuse

A recent study examined the risk of anesthesiologists being exposed to low levels of drugs through patients exhaling them or through the skin. While more studies are being done on this subject, it could be said that just the constant presence of the substances near a person could easily drive them to try it. Many anesthesiologists who are addicts started using drugs when they were under the stress of their residency training period and were not experienced enough with their profession to say “no” to the temptation to try a drug. It’s easy to become addicted to such powerful drugs, and it often doesn’t work to “just try it once”.

Even though the statistics are low- as few as 2% of anesthesiologist residents abuse substances- the drugs that they do use are usually some of the most powerful intravenous drugs around. This often leads to death because of the strong substances and addictive nature of them. A few additional problems result from anesthesiologists using drugs: being so educated about controlled substances, anesthesiologists may be more able to cheat on drug tests to keep from getting caught. The chances of an anesthesiologist making it through treatment and going back to their work are not very good; 1 out of 9 will end up dying from relapse and subsequent addiction. And the public safety issue is very concerning – how do we ensure that those responsible for our lives are sober when treating us?

Solutions for hospitals

Some hospitals have measures in place to catch drug abuse among staff, including urine drug tests and strict monitoring of controlled substances being taken out of stock. While these may be useful tools to help keep people honest, some would argue that the thing hospitals need to focus on is prevention of the problem. Education and training should include drug addiction awareness, and stress reduction practices should be taught. Perhaps if we focus on the well-being of individuals before they feel the need to turn to substances we can prevent the abuse in the first place.

Cox, Lauren Urine Drug Tests for Doctors? Nov. 12, 2008

O’Brien, Keith Something, anything to stop the pain 11/9/08

Vogler, Mark Former Lawrence General Hospital nurse gets 41 years in federal prison Nov. 20, 2008

A new study published November 5th in the Journal of the American Medical Association seems to show that addicted teens that are treated long-term with detoxification medications, including buprenorphine and naloxone, respond better than those treated for a short time. The drugs that were used in this study are two medications that were approved in 2002 by the FDA for the treatment of opioid addiction. Only about 7,000 physicians in the country are registered as potential providers of these drugs, and even less of that number will administer them to young people.

Opiate Detoxification Medications

Buprenorphine is a medication that significantly reduces the cravings of opioids. When combined with naloxone, an opioid antagonist, the results seem to be even better. Naloxone reduces or prevents the effects of drugs such as heroin or prescription painkillers, making them much less desirable to the addict. Naloxone also prevents the patient from misusing the buprenorphine combination because those that would try to inject the drug for a high (instead of taking it orally as prescribed) would suffer severe withdrawal symptoms.

While these medications have been used for adults in many instances, there has been little research on the effectiveness among young people addicted to opioids. The overall number of adolescents that abuse drugs has decreased since 2002, and while this is a very positive trend, the number of painkillers and opioids abused among teens has increased.

Study on Treating Adolescents

Dr. David A. Fiellin of the Yale University School of Medicine reports that as many as 10 percent of ninth graders have used opioids, and that 200,000 to 400,000 adolescents have abused some of these drugs. It seems that drugs are even more readily available to teens today than alcohol, as teens are able to order drugs online or steal them from their parents’ medicine cabinets. Often drug addiction starts as a fun thing that teens try, and ends up as a lifetime of dependence on the substance.

The study done by Dr. George Woody of the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Psychiatry is one of the first of its kind. As was reported this week, researchers found that those teens that were put on a buprenorphine/naloxone combination (Suboxone) for an extended period of time (12 weeks or longer) were more likely to stay opioid free than those only given the medication for a short period of time. When taken off the medication, the drug use went up. Even with detoxification and counseling, the individuals that were taken off the Suboxone were back to using drugs in a short period of time.
While more research needs to be done on this topic, it seems that Dr. Woody and his team of researchers have shown that Suboxone is an effective treatment in the addiction of opioids when used for an extended period of time. There are those that disagree with the use of drugs to treat drug addiction, but if it means these adolescents have a chance to continue their life free of opioid addiction, many think these more drastic measures are worth taking.

Sources

Reinberg, Steven Extended Therapy Helps Drug-Addicted Teens November 4, 2008

Carver, Alice Extended Therapy for Young Opioid Addicts Better than Short Term Detox, Study November 5, 2008

Opiate Detox