Disaster' looms over addiction to painkillers Prescriptions for powerful drugs have soared in past 20 years, with death throughoverdose rising in their wake

00:28 , 0 Comments

They are the most powerful painkillers that family doctors have at their disposal, and as the queue of patients suffering from chronic pain grows longer doctors have been handing them out in greater numbers.

A review by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Abuse, published in June, found a six-fold increase in the prescribing of opioid analgesics by GPs from 228 million items in 1991 to 1.38bn items in 2009.

Brian Iddon, the former chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Drug Misuse, which reported in 2009, warned that the UK faced a similar epidemic to that in North America within a decade. Des Spence, a GP in Glasgow, wrote in the BMJ that the increased prescribing of opioids for chronic pain – other than that caused by cancer – was a "disaster in the making".

The increase is being driven by drug-company marketing that is fuelling patient demand. As populations age in the UK and across Europe, and more succumb to conditions such as arthritis, between 20 and 50 per cent are estimated to suffer from chronic pain.

Chronic pain caused by injury or disease has been poorly treated in the past and specialists acknowledge the growing use of powerful painkillers is a sign of a more compassionate society, prepared to dispense comfort to those in need. But there is a risk, as doses rise and dependence grows, that the dangers outweigh the benefits.

The review, Addiction to Medicines, by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Abuse, found that 3,735 patients receiving treatment for addiction said their primary problem was with prescription medicines, just 2 per cent of the total in drug-treatment services.

But the authors admitted that most of those with such a problem would be likely to seek treatment from their GPs.

Dr Cathy Stannard, a consultant in pain medicine at North Bristol NHS Trust and the author of Opioids in Chronic Pain, said: "There has been a huge increase in prescribing of opioid painkillers and they are being overused. I run a pain clinic where patients are coming in on 10 times the recommended dose. They keep going back to their doctors complaining of pain and the doctors don't know what to do – so they increase the dose.

"With other conditions, if the drug isn't working, doctors stop it and try something else. But it doesn't seem to be common clinical practice for doctors to say, 'if this painkiller isn't working we should stop it'."

Dependence on painkillers in the UK remained a hidden problem because there was "absolutely no data", Dr Stannard said.

The Public Health minister Anne Milton said: "Next month, we will convene a round-table meeting of experts to discuss action needed in light of new evidence from two recent Department of Health commissioned studies on addiction to prescription medicines. We will discuss how healthcare professionals can best address the issue."

 

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Amy Winehouse had no illegal drugs in body when she died

16:24 0 Comments

The Back to Black singer was found dead at her flat in north London on July 23.
The family statement said: ''Toxicology results returned to the Winehouse family by authorities have confirmed that there were no illegal substances in Amy's system at the time of her death
''Results indicate that alcohol was present but it cannot be determined as yet if it played a role in her death.
''The family would like to thank the police and coroner for their continuing thorough investigations and for keeping them informed throughout the process. They await the outcome of the inquest in October.''
An initial post-mortem examination proved inconclusive and an inquest was opened and adjourned with no cause of death given for the 27-year-old star.

 

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Alberta health officials will no longer hand out free crack pipes to addicts in Calgary.

12:33 0 Comments


For three years Alberta Health Services [AHS] has been quietly handing out clean crack pipes to drug users on the street through a mobile van program called Safeworks.

But when Vancouver health officials announced a similar initiative a few weeks ago, the Calgary program gained a lot of attention in the media, much of it critical.

Earlier this week, AHS sent an email to Safeworks employees instructing them to stop handing out crack pipes.

Tim Richter, the CEO of the Calgary Homeless Foundation, called it a step backwards.

"I think it is unfortunate. It … feels to me that we are letting some negative publicity stymie good public health," he said. "I think it has been proven that distributing these crack pipes to street involved addicts reduces transmission of everything from tuberculosis to HIV."

In an email to CBC News, AHS defended its decision to end the program.

"Although the initiative was focused on health objectives, there is reasonable potential for a legal challenge with respect to distribution. As such, crackpipes and all related devices are no longer offered through the Safeworks van," the email says.

"In Calgary, the Safeworks program van will continue to offer healthcare services – including referrals, immunizations, testing for communicable diseases and STIs, wound care, and health education – to at-risk individuals."

Steve Walton, a former police officer and drug expert in Calgary, said there is a criminal charge for distributing drug paraphernalia.

"[They] were in the process of seeking out direction from the crown prosecutors office and I think that that's a reasonable way to proceed and I think that it demonstrates they were undergoing due diligence to make sure that their position was a correct one."

However, Walton said providing free crack pipes gives medical professionals a chance to help addicts clean up, and improves public safety if a free hand-out stops even one addict from getting sick by sharing a pipe.

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Britons drink 5,800 pints in a lifetime (and suffer 726 hangovers!)

00:30 , 0 Comments

If you're suffering from a hangover after an ill-advised drink after work last night, you may not be pleased to know it is just one of 726 that you will experience.

It's not surprising when you consider the average Briton will down more than 5,800 pints during their adult life as well as glug 8,700 glasses of wine.

A survey of 2,000 people found we drink at least three nights a week and have nine drinks in total - which works out at 468 a year.

However, while over half (57 per cent) sip a beverage in the comfort of their own home, just 17 per cent say they regularly visit the pub.

The resulting bar bill comes to an eye-watering £58,201 over a lifetime.

The poll, by Benenden Healthcare Society, also revealed a fairly widespread dependency on alcohol.

The average Briton starts experimenting with alcohol at the tender age of 14.

Four out of 10 admitted they can’t go longer than a week without having a drink, while 10 per cent said they would struggle to make it through just two days without cracking open a bottle.

 


Meanwhile, one in five polled admitted they can’t have fun out on a night out if they don’t drink.

Andrew Meredith, medical director at Benenden Hospital, said: ‘This survey highlights the dysfunctional relationship many of us have with alcohol.

'The results can be seen in our town centres every weekend, in A&E departments where alcohol related conditions and injuries are a large part of the workload and the increasing numbers of admissions with alcohol related liver disease.’

Lawrence Christensen, of Benenden Healthcare, added: ‘We wish to draw attention to these levels of alcohol consumption, which not only pose a medical risk but a lifestyle risk in terms of financial cost.

'With 726 hangovers and being £58,201 out-of-pocket, "enjoying a drink" regularly takes on a new dimension.’

 

0 comments:

Post a Comment

English bodybuilder addicted to steroids has died of a heart attack after being tasered by police.

07:07 0 Comments


Father-of-two Dale Burns, 27, was stunned with the 50,000-volt taser three times by police after he began trashing his own apartment in Barrow-in-Furness in England's north-west, The Sun reported.

Police also used capsicum spray in a bid to subdue Mr Burns, who worked as a bouncer, before handcuffing him and arresting him for criminal damage.

He was rushed to hospital after going into cardiac arrest but died three hours later.

Mr Burns' former stepdad, Ian Lund, told the newspaper his stepson had become addicted to steroids and party drug mephedrone, causing him to suffer violent mood swings.

Nobody else was at the apartment at the time of his arrest.

0 comments:

Post a Comment

PHS grad with attorney on school board dodges jail time

01:27 0 Comments

A recent high school graduate dodged a jail sentence for six drug convictions Tuesday when he was represented by an attorney who serves on the school board.

The defense attorney, Carol Chellman, told the sentencing judge that a city police officer is “behind this young man.”

The “young man,” Ryan Ignaciuk, 18, of 44 Pearson St., pleaded guilty to the half-dozen charges alleging drug possession, possession of drugs in a motor vehicle and breach of bail conditions. The convictions are for his possession of marijuana or hashish on three occasions, once when he was on bail for drug charges.

Ignaciuk graduated from PHS in June and the convictions are for possessing pot or hash on Dec. 18, 2010, March 12 and May 26. Through a negotiated plea agreement, a felony count of criminal liability for the conduct of another was reduced to a misdemeanor conviction for drug possession.

Prosecutor Rena DiLando told the court she and Chellman agreed on sentencing terms for five of the charges, but disagreed about how Ignaciuk should be sentenced for breaching bail by getting rearrested. DiLando asked the court to sentence Ignaciuk to the county jail for 90 days, with 30 of them served and the rest suspended.

Ignaciuk was on bail for marijuana possession when he drove a codefendant to a hashish sale, had drugs in his possession and was present during the drug deal, DiLando told the court. After that, according to police, Ignaciuk was arrested for possession of pot while leaving the high school.

A 30-day jail sentence is “fair, reasonable and lenient,” DiLando told the court.

Chellman presented the judge “with several letters” of support which were not filed in Ignaciuk's District Court file. Following the hearing, Chellman declined to comment about who wrote the letters and what they said.

During the court hearing she said, “Everyone at Portsmouth High School, the coaches and a Portsmouth police officer, are all still behind this young man.”

Police Capt. Corey MacDonald said no Portsmouth officer wrote a letter in support of Ignaciuk. Lt. Russell Russo, who also serves as an athletic coach, did tell Chellman, “it breaks my heart whenever a kid I coached goes through our booking room,” according to MacDonald.

Chellman told the court Ignaciuk already served seven days in jail, started counseling at his own expense, would have jail time hanging over his head and needs help, not more time in jail.

“I can't think of a better case for treatment and a worse case for jail,” she said.

Further, if he were sentenced to jail, Ignaciuk would miss the first five days of college and lose his college housing, Chellman said.

Any consequences suffered by Ignaciuk are his “own doing,” DiLando countered.

“Thirty days for these charges are more than reasonable,” said the prosecutor.

The newly convicted teenager stood before Judge Stephen Morrison and made his own plea for leniency. He said while he served the seven days at the Rockingham County House of Corrections he was cell mates with a heroin addict who said his addiction began with pot.

“He lost his wife, his kids and his job,” the teenager told the judge. “I talked to him non-stop and it let me see I don't want that to be me.”

Ignaciuk's mother said her son has a full scholarship to college and worked all summer to pay his fines.

Judge Morrison imposed a series of fines and a year of suspended jail time. He also imposed a deferred one-year jail sentence for the breach of bail conviction.

The judge explained that the suspended and deferred jail time can be imposed if Ignaciuk gets rearrested.

“You mess up again and it's going to be a long time in jail,” the judge warned.

 

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Smoke leads cops to pot

01:26 0 Comments

Police soon discovered that where there was smoke, there was marijuana and hashish being made ready for sale at the scene of a small house fire at 16 Springwood Drive.

Edward M. Phipps, 21, who lives in a basement room at the address, has been charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of Class THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and possession of hashish after police and firefighters were called to the house for a reported fire on Sunday.

Phipps was arraigned Monday in Brockton District Court and posted $1,500 cash bail.

The date of his next court appearance was not available.

Abington Police Sgt. Kevin F. Sullivan, in his incident report, said he responded to a report of a possible house fire at 16 Springwood Drive at 8:51 p.m. Sunday and found several occupants standing on the front lawn when he arrived.

There was also a strong odor of smoke, he said. Abington firefighters used portable fans to ventilate the house.

Abington Fire Chief John Nuttall informed the officer that the fire was confined to a small room in the cellar.

The officer then went down into the cellar and in the room he saw a chair and an area of ceiling above damaged by fire. He then saw a butane lighter on the floor at the origin of the fire.

As he continued looking around the room, Sullivan saw a glass mason jar filled with a green “vegetable-like substance” that appeared to be marijuana.

He also saw small grinders embedded with the same leafy substance and a small glass jar with a “brown vegetable-like substance” that appeared to be hashish.

The officer also saw in plain view a small glass jar that contained hash oil.

Inside the room there were several other items “consistent” with the packaging and distribution of marijuana.

Sullivan also found a “very large” plastic bag filled with marijuana, he said in the report.

 

0 comments:

Post a Comment

A drug addict has been found guilty of stabbing his friend to death and trying to cover up his crime by torching the flat.

01:22 0 Comments


Charles Lansiquot, 42, of Bathurst House, White City, was convicted at the Old Bailey today for the murder of drug 'runner' Ibrahim Kledat in Lugard House, Bloemfontein Road, on October 20 last year.

Police were called to the flat at 8.10am after reports of a fire and when they entered the property 15 minutes later they found Mr Kledat, 54, face down on the floor having been stabbed to death.

At midday, crack-addict Lansiquot walked into Shepherd's Bush Police Station to say he had witnessed Mr Kledat's death.

He claimed he was in the flat when two men with balaclavas broke in and stabbed him to death while they held him at gunpoint.

Lansiquot said the attackers forced him to clean the evidence from the flat before making him take off his clothes but officers saw through his story and charged him with the murder three days later.

Detective Inspector Craig Jones, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "Lansiquot not only dreamt up an elaborate sequence of events to explain the victim's death, he also put the lives of other residents in the block of flats at risk when setting fire to the premises to cover his tracks.

“Good detective work provided evidence that his account was nothing but lies and resulted in the conviction today."

Lansiquot will be sentenced at the Old Bailey tomorrow.

0 comments:

Post a Comment

The outlook isn't 'grim'. The number of heroin and crack addicts is falling

01:20 0 Comments

In the lively drugs debate following the tragic death of Amy Winehouse, it is important to keep a cool head for figures. A Datablog commentary by James Ball and Simon Rogers misunderstood some of the numbers it sought to explain (Drug deaths, misuse and overdose statistics in England, 24 July).

While correct that 206,000 people in England received an intervention for drug addiction at the last count, it was wrong that "around 62,600 completed some form of treatment". Not all who left the system in 2009-10 completed a course of treatment – many were referred to other agencies, sent to prison or dropped out.

That left about 143,400 remaining in the system, meaning they continued to derive real benefit from a course of structured treatment. They commit less crime, pose less of a risk to public health, and are in active therapy. This is an important milestone to recovery, given that four out of five patients are heroin addicts and experts acknowledge it takes several years to beat addiction.

Official statistics report "treatment completed" separately, and the latest number is 23,680, or 38% of all exits. This has doubled in four years and we anticipate the trend will continue. These clients were judged by their clinician to have overcome addiction for the substance for which they entered treatment and, in addition, were not using heroin or crack, the most problematic drugs. The definitions were tightened a few years ago to make clear all completions are "dependence free".

The Datablog claimed "only 8,112 left entirely drug-free. However, a further 15,568 left still using drugs, but defined as 'dependence free'." It was the other way round: the 15,568 were not using any drugs at all, whereas the 8,112 may have been occasional users (but not of heroin, crack, or their drug of dependence if it was different). In practice those few "still using drugs" were no longer addicted to any substance, but the clinician couldn't rule out the possibility they might be occasional users of cannabis or stimulants.

Since treatment exists to tackle dependence, and waiting times are low (90% of clients wait less than three weeks), the number in treatment is a proxy measure of problematic use. As this number has fallen from a peak of 210,000 in 2008-09 and will almost certainly fall further in the next annual statistics, the Datablog assertion that "problem drug use, and the harms that accompany it, remains on the rise" is wrong.

In addition, independent research by Glasgow University confirms the number of heroin and crack addicts in England is falling from an initial aggregate estimate of 330,000, and shortly we will publish figures showing a further and significant fall.

We therefore refute the Datablog claim that "the prognosis for the 320,000 problem drug users, the majority of whom take both heroin and crack, is grim". The number of heroin and crack addicts is falling; treatment is widely available; those in treatment are getting better and pose less harm to society; and more people are overcoming their addiction. This is a positive platform on which the government is building with its strategy to get more of those in treatment into full recovery and off drugs for good.

 

0 comments:

Post a Comment

EEOC sues, argues man on treatment should be hired

01:19 , 0 Comments

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued a national insurance company, contending the firm violated federal law by refusing to hire a North Carolina man after he disclosed he was participating in a methadone treatment program for a drug addiction.

The suit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Raleigh against United Insurance Co. of America, said EEOC attorney Lynette Barnes.

The complaint argues the firm violated federal disability discrimination law by refusing to hire Craig Burns, 30, who applied for a job in the firm's Raleigh office in December of 2009. The firm made a conditional offer of employment to Burns the following month, depending upon his passing a drug test, the complaint said.

The test showed the presence of methadone in his system, so Burns submitted a letter to the firm from his treatment provider saying he was participating in a supervised methadone treatment program and taking legally prescribed medication as part of the treatment, the complaint said.

Upon receiving this information, United Insurance notified Barnes he was not eligible to be hired and withdrew the employment offer, the complaint said.

Barnes said the action violates the Americans With Disabilities Act, which protects employees and applicants from discrimination based on their disabilities. A recovering drug addict is covered under the act, the attorney said in an interview.

"It is unfortunate that many employers still deny the opportunity for work to people who are ready and able to simply because of inaccurate perceptions of disabilities," said Barnes. "Employers' decisions are often based on irrational fears or stereotypes about individuals with a record of past substance abuse."

The suit seeks back pay, compensation for financial loss, as well as punitive damages to be determined at trial.

A call to United Insurance Co. of America was not immediately returned. The firm sells life, accident and health insurance policies and has about 2,300 employees across the country.

Barnes said Burns declined to comment about the case.

 

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Addiction Identified as Chronic Brain Disorder

01:18 0 Comments

Addiction will no longer be considered a behavior disorder, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) announced Monday. Instead, addicts will be considered to have a chronic brain disorder, and one not necessarily related to problematic substance abuse, Live Science reported.

ASAM has been contemplating updating the definition of addiction for four years, implementing a review process that involved more than 80 experts. The new switch is a result of that work.

Former president of ASAM Michael Miller outlined the new definition.

“At its core, addiction isn’t just a social problem or a moral problem or a criminal problem,” he said. “It’s a brain problem whose behaviors manifest in all these other areas. Many behaviors driven by addiction are real problems and sometimes criminal acts. But the disease is about brains, not drugs. It’s about underlying neurology, not outward actions.”

The updated definition also involves classifying addiction as a primary disease. That means addiction is not the result of other causes, like emotional or psychiatric problems, Live Science explained. Addiction is chronic as well, meaning it must be treated and monitored over a person’s lifetime.

 

0 comments:

Post a Comment

A self-confessed female sex addict admitted drunkenly attacking a doorman while on a night out, a court heard yesterday.

07:48 0 Comments


Shannon Flynn, 27, last year publicly confessed to being a sex addict who was prone to violence if her boyfriend did not satisfy her in the bedroom.

Now she has admitted attacking bouncer Bulen Aksoy outside Edinburgh nightspot, Garibaldis on October 28.

The former beautician spat on her victim and kicked him on his body just after midnight Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard.

Mr Aksoy was injured as a result of the attack but declined medical attention.

The sex addict who claims to have slept with 70 men said owning up to her battle with sex and alcohol has helped her turn her life around.

Defence agent James Stewart said Flynn was currently living with her mother.

He said: 'Alcohol was involved in provoking the attack.'

Sheriff Isabella McColl called for background reports and deferred sentence until next month.

Speaking outside court Flynn said the attack on the bouncer was not related to her sex addiction, but her problems with alcohol.

She added: 'I had a sex addiction. It's related to alcohol. The sex addiction only came out when I was drunk. But I've calmed down now.'

 

Flynn said she was now takes tablets three times a week, which make her sick when she has a drink.

She said that speaking out about her addiction has helped her battle her demons.

She said: 'I go to counseling once a week now. And I've not got a boyfriend.


Attack: Sharon Flynn admitted attacking a bouncer outside Edinburgh nightspot, Garibaldis

'When we were together I think he was more the girl and I was more the guy. I'm staying away from men. This year's my year.'

Flynn spoke out about her sex addiction after revelations about Tiger Woods' sex life emerged last year.

She confessed that even after she had sex with ex-partner, banker Jamie Thexton, in the morning, she was still hungry for love when he came home at night.

If she was not satisfied, she became moody, and even violent, and said she demanded sex at least four times a day.

She claimed to have slept with 70 men over the last 10 years, including several one-night stands and casual affairs.

During an interview last year she admitted throwing a mobile phone at one lover after he denied her sex

'I'm not usually violent, but my desire for sex takes over all my senses,'

She said if she was unable to satisfy her sexual desires the withdrawal symptoms were horrendous.

She said: 'Hardly anyone can understand what I am going through on a daily basis. Every hour of every day, all I can think about is sex.'

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Lettuce addiction 'saved woman's life' after giving clue to cancer diagnosis

00:23 0 Comments

Elsie Campbell, 59-year-old mother-of-three, woke up one day with an unusual craving. She couldn't stop eating lettuce.
But after her cravings escalated to eating four whole lettuces a day, her husband Jim, who is a research scientist, suspected the addiction was her body signalling something was wrong.
"I woke up one day and suddenly fancied some lettuce," she told the Daily Mail.
"I’d always eaten it in salads, but suddenly, I just couldn’t get enough of it. I could eat three or four whole lettuces a day. I’d eat a whole iceberg lettuce at work, and sit on the bus on the way home thinking about eating more and more."
Mr Campbell looked at what his wife's body could be lacking and found that lettuce contains a nutrient that is often lacking in breast cancer sufferers.
He insisted she see a doctor, and after a small dimple appeared on her breast, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Following the early diagnosis, she had the lump removed and had months of treatment but has now been given the all-clear.
She said: "Strangely, since the lump was removed, I haven’t wanted to eat a single lettuce leaf – the craving’s completely vanished.
"I was so lucky Jim spotted the signs when he did – my lettuce addiction probably saved my life."
The couple have now set up information website questionmyhealth.com to help others who may be suffering from similar health oddities.

 

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Caleb Followill's Kings Of Leon bandmates 'want him to go to rehab to deal with drink problem

00:21 0 Comments

When rock giants Kings of Leon abruptly cancelled their tour yesterday millions of fans were left devastated.

But problems within the four-piece’s camp run far deeper than their management is letting on according to an American magazine.

Although the band said that lead singer Caleb Followill was ‘suffering from vocal issues and exhaustion,’ an insider close to the Grammy winners told the magazine he has an alcohol problem.


No more for the road? It has been claimed today Kings of Leon star Caleb Followill's bandmates want him to check into rehab before they tour again

The source told US Weekly: ‘They are trying to get Caleb to go to rehab. It is mostly for alcohol.

‘[That's why] they ended up cancelling the whole tour. He drinks like a fish.’

If the revelations are true it would make the singer’s rant on Friday night when he stormed off stage in Dallas, Texas, claiming it was 'too hot' even more shocking


Charmer: Lucky Caleb recently married to Victoria's Secret model Lily Aldridge

He said: ‘I'm gonna go backstage and I'm gonna vomit, I'm gonna drink a beer,’ before walking off for the night.

Another source close to the group said Caleb, who recently married Victoria's Secret model Lily Aldridge, has been battling a problem for a long time.

He said: ‘It's true. Caleb's drinking is out of control and they are trying to get him into rehab.

‘It's a dark demon he has been fighting for awhile.’

However a representative of the band has denied the accusations,  and reaffirmed claims the singer just needed some rest.

He said: "The reason for the cancellation of the tour is Caleb is under doctor's orders for vocal rest.

‘They feel terrible about cancelling. They look forward to getting back on the road at the end of September.’

However Caleb's bandmate and brother Jared has hinted the problems are bigger than is being officially let on through Twitter.

On Saturday he wrote: ‘There are internal sicknesses and problems that have needed to be addressed.

‘I know you guys aren't stupid. I can't lie. There are problems in our band bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade.’

On Monday, when the tour was cancelled, he added: "Utterly depressed. It's completely out of my hands. Family has to come first.’


Band of brothers: Caleb's family filled band are concerned for the singers well-being and are urging him to seek help according to claims

A third source all the members of the Nashville, Tennessee band, which also features two of Caleb's brothers and a cousin, love to party hard.

He said: ‘They all drink, all the [bandmates]. Anyone in a band usually likes to have a few beers on the road.

‘They have never discussed [Caleb's drinking] as a problem before.’

 

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)