On January 1, Oregon legalized the adult use of Psilocybin, often called “Magic Mushrooms,” amid recent research showing tentative promise for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, end-of-life anxiety, and other mental health conditions. However, while research suggests promising results for mental health treatment, there are still concerns about the lasting side effects of Psilocybin misuse, as there is not enough data yet to measure the lasting impacts. 

Oregon’s Ballot Measure 109, passed in November 2020, allows the Oregon Health Authority to license and regulate the manufacturing, transportation, and sale of Psilocybin products and to oversee Psilocybin services. These Psilocybin service centers allow anyone over 21 to consume these mushrooms with supervision, as drug-induced episodes can last several hours. However, the recent legalization of Psilocybin Mushroom use does not extend to recreational use or retail sale. Additionally, the substance’s consumption must occur at a licensed service center with supervision. 

What Are Magic Mushrooms?

A sacred medicine in many indigenous groups, Psilocybin Mushrooms have long been used in religious and spiritual ceremonies in South America and Mesopotamia. Psilocybin Mushrooms include over 200 mushroom species that contain the psychoactive components Psilocybin and Psilocin, which produce similar effects as LSD. Individuals can take these mushrooms in multiple ways, including snorted as a powder, consumed as a pill, eaten raw or cooked, or mixed in a beverage. 

Individuals who take Psilocybin Mushrooms experience hallucinations and altered states of consciousness, which can last for several hours. However, the potency of Magic Mushrooms vary from species to species, and each individual can respond differently. This variance in outcomes can lead to serious side effects. 

Psilocybin Research Findings

Psilocybin research spans the past several decades, focusing on Magic Mushrooms treatment for mental health conditions and substance abuse. Researchers at multiple universities, including the University of New Mexico, the University of Arizona, New York University, and John Hopkins University, looked into the viability of Psilocybin treatment.

Psilocybin and other psychedelics are thought to promote neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change, recognize, or adapt neural networks. Substance abuse and mental health researchers are interested in this concept of Psilocybin-derived neuroplasticity as it may give patients a new perspective on their substance abuse or mental health concerns. Researchers of a small study on alcohol use disorder (AUD) found that 2 doses of Psilocybin Mushrooms led to an 83% decrease in heavy drinking. At the end of the 8-month study, nearly half of the participants had stopped drinking entirely. 

Researchers are also interested in Psilocybin-based treatment for treatment-resistant depression. Over 8 million people in the US take medication to treat depression, and a 2021 study estimates that medicine doesn’t help nearly a third of them, meaning they are “treatment-resistant.” In November, one of the most extensive studies of Psilocybin treatment found that a 25 mg dose of Psilocybin, given alongside psychotherapy, reduced depression symptoms 3 weeks after treatment. An important note for clinical Psilocybin research is that many trials include psychotherapy for individuals in conjunction with Psilocybin Mushrooms. 

The Dangers Of Psilocybin Use

Magic Mushrooms produce various short-term mental and physical effects, including a heightened sense of emotions and hallucinations. Hallucinations distort an individual’s sense of reality, time, and senses. Additional adverse mental side effects of Psilocybin use include:

• Anxiety or panic attacks
• Fear or paranoia 
• Disorientation
• Swift mood changes

Beyond mental side effects, there are multiple physical effects, including:

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Convulsions
• Numbness (particularly in the face)
• Loss of urinary control 

While we know the short-term effects of Psilocybin Mushroom use, there are no clinical results on the long-term effects of continual Psilocybin use. However, as Magic Mushrooms receive medical attention and research, hopefully, results will follow. What is known is that continual use of Psilocybin Mushrooms can result in tolerance, where an individual will need more of the substance to feel the desired effects. Also, using Magic Mushrooms with substances like Marijuana, Amphetamines, or alcohol can elevate the risks of severe side effects.

An additional risk of Psilocybin use is a “bad trip,” which is when an individual takes a higher dose and experiences frightening imagery, paranoia, and a distorted sense of self. Impaired judgment during these “bad trips” may lead to risk-taking behavior, leading to traumatic injuries or even death. Sometimes, individuals may experience frequent or overly intense psychedelic events known as “flashbacks,” where they relive the previous experience.

Future Of Psilocybin Mushroom Treatment

In the state of Oregon, while Magic Mushroom treatment sessions are available in licensed centers, the issue of affordability is front and center. Since the federal government lists Psilocybin Mushrooms as a Schedule 1 substance with “no currently accepted medical use,” Psilocybin sessions will not be covered by insurance. One session could cost hundreds or thousands of dollars for residents. So, while Psilocybin Mushroom treatment may yield positive outcomes, if the service is unaffordable, it will bar many from pursuing this treatment.  

The future of Psilocybin Mushroom treatment is still unfolding, and more clinical research is underway to determine the viability of Magic Mushrooms as a treatment for mental health conditions and substance use disorders (SUDs). 

As we await clinical research results, there are current, vetted treatment options for mental health concerns and SUDs. Treatment options can include psychotherapy, online therapy, inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, and additional therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). 

The post Oregon Becomes First State To Legalize Magic Mushrooms appeared first on Addiction Center.

The University of Washington (UW) has high hopes: to develop a vaccine that could be used to counteract the effects of addictive and illegal drugs, prevent overdoses, and save lives.

The work will occur at UW’s Center for Medication Development for Substance Use Disorders, which opened on January 3.

It will be spearheaded by Marco Pravetoni, a professor of pharmacology. Though The Seattle Times reported on January 5 that, at that time, Pravetoni was the only faculty member at UW’s new center, he will likely soon be joined by more allies and experts focused on the same goal. Pravetoni is optimistic about the progress to be made.

Said Pravetoni, “Every year, we’re going to start a new clinical trial.” The professor is eager to buckle down and get to the hard work of developing an inoculation against addiction that will save lives; the bill associated with such a venture will be large, however.

Pravetoni estimates it could cost as much as $300 million.

The center is off to a good start, however, and Pravetoni may have secured up to $50 million in funding so far. According to The Times, Pravetoni’s goal “is to get enough funding to get through at least Phase 1 and 2 — prove his vaccines are safe and likely work — and then get a pharmaceutical company to fund the rest.”

Addiction Vaccines Have A Long History

The thought of a vaccine for addiction could seem somewhat counterintuitive. Many vaccines function, ultimately, by increasing the amount of antibodies that might be used to fight off a particular virus. But how would a vaccine against addiction work?

As it turns out, much the same way.

According to The New York Times, which reported on the subject of so-called addiction vaccines in 2011, “Like shots against disease, these vaccines would work by spurring the immune system to produce antibodies that would shut down the narcotic before it could take root in the body, or in the brain.”

Unlike the COVID-19 vaccine, best practice for an addiction vaccine would not be to receive the immunization in advance of coming into contact with the thing being immunized against (in this case, illegal drugs). Rather, subjects would be given the vaccine after they’ve already used the drug and developed a dependency.

Animal trials have shown that the idea has legs: rats who were given an inoculation against Heroin no longer experienced the effects of the drug and stopped taking it after they were given a vaccine.

There has been great difficulty in making the jump from non-human animals to humans, however. In one trial of a Nicotine inoculation, the shot didn’t work to help people quit smoking any better than a placebo did.

Researchers have been trying to crack the code for a long time: the first study in a peer-reviewed journal on the subject was published in Nature in 1974. The test subject was a rhesus monkey; according to the study, “Results indicate that antibodies against morphine can block those effects of heroin on the central nervous system (CNS) that maintain self-administration behaviour.”

In other words, an anti-Heroin shot can make a subject stop shooting up. Now it’s up to scientists like Pravetoni, who stand on the shoulders of pioneers like Dr. Kim Janda (whose work involved both the rat experiment detailed above and the Nicotine vaccine trial, and who made advances in the addiction vaccine space for decades) to make those subjects human.

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An “Urgent Need For New Treatment Options”

Operation Warp Speed was the endeavor that brought the COVID vaccine, and it was a race against the clock unlike any other seen in the modern age. Now there is a different race against time occurring, perhaps just as important if not more so — the sprint to take an addiction vaccine to market before drugs like Fentanyl claim untold more lives.

According to a piece published in the Drugs academic journal, “Drug addiction is a chronically relapsing brain disorder. There is an urgent need for new treatment options for this disease.”

That was from 2003.

Since then, overdose deaths have skyrocketed.

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drug overdose deaths annually went from roughly 27,000 in 2003 to over 40,000 in 2011; by 2019, they had climbed to exceed 70,000.

Annual numbers from 2021 were over 100,000.

The White House has backed an approach to the problem based around harm reduction as opposed to punishment; per the Office Of National Drug Control Policy, primary drugs of concern include “illicitly manufactured fentanyl and synthetic opioids other than methadone (SOOTM),” though other targets include “cocaine and other psychostimulants, like methamphetamine.”

Some of the best minds in the world are working tirelessly on solutions to problems that plague the nation. While their work won’t be easy, some solace can be taken in the words of professor Pravetoni; researchers like him, he says, “are trained to overcome adversity.”

The post A Vaccine Against Addiction appeared first on Addiction Center.

Every year since 1975, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) surveys the nation’s young people on their drug use. The questionnaire targets grades 8, 10, and 12, and for the first time since its introduction 46 years ago, there is a decrease in teen drug usage.

The survey, called “Monitoring the Future,” measures such drugs as alcohol, Marijuana, Nicotine (through vaping) and any other illicit substances. Conducted by a team at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, the survey is self-reported over various increments of time: 30 days, 12 months, and a lifetime, and students are asked about associated perceptions of harm, disapproval of use, and speculated availability of drugs. The data is collected from mid-winter to early summer and reported in the same year, giving the most accurate, timely snapshot of young people’s overall relationship with drug use.

Teen Drug Usage Statistics

The numbers don’t lie; here is a screenshot depicting the noticeable decline in usage among teens in the monitored substances:

Alcohol:

8^th graders: 17.2% in 2021 from 20.5% in 2020 (3.3% decline)

10^th graders: 28.5% in 2021 from 40.7% in 2020 (12.2% decline)

12^th graders: 46.5% in 2021 from 55.3% in 2020 (8.8% decline)

Marijuana:

8^th graders: 7.1% in 2021 from 11.4% in 2020 (4.3% decline)

10^th graders: 17.3% in 2021 from 28.0% in 2020 (10.7% decline)

12^th graders: 30.5% in 2021 from 35.2% in 2020 (4.7% decline)

 Vaping:

8^th graders: 12.1% in 2021 from 16.6% in 2020 (4.5% decline)

10^th graders: 20% in 2021 from 31% in 2020 (11% decline)

12^th graders: 27% in 2021 from 35% in 2020 (8% decline)

Illicit drugs (other than Marijuana):

8^th graders: 4.6% in 2021 from 7.7% in 2020 (3.1% decline)

10^th graders: 5.1% in 2021 from 8.6% in 2020 (3.5% decline)

12^th graders: 7.2% in 2021 from 11.4% in 2020 (4.2% decline)

Mental Health And Pandemic-Related Hypotheses

In addition to teen’s use and perception of drugs, the study also investigates the overall mental health of the participants, specifically regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Across all age groups, students reported increases in feelings of boredom, anxiety, depression, loneliness, worry, difficulty sleeping, and other negative mental health indicators since the pandemic started back in March of 2020. Principle investigator of the study and professor of research at University of Michigan, Richard Miech, hypothesized, “These declines are an unintended consequence of the pandemic. Among the many disruptions adolescents have experienced as a result of the pandemic are disruptions in their ability to get drugs, disruptions in their ability to use drugs outside of parental supervision, and disruptions in peer groups that encourage drug use.”

There are many possible reasons for the decline that the director of NIDA, Nora D. Volkow, MD called “unprecedented” in the wake of the global health crisis:

These data are unprecedented and highlight one unexpected potential consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused seismic shifts in the day-to-day lives of adolescents. Moving forward, it will be crucial to identify the pivotal elements of this past year that contributed to decreased drug use—whether related to drug availability, family involvement, differences in peer pressure, or other factors—and harness them to inform future prevention efforts.

Other researchers are saying that a possible explanation for the decrease in the statistics is that there is a decently sized portion of adolescents who have not used drugs in the last year, but otherwise might have if not for the very obscure circumstances and stipulations brought forth by the pandemic. These teenagers may have been spared some of the psycho-neural experiences and changes that often increase susceptibility for future drug use and potential addiction, but as the research is still so new, there is no way to tell at this time. In a separate study evaluating 10 to 14-year olds’ drug use throughout the pandemic, Dr. Volkow said, “Recognizing how the stress of the past year translates into substance use has profound implications into adulthood, because drinking and drug use at these ages are associated with a substantially higher risk of long-term alcohol and drug use disorders and related harms.”

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Evidence-Based Prevention To Maintain Research Results

Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy commented: “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to using data and evidence to guide our prevention efforts so it is important to identify all the factors that may have led to this decrease in substance use to better inform prevention strategies moving forward. The Administration is investing historic levels of funding for evidence-based prevention programs because delaying substance use until after adolescence significantly reduces the likelihood of developing a substance use disorder.”

Hopefully, through awareness, research-aided prevention, and funding, the trends continue the crawl down in this manner. Only time will tell for sure.

The post Teen Drug Usage Down Within The Last Year appeared first on Addiction Center.

An African plant used by indigenous peoples in rites of passage contains a substance, Ibogaine, that many who’ve struggled with Opioid addiction claim has cured them of their condition.

Now the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is taking notice and working with a pharmaceutical startup to figure out exactly how Ibogaine and its analogues might best be used to beat drug dependency.

Recovered Drug User Praised Ibogaine

The healing power of Ibogaine has been a story whispered — and, occasionally, shouted — by individuals in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction for some time.

The late Howard Lotsof, a former Heroin user who became one of Ibogaine’s biggest advocates, was initially looking to get stoned when he tried Ibogaine.

The plan backfired, however, when the substance ended up relieving Lotsof of his addiction — permanently.

“The next thing I knew,” Lotsof declared to The New York Times after taking Ibogaine, “I was straight.”

According to the Times, Lotsof began a foundation hoping “to develop ibogaine as a medication, to disseminate information about chemical dependence and to refer people to treatment…[he helped to treat] 30 addicts from around the world, two-thirds of whom stopped using drugs for periods ranging from four months to four years.”

Taking The “Trip” Out Of Tripping

One reason some who live with problematic drug use haven’t taken Ibogaine (besides the fact that they may not know of its existence) is that the substance can produce powerful, disorienting, terrifying, and even ego-destroying hallucinogenic phenomena.

But the pharmaceutical startup now working with NIDA, Delix Therapeutics — based in Massachusetts — has made it their mission to create a chemical clone of Ibogaine that works just as well as the original does to treat Opioid dependency; the psychedelic component of the experience, however, could be removed entirely.

The “chemical clone” Delix Therapeutics is working on, called Delix-7, might work to stimulate neuroplasticity in the brain; in other words, it might help the brains of drug users to make new connections, learn in novel ways, and get out of cognitive or neural “ruts” that may be perpetuating addiction.

Research is unfolding at a breakneck pace as some of the brightest minds and most compassionate hearts around the globe work to solve a mystery of the inner puzzle of consciousness that, once reckoned, could spell relief for millions — at the same time, some voices are calling for temperance.

“We’re very excited about this as a possibility,” Dr. Wilson Compton, NIDA’s deputy director, said to Forbes. “But it remains very speculative and a possibility, not a reality.”

Grant Money Can Save Lives

Ultimately, it seems both the possibility of a breakthrough of such magnitude and what the world already knows about psychedelics like Ibogaine thus far have been enough to capture the imagination and ambition of a large part of the scientific community — and funding is starting to find its way into the pockets of the people holding the microscopes.

Not only is NIDA working with Delix Therapeutics, but the National Institutes of Health (NIDA’s parent agency) just this October endowed Johns Hopkins Medicine with a grant for the study of Psilocybin, another mind-altering compound credited with anti-addiction properties.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “This is the first NIH grant awarded in over a half century to directly investigate the therapeutic effects of a classic psychedelic, consistent with a recent study published online that searched NIH funding and found zero grants were awarded between 2006 and 2020.”

Apparently, in the realm of addiction science and treatment, it’s the beginning of a new era. The moment couldn’t come too soon: over 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in the 12 months between April 2020 and April 2021.

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Researchers at the University of British Columbia have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool for analyzing synthetic drugs. Up until now, psychoactive “designer drugs” have been difficult to identify with standard drug tests. This new AI tool not only easily detects synthetic substances but also can predict new chemical structures. 

This advancement in AI, called DarkNPS, could help to develop more accurate drug screening tests with faster results. While current tests can take weeks, or even months, this tool could deliver results in just a few hours. 

What Are Synthetic Drugs?

Synthetic drugs are constructed in labs with the intention of imitating the effects of other drugs that may be illegal or hard to obtain. These substances are created by altering the original drug’s chemical structure. In doing so, synthetic drugs circumvent existing drug laws and safety standards. Although often marketed as being harmless “legal alternatives,” lack of regulations make the use of these substances extremely dangerous. 

Currently, the 2 most common types of synthetic drugs in the US are Cannabinoids and Cathinones. Synthetic Cannabinoids, like K2 and spice, emulate the effects of THC which is the main psychoactive compound in Marijuana. Manufactured Cathinones, like bath salts, mimic Stimulants such as Cocaine, Methamphetamines, and LSD. The effects of Opioids, Benzodiazepines, and Phenethylamines have also been replicated. Using these popular substances can have negative health effects such as anxiety, elevated blood pressure, hallucinations, seizures, chest pain, extreme paranoia, and violent behavior. 

The first US report of synthetic drugs occurred in 2008 when a shipment of spice was seized in Dayton, Ohio. To further avoid safety standards, synthetic substances are typically smuggled into the US after being manufactured in another country. Packaging usually reads “not safe for human consumption” or is mislabeled intentionally. 

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AI Detection Tool

Michael Skinnider, an MD/PhD student at the University of British Columbia worked to develop the new AI tool for synthetic drug detection. To achieve this, Skinnider and his colleagues collected over 1,700 known synthetic drugs from around the world. Tandem mass spectrometry, or Tandem MS, was used to examine the chemical structure of these substances. This technique breaks down ions of the substance into smaller fragments. In doing so, the AI tool was able to find patterns between the chemical structures of these collected drugs. With this information, the AI tool was able to predict 8.9 million potential synthetic drugs. 

After training this tool, the team of researchers at UBC tested the AI technology with 194 new synthetic drugs. The DarkNPS tool was able to recognize 174 of the tested substances by searching for the most common chemical structure patterns. This 89% accuracy rate supports the idea that DarkNPS can be used to anticipate and identify future synthetic drugs. 

Previously, the possibilities for new synthetic drugs were seemingly endless with an unknown amount of different chemical structures. With the ability to predict future structures, this tool could be helpful in narrowing down the search for harmful synthetic drugs. Additionally, DarkNPS could shorten the length of investigations. 

The Impact Of Synthetic Drugs

In addition to bypassing drug laws, synthetic drugs are cheaper to manufacture than other substances. Because they are created chemically, the supply chain needed to make and distribute synthetic drugs is reduced which can lead to more profits. The potency of synthetic substances also contributes to their appeal to manufacturers who can sell smaller amounts with the same effects. These substances are also frequently mixed with other more expensive drugs to lower production costs. 

The mixing of synthetic substances is one of the main reasons that using them is so dangerous. This is especially true for Fentanyl which is a synthetic Opioid and one of the leading causes of overdose deaths in the US. Originally created to treat cancer related pain, Fentanyl is 80 to 100 times stronger than Morphine. This synthetic Opioid is frequently used to cut Heroin, unbeknownst to users. Because Fentanyl is almost impossible to detect, the amount present is very unpredictable.  

When individuals unknowingly consume a synthetic substance, there is a high chance for addiction, health issues, and overdose. Just last week, it was reported that US overdose deaths reached over 100,000 in the past year. This record-breaking number indicated an increase in synthetic Opioid overdose deaths as well. 

The AI tool created by UBC could be useful in preventing future overdose deaths from synthetic drugs. According to the study’s authors, several authorities from around the world have expressed interest in utilizing DarkNPS. 

The post AI Tool Can Now Easily Identify Synthetic Drugs appeared first on Addiction Center.

The Monitoring the Future report, sponsored by The National Institute On Drug Abuse at The National Institutes of Health, has revealed changes in the patterns of substance use present in the college student population.

College students are using Marijuana more and drinking alcohol less; 44% of college students said they used Marijuana last year, while 56% reported drinking. This represents a substantial increase in use for the former substance and a notable decrease in use for the latter; for comparison, only 38% of college students said they used Marijuana in 2015 while 62% of the same population admitted to drinking alcohol in 2019.

Binge-drinking among college students, defined in the parameters of the study as having at least 5 drinks in a single occasion within 2 weeks prior to the survey, also fell; the rate dropped from 32% in 2019 to 24% in 2020. Daily or near daily Marijuana use among college students, on the other hand, increased; the rate has seen a “five-year increase of 3.3 percentage points,” according to the study, and now stands at 7.9% in the college student population. The study also added that “as of 2020, almost one-in-ten young adults aged 19-30 is a daily or near daily [Marijuana] user.”

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The proportion of the college student population reporting use of Psychedelic drugs was higher as well, increasing 4 points to 9% in 2020.

The pandemic was given as the cause of the reduced alcohol consumption by the study’s principal investigator, professor John Schulenberg of the University of Michigan. As Schulenberg told The Washington Post, “We clearly see that young people use alcohol as something to be taken at parties and gatherings. With the pandemic, those weren’t happening, so the alcohol intake and binge drinking dropped.”

Marijuana use, by contrast, has been affected very differently by the pandemic; more of the population than just college students have increased their recent intake of the substance.

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The Pandemic And Marijuana Consumption

The New York Times called the pandemic a “breakout moment” for the Marijuana sector, and there’s ample evidence to back up that claim.

Legal sales of Marijuana ballooned in 2020, surpassing a sum of $17.5 billion; this was an increase of 46% from the year prior. This is especially notable given the economic downturn that occurred during the pandemic.

There are a few theories to explain why Marijuana use has increased so significantly. Some postulate that the rise in mental health conditions during the pandemic has resulted in more people using more Marijuana to self-medicate. There are some statistics to back up this idea; one study, published in the Journal of Addictive Diseases, found that Americans who are afflicted with mental health conditions and use Marijuana medically increased their use by an average of 91% since the pandemic began.

Possible Risks: Marijuana And Psychosis

On many levels, the increase in Marijuana use and decrease in alcohol use observed in the college student population could mean fewer risks to college students’ health. Marijuana users don’t tend to form physical dependencies the way alcohol users do, and alcohol causes a host of maladies and ailments, including several types of cancer, that Marijuana use has not been linked to.

There is one notable risk of increased Marijuana use, however. It may correspond with an increased risk for psychosis. A study published in The Lancet Psychiatry found that daily use of Marijuana, particularly the use of Marijuana with a very high level of THC, is associated with increased odds of experiencing a psychotic episode later in life. According to NPR, “The study also shows that three European cities — London, Paris and Amsterdam — where high-potency weed is most commonly available actually have higher rates of new cases of psychosis than the other cities in the study.”

This phenomenon does not necessarily indicate a causal relationship between Marijuana use and psychosis; it may be that those who are already predisposed to psychosis are more likely to self-medicate with Marijuana than those who are not. The psychoactive nature of THC can produce some subjective experiences which may be similar to those of a psychotic episode, however; more research needs to be done on the subject. Those who have a family history or a personal history of psychosis should be extremely cautious in their use of the substance.

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The year 2020 has not only been deemed the deadliest year in American history but also a dangerous and deadly year for substance abuse. America has been fighting the impact of the Opioid Crisis prior to 2020. While many states lost Americans to drugs like Heroin, Fentanyl, and prescription medications, states like Virginia, Ohio, and Oregon have the highest rates of overdose deaths.

In 2020, numbers of drug overdoses hit an all-time high, with the aforementioned states. Oregon witnessed a 40% “death spike” with 580 fatalities because of illicit chemicals. Use of drugs like Meth increased 37% in a year in Oregon, Cocaine deaths climbed to 57%, Fentanyl deaths contributed to a shocking 92% of deaths, and Heroin reached 9%. Virginia also suffered record highs for drug abuse and fatalities, with 2,035 drug overdoses in 2020, exceeding its record of 1,626 overdoses within a year’s time. Ohio lost 548 individuals to drug abuse in the spring of 2020, increasing in 14 years. Furthermore, the summer months of June and July lost 481 and 442 people in the state.

Staggering Numbers Of 2020 Deaths Continue To Concern Many

2020 death tolls have alarmed many and have gained the year the reputation of being the “deadliest year in American history.” Interestingly, the Centers of Disease Control predicted higher numbers of deaths to occur throughout the year. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has ended the lives of over 318,000 Americans in 9 months, is a major influence on high death tolls. While much research is being done to understand the connection between 2020-related substance abuse and the effects of COVID-19, both the pandemic and drug overdoses have greatly contributed to many lost lives in 2020.

In addition to such effects of the pandemic, declining mental health due to COVID-19 infections and adjustments has encouraged more substance abuse to occur. As a result, drug abuse and suicide have contributed to the high number of deaths. Sadly, numbers are expected to rise to 3.2 million by the end of 2020. Lastly, deaths from conditions like dementia, diabetes, and cardiac problems have been also connected to 2020 increases in death.

2020 Death Rates: COVID-19 Considerations, Drug Abuse And Diseases Of Despair

Diseases of despair have also been connected to rises in drug abuse, due to the impact of COVID-19. Diseases of despair, which have resulted in suicide, declining mental health (anxiety, depression, loneliness, poor coping mechanisms), financial insecurity, and stress from isolation have caused many to experience new mental health challenges and worsen pre-existing ones. Because of this, some of those affected have turned to self-harm, substance abuse, or have increased their tolerance to or dependence on harmful substances.

Drug statistics have drastically shifted when compared to previous years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes, “After declining 4.1% from 2017 and 2018, overdoses have increased 18.2% from the 12 months ending in June 2019.” Another source echoes a similar finding. According to United Press International (UPI), drug abuse and suicide rates increased 170% between 2009 and 2018; however the spread of COVID-19 has caused sharp increases in such findings. As a result, studies noticed a 59% increase in alcohol use, increases in Opioid overdoses and rises in suicidal thoughts. Additional statistics include 81,000 reported drug overdoses in a 12-month period during 2020, becoming the highest ever recorded in a year. The awareness is causing media outlets to spread the word in order to educate people. Essential workers in the medical field use Naloxone to try and revive those who overdosed on Opioids.

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The post 2020: The Deadliest Year In Drug History appeared first on Addiction Center.

Every year in the United States, 2,200 people die from alcohol poisoning. That is an average of 6 people every day, and 76% of those people are aged 35 to 64. Excessive alcohol use can lead to many long-term problems, like liver and heart disease, but even one night of drinking can result in tragedy. Injuries are more likely to occur in those who are intoxicated, such as drowning or falling, as well as an increased risk for car crashes due to driving under the influence (DUI). However, too much alcohol alone can result in death. Alcohol poisoning occurs when there is too much alcohol in the bloodstream to the point that the parts of the brain controlling life support functions, like breathing and heart rate, start shutting down. Many people survive if they receive medical treatment for alcohol poisoning, but for some it is often too late by the time they get help. However, researchers have developed a method that can reduce alcohol intoxication, that may save the lives of people with severe alcohol intoxication.

Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol poisoning, also called Ethanol poisoning, can occur in anyone who consumes too much alcohol. What is considered “too much” alcohol depends on a person’s age, gender, rate of consumption, whether they have eaten or not, and more factors. It is more likely for a person to overdose when drinking while taking certain medications, such as Benzodiazepines and Opioids. Like alcohol, certain drugs can impact parts of the brain that control breathing and can result in slow or irregular breathing. Someone who is experiencing alcohol poisoning may lose consciousness, and this can put them at risk for choking on their own vomit and dying from lack of oxygen. High amounts of alcohol in the bloodstream can impact automatic responses in the body like the gag reflex.

Signs that someone is experiencing alcohol poisoning include clammy skin, low body temperature, mental confusion (or unconsciousness), seizures, and slow heart rate. If someone is experiencing any of these symptoms, do not hesitate to call 911 and get them professional medical care. Once someone with alcohol poisoning arrives at the emergency room (ER), health care providers may use techniques like intubation, intravenous fluids, or a ventilator to offer support. In some cases of people with severe ethanol toxicity, dialysis has been used to expedite the removal of alcohol from the bloodstream when they were not responding to traditional treatments. This works by removing blood from the body and processing it through a dialyzer, the filter on a dialysis machine that mimics a kidney’s job and cleans the blood before returning it to the body. This method of reducing alcohol intoxication is not used often and is complicated, but research published in Scientific Reports, a Nature Research Journal, has presented another seemingly simple solution.

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Reducing Alcohol Intoxication By Hyperventilating

A team at the University Health Network made a device that uses a valve system, mask, and a tank with compressed carbon dioxide that allows a patient to hyperventilate without becoming lightheaded and potentially passing out. Hyperventilating causes the body to eliminate both carbon dioxide and alcohol from the blood. The deeper and faster someone breathes, the more alcohol that is breathed out by the lungs. If used in clinical settings, this device could help eliminate alcohol from the bloodstream and reduce alcohol intoxication in high-risk patients. The team was led by Dr. Joseph Fisher who stated, “It’s very basic, low-tech device that could be made anywhere in the world: no electronics, no computers or filters are required. It’s almost inexplicable why we didn’t try this decades ago.” The study was performed in a laboratory with volunteers and the authors plan on future studies.

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During the week of Thanksgiving, the United States surpassed 267,000 COVID-19 related deaths. The spike in cases has the country scrambling as companies race to approve a vaccine. Since the start of the year, the media and governments worldwide have remained focused on the urgent health crisis. Yet, as COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the states, another epidemic is growing in its shadows. 

The 2020 Opioid Epidemic 

The Opioid epidemic is picking up momentum once again. In a recent study published by the Vermont Department of Health, the rate of Opioid-related overdoses rose. Non-fatal overdoses climbed up 137% from 2019 to 2020. Experts suspect that drug-related deaths will be even higher. 

The global pandemic is creating the perfect conditions for a deadly storm. Why? There is no exact reason, but loneliness is a significant contributor. According to the National Institutes of Health, loneliness increases the probability of making hazardous choices. The sensation is a leading risk factor for depression, anxiety, and comorbidity. Since most of 2020 has centered around social distancing and protecting the public, it is no surprise people are lonelier than ever. The distancing measures have helped contain the spread of the disease yet also led to higher loneliness rates. 

Other reasons for the jumps are disrupting drug supply and the end of in-person prevention and treatment services. Based on data released by the White House’s drug policy office, the long term effects of the COVID-19 crisis are already being felt. By April of this year, drug overdose deaths were up 11.4%. Non-fatal overdoses were also up 18.6% in comparison to 2019. 

Below are some of the states dealing with a rise in drug overdose fatalities based on recently released data: 

• Connecticut, up 19%
• Colorado, up 28%
• Kentucky, up 30%
• Cook County, Illinois, up 28% 
• Maryland, up 9.1%

The states listed are only some of the many dealing with a rise in drug-related deaths. These numbers are shocking, but unfortunately, it is not the first time this has happened. 

The Opioid Epidemic Throughout The Years 

For over 30 years, Opioids have been wreaking havoc in the United States. The first fatal wave of the epidemic began in the 1990s. During those early years, pharmaceutical companies pushed medical professionals to prescribe the drug. Their aggressive campaign lasted nearly a decade. Eventually, through misleading marketing and false claims, those companies succeeded in making Opioids mainstream. 

By reassuring that Opioids had little to no health risks, big pharmaceutical companies caused a ripple, leading to the Opioid epidemic. Countless physicians over-prescribed the painkiller. Within a few years, communities across the country were hooked and feeling the drug’s destructive effects. 

Outbreaks quickly sprouted in different cities. The first Opioid wave in 1999 killed thousands of individuals. The next big surge started in 2002 and lasted nearly a decade. From 2002 to 2013, heroin-related overdoses increased by 286%. Within 11 years, the age-adjusted drug overdose death rate doubled. In 2000, 6.2 people were overdosing per 100,000 persons. Four years later, the number rose to 14.7 per 100,000. The third wave was caused by synthetic Opioids like Fentanyl and started in 2013. By 2016, 63,600 people had died from a drug overdose. The age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths rose by 21%. This surge was the deadliest, with over 19.8 people overdosing per 100,000 persons. 

Opioids Today

Today the Opioid epidemic is once again picking up momentum. In 2019, 18 states and the District of Columbia reported a 10% increase in Opioid-related fatalities. Drug overdoses rose 4.6%, with over 70,980 recorded deaths. This uptick follows a decline reported in 2018 after 30 years of increasing cases. The Trump administration considered the short-lived win as one of their most outstanding achievements. Unfortunately, according to preliminary federal data, the number of lethal overdoses in 2019 surpassed 2018’s cases and even 2017’s. The amount of Opioid-related deaths are expected to rise even further this year. Experts are projecting more than 75,000 people dying from suicide or drug and alcohol use. 

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Since one of the main themes of this year is social distancing, it is no surprise that loneliness has pushed many people towards drugs. The current pandemic, economic downturn, and political climate are pushing people past their limits. Humans should not be isolated from one another or under constant stress. The pandemic, fear, and loneliness are driving Americans to use Opioids for relief. We must not forget about the deadly epidemic that is still destroying the lives of families worldwide. The Opioid epidemic is not over yet. 

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