From the moment Amy Winehouse’s body was found in her London home, the world assumed that the cause of death was a drug overdose or complications due to drug abuse. An autopsy was performed, but the results were inconclusive – and yet, people still assume that drug overdose was the cause. What do you think?

The Case for Death by Drug Overdose

Amy Winehouse had a long and famous struggle with drug addiction. Crack, heroin, cocaine – these were all drugs that she used on stage or in front of cameramen who eventually uploaded the footage to YouTube and other media venues. In and out of drug rehab, there would be reports that she was doing better or getting her life on track, followed immediately by conflicting accounts of erratic behavior that implied drug abuse. Witnesses would come forward to say that they saw her out or in a store drinking heavily or getting high while already seemingly stoned or drunk.

Most recently, Winehouse had a European tour planned, something she hasn’t done in quite some time. The first performance, however, she was booed off the stage and abruptly ended the tour to “rest.” Footage of her performance show how clearly under the influence she was at the time, barely able to sing the words, creating music that was hard to understand and barely recognizable. This happened just weeks before she died, leading many to assume that her “rest” period at home was characterized by drug and alcohol abuse that ultimately led to her death by drug overdose.

Other Possible Causes of Death

Winehouse definitely had a problem with drug and alcohol addiction, but she also struggled with a few other issues as well. Some claim that her issues may have pointed to a psychological disorder like borderline personality disorder or even severe depression. She once said in an interview that she had issues with causing self-inflicted pain. There is a chance that Winehouse’s death was a suicide, using drugs and alcohol to achieve her purpose (which is different from a drug overdose that occurs inadvertently during an active drug addiction).

Winehouse also struggled with an eating disorder. Severely underweight, Winehouse had a hard time eating healthily whether or not drugs and alcohol were in the picture. More deadly than any other psychological disorders, eating disorders mean malnutrition and the breakdown in function of major organ systems. There’s a possibility that Winehouse’s early death was related to or exacerbated by health problems caused by an ongoing struggle with an eating disorder.

What do you think?

There’s an ongoing heated debate about whether or not the internet and video games are as addictive as cocaine or heroin. There’s a lot of passion on both sides of the argument, but one recent development in the gaming world only further likens the playing of games like World of Warcraft with the use and abuse of illicit substances including alcohol.

The First One’s Free: New WOW Deal Compared to Crack

One distributer is offering a World of Warcraft Starter Edition, which allows new players to play up to Level 20 – for free. Does that marketing tactic sound familiar? It’s a stereotype of that crack dealers would often offer new people their first hit of crack for free, trusting that it would take only one use for their customer to become an addict and be compelled to pay for tons of crack to maintain that addiction. The move on the part of the distributer to allow players to get hooked for free, banking on the addictive nature of the game to compel them to buy the full version later, has only fueled the argument that online gaming can become an addiction for some – and one that requires addiction treatment just like alcoholism or crystal meth addiction.

Co-occurring Disorders: Online Addiction and Drug Addiction

No matter how much time is spent online, there are some who refuse to see an activity like online gaming – or doing anything with a computer, for that matter – as fitting the definition of a true addiction that requires physical detox and/ or psychological addiction treatment. To those people, others would point out the negative consequences of too much time spent in front of the computer – the deadliest of which includes the development of an active drug addiction in order to increase the amount of online activity. Many who are online all day and all night tend to forego the need for sleep and food by taking stimulant drugs that decrease appetite like crystal meth, cocaine, or stimulant medications. The development of a drug addiction in order to gain assistance in a sustained presence online can soon lead to all the health problems including psychological issues and malnutrition that plague anyone else taking these drugs.

Treating Online Addictions Alongside Drug Addiction

It’s important to address the psychological needs that are met by spending copious amounts of time online at drug rehab when help is sought for drug addiction. Without dealing with the need for anonymity, self-esteem issues, et cetera, it’s only a matter of time before the patient will again be on the computer and once again crave the drugs that allow him or her to spend days on end indulging in his or her favorite online activity.

Contact us today at The Canyon to learn more about what Dual Diagnosis Rehab can do for you.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment provides those who are living with a drug addiction and a psychological disorder with the care that they need to work through both issues during the same treatment program. It’s one of the benefits that Bai Ling, an actress currently on Dr. Drew’s Celebrity Rehab on VH1, is experiencing – kind of. In fact, it’s something that has been causing her issues, perhaps because she doesn’t understand the goal of drug addiction treatment in relation to her psychological issues.

Bai Ling and Psychiatric Medications During Drug Rehab

It’s clear from Bai Ling’s behavior when she refuses to take her pills that she needs that medication badly. It’s also clear that she is physically incapable of focusing on groups and treatments for drug addiction when she is off her meds. She is living with a psychological disorder, as yet unidentified on the show, in addition to alcoholism and it is obvious that she requires treatment for both issues at the same time in order to make any real progress on either front. The first step is to stay on the meds that she is currently prescribed, adjusting the medication and dosage according to her development in treatment. While Dr. Drew and other counselors can only encourage her to take her meds, they can’t force her, but if she continues to choose not to take her medication and can’t stay on track while continuing to distract from treatment, stopping others from getting the help they need, it may be necessary for her to leave rehab.

“I Want to Get Off All Drugs. That’s Why I’m Here.”

It’s a common thought among those who are struggling with dual diagnoses – unfortunately, it’s not an effective way to handle treatment when psychological illness like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other disorders are an issue. Part of the stabilization process that happens during drug detox means getting the medication right to effectively treat any psychological disorders. It will be practically impossible to remain clean and sober without treating mental health at the same time since it is often the case that patients self-medicate the symptoms associated with their disorder by abusing illicit drugs and alcohol.

Medications taken to mitigate the effects of a psychological disorder are not the same as addictive medications or drugs. It’s important to utilize medication effectively and stabilize emotional issues, hallucinations, paranoia, et cetera, during the early part of treatment, begin the process of dealing with emotional issues and trauma and learn new and healthy coping mechanisms – then, if you feel and your doctor feel that it’s appropriate, consider lowering your medication dose or changing medications.

At The Canyon, we offer Dual Diagnosis Rehab to help those who are living with both drug addiction and a psychological disorder. Call now to find out more specifics about our program.

Bath salts are part of a growing trend in new, underground drugs that started in Europe over the last couple of years and has hit the United States hard. Ohio residents say that more than salvia or any version of spice, a synthetic cannabinoid, bath salts – a combination of dangerous chemicals – are becoming a huge problem. At least three people have died in the last couple of months as a result of bath salts – a substance that is legal and sold in many head shops and gas stations in the area.

According to officials from the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, the cases of emergency room visits, accidents, and other problems caused by the drug are almost too many to count. Unfortunately, there’s nothing that can be done about the problem except charge those who make poor choices while under the influence of the drug with misconduct because bath salts are completely legal.

Brad DeCamp is the assistant chief of treatment and recovery services at the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services. He says: “We are seeing it in some of the different regions, but it is hard for us to say just how big of a problem it is right now. It is very similar to the type of symptoms and side effects you would see from someone who is either abusing cocaine or methamphetamine.”

The Effects of Bath Salts

The active ingredient in bath salts is methylenediopyrovalerone (MDPV) and it’s the identifying chemical in three recent deaths and a possible linking factor for a few other fatalities in the area.

The effects of bath salts are stimulant in nature and create a high when used. Physical effects can include higher pulse and blood pressure as well as chest pains. Psychological effects can include paranoia, irritation and agitation, hallucinations and delusions, depending upon the amount of the dose taken.

Bath Salts and Regulation

Legislation is underway to make bath salts illegal, but it will take some time as more definitive studies are done to determine the effects of the drug in the long-term. Short-term effects, effects at different dosage amounts, and anecdotal evidence will be gathered as it comes to debate. While most advocate for regulation of drugs that are mind altering and deadly, some are concerned that too quickly making it illegal can limit the possibilities in terms of medical help and effect.

What do you think? Should more medical research be done before they legislate the use and possession of bath salts or should they stop access to the drug immediately before more people get hurt?

The reality show Deadliest Catch follows a few different privately owned fishing boats in the Bering Sea, chronicling the hard labor that comes with the job and the personal stories of many of the fishermen as well as the boats’ captains. One thing that the show doesn’t do is address the drug addiction that is rampant among fishermen – until now.

Drug Addiction and Deadliest Catch

It’s not uncommon for fishermen to abuse crystal meth and other stimulants in order to stay awake for 36+ hours at a time during the most labor intensive parts of the trip or for them to smoke marijuana or drink heavily to unwind. But the problem this time around was likely a mixture of job stress and depression. Jake Harris is one of the new owners of the Cornelia Marie after his father, Phil Harris, the former captain of the boat, passed. Though Jake had struggled with drug addiction for years, he sought drug addiction treatment right around the time that his father died and did well during rehab. When he got out, he and his brother were tasked with finding a captain who was a good fit for their boat and would be able to help them carry on their father’s legacy.

The man they chose didn’t quite work out as the brothers had hoped. The boat made absolutely no money at all on their trip and the captain got along with no one on the crew, causing many long-time crew members to find a new boat. It was alleged by the captain that Jake had been smoking marijuana while aboard the ship, and he had a cop waiting to drug test Jake at the dock to prove his charges.

If Jake did get high on board the Cornelia Marie, he wouldn’t be the first fisherman to do so. Stress over the relations between the crew and the captain, financial concerns, and the sheer wear and tear caused by the job may have made it difficult for him to avoid triggers to get high. It’s a topic that the reality show has handled with grace and objectivity, allowing fans a better look inside both the world of fishing and the issue of drug addiction in the workplace.

When Work Encourages Drug Addiction

It’s not an issue exclusive to fishermen. Many people struggle with getting high while at work or drinking heavily and abusing drugs after work and on the weekends due to stress and pressure. The constant threat of losing your job because of the state of the economy doesn’t help, either, and if you don’t like your job, the risk of drug addiction only gets worse.

If you are living with a drug addiction and feel that your job is part of the cause, take measures to find new employment. If that’s impossible –and for many, it is – then get the drug rehab help you need so that you can learn to manage the stress without drugs and alcohol. Contact us at The Canyon today for more information about our drug rehab program.

It’s not the first time that a lab or research facility has set out in search of a vaccine that can cure or prevent drug addiction. The latest approach is a little bit different than past attempts, however – rather than a prevention or even a cure, this vaccine would block the addictive substances from reaching and therefore affecting the brain. A patient who has been vaccinated as a part of their drug addiction treatment would experience no high or effect if they were to relapse and take their drug of choice – if it works like it’s supposed to.

So far, the drugs that have been effectively blocked by the vaccine have been nicotine and cocaine.

Do Drug Addiction Vaccines Work?

Does it really work? The jury is still out and long-term studies are ongoing, but so far, the results coming in are positive.

Some patients report that just knowing that they have taken the vaccine has helped them to avoid relapse. Knowing that the vaccine should stop them from getting high if they smoke a cigarette or do a line keeps them from wasting their time and trying.

One patient says: “You still have to mentally say to yourself, ‘I’m not going to do this,’ but it’s so much easier to say it when you know if you light a cigarette, you’re not going to get any pleasure out of it.”

How do Drug Addiction Vaccines Work?

Vaccines don’t work in the brain like other drugs that stop the effect of addictive substances at certain doses (e.g., methadone or Chantix). Instead, vaccines stop illicit drugs while they’re still in the bloodstream, and neither substance should ever reach the brain. The vaccines don’t bind to receptors in the brain or try to change perception in any way; rather, they work by making the body reject the illicit substance before it has a chance to take effect.

This is an important distinction because some of the drugs that provide similar blocking effects against addictive substances are often eschewed because of their side effects. As yet, no significant side effects have been identified among patients using the latest vaccine for drug addiction treatment.

Would You Try a Drug Addiction Vaccine?

If you had access to a drug addiction vaccine, would you take it? Do you need further research studies to prove its efficacy one way or the other? What do you think?

Over the counter drugs (OTC drugs) are often heavily abused – especially by teenagers – and often used in the creation of other more lethal drugs, like crystal meth. Though OTC abuse and addiction are serious problems in the United States, the latest research says that a relatively small percentage of those seeking treatment for any drug and alcohol addiction in the United States were seeking that help for OTC addiction only.

In fact, researchers commissioned by the Department of Health from the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse found that just over 32,500 patients sought treatment in 2009 and 2010 for addiction help that included OTC drugs and that only 11 percent of those reported that their addiction issues were solely related to OTC medications – only about 3700 patients.

Meanwhile, addiction to prescription drugs like OxyContin, Percocet, Lorcet, and other painkillers as well as anti-anxiety medications like Valium and Xanax are on the rise.

Common OTC Drugs of Addiction

In recent years, many states have begun to better regulate the sale of certain medications containing specific drugs of abuse.

• Dextromethorphan (DXM). DXM is commonly found in strong OTC cough syrups. Between 1999 and 2004, the number of poisonings and overdoses related to the drug increased seven times over. The majority of patients reported experiencing DXM overdose and poisoning? Teens aged 15 and 16.
• Pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine is found in a number of OTC cold medications – all of which are now kept behind the pharmacy counter at drugstores and grocery stores. This OTC medication is often used in the making of crystal meth and is regularly abused by teens in its pill form for a stimulant high.
• Diet pill and laxative abuse. These two OTC medication are most often abused by teen girls in the interest of losing weight. Laxatives are used in large amounts to quickly get rid of excess food eaten before the body has a chance to process the calories while diet pills are taken in place of food to maintain energy without eating.
• Sexual Performance Enhancing Medications. These drugs are available over the counter and online and many teens take them in large amounts together with alcohol in order to enhance sexual pleasure. In large amounts, these drugs can cause heart problems in the short-term and in the long-term with continued abuse.

OTC Addiction Treatment

Drug addiction treatment can help those who are living with an active addiction to over the counter medications. Contact us today at The Canyon to learn more about our drug rehab programs and get started building a life for yourself without drug and alcohol abuse and addiction.