Helping Addicts Accept their Addiction Problem

June 3, 2015

Helping Addicts Accept their Addiction Problem: Eliminating the spirit of denial

The problem of denial is negatively affecting the success in the treatment of drug addiction therefore helping addicts accept their addiction Problem is for a worthy course

The spirit of denial is one big problem that we must deal with expeditiously if we have to make any meaningful progress in the fight of drug addiction and alcohol abuse. Dealing with all stumbling blocks in addiction recovery begins and ends with denial. It is very difficult to effectively take a patient who is in denial through the treatment programs because acknowledgement of the problem is one big step in the healing process. In fact it is the first step to be overcome in the process of addiction recovery. Therefore by all means we all have a duty in helping addicts accept their addiction problem for commencement of a meaningful treatment. Nonetheless it is important to note that dealing with addiction problem is not to be left for the medical experts alone. Family members of the addicts has a role in the healing process, it therefore means that this is a collective responsibility for the experts, loved ones and the victims themselves. According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, friends and relatives of the victims can do a lot more in helping their loved ones get better. However when faced with such challenges of addiction, many are lost and do not know what to do. Doctor Akoury who is also the founder of this facility is going to help us understand some of the concerns people do have when helping their loved ones recover from drug and alcohol abuse.

Helping Addicts Accept their Addiction Problem: How Do I Help Someone Understand That He or She Has a Problem?

This question is often very common especially with the rampant denial by the victims. While we are appreciating that this is a genuine concern, it is very crucial that you step in up on noticing signs of substance abuse in your friend. Remember that charity begins at home and therefore friends and family members must brace themselves for the task and we are not promising that it is going to be easy. It is possible that friends and family members may feel that they constantly express concerns about a loved one’s substance use but never see any changes. When evaluating the efforts you have made in trying to bring some changes it may occur to you that you may have reached this point after weeks or months of giving lectures, making threats, ignoring behaviors, accepting promises of change, giving second chances or imposing consequences. But in these entire nothing seems to be working and so discouragement sets in, doctor Akoury says that it is very normal to feel that way but one thing that you must not do is giving up. Remember that this is a journey and not a destination keep the spirit and soldier on the break through is coming and you are almost getting there no matter the circumstances.

In an effort of helping loved ones keep to the task, experts have recommended developing and repeating a consistent, positive message: like for instance the message could read “we care about you and we want you to get help.” Define substance use as a problem for you and others who care about the person. And in doing all these, ensure that you avoid blaming, arguing and reproaching. And at the back of your mind create room to accommodate their denial, distortion, avoidance, rationalization and intellectualization of the problem. This is very important because unless you understand them beyond their habit you may not achieve much. Besides that when talking to the victims, it is very important that you understand the dos and don’ts as follows:

Helping Addicts Accept their Addiction Problem: DOs and DON’Ts

Doctor Akoury recommends that as you continue to talk to the person in need of help, the following important details are worth taking into consideration:

Don’t try to talk when either one of you is under the influence of any drug.
Do protect yourself and others around you from physical harm.
Do call police if there is violence.
Do set limits that will protect your home, finances and relationships, and stick to those limits.
And if you are at your wits’ end, you might consider a formal intervention.

Helping Addicts Accept their Addiction Problem: How do i help someone who may need treatment?

Mention the word “treatment” in relation to substance use and many people think of long-term residential facilities or detox. In fact, treatment includes both of these options and a variety of others.

Treatment addresses the individual’s physical, psychological, emotional and social conditions. Sustained reduction in alcohol or other drug use and sustained increases in personal health and social function are the primary goals.

The type of treatment is based on the severity of the problem. For risky users, treatment can be as simple as a screening and a brief intervention. For people exhibiting signs of dependence or addiction, a screening will probably lead to a referral for more intense level of care.

All treatment starts with a screening, which is a series of questions about the amount and frequency of alcohol or other drug use and the consequences it may be causing. Screening can be done by many types of professionals, including a physician in a hospital or an office, a nurse, a clinical social worker, or a licensed substance abuse counselor.

After a screening, some people may need a brief intervention, usually done by a health professional. During a brief intervention, people receive feedback on their substance use based on the screening results. Frequently, people are asked to cut back or stop their use. If they are ready to cut down, the health care professional will work with them to set a goal based on lower consumption. They may also be encouraged to reflect on why they use and how their lives will change by lowering their use. People who want to stop substance use will most likely be referred for additional evaluation or treatment.

To help someone you know who you think may have a substance use problem you first need to get them screened. Your best bet is to talk to your own physician or employee assistance professional about referring you to someone who can help, such as a licensed substance abuse counselor or family therapist.

Helping Addicts Accept their Addiction Problem: How do i help someone who needs treatment?

Formal treatment takes many forms, and no one type of treatment is best for everyone. There are many roads to recovery. Like for instance you may think that you need to choose just the right program for your family member and if you don’t, treatment will fail. But experts believe that any of a number of programs can lead to success if the person is willing to accept help from others and invest energy in working on recovery. A physician or another health care professional can also help you choose where someone should go for treatment.

Helping Addicts Accept their Addiction Problem: Eliminating the spirit of denial

Helping loved ones with Drug or Alcohol Problem

June 2, 2015

Helping loved ones with Drug or Alcohol Problem: What you can do to help?

Helping loved ones with Drug or Alcohol Problem is a journey and not really a destination

In this time of age, it is becoming very difficult to find societies that are free from alcohol abuse or drug addiction. The easy accessibility and affordability of these drugs have made it very difficult in dealing with problems of addiction. Nonetheless with or without the prevailing challenges, we still have a duty to perform in containing the problem. You may overlook at certain things you do as very insignificant but when it is offering any help however negligible it may be, you must not be discouraged. You must soldier on for that little will be very important for the life of your loved one in the long run. We all have a role to play in helping loved ones with drug or alcohol problems and with the help of professionals like doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, we will succeed. And now that we have a professional to consult, let me make enquiry to keep us moving, do you have any member of your family or friend who is struggling with drug addiction or alcohol problem? If you have then you’re probably wondering how you can help. If this describes you, then you are in the right place and with the help of doctor Dalal Akoury we are going to help you get the clarity of some of your concerns as follows:

Helping loved ones with Drug or Alcohol Problem: How Can I Tell If I’m Overreacting to a Substance Abuse Problem?

This is a worthy concern because we must always be careful not to raise false alarm particularly with substance abuse. Therefore when you are trying to help it must not be construed to be overreacting. In many situations people will often notice problems or indicators in friends or family member’s work, health, family, finances, relationships, social functioning, legal issues, self-esteem or self-respect these are some of the areas that will give indications that a problem is in the making. You must therefore not be afraid of facing the problem for fear of being accused of being overreacting. Remember that continuing to use substances in spite of the fact that such behavior is causing problems is a big problem in itself. It gives a clear reflection that substance use has become more important than the problems it causes. It therefore goes without mentioned that anyone who is not willing to discuss the issue or consider whether there might be a problem under such conditions clearly demonstrate that an addiction problem do exists. With these indications, the question that follows would be, what are the action points one can take to be safe? The following guidelines will be very helpful:

Knowledge of all the signs and symptoms of substance use is very important as this will help you make informed decisions on the direction and treatment options to take.
Before you can make decisions, keenly make observation about the person’s behavior closely over a period of time may be a few days or weeks to have a clear understanding of what is making you to think that there is a problem. Having such information will be very helpful especially when it becomes necessary latter for your to share the same with other members of the family. It is also very important that as you chose to share this with other family members, seeking for pieces of advice from professionals would be very necessary before any decision can be made about the next cause of action.
With that said and done you can now share your observations with other family members and friends seeking their opinion about the same. The purpose of this is to determine how other people other than you also see the situation. In the event that they are in agreement with your observation, then there is a problem which needs to be fixed and this introduces the next step which is figuring out who will initiate the talk to the person about getting help.
Up to this point your role would be to ensure that professionalism is observed all through by first contacting experienced substance abuse professional, mental health professional, physician, employee assistance professional, guidance counselor, clergy or other helping professional to help you help your loved one. When sharing with the professionals about your observations, it is important that you describe your family member’s substance use pattern to see whether the professional would deem it a problem. Don’t be mean with information and ensure that you provide details such as the type of alcohol or other drugs, how much the person is using, how often, how long the pattern has continued, negative consequences and the person’s response to discussions or confrontations about substance use.
Ensure that you and other family members are safe from potential physical or emotional harm. If there is a threat or feat of physical violence you should develop a safety plan.

Helping loved ones with Drug or Alcohol Problem: Benefits of Early Identification and Action

Where I hail from there is a wise saying that “the early bird catches the worm” meaning in this context timely identification of drug related problems will give a healthy opportunity for recovery. This is all we need to champion for because we can. It is regrettable that what we watch or read from the media like the movies, books and magazines often portray people who have the “hit bottom” before they can be helped. This is what we have been made to believe and so many people have given up even before making any attempt of seeking for treatment. This is a misleading myth because the truth of the matter is people do not need to bottom out to be helped. It has been established from various studies that early identification of the problem is a much more effective solution for substance use problems.

Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center a facility which was established by doctor Dalal Akoury primarily to bring a difference in addiction treatment agree that early identification occurs at the first signs of a problem before anyone has suffered a traumatic event, dropped out of school or lost important relationships, jobs, their health or self-respect. It is important to note that identification can be done through various means including a screening by a health care professional, employee assistance professional or even a family member. What happens after the screening depends on the results of the test. Some people can learn to cut back, while some need further assessment and possibly treatment says doctor Akoury.

In general, though, all people are better equipped to work on recovery if their substance use problem is discovered and confronted early. Treatment in the early stages of a substance use disorder is likely to be less intense, less disruptive and cause less anxiety.

When we fail to identify the signs and symptoms in good time, we will be actually waiting for the occurrence of a risky strategy. In other words we all need help in good time and in the absence of that much needed help, family members can only expect crises like arrests for being on the wrong side of the law, medical emergencies due to intoxication, job loss because of bad influence and non-performance, public embarrassment and even death. We will continue with the benefits of early detection in the subsequent articles but in the meantime, you may want to schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury for professional guidance in the journey of addiction recovery.

Helping loved ones with Drug or Alcohol Problem: What you can do to help?

Exploring Spinal Cord Injuries

June 1, 2015

The Evolving Science Of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord Injury The most important structure that plays the role of a link between the body and the brain is the spinal cord. It extends from the medulla oblongata of the brain through to the level of the first lumbar vertebrae. It is a cylindrical structure of nervous tissue that is composed of white and grey matter. On each of its sides, two consecutive rows of nerve roots emerge. These roots distally join forming the 31 pairs of spinal nerves. It is housed within the vertebral column. The spinal cord makes up approximately only 2% of the central nervous system but has very vital functions.

A spinal cord injury refers to any damage to any part of the spinal cord or damage of nerves at the spinal canal’s end. Below the site of the injury, there often occur permanent changes in sensation, strength and other body functions.

The subject of spinal cord injuries is not a new one. Many people are familiar with it and understand its financial implications. Many families have had to put up with hefty hospital bills after a spinal cord injury of a member. Special equipment like wheelchairs have had to be purchased to assist victims of spinal cord injury. Some victims even lose their jobs after a spinal cord injury due to inability to perform their tasks at the work place. This is a very serious financial blow to them considering the fact that they require large amounts of money to lead a normal life.

There is a complete relationship between the physical, financial, emotional and social implications of spinal cord injuries. For example when one suffers a spinal cord injury, they get paralyzed which calls for the purchase of special equipment. In some cases paralysis may lead to loss of a job. When one loses a job, they become emotionally affected and thus their social life is also greatly affected.

Spinal cord injuries are of different levels and seriousness depending on the site of injury. The vertebrae that make up the spinal column are grouped into sections. Since spinal injuries affect body functions below the site of injury, the higher the sight of injury, the more severe the dysfunction that results.

Spinal cord injury cure has been the focus of science for so long. New strategies are being developed and old strategies are being revised to make them better and improve their efficacy.

Regenerative strategies

The last two decades have witnessed tremendous efforts in attempt to enhance regeneration of spinal cord axon though many techniques. These techniques include neutralization of neurite inhibition, synthetic channel implantation, various cell transplantation and administration of neurotrophic factors. Some of these strategies have been applied to animal models and they have been so promising to the extent that their potential human application is being explored by clinicians. The main factor limiting recovery from a spinal cord injury has been attributed to the failure of the central nervous system to regenerate. All these strategies aim at making it possible for the axons in the central nervous system to regenerate. Expectations become high with the identification of growth inhibitory molecules in the central nervous system. It was thought that neutralizing these factors would allow for functional axonal regeneration in the central nervous system. But as happens to most seemingly bright researches, the dark side finally showed in this. There exist mixed results of therapeutic approaches that were based on this assumption. Neurons are suggested to differ in their regenerative abilities through similar extracellular environments by recent data. These neurons have also been shown by recent data to undergo a developmental loss of intrinsic regenerative ability. Intrinsic regenerative abilities are mediated by factors that include expression of:

Cytoskeletal proteins mediating the axon growth mechanics
Receptors for inhibitory molecules
Molecules in the intracellular signaling cascades mediating response to chemoattractive and chemorepulsive cues.
Surface molecules permitting adhesion of axon to cells in the growth path

Sharply contrasting to axon development, its regeneration involves internal protrusive forces. Micro tubules generate these forces either by transporting other skeletal elements like neurofilaments to the tip of the axon or through their own elongation. It is the complexity of the regeneration program that casts a dark shadow on the progress.

Multi- cell therapy

Transplantation of cells replaces the damaged neural tissues and restores function after spinal cord injury. Successful results have been obtained with different cell types including adult neural stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, fetal tissue, embryonic stem cells and myelin producing cells.

In transplants of fetal tissue combined with neurotrophic factors, axonal growth has been seen. Transplanting polymer guiding channels with Schwann’s cells also helps in achieving novel axonal growth towards a cell transplant.

It is important to note that enough immune suppression is needed lest the cell transplant will be rejected. Attention is currently focused on mesenchymal stem cells to try and circumvent this immunological rejection of transplanted cells. After transplantation, they differentiate into desired cells.

Even though multiple studies have shown success of these multi-cell strategies, it is still not clearly understood what mechanisms lead to functional improvement following transplant.

For more information about bone marrow transplant and stem cell transplantation, visit www.awaremednetwork.com. Dr. Dalal Akoury has years of experience in integrative medicine and will be of assistance.

While at it, visit http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com to learn about the upcoming integrative addiction conference 2015. The conference will deliver unique approaches to telling symptoms of addiction and how to assist patients of addiction.

The Evolving Science Of Spinal Cord Injuries

Why alcohol should be your foremost enemy

May 30, 2015

Why alcohol should be your foremost enemy: There is nothing like moderate drinking

Why alcohol should be your foremost enemy. Treating this substance as an enemy will make you take treatment precautions in good time.

It may be there in paper that men and women should drink up to a certain minimum daily. This is a written proclamation that has been proven to be very difficult to apply owing to the complexity and addictiveness of the substance in question. Doctor Akoury says that the seriousness of drug addiction or miss use of alcohol is seen in the attachment they have with other chronic health conditions that are life threatening and damages nearly all the vital body organs and that explains why alcohol should be your foremost enemy. Over the years in her professional practice, doctor Dalal Akoury has been of great help to very many people across the globe transforming lives and giving back lost hopes to the victims. Together with her team of experienced experts, doctor Akoury founded a health facility (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) where she is administering treatment not just for the ailing public but she also offers NAD treatment for addiction and besides that doctor Akoury is also offering lectures to all medical professional including Physicians, doctors, nurses and others on how to treat addiction naturally, safely, effectively and safely professionally. If you are looking for an opportunity to mover your practice to the next level then this is the place to so that you can learn from the expert.

In the meantime this coming August 2015 doctor Akoury and her team of experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, a renowned collection of brains in matters addiction and one of the leading pioneers in natural and holistic addiction treatment, will be conducting their first ever Educational, Functional and Integrative Addiction conference for doctors, counselors, nurses and addiction therapists. This conference is tailored just for medical professionals across the globe at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It is important to note that this new frontier in Addiction Medicine will be conducted by the most and highly influential group of leading visionaries specializing in the latest advances in natural and integrative addiction medicine, under the theme “The Future of Integrative Addiction”. This is something yo doesn’t want to miss and for more information even as we get back into the discussion you can consult with or make reference to the following event website:

www.integrativeaddiction2015.com or email sharon@integrativeaddiction2015.com.

For more information about Integrative Addiction 2015:

Sharon Phillips

Event Planner

Tel: 954 540 1896

sharon@integrativeaddiction2015.com

www.integrativeaddiction2015.com

For more information about Integrative Addiction Treatment:

Dalal Akoury, M.D.

AWAREMed

Tel: 843 213 1480

Email: dollyanis@hotmail.com

www.awaremednetwork.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILBEhjYkwKQ

Besides that a must attend conference, drug addiction is and will never be good for any human life, in fact as we move from one generation to another, the complications of addiction also moves to greater levels. If you were to study the impact of substance abuse in the last three decades, you will come to appreciate that the complexity of addiction is also evolving with the changes we have in our day today lifestyle. This is one thing that we must by all means fight and defeat. The lives of our future generation depend heavily on the good choices we are going to make today. That is why doctor Akoury is taking very seriously the effects of alcohol addiction and all other drug related problems. In this article, we are going to look at the effects of alcohol abuse on heart diseases and stroke alongside cancer. Therefore keep reading and get the best medical information about addiction for your own health protection.

Why alcohol should be your foremost enemy: Effect on Heart Disease and Stroke

It is often said that moderate amounts (one to two drinks a day) of alcohol can improve some heart disease risk factors, such as increasing HDL (“good cholesterol”) levels. However, at this time there is no definitive scientific evidence or proof that moderate drinking improves overall health says doctor Dalal Akoury an expert of over two decades. The luck of proper authentication about this hypothesis explains why bodies like the American Heart Association have not recommended drinking alcoholic beverages solely to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Excessive drinking clearly has negative effects on heart health. Alcohol is a toxin that damages the heart muscle. In fact, heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for alcoholics. Alcohol abuse increases levels of triglycerides (unhealthy fats) and increases the risks for high blood pressure, heart failure, and stroke. In addition, the extra calories in alcohol can contribute to obesity, a major risk factor for many heart problems.

Why alcohol should be your foremost enemy: Cancer

Experts across the globe are in agreement that alcohol abuse and dependence may increase the risk for certain type of cancers. In particular, heavy alcohol use appears to increase the risks for mouth, throat, esophageal, gastrointestinal, liver, and colorectal, cancers. Even moderate drinking can increase the risk of breast cancer. Although the additional risk is small, women who are at high risk for breast cancer should consider not drinking at all. But most importantly to continually consult with their doctors for a more professional treatment approach.

Why alcohol should be your foremost enemy: Effects on the Lungs

Pneumonia – Over time, chronic alcoholism can cause severe reductions in white blood cells, which increase the risk for community acquired pneumonia (pneumonia acquired outside of hospitals or nursing homes). When patients are inebriated they are also at risk for aspiration of mucus from the airways, causing pneumonia. Patients who abuse alcoholism have a greater risk for developing severe pneumonia. Doctors recommend that patients with alcohol dependence receive an annual pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination. Therefore it is important that everybody should be well informed of the initial signs of pneumococcal pneumonia which include the following high fever, cough and stabbing chest pains. When these signs are noted then that calls for an immediate appointment with your doctor. Remember that under normal circumstances prevention is always the best but now that we have some signs treatment becomes necessary and that is why scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury becomes the better option and for you the professionals, attending the August Integrative Addiction Conference 2015 is a great opportunity to shine in your career, the contact details is as stipulated above.

Why alcohol should be your foremost enemy: There is nothing like moderate drinking

Overcoming the challenges of defeating Alcohol Addiction

May 30, 2015

Overcoming the challenges of defeating Alcohol Addiction: What does my friend have to do to get help?

Overcoming the challenges of defeating Alcohol Addiction will be effective with the embracing of group therapies.

Not long ago we posted an article tailored specifically to inform the public on the best ways they can adopt towards helping an alcoholic recover from alcoholism. In that article we noted that most of our friends are suffering with alcoholism and it became evident that we have to pool together to reduce their suffering. You may want to make reference to that article even as we settle on overcoming the challenges of defeating alcohol addiction. As a concern friend you noticed that your friend is not behaving normally and you suspect that he is struggling with alcohol addiction problem. You are convicted that you need to do something to help and I am encouraged that we have concern people live you. How I wish they were many of them. But anyway experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are very much supportive of people like you and I would encourage you from the onset that talking to these professional lead by doctor Dalal Akoury who is also the founder of the facility. Meanwhile one of the biggest challenges to overcome in an attempt of defeating alcohol addiction is dealing with the problem of denial. The genesis of all treatment success is acceptance of the problem at hand unfortunately many people are in denial. Therefore if you have a friend you want to help with his or her alcohol addiction problem, you’ve got to start with making them to willingly acknowledge the presence of the problem they have. It is very important that to get better and recover well, your friend has to get some help to stop drinking or using the other drugs he may be using.

Doctor Akoury admits that facing such a problem and asking for help can be a scary thing to do. For the best to come out your friend will have to take an honest look at where drinking or abuse of other drugs has brought him or her. With that evaluation done honestly, the next step would be consent or admitting that it has caused them emotional and maybe physical pain as well. Your friend will have to see that it has robbed him or her of real friends, creativity, happiness, spirit, the respect of others, and even self-respect, and that it keeps your friend from growing up. It is also important to appreciate that one cannot solve the problem of drug addiction by themselves and therefore the help of experienced professionals would be very I deal, like for instance the services of a good counselor will support your friend and direct him or her to the kind of treatment and support groups that are most helpful.

Overcoming the challenges of defeating Alcohol Addiction: Talking to the various Support groups

Like we have mentioned before not individual can single handedly go it alone in overcoming the challenges of defeating alcohol addiction. As a means of helping your friend in this fight, it would be very important that you encourage your friend to talk to other people with drinking and other drug problems particularly those who are now in the recovery process. You could look for those who have passed through programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). These groups are confidential, self-help organizations that offer assistance to anyone who has a drinking or other drug problem and wants to do something about it. AA and NA members are recovering alcoholics and addicts, so they have a special understanding of each other.

Take note that talking with others who have experienced similar problems is an important part of recovery. New members are encouraged to stay away from alcohol or other drugs “one day at a time.” The good news is that there is no fee for membership in these organizations. If your friend is afraid to go to a meeting alone, that is normal and don’t take offence about that instead be supportive and go along with him or her to an “open” meeting. Friends and family members are welcome to attend this type of meeting, and there are meetings in most neighborhoods or communities.

If your friend has a drinking or other drug problem, you may be the only one willing to reach out and help. Your friend may not appreciate your help right away, or he or she may realize it means you really care. Ultimately, it’s up to your friend to get help. It is not your responsibility to make that happen. In fact, you can’t make that happen. All you can do is talk to your friend, show how much you care, and encourage him or her to get help. Your concern and support might be just what is needed to help your friend turn his or her life around. However, if your friend is in serious trouble with alcohol or other drugs, and you have been unable to get your friend to get help on his or her own, you should consider speaking with your friend’s parents or guardian. The potential consequences to your friend’s life can be too severe to do nothing.

You cannot force someone you love to stop abusing alcohol. As much as you may want to, and as hard as it is to watch, you cannot make someone stop drinking. The choice is up to them.
Don’t expect the person to stop drinking and stay sober without help. Your loved one will need treatment, support, and new coping skills to overcome a serious drinking problem.
Recovery is an ongoing process. Recovery is a bumpy road, requiring time and patience. An alcoholic will not magically become a different person once sober. And the problems that led to the alcohol abuse in the first place will have to be faced.

Admitting that there’s a serious problem can be painful for the whole family, not just the alcohol abuser. But don’t be ashamed. You’re not alone. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse affects millions of families, from every social class, race, and culture. But there is help and support available for both you and your loved one and that is why doctor Akoury founded this establishment (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) to help you go through all these challenges. And for that reason you can now schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury for the commencement of your recovery journey.

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