Suicide Prevention

Suicide causes more than 37,000 deaths in the United States each year and is devastating to family, friends and communities.  SAMHSA estimates that for each person who dies by suicide, 5 to 10 other people are severely affected by the loss.  The end result is that hundreds of thousands of people are affected by suicide each year.

Youth are the most at risk for suicide, but it affects people of all ages.  To date, it’s the third leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year olds, with gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents in grades 7 through 12 more than twice as likely to attempt suicide as heterosexuals within the same age range.

There is a critical need for suicide prevention efforts and to help those in crisis.  Below are tips from SAMHSA about how to help someone who may be considering suicide:

• Allow the person to express his or her feelings without passing judgment or acting shocked.
• Listen, and don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong.
• Be direct and get involved. Talk openly and matter-of-factly, showing interest and support for the person at risk.
• Don’t be sworn to secrecy – seek support and professional help for the person at risk.
• Offer hope that alternatives are available.
• Get help from people or agencies that specialize in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.

For more information or to help someone who may be considering suicide, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255.)  The line is open 24 hours a day through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day

May 9^th is SAMHSA’s National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day.  SAMHSA's "Caring for Every Child's Mental Health" was originally created in 1994 with the mission of increasing awareness around children's mental health issues.  

Visit www.awarenessevent.org for information about the Awareness Day national event in Washington D.C., which will be held on May 9^th. The event will include an exhibit from the American Art Therapy Association, a tribute program to children who have demonstrated resilience after traumatic experiences, and a Special Recognition Award ceremony, which will honor artist, advocate, and Awareness Day National Event Honorary Chairperson Cyndi Lauper.

You can watch the live webcast of the event at www.samhsa.gov/children from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., EDT, on Wednesday, May 9, 2012.

Addiction Treatment and Las Vegas, Perfect Together?!

Recently, I traveled to Las Vegas to attend the annual, national conference on the care and treatment of opioid addiction held by AATOD (American Association of the Treatment of Opioid Dependence). It was a huge gathering of some of the most important and influential addictions professionals, counselors, medical personnel, and other entities involved in the overall treatment of this population. I know what you're thinking... "How could you travel to Vegas and not invite me?" I know, I know. Next time.

You are probably also thinking... "Addictions conference? In Las Vegas? Really?" It's okay, we got this response quite often. Even if a person wasn't comfortable enough asking the question outright, I certainly could tell it is what they were thinking. The stares and pensive looks were enough. Yes, it is ironic, no doubt. To be surrounded by excess and clear addiction in many forms (substance use, gambling, shopping) while upstairs discussing these very topics was surreal indeed.

Yet, somehow it makes sense. Vegas is a vast land of extremes. Everything is exaggerated beyond all realistic representation. Gluttony and capitalism to the tenth power. Vegas represents (with casino credit, show girls, and glitter) what most people think and feel about addiction. Anyone is allowed to have a few wild nights, along with endless alcohol, drugs and sexual exploits, so long as "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas". Vegas is where denial was born and now thrives. Leave your secrets in the desert. No one will know.

Our culture views addiction in this exact way. Those who have the money and ability to live it up in Vegas and then immediately return to the status quo are the only ones allowed to use drugs and alcohol. Those who can't handle the sweet seduction of all things Vegas are "bad, sick, damaged, wrong, and sinful." It is their problem and they deserve all the consequences that go along with using drugs. They certainly do not deserve any help in any way. They brought this on themselves.
Being in AATOD within the Sin City demonstrated the clear divide between drug use and drug treatment in our culture. We welcome the use of substances, so long as a person can keep it to themselves and not bother anyone (or even be the life of the party). The moment it becomes a problem and a person seeks treatment, now this same person is undeserving of our help. It is a sad reality since drug and alcohol addiction is a disease. If our society viewed it more as the true disease that it is, and embraced the true care and treatment of this disease, there would be far less negative consequences of use.

Keynote speaker William White articulated this phenomenon powerfully. He stated, "We know addiction is a chronic disease, yet we continue to treat it like a broken arm." Addiction is not about having a person stop using and be done. No, there needs to be a comprehensive approach to treatment that includes family involvement, addressing mental health issues, past history of trauma, HIV risk and treatment, intimate partner violence, housing, employment, finances, and many others. In many instances, a person may turn to drugs and alcohol as a reaction to a past (and/or current) traumatic situation. Substances can be very powerful coping mechanisms - just ask anyone walking on the Vegas Strip after a night of partying! When a person takes steps to reduce or eliminate the use of substances, the memories of abuse may come flooding back. These nightmares and real memories can be debilitating and terrorizing. The fear of the memories could be a reason why people do not "get clean" or why they tend to relapse. In instances like this, we cannot blame the person for being "weak" or "immoral" or "criminal". This person needs further care and treatment to develop healthier coping skills to deal with the fear and pain. Yet, since our culture does not view substance use in this way, this person only gets a band-aid, not the full surgery he may need.

We have a lot of work to do. Our culture devalues those with an addiction of any sort. We frown upon anyone doing anything in excess ... even in Vegas.

Yes, there is hope. This conference exemplified the hope and inspiration we all have and all need to improve how our society treats those with addictions. More awareness is being raised about this disease, especially with more and more people coming out with their struggles. People are beginning to realize that denial is not enough. Denial is not working, even in Vegas. It's not so easy to just leave our worries on The Strip and pretend they don't exist. We all need to face this disease, show compassion to those who are living with it, and treat it comprehensively.

Next year the AATOD conference will be held in Philadelphia. Okay, it may not be the most glamorous setting, but it may just be a little more real.

Elizabeth Lombino

Stigma of Methadone Treatment and Pregnancy

The NCHRC, North Carolina’s only comprehensive harm reduction program, recently published an article on the stigma of methadone treatment while being pregnant.  NCHRC has witnessed a lot of misinformation and stigma surrounding the use of methadone as treatment for opiate addiction, but they found that the problems are even more apparent when the patient in the treatment program is pregnant.

The goal of methadone treatment for pregnant women is to help them avoid the negative consequences of illicit drug use, including overdose and withdrawal, both of which can jeopardize the pregnancy.  Without having to worry about illicit drug use, a woman is in a better position to engage in prenatal care.

Katie Clark, a research assistant at the Yale School of Public Health, began to notice the stigma surrounding pregnant women through her work at an opiate treatment center. “While I was working as a counselor I started to tailor my caseload to work with predominantly pregnant and parenting women. They shared with me that they were looked down upon, by other people in their lives and people in treatment, because they were in methadone treatment during pregnancy. Even though medically, they were doing the best thing for themselves and their pregnancies, this was not the message they were getting from those around them.”

As Katie explains, even within hospitals and drug treatment programs, pregnant women are often judged for methadone use. “People see an infant in withdrawal and start making comments like ‘how could you do this to your baby.’ In one case, a social worker tried to charge a mother with child abuse because she was in treatment during her pregnancy.”

Just as women are cautioned against alcohol use while pregnant, many people assume that women should immediately stop using opiates as well, but actually, quitting opiates can be very dangerous. “Opiate withdrawal can jeopardize the health of the baby and the mother and even cause miscarriages,” says Katie. “Methadone has been used as treatment for pregnant women for 30 years to keep mothers and babies stable during pregnancy.”

In her work, Katie also challenges that myth that babies are “born addicted” to opiates. “There is no such thing as a baby born addicted to opiates, but babies with opiate-dependent mothers can show withdrawal symptoms once they are born, such as diarrhea, stiffness, or not eating or sleeping well,” says Katie. “A baby experiencing withdrawal is usually kept at the hospital and, if clinically indicated, put on medicine to make them comfortable. Doctors will keep the babies in the hospital until they are weaned off the medicine.”

Katie created a website, www.methadoneandpregnancy.com to answer questions about methadone, pregnancy and opiate addiction.  Voices from the Harbor is an audio documentary Katie created about women’s experiences with pregnancy, opiate addiction and methadone treatment. In the documentary, four women speak of their experiences with addiction, pregnancy, stigma and recovery. Visit http://vimeo.com/41050651 to hear their powerful stories.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

April is Alcohol Awareness Month.  The month of awareness was founded in 1987 by the NCADD to increase public awareness and understanding aimed at reducing the stigma that too often prevents individuals and families from seeking help.  The month allows the NCADD to reach out in communities across the country to bring the American public information about alcohol and alcoholism as a chronic, progressive disease, fatal if untreated, and genetically predisposed.  This year is NCADD’s 26^th Anniversary of Alcohol Awareness Month and they are celebrating the event with the theme, “Healthy Choices, Healthy Communities: Prevent Underage Drinking."

The disease of alcoholism is a family disease that is treatable, not a moral weakness, from which people can and do recover.  In fact, millions of individuals and family members are living lives in long-term recovery from alcoholism!  Help is available and there are many success stories!  To read about successful stories of recovery, click here.

Disease of Addiction

When people hear the words “drug addict” they often attach negative connotations and stigma to them.  People visualize a person who doesn’t care about work, life, or anything other than getting high.  But, this is not the case.  As research continues in the area of addiction, it is becoming more commonly understood that it is a disease and needs to be treated as one.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment defines addiction as a chronic, metabolic disease of the brain and nervous system.  They report that as addiction progresses, changes in the brain and neurotransmitter function can be seen and recorded.  Addiction can cause permanent changes in brain structure and chemistry.  It’s a brain disorder with the characteristics of a medical illness.  The positive news is that when addiction is treated as a chronic illness, the compliance and relapse rates of substance dependence are as good as or better than other chronic illnesses.

The disease of addiction can affect anyone.  With the recent death of Whitney Houston, it shows that addiction is far reaching and doesn’t discriminate.  According to autopsy results, Houston was not only a chronic cocaine user, but toxicology results found marijuana, Xanax, the muscle relaxant Flexeril and Benadryl in her body as well.  

Addiction recovery is a lifelong process that requires ongoing, continual care similar to any chronic, medical diseases.  As with Houston’s battle, there may be many ups and downs.  The important point is that there is hope and recovery is possible.  By dedicating oneself to treatment, participating in counseling and twelve step programs, and having the willingness to be fully engaged in a treatment program – success and sobriety are reachable goals.

Brains May Be Wired for Addiction

On February 2, 21012, a BBC Report explained how abnormalities in the brain may make some people more likely to become drug addicts.  The study, conducted by the University of Cambridge, England and funded by the Medical Research Council, attempted to determine if some people’s brains are hard-wired for addiction.

The study tried to answer that question by comparing the brains of 50 cocaine or crack addicts with the brain of their brother or sister, who had always been clean.  Both the addicts and the non-addict siblings had the same abnormalities in the region of the brain which controls behavior, the fronto-striatal systems.  They found the same differences in the brains of addicts and their non-addicted brothers and sisters. 

The study, published in the journal Science, suggested addiction is in part a "disorder of the brain".  Other experts said the non-addicted siblings offered hope of new ways of teaching addicts self-control.  It has long been established that the brains of drug addicts have some differences to other people, but explaining that finding has been more difficult.  Experts were unsure whether drugs changed the wiring of the brain or if drug addicts' brains were wired differently in the first place. 

With the recent death of Whitney Houston, the dangers of prescription drug abuse - and the potential deadly effects when mixed with alcohol - are in the spotlight.  Click on the link below for more information:

http://drdrew.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/15/pill-popping-rx-for-death/

 

A Bill Banning "Bath Salts" Signed Into Law

On Wednesday, January 25, 2012 DE Governor, Jack Markell, signed into law a bill banning the possession and sale of the designer drugs known as "bath salts."

The signing of Senate Bill 160 made permanent an emergency ban passed in late September following a rash of violent incidents linked to the drug.

"Bath salts"are commonly smoked, snorted or injected. Users experience an intense high, euphoria, extreme energy, hallucinations, insomnia and are easily provoked to anger, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

Under the new law, possession of a small amount of bath salts would be classified as a misdemeanor. Someone found guilty of possession with intent to manufacture or distribute small quantities of the drug would face eight years in prison.  The law also prohibits any combination of the chemicals in bath salts and makes it easier for lawmakers to ban other chemicals that may pose harmful consequences to Delawareans.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

As the weather turns chilly and the days become shorter, Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, could affect you and your family.  SAD is a type of depression that affects a person during the cold, winter months.  If you get depressed in the winter but feel much better in spring and summer, you may have SAD. 

The disorder may begin as early as fifteen, but the risk of getting SAD for the first time goes down as you age.  People who live in places with long winter nights are at greater risk for SAD.  Other factors that may make SAD more likely include the amount of light that a person is exposed to, body temperature, genes, and hormones.

Symptoms usually build up slowly in the winter months and may include:

•  Increased appetite with weight gain
•  Increased sleep and daytime sleepiness
•  Less energy and ability to concentrate in the afternoon
•  Loss of interest in work or other activities
•  Slow, sluggish, lethargic movement
•  Social withdrawal
•  Unhappiness and irritability

According to NIH, antidepressant medications and talk therapy can be effective.  Taking long walks during the daylight hours and getting exercise can make the symptoms better.  Keep active socially, even if it involves some effort.  Light therapy that mimics light from the sun may also be helpful.