Perspectives
New Ways of Looking at
Drug Dependence
Unique insights offered by:Linda Strause, PhDProfessor, University of California, San DiegoCo-Founder & Vice PresidentG. Randall & Sons
A weekly series of short articles written exclusively for 100 Million Ways by Linda Strause, PhD. Linda's PhD was in neurophysiology and biochemistry. She specializes in drug dependence and addiction. We will also host occasional guest contributors.
Dr. Strause combines over 30 years in clinical research and as a professor of nutrition at UC San Diego, with her peronal journey: her husband's diagnosis and death from brain cancer. She has been interviewed by KCBQ and by Dr. Jamie Corron of the Center for Medical Cannabis Education. She was recently selected to be interviewed by
Authority Magazine for their series, Women Leaders in Cannabis.
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Perspective #19: Pandemic Isolation and the Opioid Epidemic.
Posted 3-4-21
81,003. That’s the number of people who died from drug overdoses in the 12 months ending last June 2020. That is a 20% increase and the highest number of fatal overdoses ever recorded in the U.S. in a single year.
Drug deaths started spiking last spring as the coronavirus forced shutdowns and caused shelter-in-place orders. More recent statistics from cities throughout the U.S. and Canada show the crisis has only deepened. In Colorado, overdose deaths were up 20% and those involving fentanyl doubled; British Columbia reported nearly five overdose deaths per day in 2020, a 74% increase over the previous year; a study released this month showed emergency room overdose visits increased 45% during the pandemic, even as total ER traffic slowed.
The pandemic has ushered in stress, isolation, and economic disruptions, all known triggers for addiction and relapse, while robbing people of access to treatment options and support systems. Addiction specialists across the country report that the historic Covid-19 pandemic colliding with a preexisting drug epidemic, made even deadlier by the readily available and less expensive potent synthetic opioid fentanyl, has been devastating for their patients. Many have been lost to follow-up ; some have died; others have relapsed.
The increase in opioid deaths is a setback. We were finally making headway, thanks to growing public attention and government funding. Overdose deaths were falling in 2018 for the first time in years. But the spread of fentanyl erased those gains, and the pandemic has further undercut efforts to control the opioid epidemic. With public health officials rightfully focused on the coronavirus, suffering and death due to substance abuse have fallen off the radar.
The financial toll of the pandemic means many cash-strapped health care systems are cutting addiction treatment programs just when they are needed most. Even as opioid overdoses have skyrocketed amid the coronavirus pandemic, states are nevertheless slashing addiction treatment program budgets. Covid-19 has exacerbated the opioid crisis, and escalated overdose deaths, patients are falling out of recovery as the pandemic drags on, wearing people down. Jobs have been lost yielding economic stress, and grief - all taking a toll.
Addiction reshapes the brain; this has made the pandemic particularly challenging for those with substance use disorder. People in recovery have hypersensitivity to stress and diminished capacity to experience normal levels of reward.
Other pandemic-related factors are increasing the death toll as well. The pandemic is disrupting the supply chain for drugs. Users turn to unknown suppliers ending up with counterfeit drugs that look like prescription pills but contain fentanyl which lead to more overdoses. With stores closed and restrooms and public spaces inaccessible during the pandemic, people are now using drugs in public, rushing, not always taking time to be safe. Making this even more complicated, people who lose their supply or relapse and start using again are susceptible to overdose because their tolerance can fall sharply after a period of not using.
It’s the isolation that is the major contributor to the rising number of deaths. It keeps people from their social support networks and gives them more privacy to use. There is less opportunity to participate in any form of community. People can’t be around friends, go to the gym or restaurants; all of the everyday activities that help mitigate anxiety and depression are gone. Addiction grows in the dark, and in the pandemic, you have more people who are alone, not accountable to friends and family, and at risk. That can be fatal for someone using drugs: If they overdose, no one is nearby to administer the antidote naloxone or summon help.
Addiction is a disease that wants to get you alone and kill you, and the pandemic has created that lonely scenario for dying. People are isolated so it’s no surprise that the opioid epidemic has grown. The past year has also been challenging for organizations that provide treatment and other support for people in recovery. Social distancing requirements mean clients must now line up outside and wait for services, even in the bitter cold. Methadone clinic lines and packed waiting rooms leave clients vulnerable to the coronavirus requiring them to make appointments and practice social distancing in clinics, but if you don’t have a working phone, it’s hard to make appointments as the pandemic has shuttered libraries, coffee shops, and shared spaces that served as places for people without housing to charge phones and access services.
The pandemic has forced the cancelation of addiction support meetings and may be the ultimate “gateway drug.” There is hope; virtual therapy and outpatient services are more accessible now that federal restrictions for addiction medication have been loosened in response to the pandemic. The need for services remains high; while other businesses are closing their doors, more addiction clinics are opening as COVID winds down.
People are desperate for treatment but afraid to get it. As with other areas of medicine during the pandemic, the ability to deliver medical and support services for addiction virtually has been transformative but imperfect. On the plus side, new technologies could help provide treatment to the estimated 90% of people with substance use disorder who go without access to treatment.
Virtual sessions are not for everyone. It’s harder to develop rapport and earn trust over a screen. Opioid use disorder is stigmatizing. People with OUD know they’re going to be judged, so gaining trust is more challenging when you’re not in an office where you can close the door and sit face to face. A patient commented that “virtual sessions cannot check his urine so it’s easier to cheat.” So much of communication is non-verbal, gained from sitting in a room with other people, sharing, seeing their body language, responding naturally rather than mediated by technology. There is warmth, intimacy, and commonality in physically shared spaces that are inherently lacking in virtual spaces like Zoom. While more research is needed to prove that virtual therapy can be as effective as in-person sessions, it’s certainly better than nothing.
Perspective #18: How Technology Can Help Us to
Overcome the Opioid Crisis
February 24, 2021
Today I want to talk about opioid overdoses. This isn't a fun, happy subject to talk about. However, we must recognize the magnitude of the problem and understand how through technology, innovation, and public policy, we can mitigate the problem, significantly reducing the amount of detriment this does to people with substance use disorder, to their families and to our society.
Overdose deaths are the #1 cause of accidental death for those under 50. Your friends, family, and neighbors under 50 are more likely to die from an unintentional drug overdose than in a car accident, a fire, or by guns. More people died in 2017 from drug overdoses than in the entire Vietnam war. Opioids affect people from all walks of life, from people with doctorates to people who haven’t graduated from high school. From young mothers to their unborn child. People who use drugs typically use opioids at about the same rate that ordinary people eat food every 4 to 6 hours.
In harm reduction, rule number one is never, ever use alone. That is not always practical, especially during a pandemic, but try not to use alone - access to life saving medications such as Naloxone (Narcan), which quickly reverses overdoses in minutes after being sprayed up a nose, needs someone there to administer this life saving medication. Finally, we need to work with lawmakers to increase access to treatment and educate people about harm reduction strategies, such as testing for adulterated drugs.
These measures are significant and tackle some of the major obstacles preventing people from successfully recovering from opioid use disorder. However, overdoses are still going up and life expectancy in the US, for the first time, is going down because of this epidemic.
When COVID- 19 hit, the country immediately passed a $1.9 trillion stimulus package. Suppose a small fraction of that money was put towards funding and identifying evidence-based solutions to these problems combined with good public policy. We could save many lives and help people cope with the combined impact of a pandemic and an ongoing opioid crisis.
This problem is not going away. It's getting worse year after year. It will not be going away until we recognize the devastating impact on our society and embrace data-driven approaches to finding solutions.
One possible solution to this problem may be found in existing technologies many people wear on their wrists. With the rise of wearable computing and the internet of things (loT), we are getting more comfortable being around technology and recognizing its importance in our everyday life. We are more comfortable trusting technology to inform us and guide our behavior. This opens up a massive opportunity for us to combine things such as wearables with sensors capable of monitoring our health, allowing us to take charge of our well-being in ways that we have never been able to do in the past.
Currently, Apple has a watch that will call 911 if it recognizes that you have fallen and is already saving lives. What if it could also be used to identify people experiencing an overdose? If you use alone, this might save your life. This could be an exciting area of development for an enterprising entrepreneur looking to do meaningful work that could prevent accidental overdose deaths and save lives.
Another way the technology could help solve the opioid crisis is precision medicine. Recent advances in DNA sequencing and analysis have identified correlations between a person's DNA and their risk of developing substance use disorder (SUD). Scientists have known that a person's DNA can affect the way they react to certain drugs. A person may have a genetic variant or variance that causes them to metabolize a drug more quickly or more slowly than normal. Additionally, epigenetic factors which underlie some of the interplays between the environment and our genes are also implicated in drug abuse risk. Studies have shown that DNA methylation, the most studied epigenetic mechanism in humans, is altered by opioid misuse or dependence. What if a test were available to determine a person's risk of developing SUD? Doctors could use it to identify genetic or epigenetic risk factors to educate their patients, inform patient care and improve health outcomes.
We cannot ignore the needs of those suffering chronic pain any more than those living with SUD. We must acknowledge people with SUD as patients. We must improve health coverage for access to complimentary alternatives or adjuncts to opioids for pain management, such as cannabis. We must leverage technology to improve the lives of those living with SUD by informing them about their risk, helping to monitor their health, providing support in their addiction, and practice harma reduction tactics to prevent overdose deaths.We need to provide realistic pathways to physical and mental wellness. We need to prevent - but accept relapse. It is only by taking a comprehensive and holistic approach to solving a problem that intersects our lives and affects our communities that we will make progress.
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Perspective #17: Friends, Family and the Road to Recovery
Feb. 11, 2021
A strong support network, including family members, friends, counselors, and health care providers, are an important part of recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD). Whether a person has recently started using, is entering treatment, or is already in recovery, having family and friends’ support can be crucial for a person’s recovery. Starting a conversation about opioids can be difficult, but it’s important to start the conversation and keep it going when it gets tough.
Talking to someone about their opioid useLet’s start with how to have a conversation with someone who you are concerned about. Talking to someone you care for about addiction can be awkward, challenging, and a little terrifying, especially if the reasons for having the conversation have to do with changes in their behaviors or attitude. You may worry that you’re being intrusive or that bringing it up could make the problem worse or hurt your relationship. But if someone you care about shows signs of opioid abuse or dependence, it’s important to confront the situation early before it becomes a problem you can’t avoid. By starting a conversation, you may be the turning point that leads your loved one to recovery.
Before confronting someone regarding concerns about their drug use, be prepared that they may not be ready to hear what you have to say. They may go through stages similar to those of grief before being able to accept your concerns: denial, anger, downplay the problem, depressed and eventually accepting. The best thing you can do in all of these situations is to listen more than you speak. By asking guiding questions and keeping the conversation going, you allow your loved ones to talk about what’s going on in their lives, share how they are feeling, and hopefully open up the lines of communication so that your loved ones feel less alone, less isolated and start working toward acknowledging that they have a problem and committing themselves to their recovery.
Here are some ways to start a conversation with someone you’re concerned about. The key here is to focus on what you see, how you feel, and what you think. The goal is not to judge or shame, but ultimately to listen and understand.
—I just wanted to check in with you to see how you’re doing. —I noticed that you’ve been acting a little differently lately. Is everything okay?—I’m worried about you.—I’ve noticed you’ve been drinking a lot more than usual lately. Is there anything you need to talk about?—I’ve noticed you’ve been using more pain medication and I’m worried about you. Is your pain worse?
—I want you to know that I’m here for you if you need anything.
Once the conversation has started, you can ask more leading questions such as these:
—How long have you been feeling like this?—Is there something you’re trying to escape from or to forget?—Is your pain worse?—Do you feel that your drug use is a problem?—How would you feel trying not to use your pain medication for 24 hours? A week?—How can I best support you right now?—Have you thought about getting professional help?
Remember, you’re there to listen and to be supportive. You’re not there to fix the situation or lead the conversation. Listen to what is said and respond directly, when appropriate, with encouraging words, such as:
—I want you to know that you are not alone.—I am here for you, and I want to help you in any way that I can.—I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but you can be in control of your life again. —I may not understand exactly how you feel, but I love you, and I’m here to help.
The best thing you can do in these situations is to listen, asking guiding questions, and allow the person you care about to talk about what’s going on in their lives.
Talking with someone living with OUDTreating OUD is hard. It’s important to seek professional help by contacting a local addiction center or mental health professional. Even your family doctor may have experience treating people living with OUD or can refer you to someone who does. Some doctors and clinics specialize in treating OUDs and getting an initial evaluation can be a critical first step on the road to recovery.
Find a local support network. Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous aren’t for everyone, but they can be a good place start. These groups provide a network of encouragement and solidarity with those who are working to overcome their addictions. Follow up with your loved one on their own treatment. As they make changes to their social habits, exercise routine, or other behaviors to help them cope with their addiction, be sure to acknowledge those changes and affirm them. Change can be scary and old habits can come back quickly if not supported. And remember, everyone is different. Some may make progress quickly and stick with it; while others may relapse. Some may take a long time to come around, but when they do, they are fully committed. It takes time to find the “right fit” when it comes to treatment. Not all programs will work for everyone, and it may not be easy, but it’s important to be patient, forgiving, and kind towards those who are struggling to live with their condition.
Be encouraging. People living with OUD often believe that they will never recover from their condition or that their addiction is a personal moral failing, and that they are undeserving of help. They may feel shame about things they’ve done or said, people they’ve hurt, or relationships they’ve harmed. They need someone who can always remind them that they are worthy, that they are loved, that things can get better and will.
What not to say when talking with someone living with OUD“Don’t threaten, don’t force, don’t lecture, or use harsh words. No matter how frustrated you feel, you can’t “scare someone into recovery.” Threatening to kick them out, cut them off, or take their children away from them if they don’t stop will only play into their fears and insecurities, pushing them farther away and possibly leading them to make even more harmful or rash decisions. You also can’t force people with OUD disorder to stop using or taking drugs – but you can provide them with the support and encouragement they need to choose to seek help and get treatment. Lecturing also doesn’t work. It will only make the emotional pain they feel worse by compounding it with your feelings of disappointment or disillusionment. Lecturing can feel productive to the person doing the talking but can make your loved ones feel like they’re not being heard; that they are a burden, or affirm other negative thoughts they have about themselves.
Using harsh words, like “alcoholic,” “drug addict,” or “junkie,” can minimize the feelings your loved ones have shared with you and can make them feel that you weren’t listening or don’t care about their feelings. It's not your job to assign labels to other people’s struggles. Instead of labeling, focus on describing the challenges using words or phrases like “problems with alcohol” or “difficulty with drug use.” Don’t assign blame or guilt. Avoid saying things like, “you’re ruining your life,” “your drug use hurts me,” or “think about what you’re doing to your family.” These kinds of comments will also reinforce the negative feelings and emotions a person has about their condition and push them farther away and deeper into crisis.
Don’t minimize or make excuses for their problem. Saying things like, “oh, you’re just stressed right now” or “you could stop if you wanted to” can interfere with your loved one’s recovery process, which starts with acknowledging that there is a problem. When you talk with someone under the influence, don't try and reason with them. They're not in a clear frame of mind, cannot fully understand you, and may react more negatively than if they were sober.
OUD can be difficult to overcome. It’s impossible to know what kind of challenges your loved one will face along the way. Setbacks or even relapse are not a reflection on the strength of your personal relationship, and they do not mean that your loved one doesn’t care or doesn’t want to recover. Don’t blame yourself, and don’t blame the person you care about. You can’t cure someone else’s addiction. Even if you could, it isn’t your responsibility. It’s up to the individual to make a personal commitment to their own recovery. The only thing you can do is to love and support them on their journey. To celebrate them in recovery and help them to pick themselves up when they fall short.
Visit 100MillionWays.Org and check out Buddy-Bot, a peer support process, and join the conversation.
Perspective #16: Bad Advice for People
Living with Addiction or Dependence
January 26, 2021
You may not believe this, but some of the best advice you get can actually be the worst advice. Bad advice can sometimes validate what we already knew to be true but were in denial about it. This advice is not meant to be helpful nor to be followed. The goal instead is to highlight some myths about recovery. To be aware of things that can cause confusion or misunderstanding about what is helpful for those living with addiction or with a dependence on opiates. You may meet individuals on your journey or recovery that are so caught up in their own problems or mistaken beliefs about recovery that their advice should be suspect. What follows are some examples of the worst advice you are ever going to hear about addiction, dependence, and recovery. It is strongly recommended that you ignore this advice completely.
To Break Free of Addiction, You Need to First Reach Rock-bottom The idea that you need to lose everything to escape addiction is based on a misunderstanding of what hitting rock bottom actually means. There is nothing magical about hitting rock bottom. You can decide that you have reached this point at any time you like. Rock bottom simply means that you have decided you are ready to change, that you have lost enough, and do not want to lose anything more. The problem with waiting until you lose everything is that you are more likely to die while waiting to stop. This is because the deeper you fall into addiction, the harder it can be to make the necessary changes in your attitude or behaviors to break free.
A better option is to recognize when you are giving up things you want or need because you need to satisfy your desire for a drug you crave. When you refuse to give up anymore, you are ready. The sooner you ask for help and commit to your recovery, the more likely you are to be successful. There is no benefit to staying trapped in a cycle of addiction for even one minute more than you have to. I know, easy to say. But the sooner the better, because it gets worse and life flies by while you wait to stop. Life is absolutely better free from the shackles of addiction.
There is Only One Road to Recovery from Addiction. Most experts agree that a ‘one size fits all’ approach to addiction recovery is not effective. People are different, they become addicted or dependent for different reasons, and they struggle with their addiction for different reasons. Different approaches to sobriety are necessary. What works for one person might now work for you or someone else. You should not feel guilty about wanting to try a different path to your recovery. And you should not feel guilty about having to try different paths.
You Only Get One Chance at Recovery.Since there is no “one size fits all” road to recovery, this means that for many, failure is part of the process. The road to recovery has many on-ramps and off-ramps. Falling off the wagon, as they say, only means you get up, dust yourself off, and get back on the wagon. You may fear judgment and feel shame about r failure; this isn’t easy, find pride in starting again. It takes willpower, a commitment to self-care, and a willingness to feel compassion for yourself and forgive yourself for your failures. Start again and focus on rebuilding a life worth living.
Sobriety is All about WillpowerFor some, willpower may be enough. For most, it may be enough to stay sober for a few days, maybe a few weeks or months, but it is unlikely to be enough to keep you going long-term. This white-knuckle, cold-turkey approach to recovery tends to mean treating recovery as if it were a punishment, something to be endured rather than embraced. Recovery is not a punishment; it is a gift. Relying on only willpower, often motivated by fear of failure, can be exhausting. Again, it works for some. Once you have been sober for a little while, this fear of failure may fade – but could be replaced with a kind of irrational confidence that if you survived the worst, whatever else happens you’ll handle it. However, if you can’t handle it and if you don’t have the support you need, you may find yourself falling back into addiction. This is why it is important to find a web community and build a life community away from addiction. With a community you will no longer have to rely on willpower alone to stay the course. It is a place to share feelings, get or give experiential advice and be anonymous. Explore participating in online communities. 100MillionWays.Org offers a free BuddyBot program for online peer support.
Sobriety Requires a Certain Belief System. Epistemology matters. Understanding what we know about things and how we come to know them is essential for distinguishing between justified beliefs and opinions. The fact that there are so many successful paths to recovery proves that no single set of beliefs are necessary. In fact, trying to believe things because they make you feel uncomfortable may actually prove detrimental in the long run. Listen to the facts then pick and choose which elements of any recovery approach appeal to you without having to accept every aspect of it. The best advice is to use trusted sources for information and only use what works for you.
You Can Never Safely Drink or Use Drugs Again After a Period of SobrietyMost people who have developed physical addiction or dependence on any drug, are unlikely to ever be able to use the substance again safely. There are many examples of people relapsing after successfully recovering from addiction – even with long periods of sobriety. To fully break free from the cycle of addiction or dependence, you need to accept that substances have no place in your life. There can be no ambiguity about this, or else it can be the seed of your own relapse. For others, abstinence is not an option. For those who experience chronic pain and are physically dependent on medication, it may be necessary to find a healthy balance between abstinence and effectively managing symptoms. In these cases, it may be helpful to consider complementary or alternatives approaches for managing symptoms. If you need pain medications, try to use stronger drugs less frequently. Just using less strong pain medications like opioids will improve your quality of life and decrease your chance of dying from an overdose. The blogs and perspectives posted in 100MillionWays.Org touch on many of these subjects. Share your personal saga if you are so inclined.
Only the Most Serious Cases Require Medical SupervisionAddiction is a disease formally called substance use disorder. A medical disease can benefit from medically supervised care. Modern medicine relies on evidence to guide decision making. This applies to both individuals and groups; knowing what works for most helps to determine what will work for an individual. Depending on the case and the individual, a medically supervised detox can be helpful to those who want to break free of their addiction or dependence in a way that will increase their comfort levels and make them more likely to stick with their recovery and stay sober over the long-term.
Overcoming Addiction Is All You Need To Do To Live A Perfect LifeOne of the most common reasons individuals relapse after a period of sobriety is a disappointment due to unrealistic expectations. Life happens. The road to recovery is a journey, not a destination. There is no graduation or event to mark the end of a successful recovery. The only guaranteed reward for a successful recovery is sobriety in itself. While you may notice some improvements in your life due to ending the cycle of addiction or dependence, that is only the start of your journey. There will be many challenges that you will face on your journey so it is important to be prepared to face these challenges soberly and with realistic expectations. Sobriety is a kind personal development course that lasts a lifetime but if you stick with it, your life will continue to improve as long as you continue making positive changes. Eventually, you may reach a stage where you can enjoy a sense of serenity most of the time. However, you will not arrive at this place overnight and aren’t guaranteed to stay there should you arrive.
You Will Never Not Miss Using DrugsSome who have been physically sober for a long time still miss using alcohol or drugs. This fact underscores the seriousness of addiction and how deeply it can affect you, but his fact does not mean that everyone will feel the same way. For some, embracing sobriety is the end of their journey, but without building a better life free of substances, you may find lingering feelings of nostalgia preventing you from moving on completely. You can build a better life where drugs no longer hold your interest free of those feelings towards drugs that might draw you back in.
Feeling Depressed Means You Need to Work Harder at RecoveryDepression, like addiction and dependence, is a medical condition and experiencing depression has nothing to do with how hard you are working at your recovery. If you find that symptoms of depression prevent you from getting the most out of recovery, see a doctor and get a proper diagnosis and treatment. It’s a disease like substance use disorder. But through your journey it is most important to only accept medical advice from those properly qualified to offer it.
We invite you to explore the 100 Million Ways, read the blogs, and share your own saga.
Perspective #15 Community Solutions for Opiate Addiction and Dependence
January 11, 2021
Media coverage of addiction issues tends to focus on individual stories and recovery against the odds. Celebrities confessing their struggles and describing their recovery as dramatically as possible along with confessions and criminal indictments. This creates an impression that addiction is a problem caused by individuals affecting individuals and that treatment starts and ends with the individual overcoming their addiction or dependence on opiates. Viewing opiate addiction or dependence as a "personal problem" isolates us from the reality of its community roots, impact, and responsibility.
The Stigma of AddictionThere is a saying that "every addict impacts six other people in their addiction." This is true but it also means that every recovering addict will affect six other people in their sobriety. This means that recovery is possible through connection to others in your community. This includes services provided by the community at large for those struggling with opiate addiction or dependence as well as friends and family. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to treatment services which means that many are reliant on informal connections and support from friends and family who may not be qualified or able to provide meaningful support. Some may be resistant to entering treatment and recovery, even when services are made available. This can be due to stigma or denial about the seriousness of their condition. This stigma and the beliefs about addiction take the focus away from the community and place it solely on the individual.
Here are some common false beliefs about addiction:1. Addiction is a moral failing caused by personal weakness or character flaw, that a person with sufficient willpower and character can overcome addiction by sheer strength of will.
2. Addiction is caused by our biology and that physical differences in addicts explain why some people become addicted or dependent while others don’t suggest. This suggests that medication or lifestyle changes alone can overcome opiate addiction or dependence
3. Addiction is an attempt to "self-medicate" or treat trauma or other mental health issues and that treating the trauma or depression will resolve a person’s desire to use drugs.
4. Addiction is caused by family dynamics related to generations of drug and alcohol use. Often these families face additional issues such as poverty, crime, or neighborhood drug use. The solution then is to change the dynamics of the family which encourages addiction, address the related social problems, and find a connection with a healthier support group.
5. Addiction is caused by feelings of alienation, a "hole in the soul" that needs to be filled leading a person to feel isolated and lack direction resulting in them filling that whole with drugs and getting high. The solution is to help the person connect with something greater than themselves, a higher power, and to develop a greater sense of purpose.
Most treatment professionals agree that addiction is the result of all of these things and that only by recognizing ALL of these possible explanations for addiction can we ever hope to play a useful role in recovery. Addressing all of these areas increases the likelihood of successful, long-term sobriety.
Many of these factors involve making changes to our communities and families, giving our families and our communities ownership over addiction and dependence thus making them a pillar of treatment programs that are vital in making long-term recovery a viable reality. Humans are social creatures. We live within layers of a connected society made up of individuals. It is very difficult to heal in the confined space of individuality. Treatment that is embedded within a community has a much greater chance of addressing the root causes of addiction and dependence.
Solutions to the Stigma of AddictionTraditional approaches were founded on scare tactics, such as “Just Say No” campaigns or “This Is Your Brain on Drugs.” These programs, such as DARE and Scared Straight, do not work. They have consistently been demonstrated to have little to no long-term impact on a person's decision to use alcohol and drugs. And showing people in hand-cuffs does not change long term recovery rates. Another approach is crisis-based and mandatory treatment. People who are forced to enter the recovery process through interventions, criminal charges, medical crisis, job threats, custody battles, and divorce ultimatums are often enough for a person to temporarily interrupt their use of drugs. Unfortunately, research shows that while mandated treatment has a better treatment completion rate than "self-referred" clients, over the long term they are no more likely to maintain their sobriety.
Community-Based Solutions to Opioid Addiction and Dependence. Social marketing emerged in the 1970s as a way to shift the traditional consumer-focused marketing strategies selling products to selling ideas and services to enhance the health of the general community. Examples include commercials and billboards encouraging prenatal care, discouraging smoking, and wearing safety-belts. This approach was effective at changing community conversations about smoking and drunk driving, as well as what to do when you become pregnant. This strategy may be key to shifting the conversation about recovery from an emphasis on getting people through treatment quickly and into recovery to a social awareness about the root causes of addiction and a shared understanding that addiction is a chronic condition requiring longer-term support from a variety of sources. Social marketing could be a powerful tool for sharing stories about successful long-term sobriety and what it takes to stay sober long term.
Social marketing can also challenge stigmas replacing dramatic pictures of addicts at rock-bottom with more compelling images of recovery and sobriety showing the collective benefits of sobriety. Instead of focusing on what people will lose through addiction or dependence, focus on what people will gain through their recovery and sobriety. They get their families back, their careers, their children, a stable home, long-term relationships, better physical health, and more compelling interests.
What this all means is that a healthy community is the only known cure for addiction and that people with long term sobriety need to "come out" and demonstrate that recovery is not just possible, but probable with the right individualized self-care plan AND support from the community.
Please consider joining the online community at 100.MillionWays.Org. You will make it a better place!
References1. The effectiveness of Drug Abuse Resistance Education ...2. http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-abuse-treatment-criminal-justice-populations/legally-mandated-treatment-effective3. The media and addiction recovery - William White Papers4. Social marketing - Wikipedia
Perspective #14 Cannabinoids in Cannabis Improve Resilience in
Patients with PTSD and Reduces Drug
Craving and Anxiety in Patients Recovering from Opioid Use Disorder
January 3, 2021
A new study shows that cannabis could help those living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder orPTSD. It adds to a growing body of research suggesting a key role for cannabinoids in managingrisks associated with the disorder. PTSD is a chronic condition that can occur after a traumaticincident causing those who experience it to relive their trauma over and over again, causing stress,anxiety, and depression, and leading to panic attacks, hypervigilance, overwhelming emotions,detachment from loved ones, and sometimes even self-destructive or addictive behavior.Researchers found that people with PTSD who used cannabis saw greater reductions in theirsymptoms and were more than two and a half times more likely to recover from PTSD during thestudy than those who weren’t using cannabis. Sadly, PTSD is not an easy condition to treat or tolive with. Still, some PTSD sufferers say they’ve found relief from their intense symptoms through a controversial treatment - medical cannabis. People with PTSD are also more likely to experiencechronic pain which puts them at risk of developing an addiction or dependence on opioid painrelievers.
The incidence of PTSD and other psycho-social and pathophysiologic conditions have led to the widespread use of opioids in the United States which has resulted in an unprecedented epidemic of opioid addiction and dependence. A few treatments for opioid use disorders (OUD) are currently available, such as methadone and buprenorphine, and can help reduce opioid use and reduce the risk for opioid-involved overdoses. In some areas, however, these medications are underutilized and difficult to access, creating a treatment gap in which those who need medications face barriers to actually receiving them. Furthermore, 20-40% of OUD patients do not want to take agonist treatments.
A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to test whether cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating cannabinoid that is found in the cannabis plant, could reduce drug craving and anxietyin recently-abstinent individuals with heroin use disorder, found that, compared to those whoreceived a placebo, individuals who received a dose of CBD medication showed reduced cravingfor heroin as well as reduced anxiety lasting for about a week. The study involved 42 participantswho received one of two different CBD medication doses, or a placebo, once a day for 3 days. Theywere then exposed to drug-related or neutral cues to see whether CBD could reduce opioidcravings and anxiety, factors strongly associated with relapse to opioid use. The study medicationused in this study, EPIDIOLEX, is an FDA-approved plant-derived CBD medication in a liquidformation. In addition to measuring the effect of the medication on opioid craving, anxiety, theauthors also collected measures of positive and negative emotions, vital signs (skin temperature,blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate), and salivary cortisol levels, which measure stressresponse. Authors examined whether patients who received CBD, compared to those who receivedplacebo, showed differences in opioid craving, anxiety, positive and negative emotions, or vitalsigns, after being exposed to the drug or neutral cues. The results were very promising.
● Individuals receiving the CBD medication reported fewer cravings after being exposed todrug cues compared with individuals receiving placebo.● CBD reduced measures of stress response after the drug cue.● Individuals receiving CBD reported less anxiety after being exposed to drug cues comparedwith individuals receiving placebo with no significant differences between those receiving thelow-dose vs. the high-dose of CBD.
The implications of this study in light of the impact of the opioid epidemic underscore the need toidentify as many strategies as possible to curb opioid addiction and more effectively managechronic pain
In the past few years, scientists have asked whether or not cannabis could help individuals recover from opioid use disorder or serve as a less-risky pain management approach than pharmaceutical opioids. The small, experimental study here shows a potential benefit of CBD in reducing cue-induced craving and anxiety in heroin-abstinent individuals. This suggests a potential role for CBD in relapse prevention of opioid use disorder and showed that CBD substantially decreased cue-induced craving and anxiety.
If you are interested in learning more about CBD or have your own story to share, please reach outand let us know.
Perspective #13 Opioids and the Holidays: How To Have A Safe and Sober Holiday Season
Dec. 16, 2020
The potential for anxiety around the holidays is real, especially for those struggling with substance use disorders (SUD) or dependence. For many of us the holidays are a happy time to spend with family, friends, and coworkers, but this year things will be different. There will be no big holiday parties, no large gatherings. Instead, we won’t be gathering at all or we will be in small groups to celebrate the holiday season. Not everyone is so lucky to have such positive memories to look back on to carry us through this holiday season. Many of us have hidden conflicts based on past experiences or expectations that may not have been realized. Disappointment and family conflicts can be a source of tension between the realities of our situation and our idealized image of the holiday season. This struggle and sometimes failure to realize these ideals can be an acute source of stress and anxiety.
The first key to surviving the holidays is to have a realistic attitude about the potential for stress, anxiety, and conflict and what triggers these feelings. The holiday season may bring even more triggers, especially if you struggle with SUD, addiction, or dependence on opioids.
The risk of excessive drug and/or alcohol use during the holidays is real and the consequences include the potential for harm such as from motor vehicle accidents or overdose. The US Department of Transportation reports that fatalities related to impairment account for more than 25% of all vehicular crash fatalities in the US with many people dying in December alone.
The increased availability of drugs and alcohol during the holiday season can be difficult to resist. Drinking with friends and family during the holidays is a long-standing tradition in our country and the temptation to indulge is strong. In fact, 25% of the alcohol industry’s profits are earned between Thanksgiving in New Year’s, little more than a month.
This period of heightened use is particularly dangerous for a country where SUDs continue to be a major public health concern. While there is some reason for optimism, that is tempered by the reality that opioid use disorder remains a persistent threat to the health and well-being of all Americans.
Between 2018 and 2019 opioid use disorder decreased from 2 million to 1.6 million Americans. Efforts to increase access to treatment, psychosocial and community recovery have had a positive effect. Pain reliever misuse also decreased significantly from 2018 along with heroin initiation and heroin use among 18 to 25-year-olds. Despite these gains, opioid overdose deaths increased in 2019 underscoring the risk of potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and the continued need to engage people in treatment and recovery services.
People who are at risk of opioid relapse must be aware of and on guard against triggers that may tempt individuals to seek relief through harmful substances. It’s somewhat common for individuals to seek treatment in January after overindulging over the holidays by misusing drugs or alcohol, having self-destructive thoughts, and engaging in harmful behaviors. Often these cases are serious, coming to treatment through intoxication, withdrawal, or self-harm, and may require inpatient care.
This can be avoided by following some simple tips and understanding that addiction and dependence are not moral failings, they are disease states that can affect anyone. Be kind to yourself, understand and forgive your failures so that you can work on them is the first and most important step.
If you are concerned about your ability to stay sober over the holidays you must first be realistic about how the holidays can increase stress and anxiety and lead to dangerous behavior. Next, it’s important to take steps before entering the holidays to avoid problems that may trigger a relapse.
First, be kind to yourself. If you have a history of drug or alcohol misuse, it’s important to protect yourself and recommit yourself to recovery remaining centered and engaged with like-minded individuals in your community is essential. Don’t isolate.
Second, be kind to others, even if they are not kind to you. Embrace the holiday season and try not to be too self-absorbed, show kindness to others by taking part in volunteer activities. Get involved and stay engaged.
Third, take care of your physical health. Eat well, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly. Your physical health is tied to your mental health. According to a study published by the Harvard School of Public Health, running for 15 minutes a day or walking for an hour can reduce a person’s risk of major depression by 26%.
Fourth, stay safe. Avoid triggers by avoiding environments where drugs and alcohol are being used. If you find yourself in a situation where you might be tempted, be aware of where the exits are, and be prepared to leave.
Fifth, stay positive. It is entirely possible to enjoy the holidays without misusing drugs or alcohol. Participating in fun wholesome activities that allow you to connect with others in a way that doesn’t involve substances. Cook, decorate, play games, and sing songs. Discover the joy of wholesome pleasures.
This year you may find yourself in a better place than you were in last year, you may find yourself worse off than you did last year. However you find yourself, there’s always an opportunity to take stock of your successes and your failures and get validation and support from friends and loved ones and celebrate or recommit yourself to recovery and lasting sobriety.
Finally, don’t be afraid to embrace harm reduction strategies that can help you through the holiday season. Managing stress can be difficult but studies have shown that high- CBD cannabis or medicinal marijuana instead of harder drugs, can help manage stress and promote relaxation and a more positive mental attitude, but don’t overdo it. Too much THC, in particular, can have the opposite effect, making you feel more stressed, anxious, and less relaxed. So indulge, in moderation, enjoy yourself, your family, and the holiday season.
Perspective #12 Does safe access provide safety from suicide?
Dec. 4, 2020
There are many keys to recovery from addiction or dependence on opioids. One of the most important keys is the key that unlocks the door to a community that can not only nurture and support a person in recovery but also be a source of compassion and understanding. For many people, the first time they seek treatment for their addiction or dependence on opioids, they may not always find an environment that understands the challenges that those in recovery face. What they need is a caring and gentle environment designed to foster a community of recovery and deliver to the individual a model for enduring personal and societal change. By getting the support they need to find success in their recovery, they also have an opportunity to make a positive impact on their community.
How can we build a compassionate community for those in recovery while at the same time criminalizing and marginalizing addicts and those suffering from dependence or addiction to opioids? The answer is, we can’t. In order to break the cycle of addiction and dependence, we must first acknowledge the inherent humanity of those who suffer and struggle to understand that addiction and dependence is a natural part of the human condition under stress and in the absence of community.
One in four patients receiving long-term opioid therapy in a primary care settings struggle with opioid use disorder. A growing body of research points to the value of a holistic approach to recovery. Unfortunately, there are many barriers to access holistic care within a patient's community. Stigma associated with treatment and the limited availability of care can make overcoming these challenges a critical obstacle for engaging patients safely, comfortably, and compassionately to support sustained care.
There are five elements which can contribute to a successful holistic approach to the treatment of opioid addiction and dependence:
1. The stigmas associated with opioid addiction treatment must be addressed by embracing medication-assisted harm reduction treatment along with psychosocial and community interventions in order to engage, support, and reintegrate those suffering from opioid use disorders into their communities.
2. You must commit to combining medication-assisted therapy with supportive psychosocial and community interventions to support long-term recovery. Research shows that patients who are treated with medication and other interventions have better outcomes than those who are not.
3. Pain relief is the most common reason leading patients misuse opioids. Managing pain without the use of opioids including natural products such as cannabis, exercise, or other healthy lifestyle approaches for pain management is key to improving wellbeing and reducing dependency on opioids.
4. Don’t be limited by limitations. Many communities lack resources for effectively responding to the opioid crisis. Embracing alternatives such as Telehealth, or other online resources can help bridge the gap between effective treatments and convenient access.
5. Involving family members in the opioid recovery process is crucial for building long-term stability and community for those in recovery. Difficulty managing family conflicts can be a key contributor to opioid abuse. when family conflicts are resolved, and families are involved in the recovery process not only are those conflicts able to be addressed but the consequences are able to be resolved.
In the fight against addiction, a holistic view of the needs of those who suffer is key to ensuring their recovery. Without access to holistic care, those who suffer face a challenging battle from addiction to wellness. An innovative and integrated approach that focuses on building bridges from addiction and dependence to community and care is the key to empowering patients to overcome their addiction or dependence and lead healthy dynamic lives.
Perspective #11: Wow - What an election?
In regards to cannabis, "What does it mean?"
November 25, 2020
Five more states legalized cannabis, in some form, and Oregon became the first state to legalize psilocybin mushrooms for therapeutic use and decriminalize the possession of small quantities of drugs, for personal use. In addition, Washington, D.C. approved a measure to decriminalize other psychoactive substances in the nation’s capital.
These reforms passed decisively as Americans of all political stripes abandon the prohibitionist approach to drugs. With Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota all legalizing adult-use, one-third of all Americans will live in a state where cannabis is legal in some form.
Here’s a summary of what was approved on Election Day 2020:
Arizona
Voters passed an initiative legalizing adult-use marijuana for adults 21 years and older. Under the new legalization law, adults will be able to possess up to an ounce of marijuana in public and cultivate up to six plants for personal use.
Mississippi
Activists passed medical cannabis legalization allowing patients with debilitating medical issues to obtain cannabis after getting a doctor’s recommendation. It includes 22 qualifying conditions, such as cancer, chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. Qualified patients would be allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis per 14-day period.
Montana
Voters approved a measure to legalize marijuana for adult use and establish a legal system for cannabis production and sales.
New Jersey
Voters approved a referendum calling upon the state legislature to legalize adult use cannabis. Under legislation submitted to the state legislature after the passage of the referendum, adults 21 and older would be allowed to purchase and possess up to an ounce of marijuana or five grams of concentrates. Adult use retail will not be available right away, but medical cannabis dispensaries would be able to sell marijuana products to adult consumers immediately. A rules and regulations bill will still have to be passed and appointees for the Cannabis Regulatory Commission will have to be selected. Ultimately cultivation, processing and sale will be legal
Oregon
Voters passed two separate initiatives, legalizing psilocybin mushrooms for therapeutic purposes and decriminalizing the possession of drugs. The psilocybin measure will allow adults to access psilocybin mushrooms in a medically supervised environment.
The decriminalization measure removes all criminal penalties for low-level drug possession offenses. Criminal penalties will be replaced with a $100 fine or a health assessment to be completed within 45 days.
South Dakota
Voters legalized both medical and adult-use cannabis. The adult-use measure legalized the possession and distribution of up to 1 ounce of cannabis and will allow the cultivation of up to 3 plants. The medical cannabis initiative allows patients suffering from debilitating conditions to possess and purchase up to 3 ounces of medical cannabis from a licensed dispensary.
Washington, D.C.
Voters approved a local initiative decriminalizing the possession of a wide range of natural psychedelic entheogens, including psilocybin, ayahuasca and ibogaine. Under the new law, possession and use of the psychedelics will be among the District’s lowest law enforcement priorities.
Summary
“This historic set of victories will place even greater pressure on Congress to address the glaring and untenable conflicts between state and federal laws when it comes to cannabis legalization,” Steve Hawkins, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, said. “The federal government is out of step with a clear national trend toward legalization.”
“We can put an end to the social injustices and other harms that result from the criminalization of marijuana,” he said. “While cannabis legalization is not the cure-all to end the war on drugs, it is a necessary step and would provide an opportunity for many long-oppressed communities to finally have a chance to heal.”
It is our opinion that regardless of political differences, there is a growing consensus that past drug control policies have failed and need to be replaced with more sensible policies that put public health first and treat drug dependence and substance use disorders as health problems that need to be addressed medically not putatively. Let us know what you think!
Perspectives #10—Cannabis 101: "Everything you wanted to know about cannabis but were afraid to ask"
November 18, 2020
Natural Products And Prescription Drugs According to pharmacology, a drug is a chemical or biological substance used as a medication or in the preparation of medication. Typically the substance is of known structure, which, when administered to a living organism, produces a physiological effect. A prescription drug or medicine, is a substance that may be used to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose a disease or to promote well-being.
Many natural products contain drugs similar to those found in prescription medication. That doesn't mean they are the same things. What ultimately differentiates the two is potency, purity, and use. One caveat is that natural products may contain other ingredients which may confound or compliment the principal active ingredient by virtue of their synergistic interaction within our body.
There's something calming about sipping a cup of green tea, and it may be the L-theanine. An amino acid found naturally in green tea and some mushrooms, L-theanine is said to alleviate anxiety, improve sleep, and reduce stress. We don't consider green tea a drug and doctors are not prescribing it to their patients, although some may recommend it. Basically, “the dose makes the medicine, the dose makes the poison”.
Cannabis and Marijuana
When we think of cannabis, well - it is more complicated.
● We know that cannabis is a plant and don’t consider it a drug. It’s a plant. It’s a recreational drug. It seems to have medical advantages. It is still illegal.
● Even in states with approved ‘medical marijuana’, doctors are not prescribing it to their patients, but rather recommending it for medicinal purposes.
This is because cannabis contains cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, which have a biological effect on the body and may treat a variety of diseases and disorders.
● There are four approved prescription drugs made with cannabinoids: Marinol, Syndros, Cesamet and Epidiolex. Sativex, a mixture of THC and cannabidiol, is a mucosal spray approved in Canada for pain in multiple sclerosis.
Three have been approved by the U.S. FDA, one has been approved globally.
○ Two are based on THC
○ One is based on CBD, and
○ One containing a combination of CBD and THC.
● These products have demonstrated safety and efficacy based on FDA approved, double blind placebo-controlled studies, the gold standard for clinical research. It should be noted that these products do not completely reflect the potential of cannabinoids due to a limited source and limited variety of whole leaf cannabinoids.
For many most people that use cannabis, it is used either as needed. This is where the line gets blurry and where individuals are ultimately responsible for their use. Cannabis is generally considered to be safe and well tolerated, in low to moderate amounts. But there must be clinical trials to clearly establish safety and efficacy. And clinical trials can’t happen until the federal government changes its illegal status or, at least, allows controlled clinical research to inform patients and clinicians.
Although cannabis is not without side effects and at higher doses may be habit forming, current testing and quality control address a lot of these issues. Consumers should ask for information about the products they are buying, such as the certificate of analysis to know the potency. A better understanding of how people use cannabis to better manage pain, related symptoms, and reduce dependency on opioids and other prescription medications, can help us to improve access to cannabis as a complementary alternative to opioids for chronic pain relief and addiction.
Perspectives #9—Legally Speaking:
When Does A Natural Product Become A Drug?
Oct. 22, 2020
A natural product, broadly speaking, is any chemical, compound, or substance produced in
nature. A drug product refers to a finished dosage form, whether a tablet, solution, or any other
form, that contains a drug substance in combination with other ingredients. The substance that
makes the drug product can be the same as the active ingredient in a natural product. Penicillin,
the first antibiotic to be discovered, was isolated from the common mold known as Penicillium.
Penicillin antibiotics were among the first medications to be effective against many bacterial
infections and are still widely used today.
Many plants or foods may contain substances that, when isolated, may be added to other
ingredients, to produce a drug product. As a naturally occurring substance in a plant, that
substance is not considered a medicine. A great example is red yeast rice. Red yeast rice
extract naturally contains monacolin K, which is chemically identical to the active ingredient in
the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin. The drug, Mevacor, is prescribed by physicians to
individuals with high cholesterol. However, some individuals may choose to consume red yeast
rice as a part of a healthy diet. Mevacor is a medicine whereas red rice yeast is not.
When it comes to being a medicine, scientists are looking for evidence: good, clean, high quality
data that shows that something is safe and effective (at doing whatever it is we think it does)
and balances benefit over risk. Nothing is without risk, so what we want are medicines that
provide greater benefits than they do risks, that treat illness and restore health without leaving
the patient worse off after treatment.
Ultimately what determines whether something is a medicine or not is how we use it, how we
intend it to be used, and the purpose for which it is used. The pattern of use for a medically
prescribed drug seeks to treat the symptoms or causes of a disease while minimizing any
adverse effects. Medicines are tested in controlled clinical trials to demonstrate both safety and
efficacy. Natural products are often handed down from generation to generation but their
efficacy has not been proven in a controlled setting. Medicines will have health claims on their
labels whereas natural products will not. In general, natural products tend to have less side
effects than prescription medicines.
Medicinal marijuana or adult use? When is it medicine and when is it simply a natural product?
If we apply the definitions noted above, only those cannabis products (using the whole plant)
that have been tested in a controlled setting can be considered medicine. Both Sativex and
Epidiolex, produced by GW Pharma, are approved by the FDA as medicines for MS and two
forms of pediatric epilepsy, respectively. The question remains: How different is your adult use
marijuana from a prescription drug?
Perspectives #8 - Opioid Overdose and Dependence:
What it Looks Like, What to Do
October 8, 2020
With opioid use comes the risk of overdose and dependency. Knowing what to look for and what
to do if you suspect someone might be facing such challenges, may save a life.
What does an opioid overdose look like?
Recognizing the signs of opioid overdose is critical to knowing when and how to take action.
Symptoms of an opioid overdose can include;
● Unusual sleepiness
● Slow breathing and heartbeat
● Skin feels cold and clammy
● Pupils in the eye are tiny
● Nails and lips appear pale blue or gray
● Become unconscious, limp, or non-responsive to yelling or other stimulation
What should I do if someone is having an overdose?
Lightly tap, shake, and shout at the person to get a response. If you do not get a response, rub
your knuckles on the person's breastbone. Keep the person awake and call 911. If the person
does not have a pulse or is not breathing, perform CPR. Push down repeatedly on the chest at
a rate of 100 times per minute.
You can also use a prescription medicine, called narcan, which can be given right away at the
first signs of breathing problems or severe sleepiness. Narcan does not take the place of
emergency medical care.
How can I lower the risk of becoming dependent if I am prescribed opioids for pain
relief?
It's important never to take opioids in greater amounts or more often than prescribed. Work with
your primary health care provider to develop a plan for managing your pain.
● Never share or sell prescription opioids.
● Keep them secure from visitors, children, friends and family.
● Do not save unused opioid prescriptions, safely dispose of them through your pharmacy,
your community drug take-back program, or simply flush them down the toilet.
● If you believe you may be struggling with addiction, tell your health care provider and ask
for guidance.
What are the signs of opioid dependence?
People who are dependent on opioids experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking
them. People may become nervous or cranky particularly when they're unable to use their pain
meds. Their movements may become erratic and they're sleeping habits may change.
What should I do if I or someone I know becomes dependent on opioids?
If you or someone you know becomes dependent on opioids and is ready to seek help, the first
step is to find a physician or other healthcare professional who can help. Getting support for
yourself as well as a loved one is essential for recovery. It's important to acknowledge that it
may take several attempts at treatment to find the best approach. If you or someone you know
is not ready to seek treatment, a confrontational approach or an intervention is not
recommended and can escalate to violence or backfire in other ways.
A loving and compassionate approach is the best way to encourage and support their recovery.
Perspectives #7: Opioids 101 - Everything you want to know but are afraid to ask.
October 1, 2020
The word opioid covers a lot of ground. Opioids includes both prescription medications prescribed by doctors to alleviate pain and illegal synthetic drugs that can be downright deadly.
Opioids are highly addictive and people can become addicted or dependent on them for many reasons. The more you use and the longer you use, the more your brain and body come to believe that the drug is necessary for survival. As your tolerance for the pain-relieving effects increases, you may find you need even more to relieve the pain or achieve well-being, which can lead to dependency.
The opioid epidemic refers to the increase in both prescription and non-prescription opioid drug use for non-medical purposes. The statistics are sobering:
● According to the national survey on drug use and health, 19.7 million American adults over the age of 12 battled a substance use disorder in 2017.
● One out of every eight adults struggled with both alcohol and drug use disorders.
● 8.5 million Americans suffered from both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder.
● Drug use disorders cost American society more than 740 billion dollars a year in lost productivity, health care expenses, and crime-related costs.
Despite these sobering facts, it's important to remember that prescription opioids can be used responsibly to help relieve pain and when they are prescribed by doctors following surgery or serious injury and other health conditions. These medications can be an important part of treatment but also come with serious risks.
What are the side effects of opioid use?
Prescription opioids carry serious risk of addiction and overdose, especially with prolonged use. Side effects may include;
● Tolerance, meaning that you need more of a medication to get the same pain relief
● Physical dependence, meaning you have symptoms of withdrawal when medication is stopped
● Increased sensitivity to pain
● Constipation
● Sleepiness, dizziness, and confusion
● Depression
● Itchiness and sweating
● Affect on hormones including testosterone resulting in lower sex drive, energy, and strength.
Remember, with knowledge comes personal responsibility. Use it well.
Perspectives #6: Cannabis As Harm Reduction for
Opioid Dependency and Addiction
September 30, 2020
- Cannabis as harm reduction for opioid dependency and addiction: It can be used as a supplement to or substitute for opioids, and can help treat symptoms associated with withdrawal. (link)
We learned in a recently posted blog that there is a difference between dependency and addiction. Dependence refers to a physical dependence on a substance and is characterized by the symptoms of tolerance and withdrawal. Addiction is marked by a change in behavior caused by the biochemical changes in the brain after continued substance abuse.
When it comes to dependencies, wouldn’t it be nice if everyone suffering from opioid dependency could embrace abstinence. We all know that abstinence or going “cold turkey” isn’t easy and is not always an effective treatment option. You may have tried to go cold turkey when you tossed the full cigarette pack into the trash or emptied all the alcohol into your sink. Not very successful you say!
So instead of abstinence, we should consider substituting a safer substance for a more harmful one. This is the basic principle of harm reduction. The American Medical Association is greatly concerned with the increases in opioid-related mortality, specifically related to fentanyl. Suppressing opioid use with Methadone or Buprenorphine may be helpful but they are not without risk and side effects.
Cannabis, on the other hand, is more effective, has fewer side effects, and less risk of dependence and addiction. There are currently over 30,000 patient-years of data, mostly from randomized control trials using a cannabis extract, a sublingual spray called Nabiximols, tested for the treatment of pain. Nabiximols is a combination drug standardized in composition, formulation, and dose. Its principal active cannabinoid components are the cannabinoids: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Each spray delivers a dose of 2.7 mg THC and 2.5 mg CBD. Nabiximols has been approved in 27 countries. In that huge data set, there’s been no evidence of abuse or diversion. What’s more, most people who stop using cannabis are able to do so without any formal treatment.
Perspectives #5 Facing the unknown…without opioids
September 16, 2020
Amid the pandemic, amid shelter-in-place, the mental health of Americans is at an all time low. I remember coming back from visiting my 90 year old mother in mid-March. We had planned to attend the theater but the morning of the event, the theater in Palm Desert closed its doors due to COVID-19. I came back home, not seriously concerned. Four days later, the governor of California issued the shelter-in-place orders for the state. It would only be for 2, maybe 4 weeks. Now, 6 months later, there is no clear path forward. The unkwhen or if this will end?
The COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting economic recession, have negatively affected many people’s mental health and created new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders. In a KFF Tracking Poll conducted in mid-July, 53% of adults in the United States reported that their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the coronavirus. This is significantly higher than the 32% reported in March, the first time this question was included in KFF polling. Many adults are also reporting specific negative impacts on their mental health and wellbeing, such as difficulty sleeping (36%) or eating (32%), increases in alcohol consumption or substance use (12%), and worsening chronic conditions (12%), due to worry and stress over the coronavirus.
Recognizing the stress is the first step. Clearing the body of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, is the next step. This can be facilitated with physical exercise, yoga, Tai Chi, or stretching. Mindfulness and/or mediation, including breathing techniques, can also help us to relax and focus. Instead of turning the pills or alcohol, the controlled use of non-addictive cannabis products helps me to relax and focus on the positive elements of my life. —Linda Strause
Perspectives #4. Losing Family Members
Being in a relationship with an addict is difficult. Getting out of a relationship with an addict can be even more difficult. When we move on from a difficult relationship we sometimes find ourselves looking back, not because we're nostalgic for the hard times, but because we remember the good times. When those lost relationships are family, reconnecting may be even more difficult especially when relationships ended due to the loss of trust and the inability to forgive. That said, trust and forgiveness go hand in hand. Trust is easy to lose but hard to build. When trust is lost, it is only through forgiveness that can we begin to rebuild that lost trust. When we forgive others, we forgive them for what they have done but we don't necessarily forget. If you choose to forgive and allow an individual back into your life, forgive yourself and allow yourself to be forgiven. None of us are as compassionate or as forgiving as we might want to imagine ourselves to be. You are not a saint anymore than the other is a sinner. We are all human and flawed and only through forgiveness and love can we find meaningful relationships in our lives.
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Perspectives' Guest Contributor
Elliot Bostick: "The Life Triangle"
Working in accounting, I learned a timeless model. We use this model to figure out why people do what they do. Sometimes, it is used to show mistakes that we have made. Most of the time, it shows the goodness that we created.
The accountants call this model the "fraud triangle," but we should call it the "life triangle."
This model does not decide who you are—it explains your actions. You can be a great person. A nice person. A loving person. A successful person. However at one point, you might have made a bad decision that has negatively affected yourself and others. I know I have.
I will give you a look into my own life experiences but please explore this yourself:
Negative action scenario:
—Pressure - Your are working your butt off to finish your shift at work and are stressed
—Opportunity - Maybe a friend wants to hangout and get high afterwards
—Rationale - You deserve this. You have done a lot of good work
Positive action scenario:
—Pressure - Your are working your butt off to finish your shift at work and are stressed
—Opportunity - A loved one wants to grab dinner and watch a movie
—Rationale - You deserve this and earned it
There is greatness in our future. We should choose the life triangle! —Elliot Bodtick
3. Becoming a Mom, and a Caregiver
Becoming a mom changes you. I don’t think we are ever the same once we bring a life into the world. And yet that's the easy part. Being a mom can be the most rewarding, challenging, and loving experience a person can have in their life. Even then, worry and anxiety are unavoidable!
Before children, I slept through the night; that uninterrupted bliss of a good rest. With young children I worried about them falling, choking, or getting lost. With age the anxiety grew. When my sons got their driver's license and became more independent, I wouldn’t really sleep until they got home. I wasn't so much worried about them as I was worried for them. I found comfort from others, that loving touch that says, “everything will be ok” or being reminded that “bad news travels fast,” all helped me to manage my worrying and decrease the associated anxiety.
Having a community means that there is someone there to listen and comfort you. When one child is facing his or her own demons, seeking resources beyond those immediately impacted can provide help not only to the child but to the rest of the family. Much has been written about the stress of caregiving - whether for a spouse, an aging parent, or a child/young adult with an addiction. Learning to cope with being a caregiver means being aware of changes in your level of “compassion fatigue”, making self-care a priority, spending time with friends or with a support group, writing in a journal, and/or speaking with a counselor or therapist. Caring for oneself results in a healthier relationship with your family, a healthier relationship with your friends, and a healthier relationship with yourself. —Linda Strause
2. Experiencing Addiction: Cannabis As Harm Reduction In Recovery
Everyone's experience recovering from addiction is different because everyone's experience with addiction is unique. Addiction is often related to anxiety, depression, and obsessive compulsive behavior. To resolve the former we must first address the latter. There are many ways for people to become addicted, either by choice or accident. Ultimately it's the compulsive addictive behavior that drives addiction long term and only by breaking those habits can we hope for a successful recovery. This is why recovery ultimately requires a community which supports recovery both implicitly and explicitly by providing the opportunities, activities, and human connections that provide the foundation for long term recovery.
When you are suffering from addiction you often find yourself in the company of addicts, surrounded by people whose compulsive addictive behavior encourages and reinforces your own. One of the ways that I have found success in my recovery is by connecting with the cannabis plant in the same way as I connected with my dealer. I realize that at some level I'm substituting one addiction for another. However, I realized the potential harm is so much less. I'll never overdose from cannabis, I'll never have to compromise myself to get more, and if I want, I can grow my own cannabis each year.
Cannabis has been the key to my recovery. Not only does it help address the issues that drove my addiction but it also provides a community of like minded people who have all found their peace through this plant. I'm always amazed at how much this plant can do for humanity and for the planet. For me, it's part of my harm reduction strategy to be successful in my recovery and continue to feel like I'm a part of a community. —Linda Strause
1. The Evolution of Hope: Managing Hope in Recovery
There are countless ways people become addicted, some by choice, others by accident. Whatever your journey is, addiction reinforces the behaviors which drive the addiction. Breaking the cycle of addiction requires not only changing your habits but also your attitude and relationships with others. Addicts tend to associate with other addicts often struggling with the same feelings and despair over their life and the choices and mistakes that led them to a life of addiction. They may find them praying for a miracle, to be delivered from their addiction, and relieved of their despair.
Unfortunately, for addicts, prayers aren't always heard.
According to the national institutes on drug abuse the relapse rate for addicts in recovery is estimated to be between 40-60%, which is similar to rates of relapse for other chronic conditions such as hypertension or asthma. This suggests that success in recovery depends on compliance with the recovery process. For some, recovery is a life-long commitment with each day bringing a renewed commitment to sobriety. Sobriety can mean different things to different people. For some, sobriety means abstinence while for others it means moderation. Finding the right balance means hoping for the best possible outcome and praying for the strength and fortitude to persevere and achieve it.
I believe that hope is fluid. When my husband was dying I found that I got upset when someone would ask if I had ‘given up hope’. I decided that there is an Evolution of Hope, as one moves from hoping for a cure, hoping for more time, hoping for comfort, dignity, and peace. Recovery is only possible if you want it and only successful if you realize it's more to do with managing hope or our expectations than it does praying for a miracle or a magic silver bullet.
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Dr. Strause is an advocate for the better understanding of the science and medicine of cannabis. She and her team of cannabis experts at Randy's Club consult with customers and patients from all over the world. They have been integrating medical cannabis since 2010.
Dr. Strause combines over 30 years in clinical research and as a professor of nutrition at UC San Diego, with her peronal journey: her husband's diagnosis and death from brain cancer. She has been interviewed by KCBQ and by Dr. Jamie Corron of the Center for Medical Cannabis Education. She was recently selected to be interviewed by Authority Magazine for their series, Women Leaders in Cannabis.
Call SAMHSA National Hotline at 1-800-662-4357National Suicide Hot Line 1-800-273-8255
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