The dramatic rise in prescription painkiller abuse in recent years is nothing short of epidemic. And the CDC recently reported that many high-risk opioid users get their painkillers with legal prescriptions from their doctors. In observance of last week’s National Poison Prevention Week (March 16-22), the National Safety Council released a list of seven alarming facts about prescription painkillers that many people might not know, but should: Read more →
When it comes to teens and drugs, how can you make sure that your home is a safe haven? Talking to your kids about drugs is important at any age, but teens are especially susceptible to drug use because of peer pressure and high stress levels. Teens look to their parents to set a good example for how they should conduct their lives. They count on their parents to be their support system and to help them create a positive home environment that encourages an open dialogue about drugs. Read more →
As the pain pill Zohydro hits the market, the opioid epidemic continues with veterans remaining high at-risk. A recent report provided by the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAOM) found that half of veterans prescribed medical opioids for pain continue to chronically use (more than 90 days) the drugs.
According to research drawn from national Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) data, of 959,226 veterans who received opioid prescriptions, 502,634 (52%) chronically used opioids. Some factors that were most likely to be present in veterans who chronically used opioids were PTSD, tobacco use, being married, having multiple pain conditions, the use of more than one type of opioid medication, and using an opioid dose above 100 mg per day. (Science Daily) Read more →
Although they can share some of the same physical symptoms, there is a difference between stress and anxiety. Not only is the root cause of each different, but how these emotions affect the body can be different. In order to help prevent or avoid anxiety and stress, we’ll take a closer look at what defines each of them.
Some of the similar physical symptoms the two can share are racing heartbeat, rapid breathing, headaches, chest pains, dizziness and muscle tension. However, anxiety can yield to a panic attack that could include more severe symptoms. Read more →
Knowing some of the stumbling blocks of recovery will help prepare you for some of the obstacles that may be ahead. You can never be too prepared, especially when first entering recovery. Here are a few of the stumbling blocks you might encounter in recovery and ways to overcome them.
- The “Looking Good/ Feeling Good” trap. There’s a point in recovery when you start to get healthier. You feel healthier and you look healthier, so much so that from your appearance people might not be able to tell you ever had a substance abuse problem. The problem is sometimes your looks can improve faster than your ability to stay sober. Be careful if you feel others tempting you to slip or relapse or if you start to doubt that you ever had a problem in the first place. It’s a trap. Read more →
Prolonged daily, work-related stress can have disastrous effects on our health. It has been linked to heart problems, digestive issues, inflammation, anxiety, depression, tension headaches and migraines, and substance abuse. For those in recovery, it poses a major risk for relapse. Read more →
