Opioid Overdoses Spiking Across the US
According to data from the CDC, opioid overdoses doubled or tripled in many states during the pandemic. But now that it’s summer, many towns across America are seeing an increase in overdoses as the world begins to reopen fully. Summer Opioid Overdoses Beginning to Spike Last weekend in Rochester, New York, three adults overdosed as their children played together indoors. Seven other overdoses occurred from what police presume was the same batch of drugs. “No one knows what’s in the drugs they’re taking anymore,” Joel Yager of Huther Doyle Substance Abuse Services told the local news station. “There are so many additives. A lot of it is fentanyl, and it’s being added to not just heroin but to cocaine and, in some cases, marijuana.” In the past, most summer overdoses were from “bad” batches of heroin. But in the past decade, synthetic drugs like K2 have sent people to the hospital as well. No drug is 100% pure, it seems, when it’s bought online or on the streets. Heroin Still High Cause of Opioid Overdoses In Monroe County, New York, there have been 63 heroin overdoses in the county so far this month. Substance abuse counselors say that many people […]
MAT and Therapy Options
Medication-Assisted treatments like Suboxone are essential tools to fight opioid use disorder (OUD). Many people have achieved long-term sobriety with the assistance of MAT. The FDA even considers MAT to be a “gold standard” and first-line therapy for people with OUD. Many treatments can help a person alongside MAT. A recent law gave doctors the ability to prescribe MAT without requiring a specific therapy or treatment follow-up. This is meant to help reach people who may not have access to treatment due to their geographic location or other situation. First, How Does MAT Work? MAT helps the body cope with withdrawal symptoms, helping significantly reduce them over time. Some people take MAT long-term to help them stay sober. The way MAT is prescribed depends on various factors, including the type of drug you used. MAT is beneficial for people with opioid use disorder. The withdrawal effects typically felt when ceasing opioids use can be incredibly uncomfortable and can even include fever, hallucinations, and nausea or vomiting. These sensations are dramatically reduced by MAT, helping individuals concentrate on staying sober. Types of Therapies That Help Alongside MAT Most people who struggle with substance use disorder benefit from support groups. Inpatient and […]
Finding Gratitude for the Big Things
How has your gratitude been lately? Do you feel bored, unstimulated, or lonely from the months of lockdowns? COVID-19 has created a wealth of challenges in the last year. But things are beginning to re-open up slowly as the country get vaccinated. So how can you make the most and start living gratitude again each day? A Perfect Time to Be Grateful If you’re like many people in California, you’ve been staying home. A lot. For people who have support in recovery, it’s been quite a burden. Even if you’re able to exercise outdoors or pick up dinner from your favorite restaurant, it’s not the same as before. But there are new and exciting things on the horizon. It’s a perfect time to be grateful because America in general is on a path to returning to things that we’ve missed. So how can you find your gratitude again? There is still a lot to be grateful for. Being Grateful for 3 Big Things The first few months of this crisis were hard for everyone. For example, there was a time last year when no one knew when, or if, we would be able to have a COVID-19 vaccine. Here are […]
Dual Diagnosis and Recovering From Addiction
Many people who are in recovery also live with other mental health issues. When addiction specialists discuss this topic, they use the term “dual diagnosis” to discuss it. Both substance use disorder and a mental health disorder need to be treated equally when it comes to recovery. It can be tough to heal from a substance use disorder if you live with untreated mental health issues such as bipolar disorder or PTSD. When a person first gets clean and sober, they go through a lot of emotional changes. Most of these are a normal part of getting clean. However, some symptoms may be extreme, such as anxiety or depression. When a person’s mental health seems to be faltering, they must get help from an expert to begin to recover. Learning you have a dual diagnosis may be frightening at first. However, it’s the start of a journey where you’ll have treatment that will help you recover and live your best life. Addiction and Dual Diagnosis: The Connection According to the National Institute on Drug abuse, nearly half of people who experience a substance use disorder also have a mental health disorder. You’re not alone if you have been diagnosed with […]
A Year of COVID-19: How Have You Grown?
It’s been a whole year since COVID-19 shut down entire countries and made the world much smaller for most of us. Yet some people, including people in recovery, have made profound changes in the way that they live. Are you somebody who has managed to grow and change through this ordeal? How have you managed to adapt and thrive? COVID-19 Changed Us All So it’s been a year since COVID-19 really hit home for most Americans. How have you dealt with it? There have been so many challenges that people have faced, it’s sometimes hard to see the way that you have changed or grown. Here are some questions you may want to think about. If you journal, consider writing on a few of these questions whenever you have time. It’s amazing all the struggles we’ve all had, big or small, in the last year. Have you gotten and stayed sober? This is your most important achievement. No matter what, staying sober can help you get through what comes next. Have you learned to appreciate things more? Have you learned to live without certain things – like paper towels or your favorite breakfast item – because they became scarce? How […]
COVID, Recovery and Mental Health Disorders
Many people in recovery from addiction also have what is called a co-occurring disorder. Usually, this is a mental health disorder. Many people who have mental health disorders have struggled during the pandemic. Being alone can be challenging, and some people have lost access to services. It’s not uncommon for people who lost jobs to quit taking medication or attending therapy. People who have lost employment may have lost healthcare or the ability to pay for services. If you or somebody you love with a mental health disorder, some of these challenges may sound familiar – but like most challenges, they can be navigated! Mental Health, Isolation and Stigma Many people with mental health disorders have trouble with being isolated or alone. It’s normal to feel lonely, but sometimes that loneliness can take people to a dark place. It’s easy to get “in your head” and listen to your disease when you’re alone. In society, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding mental health disorders. But most of it is false. Being alone is bad for our mental health as humans. That’s why it’s so important to connect with others. For most people, this means going online on a […]
Start 2021 With Compassion For Yourself
Do you struggle with showing yourself compassion? After all, you just survived a really rough year! The New Year has come and gone, but it’s left a lot of chaos in its wake. There has been civil unrest and violence for people in the United States not even a week into 2021. These issues have caused a lot of fear and sorrow. On top of that, many people spent the holidays alone or taking risks that are now contributing to the COVID-19 crisis. Getting past these feelings can be challenging, but starting the new year with compassion for yourself and others can help immensely. After all, 2021 does come with a lot of hope. There is a vaccine and a new president in America. And you, wherever you are, are alive to celebrate and stay sober another day. It’s time to learn to be more forgiving and compassionate with yourself. Having Compassion Yourself Why do you need to be kind and compassionate to yourself? For one thing, it helps you be confident and healthy. For another, you can’t help others if you’re not taking care of yourself. Instead of focusing on saving the world, you also need to make time […]
At-Home Sober Activities for the Holidays (And Beyond)
People in recovery are having a lot of ups and downs during the pandemic. You and people you care about may be struggling with loneliness, relapse, or the loss of somebody close to you. Online activities aren’t exactly the same, but making an effort and trying to connect with others who feel isolated can make everyone feel less lonely. To do this, you’ll need to think of some fun sober activities for the holidays. Connecting with other people is essential. Using online technology or even 3-way call conferencing can help you connect with others and try to entertain yourself and your loved ones. (You can set Zoom up to have a call-in line for older members of your family or others who can’t use a computer.) At-Home Sober Activities To Try Of course, these ideas can work for any time during the pandemic, especially if you feel like your social life needs more: Just meet up for coffee with a loved one or friend online. It’s so simple, but it can boost your day! Ask them to set up a time for you in the morning, and make sure you have both brewed your coffee or tea. Sober activities like […]
Holidays, COVID-19, and Self-Care
COVID-19 has changed the way that many people are visiting with family. This year health experts recommend changes for celebrating the holidays. For people in recovery, the lack of stability and certainty during the coronavirus health crisis can be a challenge. Health officials will most likely recommend that you don’t go to gatherings with people outside your household. You’ll have to find new ways to visit with others, but remember this is temporary. You won’t be alone every holiday, even if you must this year. At the same time, take care of yourself during the holidays and be gentle. Make COVID-Safe Plans for the Holidays The holiday season is quickly approaching. Do you feel pressured by family or friends to do things you’re not comfortable doing? Your health and sobriety always come first. Meeting with others outside of your household could spread COVID. The disease can be very asymptomatic, and unfortunately, you cannot trust everyone to socially distance when they leave the house. You can form a “pod” with 3-4 other people in recovery if you feel isolated. This pod can be for the holidays and beyond. The people in your pod can meet with each other but not other […]
Responsibility and Accountability
In sobriety, you learn how to reclaim your life and become a responsible member of society. Responsibility means being accountable for your recovery. It also means that you’re accountable for your actions and reactions. Being responsible can be a challenge. When you were using substances, you probably neglected a few responsibilities in favor of getting high or drunk. How many times did you promise you would do something but ended up getting high or forgetting about it instead? Even things promising to pay a phone bill or take out the trash add up. You probably lost the trust of some important people in your life because of this. Today, you are a different person. Every day you wake up and stay sober, you have the opportunity to be a better person. You can also become more accountable and responsible for your actions. Becoming More Accountable We are all accountable for our actions, whether we accept responsibility for them or not. In recovery, you’ll start to make better choices. But everyone makes mistakes! This is why becoming accountable for your actions is essential. The most straightforward way to be accountable for your actions is to apologize when you’ve made a mistake. […]
Being Honest With Yourself
During your time in addiction, you probably spent a lot of time lying. Sometimes you were lying to yourself. Sometimes you were probably lying to a loved one, doctor, friend, therapist, or even stranger. Lying helps you keep close to your addiction and far away from intervention. Denial is a powerful symptom of a substance use disorder. Even today, you probably have lied to yourself once or twice. But being honest with yourself will help set you free from a lot of pain. Addiction and Being Honest Addiction makes it sometimes difficult, to tell the truth about who you are to yourself and others. How many times did you minimize your dependence while you were using? Be honest, you probably lied about how much you used and how often you used it. “Just this once, I’ll get high” can turn into a hundred times. Your intentions were probably true. You probably told yourself you were going to your grandmother’s house but ended up at the drug dealer’s home instead. People lie to themselves so that they can be okay with their lives. Almost nothing about being addicted to drugs or alcohol is “okay,” “so the mind takes over to make […]
Five Ways to Cope With Anger
Anger is a normal emotion. We all deal with it differently. Unfortunately, there are a lot of unhealthy coping mechanisms people use when they’re mad. Some people get loud and verbally abusive when they’re angry. Others deal with it more quietly and end up acting out of passive-aggression. Learning to cope with anger healthily can improve your life. By learning to cope with anger, you’ll give yourself space to sort through stressful situations. Coping With Your Anger is Necessary and Good Letting your anger control you in recovery is a serious trigger. Anger, when left unchecked, can cause people to act in negative ways. You may go into a rage if you’re not prepared to deal with anger now that you’re sober. Or maybe when you were upset, you used to just go get high and ignore everything. You may feel like you can’t cope with feeling mad at all. Feeling angry for the first time when you’re sober can be triggering if you’re not sure what you want to do about it. Having a plan to cope with it is a great idea. Here are five important ways to cope with anger in sobriety: Vent it out. You’ll want […]