OxyContin Related Deaths in San Diego/Drug Trends in San Diego

April 30th, 2012

Opiates are a class of drugs stemming from the opium poppy in order to produce short- and long-term painkilling effects. These drugs include some of the world’s oldest medicines and are some of the most commonly abused. The United States has been no stranger to drugs such as cocaine, morphine, and heroin, and many have been combating addiction to a variety of drugs throughout history. However, there are new trends that need to be examined and focused on through treatment to help many addicts.

 

Throughout the 1990’s, heroin and cocaine were the most commonly abused drugs in urban areas of the United States. However, opioid analgesics became the main cause of drug related deaths by 2002, particularly methadone and oxycodone.[1] Domestic sales of these drugs have increased exponentially over the past fifteen years as a result of increase in prescriptions written by physicians in order to treat pain. A main cause of abuse and death of these drugs is caused by “the long duration of action of methadone and OxyContin… Abusers have learned to ingest and inject pulverized OxyContin pills, defeating the controlled-release mechanism and releasing dangerous amounts of the drug within a short time.”[2]

 

Many addicts are suffering from prescription drug and heroin abuses throughout San Diego County, and deaths as a result have increased. Dr. Robert Winokur has “seen an escalating trend of abuse of opiates… including prescription drugs such as OxyContin, Percocet and Vicodin.”[3] Parents who have experienced the death of a child due to drug abuse are trying to make a difference, speaking at school assemblies and organizing alternatives for teens. Far too often in the last decade, parents have found their child lying unconscious due to OxyContin and other analgesic drugs, these numbers have more than doubled in the last fifteen years.1

 

Some addicts suffer in silence, or don’t have full knowledge of their addiction, but others are desperately trying to stay sober. Addiction is a disease, and one that is responsible for far too many deaths within San Diego County. Southern California offers a wide range of opiate detox programs and treatment options, from inpatient to outpatient, which can help teens and adults find relief from their addiction. Speak to any parent who has lost a child due to this disease, and they will undoubtedly convey the importance of seeking treatment early, especially if the addict understands the dangers of their disease and wants to enter recovery. Long-term sobriety is not a simple task for anyone with a drug or alcohol addiction, but peers who have similar experience are available to help addicts get into treatment. The epidemic at hand in San Diego County does not need to result in the death of countless young adults, but rather, awareness and communication can help many enter recovery.



[1] Paulozzi, L. J. “Opioid Analgesic Involvement in Drug Abuse Deaths in American Metropolitan Areas.” American Journal of Public Health 96.10 (2006): 1755-757. Print.

[2] Drug Enforcement Administration, US Dept of Justice. Drug intelligence brief—OxyContin: pharmaceutical diversion. < http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/ pubs/intel/02017/02017.html>. Web.

[3] Galang, Stacie N. “Drug Abuse Awareness.” San Clemente Times. 29 Mar. 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2012. <http://www.sanclementetimes.com/view/full_story/18047315/article-Drug-Abuse-Awareness?instance=home_special>.

 

 

Intervention

April 14th, 2012

A critical moment for many addicts is when they are faced with an intervention. An intervention is a when a chemically dependent individual is convinced to get treatment through a change in awareness. This is often the point where many addicts begin, or reenter, the journey of recovery and begin to build the foundation of positive changes in behavior and lifestyle.

San Diego Drug Rehab

 

By keeping in mind the acronym CARE, you can help enact a successful intervention for a friend or family member:

  • Communicate – make your feelings known and explain the specific problems being faced.
  • Affirm – make sure the person knows that your concern comes from a caring, loving place; let them give their own explanation, whether it is valid or not.
  • Respond – discuss the consequences and the options they have for receiving help.
  • Enact – follow through with a course of action that the individual can agree upon.[1]

 

Dr. Drew Edwards, a clinician and expert on addictive diseases, suggests a few things to keep in mind during the intervention process:

  • Don’t become an enabler – by making excuses or covering up for an addict, they do not face the consequences of their actions and their unfavorable behavior is validated.
  • Follow through on threats and promises; if an agreement is reached, make sure the addict understands that the next steps will be set into motion.
  • Ask for help from friends, family, loved ones, and health care professions.
  • Focus on the solution, rather than the problem.
  • Seek support for yourself through Al-Anon or other support groups for loved ones of alcoholics and drug addicts. [2]

 

Interventions can be a difficult struggle for addicts, friends, and family members alike. If you are trying to convince a loved one to seek help for their addiction, make sure you have researched the options for them, including detox centers, rehabilitation programs, and sober living. Each individual is different and different programs may prove more effective than others, make sure to discuss these options with the person and with an addiction professional, if possible. Recovery is most successful when the substance abuser sees the negative consequences of their current behavior, wants to create a change within their lives, and is included in the decision of how to go about receiving treatment. Many centers will give you information about their program along with guides on how to have a successful intervention.

 

This can be a difficult and disturbing process, but is often necessary for many addicts to change something about their lives. By taking action and helping someone you care about get into a treatment program, you can be starting them on a new life path. If you have any questions about our San Diego sober living  homes please contact us. We can help answer any questions you might have.



[1] White, Robert K., and Deborah G. Wright. Addiction Intervention: Strategies to Motivate Treatment-seeking Behavior. New York: Haworth, 1998. Print.

[2] Edwards, Drew W. “The Dos and Don’€ts of Intervention.” Psych Central. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. <http://psychcentral.com/lib/2008/the-dos-and-donts-of-intervention/>.

PTSD and Addiction

April 11th, 2012

Many people with substance abuse disorders have a history of trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Traumatic experiences can make one more susceptible to a future of drug and/or alcohol addiction. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that develops as the result of experiencing trauma, such as military combat, sexual abuse, or natural disasters, and causes the individual to feel vulnerable and in constant danger that they cannot control. This can lead to depression, irritability, and a variety of other symptoms that make daily life difficult.

 

San Diego Drug Rehab

 

While PTSD can be treated on it’s own through therapy and medication, those who suffer from PTSD often turn to alcohol and/or drugs to find relief. “During the time of the trauma, endorphin levels remain elevated and help numb the emotional and physical pain of the trauma. However, after the trauma is over, endorphin levels gradually decrease and this may lead to a period of endorphin withdrawal that can last from hours to days”… causing individuals to turn to alcohol and drugs in order to compensate for the discrepancies of endorphin within the body.[1] The use of drugs and alcohol for a person suffering from PTSD can offer a various sources of relief, as it allows them to numb any pain, provide an escape from their feelings, and to help them live a seemingly normal life with their families and peers. This may provide a simple temporary solution, but intensifies the negative effects of both the PTSD and substance abuse disorder.

 

Treatment for those with co-occurring PTSD and substance abuse has proven difficult, though not impossible. Both the addiction and PTSD need to be treated simultaneously in order to allow for the healthiest recovery possible. When the addiction is being treated and the individual begins to experience sobriety, their ability to go into effective treatment for PTSD increases. The Hazelden Foundation advises, “Because of the symptoms of PTSD—such as social avoidance, having troubling flashbacks, and irritability—patients may also have more trouble connecting in peer support groups such as AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) or NA (Narcotics Anonymous).”[2] It is vital for those with PTSD who are seeking treatment for their substance abuse find a peer group that is supportive of both disorders. Often, being immersed in a program, such as substance abuse rehab or sober living, provides comprehensive treatment in a way that offers overall support for both addiction and PTSD, while reducing the stresses faced by suffering alone.

 

With San Diego County’s prevalence of United States military, many drug and alcohol programs offer the support needed to treat PTSD, especially through military programs or private companies who seek to provide aid to soldiers returning from combat. Additionally, many therapy programs that center on sexual and physical abuse provide treatment for addiction as many individuals turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with their addictions. One’s traumatic history does not need to determine one’s future, there is help for individuals who have suffered through terrible situations and they can find relief from their anxiety and fully recovery in sobriety.



[1] Volpicelli, J., G. Balaraman, J. Hahn, H. Wallace, and D. Bux. “The Role of Uncontrollable Trauma in the Development of PTSD and Alcohol Addiction.” Alcohol Research & Health 23 (1999). Print.

[2] Hazelden Foundation. “Co-Occuring Disorders Program: Family Program.” Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (2008). Print.

Learning Disabilities and Addiction

April 10th, 2012

A significant amount of research has been done to analyze sets of factors among children and adolescents to determine risk level for chemically dependency; however, only recently have institutions begun to conduct research to determine the risk for children and teens with learning disabilities. Those with learning disabilities are prone to an array for societal implications as a result of their disability. Such disabilities include dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and mental retardation. While attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not a learning disability itself, it often affects the learning process and is often studied in conjunction with those learning disabilities outlined in the DSM-IV.

 

Many studies have turned up the same results – among adolescents, those with learning disabilities displayed higher levels of tobacco and alcohol abuse than those without learning disabilities. While these adolescents also show higher usage of alcohol, the discrepancy cannot be determined to come directly from the factor of the learning disability.[1]

 

The factors that put teens with learning disabilities at greater risk for chemical dependency do not come directly from the disability itself, but rather, from the implications and societal consequences. Merith Cosden, psychologist from the University of California, Santa Barbara, notes that these individuals are at risk due to “a poor understanding of one’s disability, a lack of skills for developing peer relations, and the need for prolonged family support.”[2]  It is often hard enough for children and teens to go through the social pressures of middle and high school, but when coupled with a learning disability, not only does the risk for drug and alcohol use increase, but also the long-term abuse can be exasperated.  Children and adolescents with learning disabilities, including ADHD, can use marijuana and alcohol to help them cope with feelings of loneliness, depression, low self-esteem, and difficulty socializing. This then leads to adults with learning disabilities that are addicts of any number of chemical combinations.

 

With support, individuals who face high risk of chemical dependency can be helped, both during childhood and through adulthood. Education of one’s disability is vital as it helps to let people know how dependency can be prevented and what warning signs to look for; additionally, family and social support can be an influencing factor of whether teens feel the need to use drugs and alcohol to cope with their learning disability. However, those who have already developed dependency may find it even harder to feel relief from their addiction than an addict without a learning disorder. Support groups, sober living homes, rehabilitation clinics, and 12-step programs are often a valuable asset to those struggling to live with addiction coupled with a learning disorder. Many centers even specialize in helping those with learning disorders achieve recovery.

 

 



[1] Maag, J. W., D. M. Irvin, R. Reid, and S. F. Vasa. “Prevalence and Predictors of Substance Use: A Comparison Between Adolescents With and Without Learning Disabilities.” Journal of Learning Disabilities 27.4 (1994): 223-34. Print.

[2] Cosden, Merith. “Risk and Resilience for Substance Abuse Among Adolescents and Adults with LD.” Journal of Learning Disabilities 34.4 (2001): 352-58. Print.

Fun sober things to do in San Diego this weekend

April 6th, 2012

Learning how to have fun in sobriety was probably one of my biggest challenges.  I hope you find these next few suggestions helpful if you are newly sober and looking for ways to have fun in San Diego.  I remember being two weeks sober and thinking that my social life was over, and all I would ever do on the weekends was stay home and watch South Park reruns.  Its a good thing that I had a few sober buddies to show me how to have fun while staying sober.  It is a learning process.  I was used to doing everything while intoxicated.  It was totally weird going to the mall or to see a movie sober; those were usually things that I did while stoned or drunk.  Today, after having taken the 12 steps I have been relieved of the obsession to drink and use drugs.  I am very grateful that I can now enjoy the simple things in life without needing drugs and alcohol.  Today, I don’t need three glasses of merlot and two Percocets to enjoy a sunset.  I hope that you have a chance to go and try some of the fun activities I am about to share with you!

Fun sober things to do in San Diego this weekend:

If you are sober and looking to have some fun this weekend, check out Cirque Du Soleil at the Del Mar Fair Grounds.  The show is called “Totem” and it is supposed to be fantastic!  If you are in the mood for something a bit more active, take a walk up Torrey Pines State Reserve.  The walk takes about forty minutes and you will end up at the top of a cliff overlooking the Pacific ocean.  I have watched the San Diego sunset from those cliffside benches many times.  If you go a bit south from Del Mar, La Jolla is a beautiful beach community where you can take a nice walk on Coast Blvd.  There are many places along Coast Blvd where you can rest and look at the ocean, play in the sand, or even jump into La Jolla Cove where beautiful reefs and marine life will surround you.

If you are not in the mood for the beach, Balboa Park is one of those places that has something for everyone: great food, museums, and interesting people watching. I personally enjoy going to the museum of photgraphic arts and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center to look at the awsome attractions and displays.  On Friday and Saturday it is supposed to nice and sunny.  If the iPhone is correctly predicting the weather, it will be a perfect weekend to visit Mt. Laguna. When I go to Mount Laguna I like to stay at the Mount Laguna Lodge because it is well managed and very affordable.  One of my favorite sober activities is going up into the local mountains for a getaway.  Sometimes I just need to get away from town and enjoy some uninterupted rest and relaxation.  After spending the week studying at UCSD, my weekends are the days that I use to really connect with my higher power.  Taking a long walk at the beach, hiking the local mountains, and sometimes a watching good movie or play helps me to undwind.

 

The busier that I get with family, school and relationships, the more I need to invest time in sober relaxation.  If you have any good relaxation ideas please post a comment and share them with us!

 

 

 

 

Chief Medical Examiner Glen Wagner and Dr. Jonathan Lucas (Deputy Medical Examiner, San Diego County) talk about rising prescription drug deaths

April 2nd, 2012

 

Watch this video!  Prescription pain medications such as OxyContin killed more people than alcohol and heroin combined!

Why are high-school kids becoming heroin addicts in San Diego, California? Scientific evidence indicates that smoking marijuana can lead to opiate addiction.

April 2nd, 2012

The San Diego, California community has suffered a tremendous rise in narcotic addiction over the last several years.  There are thousands of people addicted to heroin, OxyContin, and prescription painkillers, and many of these individuals are students a local high-schools. Interestingly, studies have shown that affluent neighborhoods have the most problems with opiate addiction.  For example, Torrey Pines High School in Del Mar, California, La Jolla High School, Poway High School, and West Hills High School have the highest rates of opiate addiction.  It seems as though children with more access to money, and thereby a greater ability to purchase illegal drugs, are more susceptible to being targeted by drug dealers.

While access to money remains a determining factor regarding drug abuse in the adolescent populations, it has been debated whether or not marijuana is truly a “gateway drug” that leads to addiction.  There are some who argue that marijuana has legitimate medical and social uses, while others are convinced that smoking marijuana is the first step towards a full-blown drug addiction.  In John C. Ball et. al. work, “The Association of Marijuana with Opiate Addiction in the United States,” they argue that, “there is a positive association between marijuana and opiate use in 16 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.  In 12 other states, most of the opiate addicts had never used marijuana… these alternative patterns of drug use were related to demographic factors: residence in SMSA’s, state, sex, race and age.” In other words, scientific research indicates that a variety of factors — environmental and biological — are involved in determining whether or not a person will become addicted to narcotics after regularly smoking marijuana.

In response to San Diego’s lethal drug epidemic, County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price pioneered the OxyTask Force.  The OxyTask Force is a novel approach to the “war on drugs” that forges partnerships between law enforcement, drug treatment providers, and local judges.  While marijuana addiction is a serious illness, it still seems to be gaining social acceptability.  In the future, the OxyTask Force may want to look at the connections between smoking marijuana and opiate addiction to better understand why so many young children are becoming addicted to OxyContin.

 

The information in this blog was found on JSTOR.com.  To learn more about this interesting research being done regarding marijuana use and opiate addiction, please go to:

The Association of Marihuana Smoking with Opiate Addiction in the United States

John C. Ball, Carl D. Chambers and Marion J. Ball

The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science , Vol. 59, No. 2 (Jun., 1968), pp. 171-182

Published by: Northwestern University

Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1141937

 

California’s PC 1000: Alternative Sentencing for Nonviolent Offenders in San Diego, Californa

April 1st, 2012

The PC 1000 alternative sentencing program in San Diego, California is a novel program that has reduced prison overcrowding and recidivism.  Please let us know your thoughts! It is important to stay informed regarding drug policy issues here in San Diego, California. At La Jolla Recovery, we see the value in alternative sentencing programs such as PC 1000 and Prop 36 as we have  watched countless program graduates become productive members of society.

According to Gedulin and Greany, local criminal defense attornies,  ”there are multiple deferrable offenses, drug offenses, that fall within the provisions of PC 1000.” These are:

·      Possession of a controlled substance (restricted drug) H. & S.C. 11350

·      Possession of marijuana H. & S.C. 11357

·      Possession of drug paraphernalia H. & S.C. 11364

·      Aiding, assisting or abetting the unlawful use of controlled substances H. & S.C. 11365

·      Possession of non-narcotic prescription drugs without a prescription H. & S.C. 11377

·      Possession of prescription drugs without a prescription Business & Professions Code 4060

·      Cultivation of marijuana for personal use H. & S.C. 11358

·      Creating or using a forged or altered narcotic prescription, where the drug obtained was for personal use and not sold or furnished to another H. & S.C. 11368

·      Possession of marijuana while driving Vehicle Code 23222(b)

·      Using or being under the influence of a controlled substance H. & S.C. 11550; Penal Code 647(f)

·      Solicitation to commit a felony (applies where solicitation was for personal use only) Penal Code 653(f)”

 

This information was obtained from Gedulin and Greany’s website:

http://www.gandgcriminaldefense.com/the-criminal-process/drug-diversion-pc-1000

Prop 36: San Diego Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs

March 31st, 2012

California’s Proposition 36 has offered thousands of drug addicts and alcoholics a second chance at life.  At La Jolla Recovery we work with San Diego probation officers, courts, and local judges to offer arrestees an opportunity to recover from addiction and thereby change the course of their lives.  We specialize in working with young adults that have been involved in nonviolent, drug related crimes.  Our trained staff works in partnership with Prop 36 probation officers as we provide weekly progress reports and drug and alcohol test results.

Brief history of Proposition 36:

On November 7th, 2000, California voters passed Proposition 36, formally known as the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act, in an effort to “provide treatment as an alternative to prison and to address substance abuse as a matter of public health rather than criminal justice (Hser et al. 2003; Marlowe et al. 2003).   This novel approach to substance abuse and crime reduction has changed the lives of many individuals and has reduced recidivism and economic dependency, as many La Jolla Recovery graduates have completed Prop 36 and are now productive members of society.

Health Insurance for Drug Addiction Treatment

March 31st, 2012

At La Jolla Recovery, we are constantly working to promote social justice for the recovery community.  I invite you to join us in our advocacy efforts!  The first step is understanding the political issues that surround “addiction.”  Today we will be looking at discrimiation in the healthcare industry, particualarly the unfair benefit caps on addiction treatment.  I have found an interesting paper in the Yale Law Journal that I would like to share with you today.  If you would like to read more, please feel free to go to JSTOR.com and search:

Simple Fairness: Ending Discrimination in Health Insurance Coverage of Addiction Treatment quick view
Sonja B. Starr
The Yale Law Journal, Vol. 111, No. 8 (Jun., 2002), pp. 2321-2365

Imagine if health insurance companies rationalized that people with schizophrenia, cancer, or clinical depression should be denied insurance coverage on the unfounded basis that these illnesses are the result of personal choice or character failings.  This is the absurd attitude that insurance companies take when justifying their policies to deny addiction treatment. When most drug addicts or alcoholics finally decide to get sober, they quickly realize that quality treatment can be very expensive and worse, that health insurance companies have benefit caps on coverage for addiction treatment. In Sonja B. Starr’s work, “Simple Fairness: Ending Discrimination in Health Insurance Coverage of Addiction Treatment,” (The Yale Law Journal, Vol. 111, No. 8 pp. 2321-2365) she states that:

“The general principle that I advocate is substance abuse treatment parity, which means that insurance plans should provide coverage for addiction treatment that is equivalent to that provided for analogous conditions.  In some cases, failure to provide such parity should be considered illegal disability discrimination on the part of employers and insurers.  Moreover, new laws should be adopted to require insurance parity explicitly.”

In other words, employers and health insurance companies are unfairly treating people who are afflicted with the disease of addiction as they “put limits on coverage that do not apply to other diseases.” (Starr)  It is apparent that social stigmas toward people with addiction have prevented individuals from receiving adequate medical care.  Today, there are millions of Americans that need medical care in order to recover from addiction.  At La Jolla Recovery, we understand that addiction is a legitimate medical illness.

To support her argument, Starr explains that addiction is a “medical illness that requires medical treatment.”  She quotes Madeleine Nash’s work, “Addicted; Why Do People Get Hooked?  Mounting Evidence Points to a Powerful Brain Chemical called Dopamine,” to state that: “Americans tend to think of drug addiction as a failure of character.  But this stereotype is beginning to give way to the recognition that drug dependence has a clear biological basis.  Addiction is… a disorder of the brain no different from other forms of mental illness.”  It is important for our society to understand – as the medical community has proven — that alcoholics and drug addicts are not people who are destroying their lives out of choice, they are battling a mental illness that needs proper treatment.