June 19, 2017

Recovery Reinvented

The Governor and First Lady of North Dakota have announced that on September 26th 2017 there will be a day of “facilitated conversations” about addiction recovery. The event, Recovery Reinvented, will be a conference centered on teaching people that addiction is a chronic disease that is treatable.

They plan on bringing together state and national experts in recovery to share innovative practices that will directly help people take action against their addictions. It is going to be a very personable and applicable event, North Dakota’s First Lady Kathryn Helgaas Burgum even plans on sharing her experiences as a recovered alcoholic to help others that are similarly struggling. This event should have a very positive effect on increasing awareness and helping improve the national addiction epidemic within their state.

It is great to see that North Dakota is taking action against addiction especially keeping in mind that they have a relatively less severe problem with drug addiction. Hopefully other states will follow their example, and work towards raising awareness and providing solutions within their own spheres of influence.

June 13, 2017

Who Suffers From PTSD?

Who suffers from PTSD?

Often when we think of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the first image that comes to mind is a veteran haunted by nightmares of painful memories that he or she experienced in their service on the battlefield. This image is not mistaken: many veterans suffer from the effects of PTSD after their return to normal life.

However, PTSD is not a veteran-exclusive ailment. It is a psychiatric disorder that can occur after any traumatic experience. War is obviously filled with a lot of trauma; hence many who experienced the horrors of war will experience the effects of PTSD. However, it can also follow other painful experiences like natural disasters, serious accidents, sexual or physical assault, severe illness, or even witnessing another person experience these traumatic situations.

Everybody will experience something painful in their life, however, the majority of people will recover and be able to move on within a few weeks or months following the episode. Unfortunately, many will develop PTSD and will subsequently be harrowed by the memory of this painful experience.

 

Just like any other disease, physical or mental in nature, the effects of PTSD are very real and painful. Whether experienced because of a traumatic experience in war, or in civilian life, its effects truly hinder the individual’s ability to function. However, just like any other disease, there are professionals who know of remedies and cures to tame and eventually conquer its effects.

If you're a clinician looking to help people with this affliction, our mental health EMR can help. You can see the benefits and features of our software here. Or fill out the form below to schedule a demo. 

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June 12, 2017

Everything You Know About Recovery is Wrong

Innovators, like Johann Hari, help us understand better those who struggle with addiction and helps us challenge our preconceived ideas on the criminalization of drug use. He helps us ask the hard questions. What is addiction? How does addiction happen? How can we help those who struggle from addiction to achieve recovery? And he gives us surprising solutions as he makes striking statements like, "the opposite of addiction is connection".

 

June 9, 2017

Drug Use Statistics by State

The term "opioid epidemic” is in the news almost hourly. We hear tragic stories of lives destroyed by addiction. Some states are notorious for a specific type of drug use- think Montana with meth, or California with cocaine. But a recent WalletHub report published the drug use statistics on every state, ranked by “overall drug problem”, drug use and addiction, law enforcement and drug health issues and rehab. 

Where does your state rank? The answers may surprise you. 

Source: WalletHub

Here are the top 10 states in terms of the overall drug problem:

  1. District of Columbia
  2. Vermont
  3. Colorado
  4. Delaware
  5. Rhode Island
  6. Oregon
  7. Connecticut
  8. Arizona
  9. Massachusetts
  10. Michigan

Colorado also ranked #1 in teen AND adult drug users, while Alabama made a name for themselves as having the most opioid prescriptions per 100 citizens. West Virginia has the most overdose deaths per capita, and South Dakota has the most drug arrests per capita.

 

If you were surprised (like we were!), there's more to learn and more to do.

June 8, 2017

We’re Official! The Best EMR Goes Live

Our one-of-a-kind EMR software is taking off and we couldn’t be more excited to share the news. Our super-cool first press release was published earlier this week.  “We knew we could make a difference in the realm of addiction recovery simply by improving communication between therapists, clients and families,” said co-founder Matt Stevens when interviewed for the press release.

Our HIPAA-compliant secure video conferencing, treatment plans, client app, and other unique features make our EMR the best on the market.

We want to thank our team members in our San Clemente and Provo offices for their hard work, creativity, and stunning good looks. We also want to thank our beta customers: Acqua Recovery, Miramar Recovery Center and Solara Mental Health for jumping on board and letting us be part of their teams.

We’re excited to see what’s next!

June 6, 2017

Sobriety: More Than Just Willpower

Man Takes Field Sobriety Test

Addiction has long been characterized by researchers and observers as a result of a lack of willpower.  Many assumed that those who struggled to achieve sobriety just had a weakness and so it was necessary to remove temptation.

A recent study found that just the opposite is true.  A study of 69 participants in recovery over the span of three years found that most identify as being strong-willed and yet they still have addictions to various substances.  This suggests that addiction is less cognitive and therefore requires prevention strategies that are not focused on cognitive processes.

Those who participated in strategies rather than sheer willpower had more success in staying sober and in progressing in their recovery. 

This is not to say that willpower in sobriety is irrelevant.  The researchers explain, “It probably takes willpower to deploy strategies at all. Because willpower is likely fragile...such a use of willpower is successful because it need not continue; the person who effortfully deploys the strategy of blocking out the sales pitch of the dealer with headphones doesn't need willpower to resist that pitch. Willpower is best used strategically, and the participants mention several strategies for doing so. They ‘pick their battles’.”

Treatment can teach those in recovery how to harness willpower and deploy strategies to lead to a more effective and long-lasting recovery. You can learn more about which drug addiction treatment is best here. 

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:

Alleva is comprised of a talented group of individuals dedicated to providing world-class software to the behavioral health industry that offers premium care to those who need it. Our team includes licensed therapists, industry professionals, and experienced software developers who are passionate about helping the helpers. To learn more about what we do, click here.

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. 

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Copyright 2019 - Alleva Corp. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2019 - Alleva Corp. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2019 - Alleva Corp. All Rights Reserved.