Take the First Step: (770) 817-0711

Blog

The Rapid Rise of Middle-Aged Women and Prescription Drug Overdoses

By on October 31, 2013   /   Addiction Stigma   /   Comments Off on The Rapid Rise of Middle-Aged Women and Prescription Drug Overdoses
Middle-Aged Women and Prescription Drug Overdoses: A Spike in an Unlikely Demographic

We are seeing the largest spike in prescription drug overdoses, usually painkillers, in middle-aged women. This month Trust for America’s Health released a report that showed deaths involving prescription drug overdoses has quadrupled in the past decade. More people are dying from prescription drug overdoses than heroin and cocaine combined. And in 29 states,  more people are dying from prescription drug overdoses than from automobile accidents. This incredible spike primarily involves prescription drug painkillers like OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, Darvocet, Lortab, Lorcet, Methadone, Opana, and oxymorphone. And the problem is only getting worse.

But what is even more surprising is the demographic that we are seeing the largest spike in prescription drug overdoses: middle-aged women (aged 45-54), particularly painkillers. When one thinks of the typical demographic of dying drug abusers, it’s not middle-aged women: mothers, sisters, wives and daughters. And yet these numbers are rapidly rising. Read more →

Back to Top

Are Drinking Habits and Breast Cancer Risk Related?

By on October 26, 2013   /   Prevention   /   1 Comment

The more alcohol a woman drinks before her first full-term pergnancy increases her risk of breast cancerImportant new research shows there is a correlation between drinking habits and breast cancer risk. Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that the more alcohol a woman drinks before motherhood, the greater her risk of developing breast cancer are in the future. This is a scary and sobering fact.

This study is also the first time in which increased risk for breast cancer is linked to drinking habits between puberty/early adolescence and first full-term pregnancy. Previous studies have examined the relationship between breast cancer risk and drinking habits later in life (can increase risk of breast cancer), as well as the effect of early drinking habits and noncancerous breast disease.

The study concluded that if a woman averages a drink a day (beer, wine or liquor) between her first period and first fill-term pregnancy, Read more →

Back to Top

Flesh-Eating Drug Krokodil Hits the U.S.

By on October 19, 2013   /   Drugs   /   1 Comment
Paint thinner is one of the ingredients used in Krokodil

Paint thinner is one of the ingredients used in Krokodil

Recent reports say that the flesh-eating drug Krokodil, which has terrorized Russia for more than a decade, has made its way to the U.S. The first report of this intravenous drug was found in Arizona back in September. It has also been reported in Illinois and Utah. The drug, which can be deadly, literally eats the flesh from the inside out of the body.

“Krokodil,” which is Russian means “crocodile,” is a cheap heroin knockoff. It gets its name from the scaly gangrene skin that occurs at the injection site. Krokodil damages blood vessels and tissue so much so that a user’s muscles, tendons and bones cane become exposed. Here are some horrific images caused by the drug (warning graphic images). Read more →

Back to Top

What is Neurotransmitter Restoration (NTR)?

By on October 15, 2013   /   NTR   /   Comments Off on What is Neurotransmitter Restoration (NTR)?

Editor’s Note: This post is by Tim Stoddart, founder and owner of Sober Nation, a site dedicated to developing content to help people afflicted by addiction. Follow Sober Nation on Twitter.

What-is-NTRAddiction is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. In addiction treatment, you receive counseling and assistance with your emotional and spiritual needs. You begin to heal by talking about your emotions, learning to cope with them, and figuring out ways to change your lifestyle so that recovery is better for you than addiction ever was.

One thing that is severely lacking in addiction treatment, however, is help for the physical part of addiction. Good nutrition, exercise, and plentiful rest are advocated as ways to take care of your body after addiction, but they’re far less focused on or integrated into a program as are ways to heal your mind and spirit.

There are drugs that can be used to ease the physical withdrawal, but the main way your body heals after addiction is with time. To repair the severe damage that addiction can do to your brain, you have to wait. It can take years before your brain chemistry and functioning return to normal, and sometimes damage is permanent.

However, now there is a method of treating the physical damage from addiction, and it’s becoming more popular. It’s called Neurotransmitter Restoration (NTR), and it was developed by Dr. William Hitt many years ago. In the past several years, several rehabs have developed their own NTR programs with the goals of quickly repairing damage to the brain’s neurotransmitters and neurons that would otherwise take years to repair themselves.

Read more →

Back to Top

Remembering Glee’s Cory Monteith

By on October 11, 2013   /   Recovery   /   Comments Off on Remembering Glee’s Cory Monteith

Cory-Monteith-196x300In a tear-filled episode last night, Glee said goodbye to one of its beloved characters, Finn. It was a farewell episode and tribute to actor Cory Monteith, who died of a lethal heroin and alcohol combination in July 2013. It’s such a tragedy to watch someone, such as the talented and loving Cory Monteith, be committed to recovery, to go through recovery, and yet face repeated relapse or overdose. The question that many of us are left with is: what can be done to try and avoid this? What is missing in treatment regimes that leaves a person more at risk for this outcome?

Cory Monteith’s accidental overdose occurred months after he entered rehab, during a risky time for those new to recovery. An extremely dangerous period exists for those who have been in recovery but relapse. Without realizing that their tolerance levels have lowered, they often return to using the same amount they were before becoming sober. This can result in an overdose. Deadly mixes of drugs and alcohol can also lead to overdose. Read more →

Back to Top

Get Back On Track: 10 Warning Signs of Relapse

By on October 5, 2013   /   Recovery   /   Comments Off on Get Back On Track: 10 Warning Signs of Relapse

Over the years, doctors and researchers have compiled information that points to specific attitudes, feelings or behaviors occur before the actual relapse “slip” does.Relapse (and the fear of relapse!) is a common occurrence in addiction recovery. Although relapse is something that most want to avoid, it’s important to remember that relapse can provide valuable insight into triggers or other aspects of your recovery that you need to focus more of your attention. Over the years, doctors and researchers have compiled information on specific attitudes, feelings or behaviors that indicate an elevated risk for relapse and that might occur before the actual relapse “slip” does.

Here are 10 warning signs of drug or alcohol relapse:

Read more →

Back to Top
Page 22 of 49« First...10...2021222324...3040...Last »

Receive Updates

Privacy Policy

All inquiries are held in the strictest confidence. Let us help you find the program that's right for you. Please call or email us TODAY!

No information on this site is intended to replace that of your physician or medical care provider.

Contact Information

ExecuCare
Advanced Recovery Center
1100 Poydras Street, Suite 2900
New Orleans, LA 70163
Main: 770.817.0711
Fax: 770.817.0640