The problem of prescription drug addiction is one that affects every class and group of people across the country. Diversion of drugs for illegal uses, fraudulent prescriptions and doctor shopping are a big part of the reason why there are strict regulations in place, the high cost of prescription medications and the difficulty with which some patients who genuinely need pain medication have such a difficulty getting what they need.

The question is: who’s responsible? Is it solely the responsibility of the person addicted to prescription painkillers? Or is it also the responsibility of the prescribing doctor? What about the manufacturer? The distributer? When there’s a tragedy associated with prescription drug addiction like a painkiller overdose, people are looking for someone to blame.

The Tide is Turning for Prescribing Doctors

It used to be that if you were caught fraudulently procuring prescriptions for OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet or another opiate painkiller, you were the one who would face charges. If you managed to get multiple doctors to prescribe you your drug of choice and, of course, if you were caught buying pills illegally, again, you would be the one paying fines and going to jail. But if you should overdose and die on your prescription medication, for some reason, authorities are deciding that someone needs to pay—that is, more than you already have.

The consequence of this blaming trend is that fewer and fewer doctors are willing to risk it and are not always prescribing pain medication when it is needed for fear of the repercussions. Now, of course, some doctors do take advantage of their authority and, for financial gain or some other purpose, take little to no issue with freely prescribing opiate medications. The difficulty for law enforcement is to determine the difference between the doctor who is knowingly or uncaringly prescribing painkillers to addicts and the doctor who is simply providing a legal service that he or she is trained to offer to a patient who, inadvertently or not, abuses that service.

A Recent Case of Prescription Painkiller Fraud

Recently in Florida, Dr. Barnie Vanzant was restricted from prescribing controlled substances for “allegedly over-prescribing pain killers to two patients who later died,” according to Tony Britt at The Lake City Reporter.

So how do you determine how much is too much? Well, in Vanzant’s case, it was his failure to physically examine or assess the medical histories of the patients who ultimately overdosed on the drugs he prescribed. By not properly assessing and examining his patients, Vanzant did not put in the due diligence necessary to make sure that the prescriptions were correct and needed.

What Do You Think About Prescription Painkiller Overdose and Who’s To Blame?

Is it the prescribing doctor? Is it the patient who is drug seeking? And how can you tell whether the doctor is prescribing what he or she honestly believes to be the best medication at the lowest possible effective dose or if the patient is drug seeking rather than honestly in pain?

A fictitious diary entry for Mike, someone who’s life has been made better by drug rehab and second chances.

Family Problems and Drug Addiction

I’m thankful for drug rehab, I mean what can I say? I was goin’ nowhere, doin’ nothing good, wasting my life. I couldn’t even spend more than five minutes with my family without jumping all over them – like they were attacking me about the drugs. I was doing my thing, and they were coming all over me.

I couldn’t do anything for my dad – no matter what. Even when I was a kid. Never felt good enough for him, like maybe he thought he wished I wasn’t ever born or something. He never really said that, but you know, I always felt like I was a disappointment. One time, even when I did go to drug rehab, I came back and he said I’d probably never make it last. Like I’d just go back to my old ways and get messed up again.

Sticking By Someone Through Drug Addiction Ups and Downs

My mom is better about that – she tells me she thinks I can get better. I need that, you know. I can’t even come to my family, most of them, but if I can just come to my mom I guess that’s enough for now. She’s the one who told me the last time after drug rehab that I would do OK, and she’d try to help me. I didn’t keep it, though, my promise to her about staying away from drugs. I just messed up, you know, got back in with the crowd and did that scene all over again.

But this time when I was having trouble, my mom, she stuck with me again. She told me she knew what I needed to do. Even though I messed up after drug rehab, she said I was really better after it. She saw that I was making some change, I wasn’t so mad, I was feeling better and looking at a different life.

I remember people at drug rehab talked about staying away from old friends who don’t really care about you staying sober, but I kind of still thought I could do better, you know? Have my friends and still stay clean? Yeah, right. That was my big mess up right there. My mom’s saying I should go back to drug rehab because it was the best thing for me, and if I could stay away from those old friends doin’ nothin’ good, I might make a big change, and keep it this time.

Mom Is Right About Drug Rehab

I know some things better this time, and I know she’s right – my mom. She just wants me better, and I know she’s right. I’m not mad at her. I’m scared, that’s for sure, but I’m not mad at her wanting me to go. I know she’ll be there for me when I’m done. I’m really just glad those drug rehab places are out there, you know. It seems like it would be too hard to do, but I went and I know it’s a good thing for me.

I’m thankful for what I did in drug rehab because even though it hasn’t helped me and my dad, it’s really been good for me and my mom. I know she’s not getting all over me because she thinks I’m a screw up – it’s tough love. She loves me and just wants to get it through my thick head, you know? Drug rehab is what I need. I know it – and I’m thankful I can go there again and maybe get it right this time.

Researchers, thankfully, are paying more and more attention to dual diagnosis, or those who suffer from co-occurring disorders like drug addiction and PTSD. Often, one issue influences and worsens the other in a vicious cycle, and it’s a huge step in the development of treatment that medical facilities like The Canyon are learning the links between psychological disorders and addiction and treating them simultaneously.

PTSD and Drug Addiction

It is estimated that about 33 percent to 50 percent of those who seek treatment for drug addiction and abuse are also suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. In fact, more often than not, those who suffer from both PTSD and addiction are addicted to an illegal substance as opposed to alcohol. Additionally, those who suffer from both were more likely to have a higher level of addiction and a more serious physical issue with the disease than those who suffered from addiction but not PTSD.

What the Experts Say About PTSD and Drug Addiction

Martin Driessen is a professor of psychiatry at Ev. Hospital Bielefeld in Germany, and a corresponding author for a recent study on the subject of PTSD and drug addiction. He says:

“We already knew that there is a quite relevant association between PTSD and SUDs. More specifically, PTSD is a risk factor for the development of an SUD, particularly a drug dependence. However, it was unclear whether this is true for both abusers and dependent subjects, or only one of these groups, which is why we studied clearly dependent subjects.”

Andreas Heinz, the director and chair of the department of psychiatry at Charité — University Medical Center Berlin added:

“Drug dependence has frequently been observed in war veterans who also suffer from PTSD. Both men and women often increase drug abuse and develop dependence following war and other trauma.”

What It Means for Those Who Suffer From PTSD and Drug Addiction

Unfortunately, because drug addiction issues are usually far worse for those who suffer from PTSD than those who do not, the dual issues generally manifest in even more problems with family and friends, lost careers and more severe psychological issues exacerbated by drug use. Heinz says:

“The subjects suffering from PTSD had higher hospitalization rates, shorter periods of abstinence, and higher drug craving. However, the study did not show whether PTSD was a cause or consequence of drug dependence in individual subjects.”

An interesting question that is always at play when you suffer from two co-occurring disorders: did the PTSD instigate drug addiction or did drug addiction inflame the PTSD? What we do know for sure is that one always makes the other worse and that to effectively treat either disorder, you must treat both simultaneously.

Women, PTSD and Drug Addiction

The issues for women in this area of dual diagnosis is significant, according to Heinz. She says:

“Women in this study showed higher PTSD rates, which is in accordance with the literature. Women also more often show clinical depression, which often precedes alcohol dependence, while in men, depression seems to follow alcohol dependence in most cases. Further research on psychotrauma and its sequelae such as PTSD, anxiety and depression may point to gender differences in the course and consequences of drug and alcohol addiction.”

If you or someone you love is suffering from PTSD and drug addiction, finding help sooner rather than later can help mitigate the effects of the disorders. If you would like more information about our dual diagnosis program, contact us at The Canyon.

“I don’t know if there’ll be snow, but have a cup of cheer” – and so goes a popular holiday song. Drinking and holidays are pretty common partners around the world. It sure makes it easy to blend in your out-of-control drinking when everyone else is doing it too. This holiday season could be your wake-up call to go to alcohol rehab.

photo credit: Steve & Jemma CopleyHave

Family Conflict Made Worse By Heavy Drinking

Nearly everyone has one obnoxious relative, someone who speaks their opinion loudly and doesn’t care what others think. Well, are you that relative in your family? Drinking even small amounts of alcohol can lower a person’s inhibitions. Ordinarily, they might keep their opinions more closely guarded. Have a few drinks and a family feud might be rekindled.

Do you find family gatherings to be stressful? Do you feel like you often end your holiday time with someone complaining about you, fighting with you, trying to “get in your business”? Ask yourself how often you’ve been drunk when that’s happened. You might discover that your drinking gives you the fuel to provoke others and be overly sensitive to criticism. And if you’re not the only one getting drunk during the conflict, there’s no way a sensible calm discussion is going to suddenly break out.

Everyone Else Is Drinking So Who Cares

Your denial can run wild when other people are also drinking at holiday gatherings. It’s all just innocent normal party drinking like everyone else. You and your family might even have a “tradition” of getting pretty drunk watching football games, drinking after dinner, or even going out to the bars.

One thing to consider – your drinking may not seem abnormal because so many people around you also drink to excess. You may not even think twice about spending most of the holidays drunk. Perhaps you aren’t the only one in the group that has a problem. Has anyone in your family already spent time in an alcohol treatment center? Or should they? And just because lemmings follow each other off cliffs doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

Drinking and Driving

I’ll never forget last year when I heard about a family in Ohio coming back from the Christmas holiday in a mini-van. They were struck by a drunk driver (almost three times the legal BAC limit) in a head-on collision on the interstate. Half the family was killed instantly including one of the parents, a newborn baby, and three other young children. It’s an unbelievable tragedy that many people have kept in their hearts this past year. Even the most basic description of the accident stirs disturbing images in your mind.

Anyone who sees someone intoxicated at their family gatherings needs to be sure they don’t drive away in that condition. If you know your drinking gets out of control at the holidays, tell a family member you trust to keep you off the road at all costs. This man got sentenced to 43 years in prison and a lifetime burden. I sincerely hope that he also has some form of alcohol treatment while serving his time.

Consider Alcohol Rehab For Heavy Drinking Problems

The holidays are supposed to be a time of joyous reunion with loved ones. Unfortunately, these times often expose personal problems and family rifts. If you find that your holidays are affected by your heavy drinking, strongly consider giving the best gift possible to yourself and your family – time at an alcohol rehab center.

Medicine is something you take when you’re sick, right, and what is more innocuous than a little cough medicine to keep you from hacking up a lung during the night? Well, apparently, cough medicine is not as innocent as it first appears: it is now one of the drugs of choice of middle school kids and those in high school who don’t have easy access to other drugs or alcohol.

More specifically, the cough medications that contain dextromethorphan (DXM for short) are being abused. Called CCC, Triple C, Skittles, Robo, and Poor Man’s PCP, the drug is widely available in a number of medications that are easily found on the shelves of every grocery store and drug store in the country.

What is Dextromethorphan?

DXM is a cough suppressant that is most often found in cold medicines available over the counter. However, it is also available online and in powdered form, which is almost more of a concern than the stuff found on the shelves since content and dosage are questionable.

People of all ages have abused DXM, but it is more commonly found among teenagers due to the fact that the ease with which they can obtain other drugs is significantly lower because of their age. Because the most popular forms of DXM for this group is Robitussin or Coricidin, the verb used to describe chugging down an 8 ounce bottle or two of the stuff is generally referred to as “robo-ing,” “robo-tripping,” or “skittling.”

The Effects of DXM

It may not seem readily apparent, what exactly it is that attracts kids and others to abusing DXM. Simply put, a large amount of the drug can give you a high and altered perception of time, objects and sensation that has been equated to an acid trip or mushrooms. Visual hallucinations may even be a part of the experience, depending on the dose and whether or not it is mixed with other drugs like alcohol. And if you mix it with alcohol and an energy drink, not only the effects are heightened but the risks as well.

In general, if you are trying to determine whether or not a loved one is abusing DXM, you can look for symptoms of intoxication that include dilated pupils, lack of coordination and dizziness, confusion and slurred speech.

Risks of DXM Abuse

There are a number of risks associated with DXM abuse despite the fact that it is legally available over the counter; it can be just as dangerous as any other drug. The risk of overdose is perhaps the most immediate risk, since so many of the kids who take it don’t have any idea about dosage or tolerance and may take more than they are physically capable of handling without realizing it. Caucasians are at an increased risk of overdose as 5 percent to 10 percent do not metabolize DXM well, which means that they are more likely to overdose or die during experimentation. Those who take antidepressants are also at increased risk of death when abusing cough medicine.

DXM is not a controlled substance in the United States, and it is not regulated by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), either. So not only are the OTC liquid cough medications a danger but even more so the new forms of the drug—tablets, powder and capsules—that are available online. There is no telling what is in these pills sold as DXM nor how much of the substance it actually contains, which makes overdose an even higher risk.

Just when you think we know all there is to know about addiction, think again. Research goes on year round, continuing to crack genetic clues and find optimal ways to treat difficult drug addictions. Here’s a summary of some interesting and interconnected research done this past couple of years on heroin addiction. Anyone going to a drug rehab center in the future will be impacted by these findings.

Genetic Research On Heroin Addiction Reveals Options For Custom Detox Drug Treatment

Turns out that even some small genetic differences put some Caucasian people at a higher risk for heroin addiction. According to one of the authors, some of these few genetic changes can raise the risk for Caucasian people but possibly have no effect in different racial populations.

This poses an interesting but challenging opportunity for the medical field. It allows the chance to determine and develop individualized dosages of methadone and other opiate withdrawal medications. However, this also makes drug treatment that much more complex to determine and administer.

The drop-out rate for methadone programs is a high 62%. The dropout rate is attributed to addicts still having strong withdrawal symptoms despite the medication. Researchers seem to be taking this rate and the recent genetic studies as a clue about methadone “dropouts” genetics not being matched well with their medication dosage.

Heroin Addiction Uses Information Super Highways in Your Brain

Neural pathways are like highways in your brain for messages. They start out something new that you try, like a new exercise move or trying a different way to work. If this only gets used once or a few times, it may die out and not become an established path. The more it is used, the stronger the path becomes until it potentially becomes more like a solid highway.

Such pathways exist for all kinds of activities and patterns. One of these is called “reward pathways.” As the name suggests, this type of pathway involves certain brain chemicals and parts of the brain associated with anything you might see as rewarding. Reward paths make it more likely that you will do something again and again. This works the same way for things that are positive and healthy or for things that are risky and harmful.

You get excited when you go to your first football game, you are likely to do it again because you enjoyed the sensations. You like the feeling of independence and the physical mastery of driving as a teenager, so despite the risks you are likely to do it again. You try heroin and it lights up the pleasure centers of your brain, you are (unfortunately) likely to do it again.

Recent research on heroin suggests that a specific neurotransmitter (brain chemical) receptor in the brain is connected with reward pathways as described above. They apparently play a part in a person’s motivation to keep using heroin. The door is now open for developing medication to block this receptor and hopefully curb drug-seeking behaviors. This sheds a ray of hope for people leaving drug rehab and establishing their relapse prevention plan.

Drug Rehab Benefits From Continuous Addiction Research

Heroin is an amazingly powerful drug. Addicts leaving drug rehab centers need all the support and help they can get to manage their addiction. Thankfully, scientists around the world are discovering clues about the human body that may help the drug treatment process by improving relapse prevention. If you are addicted to heroin and need to start drug treatment, contact The Canyon for more information.

Since prescription drug addiction has become so prevalent among young adults and teenagers, it has become a much larger interest of social researchers to discover more about the whys and wherefores of teenage painkiller addiction. Where are they getting their prescription drugs? Which painkillers are they using? Where are they using them? Why? It turns out that they’re getting their prescription drugs from home, often taking them to ‘pharm parties’ where they trade and share their loot with other teens who also bring pills and the most popular among them, it seems, might just be Xanax.

What is Xanax?

Xanax is generally prescribed to treat anxiety, a benzodiazepine, it has tranquilizing effects. As a Schedule IV narcotic, it is easily abused and highly addictive.

How Can You Tell if Someone Is Abusing Xanax?

There are a number of effects that Xanax has on its users, whether it is taken according to prescription or not. Among these are memory loss and convulsions, blurred vision and confusion. You may even notice tremors or get headaches when you take it.

The Dangers of Xanax Use

If you survive taking the drug without experiencing an opiate overdose, then the next worry is that, with regular and consistent use, you will develop an addiction to the drug. Once your body becomes dependent upon a certain amount of Xanax each day, it comes to expect it. Should you suddenly take away or decrease the supply, your body will revolt in the form of detox complete with a slew of nasty withdrawal symptoms.

Xanax Withdrawal

These symptoms begin within a few hours of your missed dose and steadily increase in severity until they are practically overwhelming. This phenomena is one of the reasons why few who are addicted to the drug can quit on their own. It’s hard to suffer with symptoms like bone and muscle pain, severe agitation, insomnia and deep fatigue, explosive diarrhea and more when you know it can all go away by simply taking another Xanax.

Additionally, a Xanax withdrawal can be fatal if there are co-occurring physical problems or unexpected complications. It’s imperative that if you or a loved one are trying to break your addiction to Xanax with a Xanax detox that you undergo the process under the supervision of a medical professional or detox facility. You survived the addiction. Now you just have to survive the “kick” or treatment.

You’ve been clean and sober for a handful of years now, having some ups and downs but staying sober. Then boom – you ahve a death in the family, and you once again turn to alcohol to soothe your anxiety. This is why relapse is common. Even when you are doing well, something intense can shake you to the core. Take a look at what can happen when you think you’re immune to relapse.

Relapse Triggers Are All Around

Infectious germs loiter all around us every day. When our immune systems are strong and responsive, they fight off nearly every germ that tries to invade the body. Germs find ways inside, like through cuts, eyes, and mouths. Being overworked and stressed, not enough sleep, close contact with an infected person, all of these are opportunities for survival. Germs seize these opportunities and wreck havoc. That’s why we drink orange juice, exercise, and sleep soundly – to keep our immune system battle-ready at all times.

For a person in addiction recovery, relapse likes to sneak up and hide around the corner. Relapse triggers lie in wait every day until an opportunity presents itself. Many times, the person can fend them off with positive thinking, exercise, keeping emotional balance, talking to friends, and so on. But what happens when they don’t take care of the day-to-day healthy habits? What happens when the relapse prevention plan becomes erratic, ignored, or forgotten? Relapse, that’s what.

Relapse Starts With Innocent Sounding Lies

Your mind starts to open the door for relapse the minute it lies to you. “This drink is just to help me calm down.” “I’m not going back to the old days, just trying to get to sleep.” “Once I can relax, I’ll be fine. I can stop anytime anyway.” These seemingly innocent comments are really dangerous lures. They draw you into the trap of active addiction. You might even feel that you deserve to blow off some steam. You’ve been so stressed out by your anxiety, but it will just be this one time.

Some part of you might be saying, “Hey, what the heck am I doing here? I don’t have to get drunk to make things better.” You know the way you were when you were drinking all the time – the DUIs, the fist fights, the money problems, the legal issues, the messy relationships. Addiction is a dark place you don’t want to go, but you feel yourself sliding in that direction more and more.

Relapse Means You Need Alcohol Treatment

Relapse does not mean the end of the road, the end of your progress, or proof that you are some kind of failure. Relapse is a learning opportunity, so tell someone you need to stop drinking and that you need help. Yes, you may feel some shame in telling someone, but what about the shame that you are knowingly hurting yourself? The shame can get much better when you open up your dark little place and let the light of truth inside. If you keep it all to yourself, shame and relapse can get so scary and isolating. Tell someone you need help.

If you are not already in alcohol treatment, make a phone call and find an alcohol rehab center in your community. And yes, even if you have been to alcohol treatment before, you may need to swallow your pride and consider this the moment you need to go again. If you truly know yourself as an alcoholic, pretending your alcoholism is gone is just plain dangerous.

Alcoholism is a serious problem for anyone who succumbs to it. Many people understand the basics about how being drunk all the time would make life hard. But what about the body? How much of a hit does the human body take when it’s assaulted by massive amounts of toxin every day? If nothing else, this list hopefully makes anyone with alcoholism seriously consider alcohol treatment.

The Big List of Health Problems From Alcoholism

Liver cancer, hepatitis, and cirrhosis are all diseases that can come on as a direct result of heavy drinking. The liver is on the front line of absorbing toxins from the blood. It can become damaged almost beyond repair from working overtime all the time.

Common heart problems resulting from alcoholism can include cardiomyopathy (weakened heart muscles leading to heart failure), high blood pressure, increased risk of stroke, irregular heart rhythms called arythmias. Anemia and other blood disorders can also arise from lack of proper nutrient absorption. Blood vessels near the surface of the skin become constantly dialated, giving the chronic drinker the look of flush skin all the time.

Tissue inflammation of all sorts is a side effect of heavy drinking. This can lead to pancreatitis, usually seen in people who’ve been drinking heavily for at least 5-7 years. It’s usually chronic by the time they get medical attention. Other digestive problems include peptic ulcers from long-term irritation of the stomach lining.

Heavy drinkers are at risk for weight gain from excess calories in each drink. This puts them at a greater risk for all the health issues overweight people face including diabetes. On a related note, heavy drinking for several days without enough food can cause a person to become hypoglycemic, which means they are suddenly short of necessary sugars in the body. This can bring on strange behaviors, disorientation, and even convulsions or a coma (when severe). If the person is already diabetic, their risk of hypoglycemia is greater.

Heavy drinkers may begin losing feeling in their extremities from long-term neurological damage. Alcoholics can also have a lasting impact on the development and growth of connections throughout the brain and chemical balances.

It should be noted that women are at risk to develop these problems sooner than men. Women require less alcohol over a shorter period of time to develop alcoholism. Also, any woman who drinks while she is pregnant puts her unborn baby in a great amount of danger. Many thousands of babies are born each year with fetal alcohol effects. Also, heavy alcohol use while pregnant can increase the risk of a miscarriage.

The Final Word Alcoholism and Health

In short, heavy chronic drinking raises the risk for nearly every disease in the book. That’s the bottom line. As much as heavy drinking impairs a person in the moment, it also does a lifetime of damage along the way. Alcohol rehab can turn someone’s life around. If an alcoholic doesn’t get alcohol treatment in time, it could really be too late to save their body. For lasting good health, alcohol rehab is a smart choice.

There are a number of blogs written by addicts, both active and in recovery, as well as by family members who love their son, daughter, or partner who is an addict or alcoholic. New ones spring up every day and while many tend to fall off, often there are great little seeds of truth in just the few posts that make it online. I’ve chosen some to share with you.

OxyContin and Opiate Addiction: A Mother’s Story

A mother whose son is/was going through detox and recovery provides a different perspective on addiction. She says:

“My name is Debby, and my son is an addict. The purpose of this blog began as a way to keep my loved ones informed on how my son is doing with his detox/recovery. To date, this blog is evolving into what I hope will be a ministry and blessing to others who might be experiencing what I am. To respect my son, I will not use full names, in the theme of Nar-Anon.”

The Junky’s Wife

This blog is written, obviously, by the wife of a man addicted to heroin. Her honesty provides insight into just how heartbreaking it can be to be in love with someone who is strung out and struggling. She says:

“He’s been to three meetings in three days. It’s a big deal. He’s sometimes crazy, but when he says things that are hurtful or when he’s hyper-sensitive in that maddening addict way, he calls himself on it. He’s trying to clean up the messes he’s made, slowly but surely. It’s all good stuff, and it scares me, and it fills me with hope.”

Mom Vs Heroin

Written by the mother of a heroin addict, she is also a grandmother fighting for custody of her grandchild, who was born to her addicted daughter. Her posts are often detailed discoveries of a life loving someone who is addicted to drugs and how difficult it is to help them in a way that’s constructive and love them at the same time. She wrote a poem:

My Changeling

Who crept soft among mine
With envious delight,
To rob me of preciousness
As if overnight?

How slowly I awakened,
From my blissful bed,
To find my child gone away;
A changeling in her stead -

Bright eyes turned to angry stares,
No more laughing innocence;
What was once solicited
This being stoically resents

Pray keep me strong; accepting
Of this challenging changeling, who
If I frighten her away from me
She takes my baby, too

(And sorrowfully I see
For now we won’t agree,
Though I’m a changeling,
too)

Do you know of any great drug addiction and recovery blogs that you would like to share? Perhaps you have one of your own. Let us know!