Opioid

Our country has an opioid problem fueled by the fact that we have a drug abuse problem that often starts with alcohol, tobacco and marijuana.  The three primary drugs of choice that often lead to hard drugs.  People don't start their life of addiction with heroin.

 Funding for substance abuse prevention education programs is more than lacking but almost nonexistent at all levels of schools (elementary to high school) and community centers.  These programs would not only decrease the addiction epidemic but it would also significantly reduce domestic violence issues, human trafficking, pornography, crime and traffic car crashes (Florida is consistently ranked in the top 1 or 2 for fatal crashes involving drugs)... drugs often are the root of many of these life-alerting problems.  These issues individual, the entire family and every community. It is impossible to put a value on prevention programs.  How much do you value your family member's life?   

Additional Articles linking Marijuana and Opioid Use

 

Opioid Resources

Website

Pathway to Heroin

STUDY:  Nonmedical prescription opioids and pathways of drug involvement in the US: Generational differences.      PDF form

The graph and report reflect no matter which generation heroin addiction does not begin by using heroin but other drugs.  The three  drugs that "prime" the brain and often lead to harder drugs are cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana.  We need prevention funding to help educate our children, parents and community leaders develop the skills and strategies to avoid drug abuse.   ADDICTION IS A PREVENTABLE DISEASE. 
Colorado Opioid Deaths have increased since legalization of marijuana

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Contrave contains a combination of bupropion and naltrexone. Bupropion is an antidepressant medicine that can also decrease appetite. Naltrexone is usually given to block the effects of opioids or alcohol in people with addiction problems. Naltrexone may also curb hunger and food cravings.

Warnings

  • You should not use Contrave if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, seizures, an eating disorder, opioid addiction, if you take opioid medicine or other forms of bupropion, have bulimia or anorexia nervosa, are taking a MAOI, or if you have suddenly stopped using alcohol, seizure medication, or a sedative.

Do not use Contrave if you are pregnant.

  • Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking bupropion. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.
  • Do not take Contrave if you also take narcotic medicine or other forms of bupropion (such as Wellbutrin or Zyban), or if you are going through withdrawal from alcohol or drug addiction.

What to avoid
Drinking alcohol with bupropion may increase your risk of seizures. If you drink alcohol regularly, talk with your doctor before changing the amount you drink. Bupropion can also cause seizures in a regular drinker who suddenly stops drinking.
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity. Do not take other weight-loss products or diet pills unless your doctor has told you to.
Do not use opioid medication, methadone, heroin, or other street drugs while you are taking Contrave. Doing so could result in dangerous effects, including coma and death.

Contrave side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Contrave: fever, swollen glands, mouth sores, muscle or joint pain; hives, rash or itching; chest pain, difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, severe drowsiness, or if you are hard to wake up.

More than half of the 4.2 million Americans who misused prescription opioids between 2012 and 2014 also engaged in binge drinking, according to a new studyexternal icon released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the American Journal of Preventive Medicineexternal icon. 


LInk to additional information
Opioid Resource Center

Free access to research, data, analyses and other resources The opioid epidemic is taking lives every day. In the United States, where President Trump has declared it a national public health emergency, prescription opioids and heroin killed more than 33,000 people in 2015.