Nurses Standing Against Arresting Mothers with Addiction
Despite what stigma teaches people, it is possible to be a good person and be addicted to drugs or alcohol. It is possible to be a good parent while fighting to overcome a substance use disorder (SUD), and it is vital that mothers feel safe when seeking help. Sadly, the threat of arrest and prosecution . . . . Continue Reading
Opioid Crisis Causing Increase in Rates of Infectious Diseases
Fighting for Public Health America’s opioid epidemic has paved the way for a lot of new challenges. Frequently, these problems call for new strategies. The overdose outbreak led to staggering death rates, as well as a new wave of harm reduction techniques. Crackdowns on prescription opioids led to an influx in heroin use, and lethal . . . . Continue Reading
Important Facts to Consider When Fighting Percocet Addiction
America’s opioid crisis continues, and by many accounts, it is worse than ever. Every day, more than 130 people in the United States die from an opioid overdose, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Illicit drugs such as heroin or fentanyl contribute to staggering overdose rates across the country. Meanwhile, prescription painkillers . . . . Continue Reading
Suspected Fentanyl Exposure Causes Police to Evacuate Station
In the age of the opioid crisis, new synthetic drugs have become part of the illicit drug trade. Many of these substances are even more deadly than street drugs like heroin or prescription pain medications like OxyContin. In fact, some of these chemical compounds are so potent that even law enforcement and first responders are . . . . Continue Reading
Recognizing Fentanyl Overdose Symptoms Before It’s Too Late
Many experts believe it is fair to say that the opioid crisis in America is quickly becoming a fentanyl crisis, with reports indicating that the majority of overdose deaths in the nation last year involved the infamous synthetic opioid. That is why it is so important to learn the signs for recognizing fentanyl overdose symptoms . . . . Continue Reading
Opioids and Opiates: Understanding the Key Differences
We hear the term all the time- “opioid epidemic”- but people often get the keyword “opioid” confused with “opiate”, and honestly it is a completely understandable mistake. The two seem pretty much interchangeable in a lot of situations. However, there are a few differences that it helps to be aware of. So what are . . . . Continue Reading
Addicted Women Face Deadliest Year after Giving Birth
Women already face plenty of adversity when it comes to overcoming addiction. Many of the challenges women face in recovery are unique, and some of the obstacles they have to push through can seem insurmountable. The same can be said for women who have just given birth to a child. New mothers can experience extreme . . . . Continue Reading
How Cops Helping Addicts are Changing the Conversation on Addiction
On June 29th, 2018, the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI) organization celebrated its third year anniversary. That week, representatives from some of the more than 400 PAARI law enforcement partners joined public health officials and government leaders to honor the work the PAARI programs have done all over the nation to change the . . . . Continue Reading
Blue Light Special: Colored Bulbs to Prevent Public Restroom Drug Use
It has been said before that in the midst of the ongoing opioid crisis in America, public restrooms have become ground zero all across the country. You don’t have to look very hard to find stories about users being found in the grips of an overdose on bathroom floors; be it at a bar or . . . . Continue Reading
Ohio Teen Using Baby Blankets to Fight Infant Heroin Addiction
Sidney Depp is a 16-year-old sophomore cheerleader at Springboro High School in Springboro, Ohio. For the past two years she has been running a non-profit called The Love Project. The mission of her campaign is to help fight infant heroin addiction, which has increased drastically in the past few years due to the opioid epidemic. . . . . Continue Reading