Patients with already compromised lung conditions may be at higher risk for more severe complications from COVID-19. Specifically, people who smoke or vape, or use opioids or methamphetamine may face heightened risk. In addition, chronic opioid use already increases the risk of slowed breathing due to hypoxemia, which can lead to cardiac and pulmonary complications…
12-step recovery programs have been foundational in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction since they were first developed in the 1930s. Today, these programs, like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), help people all over the world on their road to sobriety through a series of steps and meetings. But, do 12-step programs…
Steven Kelty had been addicted to crack cocaine for 32 years when he tried a different kind of treatment last year, one so basic in concept that he was skeptical. He would come to a clinic twice a week to provide a urine sample, and if it was free of drugs, he would get to…
Millions of dollars were swindled from an undisclosed insurance company in an alleged scam described as ‘appalling’. Five people have been arrested in connection with an alleged $3.2 million sober living home fraud scheme that preyed on vulnerable substance abuse patients to swindle millions of dollars from an insurance company, authorities announced Friday. Taken into custody…
The founder of a Los Angeles sober-living facility is facing 20 years in prison for running a $175 million phony health care billing scheme. Christopher Bathum pleaded no contest Monday to 14 felony counts of grand theft, insurance fraud, identity theft and money laundering, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office announced. Bathum, who once…
Civic clubs Rotary Club of North Garland County, known as Scenic 7 Rotary, meets at noon on the first, second and third Thursdays at Charlie’s Pizza Pub, 127 McNeely Circle, and adjourns by 1 p.m. On fourth Thursdays, the club meets after hours at 5 p.m. Visitors are welcome. Members and visitors are asked to…
Virginia’s Piedmont has no shortage of help for opioid addicts and their families. Here is a sampling of available resources. Some require payment; some are free. Some are local resources, some national. Read more at: https://www.fauquier.com/where-to-get-help/article_54dd52ec-061f-11ea-87c7-a7b48b6cc377.html
There are 18.5 million veterans in the US, including 1.5 million of them dealing with substance abuse issues. And substance abuse can lead to life-threatening issues. For 2017, the year that the most recent data is available, roughly 17 veterans per day died from suicide, nearly 1.5 times the rate for other adults. The road…
Today I have chosen to write about the 12-step programs that are a big part of most treatment plans. I’m choosing this as my first segment of detailed information because it is a means of support that can be used before, during, and/or after treatment. Those who do not ever choose to go to treatment…
Excessive drug and alcohol use can destroy families and lives. Meanwhile, the person abusing drugs or alcohol is usually in deep denial and rationalizes his or her behavior, which makes the problem harder to treat. Whether you are a health care professional or a concerned friend, family member or coworker you can use simple techniques…