Opioids and Other Drugs

By Rob Chambers / November 23, 2021 The following article was written by Rob Chambers, current President of the American Council on Addiction & Alcohol Problems (ACAAP). While ALCAP agrees with most of the article, we would discourage accepting government funds by faith-based ministries (ALCAP does not accept government funding). Those funds usually have conditions attached (if not presently, in the future) that would restrict what faith-based ministries can and cannot teach. The latest provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shows the U.S. on track to exceed 100,000 overdose deaths in 2021, the first time such a grim milestone would be reached. America clearly has a drug problem that will require a massive effort from all walks of society to bring under control. As one physician put it, the current drug crisis the United States is experiencing is “worse than the crack epidemic” that upended American society

www.drugfree.org Partnership to End Addiction offers various support options during this difficult time. Click here to find addiction support for families and individuals.

Partnership to End Addictionwww.drugfree.org If you’ve just discovered or have reason to believe your child is using substances, the first thing to do is sit down and take a deep breath. We know this is scary, but you’re in the right place. Take a beat and prepare yourself for the important conversations ahead. Some brief preparation now can lay a foundation for more positive outcomes ahead. Click here for resources available through Partnership to End Addiction.

By: Rob Chambers, President, American Council on Addiction and Alcohol ProblemsTownhall October 30, 2019 The United States is currently fighting one of the worst addiction problems in its history by way of the opioid crisis. While many Americans are aware of its existence, few likely understand the ongoing issues surrounding this large-scale public health emergency and the extent to which it is undermining the foundations of our great country. The human and financial toll of this crisis is staggering. In 2018 alone over 47,000 people died from opioid-related overdoses. Meanwhile, a recent analysis from the Society of Actuaries found that over a four-year period from 2015 to 2018, the total economic cost of the opioid crisis was $631 billion. This crisis is also destroying families and stretching social service programs to the brink. During that same four-year period, an additional $39 billion was spent on child and family assistance programs and education programs. Every day children

This set of two-page infographics uses estimates from SHADAC’s State Health Compare online data tool to explore the evolving opioid overdose epidemic across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, examining state variation in both the prevalence of opioid deaths and the types of opioids associated with these deaths. Additionally, due to growing concern and evidence that the opioid crisis may be expanding to other non-opioid illicit drugs, we have included data on drug overdose deaths from two types of drugs that are commonly involved in opioid overdoses: cocaine and psychostimulants, such as methamphetamine. [1],[2] The infographics highlight key findings for trends in drug overdose deaths from 2000-2017, show how each state’s overdose rates compare to the national average, and provide a high-level comparison of all 50 states’ overdose death rates broken down by each of the five drug types. Click here to access the analysis.

Doyle Rice, USA TODAY Updated: 1:34 p.m. ET Dec. 12, 2018 Fentanyl is now the deadliest drug in America, federal health officials announced Wednesday, with over 18,000 overdose deaths in 2016, the most recent year for which statistics are available. It’s the first time the synthetic opioid has been the nation’s deadliest drug. For the previous four years (2012 to 2015), heroin topped the list. On average, in each year from 2013 to 2016, the rate of overdose deaths from Fentanyl increased by about 113 percent per year. In fact, the report said that fentanyl was responsible for 29 percent of all overdose deaths in 2016, up from just 4 percent in 2011. Overall, more than 63,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2016, according to the new report, which was prepared by the National Center for Health Statistics, which is part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is

THE RAPID ADOPTION OF E-CIGARETTES HAS BEEN DRIVEN, AT LEAST IN PART, BY A HUGE JUMP IN THE POTENCY OF E-LIQUIDS. By Indra Cidambi, M.D.U.S. News & World Report CIGARETTE SMOKING AMONG teenagers is on the wane. While data show smoking among teenagers has dropped over the past few years, it’s not all good news. Teenagers are vaping nicotine instead. One in 8 – or 12 percent of – teenagers in New Jersey have tried e-cigarettes and/or hookah at least once. When cigarette smoking and nicotine vaping are added together, nicotine use may actually have increased. The rapid adoption of e-cigarettes has been driven, at least in part, by the huge jump in the potency of e-liquids (both nicotine and marijuana) used in vapes. Nicotine and marijuana act on the brain in ways similar to other substances of abuse and prime the brain for addiction to other potent drugs down

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration5600 Fishers Lane | Rockville, MD 208571-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727) www.samhsa.gov Tips for Teens fact sheets provide information about the effects of short- and long-term use of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and inhalants. These insightful and easy-to-read brochures provide important facts teens need to know, answer frequently asked questions, and help to dispel common myths about each of the substances covered. Tips for Teens: The Truth About CocaineCocaine is a white powder that can be snorted or dissolved in water and injected to cause a brief high. Cocaine is highly addictive and affects both the brain and body. It can increase the risk of paranoia, anxiety, and psychosis and change emotions. Inventory#: PEP18-01 Tips for Teens: The Truth About HeroinHeroin can be a white or dark brown powder or a black tar, and is often mixed with other substances that can make it even more dangerous. Heroin