Types of Opioid Treatment Options
Types of Opioid Treatment Options Over 2.5 million Americans suffer from opioid use disorder which contributed to over 28,000 overdose deaths and the number keeps rising, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Opioid use disorder is a serious, chronic condition that can be fatal if left untreated. Making the decision to get treatment […]
Media Portrayal of Opioid Treatment
Why is the Media Portrayal of Opioid Treatment Important? When it comes to the media portrayal of opioid treatment, it is key to recovering addicts for other people to understand exactly why this is an important topic. So often, we see the media portray people suffering from addiction as people of low moral standards, poor […]
Is Xanax an Opioid?
Xanax is a benzodiazepine medication, not an opioid, that acts as a central nervous system depressant. Benzodiazepines produce sedation, relieve anxiety, induce sleep and prevent seizures. Both benzodiazepines and opioids are highly addictive, and misuse can easily occur. Withdrawal from Xanax can have serious symptoms, and medical detox is often necessary for a safe recovery. […]
Tips on Fighting Through Opioid Withdrawals
Fighting through opioid withdrawals is challenging, but there are strategies to help make it smoother. Quitting cold turkey is never recommended. It can lead to intense cravings and severe withdrawal symptoms. Medical detox and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) are much more effective options, allowing for a gradual tapering off opioids while also minimizing withdrawal discomfort. Having […]
Long and Short Term Effects of Opioid Abuse
What are Opioids? Opioids are naturally found in the opium poppy plant. They are a type of drug that manipulates the brain to produce a variety of different effects, most commonly as an ingredient in many prescription pain relievers. There are also synthetic (man-made) opioids such as fentanyl and illegal street opioids such as heroin. […]
Alcohol Related Death vs Opioid Related Deaths
By now, you have heard about the opioid epidemic happening in this country. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, in the late 1990s, pharmaceutical companies reassured the medical community that patients would not become addicted to opioid pain relievers and healthcare providers began to prescribe them at greater rates. Increased prescription […]
FDA on MAT as a Treatment
What is MAT as a Treatment? According to an article in the New York Times, the Food and Drug Administration plans to begin permitting pharmaceutical companies to sell medications that help temper cravings, even if they don’t fully stop addiction. The health and human services secretary, Alex M. Azar II, said the agency intended “to […]
Opioid Crisis in New Jersey
New Jersey, also known as the garden state, is a mid-Atlantic state bordered by New York, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. New Jersey is the fourth-smallest state by area but the 11th-most populous, with 9 million residents as of 2017. New Jersey, just like many other states, is in a fight against the opioid epidemic and statistics […]
The Different Types of Opioids
Opioids are the leading cause of death due to overdose. They bind to the mu receptor in the brain, releasing endorphins and dopamine which results in a strong sensation of euphoria and pain relief. Natural opiates, semi-synthetic/humanmade opioids and fully synthetic/humanmade opioids are the three main types of opioids used for pain relief in America. […]
How Can Clonidine Manage Withdrawal Symptoms?
What is Clonidine? According to Medline, Clonidine was originally intended to treat high blood pressure or symptoms associated with ADHD. Clonidine treats high blood pressure by decreasing the heart rate and relaxing the blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily through the body. Clonidine extended-release tablets may treat ADHD by affecting the part […]