Posted by azdrugrehabctr on April 19, 2017 under Addiction Trends, Opiate Abuse, Prescription Drugs | 
As part of the ongoing effort to educate the public on the dangers of heroin and prescription painkiller abuse, many educators, publications and government agencies repeat the numbers. They explain that 63% of all drug overdose deaths in 2015 were due to opioids. They warn that it has become more likely to die from a heroin overdose than a car crash. That opioid-related deaths have quadrupled since 1999. And these numbers do pack a punch, but perhaps even more effective is shining a light on who is most likely to abuse opioids. New research shows that white people are using heroin and prescription painkillers at alarming rates, more so than any other race.
A closer look revealed that white males are at the top of the list. This is especially interesting because in 2001 white people and nonwhite people used heroin and other opioids at approximately the same rates. However, an even closer look shows that those that have not finished high school or who live below the poverty line are also more likely to abuse opioids. This may be because drug prevention efforts are often concentrated in schools.
And while the increasing amount of people who abuse opioids is not alarming to some experts, it is concerning to many. Perhaps because the lethal drug is gaining such popularity, many experts have begun to push for more funding to provide medication to those suffering from opioid addiction.
“The good news is that among all drugs of abuse, heroin and opioids have by far the best treatment medications available. Methadone and buprenorphine have proven effectiveness data, they not only reduce the chances of dying from an opioid overdose by 50%, they support people being in recovery from their addiction and reduce health care costs and improve a wide array of other outcomes,” explained Caleb Banta-Green, associate professor of health services at the University of Washington.
But, despite the effective drugs on the market for opioid abuse, it is still very important to focus on prevention and education. After all, according to the statistics, many people never reap the rewards of the medication.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on February 7, 2017 under Addiction Trends, Opiate Abuse |
Despite being one of the most abused drugs in the United States, there is very little doctors can do when it comes to a heroin addiction. The most common methods of helping an addict is by prescribing them methadone or suboxone and encouraging them to enroll in a treatment program. And while these options are oftentimes beneficial and have helped many addicts overcome their addiction, many in the medical community wonder if more can be done to help these addicts. Recently, researchers have made progress examining and locating different parts of the brain that are responsible for encouraging addiction and making it more difficult for the addict to stop once they have become addicted. In order to capitalize on these new developments, one research group decided to investigate how this could help heroin addicts.
Focusing on the subthalamic nucleus, a part of the brain that is little is known about, researchers at The Scripps Research Institute treated heroin addicted rats with deep brain stimulation. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is the method of using small electrodes implanted on the brain to electrically stimulate certain areas of the brain. Researchers decided to use DBS and find out if they could help reduce the amount of heroin the rats self-administered. And, in fact they did find that DBS was helpful in reducing heroin intake and cravings among the rats. The research was actually so compelling that many believe that they are now able to transition into studying how DBS effects humans that are addicted to heroin.
“It has been very difficult to reduce heroin-seeking and taking in an animal model because heroin is such an addictive drug, but the results here are very impressive. This is the type of preclinical evidence that one needs, in order to start testing this strategy in humans,” explained Olivier George, associate professor at The Scripps Research Institute.
The more that is discovered about the brain and how different parts of it respond to drugs like heroin, the more the medical community can help come up with tailored treatment programs that help addicts. More research in the area of addiction is what will help reduce the heroin epidemic.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on October 22, 2016 under Addiction Trends, Opiate Abuse, Prescription Drugs |
In one of the first studies of its kind, researchers in the Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases at the University of Minnesota have found that patients with lower back pain are more likely to have a prescription for painkillers as well as use drugs like marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. While additional studies have to be conducted to find out more about the connection, this information may be a first step in developing more effective prevention tools for future prescription painkiller abuse.
The researchers compared questionnaires filled out by patients with chronic lower back pain and people without back problems. Volunteers were asked to answer questions regarding the frequency in which they used marijuana, heroin, prescription painkillers, cocaine and methamphetamine. It was found that 22.5% of adults with chronic lower back pain used prescription painkiller regularly compared to 15% of adults without the pain. This in itself isn’t that surprising, though there may be other forms of treatment that would be much better suited, depending on the severity of the pain.
“Americans with chronic low back pain are more likely to use illicit drugs than the general population, particularly the ‘hard’ drugs like cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. There are several ways to interpret this relationship. It is possible that illicit drug use makes chronic pain more likely or leads individuals to seek a chronic pain diagnosis to obtain prescription narcotics,” explained Anna Shmagel, MD, MS, and lead author of the study. Shmagel also cautions that there could be a common underlying reason for prescription painkiller addicts and patients with lower back pain, like depression.
Opening up the research to include a more in depth look at if depression plays a role in prescription painkiller addiction is a relatively new avenue for researchers. In the past, the focus has mainly been on patients who have accidentally become addicted to painkillers. However, chronic pain has been shown to cause depression and illicit drugs have long been sought out by people looking to escape or fix their emotional problems.
As more and more research is conducted regarding prescription painkiller use and misuse it is becoming clear that preventing the reasons for taking the drugs in the first place is vital. This means that the medical profession is likely to come up with ways to improve chronic lower back pain treatment in addition to finding new methods to intervene before the back pain requires narcotic painkillers.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on September 21, 2016 under Addiction Trends, Opiate Abuse |
A picture of a man and a woman passed out from heroin with a 4-year-old boy in the back seat has gone viral. The picture was released after police pulled over a car that was driving erratically. Officers were able to observe that the driver had slurred speech and pin point pupils. They then noticed the child in the back seat, behind the woman who was passed out. One of the officers snapped the picture, and the police chief made the decision to release it on the city’s Facebook page.
“We are well aware that some may be offended by these images and for that we are truly sorry, but it is time that the non drug using public sees what we are now dealing with on a daily basis,” the city said in their Facebook post.
“The poison known as heroin has taken a strong grip on many communities not just ours. The difference is we are willing to fight this problem until it’s gone and if that means we offend a few people along the way we are prepared to deal with that.”
East Liverpool, Ohio is just one town in the state that is struggling with a massive opioid epidemic. Tens of thousands of people have died in the past year from drug overdoses. Had the police and emergency responders not been able to administer naloxone in time, this couple would likely have died as well.
As for the 4 yr-old boy in the back seat, he has been transported safely to another state to be in the care of other family members. And while some critics of the decision to release the picture of the addicts out of their concern, the image of the young child having to witness the whole scene is a stark reminder that addiction affects everyone involved, not just the addicts themselves.
If you or a loved one is in need of help for a substance abuse problem, contact us today.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on August 18, 2016 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News, Opiate Abuse, Prescription Drugs |
A recent Gallup Poll shows that more Americans are concerned with prescription painkiller abuse than heroin abuse. However, heroin abuse is still also a major concern. In fact, prescription drug abuse only narrowly beat out heroin abuse, in the eyes of most Americans. These types of polls are important for law makers because it shows that American residents are feeling the effects of prescription painkiller and heroin abuse at home and want something to be done about it.
The survey also showed that more women than men thought the prescription drug abuse was a problem. It also seems that people who make more money are more likely to view prescription drug abuse as a problem. 30% of those making $36,00 or less agreed that prescription drug abuse was a problem, compared to 47% of people who make between $36,000 and $90,000.
The information gathered from the Gallup poll can be used in a variety of ways. Lawmakers who are advocating for more federal funding that can be used for treatment centers or prevention programs can focus their efforts toward those that agree that prescription drug use is a real issue. As more and more people are affected by the opioid drug problem in the United States, it has become increasingly imperative to create more treatment programs with more beds available to those in need. Often times policy makers and treatment providers have a difficult time obtaining funding for these treatment centers without the help from the Federal government.
Because America is in the middle of a presidential election, some wonder if the information from this Gallup Poll will be used to help shape the platforms of the presidential nominees. While there are many issues to discuss, the opioid epidemic is certainly one of them.
Now that American citizens seem to understand the seriousness of the prescription painkiller and heroin problem in this country, there is a better chance that more effective change is near. And the opioid problem is not the only issue that Americans worry about. The poll also showed that 44% of Americans consider drugs in general as a major problem facing the country, this is up from 2014 when 34% of Americans felt this was an issue.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on July 30, 2016 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News, Opiate Abuse, Prescription Drugs |
Drug or alcohol addiction does not discriminate. White, Black, Muslim, Christian, Asian or any other race or religion can fall victim to substance abuse. Immigrants can be particularly susceptible to opiate abuse because of the culture shock and overwhelming feelings of living in a new country. Heroin and painkillers can be a way to escape these overwhelming feelings. While there are apparently no current studies that effectively break down drug use by ethnicity, there is evidence that minority groups all over the country are suffering from increased use of heroin and prescription drug use.
In order to include immigrants and minorities in substance abuse prevention and education, it is important for the public to understand why these groups can turn to drugs in the first place. Unlike white suburban teenagers, immigrant teenagers are likely to turn to heroin or other illicit drugs because their new lives in America can be very overwhelming. Many other countries do not create public service announcements or programs to educate children on the dangers of certain drugs, so when people immigrate to the United States they are often unprepared to deal with the temptations of drugs.
One woman explained just how different it is to raise children in America. “It’s the transformation of how you raise your kids back home and the whole village is taking care of your kids to here. You’re in America; the only village taking care of your kids is the street,” explained Kathy Khatari, a Muslim immigrant.
Some experts have also pointed out that families of immigrant drug users are also not likely to come forward and discuss a drug addiction. The threat of shame and embarrassment that falls onto the family is often too much to allow parents and family members to speak out and educate other immigrants. Treatment and prevention efforts should be much more all-inclusive to be able to catch all of the people that are affected by addiction.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on July 15, 2016 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News, Opiate Abuse, Prescription Drugs |
The opiate addiction problem is a national crisis that includes rising overdose deaths from heroin and prescription painkillers. As more and more people become addicted to the deadly drug, citizens and public officials are scrambling to find effective solutions for saving more lives. In an effort to combat the growing heroin problem, the President is expected to sign a bill that would allocate more money and services to addicts, their family members and the treatment community.
The bill, which has had a tough road so far, was voted through the Senate on Wednesday. After President Obama makes it official, many people stand to benefit. Lawmakers have included measures to help communities develop treatment and prevention facilities. While the White House has criticized the bill in the past, saying that the funding problems are not solved within the bill, they do agree that it is a good start and doing something is better than making no progress at all.
And the White House is not alone when it comes to the criticisms. “This bill is like a Hollywood movie set – something that appears real on the surface but has no substance and no life behind its façade,” commented Senator Charles Schumer (D) of New York, referring to the lack of substantial financial support.
But, despite some of the negative feelings towards the legislation, the passing of the bill is important because it helps to distinguish addiction as a medical issue. Allocating funds to treatment centers and prevention programs is the first step in treating addiction as a medical problem, rather than a law enforcement issue. In a time of widening gaps between political parties, thankfully this is an issue that legislators can agree needs attention.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on July 6, 2016 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News, Opiate Abuse, Prescription Drugs |
Naloxone is a life-saving drug that has been getting more attention lately due to the number of deaths involving heroin and other opiates. The medication, which is delivered via nasal spray or injection, can reverse an overdose situation on the spot. It has been getting more use lately by first responders, but a group of researchers finds that there is even a greater need to make it more widely available.
A common misconception among most people is that only those who abuse heroin or prescription painkillers will ever be in a situation where they need the life-saving drug to prevent an overdose. However, patients who are prescribed narcotics like OxyContin and Percocet are not immune to accidental overdose. This is especially true for people who take the drug for extended periods of time due to some sort of chronic pain condition.
Experts explain that those who take prescription painkillers may not be aware that having a glass of wine after their dose greatly increases the risk of overdose. Additionally, combining other medications to handle other ailments may also make it more likely to suffer from an overdose.
The research that appears in the Annals of Internal Medicine found a 47% decrease in ER visits among opioid users after six months, and a 63% reduction over one year when patients were also given a prescription for naloxone.
“This study really does show that naloxone has a substantial role to play in managing the opioid epidemic. It’s not the answer to all our problems, but it’s an important tool to prevent mortality,” explained Dr. Phillip Coffin, director of substance use research at the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
In addition to educating patients of the risks to life associated with prescription painkillers, it is becoming more necessary to educate family members as well. Oftentimes if someone suffers from an overdose, family members or close friends are the first to find them. Understanding the signs of an overdose can sometimes determine whether the overdose is fatal or not, and having a dose of naloxone available can help save even more lives.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on May 21, 2016 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News, Opiate Abuse, Prescription Drugs |
A new study conducted by researchers at Harvard University shows that there is has been a substantial increase in the number of people being hospitalized due to opioid use. These hospitalizations can include overdoses, accidents induced by painkiller use and infections.
After data was compiled using information from hospitals throughout the country, it was determined that hospitalizations related to opioid abuse and dependence have increased by 67% in ten years. In 2002, hospitals reported 302,000 admittances for opiate-related issues. In 2012, this number rose to 520,000 admittances. While data from 2013 to the present has not been available, researchers caution that these numbers have likely increased to reflect the continued worsening of the opiate problem in the United States.
“Our results characterize the financial burden on the healthcare system related to opioid abuse/dependence and one of the more serious downstream complications of this epidemic: serious infections,” explained Mathew V. Ronan and Shoshana J. Herzig, the co-authors of the study.
Increased hospitalizations not only cost the insurance companies and hospitals money, but the public is helping foot the bill as well. Many of these cases relied on Medicare or Medicaid funds to pay for the bills associated with treating these opiate addicts. Oftentimes the public does not realize how drug abuse negatively impacts the rest of society, but this is a great example of how even those that are not directly affected by the opiate crisis suffer.
Studies like this one are important because it keeps opiate abuse in the news. Some people may feel that these sorts of studies are redundant because it has already been established that prescription painkiller and heroin abuse is an epidemic in this country. However, keeping this sort of information in the news and educating the public, forces law makers and public officials to take notice and enact better policies and programs to combat this serious problem.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on April 13, 2016 under Addiction Trends, Opiate Abuse |
Cocaine addiction is very common among heroin users in the United States. Often times the same people who sell heroin also sell powdered and crack cocaine. The euphoric low of heroin and the euphoric high of cocaine are sometimes mixed and used alternately with addicts. Both addictions are common problems that rehabilitation facilities treat, however, sometimes there is difficulty in the treatment.
Currently there are medications on the market that are designed to block heroin cravings and help the addict get through the painful withdrawal symptoms, but there isn’t anything specifically designed like that for treating cocaine addiction. Scientists in the Europe recently tested the use of another stimulant to treat people dealing with addictions to both drugs. The study, which appears in the Lancet medical journal, included trials with sustained-release dexamfetamine (dextroamphetamine).
The idea is that the drug, which is otherwise commonly used as a treatment for ADHD, works in the brain to help with cocaine cravings. A trial was recently conducted with 111 heroin and cocaine addicted patients in the Netherlands. Some patients received the dexamfetamine while undergoing talk therapy and other patients were administered a placebo while they were taking their prescribed doses of methadone. Those that received the dexamfetamine were able to abstain from cocaine for longer than those that only received the placebo. On average, addicts who received the trial drug were able to stay clean from cocaine for 60 days, while those that did not receive the medication stayed clean from cocaine for 45 days.
“We found SR dexamfetamine to be superior to placebo on all cocaine use – related outcomes, with effect sizes that were at least comparable to those found in studies on other chronic disorders, including alcohol dependence and many other psychiatric and general medical conditions,” explained Mascha Nuijten, a doctoral candidate at the Parnassia Addiction Research Center.
Understanding that addicts who are reliant on both heroin and cocaine need specialized help is vital in improving treatment. Because cocaine and heroin use often go hand in hand, these types of trials are extremely important. The major difficulty with these forms of treatment, however, is that they are still leaving the addicts dependent on drugs that are similar to the ones they were already taking, such as a stimulant for a stimulant or an opiate for an opiate. Although any form of improvement is welcomed in most treatment arenas, caution should be applied to see if there are other non-drug methods that can work first.
