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The Link Between Child Abuse, Substance Abuse and Relapse

Posted on by Christy Weeks

It is well known that relapse is common for those in early recovery from addiction. Also well known is that those with a history of child abuse are more likely to abuse substances in adulthood. A recent study now links the two – showing that those with history of substance abuse who are in early recovery have a higher propensity for relapse.

New York University School of Medicine and Yale University School of Medicine researchers published their recent findings in the American Medical Association journal, JAMA Psychiatry, showing the link between the two and highlighting the potential difficulty of treating adult addicts with a history of abuse. The researchers used MRI scans to look at the brains of 79 people in substance abuse treatment, some with a history of child abuse and others without. The researchers looked for changes in the brain previously associated with an increased risk for substance abuse relapse. They found these changes to be more prevalent among those who had a history of child abuse. The research showed that the increased risk of relapse pertained to all addictive substances. The study also noted that as many as 5 out of 10 people who experience neglect or childhood abuse will develop substance abuse problems and will have a high rate of relapse.

The findings also discussed the challenge of having effective treatment for those with child abuse in their history because the relapse potential is so high. However, addiction treatment centers like Harmony Foundation already consider abuse history when crafting treatment plans for new clients and programs for those who had relapsed. Because the rate of relapse is high for those in early recovery in general let alone those with a history of abuse, offering relapse prevention groups and therapeutic opportunities to recognize and face triggers is essential in addiction treatment.

Risk of Opiates Outweigh Benefits

Posted on by Christy Weeks

 

Photo Via www.neurology.org

 

The painkiller epidemic that has swept across the U.S. in the last decade is common knowledge these days. Many people have developed addictions, and many have died, from taking prescription opiates. Those in recovery are made aware of the fact that any mind altering substance will have devastating effects on their lives. While someone new to recovery may still struggle with reservations about the dangers of prescriptions, they are increasingly thought of as being as dangerous as it gets in the recovery community.

It should come as no surprise that prescription opiates pose a danger to everyone, not just addicts. In fact, the American Academy of Neurology published a position statement in their latest medical journal stating that the dangers and risks associated with taking prescription opiate drugs outweigh the benefits. This statement wasn’t referencing addiction or addicts, but everyone in general. It asserted that with the exception of cancer patients, the risk of overdose and other health problems associated with opiates outweighs the benefit of pain relief. For a person with chronic headaches or back pain for example, even the relief they may get from taking opiates isn’t enough to outweigh the associated dangers – the most glaring dangers being the propensity for addiction and accidental overdose.

With the well-respected American Academy of Neurology publishing statements on how opiates are dangerous for everyone, it underscores how particularly hazardous they are to addicts or those in recovery. In short, if they are too dangerous for the average Joe, imagine how deadly they are to addicts or alcoholics. Alternative pain management practices like acupuncture and other holistic therapies may pave they way for the future of pain management to mitigate the public risk of these dangerous drugs.

The Dangers of Molly (MDMA)

Posted on by Christy Weeks
Molly Abuse and Overdoses on the Rise at Music Festivals

 

Drugs have developed a reputation in modern society. Alcohol use is thought of as normal, while heroin is generally associated with an addict on the street. While there is some truth to stereotypes surrounding specific drugs, many are false. Molly, or MDMA, has developed a reputation among young adults as a “fun” drug. It is generally typecast as a drug young people do when at a club or music festival. It’s reputation as “fun” is dangerous.

Two young individuals overdosed on Molly earlier this year at the Electric Zoo concert in New York and earlier this month a 21 year old died after ingesting a lethal dose of Molly at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Molly or MDMA related deaths are becoming a regular occurrence, with young adults overdosing at several festivals over the last few years. These tragedies are, in part, attributable to the general reputation of the drug – thought of as fun, and by association, safe. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Anything from gasoline to baby powder has been found to be an ingredient in Molly.

When drugs have reputations as being fun or safe it is dangerous for everyone, but especially threatening for recovering addicts. The idea that a drug, any drug, is ok in sobriety can be devastating. Some in recovery may feel that if a drug wasn’t their drug of choice, they can take it and not endure the same wrath as they did in active addiction. The age old tale of the addict who thought alcohol was ok to consume after becoming clean off of drugs is an example of this. A positive reputation being associated with a drug is menacing, especially when that drug is killing people. It’s of monumental importance is sobriety to remember, a drug is a drug is a drug – no matter its reputation.

Alcohol is Still the Deadliest Drug

Posted on by Christy Weeks
Statistically Alcohol is still the most deadly drug in existence. Surveys polling incarcerated criminal offenders confirmed that alcohol was the mind altering substance most associated with violent crimes. TV shows and movies may indicate that cocaine, methamphetamine or heroin intoxication lead to more acts of violence, but alcohol has been shown to be the real killer.

The survey showed that among individuals incarcerated for violent crimes, around 40% had been drinking at the time they committed the crime. Alcohol consumption was most common in people committing certain crimes like murder and sexual assault. Alcohol affects everyone differently, but it generally lowers inhibitions for people across the board. Some drink and experience feelings of elation while others drink and get sad. There is also a group of people who drink and get violent. Unfortunately, this type of reaction to intoxication seems to be common, as 40% of those who have committed violent crimes were drinking and there are a lot of individuals – incarcerated or not – who have committed violent crimes.

Analysis of the survey showed that being under the influence of alcohol didn’t just make people more likely to be the perpetrator in a crime; it also made them more likely to be a victim. Almost 40% of homicide victims had alcohol in their system at the time they were murdered.

Many believe that alcohol is present in more victims and perpetrators because it is more widely available. That is true, alcohol is legal and can be bought legitimately in a wide variety of locations. However, the people who committed these violent crimes typically didn’t just have a beer with dinner. The study showed that among these perpetrators, the average blood alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit.

Alcohol intoxication isn’t just dangerous behind the wheel. Many people, with or without an alcohol addiction, go out drinking with good intentions. They want to go out and have a good time or relax. However, as the survey showed, the road to jail is paved with good intentions.

Good intentions also keep alcoholics in denial and may delay their path to alcoholism treatment. No matter how many times the alcoholic’s binge with good intentions – believing they’ll just go out and have a good time – they keep having the same ending which includes but is not limited to being violent, blacking out, promiscuity, fighting or becoming a victim.

 

Where Drug Abuse Meets Politics

Posted on by Christy Weeks

Where drug abuse meets politics has been evident in the news this past month with several headlines catching national attention.

First, Obama’s former right hand man turned Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is advocating that the state of Illinois lay off some of its stringent drug laws. Specifically, he wants to reduce the felony charge for those caught with a gram or less of a controlled substance. Currently, those caught with a  pain pill for which they have no prescription or a small amount of cocaine face a felony charge, which can have lifelong repercussions. According to Emanuel, “A felony conviction can slam the door on someone’s future and make it harder to go to school, apply for financial aid and find housing. There are times when a felony conviction is no doubt warranted, but we have to ask ourselves whether it’s too high a price for using drugs.” What’s left out of this story was whether those charged with non-felony possession would be encouraged to seek drug abuse treatment.

Second, the Federal Government recently posted a job seeking pot farmers for the National Institute on Drug Abuse. They are looking for farmers to “cultivate and harvest, process, analyze, store, and distribute cannabis (marijuana) for research.” Specifically, they are looking for marijuana farmers who are able to grow plants with “altered” variations of THC for specific research they are conducting.

Obviously the farmers must be approved by the FDA and DEA and registered to handle Schedule II substances. A spokesperson for NIDA said the organization’s contract for marijuana farms is going to expire next year and that these new contracts will likely be for one year, but may have the option of a four year contract. Obviously a lot of research on marijuana abuse will come out over the next few years but this job post in particular has gotten many interested in what NIDA is researching exactly.

Third, United States Attorney General Eric Holder announced that he will resign last week as soon as his replacement is confirmed. Critics say that Holder is leaving at a time when the DOJ is in over it’s head with the discordance between state and federal marijuana policy. Whoever the new Attorney General will be will have to contend with the fact that two states have legalized marijuana, 23 have sound, clear cut laws around medicinal use of cannibus and a few states have a few limited and blurry laws around medicinal uses. However, the Federal government continues to classify marijuana as a schedule I drug (or a drug defined as being criminal, without medicinal purpose and with high abuse potential). Because the DEA is part of the DOJ, the new Attorney General has the power and authority to reschedule or de-schedule a substance – something Holder failed to do while in office. Time (and nominations for Attorney General) will tell how marijuana will be classified federally.

What Lies Beneath: Depression and Substance Abuse

Posted on by Christy Weeks
What Lies Beneath
 
 
In the darkest hours of addiction addicts often question what led them to spin out of control – to be completely powerless over drugs or alcohol. Many have felt something deeper attributed to their addictions other than poor choices or bad luck.

In most people’s first 12 step recovery meeting they get a glimpse of who an addict really is; who they really are. They hear their fellows describe their feelings and thought processes around not only drinking or drug abuse but also everyday situations and life in general. Through this process many find they share that others have had some form of depression prior to alcohol or drug abuse.

A recent study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that depression typically precedes alcoholism. The study indicates that people who are depressed as children are more likely to develop addictions when they reach adulthood. It found that those depressed in their teen years are twice as likely to start drinking alcohol than those without depression.

Other studies have shown that alcoholism causes depression – raising the classic “what came first the chicken or the egg?” question. In many cases, the two are present concurrently and when one is worked on, the other improves. Often it is the substance abuse that gets attention first and depressive symptoms improve. That is because most drugs are depressants and it is hard to clinically diagnosis someone with substances present because they skew an accurate portrayal of that person’s well being.

Here are Harmony Foundation’s residential treatment program, our clients find that their depression, anxiety or other co-occurring disorders are more manageable, improve or disappear altogether when they put down substances. By detoxing from substances and allowing the body and mind to heal through long-term recovery, addicts give themselves a fighting chance against what lies beneath their addiction, like depression.

Do you Vive? Responsible College Students Should

Posted on by Christy Weeks

Vive – An Alcohol Monitoring Wristband that Connects to Social Networks

Many college students and young adults drink, and binge drinking is most common among this age group. Often, young adults will get accidentally drunk, not being in tune with their own limits or how what they have eaten or what they have done that day (i.e. a rigorous workout) may impact their tolerance.

This is particularly worrisome for college-aged females who are at risk of sexual assault. Recent news stories about sexual assault can attest to the fact that assault on college campuses is not on the decline. These two important topics – knowing one’s alcohol tolerance and sexual assault is why Vive, a wearable wristband that can let you know how drunk you while keeping you connected with the group you went out partying with, was created.

The wristband monitors a person’s biometrics related to alcohol consumption – namely their level of dehydration and overall consumption. The bracelet lets out a vibration after which the person wearing it is supposed to squeeze or “check in” it to let it know they are ok. If the wearer does not squeeze it in a timely manner, it will alert that person’s friends that they went out with because it is social media compatible. At the beginning of a night friends link their Vives together so they can alert the group if someone doesn’t check in or their intoxication level gets too high. Another feature – perhaps the most important one  – is the wristband’s ability to sense immobility if the wearer passes out somewhere. The band can harnesses Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi to triangulate the wearer in distress if necessary.

This technology can help mitigate both over-consumption and sexual assault by prompting friends to intervene early if a friend is too drunk – according to the makers of Vive “we’re intervening here earlier in this timeline, crucially, before an individual has been removed from the safety of their social network.” This is especially important since, according to well known data, alcohol is involved in at least half of sexual assaults.

The goal of the company who launched Vive is to have it become the norm accessory for venues that involve alcohol like fraternity and sorority parties, clubs and festivals. If it does become the norm, it may also have the added benefit of helping problem drinkers recognize they have a problem early on (and seek alcohol abuse help) while helping friends drink responsibly and stay safe while mitigating the risk of sexual assault.

Importance Of Meditation

Posted on by Christy Weeks
Lotus Flower

Meditation is one of the most important tools in recovery, but many people skip this step, or feel they don’t have time for it.

When we meditate, we can relieve some of the stresses in our lives. Stress negatively affects our health, bodies, and minds. We become frustrated, unhappy, and impatient. Stress is also one of the main reasons people turn back to drugs or alcohol.

Taking time to meditate can save us from making a disastrous mistake. Meditation can give us balance and calm our minds. We can transform our thinking from negative to positive, disturbed to serene.

It takes practice to meditate. When I entered rehab and participated in meditation, I felt like my head was going to pop off my body. The silence and sitting still almost drove me crazy. However, after a couple of days of practice, I actually felt better and more comfortable.

When our minds are not at peace, finding happiness is almost impossible. If we train our minds to meditate, we can learn how to quiet our heads, and eventually know peace even in the most challenging times.

Many times it is hard to control our minds. Our mind is like a sheet blowing in the wind, blowing everywhere from external situations. If things go as planned for us, we are happy. If a wrench is thrown into our plans, we are instantly unhappy. Our mood fluctuates because many of us are tied to external situations.

When we train to meditate, we create inner peace, so we can eventually control our minds no matter how bad the external situation becomes. Eventually, we will become balanced, instead of constantly being pulled from happiness to sadness.

There are a plethora of ways to meditate to find peace. Of course there are the more traditional ways to meditate with breathing exercises and meditating on compassion, peace, and love, but there are also other ways to clear your mind.

I like to take a long drive. There’s something about taking a long drive that clears my head. I can just focus on the road, and clear my mind. I don’t have to talk to anyone, listen to anyone, or do anything except drive. It’s cleansing for me.

Some people recommend taking walks. Getting outside the office or house and into fresh air has healing properties.

Many people pray to their Higher Power when they meditate. The power of prayer can be extremely healing.

Journaling is an excellent way to meditate. Putting thoughts and emotions onto paper gives you more perspective. If something is bothering you, writing it down and actually seeing it in front of you can help you work it out. Writing a gratitude list is also helpful. Focusing on positive things can also change your perspective.

Yoga or exercise is also a great way to rid yourself of negative feelings. Exercising produces serotonin, a chemical responsible for mood balance.

I also meditate through cleaning. I always feel better after spending a few hours cleaning my home. I feel like my mind is cleansed as well as my home. There’s something about sitting in a clean house that is especially healing for me.

Meditation and prayer ties into the 11th step in Alcoholics Anonymous. The step tells us, “sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”

Prayer can take many forms. If you are not comfortable with “God” in the dominant religious sense, don’t let that throw you off. “God” can be defined as your Higher Power, whatever you choose that to be.

You can pray to your Higher Power by asking for guidance, speaking out loud to Him or Her, or just expressing gratitude for living today.

Here at Harmony Foundation, we believe in the 12 Steps of recovery. If you are ready to start a new life and find peace in a life of sobriety, our treatment center is the perfect place for you. We have been successful in helping many people live 100% addiction free lives.

Teenager Dies From Using Caffeine Powder

Posted on by Christy Weeks
Caffeine Powder

A straight-A teenager from Ohio died from ingesting pure caffeine. Currently it’s not closely regulated or banned, but many people want others to know how dangerous it can be.

Logan Steiner, 18 years old, died suddenly days before his graduation from a lethal dose of caffeine powder. His autopsy showed he had more than 70 micrograms of caffeine in his blood.

Superintendent Jay Arbaugh said, “he was just a terrific kid, he was a role model for the Special Olympic athletes, they loved having him there.”

State Senator Gayle Manning said she is looking into if taking steps to regulating caffeine powder would be advantageous.

Only 1 teaspoon of caffeine powder is equivalent to 30 cups of coffee.

Lorain County’s Coroner Stephen Evans, MD. said, “this is news to the coroner’s office; we had never seen this before. What it does is, it leads to cardiac arrhythmias, speeding heart, and it leads into seizures and those two things are what took his life.”

Evans believes caffeine powder should be taken more seriously and closely regulated. He said the powder can be abused just like any other drug.

Many young people, athletes, and students use the caffeine powder to give them more energy. Many do not even know it could be dangerous.

Companies say its powder elevates mood, endurance, and increases focus.

Any substance we put into our bodies should be closely monitored. Many people have no idea anyone could overdose and die from caffeine, but it is possible. It’s also possible to overdose and die from alcohol, or illegal drugs.

Most people who take drugs or drink do not intentionally overdose. Alcohol poisoning happens when there is so much alcohol in the bloodstream, the brain controlling basic life-supporting functions like breathing, temperature control, and heart rate start shutting down.

Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include seizures, difficulty breathing, slow heart rate, dulled responses, and no gag reflex, which prevents people from choking.

Blood alcohol content (BAC) can rise even when a person is unconscious. The alcohol in peoples stomach and intestines continues to travel through the bloodstream and circulate through the body.

Drug overdose can be similar to overdosing on alcohol. Symptoms include abnormalities in vital signs like blood pressure, temperature, heart rate. Skin can be dry and hot or cool and sweaty. They can have abdominal pain, vomiting, or nausea.

If you are abusing substances and want to stop, Harmony Foundation can help you. Our facility offers specialized programs for both men and women to help you break the chains of addiction.

Benefits of Medical Detoxification

Posted on by Christy Weeks
Harmony Entrance

Harmony Foundation is a certified drug and alcohol treatment center where highly trained professionals handle medical detox. Detoxing from drugs and alcohol is imperative in order to start living a life free from addiction. Detoxification is a process where the toxins which have amassed in our bodies are safely removed and monitored.

Stopping immediately, or going “cold turkey” can have severe and even deadly health consequences. Purging toxins from your body at home can lead to hallucinations, seizures, and heart failure. It’s wise to detox safely at a fully licensed center like ours.

Checking into a facility with a certified medical detoxification center has a number of benefits.

Our caring and professional team here at Harmony Foundation provides each client with individualized care, and each patient’s treatment plan is customized. Each person is different, so we believe taking time to create a specialized plan is important.

Another benefit of going to a medical detox facility is access to medical professionals. Harmony offers a highly qualified team of nurses and medical staff. Our nursing staff is available 24 hours to assist with any patient’s medical and detoxification needs.

In order to give you the best treatment possible, we offer psychological and physical assessments. A physical examination is provided as well as comprehensive laboratory tests. Your results are evaluated with our Medical Director, and a consultation with our psychologist or psychiatrist is available if needed.

Detoxing in a safe, calm environment is also advantageous. Our facility is set in the Rocky Mountains, and situated on 43 acres of gorgeous scenery. It’s a place where you can find peace and serenity. Medical detox can sometimes be uncomfortable, but being in a tranquil environment will help you adjust more comfortably.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse’s research has shown that 90 days in treatment is the “gold standard” for treatment. When entering a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, the first week is when a patient goes through detox. During this time of expelling toxins, you may undergo some withdrawal symptoms.

When withdrawal occurs, it’s difficult to focus on recovery right away. Some patients need extra time to adjust and focus. This leaves only a couple weeks of the 30 day program to heal both physically and mentally.

Studies have also shown that it takes 90 days for the brain to reset itself after being chemically addicted to substances. It takes time to change old behaviors and to learn how to live a new life free from addiction. The more time you have to heal, the better chances you give yourself to remain sober.

If you are struggling with addiction, Harmony Foundation can help. Our caring staff members will walk you through the medical detoxification process and will tend to any of your needs 24 hours a day. Getting treatment in a tranquil and safe environment like ours is the perfect start to living a healthy, sober, new life.