Kelly Osbourne Addicted to Vicodin

Kelly Osbourne, daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, has come clean about a problem that has plagued her for years. She recently opened up to People Magazine saying she got hooked on liquid Vicodin when it was prescribed for her following a surgery to remove her tonsils at age 13. Kelly is a few weeks out of rehab which was her third attempt at getting clean. The 24-year-old says that taking Vicodin made people like her, boosted her confidence and kept her from being teased. She had previously tried to get clean during rehab stays in 2004 and 2005.

Kelly told People she’s getting a second shot at her career and knows she would have died had she not sought help. She returned to the screen with her family in a variety show called Osbournes Reloaded that debuted March 31 on the Fox network. Kelly has said her month-long stay in rehab was voluntary and based on an “intense” relapse this year.

A Prolonged Vicodin Addiction Can Be Hard to Kick

Addiction to Vicodin and other opiate painkillers can be hard to kick, especially after prolonged use. Physical and psychological dependence can develop, making it especially important for users to seek out professional help in order to detox. In Kelly’s case, a decade-long addiction made the likelihood of relapse even greater.

This story is similar for many people going through opiate painkiller addiction. You are in pain from an injury, surgery or chronic illness. You get a prescription for pain medication. The next thing you know, you’re hooked. Prescription painkiller addiction is a chronic, progressive and relapsing condition that traps some users in a vicious cycle for years.

Addiction in the Osbourne Family: Hereditary or Circumstantial?

Kelly’s family members are no strangers to addiction either. Her father Ozzy, Black Sabbath front man and reality show star, has notoriously and publicly battled drug and alcohol addiction. Her brother Jack has also struggled with drug addiction and alcoholism ¹ and has sought treatment in the past. Her mother Sharon has admitted in the past to suffering from bulimia ², an eating disorder viewed by some to be addictive in nature.

The cause of addiction is the subject of much research and debate. For some people addiction is hereditary and determined in part by the genes inherited from their parents. For others, it is the result of life experiences and circumstances. In the case of the Osbourne family, it could be a little bit of both.

1. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article103118.ece
2. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article566999.ece

Anna Nicole Smith: A Sad Story Gets Even Sadder

The recent arrest of Anna Nicole Smith’s doctor, psychiatrist and attorney has put the spotlight on the role the professional community can play in keeping an addict addicted. Smith died Feb. 8, 2007 in a Hollywood, Fl. hotel room after suffering an accidental overdose from a cocktail of prescription drugs, including highly-addictive opiates. She was 39 at the time of her death which came shortly after she gave birth to a daughter and lost her son to a drug overdose.

Arrested in connection with the case were Howard K. Stern, Smith’s boyfriend and attorney; Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, one of Smith’s doctors; and Khristine Eroshevich, Smith’s psychiatrist. Eroshevich faces charges that she repeatedly supplied Smith, a known addict, with addictive prescription drugs. Stern and Kapoor have been charged with unlawfully prescribing a controlled substance and conspiring to prescribe, administer and dispense a controlled substance to an addict.

Kapoor and Eroshevich were also charged with one count each of obtaining a prescription for opiates by using a fake name or address, and one count each of obtaining a prescription for opiates by “fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.” All three turned themselves in recently and are scheduled to be arraigned May 13 in the downtown Los Angeles courthouse. They each face a maximum of five years and eight months in a state prison if convicted, according to the district attorney’s office.

Dangerous Mix of Opiates and Benzodiazepines Prescribed “Excessively” for Smith

Los Angeles County Superior Court documents show a dangerous mix of opiates, benzodiazepines and other drugs that had been prescribed to Smith over a three-year period. These include: methadone, a synthetic opioid used to treat addiction; Dilaudid, the brand name for hydromorphone, an opioid analgesic; Xanax, used to treat anxiety and panic disorders; Valium, used to treat anxiety, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal and addiction; Vicodin, a narcotic pain reliever and cough suppressant; Ambien, a short-term sleeping aid; promethazine with codeine, an antihistamine and sedative; clonazepam, a muscle relaxant; chloral hydrate, a hypnotic sedative; and carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant.

California’s Attorney General has called Stern Smith’s “principal enabler” and said the doctors prescribed the drugs “excessively to a known addict.” All three have denied they did anything wrong and an attorney for Eroshevich has said the doctor needed to use a fictitious name on prescriptions to protect Smith’s privacy.

Alleged Abuse of Power Kept Smith Sedated and Incoherent

The case calls attention to the alleged abuse of power by the very people who were charged with taking care of Smith. If they are found guilty of the charges, it will show that all three flagrantly violated their ethical obligations to the star who often seemed unable to care for herself.

Smith, who was a Playboy pin-up and Guess Jeans model, became a kind of caricature of herself in the years leading up to her death. She wed billionaire oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II when she was 26 and he was in his late 80s. After his death in 1995, she battled his family for control of his estate. She also starred in a reality TV show which often portrayed her as unstable and incoherent. Smith even made embarrassing TV appearances where she slurred her words and seemed heavily sedated and impaired.

The Hills of Appalachia: A Desperate Situation

An epidemic of drug abuse has gripped a part of America so often forgotten. Living conditions in parts of central Appalachia are bad – so bad in fact that images mirror those you would see in a commercial for starving children in a third world country. Diane Sawyer of ABC News reported last week on the crisis people face in this part of the eastern United States. Problems she uncovered include a poverty rate three times that of the national rate, chronic depression, cancer and toothlessness. People living in the region Sawyer visited have the shortest life spans in the nation and a serious problem with prescription drug abuse.

Sawyer profiles an 11-year-old girl and her struggle to get her mom well. Her mother is addicted to alcohol and prescription medication. The two live in Cumberland, Ky., and Sawyer said that region has a rate of prescription drug abuse twice that of cities like New York and Miami. Some people try to make an honest living and many put in long hours in dangerous coal mines. But with few resources and fewer jobs, people are turning to dealing prescription drugs as a way to survive.

And many battle addictions, saying the drugs and alcohol help to numb the pain of their reality. In these parts, a Lortab or Xanax pill goes for between $5 and $15. To get your hands on a powerful OxyContin pill, you’ll have to shell out at least $20. Because of this illicit sale and trade, it’s no wonder this part of rural Appalachia also has a high crime rate. Robbery, theft and other types of personal crimes are soaring. It’s a desperate situation to say the least.

OxyContin, a powerful opioid drug, is a major concern for parts of Appalachia. Couple that with a limited availability of substance abuse treatment centers and it’s not hard to see why people are stuck in this way of life. In 2003, the Lexington Herald-Leader analyzed federal data and found that, per capita, Eastern Kentucky drugstores, hospitals and other legal institutions receive more prescription painkillers than anywhere else in the nation.

Prescription Drug Addiction Knows No Boundaries

Drug abuse, diversion and illicit sale are not a problem isolated to the hills of Appalachia. These issues have no borders. The abuse rate of prescription medication, especially opiates and benzodiazepines, is soaring globally. Related concerns have also plagued other regions of the United States. As prescription drugs become more available legally and otherwise, overdoses and related drug deaths are increasing everywhere.

It could be argued that any one of us is one injury away from potential prescription painkiller addiction. Because of their makeup and the way opiates attach to receptors in the brain and body, addiction can take hold quickly with regular use. Addiction knows no boundaries. People from every background are affected. Addiction also does not discriminate based on race, nationality, sex or socioeconomic background. It’s up to each one of us to know the facts and protect ourselves.

Tapentadol: FDA Approves New Opiate Painkiller

Many Americans dealing with pain will soon have a new option when it comes to managing it. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new immediate-release tablet for the management of moderate to severe pain. 

Tapentadol hydrochloride is a synthetic analgesic available in doses of 50 mg, 75 mg and 100 mg. An FDA press release from Nov. 24 says the drug “acts in two ways, opioid (narcotic) and non-opioid.” It reportedly activates opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord and gastrointestinal tract, and inhibits the reuptake of the brain chemical norepinephrine which may have an analgesic effect. The FDA lists side effects for Tapentadol as nausea, vomiting, dizziness and sleepiness. 

Labeling on the packaging warns users of the risk of respiratory depression and its potential to be abused. It can also have addictive depressive effects on the central nervous system when taken with alcohol, other opiates or illicit drugs, the FDA said.

As with Other Opiates, New Drug has Potential for Abuse

Tapentadol is manufactured by Janssen Ortho, LLC, in Gurabo, PR., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. It will be available once the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency classifies the controlled substance in its drug schedule. The FDA says opiates are “safe and effective in selected patients but can cause dependence, abuse and addiction.” Approval was based on clinical studies of more than 2,100 patients presented earlier this year at the annual scientific meeting of the American Pain Society. The studies found Tapentadol to provide significant relief when compared to a placebo. A trade name for Tapentadol has not yet been established.

Marijuana: To Legalize or Not?

The growing debate about legalizing marijuana is back in the spotlight after a California lawmaker has proposed legalizing the drug for recreational use to boost the state’s economy. Democrat Tom Ammiano, with just three months under his belt as a state lawmaker, introduced a bill Monday, saying the measure could introduce over a billion dollars a year to the state’s wallet through taxes and other fees from regulation. Under the bill, marijuana would be regulated like alcohol, allowing those 21 and older to buy, grow, sell and possess marijuana. Federal law currently prohibits the growing, transporting, using, selling, buying and possession of the drug for recreational use. The bill would ban use near schools and attach criminal penalties for those who drive under the influence.

Ammiano, of San Francisco, said he thinks the legislation is worth discussion. And that’s exactly what happened once the media got ahold of the story. Talk shows, news programs and radio shows discussed the proposed legislation, some taking calls from the public and conducting unofficial polls. The measure reportedly has support from the San Francisco sheriff who said it should be open to public debate. Also in favor is Betty Yee, who chairs the state board that collects taxes in California. She said an analysis by the state Board of Equalization shows $1.3 billion could be generated each year from tax revenues and a levy on retail sales of $50-per-ounce. The analysis also shows that legalizing marijuana could cut its street value by 50 percent and increase consumption.

The Debate: For and Against

The “gateway theory” says habitual use of a less harmful drug may lead to future use of more dangerous, illicit drugs. The so-called “gateway” drugs usually refer to alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. The theory has been put to the test numerous times and results are conflicting. Some studies show that marijuana use can lead to progressive use of drugs like cocaine, LSD, methamphetamines, heroin or prescription opiates such as OxyContin or Fentanyl. Some show no correlation at all, and others have been inconclusive.

In addition to generating money, some argue that legalized pot would take control away from dangerous gangs and cartels, and unclog the overburdened jail and court systems. It could also stimulate the economy by creating jobs, some say. Others say a $50-per-ounce tax would make it accessible only to the rich and that illegal sale and distribution would continue. Others question the morality and contradiction of the legislation, saying the government criminalized marijuana, spouting its evils, until the economic panic set in.

It’s clear the prohibition on marijuana hasn’t worked up to this point. It’s everywhere and fairly easy to obtain. But is legalization the answer? Californians have already proved they are progressive when it comes to marijuana. In 1996, over 5 million voters approved legislation to legalize marijuana for medicinal reasons. The new legislation could make the November ballot, and if it passes, will make California the first state to do so. One thing is for sure. If it does pass, more states will take a closer look at legalization. And no doubt, California will see quite a boom in population.

H.O.W. To Recover

How does someone recover?  The self-help approach starts with the premise of H.O.W. Honesty, Open mindedness, and Willingness.  What exactly does that mean?   

Honesty is required.  To become actively involved in your recovery you must be honest.  Starting with being honest with your-self.  You are not seeking recovery from addiction (other than a food addiction) because you drink too many ice-cream sodas!  What does honesty mean?  Taking an inventory of your actions, beliefs, contradictions, and the reality of your addiction or dependency.  If you are honest with your self you can begin to overcome your addiction.  If you doubt your addiction or you minimize the challenge you have with the use of substances you are wasting your time.  My suggestion, suffer well!

Open mindedness is keeping an open mind to explore all suggestions.  Think of a suggestion as a skydiver would the suggestion of pull the rip chord on the count of ten after you have jumped from the plane!  Does that mean you will like the suggestion?  No it is going against the grain of what you are familiar with.  Fear creeps in and you begin to feel you cannot accept the suggestion.  

There is a difference between not accepting the suggestion and truly working through the suggestion and recognizing that it is not a good fit.  To often I encounter folks that will not attempt anything outside of their comfort zone.  Typically, I shake my head and think, “why did they ask”?   If their way was working why am I happy, joyous and free living a clean and sober lifestyle and they are not?  

Willingness is accepting the suggestion and actually attempting to implement it.  Recognize that there are no rules simply suggestions that are based on proven ideals and strategies.  Finding the strategies that assist you in attaining a joyous recovery is the ideal.  

The beginning of attaining your ideal is changing your attitude.  Developing an attitude of gratitude.  Getting started requires a willingness to look at the glass half full.  Folks in alcohol rehab often focus on the negative.  This is natural; first it begins at our infancy stage.  One of the first words we hear as children is “No”.  For most of us we are being corrected three times as much as we are being encouraged.  So negativity is prevalent and expected.  The second factor is if we focus on what others are doing or saying we take the focus off ourselves.  Remember most of your responses that follow “But” are defense mechanisms to shut down your H.O.W.

That is why focusing on your strengths as opposed to what is wrong with you is preferred.  It is the start of converting from a negative thinker to a positive thinker.   If your goal is to attain happiness then implement the H.O.W. challenge.  To start begin by developing a Positive Mental Attitude.  To develop a Positive Mental Attitude you begin by focusing on the positives in your life.  Write a gratitude list, listen to positive people, do not watch the broadcast news, stay away from the television unless it is the learning channel, sports, or nature and wilderness shows (Stay away from the conspiracy theory shows, they tend to be negative).  Negativity will keep you held down in many areas of life.  This is especially true in the social aspect of life. In fact not many people like to be around a negative person.

If you doubt this premise you are not ready to change.  You are smarter than all of the most highly successful and happy people that have ever walked the face of this earth.  Continue to blame others and walk around miserable!  Suffer well!  

If you want the happiness and freedom that happy and free people have, do what they do!  Anything less is a waste of your time.  

Humbly,

Daniel J. Callahan LMSW 

AN OVER-PRESCRIBED SOCIETY?

Just because it’s legal and comes from your doctor doesn’t mean it can’t harm you. It seems the old advice we used to get from doctors about an apple a day has been replaced by something altogether different. When was the last time your doctor discussed nutrition or preventative medicine with you? In this day and age, society relies too heavily upon prescription drugs. In many Eastern cultures, a holistic approach to preventing disease is a way of life. Food, herbs and spices are considered medicine for the body. Practices such as yoga, tai chi and acupuncture aren’t thought of as “new age” or “trendy.” They’re considered time-tested, honored practices that keep mind, body and spirit in check. 

Americans are sick and getting sicker. Today, there’s a pill on the market for just about everything, from male pattern baldness, to restless legs, to opiates prescribed to treat opiate addictions. And as pharmaceutical companies race to find a “cure” for many of these ailments, society gets the message that there’s a quick fix when it comes to getting well. Not so long ago, pharmaceutical companies were prohibited from marketing drugs directly to consumers. Today we’d be hard-pressed to find anyone not familiar with the loving couple, sitting tub-by-tub in the sunset, waiting for that “right moment.”

ADDICTIVE PAINKILLERS POSE BIG PROBLEM

Prescription drugs can save lives, and most doctors and pharmacists aren’t bad people. But some do over prescribe drugs that can be harmful. And many pharmacies fill these prescriptions without question. Painkillers in particular have the potential of being habit-forming. Drug detox and rehabilitation centers are reporting more people with addictions to narcotic opiates such as Vicodin, OxyContin and Lortab. The number of painkiller overdoses has skyrocketed. This is due to many factors including patients who engage in pharmacy shopping, so called “pill mills” and the availability of online prescriptions, some that don’t even require a prescription. In November, an ABC News affiliate in Tampa Bay, Fl. reported more Florida residents in 2007 died of drug related deaths than traffic accidents – two and a half times more. Many states have implemented plans for a database so doctors, pharmacies and law enforcement can see a patient’s prescription drug history. The ABC news station said Florida is moving in that direction to help curb its growing problem.

THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN DOCTORS AND PATIENTS

The problem of over prescribing is complex. Drug companies spend billions each year marketing their drugs to doctors and consumers. Many doctors are too willing to dole out prescriptions, sometimes to treat complications from other prescriptions. Patients with legitimate health concerns go to their doctors seeking help but aren’t asking enough questions. Patients should not be afraid to challenge their health care professionals, ask for alternatives to drugs, or at the very least, do their research on drugs, side effects and interactions with other medications. Far too many of us walk into doctors’ offices, state our problems and walk out within minutes with a script in our hands.

Drugs and Suicide: a Sad Ooutcome

A deadly combination of opiates and benzodiazepine were found in the system of a Florida teen who killed himself in November while a live online audience watched via webcam. The Associated Press reported 19-year-old Abraham Biggs blogged about plans to kill himself. The Broward County medical examiner’s office said some of the people watching through a body building website egged him on while others tried to talk him out of it. A few people reportedly discussed whether Biggs had taken enough to get the job done. The teen’s family said he suffered from bipolar disorder or manic depression.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lists suicide as the fourth leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 64. Often, those deaths involve alcohol or drugs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in 2007 that toxicology tests reveal that alcohol is found in more than one out of three suicide victims. Opiates, including prescription painkillers and heroin, were found in one of six suicide victims, the agency said. Suicide is often linked with substance abuse and mental illness. Teens are especially at risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts when they use and abuse drugs and alcohol. Teens who use drugs to self medicate often find that instead of making things better, drugs seem to exacerbate the situation.

TOXICOLOGY TESTS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

In a 2006 report, the CDC stressed the need for medical professionals to pay attention to toxicology reports when deaths are ruled suicides. The CDC said the reports might help identify patterns of substance use that can help in suicide interventions. The CDC analyzed toxicology findings from suicides in 13 states that reported data to the National Violent Death Reporting System in 2004. Of the victims tested, 33.3% had alcohol in their system and 16.4% tested positive for opiates. The report states that “The finding that opiates were nearly five times more prevalent among poisoning suicide victims is consistent with evidence that prescription opioid analgesics cause more intentional overdose deaths than illegal, non-opioid drugs.”

DRUGS’ EFFECT ON THE BRAIN/SUICIDE RISK FACTORS

Many people who choose to end their lives turn to prescription drugs because they are quick and often readily available. There’s no doubt that drug use clouds judgment and lowers inhibitions. It alters the brain’s delicate chemical balance and can increase feelings of depression and sadness. Suicide and drug use are both major public health problems. Fortunately, both are preventable. Risk factors for suicide include mental health issues, drug and alcohol use, depression and family history of suicide or depression. If you are having suicidal thoughts and need help, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK.

VH1’s Sober House: The Real Work Begins

VH1’s addiction recovery program Sober House has added a new interesting character to its roster of celebrity addicts trying to stay clean. This week’s episode welcomed actor and comedian Andy Dick whose very public struggle with substance abuse led to jail time and has put his career in jeopardy. Dick, 42, showed up at the Sober House in Pasadena, Ca. with a renewed commitment to recovery after nine previous attempts at rehab. Dick said his family – including 20-year-old son – is fed up with his drinking. In an interview on the show, Dick said he has to get clean “because I’m going to die.” He called his stint at the Sober House “my last stop.”

Dr. Drew Pinsky, addiction medicine specialist who is involved with the show, called Dick’s addiction “severe.” Within the first day of being in the house during episode four, Dick admitted his issues have damaged his career and said beer has been his downfall. He said he had four days of sobriety when he showed up on the set. Though it’s early on in the season, Dick seems genuinely sincere about getting his life back. The house manager, Jennifer Gimenez, said she was immediately impressed with his attitude.

Celebrity Addicts Juggle Sobriety and Their Freedom

The show’s program is based on the premise that when rehab ends, the real work begins. Recovering addicts move into the house and continue their recovery, but without the safety net of a traditional rehab program. Although there are rules, chores and curfews, patients in the program are free to come and go. And some do, putting themselves in risky situations that jeopardize their recovery. This year’s lineup includes: Adler; Dick; Seth “Shifty” Binzer who co-founded the music group Crazy Town in 1995; adult film actress Mary Carey; Rodney King, who rose to fame after being beaten by L.A. cops in 1991; Nikki McKibben, third-pace finisher on American Idol’s first season; and former supermodel Amber Smith.

The season began Jan. 15 and has had a few interesting twists already. Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler has already been jailed and subsequently welcomed back into the house after relapsing twice on heroin. His behavior became verbally and physically abusive toward Gimenez and others, and the decision was made to call 911. After jail, Adler spent a few days in a hospital drying out. It was there that he met Dick. When Dick realized that Adler was working with Dr. Pinsky, Dick said he asked if the doctor might be willing to help him too.

Celebrity or Not, the Same Lessons Apply

The show chronicles the very real ups and downs of addiction and the struggle many face in their quest for recovery. Just because the participants in the show have had varying degrees of fame, their struggles have been very much the same as so many everyday people. Not every person addicted to drugs gets the opportunity to work with a top addiction specialist in a posh setting while the TV cameras are rolling, but the lessons to be learned are much the same. Every addict needs to find constructive ways to live their life on new terms, while trying to avoid the bad influences and risky situations that could jeopardize their sobriety.

ON THE PROWL FOR SCRAPS

Homeowners beware: Thieves may be after more than your precious jewels and the money stashed under your bed. A wave of crime affecting cities across the country is theft of scrap metal.

The price of metals including copper and aluminum fluctuates, and when it’s high, people looking to fund drug use and other crimes risk their lives to get it. Headlines and police logs in many countries report thefts of aluminum siding, copper wire, metal grave markers, guard rails, downspouts, catalytic converters, gutters, radiators, AC coils and piping. While such theft is hardly new, the demand for scrap metal has driven prices up in recent years, making it a sought-after commodity.

And homeowners aren’t the only ones who need to be on the look-out. Construction sites, schools, churches and other buildings are also reporting such thefts.

RISK IMPLIES DESPERATION OF DRUG USERS

Drug users are always looking for new ways to fund their habit. Law enforcement authorities have long blamed a good deal of the scrap metal theft on drug users. And as the economy continues its down slope, they’re expecting such crime to multiply. Because stealing metals is risky, it often implies the kind of desperation that’s at the core of drug addiction.

A home in Girard, Oh. exploded earlier this year, ripping apart a neighborhood and injuring several people. Officials determined that gas was released when copper pipes were taken from the house. A man died last year in Pasadena, Md. after being electrocuted while cutting through a high-voltage line in an old store building on a quest for scrap metal.

A Cincinnati woman was arrested in November after trying to steal a vehicle to transport stolen scrap metal. She admitted being drunk and high on drugs. These stories represent only a minor fraction of the crimes taking place.

REGULATIONS AIM TO CUT DRUG CRIME

Drug addiction is a serious global problem. Millions of people are hooked on illicit street drugs, over-the-counter remedies and prescription drugs including OxyContin, Hydrocodone, Lortab and Vicodin.

Addiction and crime go hand-in-hand. The scrap metal business is attractive to users who rely on quick cash to fuel their habits. Because of this, many dealers have switched to paying by check. Many states and local governments have legislation in place or under consideration to regulate scrap metal sales. Some require dealers to wait a few days before selling purchased scrap metal, and some are required to keep detailed logs on the seller and the metals being bought.

In 2007, the Washington state governor signed a bill into law to regulate scrap metal sales to cut down on drug-related theft. Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue, who sponsored the bill, said “This new law creates standards for exchanging scrap metal for cash, and will help cut down on drug crime.”