#Overdose Awareness No More Stigma No More Shame | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

philhoffman · 9 months

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Remembering Phil on this International Overdose Awareness Day. His death isn’t anywhere near the full story of his life but it is part of it. It’s a ferocious, blinding pain that only hurts so much because we love him so much.

It’s more complicated than many people may realize, even those who know about his struggles with addiction. A lot happened and most of it is too painful to say or not mine to share. There are levels and layers I’ve only recently begun to understand and answers we won’t ever get. I’ve been exploring this active grief for a long time now but it’s just as fresh and more painful than ever.

Phil died of a drug overdose. It’s been a journey to be able to say those words. But there’s power in being able to say that without shame, and I’m not ashamed of him. I think being able to talk about what happened to Phil honestly, responsibly, with love and respect, is one of the few ways I can still protect him and his memory. He died of a drug overdose, like over 100,000 other people every year now—an entirely preventable death, the result of stigma and a failed system that cruelly looks down on people who use drugs.

Phil died but he saved lives. I can’t count how many people I’ve heard from who said his struggle and death inspired them to enter recovery. Addiction doesn’t have to be a death sentence, overdoses don’t have to be fatal. Carry Narcan, fight for evidence-backed drug policies and harm reduction initiatives, never use alone, support overdose prevention sites, be there for your loved ones and your community.

Addiction was a piece of his story, but just one piece. Phil is so much more than that, he was a beautiful person and it brings me more joy than anything to share him and his big laugh and generous gifts with anyone who wants to know him, with the people who already love him. From the sweet, lanky, freckle-faced kid he was to the strong, kind, courageous man he became who fought for his life every day—I am so proud of him and anyone should be so lucky to know him, to love him.

I love you, Phil. Celebrating and missing your beautiful light today and always 💜

#thank you phee I miss you #it’s really hitting me hard this year #beautiful boy

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kayvanh123 · 7 months

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Additional efforts are required to mitigate reliance on pain medication.

A recent study from the University of Surrey reveals an escalating dependence on pain medication, attributing the trend to a lack of vigilance among medical professionals. Individuals relying on pain medication express a sense of living in a fog and feeling neglected and misunderstood by the medical community.

In the inaugural study of its kind in the UK, Louise Norton and Dr. Bridget Dibb from the University of Surrey delved into the experiences of patients dependent on medication for chronic pain. Standard pharmacological treatments for chronic pain often involve substances with potential for addiction, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gabapentinoids, and opioids.

The heightened prescription rates of these pain relief medications have been linked to increased instances of overdose and misuse. Dr. Bridget Dibb, Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology at the University of Surrey, emphasizes the growing prevalence of chronic pain and its impact on daily life, potentially leading to depression and anxiety. While medication can alleviate pain, there is a risk of dependence that may harm vital organs like the liver and kidneys.

Addressing this issue requires understanding individuals’ experiences, perceptions of dependence, and interactions with the medical profession, according to Dr. Dibb. Interviews with nine participants dependent on pain medication revealed feelings of disconnection and frustration due to treatment side effects. Many expressed dissatisfaction with the limited alternative treatment options on the NHS, citing the overprescription of medications.

Participants also recounted negative interactions with medical professionals, some attributing their dependence to these encounters. The lack of continuity between doctors was cited as a factor contributing to overlooked opportunities for identifying dependence.

Louise Norton highlighted the significant impact of relationships with medical professionals on the experiences of those dependent on painkillers. The authority figure status of doctors may deter patients from questioning their treatment options. Norton suggests that thorough information provision can foster shared decision-making, empowering patients to manage chronic pain more effectively.

The study also noted that participants felt stigmatized when discussing their dependence, facing a lack of understanding about their reliance on prescribed pain medications. This stigma left them feeling ashamed and self-critical.

Dr. Dibb emphasized the emotional challenges faced by those dependent on prescription painkillers, including shame, guilt, and a sense of being misunderstood. She calls for increased vigilance among medical professionals during the prescription process, ensuring that patients are fully aware of the risks of dependence before starting treatment.

For more information about our clinic, medical professionals, and treatment options, please visit our main website.

#health #pain management #medicine #back pain #chiropractic #mental health #apdss #neurostar #neckpain #depressionhelp

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harmreduction · 5 years

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Ending the overdose crisis will take all of us. We may not see a year with no overdoses in our lifetimes, but reducing harm and healing from the multi-generational harms of the drug war will require collective action. In the last few years, we’ve seen harm reduction as a movement grow. There is more awareness and support for naloxone. And yet, so many barriers remain to getting overdose prevention resources to the people who need them. We need universal access to naloxone and harm reduction services, on demand access to evidence-based treatment, and everything in our toolkit that we know works. But that won’t be enough if we don’t also stand together to fight against racialized drug policies, heal from stigma and shame, and challenge the systemic harms faced by people who use drugs and their families. It will take all of us.

Read more: https://harmreduction.org/blog/ending-the-overdose-crisis-will-take-all-of-us/

#naloxone #overdose #harmreduction #OverdoseAware #EndOverdose #IOAD #IOAD2019 YestoSCS

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chemical-x-1980-blog · 4 years

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WELL NEVERMIND I WILL NOT BE POSTING AFTER THIS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. I CANT POST ANYTHING ADULT OR EXPLICIT ON HERE THEREFORE I AM DONE WITH TUMBLR. ITS TOO BAD BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS TIME IT WOULD WORK.

I AM UNDERGROUND, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR THE DARKER SIDE OF GAY MALE SEX BECAUSE WE NEED ONE. I REALLY WANTED TO DO MY PART BY EXPRESSION THROUGH ART. BUT CENSORSHIP HAS WON THE DAY YET AGAIN IN THE LAND OF THE "FREE" WHICH SUCKS.

LET ME BREAK IT DOWN. HAVE YOU GOT TIME?

I REALLY WANTED TO SHED A POSITIVE LIGHT ON ADDICTS BECAUSE THE VERY WORD ITSELF IS UGLY TO MOST WHEN IT SHOULD BE A WORD THAT BRINGS COMPASSION IF ANY REACTION IS REQUIRED. PERSONALLY IT SHOULD BE INDIFFERENCE PEOPLE FEEL TOWARDS THOSE WHO LIVE UNDER THE TERM ADDICT BECAUSE ADDICTS ARE JUST PEOPLE LIVING WITH THE STRUGGLES OF STIGMA CREATED BY IGNORANCE AND PROPAGANDA OF SEX AND DRUGS.

I AM A SEX ADDICT. IM NOT ASHAMED NOR PROUD OF IT HOWEVER I DO BELIEVE THERE IS TOO MUCH SLUT SHAMING IN THE COMMUNITIES AND ITS BECOME SO BAD THAT WE HAVE BECOME A SEXUAL MINORITY THAT SUFFERS PREJUDICE FROM THE LGBT COMMUNITY (WHO IS ALSO A MINORITY) AND I UNDERSTAND WITH GOOD REASON HOWEVER ITS HAS GOTTEN TO BE TOO MUCH.

YES I ONLY PRACTICE BAREBACK SEX WITH LOTS OF DIFFERENT MEN. IM AWARE OF THE RISKS INVOLVED, HOWEVER ID RATHER LIVE IN TRUTH THAN BE SAFE. CONDOMS SUCK, PERIOD. THERE HAS GOT TO BE ANOTHER WAY AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN INNOVATE ALTERNATIVES TO CONDOMS IS BY PIONEERING THE DANGEROUS PARTS OF GAY SEX. ITS NOT A POPULAR IDEA BUT IT IS ONE THAT HAS JUST AS MUCH RIGHT TO BE ADDRESSED AS THE PRO CONDOM ARGUMENT.

I AM ALSO A HUGE ADVOCATE ON DECRIMINALIZED DRUGS. EVERY NARCOTIC SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE STREETS, CLEANED UP FROM FILLERS AND WHAT IT COULD BE CUT WITH, AND MARKETED. THE DRUG WAR IS LOST, AND IT IS ABSURD BECAUSE IT DOESN'T FOLLOW THE ECONOMIC RULE OF SUCCESS AND ITS THE BIGGEST RULE, SUPPLY AND DEMAND. YOU WILL NEVER GET RID OF DRUGS. YOU WILL NEVER STOP PEOPLE FROM USING OR THE FLOW OF THE PRODUCTION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. NEVER EVER.

SO LETS PUT A TAX ON THEM AND MAKE THEM LEGAL FOR ALL. SET UP PLACES WHERE ADDICTS CAN DO THEM SAFELY WITH MEDICAL STAFF ON STAND BY WHO CAN PROPERLY ASSIST AND SAVE LIVES FROM OVERDOSE USE.

REHAB IS A FOOLS GAME, BUT THAT SHOULD BE AN OPTION ON SITE AS WELL. LETS PROMOTE HARM REDUCTION MORE AND END THE PROHIBITION OF EVERY SINGLE DRUG, AND MAKE MONEY FOR STATE AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.

BETTER EDUCATION ABOUT DRUGS AND SEX WOULD BE NICE TOO. NOT JUST THE RISKS BUT THE POSITIVES OF NARCOTICS BECAUSE YES THERE IS A POSITIVE SIDE TO ILLICIT HARD DRUGS TOO. I WAS A NERVOUS SCARED AND DEPRESSED PERSON BEFORE I TRIED METH. NOW IM NOT. AND IT ISN'T METH THAT IS RUINING MY LIFE ITS THE STIGMA OF IT. METH IS FINE WHEN IN MODERATION AND CORRECT DOSAGE WITH PROPER MEDICAL METHODS TO ENSURE HARM REDUCTION.

PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE, FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE, BUT WE ALL HAVE VALUE AND WE ALL JUST WANNA LIVE IN A WORLD WERE WE ARE SAFE BUT FREE AND WE COULD HAVE BOTH WE JUST GOT TO BE SMARTER, AND JUDGE LESS. LOVE MORE AND HATE LESS. ADDICTS AREN'T BAD PEOPLE, NOT ALL OF US, JUST LIKE THOSE WHO AREN'T ADDICTS ARE NOT ALL GOOD PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO MARKET OFF OF THE STIGMA THAT RUINS SO MANY LIVES NEEDLESSLY.

NO ONE IS GONNA READ THIS ANYWAY SO ILL STOP.

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postitforward · 7 years

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what do you think is the most effective way to make communities aware of the impacts of mental health? especially communities that may not believe/pay any attention to mental illness or cannot afford to treat them?

Depression is the most prevalent disability found in the workplace. Each year, mental illness costs more than $193 billion in lost earnings. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for American adults and the SECOND leading cause for teens and young adults. Opioid overdose kills more people each year than car accidents.

The consequences of not treating mental health and substance use disorders are clear. But there’s hope.

By educating others that these are illnesses, not choices, we can change stigma. We can reach out to local, state, and federal policy makers, urging them to support and enhance laws and regulations that support people with mental illness and addiction.

To quote Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels, a founding member of Run-D.M.C.: “This goes to the politicians, the government, social workers, teachers, doctors, insurance agencies: If we remove the guilt and shame, we remove the pain. If we deal with the way people feel, they can heal.”

#postitforward #answertime #kennedys #mental health month

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womenofcolor15 · 4 years

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The Drug & Alcohol Epidemic Has Intensified Amid COVID-19 Pandemic – Here’s What One Doctor Says We Should Do

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on everyone, especially people battling addiction. The drug and alcohol epidemic has gone into overdrive with a rise in overdoses. One doctor explains what needs to be done to slow it down inside…

The COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc on the United States and the world. And it's not hard to understand why.

The number of people dying from overdoses is dramatically rising in several states across the nation. Last year, numbers declined for the first time in three decades. Sadly, the pandemic came and reversed those numbers in 2020 causing drug deaths to go up an average 13% over the last year.

According to a press release from Recovery Centers of America, overdose deaths are going up in Ohio, New York, Florida and parts of Pennsylvania.

Overdose deaths have doubled in Chicago and are up in other parts of Illinois. Maryland and New Jersey are also seeing spikes in overdoses. According to data from the New Jersey state drug information dashboard, drug overdose deaths jumped 20% this year; 1,339 people died of suspected drug overdoses in the first five months of the year, 225 more than were recorded in 2019 over the same time period.

Calls to the “Disaster Distress Helpline” at the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has increased 891 percent during the pandemic. Recent research suggests that COVID-19 will lead to as many as 75,000 additional “deaths of despair” from overdose or suicide.

So, what do we do about it?

Dr. Deni Carise, Chief Science Officer at Recovery Centers of America (“RCA”) and adjunct assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania, explains what needs to be done to stop Americans from dying from substance abuse.

“We must use the collective momentum of the American people, at this time of unprecedented social change, to raise awareness that those suffering from substance use disorders are sick and need treatment or they will die, just like with other chronic diseases. An addiction to drugs or alcohol is not a behavior people choose,” she said. “As with all chronic diseases, treatment must include an ‘adequate dose’ or course of treatment, provided across a continuum of care, with appropriate services, for the appropriate length of time, delivered and supported with health insurance coverage. There are no cures for chronic diseases, and this is true whether we are talking about diabetes, hypertension, asthma, depression, or addiction.”

According to Dr. Carise, the remaining “wall of shame” or stigma associated with the disease of substance use disorder (SUD) must be completely torn down and society’s beliefs must change in order to accept SUD as a chronic disease.

Kudos to @ShatterproofHQ for releasing national #addiction #stigma strategy as #COVID19 continues to worsen #opioidcrisis. Stigma is a barrier to #treatment that we must eliminate! @YahooFinance https://t.co/E00iYzDzjO

— Deni Carise (@DeniCarise) July 24, 2020

Drawing on historical observations from the diseases of cancer, TB, and AIDS, Dr. Carise stated that it’s generally accepted that the stigma of a disease diminishes significantly when about 30% of those with the disease get treatment. In the case of SUD, while improvement has been made, only 10 percent of those suffering from SUD obtain treatment.

“Despite progress, the majority of society still thinks that people suffering from SUD have “brought it on themselves” and that all the ramifications that come with it, such as greater chance of death, complete loss of control, family dysfunction, are of their own making, thereby providing one more reason why people don’t seek treatment,” explained Dr. Carise.

Top priorities for state and federal public health officials and legislators during and after the pandemic, according to Dr. Carise, must include ensuring that SUD treatment capacity exists and that insurance coverage is in place without undue restrictions.

In order to save Americans, Dr. Carise said substance use disorder and behavioral health treatment must continue to be available at all levels of care.

If you need help locating any substance abuse treatment centers, you can find one HERE.

Below are numbers to hotlines if you need someone to talk to:

Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

TTY: 1-800-799-4889

Website: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call is routed to the nearest crisis center in the national network of more than 150 crisis centers.

SAMHSA's National Helpline

1-800-662-HELP (4357)

TTY: 1-800-487-4889

Website: www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

Also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service, this Helpline provides 24-hour free and confidential treatment referral and information about mental and/or substance use disorders, prevention, and recovery in English and Spanish.

Disaster Distress Helpline

1-800-985-5990

Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after any natural or human-caused disaster. Call this toll-free number to be connected to the nearest crisis center for information, support, and counseling.

There's multiple pandemics out here and just getting through the day sometimes feels like it's impossible. We get it. You're not alone. Take it one minute/hour/day at a time.

Photo: Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com

[Read More ...] source http://theybf.com/2020/07/25/drug-alcohol-epidemic-intensifies-amid-covid-19-pandemic-%E2%80%93-here%E2%80%99s-what-one-doctor-says-we

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opioidjusticeteam · 4 years

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NAS Baby Lawsuit

NAS baby lawsuit offers hope to families ravaged by America’s opioid crisis

By Donald Creadore

Few women in the United States have seen the effects of the opioid-abuse crisis on the nation’s kids like Kathy Strain. After her children struggled with addiction, the Berks County, Pennsylvania, woman turned her anger and anxiety into activism – especially on behalf of a growing number of grandparents unexpectedly raising babies who are suffering the lasting health impacts of exposure to opioids in the womb.

“It really is a big group of kids, with all of the issues, and nobody knows,” said Strain. She is talking about the estimated 250,000 children born every year in America diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, or NAS, as well as other health or developmental issues caused by opioid exposure. or NAS – a medical diagnosis assigned to the hundreds of thousands of U.S. kids exposed to opioids as a fetus developing in their mother’s womb.

Strain – who was once a Pennsylvania moderator for a popular internet message board called The Addict’s Mom – talks regularly to family members who worry about physical symptoms like clenched jaws or grinding teeth in their children, or see developmental or psychological difficulties such as attention-deficit problems, autism-like symptoms or memory issues.

It’s because of her work and dedication to families struggling with the ill-effects of in utero opioid exposure Strain is now a leading national advocate for an NAS baby lawsuit – a legal effort launched in late 2019 by a non-profit group that aims to hold responsible the large pharmaceutical companies that caused the opioid crisis, including paying for the massive cost of monitoring these children and making sure they receive proper care.

“We owe it to these kids — and future generations – to develop a tracking system and to study and see why developmental delays and defects may be happening with these children,” said Strain, referring to the lawsuit’s demand for a medical monitoring fund to follow children diagnosed with NAS or other opioid-related injuries.

Strain believes that the Nation’s surge in the number of prescriptions of opioid painkillers, and its ready availability, can be traced back to aggressive marketing tactics by these large pharmaceutical companies which, most alarmingly and egregiously, continued well after the addictive qualities of these drugs and their adverse impacts upon children had become evident to industry. .

NAS injures 250,000 babies every year

It’s been reported that about one-in-three pregnant women in America — or roughly 1.3 million out of the 3.8 million women annually — were given a prescription for opioid painkillers. Our legal team has done the math and determined that a baby with serious problems due to opioid exposure is born somewhere in the United States every 15-20 minutes. That would mean about 250,000 babies requiring specialized treatment are born every year – a number that’s been grossly underestimated by the federal government. The absence of uniform diagnostic and reporting protocols, coupled with underreporting and misdiagnosis by medical workers, unintentional or otherwise, are responsible for gross inaccuracies that unfairly and unjustifiably punish newborn children.

Dr. Brent Bell has analyzed NAS research from around the globe as a retained expert for the Opioid Justice Team and, according to him “the amount of opioid use, the time of exposure in the pregnancy and the length of exposure may show up years later in social, interactive, behavioral, cognitive and educational deficits of the child, even if the born child tests negative.

Despite the pervasiveness of the country’s opioid crisis, there’s been far too little reporting and debate about the medical impacts and sufferings, both short-term and long-term, upon children exposed to opioids in utero as a developing fetus. The most frequent diagnosis is NAS, arising from clinical observation and monitoring, following birth, of its most common conditions manifesting themselves in various forms, including but not limited to body shakes, excessive crying or yawns, feeding problems, diarrhea, sleeping problems, fever, or a runny nose.

Also reported, albeit infrequently, are reports of birth defects (related to opioid exposure in utero), such as club foot, spina bifida, heart defects, cleft palate, hydrocephalus, esophageal atresia, gastroschisis, anorectal atresia, or diaphragmatic hernia. And as these opioid-exposed children mature, many experience behavioral problems, cognitive delays, mental or motor deficits, or attention-deficit disorder (ADD), among other maladies.

Fighting the stigma of opioid addiction

After first learning of her children’s struggle Strain was so distraught and paralyzed by fear, she lost her job and was forced to collect unemployment benefits. Strain decided to become an activist because of this experience and her realization of the lack of resources available to families, like hers. Despite her best efforts to become educated on addiction and best practices, her middle son died from an overdose while he was seeking treatment. But, to her credit, she overcame her fears of public speaking and began her mission to warn other parents about the dangers of opioids. “I didn’t want any family to experience the shame and the stigma that I’d felt,”, says Strain.

Strain is now a local leader with Not One More, a family support group, in addition to acting as a moderator on popular websites for parents and grandparents. To her further credit, Strain now works for a non-profit grant funded program in Pennsylvania on a program aimed at ending substance use in the workplace and educating employers on what issues employees that have a loved one struggling with addiction may be experiencing. The plight of Strain’s family, like many of the families belonging to her friends and co-workers, is not unusual within her community, nor nationwide. To the contrary, the impact on America’s adults is both mindboggling and sweeping. Sadly, over 400,000 Americans have reportedly died from opioids during the period of 1999-2017 (from opioids obtained legally in addition to illegal street drugs). This figure is roughly equal to the number of U.S. soldiers killed in World War II, to provide some perspective to the enormity of the current opioid health crisis.

In addition, the number of children removed from their parents’ custody and placed in foster care or with relatives has spiked- for example, in Vermont, that number grew by 40% from 2013 to 2016. Similarly, nearly 7,000 West Virginia children find themselves in state care today, a 70% increase from a decade ago.

Strain says there’s still a lot of work to be done in educating would-be mothers, as well as the doctors and medical staff who treat them, about the risks of opioid use while pregnant upon their fetus. . “Women of child-bearing age and, especially, those women seeking to conceive or are pregnant, need to be made fully aware of the danger posed by their use of opioids.” she said. “That wasn’t happening, and I don’t know that that’s happening now.”

In March, the lawyers of the Opioid Justice Team filed in federal court a request for a preliminary injunction requiring women of child-bearing age to test negative for pregnancy as a condition to prescribing her an opioid product.

It’s hardly a radical idea. Especially when one considers that doctors in the United States who treat young women of child-bearing age for acne are already being required to administer a urine pregnancy test before prescribing Accutane, a drug that’s been positively linked to birth defects. This protocol is uniform and, as importantly, demonstrates that doctors, patients, pharmacies and the big pharmaceutical companies are all perfectly capable of acting affirmatively and in the public interest towards protecting young mothers, fetal development, and improving outcomes for both the mother and her newborn.

Yet this simple, common-sense idea – which could dramatically reduce the number of babies exposed to opioids in the womb – remains on hold.

NAS baby lawsuit offers a shot at justice

In the federal court case, our team of attorneys is fighting hard to get children born to mothers that has used opioids while pregnant to become recognized as their own legal class within the national opioid litigation, which is currently before U.S. District Court Judge Daniel A. Polster in Cleveland, Ohio. The same team of lawyers has also filed lawsuits in nearly 40 states, each one also seeking recognition for the legal rights of these kids and their families.

The aim of the NAS babies’ lawsuit is a legal settlement, whereby pharmaceutical companies that had manufactured and aggressively marketed these painkillers – including Purdue Pharma, the firm behind Oxycontin – contribute funds necessary to establish and administer a medical monitoring fund for these children, one of the main goals of family-health-activists such as Strain. The same companies would also be required to provide funding for long-term health care, therapies, counseling and tutoring.

Many of the lawyers on our team vividly memories of a similar case that occurred two decades ago – the lawsuit against Big Tobacco companies, seeking justice in the form of compensation for the decades of harm caused by cigarette smoking, and the failure to warn the public about those health risks. The chief plaintiffs in that case were state and local governments, and the settlement (in the late 1990s) resulted a multi-billion-dollar windfall that only led to government entities spending the money to plug holes in their budgets rather than assisting the victims of smoking, as intended. North Carolina, most brazenly, spent 75 percent of its settlement money to bolster tobacco production

In fighting for justice on behalf of opioid-exposed children, our goal is to make sure that history doesn’t repeat itself in the current case against Big Pharma, even as many of the same states and localities are back again at the bargaining table. That’s why we sought meaningful representation concerning the ongoing settlement talks occurring in Cleveland, as well as in the ongoing bankruptcy case involving Purdue Pharma, to ensure these NAS-affected children have a voice.

There is still an opportunity for new plaintiffs to join other families and our team of attorneys in the lawsuits filed behalf on behalf of children exposed to opioids in utero and their guardians. I hope you’ll join us and help us make sure that any national financial settlement over the opioid crisis goes to the families and the communities that need help as this generation of kids grows up.

The post NAS Baby Lawsuit appeared first on Opioid Justice Team.

from Opioid Justice Team https://opioidjusticeteam.com/nas-baby-lawsuit/

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blogmitchcarmody · 5 years

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Shift Happens, a New Normal?

I find it fascinating how many new terms, words, phrases that label or identify social constructs/ behaviors that are created every day, phrases that go viral and become mainstream. Viral a word gone viral in and of itself. Right? You don’t say! See ya, Eh, LOL, OMG, drain the swamp, bless your heart, get out of Dodge, brown nose, red neck, avatar, tree hugger, freel, woke etc., memes/emojis/emoticons, images as well as created portmanteaus like brunch (breakfast/lunch) Brexit (Britain/Exit); words blending the sounds and combining the meanings. This happens worldwide but some phrases may be endemic to a geographic area and/or specific to an activity, emotion or defined issue. But all are created shorthand; communication gone viral; good or bad its contemporary vernacular that delivers a message.

Many phrases eventually fall out of use, or change meaning as many words do. Gay was once just happy, queer was odd, just as many other slang, derogatory, and racist terms were created changing the etymology of the word forever. We find that with the internet many of these catch phrases, created labels, and words cross over to another group’s lexicon of terms and becomes part of their vernacular expression.

When one is thrust into the grief journey, most are unprepared for powerful life altering event it can be. When we lose someone we love, especially an out of sequence death it changes our perspective, our world view changes. We are born again into a whole new world, scary and uncharted and many have applied the phrase “the new normal” to describe the grief journey. I have never liked the word normal as an adjective to describe human behaviors; normal is a setting on a dryer. There is nothing normal about losing a child at any age. It is an out of sequence death where true comprehension of the loss becomes surreal. When negotiating day to day realities we may feel like we are in a fog, a time warp, or bubble of confusing duplicitous perceptions. This cocoon of protection that insulates us from the overwhelming horror of the reality is autonomic and biologic; it lasts as long as it lasts which is different for everyone.

The “New Normal” is a pithy aphorism originated as a term in business and economics that refers to financial conditions following the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and the aftermath of the 2008–2012 global recession. The term has since been used in a variety of other contexts to imply that something which was previously abnormal has become commonplace. Soon thereafter I saw it applied to grievers and it socially went viral in the grief community and the horse was out of the barn.

In my 30 years of working with the bereaved I have seen the language of grief and loss change in many ways as grievers try to articulate the depth and breadth of their soul wounds. During that period of time I have seen new words created, old words negated, and many words deleted from conversational use.

People are becoming more cognizant of the power of words that can help to heal or ones that can haplessly hurt or are disrespectful. We innately can respond in a different manner and more compassionate manner, but it takes practice. For example, in response to someone who has taken their own life I previously have said that they had committed suicide. I soon although realized how hurtful that can be to family survivors, as it layers their loved one’s act of desperation with a penumbra a shame, which only perpetuates the stigma surrounding death by suicide. I started to say “completed suicide” instead because my lips still wanted to say committed but I could easily turn committed into completed. However, I changed my vernacular again to relay just the facts. Died by suicide. Died from heart failure. Died from cancer, auto accident, overdose, murder i.e. just the facts, no judgement, no labels, no shame or stigma attached. Fortunately, I have seen this changing but not fast enough.

Finding closure. God help us why this deplorable aphorism is still used mainstream. We close a casket; we don’t find closure with their life or their death. We don’t say “we had a child who died, their name was”. We say “our child died their name is “not was. Keeping them in the present tense is part of proactive grieving; they can still co-exist in our lives and in our conversations with others. Our children die a second time when no one speaks their name.

We don’t move on, we move forward; we don’t deny, we postpone; we don’t get over, we transmogrify; we don’t put it behind us, we walk with it; we don’t get on with our life, we explore our new landscape. We recognize that shift happens; a shift of seismic proportions has happened in our life. Recognizing that a permanent shift has occurred, and that life will never be the same empowers forward movement and healing. Grief is a lifelong journey to take as it comes, day by day; if we look too much in the rear view window, we may miss the signs on the road. The road forward has choices with many directions and being present is critical; being retrospective creates wisdom; be hopeful creates intention; being aware creates trust; trust the journey.

Peace love n light Mitch Carmody

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. “ -Viktor Frankl

Shift Happens, a New Normal? Shift Happens, a New Normal? I find it fascinating how many new terms, words, phrases that label or identify social constructs/ behaviors that are created every day, phrases that go viral and become mainstream.

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positivepsychologyinterventions · 5 years

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My Son Didn’t Have to Die from Opioids: An Interview with Bob Paff

Zach (left) and Bob (right)

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 70,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2017, including illicit drugs and prescription opioids, a two-fold increase in a decade. Opioids include prescription opioids and methadone, heroin, and other synthetic narcotics like fentanyl.

Bob Paff has directly suffered the casualties of this epidemic. On January 21 of this year he lost his son Zach to an accidental overdose of fentanyl. A highly sought-after communications expert, business leader, and internationally recognized author, Bob now uses his communications platform to bring awareness to the problem of synthetic opioids in this country and to explore solutions to end the opioid crisis. Bob recently spoke with PsychCentral about Zach’s death, what he wants people to know about opioids, and on his mission to educate.

PsychCentral: You mentioned that Zach suffered from depression and anxiety, in addition to addiction. How does a person begin to recover from both together?

Bob Paff: Yes, Zach’s battle with depression started at age 13, after his mother and I divorced. For 20 years he suffered with the grips of depression that later turned into a substance abuse nightmare. Twelve-step support groups do a lot to help those with addiction and family members, however, to be honest, I think we need to lose the anonymity of these groups because it contributes to the stigma associated with both addiction and depression. We need to be able to openly talk about it. There is too much shame.

I am involved in the horse industry and two prominent trainers died of a drug overdose. People blamed their deaths on accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. They didn’t want the word to get out. Why can’t we openly to say to one another, “I’m suffering”? We are too hung up on what people think, and we need to talk about it. We need to make it okay to talk about pain. Twelve-step support groups are a start, but we need to go farther. We need to bring the conversation started in those rooms out into the world, where other people can know they aren’t alone.

PC: What is one of the problems you faced as a parent with an addicted child?

BP: There are simply not enough recovery resources. We have 28-day rehab programs. 28 DAYS. That is not enough. They come back, get into their routine of things, and then go back out. It’s not enough time to beat back the cravings and learn a new way of living. We need something like a St. Jude Center that is open 24/7 to help addicts when they are especially vulnerable and fragile. Part of the problem, of course, is the price of good, consistent care. Our healthcare system needs to be overhauled so that insurance offsets the costs.

Let’s be clear about something. Opioids alter your brain. There is no question about that. It takes a person to a euphoric state and then drops him into reality. The pain is unbearable and a person feels he has no option but to return to that euphoric state. We need resources available that help addicts during this period of detox and brain re-regulation — as well as with the transition back to reality — so that they aren’t forced to lie, cheat, and steal to achieve a high. We need to help those who want to be helped, not just within a four-week time period, but whenever they need it.

PC: Tell us about the foundation you set up on Zach’s behalf.

BP: The foundation, for which we have set up a GoFundMe page, will raise awareness of issues surrounding addiction, suicide prevention, and suicide. For too long these three things have remained silent killers, with individuals and their families afraid, embarrassed, ashamed or just too paralyzed to come forward. If we are ever to conquer them, the dialogue must start now.

Myself, family members, and friends of Zach hope to collaborate with policy makers to diminish the flow of synthetic fentanyl and to campaign for more regulation of opioids — to expose the over-prescription of them by doctors. If I had a tagline, it would be: “I want to bring practical, simple solutions to the opioid crisis.” Zach’s death will not go in vain. We are inspired by his loving memory to tackle this global crisis.

from World of Psychology https://ift.tt/2NrEeDQ via IFTTT

#IFTTT #World of Psychology

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psychotherapyconsultants · 5 years

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My Son Didn’t Have to Die from Opioids: An Interview with Bob Paff

Zach (left) and Bob (right)

PsychCentral: You mentioned that Zach suffered from depression and anxiety, in addition to addiction. How does a person begin to recover from both together?

PC: What is one of the problems you faced as a parent with an addicted child?

PC: Tell us about the foundation you set up on Zach’s behalf.

from World of Psychology https://psychcentral.com/blog/my-son-didnt-have-to-die-from-opioids-an-interview-with-bob-paff/

#World of Psychology

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alvaradoparkwayinstitute-blog · 5 years

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When is the best time to go to rehab?

One of the first steps to overcoming addiction is accepting that there is a problem, but substance abuse is often difficult to recognize and accept. Denial, stigma, and a lack of self-awareness prevent millions of Americans from seeking help for their addictions each year. According to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), over 18 million Americans failed to receive much-needed treatment for addiction in 2017.

If you’ve come to the realization that you have a problem with addiction, you’re already on the road to recovery. But just knowing you have a problem is not enough to overcome it. It’s time to reach out for help. Addiction rehab may be the next step. Getting help today can mean the difference between life and death. There’s no better time than the present to start your journey toward sobriety.

The best time to go to rehab is now

Addiction is a chronic, progressive disorder. The longer you struggle with substance abuse, the harder it is to quit. Left untreated, addiction can be fatal – long-term use of drugs and alcohol can lead to liver failure, kidney damage, heart disease, and significant changes in brain chemistry and function. As your tolerance for certain drugs increases, you become more susceptible to suffering a deadly overdose – which means the next time you drink or do drugs could be your last.

When you’re trapped in the throes of addiction, though, moments of clarity about your situation are few and far between. That’s why it’s important to seek help as soon as you realize you need it.

Without rehab, your addiction will get worse

According to the NSDUH, some of the most common reasons people give for not seeking treatment include concern that going to rehab might have a negative effect on their job, or that members of their community might see them in a negative light. But the truth is, without rehab, your addiction will only continue to get worse and wreak havoc on your job, your health, and your relationships. Participating in a strong, reputable addiction rehab program will decrease your risk of suffering drastic and even irreparable consequences.

Signs you need rehab for your addiction

If you’ve tried and failed to stop drinking or doing drugs on your own, then you most likely need help to get sober. Some other signs that you need addiction treatment include:

You experience withdrawal symptoms

People with a physical dependency on drugs or alcohol often suffer from headaches, nausea, shaking, cramps, or insomnia when they stop using.

You engage in risky behaviors while under the influence

Drinking or doing drugs often results in dangerous behaviors, like risky sexual encounters or driving while under the influence.

You lie about your substance use

Shame or denial can cause addicts to lie to their friends and loved ones about how much they’re really using.

Your friends or family have expressed concern

When the people closest to you also notice your excessive drug or alcohol intake, that means the problem isn’t all in your head.

Addiction treatment works

No matter the stage of your addiction, rehab is always an option. And when you receive high-quality care at a qualified and experienced treatment center, your chances of maintaining long-term sobriety are extremely high. Reputable addiction programs will usually include the following:

Medically supervised detox

If you’ve been using drugs or alcohol for a long time, you may need medical support to get through the potentially dangerous symptoms of withdrawal.

Group and individual counseling

Once you’re over the initial detox period, you’ll undergo an intense, extended period of psychotherapy, in both one-on-one and group sessions.

Dual diagnosis support

Many people who struggle with an addictive disorder are also suffering from an underlying mental illness. Receiving proper mental health care is key in addiction recovery.

Aftercare planning

Addiction is a lifelong battle, and a good treatment center will help you plan for long-term sobriety and teach you coping mechanisms to handle the challenges ahead.

Rehab at Alvarado Parkway Institute in San Diego

If you’re ready to conquer your addiction, Alvarado Parkway Institute can help. The dedicated physicians, nurses, and counselors at both our inpatient treatment center and outpatient rehab clinic will provide you with the individualized care you need to live a healthy, sober life.

Don’t delay rehab. Call us at (619) 485-1432 today. Your recovery begins now.

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suboxonedoctor12-blog · 6 years

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Opioid Addiction Treatment in Arkansas

Are you having trouble asking for help? Are you tired of fighting your drug addiction alone? Are you losing all hopes of living an addiction free, happy life?

Wait a moment and look around again. All is not lost yet. There is still time to save yourself. In a life overshadowed by opioid addiction, Suboxone Doctor is the savior you need. On your journey from addiction to sobriety, Suboxone Doctor will be your guiding light, taking you gently, from one step to the next.

Opioid Addiction in Arkansas

You are not alone in this internal war against drug addiction. Every day, more than a hundred people in the United States lose their lives to drug overdoses, while hundreds more give in to addiction. The parasite of opioid addiction has the U.S. strongly in its grip, constantly sucking out life and motivation from the people. Despite the government’s frantic attempts at trying to rein in the epidemic, statistics continue to show growth, both in prescription opioids being given out and the number of deaths due to an opioid-related drug overdose.

In Arkansas,

• there is a rate of 5.9 deaths per 100,000 persons

• an average of 111.2 opioid prescriptions per 100 persons are given out

• there is a rate of 210 HIV infections per 100,000 persons

Arkansas has a very high rate of opioid prescriptions being given out, making it more vulnerable to addiction and deaths by overdose. The state has also seen an increase in the rate of HIV infections in people due to Intravenous Drug Use.

Perhaps the most viable method of dealing with this crisis head-on is the provision of good opioid addiction treatment in Arkansas.

Opioid Addiction Treatment in Arkansas

People looking for good opioid addiction treatment in Arkansas have to go through the same troubles as everyone else in the U.S.

Opioid addiction treatment in Arkansas, while available, is not very accessible to the public. Not much has been done about drug addiction awareness, and the stigma attached to it continues to worsen. People are shamed into hiding their addiction rather than being encouraged to open up and ask for help. Many people are unaware of where to look for options for professional opioid addiction treatment in Arkansas. The doctors and centers providing opioid addiction treatment in Arkansas are also not very approachable.

Suboxone Doctor: A Directory of Certified Suboxone Doctors

Suboxone Doctor is the answer to all dilemmas being faced by people looking for opioid addiction treatment in Arkansas. We are the bridge connecting you to the people who will help you turn your life around. Not only do we connect you with professionals offering the best opioid addiction treatment in Arkansas, but we also provide you with the knowledge and information about drug addiction and the various treatments available, so that you know exactly what you are dealing with.

On our website, you can first go through our article and blog section, where you will find everything that you need to know about addiction. After that, you can head over to the list of Suboxone Doctors in Arkansas and get access to the doctors providing the best opioid addiction treatment in Arkansas.

Suboxone Doctors in Arkansas will provide you with the latest treatment available for opioid addiction, and equip you to fight it both physically and mentally, before, during, and after the treatment process. If you’re not looking for Suboxone doctors in Arkansas, our website also provides lists of Suboxone doctors from every state in the U.S.

The best opioid addiction treatment has now become more accessible than ever. So what are you waiting for? If you or anyone you know needs help, reach out now at Find a Suboxone Doctors, Clinics, Treatment Centers Near You - Suboxone Doctors Directory! Suboxone doctors in Arkansas will take you through this ordeal and make sure that you reach your happily ever after

#Suboxone doctors in arkansas #opioid addiction treatment in arkansas

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aviewfromthecouchgirl · 6 years

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The Addict’s View

It started with a prescription pad. I was 22 years old, sitting in the neurosurgeon’s office after having dealt with debilitating back pain for the previous few months. I was told I had the spine of an 80 year old, that I had multiple bulging and herniated discs in all levels of my spine, and that surgical intervention would eventually be a necessity. I was given a prescription for a popular opiate, a muscle relaxer, and physical therapy. I thought nothing of it.

Eventually I was moved to the care of a pain management physician who was more than happy to supply me with opiates and back injections. He brushed aside my concern that I was not getting the pain relief I had initially experienced, instead opting to up my dose to the max. He didn’t listen when I said the medicine simply wasn’t working at the prescribed dose. I had developed tolerance, and I felt stuck between a rock and a hard place. After one more attempt at making him understand and perhaps having a medication change I took matters into my own hands. I simply started taking the amount I needed to experience relief instead of the prescribed amount. It was a mistake, one that I would grow to loathe.

Before I knew it I was taking five pain pills at once, and quickly running out of my allotted supply for the month. My body would start to go through withdrawal symptoms until I could get my next script filled. Dope sickness is no joke - I felt like I was dying. Three years after starting pain management I was kicked off my doctor’s service because I failed my drug screen. I was cut off completely, left to suffer the withdrawals on my own. I quickly started doctor shopping in order to get enough pills to get me through.

I did all of this while maintaining a great job and going back to school. I hid my dependency with ease. I was still suffering from crippling pain, but now I had additional pain from stage 4 endometriosis. I had slipped into a deep depression and was routinely experiencing panic attacks, so I justified my pain pill abuse by saying I was coping with physical and emotional pain. I didn’t call myself out for what I was because I never once imagined that I could fall victim to addiction - after all, I was the good Christian girl who had served as a missionary and who was always perfect.

I had to go through chemo for my endometriosis and I developed numerous cysts and kidney stones. It was during one of my ER visits that I was introduced to Dilaudid. The drug was magic - it took away the pain that I had dealt with for years, even if it was just for a moment. By this time I was working as a nurse in the ER - my dream job, in fact. I had great coworkers and supervisors and I felt like my life had purpose. Temptation plagued me daily, as I had virtually unlimited access to controlled substances. Finally, in April of this year the temptation overtook me and I began diverting Dilaudid and morphine from the hospital. When I first started I was simply taking the waste product, but it quickly turned into taking extra vials from the medicine supply. I would get home from work, start an IV on myself, and shoot up. It was sweet relief from the physical and emotional pain that plagued me.

In my head I knew that I had a problem, but I still couldn’t bring myself to say the word. I think I had a little bit of “terminal uniqueness” lingering.

I got caught. I always knew that I would get caught, but I was not strong enough to ask for help before it was too late. I was called into a meeting with hospital HR and my nurse manager, and it was then that I finally was honest with myself and with them that I had a serious problem - I was addicted. I resigned from my dream job, headed home, and attempted to overdose with the drugs I had at my apartment - 14mg of Dilaudid and 50mg of IV Benadryl. I fell asleep hoping I wouldn’t wake up.

Obviously I woke up. I got real with myself in that moment. I had just attempted suicide because I could see no other way in that moment. I was at rock bottom, and it was time to get help. Three days later I was checking in to inpatient rehab, where I would be for the next 45 days. It was overwhelming to start, but I wanted to get help, and that made the difference. While in rehab I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from multiple medical crises.

At the time of writing this I am 72 days clean. I still struggle with daily cravings. They come most frequently when I am in pain and when I am bored, so I have taken up several new hobbies (embroidery, painting, coloring, writing, cooking) to keep my hands busy and my mind occupied. I am also in outpatient therapy three days a week so I can continue to develop coping strategies and work to process through my anxiety and depression. I am going to 12-step meetings and taking things one day at a time.

Why did I tell you all of this? I felt it was important that the addict’s voice finally be heard. I got told multiple times while I was in rehab that I didn’t fit the mold of a drug addict, particularly an IV junkie, but I would argue that in today’s society there is no mold. Addiction is a disease that does not discriminate across gender, racial, social, or cultural boundaries. It can quickly overtake anyone. I also wanted to provide some education regarding addiction as a disease. The addict’s brain gets used to working in an environment of elevated dopamine (the pleasure neurotransmitter) as drugs/alcohol raise the levels to the max. When the substance is clearing out of the body the addict’s brain screams for more, as it has lost its ability to produce dopamine in the amounts to make things enjoyable. This is why addicts fail into deep depression and lose interest in things in which they once found interest. This is why an addict will do illogical insane things to get the next hit or next drink. The addict’s homeostasis is completely dependent on the amount of drug/drink in the body. There is nothing in all of creation that will give the addict the same amount of pleasure that the drug/drink does.

While addicts choose to take the first drink or hit they do not choose to become addicted. Addiction is a disease, an imbalance of neurotransmitters, scientifically proven. I would love to see a world where the stigma of addiction is dropped and people treat addicts the same as they treat diabetics. I would love to see a society that focuses on mental health and celebrates recovery by providing access to treatment. This is possible - it just takes awareness.

I have regret every single day, but I no longer deal with guilt and shame because I have taken the first steps to fight this disease. I am making amends daily, and I am working to take the message to all people, addict and clean alike. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and if you feel led please share so that this message of struggle and hope can make it to those who need it most.

#addiction #opiate #rehab

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economicstuition-blog1 · 6 years

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Economics Tuition in Singapore

A friend of our son economics tuition , William, was on the phone, asking if Will was around. I went into our living room where he was watching television. He appeared to have dozed off. I told his friend I’d have Will him call back. I went back into the living room. Will hadn’t dozed off. He’d overdosed: slumped over, an uncomprehending glaze in his eyes, a needle on the floor at his feet. A frantic 911 call: attempting to revive him, unlocking our front door for the emergency responders, moving him to the floor to better position him, searching for a pulse, all while trying to follow instructions and give a status report to the 911 operator. His heart had stopped by the time EMS arrived.

His heartbeat restored, he was rushed to the hospital. There we spent six weeks at his bedside watching for glimmers of response and waiting for a recovery that never arrived. The time came when we had to accept that, at best, William would be in a persistent vegetative state. Those six weeks left us determined William’s life and death would not be in vain. We opted for organ donation and were with him in the operating room when he was removed from life support. He did not expire within the brief but necessary time frame that allows successful donation.

Our next decision, to make an anatomical donation of William’s body to Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, was praised by the interns and residents who had tended to him. They reassured us there was so much to be learned from such a donation, that he and we would indeed help save the lives of others, perhaps even more lives than via organ transplants

Even that donation was a struggle. We are deeply grateful to the resident who immediately devoted much time and effort to the task of convincing the Medical Examiner’s office no autopsy was necessary, as a donation requires an intact body. The College of Physicians and Surgeons needed some persuasion as well, as the gift of someone so young is rare. First year medical students studying anatomy would find working on a contemporary unsettling.

Whether we were aware of it or not, those six weeks at William’s bedside gave us the chance to weigh the opportunity to do something constructive in relation to the shame and silence the stigma of addiction imposes upon families. As William deteriorated, our thoughts and plans on what to do and how to go about it evolved. A luxury most families of those lost to addiction do not have.

What can we learn from the tragedy of drug deaths? We can begin with clear and precise autopsy reports. In our case an immediate cause was “complications of acute heroin intoxication” due to “acute and chronic substance abuse.” No mystery there. But the language used to describe an opioid death remains the choice of individual physicians. “Narcotics overdose” and “opiate toxicity” are insufficient. We need a consistent, congruent reporting language on a national scale.

What do we do about family doctors and coroners who may do a family a “favor” in obscuring the cause of death? How many “heart failures,” for example, cover up deaths due to drugs—not only of people in their late teens and early twenties, but also elderly people addicted to prescription opioids? The statistics on heroin and opioid deaths are faulty because of reporting that is incomplete, undisclosed, not tracked, or fails to ask the proper questions. The stigma surrounding the disease inhibits an accurate understanding of the scope of the disease. best economics tuition

We need comprehensive reporting on drug deaths. What drug(s) was/were involved? What combinations? What could we learn by asking about a drug user’s use history and medical history prior to his or her death? What collateral complications or causes were involved? Does murdered by a dealer count as a drug death? It happens. We could learn so much if we required not only uniform descriptions for drug deaths, but also a standardized set of comprehensive questions to gather useful information on economics tuition

We don’t need to stop at statistics. What might we learn from standardized autopsies performed on addiction deaths? Is there a place where a family such as ours, inclined to make an anatomical donation, might donate a body specifically for research into addiction. Is there a brain bank devoted to the study of addiction? If so, let people know. If not, why not? We have such banks for sports-related brain injuries and other brain research.

In short, we need to be consistent, congruent, and comprehensive when we talk about addiction deaths. The dead don’t talk much. Or maybe they do and we need to learn to listen better economics tuition

More from Bill Williams at theeconomicstutor.com/

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opioidjusticeteam · 4 years

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Kathy Strain | NAS Client

Kathy Strain, leading opioid abuse activist

There probably aren’t many women in America with a better sense of how many moms are struggling to raise children who were exposed to opioids in the womb – and how little is known about the medical and developmental effects their kids face – than Kathy Strain.

A leading activist in the fight against opioid abuse, the Pennsylvania woman regularly talks with worried moms or family members as a statewide moderator for a popular internet message board called The Addict’s Mom. What she’s learned is that once hospitals send babies home after a few weeks in intensive care to wean them off drug dependency, mothers often remain unaware their children may face long-term difficulties.

“It really is a big group of kids,” said Strain, referring as many as 250,000 children born every year in America with problems related to opioid exposure, “with all of the issues, and nobody knows.” She talks regular to family members who worry about physical symptoms like clenched jaws or grinding teeth, or who face developmental or psychological difficulties such as attention-deficit problems, autism-like symptoms or memory issues.

She sees the current legal actions against America’s biggest pharmaceutical companies, which aggressively marketed these addictive painkillers, as a way to get what these children are lacking: Long-term medical monitoring that will both help doctors learn more about the lingering effects of opioid exposure and aid kids in getting better treatment.

“We owe it to these kids — and future generations – to develop a tracking system and to study and see why developmental delays and defects may be happening with these children,” said Strain. Strain has been asking the hard questions about the opioid crisis in America ever since early in the 2010s, when two of her children became dependent upon the drugs, including her son who eventually died from an overdose while seeking treatment. At first, she said she struggled to focus at work – losing her job and going on unemployment for a time. But eventually she learned to channel some of the pain she experienced into helping others.

Strain, who lives in Berks County about an hour west of Philadelphia, overcame her fears of public speaking when the county asked her to give a talk about the opioid crisis. “I didn’t want any family to experience the shame and the stigma that I’d felt,” she said.

After signing up as a volunteer coach with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, she became a moderator with The Addict’s Mom – which maintains highly active websites in all 50 states – and a local leader with Not One More, a family support group. She also now works for the state of Pennsylvania in a program aimed at ending drug abuse in the workplace, and recently appeared in an ad for the Stop Opioid Silence campaign.

Today, Strain says there is still so much work to be done to educate both would-be mothers and their doctors about the risks.

“Women in that age group where they could conceive need to be made aware of the danger,” she said. “That wasn’t happening, and I don’t know that that’s happening now.”

The post Kathy Strain | NAS Client appeared first on Opioid Justice Team.

from Opioid Justice Team https://opioidjusticeteam.com/client-stories-nas-kathy-strain/

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