Having been devotedly involved in my own recovery program—and being an active part of the recovery network of many others’—over the past 23 years, I’ve learned a few things about the concept of ‘freedom.’ I’ve learned that, as far as recovery from a substance use disorder (aka addiction or chemical dependency) is concerned, the sooner…
For those seeking recovery from an alcohol dependency, detoxing from alcohol is typically an extremely challenging experience. Throughout the detox process—which, according to Medical News Today, initially takes about a week[1]—there is a high likelihood of experiencing negative, even dangerous symptoms of withdrawal. Even milder symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be too uncomfortable to tolerate.…
In an article by Daniel Angres, M.D., et al. titled, “Nurses with Chemical Dependency: Promoting Successful Treatment and Reentry” (published in The Journal of Nursing Regulation), the authors state the literature on chemical dependency in nurses lags far behind that for other health-care professionals, particularly physicians. “However,” they point out, “with nurses on the front…
When most dentists show up for work at a dental office, they’re not working alongside another dentist who is impaired by alcohol or drugs. Still, statistics indicate anywhere from 12 to 19% of dentists face a substance use disorder within their lifetime.[1] Given this understandably surprising (if not startling) information, the question arises: What can…
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates that 10-15% of healthcare professionals will misuse drugs or alcohol at some point in their career, which is similar to the rate of the rest of the population.[1] However, there are numerous occupational hazards unique to pharmacists involving risk factors such as: · Easy access…
When we arrive at our dentist’s office for an appointment, not one of us would expect—or want—to find out he or she is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, right? Yet according to Michel A. Sucher, MD, medical director of the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners’ Monitored Aftercare Treatment Program, “About 10 to…
A study published March 3, 2021 in the Journal of Adolescent Health by Dr. Carol J. Boyd, et al. titled, “Cannabis, Vaping and Respiratory Symptoms in a Probability Sample of U.S. Youth” provides evidence that vaping (via electronic nicotine delivery systems, aka ENDS) is more likely to result in lung injury and/or respiratory disease symptoms…
Detoxification cleanses the body of toxic drug and alcohol substances while preparing the person for a new beginning. However, mental health counseling starts the real work of rehab. No magical cure for drug and alcohol addiction exists. A person can, however, experience certain advantages during counseling. Being able to talk about what brought them to…
Taking the first step to seek treatment for substance abuse is a challenge. It takes courage, fortitude, and honesty to move forward and begin a treatment program. However, there are other obstacles to overcome during recovery, especially in the early stages of healing. Understanding what these challenges are will enable each person to be successful…
Clearly, since its arrival here in the U.S., the COVID-19 pandemic has increasingly wreaked havoc upon the American population and the U.S. healthcare system. However, according to recent CDC (Center for Disease Control) numbers, so has the opioid epidemic. Specifically, between May 2019 and April 2020, 76,000 people died from an opioid overdose, “setting 2020…