Find Recovery Editorial Team, Author at Find Recovery

True or False: All Narcotics are Addictive

In 2020, there were 40.3 million Americans over the age of 12 who met the criteria of having a drug addiction, nearly 15% of the population. These high numbers are the result of various circumstances that have converged to create a health crisis that doesn’t show any signs of slowing down: People are more stressed than ever (re: COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, world affairs, American politics, gas prices) and the potency of drugs keeps getting stronger.

At the heart of the addiction epidemic are narcotics, a category of drugs that includes both legal and illegal varieties–and some of which are the most addictive substances on the planet. They account for up to 80% of all drug overdose deaths, approximately 50,000 a year. Are all narcotics addictive or is it only certain ones that drive these scary statistics?

What Are Narcotics? [DEA Definition]

The term stems from the Greek word “to make numb” but there are a few definitions of what a narcotic is floating around. Some use it negatively to refer to all drugs of any kind (an international assembly held in 1961 called the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs was focused on cannabis and cocaine), but this definition is less prevalent. Others, primarily those in the field of medicine, use narcotic as a neutral term to refer to drugs with pain-relieving or numbing properties, or that put users in a state of narcosis.

However, most modern definitions of narcotics align more closely with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s, that a narcotic is any type of opium derivative, pharmaceutical or illicit, natural or synthetic. In short, narcotic is just an alternative name for opioids.

Narcotic Drugs List

Narcotics include natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic derivatives of the poppy plant. Many of these types of narcotics are likely to sound familiar to you as both illegal and legal varieties of opioids are widely used. However, there are likely many more that you haven’t heard of (there are over 100 types of prescription opioids alone)! Below are the most common narcotics:

Buprenorphine
Codeine
Fentanyl
Heroin
Hydrocodone
Hydromorphone
Meperidine
Methadone
Morphine
Oliceridine
Oxycodone
Opium
Tramadol

Some of these narcotics are used alone, but many of these substances are combined with other chemical ingredients to create medications like suboxone. Prescription narcotics are blamed for having resulted in the deadly third wave of the opioid epidemic that is currently gripping the nation.

Are All Narcotics Addictive?

Yes, all narcotics have the potential to be addictive. Some carry greater addiction potential than others, but opioids are powerful mind-altering drugs that might result in addiction. Heroin is a narcotic and is considered to be the most addictive drug in existence. According to SAMHSA’s 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health report, there were 2.7 million people 12 and older who had opioid use disorder in 2020 (approximately 1% of the U.S. population).

Illicit synthetic opioids are often the most potent and therefore, are the most addictive. Fentanyl, for example, can be 100x more potent than morphine and has significantly higher addiction potential.

Why are narcotics addictive?

To better understand why narcotics are so addictive is to look at how addiction happens in the brain in general. To summarize a very complex situation, addiction occurs when brain receptors become used to a certain foreign substance activating them and eventually stops producing the naturally occurring neurotransmitters the brain would normally produce to activate those receptors. This creates what’s known as physical dependence. When a person gets to this stage but tries to stop using drugs, they’ll experience unpleasant and sometimes dangerous side effects known as withdrawal.

People often inadvertently get themselves in this situation because drugs have a powerful means of encouraging their repeated use. While drugs are activating brain receptors and gearing the brain towards physical dependence, they simultaneously activate the pleasure or reward centers in the brain. Your brain likes pleasure and will actively seek out things that make it feel good. This is what ends up developing into psychological dependence, and is what’s most responsible for causing drug users to develop a tolerance that eventually gives way to full-blown addiction.

Narcotics are extremely adept at both aspects of the addiction equation. They trigger the release of high levels of endorphins so strongly that addiction can occur within a single use. Many narcotics activate the reward centers of the brain more so than other types of drugs.

Getting Help for a Narcotics Addict

If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction, you’re not alone. There are thousands of Narcotics Anonymous groups across the country helping people just like you. Find an NA group in your city today.

https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt35325/NSDUHFFRPDFWHTMLFiles2020/2020NSDUHFFR1PDFW102121.pdf

https://drugabusestatistics.org/

Understanding “White Knuckling” in Sobriety

Odds are you’ve heard the term quitting cold turkey before, which means abruptly stopping something instead of slowly tapering off. It is unanimously advised against in addiction recovery circles as being both dangerous (this is how you end up with nasty withdrawal symptoms) and oftentimes ineffective.

A similar and equally ill-advised approach for addiction recovery is something called “white knuckling”, meaning that a person tries to overcome addiction alone and solely through willpower. You can imagine someone metaphorically strapping in for a rough ride and holding on for dear life, resulting in the ‘white knuckles’ that the term is named after. Here’s why white knuckling sobriety is almost guaranteed to fail (and what you should do instead):

Why White Knuckling Doesn’t Work

White knuckling solely relies on the person’s willpower to help them overcome addiction. If you follow the 12 Steps, you’ll recall that Alcoholics Anonymous specifically addresses that willpower is not enough for a recovering alcoholic to achieve sobriety. That same willpower is the one that got the person into their problems in the first place and is clearly flawed when it comes to regulating alcohol control (learn more about Step 1 of AA).

It’s not a matter of willpower

The glaring problem with this approach, whether you are a follower of AA or not, is that ultimately, addiction is not a disease of willpower. Addiction is a chronic medical condition that is just as valid as anything else you’d find in a medical textbook. No one would reasonably expect anyone to try and power through diabetes or cancer, which are also chronic diseases. The rationale behind white knuckling is more in line with the (now outdated) model of addiction from the early 1900s which viewed substance abuse as a moral failure.

The Dangers of White Knuckling Sobriety

White knuckling is dangerous as well as ineffective, here’s why:

Unsupervised withdrawal

White knuckling means that a person is also going through withdrawal without assistance, some side effects of which can be deadly. Even if you’re not willing to enroll in an addiction treatment facility just yet, at least consider going through detox, where medical staff offers round-the-clock supervision to help you safely pass through withdrawal.

Higher odds of relapse

When a person goes to an addiction treatment facility, their program will include seeing a mental health professional that will help them uncover the root cause of their addiction, identify triggers, and teach healthy new coping mechanisms. Without that emotional support, white knucklers are ill-prepared to deal with the realities of life after addiction and are essentially walking a tightrope without a safety net.

Relapsing itself can be extremely dangerous because during the period a person abstained from drug use, their tolerance may have decreased considerably. If they consume drugs in the quantities they’re used to, they put themselves at significant risk of overdose.

Alternatives to White Knuckling

Failing to address the psychological causes behind addiction can put a person at an increased risk of relapse. Here are a few ways to get that support for those who are reluctant to commit to going to drug rehab:

Taper off drug use

White knuckling and quitting cold turkey aren’t synonymous, but it’s not unusual for them to coincide. As such, do not abruptly stop using drugs in your effort to get sober. Purposefully taper your dosage to a smaller amount over a period of weeks to allow your body to gracefully adjust. This will reduce the likelihood of withdrawal effects and ease the severity of any symptoms you end up experiencing–in turn, minimizing your need for professional medical intervention. When you eventually get to the point of stopping use altogether, it’s strongly recommended to do so in a detox rehab anyways for your safety

See a therapist

You don’t need to be a patient of a formal addiction treatment facility to receive the benefits of therapy or counseling. There are many mental health professionals that specialize in helping those who struggle with substance abuse. They can help undo the psychological dependence you’ve developed on our drug of choice and teach you the skills you need to masterfully navigate the temptations or cravings you will inevitably experience.

Find a support group

Numerous studies have shown the importance of a support network in the addiction recovery process. It provides motivation, accountability, and distraction. Whether or not you are open about your substance use, you can find confidential, judgment-free support by attending AA meetings or NA meetings. Find one near you today to connect with others who have been in your shoes.

The (Alcoholics Anonymous) Resentment Prayer

Battling alcoholism means confronting your fair share of negative emotions. A common one is resentment–resentment towards loved ones who “let” you drink, resentment towards work or a person for stressing you out, and resentment towards yourself for letting things get out of hand. It’s such a pervasive issue that the Big Book of AA talks calls it the “number one offender” for destroying alcoholics. If you struggle with placing blame on others, join us in breaking down the meaning of the Resentment Prayer and how to apply it to your own life.

What Is Resentment, and Why Does It Matter?

Resentment is defined as “a feeling of indignant displeasure or persistent ill will at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injury.” In short, feeling that you were wronged and treated unfairly and being unable to let it go or forgive. It’s a poisonous feeling that can make us feel self-righteous at the moment but irreparably harm our relationships with others and ourselves.

It’s something that many recovering alcoholics grapple with but can be highly detrimental to their recovery process. Why? Having feelings of resentment is in direct opposition to the core principles of AA: accepting personal responsibility for a drinking problem, getting rid of pride, and relinquishing control.

Not only are such feelings harmful to our mental health, but they are tremendously unproductive. It is similar to holding a grudge, but it only hurts you in the long run–the person you are upset with is usually oblivious to how you feel. Continuing to blame others for your own actions or shortcomings can signal that you’re not in the right mindset to move on to the other steps of AA and gain their full benefit.

Signs of Resentment

Unable to stop thinking about the source of insult for long periods of time
Passive-aggressive behavior
Avoiding the person to prevent negative emotions
Desire for revenge

The AA Resentment Prayer

The 4th Step Resentment Prayer of AA, page 552 of the Big Book, reads as follows:

“God, Please help me to be free of anger and to see that the world and its people have dominated me. Show me that the wrong-doing of others, fancied or real, has the power to actually kill me. Help me to master my resentments by understanding that the people who wronged me were perhaps spiritually sick. Please help me show those I resent the same Tolerance, Pity, and Patience that I would cheerfully grant a sick friend.** Help me to see that this is a sick man. Father, please show me how I can be helpful to him and save me from being angry. Lord, help me to avoid retaliation or argument. I know I can’t be helpful to all people, but at least show me how to take a kindly and tolerant view of each and every one. Thy will be done.”

This prayer is an exercise in replacing blame with compassion–something much easier said than done. The Big Book recognizes this by acknowledging that you likely won’t mean what you say the first few times you recite the Resentment Prayer. The Big Book further specifies reciting this prayer with the person(s) who’ve wronged you in mind and to continue doing it daily for at least two weeks until you eventually do mean what you’re saying.

How to Release Resentment

If you find yourself struggling to let go of resentment, here are some other things to try:

Explore the feelings behind your resentment. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the incident that caused you to resent the person? Embarrassment or shame? Inadequacy? Fear? In most cases, it’s not that the person did something unforgivable but that they made you feel a way that you really didn’t like, which was channeled into anger to protect your wounded ego.
Be empathetic. Make a genuine effort to try and see things from their point of view and ignore what your intentions were or any other information that they could not have known. Considering their actions through a different lens can help you realize that the situation may not have been as black and white as you previously thought. Misunderstandings happen.
Focus on gratitude. Considering the positive things in your life can provide some much-needed perspective. In the grand scheme of things, a quarrel with a friend or romantic partner might not be the big deal you initially thought it was. Bonus: positive thinking can lower your stress, making it easier for you to let go of those negative feelings.

Seeking Support for Resentment: The Importance of Talking It Out

It can be challenging working through resentment alone. Find a person you trust, such as a therapist or your AA sponsor, to talk your feelings through. Having a neutral third party to consult can help you navigate your own emotional blindspots. Find an AA meeting near you today.

What Is Emotional Sobriety in AA?

Abstinence is obviously an important aspect of overcoming addiction. It’s vital to breaking the cycle and physically recovering from the ravages of substance abuse. However, getting the drug out of your system is only half of the battle. You must also eventually gain control over your psychological relationship with alcohol to ever truly be considered recovered. Alcoholics Anonymous has a term for this called emotional sobriety. Learn what AA says about emotional sobriety in the Big Book, why it’s so important, and how to achieve it for yourself.

The Meaning of Emotional Sobriety in AA

Let’s start off with an example. Say that you and your significant other just broke up. You fill every moment of every day with distractions so that you don’t have an opportunity to think about them. You proceed like this during the first few weeks or months of the breakup, which is pretty normal and even healthy to do. If you gave yourself permission to think about them, you might end up caving and reaching out to rekindle the relationship.

Then, imagine that 1, 5, or 10 years from now, you still refuse to acknowledge thoughts about them because any time you do, you feel tempted to go back to them. That approach isn’t looking so healthy, is it? You may have stayed away from a person that wasn’t right for you, but you never fully got over them either. This is essentially the core concept of emotional sobriety.

What’s a Dry Drunk?

The topic of emotional sobriety in the Big Book refers to individuals who give up alcohol without making any internal changes as dry drunks (this is different from a dry drunk syndrome which is a medical condition). These individuals may not physically consume alcohol or another drug, but they still have the same unhealthy patterns of behavior that led to substance abuse in the first place.

Red flags of dry drunk behavior include:

Failing to acknowledge that their alcohol consumption was problematic
No attempt to understand what drove them to drink
Still has unhealthy reactions to stressful situations (and no attempt to find new coping methods)
Attends 12-Step meetings but doesn’t participate
Refuses to be around alcohol/Can’t be around people drinking
Does not hold themselves accountable for their actions
Harbors bitter feelings toward themselves/Unable to forgive themselves

Practicing Emotional Sobriety 101

We’ve covered what emotional sobriety is and why it’s essential to alcoholism recovery so now let’s discuss ways to practice and maintain emotional sobriety.

2. Mindfulness

This simple practice is about staying in the present moment; acknowledging your feelings and sensory observations without judgment. Research has shown that it’s effective for lowering stress, improving emotional regulation, focus, and memory, and even boosting the immune system. Many of its benefits are a perfect match for the precise way that substance abuse can harm a person. The most common method of practicing mindfulness is through meditation.

3. Find a support network

Addiction is a very isolating disease. Finding a support network is crucial both to holding yourself accountable, but also breaking down the walls that may have contributed to alcohol abuse in the first place. Research has shown that having social support can play a significant role in predicting the outcome of successful addiction treatment.

4. Go to therapy

There’s no substitute for professional psychological help. They can help you unravel the cause of your drinking problem and help you develop realistic coping strategies in the face of triggers or cravings. They can also help you identify if there’s a mental illness that may have contributed to addiction and provide appropriate recommendations.

5. Attend AA meetings

Free and with minimal commitment required, attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings is a low-stakes way to meet and hear from others who have been in your exact shoes. Realizing that you’re not alone in your struggle with alcohol addiction is both comforting and empowering. It’s important to go with an open mind and with the intention of fully participating. Otherwise, going to an AA meeting is an empty gesture that’s unlikely to provide you with any real benefit.

Simply giving up booze doesn’t mean that you’re recovered. You need to be able to address why it happened and more importantly, be able to have thoughts about alcohol that don’t send you back to the bottle. A lack of emotional sobriety means you’re never far from relapsing. A particularly bad day can send you back to square one if you don’t have the correct means to work through triggering situations. Learn more about the definition of emotional sobriety and find an AA meeting near you today.

4 Things You Didn’t Know About How Addiction Affects Families

Think addiction only hurts the person using drugs? Think again. There’s a reason why there’s a saying that addiction is a family disease. Even if there’s one person in the family who’s using drugs, they are rarely the only person in a family unit who is suffering because of it. Here’s the ugly truth about how addiction affects families and their loved ones.

How does addiction affect family and friends?

Say there’s a father who lost his job due to addiction. The loss of income could put a family in jeopardy of losing their home. Parents of an addicted child might find themselves arguing frequently as each claims the other is an enabler, eventually leading to divorce. Addiction is devastating to family dynamics. The consequences of the drug user’s actions will cause irreversible harm no matter their standing or whether they’re a child or adult.

1. Financial strain

Addiction is expensive for multiple reasons. First, there’s the cost of the drugs themselves. Depending on the frequency of drug use, this could be significant. Then there’s the cost of addiction treatment, which can be quite expensive, costing upwards of tens of thousands of dollars for a treatment program (it’s one of the primary reasons why some people put off getting treated).

However, there are also indirect costs to be considered, such as an increased risk of getting into accidents or having run-ins with the law, or like in the example above, the potential loss of income. There are more than double the number of drug users who are unemployed than those that have a full-time job. Addiction jeopardizes the family’s finances and puts the family at risk.

2. Increased risk of abuse

Research has found an unsettling correlation between drug addiction and domestic abuse. One alcohol abuse study found that the risk of intimate partner violence increases significantly if one or both partners have a drinking problem.

A paper from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that 25% of men who committed acts of domestic violence also had substance abuse problems. Similarly, women who abused drugs also faced an increased likelihood of being victims of domestic abuse.

This risk of abuse can also affect children as well, though usually not as physical violence. Instead, it is usually child abuse in the form of maltreatment or neglect.

3. Increased stress

It goes without saying that dealing with a family member who’s addicted to drugs is a stressful situation. Even if things haven’t escalated to any of the above situations (money problems or abuse) there are still many other ways that a drug user can cause stress within their family. It could be because one person is aware that a loved one has a problem but isn’t sure whether they should be the person to out their family member, or perhaps multiple family members are struggling with how to confront a loved one whose drug use has gotten so severe they need to have an intervention.

Aside from stress being a major health hazard, it also can lead to family members being constantly on edge. Shorter fuses mean a greater likelihood of spats and misunderstandings which can further alienate the family from each other.

4. Creates a cycle of drug use

People who grow up with family members who have a substance use disorder face a significantly higher risk of developing one themselves. It’s a dangerous cycle that countless studies have found difficult to break. In addition to setting a bad behavioral example for children, addiction can change your genes, causing minor mutations that can be passed on to future offspring, putting them at increased risk.

However, children aren’t the only ones who can be negatively affected by drug abuse. It can also significantly increase the odds of relapse in other family members who are in addiction recovery.

Help for Families Affected by Addiction

Substance abuse disorder is defined as when a person’s drug use renders them unable to fulfill familial, personal, or professional responsibilities. When a person gets to such a stage, the financial, legal, and medical troubles that drug use can cause can quickly manifest themselves in ways that directly affect a family’s dynamic and instill an overwhelming sense of instability as well as emotional distress.

Resolving these issues will require a lot more than simply having the drug user go to rehab. This stressful time likely eroded trust and family dynamics, and will need to be repaired. Many addiction treatment programs involve a family component that gets family members involved with their loved one’s treatment. Not sure if rehab is the right route for your family member with drug addiction? Find Al-anon meetings near you. They are like AA but for the family members and can provide valuable insight from others who’ve been in your exact situation.

Should You Consider Ketamine Treatment for Alcoholism?

Interest in ketamine has increased over the past years, but most recently over the past months. Ketamine therapy, ketamine infusions, and other uses for ketamine, including treatment for alcoholism. This buzz started after new studies suggested that ketamine could be a helpful treatment for alcohol use disorder. Read on to learn more about ketamine and its connection to alcoholism treatment.

What Is Ketamine?

Ketamine is primarily used as an anesthetic. It’s considered a dissociative drug that can produce detachment from reality. Ketamine is found illegally on the streets as Special K, Kit Kat, Super K, Vitamin K, and other names. It’s found as a white or off-white powder, pills, or liquid form.

Ketamine for Alcoholism Treatment

New studies suggest that using low levels of ketamine combined with therapy can help people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) stay sober longer.

The clinical trial found that a combination of ketamine in low doses combined with therapy helped participants stay entirely sober for 162 days. This was an 87 percent abstinence, considered significantly higher than any other group.

Overall, patients in the ketamine group were 2.5 more likely to remain abstinent at the end of the trial than the participants in the placebo group.

However, there isn’t a comparison to other forms of alcoholism treatment like naltrexone or acamprosate. Still, ketamine has also been shown to improve depression symptoms, which is why some researchers believe it can positively impact alcohol addiction treatment.

How It Works

Ketamine induces overall dissociation, providing pain relief and sedation. While most people use it as a recreational drug, ketamine is gaining momentum as a potential treatment for addiction.

When used at very low doses, ketamine can act as an antidepressant that helps block out the depressive feelings associated with alcohol abuse. Combined with behavioral therapy, it can help patients change thought patterns that usually lead to relapse.

Overall, ketamine treatment can help people suffering from alcoholism be more open to learning new coping mechanisms without experiencing depressive thoughts of recovery.

The Dangers of Ketamine for Alcohol Abuse Treatment

Ketamine is a powerful drug. Without the proper medical supervision, ketamine can easily lead to addiction. It’s essential to count on the support of a professional therapist who understands the best way to incorporate ketamine in your treatment to avoid the pitfalls of the drug.

When people combine ketamine with alcohol, the combined effects can be unpredictable and dangerous. Since both drugs act as depressants, it could lead to slow functioning of the heart and lungs, which could be fatal.

Ketamine alone also causes withdrawal symptoms. People can experience physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms, including cravings, chills, restlessness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, tremors, and depression.

Because ketamine is highly addictive, it can also lead to long-term health effects that could be detrimental. People who take large amounts of ketamine or acquire a strong batch from the streets could overdose. While the risk of death from ketamine alone is low, it can cause permanent brain damage and risk of injuries or accidents.

Finding Treatment for Alcoholism

When it comes to alcohol abuse treatment, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all. Treatment depends on the severity of the addiction, the time of the addiction, and whether or not someone has co-occurring disorders. Most people will need inpatient or outpatient treatment programs combined with 12-Step programs to achieve long-lasting addiction recovery.

The most common types of treatment for alcoholism include:

- Detox: A supervised detox program helps people safely withdraw from alcohol while a team of experts monitors withdrawal symptoms.
- Behavioral therapy: Individual and group therapy is critical to help patients reframe destructive thoughts and learn coping mechanisms to prevent relapse after leaving treatment.
- Medications: Sometimes, medications, including ketamine, might help people stop or reduce their drinking and prevent relapse. The only three medications approved by the FDA to treat alcoholism are naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram.

Support groups: Throughout rehab and after treatment attending peer support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-Step programs can offer a sense of support and accountability that helps prevent relapse and sustain recovery.

If you or someone you know is dealing with alcohol use disorders, please seek help. Addiction recovery is possible, whether you start a treatment that uses ketamine prescribed by a trusted professional or try a traditional inpatient rehab program.

Sources:

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-help#pub-toc1

https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/ketamine/

https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.21030277

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How Long Does Suboxone Take To Work?

Suboxone, the brand name of a widely used medication for treating opioid addiction, has numerous and significant benefits for those in recovery. It can increase treatment retention rates, decrease rates of overdose and relapse, lower mortality rates, and reduce the need for inpatient detox treatment. However, as is the case with many types of medications, it can take some time before the positive effects take place–time that the nature of addiction may not allow.

So how long does suboxone take to work?

In this article, we’ll cover all timely matters related to this popular MAT medication including how long the effects last and how long to wait to take suboxone.

What is suboxone used for?

Not all MAT medications are the same or used for the same purpose. Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone used during the early stage of recovery (detox) as well as the maintenance stages. In addition to being valuable for reducing the likelihood and severity of any experienced withdrawal effects, suboxone can also be used for long-term use to reduce cravings and lower the risk of relapse.

Suboxone dosage is very likely to vary depending on the stage of a person’s addiction recovery. The strongest doses are used at the beginning of treatment, a stage referred to as ‘induction’. In this stage, suboxone is used to prevent and alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms as soon as possible. In addition to being potentially dangerous, the discomfort experienced during withdrawal is one of the most common reasons why patients abandon treatment or avoid seeking it altogether.

How long does it take for suboxone to kick in?

The amount of time it takes for suboxone to start working can vary depending on 1) the dosage and 2) the method of administration (more on that later). Generally, Suboxone reaches its peak within 30 minutes but its effects can last up to 24 hours.

The sublingual form of suboxone (a thin dissolvable film that’s placed under the tongue) is the most effective and fast-acting. Suboxone is also available in a pill form, however, any medication ingested via the digestive tract will take more time to enter the bloodstream and therefore will be slower acting. Neither form of suboxone should ever be chewed or swallowed whole.

Suboxone’s Half-Life

Even if you no longer feel Suboxone’s effects, it’s important to be mindful that Suboxone also has a considerable half-life of 5 to 8 days–and could be up to 60 hours longer for those with impaired liver function. Why does this matter? Suboxone is a central nervous system depressant and mixing it with other depressants like benzos, can cause life-threatening effects.

How long to wait to take suboxone?

Suboxone offers relief and hope to those struggling with opioid addiction but its effectiveness is affected by the timing of use. First off, suboxone will only work for individuals who have opioid dependence. It will not benefit those who are irregular opioid abusers nor will it have any effect as a precautionary measure to protect against addiction.

Patients must be experiencing at least mild withdrawal in order to experience any of suboxone’s benefits. Determining when you can take suboxone will largely depend on the type of opioids that were used. Short-acting opioids such as heroin, codeine, or fentanyl will have an onset of withdrawal symptoms 8-24 hours after they were last used. Long-acting opioids such as methadone can take between 24 to 48 hours for the onset of withdrawal.

Will I qualify for suboxone?

Medical professionals refer to either the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) or the Short Opioid Withdrawal Scare (SOWS) to confirm patients meet the criteria to be eligible for suboxone. These scales rank the severity of various symptoms and tallied to create a score that determines whether an individual is in mild, moderate, or severe withdrawal. The types of MAT medications and their dosage will be prescribed depending on the severity of your withdrawal.

Is suboxone safe?

A common misconception surrounding suboxone, and medication-assisted treatment in general, is that it’s trading one addiction for another. Even though Suboxone is a very weak form of an opioid that doesn’t provide a high, it does have the potential for abuse–any medication does. Suboxone has minimal risks when taken as directed. Overall, the potential benefits of suboxone far outweigh the potential risks for many people addicted to opioids. If you’re on the fence about taking part in medication-assisted treatment, you’d likely benefit from hearing from others recovering from opioid addiction and their experiences with this medication. Find a Narcotics Anonymous meeting near you, today.

How to Find Online AA Meetings

A major appeal of Alcoholics Anonymous is that it makes recovery accessible. As of 2021, a report conducted by the organization found that there were nearly two million members worldwide, with over 120,000 groups in over 175 countries. In addition to their impressive global presence, online AA meetings are just as plentiful as the physical ones.

Today, online AA meetings can be found and accessed 24/7 without even having to leave your home. This offering has become more important than ever amid the lockdowns of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (though AA had online meetings well before the outbreak began) as the feelings of panic led to decreases in mental health and sharp upticks in alcohol consumption.

Where to Find Online AA Meetings

Despite being a nearly century-old organization (AA was founded in 1935), Alcoholics Anonymous was quick to embrace the new technology of the times. During the fledgling days of the internet, in the late 80s and early 90s, the first online AA meetings used email groups and virtual bulletin boards to connect.

As the internet developed into an integral part of our everyday lives, online meetings expanded rapidly in conjunction. Utilizing video and phone conferencing, message boards, newsletters, and chat rooms, virtual AA members have an online community that leaves them no less connected than their physical meetings counterparts.

There is now an entire subset of Alcoholics Anonymous dedicated to 100% virtual group membership called the Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous or OIAA (the first-ever fully-online AA group, the Lamp-lighters, which formed in the early 1990s, is still operational and active to this day). You can find online meetings by accessing their portal (registration and login required). However, there are plenty of AA directories that include virtual meetings in their listings.

Why Choose Online AA Meetings: The Benefits of Virtual Support

There’s certainly much value to be had in face-to-face interaction, especially when dealing with a disease such as addiction that can feel cripplingly isolating. Just as there’s no one “right” way to overcome alcoholism, no one form of support will be the best fit for everyone. Virtual support groups offer an alternative means to the same support, community, and accountability as in-person AA meetings, but are beneficial for a host of reasons.

1. No transportation required

Depending on how destructive a person’s relationship with alcohol was, they may find themselves without the legal right to drive, financial means for transportation, or the physical or mental capacity to leave their home and maneuver the outside world. A lack of transportation or mobility is just one of the many harsh realities of some of the consequences of addiction.

2. More accessible to those in rural areas

Outside of densely populated metropolitan areas, more sparsely populated rural locations may find themselves with too few people to have a group serve their area or may find the distance to travel to one of these groups too far to be feasible. Further, those on active military duty in foreign countries or even on base may find themselves without easy or regular access to in-person support.

3. Easier for those with disabilities

Disabilities such as mobility impairment or hearing loss can make attending in-person meetings not only challenging but less effective. Virtual meetings offer a number of accessibility accommodations that face-to-face meetings don’t offer.

4. Supplement in-person meetings

Whereas some individuals choose online AA meetings out of necessity or convenience, others choose to do so out of a desire for extra support. When crises hit, when cravings seem unmanageable, having to wait a week for the next group meeting can mean a dangerous relapse. Virtual meetings, on the other hand, can be accessed any time, anywhere, with 24/7 chat rooms or round-the-clock video conferencing to offer on-the-spot support.

5. Meet AA members from around the world

Many participants of the online AA community are regular attendees of f2f (face to face) meetings–in fact, OIAA actually recommends that newcomers attend an in-person AA meeting whenever possible. Turning to an online community means entering one with no geographic barriers, making it possible to listen and learn from people halfway around the world that you likely never would have met otherwise.

How Do Online AA Meetings Work?

Online Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are run in much the same fashion as in-person meetings. There are service positions, meetings can be open or closed, and have rules in place to protect anonymity. They practice the same AA principles and speak on the same official AA literature. Online AA meetings can also meet the requirements for mandated participation. If you need to provide proof of AA attendance, just be sure to verify beforehand whether the source of virtual meetups does so, it’s not a guarantee that all online meetings will offer it.

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3 Alcohol Support Groups Other Than AA

Alcoholics Anonymous, both its teachings and its format, has become ubiquitous within the whole of addiction treatment. Groups can be found in virtually every major city in America and even internationally in approximately 180 nations–but that doesn’t mean Alcoholics Anonymous is for everyone. As unique and intimate a disease addiction is, it would be insane to assume that there’s one single program that would work for the millions that alcoholism affects every year. Here are some alternative alcohol support groups other than aa you should consider:

Alcohol Support Groups That Aren’t AA

Peer-based support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous are great for being a low-commitment way to first find the motivation to stay sober and then keep that momentum going with the support of others who have been in a similar situation. However, there are a number of reasons why AA isn’t the right fit. If you find yourself in this camp, these 3 alternatives to AA can be just as effective in helping you find reasons to stay sober and stick to your decision.

S.M.A.R.T. Recovery

One of the most popular alternatives to 12-Step programs is the Self-Management and Recovery Training, otherwise known as S.M.A.R.T. recovery. Although it also offers a community element as AA does, this program is secular and evidence-based, rather than faith-based, a huge selling point to those who are agnostic or non-religious.

Another key difference is that whereas AA’s attitude towards addiction is a disease that can never be cured, S.M.A.R.T. considers addiction as a behavior that can be changed. Further, S.M.A.R.T. is newer (AA was created in 1935, before much of the understanding of addiction we have today) and incorporates science in its treatment program, placing an emphasis on cognitive-behavioral techniques and coping with cravings. Valuing a scientific approach towards addiction treatment, S.M.A.R.T. welcomes those using MAT (medically assisted treatment) which AA has historically has not.

How It Works: Rather than 12 steps, there is a simple four-point program that does not have to be completed in any particular order:

Building and maintaining the motivation to change
Coping with urges to use
Managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in an effective way without addictive behaviors
Living a balanced, positive, healthy life

H.A.M.S.

Harm Reduction for Alcohol or H.A.M.S. is a peer-led group with the program goal of abstinence from alcohol or moderation. It was created by Kenneth Anderson in 2007 when AA didn’t work for him. In addition to helping those who struggle with drinking, H.A.M.S. also provides support for other “soft” drugs: marijuana, nicotine, and caffeine.

One of the greatest benefits of H.A.M.S. is also what makes it unique, the use of the harm reduction approach. It’s practical, and more importantly, much more realistic. Rather than demanding complete abstinence, as most other programs do, H.A.M.S. meets people where they are, giving them the grace to make changes in their drug use habits in a way that feels sustainable. Their slogan, “Better is better”, makes recovery less stressful by not seeing an inability to be abstinent as a failure.

How H.A.M.S. Works: It has 17 ‘elements’ (not steps) where members learn how to make small steps to change their behavior and change their drinking habits as well as harm reduction techniques for safer and reduced alcohol consumption. Each element has an official corresponding explanation video and a worksheet, making it super easy for self-guided recovery.

Drug Rehab

While Alcoholics Anonymous can provide a supportive setting for people to come to terms with their drinking problem, addiction isn’t a disease of willpower. It’s layers of physiological and psychological changes that repetitive drug use has caused, changing the way we think, feel, and act. No amount of self-reflection is going to fix an imbalance of neurotransmitters or prevent withdrawal symptoms from taking place.

Addiction is a medical condition that warrants medical attention. Specialized addiction treatment centers have staff that can help people safely get through detox and beyond. More importantly, they also have trained mental health professionals trained in CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) to unlearn harmful behavior. For individuals struggling with severe addiction or who have had one for a very long time, a facility with formal treatment options is likely to be the most effective–and safest–option.

Still not sure which support groups for alcohol are the best for you? Check out these Alcoholics Anonymous FAQs to learn more about the program and whether or not AA is the right choice.

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6 Benefits of Stay Sober During Quarantine

There’s no perfect time to get sober–or is there? The COVID-19 pandemic caused a global shutdown which drastically changed all of our lives. For many, the cancellation of social events and everything that comprised daily life as we knew it (and with no end in the foreseeable future) was a time of panicked uncertainty. However, the global shutdowns may have been a blessing to disguise for those in or starting recovery. Here are the 6 benefits of getting–and staying–sober during quarantine (and why being sober is amazing in general).

6 Reasons to Get (or Stay) Sober During Quarantine

1. Less social pressure

Social gatherings can contribute to drug use in a number of ways. Many turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with anxiety about situations or “loosen up” in order to be more sociable or likable. Then there are the social pressures that come along with it. These pressures can be caused by the situation itself (going to happy hour with coworkers or toasting to the New Year at an NYE party) or from the people you’re with who might make a commotion should you choose not to partake. The lack of events and by extension, social interaction, means fewer pressures to drink or do drugs where you otherwise feel compelled.

2. Saving money

Not going out also has distinct financial advantages. Many people found that their savings went up tremendously once they were no longer shelling out dollars on food, drinks, tipping, and parking. For someone interested in getting sober, this break from spending could make all the difference that enables someone to enroll at an addiction treatment center, which can be pretty pricey. The cost of getting treatment is cited as one of the leading reasons why those who struggle with addiction fail or refuse to seek treatment.

3. More privacy and free time

This one’s a biggie as many of us spend more time in the workplace than we do our homes. The pandemic saw a drastic shift in our employment situation. For many, it involved layoffs and furloughs. For others, it became a shift to fully-remote work. Either situation allows for more free time that could be channeled into an addiction treatment program or getting some other form of help like going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Even better still, not having to worry about day-to-day interactions with coworkers also allows for added privacy.

4. Avoiding crowded hospitals

While no one ever wants to be in a hospital and undergoing health issues, this sentiment has increased ten-fold. COVID-19 resulted in hospitals being filled beyond capacity and ERs having extremely long wait times. In many cases, hospitals around the world stopped almost all other types of procedures and were focused solely on treating those stricken with the coronavirus. Not a great time to be having liver or heart issues, two of the most common and most serious types of health consequences from drinking or doing drugs. Maintaining sobriety or taking the first steps towards getting sober can help keep you healthier, minimizing the need for medical attention that you might not be able to receive in a timely manner.

5. Increased access to virtual resources

The uncertainty of COVID-19 and what the post-pandemic future would look like made a lot of people stressed. One of the silver linings of the virus is that it awoke a newfound appreciation for mindfulness and both physical and mental well-being. As a result, it’s a lot easier to find all sorts of classes of things like yoga and meditation online–a boon for someone to quell the mental hardships that can come with recovery. With such practices being much more mainstream, it can also make an individual feel a lot less self-conscious about taking up such an activity.

6. Drugs and alcohol make stress worse

Stress is one of the most common reasons why people turn to drugs or alcohol. As one might imagine, rates of drinking and drug use skyrocketed during the early stages of the first lockdown. While your first instinct may be to join these people in consuming mind-altering substances to get through such a weird moment in history, it’s likely to only make things worse.

Drugs and alcohol overstimulate the nervous system making us more prone to stress and thus, more stressed out in the long run. You would be both more sensitive to situations (e.g. getting stressed out by smaller things) and remain stressed for longer because of a now misfiring fight-or-flight response. Further, as anyone who’s struggled with addiction knows, excessive drinking and drug use can cause a host of problems such as strained relationships, money troubles, or health complications. All of which are situations that can be highly stressful in and of themselves.

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