AllTreatment Articles

Meth in Small-Town Oregon

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:46:55 +0000

Cooking in the Dark: Meth in Small-Town Oregon

In a gigantic drug sweep on Wednesday, May 15th, over 300 law enforcement agents scattered throughout Oregon's Klamath County. The town of Klamath Falls was the location of one of the largest drug busts in Oregon’s history, highlighting a deadly problem that the state has been combatting since the drug was introduced decades ago.

Operation Trojan Horse

Over 30 people were arrested, 4 pounds of meth discovered, 25 guns confiscated, and several children sent to Social Services in a massive drug bust officials have nicknamed “Operation Trojan Horse." 23 homes and businesses in Klamath Falls, Chiloquin, Bonanza, and Malin were searched along with 22 vehicles. The Oregon Attorney General divulged that the Klamath County Sheriff's Office had to open a vacant wing of the jail to accommodate all of the arrests.

The investigation that led to the drug bust began after a double homicide in October of 2012, when two presumed drug traffickers from California were found shot and buried on a ranch located on the outskirts of Bonanza, Ore. From this investigation, agents built evidence of ties linking Mexican drug cartels with a Klamath County meth ring. The Justice Department released the following statement: "The cartels have successfully made inroads into Oregon, particularly into some rural parts of the state.”

“Meth is rampant in the county here,” explains Klamath County D.A. Rob Patridge. “Really, it’s an epidemic in rural Oregon. … We’re not going to stand idly by and let drug dealers take over Klamath County.”

How Meth is Made

Most understand the dangers of methamphetamine: it’s addictive, it can ruin lives. What some people may not know is that even its production is dangerous and sometimes lethal. The stimulant is typically produced in home-based labs, garages, outdoor tents, and even cars. Some states, such as Oregon, and the federal government have taken preventative measures by regulating the availability of the ingredients that are used to make the drug. Namely, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are the ingredients under tightest lock and key. Most of the other ingredients can be found at home improvement stores or in the cleaning aisle at the grocery store.

The process of making meth usually takes around two days to complete. The suspects who were uncovered by Operation Trojan Horse likely used this typical meth “recipe”:

The pure form of pseudoephedrine, often separated out of cold medicine tablets, is combined with red phosphorous (which is usually gleaned from a box of red matches) and hydriodic acid.
The red phosphorous is then filtered out of the mixture and kept for later use.
The remaining acid is neutralized with a solution containing lye.
A binding substance is then added to the meth and the liquid portion is drained out.
Hydrogen chloride gas is bubbled through the liquid meth in order to make it a crystalline hydrochloride salt (a key ingredient used in most drain cleaners that can also decompose the body).
The mixture is then poured through a filter, and whatever is left on the filter is dried.
Once dried, it is mixed with other filler chemicals in order to maximize the dealer's profits.
The meth is then distributed throughout the streets.

Meth in Oregon

Oregon is one of the states that has been hit especially hard by the meth epidemic. The substance has transcended a specific community and now affects the entire state as a major public health and social problem. According to the 2013 HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) Threat Assessment, meth poses the greatest threat to the public over any other drug.

From 2009 to 2012, meth related arrests rose an alarming 36 percent. The use of this drug has been directly linked to violent crime as well as property crimes. Despite certain indicators pointing to a decline in meth use levels, speed is still largely available and abused throughout Oregon. This substance still reigns as the state’s most dire drug threat.

Since 1980, Oregon state officials have been waging war against this highly addictive and destructive drug. The state was the first to regulate over-the-counter medications in an attempt to thwart the production of meth in home-based labs. State legislation passed measures that made over-the-counter cold medicines such as Claritin D and Sudafed unavailable without a prescription. The ingredient in the aforementioned cold medications that the state is trying so desperately to control is pseudoephedrine -- a key ingredient in meth production. Since the legislation’s passing in 2006, meth lab incidents have dropped by a gigantic 96%, with meth-related arrests reduced by 36%.

The Effects of Meth

Meth is extremely dangerous and highly addictive; all it takes is one use to become dependent. While high on this upper, the user may experience feelings of euphoria, invincibility, and a seemingly endless reserve of energy. The stimulant also causes such characteristic effects of amphetamines as loss of appetite and an increase in focus. While high on the drug, the user’s body temperature and heart rate will skyrocket. A person on meth may exhibit impaired speech, an inability to control their body, insomnia, depression, sexual arousal, and feelings of excitement.

Coming down from meth will usually drive the addict to use more of the substance in an effort to avoid the symptoms. Some common characteristics of the comedown are exhaustion and depression, with the user being able to sleep for an abnormally long period of time. If the user takes more of the drug to avoid the come down, they could be awake for days, leading to violent and erratic behavior.

Prolonged meth use can lead to alarming physical effects. Meth mouth is a common ailment amongst people who’ve abused the drug for an extended period of time. One of the instant effects of meth is a cessation of saliva flow, which is especially dangerous because saliva protects your teeth and gums. Often, meth addicts will neglect their oral hygiene, which can lead to dental problems as well. While on the substance, users will grind their teeth, which damages the structure and ultimately cracks the tooth. There are numerous reports from addicts of chewing food only to find one of their teeth crumbling, or falling out entirely.

If meth mouth doesn’t sound scary enough, another jarring deterrent is what it can do to the body and face. Meth causes blood vessels to constrict, which in turn inhibits blood flow throughout the body. Prolonged usage can permanently destroy the blood vessels, thus increasing the risk of tissue damage. Since the drug also prevents the body from restoring itself, the risk of infection is high. Acne will appear or worsen and facial sores will take an extremely long time to heal, usually leaving scars. There can be sores all over the person’s body due to obsessive skin picking, which is brought on by “crank bugs,” also known as formication: a hallucination of having bugs crawling on and under the skin. People have been known to slice their skin open while on meth in an effort to get these “bugs” out from under their skin.

Faces of Meth

In 2004, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office started the Faces of Meth project in order to show the community, especially children and young adults, the truth about methamphetamine. Deputy Bret King started this project by examining those who had been in jail for meth more than once, and comparing their earliest mugshot with their most current. The comparisons created a realistic portrayal of how meth can destroy someone’s image, and subsequently their life, so quickly. The first part of the project was published in The Oregonian in an attempt to prevent further Meth use in already drug-rampant community.

Help is Always Available

An addiction to meth doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Help is out there for anyone who might need it. In Oregon state, there are publicly funded treatment centers that will help at every step, from detoxification to recovery.

The road to recovery won’t be a painless process, but it is well worth it. If you or a loved one are struggling with an addiction to methamphetamine, don’t become a 3 am call to the morgue. Contact a treatment center today.

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Children of Divorce and Addiction

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:33:01 +0000

Children of Divorce and Addiction

Children of divorce are particularly vulnerable to drug and alcohol addiction. This article intends to explore why this may be the case.

Divorce is never easy for children. They often feel guilt, a loss of attention, a need to choose sides, and a tumult of other conflicting emotions. Dealing with this stress, when coupled with the changes in parenting style and communication that typically happen during a divorce, leave children more at risk of drug use, abuse, and addiction that at any other time. Children whose parents are divorced are more than 50 percent more likely to regularly abuse alcohol than children in two-parent homes. Understanding exactly why a child whose parents have divorced is more at risk for addiction is important in recognizing the signs of addiction and seeking help.

Children Resist Change

Children naturally resist change. They are most at risk of deviant behavior, like sexuality or substance abuse, when extreme changes happen at once. It is these extreme changes, that often occur significantly in a divorced household. Children are more likely to move to new school districts. They are shuttled between parents' homes. They see other adult figures in their lives come and go as step-parents or long term significant others enter and exit the picture. Each time one of these life altering events occur, they are placed at risk of deviancy again.

Children Are Master Manipulators

It does not take children of divorced homes long to learn how to play one parent against the other. The parents naturally have to alter their parenting style, because they are no longer living in the same household, making it almost impossible to work together with the child. This makes it easier for the child to engage in risky behaviors, like substance abuse, without getting caught. A single parent has half as many eyes as a parenting team, and children who begin down the wrong road can hide it longer in a single-parent home.

Children Act Out Their Hurts

Children act out physically when they are hurt emotionally. Roughly 25 percent of all children who suffer parents' divorce will struggle with finding an appropriate coping mechanism. These children act out their fear, hurt, and anger in self-destructive ways, often using sexuality, drug abuse, and alcohol to mask their depression.

Children Should Be Children

The younger children experiment with drugs or alcohol, the more likely they will suffer addiction during the adolescent years. 54 percent of fifth and sixth graders, whose parents are divorced, have experimented with alcohol. This is nearly twice the risk of alcohol experimentation found in fifth and sixth graders in two parent settings.

When a parent suspects that their child is struggling to cope with a recent divorce, or is experimenting with drug use, they should seek medical care immediately. The sooner a child gets help facing their addiction, the sooner they can heal and move forward. Failure to get them help, however, will lead to a lifetime of substance abuse, and broken promises.

If you’d like a first-person account from a child of addicted parents, check out our interview with Amy Eden. If you or a loved one is facing addiction, click here to browse local rehabilitation facilities and break the cycle of addiction.

References:

Conquering Addiction with Tai Chi

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:01:56 +0000

Conquering Addiction with Tai Chi

Tai Chi is more than just a series of poses; it is done with the intent of reaching your own individual spirituality. For those who are currently suffering from addiction to drugs and alcohol, this may be the first step in reaching recovery.

Addiction is something that must be dealt with both physically and mentally in order for the individual to recover. While there are a variety of treatment programs that treat the physical symptoms of addiction through detoxification procedures and medically monitoring, many times recovery is fleeting, due to the fact that the individual is not completely in balance. Tai Chi is an excellent addition to any recovery program, as it helps the individual stay in the present moment while getting in touch with their spirituality. It is this process of connecting with a spiritual element is very important to the process of healing from addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Tai Chi Basics

Tai Chi improves the health of the body as well as the emotional well being. The practice itself consists of flowing movements that form various poses, all while keeping a calm and fluid motion. Meditation takes place during the flow of activity as well, which is what makes Tai Chi perfect for individuals that are in recovery. During their practice, they can connect with their higher power while at the same time quietly meditating on anything that comes to mind.

This type of free flow meditation works well to help people feel grounded and centered. Continued practice of meditation can relieve anxiety as well as cravings, and since people in recovery tend to need something that they can depend on on a daily basis, Tai Chi is a positive activity that can replace their past addictive patterns. Additionally, the practice of Tai Chi also stimulates the lymph and circulatory systems, which naturally speeds up the body's healing process and helps to eliminate toxins from the body, aiding the individual in a natural form of detoxification.

Recovery Programs That Implement Tai Chi

There are a variety of inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities that use Tai Chi practice as a part of their recovery program, as well as take a more holistic approach with their treatment methods. The first step of the program usually consists of a ten-day detoxification process where the patient naturally detoxifies under the supervision of a trained professional.

When the detoxification process is complete, the patient will move into the next phase of treatment, which is emotional recovery. Daily meditation, Tai Chi, and spiritual counseling will take place during this phase, so the patient can get to the bottom of their addiction and work their way through the process in a natural way. Holistic treatment programs focus on the whole person, and amazing recoveries can take place this way.

Take The First Step

If you are someone that is dealing with a drug or alcohol addiction, and you have tried standard treatment programs only to find yourself in a vicious cycle of relapse, a holistic program may be just what you need. By focusing on your healing in a natural way and by participating in daily yoga and Tai Chi practices, you will learn how to truly treat your body like a temple and respect yourself on a whole new level.

Alcoholism and Disability: Oregon Policeman's Firing Raises Questions

Mon, 13 May 2013 22:17:43 +0000

Alcoholism and Disability: Oregon Policeman's Firing Raises Questions

The $6 million lawsuit of former Gresham officer Jason Servo calls to light inadequate funding for addiction treatment in Oregon, as well as current problematic methods of addressing alcoholism.

“There were times where I went home and I couldn’t get crime scenes out of my head; I went to drinking for that and there are other officers that do the same thing.” - Jason Servo

In January 2011, officer Jason Servo was arrested after his unmarked police vehicle drove into a ditch in Clackamas County. The arresting officer testified before the state Department of Public Safety Standards and Training that in his 15 year history of drunk driving investigations, Servo was one of the top 10 most intoxicated people he has ever arrested.

Alcoholism Under the Americans With Disabilities Act

Servo is now suing the city of Gresham for $6 million claiming that his subsequent dismissal from the Gresham police force violated his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The lawsuit alleged that Servo was suffering from alcoholism, a recognized disability under the act, and should not have been fired.

Two months after the accident, the officer pleaded guilty and entered a diversion program. Upon fulfilling the program’s requirements, Servo’s DUI was dismissed. He then entered an inpatient program for drug and alcohol treatment where he was diagnosed as an alcoholic.

Debate Over Servo's Claims

The lawsuit claims that in order to save money, the chief dismissed Servo to avoid paying for his treatment. “Just as with any type of disability or disease, they should have made some kind of effort to accommodate that, or some kind of effort to work with him, and not simply sever all ties,” said Shawn Kollie, one of Servo’s attorneys.

Servo, a detective who was the department’s lead firearms instructor, had taken the police vehicle to a firearms training session in the nearby city of Troutdale. Later, he met up with fellow officers for dinner and drinks, a common practice among Gresham officers according to the lawsuit filed April 25, 2013.

“There were times where I went home and I couldn’t get crime scenes out of my head; I went to drinking for that and there are other officers that do the same thing,” Servo said at his attorney office in Portland in late April.

The case is currently ongoing, though there is some debate about the legitimacy of Servo’s claims as well as the legal rights of his employers, the fact that Servo was off duty during the time of his arrest being a major factor.

The State of Alcohol in Oregon

Though the Servo lawsuit raises some disconcerting questions, his case is not out of the ordinary for Multnomah County, where Gresham and Portland, Oregon’s flagship city, are located. According to a 12 year study by the Oregon Health Authority, 44% of all motor vehicle fatalities in Multnomah County were alcohol-related, beating the state’s average of 37.5%. Multnomah County also surpasses the state average of alcohol induced diseases (e.g. degeneration of the nervous system, cardiomyopathy, liver disease, chronic hepatitis) by an average ratio of 15.5 per 100,000 of the population versus the state’s average ratio of 13. Furthermore, reports from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health show that more than 39,000 people have abused or become dependent on alcohol with in the past year.

On the plus side, data reveals that teen drinking and binge drinking has been in consistent decline since 2008 (the only exception being binge drinking among 11th graders). Surveys show that the average age of initial alcohol use is 10.7, which is right on par with the state average of 10.8 years old. Despite the good strides that are being made to rectify these numbers, Oregonian 8th graders still drink significantly more than the national average: 22.5% versus 14%, respectively.

Oregon currently ranks 20th in the nation for alcohol consumption with DUI fatalities totaling 569 in the past five years. In that period of time, the state subsidy of drunk driving fatalities has cost a whopping $3.1 billion.

Is Servo an Indicator of a Larger Problem?

Though officer Servo may have a “legitimate” case for his onset of alcohol consumption, that does not excuse the fact that he put lives at risk when getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. His lawsuit raises a hot button issue for the state: addiction treatment funding, or the lack thereof. One of the primary reasons that people do not receive treatment is lack of funding, and for Oregonians in the throes of addiction, that is just one more blow. A recent SAMHSA report ranked Oregon 47th in the nation for Substance abuse treatment, leaving many of the 237,000 alcoholics looking for treatment in Oregon without support. Reasons for this dismal statistic are numerous, but Servo has shown Oregon one important warning: get the people help, or risk affecting the whole population.

LGBT Addiction Resources in Seattle

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:49:44 +0000

LGBT Addiction Resources in Seattle

Even in progressive, LGBT-friendly cities such as Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and New York, sexual minorities face unique and harrowing challenges. The stress that comes from stigma and discrimination causes gay, lesbian, and transgender people to be two to three times more prone to substance abuse than their heterosexual counterparts.

In March, 2012, the Center for American Progress—a leading public policy research organization—published a report which found disproportionately high rates of substance abuse among gay and transgender people. Synthesizing data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and other scientific studies, the organization claims that an estimated 20-30% of gay and transgender Americans have abused substances, compared to 9% of the general public—a significant detriment to the health of the LGBT community.

Tobacco

Gay and transgender people smoke tobacco up to 200% more than their heterosexual and nontransgender peers.

Alcohol

25% of gay and transgender people abuse alcohol, compared to 5 to 10% of the general population.

Drugs

Men who have sex with men are 3.5x more likely to use marijuana than men who do not have sex with men.
These men also are 12.2x more likely to use amphetamines than men who do not have sex with men.
They are also 9.5x more likely to use heroin than men who do not have sex with men.

Why are these rates so high? Ken Shulman, the Executive Director at Seattle’s Lambert House, describes why LGBT individuals are more likely to succumb to substance abuse:

The stress of living on the street, possibly engaging in survival sex in order to have a burger and a bed for a night, watching his or her school career go down the tubes, knowing that their college expectations are now impossible, and having no adults at all that they can talk with, makes the use of alcohol or other drugs appealing as an escape and coping mechanism for the extreme emotional pain they feel due to being rejected by the ones they love the most and cut off from every human support known to them.

All too often, when these individuals go to addiction treatment services, they face the same isolation and social stigmas as well as other stigmas surrounding intravenous drugs, relapse, etc. Despite recent waves of support for marriage equality and historically gay-friendly neighborhoods in certain U.S. cities, the overall well-being of the LGBT community is rarely addressed. From the Center for American Progress report:

A lack of culturally competent health care services fuels substance-use rates among gay and transgender people. Gay and lesbian adults are twice less likely than other Americans to have health insurance, since most workplaces still don't provide insurance benefits to same-sex couples. Our health care system needs to better meet the needs of gay and transgender people, and our government needs to advance public policies that promote equality for this population.

A recent study reached out to 854 addiction treatment services in America: only 62 (7.3%) of those agencies indicated specialized LGBT programming (almost half were in New York and California), and only 79 (9.3%) of the programs described themselves as “non-discriminating.”

Aleks Martin, a Chemical Dependency Counselor at Seattle Counseling Service, explains why LGBTQ people need specialized treatment:

The coming out process can be instrumental in one’s addiction – say, a young queer person may come out to his or her family, but be rejected and end up homeless. The coming out process is a foreign subject to “heterosexual” treatment. Some people refer to their substance use rooting from shame and guilt of being LGBTQ – the only means to feel acceptance and understanding is to drink and/or get high. It numbs the pain of rejection; it allows the person not to feel how different they are from a socially-constructed viewpoint that being other-than-straight is not normal.

It is critical that LGBTQ clients feel welcomed and that the facility honors safe space for all. It is important for the LGBTQ client to feel honored as an individual and respected as a human being despite his or her addiction issues. When LGBTQ clients withhold information because of fear or shame, that person does not have the opportunity to be authentic, and that can gravely impact their recovery. Much like language is a barrier for non-English speaking populations where an interpreter would be essential, LGBTQ populations speak a cultural ‘language’ unique to the LGBTQ community.

Luckily for LGBT people in Seattle—especially on Capitol Hill—a range of specialized services exist to help recover from drug abuse, addiction, and other mental health concerns.

LGBT Addiction Resources in Seattle:

Seattle Counseling Service is a community resource that advocates, educates, and serves to advance the social well-being and mental health of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transexual communities.
Project NEON (Needle Exchange and Sex Education Outreach Network) is a harm-reduction program for gay and bisexual male users of crystal methamphetamine. Their aim is to raise awareness about the links between crystal use and HIV, hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, and other health concerns.
It Gets Better is an empowerment project for LGBT youth focusing on inspiring change, advocating LGBT rights, and preventing bullying, depression, and suicide.
Lambert House is a youth center for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning individuals that empowers youth through the development of leadership, social, and life skills.
ISIS House is a transitional housing program for LGBTQ homeless youth. Founded in 1998, it is one of the only LGBT-specific homeless youth programs in the Pacific Northwest.
Out for Sustainability is the first nonprofit in the world to connect sexual orientation with sustainability values. Their volunteer-based network engages, mobilizes, and educates the LGBTQ community to advance social and environmental sustainability.
The Northwest Network of Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse works to end violence and abuse by building loving and equitable relationships in our community and across the country.
The Ingersoll Center is a mutual support and education organization for transgender, gender variant, and genderqueer people, as well as the people who support them.

Photo sources: (1) (2)

Suffering in Silence: Male Eating Disorders

Mon, 06 May 2013 19:01:06 +0000

Suffering in Silence: Addressing Male Eating Disorders

Today, the shockingly thin model at the end of the fashion runway doesn't pertain only to females. Growing awareness of men suffering from eating disorders sheds new light on what has long been considered a “women’s disease.”

Ignoring a Minority

According to the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, an estimated 10-15% of Americans with eating disorders are men; however, the number is thought to be even higher because many men are ashamed to admit suffering.

In part, this shame stems from the feminized stigma attached to eating disorders, as well as a lack of education regarding the disease. Doctors and family members have difficulty noticing the possible warning signs, making eating disorders harder to prevent and diagnose. Facilities may even turn men down because of their gender, and many men may feel alone or awkward sitting in a group of all women. The lack of therapy groups and treatment centers specifically designed for men, leaves many suffering in silence.

Soaring Death Rates

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. With so many men unlikely to receive treatment, this disease should not be taken lightly. A study by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) reported that without treatment, up to 20% of people with serious eating disorders die. Even with treatment, the number is 2-3%, and only 50% of people report being "cured" of the disease.

Who's At Risk?

These staggering numbers leave researchers attempting to understand risk factors in males developing the disease. Newsweek magazine reported that of 131 Cornell University football players surveyed, nearly half engaged in eating disorder behaviors (binging and purging). The disease often targets male athletes, especially those who participate in sports that demand a particular body build.

A comparison of the psychological profiles of athletes and those with anorexia found these factors in common: perfectionism, high self expectations, competitiveness, compulsiveness, tendency toward depression, body image distortion, and preoccupation with dieting and weight.

Personality Traits Associated With Eating Disorders

The threat extends beyond athletes. Many men share common characteristics and experiences that contribute to the disease. Personality attributes include low self-esteem, the need to be accepted, an inability to cope with emotional pressures, obsessiveness, passiveness, dependence, antisocial behavior, and family and relationship issues.

Although these attributes coincide with many females with eating disorders, there are a few male-specific traits. Usually, males with the disease tend to be more active, experience more sexual anxiety, have fewer bulimic episodes, abuse laxatives less, and have more of a preoccupation with food and weight.

Due to the addictive nature of eating disorders, it is not uncommon for men suffering to also struggle with alcohol/drug abuse. Other themes associated with male eating disorders extend to one’s occupation, lifestyle, and even sexuality.

Gay Men May Have Increased Risk Factors

According to a recent study conducted by the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the National Development and Research Institute, gay men are three times more likely than heterosexual men to have an eating disorder. This research found that 15% of gay men report having had some form of an eating disorder in their lifetime, ranging from binge eating and bulimia to anorexia. Some debate that this statistic is due to a greater emphasis placed on physical attractiveness among gay men. Others propose that societal pressures force gay men to seek more acceptance from peers, and that they may feel more insecure than heterosexual men.

Getting Past the "Women's Disease" Stigma

No matter their lifestyle, many men are at risk of developing an eating disorder. Incidence and prevalence rates among men have increased in recent years, suggesting that the medical profession and the public require more education in order to become fully aware of this growing problem. If society accepts the idea that eating disorders transcend the female population, then preventing, diagnosing, and treating males will be more successful in the future.

Photo sources: (1) (2)