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Family Day at VH1 Celebrity Drug Rehab
2008-02-18 09:15:00
So this week on VH1?s Celebrity Rehab , it was family day and, as Dr. Drew points out, addiction is a family disease so if an addict is going to succeed, the family needs to be involved in drug addiction treatment. To demonstrate that point, all the recovering celebs came to a big support group/therapy meeting whether or not their family members showed up, and it was surprisingly honest despite the cameras. The range of statements made, from disappointment to love to support to ambiguity, were all incredibly indicative of what anyone recovering from drugs and alcohol would experience in a family support group setting.
More About: Family , Drug Rehab , Addiction

What to Expect if You Overdose
2008-02-17 12:38:00
We?ve talked a lot about how to recognize an overdose when you see it, what not to do it if it happens to a friend of yours and certain risks you can avoid to keep yourself out of the emergency room, but in most cases, if you overdose, you aren?t going to know what hit you, much less what to do about it. So if the worst happens and you end up flat on your back on a gurney, here?s what the medical professionals will most likely do.
More About: Addiction , Expect , Suboxone , Opiates , Painkillers

Know an Overdose When You See One
2008-02-17 00:38:00
You may know what to do when someone you are with overdoses and you may know what not to do as well, but if you don?t know what an overdose looks like, that knowledge isn?t going to help very much. An opiate overdose is often difficult to discern in its early stages as the effects of opioid-based drugs can be pretty overwhelming. But there are a few signs and symptoms that can tip you off before things get out of hand.
More About: Addiction , Suboxone , Opiates , Painkillers , Overdose

What to Do in the Event of an Overdose
2008-02-15 20:10:00
The other day, I told you what not to do in the event that someone you are with overdoses on opiates. Here?s what you actually should do:
More About: Event , Opiates , Overdose

5 Risk Factors for Opiate Overdose
2008-02-14 16:49:00
So to continue this string of posts in my self-proclaimed Overdose Awareness Week, today we are going to tackle the topic of risk factors. Knowing the risks that you are taking is crucial when it comes to preventing an undesired outcome, and with opiate overdose, there are 5 specific things that are red letter risks. Want to avoid an opiate overdose? Then pay attention.
More About: Addiction , Risk , Suboxone , Opiates , Methadone

3 Urban Overdose Myths to Avoid Like the Plague
2008-02-13 19:42:00
In the world of urban myths, drugs hold court, with stories that range from their potency and effect to a number of various crimes that have been undertaken in their name or under their influence. Most of these myths are harmless, but the ones that pertain to crazy home remedies for opiate overdose are extremely ...
More About: Urban , Myths , Avoid , Opiates , Overdose

3 Tips to Avoid a Codeine Overdose
2008-02-12 20:57:00
Codeine is a highly addictive opioid-based prescription medication. Taken every six to eight hours based upon your level of pain, it doesn?t take longer than a few weeks to build up a tolerance and require a larger dose to get the same initial pain relieving effects. However, even though you may not feel the effects of the codeine, it doesn?t mean that the drug isn?t in your system. Some may make the mistake of taking more than the prescribed dosage in order to self medicate their pain. Even taking the drug exactly as it is prescribes can result in an overdose. Unless you are vigilant, if you are taking codeine, you are at risk for a codeine overdose.
More About: Tips , Addiction , Detox , Avoid , Suboxone

Naltrexone and Gene Variants Studied in Addicted Patients
2008-02-11 20:00:00
So there?s a new study out that focuses on a specific gene variant that is commonly found in addicts and how those who possess that particular gene react when taking naltrexone. Turns out, the overall outcomes of treatment for these people was far better for those on naltrexone than on those without.
More About: Addiction , Patients , Gene , Suboxone , Opiates

Substitution in Drug Addiction Treatment
2008-02-09 06:42:00
Some knock the use of Suboxone to detox off of opioid-based drugs by saying that it?s merely substituting one addictive drug for another. In a sense, yes, Suboxone is addictive so if you replace your current opiate of choice with this form of buprenorphine then you are substituting one drug for another. The difference is that Suboxone is a partial agonist and opiate painkillers are full agonists. In terms of their action in your brain, partial agonists manage to trick your body into thinking that you are still getting your old drug so you don?t go into withdrawal when you quit taking it. However, you won?t get that cloudy feeling when you take Suboxone, the one that comes with other opiates, especially when they?re abused.
More About: Addiction , Treatment , Drug , Painkillers

Methadone is Deadly Even When Taken as Prescribed
2008-02-05 06:04:00
There?s a new study out by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University that doesn?t paint methadone in a very pretty light. It seems that through their work, they have found that methadone can be deadly even when it is taken as prescribed whether the goal is pain management or drug addiction. Even at therapeutic levels, methadone can be the cause of sudden cardiac death, according to The American Journal of Medicine.
More About: Addiction , Detox , Deadly , Suboxone , Painkillers

Subconscious Signals Trigger Drug Craving
2008-02-04 19:24:00
The word ?trigger? is a common one heard in drug rehab and support group settings and refers to just about anything that makes you want to get loaded, get drunk or get high. It could be something negative like dealing with family members who stress you out or something positive like a New Year?s Eve celebration where everyone else is under the influence. New research on brain imaging, however, says that triggers to use can start in addicts even before an obvious stressful trigger event happens.
More About: Drug Rehab , Addiction , Drug , Suboxone , Opiates

Handing Out Heroin to Addicts
2008-02-03 19:00:00
A hot debate happening in medical circles these days is this: should they give heroin to heroin addicts who are difficult to treat? The British Medical Journal (BMJ) offers arguments on both of sides of the fence.
More About: Drug Rehab , Addiction , Heroin , Addict

Celebrity Drug Rehab Profile: Chyna, AKA Joan Marie Laurer
2008-02-02 07:24:00
In the ring, she?s known as Chyna, but in the world of VH1?s Celebrity Rehab , she?s better known as Joan or Joanie. In her former life, she was considered "The Ninth Wonder of the World" (Andre the Giant being the eighth). However, with Dr. Drew Pinsky and the rest of the celebrities undergoing drug rehab, she can?t decide whether or not she?s actually an alcoholic and addict. This ambiguity, although unexpected in this context, is common in rehabs across the country.
More About: Drug Rehab , Addiction , Marie

Texas Draws a Hard Line on Needle Exchange
2008-02-01 19:41:00
Texas, apparently, isn?t quite as progressive as it could be when it comes to needle exchange programs and the prevention of spreading HIV through dirty needles among intravenous drug users. ?Should they or shouldn?t they? is the question before Bexar county health officials this month as they debate whether or not to open the state?s first (legal) needle exchange program. To make sure that everyone knows who?s boss, however, Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed has made it clear that anyone caught distributing needles in the meantime will be prosecuted despite the pending ?revolution.?
More About: Addiction , Exchange , Hard , Texas , Line

Are Patients or Doctors Responsible For Opioid Medication Abuse and Addicti
2008-01-31 07:39:00
Peggy Compton, RN, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Nursing at the UCLA School of Nursing, Los Angeles and recently published an article online at Pain-Topics.org, "Should Opioid Abuse rs Be Discharged From Opioid-Analgesic Therapy?" Basically, she says that those who are using prescription opiates are in a precarious situation and that abruptly stopping their medication is dangerous. A thorough exit plan is a necessity when doctors take on the responsibility of prescribing opioid-based medications like Vicodin, Norco, Fentanyl, OxyContin and others.
More About: Doctors , Addiction , Patients , Detox

New Studies Link Brain Patterns To Addiction
2008-01-30 18:24:00
Ever wondered why you can tell yourself over and over that you?re not going to do something and then, the second you stop thinking about it, you realize you?re doing it? Whether it?s indulging in another chocolate chip cookie or picking up when you?re trying to stay clean, these compulsive behaviors are linked to specific parts of the brain. A recent study has been studying this part of the brain to learn more about addiction and how it develops.
More About: Studies , Addiction , Link , Brain , Patterns

New UGA Study On Barriers To Effective Drug Addiction Treatment
2008-01-30 03:56:00
Statistics say that more than 23 million Americans over the age of 12 need to be treated for drug addiction, yet only about 10 percent of them get the treatment they need. Of the 10 percent who do get treatment, more often than not, they are matched into a program that isn?t designed to help their specific issues.
More About: Study , Drug Rehab , Addiction , Treatment , Drug

Celebrity Drug Rehab Profile: Ricco Rodriguez
2008-01-28 23:14:00
The self-proclaimed first guy to be suspended from the UFC for cocaine use, Ricco Rodriguez made an appearance on this week?s episode of VH1?s Celebrity Rehab . He?s a heavyweight fighter by trade but in his introduction he places his motivation for undergoing treatment as getting his child back.
More About: Drug Rehab , Addiction , Profile

Celebrity Drug Rehab Profile: Seth ?Shifty? Binzer
2008-01-27 21:41:00
Seth Binzer, otherwise known as Shifty, is one of the celebrities sharing his drug addiction recovery with the world on VH1?s Celebrity Drug Rehab . Born in LA, he moved around in his childhood only to return to the City of Angels for his teen years. He immersed himself in the West Coast hip hop scene and became a graffiti artist, meeting all the people who would help him start his music career. His high point came when he was the lead singer for Crazytown and their singles ?Butterfly? and ?Starry Eyed Surprise? were at the top of the charts.
More About: Drug Rehab , Addiction , Profile

Celebrity Drug Rehab Profile: Jessica Sierra
2008-01-25 06:13:00
The biggest complaint about Jessica Sierra ?s appearance on VH1?s Celebrity Drug Rehab reality TV show is the fact that she?s not really a celebrity. Where everyone else in the house has logged years in the entertainment industry, Jessica Sierra entered a contest and lost. Granted, it?s one of the most-watched contests on TV--American Idol--and she wasn?t the first one cut or anything, but as far as celebrity goes, you have to define the word pretty loosely to include Sierra.
More About: Drug Rehab , Addiction

Celebrity Drug Rehab Profile: Daniel Baldwin
2008-01-25 03:10:00
Daniel Baldwin is better known for his association with his two brothers, Alec and Stephen, than for his own acting career. He?s done a bit of producing and directing work as well, but his most famous exploits are off camera, including a cocaine-induced streaking incident in New York?s Plaza Hotel and arrest for grand theft ...
More About: Celebrity , Rehab , Drug Rehab , Addiction , Daniel

Heath Ledger Dies of Prescription Painkiller Overdose
2008-01-23 07:11:00
The story according to the New York Post is this: Heath Ledger , the Oscar-nominated actor, died of a pain pill overdose. Was it suicide? They don?t think so. He had prescriptions for the Vicodin and Xanax that were the apparent cause of his death.
More About: Addiction , Detox , Suboxone , Opiates

Celebrity Drug Rehab Profile: Mary Carey
2008-01-22 06:52:00
Mary Carey is one of VH1?s Celebrity Drug Rehab stars, a 27-year-old porn star with a penchant for politics, drugs and alcohol. An obvious combination, right? Well, she?s pretty successful in all of her ventures. She has an exclusive contract with Legend Films, a tenth place holding out of 135 candidates who ran in California?s recall election in 2003 and now a bed in the most famous reality TV show rehab in the country.
More About: Mary Carey , Drug Rehab , Addiction

Celebrity Drug Rehab Profile: Jeff Conaway
2008-01-21 09:03:00
Jeff Conaway is one of the celebrities on VH1?s Celebrity Drug Rehab , a popular new reality TV show that I?ve talked about here before. I?ve been doing celebrity drug profiles this year as a way to encourage you?either by an example to shoot for or by showing you how bad it can get?and it seems to make sense to do a celeb drug rehab profile on each of the celebs currently sharing their very painful experiences on national television.
More About: Drug Rehab , Addiction , Profile

Celebrity Drug Rehab Profile: Winona Ryder
2008-01-20 06:56:00
A beautiful woman and an incredible acting talent, Winona Ryder is unfortunately best known for her performance on a security camera in a Beverly Hills Saks Fifth Avenue in November of 2002. She was convicted of grand theft and felony vandalism (i.e. shoplifting) but her sentence took into account the large amount of prescription painkillers in her possession at the time of her arrest and she was ordered to go to drug counseling in addition to paying a $10,000 fine.
More About: Celebrity , Rehab , Drug Rehab , Addiction

United Amerindian Center Closes Down Due to Lack of Funds
2008-01-20 04:55:00
In Green Bay, Wisconsin there is an organization called United Amerindian Center . They provide medical services and drug and alcohol counseling free of charge to American Indians who don?t live on reservation land. Or they did. The center has been forced to close its doors to due to a lack of funds, according to the Green Bay Press Gazette.
More About: Addiction , Detox , Funds

Local Programs Break the Culture Barrier in Drug Addiction Treatment
2008-01-19 04:55:00
The problem with many of the federally funded studies that provide valuable information to treatment and rehabilitation centers across the country is that their main study samples are usually made up of white men. The majority of people in treatment in the United States are white men, so in the beginning, this approach to research studies made sense. However, now that the basic epidemiological studies have been done, it?s about time to focus on different cultures and ethnicities that may have characteristics that affect the outcome of drug addiction treatment.
More About: Culture , Programs , Break , Addiction , Treatment

13 Ways to get a buzz other than popping a pill
2008-01-09 18:02:00
1. Knitting, ok stay with me. Knitting is the new punk. Check out these guys 2. Make a cable. I don’t know about you but I always need cable, and they are never the right size. These guys show you how easy it is to do. Check out the size differential, you will know ...
More About: Buzz , Painkillers , Lortab , Oxycontin

Doctors Play a Big Part in Painkiller Overuse
2008-01-05 19:41:00
When it comes to drug addiction, everyone wants to point fingers and place blame. As a result, ?blaming the victim? is quite common. Addicts are accused of being weak-willed and at fault for their own addictions, especially when the addiction is opiate prescription medications. How hard is it choose not to take a pill?
More About: Doctors , Play , Addiction , Part , Detox

Celebrity Rehab Profile: Marshall Mathers (aka Eminem)
2008-01-04 22:28:00
Marshall Mathers, better known as Eminem , is one of the most successful recording artists of the past decade. Each of his three albums have hit number one on the pop charts and 5 of his singles have been in the top 10 with "Lose Yourself" hitting number one. Unfortunately, like many others who share the spotlight with him, Eminem found himself addicted to sleep medications and went to a short-term inpatient rehab to cover.
More About: Celebrity , Rehab , Drug Rehab , Addiction