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!
Tag Archives: Heroin
Heroin Overdose Deaths Often Happen Shortly After Leaving Hospital According To New Cutting Edge Research
Drug-related deaths are four times more likely to occur in the days after hospital discharge than at any other time among users of opioids such as heroin according to research led by University College London, Public Health England and King’s College London.
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 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.
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!…
The UK Government Is Calling For written Evidence About Barriers To Legitimate Research For Controlled Drugs, Excluding Synthetic Cannabinoids
The UK Government’s Advisory Council For The Misuse Of Drugs Committee is looking at barriers to research working group calls for written evidence about barriers to legitimate research for controlled drugs.
We all need to do our part to advance the knowledge, care pathways, treatment options and improvement for the statistical improvement on the chances for long term, successful, happy, healthy recovery.
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.
How many years are your bad habits shaving off YOUR life? Find Out By Using Our Interactive Addiction Calculator
Drug and alcohol addiction cause a wide variety of complications as a result of their use. The longer someone uses or drinks, the more damage that will be caused to their body, ultimately cutting your lifespan short.
Use our interactive addiction calculator to see how much damage has been caused has already been done and how much time your previous substance use has cut short, and if you continue to drink or use, how much more time will it cutoff your expected lifespan.
Managing Wound Care & Chronic Complications Associated With Sustained Injecting
This article contains images, videos and other media that shows real-life wounds, abscesses, ulcers and amputations associated with injecting throughout. Not for those with a nervous disposition to wounds and graphic media.
It has been reported that one third of substance users will develop an injection-related abscesses, sores or open wounds within a one-year period at minimum.
Education about substance use, skin issues and wound care is an important part of helping not only the user but also the health care professionals that are encountering this consequence of injecting more and more often.
Discover the warning signs when wounds develop and when more professional help may be needed.
Drink ‘n’ Drugs 