Prescription drugs and pain seem to go together like baseball and hot dogs, but unlike the latter, the former is anything but healthy – when used indiscriminately or for too long. The fact is that overuse of prescription drugs can put you into a self-defeating loop.

Here’s what can happen. You have pain, so you take prescription drugs to relieve it. This works for a while, but you figure, what the heck, I’ll just continue to take the meds so I don’t feel the pain. Over time, however (and how much time is different for everyone), the drugs don’t seem to work as well as they once did. You begin taking them more frequently, maybe even doubling up the dose.

Now you’re in a routine: take the meds, the effect wears off and you feel pain again, take more meds, pain comes back quicker, take more meds…until you can’t get the pain relief any longer. You may search out new medications or combine what you have with other drugs, legal and illegal. What you don’t take into consideration is the cumulative effect of too much medication, too frequently. Another danger is side effects. Taking prescription drugs in combination with alcohol is a really dangerous mix. Talk about adding fuel to the fire. Not only have you put yourself into a bad situation by taking pain medications pretty much non-stop, but you may become addicted to them as well.

What Happens When You Try to Cut Down or Quit

Once you’ve become accustomed to using the prescription drugs to wipe out your pain, you’ve settled into a routine that’s one definitely not recommended by your doctor. You’ve likely found that out when you tried to renew your pain medication prescription and your doctor says it’s only supposed to be used for a limited amount of time. What do you do? You find another doctor, one who knows nothing about your past use of the drugs – and you give him your tale of woe about pain and how you can’t stand it. And viola, your new doctor writes you a script for painkillers.

What have you really accomplished? You already know that continuing to take the pain pills is proving counter-productive. And you may even tell yourself that you’re going to cut down the amount or quit entirely – after this prescription is filled.
Little glimmers of what you feel when you don’t get your dose when you feel you need it is enough to send shivers up your spine just thinking about quitting cold turkey. How will you be able to stand the pain? You never stop to think that you’ve singled out painkillers as a crutch that’s easy for you to use. It doesn’t take any effort on your part to manage your pain in healthier ways. You just pop a pill and go about your business.

Except that it doesn’t work that way any longer. Now you are dependent upon the pain pills just to get through the day. Repeated use of the prescription drugs causes the body to adapt. This may result in the body developing a tolerance to the drug. That means that the individual using the drug requires more of it more often in order to achieve the desired effect (the effect achieved when the person first started taking the drugs).

Repeated exposure can also result in withdrawal symptoms when you abruptly stop taking the drug. Withdrawal symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe and include:

• Restlessness
• Muscle and bone pain
• Insomnia
• Diarrhea
• Cold flashes with goose bumps (commonly called “cold turkey”)
• Involuntary leg movements

While the decision to stop taking prescription drugs for pain is well-intentioned, it shouldn’t be attempted without medical supervision. You should never just stop taking your meds – whether you’ve been going from doctor to doctor to get them or not. It’s just too dangerous. Going through withdrawal for opioid dependence and addiction may be so uncomfortable that you give up the effort and immediately go back to using the drugs. But taking too much at once of opioids, for example, which already produces drowsiness, causes constipation, and can depress breathing, may result in severe respiratory depression or death. So this is definitely not something you want to tackle on your own.

Still, you need to wean yourself off the prescription drugs for pain. How should you do so in a safe manner? The solution is to go for treatment.

First Step: See the Doctor

Let’s take the example of an elderly person with severe arthritis pain who’s been taking opioids to relieve it. Along with the arthritis, the individual has other age-related conditions or medical problems that require daily doses of other medications. Unable to sleep through the night, the person may take sedatives. Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease may also be present, causing the individual to forget when he or she took certain meds or mixing them up, doubling the dose, or taking them all at once.

Family members notice the change in their loved one. Grandpa or Mom seems to be out of it all the time. They have trouble with motor functions and they seem to have trouble with their cognitive skills. Upon examination of all the prescription bottles on the counter, in the medicine cabinet, or around the house, the family members try talking with the loved one to find out what’s being taken for what condition. If Grandpa of Mom is in a diminished capacity, the family members may – with good reason – urge a visit to the doctor.

This is a wise course of action. The doctor needs to know exactly what the patient has been taking. The family member should accompany Grandpa or Mom to the doctor and bring along a complete list of all medications – or, better yet, bring all the containers.

Some drugs may no longer be needed, or the doctor could determine that certain drugs are working at cross-purposes with others. He or she could prescribe some that won’t produce negative interactions. If the doctor determines that Grandpa or Mom are dependent upon or addicted to prescription drugs for pain, a referral to a treatment facility may be in order.

Be prepared for the reaction from Grandpa or Mom when and if the doctor recommends treatment to wean them off drugs. Insist that the doctor tell your loved one in no uncertain terms what can happen if he or she continues to take these prescription drugs in a manner not prescribed. Call it scare tactics or just common sense, but someone needs to set your loved one straight.

If you are the person who is dependent or addicted, that’s all the more reason why you need the cold, hard facts about the self-defeating loop of taking prescription drugs for pain.

Look at the Big Picture

No one wants to live in a fog. No one wants interminable, unbearable pain either. Getting past the immediate circumstance takes action and outside professional assistance. It’s not an easy decision to make for many. There are many considerations often cited why a person can’t or won’t go in for treatment.

• It’s too expensive
• Insurance doesn’t cover it or there’s no insurance
• Can’t take off from work
• Don’t need treatment – I’m not addicted
• Embarrassment or shame
• Stigma associated (or perceived as such) with drug dependence or addiction
• I can do it on my own
• No one tells me how to run my life
• I’m not going to a place with a bunch of drug addicts
• I don’t want to give up drugs

Countering these objections may take some time. While you can’t force someone into treatment – unless it’s court-ordered or the family delivers an ultimatum (which may or may not be agreed to) – it may feel like you’re forcing it on your loved one. You actually are, and for his or her best interest.

Anyone entering treatment to overcome dependence, abuse, or addiction to prescription drugs for pain should take the long view. Look at the big picture. Life the way it currently is will only deteriorate further. The downward spiral of constant misuse of or addiction to prescription drugs will rob the user of vitality, physical and mental health, quality of life – even life itself. You or your loved one who’s been relying on these meds for pain need to look at what your life can be like without being dependent on drugs. First, you need to get them out of your system. Then you need to learn how to manage your life without the meds. Learning healthier ways to manage pain is part of the treatment process.

It’s certainly worth considering. And, in the long run, it’s a lot less expensive. Complicating conditions caused by drug interactions or overdose can easily run up hospital and doctor bills and further speed up the downward spiral.
Who wants that? Taking the big picture into consideration, a little time spent now in treatment doesn’t seem like too much to go through to come out on the other side in a healthier state, does it?

Figuring Out the Basics

How you go about getting yourself or your loved one into treatment is not particularly difficult. Ask your doctor for a referral or involve your family members in your search. A good place to start your research, if you want to check it out on your own, is the Treatment Facility Locator (http://dasis3.samhsa.gov/) website maintained by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). You can search by state or do a more advanced search to find drug and alcohol treatment programs at facilities across the United States. You can also call their toll-free treatment referral helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

If money is tight, use the Detailed Search or List Search options on the treatment facility locator and check the boxes for “sliding fee scale” and “payment assistance.” Then call the facilities to inquire about their programs for more detail.
The locator also has listings for state substance abuse agencies (http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ufds/abusedirectors) that include name and address, phone and fax numbers, email and links to websites (if applicable).

You – or your family members – can research facilities and check with your doctor to see if he or she recommends one over the other or has referred patient there in the past, or research ones that the doctor has already recommended.
Once you find a particular treatment facility or facilities that appear to meet your needs, get more information directly from the facility either online, by telephone, or requesting that it be mailed to you. Definitely ask all the questions you need answers to. There’s no sense committing to a treatment program if it’s not going to fit your requirements. It’s also a good idea to visit the facility to see it firsthand – before you decide to go there for treatment.

Look for a treatment facility that’s certified and whose practitioners carry the appropriate licenses and credentials. Other things to pay attention to include:

• Types of treatment offered
• Drug detox services (whether available on-site or off-site)
• Cost of treatment
• Insurance coverage or payment plans accepted
• Facility’s treatment success rate
• Availability of aftercare or continuing care
• Special groups treated (including age, gender, other demographics)
• Typical length of stay

Looking Forward to Recovery

After completing treatment for abuse, dependence, or addiction to prescription drugs for pain, what can you expect? While you will have learned a great deal about how to manage your life without abusing drugs, you will still need the support and encouragement of others as you begin your early days, weeks, and months of recovery. As part of your recovery plan, the one you created with your therapist during treatment, you will likely be attending 12-step group meetings on a regular basis. These groups can provide a lifeline for newcomers to recovery, especially when situations occur that may otherwise precipitate a return to using.

You will also more than likely have some follow-up care as part of your treatment program. This may include ongoing counseling or referrals to other agencies or sources for help. Be sure to take advantage of all such services made available to you.

Family is another critical factor in your recovery. They want you to be healthy and happy and drug-free. They, along with your 12-step sponsor and fellow group members, will serve as your support network.

No one recovers alone. A successful recovery requires a caring and continuous support network. The ability to develop resilience, to learn how to bounce back from daily stresses and challenges, is necessary for long-term effective recovery. Having others to talk with who’ve been through the same types of challenges after overcoming a problem with prescription drugs for pain can help you as well. What strategies and techniques worked for them in times of crisis or stress may also work for you, or you could perhaps adapt them to fit your situation and circumstances.

If you’re thinking about doing something to overcome your dependence on prescription drugs for pain, now is the best time to get started. The journey to recovery begins with the first step. Take that step now. Make the decision to get help. Learn how to manage your pain in ways that don’t involve overuse or misuse of prescription drugs. This will involve a change in lifestyle that may be much more pleasant than you imagine. Meditation, yoga, learning new hobbies, acupuncture, and therapeutic massage are just a few of the things that others have found helps them better manage their pain.

Help is available. Are you ready to accept it?

Prescription Drugs and Pain: the Self-Defeating Loop is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

When you have a loved one or someone you care about that is addicted, it’s often frustrating and confusing to figure out why. What caused the addiction? You worry that it may be something that you did or didn’t do. You rack your brain trying to think of what happened recently that may have contributed to the addiction. You agonize over whether you could have seen the clues ahead of time so that you could do something to prevent it.

So, why does someone become addicted? Here are some answers.

No One Chooses to Be Addicted

Addiction is not a choice a person makes, just as no one chooses to have cancer or heart disease. And addiction is a chronic disease, with symptoms, onset, course of progress, and outcome. One thing you don’t want to do is ascribe blame to the person who is addicted, since he or she did not make the choice to become addicted.

It is true, however, that the decision to take drugs in the first place is generally a voluntary decision. But drug use changes the structure and functioning of the brain so that, over time, repeated drug use can affect a person’s self control and ability to make the right decision. At the same time, the brain, which is now changed, also sends strong impulses to seek and take drugs.

Many people mistakenly believe that if a person wants to quit drugs, they should just be able to do so. It’s not that simple. If it were, no one would remain addicted. Quitting drug abuse is much more than just a matter of willpower.

Risk Factors for Addiction

There is also no single factor that explains why one person becomes addicted to drugs, alcohol, or compulsive behaviors such as gambling, sex, work, or shopping – and another doesn’t. There are, however, several risk factors which play a part in addiction.

• Genetics and Biology

Scientists have discovered that the genes people are born with, along with environmental influences, account for about half of their vulnerability to addiction. In addition, gender, ethnicity, and presence of other mental disorders and/or physical conditions may influence risk for drug abuse and addiction.

• Environment

Environmental influences that may increase the risk for addiction include family and friends, socioeconomic status, and quality of life, among others. In addition, peer pressure, parental involvement, stress, physical and/or sexual abuse greatly influences the onset and course of addiction and drug abuse in a person’s life.

• Developmental Stages

Environmental and genetic factors interact with a person’s developmental stages in a person’s life to affect in a critical way their vulnerability to addiction. Adolescents are faced with a double whammy. Research shows that the earlier a person starts drinking or using drugs, the more likely they are to become addicted, or to have problems with substance abuse and addictive behavior later in life. And because adolescents’ brains are still developing in areas that govern decision-making, judgment, and self-control, they are especially prone risky behavior. This includes the temptation and pressure to try drugs of abuse.

Addiction is Treatable

Instead of agonizing over why your loved one became addicted, take comfort in knowing that addiction is treatable. With appropriate professional addiction treatment, a full recovery is possible. It does take time, and the affected individual must commit to the process. Following treatment, your loved one will require strong support from family and friends, since early recovery is the time when they are most vulnerable to relapse.

Why Does Someone Become Addicted? is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

Addiction has plagued civilization for thousands of years, pre-dating the legendary conqueror, Alexander the Great, and the Greek and Roman empires. As long as there have been grapes for wine and ingredients for other liquids for imbibing that brought about an altered state of consciousness – or unconsciousness – addiction has been with us. It’s only in the last few decades that any serious attention has been paid to overcoming addiction. But are we any closer to finding a cure? Is it within the realm of possibility that we can ever cure addiction? And, if we can, will we?

All Addiction Is Not the Same

When you talk about addiction and finding a cure for it, the problem is magnified by the fact that all addiction is not the same. That is, the disease of addiction affects each person in unique ways and depends upon a multitude of factors. Genetics, family history, physical and mental condition, the environment, and a host of other factors play a contributing role in who becomes addicted and who doesn’t.

There’s also the difference between substances abused. Some are literally more addictive than others. For a vulnerable individual, the first encounter with an illicit drug may result in them being hooked – locked into a never-ending drug-seeking, using, and attempting to recover from the effects of the use, and then repeating the pattern all over.
Furthermore, many addicts suffer from multiple addictions, such as alcoholism, illicit and prescription drug abuse, or co-occurring disorder, which is substance abuse and mental health disorder. Combating just one addiction won’t overcome the others.

There’s also the problem of replacement addiction. When one addiction is overcome through treatment, without continuing counseling and an effective support network, those in recovery may quickly fall into a substitute addiction.
Relapse is very common, especially during the first six months of recovery.

Given all this, it’s no wonder that searching for a “cure” for addiction is difficult. If and when a cure is discovered, it will likely be for a narrow subset or a particular addiction. Such a cure will need to go through lengthy clinical trials for efficacy, safety, and effectiveness. Follow-up studies will be required before such a cure can be marketed or made available to the general public.
None of this should deter scientists, medical professionals, addiction specialists, and researchers from continuing to search for ways to unlock the secrets of addiction. But it is a reality that they all recognize.

Smoke and Mirrors

Throughout the past three decades or so, there have been a number of so-called cures for various types of addiction. Some have failed miserably, while others apparently work for a small number of individuals, only later to be proven ineffective or impossible to sustain. Some medications developed to counteract certain effects of withdrawal have been shown to have promise longer term, working, for example, to ease anxiety or depression during the early stages of recovery and enhance the individual’s ability to practice recovery strategies.

There have been potions, extracts from exotic plants, vitamins and herbs that have been touted at one time or another as a cure for everything from gout to anxiety to alcoholism to drug abuse. Before drug regulation and strict controls on advertising claims, if someone had a good idea to promote a product, they could pretty much do what they wanted. The result was a lot of smoke and mirrors – and no real progress toward a cure for addiction.

That all changed, specifically within the last 10 to 15 years. That’s when federal agencies such as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (http://www.nida.nih.gov/), of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), stepped up their efforts to support and help fund research on addiction. NIDA’s stated mission is: “to lead the nation to bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction.”

No more smoke and mirrors. Now the search for effective treatments and medications to end addiction is serious stuff.

The Search Goes On

Addiction is also, without a doubt, a big business. Pharmaceutical companies play a huge role in funding and supporting research (for their products, naturally) that brings promising drugs or therapies closer to marketability. Leading universities, medical professionals, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), private organizations and foundations are all heavily involved and invested in looking for ways to overcome addiction.

Research into alcoholism is conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/), which is also a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIAAA’s mission is to lead in the national effort to reduce alcohol-related problems by:

• Conducting and supporting research in many scientific areas including genetics, epidemiology, neuroscience, health risks and benefits of alcohol consumption, prevention, and treatment

• Coordinating and collaborating with other federal programs and research institutes on alcohol-related problems and issues

• Collaborating with international, national, state, and local agencies, institutes, organizations, and programs engaged in alcohol-related work

• Getting the word out about research findings to the general public, policymakers, researchers, and health care providers
The NIAAA celebrates its 40th anniversary this year (2010), from its beginnings with the Hughes Act of 1970, subsequent growth and establishment as an independent institute in 1974, and highlighting its significant accomplishments, such as the first Fetal Alcohol Syndrome workshop, passage of minimum legal drinking age laws, and launch of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC).

If you want to know what’s going on in the area of clinical trials, check out the lengthy list of clinical trials underway at any given point through ClinicalTrials.gov (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/). This is a registry of federally and privately supported clinical trials conducted in the United States and around the world. The site gives information about a trial’s purpose, who may be eligible to participate, locations, and phone numbers for more details. Studies can be searched by condition, drug intervention, sponsor, and location. During a recent search, some 92,530 trials were underway in 174 countries.

Latest Research

While there’s no cure for addiction yet available, there is promise to report in a number of different areas.

Genes that Influence Brain Wave Patterns

NIAAA scientists have recently identified new genes and pathways that influence a person’s typical pattern of brain electrical activity. This is a trait that may serve as a useful surrogate marker for more genetically complex traits and diseases. One of these genes, for example, is associated with alcoholism.

The study, which was reported in the May 20, 2010 edition of The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is summarized in the NIAAA Spectrum (http://www.spectrum.niaaa.nih.gov/newsfromthefield/GenesBrainWave.aspx). The news magazine reports that one of the paper’s authors, David Goldman, M.D., chief of the NIAAA Laboratory of Neurogenetics, said, “While our main findings are for genes that influence EED wave patterns, this study represents an important step towards the use of EEG as a surrogate marker for alcoholism. It also reveals new molecular pathways involved in addiction processes.” The abstract of the original article, “Genome-wide association identifies candidate genes that influence the human electroencephalogram,” can be found on PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20421487).

NIH-supported Finding on Cocaine Addiction

A recent study funded by NIDA, a component of the NIH, has discovered that a specific and very small fragment of RNA appears to protect rats against cocaine addiction – and may also protect humans. The study, which was published in the journal Nature is summarized on the NIDA news section of its website (http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/10/NR7-07.html).

In essence, the study findings suggest that microRNA-212 plays a pivotal role in regulating rat intake of cocaine, and, perhaps, in the rodent’s vulnerability to addiction. What greatly interests scientists is the fact that the same microRNA-212 is found in the human dorsal striatum, a brain region linked to drug abuse and habit formation (addiction). Paul J. Kenny, senior study author and associate professor at the Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Florida, is even more upbeat, commenting: “The results of this study offer promise for the development of a totally new class of anti-addiction medications. Because we are beginning to map out how this specific microRNA works, we may be able to develop new compounds to manipulate the levels of microRNA-212 therapeutically with exquisite specificity, opening the possibility of new treatments for drug addiction.”

Search for Cocaine Vaccine Has Mixed Results

Another NIDA-supported study on a cocaine vaccine shows promise, but also some mixed results. The study, published in the October 2009 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry is also summarized on the NIDA website (http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/09/NR10-05.html), which says it is “the first successful placebo-controlled demonstration of a vaccine against an illicit drug of abuse.” NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow is quoted as saying: “Provided that larger follow-up studies confirm its safety and efficacy, this vaccine would offer a valuable new approach to treating cocaine addiction, for which no FDA-approved medication is currently available.”

The study’s principal investigator, Dr. Thomas Kosten, of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, said that immunization did not achieve complete abstinence from cocaine use in this study. He did add that, “Previous research has shown…that a reduction in use is associated with a significant improvement in cocaine abusers’ social functioning and thus is therapeutically meaningful.”

The Washington Post, reporting the story January 5, 2010, identified the vaccine as TA-CD and said that, according to Dr. Kosten, “the vaccine…shows promise but could also be dangerous; some of the addicts participating in the study of the vaccine started doing massive amounts of cocaine in hopes of overcoming its effects”.

The 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) shows that 2.1 million Americans used cocaine in the month prior to the survey. After media reports of TA-CD hit, one researcher was deluged with calls from people desperate to get their family members off the cocaine addiction downward spiral. According to the Washington Post story, Margaret Haney, a professor of clinical neuroscience at Columbia University Medical Center who has been researching the cocaine vaccine (although not part of Kosten’s study), said: “They have a mistaken view of how a vaccine might work, thinking of it as magic, where what it’s doing, at best, is blunting the effects. They get very excited, and it’s heartbreaking.”

Anti-Smoking Vaccine on the Near Horizon

Nicotine addiction causes nearly a half million deaths annually in the United States, and many more millions worldwide. After years of research and development into finding effective treatments to help people stay off cigarettes, a promising new anti-smoking vaccine, NicVAX, by Nabi Biopharmaceuticals (http://www.nabi.com/pipeline/pipeline.php?id=3) of Rockville, Maryland, entered the first pivotal Phase III trial stage in November 2009. In March 2010, NicVAX entered the second Phase III study.

NicVAX is an injectable vaccine that is intended to help people quit smoking and keep them from relapsing. Successful completion of the trial will bring the vaccine closer to final approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has already given the drug fast-track status. In order to reach fast-track status, a medication or treatment must first pass the regulatory hurdles showing the proposed drug or treatment is sound.

How it works: Like other vaccines, NicVAX works by boosting the immune system. Here, the goal is to generate antibodies that bind to nicotine. In smoking, normally nicotine is a small molecule that travels quickly through the lungs, bloodstream, and into the brain. NicVAX, by trapping the nicotine in an antibody, makes it too large to get into the brain, thus subverting the effects of the nicotine.

Scientists know that nicotine, once it reaches the brain, activates the release of dopamine, a chemical linked to pleasure and addiction. Once addicted to nicotine, it is very difficult to achieve and sustain abstinence. Complicating matters and triggering relapse are withdrawal symptoms, environmental cues, and stress.

A vaccine that lasts for 6-12 months gives smoker’s a chance to end the addiction/relapse cycle and quit smoking for good. In the future, NicVAX may prove helpful in preventing smoking in the first place.

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, which has been actively researching and developing the anti-smoking vaccine, received a $4.1 million grant from NIDA in 2005, which partially offset the company’s funding requirements for the vaccine development program. In September 2009, Nabi received an additional $10 million in funding from NIDA to continue development. In March 2010, Nabi entered into a worldwide optioning and licensing agreement with GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals.

How Much Longer?

In the search for new medications and treatments that may prove effective for addiction to substances, it is easy to become excited and then disappointed at the progress or stalling of development. It takes many years to get through the rigorous FDA approval process. Safety, efficacy, and effectiveness are primary considerations. That takes years of post-marketing follow-up as well.

Perhaps it’s best to look at a cure for addiction in smaller increments. The potential anti-smoking vaccine may be one of the first to hit the market, thus helping millions of motivated smokers kick the habit for good. Following its release to the public as an anti-smoking cessation aid, further studies into its use for prevention of smoking may follow.

Another potential vaccine that may come to market in the coming years – after further testing and validation of effectiveness in helping cocaine users abstain and sustain abstinence – is the so-called cocaine vaccine.

As for other substances of abuse, as well as process addictions such as compulsive gambling, sex, work, and eating disorders, among others, the outlook for a vaccine or “cure” is quite a bit cloudier.

This is not to say that research won’t continue into many of these areas. But it will take a resounding success in the effectiveness of one “cure” before others may potentially receive funding and/or attention from researchers and developers. After all, R&D costs many millions of dollars and takes years – often without success.

Can we cure addiction? Will we cure addiction? Only time will tell. In the meantime, there are effective treatments that can help motivated individuals overcome their addiction – although they will have to be vigilant for the rest of their lives in order to maintain sobriety in recovery. As addiction treatment professionals say, overcoming addiction is the beginning of a lifetime in recovery.
In other words, if you or someone you love is currently addicted to drugs, alcohol, or compulsive behavior, don’t wait for the “magic bullet” or “cure.” Get into treatment and take charge of your destiny. Should a cure come around in the future, you’ll be that much further ahead.

Can We Cure Addiction? is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

Sometimes being the take-charge individual who has to do everything on his or her own is not the way to go. This is particularly true when it comes to trying to overcome addiction on your own. Chances are you’ll face an uphill battle. But it’s actually more than just a tough road to go: it may be impossible. Here are some things to think about, possible consequences of not getting treatment for addiction.

You Aren’t Your Best Counsel

First of all, let’s be upfront about one thing. If you have an addiction – whether your substance is alcohol, illicit drugs, or prescription drugs used nonmedically, or a compulsive behavior such as gambling, shopping, work, sex, or an eating disorder – you aren’t the one that’s best equipped to give yourself advice. You simply don’t have enough information, aren’t trained in how to overcome the challenges and hurdles, aren’t certified and licensed to treat addiction, and so on.

And, even if you are an addiction professional, if the patient is you, all the more reason why you shouldn’t try to take matters into your own hands.

Again, you aren’t your best counsel. It’s too hard to be able to follow the necessary steps, adhere to appropriate schedules, analyze your own thoughts and motivations, or teach yourself how to cope. That’s why people who really want to get clean and sober and change their lives go into treatment. Why put yourself through unnecessary – and pointless – frustration by trying to do it on your own? Go into treatment. It’s the best chance you will ever have to put your life back in order.

Access to the Facts

Let’s say that you are a strong-willed person who is used to doing research, making educated decisions, following things through to a conclusion. These are terrific skills, but it still doesn’t mean that you should avoid going into treatment. You can access a wealth of information through various means, the Internet being the most readily available, and still have nothing but a lot of facts – without context. It takes a licensed and certified professional – actually, a staff of professionals – to do the necessary interviewing and assessment, create a personalized treatment plan, and get you into detoxification, if required, and progress to active treatment. There’s also relapse prevention training and preparation of a recovery plan – none of which you should do on your own.

What you can do, in preparation of getting treatment, is to research addiction treatment facilities in your area. Find out the specifics, including whether they specialize in treating your particular addiction, multiple addictions (such as drug and alcohol abuse), or co-occurring disorder (such as substance abuse and a mental health disorder). Make a list of the treatment facilities (residential and outpatient) within easy access and go to their websites to learn more about their treatment philosophy, staff, licensing and credentials of personnel, go through the Q&A, find out about costs, how much insurance pays for, whether or not the facility offers sliding-scale or ability-to-pay arrangements or other financial assistance, including scholarships or grants.
Where should you start to find an addiction treatment facility? The best place is the Treatment Facility Locator (http://dasis3.samhsa.gov/) maintained through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). You can also call their toll-free treatment facility referral helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. There is no charge for this service, and all calls are confidential. When you are serious about getting treatment for your addiction, streamline the process by doing this important fact-finding step first. That is very much something that you can do on your own. Then, you need to put yourself into the capable hands of the professionals.

Tomorrow Is Not Always Another Day

We are such an incredible species. We are intelligent, resourceful, curious, stubborn, independent – and prone to self-deception, procrastination, denial, finger-pointing and a few other negative traits along the way. While every person is unique in both their addiction, there is one thing each has in common: addiction is something we really don’t want to deal with. We tell ourselves that we’re not addicted, that we have it under control, that it really isn’t that big of a problem, that we’re not hurting anyone, and a dozen other excuses. And that’s really what they all are. There’s no truth to any of it. Telling ourselves these distortions of the truth, half-truths, and outright lies is just another way to put off doing what we need to do – and that is, to get into treatment.

When it comes to facing reality, most addicts, and those dependent on a particular substance or compulsive behavior, find many other pressing duties or activities that demand their time and attention. Taking care of themselves, getting sufficient momentum going to actually do something positive to overcome addiction, just isn’t in the cards. Maybe tomorrow, we tell ourselves, only half believing the words.

Here’s what happens the longer we avoid facing the reality: We get worse. Statistics show that, without treatment, addiction is a progressive and debilitating disease that may result in death. If you think that’s out of the realm of possibility, think again. Whether the addiction is alcoholism (where you can die from cirrhosis of the liver, heart disease, or other physical complications and conditions), or prescription drugs used nonmedically (where you overdose or suffer drug interactions), or gambling (where you may become so distraught and filled with self-loathing, remorse, and despair that you commit suicide), or any other addiction, death – or serious and debilitating complications – are a very real potential outcome.

Others Will Undoubtedly Suffer

Addiction treatment professionals say that addiction is a family disease. What does this mean? It doesn’t mean that everyone in the family is an addict – although in many instances, there are numerous addictions within the same family. It does mean that when one family member has an addiction, everyone else in the family suffers as well.

Let’s take a look at how this works. Perhaps the wife and mother is an alcoholic, or pops pills to be able to get through the day. Originally, she may have needed prescription medication as the result of an accident or injury, or to combat depression or anxiety. She may have found that a cocktail helps ease the stress and tension of work and taking care of the family. Maybe she combines alcohol and medication without thinking.

Over time, the combination of alcohol and medication, or too much of alcohol or medication, isn’t enough to dull the pain, take away the anxiety, smooth out the stress. She takes it more often, and increases the amount. Pretty soon – sooner than you think – she’s so dependent on the alcohol or pills (or both), she can’t function without them. After more time passes, she’s completely addicted. She may want to, or try to, wean herself off them, but can’t take the withdrawal (nausea, pain, headaches, jitteriness, anxiety, depression – the list goes on). She goes right back to her drug(s) of choice.

What do you think happens in the family when all this is going on? The husband and children gradually notice that something’s not right. Things aren’t being taken care of like they should be: meals aren’t on time, or are haphazard, the house isn’t clean and orderly any longer, the wife/mother’s appearance begins to suffer, and emotional outbursts may become common, and so on. When questioned, the wife may lie to her husband about drinking or taking pills. She probably hides the booze and medicine all over the house and will become hysterical if it is discovered and destroyed.

The children no longer want to have their friends over, fearing their mother will embarrass them or create a spectacle. They may no longer trust their own mother, since she begins to act in more bizarre ways, can’t be relied upon, and shouts and screams at them. The husband probably notices a distancing on the part of his wife. She’s no longer loving and receptive sexually. She may exhibit coldness or an aloofness, or suspicion and jealousy. Money may start disappearing. Bills are no longer paid on time. The family may suffer financial collapse, especially if another addiction that’s been added to the wife/mother’s list is gambling.
It’s easy to see that one person’s addiction, in this example, has an adverse effect on all the members of the family. Again, it doesn’t matter who has the addiction – husband/father, wife/mother, child, sibling, grandparent, aunt or uncle – if the person who’s addicted resides in the household, everyone suffers. It also doesn’t matter what the addition is. Addiction is a family disease: everyone in the family suffers. Without treatment, they will not only continue to suffer, but the suffering will get worse as addition progresses.

Time Is Not On Your Side

Another negative consequence of not getting treatment for addiction is that time is not on your side. Without treatment, you more than likely can’t overcome your addiction on your own. That’s not to say it’s totally impossible – some people can and do overcome addiction without going into formal treatment. They may make do with self-help books, going to 12-step meetings, and sheer strength of will. But it very rarely happens.

Do you want take that chance? After all the heartache and self-doubt and anxious nights and tortuous cravings and urges, do you really want to go through this alone? Worse yet, are you willing to allow your life – and that of your family – do continue to spiral downward as a result of your addiction?

Sure, it takes time to go through treatment. Depending on your type of addiction, how long you’ve been addicted, how frequently and how much you use, your physical and mental health, family history, environmental, genetic, and other factors, it may take 90 days to six months to a year before you are in recovery. Actual treatment times vary greatly. Since a treatment plan is tailored to each patient, there is no one-size-fits-all type of program. This is true whether the treatment takes place at a residential addiction treatment center, an inpatient hospital setting, or an outpatient facility.

Some types of addiction can be effectively treated on an outpatient basis. Those patients who require detoxification should have that done only under close medical supervision at a licensed detoxification facility. Many residential treatment centers have detox facilities on-site. You can’t go into the active treatment phase until you are clean of the addictive substance (alcohol or drugs). In some cases, medication may be prescribed to help ease the withdrawal symptoms you may experience during detoxification. This is another reason why you need close medical supervision and why you should never attempt detox on your own. You can’t prescribe yourself medication and you likely won’t go through detox by yourself if you have to suffer the withdrawal symptoms – which can range from mild to moderate to severe (and life-threatening, in the case of alcoholism).
Can you afford the time away from your job, family, and friends? Naturally, this would be high on your list of reasons why you can’t go into treatment at this time. But it’s not a good enough reason. If not now, when will be the right time? In fact, when you look at it that way, you’ll never find the time is appropriate to go into treatment. Frankly, you need to get over yourself and your own obsession over controlling what happens. You obviously aren’t in control of your addiction right now. It’s controlling you, and it will only get more demanding as time goes on.

You don’t have time on your side. The sooner you make the decision to go into treatment – and go through with it – the sooner you can resume your life on a clean and sober basis. You need to go through a little pain and discomfort, learn how to cope with cravings and urges, make healthier behavior choices, and plan for and embark upon a new life. You can do all this. But you need to take the all-important first step. You need to admit you have a problem and accept treatment.

You Lose Everything

No one wants to be alone. The thought of losing our family, our friends, and our way of life scares the living daylights out of all of us. When we are the instrument of our own demise, it’s all the worse. The rest of our lives will be spent in self-hatred, self-recrimination, anger, self-destruction, and downward spiral.

Who in their right mind would wish such a future upon themselves? No one would, of course. But it happens all the time when someone pretends their addiction isn’t that bad, that they have it all under control, and that they’ll just gradually cut down or taper off or… fill in the blanks.

The truth is that the longer addiction has a hold on you, the less likely you’re able to think and act clearly. You will find yourself saying and doing things that you’d consider reprehensible if you witnessed it in anyone else. But watching someone else self-destruct and doing it yourself are two different things. When it happens to you, you often never see it coming until it’s too late.

You don’t want to lose everything, do you? Stop what you’re doing and get busy figuring out how to get the help you need.

Next Steps

Once you make the determination that you want to overcome your addiction, you need to take action. Start by doing your research on where to find treatment that may be appropriate for you. Get your finances in order. Talk with your family – your significant other, your parents, siblings – whomever you need to and who will be your immediate support network. Tell them that you have a problem and you want to get help for it. Ask for their encouragement and support as you go through the treatment process and into recovery. The fact is that you can’t make it without support – and a loving family is the best support network you can have.

If there’s a time delay or waiting period before you can get into treatment, don’t let that stop you. Buy books or take them out through the library on overcoming your particular addiction. Learn all you can about the disease. Look up 12-step groups in your area and attend meetings. Start with their websites. Every addiction has a 12-step group, everything from Alcoholics Anonymous to Narcotics Anonymous to Marijuana Anonymous to Gamblers Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Sexaholics Anonymous, and so on. These people are committed to one thing: recovery – yours and theirs. They know what it feels like to be engulfed in compulsive behavior or locked in an endless drug-seeking way of life. They can offer encouragement and support that’s nonjudgmental and asks nothing in return – except for the same type of encouragement, support, and understanding when they may need it. It’s at least a good way to get started on your own personal journey to recovery.

Will you ever be normal again? This is a question many people ask, usually when they’re new to recovery (after they’ve completed treatment to overcome their addiction). It’s perfectly understandable to be anxious and wonder if your life will ever get back to normal. The first few months of recovery can be pretty scary, since this is the time when you’re putting into practice all the things you learned during treatment on how to avoid the people, places, and things that caused you to use, how to cope with cravings and urges, how to establish better communication with family and friends, and how to live a healthier life.

The good news is that you will get better. The longer you are in recovery, the stronger you will get. There will be good days and bad days at first. Over time, you will gain more self-confidence in your abilities, more trust in your decision-making, more pride in your accomplishments. You will look forward to your future, a future that will be of your making according to the plans you’ve put into place.

Will you ever be normal again? For many in recovery, this is the time when they first started to feel normal. For others, it’s the best time in their lives. Why not make this your plan for your future?

Remember the saying from Confucius: “The longest journey begins with the first step.” While it’s appropriate for many things, it’s really apropos with respect to getting treatment for addiction. Begin your recovery journey today by taking that first step. Make the decision to get treatment. Your future awaits you.

Possible Consequences of Not Getting Treatment for Addiction is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

The interesting thing about drug addiction is that it does not play favorites. We may think we can identify the drug user or addict by a specific stereotype, but such an approach will often return erroneous results. Instead, it is better to look for specific signs.

In the case of elderly individuals who are on a number of medications, they could be at a heightened risk for addiction. Let’s examine 20 different signs of addiction that can help loved ones identify a problem that may just be at its start or one dangerously controlling a life.

1. Control in Quantity

A true sign of addiction is when an individual needs more of a substance to achieve a desired effect. The alcoholic will fill a glass more frequently and the drug addicted individual will run through a prescription faster. In the latter example, the increased speed is generally blamed on a physician or pharmacist error or some other excuse rather than an increase in dosage.

2. Hidden Substances

The individual who is using medication prescribed by a physician has nothing to hide. The individual who is drinking when they should not be or consume more of a drug than prescribed will take to hiding medications or bottles of alcohol in odd places. It is important to check in obscure places, but be prepared for tempers if the loved one feels their privacy has been invaded.

3. Things Disappear

It isn’t unusual for things around the house to disappear when there is an addict living within the home. This is especially true for items that hold any type of value and can be sold for cash to acquire more medication. The need for money will appear desperate without obvious cause.

4. Drinking Ahead of Time

It isn’t unusual for the alcohol addicted individual to drink ahead of time before festivities get going. This is often done to make it appear as though they are dinking the same amount as everyone else, when in fact they have consumed far more over the course of the evening.

5. Throwing You Off the Track

Manipulations are not uncommon for those individuals who want to throw people off their scent. Alcoholics will drink alone to show they are not drinking more than others and teen drug users are known to admit to lesser drugs – like marijuana – when bigger drugs are the true issue. What appears to be honesty is really just an attempt to divert attention away from the true problem.

6. Spending Patterns

Both drugs and alcohol are expensive substances and most individuals do not have the disposable income to support a full blown habit. It is important to look for unusual money behaviors, especially frequent trips to payday loan establishments and spending sprees.

7. The Vodka Trick

Vodka is a powerful drink and not always pleasant upon first intake. It remains one of choice, however, as it looks like water. It is also easily added to soft drinks and juice without changing the color or smell of the liquid.

8. Irregular Attendance

The maintenance of addiction takes considerable time, which usually leaves little for socializing or a busy lifestyle. A person who misses an important event or is unreliable and secretive about their activities generally has a problem bigger than an inability to keep appointments.

9. A Narrow Focus

Those dealing with an addiction will have a very narrow focus on life and tend to block out other interests and activities that once held significant pleasure and fulfillment. A subtle change may happen at first, which makes it harder to detect over time.

10. The Magic Bottle

It is not uncommon for the individual living with an alcoholic to check the liquor cabinet to monitor bottle levels. If there is a “Magic Bottle” that appears to never be empty or one that has a level that goes both up and down, it is likely the individual is trying to hide his or her liquor intake.

11. The Diet Promise

The body image is one area that can be especially dangerous. Certain “uppers” like crystal meth and cocaine stimulate energy and people find they rarely need to eat. This results in rapid weight loss, which is erroneously viewed as a positive thing.

12. Cleanliness

While the saying makes us believe cleanliness is next to godliness, an overuse of certain hygiene products is a sign that someone is trying to hide something. Is the person constantly spraying a perfume or using gum or breath mints? Eye drops come in handy to hide reddened eyes and going through bottles quickly should be a sign something is wrong.

13. Check the Bathroom

Prescription medications generally belong in the bathroom. If the bathroom cabinets have no supplies, users are generally quick to check other people’s bathrooms. The sound of extended water running is a hint the person is trying to hide their activities.

14. Managing the Mood

The stark contrast between ups and downs should be a sign that something is aloof. Loved ones should also look for moods that go from numb and calm to extremely aggressive in as little as a few minutes.

15. Dead Asleep

The individual that is sleeping so hard they won’t wake up is a sign something is wrong. Alcoholics and addicts consuming “downers” will sleep very heavily and will also fall asleep at inappropriate times; giving a signal something is wrong.

16. Never Ending Pain

Back pain is a common complaint– people use to get prescription painkillers. Back pain is hard to diagnose and even harder to treat, making it easy to pull the wool over the doctor’s eyes in attempting to get a prescription. This pain also never tends to wane and needs more and more medication to treat.

17. Unfounded Sickness

Vague illnesses are common with addicts as they are seeking an excuse to duck out of work or simply to be left alone to abuse their substance of choice. These individuals also tend to appear sick, without any real diagnosis or cause.

18. Panic

Pot, drugs and alcohol can cause attacks of paranoia. At times, the symptoms are temporary, but over time can completely change the personality of the individual. When the substance is cocaine, it alters the brain and can cause psychological symptoms that greatly impair the individual.

19. A Good Story

The user and abuser know they have a problem, but they don’t want anyone else to know it. They will use a variety of stories that seem to be very believable to throw attention away from them. Keeping close track of these stories is likely to reveal a pattern of deception.

20. Laying the Blame

Alcoholics and addicts are known for pointing the finger at someone else, not wanting to take ownership of their problem or its causes. This tendency increases the conflict level and will take a formally peaceful person to a war zone participant.

20 Signs You May Be Living With an Addict is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

Lorazepam is part of the benzodiazepine drug class, which include sedative-type drugs for treating depression, panic disorders and sleep disorders. Withdrawal symptoms are similar to other benzodiazepines, which are central nervous system depressants. These symptoms include perspiration, shaking or nausea. The drug is effective because it targets the gamma-aminobutyric acid, a neurotransmitter, and causes a reaction in the nervous system that lessens feelings of mental or physical overstimulation.

Side effects for regular users can include tiredness and slower reaction times when driving. Some people also experience lessened coordination or muscle weakness; forgetfulness or slowed speech. Socially, Ativan can cause a person to forget things they have said or done, and can even bring on short-term amnesia. For older patients, the cognitive problems can last longer.

For some people, Ativan brings about aggressive or hostile behaviors instead of producing a calming effect – a result more likely in people who already have personality disorder problems. Additional serious side effects can also occur, like decreased blood pressure or problems with respiration. The drug can change liver function over time and may also contribute to kidney damage.

Lorazepam can be taken by patch on the skin, by mouth or intravenously, which produces the fastest response. The drug has powerful sedative effects and is not recommended to be given in a single dose, but rather dispersed over a period of hours. Ativan is sometimes used to help treat patients suffering from alcohol withdrawal – but can be deadly if consumed in conjunction with alcohol.

For teens who have overwhelming levels of anxiety, especially in combination with physical symptoms, Ativan has been prescribed in conjunction with counseling or mental health therapies. A physician should carefully monitor teen use of Ativan to help prevent addiction and side effects.

Due to chances of physical withdrawal, Ativan is not often prescribed for time periods longer than four months. A dose considered typical for new users is 1 to 3 mg daily, spread across doses. Addiction to Ativan may cause hallucinations or extreme panic. A patient is more likely to become addicted to Ativan the longer they take it, and people who have had previous substance addictions may also become addicted more easily.

Like many prescription drugs for anxiety, users do not initially believe an addiction will set in when they begin using Ativan. Treatment can include detoxification and counseling, as well as family and social support for recovery.

Ativan’s Sedative Properties Can be Quickly Addictive is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

Prescription drug abuse has grown into a public health problem nationwide. Over the past decade, abuse of pharmaceutical drugs, especially opiate medications, has skyrocketed across all demographics and regions of the U.S. Through its take-back initiative, the DEA and its partners are attempting to not only promote awareness of this growing epidemic among Americans, but also to educate the public on how to properly dispense their unused medications. Most Americans are unsure of how to dispense medications, and end up flushing them down the toilet or throwing them into the trash. Others forget about unused medications that end up lingering in their home medicine cabinet, where they can potentially be stolen by family members or friends without notice.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that 55.9% of prescription drug treatment admissions illicitly obtain prescription medications from a friend or family member. Pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives are all highly potent drugs that can be just as toxic as street drugs when misused. The nation’s increasing rate of prescription drug abuse has also led to an escalating rise in legal drug overdose and poisonings. Through the annual take-back event, prescription drugs can be properly returned to authorities for destruction, ensuring public safety and avoiding hazardous waste to the environment.

Some local law enforcement, health resources, or pharmacies have already practiced their own annual prescription drug ‘take-back’ events in an effort to decrease the rate of drug abuse in their communities. Yet for the first time, the Department of Justice has taken the safety initiative to a national level with this annual event, rallying community services across the U.S. to communally participate. Citizens of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to take advantage of this proactive event by contributing their unwanted medications to authorities. Their efforts will help keep dangerous, potent drugs from falling into the wrong hands where they can be sold, misused, or responsible for more addiction and death.

Unlike illicit street drugs that must be confiscated by law enforcement, prescription drugs can be legally kept in every American home. Some controlled substances are purposely abused by users, stolen, or sold illicitly to vulnerable individuals who may be unaware of the drug’s unsafe potential. By participating in the annual Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, every citizen has the ability to play a significant role in the preservation of their local, state, and federal community health.

Those interested in taking part in the event should visit www.dea.gov to locate participating collection sites. The DEA also encourages visitors to their site to check back often before September 25, as new locations are continually being added. Any prescription and over-the-counter medications in capsule or tablet form are acceptable for collection. Injectable medications and paraphernalia, as well as illegal substances will not be accepted.

The DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is also sponsored by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; the Partnership for a Drug-Free America the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy; the Federal of State Medical Boards; the National Association of Attorneys General; and the National Districts Attorneys Association.

Source: Department of Justice, DEA Heads First-Ever Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, August 19, 2010

DEA Announces National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

The reality is a bit more complicated. Drug problems originate across many different demographics, with many people gradually succumbing to a drug addiction that they did not anticipate.

Often, drug addictions stem from a legitimate prescription for pain relievers. Some pain relievers carry a high risk for easily building up a tolerance, creating a situation in which the individual needs more and more of the drug to achieve pain relief. A new study by University of Buffalo researchers illustrates the many facets of drug addiction origins.

The study, led by Richard Blondell, found that 31 of 75 patients hospitalized for opioid addiction had begun using the drugs for a legitimate pain problem. 24 of the 75 patients began their addiction by using pills from a parent’s medicine cabinet. The final 20 patients said they became hooked on street drugs.

A large percentage of the individuals had to go searching to keep their addiction fed. 92 percent of the patients in the study said they eventually bought drugs off the street. They cited lower costs and better effectiveness as reasons for seeking out street drugs, with heroin being the most purchased drug on the streets to replace prescription drugs.

There were several reasons that the patients were dependent on the drugs. Some said that the drugs “helped to take away my emotional pain and stress,” while others said they used them “to feel normal.” Still others reported that drugs made them “feel like a better person.”

The UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences believes that the information will be useful for training medical students and residents to screen for potential addiction among patients. The information will also be useful when interventions are necessary or to refer a patient for treatment before the addiction becomes dangerous.

Blondell, who is a professor of family medicine and the senior author of the study, explained that because of the increase of the number of patients they are encountering that have a problem with addiction to prescription drugs; they felt the need to better understand how they first became addicted.

The study results showed that 51 percent of the patients said that they first used the drugs for pain relief after surgery, for back pain or following an injury. 49 percent said they initiated use out of curiosity or because they were offered the drugs by someone else.

The results of the study were published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine.
 

How Drug Addiction Begins is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-08-29 is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

A recent Associated Press report highlighted that some nurses fear the abuse may get worse if budget crunches result in a reduction of treatment programs. Such programs help those with substance abuse problems, as well as individuals who are dealing with psychotic issues.

For one emergency room nurse, fighting to remove a psychotic patient’s jaws from the hand of a doctor resulted in bruises, scratches and a chipped tooth. In another incident, she was groped by a drunken patient after she helped him into his hospital gown.

As the number of patients coming to emergency rooms with a drug addiction, alcohol problem or psychiatric issues increases, the violence against nurses and other medical professionals is also intensifying.

In fact, visits to the ER by individuals as a result of drug- or alcohol-related incidents reached 2 million in 2008, up from 1.6 million in 2005, according to statistics from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The number of visits that resulted in violence rose to 21,406 in 2008 from 16,277 in 2006.

Those in the medical field claim the problem is only getting worse due to the downturn in the economy. Fewer jobs available impacts the people, leading them to substances they would normally avoid. At the same time, states are closing hospitals, cutting mental health jobs and eliminating addiction programs.
 

Drug-Related Assaults in the ER Increasing is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment