June 6, 2017

PTSD and Substance Use Disorders

June is Post-traumatic stress disorder awareness month. PTSD is a disorder that is commonly associated with war veterans. But, as seen in the infographic below, it can also occur in people who have experienced the sudden death of a loved one, a car accident, or a range of other traumatic events. 

PTSD and substance use disorders can often occur together. Similar events that trigger post-traumatic stress may also drive individuals to cope using chemical substances. One study found a 41% prevalence of lifetime post-traumatic stress disorder among individuals who used heroin. The same study found that individuals with PTSD were more likely to experiment and develop dependencies on a wider range of substances. They also had poorer physical and mental health, but were more likely to be in treatment. This means that treatment centers have a much higher than average proportion of individuals with PTSD, which speaks to the importance of various types of therapy. 

Many informational resources are available online:

National Institute of Mental Health

DualDiagnosis.org

June 5, 2017

5 Major Drug Use Policy and Advocacy Groups

Drug advocacy groups are important to the mission we all share: to save lives through recovery. These groups are making incredible progress in increasing public awareness and improving policies on advocacy about drugs. Advocacy groups often stem from personal tragedies.

1.     Shatterproof: Stronger Than Addiction

    • Slogan: Prevention works. Treatment is effective. Recovery is possible for everyone.
    • About Shatterproof: Shatterproof was started by Gary Mendell, a father who lost his son Brian to the disease of addiction in 2011. Gary says, “Research exists that could have saved Brian and countless others like him. But is not being implemented throughout communities and healthcare system.” Shatterproof has organized the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Task Force, whose mission is “to fundamentally improve substance use disorder treatment in the United States, in terms of both quality and patient outcomes.”
    • Shatterproof is a family-based organization that educates and unites families. Their stories can be found on their website. They also share information, advocate for policy change, and raise funds.

2.     Drug Policy Alliance

    • Mission: To advance those policies and attitudes that best reduce the harms of both drug use and drug prohibition and to promote the sovereignty of individuals over their minds and bodies.
    • About: The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is one of the nation's leading advocacy groups promoting drug policies that are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights. Our supporters are individuals who believe the war on drugs is doing more harm than good. Together we advance policies that reduce the harms of both drug use and drug prohibition and seek solutions that promote safety while upholding the sovereignty of individuals over their own minds and bodies. We work to ensure that our nation’s drug policies no longer arrest, incarcerate, disenfranchise, and otherwise harm millions – particularly young people and people of color who are disproportionately affected by the war on drugs.
    • DPA is actively involved in the legislative processes in many states. Their current issues of focus include reform of marijuana laws, Good Samaritan Laws, race and drug use, needle exchange programs, and many others.

    • The DPA is the leading organization in the U.S promoting alternatives to the war on drugs. They are currently prioritizing, decriminalizing drugs and building health-based alternatives, uprooting the drug war from civil systems, disempowering police in drug enforcement and response, reducing punishments for people in the drug trade, reinvesting drug war rescues into communities most harmed, and eliminating the poison drug supply through responsible legal regulation of all drugs 

3.     To Write Love on Her Arms

  • Vision: The vision is that community, hope, and help would replace secrets and silence.
  • About: To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) is a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and invest directly in treatment and recovery.
  • TWLOHA is a support community that raises funds and organizes charity donations that are aimed at engaging communities and connecting individuals to the help they deserve.
  • Events: TWLOHA is backed by Warped Tour, an annual nationwide concert series held in the summer.
  • About To Write Love on Her Arms: To Write Love on Her Arms was founded by Jamie Tworkowski. One of Jamies best friends struggled with addiction, depression, self-injury, and suicidal thoughts. “All he wanted to do was help a friend and tell her story.” -They believe you were created to love and be loved, people need other people, your story is important, better days are ahead, and hope and help are real. 

4.     The Brent Shapiro Foundation: Making the world a better place for all. 

    • Goal: Our goal is to turn the fear, helplessness & grief caused by this disease into a powerful force of hope & healing.
    • About: Founded upon personal tragedy, it is our vision to conquer alcohol and drug dependence by turning the fear, grief, and helplessness caused by this disease into awareness, compassion, and support. It is the mission of the Brent Shapiro Foundation for Alcohol and Drug Awareness to become the national leader in the fight against drug and alcohol dependence by:
      • Raising awareness through education
      • Removing the stigma and isolation associated with this disease by inviting everyone to join in a national dialogue
      • Providing support to parents on how to communicate with their children and with other parents about alcohol and drugs
      • Creating educational tools designed to help parents, teachers, and communities to identify, when necessary, to intervene with those as high-risk.
      • It is our belief that the solution lies in a new, different, and fresh approach. We intend to use a simple model for educating parents, teachers, children, and communities about this disease.
      • We believe that increasing awareness is the first step to change – change the way this disease is viewed, change the way it is identified and prevented, and change the way people who have this disease are viewed by society.
    • This organization was started by Robert and Linell Shapiro in honor of their son Brent who passed away in 2005 from addiction. Partnering with the Variety Boys and Girls Club, the Brent Shapiro Foundation seeks to educate, advocate, and support youth and parents.

5.     Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Institute for Recovery Advocacy

    • Getting involved in the fight against addiction and for recovery.
    • Mission: Provide a trusted national voice on all issues related to addiction prevention, treatment and recovery and to facilitate conversation among those in recovery, those still suffering and society at large. We are committed to smashing stigma, shaping public policy, and educating people everywhere about the problems of addiction and the promise of recovery.

    • This foundation educates the public and policymakers about substance use disorders and recovery, shape public policy, and transforms stigma into compassion. 

    • The advocacy institute’s top priorities are expanding access to addiction care, public education and dismantling the stigma associated with addiction. This is another advocacy group that works aggressively to reform drug policies that will address the nation’s opioid addiction crisis.

ABOUT ALLEVA:

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June 2, 2017

Addicts for Sale: What Families Need to Know about Patient Brokers

Patient brokers are an emerging plague on the field of addiction recovery. They have several different names: patient brokers, treatment brokers, and perhaps the most chilling, body brokers. These brokers make fees by referring to treatment centers who pay them for the referrals.

Often, the families are also charged for the service. In other cases, where families aren’t involved, brokers pull people off the streets, offering to help them get help. They make between $100 and $5,00 per transaction, or more accurately, per human sold.  

While that process may in and of itself seem harmless- a middle man who makes a living by helping struggling individuals get into treatment. But the field of addiction recovery, a rapidly growing $35 billion industry, is particularly vulnerable to predatory capitalization.

By the time treatment is being sought, the patient is sick, physically, mentally, emotionally. Families are desperate, willing to do whatever they can to help their struggling loved one. This is an especially vulnerable point for everyone involved. Treatment brokers often target young drug users, those who are inexperienced with the process of entering rehab. 

So what do addicted individuals and their families need to be aware of?

  • Unsolicited contact from strangers offering the opportunity to go to treatment
  • Offers to go to treatment out of state, particularly without paying airfare. 
  • Directives on how to behave or to maintain contact with the individual while in treatment
  • Recommendations for treatment centers that don’t quite fit needs (ex. a program that focuses on certain types of drug use or trauma that don’t apply)
  • “Scholarships” offered for treatment 

While each of these events may not be hard evidence of treatment brokering, they are definitely warning signs. Treatment centers can help our industry to overcome this problem by disseminating this information.

May 31, 2017

Technology that puts Recovery in the Palm of Your Hand

Software Recovery Apps

Addicts were once thought of as being, in the words of Red Hot Chili Peppers' lead vocalist Anthony Kiedis, "Under the Bridge." However, the recent opioid epidemic and the search for recovery has changed all of that.

Jamison Monroe Jr., founder of the Newport Academy rehab center, said that the recent epidemic has changed this stereotype.  She asserted that addiction no longer "discriminate[s] based on demographics, […]income brackets or zip code[s]."

To help combat this new epidemic, some people have turned to technology-- specifically the kind that you hold in your hand. Recovering addict Sam Frons, creator of Addicaid, believes the support system of her app may be a game changer. Addicaid puts individuals into groups based on their shared tendencies, rather than their addictions. It also creates a personalized recovery program formulated by the information users give during their initial intake, accounting for their personality and triggers.

The app combines machine learning, adaptive artificial intelligence, and clinical research to predict situations where users might be at risk of relapse, and then it intervenes. The support system enables users with shared tendencies to reach out during those "trigger moments."

If you'd like to learn more about our addiction recovery software, you can click here to get a free demo or fill out the form below. 

May 31, 2017

The Interplay of Humility and Self-efficacy in Recovery

A study published by the Journal of Applied Psychology, as discussed in a previous post, not only discusses the importance of diverse social outcomes, but also the role of social self-identity, and self-efficacy in recovery. The study indicates improved self-efficacy among those who identify themselves as “in recovery” as opposed to those who identify as “addicts.”

Self-efficacy is defined as an individual’s belief in their own ability to be successful at a given task. In the journey of recovery from substance use disorders, self-efficacy is a foundational ingredient. Individuals will not successfully find recovery if they don’t believe that they can get sober.

People who identify as “in recovery” have greater self-efficacy as compared to those who identify as “addict” or “alcoholic.” So why do Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step fellowships place such great emphasis on members self-identifying by their greatest vice?

The answer lies in humility, one of the cardinal virtues of Alcoholics Anonymous. Interestingly enough, many of the steps of Alcoholics Anonymous have the aim of producing or encouraging humility. Humility is considered a cardinal virtue in the twelve steps because it allows for a thorough self-examination. The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions goes into further detail on the role of humility in recovery:

“Indeed, the attainment of humility is the foundation principle of each of A.A.’s Twelve Steps. For without some degree of humility, no alcoholic can stay sober at all. Nearly all A.A.’s have found, too, that unless they develop much more of this precious quality than may be required just for sobriety, they still haven’t much chance of becoming truly happy. Without it, they cannot live to much useful purpose, or, in adversity, be able to summon the faith that can meet any emergency.” (p. 70)

And while humility may seem antithetical to self-efficacy, exploring the way humility is defined in the social sciences allows for a more harmonious coexistence of the two principles. Humility is defined operationally, with this set of two over-arching traits: an accurate view of ones-self while also being other-oriented rather than self-focused. In that sense, maybe self-identifying as an addict doesn’t engender humility at all, because doesn’t the identity of “recovery” yield a more accurate self-view? Shouldn’t it?

Encouraging clients to identify as being “in recovery” can have a positive influence on the culture and success of treatment centers, but also on the lives of the individuals they serve. Building humility in recovery allows people to thoroughly examine their weaknesses, to highlight and overcome them. Building self-efficacy in recovery allows people to thoroughly examine their strengths, to highlight and expand them. Recovery programs need to foster both virtues.

May 30, 2017

Diverse Socialization Leads to Improved Recovery Outcomes

Socialization helps recover

A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology earlier this year has explored the role of social networks and social identity in addiction recovery. The study found that diverse socialization leads to improved recovery outcomes. If one subscribes to the social identity approach to wellbeing, these are key to success in health and recovery.

The study highlights the benefits of social group membership, even going so far as to say that it is fundamental in “shaping the recovery trajectory.” This supports the framework of Alcoholics Anonymous in terms of joining a group, having a home group, responsibilities, and a sponsor. However, additional findings about the importance of diverse social interactions challenge much of how we treat recovery culture.

Recovery culture, by nature, tends to be self-isolating. Meaning that the culture itself tends to be exclusive, often rightfully so. In a world where most social settings stigmatize drug addiction while simultaneously tempting alcoholism, exclusivity proves to be protective to many people in recovery.

Associating with only members of Narcotics Anonymous allows a recovering addict to talk freely and openly about their life experiences without having to choose between living a double life and being ostracized. Associating with only members of Alcoholics Anonymous allows a recovering alcoholic to attend parties and social events without rehearsing their response to a free drink in the mirror before they leave.

However, the study’s findings indicate that, “Those who are able to maintain a sense of belonging with a range of important groups prior to addiction are at an advantage to those who are socially isolated.”

In other words, associating successfully with people both in and out of recovery, and even those from varied cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds, improves outcomes for recovery. Put simply, diverse socialization leads to improved recovery outcomes.

Are you in need of a new addiction recovery EMR? Fill out the form below to schedule a free demo. 

May 26, 2017

How to Overcome Anhedonia: 4 Simple Tips

Early on in recovery, feelings of dysphoria and depression are common. These may manifest in a general inability to enjoy life, disinterest in hobbies and feeling distant from loved ones. These are symptoms of a syndrome called anhedonia, which is defined as a lack of ability to feel pleasure. Anhedonia in recovery is very common. To help with this, we came up with four steps on how to deal with anhedonia.

Many people recovering from substance use disorders find anhedonia to be one of their greatest hurdles in early recovery. Often times, they have reached between 30 and 90 days in sobriety when they graduate from their treatment center. Some of them have big plans to do things they haven’t tried in years- school, being involved with their families, employment.

And many times, those in recovery are disappointed when they find that the life they dreamt of- the life they’ve been promised would make them happier- is dull and boring and sad. A few of these individuals might even admit to someone around them that they aren’t understanding the benefits of sober life. They wonder what on earth all of the struggle is for.

How To Deal With Anhedonia

While anhedonia in recovery is a natural part of the process, there are important things that can be done to combat these symptoms. They are some of the most simple and common solutions in the book:

  1. Exercise.

  2. Meditation.

  3. Healthy diet.

  4. Adequate sleep.

As simple as these may seem, they are vital to individuals in recovery, particularly in the earliest stages. As time goes on and brain chemistry normalizes, anhedonia will become less intense and life will be fulfilling again. In the meantime, take good care of yourself. You’re on the road to recovery.

Read here for more information on the quality of life in recovery.

Also, if you're in the market for a new behavioral health EHR, fill out the form below and we'll give you a free demo. 

May 23, 2017

5 Misconceptions About Recovery

Even in today's society, many people have misconceptions about recovery. Here are some common myths to be aware of:

  1. Addiction is a choice.

We must remember that each individual in recovery or suffering from addiction starts consuming drugs or pills for different reasons. Some even start taking them for legitimate medical conditions prescribed by a doctor. After a continuation of the consumptions of pills or drugs, their agency decreases and their need for the substance increases. Soon they will use the substance just to feel ‘normal’.

 

  1. I put down my cigarettes one day and never picked them up again, so my loved one should be able to do the same with the drugs.

Wouldn’t that be nice to so easily put away something your body and mind crave? I can’t put down my carton of ice cream and neither can some addicts put down a mind-altering addictive drug. The minority of those who consume drugs, alcohol and cigarettes can easily stop and never touch them again. The minority.

 

  1. Drug addicts are selfish people that care only about themselves.

Nothing could be farther from the truth because those individuals have no intention of hurting others. Drug use creates damages and alterations to the brain ‘that disrupt the normal production and activity of neurotransmitters in the brain and in some cases will change the structure of the brain and the thought processes.’

 

  1. Sobriety and recovery are reached after graduating from a treatment center.

Graduation from treatment doesn’t mean a full recovery. Not only do addicts have to worry about staying sober, but they must completely change their lifestyle and learn new things. They still have to fight their addiction every day and that is a longer road than just six to twelve weeks.

 

  1. Once an addict creates a normal life with a family and a job they will no longer need to use drugs.

We need to remember that using drugs is a constant battle for an addict; one in which they need to avoid in many different situations. Access to money, stress, certain people, etc. can become triggers to those who are addicted to drugs. Whether freshly sober or ten years later this battle rages on in varying degrees.

 

Avoiding misconceptions about recovery can help those in recovery as well as the people around them to respond with love and compassion. Knowledge can help us to recovery and heal.

 

May 22, 2017

The Utah Opidemic

Many are calling addiction an epidemic in the United States and for good reason.  Last year, nearly 10% of the US population used illicit drugs, while binge drinking affected nearly 15%.  In 2015, 35,000 people died of an opioid overdose.  These numbers can be scary but the Utah Department of Health is taking aim to reduce and eventually eliminate this problem.  The Utah Opidemic is of particular concern.  They have declared the opioid problem in Utah an “Opidemic” and launched a campaign to promote awareness and resources for those struggling with addiction.  

Their website, opidemic.org, explains the serious consequences of opioid use, provides resources to find treatment, illustrates what to do if someone you know has an overdose, and provides hopeful messages from those who are overcoming their own addictions. These helpful tips offer suggestions on what to do to take action and support this initiative in your communities.  While the treatment centers listed on the website are located in Utah, the information is useful for anyone who is struggling or knows someone who is. Read here to learn more about the opioid epidemic.

If you need a new EHR for your addiction recovery or substance abuse treatment practice then you can schedule a free demo here or fill out the form below. 

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May 16, 2017

Stigma of Addiction and How to Change It

Historically, addiction has been a quiet, hidden tormentor. It silently took its victims into their graves without ever bearing a burden of responsibility. Why? Because of the stigma of addiction.

Because no husband wants to tell the world that the mother of his children was a “junkie”.  No mother wants to reveal to the tennis club and the PTA that her son overdosed on heroin. Nobody wants to “dishonor” the memory of the deceased by tainting their legacy with words like “opioid,” “overdose,” or “heroin.”

However, brave families are starting to be frank in the obituaries they write. Not to dishonor their deceased loved ones, but to sound the alarm, to call others to action, to open peoples’ eyes.

The parents of a young man in New Jersey published the following in the obituary of their son: “our beautiful son, Andrew, died from an overdose of heroin. He was 23 years old. We want to share his story in the hope that lives may be saved and his death will not be in vain.”

Hundreds of other families are following suit, sharing the stories of relapses, treatment centers, overdoses, heartache, that created years of struggle for their lost loved ones. Together, they are shattering the stigma of addiction.

Obituaries of opioid epidemic victims have become cautionary tales that have the potential to save lives.  These families are ushering in a new era, when people’s obituaries will begin with, “After a brave battle with addiction,” just as they would with cancer, heart disease, or any other chronic illness.

Read here to learn more about overcoming misconceptions about addiction.

Also, if you're looking to for a new substance abuse treatment EHR, fill out the form below to get a free demo. 

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