54 THE QUEENS COURIER • WELLNESS • MAY 16, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
wellness
7 things you should know about addiction
Did you know 192 people die in
America every day from drug overdose?
Th at means 192 families lose someone
every day. Survivors of people lost to
drug addiction share their stories on
the Addiction Policy Forum website to
increase awareness. What these families
learned could help save the life of someone
you love.
1. Don’t ignore signs.
Families oft en realize in hindsight that
signs were there.
“At fi rst we didn’t see the signs, but we
began to notice his moodiness, saying he
was doing one thing but fi nding out later
he was doing something else. I wish I had
known what to look for,” explains Katie,
who lost her brother Zachary when he
was just 24.
Moodiness may seem typical for adolescents,
but these behaviors can signal
addiction. Sudden mood changes, depression
or hostility could be signs someone
is struggling with substance abuse - at any
age. If you suspect something is wrong,
seek help.
2. Don’t wait for rock bottom.
Th e earlier someone begins treatment,
the better.
“People are told the disease has to ‘run
its course’ and to practice ‘tough love’
until they hit rock bottom. Now with fentanyl,
rock bottom was a fatal overdose,”
shares Justin, who lost her son Aaron at
age 20.
3. Recovery takes time.
Continue support aft er rehab. While
many treatment programs only last weeks,
recovery takes much longer.
Karla, mother of Alicia, age 28, shares:
“I wish I would’ve known that recovery is
not 3 months, 6 months, a year in rehab.
When they release someone from rehab,
it’s not the end. It’s the very beginning.
Th at’s what happened with Alicia - they
released her and she had no plan, and
three days later she died.”
Patients with a severe substance use disorder
may need a three-to-fi ve-year treatment
plan, but most require a lifetime of
support.
4. Use all available resources.
Approaches for treating addiction
include counseling, support groups,
behavioral therapy and medication.
Treatment plans depend on the patient’s
individual needs, the substances they use
and severity of their illness.
“Finding quality treatment takes teamwork.
I would recommend anyone who
is going through this to fi nd the resources
in their towns. Connect with people
and organizations that help families provide
support to their loved ones and support
each other. Organizations such as the
Addiction Policy Forum have the tools
you need. Th is would have been so helpful
when we were going through it with my
brother,” says Katie, who lost her brother
Zachary. She also advocates combining
many approaches. “When someone has
cancer, we don’t choose between chemo
and radiation - we layer treatments.”
5. Overdoses are a warning.
Contrary to expectation, people who
experience a non-fatal overdose are at
heightened risk of fatal overdose.
“Aft er Emmett’s fatal overdose, we
found out that he had been seen at the
hospital and revived with Narcan at least
seven times over the previous year - that
is seven missed opportunities to intervene
and save our son’s life,” says Aimee, mother
of 20-year-old Emmett. “I can only
imagine how life would look today if we
had been given the opportunity to intervene
and address Emmett’s heroin use disorder
during those crucial moments.”
Patients saved from a non-fatal overdose
may wake up in withdrawal, angry
and upset, which can lead to further substance
use. Intervention and treatment is
needed to prevent further overdoses.
6. Prevent early substance use.
Th e earlier someone starts using, the
greater their chance of developing addictions.
“Experimenting with marijuana at
16 was followed by experimenting with
prescription pills and fi nally heroin,”
shares Lou, who lost her 19-year-old son
Michael.
Teenagers are more vulnerable to substances
because their brains aren’t fully
developed. Parents should model healthy
behavior and talk to their children about
the dangers of substance abuse.
7. Find support.
Don’t wait to get help. If you or someone
you love is struggling with substance
use, call the Addiction Resource Center
helpline 24/7 at 1-833-301-HELP for free,
confi dential information and support.
You are not alone. Over 20 million people
struggle with substance use disorder
and nearly half of U.S. adults have a friend
or relative who has struggled with substance
abuse. Visit www.192aDay.org to
read letters from families or share a loved
one’s story.
Courtesy BPT
/www.192aDay.org
/WWW.QNS.COM
/www.192aDay.org
