Month: June 2023

Celebrity Drug Deaths 2022

Most of us are well-aware of the lifestyles of the rich and famous and they glamorize drugs and alcohol. Yet, even people with wealth and access to the best medical care in the world suffer because of drug and alcohol abuse. While the numbers are unknown, celebrities struggle with drug addiction, mental health problems, and physical health problems as a result of substance abuse.

And, every year, with 99,017 people dying of alcohol-related causes, and in 2022, nearly 110,000 people died of drug-related causes including overdose. Celebrities are not immune, and in 2022, 5 well-known celebrities died as a result of drug abuse.

These tragedies are a stark reminder that even people with access to the safest drugs and the best medical care suffer as a result of drug abuse. And, if you or a loved one is using, it’s important to get help when you can and before it’s too late.

Celebrity Drug Deaths in 2022

In 2022, five well-known celebrities died of drug-related causes, most of which were fentanyl related. However, this list only includes individuals whose autopsy reports were publicized. This means there may be additional drug deaths which are not listed here – but their families have chosen to opt for privacy. There were also 5 celebrity deaths in 2021, 5 in 2020, and 3 in 2019.

Taylor Hawkins

Foo Fighter’s Drummer Taylor Hawkins was announced dead on March 25^th of 2022. An ambulance was called at his hotel after he complained of chest pains, but by the time emergency services arrived, Hawkins was unresponsive.

The toxicology report later revealed that Hawkins had taken a large number of prescription medications as well as THC. These included opioid pain pills, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants. His heart was also twice the expected size, following what doctors expressed as prolonged substance abuse. It is unknown if Hawkins had a prescription for his medications or not.

Hawkins died at the age of 50, leaving behind his wife and three children. His death rocked the music and entertainment industry, resulting in an outpouring of love, with memorials and tribute concerts in his honor.

Dwayne Haskins

Dwayne Haskins, NFL Quarterback, died on April 9 of 2022, pronounced dead after being hit by a car while crossing a road under the influence. Haskins was driving to training in a rented vehicle when he ran out of gas. He stopped by the side of the road, called his wife, and then crossed the interstate where he was struck by a dump truck and died. His blood alcohol level at the time was .24 and he tested positive for ketamine. Haskins did not die as a direct result of drug use and drugs may not have contributed to his death. However, Haskins tragic death was under the influence and his crossing the interstate may have been influenced by ketamine usage.

Jamal Edwards

Jamal Edwards, DJ and television platform owner, died in February of 2022 after a heart arrythmia. His sudden death was first reported as a heart attack – but toxicology reports later found that he had ingested significant quantities of cocaine prior to the arrythmia. His tragic death occurred in the middle of a project to reopen youth centers in London, using his platform of SB.TV and funding from Google to help kids turn to music and performance instead of drugs.

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Coolio

Artis Leon Ivey Jr., artistically known as Coolio, died on September 28 of 2022, following an overdose on fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. The artist was found in a friend’s home in Los Angeles, on the bathroom door and was pronounced dead by the first responders. An investigation was opened, later showing the cause of death to be an overdose. The artist is most well-known for his single “Gangsta’s Paradise” but was in the middle of recording a new album at the time of his death.

Aaron Carter

Aaron Carter, singer and teen-pop star, died in November of 2022 following an overdose and accidental drowning in his tub in Lancaster California. The 34-year-old was found by his housekeeper in the tub. It was later found that the singer had passed out after inhaling difluoroethane, an inhalant drug used for aerosols, and taking alprazolam, which he may have had a prescription for. His death was ruled as accidental – as he liked passed out because of the difluoroethane.

Stephan Bonnar

American mixed martial artist Stephan Bonnar is most well-known for his UFC fights and wrestling. The wrestler died on December 22 of 2022. It was initially reported that he had died of a heart attack. However, the toxicology report showed that the 45-year-old had died of a fentanyl overdose. This followed multiple run-ins with the law including several DUIs. He left behind his wife and son.

Getting Help

Anyone can be vulnerable to drug addiction. It doesn’t matter how well your life is going, drugs are addictive and can cause you to lose control when using them. That puts you at risk of mental health problems, physical health problems, and overdose. Like the celebrities on this list, you are always at risk of overdose and death when using drugs. Even “Safer” drugs like cocaine and ketamine can result in heart attacks, decision-making that leads to death, and organ damage that can cause significant long-term reductions to quality of life. And, with street drugs including pain pills and Xanax now containing traces of fentanyl, risks of overdose are higher than ever.

If you or someone you know is using drugs or alcohol, you are at risk of overdose. People often use to feel better, self-medicate, and to fit in. No matter what you’re using for, you can still lose control and you are still at risk. If you need help, it is there, and modern rehab and substance use disorder treatment works to help you uncover the underlying causes behind substance abuse so you can improve quality of life, improve how you cope with things, and work to build skills and strategies to make your life better. The goal of recovery is not to get your old life back but to build a new one where you don’t need drugs.

If you or your loved-one struggles from alcoholism or other substance abuse please contact us today and speak with one of our experienced and professional intake advisors about our detox, partial hospitalization, and residential treatment programs. 10 Acre Ranch also has specialty tracks like our pet friendly drug rehab and couples substance abuse treatment programs. We’re here to help you recover.

Substance Abuse Issues in the LGBTQ+ Community

The LGBTQ+ community is especially vulnerable to mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders. Today, an estimated 60% of people identifying as LGBTQ+ will have a mental health disorder in their lifetime, which means that LGBTQ+ individuals are more than twice as vulnerable to mental health problems. That exacerbates in relation to substance use disorders, where the LGBTQ+ community is anywhere from twice to four times as likely to have a substance use disorder. The National Survey on Drug use and Health shows that 21% of sexual and gender minority adults struggle with substance use disorders vs about 11% in the general population, for a total of about 16%.

The complex interplay between the problems faced by the LGTBQ+ community and mental health are an important factor in that. This means that treating substance abuse in someone how identifies as LGBTQ+ requires acknowledging those issues and treating the trauma caused by stigma, homophobia, transphobia, gender dysphoria, shame, lack of fitting in, and abuse.

The LGBTQ+ Community and Substance Abuse

It’s a well-studied fact that the LGBTQ+ community is more vulnerable to mental health disorders including substance use disorders. Often, that relates to other life experiences, especially early trauma, inability to safely manage self-expression, and feelings of being different or not fitting in.

The LGBTQ+ community is also at especially high risk of domestic and interrelationship violence, which increases risks of mental health problems and substance use disorders.

That’s often exacerbated by social stigma, shame, family rejection, and in how common it is for the LGBTQ+ scene to drink and use drugs as part of culture. The following sections discuss each of these issues in detail.

Early Childhood Trauma

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study directly links incidents of trauma experienced before the age of 16 to heightened risk of addiction, mental health disorder, and physical health problems. The scale links increases in experiences of trauma to heightened risk, with increases in risk taking behavior, poor coping mechanisms, poor social behavior, and reliance on substances and heightened experiences to self-medicate.

Because persons who are not cisgender and who are not straight are at significantly higher risk for domestic violence, family rejection, social rejection, bullying, and feelings of being ostracized from peers, they are significantly more likely to have more Adverse Childhood Experiences, and therefore a higher vulnerability to addiction.

Trauma

LGBTQ+ individuals are at an increased risk of experiencing trauma as adults. This relates to:

Increased risk of domestic violence and inter-partner violence
Stigma and shame
Hiding gender and sexuality
Inability to practice self-expression
Stress from slights, stigma, and bias from the community
Family rejection
Homophobia and transphobia, including internalized
Lack of resources for mental health support

These can all result in real trauma, without considering that people identifying as LGBTQ+ are significantly more likely to experience violence outside of the home in the form of attacks, challenges, and being physically beaten. As a result, rates of trauma, PTSD, and high levels of stress are significantly higher in the LGBTBQ+ community than in the general population.

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Mental Health Problems

The same risk factors that increase vulnerability to substance abuse increase vulnerability to mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. In addition, those factors are more likely to trigger bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder. Many people who are not cisgender also experience gender dysphoria which can be traumatic on its own. This leads to higher rates of using substances to cope, higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempts, and increased need to self-medicate to manage life. With as many as 60% of LGBTQ+ individuals qualifying for a mental health disorder diagnosis, LGBTQ+ individuals are four times as likely to have mental health problems as the general population.

Exposure to Drugs & Alcohol

Drugs and alcohol are a standard part of life for many people but the culture of drugs and alcohol in the LGBTQ+ community is especially bad. That often relates to the fact that homophobia means that homosexual gatherings were actually prosecuted by the police – leading them to be prime spots to sell drugs because they were already secret. As a result, drug use and raves are very common as part of culture and adults who are stressed and who have poor impulse control because of trauma are more likely to seek out quick ways to feel good. However, it does mean that the LGBTQ+ community is more exposed to drug use and heavy alcohol use than many other communities in the United States.

Building Treatment Plans Around LGBTQ+ Needs

Finding and seeking mental health and substance abuse treatment is difficult for the general population but often more so for people who identify as LGBTQ+. For example, one study shows that 70% have experienced stigma or bias during treatment. And, as many as 24% of have been denied care at all because of their gender or sexuality.

That stigma, plus the significant amount of specific issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community, mean that the community needs unique care built around those needs.

LGBTQ+ Only

Individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ face significant issues including stigma, homophobia, rejection, social isolation, and low self-esteem. These issues must be understood and incorporated into treatment in order for treatment to be effective. That necessitates custom programs and tracks, built around offerings support and treatment to not only the substance use disorder but also the underlying causes. Offering LBGTQ+ focused programs at rehab centers creates safe spaces, reducing fears of stigma, violence, or harassment. And, studies show that doing so improves outcomes, because people are better able to invest in treatment and not in ensuring that they stay safe through treatment.

Personalized Care

The LGBTQ+ community is not homogenous, instead, each person has their own unique and individual history, with patterns and life problems that might contribute to substance abuse in different ways. Rehab relies on behavioral therapy, which means investigating the root of problems and treating those causes. That requires significantly personalized care and treatment tracks, which may involve dealing with trauma, coping with self-esteem problems, overcoming social barriers, or learning to feel accepted. From there, you can base the treatment approach on individual motivation, progress, and aptitude.

Emotional and Psychological Support

Understanding, support, and affirmation are seen as critical elements of any treatment program but that is more true in the case of the LGBTQ+ community. It is critical that mental healthcare providers be able to deliver understanding and reaffirmation for gender and sexuality – without judgement. For this reason, staff involved in LGBTQ+ programs must be trained to do so and to handle those aspects with care.

Getting Help

If you or your loved one is struggling with substance abuse, it’s important to reach out and to get help. The LGBTQ+ community is significantly vulnerable to drug and alcohol abuse and that goes on to impact quality of life, mental health, and ability to live a fulfilling life at all. Trauma, mental health problems, and lack of support mean that people in the LGBTQ+ community are significantly likely to turn to drugs and alcohol to cope, but good healthcare, mental health support, and treatment will actually improve quality of life.

Will I Fall Behind in College if I Go to Drug Rehab?

Will I Fall Behind in College if I Go to Drug Rehab?

If you’re struggling with drug and alcohol abuse in college, you’re far from alone. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse Monitoring the Future Report (which assess drug and alcohol use in adolescents and young adults, primarily in secondary education) shows that 51% of students use alcohol, 42% use drugs like cannabis, and 7.2% use stimulant drugs like Adderall without a prescription. Millions of Americans use drugs and alcohol to cope with the stress and anxiety of college, heavy workloads, and changing social lives around the pandemic – meaning that a significant amount of college students end up with symptoms of substance use disorder, known as addiction.

The answer to addiction is to go to rehab. But, if you’re facing a busy college schedule, it can be difficult to set aside the time to go to rehab now. Many of us are tempted to go “I’ll finish college and go to rehab later”. But, continued drug abuse actually reduces your chances of graduating, harms your grade, and puts you at risk of physical and mental health disorders. Getting help and as soon as possible is the best option for your health and your future – but will it mean you fall behind in college?

The short answer is, “not necessarily”, but it may. And, that might be okay if it means you graduate as a happier and healthier version of yourself.

Options to Go to Treatment While You Study

Outpatient treatment is a type of rehab where you go to addiction treatment during the week and spend your days at home or in your dorm. Here, you typically have an evening schedule, where you’ll show up to the rehabilitation clinic at 4 or 5 PM and stay until 9 or even 10 PM. You’ll have a daily course of treatment including therapy, group therapy, and counseling. However, you’ll also have the opportunity to continue going to college at the same time.

Outpatient rehab can be a great option because:

It’s as effective as inpatient care if you have a light or mild drug abuse problem
You can study during the day and attend your classes and then go to therapy at night
Outpatient care takes up your social time, so you don’t hang out with people who use or drink

It also has a significant number of disadvantages:

Outpatient care is much less effective because patients are three times less likely to finish treatment, because it’s too easy to drop out.
It reduces time you have to study
You’ll have to split focus between study and your therapy
If you already have a demanding schedule, you could quickly become overwhelmed

In short, outpatient care can give you opportunities to get help with your substance abuse while going to college. As long as you can keep up, you won’t fall behind. But, it’s important to keep in mind that this is a demanding schedule and it may be overwhelming. And, if one of your problems is that the people in your dorm use or drink, you might want to look for a sober living solution as well.

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Timing Your Rehab Visit

Another option is to time your visit to rehab with a college break. For example, winter break, spring break, and summer break each give you several weeks to go to rehab without impeding college.

Winter Break – typically two weeks – so you’ll only need two weeks off from college to go to rehab
Spring Break – Typically you’ll need two weeks off
Summer Break – You can attend a full course of rehab, including a longer-term program lasting up to 90 days, without impeding your college schedule

Here, the question is always, “is it safe to wait that long”. Here, you may want to opt for something like outpatient rehab until the break comes around, and then move into inpatient care.

Aligning rehab with a break may also mean that you’ll have more options to go to rehab with an entirely college-based group. That means finding a group that is roughly your age and with your own experiences, which may benefit your recovery experience. However, this won’t always be available. In addition, you’ll have to call rehab centers to determine if they have treatment programs starting in alignment with your study schedule.

In addition, it’s important to keep in mind that if you need help you need help. Waiting 3 weeks for a break to start may mean you don’t end up going. And, that could have disastrous impacts on your study and your future quality of life. So, trying to protect your study deadlines now won’t always be the best thing for the future.

Taking the College Delay

It’s important to keep in mind that substance use disorders are considered a temporary disability. You’ll be able to get support for a delay – typically in the form of counseling or a student advisor who can help you decide to limit or catch up on your studies. If you take a 30-day break for a standard rehab program, you’ll likely still be able to catch up. That’s especially true if you were still doing well on studies despite your substance use disorder. However, it’s also very likely that the drug addiction is already interfering with your studies anyway, your performance isn’t as good as it could be, and you might have to study to catch up anyway.

Here, most colleges offer support programs to help you manage substance use disorders and other mental health disorders. You’ll be able to discuss your circumstances, your performance, and your goals with a counselor and then make a study plan with them. That may mean delaying graduation by a year so you have time to get treatment, recover, and fully dedicate yourself to study. It may also mean taking on counseling or tutoring to catch up and avoid having a delay. However, that advice will entirely depend on you, your mental health, and your current performance at your college.

In every case, the most important step is that you get into treatment. Substance use disorders damage your mental health, impede your ability to graduate at all, create risks of physical health problems and conditions, and greatly impact your quality of life. Getting treatment and getting back in control should be your first goal – so you can get back on track with your studies and your life.

f you or your loved-one struggles from alcoholism or other substance abuse please contact us today and speak with one of our experienced and professional intake advisors about our detox, partial hospitalization, and residential treatment programs. 10 Acre Ranch also has specialty tracks like our pet friendly drug rehab and couples substance abuse treatment programs. We’re here to help you recover.

How to Go to Rehab and Keep Your Job

How to Go to Rehab and Keep Your Job

Struggling with drugs or alcohol can ruin your life. For most of us, the only way to stop the cycle of relying on substances is to take a break and go to rehab. And, while some 42.3 million Americans qualify as having a substance use disorder, only about 11% of those ever seek out rehab. Here, barriers like careers, family care, stigma, and funding clinical care can call get in the way. That’s especially true if you’re a professional with a reputation to uphold, where you might feel that calling in sick for a month to deal with a substance use disorder will get you fired.

Fortunately, the United States has a lot of law in place to protect you when you do seek out rehab. In addition, you’ll have the option to attend rehab without quitting work – which means you’ll never have to take time off. The following article reviews your options, and which might be a best-fit for your circumstances.

Consider Your Options

Most people think of rehab and immediately consider an inpatient clinic, where you stay for 30+ days to receive round-the-clock care. That’s one way to get treatment. However, you can also opt for outpatient care.

Inpatient Care – 30+ days at a rehab clinic, typically out of state where you’ll have privacy. Costs are high and only about 15-20% is covered by most insurance programs. However, you get one-on-one care, a break from stress and triggers, and the ability to fully focus on recovery. This option is often recommended for people with severe addictions.

Intensive Outpatient Care – Intensive Outpatient Care or IOP allows you to attend rehab for a few hours a day, after work, so you can continue going to work for the duration. This option allows you to avoid asking for time off, so you don’t have to tell your boss anything. In addition, outpatient care can be as effective as inpatient care – providing you stick to it and attend throughout the whole program. IOP also means you’ll stay in the same environment as before – which means that if you frequently drink or use at work, it may not be the best option for you. However, you can pair outpatient treatment with staying in a sober home for maximum support and a change of lifestyle, without having a gap in work.

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You’re Legally Protected

While you might not want to take a 30-day break from work, you are legally protected. Sick leave, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) all mean you are protected in case you seek out medical care for rehab. The ACA classifies substance use disorders as a temporary disability – firing you because of one is against the law. Of course, if you’ve explicitly signed away those rights or your employer catches you using on the job, that’s another story. The FMLA also allows you to take up to 12 weeks of free time for an undisclosed medical reason – with nothing more than a doctor’s note that doesn’t have to say what you’re taking the time off for.

Coincidentally, if your employer has over 50 employees, they’re also legally obligated to offer assistance and insurance covering rehab. This means you can go to HR, discuss your problems with substance abuse, and have them help you move into a program. You might not want to do so, as it may impact your reputation or your long-term standing in the company because stigma does still exist, but you do have the right.

In addition, Obamacare and FMLA both allow you to apply for short-term disability through your employer. You’ll have to request medical leave, sit through decisions, and possibly fight them. However, you don’t have to reveal why you’re requesting leave or temporary disability. It’s up to your medical professionals to determine if you need it, not your employer.

Keep in Mind that Disclosure Isn’t Required

If you’re afraid you’ll lose your job or reputation at your job for going to rehab, you don’t have to disclose. You never have to tell your employer why you’re taking sick or medical leave of any kind. In addition, if you’re going to rehab in the weekends or at night, you can keep this to yourself. You never have to tell your employer what goes on in your personal life. In fact, if they ask, you can report them to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Of course, your employer may be able to help. Many offer assistance with rehab, can offer ongoing rehabilitation programs, can offer financial assistance, etc.

However, whether or not you disclose is up to you and the amount of privacy you need.

In Summary

If you’re struggling with drugs and alcohol, getting help is the best thing you can do for your future – with or without your job. But there’s no reason why you can’t go to rehab and keep your job.

What if I Can’t Take Time Off Work?

You definitely can take time off work. You’re legally protected by FMLA, which allows you up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off. If you stack that with sick days, you can likely limit that to about 3 weeks of unpaid time off. Your employer isn’t legally allowed to fire you for doing so.

What if I Can’t Afford Unpaid Time Off Work?

You can always take the route of going to an intensive outpatient rehab center. This allows you to go to work during the day and attend rehab at night or during the weekends. These programs are typically 3-6 hours per day – so your life will be busy. However, you will get the care you need without taking unpaid time off work. And, if you mix IOP with a sober living home, you can get most of the benefits of inpatient care without taking off work. Alternatively, you could apply for FMLA and temporary disability to ensure you receive some money to make up for the missed paychecks. However, this process can be quite lengthy.

If you or a loved one is struggling, there are always options. Whether that’s taking the hit and taking unpaid time off work or committing to a busy month and going to therapy while you work, you can mix rehab and your job. Most importantly, your employer isn’t allowed to fire you for getting treatment for a substance use disorder, even if you disclose that disorder to them.