Pregnant women addicted to drugs harm their unborn babies.

The American Academy of Pediatrics released a new report about the guidelines of neonatal withdrawal due to the enormous increase of both illicit and prescription drug abuse by pregnant women. Dr. Mark Hudak, professor of pediatrics at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Jacksonville, Florida states, “There has been a 25% increase in the neonatal intensive care unit for babies being treated for withdrawal symptoms.”

Alcohol and drug consumption is dangerous and can be extremely damaging to an unborn baby. Once born, the addicted baby exhibits irritability, poor sucking, tremors, seizures, diarrhea, vomiting and shrill crying. There are risks associated with withdrawal, permanent defects, learning disabilities and/or processing problems. Addicted women who are pregnant should seek immediate addiction treatment to decrease the risk involved with pregnancy and addiction.

Forgiveness can help you with recovery.

If you really think about it, it is the lack of respect, love, or feeling unaccepted that are the sources of our anger. So many people believe forgiveness means ‘forgive and forget’, but this is untrue. Forgiveness does not mean that you should allow people to treat you poorly. We must have healthy boundaries when we forgive to protect us from being vulnerable to the same type of treatment that made us angry in the first place. But how do you forgive?

Forgiveness is something that you do for yourself, not for the other person. When we hold a grudge or anger towards another person, right or wrong, it festers within us. That festering event, feeling or thought continues to rent space in our head for free. It only harms us and the other person remains unaffected. You have a right to feel the way you do, but walking around with it is not helpful especially in a recovery program. Stop waiting for them to apologize. Forgiveness is an active decision to free your mind from holding the resentment and to move forward.

When you forgive, set healthy boundaries. Just because you forgive someone does not mean you can have the same exact relationship with them. You will have to protect yourself by not placing yourself in situations to be hurt again. The ability to forgive is a skill that will need practice and gets easier with time.

Kids of crack addicts likely to develop drug addiction.

Findings suggested that although there are the same brain abnormalities in siblings, some developed addiction while the others did not. Addiction is always a combination of nature and nurture, which this study confirms. Further research will be done to examine factors contributing to why some siblings were able to avoid developing addiction, while others were not.

This would give the research and treatment community a better idea of how to work prevention programs for our youth. Knowing that your kids don’t have to develop the same disease of addiction despite statistics is a great feeling.

Mark Suppelsa announces he struggles with alcohol addiction.

Mark Suppelsa, WGN Channel 9’s evening news anchor, is going to an alcohol addiction treatment program for his alcohol abuse. Suppelsa reports that he has been using alcohol in the evening after his wife and kids went to bed. He has been able to manage as a functioning alcoholic thus far and now has decided that it is time for him to get treatment. It is unknown what may have led to this decision, however it is courageous of him to announce that he struggles with alcohol and will be going for addiction treatment.

Like many alcoholics, Suppelsa was still functioning: Working full time, providing for his family, and keeping up appearances. The inner turmoil of an alcoholic is unknown to the outside world and the presentation of functioning fools everyone, at least for a period of time. The pain and desire to escape is so overwhelming that drinking alone sounds appealing to get some sort of relief at the end of the day. Suppelsa learned that drinking for relief rather than addressing underlying issues was not the answer.
It is extremely commendatory that Suppelsa has decided to enter alcohol rehab. Not all alcoholics have to hit a low bottom in order to look to do something different. Alcoholism, like drug addiction, is a lonely disease and eventually you will lose everything. Addiction treatment is encouraged and the sooner the better. Learning to manage uncomfortable feelings without the use of drugs and alcohol is essential for staying sober.

Would you ever suspect the elderly dealing drugs?

ABC news published a report about an elderly woman who was arrested for being the operator of a mass drug ring. She was dealing marijuana and was busted with $276,000 in cash and 4 pounds of marijuana in her home.

CBS reports another elderly woman who was arrested for drug dealing her pain pills. The officer in this story reports that the elderly get $10 per pill which helps supplement low income social security.

Overseas, in South Africa, a 90 year old woman was arrested after police raided her home and found 80 kilos of cannabis. The police at the scene described her appearance as a little old angelic lady sent from heaven above.

Some reasons for this epidemic can include:

Young drug dealers have aged.

1. The elderly have no money to actually live.
2. This population is being taken advantage of and is a front for younger drug dealers.

No matter what the reason is, the stories continue to grow. Maybe our nursing homes, elderly community groups and doctors should be addressing addiction issues regularly. So much of our society focuses on the younger generation preventing drug addiction or getting recovery. It seems that we have the tendency to overlook the elderly, which is a contributing factor to them being able to fly under the radar. Stories like the ones above will continue to shed light on an otherwise untouched issue.

Partying during Cinco de Mayo may cause an addict to relapse.

One triumphant day, 150 years ago, is now considered a Mexican St. Patrick’s Day, filled with alcohol use at the forefront of the celebration. With increased alcohol abuse, there is an increased police presence to protect others from those who will be driving drunk this Saturday. In 2011, Arizona police arrested 101 people for DUIs during the weekend of Cinco de Mayo.

The stats surrounding Cinco de Mayo DUIs in Arizona are similar across the United States. This holiday is on the radar for police officers, drug rehab programs, and recovering addicts. An individual’s judgment is inhibited when using alcohol. Increased consequences occur as a direct result, making Cinco de Mayo a trigger for addicts in recovery.

Stay clean this weekend. Use relapse prevention techniques for unwanted feelings related to old memories during this holiday. If you find yourself struggling, call other people in the fellowship of recovery that will be able to support you through this time. Plan a sober way to spend holidays and stay one step ahead of the disease of addiction.

Lisa Marie Presley Lost Her Father at Age 8

Elvis Presley died in August of 1977 leaving behind his 8 year old daughter, Lisa Marie. Presley is most widely recognized for his music, charisma and selfless acts; unfortunately he also had a publicized drug related problem. His drug addiction complicated his medical issues which ended his life prematurely. This had a negative impact on his fans, family and especially his daughter, Lisa Marie.

Lisa Marie Presley recently gave an interview in Elle magazine describing her father dying when she was 8 years old and the devastation she felt. She describes growing up under a microscope and having her failed relationships and issues with drug addiction made public. She also spoke about a haunting feeling of ‘being dead at the age of 42’ as she believed she would not live longer than her father. Fortunately, she has now succeeded in living longer than Elvis Presley and now as a mature adult, is able to reflect on her past mistakes with more insight.

A father-daughter relationship is irreplaceable and it seems Presley had to discover for herself that drugs, alcohol and men would not replace what was taken from her at such a young age. Many times addicts will look for love in all the wrong places hoping to fill the void. When the void is being filled by the wrong things, the fix is a temporary feeling. In this type of situation, it is important for addicts to resolve the void feeling in a healthy way to end the self-destructive behavioral patterns.

Presley finishes discussing her father by remarking how emotional she gets because he was robbed of meeting her husband and children.

The elderly can be affected by prescription drug addiction.

Prescription Drug Addiction and the elderly seem to be overlooked in our society. My grandmother died of pulmonary fibrosis, however, before this diagnosis, the doctor kept giving her codeine cough syrup and Xanax for her chronic cough. She went misdiagnosed until 8 months before her death. Once her disease had progressed, she was in and out of the emergency room and would not stay more than one night in the hospital. This was because the doctors would not give her Xanax and the cough syrup she was prescribed. She would often tell my mother and her siblings to bring her medicine from home and became upset with them when they listened to the doctors instead of her.

I am pretty sure that after 24 hours without Xanax and codeine cough syrup my grandmother was going into withdrawal. Unfortunately, withdrawal was overlooked by the doctors, and just chalked up to an irritable old lady with a terminal illness. I believe this happens more often but continues to go unreported due to the lack of knowledge about the elderly and addiction. My grandmother was not your stereotypical addict but her body became dependent on benzodiazepines and opiates as a result of following her primary doctor’s orders. She displayed addictive behaviors only after tolerance and withdrawal were present.

The elderly and addiction seems to be a growing problem whether they have become old in their disease of addiction or developed it later on in their life. As their loved ones, we must stay informed about this issue to protect them.

Methamphetamine Addiction is Worldwide

Methamphetamine continues to surface in the news around the world. Many different countries are struggling at attempting to control the manufacturing and selling of meth. Recently in Mexico City, soldiers found 15 tons of methamphetamine, which in America would retail for $100 per gram. Meth production crackdowns in America and China may have contributed to Mexico’s increase in meth labs.

China and America have attempted to put more rules and restrictions on meth ingredients and internet retailers. Canada has made it illegal to possess or import anything related to meth production. In 2005, Mexican law implemented that pseudoephedrine and ephedrine would be illegal; however, meth makers have found ways to supplement ingredients to avoid breaking the law in their country. This alteration has made making meth even cheaper.

Below is a list of countries and facts regarding methamphetamine production:

1. In South Korea, more than 90% of addicts who are seeking treatment are adducted to meth.
2. In 2009, Indonesia authorities found 35 synthetic-drug labs.
3. In South East Asia, meth related arrests more than tripled from 2004-2009.
4. In the Czech Republic, police shut down 300-400 meth laboratories per year.

With all of the risks that we have seen on the news involved with meth lab explosions and fires, this drug seems to keep a hold on the user despite the devastation it creates. In addition, meth addiction has grown in overwhelming rates around the world, creating a path of destruction on society.

Source: The Economist (March 24, 2012)

Codeine/Iodine and Oil Mixture “Krokodil”

Addicts in Russia have become desperate to achieve the heroin high in the midst of the rise in the price of heroin. Heroin addicts have found that the simple mixing of codeine with some household items such as iodine and industrial cleaning oil combined create a poor substitute for the heroin rush.

This synthetic heroin is known as Krokodil, “the poor man’s drug”, and it is extremely addictive. It is more potent than heroin and is a poison which causes your flesh to rot and fall off exposing bone. The negative impact of this drug happens almost immediately and the smell of iodine on Krokodil addict’s clothing is overwhelming.

Krokodil addicts are using this drug despite the negative effects. Krokodil is more difficult to kick than heroin and produces devastating withdrawal symptoms. The pain symptoms of withdrawal can last up to one month and then the addict must deal with the disfigurement issues that the drug produces.