Should IV Illicit Drug Users Be Offered PICC Lines Or Venous Access Devices

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!

How To Help Addicts Stay Safe During This Unprecedented Heatwave And Our Top Hot Weather Life Hacks!

Most of us welcome some warm, sunny weather, it can be nice to enjoy the sunshine and science even provides us with evidence that it can improve our mood, energy levels, motivation to make and maintain change, as well as improving our physical bodily functions as well as our general mental well-being.

However, when it’s too hot for too long, there are serious possible health risks that we need to keep in mind. In England alone, there are on average 2000 heat related deaths every single year, and that’s not even taking into consideration the current unprecedented level 3 heatwave we’re all experiencing!

Keep reading to find out how you can stay safe in this weather, how it can negatively impact those with active substance addictions (both drugs and alcohol) and those in recovery, what to watch out for, how you can help yourself and others, and finally but by no means least, our top tips and heatwave heat hacks to keep you cool and comfortable.

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.

Brain Switch That Makes Us Binge Drink Even After We’ve Had Enough Discovered By Scientists

It makes people go on downing wine, beer or spirits – even when they have had enough. The discovery opens the door to new drug therapies that combat alcohol misuse disorders.

While many people love the odd tipple, others get hooked on booze – and don’t know when to stop. It is the key to addiction – making a minority of individuals vulnerable to potential dangers.

This article looks at the difference between being able to put on the brakes in a normal manner, as rats did in their experiment, and not being able to stop themselves.

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.

What Percentage Of Addicts Stay Clean For The Long Term?

Medically, addiction is known to be a “chronic and relapsing disease” according to the nationwide research and the UK’s National Health Service.

What this definition means is that one or more relapses are a highly expectant occurrence due to the nature of the disease. So, what we want to know, what percentage of addicts stay clean for the long term?

According to a study published in 2000, relapse rates for addiction in the first year after stopping are between 40 and 60%; this is similar to other comparable long term health conditions such as asthma, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. The only difference being is that us as addicts are the ones in control of our outcomes and whether we do what we need to do in order to succeed or do the bare minimum and risk becoming yet another statistic.

In this article you will find ways of managing the risks surrounding lapses/relapses to become a long term success, and avoid becoming nothing more than another proven statistic!

Your Brain Is A Powerful Ally And Enemy, Want To See!?

When you still use or drink, your brain will do anything and everything to ensure that you have that next hit, pipe, bong, pint, glass or any other. It knows exactly what to say to you, what to make you think or feel in order that you follow through with its desired intentions.

This little experiment will show you first hand what your brain will do, make you think or feel in order to get what it wants.

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!…

Addiction and Personal Responsibility: Who’s Problem Is It?

The definition of personal responsibility is the idea that human beings choose, instigate or otherwise cause their own actions. A corollary idea is that because we cause our actions, we can be held morally accountable or legally liable.

There are also various types of responsibility. Some are obvious types and others that are more subtle to identify.
In this article, we look at the various models and common arguments for both sides of the “argument” that are used to understand the role accountability and responsibility plays in active using or drinking, those in recovery and the family and friends of those afflicted by addictions.

How Do I Know If I Am An Addict Or Have A Tendency Towards Addiction?Use Our Addiction Screening Tool To Find Out

We thought we’d go back to basics for those who don’t know anything about addiction, what an addict is, what defines addiction and what options are available.

Knowing the difference between recreational using or drinking and addiction or dependency can be a challenging thing to define. This article will help you to separate addiction from recreational use.