Action is needed today on the Addiction epidemic

Addiction is killing our youth and adults more so today than ever before. Chris Christie is back working with Trump to take on the opiate epidemic. Click here for more news on today's discussion. 

Addiction Resources

Click on the Image for Addiction Resources

Relapse is similar to Chronic Disease.....

Relapse with addiction is similar to other chronic diseases and here is why

Just as a CHF exacerbation can be triggered by too much fluid, or a person with diabetes can have a reaction if they eat too much sugar, a drug addict can be triggered to return to drug abuse. With other chronic diseases, here relapse serves as a signal for returning to treatment. The same response is just as necessary with drug addiction. As a chronic, recurring illness, addiction may require repeated treatments until abstinence is achieved. Like other diseases, including COPD, drug addiction can be effectively treated and managed, leading to a healthy and productive life. However, to achieve long-term recovery, treatment must address specific, individual patient needs and must take the whole person into account. You cannot simply get a person off of drugs but you have to address each physical, social and psychological change that has taken place in order to help people stay away from drugs for good.

Addiction....A Disease

Similar to other chronic, relapsing diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, drug addiction can be managed successfully. And as with other chronic diseases, it is not uncommon for a person to relapse and begin abusing drugs again.

Relapse, however, does not signal treatment failure—rather, it indicates that treatment should be reinstated or adjusted or that an alternative treatment is needed to help the individual regain control and recover.

12 Reasons Teens Use Prescription Drugs

Addiction

People who are addicted to...

Alcohol are 2 times more likely to become addicted to heroin.

Marijuana are 3 times more likely to become addicted to heroin.

Cocaine are 15 times more likely to become addicted to heroin..

Prescription opioid painkillers are 40 times more likely to become addicted to heroin.

SOURCE: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2011-2013.

Suboxone Clinics for Detox from opiates

Here is a general list of suboxone clinics I have mapped out on Long Island. If you are a provider and wish to be listed, contact me.

View Suboxone Clinics on Long Island in a full screen map

Addiction Detox Facilities

Here is a list of facilities I have mapped out. I hope you find this helpful.



View Addiction Facilities Detox in a full screen map

Tolerance

You have been taking x amount of drug x over a certain amount of time and pleasure decreases or plateaus, in order to get same pleasurable sensation, or experience you must take more or escalating dosages.

Suboxone Treatment in Long Island

Name	Address	City	State	Zip	Phone	Url
Alternatives Counseling Services, Inc	540 East Main Street	Riverhead	NY	11901	(631) 369-1200
Alternatives Counseling Services, Inc	291 Hampton Road	South Hampton	NY	11968	(631) 283-4440
Brookhaven Memorial Hospital/Medical Center	365 East Main Street	Patchogue	NY	11772	(631) 854-1222
Brookhaven Memorial Hospital/Medical Center	550 Montauk Hwy	Shirley	NY	11967	(631) 852-1070
Hope For Youth, Inc.	201 Dixon Avenue	Amityville	NY	11701	(631) 842-7900 X6523	http://www.hfyny.org/
Outreach Development Corporation	11 Farber Drive	Bellport	NY	11713	(631) 286-0700	http://www.opiny.org/
The Pederson-Krag Center, Inc	55 Horizon Drive	Huntington	NY	11743	(631) 920-8000	http://www.pederson-krag.org/
The Pederson-Krag Center, Inc	11 Route 111	Smithtown	NY	11787	(631) 920-8300	http://www.pederson-krag.org/
The Pederson-Krag Center, Inc	240 Long Island Avenue	Wyandanch	NY	11799	631) 920-8042	http://www.pederson-krag.org/
Seafield Center	7 Seafield Ln	Westhampton Beach,	NY	11978	(631) 288-1122	http://www.seafieldcenter.com/%20Seafield/index.cfm
Hauppauge Intake and Maintenance Program	200 Wireless Blvd.	Hauppauge	NY	11788	(631) 853-7373

Addiction: A devastating Cycle

Hotlines for Addiction, Protective Services and more

Name	Phone Number
Adult Protective Services	(631) 853-2236
Birthright of Nassau/Suffolk Hotline	(800) 550-4900
Brookhaven Sanctuary	(631) 451-8011
CDC National Aids Hotline	(800) 342-2437
Child Find of America	(800) 426-5678
Child Protective Services	(800) 342-3720
Fathers Rights Association	(516) 783-1636
Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Hotline	(888) 843-4564
Girls and Boys Town National Hotline	(800) 448-3000
Huntington Sanctuary Program	(631) 271-2183
Huntington Hotline	(631) 549-8700
Islip Town Runaway Program	(631) 665-1173
Mental Health Emergency Hotline	(631) 952-3333
Nassau-Suffolk Emergency Psychiatric Hotline	(631) 952-3333
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children	(800) 843-5678
NYS OASAS Helpline	(877) 8-HOPENY
Parental Stress Helpline	(800) 367-2543
Runaway Hotline	(800) 621-4000
Stony Brook Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP)	(631) 444-6050
Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic Violence	(631) 666-8833
Suffolk County Women’s Services	(631) 853-8222
Tough Love	(800) 333-1069
Victims Information Bureau (VIBS)	(631) 360-3606
Youth Talkline	(800) 246-7743
Islip Hotline	(631) 277-4700
Response Hotline	(631) 751-7500

You Probably Know Someone...

Specifically, what can this blog do to help readers and their needs?

I know families, friends, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives who are facing the devastating effects of opioids. With the ability to change the mental and physical chemicals in the human brain. Opioids have the ability to run or take control of individuals and their families in ways which were once thought was not possible. Your "standard" addict is obviously not your IV heroin abuser, but includes every and all persons of varied occupations, incomes, groups.

Pain pills are highly accessible for one thing and as we see their price increasing, the price of heroin a much faster acting and dirtier drug is often combined with other drugs. Unfortunately, these and other drugs of abuse are landing many of our loved ones in Emergency Rooms with Overdoses and often death. If those reading this blog think that individual who have drug dependence want to continue living their lives that way, I have news for you, they don't, many of them are embarrassed and it is one of the toughest illnesses to battle.

The fight is just beginning and we need to continue to fight. If you know someone that needs help, then help them. .

Think Twice when the Doctor hands you some pills

Some may not know why addiction to opiates is so strong and why people continue to use despite the negative attention they draw and negative effects its use has on their many aspects of life.

The analgesic (painkiller) effects of opioids are a function of reduced perception of pain, decreased reaction to pain and an increase in tolerance to pain.

Side effects of Opioids include but are not limited to euphoria, constipation, sedation, respiratory depression and more effects.

Repeated doses of opiates at no specific frequency or time (as everyone is different) can lead to drug tolerance.  Essentially, there is decrease in pharmacologic response following repeated or prolonged drug administration.

This essentially means the patient has to take higher dosages to achieve an effect which is in all likelihood far above the current level of tolerance. I will not go into the in-depth pharmacokinetics of tolerance but I will help you to understand the behavioral effects associated with opioid tolerance.

At some point the body becomes physical and mentally addicted. This is a point at which not only will the body not have the same analgesic relief it did on a previous low dose, but now if the patient stops the medication he or she may experience flu like symptoms including rhinorrhea, body aches, chills, sweats, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting to name a few. Often time individuals do not want to stop using drugs because of this horrible withdrawal syndrome.  You can count on being out of work a few days with these symptoms.

Opiates principally act on the central and peripheral nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract and so much of the side effects surround these symptoms and do the withdrawal symptoms.

At this day and age we are losing so many young and old patients losing their lives from opioids. Opioids have been easy to obtain as more pills than ever are being prescribed. With increasing street prices seen for such medicines as hydrocodone. Many have begun to seek and use heroin as it is quite a bit cheaper, however laced with bad and deadly other substances.

The ultimate goal is to get your loved one to find a practice and doctor first, stop using drugs and initiate treatment. Certain Steps are important as addiction surrounds and involves social, work and home life. Patients need to see a therapist, get rid of all paraphernalia and get rid of any phone numbers or reminders of the past practices.

The initial goal is to change the behavior of the patient (get used to living normal) but long term the goal is not to be on any treatment and able to remain opioid drug free without any crutch. Here is some anecdotal l information we have found from patients. 

Drug Dependence and the stigmata

Do you know how frustrating it is to chase after something you will never catch and hold on too? You continue to spend money during this rampage for something that will only last so shortly. The results are far more devastating to the  individuals and his or her family than you could ever imagine. A roller coaster ride filled with highs and lows,  maltreatment of loved ones and self. Relationships are no more as trust has wasted. You soon run out of money to find  yourslef selling your personal items or even self for this one high. You find yourself in legal trouble, you lose your  license. You think life is over don't you? What is your idea of what this individual looks like? or what job they have or don't have? What type of person is this?

This individual can be you, me, a banker, executive, doctor, nurse, lawyer, homeless person, bottom line is it can be anyone from anywhere no matter who or where they come from. Addiction doesn't know class, race or religion.

People addicted to pain pills DO NOT want to live this way, would you? You have 3-4 kids, a family, great job and you find yourself developing tolerance for pain pills prescribed for your bad back pain. Of course you weren't told by your doctor that these medications are so addictive that it could ruin your life and your families life! The doctor just kept prescribing you the pills because when patients go to doctors we expect something in return for our visit and often times payment of a "copay".

What people don't realize is that there is a huge stigma on patients suffering opioid addiction and they don't want to seek help because they fear what people will say and or do. Patients with addiction are often treated differently by the doctors they see in an emergency, nurses, and pharmacists. TO many, they are seen as drug addicts. To me I see them as a person whos mind and body was suseptible to a chemical which is additive and tried to ruin their life.

Addiction Treatment Map of Resources

An addiction treatment map created using Google Maps.

Recovery Resources

I came across this site which provides recovery resources by State. The site allows you to search by Substance, Specialty and Financial and Resource Type.

Click Here to go to Resource

Deaths from Opiates in Rhode Island

Four more people have died of suspected drug overdoses in Rhode Island in the last week, bringing the total this year to 49, according to the state health director last Wednesday. The number of people who have died of accidental overdoses in the first eight weeks of 2014 is about 2 X the normal rate. Overdose deaths have been associated with fentanyl mixed with heroin. In Rhode Island in 2009-2010 most deaths from accidental drug overdose were Men between the ages of 40-49. In 2011 Men between ages of 50-59. In Rhode Island in 2009-2012 deaths from accidental overdose was more common among Women  between the ages of 50-59. According to data most have been associated with opioids alone and not alcoholic. Fatal overdoses from prescription painkillers have reached epidemic proportions, according to a new report from the CDC. In 2008, the report showed, drugs like OxyContin and Vicodin claimed almost 5,000 lives. That's almost three times as many lives as in 1999, the Associated Press reported. Fatal overdoses are especially common among middle-aged men, whites, and American Indians, according to reports

  News, Weather and Classifieds for Southern New England

Don't Judge them, they don't want to be that way either.

When I say don't judge them I am speaking of patients that may come into the hospital or office who seem to have an addiction to opiates for example. This terrible drug is affecting our youth, teenagers, adolescents and even adults. What we have seen in society is a drastic change in the price of drugs.

You can find that the Extra Strength Vicodin goes for about $5.00 per pill in Wisconsin. Oxycontin 45 MG for $65.

In one day a a young child or adolesent may spend 100-200/drugs. Simultaneoiusly they are ruining their body and hope of getting better, digging deeper into depression as they feel hopeless in a rollercoaster ride through hell. But honestly they don't want all this to go on. They want to feel normal, they want to have friends, they want to have back there trusting parents. They want to again enjoy the hobbies and activities they used to enjoy.

However it isn't easy for them. They are addicted to a drug and just as addicting smoking is that you can't stop addiction to opioids is probably worse. There is a physical dependence and a mental dependence.

There are multiple choices for treatment including outpatient care programs and inpatient detoxes. Despite having gone through detox many of these patients are just going to turn around and pick up again as they are again exposed to the same individuals they were connected with previously, lack self esteem and it is easier for them to say yes than to say no.

People need not judge these individuals, but help them. Think for example where many of these opiate addicted patients first built up this tolerance and dependence? It many times than not from their Orthopedic Surgeon or primary care doctor. They didn't have good followup and doctors lack knowledge of side effects of opioids and the damaging effects it may have on the lives of its victims, patients and families. There is hope though. There is alot of help out there. Good Bless you if you are struggleing.