Erika Wigstrom Murder Charge: Louisiana Mother Poisoned Son Who Had …
Becnel said the child also had been poisoned with alcohol in October 2012 while hospitalized in Jefferson Parish for treatment of a heart defect. Becnel says the child's father, Cesar Ruiz, confessed in that instance, but that Wigstrom has now … Read more on Huffington Post

Toddler Found With 48 Packets Of Heroin At New Jersey Day Care
A day care facility in Los Angeles, Calif., shut down in 2013 shortly after a toddler tested positive for marijuana after leaving the premises. Her parents said she was acting strangely when they picked her up; they believed the child ingested the drug … Read more on Huffington Post

Question by Neil: Why do we itch? How and when will it occur?
How does itching occur? And why do we scratch to ease our itch?

Best answer:

Answer by diamond4785
Histamines cause itching.They are chemicals released by the immune system. The body sees them an invaders, resulting in an allergic reaction. This is why we itch.

What do you think? Answer below!

Citizen Columnist / Alba Herrera / The system is failing heroin addicts
New Jersey needs to institute a measure similar to Florida's Marchman Act, which permits a person to be admitted for assessment or treatment for substance abuse against his or her will. Perhaps if New Jersey had this statute, my son would be alive today. Read more on Press of Atlantic City

Legislature's commitment to expand crisis intervention services will hopefully …
As the experts in providing integrated behavioral health services to the people of Colorado, the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council (CBHC) has advocated for many years to expand funding for much-needed mental health and substance abuse care and … Read more on The Colorado Statesman

Youth drug counselors face challenges
VALPARAISO | Tom Moeller said the growing acceptance of marijuana use across the country is making it tougher for him and others working to help young people with substance abuse problems. As marijuana gains legitimacy and becomes legal in more … Read more on nwitimes.com

Nonprofit Center of NE Florida awards: 'Collaboration and innovation are in …
Services include clothing, counseling, family therapy, behavior management, substance abuse counseling, parenting classes, medical treatment and psychological testing, tutoring, legal consultations and referrals to outside services, according to the … Read more on Florida Times-Union

Question by ShrimpStew: Has Anyone Ever Undergone “Rapid Detox”?
Please advise if this treatment was beneficial to you or not and why…Thank you.
Thanks Jared. My spouse has not been successful yet at tapering down from Suboxone. He has been on the so called “Suboxone” treatment and is desperate to be free of the trap.

Best answer:

Answer by Jared
I have never undergone this treatment, but have assisted in the administration and know quite a bit about it.

Personally I think it is unwise to go through and moreover is misleading.

Especially regarding Opiates.

A Rapid Detox is the administration of a “Narcon” type agent to cause opiates to unbind from receptors and thus be flushed from your system.. while your are made somewhat oblivious to the process.

Now, this sounds great in theory,.. but in reality detoxing is just the beginning, and you WILL still feel the effects of the drug being out of your system after this is done.

It isn’t a magic way to get ‘clean’.

Why?

Your body has opiate receptors all across the brain and even in your intestinal tract, etc. These receptors have adapted themselves to the presence of the drug of your choice over time (hence the addiction you have, and tolerance).

The body ‘heals’ itself.. but it is in a constant battle to maintain homeostasis, that is the remain balanced. This , however, takes time.

72 hours, or even 1 week is not nearly long enough to down regulate the adaptations and upregulate your endogenous production of opioids.

So, after your ‘rapid detox’ — the active metabolites of the drug will be out of your blood stream, but your body won’t be ‘normal’.

You will still have to do the ‘time’ to allow the brain to readjust, and body. This can take anywhere from 6months to over a year in some cases. This is unique, but there is a strong correlation to how long it will take to fully recover and how long one has used the drug.

IE: If a person used/abused opiates for 10 years, they will likely require about a year to fully feel ‘normal’. I’ve seen many people 6 months clean that are still miserable and fighting every day not to use because of this feeling. But everyone DOES, eventually, re-regulate and feels emotionally, mentally, and physically well IF given enough time without using.

Now, some people who have used for say a year or less.. can feel quite normal in as little as 1-3 months, due to the body not having adapted to the extent of the former example.

The only way I would ever really advise rapid detox is with the following conditions:

1) You have never been successful in weaning yourself off the medication or going cold turkey. (And you have tried MANY times.. with help.)

2) You MUST have a plan for post detox. IE: Attending AA meetings (or NA) regularly. Getting clean is really the easiest part of the whole ordeal despite how agonizing it can seem to be. Staying clean, and working out how to fill the void and cope with life on lifes terms is something you have to work at, but it is well worth it.

3) The medically assisted Rapid Detox is done by a reputable clinic, preferably in an inpatient hospital setting. (There are some fairly shady and dangerous clinics that perform this procedure and there have been ‘deaths’ from it).

So ultimately I do NOT advise it. For the main fact that it is highly misleading to the patient and even family/friends. Most people think they go in, and in a few days they are miraculously done and clean. When the addiction and problem is still right there not dealt with. It can be a great first step, but there are many steps that follow and need to be planned before that step is taken.

Make sense?

Good luck,

What do you think? Answer below!

Detoxing prisoners still exposed to drugs
Inmates on some drug-free wings are being provided with yoga, deep tissue massage and other holistic therapies in an attempt to break them of their addiction to drugs, the Ministry of Justice report said. The assessment of pilot projects in five jails … Read more on The Times (subscription)

'We have a problem': Leaders say Madison County heroin epidemic worsens
Becker said the elementary schools in Highland also have anti-drug programs, but the programs specific to heroin use need to be toned down before being presented to that age group. "This is going to continue," Shah said, citing the billion-dollar … Read more on Belleville News Democrat

Budget boosts funds for NJ drug courts
“If you're really going to talk about the shift from addiction to treatment, it's not just for those who get arrested,” said Roseanne Scotti, director of New Jersey Drug Policy Alliance, a national organization promoting progressive drug policies … Read more on Vineland Daily Journal

Vermont faces opiate drug abuse crisis
But behind the smiles, from the age of 17, she hid a drug addiction. Montagne says that at first, she smoked marijuana. stephanie.jpg … The two-term Democrat says devoting his entire State of the State speech to drug abuse was necessary, because 80 … Read more on CBS News

Drug abuse in New Jersey explored in new documentary by Steered Straight …
He conducted dozens upon dozens of interviews, including ones with addicts, parents who had children overdose as a result of drug use, and drug abuse specialists. "This subject is my life's mission," DeLeon said. "The reason for this film came from the … Read more on NJ.com

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Care Mandatory Under Affordable Care Act …
Health advocates across Maryland said that the PPACA mandate requiring exchange insurance providers to adequately address substance abuse and mental health treatment not only ensures better care, but provides easier access to more programs. Read more on Afro American

Darryl Strawberry Opens Up Substance Abuse Recovery Center, 'I'm Doing What …
Former Major League Baseball player Darryl Strawberry celebrated the grand opening of his brand new substance abuse treatment center, Darryl Strawberry Recovery Center, located in St. Cloud, Florida. The eight-time all-star and four-time World Series … Read more on BREATHEcast

New Substance Abuse Helpline Strives to Help Young Adults with Addiction Issues
Drug and alcohol addiction among teenagers is not only a big problem in Hazlet, NJ, it's also a major issue throughout the state. Many young adults who have developed a substance abuse problem desperately want help but don't know where to get it. Read more on PR Web (press release)

New Maplewood Drug Rehab and Detox Helpline Aids Search for Substance …
Drug and alcohol addiction is a serious problem throughout New Jersey. Many people of Maplewood,NJ live with the nightmare of substance abuse on a daily basis. Unfortunately, many teenagers with addiction issues are unaware of where to find help for … Read more on PR Web (press release)

Dennis Rodman — Enters Rehab for Alcohol
Sources connected to Rodman tell us the 52-year old basketball Hall of Famer checked into a treatment center a few days ago in New Jersey … on the heels of his disastrous trip to North Korea. We're told Rodman is "beyond exhausted and overwhelmed" … Read more on TMZ.com

Rodman Lands in Rehab for Alcohol Problem
While it is unlikely that Rodman's big-hearted but naive scheme to bring North Korea and the United States together via “basketball diplomacy” has had any lasting political impact, Rodman's personal issues at least are being dealt with in a New Jersey … Read more on Guardian Liberty Voice

ABC anchor Elizabeth Vargas returns to '20/20' after her second stint in rehab …
A friend of the TV personality and mother of two has revealed to New York Post's Page Six that Vargas realized that had not 'conquered' her problem with alcohol the first time around and decided to return to rehab. An ABC News spokesperson told the … Read more on Daily Mail