Prince Died With ‘Exceedingly High’ Level Of Fentanyl

Prince had an extremely high level of a powerful synthetic opioid in his body at the time of his death at his home in Minnesota in April 2016, according to a toxicology report obtained by The Associated Press.

The confidential toxicology information was reported less than a week after the Carver County Attorney Mark Metz stated that the death investigation remains active. Metz is still deciding whether to charge someone with a crime.

The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office in Ramsey, Minn., had ruled “fentanyl toxicity” as the superstar musician’s cause of death in its public autopsy report in June 2016. It also ruled his death to be an accident and had provided no details about the concentration of the “self-administered” drug in his body.

According to the AP, the confidential toxicology report indicates that “concentration of fentanyl in Prince’s blood was 67.8 micrograms per liter.” As the wire service notes, “fatalities have been documented in people with blood levels ranging from three to 58 micrograms per liter.”

The amount in his blood is exceedingly high, even for somebody who is a chronic pain patient on fentanyl patches,” Dr. Lewis Nelson, chairman of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, told the wire service.

Read the full article at NRP.com

Your Rehab Journey at Turning Point

Questions And Answers About Opioids And Chronic Pain

The post Prince Died With ‘Exceedingly High’ Level Of Fentanyl appeared first on Turning Point Treatment Center, Inc..

source https://www.turningpointtreatmentcenter.com/prince-died-exceedingly-high-level-fentanyl/

The more opioids doctors prescribe, the more money they make

As tens of thousands of Americans die from prescription opioid overdoses each year, an exclusive analysis by CNN and researchers at Harvard University found that opioid manufacturers are paying physicians huge sums of money — and the more opioids a doctor prescribes, the more money he or she makes.

In 2014 and 2015, opioid manufacturers paid hundreds of doctors across the country six-figure sums for speaking, consulting and other services. Thousands of other doctors were paid over $25,000 during that time.
Physicians who prescribed particularly large amounts of the drugs were the most likely to get paid.

“This is the first time we’ve seen this, and it’s really important,” said Dr. Andrew Kolodny, a senior scientist at the Institute for Behavioral Health at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, where he is co-director of the Opioid Policy Research Collaborative.

“It smells like doctors being bribed to sell narcotics, and that’s very disturbing,” said Kolodny, who is also the executive director of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing.

Read the complete article here at CNN.com

What Could Happen If Trump Formally Declares Opioids A National Emergency

The post The more opioids doctors prescribe, the more money they make appeared first on Turning Point Treatment Center, Inc..

source https://www.turningpointtreatmentcenter.com/opioids-doctors-prescribe-money-make/

Could stem cell therapy could be a future cure for alcoholism ?

An intriguing new study has found that a single dose of human mesenchymal stem cells administered to rats bred to be high alcohol drinkers significantly reduced their voluntary alcohol intake. The research bolsters the growing hypothesis that stem cell treatments may be effective therapies to battle a variety of addiction disorders.

Recent research has indicated that chronic use of addictive drugs, including alcohol, cocaine and opiates, is associated with an increase in neuroinflammation. Other studies, in both humans and rats, have also suggested that pro-inflammatory conditions in the brain can increase voluntary alcohol consumption.

A 2017 study by a team of researchers from the University of Chile found that intracerebral injections of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into high-alcohol intake bred rats resulted in the animals dramatically reducing chronic alcohol consumption. The hurdle researchers faced following that study was the fact the intracerebral administration of any substance is not an ideal way to treat chronic alcoholism in humans. And because MSCs are relatively large molecules they tend not to effectively reach the brain when injected intravenously.

For this new study the team utilized a technique that can aggregate MSCs into smaller spheroid shapes, reducing their overall cell size by up to 75 percent, allowing them to better reach the brain when injected intravenously. To study the efficacy of the MSC-spheroids on the symptoms of alcoholism they were then intravenously administered into rats that had been selectively bred to consume high volumes of alcohol.

The research was published in the journal Scientific Reports. Read more here .. 

The post Could stem cell therapy could be a future cure for alcoholism ? appeared first on Turning Point Treatment Center, Inc..

source https://www.turningpointtreatmentcenter.com/stem-cell-therapy-future-cure-alcoholism/

Call 949-386-2346 for help #MedicallyAssistedTreatment

What are the most addictive drugs? This question seems simple, but the answer depends on whom you ask. From the points of view of different researchers, the potential for a drug to be addictive can be judged in terms of the harm it causes, the street value of the drug, the extent to which the drug activates the brain’s dopamine system, how pleasurable people report the drug to be, the degree to which the drug causes withdrawal symptoms, and how easily a person trying the drug will become hooked.

1. Heroin

Nutt et al.’s experts ranked heroin as the most addictive drug, giving it a score of 3 out of a maximum score of 3. Heroin is an opiate that causes the level of dopamine in the brain’s reward system to increase by up to 200% in experimental animals. In addition to being arguably the most addictive drug, heroin is dangerous, too, because the dose that can cause death is only five times greater than the dose required for a high.

Heroin also has been rated as the second most harmful drug in terms of damage to both users and to society. The market for illegal opiates, including heroin, was estimated to be $68 billion worldwide in 2009.

2. Cocaine

Cocaine directly interferes with the brain’s use of dopamine to convey messages from one neuron to another. In essence, cocaine prevents neurons from turning the dopamine signal off, resulting in an abnormal activation of the brain’s reward pathways. In experiments on animals, cocaine caused dopamine levels to rise more than three times the normal level. It is estimated that between 14-20m people worldwide use cocaine and that in 2009 the cocaine market was worth about $75 billion.

Crack cocaine has been ranked by experts as being the third most damaging drug and powdered cocaine, which causes a milder high, as the fifth most damaging. About 21% of people who try cocaine will become dependent on it at sometime in their life. Cocaine is similar to other addictive stimulants, such as methamphetamine – which is becoming more of a problem as it becomes more widely available – and amphetamine.

3. Nicotine

Nicotine is the main addictive ingredient of tobacco. When somebody smokes a cigarette, nicotine is rapidly absorbed by the lungs and delivered to the brain. Nutt et al’s expert panels rated nicotine (tobacco) as the third most addictive substance.

More than two-thirds of Americans who tried smoking reported becoming dependent during their life. In 2002 the WHO estimated there were more than 1 billion smokers and it has been estimated that tobacco will kill more than 8m people annually by 2030. Laboratory animals have the good sense not to smoke. However, rats will press a button to receive nicotine directly into their bloodstream – and this causes dopamine levels in the brain’s reward system to rise by about 25-40%.

4. Barbiturates (‘downers’)

Barbiturates – also known as blue bullets, gorillas, nembies, barbs and pink ladies – are a class of drugs that were initially used to treat anxiety and to induce sleep. They interfere with chemical signalling in the brain, the effect of which is to shut down various brain regions. At low doses, barbiturates cause euphoria, but at higher doses they can be lethal because they suppress breathing. Barbiturate dependence was common when the drugs were easily available by prescription, but this has declined dramatically as other drugs have replaced them. This highlights the role that the context plays in addiction: if an addictive drug is not widely available, it can do little harm. Nutt et al’s expert panels rated barbiturates as the fourth most addictive substance.

5. Alcohol

Although legal in the US and UK, alcohol was scored by Nutt et al.’s experts 1.9 out of a maximum of 3. Alcohol has many effects on the brain, but in laboratory experiments on animals it increased dopamine levels in the brain’s reward system by 40-360% – and the more the animals drank the more dopamine levels increased.

Some 22% of people who have taken a drink will develop dependence on alcohol at some point during their life. The WHO has estimated that 2 billion people used alcohol in 2002 and more than 3m people died in 2012 due to damage to the body caused by drinking. Alcohol has been ranked as the most damaging drug by other experts, too.

This article has been amended to reflect an error in the reading of Nutt et al.’s data. The author wishes to thank Erin Brodwin/Business Insider for detecting the error.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The post Call 949-386-2346 for help #MedicallyAssistedTreatment appeared first on Turning Point Treatment Center, Inc..

source https://www.turningpointtreatmentcenter.com/call-949-386-2346-help-medicallyassistedtreatment/

Trump’s opioid plan to take three-pronged approach, including death penalty for high-volume traffickers

President Trump’s long-awaited plan will focus on three areas: Law enforcement and interdiction, prevention and education through a sizable advertising campaign,, improving the ability to fund treatment through the federal government, and help those impacted by the epidemic find jobs while fighting addiction, Bremberg and White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said.

Congress recently appropriated $6 billion to combat the opioid epidemic, and a senior administration official told CNN that Trump’s plan will lay out how the administration believes that money should be spent.

The concept of the death penalty for certain drug traffickers is something Trump has been outspoken about, but this will be the first time it will be part of an official administration plan.

Read “THE PRESIDENT’S COMMISSION
ON COMBATING DRUG ADDICTION AND THE OPIOID CRISIS” here.

The post Trump’s opioid plan to take three-pronged approach, including death penalty for high-volume traffickers appeared first on Turning Point Treatment Center, Inc..

source https://www.turningpointtreatmentcenter.com/trumps-opioid-plan-take-three-pronged-approach-including-death-penalty-high-volume-traffickers/

Pharmacies in California Selling Naloxone

If you have any difficulty purchasing naloxone in your participating pharmacy, please call 1-800-SHOPCVS (1-800-746-7287) for assistance.

Walgreens announced this week that they are now dispensing naloxone, the drug that can reverse an opioid overdose, over the counter in 46 states. (If you have a prescription, you can buy it in any state.) CVS offers it over the counter in 43 states.

Which states, though? CVS has a list: you still need a prescription in Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. According to a spokesperson, all of their stores stock it or can order it for the next business day.

CVS Pharmacies in California Selling Naloxone

The post Pharmacies in California Selling Naloxone appeared first on Turning Point Treatment Center, Inc..

source https://www.turningpointtreatmentcenter.com/pharmacies-california-selling-naloxone/

Couples Drug Treatment

We have a scientifically designed drug treatment program for couples, where we work with a goal to treat the problem of addiction and restore hope and positivity in the couple’s relationship.

Whether it is you or your partner who is struggling with the challenges of addiction, or whether the problem of substance abuse is mutual, we are here to provide a comprehensive treatment program that is created specifically for couples. We will support you through this journey, and help you go through the healing process and recovery in a safe, healthy, and effective way.

Relationship Counseling
We know from experience that couples who struggle with addiction can get the best outcomes when their therapy is integrated with relationship counseling. This counseling process involves professional guidance and support to help the couple recognize their value and their need for each other, and to deal with their issues in the spirit of positive and mutual healing.

Relationship counseling and support will enable couples to manage their differences in a more constructive way and focus on restore the core strength of their relationship. This will have a cascading effect on managing the problem of addiction, and improvement will occur at both ends.

Behavioral Therapy

We believe that the goals of behavioral therapy for couples are best served over a series of treatment sessions. For couples who are prepared to be optimistic will often find a renewed strength in their long term relationship when they go through professional behavioral therapy.
Our therapy for couples will help you restore honest and positive two-way communication and increase mutual understanding of each other’s challenges of addiction and other problems. Our trained and experienced therapists help promote a feeling of co-dependency in the couple. As the couple’s relationship is restored, it will make it possible to get out of the trap of addiction in a more effective and sustainable manner.

The post Couples Drug Treatment appeared first on Turning Point Treatment Center, Inc..

source https://www.turningpointtreatmentcenter.com/couples-drug-treatment/

Turning Point Treatment Center is Pet Friendly

The idea of leaving your pet behind to find treatment. can seem difficult to entertain But what if you didn’t have to? Animal ownership provides immeasurable therapeutic value to addiction recovery patients.

Your pet is your loving and trusted companion who will love you unconditionally if you love them. When you feel despondent and without hope, your pet will be there to keep you going. When you feel a sense of rejection from everyone else, your pet will be steadfast in its loyalty and will show no dilution in its love for you.

When you are struggling with addiction, you may have tough time trying to fit in social settings and prefer to be alone. This is the time when the unconditional love of your pet will be your best bet to get you through that difficult phase. Extensive research studies have shown how pets have a salubrious effect on our body, mind, and soul.

Companionship with your pet can help you get through periods of anxiety, stress, and depression. These are typical concerns that individuals in their early stages of recovery are faced with. It is hard to be angry or dejected when you have pet is affectionately wagging its tail and licking your face. Even for life threatening illnesses such as heart disease, medical experts often recommend the patients to keep the company of their pet, which could help them recuperate well and improve their physical and mental state of being.

How a Pet Friendly Rehab Facility Can Help?

The decision to get your admitted to a rehab facility can be psychologically and emotionally draining. Several types of roadblocks may deter you from seeking this courageous path to try and get rid of your struggling situation and find an opportunity to re-start a healthy and sober life. A rehab center that is 100% pet friendly, and is ready to extend a warm welcome to you and your pet, can make your decision and your process to enter rehab much easier. Once you have entered, the constant companionship

The post Turning Point Treatment Center is Pet Friendly appeared first on Turning Point Treatment Center, Inc..

source https://www.turningpointtreatmentcenter.com/turning-point-treatment-center-pet-friendly/

Flea Shares His Struggle With Opiates In An Open Letter

The Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist details his opiate addiction in an open letter for ‘TIME.’
Flea shared details of his experience with opiate addiction in an open letter for TIME. As part of their series, “The Opioid Diaries,” the Red Chili Peppers bassist recounts drugs as a constant in his life. Flea was completely candid about his experience, saying that drugs had always been around him and that he’d started using at a young age. “I started smoking weed when I was eleven, and then proceeded to snort, shoot, pop, smoke, drop, and dragon chase my way through my teens and twenties,” Flea wrote in TIME.

This article originally appeared on Noisey US. – Read the complete article here .. 

The post Flea Shares His Struggle With Opiates In An Open Letter appeared first on Turning Point Treatment Center, Inc..

source https://www.turningpointtreatmentcenter.com/flea-shares-struggle-opiates-open-letter/

Questions And Answers About Opioids And Chronic Pain

Millions of Americans use opioids to relieve pain. But many also struggle with addiction.

This week, a report in JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association, found that nonopioid painkillers — like acetaminophen and ibuprofen — were as effective as opioids at treating chronic back, hip and knee pain, and with fewer side effects.

The findings raise a lot of questions about the right approach to managing pain, particularly chronic pain. So earlier this week, we asked listeners on Facebook and Twitter to share their questions about treating chronic pain.

For answers, NPR’s Ari Shapiro turned to Dr. Ajay Wasan, professor and vice chair for pain medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Read more here … 

 

The post Questions And Answers About Opioids And Chronic Pain appeared first on Turning Point Treatment Center, Inc..

source https://www.turningpointtreatmentcenter.com/questions-answers-opioids-chronic-pain/

Can This Judge Solve the Opioid Crisis?

Judge Dan Aaron Polster of the Northern District of Ohio has perhaps the most daunting legal challenge in the country: resolving more than 400 federal lawsuits brought by cities, counties and Native American tribes against central figures in the national opioid tragedy, including makers of the prescription painkillers, companies that distribute them, and pharmacy chains that sell them. And he has made it clear that he will not be doing business as usual.

During the first hearing in the case, in early January, the judge informed lawyers that he intended to dispense with legal norms like discovery and would not preside over years of “unraveling complicated conspiracy theories.” Then he ordered them to prepare for settlement discussions immediately.

Read the full article here .. 

The post Can This Judge Solve the Opioid Crisis? appeared first on Turning Point Treatment Center, Inc..

source https://www.turningpointtreatmentcenter.com/can-judge-solve-opioid-crisis/

Nearly twice as many kids being hospitalized due to opioids

• The number of pediatric opioid hospitalizations requiring intensive care nearly doubled to 1,504 patients between 2012 and 2015, from 797 patients between 2004 and 2007.
• One-third of the children that required intensive care due to opioid overdose were under the age of six, the study shows.

Children as young as 1 year old are overdosing on opioid medication and being hospitalized at a rapid rate, a new study published Monday found.

The number of pediatric opioid hospitalizations requiring intensive care nearly doubled to 1,504 patients between 2012 and 2015, from 797 patients between 2004 and 2007, according to a study published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Pediatrics.

“We do believe there’s a direct relationship to the adult opioid crisis,” Dr. Jason Kane, associate professor of pediatrics and critical care at Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago, told CNBC. He’s the lead author of the study, which used data from the Pediatric Health Information System database and involved an examination of 31 children’s hospitals.

Kane said about 20 percent of the youngest children were poisoned by methadone, an opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain or opioid dependence in adults. This means many young children are likely finding their parents’ medication and ingesting it, Kane said.

Read at CNBC.com here …

 

The post Nearly twice as many kids being hospitalized due to opioids appeared first on Turning Point Treatment Center, Inc..

source https://www.turningpointtreatmentcenter.com/nearly-twice-many-kids-hospitalized-due-opioids/

FDA to broaden access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction

The Food and Drug Administration expects to roll out guidance on expanded access to opioid addiction therapy known as medication-assisted treatment, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced Saturday at a meeting of the National Governor’s Association.

As a practice, such treatment utilizes behavioral therapy as well as medications like buphrenorphine and methadone that can reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms from opioid use. Many addiction specialists consider it the gold standard of addiction treatment.
“Medication-assisted treatment works. The evidence on this is voluminous and ever-growing,” Azar said.
His comments were a stark contrast to those of his predecessor Tom Price, who said of such treatment, “If we’re just substituting one opioid for another, we’re not moving the dial much.”
Azar pointed out that just one-third of specialty addiction treatment programs in the United States offer the therapy. “Failing to offer (medication-assisted treatment) is like treating an infection without antibiotics,” Azar said, vowing to increase those numbers.

Read more here on CNN

Medicine Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Pain? Many doctors say opioids are not the answer

The post FDA to broaden access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction appeared first on Turning Point Treatment Center, Inc..

source https://www.turningpointtreatmentcenter.com/fda-broaden-access-medication-assisted-treatment-opioid-addiction/