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March 12, 2023
New U.S. Department of Justice guidelines assert that it’s illegal under the Americans with Disabilities Act to discriminate against people because they are using prescribed methadone or other medications to treat opioid use disorder. People have been denied medical help, legal help, housing resources, and jobs because of the stigma associated with treatment programs which use the medication naltrexone or drugs that themselves are opioids, such as methadone and buprenorphine. These are folks who are taking a prescribed medication in order to control their disease and to live productive, normal lives. Just like folks who use prescribed medications to control their blood pressure or their diabetes or their heart disease or any other chronic diseases. Let's do what we can to stop the stigma. Here's the link: Treatment for opioid addiction often brings discrimination | AP News
February 26, 2023Research has demonstrated that harm reduction saves lives, prevents dangerous disease outbreaks, and can lead folks to seek treatment. Unfortunately, the practice of harm reduction remains underfunded and partially outlawed in many states. Harm reduction does not seek to cut people off from drug use. Instead, it aims to give them tools (including clean syringes, fentanyl test strips, and Narcan) to use drugs in a safer manner. The article shows what a young mother in Iowa does in her efforts to help keep folks alive.
Here's the link: Workers Fighting America’s Overdose Crisis Are ‘Hanging by a Thread’ - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
February 20, 2023
Methamphetamine overdoses are on the rise in the United States. Meth is a strong and highly addictive stimulant drug that affects the central nervous system. It can cause troubling psychological effects like anxiety or paranoia and physical effects like overheating, increased blood pressure, or rapid heartbeats. Meth can be smoked, snorted, swallowed, or injected. Meth addiction is one of the hardest drug addictions to treat. Users need professional counselors or drug treatment programs.
Crystal meth is a highly concentrated and potent form of methamphetamine.
Here is the link to the National Overdose Prevention Network: 10 Facts About Methamphetamines — National Overdose Prevention Network (nopn.org)
February 6, 2023
The Harford County Health Department has begun offering a new outpatient detox treatment designed to ease the withdrawal from opioids. Neurostimulation is delivered through an earpiece worn on the left ear that targets two cranial nerves. The device can be worn until the individual is symptom-free of withdrawal. Patients enrolled in the detox must also attend treatment at the Harford health department. The additional treatment includes individual therapy, an intensive outpatient program three days a week, medication management and peer recovery support. The goal is to help promote a pain-free and drug-free life for those who are suffering from an opioid use disorder. More information about the tAN device can be found in the article. Here's the link: Harford County Health Department offering new opioid withdrawal treatment – Baltimore Sun
January 29, 2023
Tuerk House, which opened its doors in Baltimore in 1970, is a non-profit drug and alcohol treatment system that serves nearly 300 patients a day. The article covers their major expansion project. The article also mentions the five Stages of Change recovery model. The recovery process from drug or alcohol addiction involves a person making a significant change(s) to improve their quality of life. The stages in the model are Precontemplation (not yet decided to change, often not even aware that they have a problem), Contemplation (are aware of the problem and might be pondering solutions), Preparation (often just starting to look for solutions, like a 12-step or detox program), Action (admitting that they have a problem and taking action to solve their addiction), and Maintenance (actively working to maintain their recovery). Here's the link to the article: West Baltimore substance use treatment center grows detox treatment capacity, adds community pharmacy (msn.com)
Here's a link for more information on the stages: 5 Stages of Change in Addiction | Nova (novarecoverycenter.com)
January 22, 2023
The 988 mental health hotline has received over 2 million calls, texts, and chat messages since it was launched last July. The hotline couldn’t have come at a more needed time with depression rates in U.S. adults, overdose deaths and suicide rates all on the rise. Texting has been particularly popular. The Veterans Crisis Line, which can be reached via 988, has fielded 450,000 calls, texts and chat messages. People are struggling, people are having a hard time. Via the hotline, people are getting connected to services and supports, as opposed to struggling on their own.” As quoted in the article: “Quite frankly, lives depend on it,” and “The need for 988 services is more crucial than ever, simply because of the aftermath and the mental health issues from COVID.” Here is the link: Cries for help pour into 988 mental health, suicide line (aol.com)
January 1, 2023
A national crime-prevention group is calling on the Justice Department to clamp down on social media’s role in the spread of fentanyl, the drug largely driving a troubling spike in overdose deaths among teenagers. The group is especially concerned about the sale of fake pills laced with fentanyl on Snapchat, a popular platform among teens. Alex was 14 when he bought a pill that he thought was Oxycontin through the platform in June 2020. One day, he got his hair cut, went to lunch with his dad and hung out with friends. After he returned to the family’s home in Orange County, California, he went to his room and at some point, took the pill that ended his life. We need to know what our children are doing online. And our children need to know the dangers of counterfeit pills. Here's the link: Group urges feds to investigate Snapchat over fentanyl sales | AP News
December 25, 2022Prevention and Recovery MinistryA large study by U.S. highway safety regulators found that more than half the people injured or killed in traffic crashes had one or more drugs, or alcohol, in their bloodstreams.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active ingredient in marijuana, was the most prevalent, followed by alcohol. As quoted in the article, “Making a plan for a safe, sober ride home is critical to saving lives this holiday season,”. Let's be careful out there.
Here is the link: US study: Over half of car crash victims had drugs in system | AP New
In our ongoing fight against the decades-long opioid epidemic, the White House recently debuted a data dashboard that tracks nonfatal opioid overdoses nationally. The hope is for the dashboard to be used by first responders, clinicians, and policymakers to help local communities to better identify trends in the opioid epidemic and to tailor their opioid overdose responses. It could help predict where overdose deaths are more likely to happen and where there might be an increased need for first responders and the life-saving medication naloxone (Narcan). Here's the link: More than 180,000 people overdosed on opioids and survived in the past year, new White House dashboard shows | CNN
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
Preliminary government data suggests U.S. drug overdose deaths have stopped rising. But many experts are urging caution, noting that past plateaus didn't last. Provisional data indicates U.S. overdose deaths fell three months in a row. Maryland and Pennsylvania reported sizable overdose death decreases of 100 or more, compared with the previous July-to-June period. Some experts feel that recent efforts may be paying off. They cite social media and health education campaigns to warn the public about the dangers of drug use, expanded addiction treatment and wider distribution of the overdose-reversing medication Narcan. As stated in the article, "Today's data continue to show a hopeful trend of a decrease in overdose deaths," but more prevention and treatment work is needed.
Here's the link: U.S. overdose deaths may be peaking, but experts say past plateaus didn't last (ems1.com)
RECOVERYStates, counties, municipalities, and tribes have filed thousands of lawsuits against drug companies and wholesalers that are accused of fueling the opioid crisis. This year, four companies settled out of court, agreeing to pay $26 billion over 18 years. Participating states, like Pennsylvania and Maryland, must follow guidelines for how the money can be spent. Supporting and training peer specialists are among the options. As we previously shared with you, Peer Recovery Specialists are people who help people become and stay engaged in their recovery process. The article highlights one special Peer Specialist in Colorado.
Here's the link: The Player-Coaches of Addiction Recovery Work Without Boundaries | Kaiser Health News (khn.org)The Player-Coaches of Addiction Recovery Work Without Boundaries
Donna Norton embraces client Sarah Wright in Norton’s hotel room-turned-office in Centennial, Colorado. Norton is a peer support specialist with the Hornbuckle Foundation and helped Wright open ...
khn.org