29 Million Addicts Worldwide and Heroin Addiction is Leading The Way

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According to World Drug Report issued last Thursday, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said there are now over 29 million people suffering from drug addiction and drug use disorders worldwide. The number of people addicted to drugs across the world has risen for the first time in years. Last year it was reported that only 27 million people around the world suffered from drug addiction. The report also mentioned that heroin is the deadliest drug and leading cause for this epidemic worldwide. The increasing use of heroin addiction in the United States is a particular concern. As of 2014 a record number 1 million people were using heroin, almost three times the number of people in 2003. Even more staggering, heroin related deaths shot up 5 times what they were in 2000. The heroin use and related overdose deaths has some calling this “alarming” and immediate action needs to be taken against the rise of heroin.

There has been a lot of theories about why heroin is on the rise. The biggest theory is that the crackdown on prescription opioid painkillers has led to the heroin epidemic. Many believe that opioid painkillers were being over prescribed and since the slow down and recent CDC guidelines for prescribing opioids have rolled out, more people are turning to heroin. Prescriptions drugs like Vicodin and OxyContin are harder to find these days, people are turning to the streets to get their fix. Unlike the pharmaceutical drugs, street heroin is unregulated and the potency of the drug can change from batch to batch, causing a wide spread heroin overdose related deaths across the nation.

Even though the UN report also indicated that there was a large decline in opium production worldwide in 2015, heroin deaths are still on the rise. Due to the high production levels in previous years, it could be awhile before we see a decline of heroin on the streets. Heroin addiction is flooding the streets of America and stealing the life from families. It is estimated that 29 people overdose each day. Worldwide 250 million people consumed at least one drug in 2014, the UNODC said. Of the estimated 29 million heavy users, some 17 million are addicted to opiates, which include heroin, opium and morphine

Now what about those who seek treatment? The numbers are slim. On average 1 out of 6 people addicted to drugs will seek the treatment they need. Overdose deaths have surpassed car accidents as the number one accident related death cause in America. The heroin train doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

Here at Hill Country Detox in Detox we offer heroin detox, alcohol detox, and other drug detox programs. Located in the Hill Country of Texas, our beautiful facility offers a luxury style setting when ridding your body of the toxic substances. If you or a loved one is in need of drug detox, give us a call today at 888.512.5020 to find out how we can help. Or Contact Us Here.

Synthetic Marijuana Causes 16 Overdoses in Houston on Thursday

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The Houston Fire Department responded to calls about people appearing to have “altered states of mind” in the notorious “Kush Corner” on Thursday around 2:30. The area of Hermann Park is well known for its synthetic marijuana use and packets of the fake pot were found throughout the park. When the emergency responders first showed up they found dozens of people who needed hospitalization. Many appeared to have overdosed on synthetic marijuana and paramedics had taken 16 people away in ambulances before the day was over. Houston, TX has been plagued with bizarre incidents involving synthetic marijuana use. One incident where two men attacked and shot at their neighbors when they found a piece of cold chicken on the lawn during a BBQ. Another incident was deadly when a man beat, stabbed, and choked his girlfriend to death during an argument after allegedly smoking a bad batch of synthetic marijuana. The city of Houston has multiple lawsuits against local shops selling the drug. Many fear that this is just the beginning of the synthetic marijuana overdoses they could see this summer.

 

What is Synthetic Marijuana?

Synthetic Marijuana or Synthetic cannabinoids refers to a man-made mind-altering chemicals that are sprayed on shredded plant material so they can be smoked. The chemicals are called cannabinoids because they are related to the chemicals found in the marijuana plant. Many users of the synthetic drug believe it is a safe alternative to real marijuana. In fact, the chemically sprayed shredded planet material effect on the brain can be more powerful than marijuana, their actual effects can be unpredictable, and even cause hallucinations, panic, and violent outburst of rage. Many of the packets containing the drug are labeled “Not for Human Consumption”, and claim to have “natural” material. However, the only parts of these products that are natural are the dried planet materials. The chemicals that are sprayed onto the drug are made in laboratories.  Easy access and the belief that synthetic cannabinoid products are “natural” and therefore harmless have likely contributed to their use among young people. Another reason for their use is that standard drug tests cannot easily detect many of the chemicals used in these products. 

Where is synthetic marijuana sold?

For many years’ synthetic pot could easily be purchased in drug paraphernalia store, gas stations, and through the internet. Authorities deemed the chemicals to have no medical benefit and had a high potential for abuse so they banned the sale and possession of these chemicals. Many were packaged with catchy names like Black Mamba and Kush. Two of the most notorious products were K2 and Spice. However, manufacturers try to sidestep these laws by changing the chemical formulas in their mixtures. Creating new, even more powerful synthetic drugs.

Effects synthetic marijuana has on the brain.

The chemicals in the synthetic pot act on the same brain cell receptors as THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Some researches believe that the chemicals bind more strongly than marijuana does, which produces a stronger effect. Because the chemical composition of many synthetic cannabinoid products is unknown and may change from batch to batch, these products are likely to contain substances that cause dramatically different effects than the user might expect.Some users of the synthetic drug have reported elevated moods, relaxation, altered perceptions, symptoms of psychosis, extreme anxiety, confusion, paranoia, and even hallucinations. Other health effects reported are rapid heart rate, vomiting, violent behavior, and suicidal thoughts.

Are synthetic marijuana addictive?

Yes, synthetic marijuana can be addictive.

Nova Recovery Centers residential drug and alcohol rehab center offers evidence-base therapeutic interventions to address substance use disorders. After completion at our Detox Center, clients will receive individual treatment plans, combining treatment modalities with a twelve-step program to create a curriculum built to meet all addiction needs. Our long-term care strategy allows clients to experience and over the various stressors of life in a safe, therapeutic setting before starting their new life in recovery. Contact us Today or Call us today at 855.969.3668 for more information.

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Heroin Addiction: The Untold Cost of Heroin

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Heroin addiction treatment in Texas- The unspoken amount of cost of heroin addiction is rarely spoken about. The drug epidemic gripping the Nation and its devastating effects on our younger generation. Heroin tears families apart, destroys stability, steals innocence, happiness and any sense of safety in the family. The disease of heroin addiction doesn’t care about race, color, or size, it doesn’t care what neighborhood you live in or where you work, it can effect anyone. Instead of getting the love, care, and attention children need to grow, they’re becoming secondary to heroin. Heroin replaces your morals with corruption, lies, and stealing. It doesn’t take long from the average American to become hooked on heroin, within weeks a person can change and do whatever it takes to get the drug. The ended quest to get the next high, and we say “endless” unless a proper intervention and heroin addiction treatment takes place there may be little hope. The enormous toll is breathtaking. To put the untold cost of heroin addiction in perspective lets us talk directly about the parents who use heroin who have children. Aside from the family financial burden and emotional toll, foster care homes are filling up with children left behind from heroin addiction. In Kentucky alone, foster care and other placement homes are at an all-time high. Reaching 8.084 fostered kids, over a 1000 person increase from six years ago. State and local leaders say drugs; especially the heroin drug are to blame. Another state dealing with a heroin problem is Indiana, where records show 2,600 children were removed from their homes because of parents’ drug use during the six months leading up to March 2015, that’s an increase of 71% from the previous 2 years. While these numbers are quite grim, other child welfare statistics are equally as mind-blowing. Kentucky’s substantiated social service reports involving drug abuse rose to 8,542 last year, up from 6,303 in 2011. Drug abuse also helped swell the ranks of children growing up without either parent, Kids Count data show, from 63,000 in 2010 to 80,000 two years ago in Kentucky, and from 81,000 to 89,000 in Indiana. What does this mean for the children who have to grow up without a parent? The answers could be endless, some studies have been done for child with absent parents and the outcomes are unpleasant. Now this doesn’t mean everyone child effected by the heroin epidemic will have to endure counseling or be at higher risk of abusing drugs when they grow up. A child needs both parents in their life, there helpless against the disease of addiction and the effects it has on the families. Children taken away due to their parents using heroin will miss out on family holidays, birthdays, and life events. This could be a very lonely time for a child, and they could build resentment against their parents. The unspoken price ones family has to pay for addition is astonishing.

Here at Nova Recovery Center we offer Heroin Addiction Treatment in Texas. We can help those family members who suffer from abuse of heroin and other opioids and drugs including alcohol. Our 90 Inpatient Residential Rehab Center is located on 20 acres of beautiful Texas hill country. Our onsite Doctor, Counselors and Recovery Specialists can provide you with the tools to overcome your addiction and get your life back. If you or someone you know is addicted to drugs or alcohol, we can help. Call us Today at 855-969-3668 Or Contact us here for help.

Battling Prescription Drug Abuse in Texas

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Like most states in the U.S., Texas is facing a severe problem with abuse of and addiction to prescription opioids, such as hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), morphine (Kadian, Avinza), codeine and related drugs.

Use and Abuse of Prescription Medication

Opioid medications are typically prescribed for painful conditions, including dental work and injury-related pain. Morphine is often used before and after surgical procedures to alleviate severe pain. Prescriptions for codeine are more commonly used for mild pain, but are also given to relieve symptoms like coughing and diarrhea.

These drugs have legitimate medical uses, but they are also being used in unintended ways and for durations longer than necessary, and they are often diverted or sold to those who do not have legal prescriptions or genuine conditions requiring these medicines.

During the “America’s Addiction to Opioids” presentation, which was given to the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, Nora Volkow stated, “Several factors are likely to have contributed to the severity of the current prescription drug abuse problem. They include drastic increases in the number of prescriptions written and dispensed, greater social acceptability for using medications for different purposes and aggressive marketing by pharmaceutical companies. These factors together have helped create the broad environmental availability of prescription medications in general and opioid analgesics in particular.”

Prescription Drug Abuse Trends for Texas 

According to the report “Substance Abuse Trends in Texas,” hydrocodone is the most prevalent prescription opioid used for nonmedical purposes in the state. The report also indicates an increasing problem with abuse of codeine cough syrup and attributes the rise, in part, to music promoting “sippin’ syrup” and several cases of popular singers getting in trouble because of their use of “syrup.”

Trends in Texas center around illicit pain clinics, pharmacies and physicians. The most desired pharmaceuticals continued to be the three that constitute what is known as the Houston Cocktail: hydrocodone, carisoprodol (Soma), and alprazolam (Xanax). The DEA reported prescriptions from Houston pain management clinics were filled in pharmacies as far north as Oklahoma, as far east as Alabama and as far west as El Paso. 

Large numbers of patients from Louisiana and other states travel to the Houston area for the purpose of prescription fraud. Pill crews recruit “patients” to fraudulently obtain multiple prescriptions from pain clinics, which are filled at local pharmacies and then given to the pill crew leader for illicit distribution. Houston area physicians were also found to be mailing prescriptions to patients in other states—primarily Louisiana and Mississippi. 

Monitoring Abuse and Controlling Diversion

Texas House and Senate committees continue to examine ways to limit prescription drug abuse and agree that Texas should interactively share its drug monitoring database with other states. State lawmakers also propose that doctors should be encouraged to use online databases identifying patients who “doctor shop” for medications.

Since diversion of prescription drugs is a significant abuse problem, The Texas Prescription Program was created to monitor controlled substance prescriptions. This program provides an efficient, cost-effective tool for investigating and preventing drug diversion.

Medical practitioners and pharmacists use the program to verify records and inquire about patients to help detect possible illicit use. In addition, the program can be used to generate and disseminate information regarding prescription trends.

Naloxone Available Without A Prescription

Another recent effort to combat the increase of deaths from opioid overdose involves the drug naloxone. Naloxone can be administered to someone actively overdosing on opioids and can reverse the effects of opiates almost immediately.

Last year, advocates and public health experts convinced state lawmakers to pass a Senate bill to expand the availability of naloxone in Texas. In February of this year, Walgreens announced it was rolling out a comprehensive initiative to make the life-saving drug available without a prescription at its pharmacies in 35 states and Washington, D.C. According to the plan, Texans will be able to get naloxone at Walgreens by June.

Sober Living in Houston, TX: Best City for A Career

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For recovering addicts looking to start a career Houston, Texas is the place to do it. Houston’s Job market isn’t as strong as it once was a few years ago, but the city still ranks in the top 10 best cities to start a career. WalletHub a finance website recently released a ranking of the top 150 cities for starting a career. Texas grabbed 4 cities in the top 10. Houston ranked No. 9 overall and No.2 for professional opportunities.Based on a score compiled using eight professional opportunity metrics and nine quality of life metrics. Each city on the list refers to the city proper and excludes surrounding metro areas, the Texas City stole the 9th spot. In recent years the struggle has been real for young Americans finding a job. Hiring is on the rise in 2016, and employers plan to hire more, according to the National Association of College and Employers. There is optimism for sobriety in 2016, with the recent heroin epidemic and opioid painkiller addiction taking lives of famous celebrities. Americans are starting to wake up to the drug addiction effecting its nation. Many drug addicts fear going to treatment due to maintaining their current job. Although returning to an old environment straight out of drug rehab is concerning, Sober Living in Houston offers recovery and employment opportunities.  After completion of a drug and alcohol treatment center it is encouraged that you move into a sober living home. Those active in career building or a finding a part time job while attending school can benefit from the support of the sober living home, because at home support in recovery can increase chances at long term sobriety and success in the workplace. Work can be stressful and reclaiming your spot in the workplace after your addiction, can be difficult. Having the ongoing support of your recovery peers in your sober house and the structure of a sober living environment can make a large difference. Sober living houses allow you to practice the tools of recovery in everyday life, returning from a stressful day at work and being able to talk to someone about it, can make all the difference.  Sober living houses are designed to provide structure and peer support for addicts in recovery.  When co-workers venture off to the bars to celebrate a long work week, you can venture off with your sober living roommates instead. The house provides residents with regular alcohol tests/drug tests, a curfew, chores, and involvement in the 12-steps of recovery. Many recovering addicts claim that holding down a steady job was difficult in their addiction.  So if you’re looking for a recovery, and a city that is ranked high for starting a career and professional opportunities. Sober living in Houston could be the best choice for you.

If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction, and is looking for help. Contact Us today for Sober Living in Houston and other Cities across Texas and Colorado. Our highly trained admissions team can help consult you with treatment care options and sober living options in your area.

City for Recovery: Sober Living in Austin

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Sober Living in Austin – Many drug addicts who enter treatment find it to be a life changing event. With a new found awareness of the disease of addiction, solid spiritual principles to live by and knowledge and skills to use, addicts in recovery after rehab are often encouraged to move into a sober living house. Successful completion of a drug and alcohol treatment center is just the first step towards a life filled with sobriety. Transitioning into a continuum of care program is the second step and offers a better chance at sobriety. Many recovering addicts face the decision of moving back into their old neighborhood, or moving to a new city. Understanding that you’re beginning a whole new life after rehab, a fresh start in a new city may be the best choice for you. Many recovering addicts are warned about hanging around old people, places and things that are directly connected to your addiction.  If you think you can just return home directly after drug rehab, you may be setting yourself up for a relapse. Although relapse can be caused by many things, temptation is one of the most dangerous things in early recovery. Hanging around old friends that still abuse drugs and alcohol may tempt you. Returning to unhealthy relationships with friends and family may tempt you to use. Even old hang outs like bars may tempt you to slip back into your old ways. By moving to a new city, you can avoid many of these past temptations. Even better, a new city can give you an opportunity for a fresh start after drug rehab. Many addicts find Sober Living in Austin to be an answer after their stay at rehab. The already established recovery community in Austin is very strong and welcoming. With over 100 twelve step meetings a day, addicts in recovery always have a meeting to go to.  The strong support network in Austin is significant for many addicts in recovery. If you’re considering a move to sober living in Austin, the ever growing city just might be a place you want to call home.

Why Sober Living in Austin?

Austin, Texas is constantly ranked in magazines for best-cities lists. We have made the top 10 best cities for vegetarians and BBQ and our Burgers are off the chain. Even local restaurants have even been featured in cult classic films like Dazed and Confused.  Austin has even ranked No.1 on Forbes list of best big cities for jobs.The Fiscal Times  ranked Austin No. 2 on its list of The 10 Top Cities People Are Moving to in 2012. A study from U-Haul even backs that stat up. Realtor.com has even said that Austin is the second-best investment market in the United States. If that isn’t enough reason to move to Austin, Census numbers say were the third-fasted growing city in America. Need we say anymore? Austin is one of the best U.S. cities to find work, according to Adecco Staffing U.S. Austin is the ninth-best city in the country for business and careers. And for all the recovering addicts who have an appetite, according to GrubHub Inc, Austin, Texas ranked in the top ten most vegetarian-friendly cities. Don’t like veggies? The city ranked No.13 on Travel magazine in 2012 America’s Best Burger Cities, and U.S News says our  barbeque is 5thbest in the country.

It’s simple. When completing a drug and alcohol rehab center you will be encouraged to move into a sober living house. Make sure the city you choose is growing just like your recovery will be. That’s why Sober Living in Austin, Texas should be your choice. If you know someone who is struggling with addiction, and would like help please contact us today. We provide gender specific sober living in the Austin Area.

Can Suboxone Help Heroin Detox?

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Across the nation approximately 1 million people abuse the heroin drug. Even more staggering, 9.2 million people are abusing heroin around the world, according to the Foundation for a Drug-Free World. Time Magazine reports only 373,000 people were using heroin in 2007, compared to 669,000 in 2012, today the numbers could be closer to 1,000,000. Just imagine that Montana, Rhode Island, or Delaware only consisting of heroin addicts. The populations of these entire states separate, equal the number of current addicts struggling with the heroin drug in America. Did you know that, Heroin takes the lives of more than 8,000 people a year, which averages out to 23 people a day, 1 person an hour? With the current heroin epidemic taking America by storm everyone is looking for an answer to solve the problem. Heroin addiction treatment is on the rise in most states. One of the struggles many addicts face is the heroin withdrawal. With strong commitments and promises not to use heroin, the user can still find himself relapses after attempting to get clean. Medical heroin detox uses Buprenorphine to eases the symptoms of withdrawal.

History of Heroin Detox Programs

For almost 40 years, Methadone was the primary option for people seeking medicated assisted treatment for heroin. Methadone is an opiate agonist that is prescribed under controlled circumstances to treat the symptoms of heroin withdrawal. America started to noticed people getting hooked on methadone, which has more severe withdrawal symptoms then most drugs.

More recently a newer drug is being used for heroin addiction treatment. Buprenorphine contains chemicals that connect with the opioid receptors in the brain to reduce pain and produce a comfort feeling. When mixed with Naloxone a drug called Suboxone is formed. Only around 40 percent of opioid receptors in the brain are activated by Suboxone, and this aids in keeping the patient safe from abuse potential. Patients are placed on a controlled dose of Suboxone that is lowered over time to gradually wean their body off opiates. This process is used in medical heroin detox program or medicated assisted treatment programs. When combined with the proper drug treatment rehabilitation programs and counseling, Suboxone can be a start for those seeking recovery. While many heroin addicts can face pain during the withdrawal period Suboxone can help manage your cravings and help the physically discomfort that withdrawal symptoms may cause you.  The FDA has recently approved an implant that will last 6 months, to administer a daily dose of the drug.

Suboxone remains the most effective and widely used method of heroin addiction treatment, and addicts can stand to benefit a great deal from heroin detox treatment with it. To learn more about how Suboxone can help start your recovery,contact us today to learn more.

Drug Detox in Texas: Hill Country Detox Style

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Drug Detoxification or simply drug detox is the process that allows you to get rid of the substances in your body while managing the withdrawal symptoms. This process is usually the first step towards the path of recovery. Unfortunately, many addicts fear the pain of the detox process and continue to use drugs and alcohol instead. Some people believe that going “Cold Turkey” is the best option, having the addict endure the pain of the withdrawal symptoms should force him to never bear that pain again. On the contrary, Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. It is considered to be a brain disease because drugs change the brain, they can change its structure and how it works. So going “Cold Turkey” doesn’t seem to work, because the addict is still left with the addiction part, sometimes the user cannot make it out of the withdrawal symptoms and uses again despite wanting recovery.  Since we know today that addiction is not a moral failing, those addicted to drugs and alcohol simply cannot just say “NO” to using. That is because when we use drugs, over time we become physically depended on the substance. Addiction can quickly spiral out of control and stopping immediately will only worsen things and can also be dangerous even fatal.  This is the reason why a medical drug detox is key for early recovery. It is designed to treat the immediate effects your body will experience once your no longer taking the substance. A drug detox process should always be done at the care of a professional facility. This facility will have nurses and doctors on site to monitor you during this time. Nestled away in the Hill Country of Texas is an Alcohol and Drug Detox Center that can provide you with comfort through this process. Hill Country Detox sits on 20 acres of Texas land, with a scenic view of the Texas Sunsets, many addicts enjoy their time here. With pool side accommodations, addicts find the environment to more “home” life rather than a medical facility. On site counselors and recovery specialists help those interested in the next step of the progress after drug detox, which is an alcohol and drug rehab center. The length of stay at a medical detox depends on the history of your alcohol or drug abuse, and any psychological or physical issues. It varies from patient to patient. Common withdrawal symptoms like insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes, and restlessness of the legs can last a few days. The emotional symptoms usually have a longer lasting effect which can be helped with an alcohol and drug treatment center. Here at Hill Country Detox, we understand that this process can be an unpleasant one, which is the reason why we offer a stress free environment to the best of our ability.

If you or a loved one is suffering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol, were here to tell you that there is hope for recovery. Hill Country Detox offers drug detox in Texas and alcohol detox in Texas. Here you will receive all the necessary care and medication needed for your individual requirements. Contact Us Today for a private consultation, our highly trained admissions staff works 365 days a year. Calling is the first step towards a new life in recovery.

Opioid Prescriptions Down: But Addiction Continues to Kill

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Drug Addiction in Ohio roars louder than the Cleveland Cavaliers and the coming and going of LeBron James. With skillful shots and powerful slams on the basketball court by LeBron James, residents in Ohio are slamming and shooting on their own. We’re talking about injecting powerful drugs into their veins, like heroin and fentanyl. The heroin epidemic saw a drastic increase when the crack down on prescription drugs starting in 2012. The crack down on prescription drugs to combat the ever growing opioid painkiller addiction in Ohio was hoping to decrease the amount of opioids prescribed to patients, but Ohio overdose deaths still skyrocketed. Regulators created urgent reforms in 2012 to limit prescription opioids by 11% from 2012 to 2015, a form of heroin addiction treatment in Ohio, with prevention. But with the change in supply of opioids in Ohio, the state saw a large surplus of Heroin flooding the streets and neighborhoods. Unintentional overdose deaths quickly spiraled out of control, rising 59% before the end of 2014. Most fear that the number is continuing to go while the data for 2015 is still being collected.  Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid painkiller that is 50 times stronger than heroin, contributed to 502 deaths in 2014 in Ohio. In 2013, fentanyl took the lives of 84 people, the increase death rate still continues to grow. When the state focused on tightening up on prescribing opioids, the addicts had to find another way to get high. Turning from pharmaceutical drugs to unregulated street drugs. The effort to change the culture of “a pill for every problem” mainly talking about pain, is a slow moving process. It is estimated that 200,000 people are now addicted to opioids in Ohio. In 2015, 2.6 million, roughly 23% of Ohio’s population received a prescription for opioids, according to the states prescription drug monitoring program. A slight decrease from the 3.1 million people who received them in 2012, but some believe that’s still too many prescriptions being written.

“Most people don’t need these drugs,” said Rosenquist, chairman of the Pain Management Department at Cleveland Clinic. “This idea that life is supposed to be painless or every answer comes in the form of a pill is something we need to change the dialogue about on a national basis.”

Americans consume more than 80 percent of the world’s opioids but account for less than 5 percent of its population, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Which leads us to some serious questions. Have loose practices when prescribing opioids created this heroin and opioid painkiller epidemic? Has cracking down on prescriptions being written the reason why people are turning to heroin? Is there heroin addiction treatment in Ohio for those already addicted? Does the state have enough resources to fund the heroin addiction treatment in Ohio programs?

Here at Nova Recovery Center we provide heroin addiction treatment in Texas. Sending your loved one away from the heroin epidemic in Ohio could be the best choice for you. If you or a loved one is struggling with a heroin addiction in Ohio, and is looking for heroin addiction treatment or opioid addiction treatment, we can help. Contact Us Today. Or Call 855-969-3668

Help With Heroin: Is Narcan the Heroin Addict Help We Need?

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Heroin Addiction Treatment in Texas – The opioid overdose reversal drug known as Naloxone (Narcan) is one of the years most celebrated drugs for heroin addict help and bringing addicts back from the gates of death. With increasing media attention ever since the Food and Drug Administration approved the nasal and intravenous injection devices, Narcan is selling faster than ever. To help with heroin current epidemic and the nations opioid addiction the demand for this magic-bullet antidote drug is skyrocketing. When a person is overdosing on an opioid or heroin, breathing can slow down or stop and it can be very hard to wake them from this state. Narcan is a medicine that blocks the effects of opioids and reverses an overdose. Many police departments officers now carry this antidote with them to help with heroin overdoses. You can even pick it up at your local Walgreens without having a prescription. Ordinary Americans are now stocking their medicine cabinets with it. Since the release of Narcan hundreds of people who might have died this year from a heroin overdose are still alive.

It may sound like this is the answer we have been waiting for. But the lifesaving medication is not a cure. When Narcans job is done, and the heroin overdose is reversed, the addict is still left with the disease of addiction, the cravings, and the obsession of drugs. Without proper heroin addiction treatment, they are likely to keep feeding their habit, which puts them at risk of another overdose. Those who overdose are having to rely on emergency personal or a good samaritan carrying the anti-reversal drug to live, if not given in time the overdose could be fatal.  Many addicts feel a moment of clarity after being revived, wanting to seek treatment. Sometimes they’re given a list of heroin addiction treatment centers but without insurance, treatment can be difficult to get into. Thus the hopes for recovery are often diminished and they go back to what they know, heroin. The number of heroin related deaths is growing. Users find heroin to be a cheaper and more potent alternative to prescription medication. The recent CDC guidelines addressing doctors to prescribe long term opiate pain medication as a last resort is showing a decline in written prescriptions. Although the written prescriptions are down, the deaths of addicts are still happening. American policy makers are not addressing the actual problem, the addiction itself for those already addicted. The statistic of those who enter treatment over being saved by Narcan is unknown. Addicts revived from heroin overdoses are rarely tracked. Many addicts are returning customers to the drug Narcan, even after being handed treatment options. Why is this? Overdose after overdose you would think the user would want another life. Sadly, the answer for many is yes, they do want something better for themselves. The problem is the disease of addiction. Many people do not understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. It is often mistaken that drug addicts lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop using drugs simply by choosing to change their behavior. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting takes more than good intentions or a strong will. In fact, because heroin changes the brain in ways that foster compulsive drug abuse, quitting is difficult, even for those who are ready to do so. Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the addicted individual. Sounds like even an almost fatal overdose is not enough to get an addict to just say “no”. Unless Heroin Addiction Treatment is available directly after the moment of “clarity” that many addicts have after waking up from an overdose, they may never commit to treatment if the timeline is too long. When I say available I mean within 24 hours. State funded heroin addiction treatment in Texas is hard to find, many of the beds are taken. America needs more heroin addiction treatment centers and access to treatment needs to be easier.

Here at Nova Recovery Center we can provide you with Heroin Addiction Treatment in Texas. Our Detox center can provide heroin withdrawal help, easing the painful withdrawal symptoms that many long time heroin addicts know too well. Our 90-day Inpatient Drug and Alcohol rehab has qualified counselors and recovery specialist working hard to heal the addict. If you or a loved one is seeking help with heroin or heroin addict help, contact us today.

Trends in Heroin Use in Texas

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For many Americans, the notion of drug cartels is little more than character fodder for the plot of a crime movie. For those living in Texas, however, the influx of heroin into the state is a very real problem and can be traced, in part, to the activity of Mexican drug cartels.

Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration working in the Laredo area have noted an increased number of seizures involving heroin or opioids related to gang activity, likely connected with cartels and drugs moving across the border.

Resurgence in Heroin Use

The entire nation has seen a significant rise in the use of heroin that has ignited concern and action from politicians, federal and state agencies and local law enforcement. In just over 10 years, the number of heroin users increased by over 200,000 (119,000 in 2003 to 330,000 in 2014), according to government surveys. 

Heroin represents only a small percentage of the overall drug problem in the United States, but its use is growing at a faster rate than all others. Various theories have been proposed to explain the resurgence of the drug, but there is a general consensus that the prescription painkiller epidemic has contributed to the increase in heroin use. 

According to field division reports by the DEA, the demand for heroin in Texas has followed the national trend. With supplies up and costs down, reported incidents involving exposure to heroin ranged from 181 in 1998 to a high of 307 in 2013. 

Texas poison control centers reported that the number of calls involving heroin was 307 in 2013, up from 181 in 1998. In cases of fatal heroin poisoning or overdose, the average age of the victim was 36 in 2013 compared to 41 in 2005.

Heroin Use Among Young Adults

A key finding for drug abuse trends in Texas during 2014 was the increase of heroin use among teenagers and young adults. A survey of students in participating secondary schools showed that 3.3 percent of this population had used heroin at least once in their lifetime. This peak among younger users was not a steady climb, but the percentage was higher than previously recorded data:

• 2001 – 3 percent
• 2005 – 3 percent
• 2007 – 2.4 percent
• 2009 – 2.1 percent

A large part of this trend toward younger heroin users in Texas is linked to increasing student use of the drug. Although the proportion of Texas secondary students reporting lifetime use of heroin actually dropped from 2.4 percent in 1998 to 1.1 percent in 2012, there was an increase of 1.2 percent in reports among Texas high school students. 

Deaths from Heroin Overdose

One of the most disturbing aspects of heroin addiction is the potency of the drug and the potential for fatal overdose. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 371 heroin overdose deaths in Texas in 2012 compared to 111 deaths in 1999. 

As one might expect from increasing usage among the younger population, the average age of people dying from a heroin overdose also has declined from 41 years old in 2005 to 36 in 2013. The proportion of heroin treatment admissions who were younger than 30 rose from 41 percent in 2005 to 52 percent in 2013, while the proportion of older clients entering treatment with heroin as the primary problem decreased correspondingly.

Treatment for Heroin Addiction is Available

These trends and findings regarding heroin use are certainly troubling, but treatment and rehabilitation options are available for those struggling with heroin addiction. 

Nova Recovery Center has four different locations in Texas that offer outstanding programs, including detox, residential inpatient, intensive outpatient, supportive outpatient and other services. Nova’s programs provide an individualized continuum of care specifically designed for the highest possible outcomes for long-term sobriety.

Family Addiction Therapy: The Family Needs Help Too

Full Article HERE

Loving an addict who is trapped in their addiction can create pain, frustration, sadness, and isolation. Maintaining a healthy relationship with someone who is actively using drugs can be near impossible. We have come a long way in understanding the disease of addiction and help for addiction. Not too long ago, we thought it was simply the addict and the drug of choice or alcohol.  Today we understand that’s not true. Addiction can effect anyone and everyone, it doesn’t care about economic background, sex, color, or size, and addiction doesn’t only effect the user itself. Today, addiction effects one out of seven families across the nation. It is easy for one to say that the addict is sick, and they’re the one who needs to make all the changes. That’s just not true, although there is some truth to that statement, change needs to happen within the family setting as well. The addict is sick but so is their family and the whole family needs help with addiction, and the problems is causes. Addicts usually have an enabler inside the family (someone who continues to support them and take responsibility and consequences that belong to the addict) and every family needs to identify their role, and problems to make the necessary changes to accommodate a healthy lifestyle. Think about it like this, at some point in time the family dynamic fit together like a puzzle, then when someone starts to use drugs they change. Their puzzle piece changes and no longer fits into the family dynamic. Frustration will continue by trying to make this puzzle fit together. Understanding that addiction is a family illness, and the disease of addiction effects everyone close to the addict. To get a better understanding of what we’re talking about here try to picture an iceberg in your mind. You can only see 10% of what’s really there, the underlying trauma and pain caused by addiction stretches far beyond the financial burden the addict may put upon you. The unhealthy behaviors and characteristics belong both to the addict and their family. The addict may lie about their usage, which can frustrate the family and usually ends with shouting, yelling, blaming, crying and resentment. Both parties will make excuses. Both the addict and the family may play into the victim role and refuse to take responsibility for their actions, they will put the blame on each other. Secrets will be kept, and slowly but surely the relationship will be damaged. Promises will be broken, and both parties will soon withdraw from everything that once brought them joy in life. Family members may feel hopeless that they cannot solve their addict’s issues, and the addict may feel resentment for the family trying to help. As you can see, addiction can affect the family, even when the family isn’t doing drugs. No one chooses to become a drug addict, and their family don’t choose to become sick. Left untreated both parties can suffer greatly from the disease of addiction. There is help for addiction. Many drug and alcohol treatment centers in Texas offer Family Programs. An intensive Family Program with healing at its core offers help for addiction that effects families. These programs are designed to acknowledge all family members and allow everyone to be heard and begin healing. Here at Nova Recovery Center, we offer a 3 Day intensive experience that combines therapy groups, lectures, homework, experiential work, and deeply moving family encounters designed to let you leave your pain here. Your loved one will have been working on himself in our 90-day drug and alcohol treatment center in Texas, which allows him to get clear headed. Our schedule includes varied interventions and groups, designed to reach people through various methods and models. The Nova Recovery Center Intensive Family Program includes:

• Lecture series topics include breaking down the disease concept and addiction’s effect on the brain, communication skills training, and understanding codependency and boundary setting. We have also implemented components of The Daring Way™ modules that unpack ideas around defense mechanisms and self-defeating behaviors of the addict and family.
• Homework assignments are given each night. We use Nova’s unique use of Johari’s Window to identify family issues and writing assignments to address the pain, love, and boundaries needed to move forward.
• Therapy groups based in the Cognitive Behavioral and Interpersonal Therapy Models centered on discovering root issues in the family system and allowing all family members to have a voice around their experience of the addiction cycle. This involves groups with and without the client present.
• Experiential work is done using psychodrama techniques of role reversal, mirroring, and modeling. We engage the entire family in exercises that use everyone’s perspective to break down denial and barriers.
• Interaction with community anonymous groups is encouraged, and families are asked to travel off campus with a Nova representative to a meeting to begin finding support.

Our Intensive Family Program is once a month over the course of three days. We facilitate both private and group therapy sessions. Come work with us, and set your pain free. Contact Nova Recovery Center today for Help.