Drop boxes, or places to leave used and unused items, have existed for many different purposes: books, clothes, old electronics, and food, but last week, East Texas introduced a drop box for prescription drugs into Rusk county. This drop box is a direct response to the opioid epidemic, and was designed so that people could dispose of unwanted or old prescriptions. It is a clever idea, and it works well knowing that there are some people who want to make a conscious effort to stop their drug use.
 
When considering the location of these drop boxes, analysts were looking at areas that had high prescription rates, which are often rural areas with a high density of physicians and dentists. Last July, a number of drop boxes were introduced in Smith County, and since then, 300 pounds of unused opioids has been collected. That is nearly a pound being dropped off daily, and with that much success, this only further proves just how effective the drop boxes can be. With hopes to install more drop boxes throughout East Texas, the Rusk county sheriffs department is hopping to make drug disposal easy and convenient. 

​When unconventional thinking leads to a great idea and creates hope for a community. and at the end please write something like, Although we are not a drop box center, we are here to serve and provide treatment to individual and families dealing with addiction. A step like dropping your unwanted medications is a step towards recovery and creating the courage to reach out for professional therapeutic help is an even more courageous step towards sobriety. Call Helix Counseling Services today.
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KLTV East Texas Combats Opioid Epidemic with RX Drop Boxes ​

In case you did not know, there is currently a heroin epidemic in Southern California. Shocking right? When I first found out about it recently, I was surprised that I had never heard about it before. Well, this is not new information. An article published in 2013 stated that more young adult and teenagers are abusing heroin than ever before. Back then, “The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported initiations to heroin have increased by 80 percent among teens ages 12 to 17” (Join Together Staff, 2013). Now, it is even worse. We need to raise awareness about this epidemic in order for this addiction to end.
The reason why heroin is becoming a huge problem is because it is so easy to obtain in Southern California. It costs way less than most drugs, as it is replacing its expensive counterpart, OxyContin. That drug has been reformulated to make it less addictive. Therefore, those who were once addicted to it are now using heroin to replace their high. Opioids are a huge problem and people living in Orange County need to realize that.
Do not make heroin your drug of choice. Call Helix today to schedule your first counseling appointment at (949)-214-4018.

Drugfree.org "Heroin Use on the Rise in Southern California," 

Substance Abuse Disorder can vary from person to person. One definition of this disease is “when a person is addicted to a substance, such as a drug, alcohol or nicotine, they are not able to control the use of that substance. They continue taking it, even though it may cause harm (the individual may or may not be aware of the potential harm)” (Nordqvist, 2016). While that is true, it does not affect each person in the same way. One alcoholic can portray different signs of his or her problem than another would. Below are common symptoms of this disorder. Experiencing one of those mentioned does not mean you have an addiction, but many together can be a cause for concern.

1. Inability to stop taking substance
2. Withdrawal symptoms
3. Newfound health problems
4. Social sacrifices
5. Always having the substance on hand
6. Taking risks
7. Unable to deal with problems
8. Obsession with substance
9. Secrecy and solitude
10. Financial difficulties

 
If you or someone you know has Substance Abuse Disorder, then call Helix at (949) 214-4018. Take into consideration those symptoms, and set up a counseling appointment. It is never too late to change your life for the better.

Medical News Today "Signs and Symptoms of Addiction" 

​It is not unusual for women to share that they added an extra mile to their morning jog every time they decide to indulge in drinking and keep a balanced diet. For some, however, that simply is not enough, and more extreme measures, such as starvation, are used to drink even more. This process is part of being in control of calorie intake. This colloquialism for self-imposed starvation and/or purging, mixed with alcohol abuse is known as “drunkorexia,” and it has become a growing trend especially in young women.                              
A study published in “Australian Psychologist”, showed that roughly 60% of female undergrads have frequently engaged in, “Various disordered eating, and other extreme weight-control behaviors,” so that they may continue to drink more. Some of the common behaviors included skipping meals, purging after binging on drinks, and even exercising right after a drinking event. The main cause for drunkorexia has been closely associated with today’s body-conscious culture. We live in a culture where women want to stay thin but drink more. Thus, the behaviors of drunkorexia can have a lasting effect on the body. This behavior on a regular basis is associated with higher risk of chronic health harms such as liver and heart disease, says eating disorder specialist Rhiannon Lambert.

Australian Psychologist "Drunkorexia: why so man young women are skipping meals to save calories for alcohol" 

​I cannot begin to tell you how often I hear the argument from my young adults that smoking pot is totally safe and has no harm. Sadly, I know that with my high risk for mental health disorder clients, they are at a much higher chance for an early psychosis, in fact by 10 years.
 
While I think for many years the jury was out on whether or not marijuana is as harmful as it appears to be for a developing brain, new research has giving validity to the question for the field. Marijuana has its greatest long-term impact on young people whose brains are still super active in building new connections and maturing in other ways. The human brain develops by exposure and experiences.
We have a tendency to forget that the human brain develops well into our 20’s and it goes through a major development during our teen years. While this development is taking place, the use of marijuana, which inhibits connectivity and reduced volume of specific brain regions involved in executive functions such as memory, learning, and impulse control has a tendency to show its impact later on in life.
 
Many studies show the different impact this behavior and the continues use has on a developing brain, from lower scores on a test of verbal memory to a more recent study out of New Zealand which found persistent marijuana use disorder with frequent use starting in adolescence was associated with a loss of an average of 6 or up to 8 IQ points measured in mid-adulthood. These changes may still not gain your attention; however, the ones which will are the new forms of psychosis which the medical community has been faced with in the past few years due to higher THC in products. “‘There is no doubt,’ concludes Robin Murray, a professor of psychiatry at King’s College London, that cannabis use in young people increases the risk of developing schizophrenia as an adult.”

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Bullying is not a normal part of a person’s childhood and adolescence. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is treated lightly because many adults think that it is a part of growing up, and children should simply get over it. Well, there needs to be stricter consequences for these bullies. In a study conducted in Los Angeles, Houston, and Birmingham with over 4,000 children, scientists found a correlation between those who were bullied in fifth grade and those who abuse substances starting in the 10th grade. “A child bullied in fifth grade is more likely to show signs of depression in seventh grade, and abuse substances like alcohol, marijuana or tobacco in 10th grade, researchers say” (Miller, 2017).
​The findings did not vary between genders either. Males and females who were bullied generated the same results. Kids who stand out from others, such as those who are overweight, gay, or dealing with a chronic illness, are more likely to be bullied than those who are not. Their differences lead to negative emotions and feelings of hopelessness. In turn, they use substances to deal with it, even though it is only making their problems worse. Bullying needs to be stopped at a young age in order to counteract the foreseen outcome. Kindness can go a long way. If you or somebody you know is abusing substances in an unhealthy way along with depression or other mental illnesses, contact Helix today. It is time to end the stigma about bullying and Substance Abuse Disorder.

U.S. News, "Bullied in 5th Grade, Prone to Drug Abuse by High School" 

One of the most difficult things I’ve had to witness is the growing trend of homelessness that has expanded throughout parts of Orange County in these past few years. It is all too common now to see a homeless person on the freeway off-ramp, or placing tents along the Santa Ana river trail. My response is usually the same, I’m filled with distress; how did they end up here? The population of middle-aged and older homeless women in metropolitan cities is on the rise, and 67.6% homeless women are 41-61 years of age with sample showing.  When we look at this population it is important to consider frailty and substance abuse as issues that are more common in this population. Recognizing that substance abuse can be the cause of homelessness in some cases or self medicating in others.
 
An alarming increase in substance abuse among homeless people have also been noted in several studies. Downtown Women’s Action coalition recently reported that “43.9% had abused or been dependent on drugs in their lifetime and 64.2% had used or been dependent on drugs,” in the past year. These results are shocking when you take into consideration that these are elderly women. Their substance abuse can form into a dependency that can cause serious harm them and effect their longevity and overall health. However, there is a possibility to make a positive change. Considering that women are more prone to these issues, to make positive impact by providing simple solutions such as focusing on physical and psychological well-being can reduce drug dependency among this population.
 
If you know of anyone that could use the assistance of a substance abuse and addiction counseling services, please give us a call.
 
Community Mental Health Journal Community Mental Health Journal (2017) "Impact of a Community-Based Frailty Intervention Among Middle-Aged and Older Prefrail and Frail Homeless Women: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial." 

Never feel as if you do not have any options when dealing with Substance Abuse Disorder. There are many different programs and facilities that can assist with your road to recovery. While it may not always be the easiest path, have faith, for nothing is impossible. Two popular sources of help are residential treatment and outpatient treatment. Residential rehabilitation is where a patient is under 24-hour care being provided with a range of services to help with his or her addiction. From medical detox to individual therapy, the main goal is recovery. Outpatient rehabilitation is geared towards those with a milder condition. A patient will typically spend 10-12 hours per week in the facility and will become educated on his or her disorder while learning how to cope with it for everyday life. The main concern is prevention of relapse.
Did you know that the percentage of females being treated for Substance Abuse Disorder is on the rise? There is a common trend found within the type of women entering residential treatment and the type of women entering outpatient treatment. “Women entering long-term residential treatment programs tend to be younger, have lower levels of education and employment, have higher levels of involvement with the criminal justice system and have multiple previous treatment episodes as compared to women entering outpatient treatment (Wechsberg, Craddock, & Hubbard, 1998).” While this may seem irrelevant, it can actually be influential for improvement. Before entering these programs, women should be aware the social networks they are getting themselves into for rehabilitation. An understanding of these differences may add an important dimension to recovery from addiction, and may be harnessed to regulate treatment interventions for women in residential and outpatient treatment environments. One setting may be a healthier atmosphere and prompt a quicker success for one woman than for another.

Personal Networks of Women in Residential and Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment from Addiction Research & Theory

​I am sure many of you have heard of “binge-drinking.” This is when a person consumes alcohol at a faster rate than his or her body can process it. But what about “high-intensity drinking?” This is an even more extreme phenomenon than binge-drinking. It is the consumption of ten drinks or more, and it can lead to dangerous consequences. “We are seeing more problems with college-educated women in particular, who are now drinking far more, and with greater consequence, than in previous generations.” (Hazelden Betty Ford Institute for Recovery Advocacy, 2014). While the number of high-intensity drinkers among males has decreased from 2005 to 2015, it has remained steady among females.
Early intervention is needed in order to achieve concrete understanding with these individuals. A correlation has been found between high-intensity drinkers and those who use other drugs, such as marijuana. It is important to let them know of what they are potentially getting themselves into. “Not only are individuals who drink alcohol at levels exceeding these guidelines at risk for health and safety issues, but they might also experience problems academically, professionally and personally” (Hazelden Betty Ford Institute for Recovery Advocacy, 2014). We tend to idealize alcohol because it so easily accessible and legal. In reality, it can be just as fatal as illicit drugs. Education is the main way to end high-intensity drinking.
If you think your alcohol consumption is unhealthy, then make an appointment at Helix Counseling and Coaching Services. It is always better to be safe and to gain awareness.

Beyond Binging: “High-Intensity Drinking”