Overdose Warning Issued For Anti-Anxiety Meds

Anxiety issues are something we cover frequently. We know how common and crippling they can be and how people have found comfort through certain prescription medications. Well, last month some of those products came under fire due a drastic increase in the amount of overdoses they’ve been causing. Just like opioids; the initial intent behind these drugs is good, but they can also easily become habit-forming and abused.

Interestingly, painkillers and anti-anxiety meds do have somewhat of an intertwined connection. Research gathered by DrugAbuse.com showed that over the past three years, 23 percent of the people who died from opioid overdoses also tested positive for benzodiazepines (which include anxiety and insomnia drugs like Xanax, Valium, Ativan and Klonopin). There is also the alarming stat of 14 million “benzo” prescriptions last year, which is double the amount from a decade ago.

Naturally this is making the conversation shift when it comes to prescription regulations. Though the opioid epidemic is receiving a large share of news coverage (as it properly should), benzo abuse has yet to hit the mainstream radar. That may soon change, according to a new article on TheFix.com.

Several prominent researchers and scientists are speaking out about benzo abuse, hoping to avoid a widespread catastrophe like what has been seen with the opioid crisis. Dr. Anna Lembke, an addiction specialist at Stanford University, urged Fix readers to start spreading the word about the potential dangers of anti-anxiety meds.

“We have this whole infrastructure set up now to prevent overprescribing of opioids and address the need for addiction treatment,” she explained on the site. “We need to start making benzos part of that. What we’re seeing is just like what happened with opioids in the 1990s. It really does begin with overprescribing.”

Other advocates have spoken out in support of benzodiazepines, illustrating that they have shown true success when it comes to anxiety and insomnia problems. But almost everyone agrees that they should be used as short-term solutions and not an ongoing prescription that is constantly being refilled.

And the fact that they are quite easy to attain worries people like Dr. Lembke.

“When taken in combination with painkillers or illicit narcotics, benzodiazepines can increase the likelihood of a fatal overdose as much as tenfold,” she added. “With heightened public awareness of the nation’s opioid epidemic, state and local officials should really insist that these anti-anxiety meds start sharing some of the scrutiny.”

How To Handle An Addicted Parent

No matter how old we get, there will always be uncomfortable subjects to discuss with mom and dad. Even as we begin to think of them more as peers (or even friends), they are still the ones who raised us and a level of respect is always necessary. That is part of the reason why confronting an addiction with an older parent proves to be so difficult. But if substance abuse is occurring, it needs to be addressed for the safety and welfare of the family. U.S. News and World Reports recently published a helpful article on this topic, pointing out tips when it comes to parental interventions.

One of the trends that happens to be rising among older Americans is alcoholism. In fact, U.S. News is reporting that as many as 15 percent of U.S. seniors qualify as “at-risk drinkers.”

So how do we approach a mother, father or grandparent suffering from this? With care and thoughtfulness, as addressed in the article’s highlights below…

Find The Right Time To Discuss It

U.S. News emphasized the best moments to bring up a sensitive issue like substance abuse. Their recommendation is to do it during moments of sobriety, or even in the midst of a hangover when the parent is experiencing physical pain because of their problem. Trying to approach a parent while inebriated can prove challenging and ultimately doesn’t always lead to a meaningful conversation.

Avoid Labels

Use your words wisely, the article warns. Throwing out terms like “alcoholic” or “addict” can create defensiveness and even humiliate a parent. The point here is not to criticize the loved one, but rather to offer encouragement and support. Let them know that there is no shame in their problem and that is very common for people their age.

Continue To Show Respect For Your Parents

For many seniors, it is difficult to receive lectures from their grown children. They are, after all, the wise people who raised you and certainly deserve respect. U.S. News advises to avoid “talking down” to a loved one battling an addiction. Emphasize that this is coming from a place of love and genuine concern. Stern lectures and ultimatums can actually backfire in these types of situations.

Offer To Do The Heavy Lifting

If your parent does show interest in conquering their addiction, help guide them along the process. If it makes things easier, you can be the one to reach out to the appropriate treatment facility and coordinate their journey into sobriety.

Supporting Mothers Impacted By Addiction

We all know that an addiction doesn’t just affect one person. It can cause great devastation to their inner circle as well. This includes close friends, co-workers, siblings and, very often, parents. With the opioid epidemic wreaking havoc across the country, you can imagine how much “collateral damage” occurs when a young person overdoses, gets jailed or (worst of all) loses their life. Because of these instances more and more family support groups are emerging, particularly ones that focus on women and mothers.

TheFix.com recently published an article that covered this trend and the healing powers of groups such as these. One in particular is based in Plainville, Massachusetts and calls itself Unconditional Love. These are moms who meet every Saturday to discuss just how painful coping with the opioid crisis can be.

Since forming four years ago, Unconditional Love has become one of the most well regarded female family support systems on the east coast. Hundreds of strong women have passed through its halls, with stories that cover every stage of the crisis.

Founder Robin Hamlin made it her personal mission to organize this type of outlet, particularly because she experienced the devastation of addicted child firsthand. Her son Brian ultimately became a casualty of the crisis, passing away back in 2014.

“Families that are battling this disease, we suffer in silence,” Hamlin explained on the site. “The fact that we can have love and kindness from somebody makes a world of difference.”

Her story mirrors so many other mothers across the country. Brian had not been drawn to drugs or alcohol during his youth. He lived a very clean life until a college sports injury led to a powerful painkiller subscription. Hamlin chronicled the ups and downs of that experience, making a point to honestly share her story with all members of the group.

A common trait that many of the mothers have is self blame. Though they had no hand in their children’s addiction, the fact that it occurred (and for some, led to death) leaves them with an overwhelming sense of guilt. And though the support group can’t always relinquish those feelings, most attendees have found it extremely therapeutic and a way to talk through their emotions.

“We all have our own journey and our own ways of dealing, and I got something from each and every one,” group member Linda Irvin added. “It helped me get up in the morning and do something, even if it was just get up.”

At inneractions, we too offer support for the families of those caught up in addiction (as well as people battling dependencies). In our opinion, it is a crucial step in the healing process because no one deserves to deal with this pain alone.

New Teen Addiction Trends Identified

The teenage years have often been thought of as a time of experimentation and, tragically for many, the first introduction into addiction. In decades past, alcohol, marijuana and hallucinogens have been the substances of choice. But, a new study is highlighting some interesting changes within that sect. According to data released by USA Today, popular drugs from years’ past are declining in popularity with high schoolers, while other new dependencies are on the rise.

Gathered by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the research included survey answers from nearly 15,000 students and covered a wide variety of topics. Beyond addiction, there were new stats related to bullying, “coming out” and sexual activity. CDC director Kathleen Ethier found a lot of the data encouraging, but honed in on a few new dangerous findings.

“We are seeing real improvements in some areas, but real concerns in others,” she explained. “But ultimately, schools, communities and parents do need to create more places where students feel safe and connected.”

On the positive side, pre-teen sexual intercourse has declined by 54 percent since 1991. Condom use has become prominent during this era as well, potentially limiting the amount of teenage STDs. The study also found that suicidal thoughts were down, declining 29 percent over the last 20 years.

Now as far as addiction goes, there were both good and bad stats to come out of the research. One encouraging find was that cocaine, heroin, inhalant, methamphetamine and ecstasy use was down by 23 percent over the past 10 years.

The negative news was related to (no surprise) opioid and prescription painkiller use. Coinciding with the devastating crisis impacting this country, the CDC findings concluded that pill abuse, such as Vicodin, Percocet and OxyContin, was up by 14 percent. This proved to be a very concerning stat to Ethier.

“Opioid use among teens appears to be quite substantial,” she added.  “There is no doubt about it. It’s high – we didn’t expect it to be that high.”

And one other important caveat to all of this information deals with who they surveyed. Keep in mind that these were active students, not young people who may have dropped out or fallen off the grid. Certainly when you take those numbers into account, you’d expect to see much higher activity on the addiction front.

We certainly know that addictions can be devastating at any age. If there is a young person in your family who may be facing a serious issue, please reach and get them help.

Online Dating May Impact Mental Health

In today’s day and age, online dating has become the norm. And why shouldn’t it be? Finding new ways to find love and support is certainly something society should welcome. But it should be noted that certain negative trends have been associated with digital dating too, particularly when it comes to mental health and self-esteem.

Let’s face it, dating in itself can be difficult for one’s ego. There is always that fear of rejection, the potential love games that come into play and the anxieties of trying impress a new mate. But could romance sites and apps be making those experiences even worse? That is what a new study provided by The American Psychological Association is saying.

Using 2016 info that polled 1,044 women and 273 men, researchers found that online daters can often experience anguish and low self worth. Certain specific data pointed to the popular app Tinder.

“We found that being actively involved with Tinder, regardless of the user’s gender, was associated with body dissatisfaction, body shame, body monitoring, internalization of societal expectations of beauty, comparing oneself physically to others, and reliance on media for information on appearance and attractiveness,” study co-author Jessica Strübel, PhD told the site. “Tinder users reported having lower levels of satisfaction with their faces and bodies and having lower levels of self-worth than the men and women who did not use Tinder.”

Women were the primary focus of the research, but the results most certainly carried over to men. Being rejected by a suitor online was also shown to lead to deep anguish. Plus, negative trolling comments and the general fast-paced denials that can happen in these scenarios makes the situation even worse. And let’s keep in mind that an app like Tinder is accessed by over 50 million active users.

The other noteworthy component to come out of the study was the link between dating apps and tech addiction. This too can have a serious impact on mental health; leading to isolation, lost work and problems on the homefront. CNN Health went on to add a stat that claimed that 15% of the singles on Match.com admitted to being dependent on their devices.

And this type of behavior can have serious repercussions. “People who self-described as having really addictive-style behaviors toward the Internet and cellphones scored much higher on depression and anxiety scales,” psychology professor Alejandro Lleras told CNN.

These are all important factors to keep in mind, especially if you find yourself continually drawn to web devices. If any of these symptoms sound or feel familiar to you, reach out and let us know how we can help.

Alarming New Stats About Women And The Opioid Crisis

Tragically, this country’s opioid crisis holds no bounds and it is mercilessly ripping lives (and families) apart. Tens of thousands of Americans are succumbing to painkiller and heroin overdoses each year, with women playing an increasingly larger role. According to new statistics released by Forbes Magazine; U.S. females now account for 33 percent of all opioid-related fatalities, which is an alarming jump from where that stat sat earlier in the decade.

The total number of women who died from an opioid-related overdoses last year was 42,249. Back in 1999, when the crisis was in its infancy, the stat was a mere 8,050. And worse yet, the figures are expected to rise significantly again when 2018’s tallies are counted.

How bad is this situation? So bad, that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have officially recognized the threat that this crisis is having for American females. They, themselves, released a statement about it earlier in the year. “Prescription painkiller overdoses are an under-recognized and growing problem for women,” a rep from the organization said. “And the gap between women and men is closing quickly.”

The Centers went on to emphasize which segments of American women are now most at risk. Their research showed that U.S. females between the ages of 25 and 44 are the most susceptible to forming an opioid addiction. Interestingly though, they singled out women aged 45 to 54 as having the highest likelihood for a fatal overdose.

There is also the pregnancy component. In our opinion this deserves a very high level of attention, as mothers who use are putting multiple lives at risk. Recent opioid stats show that in 2012 alone, more than 20,000 infants were born with signs of addiction withdrawal.

Forbes writer Aparna Mathur did a great job of digging not only into the statistics, but also the reasons as to why female opioid abuse is rising so fast. One major point is that females may be more likely to be prescribed painkillers and for longer periods of time. Other theories have to do with caregiving and issues like postpartum depression and anxiety. This alone could place women at a greater risk of substance abuse.

Clearly we cannot stereotype or speculate about all of the reasons behind this shift, but the facts are the facts. 42,000 women lost to this crisis is reason alone to bring this topic to the forefront. While there certainly needs to be steps taken at a national level to combat opioid abuse, we at inneractions want to do our part too. That is why we proudly offer Sobriety Groups For Women on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Our door is always open and we highly encourage anyone who needs help to reach out. (818) 571-9841