Narco Non Victims » Narcotic Drug

Who Killed Heath Ledger? The Real Truth Behind the Drugs

maureen — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 03:08:25 +0000

The City of New York’s Medical Examiner Report concluded that Heath Ledger’s cause of death was “the result of acute intoxication by the combine effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine”. Recent investigations and medical warnings have concentrated on the lethal combination of prescription drugs such as narcotic analgesics and sleeping aids. However, the medical community have ignored – and have been ignoring for some time – the underlying prescription drug class that often leads to habitual drug dependency with dangerous lethal consequences. Two of the drugs listed on Ledger’s report are the most insidious, potentially dangerous, highly prescribed and, yet, the most overlooked and under-estimated by doctors. These drugs can start the chain reaction that potentially leads to Vicodin or sleeping pill abuse.
The first time I saw Heath Ledger, it was by accident. My date and later to-be husband, Nick, took me to see ‘The Sixth Sense’, finally succumbing to peer pressure to guess ‘the big surprise ending’. By now, ‘The Sixth Sense’ was off the major theatre chain circuit and only screening in small suburban independent theatres, which led us to experience one of those now rare events: a double-feature matinee. The first movie was ’10 Things I Hate About You’.
Well passed ‘teen’ movies, even those with Shakespearian-based scripts, we shyly admitted to liking ’10 Things’. Wow, I really like the male lead, what was his name? “He’s Australian, you know”, replied Nick. And in typical Aussie-fashion, I was doubly impressed and now stupidly filled with national pride. Another brilliant Australian up-and-comer to join the rapidly increasing queue to grace Hollywood screens.
Years later, I would often grab the DVD to fill a cheerless afternoon and find myself watching and rewinding the same scene. Over and over and over again. My secret guilty pleasure. Heath sliding down the pole, microphone in hand, singing “You’re just too good to be true, can’t take my eyes off of you …” The brass band kicks in. And that charmingly defiant half-run, half-prancing across the school steps. The scene is brilliant. It’s inexplicable. He simply has that old-fashioned ‘it’ factor . I’m not a star-struck fan and was never one of those teenagers with movie-star idol posters plastered all over my bedroom walls, but this kid’s got talent.
And then came those scene-stealing roles that totally blew us away. The Patriot. Monster’s Ball. And finally leading-man status and an Academy Award nomination. By now, we were just used to having another famous Australian up there with the rest of the world’s great talent churning out an endless array of diverse, yet illustrious film roles.
We had no idea. It was not endless. It ended on 22 January 2008.
When people who I’ve never met but greatly admire die, I’m sad. But I’ve never cried before. I have never before felt that heart wrenching overwhelming shock that lasted for days after I heard the news. This time it was somehow more personal. As soon as I read the detailed list of the first report of his deathbed scene, I intuitively knew how he died.
Ten days later the final medical examiner’s report confirmed my suspicions.
Hollywood is ‘Xanax-city’. Feeling down, pop a Xanax. Feeling stressed, pop a Xanax. Need to perform at your very best, pop a Xanax. A-list stars feel the pressure to provide A-grade performances when working on multi-million dollar films. There’s too much money at stake. The intense stress, both internal and external, is immeasurable. The studios are risking billions, paying the stars millions, and the actors are unnaturally subjected to more pressure than we mere mortals can imagine.
Heath Ledger, himself, admitted that after the worldwide release of ‘A Knight’s Tale’ with its instant paparazzi-bulb-flashing stardom, his stress levels increased ten-fold.
Xanax is the trade name of the generic anti-anxiety/tranquilliser prescription drug, alprazolam, listed in Ledger’s toxicity report. The other anti-anxiety drug was diazepam, or more commonly known as Valium. These drugs are from a class of commonly prescribed tranquillisers known as benzodiazepines or simply referred to as benzos.
According to the latest National Health Study, approximately 10 million scripts of benzos are written annually in Australia alone with its meagre population of 20 million compared to 300 million in the US. Many doctors will write a script for benzos faster than a speeding bullet. But the real danger is that too many of them do not know the long-term effects these drugs have on your system, how to give their patients the correct advice when administering or monitoring the dosages, and – more frighteningly – how to manage their patients’ benzo withdrawal program.
Firstly, this is how benzos affect your body – or more importantly – your brain. Benzodiazepines increase, or rather, enhance your brain’s main neurotransmitter, commonly known as GABA. Eventually, and this can be as quickly as 3 to 4 weeks if taking a daily dose, your brain will stop producing its own GABA and rely totally on the artificial benzo.
GABA is the most important neurotransmitter because it affects just about everything else. Primarily it enhances the brain’s other neurotransmitters such as Serotonin and Dopamine. All of the brain’s neurotransmitters have important functions such as, voluntary movement of the muscles, wakefulness, sleep, memory function, sensory transmission – especially pain, and much, much more.
The problem is that from this point on your brain needs more benzo as tolerance starts the downward spiral, and the brain needs higher and higher dosages to obtain the same effect. If the patient is not given the correct dosage or management advice, that insidious and often-undiagnosed disorder known as Benzo Withdrawal Syndrome (BWS) will start its ugly and potentially dangerous descent.
BWS is known by experts in the field for its severity and prolonged nature. It may take years to fully withdraw from benzos, even with proper care and supervision. Without this knowledge, the unwitting patient can suffer from over 30 symptoms, the most common being unrelenting insomnia, severe pain and mood changes. People who have been taking benzos for a relatively short time can experience withdrawal symptoms even whilst taking the drug. In addition, if you have been taking them for a prolonged time, and then suddenly stop, severe symptoms will occur. Or, at the very least, more pain, more depression and unrelenting insomnia.
When we now read about Heath Ledger’s complaints about his incessant insomnia and the possesseion of strong painkillers, does this sound familiar? Everything points to extreme Benzo Withdrawal, but no-one is exclaiming its dangers. In fact, most GPs and even hospital doctors admit they know very little about Benzo Withdrawal. Some even refer their patients to drug rehabilitation centres – an absolute no-no according to benzo counsellors. Benzo withdrawal is the exact opposite to alcohol or street drug dependency. You don’t want to abruptly eliminate the benzo from your body, as they often do in drug rehabilitation. The brain needs the benzo. One must gradually withdraw the artificial benzo until the brain can eventually increase its own GABA. Sudden cessation of benzos can cause severe problems such as seizures and blackouts.
When in BWS, trained counsellors advise against taking any medication or drugs whatsoever. Paracetamol is probably the only thing the body can cope with for pain relief. Nothing else. Even codeine is forbidden. Also, one should totally refrain from alcohol, caffeine, and all stimulants. There is a strong protocol to be followed and without this knowledge, the patient is easily put at great risk.
The Ashton Manual, the acknowledged benzodiazepine ‘bible’, warns:
“Drug interactions: Benzodiazepines have additive effects with other drugs with sedative actions including other hypnotics, some antidepressants, major tranquillisers or neuroleptics, trifluoperazine, anticonvulsants, carbamazepine, sedative antihistamines, promethazine, opiates (heroin, morphine, meperidine), and, importantly, alcohol. Patients taking benzodiazepines should be warned of these interactions. If sedative drugs are taken in overdose, benzodiazepines may add to the risk of fatality.”
The real problem is that there are extremely few experts in treating BWS; they will not include your local doctor, hospital, or drug clinic. However, there are good BWS specialists that can be extremely helpful, but they are usually found in specially funded tranquilliser recovery clinics.
One must ask, why don’t doctors know about this? The problem is they simply don’t. Is it their fault or the pharmaceutical companies that profit from these addictions? There is little or no dissemination of information within the community, the medical fraternity or from the pharmaceutical companies about benzodiazepines. And, according to BWS counsellors working in the field, there is insufficient research or empirical studies on the effects of benzos and BWS management to assist them with their intensive workloads.
Why? Who is at fault? Who is responsible for remedying the situation? Why are the people who write the scripts uninformed about the after-effects and potential dangers associated with benzodiazepines?
Can our beloved Heath Ledger’s death be at least one catalyst that will draw this devastating travesty to the public’s attention to demand more information?
I hope so.
REFERENCES:
1. Professor C Heather Ashton DM, FRCP, The Ashton Manual, 2002. Available from www.benzo.org.uk.
2. Dr Reg Peart, Select Committee on Health Minutes of Evidence, House of Commons, UK. June 1999. “This submission by Dr R F Peart, National Co-ordinator of Victims of Tranquillisers concerns the nature, causes and consequences of 40 years of Benzodiazepine dependency, arguably the biggest medically induced health problem of the 20th Century”. Available from www.parliament.uk.
3. Mayo Clinic Staff. How You Feel Pain. 2007. The Mayo Clinic. Available from www.mayoclinic.com.
4. Benzodiazepines. 2007. Reconnexion (formerly TRANX – Tranquilliser Recovery and New Existence), Melbourne, Australia. Available from www.tranx.org.au.
5. Charles S. Hirsch, M.D., Chief Medical Examiner. The City of New York’s Medical Examiner Report – Heath Ledger Cause f Death. Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Office of Chief Medical Examiner. 6 February 2008.
6. Sheila Marikar and Richard Esposito. DEA Investigating Ledger Overdose, Feb. 6, 2008. ABC News (USA).
7. Amy Westfieldt & Stephanie Nano. Accidental Overdose Killed Heath Ledger. 7 February 2008. Associated Press.

Mexican Pharmacy Ensuring Quality Drugs

maureen — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:14:53 +0000

Costs of drugs are getting high day by day and patients have to spend a lot over drugs per year. It is a fact that great part of their income is spent over the medications that they have to purchase for the treatment. At the time of purchasing the medication, a question comes in the mind, from where the medications can be purchased at lower prices because patients want to get medications at affordable and discount rates. That is where Mexican pharmacy comes in and offers medications, which are authentic and approved. Getting medications from the Mexican pharmacy is considered as a safe and reasonably priced way and a fairly painless process. Since the law is comparatively flexible, as most drugs, apart from controlled substances and all narcotics, are available without a prescription. Pharmacies of Mexico never compromise with quality and brand. Although, according to a few experts, there are some risks, while purchasing drugs from a Mexican pharmacy. But, in fact, these drugs are highy approved by medical fraternity that can reduce the risk to a great extent. To ensure that Mexican pharmacies provide safe and quality drugs, you are supposed to search over the internet and read forums and reviews as well from earlier buyers because forums and reviews are the way to gather much needed information about the particular pharmacy from where drug should be purchased. Moreover getting more details about Mexican pharmacies, the internet will be the right source for you because all pharmacies have their sites with detailed information. It is fact that if you choose a Mexican pharmacy to purchase medications, then undoubtedly you can offset the increasing healthcare expenditures in the situation of you do not have medical cover.Mainly, these pharmacies provide drugs according to doctors’ prescription. But there are numerous pharmacies that can offer you a replacement drug. Therefore, it is advisable for you, in the case of doctor’s prescription drug; don’t agree to another generic drug, or replacement drug, from your selected Mexican pharmacy because other medications may be harmful to you. On the other hand, most of the Mexican pharmacies provide medications manufactured as per quality guidelines; for it they keep in touch with well known branded companies. Therefore getting the drug from a Mexican pharmacy will be the right decision for you. All the pharmacies in Mexico have their websites; therefore, you can easily purchase drugs. All you have to do is place your order online with prescribed drugs over the internet by filling a simple online form.

Drug Schedules

maureen — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:06:58 +0000

The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act was made law in 1970. Title II of this law, the Controlled Substances Act, is the legal foundation of narcotics enforcement in the United States. The Controlled Substances Act regulates the manufacture, possession, movement, and distribution of drugs in our country. It places all drugs into one of five schedules, or classifications, and is controlled by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Federal Drug Administration.

The following list contains examples of the five schedules.

Schedule I Drugs

Schedule I drugs have a high tendency for abuse and have no accepted medical use. This schedule includes drugs such as Marijuana, Heroin, Ecstasy, LSD, and GHB. Recent activists have tried to change the schedule for Marijuana citing the possible medical benefits of the drug. Pharmacies do not sell Schedule I drugs, and they are not available with a prescription by physician.

Schedule II Drugs

Schedule II drugs have a high tendency for abuse, may have an accepted medical use, and can produce dependency or addiction with chronic use. This schedule includes examples such as Cocaine, Opium, Morphine, Fentanyl, Amphetamines, and Methamphetamines. Schedule II drugs may be available with a prescription by a physician, but not all pharmacies may carry them. These drugs require more stringent records and storage procedures than drugs in Schedules III and IV.

Schedule III Drugs

Schedule III drugs have less potential for abuse or addiction than drugs in the first two schedules and have a currently accepted medical use. Examples of Schedule III drugs include Anabolic steroids, Codeine, Ketamine, Hydrocodone with Aspirin, and Hydrocodone with Acetaminophen. Schedule III drugs may be available with a prescription, but not all pharmacies may carry them.

Schedule IV Drugs

Schedule IV drugs have a low potential for abuse, have a currently accepted medical use, has a low chance for addiction or limited addictive properties. Examples of Schedule IV drugs include Valium, Xanax, Phenobarbital, and Rohypnol (commonly known as the “date rape” drug). These drugs may be available with a prescription, but not all pharmacies may carry them.

Schedule V Drugs

Schedule V drugs have a lower chance of abuse than Schedule IV drugs, have a currently accepted medical use in the US, and lesser chance or side effects of dependence compared to Schedule IV drugs. This schedule includes such drugs as cough suppressants with Codeine. Schedule V drugs are regulated but generally do not require a prescription.

10 Things to Know About Pain Reliever Drugs Abuse

maureen — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 03:07:22 +0000

A disturbing fact sheetâ¦

Pain relievers are medicines that reduce or relieve headaches, sore muscles, arthritis or related aches and pains. There are many different pain reliever drugs. While some of them are prescription drugs, yet many of these are available over-the-counter (OTC) e.g. aspirin, naproxen (Aleve) & ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) etc. Many such non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs are available only at prescribed doses. Some of the most powerful pain relievers come under the category of narcotics.

In the United States, data generated by some recent surveys on drug abuse is quite disturbing. Data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse found that almost 3 million adolescents and about 7 million young adults from ages 18 to 25 had used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes at least once in their lives.

Today teenagers are not using as much cocaine, crack, LSD, and ecstasy as the teenagers of the 1960âs. Nowadays, kids have found other ways and means to get that high; painkillers & other prescription drugs are being abused at record levels as is aptly indicated in NSDUH data. This up coming generation of prescription drug abusers has been given the name âGeneration Rx!â

Increase in prescription drug abuse is most prominent for pain relievers, but use of stimulants and tranquilizers is also rising as young people who abuse prescription drugs are also more likely to use illegal drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, or hallucinogens. According to a 2005 study conducted by the National Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, the number of Americans who abuse or use prescription drugs illegally now exceeds the number of Americans who abuse cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, and heroin combined.

Abusers sometimes disrupt the time-release formula of the drug to speed up absorption, often chewing the tablets, crushing them and snorting the powder, or dissolving them in water and injecting the drug to get a fast high. This may cause adverse set of cross-reactions and may prove fatal as in the rural areas of the Eastern United States, especially in Virginia and West Virginia where several deaths have resulted due to mixing of Oxycontin with other painkillers, alcohol, and marijuana.

Pain reliever drugs can affect regions of the brain that mediate what we perceive as pleasure, resulting in the initial euphoria that many opioids produce. They can also produce drowsiness, constipation, and, depending upon the amount taken, depress breathing. Taking a large single dose could cause severe respiratory depression or death.

Some people mistakenly think that prescription drugs are more powerful because you need a prescription for them. However, it’s possible to abuse or become addicted to over-the-counter (OTC) pain killer medications too.

The dangers of prescription drug abuse can be made even worse if people take drugs in a way they aren’t supposed to. Ritalin may seem harmless because it’s prescribed even for little kids with ADHD but when a person snorts or injects Ritalin, it can be serious. Same holds true for most of the pain reliever drugs too.

Some points to prevent the abuse of prescription drugs:

â¢Always follow medication directions carefully.

â¢Don’t increase or decrease doses without talking with your doctor.

â¢Don’t stop taking medication on your own.

â¢Don’t crush or break pills.

â¢Be clear about the drug’s effects on driving and other daily tasks.

â¢Learn about the drug’s potential interactions with alcohol, other prescription medicines, and over-the-counter medicines.

â¢Inform your doctor about your past history of substance abuse.

Drug Free Rehab vs. Medication As A Drug Rehab

maureen — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 15:09:10 +0000

I do not understand western medicine’s fascination with medication. It seems these days that everyone is searching for a pill that will be the answer to all of their ailments. Take this pill for that. Take that pill for this. Research which drug will cure this or aid with that. It simply goes on and on. We have become a medicated nation.
I am baffled by this when we see the consequences of drug addiction in our communities. We think our problems with addiction will be solved if only we can get a handle on the meth problem or the heroin problem or the marijuana problem. We can’t see that many of the medications that are being handed by our doctors and pharmacies can be just has destructive as so-called street drugs. What’s frightening to me is that we are trying to solve the drug addiction problem in our country by creating new drugs that these drug addicts can take to cure their drug addiction.
Does this faulty thinking make any sense? Are more drugs truly the only way to handle a drug addict’s drug problem? Why can’t we provide those suffering from addiction with a comprehensive drug free rehab program? Yes, I said it. Drug-free. This means skip the methadone clinic. Skip the Subaxone. Skip the anti-depressants. Skip the quick fix.
The cover story for the July 16, 2007 issue of Time Magazine delves into the nature of addiction and how “new brain research is helping us understand why we get hooked.” The researchers involved use addicts’ brains to “design new drugs that are showing promise in cutting off the craving that drives an addict irresistibly toward relapse.” Great! Right? If an addict just didn’t crave the drug, he would be fine.Partially, yes. But there is so much more to what causes an individual to get hooked on drugs. There are always underlying issues that the once sober individual is trying to escape. Giving an addict a drug to stop the craving only addresses a part of the problem. There must be drug free ways to reduce the cravings an addict experiences and provide a complete drug free rehab for the drug addict.
Holistic approaches to drug addiction have been developed and have been proven to work. One such program, the New Life Detoxification program offered at Narconon Vista Bay, truly addresses the cravings an addict experiences by cleansing the body of drug residues in a drug free setting, using vitamins and a sauna program at its base. The end result is that the cravings for drugs have disappeared. However, the program also addresses the underlying causes for the addiction in the first place. None of these wonder drugs for addiction deal with the root causes, which in all honesty, makes me question the motivation behind developing these types of drugs.
Who profits from these wonder drugs? Is it the drug addict who now has to support his new habit? What happens to this addict when he can’t afford to get his medication? Will he return to using the bad street drugs and find himself caught in the trap of addiction all over again? These drugs to cure addiction are new. That means long term side effects are unknown. What will they be? What side effects will the addict have to deal with?
We have already seen what happens to those on methadone. We know that Subaxone is classified as a narcotic. We have seen that Ritalin, a methamphetamine, causes serious problems for our children. And yet, we keep pushing this idea that medication is the answer to addiction. When will see that drug free rehab is truly the only solution to our drug addiction problems?

The Age-old Question “how Do Pharmaceutical Drugs Get in Drinking Water” is Really Nothing New

maureen — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:11:43 +0000

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The fact that drugs get in our drinking water is so alarming.

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It makes things like toxins in water seem like old threats.

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But today, water supplies across the country have trace element of drugs.

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This discovery is causing experts and ordinary citizens to ask the question: how do pharmaceutical drugs get in drinking water?

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When a probe finds drugs in drinking water, it sets off all kinds of bells and whistles.

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The first area of concern for most people is how the drugs end up in their drinking water.

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The next thing people need to realize is that not all of the drugs they take stay in their bodies.

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When drugs are ingested or injected into our body, we do not necessarily use all of the drugs.

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These excess drugs get flushed out in urine and feces.

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Some say this is a good thing since pharmaceuticals can overpower your system.

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On the other hand, itâs not welcome news for the ecosystem.

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These drug elements find their way into our streams, rivers and other water systems, as well as into our municipal water treatment facilities.

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As you might know, addressing the quality of tap water is nothing new.

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But the newest threat of drugs in our waterways is just one more to add to our already tainted water.

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But simply asking âhow do pharmaceutical drugs get in drinking waterâ is not enough.

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The more urgent problem lies in the fact that such drugs are not easily filtered out of our drinking water.

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When a scientific probe finds drugs in drinking water, it usually reveals what levels and what type of drugs.

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A study by the Associate Press, for example, found low levels of drugs from over-the-counter

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medications to highly potent narcotics.

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Still some say that even in small doses, the pharmaceuticals are toxic to the body.

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The main reason for this is the fact the people might be ingesting them over a continuous period of time.

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No one knows just yet what this long-term exposure will do.

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The problem of drugs in water is growing rapidly worldwide.

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In the Unite States alone, traces of drugs are found in most sources of drinking water.

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How do pharmaceutical drugs get in drinking water supplies? Review the following to brush up on the different types of water sources and their safety:

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Underground aquifers supply around 40 percent of the drinking water in the United States. Sadly, drugs can seep into aquifers even in rural areas.

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Well-water is not controlled by public water treatment facilities.

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People dig wells and have the misguided faith that this is a totally safe way to collect healthy drug-free water.

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By and large, bottled water suppliers do not test water for the presence of drugs.

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Lastly, donât be fooled by some water purification devices and companies.

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Some ineffective home filtration systems do not filter out all the harmful chemicals and drugs in water and can also become contaminated with drug by-products.

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Click on my bio and find out the home filtration systems that do.

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Drug Addiction Treatment Program

maureen — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:13:41 +0000

Behavioral therapies can include counseling, psychotherapy, support groups, or family therapy. Treatment medications offer help in suppressing the withdrawal syndrome and drug craving and in blocking the effects of drugs. In addition, studies show that treatment for heroin addiction using methadone at an adequate dosage level combined with behavioral therapy reduces death rates and many health problems associated with heroin abuse.In general, the more treatment given, the better the results. Many patients require other services as well, such as medical and mental health services and HIV prevention services. Patients who stay in treatment longer than 3 months usually have better outcomes than those who stay less time. Patients who go through medically assisted withdrawal to minimize discomfort but do not receive any further treatment, perform about the same in terms of their drug use as those who were never treated. Over the last 25 years, studies have shown that treatment works to reduce drug intake and crimes committed by drug-dependent people. Researchers also have found that drug abusers who have been through treatment are more likely to have jobs.Types of Treatment ProgramsThe ultimate goal of all drug abuse treatment is to enable the patient to achieve lasting abstinence, but the immediate goals are to reduce drug use, improve the patient’s ability to function, and minimize the medical and social complications of drug abuse.There are several types of drug abuse treatment programs. Short-term methods last less than 6 months and include residential therapy, medication therapy, and drug-free outpatient therapy. Longer term treatment may include, for example, methadone maintenance outpatient treatment for opiate addicts and residential therapeutic community treatment.In maintenance treatment for heroin addicts, people in treatment are given an oral dose of a synthetic opiate, usually methadone hydrochloride or levo-alpha-acetyl methadol (LAAM), administered at a dosage sufficient to block the effects of heroin and yield a stable, noneuphoric state free from physiological craving for opiates. In this stable state, the patient is able to disengage from drug-seeking and related criminal behavior and, with appropriate counseling and social services, become a productive member of his or her community.Outpatient drug-free treatment does not include medications and encompasses a wide variety of programs for patients who visit a clinic at regular intervals. Most of the programs involve individual or group counseling. Patients entering these programs are abusers of drugs other than opiates or are opiate abusers for whom maintenance therapy is not recommended, such as those who have stable, well-integrated lives and only brief histories of drug dependence.Therapeutic communities (TCs) are highly structured programs in which patients stay at a residence, typically for 6 to 12 months. Patients in TCs include those with relatively long histories of drug dependence, involvement in serious criminal activities, and seriously impaired social functioning. The focus of the TC is on the resocialization of the patient to a drug-free, crime-free lifestyle.Short-term residential programs, often referred to as chemical dependency units, are often based on the “Minnesota Model” of treatment for alcoholism. These programs involve a 3- to 6-week inpatient treatment phase followed by extended outpatient therapy or participation in 12-step self-help groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous or Cocaine Anonymous. Chemical dependency programs for drug abuse arose in the private sector in the mid-1980s with insured alcohol/cocaine abusers as their primary patients. Today, as private provider benefits decline, more programs are extending their services to publicly funded patients.Methadone maintenance programs are usually more successful at retaining clients with opiate dependence than are therapeutic communities, which in turn are more successful than outpatient programs that provide psychotherapy and counseling. Within various methadone programs, those that provide higher doses of methadone (usually a minimum of 60 mg.) have better retention rates. Also, those that provide other services, such as counseling, therapy, and medical care, along with methadone generally get better results than the programs that provide minimal services.Drug treatment programs in prisons can succeed in preventing patients’ return to criminal behavior, particularly if they are linked to community-based programs that continue treatment when the client leaves prison. Some of the more successful programs have reduced the rearrest rate by one-fourth to one-half. For example, the “Delaware Model,” an ongoing study of comprehensive treatment of drug- addicted prison inmates, shows that prison-based treatment including a therapeutic community setting, a work release therapeutic community, and community-based aftercare reduces the probability of rearrest by 57 percent and reduces the likelihood of returning to drug use by 37 percent.http://www.synergytreatment.com

Special Considerations in Drug Cases

maureen — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:08:46 +0000

Special Considerations in Drug Cases

Diversion from criminal drug charges entails navigating the intricacies of Prop. 36 or deferred entry of judgment (DEJ), both of which divert from criminal prosecution only people charged with simple possession or being under the influence. Both programs require the defendant to attend and complete a certified or approved drug rehabilitation program. When the treatment is complete, the defendant’s conviction is erased from the record. The goal of both programs is rehabilitation rather than punishment, but there the similarities end.

DEJ Diversion

The Deferred Entry of Judgment (DEJ) Program is aimed towards those individuals accused of use/possession of illegal substances who have waived his/her rights to a speedy trial and entered a plea of guilty. The judgment is put on hold upon successful completion of the DEJ requirements. The DEJ program is designed to assist individuals recognize their chemical and/or other drug dependency and assist them in their recovery. If they successfully complete all required programs, they can have their case dismissed in a process which is known as “Deferred Entry of Judgment,” commonly referred to as DEJ or drug diversion.

This kind of “settlement” can be possible in certain felony cases involving non-violent drug offenses. Deferred entry of judgment (DEJ) diverts people charged with either simple possession or being under the influence from criminal prosecution. Individuals who have been charged with first-time drug offenses, as well as certain defendants who suffer from the disease of drug addiction may be eligible to attend classes or other rehabilitation programs.

A defendant is not eligible for DEJ if he or she has ever been convicted of any prior drug offense, even a crime such as possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. Defendants can join DEJ only if they plead guilty. A person can participate in DEJ regardless of whether he or she is charged and convicted of an additional crime at the same time, unlike Prop. 36 sentencing.

Prop. 36

Under Prop. 36, defendants can have drug convictions on their records and still be eligible for treatment. Defendants are eligible for Prop. 36 treatment whether they plead guilty or are convicted after trial. As a condition of probation the court shall require participation in and completion of an appropriate drug treatment program. The court may also impose as a condition of probation participation in vocational training, family counseling, literacy training and/or community service. A court may not impose incarceration as an additional condition of probation. Aside from the limitations imposed in this subdivision, the trial court is not otherwise limited in the type of probation conditions it may impose.
The terms “drug treatment program” or “drug treatment” mean a licensed and/or certified community drug treatment program which may include one or more of the following: outpatient treatment, half-way house treatment, narcotic replacement therapy, drug education or prevention courses and/or limited inpatient or residential drug treatment as needed to address special detoxification or relapse situations or severe dependence. The terms “drug treatment program” or “drug treatment” shall not include drug treatment programs offered in a prison or jail facility.

Although the overall eligibility criteria for Prop. 36 is looser than DEJ, Prop. 36 has some restrictions not found in DEJ. For example, people are ineligible for Prop. 36 when, in addition to the current drug offense, they are convicted in the same proceeding of a misdemeanor not related to the use of drugs or any non-qualifying drug felony.

Proposition 36, generally favors long-term drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration. While DEJ is available only upon a plea of “guilty,” Prop. 36 sentencing is available upon conviction — whether a defendant pleaded guilty or was found guilty after a trial.

Drug Court

A Drug Court is a full or part-time court that has been especially designed and staffed to supervise the nonviolent drug offender. It is a court-monitored program of drug treatment and rehabilitation services. Treatment drug court combines individual and/or group counseling, frequent judicial supervision, urine monitoring for drug use and graduated sanctions.

Drug Courts offer the participant a clear choice: participation in treatment instead of going to jail. In exchange for successful completion of the treatment program, the Court may eventually dismiss the original charge, early terminate probation or reduce a felony to a misdemeanor charge, if applicable.

These courts combine the close supervision of the judicial process with resources available through alcohol and drug treatment services. The two goals of these programs are to reduce recidivism of drug-related offenses and to create options within the criminal justice system that tailor effective and appropriate responses for offenders with drug problems.

Once enrolled in drug court participants are assessed by drug court staff (certified drug and alcohol abuse specialists) and referred to various community-based treatment providers based on individual needs. In addition to counseling, 12-step, or other self-help meetings, they are also required to submit to urine tests for alcohol and street drugs and to attend drug court hearings. After graduation, the court deletes the fine and works with participants to deal with mandatory minimum sentences. Typically, the court will allow work release, electronic monitoring, or any other acceptable alternative to jail time.

Penal Code 2900.5: Rehab Facilities and Sober Living
Rehab Facilities

There are many different types of rehab available, for both men and women, separately or together. Most rehabs are private and can be very expensive. Sometimes there are waiting lists for an available bed. The length of treatment varies, but the average time is 30 days. Treatment may include behavior modification and/or medication. Three commonly used behavioral treatments for alcohol abuse and alcoholism—motivation enhancement therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and 12-step facilitation therapy—significantly reduced drinking in the year following treatment. Medication such as naltrexone (ReVia™), an anti-craving medication, has been shown to be effective, especially when combined with behavior therapy.

Alcohol and drug rehabs can be used to replace the alcohol education programs that are instituted as part of the DUI conviction. California Vehicle Code section 23598 states that in lieu of an alcohol or drug education program, the court may impose a live-in alcohol treatment term of probation instead. The court will impose that the DUI offender complete such a program so long as the person consents and has been accepted into that program. The type of proof that is required is a certification, made under penalty of perjury, by the director of the program. The time spent in rehabilitation is counted against the time that would otherwise have been spent incarcerated in a county jail. This is referred to as good time custody credits.

Sober Living

Sober living environments are a way for the DUI offender to avoid being incarcerated. Where a person has had multiple DUIs, or has a drug or alcohol problem that has not responded to past attempts at treatment, then sober living may be the best rehabilitative means of any of the other alternative sentencing options. The basic structure of a sober living environment involves the housing of only sober people, for both men and women. All residents are required to participate in planned daily activities, such as group meetings and 12-step programs. Each resident is required to contribute to the running and functioning of the household by performing a household chore.

Where a DUI offender is facing mandatory minimum time in the county jail, sober living environments provide an excellent alternative sentence to fulfilling the county jail time hours in the sober living environment. The hours spent in the sober living environment qualifies for the mandatory time in jail. Where a term of imprisonment is imposed by the court, the hours and days spent in the sober living facility will count against the mandatory imprisonment requirement. It is the duty of the court imposing the sentence to determine the date or dates of any admission to, and release from, custody prior to sentencing and the total number of days to be credited.

California Penal Code section 2009 defines the terms of sober living as a sentencing alternative to incarceration. The term of stay in the sober living facility may be credited to any base fines or restitution fines at the rate of not less than $30 per day, or more, in the discretion of the court imposing the sentence. Fines are often part of a sentencing scheme where the DUI offender is ordered to a jail stay or released on probation, yet is obligated to pay fines and do community service. If the total number of days in custody exceeds the number of days of the term of imprisonment, the entire term of imprisonment shall be deemed to have been served. In any case where the court has imposed both a jail term of imprisonment and a fine, any days to be credited to the defendant shall first be applied to the term of imprisonment imposed, and thereafter the remaining days, if any, shall be applied to the fine on a proportional basis, including, but not limited to, base fines and restitution fines.

What you Need to Know About Drug Abuse Treatment Procedures

maureen — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 15:07:29 +0000

The meaning of “drug abuse” is described as the consumption of psychoactive drugs and sports performance enhancement drugs for non-medical purposes. Some examples of exploited drugs include alcohol, barbiturates, morphine, benzodiazepines, cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, and other opiates like hydrocodone and codeine. The other drug abuse meaning may also be grouped into four clear-cut groups: the medical definitions, the mass contact and argot usage, the social wellness definitions, and the political and criminal classifications.

Since substance abuse and drug addiction can do harm to an individual, it is important to encourage the drug addicted person to obtain drug addiction treatment. There are different kinds of addictive drugs existing nowadays. The substance abuse treatment methodology may be different from one drug variant to another. The treatment methodologies also depend on the uniqueness of the people with addiction problems and they may be different when it comes to the methodologies. A number of the addicted people face problems regarding physical and psychological issues. On other hand, there are a few addicted people who face problems regarding job-related or public issues. Unfortunately, public issues create a great deal of struggle to deal with addictive disorders/addictive conditions of the people who are addicted to illegal substances.

The attempt to stop the misuse of drugs fall short most of the time. While there are a number of evidences of short-term feats, the long-term feats are still rare. There are a number of treatment processes that were invented to help drug dependents stop their drug addiction. The treatment methodologies are consist of various approaches like damage minimization, abstinence-based systems, therapeutic treatments, pharmacotherapeutics, and legal means. The drug abuse treatment processes are separated into two groups. The first class includes a number of common drug abuse treatment services while the second set includes the criminal justice-involved treatment procedures.

DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT METHODOLOGIES:

(1) Agonist Maintenance Cure:

This treatment technique is widely used to fight drug abuse and it is often called the methadone treatment procedure. In this program, some synthetic and opiate substances such as LAAM or methadone are applied. These substances are consumed continuously at an amount that is enough to prevent the elimination of opiate and to stop the effects caused by misusing opiates. Craving for opiates also lowers as time goes by. Comprehensive counseling is ordinarily done along with this treatment process.

(2) Narcotic Antagonist Cure with Naltrexone Application:

Generally, this treatment program is an extension of the previously mentioned drug abuse treatment program. Here, Naltrexone is utilized as a replacement for LAAM or methadone, as a synthetic and long-lasting antagonist. It is of significance that the drug dependent person person is free from the opiates for some days so that the Naltrexone could be utilized. Now it has to be mentioned that this antagonist doesn’t have any subjective prospects of addiction and it has some effects too. Rehab and counseling are also required in this kind.

(3) Outpatient Drug-Free Cure:

This methodology of drug abuse treatment is becoming popular as days go by. This process is not associated with rehab. In this case, the necessary medications are given after hearing the statement of the addictive patient. As an alternative to individual counseling, the group counseling occurs in this drug abuse cure program. This program is less costly as compared to the two previously mentioned categories. This treatment procedure goes well with workers, students and those people with wide social and family encouragement.

(4) Long-Term Residential Treatment Program:

In this case, the people with addiction problems are allowed to enter especially made residential drug abuse treatment hubs with non-medical surroundings. There are numerous residential treatment services offered. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Therapeutic Community are two of the most famous kinds. These centers include patients, medical experts, counselors and other personnel. The duration of residence lasts for some six months to one year. In that duration of time, the necessary medications are provided to the addictive patients and mental counseling is done. This process is practical for the addictive patients who are unfortunate not to have the public and family encouragement that is needed.

(5) Short-Term Residential Treatment Methods:

This treatment is actually inspired by a model also known as 12-step approach. At First, this procedure was intended for alcohol addiction treatment services, but soon after it was revealed that this process is also helpful for cocaine abuse treatment services.

(6) Medical Detoxification:

In this particular type of drug abuse treatment program, the remains of prohibited drugs are released from the human body. Generally, the human body is detoxified during the period of treatment. The entire procedure is under the strict examination of an experienced physician. Additionally, it is essential to lower the addictive nature of the addictive person through counseling.

(7) Legal Treatment Services:

It is a reality that drug addiction is absolutely illegal. In cases wherein an individual is found abusing addictive drugs, he is required to experience a few drug abuse treatment techniques that comes with the penalty. There are two types of legal treatment services: the prison-based drug abuse treatment program and the community-based treatment program.

Substance abuse treatments will only be successful supposing the addictive person is given encouragement coming from his family, his pals, and the community. The addictive person must stick to the counsels provided to him by a physician or a counselor.

Club And Prescription Drug Abuse In Wyoming

maureen — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:09:46 +0000

Both club and prescription drug abuses are quite significant in the overall problem of drug abuse in Wyoming. These are apart from the other common forms of addiction such as heroin addiction, cocaine addiction, marijuana addiction and even alcohol addiction, which is the most prevalent form of chemical dependency in the state.
Here we shall see some details on these two forms of drug abuse in Wyoming. Here are some statistics and trends on club and prescription drug abuse in the state.
Club Drug Abuse in Wyoming
By definition, club drugs are those that people use in party and rave circuits. These are drugs that are typically popular among the youth, because these are the kinds of people that frequent such areas. The main forms of club drugs that are popular in the state are methamphetamine and ecstasy.
Methamphetamine is one of the most popular forms of club drug addiction in the state. This substance was not present on the drug addiction scene of Wyoming until about ten years ago, but in the last few years, the drug has become much more prevalent than other forms of addiction in the state. Methamphetamine comes into Wyoming mainly from Mexico, through road trafficking methods. The drug is brought here both in its original form a purer form known as crystal meth, locally known as ice.
Another source of methamphetamine in Wyoming is through the various meth labs that are secretly operating within the state. These labs work through the agencies of one or two people and can produce up to ten pounds of methamphetamine and crystal meth each day from some crude materials such as cough syrups, antifreeze and other such easily available materials.
Though there have been various crackdowns and patrolling on the highways have become stricter in recent times, methamphetamine and crystal meth still continue to flow freely into Wyoming, thus adding considerably to the problem of drug abuse in the state.
Other popular club drugs in the state are MDMA (also known as Ecstasy) and GHB. These drugs are sourced from the state of Colorado. They are locally distributed in the youth-centric areas of the state such as in nightclubs and rave party zones. These drugs are popular because they are cheaply available and they have a capacity to produce an immediate high. Psilocybin mushrooms and LSD are also popular on the scene of club drug abuse in Wyoming among the other substances already mentioned.
Prescription Drug Abuse in Wyoming
Prescription drugs are those drugs that are administered for the treatment of certain diseases or illnesses. However, a lot of these substances are habit forming. They are used by a wide cross section of people in Wyoming for recreation. This contributes to the problem of prescription drug abuse in Wyoming.
There are several drugs that are a part of prescription drug abuse in the state. The most significant of these drugs are Valium, Vicodin and Dilaudid. Valium is a benzodiazepine and th others are painkillers. They have a mild habit forming effect due to which they can be used for recreation.
This causes several supplementary problems in the state, such as making fake prescriptions, shopping for prescriptions, etc. There are several healthcare professionals involved in this activity. In any case, the problem of prescription drug abuse in Wyoming is quite prominently present within the state.
This problem is quite significant in two groups of people in the state. The most significant population is the senior population. These people are usually prescribed these drugs due to geriatric problems. The substances can become habit forming over time and this makes the addiction treatment more difficult too. This is a common issue in senior alcohol and drug abuse treatment in the state. The main reason why the drug abuse is common among the seniors is because of the ready availability (through prescription) to them.
The second group of people who abuses prescription drugs is the adolescents. These youngsters frequently find these substances within their own homes and that is the reason why they also have a ready availability of the substance. Youngsters who check in for drug abuse treatment in Wyoming are often found to have supplementary problems of a prescription drug abuse, most of which are narcotic painkillers that have been prescribed by a physician to an elderly person in their own homes.
These two kinds of drug abuse form a big share of drug addiction in the state. Several methods of treatment are used in various rehab centers to combat prescription and club drug abuse.