It sounds easy enough, right? Your loved one is having problems that are caused by heroin use or abuse of opiate painkillers so the simple solution seems to be to just stop. If only it were that easy.

Unfortunately, addiction is a powerful and insidious disease that affects both the brain and the body. Addicts often feel completely controlled by their drug of choice and driven by nothing but getting and staying high. Should they stray from this single-minded task, their body will revolt in the form of devastating withdrawal symptoms and mentally they will fight overwhelming cravings, agitation and more.

A medical opiate detox is the only recommended and safe way to address the issue, but one method – rapid opiate detox – may be just as deadly as the disease it is attempting to “cure.”

Safe and Responsible Detox

Though many believe that one opiate detox is like the next, the fact is that there are a number of different methods that are used to help patients break free from opiate dependence – and they are not all created equal. The options include:

• Rapid detox. Under anesthesia, patients remain unconscious and given medication until they are physically free of their opiate dependence. In some cases, a blood transfusion may be used to speed up the process – though this is rarely used in the United States.
• Medicated detox. Patients are given a “replacement” medication under strict supervision, usually methadone or buprenorphine, that allows them to bypass most of the withdrawal symptoms. They are still addicted to opiates, but they lower their dose in a slow and controlled fashion in order to make the process more manageable.
• Natural detox. No addictive medications are used in a natural or drug-free detox, though the patient may be prescribed non-addictive medication in order to stay as comfortable as possible until withdrawal symptoms pass.

Each week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) releases a “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,” and incidences of opiate detox that result in harm or death to the addict are frequently included in those reports. In fact, in a single week, three adverse reactions to rapid opiate detox were reported. According to the report, three patients at an outpatient treatment facility experienced negative effects after going through a rapid anesthesia-assisted detox; each of these patients required hospitalization, and one of them died. As a result, the clinic was ordered to stop performing this method of detox, which has been shown time and again to be deadly at worst and ineffective at best.

A Safe Detox

The safest and quickest detox is a supervised one in which non-addictive medications are used, and the patient is carefully monitored at all times. Round-the-clock supervision that addresses any complications as they arise, provides emotional support, and begins the process of therapeutic recovery is advised.

Additionally, it is important to note that detox is not enough to treat opiate addiction. If your loved one is dependent on heroin or prescription painkillers, intensive addiction treatment that addresses the psychological dependence is necessary. Call now to find out more about your options in opiate rehab here at Alta Mira today.

A recent article in Mother Jones magazine provides a telling timeline that details all of the ways that big pharmaceutical companies have protected the drugs that are used to make meth over the years. Dating from 1980 to present day, the timeline details such events as the federal government’s stricter regulations surrounding phenyl-2-propanone, one of the drugs commonly used to make meth, and the subsequent substitution of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine for this substance by meth makers.

The latest event that the timeline chronicles is the recent attempt at legislation in 24 states that would turn pseudoephedrine from an over-the-counter drug into a prescription drug, and the recent defeat of all but one of the bills.

Are the pharmaceutical companies stopping these laws from being put into effect? Should the substances used to make crystal meth be made illegal? Should they be classified as prescription substances? These are ongoing debates in different forums across the country, and it looks like these arguments will continue for a while longer. In the meantime, however, people are struggling with dependence upon the drug. For families where crystal meth addiction is an issue, the primary concern is protecting their loved one.

What Is Methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine, commonly called “meth,” “crystal” or “crystal meth,” is a synthetic stimulant that is used for recreational purposes, illegal for use for any purpose in this country, and highly addictive. Meth is typically produced in makeshift laboratories and is almost as dangerous to make as it is to take. While meth ingredients can vary from one manufacturer to another – a fact that makes taking the drug even riskier because a person can never be quite sure what he or she is ingesting – common ingredients include:

• Sodium hydroxide (lye)
• Hydrochloric acid
• Butane lighter fluid
• Brake fluid
• Drano
• Ether
• Ephedrine, commonly found in many over-the-counter cold/sinus/allergy medications
• Matches
• Iodine
• Anhydrous ammonia

Methamphetamine Abuse

When a person first uses methamphetamine, he or she may feel wide awake, focused, euphoric and happy to spend hours working on a single project. Unfortunately, with long-term usage, the effect that methamphetamine has on the brain and body changes, and users experience a host of negative symptoms and issues, including:

• Violent, aggressive behavior or outbursts
• Psychosis
• Hallucinations
• Changes in mood
• Delusions
• Paranoia
• Increased risk of homicide
• Increased risk of suicide

If someone you love is using meth, don’t ignore the problem. Meth is a devastating drug that significantly alters the lives of users for the worse. Learn more about the treatment options that are available to your family member here at Alta Mira right now when you contact us at the phone number listed above.

Why do people abuse prescription drugs? How can we best identify and treat the disorder before it ends the patient’s life? How can we help families to heal? These questions and more are often the foci of today’s addiction research. Dependence upon opiates has become such a significant issue that government agencies and the medical and psychological communities have all banded together to pool their efforts in order to better understand the disorder.

A recent study published in the journal Addictive Behaviors sought to better understand the differentiations between different groups of opioid users. Recreational users of painkillers and those who develop a dependence while using the drugs to manage pain may have different needs in treatment, just as they had different reasons for reaching an addictive level of use of these drugs. Better understanding of these differences can provide for more directed treatment and increased success among patients in recovery.

The Study

Participants of the study were split into two groups: those who participated in non-medical opioid use for pain-related reasons and those who participated in non-medical opioid use for recreational reasons. In order to understand the differences between these groups, participants were asked to answer a survey in which they reported their reasons for using opiate medications.

The study found that 66 percent of participants who admitted to engaging in non-medical opioid abuse did so for reasons other than pain management and that those who used opioids for non-pain-related reasons were more prone to heavier usage of opioids.

The most important finding was that, among the participants who sought treatment, those who had reported non-medical use of opioids for recreational uses tended to have more serious problems with substance abuse and worse mental health during the treatment process. These issues often proved detrimental to their ability to stay in treatment or overcome addiction, which makes it crucial that those who abuse opiate drugs like OxyContin and Vicodin get the support they need to address mental health issues and long-term substance abuse in drug rehab.

Getting Sober: Anyone Can Do It

Studies such as these can often make those who are struggling with addiction feel even more hopeless about their situations. After all, this and countless other studies like it clearly indicate that certain people will have a harder time with treatment and recovery than others, and those who fall into the “certain people” category often feel discouraged and disheartened as a result.

In truth though, it doesn’t matter what the studies say. With the right support, treatment resources, and enough time spent in active recovery followed by long-term follow-up care, anyone can overcome their dependence upon drugs and alcohol. It just takes perseverance and continued effort – and it can start with a phone call.

If you’re ready to find the treatment services that can help your loved one heal, call now to get more information about our unique rehab program here at Alta Mira. We’re standing by to assist your loved one in the healing process.

To many people, drinking seems like something that men do. Increasingly, however, frequent drinking is becoming associated with women. The all too common image of the tired man cracking open “a cold one” is being replaced by the flustered mom putting the kids to bed and pouring a nice glass of wine. In fact, there are a bevy of advertisements that tout alcohol as a way for women to indulge and let loose, but unfortunately, alcohol use isn’t really as innocuous as advertisers would like you to believe.

Alcohol Hits Women Harder

While there are definitely women who drink to escape some of the tough realities of being wives and mothers, many other women drink to prove or assert themselves in the workplace – to show they can “hang with the big boys.” Just as the advertising image of the tired mom relaxing with a glass (or bottle) of wine is common, so is the image of the strong, self-assured working woman who can (and does) drink all the men under the table.

Women though just aren’t as equipped to deal with alcohol use as men are. While chronic alcohol abuse is damaging to both men and women, studies show that women typically develop alcohol-related health problems sooner and at lower drinking levels than men. This is due in large part to the fact that women tend to weigh less than men and their bodies have lower water content.

Understanding the Health Risks

Not only does alcohol tend to hit women harder, causing them to get drunk more quickly and suffer ill effects more quickly but, as mentioned above, it also causes them to show the telltale signs of alcohol-related health problems sooner than men do. Some of the worries women who drink heavily have include:

• An increased risk of heart disease (the risk is much greater for women who drink than it is for men who drink)
• An increased risk of breast cancer
• An increased risk for fertility problems or troubles in pregnancy

Don’t Believe the Lies

It is important for women to stop paying attention to the ads they see on television and in magazines and to view alcohol for what it truly is – a destructive force that has the power to wreck a woman’s life. Alcoholism not only leads to health problems, but it can also lead to family, relationship and even parenting problems – a far cry from the pretty picture painted by advertisers. Women who are concerned about how much and/or how often they are drinking are encouraged to seek professional help.

Need more information on what kind of treatment services are most appropriate for you or a heavy drinker in your life? Contact us at Alta Mira now.

Most people are aware that driving while intoxicated or while under the influence of alcohol is a serious matter, one that can and all too often does have deadly consequences. Many people are unaware, however, that driving while under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs is an equally serious, if not more serious problem, in the United States.

In fact, a recent study conducted by researchers at Columbia University and published in HealthDay, reports that drivers who test positive for drug use have a three times as likely chance of being involved in a fatal automobile accident than drivers who do not test positive.

To make matters worse, many people who test positive for drug use also test positive for concurrent alcohol use, and those who abuse both drugs and alcohol before driving have a 23-fold increased risk of being in a fatal car accident.

Stats and Facts: Drugged Driving Is Deadly

HealthDay reported the following statistics:

• About 32 percent of drivers involved in fatal car accidents tested positive for the use of at least one drug.
• Depressants were the drugs most commonly associated with fatal car accidents.
• Stimulants were the second most commonly associated drugs with fatal car accidents.
• Narcotic and marijuana use were also found to be associated with fatal car accidents.
• About 57 percent of drivers involved in fatal car accidents tested positive for alcohol use.
• Approximately 20 percent of drivers involved in fatal car accidents tested positive for both alcohol and drug use.

Prescription Drugs: Understanding the Risks

In addition to potentially contributing to dangerous or even fatal accidents, prescription drugs can also lead to drug abuse and addiction. For this reason, those who are prescribed medications for a mental disorder, chronic pain, or some other option are encouraged to talk with their doctors about alternative treatments that do not involve the use of prescription medication. If there are no suitable alternatives, users of prescription drugs are strongly encouraged to talk with their doctors in order to understand the proper use of their medications, including how long after taking the medication they may operate motor vehicles. In order to avoid accidents, addiction and other issues associated with prescription drug use, all users of prescription medications should take their medications according exactly to the package instructions.

When to Seek Help

If someone you know regularly uses prescription drugs before getting behind the wheel of the car, know that this is an indicator that the person may have a serious drug problem. If a drug problem does exist, professional help to overcome the problem is absolutely necessary. Without help, the person runs the risk of injuring himself or herself as well as others on the road.

Find out how we can assist your loved one in jumpstarting their recovery here at Alta Mira. Call now to begin.

It’s no surprise that prescription drug abuse and the overdoses that often go along with this abuse have become a major problem – one that affects people of all ages and from all walks of life – in recent years. While almost any prescription drug runs the risk of being abused, the most commonly abused prescription medications are opioids and benzodiazepines.

As if the problems associated with abusing these drugs weren’t enough, researchers are now learning that some people are engaging in a practice known as “bridging medications.” This practice is one utilized by those with addictions to other drugs; these addicts will use prescription medications only when they need to minimize the withdrawal symptoms associated with not being able to acquire and/or use their drug of choice.

Of course, “bridging” is incredibly dangerous since the person’s body and overall health are likely already damaged due to the abuse of the preferred substance, meaning that adding a new drug into the mix could prove to be more than the body could handle. Furthermore, some people who engage in “bridging” may develop a secondary addiction to prescription medications, causing an even more serious and difficult to deconstruct problem with addiction.

The Most Dangerous Risk of All

Obviously, the most dangerous risk associated with “bridging medications” is overdose. Overdose is especially likely if the prescription drug contains some of the same ingredients as the drug abuser’s preferred substance. Additionally, individuals who are not familiar with prescription drugs and who are simply using them to escape withdrawal symptoms are at an even higher risk of overdose. The only way to prevent an overdose death in someone you care about is to seek professional help for him or her. Don’t think that prescription drug overdose isn’t common; it definitely is common. For proof, just consider these statistics reported by Medscape:

• In 2006, 2.6 million Americans admitted to abusing prescription drugs.
• Prescription drug abuse is the type of drug abuse most likely to result in overdose.
• There were 22,400 drug abuse overdose deaths in 2005. Opioid painkillers were the most frequent cause of overdose deaths and accounted for more than 38 percent of these deaths.
• Depressants, opioids and antidepressants (prescription drugs) are responsible for more deaths than cocaine, amphetamines, heroin and methamphetamine combined.
• In 2007, fentanyl, a prescription medication, killed more than 1,000 Americans.

Unraveling Addictions

Cessation of use of all substances is the first step to recovery. Detox, however, is not recommended without the supervision of medical professionals. Additionally, detox alone is not enough to address the issue of “bridging medications.” Psychotherapeutic treatment is perhaps even more critical and will help the patient to remain sober for the long-term.

Need more information? Contact us at Alta Mira today.