HealingNYC Launches New Campaign with Hopes of Preventing Fentanyl Overdose Deaths

Amid a national health crisis, several health departments are fighting to curb deaths due to  drug overdose. New York City has just launched its HealingNYC campaign in an effort to prevent fatal opioid overdoses by offering a free reporting and care system for New Yorkers addicted to opioids

In 2017, fentanyl was declared the most common drug involved in overdose deaths nationwide and could be traced back to nearly 57% of all the opioid-related deaths. More recent data confirms its growing presence in neighborhoods across the country.

Tuesday, May 28th, 2019, was the first day of the month-long campaign announced by the New York Health Department, which offers public education on practical and life-saving advice to people who use drugs. The campaign highlights the dangers of ‘using’ alone and additionally to the increased dangers of mixing multiple drugs.

The half a million-dollar campaign also cautions people on the risk they take when consuming drugs/opioids due to the possible presence of fentanyl.

The synthetic opioid, fentanyl can be described as a short-acting opioid, almost 50 times more potent than heroin. Authorities claim they continue to find traces in heroin, powdered cocaine, crack cocaine, and ketamine, including pills sold as painkillers and benzodiazepines.

According to the state data, the overdose death rate continues to skyrocket with city numbers drastically increasing over the last seven years.

“Fentanyl is in the illegal drug supply, and it is driving the overdose epidemic in New York City,” announced Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “People who use drugs should know there are ways to reduce their risk of overdose. If you use drugs, don’t use them by yourself; if you overdose, someone else will need to call 911. This information can save lives.”

The campaign details their information with current data statistics and factual evidence. For example, the HealthNY defines and explains what Fentanyl is, noting that it cannot be detected by sight, taste, or smell when mixed with other drugs.

For anyone in New York using the following: heroin, cocaine, crack, or pills, experts caution the risk of fentanyl-induced overdose. They stress the importance of carrying naloxone, a reversal for opioid overdose and suggest users carry one at all times.

Another topic that is stressed in the campaign is the mixing of multiple drugs. Health experts warn people of the increased risks involved when they mix drugs like opioids with alcohol, Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin. Many users are afraid to let people know what they are high on or just took a hit of and health officials warn that honesty about usage is key to first responders being able to do their jobs effectively. Health officials warned users to avoid using alone if at all possible. If users find themselves using alone, they suggest having someone check on them to make sure they are alive and well.

The initial campaign will run citywide on subways, bus shelters, billboards,  LinkNYC kiosks, online in local businesses and the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. Each city with the highest reported opioid overdose-related deaths will be targeted the hardest.

The push to launch the campaign comes after the Health Department’s “Living Proof” and “I Saved a Life” campaigns which discusses the importance of treatment for addiction of opioids with methadone or buprenorphine and raised awareness of naloxone.

The announcement is connected with HealingNYC which is New York’s effort to provide a detailed strategy of attack and aid to the awareness of the opioid crisis with the goal to save at least 400 lives by 2022.

“Fentanyl is a synthetic killer far more lethal than any strain of heroin found on city streets. The spike in overdose deaths caused by the use of fentanyl and the abuse of other opioids once again highlights the importance of education, prevention, and harm reduction strategies to encourage drug users to try to stay safe, and ultimately to seek substance abuse treatment, all without fear of legal repercussions,” announced  Assembly Member Richard N. Gottfried, Chair of the Assembly Health Committee.

Another statement from City Council Health Committee Chair Mark Levine, states, “While we are doing everything, we can to get Fentanyl off our streets, we also need to give every person who uses this powerful drug, whether inadvertently or not, a chance to survive its deadly consequences.” “Every New Yorker should know that if you use drugs, there are things you can do to mitigate the chances of a deadly overdose. We need to be open and honest about drug use in New Your City and make the use of drugs, even if illegal, as safe as possible. This program will save lives.”

Alyssa Aguilera, Co-Executive Director, VOCAL-NY adds to the previous statement by saying,  “at our syringe exchange program in Brooklyn, we know that education and supportive services are what keep people who use drugs safe.”

“We’re glad to see the city taking proactive steps to educate the public about the dangers of fentanyl, while also promoting strategies to reduce harm and mitigate risk. These are the important public health strategies we need to keep our communities safe and turn the tide on this deadly and unnecessary overdose crisis,” she concluded.

Monique Tula, Executive Director, Harm Reduction Coalition, believes that within a post-fentanyl environment, people who do use drugs are far more at risk for a deadly overdose than ever before.

“This campaign offers practical, life-saving information that gives people the tools they need to keep themselves out of harm’s way,” she said.

Over the past decade, the amount of deaths due to drug overdoses with opioids has skyrocketed and remains to be a popular trend in New York City, where data confirms someone dies of a drug overdose every six hours.

According to the City of New York, in 2017 alone there were 1,487 confirmed overdose deaths, and fentanyl was found in over 50% of those deaths. Just last year, from January to September 2018, there were 1,055 confirmed overdose deaths.

Many of the cities strategies to curb overdose deaths can be found in HealingNYC, and include naloxone distribution, educational activities, and social supports for youth.

Their goal is to educate health professionals about the risks of prescription opioid painkillers and the acceptable ways of judicious prescribing, as well as growing crisis intervention services for users who experience nonfatal overdoses.

Health experts stress the reality that opioid overdose deaths are preventable, and the reversal medication naloxone is available to anyone living in New York. Major chains in New York including Walgreens, Duane Reade, Rite Aid, and CVS are now offering naloxone and almost 500 independent pharmacies citywide have agreed to follow. They will be offering it to people without a patient-specific prescription, and in addition to the multiple locations of access, naxalone is free through registered Opioid Overdose Prevention programs.

New York State has also announced that it will cover naloxone co-payments of up to $40, along with providing education courses on how to properly administer the life-saving drug.

In those cases where people do not know how to administer the nasal spray, the naloxone training will be held at the Health Department office at the  Queens location and the Tremont Neighborhood Action Center in the Bronx.

These specialized training sessions are necessary for people to be able to recognize the signs of an overdose and respond by calling 911 before administering the nasal spray. Each session is free of charge and comes with a complimentary kit.

The New York City Health Department wants to remind people that treatment for opioid abuse disorder is highly available in NYC and has been proven to be successful if treatment is completed. If anyone is seeking a program, they can contact NYC Well through their hotline, by texting “WELL” to 65173 or going to nyc.gov/NYCwell.

Their staff is available to give free, confidential support at any time of the day in over 200 languages. Please report an overdose to 911 immediately.

 

 

The Recover is an unbiased substance abuse and mental health news provider. Helping individuals looking for the right treatment programs in their area. Also providing information on drug rehab centers for addiction recovery.

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source http://www.ivdaily.com/healingnyc-launches-new-campaign-with-hopes-of-preventing-fentanyl-overdose-deaths

Oakland May be Second City to Decriminalize Mushrooms

Denver, Colorado made history not too long ago when it became the first city to decriminalize the use of certain hallucinogenics, known as “magic mushrooms.” According to the San Fransico Chronicle, the current status of Oakland California could make it the second city in the U.S. to follow the path of Denver, by legalizing the use of magic mushrooms.

50.6 percent of the 176,000 Denver voters approved the referendum, and 49.4 percent voted no.

As stated, Initiative 301 will require police to make arresting people for personal possession or use of psilocybin mushrooms “the lowest law enforcement priority in the City and County of Denver. The measure does not make Pyslicobin legal.

The final meeting will be presented to a full council on June 4th, the resolution only applies to the psychedelics derived from plants or fungi, not synthetic or manufactured drugs like LSD or MDMA.

Noel Gallo, the councilman who first introduced the measure, noted that he hopes the decriminalization of natural substances like psychedelics will aid individuals who suffer from mental health issues.

“We need all the help we can get to deal with the mental health issues that we have,” Gallo announced. “If I can bring it publicly and talk about the benefit and talk about (how it can) deal with the mental illnesses that we have in the city, why not?”

According to multiple reports, similar measures are being discussed across the states of California and Oregan.

Experts note that Its potential indications include depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, quitting smoking, alcohol addiction, cocaine addiction, cluster headaches, and cancer-related or other end-of-life psychological discomfort.

Despite the move to decriminalize magic mushrooms, Psilocybin mushrooms remain a Schedule I drug according to the Drug Enforcement Agency, which means they’re classified as possessing “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.

source http://www.ivdaily.com/oakland-may-be-second-city-to-decriminalize-mushrooms

Nad Therapy Center List Top Benefits

A new advanced therapy is making its way into rehab treatment centers and other medical facilities alike. The purpose behind the treatment is simple- to provide the body with the vitamins and nutrients it needs.

According to medical experts, Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a coenzyme found in almost every cell in the human body. The sole purpose of these enzymes is to fuel metabolic reactions forward, similar to the way gas powers a car. If the body did not have the NAD cells, the human body cells would not be able to metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids. This is the main reason NAD plays a primary role in the way gene expression is linked to age-related conditions.

The term NAD IV therapy is a new treatment that utilizes the healing and medical benefits that the vitamins posses. The procedure has proven countless times to be outstanding therapy. Many see this therapy as a new beginning and the light in the dark they have been looking for. People suffering from addiction, age-related, and chronic fatigue all report amazing results following the treatment.

​The reason behind the IV steams from the facts that when people are administered a high dose of NAD straight into their bloodstream, compared to other trading routes, it allows for a faster and more effective outcome. The quick high dose will quickly level out the NAD level and recharge the engine within those cells. The mitochondrion will then produce more energy directly to the brain.

Typically the Iv therapy can last from 4 to 14 days, depending on the patient’s condition and the individual’s goal. Experts caution that the NAD IV be administered by a qualified doctor who is certified in providing the NAD treatment, due to the specific protocols involved.

NAD an NADH are generally used in redox reactions to create energy within your cells. Part of this process is responsible for breaking down carbohydrates, or sugar. However, if the body is flooded with surgery, the cells start to, which leads to an overload of NADH. Studies have linked back excessive NADH to multiple metabolic conditions.

For example, diabetes is a condition linked to the overload of NADH. According to multiple studies, “mice with elevated sirtuins were less likely to become diabetic, and were at a decreased risk of fatty liver disease.” It is essential to remember; IV NAD therapy won’t be able to lower your blood glucose levels, although it does have the same effect as calorie restriction.

The benefits from IV NAD therapy go without saying and have been proven over and over again to be successful! The idea behind a better mind and healthier body is what drives people to NAD Therapy.

source http://www.ivdaily.com/nad-therapy-center-list-top-benefits

Deaths and Health Disorders from Misuse of Medicinal Drugs Continue to Rise Globally

The UN is alarmed by the global rise in deaths resulting from the misuse of medicinal drugs. They are aware of the dynamics of the medicinal drug misuse problem which they describe as crime upon crime and ask people to care about their lives and quit the drug misuse.

The UN is still banking on the World Drug Report 2017 and 2017 statistics to warn people to quit misuse of medicinal drugs which is causing untimely deaths and health disorders worldwide.

In 2017, the UNODC raised the alarm that 29 .5 million people in the world were victims of addiction to medicinal drugs especially those classified as opioids and had developed health disorders which were the consequences of the misuse of medicinal drugs.

The UNODC is still appealing in 2019 to the people worldwide to quit the misuse of these drugs and quit creation of the new form of drug addiction.

“Currently the world is facing a devastating #opioidscrisis: North America with fentanyl and Africa and the Middle East with tramadol. On- medical use of prescription drugs has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. According to the World Drug Report aberout, 450,000 people died in 2015 as a result of drug use;167,750 of them were a direct result of drug use disorders involving opioids,” UNODC.

The drugs are being misused by ignorant users who don’t know the content or the right amounts of dosage of the drugs and that they are using to endanger their lives for perceived psycho-excitement without factoring in the negative health risks they were subjecting themselves to.

UNODC World Report 2017 explained that the people deliberately chose to misuse the medicinal drugs through doing whatever it takes to obtain the medicines, including forging prescriptions to obtain the drugs. The medicinal drug misuse is also promoted by the existence of illicit manufacture and counterfeit drugs and knowledge about these opioids drugs.

The UN is aware that the new form of drug addiction is promoted by drug trafficking cartels, dynamic market of drug production who make concoctions with hard drugs such as heroin and an opioid drug, from the available raw materials. And countries like Afghanistan, the existence of terrorist groups who depend on drug sales proceeds contribute to the promotion of the new addiction.

UN explains that people are seeking new crime routes for crime opportunities and are misusing development in state systems and technology to supply drugs to the people needing drugs. The drug proceeds however always end up being used in evil trade in cases of money laundering and illicit financial flows.

The drug world is described to be complicated since every level of drugs trade involves corruption and thrives on corruption and violence. UNODC reports that eventually, the drug proceeds as used in evil deeds ruin countries.

 

 

The Recover is an unbiased substance abuse and mental health news provider. Helping individuals looking for the right treatment programs in their area. Also providing information on drug rehab centers for addiction recovery.

 

 

Contact: Amber Mae Payson

Company: The Recover
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source http://www.ivdaily.com/deaths-and-health-disorders-from-misuse-of-medicinal-drugs-continue-to-rise-globally

Fifty People Arrested In Connection with Heroin Ring

Over the last month, the State and Federal law enforcement arrested 50 people in connection with the massive undercover operation that resulted in the seizure of thousands of bags of heroin, guns and over $15,000 in cash. The arrest was made in Connecticut on Friday. However, authorities are still looking for a handful of others.

Authorities claim that the arrest was part of an investigation called, “Operation Raw Deal” that began in September” due to a spike in heroin overdoes related deaths in the city.”

The police then issued 92 warrants for the 52 suspects, with the following charges, the sale of narcotics, conspiracy at the disposal of drugs, firearm violations, and possession in a school zone. According to the police reports, 13 detectives fulfilled those warrants by conducting a series of raids across the small Connecticut town.

According to the detectives reports, “Operation: Raw Deal” consisted of 135 detectives, officers, agents and investigators, from the VICE and Intelligence Division, Criminal Investigation Bureau (CID), Gang Task Force (GTF), Street Crime Unit (SCU), Emergency Response Team (ERT), Patrol Division, forensic technicians and investigators from other local and federal law enforcement agencies.

They claim that forty-one suspects from the official posted a list of 52 were initially arrested for multiple drug-related offenses, while nine people were detained and booked for other crimes including the drug-related offenses.

During their raids, the detectives seized 8 ounces of raw heroin, thousands of packaged bags ready to sell, and $15,000 in cash, two runner cars, and two handguns, with bullets and a loaded rifle.

They also noted that the majority of the people arrested in the monthlong sting were considered mid-level heroin dealers.

Lt. David Silverio announced, “this action was about saving lives, not just making arrests.”

“You have the people that have a medical need and may need treatment, and then we have traffickers and suppliers. This kind of operation is targeting the trafficker side of the narcotics problem,” Lt. Silverio of the Waterbury Police Department stated during a Fox 61 interview.

“As of May 4, there’s been 24 deaths in Waterbury this year alone and 99 overdoses. This year, the numbers hopefully will get better, but we have a problem right here in this city,” added Lt. Silverio.

According to a nationwide study by the CDC, overdose deaths during the year, 2017 were four times higher than they were 1999. They also noted that heroin overdoses had remained stagnant, yet other forms of opioid use have spiked-causing an epidemic.

Other reports claim, 11 people may be on the run from the police, Waterbury Police cautioned the public if they recognize one of the suspects, do not approach them, and contact local authorities immediately.

 

 

The Recover is an unbiased substance abuse and mental health news provider. Helping individuals looking for the right treatment programs in their area. Also providing information on drug rehab centers for addiction recovery.

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source http://www.ivdaily.com/fifty-people-arrested-in-connection-with-heroin-ring

Sober Mom Tribe: A Judgement Free-Zone for Women Around the World

During a time of social media and technology, people are taking to platforms to educate and inform others on specific topics, and one mom is creating a movement with Instagram.

An organization called Sober Mom Tribe was first created after being a featured guest on a podcast. They believed that social media didn’t feature enough sober mom’s, so they wanted to create a judgment-free zone for mothers to gather and share their struggles along with their success stories while gaining knowledge from mothers just like them from around the world.

Soon they learned that there were more sober moms with similar interest everywhere and agreed that they needed a support system to help other women who want to become sober. The stigma behind treatment has caused mothers and people around the country to hide their problems or negatively look at rehab.

This is why Alyson Premo, a 35-year-old single mom, and founder of Sober Moms Tribe decided to create a platform for moms around the world to become sober and have a community of similar women around them in their time of need.

Instagram is flooded with the “mommy wine” culture, showcasing the luxury of having wine and relaxing after taking care of the kids and husband; however, their account helps mothers navigate and share their experience, all while creating a light mood to help empower women everywhere. Currently, their account has 13.5 thousand followers and continues to grow.

Sober Mom Coach, Alyson, and mother of an eight-year-old son understands the road to recovery better than anyone. Her life changed on November 14, 2016, when she took her last gulp of red wine in a detox parking lot.

“Towards the end of my darkest moment, I was drinking beer, wine, vodka morning to night. It didn’t matter what type of alcohol it was I just physically and mentally needed it to stay alive. I’d wake up at 3 am with so much anxiety that I’d grab the red wine bottle that was on my nightstand so that I could calm my thoughts and fall back to sleep. It ended up being a vicious cycle that I couldn’t get out of until I finally called my mother on November 14, 2016, and asked for help,” shared Alyson.

Since then she has returned to being a fully present and accountable mother and also fantastic entrepreneur to help mothers like her become clean. On her journey, Alyson became a Certified Professional Recovery Coach to inspire others around her. She believes that even though she found comfort in her therapist, she also felt she needed someone who knew how to give relatable guidance.

“Having a specialized focus in addiction and not just telling people to go to AA because that’s always what’s been done is crucial,” she said.

Everyone is different when it comes to recovery and aftercare which is why Alyson chose to become a coach saying, “That’s where I come in. To guide you on the path that’s right for you.”

Encouragement and accountability seem to go a long way notably in the first year of sobriety, and that is what Sober Moms Tribe aims to provide.

“We want to welcome you to our tribe.  We hope you can find helpful tips, find a few new mom friends, and find inspiration from all these amazing sober mother’s rocking it day in and day out,” a message from the Sober Moms Tribe main website.

The Recover is an unbiased substance abuse and mental health news provider. Helping individuals looking for the right treatment programs in their area. Also providing information on drug rehab centers for addiction recovery.

Contact: Mckenzie Santa Maria
Company: The Recover
Address: Huntington Beach, CA 
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source http://www.ivdaily.com/sober-mom-tribe-a-judgement-free-zone-for-women-around-the-world

Not Just Candy: The Hidden Risks of Edible Marijuana

Palpitations, nausea, severe vomiting, and epileptic fits are just some of the many ailments patients at UC Health University of Colorado Hospital are experiencing when they enter the ER. However, these patients are all different ages, they all come from different ethnic backgrounds, and their blood tests results are perfectly normal, so what can be the cause of their sudden illness? Edible marijuana. According to a recent analysis, ER visits for cannabis consumption have tripled over the past 5 years. Ever since Colorado has legalized cannabis consumption, hospital visits for psychiatric evaluations and supposed “heart attacks” have been on the rise as well. So, how has cannabis changed from a friendly, social, meditative plant into a psychosis inducer?

   Blame it on the lollipops. Dr. Al Bronstein, physician, and director of Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center attested to this claim stating, “What we’re seeing with edibles is that the effect is delayed for approximately 30 minutes, depending on the person. People get impatient for the effect and will take more, and then the symptoms are more pronounced than what they were expecting.” In other words, once that THC filled cookie or lollipop doesn’t offer the desired effect, some people get impatient and end up consuming more before they are even high.  As a result, once the high does take effect, it can ultimately lead to symptoms of an overdose. Yes, an overdose. Though no research has shown that one can die from consuming too much THC, Dr. Al Bronstein characterized a marijuana overdose as a “loss of touch with reality causing an increase in anxiety, loss of coordination, delusional ailments, panic attacks, psychosis, and dysphoria”. Despite the controversy concerning chemically treated plant-based marijuana, Bronstein also noted that reactions to edibles are often more severe and critical.

 And in Colorado, the popularity of edibles is all too apparent. According to dispensary sales tracker BDS Analytics, the prices of wholesale plant-based marijuana have decreased by nearly 40% in 2018 — while the sales of edibles have only increased. As a result of the decline in wholesale marijuana, quality has also gotten cheaper, causing more pot-heads to gravitate towards different methods of getting high. But the effects of this new high may not be as pleasurable as one might think. The Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center reports show that 8% of edible users had cardiovascular symptoms, including a rapid or irregular heartbeat after being treated for marijuana overdoses; by contrast, only 3% of pot smokers experienced heart- related symptoms.

 With this in mind, several states including California, Nevada, and Oregon authorized edible packages to be labeled with a warning sign, and accurately specify the THC content. However, because of additional ingredients such as sugar, fat, and food coloring, calculating precise levels of THC in edibles has presented itself as a complicated task. Unlike these states which have estimated a safe consumption ranges between 2mg-10mg of THC, Colorado has yet to make any such authorizations as their marijuana market has not been federally recognized. The Center for Disease Control has also given edible regulation specific attention after the death of 19-year-old foreign exchange student, Levy Thamba Pongi, who was visiting Colorado.  Levy Thamba Pongi died after eating a marijuana cookie which contained 60mg of THC. The student, unaware of his own reaction, had lost full coordination of body movement; reportedly, 3.5 hours after consuming the edible, Pongi fell from the 5th floor of his dormitory, subsequently leading to his death.

      This was the first reported death in Colorado linked to edible consumption; Pongi’s autopsy reports indicated that his blood level was at 7.2 ng/ml after consuming the cannabis-infused cookie, although the state of Colorado constitutes any blood level above 5 ng/ml as impairment. Through this tragic incident, which occurred in March of 2014, the dangers of edibles have been publicized – but not recognized as a public policy.

  Those opposed to edible consumption, such as Dr. Al Bronstein of Rocky Mountain of Poison and Drug Center proposed to make edible marijuana consumption into educational policy. “It’s akin to the education about alcohol— to drink responsibly,” he said. “People need to eat these edibles responsibly, and they have limited experience with these products. That’s the real problem. This s a drug. People need to be respectful of that”.  But how can someone be respectful of moderation when they’re not even aware of the danger? The Children’s Hospital in Aurora, Colorado has also reported a spike in children being hospitalized for accidentally eating THC laced candy. Can moderation be taught if we continue to perceive marijuana as a harmless plant?

The Recover is an unbiased substance abuse and mental health news provider. Helping individuals looking for the right treatment programs in their area. Also providing information on drug rehab centers for addiction recovery.

Contact: Amber Mae Payson

Company: The Recover
Address: Huntington Beach, CA 
Contact Number: (888) 510-3898
Email: info@therecover.com
Website: www.therecover.com

source http://www.ivdaily.com/not-just-candy-the-hidden-risks-of-edible-marijuana