Category: Addiction Education

What are Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders?

What are Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders?

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders or FASDs are a group of conditions that occur in people who were exposed to alcohol before birth. Typically, that happens when a pregnant person drinks. It can result in physical development disorders, learning development disorders, and behavioral disorders, and often a mix of all three. All of these disorders are also lifelong, including physical development, coordination, learning ability, problems with hearing and sight, and much more.

Today, almost 1 in 1,000 children in the United States are born with some level of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. In children 7-9 years old, it’s prevalent in 1 in 3,000. And, in all children of a school age in the United States, it’s 6-9 out of every 1,000 children, depending on region, location, and poverty levels.

What Causes Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder?

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is caused by exposure to alcohol before birth. This normally means the mother drinks during the pregnancy. In addition, higher rates of alcohol consumption lead to higher risks of FASDs or to worsening symptoms. At the same time, some 13.5% of pregnant adults in the United States report current drinking. Some 5.2% reported binge drinking during the last 30 days. This means that 52 in 1000 children are at high risk of developing FASDs because of exposure to alcohol before birth and 135 in 1,000 are at risk.

Alcohol use required to result in an FASD diagnosis is also lower than many people would think. For example, having consumed 16 beers over the course of 30 days during a pregnancy or more than 2 alcoholic beverages in a single sitting is enough to meet qualifications for FASD during diagnosis after birth.

Signs and Symptoms of FASDs

Diagnosing a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder can be extremely difficult. There’s no blood test or conclusive way to say that a baby has been born with FASDs. However, there are some physical symptoms that can be extremely obvious in strong cases. In addition, many of the symptoms overlap with other disorders, which can make it difficult to give a conclusive diagnosis.

However, symptoms include:

Central nervous symptom problems
Small head size
Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip
Lower than average height
Lower than average weight
Prenatal alcohol exposure
Poor coordination
Hyperactivity
Poor memory
Difficulty in school
Learning disabilities
Speech or language delays
Intellectual disabilities
Poor reasoning
Sleeping problems
Sucking problems
Organ problems
Bone problems

Unfortunately, many of these symptoms can overlap with ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and physical disorders like William’s Syndrome. Therefore, it can be difficult to conclusively say that your child has FASD, although your doctor may give this diagnosis even without proof of consuming alcohol while pregnant.

All of these symptoms are lifelong. Adults will need special care and attention for the rest of their lives.

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Diagnosing FASD

FASD is typically diagnosed before the age of 6. It’s rarely diagnosed as an infant. However, if an infant shows extreme physical deformities, they may be diagnosed very early. Later in life, FASD is typically diagnosed into one of four categories, with many children receiving all multiple diagnoses:

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome – This diagnoses means that the individual has a mix of all problems. This includes mild facial feature distortions, mild growth problems, and mild central nervous system problems (poor coordination and motor controls). They can have problems with learning, memory, attention span, vision, hearing, and behavior. Often this results in difficulty socializing and means having a hard time in school and learning and later with work.
Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders – Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders mean that the individual has significant difficulties with learning, especially math. They might have attention with memory, attention, judgement, impulse control, and learning in general. They may also be intellectually disabled.
Alcohol-Related Birth Defects – These include problems with the heart, kidneys, hearing, or with the bones.
Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure – This diagnosis means that the child has problems with thinking and memory, behavior, and day-to-day living. This can result in problems like difficulty with planning, easily forgetting things, irritability, difficulty shifting attention from one task to another, problems dressing, problems playing with others, and tantrums or mood issues.

If you have an child and you think they’re struggling with development or behavior, it’s important to take them to a doctor. Most states have early intervention programs, where you can raise issues of past alcohol use and alcohol use during pregnancy. However, your doctor will still likely review for other problems such as birth defects, autism, ADHD, and William’s Syndrome before offering a diagnosis.

It’s Never Safe to Drink While Pregnant

There is no safe time to drink while pregnant. In addition, there’s no safe amount to drink. While higher levels of alcohol increase the risk of FASDs in infants, any amount of alcohol can result in symptoms. Therefore, if you are pregnant or could be pregnant and intend to carry the child to term, it is important to stop drinking alcohol. However, even if you’ve been drinking (even heavily) over the first four to six weeks of pregnancy, before realizing you’re pregnant, it’s still important to stop drinking and that can prevent damage.

Studies show that having just two drinks in a single sitting while pregnant can result in lifelong harm for an infant. That happens because alcohol crosses the blood brain barrier in the infant and interferes with development, which can cause significant problems later in life. In addition, with no treatment, only mitigation measures, there is no way to reverse the damage after it’s been done.

Getting Help

If you’re planning or expecting to be pregnant or are already pregnant, it’s critical to stop drinking and immediately. Even if you’ve already been drinking while pregnant, stopping now can prevent or minimize harm done. Today, over 20 million Americans struggle with alcohol abuse and quitting on the spot often isn’t an option. Behavioral disorders mean that relapse is very likely. In addition, most people drink to cope with emotional turbulences, high stress, and mental health problems. Pregnancy is highly likely to exacerbate all of those issues. For that reason, women with alcohol use disorders are recommended to seek out medication assisted treatment for the duration of pregnancy. Medication will reduce cravings and the effects of alcohol, making it easier for you to stay sober to protect the health of your infant. In addition, you should seek out treatment for mental health and emotional support during pregnancy, even if you’re not getting help with alcohol use disorder and learning skills to help you cope with things without alcohol.

Often, having children will make many of the problems behind alcohol use disorder worse. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to seek out treatment, to learn coping strategies, and to get as much help as you can while pregnant. Quitting alcohol can be extremely difficult. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone and there are people to help at every step of the way.

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 alcohol rehab, 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.

The Silent Epidemic: Drug Abuse in the U.S. Prison System

The U.S. prison system, designed to rehabilitate and reintegrate individuals into society, has become a breeding ground for a silent epidemic: drug abuse. While prisons are meant to be institutions of correction, the prevalence of drug abuse among inmates has reached alarming levels, posing significant challenges to the overall goal of rehabilitation.

This article delves into the complex issue of drug abuse within the U.S. prison system, exploring its root causes, consequences, and potential solutions.

Root Causes of Drug Abuse in Prisons

Understanding the root causes of drug abuse in the U.S. prison system is essential for developing effective strategies to combat the issue. Several interconnected factors contribute to the high rates of drug abuse behind bars.

Pre-existing Substance Abuse Issues: Many individuals entering the prison system already struggle with substance abuse issues. The cycle of addiction often leads individuals to criminal behavior, ultimately landing them in prison. Once inside, the stressors of incarceration may exacerbate their pre-existing addiction problems.
Limited Access to Treatment Programs: Prisons are often ill-equipped to address the complex needs of inmates with substance abuse disorders. Limited access to evidence-based treatment programs means that individuals with addiction issues may not receive the support and resources necessary for recovery.
Overcrowded and Understaffed Facilities: Overcrowded prisons and understaffed facilities contribute to an environment where illicit substances can easily enter and circulate. In such conditions, it becomes challenging for prison staff to monitor and control the flow of drugs, allowing them to proliferate within the prison walls.
Lack of Mental Health Services: Substance abuse and mental health issues are often intertwined. Many inmates in the U.S. prison system grapple with underlying mental health conditions, and the lack of adequate mental health services contributes to the prevalence of self-medication through drug abuse.

Consequences of Drug Abuse in Prisons

The consequences of drug abuse within the U.S. prison system extend far beyond the individual inmate, affecting the safety, security, and overall effectiveness of the correctional system.

Violence and Security Risks: Drug abuse within prisons is linked to an increase in violence among inmates. Competition for control of the drug trade can lead to gang-related conflicts, jeopardizing the safety of both inmates and staff. Additionally, the compromised judgment and altered behavior associated with drug use can contribute to an unsafe environment.
Health Risks: Inadequate access to clean needles and supervision exacerbates health risks associated with drug use behind bars. The spread of infectious diseases, such as HIV and Hepatitis C, becomes a significant concern, impacting not only the health of individual inmates but also the public health system upon their release.
Recidivism: Drug abuse hampers the rehabilitative process, increasing the likelihood of recidivism. Individuals struggling with addiction issues are more likely to return to criminal behavior, perpetuating the cycle of incarceration without addressing the underlying causes of their actions.
Strain on Correctional Resources: The prevalence of drug abuse places a strain on already limited correctional resources. Increased incidents of violence, health issues, and the need for disciplinary measures divert resources away from programs aimed at rehabilitation and reintegration.

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Addressing the Issue

To effectively address drug abuse within the U.S. prison system, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. This includes implementing policy changes, enhancing treatment programs, and prioritizing mental health services.

Comprehensive Substance Abuse Treatment Programs: Investing in evidence-based substance abuse treatment programs within prisons is crucial. These programs should be tailored to the specific needs of inmates, offering counseling, behavioral therapies, and access to medication-assisted treatment when appropriate.
Mental Health Services: Recognizing the connection between mental health and substance abuse, prisons should prioritize mental health services. Adequate screening and assessment processes can identify individuals in need of mental health support, facilitating a holistic approach to rehabilitation.
Prison Staff Training: Proper training for prison staff is essential in identifying signs of drug abuse, preventing the entry of illicit substances, and responding effectively to incidents. Staff should also be educated on the underlying causes of addiction to foster a more empathetic and understanding environment.
Preventative Measures: Addressing drug abuse in prisons requires a proactive approach. This includes implementing preventative measures such as random drug testing, increased security measures to restrict contraband, and educational programs to inform inmates about the consequences of drug abuse.
Post-Release Support: The challenges of drug abuse often persist after release. Establishing effective reentry programs that provide ongoing support, including access to treatment and mental health services, can help break the cycle of addiction and incarceration.

Conclusion

Drug abuse within the U.S. prison system is a pervasive issue that demands urgent attention. Recognizing the interconnectedness of substance abuse, mental health, and criminal behavior is crucial for developing effective strategies to address the root causes of the problem. By implementing comprehensive treatment programs, enhancing mental health services, and prioritizing preventative measures, the correctional system can move towards a more rehabilitative and supportive approach. Only through such concerted efforts can the silent epidemic of drug abuse be curbed, fostering an environment where individuals have the opportunity to break free from the cycle of addiction and reintegrate successfully into society.

What Is a Wax Pen Vaping Device?

What Is a Wax Pen Vaping Device?

Everyone has heard of a vape or a vaporizer. But, more and more often, you’ll get terms like “wax pen” or “wax vape”. Wax pens are similar to vaporizers but are designed for vaporizing different substances, usually at higher temperatures.

Otherwise, wax pens are portable vaporizers designed to vaporize cannabis products. They’re also virtually useless for anything but cannabis dabs (crystals) or other crystalized drugs because they’re too hot for any non-processed product. However, they’re fully portable and convenient products for using concentrated drug products without the hassle of a traditional multi-part rig.

If you or a loved one is using or considering one, here’s what you need to know.

What is a Wax Pen?

A wax pen is a handheld vaporizing device consisting of a cartridge, a battery, and a mouthpiece. The system is extremely similar to a standard vaporizer in that the wax pen uses the battery to heat the cartridge, sending the vapor to the mouthpiece, where it can be inhaled.

Most have a small form size, which can be fit into a hand or a pocket. They’re usually a bit bulkier than traditional vapes though. Why? They’re actually a lot warmer. Most vaporizers cap out at about 450 degrees, or about the same maximum heat as a kitchen oven. Fresh cannabis mostly benefits from lower heat.

Wax pens on the other hand typically cap out at about 850F, or about the maximum heat of a soldering iron used to melt metal. That’s because wax pens are used to melt highly processed and crystalized substances.

Are Wax Pens Dangerous?

Is it dangerous to carry something that heats to 850F in your pocket? It can be. However, it doesn’t have to be. Wax pens can be manufactured to high standards of safety, which means having thermal overload, automatic shutdown, and significant insulation. You wouldn’t want to leave one on in your pocket. However, providing you buy one from a licensed manufacturer, most should have a safety switch to prevent this from happening.

Wax pens are also a lot safer than dab rigs. Here, you typically superheat a dab in a glass container or pipe and then inhale it. Glass can overheat and can even explode. In fact, burns, cuts, and burns around the mouth and the lungs are not uncommon with dab rigs. Therefore, in most cases, the wax pen is considered significantly safer than the dab rig or bong.

Of course, bongs can be perfectly safe to use as well. However, they are accident prone and may be dangerous to use.

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What are Dab Pens Used For?

Wax and dab pens are normally used to consume “Dabs”. Dabs are highly concentrated doses of THC which are extracted from a plant, much like hash is. In fact, dabs are made up of THC and butane hash oil. In most cases, growers use the trim (leaves, buds that are too small to sell) from the plant. They then cover it with butane (yes, the same butane used in cigarette lighters). This process is done in a lab with masks, gloves, and protection from the butane and should not be tried at home. The THC dissolves into the butane, producing a sticky, wax-like substance.

That “Dab” can contain 70-90% THC. That’s about triple the potency of the highest possible TCH contents of smoking straight cannabis.

Dab pens can also be used to vaporize other chemically processed drugs. For example, it’s rare to see drugs like meth used in vape pens. However, it’s increasingly common in dab pens, because the higher temperatures make it more effective. Again, this is safer than using a pipe for the same process.

Are Dabs Dangerous?

Dabs can be dangerous for a few reasons. The first is that the amount of THC is extremely high. This means you increase risks of dependence and addiction. You’ll also see increased impacts to mental health in terms of increased anxiety and even psychosis risks from smoking dabs over marijuana. And, because it’s so strong, it’s extremely difficult to keep your usage light or to control your dose at all. In fact, many people smoke too much, get paranoid and anxious, smoke more to calm that down, and exacerbate the cycle.

It’s also true that butane is highly flammable. Vaporizing it theoretically removes all of the harmful vapors meaning you shouldn’t be causing any extreme health risks to yourself by inhaling it. However, it’s dangerous to light and to have around heat – because it could technically ignite. As a result, wax pens can result in fires.

It also goes without saying that many of the other substances you can use a dab pen for are extremely dangerous. Meth, crack cocaine, and other free base versions of drugs are potent, addictive, and often extremely dangerous to uses. That’s unrelated to using a wax pen, and the wax pen will actually make using them safer than using a traditional glass pipe.

What Should You Know?

If you or a loved one is using a wax pen for dabs or for anything else, there are pros and cons. On the one hand, if you have to use something at the potency of dabs, it’s probably a bad sign for your mental health and your drug use. You might want to consider cutting back and trying to ensure your use falls within healthy parameters. If you can’t, it may be important to look into getting professional help to do so. Substance use disorders are a normal result of exposure to drugs. In fact, cannabis use disorder occurs in about 30% of “heavy” users. You also can’t use dabs without qualifying as a heavy user, which means you’re more at risk.

On the other hand, wax pens are a lot safer than glass bongs and pipes. If you’re using anyway, a wax pen produced by a licensed manufacturer may decrease risks of fires, burns, and glass cuts. So, if you’re going to keep using, a wax pen is a great way to minimize the physical safety risks of doing so. However, it’s important to ensure that you understand the safety precautions for the wax pen, to use the safety off, and to use the pen in a responsible manner. Unfortunately, using drugs decreases your ability to do so, which means your wax pen will likely never be completely safe. However, it’s still better than superheating glass.

If you’re using hard drugs or high concentration drugs and extracts, you might want to look into getting help. Drugs impact your mental health, decrease mental stability, increase risks of anxiety and paranoia, and increase risks of psychosis. That’s true for regular cannabis without looking at high-purity drugs like dabs. This means that dabbing or using a wax pen for dab or shatter greatly increases your risks. If you’re having trouble or even aren’t sure, talk to your doctor to get advice and to figure out how you’re doing. If you need help, it is there.

Benzo Flu: Benzodiazepine Detox and Withdrawal

Today, benzodiazepines are one of the most misused prescription drugs on the market. In fact, in 2021, an estimated 3.9 million people misused prescription benzodiazepines, whether for recreational or self-medication use. Benzos are challenging for users because they are highly addictive in that they are both dependence inducing and in that they result in significant withdrawal symptoms. Someone who starts using may be forced to keep using until a point when they can afford taking up to five weeks off to be sick – and that can be extremely difficult for many.

Benzodiazepines are mostly used under close supervision with medical doctors with Risk Evaluation and Mitigation programs in place. However, if you’ve been using before those measures were put in place, slipped through the cracks, or started using recreationally, you could easily be dealing with a significant drug dependence. Quitting benzos means withdrawing from them and doing so means seeking out medical care so you can do so safely. Benzo flu is the term used to refer to withdrawal – which can be two or more weeks of significant medical side effects.

What is Benzo Flu?

Benzo flu is the street term used to refer to the withdrawal period for benzodiazepines. Benzos significantly impact large areas of the brain and change the chemical and hormonal output of the brain. This means that withdrawing from them can be significant and can be dangerous.

In most cases, benzo flu results in symptoms like:

Heavy sweating
Panic attacks
Anxiety

Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Headaches

Insomnia or sleeplessness
Hallucinations
Psychosis

Irritability
Mood Swings
Shaking and tremors
Seizures

These symptoms typically start out fairly light and increase over the first few days. Most people start shaking and sweating and will feel like they have the flu. You may also have a runny nose and watery eyes. These typically happen as your brain re-adapts to changes in chemicals like neurotransmitters. Here, GABBA, dopamine, and serotonin are the most effected.

Here, withdrawal is often called a “flu” because you basically have to take several weeks off work. You will be too sick to work. And, you may spend the entire time coughing and vomiting, just like with the flu.

What’s the Timeline for Benzo Withdrawal?

In most cases, you can expect benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms to last for about two to five weeks or a bit longer. In some cases, you might also suffer from post-acute withdrawal symptoms, which means that withdrawal may last for up to three months. In each case, it’s important to ensure you have medical monitoring so you can get intervention and treatment if things start to go wrong.

In addition, the severity and longevity of symptoms will depend on what kind of benzos you’re taking, how heavy of a user you are, and how long you’ve been taking them. Your gender, age, body fat, and other factors will also play a role. For example, benzos are stored in body fat, which means that the withdrawal process will take longer if you have more body fat.

In most cases the withdrawal timeline look something like:

Early Withdrawal – Early withdrawal starts within about 12 hours of your last dose but as early as 6. You’ll typically start craving more of the drug. That will evolve into anxiety which will continue to escalate over the course of the day. If you normally take benzos to treat panic attacks, the lack of benzos could also trigger panic or anxiety attacks. Most people also can’t sleep.
Peak – Symptoms escalate over the first 1-5 days. This will mean that every day, symptoms are worse than the day before. This stage can last for up to 14 days if you have long-acting benzos. Here, you’ll develop extra symptoms like sweating, anxiety, panic, nausea, vomiting, general malaise, and headaches. You’ll also be at risk of hallucinations and paranoia. Most people also tremble, and you may have seizures. However, if you do, it is important to contact your doctor immediately.
Plateau – Symptoms will stop escalating and will be about the same for about 2-5 days or for up to 3 weeks for long-acting benzos. During this stage, the symptoms will remain about the same and won’t continue to escalate. Therefore, if you’re suffering from severe withdrawal effects, you may need medical treatment so that it stays safe.
Recovery – Withdrawal symptoms will start to taper off and will take 5-15 days to go away for short-acting benzos and up to 4 weeks for long-acting ones. Here, the intensity of symptoms gradually declines, and some symptoms may fall away altogether.

This extremely long and intense withdrawal is often why many doctors prefer to use a tapering schedule for benzos. This means you’ll cut your benzo dose in half every week to every few days, reducing the amount of benzos in your system slowly. You’ll still feel bad for the entire time, but you won’t be putting yourself at risk of life-threatening seizures. However, if you’re struggling with addiction and seeking behavior or self-control around benzos, this approach may not work for you.

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Risk of Seizures

Anyone who withdraws from benzodiazepines is at significant risk of seizures. Benzos interact with the GABBA receptors in the brain, which results in seizures during withdrawal in every substance known to interact with GABBA. (E.g., alcohol). In addition, some 20% of all persons withdrawing from benzodiazepines have a risk of grand mal seizures. These are significant seizures that can threaten your life and your long-term health if left untreated. For this reason, it’s extremely important that you either take a medically monitored tapering program to reduce benzo usage or that you receive anti-seizure and convulsant medication and detox under medical monitoring. Benzo withdrawal can have life threatening complications.

What is Benzodiazepine Detox?

Detox means getting medical monitoring and support during your withdrawal. Depending on your situation, you are also significantly likely to be recommended into a tapering schedule first. However, if your doctor doesn’t think you can safely manage a tapering schedule, you’ll likely be recommended into a clinic for treatment and detox instead.

Tapering – You might be asked to switch to a lighter benzodiazepine. You might also be asked to cut your dose down over about 10 weeks first. This will reduce the danger involved with detox. However, if you’re struggling with addiction, tapering programs rarely work.

Medical Monitoring – Your detox should include medical monitoring to ensure nothing goes wrong. That means checking in on your health, responding in case of alarming side effects, and giving you the medication and treatment you need to withdraw safely. Often that will mean reducing the intensity of symptoms. However, it may also mean simply responding in case of seizures or to prevent seizures.

Behavioral Health Treatment – Many detox programs integrate early behavioral health interventions to ensure you have the tools to stay off of benzos once you get clean. Of course, you’ll still need follow-up treatment for addiction and drug dependency. However, early-stage behavioral health interventions can help you to withdraw in a more comfortable fashion because you’ll have support, motivation, and help at every step.

Getting Help

If you or a loved one is struggling with benzodiazepines, it’s important to get help. That should normally start out with a visit to your primary healthcare provider – where you can talk about your usage, get input on tapering, and get a referral to a detox program and treatment program. Having medical monitoring during your benzodiazepine withdrawal can be lifesaving, so it is important that you check into a detox center to ensure you have the care you need.

Good luck getting off of benzodiazepines.

How Can I Tell if I’m Taking Fake Opioids?

If you’re taking pain pills recreationally, chances are, you have to source them from somewhere other than a pharmacy. That leads to increasing risks of the drug you think you’re taking not being present at all. Instead, today’s street drugs include counterfeit pills containing everything from stronger opioids like fentanyl to methamphetamine to benzodiazepines and even veterinary medications.

If you buy prescription pills on the street, it’s very likely to be some kind of opioid. The bad news is that fake prescription pills are also very likely to include extremely dangerous drugs like fentanyl. In fact, one DEA report showed that 6 out of 10 fake prescription pills they seized actually contained a potentially lethal (over)dose of fentanyl – an opioid that’s up to 100 times stronger than morphine.

How Common are Fake Opioids?

In 2021, the DEA seized some 20.4 million fake opioid pain pills. These drugs can often look extremely similar to the drugs they’re knocking off. And, with labels like Percocet, OxyContin, etc., it can be difficult to tell that you’re not taking the real thing.

With recent crackdowns on opioid prescriptions, it’s likely that fake opioids are more common than the real thing. This means that unless you get your pills from a pharmacy or someone you trust who go them from a pharmacy, you can’t be sure that your pain pills are genuine.

How Dangerous are Fake Pills?

According to the CDC, over 4.7% of deaths caused by overdose in 2021 were proven cases of fake opioids. In some states, that rate is as high as 15%. Those fake prescription pills included OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, Xanax, and Adderall, so not all of them were sold as opioids. However, almost all of them included fentanyl.

That translates to a devastatingly large number of overdose deaths. In 2021, 106,000 Americans died from an overdose, meaning almost 5,000 people are proven to have died after taking fake opioids and pills. Those numbers are the highest they’ve ever been, which is linked to the rise in synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which are often significantly stronger than any other drug on the market.

In addition, with no dosing or quality control on fake opioids, you have no idea what you’re taking. A Percocet pill is dosed and rigorously checked for quality control. A fake Percocet may contain almost any amount of fentanyl and just one could send you into an overdose. And, according to the DEA, 60% of fake Percocet on the market has the ability to do so – dependent on your tolerance, metabolism, and genetics. That becomes even more dangerous if you’re buying Percocet in doses where you’d normally take more pills, because you have no idea of just one pill is enough to cause an overdose, let alone two or three.

It’s also a risk if you go to the hospital. If you tell hospital staff that you’ve been taking something like Vicodin, you’ll normally receive a single dose of Narcan, the overdose prevention drug. A single dose is enough to reverse an overdose for most pain pills. However, most fentanyl requires up to three doses to reverse the overdose, followed by longer term medical care because the drug lasts longer than the overdose prevention. Most Naloxone products are sold in doses of two, which means that if you’re using on your own, you’ll need two packs of Naloxone per person to use “safely”.

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Checking Your Pills

If you’re taking opioid prescription pain pills without a prescription, it’s important to do so safely. The best and only real safety measure is to take your drugs to a testing lab. Here, you can have your drugs tested to see if the contents are what you think they are, what the dosing is, and if there are any contaminates you should be aware of.

These services are often free or low cost. For example DanceSafe is a nonprofit center offering drug checking strips, so you can check for fentanyl and other contaminates in your home. The organization also has a lab, which you can sometimes use. In addition, DanceSafe sometimes has labs set up at events – which means you can always look for them if you live in an urban area. There are other organizations offering similar services, but DanceSafe is the only nonprofit drug checking company in the United States.

A drug test kit also isn’t a greenlight on your drugs. Instead, these kits look for red flags such as fentanyl or known contaminates. The DanceSafe kit looks for 100 different substances. It means it’s less likely that you’re taking fake opioids. However, you’ll need an actual lab test to see what your drugs actually are and if they are completely safe.

If you can’t order a test kit before you intend to take your pills, you can also try comparing your drugs to something you know is the real thing. That means having a package of the real thing on hand. For example, a friend might have a prescription which you can compare.

This means:

Comparing the packaging and looking for any differences
Looking at pill size and color and seeing if they are the same
Checking the listed dosage amount
Looking for irregularities in pill size, color, or contents
Breaking pills and seeing if they’re the same color inside

Prescription pills are always uniform in size, color, and contents. There are no irregularities from one to the next. Packaging is always sealed and always lists the dosage, the contents, and the brand. If not all of that is present, chances are, you’re taking fake pills.

However, fake opioids can be extremely convincing. It may be difficult to impossible to tell the real thing from the fake without a lab. So comparing your pills to the real thing isn’t a foolproof way of ensuring you’re taking “safe” pills. The only way to ensure you’re not taking fake pills is to have them lab tested or to buy them from a pharmacy.

Getting Help

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, it’s important to get help. That includes if you’re taking pills which you know could endanger you. Knowingly risking your life to get high is not a symptom of mental health or everything being okay. Often, it means you need mental health treatment and therapy – even if you’re not struggling with substance abuse problems or addiction.

Pain pills are popular, affordable, and are often considered safe. As a result, millions of Americans use them recreationally. Unfortunately, that’s becoming more and more dangerous as fake pills become more common. Today, there are millions of fake pain pills seized by the DEA every year. And, some 60% of those contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Often, there’s no easy way to tell fake pills from the real thing. However, you can look for lab testing if you will use those pills anyway. The best option is to stay safe, don’t use pills, and ask for help if you can’t stop using on your own.

What are Harm Reduction Strategies for Drug Abuse?

husband is convincing his wife to get to treatment center

What are Harm Reduction Strategies for Drug Abuse?

If you or a loved one is abusing drugs, you’re not alone. Today, an estimated 24 million Americans have a drug-related substance use disorder. Worse, a 106,000 Americans died in 2021 as a result of drug abuse and drug overdose. Those statistics show that traditional approaches to drug abuse like tough love and cutting people off simply do not work. Instead, they put people in danger, increase substance abuse, and push people into situations where they cannot get out.

Harm reduction strategies for drug abuse take the approach of treating the person as more important than the drug abuse. It means stepping back and accepting that someone is sick and is unable to make good decisions for themselves. And, it means taking steps to reduce the harm of substance abuse as much as possible, so you and your loved ones can be safe.

What Are Harm Reduction Strategies?

The primary goal of a harm reduction strategy for drug abuse is to accept that you can’t get someone to stop using, therefore you want them to use in as safe a manner as possible. This includes an approach for safer use, managed use, meeting people using substances “where they are at” and working to improve the conditions of substance abuse.

This is important because often the conditions of drug abuse are as dangerous as drug use itself. For example:

People cannot get high or use at home so they do so in public, which puts them at risk of injury, assault, and sexual assault.
People cannot access clean or safe needles and so share needles and put themselves and others at risk of transmitting STDs and infections.
People don’t have access to safe resources so find themselves using unsafe substances to get high. For example, cooking heroin for injection with water from a mud puddle. Or using unsafe drugs.
People don’t have the ability to easily tell if their drugs are safe or if they’ve been cut with a potentially harmful substance. This means they put themselves at risk of overdose every time they get high but often don’t have the self-control to not get high.
People struggle with substance use disorders and so cannot simply “quit” and when pushed into going cold turkey, often relapse and increase their risk of overdose because their tolerance has dropped.
People don’t have access to information about how to safely use drugs and so can significantly harm themselves while trying to self-inject, to use pipes, or to get high.

All of this means that people using are in danger from significantly more than “just” drug abuse. Harm reduction strategies work to reduce the harm implicit in drug abuse and in those factors surrounding drug abuse. That gives you or your loved on the chance to get better by ensuring that you can have as safe and as trauma-free of an experience as possible.

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Harm Reduction Strategies You Can Adopt

Harm reducing strategies mean taking steps to reduce the harm inherent in substance abuse. Some common steps include:

Acceptance – Illicit drug use is going to happen. Drug use is a complex phenomenon, and it can stem from a lot of factors like trauma, stress, genetic vulnerabilities, or simply a desire to use and get high. If someone is using and doesn’t want to get better, it’s important to accept that they are using and they are going to use. No amount of being upset, angry, or attempting intervention is likely to change that until they are ready to quit. This means accepting that drug use isn’t going away. Instead, you do care about that person, and you want them to use in as safe and as healthy a way as possible. That also means understanding that qualify of life, continuity of life, and individual happiness are more important than “quitting” drug use.

Providing Help – People who are struggling with substance abuse often need help to use safely. That means taking steps to ensure they have the means to do so. Often, it also means deliberately going out of your way to provide safe access to drugs, drug use, and preventive care. For many people, this step can feel like “Enabling” but as part of harm reduction, you’re accepting that drug use will happen and are taking the steps to make it as safe as possible. That can look like:

Keeping Narcan or Naloxone (at least 3 doses) on your person at all times.
Designating a room of your home for someone to use safely
Finding local supervised injection/consumption sites and driving your loved one there when they want to use
Ensuring access to safe and clean syringes
Finding safe-drug use information relevant to the drug(s) you or your loved one are using and following those
Finding drug test centers and paying for drug tests. Or, getting drug safety test kits like DanceSafe or equivalent kits
Focusing on safe usage with emphasis on sourcing quality drugs and using in a safe manner over not using at all
Intervening for safety reasons or not at all

Education – Harm reduction strategies always include education and learning, which may mean helping you or your loved one learn to cope with the real problems behind substance abuse. It can also mean working on strategies to improve quality of life, improve mental health, and improve other things that may contribute to drug abuse. In addition, it means learning how drug abuse and use disorders actually work, how they impact everyone involved, and how to cope with them in a healthy manner. Harm reduction strategies never work to minimize or ignore that illicit drug use can be extremely harmful, it just means accepting that it happens and you can’t prevent it happening, so you want it to happen in as safe of a way as possible.

For many people, taking harm reduction approaches to drug abuse means a considerable shift in mindset. For example, many of us are raised to see substance abuse as a personal failing or as someone choosing to do wrong. Learning how to use safely, how to reduce harm when using, and how to provide safe spaces to use means accepting that use will happen, meeting the user where they are, and taking a core step of saying “you and your health are more important than the fact that you use drugs”. You may have to overcome a lot of biases to actually reach that step. However, it will ensure that your loved one can move through addiction as safely as possible, so they have the chance to recover and to heal.