Latest news with #PartnershiptoEndAddiction
Los Angeles Times
24-07-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
The depths of addiction: Empowering others to break through social stigmas and cycles of substance abuse
From vapes at gas stations to alcohol in nearly every social setting, addictive behaviors are more accessible than ever. While many recognize the term 'addiction', spotting the signs in a friend or loved one can be much more difficult. What is Addiction? According to Health Direct, addiction is when one has a strong urge to do or use something. Addiction is usually associated with the use of substances, but it can disguise itself in our daily life through more 'harmless' activities such as social media, exercise, and shopping. Though addictions such as excessive phone use are more socially acceptable, they can still be compared to more harmful addictions. What universally connects all addictions is a loss of control, withdrawal symptoms when quitting, and continued use despite awareness of their destructive consequences. Common Signs of Addiction Recognizing when others are struggling with addiction can be a challenge, especially because symptoms can vary. However, according to Valley Hope, these are some common warning signs: Physical signs: Bloodshot eyes, abnormally large or small pupil size, deterioration of physical appearance and grooming habits, weight changes, unusual odors, tremors, slurred speech, and impaired coordination. Behavioral signs: Decline in productivity, attitude, and focus, as well as increased absenteeism. Emotional signs: Lack of interest in broken relationships and the consequences of substance use disorder. Understanding these signs can help us address addiction before it becomes more difficult for individuals to overcome on their own. According to Partnership to End Addiction, substance use releases the same chemicals that produce pleasure when basic needs such as hunger and thirst are fulfilled. This dependency on substance-induced pleasure makes it much harder for individuals to gain control over their dependencies. That is why the support of family, friends, and peers is crucial in increasing the chances of overcoming addiction. How to Help Someone Struggling with Addiction If you suspect that someone is dealing with addiction, it is crucial to approach them with a sense of compassion rather than judgment. Here are some tips from Butler Hospital on helping someone who is struggling with substance use disorder: Educate yourself: Understanding addiction, its symptoms, and its impact can help you recognize the symptoms and sympathize with the challenges they are facing. Encourage treatment: Without guilt or shame, urge them to seek appropriate help as early as possible. An intervention specialist can help you navigate this process. Offering support: Remind them that they are loved and that you are willing to assist in their recovery and ensure its success. Stay involved in recovery: Assure them that you will be there every step of the way by attending meetings, offering encouragement, and connecting them with support groups. Prioritize yourself: It can be difficult to maintain your own life while helping someone suffering from addiction. Take care of yourself to ensure you can support them effectively. Exercise regularly, eat well, and prioritize your mental health. Break the Stigma Though addiction is so prevalent, with the United States having one of the highest rates of drug dependency, it is still widely misunderstood. The stigma around addiction can prevent those struggling from seeking help. By educating ourselves on the issue and offering support to those in need, we can foster an understanding environment where those who struggle can feel safe to reach out. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can get free, confidential support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP). Related
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ozempic's potential to kill desire for alcohol focus of study
(NewsNation) — Could the most popular weight loss drug double as a treatment for alcoholism? People using Ozempic say they are losing their desire to drink. It's anecdotal evidence right now, but this would be a game-changer for those who are trying to break free from addiction. Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity. The medicine mimics the behaviors of the natural hormone GLP-1, which controls appetite and regulates blood sugar. Lawsuit alleges Ozempic, Wegovy cause bowel obstruction, stomach paralysis An unintended consequence appears to be that people on the drugs are turning to the bottle less. They say their urge to drink has dramatically decreased. A new clinical trial will study people of normal weight who are dependent on alcohol, notes Pat Aussem with the Partnership to End Addiction. Over five months, participants will get either Ozempic or a placebo, she said. Dr. James Besante, chief medical officer at Sante Fe Recovery Center in New Mexico, agrees the study is exciting, but he cautions it's too early to tell whether the weight-loss drug will be effective for alcoholics. 'These treatments are still considered experimental for addiction,' he told 'Elizabeth Vargas Reports' on Thursday. 'And they're not covered by insurance when they're used for this purpose. And that's really important. It makes them inaccessible for many of the patients I see.' He said there are already proven medications in the marketplace that are covered by insurance. If Ozempic proves to be effective, Besante said, it would effectively become another tool in the medical toolbelt. 'This is a really complex disease that affects different people differently,' he said. 'Rarely is there a magic pill or one medication that's going to solve this person's issue.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health department layoffs mean that data on drug use and mental health could sit unused
Most teenagers don't use drugs. There's data to show that because of a 50-year-old government survey that may now be in jeopardy. The entire 17-member U.S. government team responsible for the National Survey on Drug Use and Health received layoff notices Tuesday, as part of the overhaul of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It's not clear whether there is an alternative plan to analyze the data, which local and state governments use to develop prevention measures and treatment services. The federal government distributes grant money to fight the opioid addiction crisis based on it. Researchers use it to study trends in depression, alcoholism and tobacco use. An HHS spokesman did not immediately respond to a question about the survey's future. The nationally representative survey is conducted in person by an independent research group with about 70,000 people each year. It provides a more complete picture than trends in overdose deaths, which capture only a small segment of the problem, said Lindsey Vuolo of the Partnership to End Addiction. 'We use its findings on a near daily basis in our research, educational programming and resources, and communication materials,' Vuolo said of the survey. Before the layoffs, the government team was preparing to analyze 2024 data, the first year where trends would be reliable again since the pandemic disrupted data collection, said Jennifer Hoenig, the laid-off director of the Office of Population Surveys. The data could now sit on the shelf without experienced analysts to untangle it, she said. 'Every person working on it was let go,' Hoenig said, noting that the data collection is mandated by Congress. The office is part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which would be absorbed into a new Administration for a Healthy America under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s plan. 'My team and I care so much about this data that we want people to understand what is being lost in our country if we don't have it,' Hoenig said. In recent years, the survey has found: — Seven out of 10 adolescents did not use illicit drugs or drink alcohol in 2023. — Men 60 and older were more likely than women in the same age group to have a substance use disorder, but women were more likely than men to have had a major depressive episode in 2021 and 2022. — Lesbian, gay and bisexual young people were about twice as likely as straight young people to have had a substance use disorder in 2023. — People who report using cannabis in the past year nearly doubled over two decades, from 11% in 2002 to 21.9% in 2022. 'In attempting to solve any public health problem, data is critical," said Andrew Kessler of Slingshot Solutions, a consulting firm that specializes in addiction and mental health issues. 'It allows us to advocate for and establish policies that fill very large gaps in treatment, thus saving lives in the process." ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Associated Press
02-04-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Health department layoffs mean that data on drug use and mental health could sit unused
Most teenagers don't use drugs. There's data to show that because of a 50-year-old government survey that may now be in jeopardy. The entire 17-member U.S. government team responsible for the National Survey on Drug Use and Health received layoff notices Tuesday, as part of the overhaul of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It's not clear whether there is an alternative plan to analyze the data, which local and state governments use to develop prevention measures and treatment services. The federal government distributes grant money to fight the opioid addiction crisis based on it. Researchers use it to study trends in depression, alcoholism and tobacco use. An HHS spokesman did not immediately respond to a question about the survey's future. The nationally representative survey is conducted in person by an independent research group with about 70,000 people each year. It provides a more complete picture than trends in overdose deaths, which capture only a small segment of the problem, said Lindsey Vuolo of the Partnership to End Addiction. 'We use its findings on a near daily basis in our research, educational programming and resources, and communication materials,' Vuolo said of the survey. Before the layoffs, the government team was preparing to analyze 2024 data, the first year where trends would be reliable again since the pandemic disrupted data collection, said Jennifer Hoenig, the laid-off director of the Office of Population Surveys. The data could now sit on the shelf without experienced analysts to untangle it, she said. 'Every person working on it was let go,' Hoenig said, noting that the data collection is mandated by Congress. The office is part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which would be absorbed into a new Administration for a Healthy America under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s plan. 'My team and I care so much about this data that we want people to understand what is being lost in our country if we don't have it,' Hoenig said. In recent years, the survey has found: — Seven out of 10 adolescents did not use illicit drugs or drink alcohol in 2023. — Men 60 and older were more likely than women in the same age group to have a substance use disorder, but women were more likely than men to have had a major depressive episode in 2021 and 2022. — Lesbian, gay and bisexual young people were about twice as likely as straight young people to have had a substance use disorder in 2023. — People who report using cannabis in the past year nearly doubled over two decades, from 11% in 2002 to 21.9% in 2022. 'In attempting to solve any public health problem, data is critical,' said Andrew Kessler of Slingshot Solutions, a consulting firm that specializes in addiction and mental health issues. 'It allows us to advocate for and establish policies that fill very large gaps in treatment, thus saving lives in the process.' ___
