Prevention of Heroin overdose in the Societies

April 23, 2015

Prevention of Heroin overdose in the Societies: Why Heroin Overdoses Are on the Rise

Prevention of Heroin overdose in the Societies is not just an option but a must do thing if we are to be healthy in the future

We all have a duty to keep our neighborhoods safe from all manner of dangers. There are a lot of dangers ranging from crime, health and social life. All these affect us in their own peculiar way and it is now time for all of us to take responsibilities in dealing with these problems. We cannot weight continue waiting for the authorities to do something. Even though the authorities have a role and a major one for that matter, when these problems strike we the societies are the first recipient of their effects. Let us consider substance abuse for example, while the government will feel the economic pain as a result of this problem, our families, sons and daughters, husbands and wives are the direct victims. It has therefore becomes very necessary that we pool together towards the prevention of heroin overdose in the societies. And when am talking about heroin I am not in any way excluding other drugs, they all impact on our lives negatively and radical solution must be sought for today. To introduce the magnitude of the problem, I am going to share with you a story about one of the drug abuse victim for better understanding why we must take action like yesterday.

A few years ago a young man or do I say boy in his early twenties was working at a sporting goods store in one of the neighborhood suburbs, he was prescribed Vicodin for shoulder pain. Latter on his doctor substituted his medication to morphine and then OxyContin unfortunately by the time this was done; he had developed a severe opiate addiction. He followed his prescription well but when his prescription expired, his cravings continued and he could not hold. As usual he bought for himself more pills from a street dealer for $50 each. He kept on purchasing every time he craves and when he had depleted his savings, the craving did not stop instead in become even worse. He negotiated with is supplier and the supplier offered him a dose of heroin for $10, before he knew he had been completely gotten hooked and addicted to the drugs.

The consequences of this begun to manifest themselves and the first thing was that he lost his job and spent several years in and out of treatment. Years later and desperate for money to support his unhealthy habit, he was arrested trying to steal a boat motor spear parts from his neighbor’s garage. This landed him in jail and the consequences continued he suffered opiate withdrawal for days: curled up in the fetal position due to bone and muscle pain, shaking from fever and chills, wasting his life and wetting and soiling himself with his pee and diarrhea and vomit. His fellow inmates did not take this kindly; they harassed him scathingly for the smell. After serving his jail term and one week into his freedom out of jail, he was not rehabilitated yet. So he borrowed his friend’s car to drive across town and of course his destination was to his old heroin dealer.

As a former client whose money the dealer had missed desperately, he was welcomed back with a dose of heroin at his cost at least to keep him in the list of clients. He injected the usual dose in his bedroom and the worse happen, this time round he came to the end of the road with his addiction and he stopped breathing. The next morning, his father found his lifeless body curled up on the floor. When I began I said that we must not weight for the authorities to come and do something. In this boy story you realize that at the end of it all it is his father who found him. In other words we are the people who are hard hit by this scourge. This story is one among many across the globe. It therefore brings us to the urgent need of ensuring that prevention of heroin overdose in the societies is well entrenched in our lifestyle.

Prevention of Heroin overdose in the Societies: The expert’s opinion

We spoke to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD and also the founder of the establishment, and she said that it is regrettable that the death toll of heroin addiction has been rising constantly at 40% per year since 2011, overtaking fatalities from HIV in. This is not something to celebrate about she says. We are going to share in our next article some five points you need to know about the impact of heroin overdose in our societies, but in the meantime, you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury for more professional input even as she brings us up to speed with some of the things we can do to help:

Prevention of Heroin overdose in the Societies: What you can do

If anyone you know has struggled with opiates, even years ago, get trained and equipped to administer naloxone yourself. Find an overdose prevention program near you.
Invite Moms United to End the War on Drugs or Law Enforcement against Prohibition (LEAP) to speak to your civic club, student organization or other group about heroin and safe injection facilities.
Learn more about how syringe exchange programs are reducing blood-borne disease transmission, how Naloxone Access and Good Samaritan Laws are saving the lives of those who overdose, and how the national Ban the Box campaign and Seattle’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program help drug users stay out of jail and move on with their lives.
Tell your friends that heroin overdose deaths can be prevented with safe injection facilities. Start conversations about why it makes sense to provide a safe place to inject heroin.

Finally this is our problem, it affects us and we must individually and collectively take responsibilities for the prevention of heroin overdose in the societies. You can talk to doctor Dalal Akoury for more clarification and treatment recovery programs they offer at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center today and your life and that of your whole society will be transformed thereafter.

Prevention of Heroin overdose in the Societies: Why Heroin Overdoses Are on the Rise

The Efficient way of Overcoming Drug Addiction

April 7, 2015

The Efficient way of Overcoming Drug Addiction: It begins from the mind set up

The Efficient way of Overcoming Drug Addiction include seeking for help, advice and support from the family

In the past few posted articles we have been talking about treatment of drug addiction and particularly heroin. It has become clear that the cost has been steadily on the increase and this to some point has been a hindrance for effective treatment. However in this article, we want to look at the efficient way of overcoming drug addiction not necessarily heroin but in a wider spectrum. The experts have pointed out that when one is struggling with drug addiction, attainment of sobriety may appear to be dwindling to the extent of giving up on hope of ever recovering or meeting your treatment objectives. That is normal and nearly all addicts will have the same feeling but the truth is that addiction recovery is within reach. It may not matter how hopeless your situation may seems to be. Doctor Akoury says that change is possible with the right treatment and support which are tailored to addressing the root cause of your addiction. She says that once you have started, don’t give up even if you’ve tried and failed before. The road to recovery is never a walk on a straight path. There will be good times and bad ones full of bumps, pitfalls, and setbacks. However by examining the problem and thinking about change, you’re already on your way to total recovery if you could adopt the following strategies.

The Efficient way of Overcoming Drug Addiction: Decide to make a change

Just like we had indicated in our previous article that for many people struggling with addiction the biggest and toughest step towards addiction recovery is the very first step of making a decision to change. It’s normal to feel conflicted about giving up your drug of choice, even when you realize it’s causing problems in your life. Change is never easy and committing to sobriety involves changing many things including:

The way you deal with stress
Who you allow in your life
What you do in your free time
How you think about yourself

Certainly all these will trouble your mind, and among the things that will be disturbing would be whether you’re really ready for all that change or if you have what it takes to quit. Take courage if this concerns you because you are not alone everyone goes through the same process. Remember that recovering from addiction is a long process, one that requires time, commitment, motivation, and support. But in all these your willingness to get help is the most important first step. Now having made that step the following tips can motivate your decision into progressing with the recovery program.

The Efficient way of Overcoming Drug Addiction: Thinking about change

It is important for you to keep track of your drug use, including when and how much you use. This will give you a better sense of the role the addiction is playing in your life.
List the merits and the demerits of quitting and not forgetting the costs element and benefits of continuing your drug abuse.
Outline all the things that are important to you, such as your partner, your kids, your career, or your health. With that outline, evaluate how drugs affect them?
Don’t keep it all to yourself, share it over with someone you trust. Enquire from them how they feel about your drug use.
Ask yourself if there’s anything preventing you from changing. What are some of the things that could help you make the change?

The Efficient way of Overcoming Drug Addiction: Explore your treatment options

Once you’ve made the decision to challenge your drug addiction, it’s time to explore your treatment choices. As you consider the treatment options, have the following at the back of your mind:

There’s no magic bullet or single treatment that works for everyone – When considering a program, remember that everyone’s needs are different and unique. Drug addiction treatment should be customized to your unique problems and situation. It therefore implies that you must only go for that program which will serve your recovery needs.

Treatment should address more than just your drug abuse – The effect of addiction is not limited to your health alone. It cuts across your whole life, including relationships, career, health, and psychological well-being. The success of treatment will depend on changing your general lifestyle and facing head on all the reasons which lead you into drugs in the first place. Like for instance it be due to your inability to manage stress, in which case you’ll need to find healthy ways to handle stressful situations.

Commitment and sticking to the objective – Drug addiction treatment is not a quick and easy process. In general, the longer and more intense the drug use, the longer and more intense the treatment you’ll need. But regardless of the treatment program’s length in weeks or months, long-term follow-up care is crucial to recovery.

There are many places to turn for help – Not everybody requires medically supervised detox or an extended stint in rehab. The level of care you need depends on your age, drug use history, and other medical or psychiatric conditions. In addition to doctors and psychologists, many clergy members, social workers, and counselors can also offer addiction treatment services. Even as you seek help for drug addiction, it’s also important to get treatment for any other medical or psychological issues you’re experiencing. Your best chance of recovery is through integrated treatment for both the substance abuse problem and the mental health problem. This means getting combined mental health and addiction treatment from the same treatment provider or team.

Finally the efficient way of overcoming drug addiction is not all about what we have highlighted in this article. There are so many other directions you can take guided by the healthcare provider. At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury the MD and also the founder of the facility, all that you may need pertaining treatment of heroin abuse or any other drug addiction are readily a available. Up on scheduling for an appointment with doctor Akoury, you will be evaluated individually and professionally taken through personalized treatment procedure that will deal with the root cause of the problem, thereby addressing the problem as it is, leaving you enjoying your lost times and focusing on a more meaningful life ahead.

The Efficient way of Overcoming Drug Addiction: It begins from the mind set up

The Relationship between Heroin Abuse and Depression

April 5, 2015

The Relationship between Heroin Abuse and Depression: Exposing the Health complication they represent

The Relationship between Heroin Abuse and Depression is very evident with various kinds of addiction like heroin and other drugs

It is without any doubt that all drug users and not necessarily heroin addicts are all suffering from depression and addiction. These two elements are of the same characteristic when it comes to substance abuse. Our focus in this article is going to be looking at the relationship between heroin abuse and depression. This drug heroin is a very powerful opiate capable of making alterations to the user’s brain chemistry and thereby causing mood changes, suicidal behavior, psychological dependence and addiction. It is currently estimated that up to half of all opiate users have at one time experienced depression in their lives. Anyone suffering from any kind of addiction heroin included will be going through what is known as dual diagnosis should it be discovered that they are also suffering from depression. With this condition, doctor Akoury says that chances of long term recovery would be very slim.

From her over two decades of experience doctor Akoury says that not unless the user is treated for both conditions, it is likely that he or she will relapse soon after rehab. It is important to note that in numerous instances, majority of depressed heroin user fail to get treatment. Nonetheless, according to findings from the clinical studies depression and substance abuse are treated simultaneously and when this is done, the depressive symptoms often improve. This has further been confirmed by Biological Psychiatry registering that opiate addicts who go through residential rehab or methadone maintenance treatment have significant improvement in their depression.

Therefore the key to treating heroin abuse and depression successfully is to identify both conditions early in the recovery process. Intensive neuropsychological assessment can reveal the signs of co-occurring psychiatric disorders like depression. Once mental illness has been identified, treatment must address both depression and heroin addiction to be successful.

The Relationship between Heroin Abuse and Depression: How Heroin Affects the Psyche

You must have known that heroin is a synthetic drug produced from morphine, a potent analgesic that comes from the opium poppy. Heroin exerts its effects by binding with receptor cells in the brain that respond to opiates. When injected, snorted or smoked heroin can converts into morphine in the brain, where it slows down neurological activity and induces a state of sedation.

For many users, a heroin high produces a rush of euphoria and a sense of profound relaxation. But the National Alliance on Mental Illness states that in people with psychiatric disorders, the side effects of heroin are more likely to be negative. For someone with depression, heroin may seem like an antidote to hopelessness, sadness and guilt.

The psychosocial effects of heroin can also contribute to depression. Heroin is highly debilitating, and users often experience job loss, relationship conflicts, legal problems and financial troubles.

The physical consequences of heroin use including respiratory illness, blood-borne diseases, muscular weakness and vascular damage can also cause severe emotional distress.

Because the brain adjusts quickly to the effects of heroin, physical and psychological dependence develop rapidly. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that nearly one-fourth (23 percent) of individuals who use heroin will eventually reach the point of addiction. Once addiction sets in, use of the drug becomes compulsive and uncontrollable in spite of the devastating effects of abuse. All of these factors can intensify feelings of hopelessness, despair and self-loathing: the hallmarks of depression.

The Relationship between Heroin Abuse and Depression: Factors Associated with Depression

Uncovering the causes of depression is one of the most challenging aspects of recovery for heroin users. Depression is much more than a low mood. It is a incapacitating mental illness that can lead to isolation, job loss, broken relationships, poor physical health and an increased risk of suicide. Depression can arise from a number of sources, including:

Genetic factors
Imbalances in brain chemistry
A stressful social environment
Psychological trauma
Physical disability
Drug or alcohol abuse

Treating a Dual Diagnosis of heroin addiction and depression is especially difficult if the individual is still under the influence of the drug. Many of the symptoms of opiate addiction fatigue, self-isolation, poor concentration and weight loss can resemble the symptoms of major depressive disorder.

According to a study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence followed 615 heroin users in various stages of treatment or non-treatment. In the study it was established that a quarter of the subjects were currently experiencing a major depressive episode. While about twenty-six percent of the individuals in treatment had a lifetime history of depression and 16 percent of those who weren’t in treatment had been depressed. In the treatment group, a significant number of clients were also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Others were living with a life-altering physical disability. In many of these cases, heroin was used as a maladaptive way to numb physical or psychological pain.

In long-term heroin users, it can be nearly impossible to determine whether depression led to addiction or the other way round. A comprehensive treatment plan must give equal attention to both conditions.

The Relationship between Heroin Abuse and Depression: Depression and Heroin Withdrawal

In the journey to recovery among many addicts, relapse is often very common among many heroin users who try to quit this highly addictive drug. The unpleasant side effects of heroin withdrawal can drive even the most determined individuals back to the drug. Heroin withdrawal usually isn’t life-threatening, however, heavy users may have dangerous seizures if they try to quit without medical supervision.

Finally physical symptoms of heroin withdrawal can feel like a severe case of the flu, but for many users, the psychological side effects are even harder to tolerate. In the first few days, weeks or even months after quitting heroin, users may feel extremely depressed. Once the brain comes to rely on the euphoric rush of a heroin high, the pleasures of everyday life may seem meaningless in comparison. A condition called anhedonia, or lack of pleasure, often develops in recovering heroin addicts. One of the primary goals of treatment is to help the addict find peace, hope and joy in a drug-free life.

The Relationship between Heroin Abuse and Depression: Exposing the Health complication they represent

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