When you decide to go into treatment for an opiate use disorder, you are at risk for cross-addiction after opiate addiction. You can even develop another addiction at the same time as you are still fighting your initial addiction. Likewise, if you’ve been abusing weed or alcohol, you might realize that the lesser addiction has always been on your route to the one you’re now trying to kick. All ...
CDC Guidelines to Avoid Prescription Opiate Addiction
In the light of the buprenorphine treatment that’s often necessary in order to combat prescription opiate addiction, it’s interesting to note two informational pieces published in March 2016 regarding such medications. First, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a study noting that opiate prescriptions issued have increased in recent years for patients who undergo ...
How to Spot High-Functioning Addicts
Many people have preconceived ideas of what an addict looks like and how they act. They are often depicted as skinny and stringy-haired, with ratty clothes and no job. This is no longer, and really never was, an accurate portrayal of an addict. Movies, TV, music and even the news perpetuate the notion that an addict is easily recognized by these tell-tale attributes. In fact, there is no typical ...
Warnings About Oxycodone in Harford County
Recently the Baltimore Sun published a piece about counterfeit oxycodone in Harford County Maryland. This counterfeit-cocktail is linked to an increasing number of deaths in that area. In May 2016, three people overdosed in one weekend. The counterfeit pills are so dangerous because they contain fentanyl, heroin, and caffeine instead of the pure oxycodone that is expected. Those at risk must be ...
When Someone You Love Has a Prescription Opiate Addiction
We all believe we know our families, mothers and fathers, siblings, husbands and wives, better than anyone else. And most times, we're probably right. But there are often things going on that no matter how much we love or care for them, we simply don't see. Maybe we just don't want to see. How do you know if someone close to you is using prescription pain pills way beyond what the doctor ordered? ...
Surgeon General Supports Opiate Treatment Programs
The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, has joined thousands of treatment professionals and researchers speaking out in support of opiate treatment programs. Dr. Murthy was appointed to his post in December 2014, and by the latter part of 2015 he was already spreading his message about fighting addiction and preventing the stigma associated with it. He delivered heartfelt remarks at a ...