5 Ways to Meet Sober Dates

There are very few things about life in addiction that were easy. But, meeting someone new was pretty simple. After all, you simply needed to stroll into a bar or a party, get some liquid courage and offer to buy a cute person a drink.In sobriety it can be much trickier to meet people who you are interested in romantically. You’re not comfortable slipping into a bar or a booze filled mixer, and you can’t rely on substances for a confidence boost.Despite that, summer is a great time to connect with other people who are in recovery. Here are five ways to meet sober dates, and ensure you have a summer to remember.Use sober dating sites.Today, more people than ever meet online. Not only have dating sites and apps allowed you access to more eligible singles than ever before, but they have also allowed people to look for people in specific niches. In recent years, more sober dating sites have popped up to connect people who are in recovery and looking for love.Sober dating sites are great, because you don’t need to worry about breaking the news of your sobriety. Instead, you know that you’re in a group of like-minded people, taking one big worry off the table from the start.Connect with the sober-ish movement.If you’re not sure whether you want to date someone else who is in recovery, you can try meeting people who are involved with the sober-ish movement, reexamining their relationship with alcohol and other substances. These people have already rejected society’s idea that alcohol is necessary to have a good time, and they’re open to meeting other people who are sober. The movement is becoming so popular that some are calling 2019 the Sober-ish summer.VolunteerAny activity that gets you out and about will help you meet new people that you might be interested in dating. But volunteering is an especially great way to meet people. That’s because you are automatically aligning with people who have shared interests: if you’re volunteering at an animal shelter you’re going to meet fellow animal lovers, for example. In addition, people who are volunteering are giving of their time freely, so they’re likely connected with their personal growth or higher power, just like people in recovery.Take advantage of summer outingsSummer is the perfect time to try new outdoor activities. Although these outings are explicitly for people looking to date, they are a great way to connect with a new group. Community centers, Parks and Recreation Departments and outdoor clubs all organize summer hiking, kayak trips and other adventures that are perfect for connecting with others. People in these groups are generally health-oriented, and are likely open to dating someone who is sober.Take a classDuring the summer, school is out, but there are many opportunities to learn a new skill. Cities, museums and restaurants all offer summer classes on everything ranging from pottery to cooking. Even if you don’t meet someone interesting during the class you’ll come away with a new skill and a fun memory. After all, what’s life in recovery about if it’s not trying something new every now and then?Although it’s tempting to date within the rooms or with other people who are in your recovery program, it is generally best to avoid this. You want your recovery group to remain your safe space, without the complications of a budding relationship. If you do wind up dating someone in your program, it is a good idea that both of you keep some parts of your recovery separate, like maintaining separate meetings in addition to the ones you attend together. That way, you always have a safe space to focus on your sobriety without the distractions of your relationship.Sober Dating Site connects people in recovery.

Does Binge Drinking Increase Chances Of Opioid Misuse?

Binge drinking and opioid misuse are closely related, according to a new study examining drinking patterns and prescription pill misuse. The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, aimed to examine the connection between drinking and using opioids. It drew on information from more than 160,000 people who provided information on their substance use as part of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2012-2014 as well as socioeconomic information. Researchers found that binge drinking increased the chances that people misused opioids.“More than half of the 4.2 million people who misused prescription opioids during 2012–2014 were binge drinkers, and binge drinkers had nearly twice the odds of misusing prescription opioids, compared with nondrinkers,” study authors wrote. This is especially alarming since opioids and alcohol are a dangerous combination physically.“Binge drinkers who misuse prescription opioids are likely to be at substantially increased risk of overdose because of the combined effect of high blood alcohol levels and prescription opioids on the central nervous system,” they wrote. “The high prevalence, frequency, and intensity of binge drinking among adults and adolescents in the U.S., along with the heightened prevalence of prescription opioid misuse among binge drinkers, emphasizes the importance of adopting a comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing both binge drinking and prescription opioid misuse to reduce the risk of opioid overdoses.”The study found that opioid misuse was most common among men, people with an annual family income of $20,000 or less, and people ages 18-34. Binge drinking was also most common among men in that age bracket, although it was also associated with people with some college education, according to The American Academy of Family Physicians.About two-thirds of people who misused opioids and binge drank were older than 26. However, among younger adults the connection between binge drinking and opioid misuse was especially strong: 8.1% of teenage binge drinkers misused opioids, compared with just 1% of nondrinkers and 3.6% of people who used alcohol but did not binge drink. Since family medical providers are often on the front lines of dealing with patients with problematic drinking, they could also help interrupt this pattern of opioid misuse, said Dr. Roger Zoorob."Family physicians are well-positioned to identify and address binge drinking and opioid misuse,” he said. Sometimes that can be as easy as pointing out that a patient’s drinking habits are veering toward unhealthy. "Many times, patients are unaware that their drinking patterns are harmful, and a simple, brief intervention by the family physician has been shown to reduce unhealthy alcohol use in the primary care population," Zoorob said.

Chester Bennington's Widow Aims To #ChangeDirection On Mental Health

The widow of Chester Bennington is continuing the legacy of her late husband with a new social media challenge to raise mental health awareness.“I challenge you to do a 30-second video on why mental health is important to you,” Talinda Bennington said in a video posted on Instagram. “For me it’s very personal. And I’ve dedicated my life to change the culture surrounding mental health.”Even though the Week To Change Direction Challenge was issued last Monday (June 10), people have continued to post videos to add to the conversation using the hashtag #ChangeDirection.To kick things off, Talinda challenged Lisa Ling and Linkin Park band members Mike Shinoda, Joe Hahn and bassist Dave Phoenix Farrell to post their own 30-second videos.Actor Ken Jeong joined the conversation on his Instagram: “As a former physician having dealt with multiple cases of depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, it’s important as a community that we all change direction, change our attitudes, evolve our attitudes towards mental health. We as a community should remind each other life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful. And I challenge everyone to change direction.”Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan made a video as well with singer-songwriter Shooter Jennings: “This is something we can all do something about… Learn to recognize the signs of people who are suffering.”ABC Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton used her platform to shed light on maternal mental health: “The reason that I am passionate about mental health awareness is because it is a leading cause of maternal mortality in this country,” she said in her video. She encouraged women’s health care providers to speak to their patients about mental health.Chester Bennington died by suicide in 2017. In the days prior to his death, the beloved Linkin Park vocalist—who long battled depression and substance use disorder stemming from trauma—showed no sign of what was to come, according to Talinda.“This was not a time where we or any of our family suspected this to happen… We thought everything was OK,” she said in June of 2018.Guitarist and friend Ryan Shuck said that Chester would detail his “hour-by-hour battle” with the urge to drink.Since her husband’s passing, Talinda Bennington has channeled her pain to help expand the conversation about mental health. She engages with people on social media, encouraging meaningful dialogue by promoting hashtags like #FuckDepression and #MakeChesterProud.

Chris Cornell’s Daughter Explains Decision To Take Mental Health Break From College

Lily Cornell Silver, the daughter of late rock star Chris Cornell, took to Instagram on Thursday to reveal that she is taking a break from college for the sake of her mental and emotional health. “I did not ‘drop out of college’ (although it shouldn’t matter if I did),” she wrote on her Instagram story. “I took a temporary leave of absence to tend to my mental and emotional health, which was in part damaged by those who are gossiping about me.” Cornell Silver took the opportunity to rebuke those who would criticize her for the move, saying such people are part of the reason mental health continues to be a pressing issue. “Think twice before you judge somebody for experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, etc., and taking a step back to practise self-care as opposed to forcing themselves through it,” she urged. She also blasted people who thought she was simply making an excuse for slacking off. “Mental health and education are two things I take very seriously, which happens to be how I graduated with a 4.0. Nice try tho,” she rebuked. The subject of mental health is likely a tender one to Cornell Silver as her own father died by suicide. He battled both addiction and depression for years before his death in 2017. His widow, Vicky Cornell, said that he did not seem depressed or suicidal prior to that night in Detroit. “When we spoke before the show, we discussed plans for a vacation over Memorial Day,” Vicky wrote in a statement. Vicky, noting that Chris had taken extra Ativan that night, suggested the mood-altering drug was to blame. “Approximately a year before he died, he was prescribed a benzodiazepine to help him sleep,” she said. “He had torn his shoulder. The pain in the shoulder was waking him up at night and it was keeping him up.” Cornell’s family eventually sued Dr. Robert Koblin for “negligently and repeatedly [prescribing] mind-altering drugs and controlled substances.” 

Sierra Tucson

Introduction and Basic ServicesSierra Tucson is a residential treatment facility located in Tucson, Arizona. In operation since 1983, it provides comprehensive intensive treatment for an array of addictions, mental health issues and chronic pain management. Sierra Tucson is a co-ed treatment facility sitting on 160 acres of land with a view of the Catalina Mountain Range. A luxury rehab, it tailors a programming to the specific needs of each client. Sierra Tucson has a highly qualified staff who can treat substance abuse issues, co-occurring disorders, sex addiction, gambling addiction and chronic pain.Facility and MealsThe Sierra Tucson facility is rather large, with space for 124 beds in the residential program, and 15 beds in the on-site psychiatric unit. The Southwestern style architecture and design of the Sierra Tucson facility reflect the beauty of the natural environment surrounding it. The rooms are comfortable, clean and well furnished. Residents sleep in twin beds, and are expected to share a room with one other person. Exceptions are made if the treating staff does not feel it will be conducive to someone’s recovery process.Clients are not expected to do any routine chores, but are required to keep the rooms clean and show appropriate respect in the common areas. The treatment facility has an on-site chef and a fully staffed kitchen to prepare meals.Treatment Protocol and TeamWhen such a wide variety of issues are treated in a facility this large, it might feel like the intimate personal interaction is lost in favor of a more clinical approach. However, the size of the medical team at Sierra Tucson, which numbers 25 employees plus a clinical team of about 24, make the ratio of clinical/therapeutic staff to patients about one to five. As a result, the residents get plenty of one on one time.Every resident’s treatment program and day to day routine are unique to them. Treatment staff work to provide a holistic care approach to treatment, looking at the entire person and catering to the specific needs of each situation. A team comprised of medical and psychiatric doctors are on staff, and every resident has an assessment done. There are several different types of therapies utilized at Sierra Tucson. Some of the treatment modalities offered are CBT, DBT and EMDR. Practicing therapists and psychologists at Sierra Tucson all have Master’s-level degrees and many hold PhDs as well. Each resident is evaluated to determine which types of therapy best meet their needs. The program is comprehensive and is a good fit for someone dealing with complex addiction or dual diagnosis. As previously mentioned, Sierra Tucson also offers a program specifically deals with how to manage chronic pain.The length of stay in the residential treatment program is usually 30 to 90 days. The duration may vary depending on the needs of the client. For example, the amount of time in residential treatment for someone dealing with a substance use disorder may not be as long in duration as a resident being treated for pain management issues or a dual diagnosis.Days begin early at Sierra Tucson. Breakfast is served at 6:45 am. Those who are being treated for eating disorders are served breakfast at 6:30 am. Mornings are spent attending lectures and groups. Then, lunch in the dining room is served. After lunch, residents attend groups and lectures specific to their condition. Dinner is served around 5 pm. After dinner, residents attend more groups and counseling sessions geared toward treating their condition.Twelve-step meetings are also included in the residential program, and usually occur in the evening. Not all patients at Sierra Tucson are seeking treatment for the same condition, so the 12-step meetings offered may vary to reflect the diversity of client needs. Programming for each day ends between 9 and 9:30 pm.Family involvement is encouraged. When residents are interested in family therapy sessions they must let staff know that they want this included in their residential treatment program.Sierra Tucson believes that aftercare is a crucial component to maintaining recovery. For those who complete treatment successfully, a Connect365 Program is available for 12 months after program completion as a form of aftercare. Participation in Connect365 means that Sierra Tucson graduates are able to engage a Professional Recovery Coach daily after leaving the facility. This happens through an online portal that allows recent graduates to stay connected with a recovery professional who they can update on their recovery. These recovery professionals work with graduates to continue setting client goals and moving forward in a positive direction.Bonus AmenitiesSierra Tucson has a pool, and an on-site gym that are available to residents when they are not in groups. Phone time and TV are available as well, but not during scheduled groups. There are visiting hours at the facility. In order to have visitors a resident first meet with their assigned therapist, and work with them to determine who can visit during their stay. Visiting hours occur on Sundays from 3 to 5:50 pm.There are an abundance of amenities available to those receiving treatment at Sierra Tucson. Some of these include equine therapy, canine therapy, a ropes course, outdoor hikes and sports courts, Kiva and massages. A salon, a rock-climbing wall and a labyrinth are also accessible on the Sierra Tucson campus. There is even a therapy Tortoise named Sheldon.It’s worth noting, certain amenities may not be available depending on insurance coverage or the program track. Interested potential clients should contact admissions staff at Sierra Tucson for details.SummarySierra Tucson is one of the most comprehensive treatment centers out there. This could be highly beneficial for someone who is dealing with multiple addictions, co-occurring disorders, process addictions or chronic pain management. Cases in which multiple issues are causing suffering in the life of an individual and their family can be particularly difficult to sort out and are overwhelming for everyone involved. Most facilities are not equipped to deal with cases that involve substance abuse or a process addiction that runs concurrent with complex trauma or chronic pain management. The staff at Sierra Tucson specializes in these complex situations and are qualified to provide the tools and support needed for long term care and recovery.Sierra Tucson Location39580 S. Lago del Oro ParkwayTucson, AZ 85739(855) 972-4102Sierra Tucson Cost$40,000-$50,000 (30 days)Find Sierra Tucson on Facebook,Twitter and LinkedIn

Ashley Addiction Treatment

Introduction and Basic ServicesThe long running Ashley Addiction Treatment has three locations in Maryland. Its main residential treatment campus is located on 147 acres on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay in Northern Maryland. It’s close to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Wilmington, Delaware; Baltimore, Maryland; Washington, DC and northern Virginia. With scenic waterside views and plentiful greenery, Ashley Addiction Treatment provides clients with a tranquil setting that’s ideal for creating a solid foundation in sobriety and recovery.Formerly known as Father Martin’s Ashley, Ashley Addiction Treatment was founded in 1983 by Father Joseph C. Martin, S.S and his business partner, Mae Abraham. The facility is named after Abraham’s maiden name, Ashley. Mae Abraham thought to open a treatment facility after attending Father Martin’s 1964 “Chalk Talks” about addiction at Johns Hopkins University. Father Martin's talks inspired those suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction to seek help in a formalized setting. He has been celebrated for being an advocate for those suffering from addiction and recognizing addiction as a disease rather than a chocie.Accredited by the Joint Commission, Ashley Addiction Treatment is committed to preserving Father Martin’s memory by providing extensive options for care to anyone who seeks help for alcohol and drug addiction. Ashley Addiction Treatment offers a wide range of services including detox, residential treatment and outpatient care, dual diagnosis support, holistic modalities and aftercare programming.Facility and MealsAshley Addiction Treatment is a large resort-style treatment facility with hotel style accommodations and amenities. Both private and double rooms (with one queen size bed or two full size beds) are available with a full private bath. Housekeeping staff cleans rooms and prides fresh bedding and towels daily and can provide laundry and dry cleaning services.Clients eat all meals in a dining room. A staff dietitian and chef create a seasonal menu with local, fresh ingredient based on a client’s medical and special dietary needs.Treatment Protocol and TeamAshley Addiction Treatment’s primary residential program includes medical, psychological and psychiatric care as well as holistic treatment. Care includes a consultation to evaluate a client’s medical, therapeutic and dietary needs and on-site medically assisted detox, individual and group therapy and 12-step. Ashley also offers experiential counseling including interactive and skill-based workshops and continuing education to understand addiction. Each client can anticipate an individualized treatment and aftercare plan. The length of stay is contingent on a client’s individual needs and treatment plan.The facility’s medical care includes a review of client’s medical and psychiatric history, laboratory tests and toxicology screenings. Medically assisted detox that can administer anti-craving medications like naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfram, and buprenorphine is available to clients who need it. Clients have 24/7 access to nurses and a medical provider.Ashley Addiction Treatment evaluates clients for co-occurring psychological or psychiatric conditions. From there, they receive an integrated treatment plan that includes specialized therapies to treat trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, anger, stress and chronic pain.A third main component of Ashley’s primary care is holistic treatment that aims to restore a client’s mind, body and spirit. The holistic offerings include yoga, meditation, massage, acupuncture,spiritual support, yoga and personal trainer led exercise. Clients can also expect music and art therapy.Staff includes an on-site multidisciplinary team of board certified physicians, physician assistants and nurses. The medical team specializes in diagnosing and treating the effects of drug and alcohol addiction. Ashley Addiction Treatment also employs full time psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and Master’s-level counselors.Other treatment programs include an emerging adult program for adolescents, relapse recovery, pain recovery, outpatient and family wellness for family members over the age of 15, and children and youth program for family members ages six to 14.Ashley’s Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at its Bel Air and Elkton facilities offers an eight week evidence-based treatment for adults ages 18 years and older. Alcohol and drug addiction treatment is based on the Matrix Model and includes ambulatory detox, individual and group therapy, anti-craving medication-assisted therapy, relapse prevention therapy, acupuncture, meditation, Naloxone Certification and a family program.The Ashley Addiction Treatment outpatient facilities also offer opiate treatment and maintenance. The IOP also partners with Hartford County’s Project Healthy Delivery, which helps pregnant women struggling with addiction get treatment and counseling needed for continued sobriety.Bonus AmenitiesResidents enjoy a state of the art indoor fitness center including a gym staffed with personal trainers, basketball and volleyball courts and yoga rooms. Additionally, Ashley’s sprawling campus offers outdoor walking trails and jogging paths, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, gardens and a chapel.Ashley Addiction Treatment recently opened a new wing on it main campus, Skip’s Hall. It offers integrated addiction treatment and holistic care. Here clients can garner extended recovery skills, relapse prevention and an overall health and wellness education. Treatment fosters spirituality, spiritual counseling, grief counseling, mindfulness meditation, sound therapy, drumming, art therapy and Catholic mass and non-denominational services.Overlapping with the emphasis on holistic treatment, the wellness services at Ashley Addiction Treatment include acudetox, personal training, yoga, acupuncture and massage sessions, Reiki and cupping therapy. All of wellness services at this facility are designed to support therapy and foster relapse prevention and mindfulness.SummaryAshley Addiction Treatment offers a wide range of support for alcohol and drug addiction and co-occurring disorders. Clients also enjoy myriad wellness services on a beautiful, sweeping campus with waterside views. With resort-style amenities, clients can experience a full program of recreational and fitness activities. In addition to evidence-based treatment, Ashley offers spiritual counseling and support and alternative, holistic therapies. Accredited by the Joint Commission, Ashley also offers a wide range of outpatient, family care, opiate treatment and maintenance and relapse recovery in two additional facilities.Ashley Addiction Treatment LocationMain Campus800 Tydings LaneHavre de Grace, MD 21078(800) 799-4673Ashley Addiction Treatment CostCall for cost. Insurance is accepted.Find Ashley Addiction Treatment on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube

Doctor Calls For Caution In Reducing Opioids

Today, much of the medical community is focused on reducing opioid prescriptions after decades of overprescribing, but one doctor is an outspoken critic of weaning patients who are doing well on long-term or high-dose opioid prescriptions. Dr. Stefan Kertesz, a primary care physician who focuses on addiction medicine and works with the homeless population, told STAT News that he is challenging the idea that even people who are doing well on opioids need to have their medications reduced or replaced. “I think I’m particularly provoked by situations where harm is done in the name of helping,” said Kertesz, who is also a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. “What really gets me is when responsible parties say we will protect you, and then they call upon us to harm people.”In particular, Kertesz takes issue with the CDC’s 2016 opioids prescription guidelines. The guidelines were interpreted very strictly, and have led to many pain patients—even those who have not abused their medications—seeing their care regimen change. For some patients who have been doing well on opioids long-term, it makes sense to “leave well enough alone,” Kertesz said. He believes that the general recommendation to be careful when prescribing opioids is sound advice. However, when the recommendations are taken as a mandate, problems can arise, he said in a written response to the guideline. “This is a guideline like no other… its guidance will affect the immediate well-being of millions of Americans with chronic pain,” Kertesz wrote.In another written response he said, “Most of us wish to see an evolution toward fewer opioid starts and fewer patients at high doses,” but doctors need to be able to leave some patients on opioids as clinically necessary without feeling like they are putting their careers at risk. Kertesz encouraged the CDC to clarify that the guidelines were recommendations only, not policy proclamations. “It is imperative that healthcare professionals and administrators realize that the Guideline does not endorse mandated involuntary dose reduction or discontinuation,” he wrote in one letter that he co-authored. “Patients have endured not only unnecessary suffering, but some have turned to suicide or illicit substance use.”Now, Kertesz is hoping to secure funding to study suicides caused by reduction in pain medications. “You have three things that are potentially simultaneously associated with harm: Pain itself. Opioid dependence, the dependence itself. And the event, however we wish to interpret it clinically—as resurgent pain or untreated opioid dependence—in patients who are having opioids taken away,” he explained. Despite his dedication to speaking out against uniform opioid reductions, Kertesz sometimes still feels nervous about standing against the mainstream medical community.  “Every single bit of it involves ambivalence and driving myself crazy,” he said. “Like, am I making a mistake? Am I going to blow up my career?”

Recovering Every Day

The people who are most successful in maintaining their sobriety — those who have been sober for 10 years, 25 years or more — often talk about themselves not as “cured” from their addiction, but as living a life in recovery.That’s a key difference, according to Monica Armas, program director at Asana Recovery, which offers detox, residential treatment and an outpatient program in Costa Mesa, California. While people who are cured have done their treatment and moved on, people who are living in recovery have made treatment and sobriety a part of their daily lives.“It is important to integrate recovery into everyday life because it can provide strength and hope,” Armas said. “It is Important to be actively participating in a routine that is conducive to how you want to live your life.”It’s so crucial to long-term recovery that integrating recovery into daily life is an instrumental part of “The Asana Way.” That begins early on in the recovery process, by involving clients in day-to-day decisions, like what recreational activities will be offered. Then, it continues throughout treatment as The Asana Way is integrated into therapeutic approaches.At Asana, Armas and other providers help people who are newly sober define what values are the most important to them. This might be family, faith, career, or exploration. These values are what drive people to do the hard work of recovery, and they are also the values that will define the person’s new sober life. Whatever those priorities are, Armas encourages clients to start “living with your values in mind.”“Once we are able to identify what we value, then we’re able to start putting our values first and are able to see personal growth in all areas of life,” she said.Oftentimes, this involves redefining the values that clients have held in the past. Before, their values might have been dictated by their substance use problem, but in recovery they are able to focus on what really matters most to them when the desire for the next high is taken away.This is why setting boundaries is an important part of early recovery. Boundaries help people announce to the world what values they’ll be focusing on, and how those have changed.“Establishing a new sober way of life involves setting boundaries with family, friends and work,” Armas said.When it comes to setting healthy boundaries, Armas encourages clients to walk the middle ground between emotional and logical choices.“By walking the middle path a person is able to live a more balanced life and make decisions that are purposeful to them,” she said. “Walking to the middle path can be challenging in the beginning but, it’s amazing how it can transform life and how we perceive situations.”Using this approach, clients can fulfill their emotional needs and desires, while also letting logic protect them from emotional pulls that might have negative consequences.Armas encourages clients to use that combination of emotional and logical decision-making to gain new perspective, both when they are newly sober and as they live their life in long-term recovery.“One of my favorite quotes is by Dr. Wayne Dyer and he says, ‘When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change,’” Armas said. “I would say if you need a boost in recovery take a step back and see how you are perceiving your recovery and life.”Along the journey of recovery, fellowship is an important tool to help gain that perspective on how far you have come, and how your history of addiction might still put you at risk.“It is important to have fellowship in recovery because it provides a sense of belonging to a group,” Armas said. “At the end of the day we all want to feel accepted, and finding a recovery group that provides that sense of belonging is powerful. Also, it is an open place for others to share a similar struggle and it can help provide insight into addictive behaviors.”Asana Recovery offers residential and outpatient treatment in Costa Mesa, California. Learn more by calling 949-438-4504.

Overdose Death Rates Skyrocket Among Middle-Aged Women

A recent news story from KNXV-TV adds a human perspective to recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about a demographic on the rise for national drug overdose deaths.The Phoenix, Arizona-based ABC affiliate profiled several area women who developed dependencies on drugs or alcohol between the ages of 40 and 64.Addiction treatment centers in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area reported an increase in admission for women in that age group, which coincides with the CDC's report that overdose death rates among women aged 30 to 64 years rose by 260% between 1999 and 2017.To determine this statistic, the CDC reported in January 2019 that it had examined overdose death rates for this age group during the aforementioned time period, and categorized these fatalities according to drug subcategories, including antidepressants, cocaine, heroin, prescription opioids and synthetic opioids (except methadone).From this data, they determined that the unadjusted drug overdose death rate increased from 6.7 deaths per 100,000 population (or 4,314 total drug overdose deaths) in 1999 to 24.3 (or 18,110 deaths) in 2017. The rate of overdose deaths involving any opioid increased 492% during this time period, while nearly all subcategories of drugs saw increases in deaths, save for cocaine, which decreased significantly between 2006 and 2009. The highest death rate increases involved synthetic opioids (1,643%), heroin (915%) and benzodiazepines (830%).Those figures reflect the experiences of the women profiled in the KNXV piece. Pamela Aguilu became dependent on prescription opioids after undergoing spinal surgeries. "I would say that I got addicted right away," she said. "I was taking massive amounts of oxycodone."Aguilu expressed gratitude that she had not become one of the overdose statistics cited by the CDC. But she certainly came close. After confronting a police officer who had been sent by her landlord, Aguilu said, "The last thing I remember is the ER physician saying we need the Narcan now, and then I was out. I was out for two days."KNXV also cited Cheryl Hawley, a clinical director at the Valley Hope alcohol and drug treatment center, who said that women between 30 and 64 often put their roles as mother, wife and homemaker ahead of their own health, and then refuse to share their struggles with their families.Aguilu agrees. "You hit middle age, and you think you've got it all figured out," she said. "We live in a society where we take pills for everything."

HIV Prevention Pill Offered to Opioid Users in Philadelphia

An increase in the number of IV drug users infected with HIV in Philadelphia has spurred the city's health department to train medical providers in the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a pill that can prevent HIV infection.An op-ed piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer suggested that making PrEP and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) available to this demographic could not only provide much-needed assistance to an at-risk population, but as the story's author noted, would also place Philadelphia at the forefront of helping to prevent the spread of HIV among that demographic. The Inquirer noted that while the overall number of new HIV cases has been on the decline since the mid-2000s, with current statistics showing that 19,199 Philadelphia residents live with HIV, the number of individuals who acquired HIV through IV drugs rose from 45 cases in 2017 to 61 in 2018.The newspaper also cited a study by the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System, which linked the rise in new infections to a high number of sex workers in Philadelphia. According to the study's findings, 51% of women with new infections and 30% of male subjects had traded sex for money, drugs or other goods.Coverage of the rise in cases by the Philadelphia Tribune found that city health agencies have increased education efforts regarding the use of PrEP among HIV patients. These include the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, which trained doctors in areas with high rates of HIV about talking to their patients about the medication.  The non-profit syringe exchange program Prevention Point worked directly with IV drug users to let them know about how to get PrEP. The Tribune piece noted that the emergency departments of Temple University Hospital and Episcopal Hospital offered screenings for HIV and STDs. The city's Federally Qualified Health Centers and many primary care physicians offer PrEP as well. If the patient is found to be HIV-positive, doctors at these hospitals, centers and practices work with the individual to begin immediate treatment with PrEP. The medication is fully covered by most health plans, and when taken under the supervision of a medical provider, has reportedly few to no side effects.Despite this, the Inquirer op-ed noted that many local providers and treatment centers may not be aware of the availability of MAT with PrEP for HIV. The story advocated consistent referral of the medication to not only stem the tide of new cases, but to establish Philadelphia at the forefront of such treatment."These type of local emerging best practices offer a way bridging national policy, clinical guidelines, local contexts and patient choice," wrote the op-ed's author, Kevin Moore, who serves as director of care coordination at ARS Treatment Centers.