760-216-2077
San Diego has kept in line with a disturbing trend; overdoses and opioid use is up among younger people, and overdoses are a frequent cause of 911 calls. In fact, according to the San Diego Police Department, officers responded to 100 more overdoses in 2020 than the prior year. And although people are staying home more, addiction isn’t taking a break.
Arrests of people on opioid-related offenses related to overdose phone calls are up by nearly fifty percent. (Police sometimes arrest users who remain with a person who has overdosed if they possess drugs or if they or the overdose victim has outstanding warrants.)
Opioids are a popular street drug but also highly addictive. There has been a surge in addiction as the pandemic has drawn on. Users of opioids may have evolved from other addictions or gateway drugs. Some people become addicted to a prescription from a doctor, while others purposefully will misuse a drug to numb or entertain themselves. Some people who overdose have relapsed from a long-term stint in recovery.
Boredom, loneliness, and anxiety during the pandemic have caused an uptick in almost all addictive behaviors. People are using more drugs to self-medicate troubling feelings. Many people have felt despair and depression with economic loss. All of the above can be factors contributing to substance use disorders.
People in their 20’s and 30’s have been dying at a higher rate during the pandemic, however, experts note that these numbers were already rising in late 2019. Overdose victims from opioids in the past year usually have had fentanyl in their bloodstream, a drug that is fifty to one hundred times as strong as morphine.
While some people use fentanyl on purpose, many users are unknowingly exposed to it through illicit drugs. Some dealers will add it to cocaine or pass it off as Oxycontin. Because it is harder for drugs to flow across borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, drug dealers have been fentanyl to add “punch” to the drugs they sell.
People who relapse on opioids and other narcotics are statistically more likely to overdose. There are many reasons for this. For one thing, many people, especially during COVID-19, are using opioids all alone. If they overdose, nobody can call for help for them. People who have abstained for years will also use the amount of the drug they used to use, believing they will still tolerate it. Instead, they overdose because the drug is too strong.
Preventing relapse saves lives. A good aftercare program or sober living program can help you or your loved one stay sober in the long-term and learn to live life on life's terms without the use of substances.
If you or somebody you love has a problem with alcohol or drugs, help is available! While COVID has changed some procedures for starting the treatment process, recovery is still very much open to everyone!
Relapse prevention is another important component of staying sober. A structured, caring, sober living environment helps many people get sober and achieve long-term recovery.
At By The Sea Recovery, we offer the best sober living experience in California, creating a place of growing, learning, and respect for everyone who walks through the doors. We want to help you stay sober and offer camaraderie, structure, and tools for your journey. Get in touch by calling us at 760-216-2077. We’re happy to answer questions!
"I buried a child to drug addiction," Fiorina said.
In a presidential election coming up, the United States becomes a little more aware of an epidemic with Carly Fiorina opening up about her daughter's battle with addiction. A long time stigma making its way to the spotlight in order to have solutions, options and plans ready to be implemented and placed in our healthcare system. Her vulnerability is a gift to the over 20 million struggling with substance use disorders in the United States.
Steven Tyler joins other great musicians to rally at UNITE, an addiction awareness rally in Washington to begin a shift in attention towards treatment as well as opportunities for those reintegrating whether the incarceration system or housing. Subjects such as treatment rather than punitive efforts, naloxone (narcan) for heroin overdose implementations and many other engaging themes will be the focus of UNITE, not ignoring the largest one: there is an epidemic and how we have placed attention to it hasn't been working.
An epidemic calls for a change and we congratulate public figures for supporting the efforts. Thank you Steven Tyler.
With drinking on the rise and affecting over 33 million people in the United States, efforts to provide alternatives to punitive corrections such as sober living and/or treatment has its own barriers. Society wants them to get help, but not close to them. Alcohol and drug free homes are opening up to attend the demand, but what are the standards and protocols? Is a sober house just any house with agreed rules or should overseeing bodies have close monitoring? Do cities work with these overseeing bodies and how can users and the community have feedback? Research has found that housing for alcohol and drug addiction recovery does in fact reduce crime and impact the overall ambience of a community. The effort lies in communicating these results to society and agreeing on best practices of these residences to have more outcomes rather than dark stories that can pull strong efforts to change the way we view substance use disorders.
What starts as recreational marijuana and prescription opiate use can escalate to an overdose, and given the sensitive biology that is still developing in youth, most prefrontal activity is interrupted and hindered by the strong prescriptions available in most cabinets. Its a phase. She will get out of it. Unfortunately the stigma is still too large and few want to discuss it as if it would not happen to a specific group or segment.
Treatment centers are attending this problem and supporting the recovery with sober living, safe housing that is overseen by organizations such as the sober living network and ccapp. More focus on long term plans and supporting families need to be addressed for it is illogical that a problem that arises from months and up to years can be detained in 30 days.
http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2015/07/04/news/doc559539002f148525085690.txt
The stories of hope in recovery from addiction and alcoholism, presently known as substance use disorders, are very real. The impact of school on the turnaround is very real and rarely heard (as well as employment). The challenge is finding these colleges that are willing to give individuals second chances as well as accommodating programs to fit someone hurting from alcohol abuse or drug addiction right into their classes. Heres a thumbs up to those opening their doors, for those who change will impact thousands in their new journey.
http://digital.vpr.net/post/drug-addiction-college-graduation-turnaround-story
What is Kratom? Well, since its not scheduled nor illegal, you don't have to worry until something horrible happens. Such as the suicide of this teen, or the huge amounts being sold as supplements to those seeking a natural high (or in common terms anxiety relief). Found at supplement stores (even gas stations) this substance cannot be tested in a typical 12 panel, you have to send off to a lab to confirm the blood level. It is very important to begin attending the production, manufacturing and importing of this substance as well as being aware of its effects. Any information is gladly appreciated at [email protected]
https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/whats-kratom-parents-speak-out-after-drug-drives-119458538452.html
https://www.bytheseasandiego.com
And as we wrap this year, may we know that Holidays for some means hopefully being able to let go of the heaviest burden of them all: addiction. With heroin at its all time high, both in availability and low cost, this once forgotten but now oversupplied drug is arresting the development of many of our youths in this country. No, not only a specific group, but all. It has been thought that it only affects those who have broken upbringings, but it is now understood that it is not a moral decision but a vulnerable target in one of the most frail moments in life. What begins as playing with pharmaceuticals turns into snorting or smoking, and eventually the fear of the needle leaves as time goes by, making IV inevitable. Lets look to solutions, to prevention and to leaving the stigma and the fear. Heres to making a change in 2015, to speaking about it, and bringing more information and recovery stories to the table.
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Heroin-addiction-s-stranglehold-on-adolescents-5981314.php
Canada might be neutral, but is very positive on making progress on addiction treatment. Their money is going to prevent, educate and make sure the epidemic is getting some hands on. What are we waiting for?
By the Sea recovery is San Diego's premiere sober living home. Call us for help & answers on how to live in a great sober house.
