Corey Haim is another sad casualty in the world of drug abuse. The former child movie star of the 1980′s died early this morning. There was no official report of the cause of death, but it is speculated to be related to his extensive drug use history.

Corey Haim Started Drug Addiction To Deal With Emotional Pain

Corey has told his story to many media sources over the years. His drug use reportedly started in his teen years after he was sexually abused by a man. Corey smoked marijuana as he filmed one of his big movie hits of the 1980′s, and before long he was using alcohol and other drugs.

Corey reportedly went to drug rehab several times and even suffered a stroke. Doctors were astounded at the high levels of various drugs he was taking. His daily valium use alone was up to 85 pills. It seems almost a miracle that he survived through that period of his life.

In the mid 2000′s, he seemed to be staging a comeback in Hollywood. He was involved in several movies and was in a reality show with Corey Feldmen. The show apparently came to a close because Corey Haim continued to use drugs.

Corey Haim Attempts Drug Rehab Several Times

Corey seemed to make good faith efforts to get and stay sober, going to drug rehab and drug treatment programs numerous times. However, it looks like the long term damage may have finally caught up with him. Even if his death was not directly caused by a drug overdose, it is certainly possible that it was somehow linked to his drug use history.

It may be some time before we all know the final verdict on Corey Haim’s death. Drug addiction can be so powerful and so destructive. It’s like a time bomb waiting to go off. Even when someone gains sobriety for a period of time, they can’t get lax for even a day. As Corey indicated, he started using just one or two valiums at first. Then it turned into four, five, six, and finally in the dozens of pills a day.

Reminder That Drug Addiction Can Kill

Corey Haim’s struggle with drug addiction is a definite sign of caution to anyone abusing any form of drug or alcohol. It can catch up to you slowly unless you stop it in it’s tracks by going to drug rehab. Even that is no guarantee of sobriety. If you are abusing drugs in any way, stop and look at your life. Take a moment to consider how drug treatment can keep you from having a tragic ending like Corey Haim.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) has released their first draft. In this new version of the American Psychiatric Association document used by virtually everyone to diagnose behavioral health problems, the disease categories for substance abuse and dependence will be replaced with a brand new “addictions and related disorders” category.

Why The Categorization of Drug Addiction is Changing

The hope of the American Psychiatric Association has for making this change is that it will create a clearer line between those who are physically dependent upon a prescription drug and those who are addicted to their drug of choice.

In a press release, the APA stated: “Eliminating the category of dependence will better differentiate between the compulsive drug-seeking behavior of addiction and normal responses of tolerance and withdrawal that some patients experience when using prescribed medications that affect the central nervous system.”

Their point is that many people will develop a physical dependence upon a drug during the course of treatment, but that this singular fact does not make them a drug addict. When it is appropriate for their treatment, they can simply cut back on their dose slowly under their doctor’s supervision and stop taking the drug completely and without incident.

Someone suffering from drug addiction will find this simple exit plan from their drug of choice to be impossible. The psychological addiction and cravings are the defining characteristic of drug addiction and it is this distinction that the APA would like to make in the new DSM-V.

How the Categorization of Drug Addiction is Changing in the DSM-V

One of the biggest changes is the new category that will include substance-use disorders. Each drug type will get its own category with its own diagnostic criteria. Not much will change in terms of diagnostic criteria except that “drug craving” will be added and “problems with law enforcement will be dropped.” As the APA points out, “cultural considerations… make the criteria difficult to apply internationally.”

Cannabis withdrawal criteria is also a new addiction to the DSM-V. The APA says it occurs with the “cessation of cannabis use that has been heavy and prolonged,” results in “clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.” Some listed symptoms of marijuana withdrawal include irritability, anxiety, anger, weight loss/ decreased appetite, insomnia, depression, and physical symptoms like sweating, fever, headache, et cetera. At least three of these need be present to diagnose marijuana withdrawal, according to the new DSM-V.

Why The Categorization of Drug Addiction Matters

For many, insurance is the only way to pay for drug and alcohol rehab. If the problem is not categorized as a medical issue that requires medical treatment, then insurance companies may start rejecting claims that request coverage for drug and alcohol detox treatment and medications. As these are both necessary for recovery and typically very expensive, it’s important that their classification be as clear as possible.

Charles O’Brien, M.D., Ph.D., is the chair of the APA’s DSM Substance-Related Disorders Work Group. He says: “The term dependence is misleading, because people confuse it with addiction, when in fact the tolerance and withdrawal patients experience are very normal responses to prescribed medications that affect the central nervous system.

“On the other hand, addiction is compulsive drug- seeking behavior which is quite different. We hope that this new classification will help end this wide-spread misunderstanding.”

There’s no doubt that in 99.9 percent of cases, the first use of any recreational drug is voluntary. Even the use of an addictive prescription drug, ultimately, is voluntary. But what about addiction? Do you choose to use or is it an uncontrollable compulsion?

What the Experts Say About the Nature of Drug Addiction

The answer is: a little bit of both. The compulsion to use and the craving for a drug of choice are both characteristics of drug addiction as a medical disease. Yes, the first step to developing this disease—like smoking that leads to lung cancer—is voluntary, but once the disease has developed, it’s pretty much out of your hands. You started it, opened the door to its manifestation, but now that it’s here, it is a medical problem and not one you can erase with apologies and promises not to do it again.

Voluntary Drug Use Versus Involuntary Drug Addiction

When does the voluntary action cross the line into compulsive behavior? That is different for everyone. Tolerance levels vary in each individual, as does the predilection for addictive behavior. The drug used plays a part as well as the dosage, the length of time the drug is taken, how often, and other drugs it is mixed with. All of these factors dictate when and to what extent the brain is changed and at what point the idea to use becomes a craving.

Tracking The Evolution of Drug Abuse Into Drug Addiction

No matter when it happens, this transition occurs unbeknownst to the user. No one intends to get addicted, but when it happens, treatment is the only way to put the disease into remission. If you’re not psychologically addicted, treating the physical addiction with a substitution and detox drug like buprenorphine is all you need to get back on track and shake the cravings without going through withdrawal.

The world of sports is home to tales of great athletic achievement and rags to riches stories.Unfortunately, it has also played host to a number of drug scandals that have rocked the fabric of the sports themselves.The following are some of the most shocking drug scandals ever reported beyond the sports pages.

5. Pittsburgh Pirates Cocaine Scandal

How bad was the drug problem on the 1986 Pittsburgh Pirates?Not only were more than 10 players called before a grand jury for cocaine distribution and possession charges, but even the man who portrayed the team mascot, The Pirate Parrot was implicated for distributing the drug in the clubhouse and introducing many of the players to a local drug dealer.

The fallout:11 players in all were suspended from Major League Baseball, including perennial all-star Dave Parker.

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Here are a few numbers and statistics according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) about drug and alcohol addiction as well as the number of those who are seeking treatment.

* 22 million Americans have a substance abuse or dependency problem
* Only 2.5 million of them enter a hospital or clinic for treatment
* Number one drug of abuse in the United States: Marijuana
* Number two drug of abuse in the United States: prescription painkillers
* The amount that the U.S. Federal Government will spend fighting drug abuse: $12 billion

The Problem With Statistics

Dr. Wilson Compton is the director of the Division of Epidemiology Services and Prevention Research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse. He says, “The bottom line is, we learn about drug use by asking people about their behaviors. But because it’s survey research, there are multiple ways it can be improved.”

The problem with this is that there’s no way to know who’s telling the truth, who’s embellishing, who’s claiming an addiction problem when there isn’t one present or, more likely, claiming no problem with drug abuse or addiction when there is one. Hoping for a more truthful result, SAMHSA began using handheld computers so that people could answer the questions without facing another human in a face to face survey. They’ve also begun offering $30 as an incentive to get people to respond. And now, translation of Spanish answers that vary from Puerto Rico versus Cuba or Mexico is their current issue.

These surveys are cross referenced by checking the number of drug-related arrests in the area, drug seizures, emergency room visits related to drug use, abuse and/or overdose, mandatory drug tests at local companies, and deaths due to overdose. Of course, dealers and addicts who manage to stay below the radar are not counted.

New and Innovative Ways of Tracking Drug Addiction

One new way of determining who’s doing what and where is by taking samples from untreated sewage in a community and testing for the chemicals that the body creates when processing certain drugs. It’s very region specific and only tells the story of a short period but with regular samples, it could give a good indication of drug use in a particular area.

Changing Definitions and Drug Statistics

The other issue with statistics on drug abuse and addiction once the numbers are in is the language itself. American society tends to change its definitions of what constitutes abuse versus addiction, even whether or not something is a drug or not. Even if it is classified as a drug medically, many have a lax attitude about the harmful nature of certain drugs. For example, many don’t believe that marijuana is addictive or even consider alcohol a drug because of its legal status.

Have you ever answered one of these surveys? Where do you fit in the statistics?

Gay and Lesbian Drug Addiction

We’ve talked a little bit recently about drug and alcohol abuse among different groups: medical professionals, women, teenagers. Today we’re going to talk about the high risk of drug and alcohol abuse among gay and lesbian youth because it is so high, it is irresponsible to ignore it.

What the Research Says about Drug and Alcohol Abuse Among Gay and Lesbian Youth

Did you know that lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are 190 percent more likely to use illegal substances than heterosexual teens of the same age? According to Medical News Today and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, that’s not all. Apparently, lesbian teens are 400 percent more likely to get high or drunk and bisexual teens are 340 percent more likely.

Michael P. Marshal, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC. He led the study and says, “Homophobia, discrimination and victimization are largely what are responsible for these substance use disparities in young gay people. History shows that when marginalized groups are oppressed and do not have equal opportunities and equal rights, they suffer. Our results show that gay youth are clearly no exception.”

What Can We Do About the High Risk for Drug Abuse Among Gay and Lesbian Teens?

First of all, we can begin by making it clear that sexual orientation can be a risk factor. Currently, this is not mentioned in any of the substance abuse prevention and intervention literature published by organizations like the American Medical Association, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism and the Institute of Medicine. More research needs to be done on the subject and this research needs to be made available to substance abuse treatment and medical professionals.

Says Dr. Marshal, “It is important to remember that the vast majority of gay youth are happy and healthy, despite the stressors of living in a violent, homophobic society. More than anything, gay youth need love, support and acceptance from their family members and friends. It also is imperative that health care providers offer a safe, confidential environment to discuss health care needs with gay teens.”

Do You Know a Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual Teen Struggling with Drug and Alcohol Abuse?

If you or someone you know is using drugs and alcohol as a way of dealing with sexual orientation issues, family issues, stressors at school or at work, the sooner you get help for yourself or them the better. The earlier that you get involved in drug addiction treatment, the better chance you will have of enjoying a life without drugs and alcohol destroying your health and relationships. If you have questions about the options available to you or if you need help setting up an intervention for your gay or lesbian teen, call us at The Canyon today.

That’s right. It’s coming up: June 26th is the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking and it has been since the United Nations established it as such in 1987. Aside from creating a reason for a press release on a slow news day, what does the day’s demarcation mean for you and yours?

Honestly, Not Much…

Okay, so like many days that don’t give you a day off from work or the banks a reason to close early, IDDAIT probably doesn’t affect you too much directly. But unlike the laughable and expensive War on Drugs here in the United States, this initiative may actually do some good rather than just cost a lot of money.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is an important organization, or department within an organization, as it works to coordinate the efforts of its member countries in stopping the effects of drug addiction at the source: by stopping the trafficking of drugs.

In 2006, the UNODC launched a three-year campaign called “Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs.” In 2007, it focused on drug abuse itself; in 2008,they turned on drug cultivation and production; and in 2009, the will focus on drug trafficking. Specifically, their goal through this campaign is to raise awareness of the issues in their member countries and rally support for the initiative of drug control.

Education is Never a Bad Thing

If you feel like all this chatty-chat about drug education and awareness isn’t doing much good for any of the people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, you’re not alone. I feel that way myself sometimes. But then again, education and making people aware of the problems that are around them can’t be a bad thing. And you never know who they’ll inspire. Maybe the next person they reach will realize the depths of the problem and do something about it. Or maybe they’ll get help for themselves.

Are You That Person?

If you’re realizing that you have a problem with drugs and/or alcohol and you need help, you’re already doing the right thing. Researching and finding out what is available to you as far as treatment and resources is the first and best step. Next is setting the goal of finding the right treatment center for you and initiating that treatment. If you have questions or if you’d like to find out more about what is available to you, call The Canyon.