Sigalon's Health Soup

For the first time in 83 years, people in the United States are more likely to die[1] of drug poisoning than in a motor vehicle accident. The national prescription painkiller epidemic[2] is largely to blame for this shift, and approximately 41 people in the United States die every day of a drug overdose involving prescription painkillers. Communities have been struggling to deal with not only the mortality associated with this epidemic, but also the increase in crime related to prescription drug trafficking and the rapidly-increasing number of patients needing substance abuse treatment. The national response to the prescription drug epidemic up until now has focused on education of health care providers and the public; tracking, monitoring, and appropriate disposal of prescription medications; and law enforcement. All of these strategies focus on preventing new incidence of prescription drug misuse, however, they do not offer solutions for people that have already become addicted to these medications. There are an estimated 2 million new nonmedical users of painkillers[3] every year, so it is clearly important to prevent new incidence of prescription drug misuse. However, our response needs to include services for the 1.9 million people[4] that need treatment for painkiller addiction now. The most proximal intervention to prevent painkiller overdose deaths is to administer, either intravenously or intranasal, naloxone, an FDA-approved medication with well-established efficacy and safety. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is available with a prescription and can be administered to reverse an opioid or heroin overdose -- potentially preventing a fatality. However, very few people seem to be aware of naloxone, and it's unclear how many states require paramedics or first-responders to carry it. Naloxone is a safe and easy-to-administer drug; even non-medical people can administer it with minimal training. This is important because people, even uninvolved bystanders, who witness a drug overdose may be reluctant to call 911, fearing legal consequences such as arrest on possession charges. Furthermore, emergency responders may not arrive in time to reverse the overdose -- which is more likely to happen in rural areas that have higher rates of painkiller overdose deaths. A pilot naloxone program[5] in Massachusetts estimated that 1,000 overdoses were reversed over a period of four years. Preliminary data from Project Lazarus[6] in North Carolina found that their overdose prevention program reduced the death rate by 38 percent in Wilkes County. There are approximately 188 overdose prevention programs[7] in the United States that are distributing naloxone to drug users and their family members, but this does not seem to be proportionate to the magnitude of the epidemic. To make matters worse, many of the states with the highest rates of overdose deaths have no naloxone distribution programs. Earlier this month, the FDA held a public workgroup[8] on expanding access to naloxone. The overwhelming consensus among the attendees was that access should be expanded nationally. It's unclear how or when this will happen, however, because the regulatory barriers to making this medication available over-the-counter are formidable. There is only one naloxone distributor in the United States, and existing programs are reporting problems getting naloxone. The most heart-breaking part of the FDA public workgroup[9] was hearing testimony from parents who wished they knew about naloxone before their children died of observed overdoses. In order to reduce overdose deaths, we need to increase public awareness and access to naloxone. But undermining our efforts to prevent overdose deaths is a much larger philosophical problem -- the wide-spread belief that medications should not be used to treat addiction despite the overwhelming scientific evidence supporting their safety and effectiveness. Patients treated with FDA-approved medications for opioid addiction are less likely to relapse or die. We have waged a war against drugs instead of formulating a science-based response to a public health epidemic for which a life-saving medication is available. Our national response to the prescription drug epidemic should reflect our understanding of addiction as a chronic relapsing brain disease, and the fact that patients can recover when they receive evidence-based treatment. Addiction is a medical problem, not a criminal problem or moral failing. Health care providers and patients should be making treatment decisions together, able to consider both psychosocial and medication treatment options that best support patients' recovery. For more by Erin L. Winstanley, Ph.D., click here[10]. For more on addiction and recovery, click here[11].   Follow Erin L. Winstanley, Ph.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AODtxWorks [12] "; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed; }); References^ are more likely to die ^ prescription painkiller epidemic ^ nonmedical users of painkillers ^ 1.9 million people ^ pilot naloxone program ^ Project Lazarus ^ 188 overdose prevention programs ^ FDA held a public workgroup ^ FDA public workgroup ^ click here ^ click here ^ www.twitter.com/AODtxWorks

Success or failure is proportionate to intention. If your intention is love, you will be successful in any situation or undertaking, no matter what it is. This is because there is an invisible force, a vibration, that carries your intention to its audience. When you do something -- whether it's writing a book, spearheading a project at work, going on a diet, or helping your children with their homework -- your actions and words will not be well-received if you hold the feeling that you are doing it because you have to. The outcome of everything you say and do depends on your approach. Are you approaching the task from a place of love, or are you coming from a place of fear, obligation, or resentment? Stop for a moment. Say to yourself, "I Am love." A change in your disposition is inevitable. You will have aligned your vibration with the vibration of love... the highest level there is. Those around you will suddenly feel this change of atmosphere and react and respond accordingly. You will bring them into alignment with you. It's the same feeling you have when someone walks into a room. Do you automatically feel good or bad being around that person? When you are faced with something that you don't want to do, but feel you have to do, take a step back and find a way to see it from the perspective of your heart, not your head. Changing the way you see a challenging situation will shift your experience of it. Answer the following questions to turn life obligations into fulfilling experiences: 1) Are You Helping Another? Realize the good that will come from your assistance, even if it's just for one person in need. There will be a lasting imprint of your words and actions. So understand that whatever "it" is you are doing, it is not about you. It is about being of service to someone who needs you and will benefit from your help. 2) What Are You Attracting? When you radiate love, you are attracting love back to you. When you radiate anger and resentment, you are attracting that, too. You can feel the energy off of people you've been in contact with, can't you? Even if it's just from a phone call... it's palpable. It's hard not to take on that other person's persona, good or bad. Do you want to attract resistance and bad attitudes from others in regard to you and your endeavors? Then don't have a bad attitude yourself, because you will cause yourself to fail in that endeavor. 3) What If You Live As An Example? All of us need someone to inspire and encourage us, adults and children alike. Children, in particular, learn what they live. So if you are impatient and easily agitated with your child, don't be surprised when he becomes impatient and easily agitated with you. Show your coworkers how things can be. Live in possibility. They, too, need to be motivated and elevated to a new level so they can feel good about what they do. Positive energy is contagious... so is negative energy. Negative energy will kill a business, or a marriage, or anything it infects. "Garbage in, garbage out," as they say. Set a positive example by coming from a place of love, and your energy will lift up those around you. The result will be great success! Align your feelings and endeavors with the highest vibration in the universe -- love -- and success will always be yours. For more by Donna Labermeier, click here[1]. For more on mindfulness, click here[2].       "; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed; }); References^ here ^ here

Is it possible that you could be surrounded by something but not be aware of it? Does a fish realize that it is submerged in water? Are fish able to enjoy the sensation of water, or have they become numb to it for being surrounded by it constantly? Do fish long for water, not realizing that it is in their every breath and flap of fins? And is this why some fish jump? Does the brief moment in midair reawaken them to the experience of water when they re-submerge? The ability to shift focus is basic to any meditation practice. Try this simple shifting of focus to see if perhaps you are submerged in love, but only lack the awareness of it. If nothing else, you may gain a deeper understanding of fish. For more, explore Olivia's interactive meditation book, an experience, workbook, and journal, Please Meditate: It's Good for You[1]. For more by Olivia Rosewood, click here[2]. For more on meditation, click here[3].   Follow Olivia Rosewood on Twitter: www.twitter.com/OliviaRosewood [4] "; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed; }); References^ Please Meditate: It's Good for You ^ click here ^ click here ^ www.twitter.com/OliviaRosewood