All across the country, we are seeing a rise in drug overdose deaths because of the powerful narcotics that are affecting our communities at epidemic proportions. Numbers put together by the government estimate that over 64,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2016.
Addiction is a horrible disease that is progressive and often fatal if left untreated for long enough. If you’re struggling with addiction or are a family member of an addict/alcoholic, then you may be considering finding a drug rehab. Entering a treatment program provides the best chance of changing the negative behaviors associated with drug abuse. Many people struggle with emotional/psychological distress that contributes to substance abuse.
We will open the book.
The pages are blank.
We are going to put
words on them ourselves.
The book is called Opportunity,
and the first chapter begins
New Year’s Day.
-Edith Lovejoy Pierce
Long Island officials are projecting a record number of opioid overdose deaths that could topple 600 individuals taken by drug addiction. Broken down by county, the total number of deaths in 2017 is expected to be over 400 in Suffolk County and almost 200 in Nassau County.
Throughout your early recovery, there will be challenges and cravings you’ll need to face and overcome. You’ve worked so hard to get clean and sober, but maybe there is a voice in the back of your head saying “you can use just one more time”. Perhaps you’re a concerned loved one after your child, spouse, or friend has come home from treatment but is not acting normally. There are early warning signs that should create pause and concern. Drug relapse behavior is often subtle but can be noticed by the addict or by his/her loved ones if you know what to look for.
There is a growing movement to create supervised drug injection sites across New York. A coalition called End Overdose NY is pushing a campaign to sponsor legislation that would allow New York State to establish “supervised consumption spaces” for drug addicts. One of the bills co-sponsors, Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, has an interesting take on the reasoning behind supervised injection sites.
The FDA and DEA are pushing for kratom to become a scheduled substance but many people find the plant helpful in alleviating opioid withdrawal symptoms and are lobbying to keep it accessible to everyone. In recent years, the kratom plant has become a controversial topic. It has both supporters and detractors, so it’s important to get to the truth of the matter without any bias. The active ingredient (mitragynine) in kratom is an opioid antagonist, meaning that it has the affinity to bind to opioid receptors in the brain.
After careful consideration, the FDA declared kratom to be a dangerous opioid. This is a step closer to kratom being scheduled as an illegal substance and it’s generating a backlash from many proponents of the drug. In 2016, the DEA banned kratom by making it a controlled substance but the decision was reversed after a significant public outcry.
We see more and more people desperately struggling with heroin addiction across the country. Getting over a heroin detox is not easy because of the painful withdrawal symptoms. If you’ve decided to take this important step to get healthy, creating a “detox menu” for yourself will help speed the process along. If you’re wondering what to eat during a heroin detox, then you’re already on the right track in being successful with your detox. Some specific types of food are better options than others.
If you are seeking drug and alcohol treatment resources for yourself or a loved one, our helpline is a confidential and convenient solution. Callers are referred to JCAHO accredited rehab facilities in our network of recommended treatment providers.
Alternatives to finding addiction treatment or learning about substance abuse:
