There’s been a psychological consequence of the news of the spreading Omicron variant; as the New York Times reported on December 13, “a sudden revival of restrictions have added to an epidemic of loneliness.”

It’s possible that epidemic of loneliness, if it does exist, isn’t necessarily helped by the Times’ well-intentioned reporting on the subject.

That’s because news, particularly bad news, sometimes only seems to compound our negative emotions and add to our stress by either reminding us of things we already know or informing us of things we’d rather remain in blissful ignorance of.

Mental health can be decimated by the news cycle, and some have responded to that reality by turning away from media entirely. It’s hard to blame the people who make that choice; as Time’s Athlete of the Year, Simone Biles, reminded us all at the Olympics, the strongest people often choose to take breaks — and maybe that’s exactly why they’re so strong.

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But turning off the news entirely may not be an option for everyone. Some may work in media, have jobs that require current events research, or just want to stay informed about what’s going on in the world without succumbing to so-called “doomscrolling” or news overload.

What’s more, reading the right amount of bad news might actually have a distinct psychological advantage: it can make us aware of threats, enable us to protect ourselves, and help us build our emotional immune systems — just as measured exposure to germs can invigorate our physical ones.

It can seem like the finest of lines and often is. However, there are ways to read bad news the right way, and embrace the truth of what’s happening “out there” without it causing you too much distress internally; if approached right, learning about the world can be a reward and not a punishment.

How To Read Bad News

The following are some basic strategies that might help someone who wants to be an informed citizen, who considers themselves curious, or who just likes to read — but who doesn’t want to find themselves controlled by their news feeds or the 24/7 coverage cycle.

• Look for the source. When taking in news, take a look at the source it comes from. Consider the idea that the headline, no matter what it says, might say more about the particular outlet that produced it than it does about the world or about yourself.
• Realize they might be wrong. In the 1800s, the Commissioner of the US patent office declared that “everything that can be invented has been invented.” In the 1960s, a Stanford biologist declared that, based on science of the time, 65 million Americans would succumb to starvation by the 1970s; he also was quite confident that “England will not exist in the year 2000.” Sometimes smart, qualified people who have done their homework still get things wrong.
• Monitor your judgments. Remember that we’re not necessarily any more objective than the media is; humans have emotions, after all, that tend to steer us more than hard facts do. Bringing awareness to our own thoughts about bad news as it breaks can help prevent us from getting struck with the same arrow twice: the first time as we read the headline, and the second time as we ruminate about it.
• Go analog, not digital. Consider that an old-fashioned newspaper — the kind you can fold under your arm — could help contribute to a sense of calm and control. It lacks flashing lights, loud anchors, pop-up ads, and comment sections; reading, as opposed to scrolling, may better contribute to sustained focus and relaxation as opposed to the frenzy of internet and broadcast coverage.
• Set a time limit. We’ve likely all found ourselves scrolling aimlessly on our feeds, unsure of what exactly we’re looking for but convinced it’s just one more refresh away. Sometimes it can feel a little like “zoning out,” even against our will — setting a timer or alarm to go off to wake us up and remind us of how much time we’ve spent can be a good safeguard.
• Practice gratitude for emotions. Strong emotions, even negative ones, can be indications that we’ve got functioning limbic systems and are living full and passionate lives. Experiment with thanking your feelings, even unpleasant ones, for the messages they send when they arise.
• Think of your team. Headlines about powerful people or mysterious problems can make us feel small. If we take a moment to reflect on our “team,” the people in our corner who care about us and want us to succeed — including role models we may look up to but not know personally — we can remember that we’re part of something much bigger than ourselves.
• When overwhelmed, unplug entirely. Even with all of the above being said, sometimes the only thing to do is completely remove yourself from stories of any kind. Do so without apology.

By using some of the tips and tricks above, it may be possible to reap the rewards of bad news — like increased information and psychological resilience — while avoiding the downsides. But if these tips are insufficient, there are additional resources that can help.

Good News: Outside Help Is Available

Depression, anxiety, trauma, technology addiction, and a host of other conditions (including drug or alcohol addiction, which may develop as a response to any of the above) can necessitate outside help.

You’ve got allies you may not even have met yet: folks going through the same thing as you who are right now meeting in support groups, therapists who are trained specifically to help us process troubling thoughts and feelings, and treatment centers that provide a safe haven for people who need to hit the reset button.

If you want to take advantage of those resources, you can contact a treatment provider today. No matter what headlines flash across your screen or across your mind, you ultimately get to write your own story — and there are far more tools and coping strategies than the ones above waiting for you if you do choose to reach out.

The post How To Prevent News Overload appeared first on Addiction Center.

Snapchat, the popular photo and instant messaging app, is integrating a new approach to lowering the dealing of drugs on the platform. These efforts are being made in attempt to keep the community of those who use Snapchat safe from the devastating impacts of the Fentanyl crisis. 

For years, social media sites have been used as avenues for drug dealers to remotely access and influence young people to purchase illicit substances. In the last few years, the selling of deadly counterfeit prescription pills has increased. This increase has been specifically true for Snapchat where messages are designed to disappear after a certain amount of time. Counterfeit pills being sold through social media look almost identical to real prescription drugs, such as Percocet, OxyContin, or Xanax. 

What makes the use of counterfeit pills so dangerous is that there is a high chance that they have been made with Fentanyl, a synthetic Opioid that is stronger than Morphine and less expensive to produce than other substances. Because a lethal dose is very small, anything over 2 mg, pills containing Fentanyl have been linked to a dramatic increase in overdose deaths in the US. Teenagers and young adults are especially at risk for overdose from Fentanyl because counterfeit pills are so accessible through platforms like Snapchat. In 2020, it was reported that 48% of internet users who use Snapchat are between the ages of 15 and 25. 

DEA Public Safety Alert

On September 27th, 2021, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a public safety alert for the first time in 6 years. This alert warned of the threat caused by an increase in lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing Fentanyl or Meth. The DEA reported that just this year 9.5 million counterfeit pills have been seized. Two out of every 5 of these fake, confiscated pills that contained Fentanyl contained enough of the substance to cause an overdose. 

Anne Miligram, DEA spokeswoman, told Today that social media companies are not doing enough to stop the selling of these harmful pills. Milgram went on to say, “Social media companies know that their platforms are being used for this. And they need to understand that Americans are dying. They are dying at record rates and they need to be a partner in stopping it.” 

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Snapchat’s New Drug Related Initiatives

Following this public safety alert, pleas from Milgram, and support from parents, Snapchat has decided to take steps towards improving this situation. The platform’s new safety initiatives include improved automated systems to detect the sale of drugs, hiring more staff to respond to law enforcement for criminal investigations, and an in-app education portal called “Heads Up.” 

Through Heads Up, Snapchat users can be educated on the dangers of Fentanyl and counterfeit pills with resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC), and non-profit organizations. App users who search for certain drug terms or for substance abuse help will be directed to Heads Up. Already, the platform has teamed with Song For Charlie, a family run nonprofit, to develop a video advertising campaign on the topic. According to Snapchat, this video campaign has been viewed 260 million times thus far. Additionally, the platform will be rolling out a new national filter that will bring awareness to the issue and direct users to the Head Up portal. 

While many parents are calling for more extensive parental controls, social media platforms like Snapchat are hesitant. Even though parental controls may have the ability to prevent potential overdoses, they also may threaten the privacy of the app’s users. Snapchat responded to the rising Fentanyl crisis in a blog post saying that they are working to find the balance between safety and privacy on the platform. They hope to empower their community to express themselves without a fear of harm. 

What Are Other Social Media Companies Doing?

Although Snapchat has been the main platform linked to counterfeit pill overdose, other social media companies play a role in the overall Opioid epidemic. Facebook’s policies state that ads cannot promote the sale of illicit or recreational drugs. Despite reports of the platform being used by drug cartels, little has been done to stop these violations of the site’s drug rules. The company removes flagged pages as they see fit but many of them still operate openly. The system that allows offenders to repeat drug dealing or cartel behavior has not been changed. 

Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, was also said to be a place for drug cartels to recruit, train, and pay hitmen. In 2019, the photo sharing app had issues with some of their recovery based hashtags. Comments promoting the sale of illicit drugs were found on photos with hashtags, like #opioidcrisis and #opioidaddiction, that were intended to help those struggling with Opioid use. After this, the platform attempted to crack down on the use of these hashtags and make efforts to support those in recovery. 

In response to the DEA’s safety alert and Milgram’s comments, TikTok spokesperson, Hilary McQuaide, stated that the video sharing social network has systems in place to prevent drug dealing activity. McQuaide cited the app’s technology which removes accounts that promote illegal drug sales and the human reviewers who are used to find and evaluate violative material. 

Working Together To Limit Online Drug Deals

Even though individual social media companies are making efforts to vanquish online drug dealing, very few have yet to work together on the issue. Currently, drug deals tend to occur across multiple platforms. Dealers may use one site to connect with potential buyers, another to communicate, and a third to make the final sale. 

For 6 months, Snapchat has been using intelligence from a public health data company that searches all over the internet to catch drug dealers. This includes looking on other websites and the dark web to find drug ads that list a Snapchat account. According to Snapchat, their detection skills have allowed them to increase the number of removed accounts by 112% in the first half of 2021. Sharing data between the platforms may be the key to lowering Fentanyl overdose deaths amongst young people in the US.

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Last month, the Chinese government enacted new restrictions intended to mitigate video game addiction in children. Gamers under the age of 18 may now spend no more than 3 hours a week on online gaming; other restrictions, like those limiting youth gaming to 1.5 hours a day on weekdays and banning gaming between 10 PM and 8 AM, have existed since 2019.

China has long taken a severe stance on video game addiction. Chinese state media has recently referred to video games as “electronic drugs” and “spiritual opium;” the Chinese government has also reportedly participated in the operation of draconian treatment programs meant to curb gaming addiction. Multiple deaths have occurred in treatment programs like these. Brutal methods like beatings, electroshock therapy, and solitary confinement have allegedly been used as ways to “treat” gaming addiction in China.

Many in the United States struggle to limit their online gaming; some are concerned that similar programs might soon be established to treat video game addiction in the US if they don’t exist already. As one Vice News reporter wrote, “the US already has a network of boot camp, wilderness and other poorly regulated residential programs… During the 90s and 2000s, dozens of children died in these programs, which often used similar tactics to those described in the Asian ones.”

Safe, effective treatment for video game addiction is a priority; the pandemic has only increased the amount of Americans struggling with the condition. Fortunately, many qualified treatment centers exist to aid in recovery; some treatment options are detailed below.

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The Pandemic Has Affected Video Game Addiction

The global spread of COVID-19, the proliferation of lockdown orders, and the ever-increasing number of video games available to gamers have all correlated with a recent increase in people struggling with video game addiction.

The Guardian reported in June that “The number of children and young adults entering treatment for gaming addictions and disorders tripled over the last year.” Dr. Anand Nadkarni, psychologist and founder of the Indian Institute for Psychological Health, says he’s seen twice as many cases of internet addiction since lockdown measures began. One teenager was even hospitalized after he developed an addiction to the video game Fortnite; the boy had become isolated, would not speak to others, and required professional intervention.

The increases in video game addiction cases could be explained by merely how much additional free time at home many have had since the pandemic began; the stressors of recent months, however, may also play a role.

“Life is hard,” as Dr. Scott Teitelbaum, professor of psychiatry and neuroscience and director of the University of Florida’s Health Florida Recovery Center, told Healthline. “People are always looking for something to soothe themselves, and some people get pathologic attachment.”

There’s no shortage of reasons why self-soothing might be in vogue these days. But if a “pathologic attachment” has indeed developed, then it must be addressed. The good news is, there is also no shortage of relevant treatment modalities available for video game addiction.

Many Gaming Addiction Treatment Options Exist

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been demonstrated effective in the treatment of video game addiction; the researchers behind one study, conducted in Germany and Austria, reported a 70% remission rate after the use of CBT to treat gaming addiction.

One of the study’s authors, Kai Müller, said that treatment “usually starts with a thorough inventory of the patient’s characteristics that are contributing to the development and maintenance of the gaming disorder.” Patients studied also kept a diary, mindfully observed triggers and emotions associated with their video game addiction, and received help changing the problematic aspects of themselves and their behavior.

Other treatment modalities, like adventure therapy, which can involve collaborating with a team and solving problems in an exciting and novel setting may scratch the sensation-seeking itch scratched by video gaming in a more healthy and sustainable way. Learning to get fulfillment from rising to the occasion of a real-world challenge rather than that of a virtual one could help to combat video game addiction.

Different treatment centers may offer different treatment plans; a wide variety of solutions may therefore be available to the individual struggling with gaming addiction. If you have tried to cut back on playing video games and failed, help is available. Reach out to a treatment provider who can answer your questions and discuss your treatment options. There may be underlying or co-occurring conditions present in addition to the video game addiction; the sooner they are identified and addressed, the better.

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In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the onset of a global pandemic. COVID-19 spread throughout the globe, uprooting the daily lives of millions. As the world hunkered down to quarantine, millions of Americans canceled activities and prepared. Some turned to alcohol to cope with the sudden change. 

Right after the announcement of the global pandemic, the sales of alcoholic beverages spiked. In the United States, the overall alcohol market grew by 55%, and online alcohol sales skyrocketed to a startling 243%. Despite bar, club, and restaurant closure, liquor revenue rose from $29 billion in 2019 to $31.2 billion in 2020. 

COVID-19 Alcohol And Addiction 

The effects of COVID-19 have trickled across countless households. Families are experiencing high levels of stress while juggling their children’s school activities, work-from-home responsibilities, and housework. Others are struggling financially, with social isolation and general uncertainties. The high levels of stress have triggered a spike in alcohol demand and addiction rates in the U.S. Stress is associated with an increased risk for alcohol use, alcohol-related problems, and alcohol use disorders (AUD). Some of the most common health manifestations due to COVID-19 include anxiety, poor sleep, and hypochondriac beliefs.

Alcohol abuse hit an all-time-high in 2020. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 13% of Americans used alcohol or drugs to deal with COVID-19 related stressors. Those under lockdown or quarantine increased their heavy alcohol use from 21.0% (in March) to 40.7% (in September). The surge in alcohol use has the scientific and health community highly concerned.

In the U.S., more than 95,000 people die from dangerous alcohol use every year. Alcohol abuse shortens the life of an individual an average of 29 years. Every year a total of 2.8 million years of potential life is lost to alcohol.

Previous Devastations And Alcohol Misuse

With increased alcohol use, sales, and ER visits related to alcohol use, there is no question that COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the lives of Americans and people around the world. The stress that has been caused by the pandemic is not isolated to this single experience. Other devastating occurrences such as terrorist attacks and recessions cause similar levels of stress, mental health disturbances, and potentially increased alcohol abuse.

A study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology looked into the Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11, and terrorist events in Israel and England and discovered that there was increased alcohol use up to 2 years after these events. An estimated 7.3% of people exposed to one of these events presented with alcohol misuse. The study also found that those who were exposed to terrorist attacks had higher rates of binge drinking, which increased with how involved they were with the event, such as if they knew someone who lost their life in the attack. Alcohol abuse was even more common in those with PTSD symptoms.

Researchers from the Frontiers study examined drinking patterns and the Great Recession of 2008 and found that there was decreased alcohol consumption during this time. This was likely due to reduced wages, higher debts, and loss of purchasing power. However, during this time the rate of binge drinking increased in certain populations like the unemployed, young people, and men. Economic adversity has been found to be associated with increased rates of alcohol misuse.

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Finding Treatment For Alcohol Addiction

Drinking is a popular pastime in the U.S., and in 2020, while people quarantined, it became even more common. However, reaching for an alcoholic beverage every time a person is bored/stressed is problematic. Habitual alcohol use can lead to an alcohol use disorder (AUD). More than 15 million people are battling AUD in the U.S. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, young men are at an increased risk of developing an AUD. If the individuals recently lost their primary jobs due to COVID-19, the risk is even higher.  

Developing an AUD can happen to anyone. Alcohol use disorders are the most common addictions in America. Unfortunately, SARS-CoV-2 contributed to the spike in rates among Americans, as seen in alcohol sales for 2020. Fortunately, there are several addiction treatment centers ready to help anyone battling a substance use disorder. Thousands of people are prioritizing their health and seeking treatment. Contact a treatment provider and discover the many options you or a loved one have. Begin to take back control of your life by contacting a treatment provider today.   

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In the State of New York, recreational marijuana is one step closer to becoming legal. On July 29, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law which reduces penalties on New Yorkers who use and possess as many as two ounces of non-medical marijuana. Since decriminalization is not legalization, the police in New York can still arrest someone for possessing up to two ounces of cannabis, but the State will now only charge that person with a violation rather than a misdemeanor. In other words, New Yorkers can no longer go to prison for possessing marijuana in small amounts. Here are the major rules of the new law:

• The penalty for possessing less than one ounce of marijuana will be a $50 fine.
• The penalty for possessing between one and two ounces of marijuana will be a maximum fine of $200.
• It will be illegal to smoke marijuana wherever it is illegal to smoke cigarettes.

It remains illegal in New York to grow, buy, or sell recreational marijuana in any quantity.

The law also provides New Yorkers who have criminal records for possessing marijuana an opportunity to apply to have the State erase their convictions. Additionally, the State will automatically erase all criminal convictions for possessing as many as 25 grams (0.88 ounces) of marijuana. There are almost 600,000 people in New York who have a criminal record for minor marijuana offenses. The provisions of the law take effect in 30 days.

Politics And Criminal Justice Reform

Cuomo campaigned last year to legalize marijuana in New York, but his fellow Democrats in the state legislature were not able to reach a consensus on how the State would regulate the cannabis industry. Meanwhile, the Republicans in New York opposed legalization altogether. Although Cuomo could not fulfill his pledge this year to legalize marijuana, he praised the decriminalization law as “a critical step forward in addressing a broken and discriminatory criminal justice process.”

In 1977, New York decriminalized the possession of up to 25 grams of cannabis, yet the State continued to punish smoking any amount of the drug “in public view” as a crime. Advocates of decriminalization claim that this provision of the old law disproportionately affected New Yorkers who are Black, Hispanic, and poor. In fact, in just one year, 2015, 88% of all New Yorkers who were arrested for marijuana possession were members of racial minorities.

Some supporters of decriminalization say that the new law will correct this disparity by equalizing the penalties for possessing marijuana in public and in private. However, others say that legalizing the drug, taxing it, and then investing the revenue into underserved communities is the only way to truly address the problem. In the words of Melissa Moore, the deputy director for the Drug Policy Alliance in New York, “decriminalization falls short.” It’s likely that New York will continue to debate the merits of legalization and may one day join the 11 states where marijuana is fully legal.

Find Help In New York For Marijuana Abuse

Whether or not it’s legal, illegal, or decriminalized, marijuana is not always safe. In fact, the drug has the potential to inflict a variety of health problems, aggravate mental illness, stunt brain development, and cause addiction. Marijuana is a common drug in New York, but fortunately there are also many rehab centers in New York which offer treatment to anyone who wants to recover from a marijuana habit. Contact a treatment provider today to find out more about the options for rehab.

The post New York Decriminalizes Up To Two Ounces Of Recreational Marijuana appeared first on Addiction Center.

On July 15, the academic journal JAMA Pediatrics published a study that examines how drug abuse and the Opioid Epidemic have strained the foster care system in the United States. The researchers obtained their data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System, a federal government information project. Almost 5 million children entered foster care between 2000 and 2017. There are many reasons why the authorities take children away from their parents, including neglect and child abuse. Drug addiction, especially addiction to opioids, is becoming an increasingly common reason. According to the study, 1,162,668 children entered the foster care system between 2000 and 2017 because of their parents’ drug addiction.

In many cases, state or local authorities determined that the parents were too addicted to drugs to adequately care for their children. Additionally, in other cases, the parents sometimes died from drug overdoses or went to prison for using or selling illegal drugs. In all of these situations, if the parents lacked relatives who could care for their children, their children entered the custody of the state.

In 2000, drug addiction was the cause of only about 15% of foster care entrances. By 2017, that percentage had grown to 36%. While foster care entrances for drug abuse increased, entrances for abuse and neglect declined. The study found that children who entered foster care because their parents were battling drug addiction were likely to be under the age of five. Moreover, while most drug-related foster care entrances happened in the South, the number of such entrances increased the most in the Midwest. The researchers stated in their article that this problem “coincide[s] with increasing trends in opioid use and overdose deaths nationwide during this period.” In Ohio, a state where the Opioid Epidemic has been especially disastrous, about half of all children who enter foster care have drug-addicted parents.

What Are The Solutions To This Problem?

Since the study has been published, numerous commentators have begun to suggest ways to resolve the challenges of caring for children who lose their parents to opioids and other drugs. Angelica Meinhofer, one of the researchers for the study, stated that she hopes her findings will help the children who are so often the forgotten victims of drug abuse.

A lot of the work out there has focused on mortality and overdoses and how it affects adults. [It’s] less known how the epidemic might spill over to children. And that’s something I’m trying to shed light on.”

Addiction experts and social workers have recommended that state and local governments set up drug courts and sponsor treatment programs for addicted parents. These would provide them the opportunity to recover from addiction and raise their children. April Dirks, a social worker from Iowa, said in response to the study that “the foster care system is overburdened — there’s not enough families, not enough services,” and that children suffer trauma when they lose their parents. For this reason, there should be greater effort to keep families together through treatment. Children sometimes enter the foster care system temporarily and then reunite with their parents once they overcome substance abuse.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction and considering treatment, contact a treatment provider today to learn more about the many rehab centers which are committed to helping people achieve long-lasting recovery.

The post Research Study: Drug Addiction Is Sending More Children To Foster Care appeared first on Addiction Center.

Since 1999, the number of drug overdose deaths in the United States has quadrupled. The Opioid Epidemic has contributed greatly to this astounding increase. Among all the opioids which have claimed lives and caused addiction throughout the country in recent years, fentanyl is perhaps the deadliest and most addictive. In fact, fentanyl is even more potent than morphine and heroin, and it killed about 24,000 Americans in 2017. Drug traffickers often mix fentanyl into heroin to increase its potency, but last year, law enforcement officials reported that traffickers have started to mix fentanyl with cocaine. According to DEA reports, this new trend will endanger thousands of lives.

In 2018, according to the DEA, there was a 112% increase in samples of cocaine which contained fentanyl. While about 60% of these samples also contained heroin, there was an overall decline in the prevalence of heroin mixed with fentanyl. In Florida, a state where cocaine is especially prevalent, the DEA reported a “widespread adulteration of cocaine with fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances,” including carfentanil, an animal tranquilizer, in 2017. Authorities in Florida actually discovered traces of fentanyl in more than 180 cocaine samples. That same year, fentanyl caused 57% of all fatal overdoses in New York City. In many cases, the overdose victim was using cocaine (which is already dangerous and illegal) and they weren’t aware that it contained fentanyl.

Why Is Fentanyl In Cocaine Becoming Popular?

The Colombian government has relaxed its campaign to exterminate the coca plant, so there is currently an abundance of cocaine in the global market for illegal drugs. Consequently, law enforcement agencies have confiscated large quantities of cocaine in American ports, including 16 tons on a cargo ship in Philadelphia and 3,200 pounds in a shipping container in New York earlier this year. Customs and Border Protection has seized at least 38,000 pounds of cocaine since October.

As a wave of cocaine floods America’s shores, the DEA believes that drug traffickers are mixing fentanyl into cocaine to make it more profitable. Adding fentanyl to cocaine results in a more powerful “high” and a far more addictive substance. This helps traffickers build a larger base of reliable customers at the expense of people’s lives.

According to the New York City Department of Health, cocaine users who have no experience with prescription or synthetic opioids face the greatest danger of overdose because they have no opioid tolerance. Nevertheless, there is already a demand for fentanyl-laced cocaine. In April, the DEA seized about 116 pounds of cocaine in New Jersey. The entire supply was adulterated with fentanyl.

New Measures To Prevent Overdoses

The best way to avoid suffering an overdose from a combination of fentanyl and cocaine is to avoid cocaine entirely. Health officials and the DEA have warned that no one can be sure which substances may be included in any batch of cocaine.

Fentanyl is so potent, and it’s really hard for someone to tell if it’s in the substance they intend to use. This really is a crisis. 

While law enforcement continues its work to stop the flow of drugs into the country, addiction experts are emphasizing the importance of educating the public about the dangers of fentanyl. One recovery center in New Hampshire is even leading a campaign to distribute free fentanyl testing strips. The strips can be used to test cocaine or heroin for the presence of fentanyl and, hopefully, prevent an overdose. New York City has also begun to distribute free naloxone, a medication which reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. If it is quickly and correctly administered, naloxone could save a person’s life from an overdose on fentanyl.

Ultimately, it is most important to understand that the people who manufacture and sell cocaine do not have their customers’ wellbeing in mind. If you are using cocaine, you are at risk not only for a cocaine-induced heart attack, but perhaps also for an opioid overdose.

Contact a treatment provider today to learn more about how you can overcome addiction to stimulants, opioids, or other substance by getting treatment at a rehab facility.

The post Drug Traffickers Are Increasingly Mixing Fentanyl Into Cocaine appeared first on Addiction Center.

On June 25, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 1438, which allows people in Illinois to use and purchase recreational Marijuana. The bill also requires the state to license marijuana dispensaries. Medical Marijuana has already been legal in Illinois since 2013 and now Illinois will be the 11th state to legalize the drug for non-medical use.

Recreational Marijuana is currently legal in Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Michigan, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, and Nevada, although the federal government still classifies cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance.

Pritzker stated that “legalizing adult-use cannabis brings an important and overdue change to our state, and it’s the right thing to do.” Supporters of HB 1438 claim that taxing legal Marijuana will generate millions of dollars in revenue for Illinois and that legalization, combined with the bill’s reparations provisions, will correct injustices which they say anti-drug laws have inflicted on minorities. Opponents of HB 1438, especially interest groups which represent police officers, fear that legalization will cause more people to use Marijuana and then drive while “high.”

New Marijuana Rules And Limitations

Under the new law, Illinois residents may possess as many as 30 grams (or 1 ounce) of Marijuana and non-residents visiting the state may possess as many as 15 grams, beginning on January 1, 2020. Possessing non-medicinal Marijuana will be against the law for the remainder of 2019.

Adults who are at least 21 years old will also be allowed to buy Marijuana, but only from licensed dispensaries. The law does not allow people in Illinois to grow their own Marijuana unless they are patients who use medical Marijuana for treatment. In those cases, they may keep a maximum of 5 cannabis plants in their homes. Additionally, it will remain illegal to use Marijuana in public spaces, at schools, in a car, or in the presence of a minor. Landlords and business owners can also ban Marijuana use on their private property, and universities and colleges can still prohibit the drug on campus.

When cannabis sales begin on January 1, there may be over 100 dispensaries for recreational Marijuana throughout the state. The law requires would-be Marijuana merchants to pay $100,000 to apply for a dispensary license. The state will give preference to the 55 medical Marijuana dispensaries which are already operating in Illinois and then will open applications for 75 more licenses in October.

Overturning Criminal Convictions

When he signed HB 1438, Pritzker claimed that the “the war on cannabis” – the criminalization of Marijuana – “has destroyed families, filled prisons with nonviolent offenders, and disproportionately disrupted black and brown communities.” Therefore, the law will erase state-level, non-violent marijuana convictions. This provision has the potential to relieve almost 800,000 people of a criminal record.

The law also requires that 25% of tax revenue which the state collects from the Marijuana industry be invested in high-poverty areas and that another 20% of the revenue be used to finance programs to treat drug addiction. Furthermore, the law requires that the state give preference to minorities who apply for a license to open a dispensary.

Legal Marijuana Is Not Safe Marijuana

Cannabis may now be legal in Illinois, but regular Marijuana users are still at risk for emotional disorders, lung damage, stunted brain development, psychological dependence, and symptoms of withdrawal.

Whether or not it’s legal, Marijuana can harm a person’s ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you or someone you know needs help with overcoming Marijuana dependence, contact a treatment provider today to get answers to your questions about rehab.

The post Illinois Legalizes Recreational Marijuana, Overturns Cannabis Convictions appeared first on Addiction Center.

On June 25, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously, 11-0, to ban the sale of e-cigarettes. The new ordinances prohibit stores from selling e-cigarettes and also prohibit anyone from selling them online to buyers with a San Francisco address. Additionally, the Board voted to ban companies from manufacturing e-cigarettes on city property. If Mayor London Breed signs the ordinances, the city will start to enforce the new rules in 7 months. Breed has said that she supports the ban.

San Francisco will be the first American city to ban e-cigarette sales, but it’s also home to the headquarters of Juul Labs, Inc., the largest e-cigarette company in the country. Juul vaping devices account for about 70% of the entire e-cigarette market. The problem, according to supporters of the ban, is that Juul’s products lack FDA regulation. Dennis Herrera, the City Attorney, said that the ban “wouldn’t be necessary if the federal government had done its job.” He was referring to the legal requirement that products like e-cigarettes not be sold until they pass an FDA safety review.

The FDA has not reviewed any vaping products – from Juul or any other company – yet hasn’t banned them either. City leaders from San Francisco as well as New York City and Chicago have criticized the FDA for what they consider to be a failure of oversight.

A Response To Teenage Vaping

The supporters of the ban also expressed concern for children’s health. Vaping has become very popular with teenagers, so much so that the number of high school students who use e-cigarettes skyrocketed by 78% in 2018. Since e-cigarettes contain Nicotine, an addictive substance, the Mayor and the Board are worried that vaping will harm teenagers in San Francisco. Although the smoking age in California is 21, vaping devices are common in San Francisco schools.

There is so much we don’t know about the health impacts of these products, but we do know that e-cigarette companies are targeting our kids in their advertising and getting them hooked on addictive nicotine products. We need to take action to protect the health of San Francisco’s youth and prevent the next generation of San Franciscans from becoming addicted to these products.

Juul’s Response To The E-Cigarette Sales Ban

Juul adamantly opposes the ordinances. The company spent over $600,000 to lobby against the new rules and has been collecting signatures for a petition to challenge the ordinances on the ballot this November. Juul said that it does not advertise its products to minors. As evidence, the company cited its decision to delete its social media accounts, which young people were most likely to see, and stop selling flavored e-cigarettes, which were most popular among teenagers. Juul also stated that the ban may be counterproductive for fighting Nicotine addiction.

This full prohibition will drive former adult smokers who successfully switched to vapor products back to deadly cigarettes, deny the opportunity to switch for current adult smokers, and create a thriving black market instead of addressing the actual causes of underage access and use.

In addition to Juul, some small businesses in San Francisco also oppose the ban because many city residents visit family-owned stores to buy Juul devices.

Regardless, other cities may soon follow San Francisco’s example. Vaping is such a new phenomenon that governments and regulatory agencies are just starting to catch up. It is possible that the regulation of e-cigarettes will leave the confines of local politics and become a national issue in the future.

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[UPDATE: On September 30, 2019, under mounting political pressure, Juul suspended its campaign to overturn the city’s ordinances through a ballot initiative. The company had contributed almost $19 million to support Proposition C, which would have permitted the sale of e-cigarettes to adults in San Francisco. Proposition C will still be on the city ballot in November.]

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