Addiction

Sedatives have been widely prescribed to treat conditions such as anxiety, pain, insomnia, and panic attacks. They are central nervous system depressants, meaning they slow normal brain function by affecting the neurotransmitter GABA – responsible for reducing neuronal excitability. Sedatives such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates have become more controlled due to their potential for abuse or misuse, but even those with prescriptions are at risk. Those who use sedatives recreationally often do so alongside mixtures of other substances, increasing their chances for dangerous side effects. Prescription medications can easily become abused if a patient is not closely monitoring how often, how much, or how long they are supposed to be taking the drug. A 2015 study conducted by researchers from Texas and published in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine noted self-medication as a major cause of sedative abuse; for those with anxiety, increases in emotional stress can lead to increased vulnerability towards anxiety, causing a person to attempt to self-medicate. Examples of emotional stress include:

The opioid epidemic has led to opioid drug overdose as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Opioids are chemically related and interact with opioid receptors in the brain, sending signals to block pain, slow breathing, and provide a calming effect. For those in opiate addiction recovery, withdrawal symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, depression, drug cravings, and more. Many people who become dependent on these drugs do so in an attempt to further medicate themselves of chronic pain they are experiencing; unfortunately, as their body becomes used to the dosage, it begins to require more and more in order for the individual to achieve the desired effect. As a person recovers from opiate addiction, that pain may become more pronounced as their body begins to feel again. A 2015 study published in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork sought to find out if Swedish massage could assist in reducing the pain experienced by opioid-dependent patients. Massage therapy has been shown in previous research studies to not only significantly reduce pain levels, but to also enhance relaxation, sleep, emotions, recovery, and the overall healing process. Eighty participants were chosen for a randomized treatment program, to receive either treatment as usual or to engage in Swedish massage therapy for 12 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 50 minutes. Participants from the study reported their chronic pain as an outcome of a car/motorcycle accident, a sports injury, a work-related injury, a fall/accident, partner abuse, a medical condition, pregnancy, or an unknown cause. All participants had tried various remedies for treating their chronic pain. Overall, the researchers found that those in the massage group reported significant improvements regarding their pain. If you’ve been struggling with opiate addiction, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center today to learn of how massage therapy can be incorporated into your treatment.

In 2015, poet Sue Wallingford wrote a poem titled, “Life Goes On”. She wrote it as a form of art therapy, in remembrance of her addiction, as she was in recovery. Here is a small excerpt from her poem: “Your power to make me feel stronger slipped away gradually, almost Without notice. But in your wake you left your mark of betrayal and heartache. You tried to take everything away. But life goes on you see, New generations are on the horizon, And we’ll be ok.” Recovery means leaving behind destructive patterns of the past. It means growing, changing, and transforming into a better version of yourself; a version that places health, self-care, vitality and life fulfillment at the top of the priority list. Of course, necessary changes take lots of time and dedication. As humans, we’re not always excited about these steps because, well, it’s change – and change can be quite devastating. If you’re at a moment in your journey to recovery where you’re really missing aspects of your addiction, it’s okay to mourn this loss. Doing so can help you move on and embrace this journey that’s for the better. A 2017 study published by The American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry emphasized that addiction has many overlapping qualities to falling in love; both entail arousal, euphoria, and increasing preoccupation with the person or drug. When these have progressed into more serious stages, “leaving” the person or drug can lead to a sense of loss, dysphoria, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and more. Additionally, as with falling in love, addiction can involve social attachment, as many people who abuse substances due so around others. Recovery essentially involves not only quitting the object of your addiction but cutting out those in your life whom you have used with as well. Allow yourself to genuinely feel the pain of letting your past go. Utilize your tools from therapy and acknowledge the pain it’s caused you in life. Once you’ve allowed yourself to grieve you can begin focusing on building a social support network in your treatment program; over time, you will develop a new social circle, new ways of living – and you will be much happier and healthier.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has identified drug overdose as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, with 20,101 overdose deaths related to prescription pain relievers and 12,990 overdose deaths related to heroin use in 2015. People all over the United States have been attempting to find an alternative, holistic solutions to chronic pain due to the epidemic. Acupuncture is considered a form of complementary medicine used to alleviate pain and to treat various mental, physical, and emotional conditions – as such, it is becoming a more popular tool for both those who want to avoid taking opioids and for those detoxing from them. Many people detoxing from opioids are turning to holistic treatment methods such as acupuncture to assist them in their recovery. A 2016 study published in the Eastern Asian Archives of Psychiatry found that acupuncture accelerates a person’s endorphins and encephalin productions in addition to up-regulating the dynorphin level, suppressing withdrawal at the spinal level. Overall, it was found that acupuncture could assist in depressive and anxiety-related withdrawal symptoms. In general, acupuncture has been known to treat musculoskeletal problems such as back and neck pain, as well as issues such as nausea, migraines, insomnia, and more. For those seeking a route other than opioid medication for their pain, acupuncture shows promising results; this treatment method has been shown to increase the levels of various chemicals in the body, such as epinephrine, endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine. An increase in these levels is what contributes to the pain and stress relief that many people report. Although many people are advocating for these benefits, research is still being conducted on the efficacy of this method for the prevention and treatment of opioid addiction. If you are in a reputable treatment program for addiction, however, acupuncture could be an excellent therapy method to complement your treatment regime. If you’re currently struggling with opioid addiction, make the decision to seek help today. By participating in a treatment program, you can develop tools towards living a happier, healthier life.

As stated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), marijuana use can lead to the development of marijuana use disorder; research estimates that 30% of people who use marijuana have some degree of this disorder. Furthermore, individuals who use marijuana before the age of 18 are four to seven times more likely to develop marijuana use disorder when they get older. As such, marijuana use disorder is classified as a dependency to marijuana; although many people believe a person cannot become dependent or addicted to the drug, it is possible. A 2014 study conducted by researchers from Harvard University Medical School found that marijuana abusers show lower positive and higher negative emotionality scores along with greater stress and irritability, which is related to the fact that more marijuana use can lower a person’s sensitivity to rewards that would typically cause pleasure. When marijuana is consumed, an influx of “feel good” chemicals in the brain, otherwise known as dopamine, are released. The brain becomes used to this influx so when it is taken away because the person is no longer using the drug, the brain experiences less pleasure – giving an individual more negative emotion reactivity. These physiological reactions are like other addictions, as the brain becomes used to an increase in dopamine production from the drug itself.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the United States spends a total of $740 billion annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity, and healthcare for all kinds of substance abuse. The opioid epidemic has sparked a national debate on prescription abuse; the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have outlined the dangers of prescription medication overdose and how the U.S has seen a major increase of morbidity rates related to prescription abuse. If you’ve been prescribed medication, it’s important to follow the directions exactly as they say; taking more than or for longer than recommended by your doctor could yield dangerous health consequences. The National Safety Council reports 60 people as dying from opioid prescriptions each day, equating to approximately 22,000 people each year. Furthermore, 70% of people who abuse prescriptions have reported obtaining them from friends or relatives – making you a key source for those close to you to abuse medication. Prescription drugs are becoming abused more than any other drug – what is fueling this epidemic? A variety of misconceptions have led more and more people to abuse prescription drugs, including beliefs that:

As one of the most popular psychiatric, sedative-hypnotic prescription drugs in the United States, Valium, also generically known as diazepam, has been used for the treatment of anxiety, seizures, muscle spasms, symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, and more. A member of the drug classified benzodiazepine family, Valium works to “numb” the central nervous system. It has become used recreationally to give users a euphoric, calm “high” feeling. However, the drug itself can be very addictive and has been known to produce very painful withdrawal effects. The following are some of the most common side effects associated with this drug for short-term use:

Sedatives have been widely prescribed to treat conditions such as anxiety, pain, insomnia, and panic attacks. They are central nervous system depressants, meaning they slow normal brain function by affecting the neurotransmitter GABA – responsible for reducing neuronal excitability. Sedatives such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates have become more controlled due to their potential for abuse or misuse, but even those with prescriptions are at risk. Those who use sedatives recreationally often do so alongside mixtures of other substances, increasing their chances for dangerous side effects. Prescription medications can easily become abused if a patient is not closely monitoring how often, how much, or how long they are supposed to be taking the drug. A 2015 study conducted by researchers from Texas and published in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine noted self-medication as a major cause of sedative abuse; for those with anxiety, increases in emotional stress can lead to increased vulnerability towards anxiety, causing a person to attempt to self-medicate. Examples of emotional stress include:

In 2015, poet Sue Wallingford wrote a poem titled, “Life Goes On”. She wrote it as a form of art therapy, in remembrance of her addiction, as she was in recovery. Here is a small excerpt from her poem: “Your power to make me feel stronger slipped away gradually, almost Without notice. But in your wake you left your mark of betrayal and heartache. You tried to take everything away. But life goes on you see, New generations are on the horizon, And we’ll be ok.” Recovery means leaving behind destructive patterns of the past. It means growing, changing, and transforming into a better version of yourself; a version that places health, self-care, vitality and life fulfillment at the top of the priority list. Of course, necessary changes take lots of time and dedication. As humans, we’re not always excited about these steps because, well, it’s change – and change can be quite devastating. If you’re at a moment in your journey to recovery where you’re really missing aspects of your addiction, it’s okay to mourn this loss. Doing so can help you move on and embrace this journey that’s for the better. A 2017 study published by The American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry emphasized that addiction has many overlapping qualities to falling in love; both entail arousal, euphoria, and increasing preoccupation with the person or drug. When these have progressed into more serious stages, “leaving” the person or drug can lead to a sense of loss, dysphoria, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and more. Additionally, as with falling in love, addiction can involve social attachment, as many people who abuse substances due so around others. Recovery essentially involves not only quitting the object of your addiction but cutting out those in your life whom you have used with as well. Allow yourself to genuinely feel the pain of letting your past go. Utilize your tools from therapy and acknowledge the pain it’s caused you in life. Once you’ve allowed yourself to grieve you can begin focusing on building a social support network in your treatment program; over time, you will develop a new social circle, new ways of living – and you will be much happier and healthier.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the United States spends a total of $740 billion annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity, and healthcare for all kinds of substance abuse. The opioid epidemic has sparked a national debate on prescription abuse; the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have outlined the dangers of prescription medication overdose and how the U.S has seen a major increase of morbidity rates related to prescription abuse. If you’ve been prescribed medication, it’s important to follow the directions exactly as they say; taking more than or for longer than recommended by your doctor could yield dangerous health consequences. The National Safety Council reports 60 people as dying from opioid prescriptions each day, equating to approximately 22,000 people each year. Furthermore, 70% of people who abuse prescriptions have reported obtaining them from friends or relatives – making you a key source for those close to you to abuse medication. Prescription drugs are becoming abused more than any other drug – what is fueling this epidemic? A variety of misconceptions have led more and more people to abuse prescription drugs, including beliefs that:

If you’ve recently started a residential treatment program for an addiction and/or mental illness, you may have learned of the importance of social support to your success in recovery. Oftentimes this form of support comes from family and friends, while other times it comes from team leaders and peers within your program. Making friends in any place can be challenging at times, but connecting with others who are working to overcome their addiction or better manage the symptoms of mental illness can add another level of challenge to the mix. A 2017 study published in Health and Social Care in the Community noted several factors that impeded progress of residential treatment clients’ success in building social support with one another. We will review the reported challenges and provide you with ways to overcome them:

Fox News covered the story of a 45-year-old mother with 3 children who is married to a college sweetheart now running an investment firm. This woman has a master’s degree in education, has traveled around the world with her family, and volunteers often at her local church. The feature then discussed that this mother had a drug addiction due to “accidental addiction”; this term was defined as when a person “trips down the rabbit-hole of addiction after being prescribed pain or anxiety medications by a well-intentioned doctor.” There are many factors that have placed a person at high-risk for accidental addiction, such as underlying mental health issues, childhood issues, trauma, or certain temperaments. Whether your story relates to the one mentioned above or not, you may be wondering, “Is accidental addiction real?” This question is a bit more complex than what it seems on the surface. Contrary to the widespread belief that most individuals with opioid addiction fall into it accidentally, many people who abuse opioids or have become addicted to them also have a substance use history with other drugs, as well as psychological problems poly-drug use. In fact, it seems that many people who become addicted to opioids aren’t even the ones prescribed them – a 2018 study published in BMJ, a peer-reviewed medical journal, found that only 1% of people who took prescription pain medication following surgery showed signs of opioid misuse. Furthermore, a 2014 analysis conducted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 54% of non-medical users got their prescription opioids for free from friends and family. It seems that opioid addiction isn’t as much of an accident, after all. Does this mean that accidents don’t occur? Accidents can certainly occur, they are just less likely to occur than people tend to believe. Women are more susceptible for “accidental addiction” due to their hormones – higher levels of estrogen make women more likely to experience a “high” from opioids, and women are more likely to seek help from a doctor than men anyways, making them more likely to obtain a prescription in the first place. If you have been prescribed painkillers, remember to follow the directions exactly as prescribed. Maintain regular check-ups with your doctor to ensure you aren’t becoming dependent on them, and properly wean yourself off the medication with your doctor’s help when the time is right. If you feel you are becoming addicted to them, seek treatment right away. The sooner you seek help, the better.