For those who suffer from substance abuse, there is often an underlying cause at its root. It is quite common for addicts to have a specific co-occurring mental disorder. According to statistics from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), nearly 8 million people in the U.S. experience co-occurring disorders. Of those people, 4.1 million are men. While common, more than 50 percent of with a co-occurring disorder did not
No matter where you live in the United States, the country’s ongoing opioid crisis is not showing signs of decline. In fact, many state legislators are coming together to find ways to combat this major health crisis. Recently, state legislators in Utah came together for a panel discussion to find ways to overcome the opioid epidemic in Utah. Held at the University of Utah at the Hinckley Institute of Politics
In the world of early sobriety, we are often bombarded with terms like cravings and triggers and relapse. On the one hand, it seems like these things will follow us around for the rest of our lives, and on the other, we are told that they are fleeting and can be easily overcome. So which is it? Are we going to have cravings for the rest of our lives or
Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant drug that affects the central nervous system. Available as a white or light brown powder, the drug is most often smoked but can be injected or taken in pill form. Meth is an extremely addictive drug that significantly affects a user’s physical and psychological function. For those who struggle with meth addiction, it is critical they find the professional help found a rehab for meth.
A recent report states that large pharmaceutical companies funneled millions of dollars to advocacy groups to promote their use amid the current drug crisis. The report, released by Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill, raises questions concerning the role of drug makers in the ongoing opioid epidemic. A representative of several drug companies named in the report stated there were no conditions regarding the use of those funds. McCaskill’s report examines funding
The Utah Legislature opened the year with a bold proclamation. During the opening of the legislative year, House Speaker Greg Hughes declared war on pharmaceutical companies who produce and sell opioid medications. Hughes asserted these companies are doing little to prevent the opioid epidemic in Utah. In an article published in the January 20th edition of the Salt Lake Tribune, Hughes became upset with opiate manufacturers when he opened an
One of America’s largest health insurance companies recently took major to combat the opioid epidemic by waiving copays for the overdose-reversing nasal spray Narcan. Effective New Year’s Day, Aetna removed the financial hurdles that kept some from accessing and using this potentially life-saving medication. In addition to waiving co-pays for Narcan, Aetna also limited the quantity of prescription painkillers for acute pain and post-surgery to a seven-day supply. Harold L.
Drug overdoses are the number one cause of accidental death in the United States. In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control reports more than 63,600 people died due to overdose. Of those deaths, approximately two-thirds involved heroin and prescription painkillers. In response to ongoing drug crisis, Walmart is offering a free opioid disposal kit called Dispose Rx that will allow people to dispose of their unused opioid medications. This opioid
It’s only relatively recently that we’ve really begun to understand the disease of addiction. Previously, most people saw addiction as an issue of behavior and morality with individuals suffering from substance abuse disorders merely considered bad people. Over the course of decades of research, we’ve come to realize that addiction is a chronic relapsing brain disease that’s more comparable to diabetes or Alzheimer’s disease than it is an issue of
Nobody ever intends to become addicted to alcohol or drugs. In fact, many people don’t realize they’ve even become addicted until they begin to experience withdrawal symptoms in the times between fixes. Unfortunately, by the time chemical dependency has occurred, it’s often too late to simply stop using mind-altering substances. By this point, some type of treatment, such as our Utah outpatient program for addiction, is required to help the
