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Amid the Opioid Crisis, the Addiction Crisis Rages On

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At SunCloud Health, we are very concerned about the record level of deaths caused by opioid overdoses. At the same time, we are mindful that the opioid epidemic is part of a much larger problem – the addiction epidemic.

It is crucial to remember that addiction is a brain-based illness that is not caused by a specific drug or substance. (Here is the official ASAM definition of addiction.)

When we focus on the drug and not the underlying problem, we’re in danger of missing the bigger picture.

Understanding the ways addiction plays out in our lives

As we’ve seen, addiction to opioids can kill – and kill quickly. Addiction to these drugs has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people nationwide. And while worried parents are focused on the dangers for their children, the truth is that people of all ages from all walks of life can become addicted.

While we can’t turn away from this reality, we need to realize that other addictions kill, too. People who suffer from food addiction can lose their lives, though the pattern usually works more slowly and subtly than with opioids. Alcohol addiction claims 3 million lives worldwide each year, far more than opioids.

Lethal overdoses can also come from mixing highly addictive substances such as benzodiazepines – sold under brand names like Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan and more – with other drugs, including opioids. The news is filled with tragedies involving deadly combinations like these.

When we realize how many ways lives can be lost, we begin to see that the story doesn’t begin and end with saying, “Opioids will kill you.” In and of themselves, these drugs don’t kill, and in fact, they have many beneficial medical uses. Opioids kill only when someone develops an addiction to them. Addiction is the deadly root cause that we must address – in all of its various forms.

How people recover from addiction

At SunCloud Health, we have successfully worked with hundreds of people facing addiction to drugs, alcohol and specific behaviors such as gambling, eating, or relationships, sex and love. In helping them recover, we focus on the underlying brain disease of addiction rather than their drug or behavior of no-choice per se. (We refer to substances this way because we know that when someone is addicted, they can’t stop by will power or choice alone.)

Effective recovery begins with exploring the unique history of the person suffering from addiction. We look at the individual’s life from a biological, psychological, spiritual, and social perspective. Details of family history, including any sources of trauma, are taken into account.

People suffering from addiction have often been hurt in other ways before turning to their drug of no-choice for reward or relief. If you grew up in environment where you were abused, ignored, criticized or neglected, you have a greater-than-average chance of developing mental health issues later in life, including addiction. We take all these factors into account as we create a treatment plan to help you.

At SunCloud Health, you will benefit from a skilled and caring staff that views you as a whole person. We know that you are more than just your addiction. Even with your current struggles, you have many strengths. We will show you how to tap these strengths as you work to get your life back on track.

Specialized help for people who have more than one diagnosis

Sometimes, people who are dealing with addiction have more than one mental health condition. You may have heard the term co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis before. These terms simply mean that there is more than one issue to deal with – and they must be seen as part of a total pattern within the person’s life.

At SunCloud Health we specialize in helping people who are suffering from multiple diagnoses. Many are affected by mood disorders, post-traumatic stress syndrome, eating disorders and other serious issues. They may misuse alcohol and drugs, or develop addictions to work, love and sex, gambling, shopping and other activities.

If you’re reading this article and feeling worried about yourself or someone close to you, now is the time to reach out. You’ve already taken the first step by seeking information and understanding. Take the next step by making a confidential call to 844-202-3161, or email us here. We are ready to support you or your loved one.

Young man’s death by opioid overdose shows the dangers of experimenting with pain medications

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Recently I was sipping a warm beverage, enjoying my morning reading when I came across a story that touched me deeply.

It began as a simple message of thanks from a woman whose family was going through a very painful time. She wasn’t sure how they would get through the holidays without the smiling presence of her 19-year-old nephew, who had died just days before.

“I know people are curious about what happened, and mostly, they’re asking for the right reasons,” she wrote. She had decided to share all the details in hopes of helping others.

How a late-night hangout went wrong

Her nephew, whom I’ll call Chris, spent the last night of his life much like any other college student might. He and his friends stayed up late, eating pizza and playing video games in the basement.

At some point, one of the friends offered Chris a pill that was stamped with the name Percocet, a prescription opioid commonly used to relieve pain.

Chris had no history of drug use. He was a star athlete, a loving son and brother, a strong presence in his community. No one knows why he and a friend decided to take the pills that night. Maybe it was simple curiosity. Or the fact that they trusted the buddy who offered them the drug.

Both young men died almost instantly, according to first responders who rushed to the scene later. Chris’s mom found them both the next morning, and when she couldn’t wake them, she dialed 911.

An opioid that’s 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine

Medical personnel say the pills were most likely laced with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that has caused thousands of overdoses and deaths across the country in 2018 alone.

“We are still waiting for medical reports,” Chris’s aunt wrote, “but we’ve been told the the pills may have been up to 50% fentanyl. According to the detective working on the case, that’s enough to kill 10 men.”

Just knowing that fentanyl is a powerful opioid doesn’t begin to explain why it’s so lethal.

This man-made drug is 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine. It was originally developed to treat the worst pain suffered by cancer patients. In powder form, it looks so much like heroin that users can’t tell the difference. Drug dealers often pass fentanyl off as heroin, and due to the difference in strength, thousands of users have lost their lives.

“There can be no experimenting” with prescription drugs

Chris had big dreams. He wanted to be a father someday. He looked forward to playing football and baseball in college, hunting and fishing with his grandfather, and enjoying more time with his close friends.

“One bad choice was all it took to end this beautiful life,” his aunt wrote.

And she went on to raise a key point that really resonated with me.

Kids experiment with prescription drugs because they assume they’re safe. If they weren’t, why would the doctor prescribe them in the first place?

The idea that pills or capsules that look like they came from a family medicine cabinet could be laced with a harmful substance might never occur to young people who are just hanging out, looking for a little fun.

“You can’t see fentanyl. You can’t smell it,” Chris’s aunt pointed out. “The only way to be safe is to remember: there can be no experimenting.”

This is the wisest advice you can possibly share with your loved ones. And if you are concerned that a member of your family is playing around with opioids or prescription drugs, we are here to help you start the conversation.

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