Should patients who have known IV addictions be offered a PICC line or similar in order to reduce their risks of infections, blood clots, scarring, circulatory damage/ impairment, injecting into arteries or damaging nerves in the surrounding structures, or should these types of device be avoided in order to reduce the temptation the other associated risks of having a VAD in place for any length of time? This is the topic of todays blog post and we want to know what you think!
Category Archives: Injecting
Why Wouldn’t You Want To Save A Life?
Naloxone AKA Narcan is a medicine used in emergency situations where there is a suspicion that opioids have been taken and/or overdosed on.
This emergency medication reverses the devastating effects of an opioid overdose by blocking the opioid receptors in the brain. This is why it is called an opioid antagonist. It also prevents the person from overdosing again for a short while after it’s been initially administered.
Find out all you need to know about Naloxone in this article.
Drug Deaths In England And Wales Up Again In 2021 According To The Latest Office For National Statistics Report
England and Wales have yet again recorded their highest ever number of drug-related deaths, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
This eye-opening article really shows why we must not take our eye off of the prize when it comes to the combined effort that we all provide in an attempt to overcome our addiction and substance misuse crisis!
Getting Out And Help Our Community Once Again
Today we’ve been out and about helping those who are homeless or rough sleeping around the town to help keep warm and dry during this constantly changing weather.
Those who rely on us have been happy to see us again too.
We need your help if we are to continue helping those who are homeless or sleeping rough and are addicted to drug and alcohol locally. You can find out how you can support us on our donation page or within this article. Thank you!
Getting To The Point – Could You Have A Needle Fixation?
Needle fixation occurs when the actual act of injecting the drug into their veins becomes compulsive, rewarding and equal to, or more important than the actual act of using the drug itself. Certain experts actually consider needle fixation to be a separate addiction, with some referring to it as a behavioural addiction, or as part of a ritual that they follow every time they use their substance of choice. Those with needle fixations may also inject water or other substances when their drug(s) of choice aren’t available to satisfy their psychological need to inject.
In this article, you will find out what needle fixation is and what it takes to overcome needle fixation.
The Role Rituals, Habits And OCD Play In Addiction And Recovery
One of the hardest parts of battling an addiction of any form (in this case, drugs and alcohol) is the cessation of rituals, habits and compulsions to do something in a set order or the same way every single time.
Certain things trigger the urge to use or drink, even things such as getting up in the morning, getting into the car, coming home from work, seeing certain people, doing certain activities and many, many others. As people living with an addiction, we build our lives around our illness. It is the centerpiece of our existence when our world becomes totally insular.
Find out what habits, rituals and compulsions are, what Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and how it can worsen those habits and rituals, along with treatment and coping strategies to manage and change those deep seated habits and rituals that have been built over months, years or even decades of chronic substance use and dependency.
Who Would You Include In Your Emergency Contact/Next Of Kin Card?
For those of you who still use or drink, or could be at potential risk of overdose or harm, it’s important to have a plan in place, should the worst happen.
Keeping a card with you that provides those who find you and emergency service workers with all of the emergency information they may need and who to contact if something happens to you.
Find out what you need to know inside this article!…
How Chronic Substance Use And Addiction Increases Your Risks Of Infectious Diseases, Including The Coronavirus
Many substance users and addicts suffer with weakened immune systems. This puts them at a greater risk of infections, viruses, illnesses, cancer and even the coronavirus.
The chronic use of alcohol and nearly every type of drug that people misuse or become dependent upon, taxes the body, and more specifically, the immune system of an individual. This potentially results in compromised immune system functioning.
The use of most drugs that many people use recreationally and become dependent upon, including alcohol, leads to the suppression of the ability of the immune system to fight off infections, viruses, illnesses, impact the recovery from injuries and increase your risk of cancer development. In general, severe chronic alcoholics and drug addicts are considered immunocompromised hosts.
Recognising And Overcoming Behavioural Addictions
Addictions can occur in a wide variety of forms. Often, it is assumed that physical dependence characterised by withdrawal symptoms is required in order for someone to be diagnosed with an addiction use disorder, but the fact is that behavioural addiction can occur with all the negative consequences in a person’s life minus the physical issues faced by people who compulsively engage in drug and alcohol use.
The rituals that occur before, during and after also make up part of the addictive process. For example, cooking heroin in a spoon and putting on a tourniquet can be just as addictive at the heroin itself. Likewise, visit the local shop, knowing that when you get home in 10 minutes, you can drink. These “preparation behaviours” are just as important to highlight and treat.
Christmas Survival Guide For Addicts And The Coming End Of 2020
For those of you who struggle during Christmas, try to turn this annual event on its head, try to see Christmas as a time to celebrate all of your hard work, determination and effort that you’ve put in throughout 2020.
We could even use our disappointment as an excuse to relapse. Others may also see this as a chance for you to buy your way back into their life rather than simply earning your way back into their life with honesty, hard work, determination, reliable and responsible.
It’s vital to make sure that you are well prepared to avoid any possibly negative eventualities that could possibly arrive and this article will help to ensure that you are well prepared, ready and able to enjoy Christmas without the worry of relapsing!
This article is packed with tips, techniques and strategies to get you through this annual event safely and hopefully, a little happier and more comfortable in the reassurance that your ground work is done and ready in case things don’t work out to plan.
Drink ‘n’ Drugs 