Affordable Treatment Alcohol Addiction Recovery

New Alcohol Control Laws

2012-02-23T11:30:00.003-08:00

Its seems that in order to have new legislation on alcohol there needs to be bad news. Recent news coverage of violent crimes and fatal accidents linked to alcohol use could encourage public support of stricter alcohol-control laws, HealthDay reports.

789 adults were surveyed in a new study that was conducted in which researchers found that they were more likely to support alcohol-control laws after exposure to stories in the media about violent crimes, car accidents, and other types of accidents involving alcohol.

One-third of deaths from accidents and violent crimes in some way involved the use of alcohol. Although, most news reports of these incidents fail to mention alcohol’s role in the cases, according to the authors of the study.

“People have some awareness of the social cost that alcohol can have,” said study author Michael D. Slater, of Ohio State University. “But only a small fraction of news stories on violent crime and non-motor vehicle accidents acknowledge the contributing role of alcohol.”

The study was published in the March issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

Movies Influence Teen Drinking

2012-02-21T13:03:00.000-08:00

Movies are the most popular medium of art amongst teenagers; it makes sense to think that what they see in movies will influence their actions in many cases, which isn’t necessarily a good thing. Alcohol use is often featured in movies and according to a new report may double the likelihood that teens will start drinking alcohol.

The study was over the course of two-years and more than 6,500 American kids, ages 10 to 14 were involved. Researchers found that teens who saw movies with heavy alcohol consumption were more likely to engage in binge drinking (five or more drinks in a row) HealthDay reports.

Teens who started drinking alcohol more than doubled from 11 percent to 25 percent, and those who started binge drinking tripled from 4 percent to 13 percent.

Among teens who were exposed to movies that feature alcohol use led to:

28 percent of kids drinking alcohol
Of those, 20 percent started binge drinking

“Product placement in movies is forbidden for cigarettes in the U.S.A., but is legal and commonplace for the alcohol industry, with half of Hollywood films containing at least one alcohol-brand appearance, regardless of film rating,” James Sargent, of Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth Medical School and colleagues wrote in the report.

The study was published in the journal BMJ Open

Naloxone Saves Lives

2012-02-18T11:40:00.001-08:00

Everyday people across the country overdose on opiates in one form or another; in the past there would not be a whole lot anyone, short of a doctor, could do to reverse the situation. With the rise in prescription pain killer use overdoses have become much more common among people from all walks of life. Fortunately, there is a medication available that can accomplish an overdose reversal and with very little training could save countless lives across the world, suggests a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report.

The drug Naloxone has successfully reversed more than 10,000 drug overdoses since 1996, according to the CDC report. But, the drug is only effective with opiates; it will not help any other type of overdose. There are programs in 17 states and the District of Columbia that provide naloxone to communities and train individuals on how to use it.

The CDC survey of 48 programs that distributed naloxone found the medication was given to about 53,000 people, who were trained in recognizing and treating an overdose. The programs received reports of 10,171 overdose reversals.

“To address the substantial increases in opioid-related drug overdose deaths, public health agencies could consider comprehensive measures that include teaching laypersons how to respond to overdoses and administer naloxone to those in need,” the researchers wrote.

Whitney Houston and Prescription Drugs

2012-02-14T16:43:00.000-08:00

There is no argument, the world lost someone special this week and as more light is shed on the death of singer/songwriter Whitney Houston we can’t help but think why? Prescription drug abuse is ravaging this nation and it is clear that all walks of life are being affected by it.

At this point we cannot say for sure what caused Whitney Houston’s death, there are strong sources that lead everyone to believe that prescription drugs played a part in her death on February 11th, 2012.

“Her death is absolutely tragic and this brings attention to the problem that she had talked about in the past and that certainly is prescription drugs,” R. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy told CBS News. “It affects a huge number of people in this country and has driven deaths to very, very high numbers—well over 15,000.”

He added, “I think it is what we might call a teachable moment when someone passes—particularly as someone as highly thought of and such an incredible performer as Whitney Houston. We can use this as a moment to help people understand. There are millions of Americans that are suffering from this problem…so we can use this as a chance to move forward.”

Prescription Drug Take-Backs Not Effective

2012-02-09T15:53:00.000-08:00

Every year countless amounts of prescription drugs end up in the wrong hands due to improper disposal of medications. Typically, when people no longer require their medication, they rarely dispose of the drugs. The potential for the drugs getting to the hands of children or people addicted to pain killers is great which is why prescription drug take back days have been implemented across the country. Unfortunately, new research has shown that such programs may not be as effective as hoped, let alone have had any effect on prescription drug abuse in this country.

Carnevale Associates surveyed 148 programs in order to understand how they operate and their effectiveness. Their research has not found any evidence that such programs affect prescription drug abuse.

More research will need to be conducted according to the report, more data is needed to figure out if “take-backs” reduce the size or scope of the prescription drug epidemic. Studies need to determine what percentages of drugs taken and what percentage is returned.

“Until research can properly assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of take-backs, scarce prevention resources should fund proven policies, programs, and practices,” notes the report. These include prescription drug monitoring programs, and initiatives to modify doctors’ prescribing behaviors.

Assisted Living Residents Drinking

2012-02-08T15:38:00.000-08:00

As we get older the potential for needing assistance becomes much greater. Assisted living is sometimes unavoidable due to a number of factors. It turns out that most people who require assisted living drink alcohol according to a new report. Researchers asked more than 800 nursing aides in facilities about behaviors they had observed with their residents. Their responses suggest nearly 70 percent of assisted living residents drank alcohol, according to The New York Times.

Every facility has different rules regarding alcohol, according to the newspaper. Some facilities have bans on drinking alcohol, others allow it and even have happy hours.

In the past three months:

More than one-third of residents drank daily
12 percent had abused alcohol—defined as drinking enough to cause physical or psychosocial harm
Almost 20 percent of residents had experienced an apparent influence on their health from drinking

As we get older drinking can have much more serious effects on our health; drinking can lead to more falls, high blood pressure, depression, and other illnesses and accidents. Residents of such facilities require multiple medications, which can interact with alcohol, said lead researcher Nicholas G. Castle of the University of Pittsburgh. Despite all the potential for harm, he said he is not recommending a ban on alcohol in assisted living facilities. “Taking away things elders enjoy is the last thing we want to do.” Although, he added that in small amounts, alcohol can stimulate appetites, which could benefit some patients. The results are published in Research on Aging.

New Drug Detecting Device

2012-02-02T15:42:00.001-08:00

It is fair to say that many drugs have a similar look and smell, especially when it comes to powders and liquids. When police find drugs on someone it often takes time for them to identify what the suspect is in possession of exactly. A new laser device allows authorities to identify drugs on site. Police across the country have been testing the device and it seems to help save time and money across the board.

The device is called the Thermo Scientific TruNarc and it looks like a game console, using a low power laser to identify different drugs. The device can scan small bags of drugs and gives police almost instant identification, according to the Associated Press.

Traditionally police have used chemical test kits to identify drugs. The drugs are placed in a plastic pouch that contains vials of chemicals. The officer breaks the vials in the pouch and shakes it, and checks to see what color the substance turns. Different drugs come up with their own specific color. Each substance has its own testing kit meaning police officers may have to use several test kits before they identify the substance they are testing. The officers must handle the drugs, and potentially could be exposed to them. Once an officer identifies a substance, it must then be sent to a state lab to confirm the findings, which could take weeks or even months causing delays in prosecuting cases, the article notes.

TruNarc employs the same scientific techniques used in the lab, the company says. The officer holds the sample bag against the device and presses a scan button. The device does a quick analysis and provides a result.

Each TruNarc device will sell for just under $20,000.

Prescription Drug Education for Doctors

2012-02-01T15:23:00.000-08:00

It is clearly evident that there has been a huge lack of understanding regarding physicians and how they prescribe prescription narcotics. The prescription drug epidemic has grown out of control, there are a number of organizations fighting the problem but there has been little progress in the grand scheme of things. Much of the problem stems from doctors not being aware of how addictive prescription opiates can be, as well as how much a patient’s history can dictate what they can and cannot be prescribed to dispense for themselves.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the sale of prescription pain drugs has increased by 300% since 1999 and the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration) reports that nearly 1 in 6 non-medical users of prescription pain killers got the drugs through a prescription from a doctor.

"Prescription drug diversion and the health consequences of prescription drug misuse and abuse should be of primary concern to all physicians," states American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Acting President, Stuart Gitlow, MD. "Tens of thousands of Americans are overdosing on prescription pain medication and many of these prescriptions are coming from doctors' offices."

There are no requirements that prescribers need to have to prove they are qualified to prescribe scheduled narcotics like prescription opiates and sedatives. This is why ASAM is calling for mandatory prescriber education for all classes, all schedules of controlled substances. The more informed doctors are regarding this ever growing problem, the better they will be in making sound choices for whom they write prescriptions.

Source:
Bradenton Herald

Teenagers Prone to Addiction

2012-01-26T15:53:00.001-08:00

The teenage years are perhaps when we are the most vulnerable. Our brains are still developing and we are susceptible to a number of different pressures that can impact our decision making process. A new study conducted on adolescent and adult mice may have pinpointed why teenagers are more prone to addiction and risky behavior than adults.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have found some differences in brain response to a food reward between adolescent and adult rodents. Again, this could explain why adolescents take more risks and are more prone to addiction, depression, and schizophrenia.

“The brain region that is very critical in planning your actions and in habit formation is directly tapped by reward in adolescents, which means the reward could have a stronger influence in their decision-making, in what they do next, as well as forming habits in adolescents,” study researcher Bita Moghaddam told LiveScience.

“Teens could do stupid things in response to a situation not because they are stupid, but because their brains are working differently. Somehow they perceive and react to a situation differently,” Moghaddam said.

There is still much we do not understand about the human brain and certainly there are differences between animals and humans. However, much of the processes taking place are similar, so it may be fair to say that what we see happening between adult rats and adolescent rats may also be seen with adult humans and teenage humans.

The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences

Military Suicides Are Down but Violence Is Up

2012-01-24T14:57:00.000-08:00

As we look back on the last decade of war in Iraq and as soldiers who have been abroad off and on for years come home, the true aftermath of war has begun to rear its ugly head. Fortunately, the rate of suicide amongst soldiers is on the decline which is a good sign considering the number of cases of post traumatic stress; suicides among soldiers in the active duty Guard and Reserve totaled 278 last year, down 9 percent from 2010. However, a new Army report has shown that domestic violence, sex crimes and other destructive behaviors are on the rise.

"There's a lot of good news in this report, but there's also some bad news," Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli told a Pentagon press conference. "We know we've got still a lot of work to do."

"I think we've at least arrested this problem and hopefully will start to push it down," Chiarelli said.

Sadly, violent sex crimes and domestic violence have risen by more than 30 percent since 2006 and child abuse by 43 percent.

"After 10 years of war with an all-volunteer force, you're going to have problems that no one could have forecasted before this began," he said.

Post-traumatic stress disorder has been labeled an epidemic, the report estimates that there could be 472,000 service members with the condition, half of them in the Army. Some 24,000 soldiers were referred to substance abuse programs in the 2011 budget year. The Army had over 126,000 diagnosed cases of traumatic brain injury from 2000 to 2010. More than 95,000 mild cases such as concussions, 20,000 moderate cases, and more than 3,500 in which there were severe, penetrating injuries.

Chiarelli released a 200-page report for commanders, health care providers, and other military leaders. The report was designed to assess the physical and mental health condition of the force, disciplinary problems, and any gaps in how the Army deals with them.

Source:

MSNBC

Florida - Kentucky Prescription Drug Pipeline Closing Down

2012-01-20T13:29:00.000-08:00

There are a number of people who have become aware of the fact that Florida is the center of the prescription drug epidemic that has been crippling countless Americans. People travel from all over the east and mid west to acquire prescriptions for opiate pain killers from Florida doctors and “pill mills”; only to travel back to their state of origin to fill them. Last summer, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed into law a new bill that was written in order to cut down on prescription drug abuse by controlling “pill mills” in the state. Fortunately, as a result, the pipeline of prescription painkillers from Florida to Kentucky has started to close off, according to the attorneys general of both states in an announcement this week.

In the past, whole van loads of people would travel to Florida from Kentucky to buy pain pills at clinics. These people always paid cash and received pain killers after little or no examination, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. In 2010, an estimated 60 percent of pills sold on the black market in Kentucky came from Florida, Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway said at a conference on substance abuse.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said the state has seen significant results since the prescription drug monitoring system was set up. She noted two years ago, 98 of the top 100 U.S. prescribers of oxycodone were in Florida, now that number is 11. The number of registered pain clinics in Florida has dropped from 943 to 579, she said. Clearly Florida is making great progress in the fight to stop prescription drug abuse and it seems like as more time goes by there will be more good news to report.

Every 19 Minutes A Person Dies From Prescription Drug Abuse

2012-01-17T11:33:00.000-08:00

Sadly, a number of people do not realize how dangerous prescription drugs can be despite legality. Just because a drug may be deemed legal as long as one has a prescription, hardly makes a drug safe - especially prescription narcotics. People are dying every day at unprecedented numbers. People are losing their lives to prescription narcotics and it seems that little can be done to curb this ever growing problem.

Every 19 minutes a person dies from prescription drug abuse in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2007 there was an estimated 27,000 unintentional drug overdose deaths, UPI reports. More people are abusing prescription drugs today than in 2007; this has grown quickly into the worst drug epidemic our country has ever seen.

The rise in unintentional drug overdose deaths is directly tied to an increase in use of prescription opioids, the CDC notes in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. For every unintentional overdose death linked to opioids:

nine people are admitted for substance abuse treatment
35 people go to the emergency room
161 report drug abuse or dependence
461 report non-medical uses of opioids

Opioid misuse and overdose deaths are highest among:

non-Hispanic whites
men ages 20-64
poor
rural populations

There are two main groups at risk for prescription drug overdose according to the CDC. They are the nine million people who report long-term medical use of opioids and the estimated 5 million who have used opioids without a prescription or medical need in the past month.

Collaborative Behavioral Management

2012-01-12T15:44:00.001-08:00

A large percentage of people coming out of jail or prison are addicted to drugs or alcohol in one form or another. Being back out in society can be hard on parolees due to the pressure surrounding them and seeing old friends and places. It can be difficult for them to not go back to using; this can result in parolees breaking the conditions of their parole and ending up back in prison.

Some states have begun offering incentives to those who have good conduct and test negative during their weekly drug tests. A new study shows a program that provides a system of incentives for good behavior helps parolees reduce marijuana use. However, there was not much success among those who use stimulants or opiates, Medical News Today reports. The system is called collaborative behavioral management, where by every week for three months, officers, treatment counselors and parolees at six parole offices in five states worked with a behavioral contract that included three target behaviors. If conduct was good the parolee was rewarded through a system of points that allowed them to receive gift cards or other incentives.

Lead researcher Peter D. Friedmann of Rhode Island Hospital said in a news release, “Since the majority of drug violation arrests in the U.S. are for marijuana, these findings have important implications for the management of a substantial proportion of parolees. The study shows that an intervention grounded in behavioral science is feasible and effective in real-world correctional settings.”

ADHD Drugs In Short Supply

2012-01-11T12:25:00.001-08:00

51.5 million prescriptions for ADHD medication were prescribed in 2010 and more and more people are finding it harder to find a place that can fill their prescription. Dr. Nancy Snyderman has found that production shortages, underground markets, and the DEA putting limits on how much of these types of drugs can be produced every year have a lot to do with the shortages.

A number of people get prescriptions for the drug not for ADHD but rather to help them study for heavy college class loads, allowing them to study longer and more attentively. While amphetamines are highly addictive they have also proven to be quite effective for those dealing with attention disorders. If those people cannot get their hands on the medication they require their quality of life will be disrupted.

Please watch the short video below about the report:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Working in the Field of Addiction

2012-01-06T15:08:00.000-08:00

What should be the requirements of working in the field of addiction? Many people believe that in order to provide adequate treatment for those suffering from addiction that counselors need to have a high level of education. While having a degree in the field may be useful, it may not be a pre-requisite to being a good counselor.

Here are the thoughts of Phyllis A. Gardner, PhD, President, IC&RC and Professor of Sociology, Texarkana College regarding this interesting topic:

“As I survey the landscape of our profession, I see some amazing developments in several areas. A national health care reform bill was passed, including parity for behavioral health. There is a growing recognition of the need for integration of addiction treatment with mental and physical health care. However, these same advances have heightened concerns that the practice of treating addiction will be limited by education level, particularly to master’s degrees. Thus in a movement to further legitimize our profession, we risk leaving many dedicated professionals behind.

Our culture has a tendency to swing wildly from one extreme to another every time we have an epiphany. Such dramatic shifts can lead to polarization. We sociologists talk a lot about this phenomenon – people taking increasingly extreme positions in response to an opposing view.

We’ve seen this propensity all around; it’s not just us! The list of examples is endless in medicine, religion, economics, politics and even our global environment. So in this world of polarizing debates and paradigm shifts, I think it is important for the leaders in the field of addiction treatment and prevention to be wary of extreme positions.

We all know the roots of our profession by now. So many of our best practitioners began with little formal education at all. Today we are fortunate to have many highly educated professionals equally dedicated to those we serve. All around the world these people work together for the benefit of others in an evidence-based, ethical practice – and we applaud their dedication.

Through the years, IC&RC has been at the forefront of setting professional standards and protecting the public. Yet, not all of our seven credentials have degree requirements. While it is incumbent upon us to continue our quest to educate our professionals, I pray that we remember that competence is more than just a degree. Our non-degreed brothers and sisters in this profession would never have found a foothold if a degree was all that mattered.

Let us remember the value of a broad-based approach. As we continue our research and evidence-based practice, as we educate our practitioners, as we insist on the highest ethical standards, let us not forget the lessons we learned about addiction and treatment so many decades ago: there is a place at our table for all professionally trained, ethically sound practitioners – not just those with master’s degrees.”

Spice Changing Their Ingredients

2012-01-04T14:19:00.001-08:00

Synthetic drugs like “Spice” have been in the news a lot over the last 6 months as federal authorities try and crack down on the manufacturing and distribution of synthetic drugs. Drugs like “Spice” have been found to be extremely dangerous; use of such drugs causes severe hallucinations and even persistent suicidal thoughts. The reason it has been difficult to stop the production of synthetic drugs is that manufacturers continually change the ingredients in order to skirt state laws that have bans on such drugs.

The Washington Post recently reported that the makers of “Spice” are changing their ingredients once again. The longer manufacturers can continue the charade, the more likely people will continue to risk using these drugs - even teenagers. The recent Monitoring the Future survey found that one in every nine high school seniors (11.4 percent) reported using synthetic marijuana in the prior 12 months.

The U.S. House voted to ban more than 30 synthetic drugs, including spice. Known as the Synthetic Drug Control Act, if passed would make it illegal to manufacture or dispense the drugs; also giving more authority to the Drug Enforcement Administration to put temporary bans on potentially hazardous drugs so that researchers have time to determine the nature of the drug being investigated.

The bill has moved to the Senate.

Binge Drinking is Contagious

2011-12-29T16:15:00.000-08:00

A new study has found that binge drinking is highly contagious, especially when it comes to relationships. During a 28 day period, researchers could predict one partner's binge drinking based off the other partner's binge drinking.

208 nonmarried, heterosexual dating couples in their early 20's were examined in the study. The pre-requisites for taking part in the study were that the couples had to be:

dating for at least 3 months
have face-to-face contact at least 5 days a week
one member of each dating couple had to be a university/college student

This study may show why young adults are binge drinking, to put it simply, they are in a drinking partnership that promotes binge drinking.

"In some respect this is a cautionary piece of research. Pick your friends and lovers carefully because they influence you more than you think," says Dr. Simon Sherry, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S.

"We're not so naive as researchers to think students are going to walk away from binge drinking. But our study shows there's a large majority of students who form romantic partnerships where alcohol is a regularly occurring theme."

Ecstasy Has Long Lasting Effects

2011-12-27T12:29:00.000-08:00

Ecstasy (MDMA) is a popular club drug amongst teenagers and young adults due to the intense euphoria experienced as well as the auditory and visual hallucinations that can take place. According to new research, the drug may produce long lasting changes in the brain that users should be aware of before they continue using the drug.

A new study has shown that the drug can cause a drop in the levels of the brain chemical serotonin for up to two years, according to HealthDay. Serotonin regulates:

mood
appetite
sleep
learning
memory

“We’ve always known that ecstasy produced transient effects, but with the suggestion that there would be recovery over time,” study co-author Dr. Ronald Cowan of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s School of Medicine told HealthDay. “But here we find that these effects may be sustained over time with no evidence of reversal.” He noted the study found an association between the drug and the drop in serotonin, but did not prove Ecstasy caused the decrease.

24 women took part in the study, 14 who used Ecstasy between three to four years. Brain scans were used to determine the number of brain receptors for serotonin. The receptor levels increase as serotonin levels go down, the article notes. The women who took Ecstasy had higher receptor levels than those who did not take the drug, which may mean that women who used the drug had a drop in serotonin levels.

The more Ecstasy the women took, the higher their receptor levels, the researchers report in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

NFL Quarterback Erik Kramer's Son Dies

2011-12-23T11:36:00.000-08:00

Heroin takes the life of another young man according to a Los Angeles coroner's office: The 18-year-old son of former NFL quarterback Erik Kramer, a Thousand Oaks High School backup quarterback Griffen Kramer.

Kramer was found dead in an Agoura Hills home on October 30, 2011. The toxicological report shows the teenager died of acute morphine heroin toxicity, according to the Ventura County Star. Investigators were informed by friends who were with Kramer during the time of the incident that Griffen began foaming at the mouth after using heroin. One of his friends decided to bring him home and laid him down to sleep it off. The teen was found dead the next morning.

Five people have been arrested in connection with the death of Kramer. There was clearly some negligence, considering that Kramer should have been taken to the hospital after he began foaming at the mouth. A common response to a friend overdosing is the thought that you will be arrested for taking someone who has overdosed to the hospital, which typically is not the case. Sadly, Kramer would probably have lived had he been taken to the hospital.

Recovery During the Holidays

2011-12-21T12:00:00.000-08:00

The holidays are upon us and drinks are being served more than any other time of the year. Unfortunately, relapse is a major concern for those working programs of recovery due to the constant parties taking place and having to engage with family members which can be quite stressful.

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence estimates that 17.6 million people, or one in every 12 adults, battle alcohol abuse or dependence in the United States. Some experts report only 8 percent of alcoholics seek treatment.

“One of the most difficult times is the Christmas season,” says Patsy Hillard of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. “The holiday season is one of the most stressful for everybody.”

Here are some tips to help stay sober during this time of the year:

Start by bringing a fellow recovering alcoholic with you to events for support.
Develop new traditions and routines for the holidays if the old routines involved being around those who drink.
Ask for support from family and friends. Be responsible for your recovery and remove yourself from situations.
Have a list of several names and cell phones numbers of friends in recovery you can call.
Stay away from “slippery places” — former favorite drinking establishments, old drinking buddies, etc.
Exercise by walking or running instead of taking a nap after eating as a way to promote better health.
Write a daily gratitude list of at least 10 entries to promote a positive outlook.
Volunteer your time to charitable organizations.
Know when meetings are held, and celebrate recovery by being around those in recovery. Go to the Alcoholics Anonymous site, aa.org, to find out how to get to local AA meetings.
Remember HALT, which reminds those in recovery to address hunger, anger, loneliness or tiredness properly by eating, talking to someone, calling someone or getting rest with sleep. The four issues can lead back to drinking if not properly addressed.

“There are more (people) that don’t get help than do. The disease is just not recognized,”
Hillard says.

Medicare Prescription Drug Fraud

2011-12-15T15:28:00.000-08:00

There are millions of people in America who receive support from the federal government by way of Medicare programs, social security, and disability. As we all know health care can be quite expensive; doctors’ appointments, surgeries, and medications can add up quickly. Medicare programs will cover the cost of medications which can be quite helpful; unfortunately there are thousands of people who abuse Medicare by doctor shopping.

The Government Accountability Office found that in 2008 an estimated 170,000 people who were enrolled in Medicare received prescriptions from five or more doctors for commonly abused medications, such as OxyContin and Percocet, according to an U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) news release.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it will tell Medicare prescription drug plans to withhold payment to pharmacies when they detect suspicious activity related to narcotics and painkillers, reports Reuters.

Nearly three in 10 people between ages 57 to 85 use at least five prescriptions, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Between 1997 and 2008, the rate of hospital admissions for conditions related to prescription medications and illicit drug use rose by 96 percent among people ages 65 and 84; for people 85 and older, admissions grew 87 percent.

The federal government is doing anything in their power to stop the prescription drug epidemic that continues to rage through America. Prescription drugs have quickly become one of the leading causes of people entering substance abuse treatment. So often people make the mistake of thinking that prescription narcotics are somehow safer and less addictive than illegal narcotics.

Prescription Drug Task Force

2011-12-13T16:47:00.000-08:00

Every state in the country is working to crack down on prescription drug abuse due to the every growing epidemic sweeping across America. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is creating a task force to combat prescription drug abuse, after officials identified 21 pharmacies that account for about one-fourth of the city’s oxycodone Medicaid reimbursements.

Just like almost every other city in the country, New York City has seen a 10-fold jump in the use of prescription opioids over the last 20 years, The Wall Street Journal reports. The number of opioid-related emergency rooms visits jumped 40 percent between 2004 and 2009. “These drugs are being used to do more than just kill pain,” Bloomberg said in a statement to the newspaper.

“They are being misprescribed and misused, resulting in addiction and overdoses.”
The task force will include health and law-enforcement officials. The group’s first round of recommendations is expected in January.

The city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will institute basic guidelines for physicians on how to prescribe opioids safely, according to the article. The guidelines recommend that for most patients with acute pain, a three-day supply of opioids is enough, even though doctors regularly prescribe much more.

House Rules On Synthetic Drugs

2011-12-09T13:42:00.000-08:00

Over the course of 2011 the controversial synthetic drugs like “bath salts” and “spice” has become a hot button topic as more and more people have ended up in the emergency room or lost their life. This is why the U.S. House voted yesterday to ban more than 30 synthetic drugs, including “bath salts” and “spice.” The Synthetic Drug Control Act would make it illegal to manufacture or dispense the drugs, ABC News reports.

The bill will give the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) more power to put temporary bans on new synthetic drugs while researchers have time to study the side effects. The bill passed by a vote of 317 to 98 and will now move to the Senate, according to ABC.

The new bill was introduced by Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, who said in a statement that he first learned about the dangers of new synthetic drugs from his constituents. “Most shocking to me was the realization that these dangerous compounds could be purchased legally in stores across the country,” he said. “I knew then it was time for Congress to move to ban the sale of these emerging synthetic drugs, which have thus far demonstrated no medicinal value.”

Manufacturers of synthetic drugs have managed to evade the authorities by constantly changing and reformulating the ingredients used to make the drug making it harder for a ban to be imposed. Earlier this fall, the DEA announced it was temporarily banning three synthetic stimulants that are sold as bath salts. The ban makes it illegal to possess and sell these chemicals or the products that contain them. Banning drugs that have no apparent medical value is a good move as it will certainly keep more individuals out of the hospital.

New Jersey Assembly Approves Clean Needle Bill

2011-12-06T15:58:00.000-08:00

The easiest way to spread virus and disease is through intravenous drug use, whereby addicts share their needles because access to clean needles is not always easy. In the past, coming across clean needles required a prescription, but, as the world and the country became more aware of the real dangers associated with sharing needles, officials have made access much easier by not requiring adults to have a prescription to obtain syringes.

New Jersey is posed to be the 49th state to allow its citizens to acquire needles without a prescription. The New Jersey Assembly has approved a bill that, if signed by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, would make that possible. The Governor has yet to comment as to whether or not he will sign the bill. An article on NJ.com stated that as a U.S. Attorney, Christie was against needle exchange programs, but during his 2009 campaign for governor, he claimed that he might change his position on the issue. His spokesman, Michael Drewniak, said, “The bill will get careful review and consideration.”

Many states repealed bans on over the counter syringe sales after studies showed drug users would purchase needles in pharmacies instead of the streets if they could. New Jersey has had a ban on such transactions since 1955. Fortunately, the state has five different needle exchange programs to aid those in need of clean needles.

If New Jersey repeals the ban, then Delaware will be the only state that still requires a prescription for syringes.

Alcopop Major Health Concern

2011-12-02T11:57:00.000-08:00

Alcohol infused energy drinks have become a hot button topic over the last year due to the rise in emergency room visits related to such beverages. Despite the fact that government agencies were successful in banning the production of alcoholic beverages that contain caffeine, so called Alcopops are still a major health concern as they attract younger drinkers more so than traditional alcoholic beverages. They come in 23.5 ounce, single-serving cans that look like soft drink containers, with up to 12 percent alcohol content — the equivalent of 4.7 standard drinks.

“These products are extremely dangerous because they’re cheap, taste like soda and provide young people with a big bang for their buck,” says Michele Simon, JD, MPH, president of the consulting firm Eat Drink Politics, and the former research and policy director of Alcohol Justice, an alcohol industry watchdog group. “We need to bring these drinks down to a single serving.” She helped Alcohol Justice write model state legislation that would accomplish this.

In early October, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) forced an agreement with Phusion Projects, the maker of the controversial Alcopop Four Loko, to change the labels of the cans to say the drinks contain as much alcohol as four to five cans of beer. The FTC says the manufacturer falsely claimed that a 23.5-ounce can of Four Loko contains the same amount of alcohol as one or two regular 12-ounce beers.

Drinking a single can of Four Loko in one sitting constitutes binge drinking, according to federal guidelines. Alcopops are extremely dangerous even without the caffeine, consumers hardly realize how much alcohol they are actually consuming due to the fact that they are typically fruit flavored and are in colorful cans, the potential for alcohol poisoning is huge.