Addiction Specialists, LLC

09/14/2024

Breaking Down Barriers: Understanding Stigma and Privacy in Addiction Treatment
When a loved one struggles with addiction, the path to help can seem fraught with obstacles. Chief among these are the fear of judgment and the concerns about privacy that many families face when considering treatment options.

The Weight of Stigma
Stigma surrounding addiction remains a significant barrier to seeking help. It's fueled by misconceptions that addiction is a choice or a moral failing rather than a medical condition that requires treatment like any other health issue. This stigma can make families hesitant to reach out for the help their loved one needs, worried about what neighbors, friends, or other family members might think or say.

Privacy and Confidentiality in Treatment
Alongside stigma, privacy concerns play a crucial role in a family's decision to seek or delay treatment. The confidentiality of medical treatment for addiction is protected by law, yet the fear that personal health information might be exposed sometimes prevents families from taking that critical first step.

At Addiction Specialists LLC, we recognize these concerns and are here to offer both support and information:

Legal Protections: We adhere strictly to HIPAA laws that ensure all medical information remains confidential. This applies to all aspects of treatment, from the initial assessment to ongoing recovery support.

Personalized Care: Understanding that each situation is unique, we tailor our approach to meet the specific needs of your family while safeguarding personal information and respecting the need for discretion.

Community and Support: We strive to create a community where experiences can be shared without fear of judgment. Our support groups and therapy sessions are designed to foster an environment of understanding and acceptance.

Moving Forward Together
The journey to recovery is a courageous one, and no one should have to travel it alone—or burdened by undue stigma and privacy concerns. At Addiction Specialists LLC, we're committed to providing a safe, supportive, and confidential environment to help your loved one find the path to recovery.

For more information on how we can help, or to start a conversation about your needs and concerns, please visit our website or contact us directly. Let's take this important step together.

For families navigating these waters, know that you are not alone. We are here to support, guide, and ensure that privacy and respect are paramount as we work together toward healing and hope.

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Together, we can overcome the barriers and embrace the journey to recovery.

Call now to connect with business.

08/24/2021

Drinking During COVID-19 Up Among People with Anxiety and Depression

People with anxiety and depression are more likely to report an increase in drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic than those without mental health issues, according to a new study by researchers at NYU School of Global Public Health published in the journal Preventive Medicine. While drinking grew the most among younger people, older adults with anxiety and depression saw a sharper increase in their risk for harmful alcohol use.

COVID-19 has created many stressors, including isolation and the disruption of routines, economic hardship, illness, and fear of contagion, and studies suggest that people are drinking more during the pandemic.

If you know someone who needs to talk more about this, please reach out. All calls are confidential.

02/23/2021

Drug Overdose Deaths At Record High In 2020
Data released by the CDC late last year shows a significant increase in deaths related to drug overdoses in 2020, resulting in “the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period.”

The CDC reports, “Over 81,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in the 12 months ending in May 2020…While overdose deaths were already increasing in the months preceding the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the latest numbers suggest an acceleration of overdose deaths during the pandemic.”
CDC Director Robert Redfield, M.D., said, “The disruption to daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic has hit those with substance use disorder hard…As we continue the fight to end this pandemic, it’s important to not lose sight of different groups being affected in other ways. We need to take care of people suffering from unintended consequences.”

Synthetic opioids were seen to be the main cause of the overdose deaths, “increasing 38.4 percent from the 12-month period leading up to June 2019 compared with the 12-month period leading up to May 2020.”

If you know someone who needs to talk more about this, please contact us. All calls confidential.

01/03/2021

What happens to your body and mind when you reduce your drinking

A lot of us wake up every year on January 1 and, perhaps feeling rather dusty, decide it's time to break up with alcohol. The pledge usually doesn't last long.
“A dry month can have benefits, but it’s better health-wise to reduce your overall level of consumption ... over a longer period of time,” says Professor Kate Conigrave, a University of Sydney addiction medicine specialist. “If you’re making a new year’s resolution, particularly with something as powerful as alcohol is to our brains, it really needs to mean something to you.”

Sleep
When you cut down, sleep quality and duration should start to improve right away for a moderate drinker, noticeably so for a couple of weeks. People who were heavier drinkers may find their sleep is worse the first week, but then it continues to improve for up to a year.

S*x
Drinking alcohol may make you feel s*xier at first because it shrinks your inhibitions, but when it gets down to it, it's less likely to be satisfying. When you reduce your alcohol intake, s*x can become more enjoyable.

Stomach
Even a little bit of alcohol can irritate your digestive system directly and cause acid reflux. If you cut down your drinking, your symptoms of reflux can immediately recover, but it might take inflammation about a week to settle down.

Weight
So if you reduce your drinking, most people find they lose a little bit of weight.

Mental wellbeing
When people reduce their alcohol, most find their thinking is much clearer, they can manage stress better, they feel less anxious and things are less likely to get them down.

Cancer risk
Cancers frequently linked to alcohol are liver, stomach, and pancreas, as well as esophagus, mouth, and throat, which are six times more common in drinkers than non-drinkers.

These are only a few of the benefits when you reduce your drinking. If you know someone who needs some help in this area, please contact us. All calls are confidential.

09/08/2020

Hard lessons to learn.

I asked a drug court to send me to jail to get stabilized. But when the jail refused to give me my Suboxone, everything came crashing down.

04/02/2020

The coronavirus pandemic is a really good reason to kick your habit.

The coronavirus pandemic is a really good reason to kick your habit.

02/13/2020

Is W**d Addictive? **d

How to recognize this addiction
People are more likely to develop a ma*****na addiction after heavy or prolonged use, or if they use the drug to address issues such as depression or insomnia.

Some symptoms of ma*****na addiction include:
* needing to use the drug to feel happy or normal
* needing to use progressively more ma*****na to feel normal or experience any effects
* feeling distracted by cravings for ma*****na, especially after having stopped using the drug
* experiencing withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping, anger, appetite changes, and irritability
* using ma*****na when doing so has significant consequences, such as causing a person to miss work
* using ma*****na in spite of personal consequences, such as relationship problems or financial difficulty
* using ma*****na in dangerous situations, such as while driving
* avoiding hobbies or obligations in order to find or use ma*****na
* feeling unable to stop using the drug

People who experience ma*****na withdrawal typically find that their symptoms get steadily worse over several hours and peak within the first week. The symptoms usually disappear within 2 weeks.

Treatment and remedies
Treatment for ma*****na addiction is similar to treatment for other addictions. The right strategy depends on the person’s lifestyle and the severity of the addiction. Please contact us if you know someone who needs help.

12/11/2019

There is no cure for the disease of alcohol addiction although it can be successfully treated and managed with professional help. If you know someone who may need some advice, please ask them to contact us. All calls confidential.

10/21/2019

How To Talk To Teens About Va**ng

V**e pens are easy to conceal, they're easy to confuse with other electronic gadgets like USB flash drives, and they generally don't leave any lingering smells on clothes. All these things make them appealing to underage users, and confounding to parents. Gone are the days when sniffing a teenager's jacket or gym bag counted as passive drug screening. Now if parents want to know if their teens are va**ng ni****ne or cannabis, their best bet is a good old fashioned conversation.

And with news of an outbreak of life-threatening va**ng illness sweeping the country, and v**e use at an all-time high among teens, the issue feels more urgent than ever. Here's what to say — and not to say — to help your child deal with peer pressure and misinformation, and stay safe.

Explain the health risks, because some kids really don't know.

Surprisingly, there's a widespread the misconception among teens that va**ng is safe. "Two thirds of kids didn't realize Juul always has ni****ne," says Robin Koval, CEO of Truth Initiative, a public health organization focused on ending to***co use. "Many of them started va**ng thinking it was just great flavors and water v***r. They certainly didn't sign up to become addicted."
Dr. Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin, a psychiatrist at Yale University, who specializes in teenage substance abuse, says when it comes to some ingredients, "we don't really know the long term effect on your health."

She says the advice she gives her own son is: "Don't put something in your body if you don't know what's in it."

Based on article by Emily Vaughn of KQED News

08/24/2019

And you thought that everyone knew the danger of to***co.
Illinois officials said Friday that a person who had recently used an e-cigarette and was hospitalized with severe lung illness had died. The death appears to be the first among a spate of mysterious lung illnesses now under investigation by state and federal health officials in connection to va**ng — at least 193 cases in 22 states, many in teens and young adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

06/25/2019

What are the risks of va**ng?

Scientists are still learning the long-term health effects of e-ci******es in people who v**e and in people who inhale aerosol v***rs secondhand. However, ni****ne—whether from a va**ng device or a to***co product—is highly addictive and can lead to serious health issues for developing fetuses, adolescents and young adults, and pregnant women. It is toxic to infants and children if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin.

In addition to ni****ne, the aerosol may also contain:
* Very fine particles that are inhaled deeply into the lungs.
* Flavoring agents, such as diacetyl, which are linked to lung disease.
* Cancer-causing chemicals.
* Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead.
Volatile organic compounds. (Gases that may have harmful effects on people who are exposed to them.)

Va**ng may also expose people to other potential dangers, including injuries and fires from defective batteries that may explode (especially during recharging).

The US Surgeon General warns that young people who v**e or who are exposed to secondhand va**ng aerosols may be putting themselves at risk for serious health issues.

06/05/2019

Lung cancer deaths in women are increasing globally. It’s a hidden but preventable epidemic

The use of to***co products, like smoking ci******es, is the leading preventable cause of cancer worldwide. And lung cancer is still a leading cause of global deaths.
But while the number of men dying from lung cancer is starting to fall, recent figures suggest that the number of women dying from the disease around the world is still increasing.
Every May 31st since 1987, is World No To***co Day. And this year’s theme of lung health and to***co makes it all the more relevant to try and unpick this trend.