Public Health

10th Annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, April 30

April 6, 2020 / Criminal Justice, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines, Public Health

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. Last year more than 3,800 federal, state and local organizations took in more than 702,000 pounds of unused, expired or unwanted drugs at more than 5,000 collection sites across the United States. Cumulatively, these drug take-back events have collected over 5 million pounds of drugs. If you would like to participate this year, please mark down the following information on your calendar! April 30, 2016 10:00 AM …

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Obama Administration Announces Additional Actions to Address the Prescription Opioid Abuse and Heroin Epidemic

April 6, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Intervention, Public Health

The President recently proposed $1.1 billion in additional funding for opioid use disorder treatment. Part of this plan involves expanding access to treatment; for example, buprenorphine-prescribing physicians were previously limited to seeing 100 patients, but are now allowed to see 200 patients in order to extend care to more of those who need it. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is coordinating trainings to certify more physicians to prescribe buprenorphine, and the Department of Health and Human Services is spreading funds to underserved community health centers all over the country with the intention of increasing substance use disorder …

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Teen Athletes More Likely To Abuse Painkillers

April 6, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Pain, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines, Public Health, Young Adults/Teens/College-Aged

Teen athletes are frequently prescribed narcotics for sports-related injuries, making them prime candidates for opioid addiction and abuse. One study indicated that this demographic is 50% more likely to abuse prescription painkillers than their non-athletic peers. This shocking statistic can be attributed in part to their desire to get back to the sport as soon as possible after injury in order to please the coach, their family, etc. Additionally, the area of the brain responsible for reasoning and impulse control is not yet fully developed in teenagers, leaving them more susceptible to engaging in risk-taking behaviors such as opioid abuse. …

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CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain

April 6, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Medical Consequences, Prevention, Public Health, Research/Trends/Statistics

The CDC recently released their guidelines regarding opioid prescriptions for individuals with chronic pain. The opioid endemic is, of course, concerning and requires immediate attention, but not in the form of restricting access to treatment. Individuals with chronic pain need and deserve appropriate care; they should not be forced to jump through hoops for their health. Read More Here

Senate Blocks $600 Million in Additional Funding for Bill Aimed at Combating Addiction

April 6, 2020 / Public Health

The United States Senate voted against a fund-related amendment to the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA). The original legislature predicted spending $80 million in the fight against the opioid endemic, but the actual funds have yet to be attained through an appropriations bill. Senate Republicans justify the block by arguing that hundreds of millions of dollars are already potentially available for use as part of the omnibus-spending bill passed in 2015. Read More Here

The Twelve Promises – January Dream Journal 2013

April 7, 2020 / Dream Journal, Drug Testing, Drugs and the Brain, Heroin and Opioids, Methamphetamines, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines, Public Health, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics, Suboxone Treatment

VOLUME I / JAN 2013 Two Dreams is a wellness program led by Andrea G. Barthwell, MD, FASAM that provides individualized care for those who dream of recovering a healthy lifestyle. NOTE FROM DR. B. As the New Year begins, we transition from our monthly focus on the Twelve Steps of AA to this year’s theme: The Twelve Promises. These promises are the payback of the AA program; these are the gifts that are guaranteed to the individual who works diligently on their recovery process. January is a time when we naturally begin making promises and resolutions for ourselves. We …

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Admit Powerlessness – June Dream Journal 2013

April 6, 2020 / Alcohol, Dream Journal, Heroin and Opioids, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines, Public Health, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics, Women and Drugs

VOLUME VI / JUNE 2013 Two Dreams is a wellness program led by Andrea G. Barthwell, MD, FASAM that provides individualized care for those who dream of recovering a healthy lifestyle. GUEST COLUMNIST Our featured guest writer this month is nationally-renowned consultant and lecturer Chris Schroeder, who has been actively involved in helping those afflicted by alcoholism, and has remained committed to the development and improvement of addictive illness recovery for over 22 years. This month he teaches us about Step One, and how to admit powerlessness. VOLUME VI / JUNE 2013 Two Dreams is a wellness program led by …

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Character Flaws and Mistakes – August Dream Journal 2013

April 6, 2020 / Alcohol, Dream Journal, Drug Testing, Inpatient, Marijuana, Mindfulness, Outer Banks, Public Health, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics, Young Adults/Teens/College-Aged

VOLUME VIII / AUG 2013 Two Dreams is a wellness program led by Andrea G. Barthwell, MD, FASAM that provides individualized care for those who dream of recovering a healthy lifestyle. NOTE FROM DR. B. On August 1, 2013, Illinois governor Pat Quinn signed a bill legalizing the approved use of “medical” marijuana. This unfortunate news will likely worsen highway safety, increase substance abuse treatment demand, increase workplace costs as productivity decreases, and threaten community safety near the new dispensaries. It is due to the implications of this bill that I feel so strongly about my project, The Parents Academy. …

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The First Promise – January Dream Journal 2014

April 6, 2020 / Cocaine, Dream Journal, Medical Consequences, Public Health, Research/Trends/Statistics, Tobacco/Nicotine

VOLUME XIII / JAN 2014 NOTE FROM DR. B. As the New Year begins, we transition from our monthly focus on the Twelve Steps of AA to this year’s theme: The Twelve Promises. These promises are the payback of the AA program; these are the gifts that are guaranteed to the individual who works diligently on their recovery process. January is a time when we naturally begin making promises and resolutions for ourselves. We have finished reflecting on the previous year and we are now ready to use our past experiences to project new goals with the hopes of new …

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