I was at a recovery center the other day doing some IT work for the counselors there, all of whom are friends of mine in recovery. I was talking to some of them and was told that today’s huge problem was Oxycontin. Today’s youth are getting more and more addicted to Oxycontin because they think if it’s a legal drug, as opposed to heroin, they won’t get addicted.

The fact of the matter is that Oxycontin is addictive and the youth are finding out that it is addictive when they try to stop, or they can’t get anymore. The unfortunate truth with running out and not being able to get anymore is they go into a painful opiate withdrawal.

Anyone who hasn’t been through an opiate withdrawal, and doesn’t know what to expect, is in for a very unpleasant and  unexpected surprise. Withdrawal from Oxycontin is very painful, and can be literally debilitating. It’s not uncommon to hear from teenagers who are going through opiate withdrawal for the first time, to say they feel like they are dying or that it’s killing them.

Yes, it’s that bad.

Here’s a list for anyone who doesn’t know what it’s like:

The signs of withdrawal:

Early Signs

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Muscle aches
• Increased tearing
• Insomnia
• Runny nose/Sneezing
• Sweating
• Yawning

Advanced signs:

• Abdominal cramping
• Diarrhea
• Dilated pupils
• Goose bumps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sweating
• curling up in a fetal position

Many of the youth are finding out all too late that Oxycontin is a very addictive drug and find themselves addicted to Oxycontin when it’s just a little too late.

Oxycontin is also known as HillBilly Heroin, Cotton, Kicker, Oxy, 40, 40-Bar and Oxy cotton.

Slipknot bassist Paul Gray reportedly died of an accidental overdose of morphine and the narcotic fentanyl, his autopsy has revealed.

Officials have also claimed that when the rocker’s body was found – by a maintenance worker in a hotel – ‘all kinds of pills’ lay around his body, with a hypodermic needle also lying near the bed he was on.

Gray did not have prescriptions for the drugs, and police are investigating where the 38-year-old musician might have got them from, according to reports.

Gray – a founding member of the quirky heavy metal band – was found dead in TownePlace Suites in Urbandale, Iowa, on 24 May. His wife Brenna is pregnant with their child.

Polk County Medical Examiner Dr Gregory Schmunk said this week that morphine and fentanyl, both of which were injected, were the cause of his death, but that the pills were not a factor. He did not reveal what the pills were.

Gray (pictured) also suffered from significant heart disease at the time of his death, Dr Schmunk said.

Police say there were no reasons to believe he was suicidal.

‘We feel very comfortable that this was more than likely an accident,’ said Sergeant Dave Disney.

Gray had reportedly battled with drugs in the past, including a 2003 arrest in Slipknot’s native Iowa for possession of cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia following a car accident.

Another one who’s life had ended short due to highly addictive opiates. This is why I quit and why you should too.

Paul Dedrick Gray of Slipknot, Accidental Overdose

Paul Gray Police Mugshot

Corey Haim who died March 10, 2010, was found to have died of natural causes. Though there were small amounts of drugs found in his body, they were not enough to kill him. First thought to be an accidental overdoes, the coroner stated the drugs were not what killed him. The drugs found in his body were over-the-counter cold medicines and marijuana.

The autopsy showed he had an enlarged heart, arteriosclerosis and pneumonia. The coroner stated that Haim was “doctor shopping” to amass “553 prescription pills in the two months before his death”, and was “a poster child for prescription drug abuse”. Haim had acquired “powerful sedatives such as Valium and Xanax and painkillers such as Vicodin and Oxycontin” using the doctor shopping method of obtaining prescription drugs.

This just one more show of how prescription drugs are the cause of many ruined lives.  Once addicted the person addicted will do almost anything to obtain more drugs, to satisfy the craving for more. This craving is not just a craving, it’s almost a command to need more, from the body of the addicted person. One reason it is hard to get off opiates is this intense bodily craving to “Get Well”. The addiction withdrawal symptoms include flu-like symptoms an, which include aches and pains of the bones and joints.

Also accompanied with this are mood swings and a depression that is hard to shake unless you take more opiates. Oxyconton being a very popular prescription drug pain killer, is one of the major causes of death and ruined lives today. Vicodin also being one of these drugs, is another.

Corey Haim may have benefited from Suboxone Therapy to help him get off and stay off painkillers.

Corey Feldman (L) and Corey Haim attend the A&E Premiere Of 'The Two Coreys' held at Sugar nightclub on July 27, 2007 in Hollywood California. Haim died at 3:30am on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 of an apparent accidental drug overdose, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Haim was a teen idol in the '80s and appeared in "The Lost Boys" and several other movies. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Family Therapy with Drug Abuse and Addiction

The role of the family when dealing with drug abuse and addiction is a huge one. Family therapy can have a huge impact in conquering the drug abuse and addiction that has affected, most likely, every aspect of your family dynamics. It’s not an easy road to walk on, but when family therapy is implemented, you all will learn how to deal with drug abuse and addiction in a healthy and productive way.

When your loved one is in a rehab clinic, you will likely be asked to attend family therapy sessions on site. This is an extremely important part of the recovery process. You may be hesitant to attend these sessions, but rest assured that they will be life-affirming for not only you, but your loved one as well.

Often, the person who has the addiction is feeling alone and withdrawn from the family. That could be the reason why he or she began using in the first place. People who abuse drugs are looking for a way to fit in – a tool to help them be part of something when they feel alone. That often has to do with feeling alienated from the family.

When you participate in family therapy, you are telling your loved one that you care about them and their recovery and that it is important to you. If you find yourself resistant to participation, just keep in mind that you are there to learn and to help. It is important to show your support when a loved one has an abuse or addiction problem with drugs.

Family therapy can actually strengthen your family in ways you never even considered before. What family can’t use a little advice and guidance when it comes to their lives?

In today’s world, dysfunction is a family dynamic that is all too common. When you are participating in family therapy for drug abuse and addiction, you are saying that you want something to change within that family dynamic and make it better than it is. You may think you have the “perfect” family, but no one really does. A little soul searching can go a long way – especially for the family member who is struggling with abuse and addiction.

Substance abuse affects families – there’s no doubt about that. Whether your loved one is in an inpatient or outpatient program, it’s essential that you obtain family therapy for drug abuse or addiction in some shape or form. You’ll all be much better for it, and your loved one will have an easier time becoming drug-free.

This post has been revised and updated and can be found here:

How To Get Off Painkillers Naturally

People keep asking me how to get off painkillers naturally. Well the thing is, you’re going to go through a bit of pain no matter what you do but you can do something to ease that pain.

I’ve recently updated the list of How to get off painkillers naturally, please see this post right here:

For a list of these please see my post here called The Thomas Recipe Alternative – Larry’s Recipe for Opiate Withdrawal

The price of Suboxone is somewhat costly, but it can be reduced with the free drug cards that are listed in teh resources of my report.

Unfortunately, I had to raise my price of the report to $14.97 due to the cost of hosting of my website and the cost of the bandwidth. So any of you who bought the report before today, got it for $9.97.

Good luck…

How to get Suboxone to help with the withdrawal from Pain Killers.

How to get Suboxone

I have a lot of people coming by reading my blog and asking how to get suboxone. Honestly it’s not that easy, but here is how to make it easier. You can’t just go to any doctor for suboxone, because not every doctor can prescribe it for painkiller withdrawal. Only doctors with a certain certification can prescribe suboxone, and of those, they can only treat 30 patients at a time.

So just going to a doctor for suboxone will not only get you nothing most times, it will alert your doctor to the fact that you have  problem. So if you want to get suboxone for painkiller withdrawal treatment, you need a suboxone doctor. To find a suboxone doctor, or a doctor who can prescribe suboxone for treatment of opiate dependence,  is actually very easy, if you have the resources.

How to get Suboxone – The Easy Way

You can do what I did, and spend a few days or weeks searching and hunting for one in your area, if there is one, it can be hit and miss. Or you can use the resources I have put together in my report, that is only $14.97. Not only will it save you hours/days/weeks of research and frustration but it will save you hundreds of dollars on your prescriptions.

In my report I give you a list of resources for several free drug cards. What these cards do is give discounts on medications if you don’t have insurance. This is how to get Suboxone with sometimes up to 75% off the regular price, it all depends on the pharmacy you go to and the card. There’s no application to fill out, not questions to answer, you just go to these sites I list, print the card out and go to your pharmacy. However to save the MOST money I give you several things to do before going to the pharmacy, so you get the most for your money time after time.

How to get Suboxone – Ask The Right Questions

So here’s how to get suboxone, easily: Buy my report, it’s only $14.97, go to the resources listed to find the nearest suboxone doctor. Call the doctors office and ask specific questions outlined in my report. These questions are there to ask the doctors office, to help save you money and make sure there are no hidden fee’s. Once you feel you have found the doctor to help you, then make an appointment.

You go to your appointment, either that day or the following day, it’s usually very quick to get you in. When you call a doctor who can prescribe suboxone they usually know it’s for someone trying to get off of painkillers, and they are there to help you, really. It really is that simple and easy, especially if you have the resources to help you along the way, outlined for you. That is what my report is, a road map to help you get in the suboxone treatment program and on your way to a better life. Really.

One more thing I would like to add. Once you get on suboxone and off the painkillers, which is the first day you start(it’s that fast), you will be on suboxone for a little bit of time. Long enough to help you stabilize and get your bearings and some counseling in drug addiction. It’s all outlined in my report, all of this stuff. After you have stabilized you will be taken off the suboxone slowly. This is so you don’t crash and burn. Also don’t stay on Suboxone any longer than you need to be. It’s there to help you get off the painkillers, not for recreation.

Good luck with your journey,

Sincerely,
Larry C.

Teen Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is a powerful disease, this is no secret, but when teenagers become addicted to drugs, it’s much more serious.  Drugs affect a teen’s body in different ways, but when teens have to deal with drug addiction, it’s much more difficult to maintain a clean and sober lifestyle as they get older.

Teens and kids are being exposed to drugs at an ever increasingly younger age.  Studies have shown by the time children get into the 8th grade, nearly 35 percent have tried at least one drug.  The number of teenagers who become addicted to drugs is at about 20 percent; that’s a lot.

The reason teens are more prone to drug addiction is due to life circumstances.  Many teenagers get overwhelmed with everyday life struggles.  Many teens have low self-esteem, social anxiety, inability to express feelings, and a lack of control over their lives.  All of these contribute greatly to drug use and eventually drug addiction.

Drugs kill the pain of an ordinary, mundane life, as well as destroy physical and emotional pain by changing the addict’s perception of reality.  Drugs make the addict numb to the emotional pain, hopelessness, or loneliness that they may feel in their life.

Do you suspect your teen has a drug addiction?  Some of the more common signs of drug addiction in teens include:

• Dramatic changes in behavior
• Dull, glassy eyes
• Excessive tiredness
• Failing in school
• Lying or stealing; money, jewelry
• Isolation or loss of interest in activities

What do you do when you suspect your teen has a drug problem or addiction?  First, trust your instincts.  If you feel there is a problem, something wrong or off, there probably is.  Find a safe time when you can talk freely with your teenager and be honest about your concerns.  Try to be open-minded about what they are telling you and sympathetic to their perception of their problems.

Tell your teen what you are feeling about their drug addiction.  You are probably worried, scared, and frightened about what might happen to them.  Try not to be judgmental or angry:  this will only cause them to shut down.  You can also talk about personal observations or experience you have with drugs.  While you may be hesitant to do this, it will make you more human in your teen’s eyes.

Often, those closest to your teen – meaning you – find it easy to deny that their teen has a drug problem.  When it comes to teen drug addiction, you can’t do this.  It’s important that you get them help as soon as possible.  Don’t give up and try not to be discouraged if your initial attempts fail.  Eventually, you’ll get through and then you and your teen can start fighting drug addiction together.

Remember this is about them, not you. Most important of all, be supportive of them, be accepting of them. Drug addiction is a disease, not a moral inadequacy.

It really pains me to get emails from women who tell me about their abusive boyfriends or husbands, telling me their husband is addicted to painkillers, or their boyfriend is addicted to painkillers, and how they are afraid of the abuse they will get if they try to leave.

What bothers me more is hearing about their children that are involved, and how they are afraid of the children being “accidentally hurt” because “Daddy” got upset because “Mommy” wanted to help “Daddy” get off painkillers. Or because mommy wouldn’t give daddy the money to get more.  *SIGH* THAT IS NO ACCIDENT.

That really bothers me. >:(

I am constantly emailed by families and loved ones, of people who are addicted. It’s hard because I can’t really help them directly, all I can do is direct them to try to find a family counselor or intervention specialist and also direct them to my Report: “How to get off Painkillers“.

Sometimes it is a wife who is addicted to painkillers, or a husband who is addicted to painkillers or it could be Boy friend or Girlfriend. Sometimes it is a teenager that is addicted to painkillers, and the parents are looking for help.

Sometimes it is the teenagers looking for ways to get their parents to support them to try to get off! Imagine that! And the parents are giving the teenager no help at all, only grief. All the teenager wants is just to get off the painkillers. This is where Family Counseling is needed for Drug Addiction.

When a family is dealing with drug addiction, everyone is affected.  Having an addict in the family can put stress and strain on all of the relationships as well as the family dynamics.  The addiction causes pain, frustration, and anger in all members involved.  Because it does affect everyone, the need for family therapy is so important.

There are many emotions involved in a family when dealing with drug addiction.  You may find yourself feeling angry toward the person who is addicted.  This is normal.  You may wonder how this happened, why it happened, and what you could have done to stop it.

You may feel depressed and helpless, even responsible for your loved one’s addiction.  This too is a normal reaction.  Often when someone we love is in pain, such as the pain associated with drug addiction, we tend to look for excuses for their behavior.  We take the pain on for them and don’t make them take responsibility for their actions. This is the cycle called enabling, we must stop the enabling by breaking the cycle.

To begin with, realize that this is a huge mistake.  The person with the drug addiction was the one who brought it into your family in the first place, and he or she needs to take responsibility for that.  It’s not easy and will be painful for all involved, but once the addict realizes that their actions have consequences, they can take charge of their recovery fully.

Family therapy is a great way to help with drug addiction.  Family therapy consists of all members of the family getting together with the assistance of a trained professional, and talking about the issues that all are having when it comes to the addict and the addiction itself.  Family therapy can be intense but amazingly therapeutic as well.  It’s the perfect time to air your feelings in a safe setting with the help of a moderator to keep things on track.

Family and friends can play critical roles in motivating loved ones with an addiction to enter and stay in treatment.  Family therapy is important – especially with teen addicts.  Having the involvement of family members in a person’s treatment program can strengthen and extend the benefits of the addict’s treatment program.

Drug addiction and family is a volatile situation, but one that can be faced and addressed with love, caring, and compassion.  If your family is affected by drug addiction, be supportive and listen with an open heart.  It will help you, those around you, and most important the family member with the addiction.