Overdoses from prescription painkillers are increasing in the United States, a new study shows.

Researchers examined pharmacy files on 9,940 adults who took opioids such as oxycodone and hydrocodone for at least three months between 1997 and 2005. The patients, who were insured and members of the Group Health Cooperative in Washington, were prescribed the drugs for chronic pain due to non-cancer causes, including conditions of the back or neck, headaches, jaw pain, pain in the extremities, arthritis and menstrual pain or injuries.

Fifty-one patients overdosed on the drugs; six of the overdoses were fatal, the researchers found.

The risk of overdosing increased with the amount of drug prescribed, according to the study. Those given higher doses had nearly nine times the chance of overdosing as those given lower doses of opioids.  Read more…

Fu Lixin, emotionally exhausted from caring for her sick mother, needed a little pick-me-up. A friend offered her a “special cigarette” — one laced with methamphetamine — and Ms. Fu happily inhaled.

From left, Han Wei and Fu Li Xin, both recovering drug addicts, and Zhang Wenjun, who runs Guiding Star, an organization that helps recovering addicts, in Beijing.

Yu Jingtao is a social worker whose organization, Beijing Harm Reduction Group, distributes 30,000 clean needles a month.

The next day, three policemen showed up at her door.

“They asked me to urinate in a cup,” she said. “My friend had been arrested and turned me in. It was a drug test. I failed on the spot.”

Although she said it was her first time smoking meth, Ms. Fu, 41, was promptly sent to one of China’s compulsory drug rehabilitation centers. The minimum stay is two years, and life is an unremitting gantlet of physical abuse and forced labor without any drug treatment, according to former inmates and substance abuse professionals.  Read more…

There are several different drug rehab curriculums; however, most rehab facilities as well as young adult rehab centers use the 12 Step Program as their primary curricular foundation.  Developed by Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill Wilson, the 12 Steps were developed as a more concise, easy-to-remember version of his book “Big Book”, which was published in 1938. Through the 12 Steps addicts learn to confront their addiction, recognize their need for God, or a higher power, to intervene in their life and help them out of their addiction, and begin to make amends with those they hurt while in the addiction.  It is a long but vastly rewarding process as addicts delve deep inside themselves to uncover the roots of their addiction, recognize their shortcomings, seek forgiveness from those who were harmed, and eventually move on to help others who are faced with similar struggles.

Many rehab centers also offer several different professional therapies that assist in the recovery process.  Some of the clinical therapies include anger management, Gestalt therapy, Interpersonal therapy, EMDR, Family of Origin, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Objects Relations Therapy, and Nutritional Interest Groups. Certain facilities even offer therapeutic modalities such as art therapy and equine assisted therapy.
An important aspect of recovery, especially for the young adult centers, is realizing that sobriety is not boring.  Offering activities such as sports, acting classes, art classes, music lessons, hiking, snowboarding, swimming, yoga , and horseback riding gives young adults the opportunity to develop new interests as well as make new friends.  Allowing them to contribute will help them establish a good work ethic, take responsibility, and develop self-confidence.
Drug rehab is not just fighting an addiction; it’s a rebuilding of your life.  From realizing the roots of addiction to relearning the ways to think and act in different situations, drug rehab helps you to realize your full potential without addiction caused distortion.

Having to stage a drug alcohol intervention is hard on everyone involved; however, it is something that must be done for the good of the addict as well the family.  While the intervention is important, there are several steps that are vital to the success of the intervention that need to be taken first.
It is important to have a pre-intervention meeting in which you gather everyone who will be involved (family, friends, peers) and establish the roles each person will play; who will speak and what will they say and who will be there for support; especially emotionally.  The key is to have a plan so everyone knows their role and the intervention will go as smoothly as possible.  The more planning the better.
The second step before the intervention is to have a plan for recovery; research rehab and treatment centers to find one that will be a good fit and appeal to your loved one.  If the treatment center does not sound appealing or positive, they won’t want to go.  Many treatment centers will even allow you to set everything up in advance so that you all you have to do is call once your loved one is ready to seek help.  It is important to have this done before the intervention so your loved one knows that there is another option.
Once you have a plan for the intervention and for the recovery process, it is important to have the intervention as soon as possible – there is no good time.  Be loving in your approach and don’t make them feel cornered or attacked.  While the goal of the intervention is get your loved to seek help, realize that is must also be self-motivated.  The role of family and friends is to help them see their need for help and then provide strong, loving support as they begin this difficult journey of recovery.

Substance Abuse is a growing problem worldwide.  With unsecure borders and ever growing drug cartels, the availability of drugs is greater than ever.  However, with the help of addiction treatment many former addicts are able to go back to leading happy, successful lives.  Although, one can’t help but wonder what would happen if such treatment was no longer available?  What kind of strain would it put on the economy and society as a whole?
One obvious consequence of a world without addiction treatment is that there would be more drug addicts.  More addicts would mean more money going to drug dealers and cartels, as well as funding terrorism.  That would also mean there would be less money going to help to legitimate business and our communities.  There would be less money going to schools for extracurricular activities or to keeping national parks open or improving roads.  Not to mention increased wealth, could also mean an increase in power and control for those selling the drugs.
On a societal level, we would see a dramatic increase in drug related crime; more fights and deaths over drugs, as well as accidents caused by addicts driving under the influence.  There would also be an increase in drug related deaths and suicides as the drugs slowly take control over people’s brains .  We would also see a dramatic rise in health care costs as liabilities and health care costs associated with drug use go up.  More people would either on the street or in state or privately run facilities once their bodies, and more specifically their brains, could no longer take the consistent drug use.
Without addiction treatment our country, even our world, could not handle the health implications much less the financial burden that such a situation would create.  Substance abuse treatment is an important part of our global society; to help keep our communities in check and give deserving people a second chance.

It is a common misconception that once an addict has received a drug alcohol intervention and is enrolled in a rehab program, the hard part is over and it is all uphill from there.  However, in reality, the struggle has only just begun.  Once rehabilitation has started, the addict must deal with not only living a sober, drug free life, but also change the way they think and react to life.  Thus, change management intervention is an essential part of the rehabilitation process.
Through change management intervention, addicts receive assistance in reforming their lives on every level; socially, financially, and emotionally .  There are several different methods of change management intervention that vary based on the number and type of people involved, as well as the approach.  Some methods include many different therapist, doctors, and family members to help the addict return to their former life.  Each method also varies in structure; some are very rigid, for those who have been addicted for a while or are having a hard time coming off, and some are more flexible, for those who are further along in the recovery process.  The common factor in all change management interventions is setting a goal.  By setting a goal the addict has something to work for and together, with their therapist or doctor, they can develop each of the steps they will need to take to their goal.  From day to day tasks, to getting a job and learning to be responsible, change management intervention helps addicts to reshape their lives apart from drugs and alcohol.
Change management intervention is vital to the recovery process.  The addict not only has accountability to help them stay on track but also a step by step guide to help them reach their goal of living a happy, successful life.

There are two methods for getting an addict to go to drug rehab.  The first method is to force them to go against their will.  This method is not highly preferred or effective.  Until the addict is able to see their problem for them self, they won’t see the changes that need to be made.  It could also create more anger and possibly make the situation worse.
The second option is for the addict to choose to go to rehab of their own free will.  This method is much more effective because the addict realizes that there is a problem and that there are changes that need to be made.  However, that does not mean that the family is not involved.  They are often that first step in encouraging an addict to seek help.
A drug intervention is usually one of the first things a family can do is to research drug rehabs.  Find a facility that will fit the age and personality of your loved one.  If they enjoy being outdoors, find one that emphasis outdoor activities.  If they enjoy the arts, there are many that offer art or acting classes.  With thousands of facilities nationwide, there is no end to the possibilities.  If they see the facility as a positive experience, they will be more willing to go and learn.
Once you have decided on a facility, bring the family and friends together for an intervention.  It is very important to plan the intervention in advance, so that it will go as smoothly as possible.  Throughout the intervention express in a loving and supportive manner that they have a problem, that you care about them and want them to get help, and that there is hope.
Once they agree to go, it is important to act fast.  Call the rehab facility you have chosen and get them in as soon as possible.  The longer you wait the more likely they will be to change their mind about going.
The important thing to remember is, even if they don’t agree to go the first time, don’t give up.  While it is imperative that the family be a loving, strong support system, getting better is ultimately a decision that the addict will have to make, but you can be there to help them when they are ready to take that next step.

A clue to explain how cocaine becomes addictive has emerged and may lead to new ways to treat the addiction.

Research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that an epigenetic mechanism in the brain helps explain cocaine’s addictiveness. Epigenetics is a hot, new branch of science that focuses on changes to gene expression even though a gene’s sequence remains unchanged. Epigenetic changes are thought to be largely triggered by environmental factors, such as diet, substance abuse and toxic exposures.

In a study using mice, researchers led by Dr. Eric J. Nestler of Mount Sinai School of Medicine gave one group of mice repeated doses of cocaine and another group repeated doses of saline with a final dose of cocaine to determine how the effects of repeated cocaine exposure differ from one-time exposure. They found that one mechanism by which cocaine alters the pleasure circuits in the brain is by repressing an enzyme called G9A that plays an important role in epigenetic control of gene expression. When the researchers reversed the cocaine-induce repression of G9A, they found they could block changes in gene expression and prevent the preference for cocaine.  Read more…