Keeping you in-the-know about addiction and recovery.
Number of Fatal Drug Overdoses Climbs Sharply in U.S.
We are in the midst of what the CDC characterizes as a major public health crisis – the spiraling epidemic of drug addiction in America. The scary question is, “Can it get any worse?” Sadly – newly released data shows it is. In 2016, there was a 19% increase in
Opioids or Heroin? Depends on Your Age…
If it’s possible – the opioid addiction crisis is morphing by generation and getting more deadly. Researchers at the University of Maryland now report that older consumers are overdosing on prescription opioids at alarming rates while younger Americans are dying disproportionately from overdosing on heroin. Sadly – in both cases
New Research May Point to Possible New Personalized Treatments for Alcoholism
Over fourteen million Americans suffer from alcoholism/alcohol dependency. That’s approximately seven percent of the U.S. population. And data shows that women are increasingly vulnerable to the problem. Researchers have long wondered whether the cause of alcohol dependency is idiosyncratic, varying from person to person. A team working at the Scripps
Heroin Continues Its Deadly March Across New England and the Nation
Heroin, once seen as largely an urban problem, is now ravaging five-times the number of people across America it did just 15 years ago. According to research from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, a condition known as heroin dependence or heroin use disorder has also tripled during this
Alcohol During Pregnancy and the Harm it Can Do
Many young women realize that drinking during pregnancy is not a good idea, but they often fail to understand all of the ramifications. Did you know that alcohol can actually harm a baby at every stage of a pregnancy and that alcohol can cause something called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
The Worst Drug Addiction Epidemic in U.S. History…
It’s now a well established fact that the class of drugs known as opioids are at the root of what is by far the worst drug addiction epidemic in U.S. history. Between the years 2000 and 2015, over 500 thousand Americans died from drug overdoses – the majority of which
Opioid Prescriptions Run Amuck
For more than a decade, researchers and physicians have know that opioid drugs are among some of the most dangerous and addictive drugs known to humankind. In fact, the death rate from drug overdoses tied largely to opioid drugs is now estimated to be 125 Americans each and every day
Alcohol and Opioid Drugs – a Deadly Combination
It should be obvious that mixing alcohol and opioid painkillers is a bad idea. Right? Yup. And now we have confirmation In a report just published in the respected journal, Anesthesiology, researchers confirmed that combining just one painkilling opioid pill with even a modest amount of alcohol increases the risk
Connecticut’s Governor Malloy Announces New Proposals for Fighting Opioid Addiction
Connecticut’s Governor Dannel Malloy just announced a number of proposals for combating the state’s opioid crisis that he has now sent to the Connecticut legislature for consideration during the 2017 legislative session. Stating that every town and city in the State has been affected by opioid addiction, the Governor said
Addiction’s Toll on Children in America
In December of 2016, a Pennsylvania couple died of an apparent opioid overdose. Days after their passing, police discovered the body of their infant child – a victim of starvation. In the past 15 years, more than 300,000 U.S. residents have died from opioid overdoses – 33,000 in 2015 alone.
Are You Struggling with Addiction? Beware of Deceptive Marketing Practices
There was a time when physician referrals and word-of-mouth provided most of the guidance people received when trying to decide where to seek drug and alcohol rehab help. Sadly, that is no longer the case. Increasingly, patients who are often in one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives,
What Happens When Pharmaceutical Companies Put Profits First?
What happens when drug companies put profits ahead of patient safety? Ask the folks in West Virginia. Between 2007 and 2012, the big drug makers pumped 780 million opioid pills (hydrocodone and oxycodone) into the state. In case you’re wondering – that’s enough to give every man, woman and child
