A teen football player dies of an apparent overdose and four more teens face charges for contributing to his death, allowing drugs to ruin five young lives.

The death of the teenage son of a retired NFL quarterback by apparent overdose is tragedy enough. Now, four more teen boys face charges as a result.

The event happened in Southern California, where 18-year-old Griffen Kramer, a high school quarterback and son of Erik Kramer, who played for the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, died of an apparent drug overdose, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Kramer was found dead October 30, 2011, in a friend’s bedroom in the Orange County city of Agoura Hills. That friend, David Nernberg, 19, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and possession of a controlled substance, authorities said. After further investigating into apparent narcotics-related activities, police also charged Corey Baumann, 19, with involuntary manslaughter and possession of a controlled substance for sales. The two other teenagers were also charged, but since they are minors, their names weren’t released by the Sherriff’s office.

Kramer, a 6-foot 210-pound senior, played quarterback at Thousand Oaks High School.

Police allege that Griffen, Nernberg and a juvenile met at Sumac Park in Agoura Hills on October 29 and drove to a nearby cul-de-sac, where Griffen injected narcotics, causing him to instantly become ill and unconscious. Law enforcement then believes that Nernberg dragged the unconscious Griffen into his car and drove him around the area. Nernberg then made several calls, trying to find a friend’s house to go to, but allegedly was turned down because the friends’ parents were home, police said. Instead Nernberg allegedly took a still unconscious Griffen to Nernberg’s own home and didn’t seek medical attention for his desperately ill friend until the next morning when Griffen was still unconscious, authorities alleged.

Investigators believe Griffen likely died from an overdose, but they are still awaiting toxicology results. Meanwhile, one teen boy’s life is over and four others are changed forever.

Drug Rehab

If you or someone you love is in need drug rehab, call The Canyon at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

IMPORTANT: If you have found this post because you are trying to help someone you believe is experiencing a heroin overdose RIGHT NOW, call 911 immediately. Do not wait to read the rest of the article.

If you want to be prepared if someone you care about overdoses or if you are concerned about the possibility of overdosing yourself, then read on. Below you will find the information you need to identify a heroin overdose as it is happening and respond quickly so that you or your friend will have the best chance of surviving the experience.

Recognizing a Heroin Overdose

When someone overdoses on an opiate drug like heroin, it’s not sudden or quick like it is in the movies. Heroin slows the heart rate and breathing rate, and a person who is experiencing an overdose will first feel dizzy and confused, then pass out. If they don’t receive help while unconscious, their heart will continue to beat more and more slowly and their breathing will eventually stop. They’ll slip into a coma and eventually die if medical assistance is not provided in time.

If you don’t know the dosage that your friend took and they are still awake and conscious but unable to focus on a conversation, keep a close eye on them. If they lose consciousness, call 911.

If your friend appears to be unconscious but you can’t tell if he or she is sleeping or overdosing, here are a few signs that will signify that a heroin overdose is in effect and he or she needs medical help:

• No response to shaking their shoulders or shouting their name.
• Bluish tint to lips, nails, and/ or skin.
• Slowed pulse.
• Slowed breathing.

What to Do in the Event of a Heroin Overdose

If you recognize the above signs in your friend and you cannot rouse them, call 911 immediately. The 911 operator may ask you to perform emergency breathing or CPR if you can’t find a heart rate or he or she is not breathing. You will be asked to stay on the line until an ambulance arrives, and the operator may ask you questions about your friend in order to get information that he or she can pass along to the EMTs so that they can more quickly provide the necessary treatment: age, weight and height, what drugs were taken and in what amounts. Answer the questions to the best of your ability and try to remain calm. When the ambulance arrives, you will usually be able to accompany your friend to the hospital if you like.

If you or someone you care about is living with an active heroin addiction, call us at The Canyon today. We can provide a comprehensive

Suboxone, a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of opiate withdrawal symptoms experienced by those undergoing opiate detox after heroin addiction, OxyContin addiction, Percocet addiction, and addiction to other painkillers. Once billed as a drug that was impossible to abuse, reports are showing now that Suboxone abuse has been a growing problem in the past two years.

The Good Side of Suboxone

Suboxone can be a crucial component to opiate detox. For those living with long-term heroin addictions or an addiction to a narcotic painkiller, a Suboxone prescription can dramatically change their lives, providing them with a far smoother and safer detox experience than they would have without it. Patients who use Suboxone to detox off of opiates report that their withdrawal symptoms are far less severe than without the drug; some even report that Suboxone provides some anti-depressant effects.

Additionally, Suboxone is available by prescription. Methadone, another popular drug used in opiate detox, is given to the patient daily and in person – he or she has to go to a methadone clinic to get their dose of the drug. Many felt freed from the stigma associated with these clinics when they found that they could get help for opiate addiction with a prescription they could take in the privacy of their own home. It made recovery from addiction finally seem possible for thousands who had previously considered the prospect of treatment to be far too emotionally and physically damaging to attempt.

The Bad Side of Suboxone

One of the drug’s biggest selling points was that it couldn’t be abused. Though Subutex, or a pure form of buprenorphine is used in the first few days of opiate detox, Suboxone includes a drug called naloxone, which can cause immediate withdrawal symptoms in users who attempt to abuse the drug or augment it with heroin and other opiates. Supposedly overdose proof and abuse proof, it seemed like a miracle drug for opiate addiction.

It appears now, however, according to the latest anecdotal evidence and early reports, that Suboxone not only has the capacity to be abused but could be highly dangerous when used incorrectly. Some say that while combining Suboxone and heroin is ineffective, combining Suboxone with methadone can increase the euphoric effects of both drugs. Some even say that, in low doses, patients who have a low opiate tolerance will experience a high when snorting the crushed Suboxone pills.

Fighting Suboxone Abuse and Addiction

The growing concern about Suboxone has caused many doctors, previously certified to prescribe this heavily regulated drug, to stop dispensing prescriptions. Though not impossible to find a prescription for the drug, many who are interested in getting the addiction treatment help they need are turning to private drug rehabs for assistance. If you would like to learn more about our addiction treatment programs here at The Canyon, contact us today for more information.

Chris Herren, formerly a basketball player for the Boston Celtics, lost everything to heroin addiction. The one-time small town basketball hero who made national headlines with his basketball skills during his high school days ended up back in his hometown 20 years later, unemployed and looking for a fix. Now married and a father of three, Herren has decided to make the best of his heroin addiction and all the loss he experienced as a result. After attending heroin rehab, he penned an autobiography with the hope of getting his story out there and helping others like him realize that no one is immune to the tragedy of drug addiction.

Herren penned his autobiography, Basketball Junkie: A Memoir, with Bill Reynolds, a journalist. It begins with his high school days and all that he accomplished during his teen years and follows him through his time playing ball at Fresno State in California, his draft to the Denver Nuggets (second round, 33^rd pick overall) and his trade to the Boston Celtics the following year. Unfortunately, the tale turns sour as Herren spares readers no details as he describes the development of his heroin addiction and how it almost made him lose everything.

Here’s the good news: though Herren was unable to rebuild his NBA career, he has been able to remain clean and sober since August of 2008. Herren reports that it took several trips to drug rehab to make his new goals for a drug-free life stick, but he did indeed make it work. In June of 2009, Herren created a basketball player development company called Hoop Dreams with Chris Herren Inc. Here young players can work on their skills through intensive clinics that cover basketball skills, ball handling, strength training, conditioning, and basketball drills. Since opening in 2009, Herren reports training more than 200 up and coming basketball players, among them some of the top pro-ball hopefuls in his area.

Though his heroin addiction took away his own hoop dreams, Herren is using his expertise and his drive to help others avoid the pitfalls that snatched his hopes away and, at the same time, creating a new destiny for himself that is even more commendable than the original. A dedicated father and husband, Herren is no longer allowing heroin addiction to control his life – a goal he reached by starting with heroin rehab.

If heroin addiction is stopping you from achieving your dreams or threatening the things you hold most dear, heroin addiction treatment is the only way to effectively fight the problem. Contact us at The Canyon today to learn more about how we can help you create the life that you want for yourself.

Jeff Allison has staged something of a comeback that should be inspiring to anyone who has considered drug addiction treatment but avoided it because they feel like they’ll never have anything else in their life. It’s a big deal: Jeff Allison has officially reached the big leagues despite a drug addiction that almost killed him. It took more than eight years, but it happened.

Allison was once a first-round draft pick for the Marlins – but that was before he got arrested, mostly for drug-related issues. He went to drug rehab, got the treatment he needed, made his way back into the minors and now, he’s wearing  uniform No. 92 for the Marlins and serving as an “extra” to be used in case of emergency during spring training. He isn’t fully in the lineup by any stretch, but it’s the closest he’s ever been and he’s grateful for the chance.

Said Allison: “It’s really cool. I’m just blessed to have this opportunity to even come up here for a day.”

Opiate Addiction and Allison

Allison was Baseball America’s High School Player of the Year and a first-round pick in 2003. Then he overdosed on heroin a couple of times and developed an addiction to OxyContin. He was arrested a couple of times and almost died as a result, losing his shot at the big leagues at the same time.

The Marlins supported Allison through his struggle with opiate addiction. He was kept on board with the organization over the last eight years but never made it past the Double A level.

Said Allison: “I still have a jersey. That’s what it’s about. Whether it’s a minor-league or major-league jersey, it’s still a jersey at the end of the day.

“It took a lot of hard work and want and desire to come out of a hole — and I mean a deep, deep, deep hole — because a lot of people don’t get out of it.”

Coming Back After Opiate Addiction

But Allison has pulled out of it. He says he’s been clean and sober for four years and four months.

Though Allison didn’t get a chance to pitch during spring training. He wasn’t needed. He sat and watched the game with the other relievers. He returned to the minor-leaguers soon after.

Allison said: “I did what I did, and now I enjoy life. If it’s a day, it’s a day. Minor league or major league, it doesn’t really matter. It’s just about being here.”

How Did You Come Back After Addiction?

Tell us your story about recovering your dreams after drug rehab here!

Anger has stopped more than one recovering heroin addict from getting what they need to maintain their sobriety in recovery. Without the sedating drug, many patients find that they are unable to calm themselves down or control their temper as they did when they were actively using the drug. The problem with anger is that it blinds the person experiencing the emotion and causes them to make poor choices without thinking. Whether that choice is to relapse on heroin, hurt someone they care about verbally or physically, or damage their opportunities at work or in the community, anger-based decisions are almost always the wrong ones.

Why Anger Happens During Heroin Addiction Treatment

Believe it or not, anger is something you can control. You cannot control situations or people and the decisions they make, but you can control your response. It is often inaccurate thinking that causes people to get angry. Paranoia, low self-esteem, the belief that people are saying or doing things to hurt you or embarrass you and many other incorrect ideas can cause someone to perceive that a situation occurred when it didn’t or blow small things out of proportion. Changing that thinking can change your emotional response and stop you from angry outbursts that can result in relapse during heroin addiction treatment.

Note: Anger is not an emotion that has to be completely obliterated for a successful recovery. It can be a helpful emotion at times. It’s just a matter of making sure that the anger is well-placed, controlled and does not result in violence, verbal abuse or relapse.

How to Manage Anger During Heroin Addiction Recovery

Managing anger during heroin addiction recovery starts with knowing what makes you angry. If you are angered by specific people, you can make plans to avoid them or not interact with them when you are near each other. If certain events make you angry, you can limit the number of times you have to endure these events until you can extract them from your schedule completely. If little things like someone bumping into your or speaking rudely to you upsets you greatly, there are a number of things you can do to stop yourself from overreacting. Here are just a few:

• Ask yourself if this is really important enough to get angry about. Few things are. Do you want to give someone who irritates you the pleasure of knowing they got under your skin? Or if it was an accident, do you really want to be the person who flies off the handle for no reason?
• Change your thinking. If you believe that someone is doing something to you or said something maliciously with the intent to hurt you, ask yourself if that is really the truth of the matter. Could it be your perception? Could it not be that they are not feeling well or are having a bad day? Most of the time, people are completely absorbed in their own experience.
• Count to 10. Before you respond to anything, give yourself a chance to get under control.
• Look at the situation from their point of view. Why are they saying/ doing the things they are? If you were in their situation, would you do the same thing? Relax. Explain your position and remain calm. The situation won’t be resolved with anger.

What are your suggestions for handling anger during heroin addiction recovery?

Mike Starr was the bassist for Alice in Chains from 1987 until 1993, one of the founding members. His most recent appearances in the spotlight, however, have had little to do with his music career. He sought treatment for heroin addiction on Celebrity Rehab and followed it up with a stint on Sober House, a sister reality TV show. Then last month, he was arrested in Salt Lake City for possession of 12 prescription pills (six each of Xanax and Opana). Though he tried to call up his Alice in Chains past to protect him, the charges stuck and he was jailed briefly for the offense.

This month, Starr was found dead in his Salt Lake City home. There is no information on the cause of death, though many are speculating that it is in some way related to his long-term struggle with drug addiction.

When arrested last month, Starr was a passenger in a car driven by Travis Meeks of the band, Days of the New. Some say that Starr may have been on the edge of joining the band. In fact, prior to the arrest, all signs pointed to a strong recovery for Starr. His 2009 treatment at the Pasadena Recovery Center during the third season of Celebrity Rehab seemed to help him make some real progress fighting his heroin addiction. When he began Sober House, he said that he had more than six months of clean time under his belt.

It seems that Starr’s goal was to ultimately rejoin the music world with the same force with which he performed with Alice in Chains. He appeared on the band’s first album Facelift as well as the EP Sap and the one they’re arguably most famous for, Dirt. Starr and the band have always said that Starr’s departure from the band happened on good terms, but on Celebrity Rehab, Starr said that he had been kicked out due to his drug addiction. In 1992, he formed a heavy metal band, Sun Red Sun, with former Rondinellie bandmates Ray Gillen and Bobby Rondinelli. The band released one album before Gillen died of AIDS-related complications, and since then, Starr has done little in the music world.

Starr’s father says: “It’s a terrible shock and tragedy.”

Dr. Drew of Celebrity Rehab tweeted: “Devastating to hear of Mike Starr succumbing to his illness. So very sad. Our prayers are with his family.”

Fighting Heroin Addiction

The problem with long-term drug addiction is that it can very difficult to eradicate from your life permanently. A chronic illness, relapses are common and it’s important to find a heroin rehab that places heavy emphasis on relapse prevention and long-term aftercare services like sober living. Studies show that the longer the individual remains dedicated to his or her recovery by actively seeking treatment and assistance, the more likely he or she will be to avoid relapse later or to keep relapses brief.

If you would like to learn more about our heroin rehab options here at The Canyon, contact us today.