Thursday, October 26, 2017
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Monday, September 14, 2015
Ohio family poses with dead dad to warn about drug addiction - NY Daily News
It is not the best delivery of the message, by posing with your children smiling with your loved one that lost their life to drug addiction, but the story is interesting to read. Hopefully the real message of how tragic addiction is, will prevail over the bizarre "family portrait."
Ohio family poses with dead dad to warn about drug addiction - NY Daily News
Ohio family poses with dead dad to warn about drug addiction - NY Daily News
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Thursday, January 15, 2015
What This 20-Year Study on Marijuana Use Means for the Pot Market | Money.com
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| English: Close up shot of some high quality marijuana. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
What This 20-Year Study on Marijuana Use Means for the Pot Market | Money.com
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashians Marriage Troubles Due to Addiction
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| IMG_4454.jpg (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Cocaine is a devastating addiction and can be very difficult to overcome.
Unless the addict wants to fight for their life loved ones will be fighting an uphill battle trying to win the battle for them. If you are someone you know is battling Cocaine, see this link for me information:
Cocaine and Crack Information.
Update: Latest rumors indicate that it may not be cocaine that has the football player addicted, citing that the basketball reality star would not be able to pass drug tests if on Cocaine, however, there is suspicion the addiction could be for the painkiller Oxycontin. If you are or know someone addicted to Oxycontin, you may want to see this information:
Oxycontin Information
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Ozzy Osbourne still fighting drugs and alcohol
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| Ozzy Osbourne (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
This family certainly has had its recent problems but all the money and success are no guarantee that sobriety lasts forever.
What does need to last forever is the determination and commitment to get back on the sober path of the addict. Amid recent rumors that Sharon was divorcing Ozzy Osbourne, Ozzy publicly stated that he was sorry to his family for his recent relapse and made sure he set the record straight that he and his wife Sharon Osbourne were not "divorcing."
We wish him success in his efforts and may his family receive continued support along the way to help them too.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Drug overdose not the cause of Sage Stallone's death
66ème Festival du Cinéma de Venise (Mostra), 11ème jour (12/09/2009) Tapis rouge pour la soirée de cloture du Festival de Venise 2009 Sylvester Stallone (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Sage Stallone,36 , son of actor Sylvester Stallone was found dead in his home by an employee in July of this year. There was much speculation as to the cause of his untimely death, including some assertions that painkillers were the cause of the death. However, LA Coroner officials have stated that the cause of death was natural, and that there were only minute traces of hydrocodone in his system.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
A&E's 'Billy the Exterminator' caught with synthetic marijuana
English: Leaf of Cannabis עברית: עלה של קנביס (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Billy Bretherton of A & E's 'Billy the Exterminator' was found along with wife Mary Bretherton to be in possession of synthetic marijuana at a local hotel this past June. Reports indicate that the police were responding to a 911 call supposedly made from the room the couple were in.
Bretherton and his wife Mary were issued arrest warrants after police searched the hotel room and discovered synthetic marijuana and marijuana smoking paraphernalia in the room .
Synthetic marijuana was first introduced in the US in 2008. While claiming to be a safe alternative to the actual natural version, synthetic marijuana has chemicals that are regarded as dangerous. Both Bretherton and his wife have pleaded not guilty and posted a $6000.00 bail each.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Sage Stallone: Could he have overdosed on prescription pain killers?
 English: Actor Sylvester Stallone - 66th Venice International Film Festival. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
| Stallone in happier times |
Hints as to the possible cause of the death of Sylvester Stallone's son Sage Stallone have been directed to the recent use of pain killers by the deceased. Reports indicate that Sage Stallone had undergone recent dental work, including multiple tooth extractions. His mother, Sasha Czack stated that her son had been in a lot of pain.
The LA Times also reported that there were a lot of empty bottles of powerful pain killers located inside Stallone's home. There were enough empty pill bottles to warrant an investigation by the LA Robbery and Homicide Division. An autopsy was performed on Sunday, however the coroners office is still waiting for results from the toxicology report.
Prescription pain killers are just as dangerous as any street drugs, and just as deadly. Many times the wealthy have access to far more prescription medications than the average person does and as such many succumb to either addiction or an untimely death. Taking strong painkillers can result in respiratory failure, and coronary failure. We have seen this time and time again with celebrities.
The are many representatives speaking on behalf of the Stallone camp insisting that the young Stallone did not drink, or do any drugs. This may suggest that suddenly taking copious amounts of prescription pain medication when the body has no resistance can be even more deadly.
It is interesting that celebrities spend a lot of time and money on political causes etc. but you rarely hear or see any well known, high profile celebrities addressing drug abuse. When you consider how many of their comrades fall to this deadly problem, it seems shocking to see so little awareness and recognition being addressed by the celebrity community. How many more have to die before celebs decide this is a worthy cause?
Monday, June 18, 2012
Rodney King found dead in pool
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 30: Rodney King arrives at EsoWon bookstore to sign copies of his new book, 'The Riot Within: My Journey From Rebellion to Redemption,' on April 30, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. King is best known as the victim of a brutal police beating that took place in Los Angeles. It’s been 20 years since the Rodney King verdict that sparked infamous L.A. Riots. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)Many of us remember Rodney King when he first gained notoriety in 1991 as a victim of a beating by LA police officers which set off a huge race riot after the officers were acquitted. The beating was caught on tape and aired all across the nation. He was in the public eye off and on battling a well known drug and alcohol addiction and was a patient on the wildly popular show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. In an interview King was reported to have stated "your disease will creep up on you.."
King's fiance Cynthia Kelley stated that King had been drinking and smoking weed all the previous day prior to her discovering his naked body in the swimming pool of their Rialto home. Kelley stated that she had gone to bed at around 2 am and was abruptly awakened by King screaming in their backyard and beating on the glass of their home. After asking King what was wrong, Kelley reported that shortly after she heard a splash in the backyard. It was then that she went to investigate, that she found King at the bottom of the pool.
Rehab is not a permanent solution, it is the beginning of a solution. Many addicts have to stay active in their recovery and never take their sobriety for granted.
An autopsy is scheduled to take place on King Monday. This is an unfortunate end to a person that obviously faced many struggles in life only to succumb to them in this most tragic of ways.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Could your depressed teen turn to drugs?
A NIDA educational pamphlet. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)If you have a teenager that is struggling with depression, be forewarned there is a good chance your teen could seek drug use as a means to self medicate. While some parents may believe alcohol consumption and drugs are a rite of passage for many teenagers, those teens that suffer from mental distress are more likely to become addicted to alcohol and mood altering drugs. Once these drugs are used there is a great risk of a lifelong addiction.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is an old saying that rings true with depression, teens and drug use. If you notice that your teen is showing signs of depression the sooner you get them treated by a qualified medical professional the better your chances will be at steering your teen away from drug abuse and a lifelong drug dependency on alcohol and other drugs.
Become educated with the reality of depression and do not assume your teens prolonged depression is something your teen can just "snap out of." Clinical Depression is an illness of the brain that is measurable and usually the result of factors like heredity, chemical imbalances and childhood trauma.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
New one month shot for addiction approved by the FDA, shows promise
Logo of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2006) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) This is a once a month shot that is reported to be a great help to those addicts currently struggling with various addictions. The drug is also available as a 6 month implant for a latter phase in the overall treatment of the addict.
The name of the drug is called Vivitrol and reportedly assists an addict by blocking the “high” the user gets if they have a relapse. This is particularly good news for those who have a high risk of relapse due to being unable to remove themselves entirely from former triggers that often are responsible for relapse.
The drug was tested years ago in a pill form with no real measurable success due to the fact the users were not remembering, or opting not to take the pill. This caused scientists to go back to the drawing board to find a better alternative. Alkermis, Inc. created a longer lasting version to the original pill. A recent study tested this new approach on over 200 opioid addicts in Russia and results revealed that over half of the participants stuck with the therapy during the 6 month trial.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Actor/Comedian Russell Brand speaks to British Government on drug addiction
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| Russell Brand (Image via RottenTomatoes.com) |
While many celebrities battle addiction with a public sometimes only hearing about their problem after they are deceased, some like Russell Brand do come forward and share their insights. Tuesday,
Russell Brand told the British government his thoughts and feelings on addiction. As a former heroin addict that has been arrested numerous times, Brand stated that addiction should not be treated as a criminal issue but as an illness.
Citing psychological, spiritual and emotional problems as the cause for his own addiction, Brand pressed the issue that once a person is an addict the “status” of the drug is irrelevant to the user and that the only real help is “abstinence-based treatments” for addicts. "If you have the illness or disease of addiction or alcoholism, the best way to tackle it is not use drugs in any form whether it's state-sponsored opus like methadone or illegal street drugs," Brand said.
Whether you're a fan of Russell Brand
or not it is very hard to argue the logic behind his words and the
fact that he is stepping forward to try and effect positive change
for addiction is always a good and needed thing.
Celebrities are not
obliged to come forward and tell their story, nor are they obliged to
go to the government on their own time to help with the problem of
addiction. When they use their celebrity status in a positive way, we
as a society should always be happy to listen, Kudos to Mr. Brand. We
appreciate your coming forward and sharing your personal stories and
insights. Those who have been addicted are the best ones to help find
the answers. Their perspective is a true one based on experience, and
their on going efforts to be sober are an inspiration to those hoping
to one day, be on that side of the fence again..living sober.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Long term recovery for addicts
It's about getting through today....
There are many milestones in addiction. It may be easy to become overwhelmed when an addict in recovery looks at life without addiction for days, weeks, months and years. However, the best way to deal with sobriety is to worry about today.
That doesn't mean forgetting about your struggle, or that there won't be challenges ahead, but getting through one day at a time, is the big achievement for an addict in recovery. Don't get caught up in the the fact that you are giving up your 3 six packs a day of beer, or your "x" amount of hits a day. All you have to do is stay clean "today."
It may seem over-simplified, but that is the goal. At the end of each day, you've survived, and you did it, one step at a time, which is better than never taking any steps at all.
Families, keep your addicted loved one that is in recovery focused on getting through each day, not the week or the month of the year. Focus on the now. Today they are sober, when tomorrow comes, we start again, and the longer you stay sober, the better your chances are at a full and long sober life.
One thing that also bears mentioning. Many addicts don't realize just how quickly the quality of their life starts changing once they become clean and sober.
True story: A crack addict and alcoholic went into treatment. Within two weeks of exiting treatment was able to purchase a new truck, return to work, and within two years bought a new home.
Now this may not be typical for everyone, but it just goes to show how fast your life can improve when you are able to look at it clean.
The biggest gift of staying clean is that you family can finally love you, and you can receive and feel it. You're no longer a slave to the craving, and you can feel again.
There are many milestones in addiction. It may be easy to become overwhelmed when an addict in recovery looks at life without addiction for days, weeks, months and years. However, the best way to deal with sobriety is to worry about today.That doesn't mean forgetting about your struggle, or that there won't be challenges ahead, but getting through one day at a time, is the big achievement for an addict in recovery. Don't get caught up in the the fact that you are giving up your 3 six packs a day of beer, or your "x" amount of hits a day. All you have to do is stay clean "today."
It may seem over-simplified, but that is the goal. At the end of each day, you've survived, and you did it, one step at a time, which is better than never taking any steps at all.
Families, keep your addicted loved one that is in recovery focused on getting through each day, not the week or the month of the year. Focus on the now. Today they are sober, when tomorrow comes, we start again, and the longer you stay sober, the better your chances are at a full and long sober life.
One thing that also bears mentioning. Many addicts don't realize just how quickly the quality of their life starts changing once they become clean and sober.
True story: A crack addict and alcoholic went into treatment. Within two weeks of exiting treatment was able to purchase a new truck, return to work, and within two years bought a new home.
Now this may not be typical for everyone, but it just goes to show how fast your life can improve when you are able to look at it clean.
The biggest gift of staying clean is that you family can finally love you, and you can receive and feel it. You're no longer a slave to the craving, and you can feel again.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
The mystery of Whitney Houstons death
Whitney Houston talking to the audience before proceeding to perform "Saving All My Love for You" during the HBO-televised concert "Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston" honoring the troops, who took part in Operation Desert Storm, their families, and military and government dignitaries. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)There have been rumors circulating and many fans of the late singer have questioned the coroners findings with regards to what exactly killed Whitney. Many forums discussing her death seem to have fans in confusion about how she could have drowned from Cocaine, stating that Cocaine doesn't make a user drowsy.Here's some interesting things to consider:
Cocaine if taken in small doses will not necessarily make one hyperactive and super alert but can induce calmness. If Houston had take a small amount prior to bathing it may, along with the other sedative like substances may have made her drowsy.
Cocaine, depending on how it is taken will remain in the body for different amounts of time. We do not know when the Cocaine was taken by Ms. Houston. The coroner said just prior to her drowning.
Cocaine can cause sudden death, by constricting the blood vessels in the heart. If one has blocked arteries and experiences rapid palpitations caused by the Cocaine, the heart can suddenly stop or slow down and cause unconsciousness. Ms. Houston reportedly had 60 percent narrowing of her arteries.
Ms. Houston may not have had the strength or may have been unconscious but still breathing when she slipped beneath the surface of the water when her heart started going into cardiac arrest. (These are just theories)
Here are some concerns and questions:
How long was Ms. Houston alone in the bathroom?
Why did her staff forbid her to take baths? I suspect she has had a near drowning event before, perhaps from the same drugs.
Some reports indicate Ms. Houston was found face down. She may have tried to pull herself up and out of the tub, but lost consciousness doing so, slumping forward..
Ms. Houston did have Cocaine in her system, who knew, who bought it for her, who sold it to her? Most addicts can not hide an addiction for long from those around her and many famous addicts have someone to purchase or secure their drugs for them.
Did Ms. Houston do the drugs somewhere else? There was no sign of the drug in her home at the time of her death.
Why was Ms. Houston not still in treatment? She had other drugs in her system, which may have been legal but this does not mean she as an addicted was supposed to be on them.
What the reader must take away from this death
Ms. Houston was clearly still an addict, not in recovery. She ultimately died as a result of a relapse assuming she had been sober at all since her last treatment. She may have rolled the dice one time too many, as most addicts that have been in treatment are well educated as to what drugs can and will do to them on any given day. Addicts are told any amount is a no no, any drug is a no no.
She was well informed. She was an addict that needed to be in treatment, not going to Grammy Awards. She was a singer in trouble, and it is hard to believe, her boyfriend, staff and family members were unaware of her still using. Very hard to believe. A long time addict remains under suspicion for a long time by their family, friends and loved ones. They become well schooled in what signs to look for and will always be keenly observant of any changes in their behavior.
Ms. Houston should not have been having alcohol, or marijuana. Most addicts use secondary drugs to heighten the high experienced by their primary drug of choice since it takes more and more of the addictive drug to give them the same high. Many couple up their drug usage with alcohol and marijuana, and prescription medicines for this purposed.
Many will say it is no one's fault but the singers, but truthfully speaking, she was still an addict, and those around her that knew it can share in the blame for not seeking help for her. After all, addicts rarely seek help for themselves. The best way to help an addict is not to hide their secret from everyone,but to bring it to light so it can no longer hide them, from their problem.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Whitney Houston Autopsy: Accidental drowning due to cocaine and heart disease
American singer Whitney Houston performing on Good Morning America (Central Park, New York City) on September 1, 2009. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Los Angeles Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey announced today that the autopsy report of Whitney Houston concluded that the singer in fact was using cocaine, and that the singer also had heart disease. Death was due to drowning while under the influence of cocaine in the singer's system. It was widely reported that Ms. Houston had staff members that would not allow the singer to bathe under any circumstances. Now it becomes apparent that the real reason may have been that this "drowning" may have happened in the past. One can also speculate that the singer may have dismissed many of her former aids and assistants because she relapsed.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Addiction help and support for families still needed
Image via WikipediaWhile there is a vast amount of information out there on addiction, including televisions shows devoted to helping addicts get clean, there is a great need still for support and help where the family is concerned. Addiction is a family disease/disorder. Families often are caught in a vortex of confusion, pain, fear, shame and guilt when they live within the circle of an addicted loved one. For so many there is a need to protect the addict and a legacy of secrecy is formed.Families may try desperately to solve the problem on their own with no outside help. Many times to spare themselves and their loved one any embarrassment or shame. However, nothing could be more damaging for the addict or family. This subtle form of enabling may seem an option, but handling something so immense can
rarely be battled without bringing in outside help.
Once this is realized, and help can be gotten for the addicted loved one, what now happens with the family? Families need to address the dynamics of their lives that may have played a part in the addiction. This is no means a blame game, but it is important to identify problem areas that existed. There may be many factors that brought your family and your addicted loved one to this point in their lives. In most families, there is an enabler, an abuser, a user (whether it is drugs, prescription meds, or alcohol), the one in denial, the victim.
In some families there may be one individual that plays several of these roles. Either way, if these members are going to continue to exist in the recovering addicts life, it is imperative that their life changes right along with the addicts, otherwise, the chances of ongoing sobriety is compromised. This why families need support just as much as the addict does. For more information contact:
Treatment Solutions Network Family Support
Saturday, March 10, 2012
New study shows promise in treating heroin addiction
 Image via Wikipedia |
| Black Tar Heroin |
Many recovery programs in fact have been formulated to help the former heroin addict get off of the chemical dependance of methadone. With this risk involved, it was imperative and is imperative that ongoing effects be made to find alternative ways to treat drug addiction. Naltrexone implants are the latest effort in finding a new treatment for heroin dependance and early studies are showing some success.
The new treatment is intended to target those who need to overcome their heroin addiction without resorting to a treatment that has the potential to become addictive as well, (methadone). Naltrexone works completely different from traditional methadone treatments by completely blocking the effect heroin and morphine substances have on the addict. Naltrexone not only blocks the effects of heroin and morphine, but induces a sense of calm in the patient. The blocking effect of this new treatment lessens cravings and physical dependency as well.
To read more on the studies involving using this new treatment see: Promising Treatment for Heroin Dependency
Questions from our readers: What are the statistics for overcoming Heroin addiction?
Image via WikipediaWell there are many variable factors that must be taken into account when looking at someone's ability to overcome any addiction. There is a significant risk of relapse for addicts of Heroin and other substances if the following situations are in place:
- Returning to the same lifestyle
In almost every recovery process an addict has to make huge changes in their lifestyle. In some cases an addict has to make radical changes which may include disconnecting from old friends, changing jobs, and avoiding or cutting off ties with family members that regularly use drugs, and alcohol. Some addicts choose to move from their homes and/or their state in order to assure their continuing sobriety.
- Maintaining friendships with users and dealers
Addicts usually can not maintain friendships with anyone associated with their former life that were directly a part of their descent into addiction. This means friends, partners, dealers, family etc. Continuing connections with these individuals almost always results in a relapse with an addict.
- Financial dependance on former enablers
Enablers do almost as much damage as a drug dealer does to the addicts ability to stay clean. Enablers should stick to offering emotional support and encouragement only and can not get back into the enabling role where they support the addict financially. It is too easy for both addict and enabler to slip back into the old habits. Enablers often need counseling themselves to help them come to grips with their very specific reasons that they choose to continue helping an addict in their illness. Many times enablers lack the proper tools and understanding to be able to suddenly quit helping an addict. Enablers are often caught in some sort of addiction themselves to the addict and their lifestyle and cutting off from that addiction for the enabler is often very difficult as well. This is why addiction is referred to as a “family disease.”
- Failing to continue with counseling and recovery programs
Once an addict is released from treatment they return to life and leave the safety of a controlled setting. This is where the real challenge begins in their success story. Many addicts will not maintain their sobriety when they stop attending counseling and recovery programs. Add this to a lack of familial support, goals and lifestyle change and you have all the necessary components to assure relapse.
- Exposure to old triggers
The first six months in an addicts life are the most precarious. Returning to old haunts, passing by familiar stomping grounds, seeing the same friends they got high or drunk with are all known triggers for relapse. Triggers must be avoided at all costs especially early in the recovery. There may be circumstances that force an addict to still encounter certain triggers beyond their control. In these cases it is imperative that the addict have a strong support system and maintain contact and attend meetings and aftercare programs regularly to help them with this problem.
- Lack of strong support with family and friends
It can't be said enough, recovering addicts need a strong support system for their success. This may mean a certain amount of sacrifice on everyone's part. Sacrifices may mean avoiding drinking or certain activities yourself that may affect an addicts ability to stay clean and sober. Family gatherings generally have to be alcohol-free, even if your addict has never been an alcoholic, many that relapse simply switch to a new substance to become addicted to.
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