Generic Version of Suboxone Set to Hit Shelves

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Suboxone is the brand name for the combination of buprenorphine and naloxone that is often prescribed for the long-term maintenance of patients detoxing off of addictive opiate drugs like heroin or prescription painkillers. It’s an expensive, low-dose alternative to methadone, a generic drug prescribed for the same purposes, but Reckitt Benckiser, the manufacturer of Suboxone, lost the bid to stop other companies from creating a generic version, so the cost of a bupe/naloxone treatment may drop significantly in coming months. That’s just for the pill version, however. Reckitt will maintain the patent on the sublingual-film version until 2022.

Packaging

Reckitt pulled the pill version of Suboxone off the shelves stating that the risk to children who found the medication was too high to continue creating the product. They petitioned the FDA to block companies from creating generic versions of the drug based on the idea that it wasn’t in the best interest of children.

The FDA wasn’t buying it, however, and called Reckitt’s petition an attempt to control the market with “anti-competitive practices.” They responded to the petition officially by saying: “While FDA welcomes and encourages sponsors to utilize unit-dose packing for their oral buprenorphine products, we do not believe the data at this time support refusing to approve applications that lack such packaging.”

Then they approved the manufacture of two generic versions of Suboxone pills for distribution in the United States.

Lower Cost of Care Increases Availability to Patients

Brand name Suboxone can cost patients up to $500 per month. It’s a price tag that can be prohibitive to care even if it’s the best treatment option. With the coming of a generic version of the drug, the option of this style of treatment will now be open to patients who formerly would have been unable to take on the cost. A number of studies show that buprenorphine and naloxone in combination are far more effective for low-dose patients than methadone in terms of helping them avoid relapse and stay on track during recovery. Increasing access to the medication will only be a benefit to the public.

Opiate Addiction Treatment

Though medications are an option in opiate detox and treatment, it’s certainly not necessary. The recommended course of treatment and options in care will vary from patient to patient. Call us at Orchid Recovery Center today to discuss the treatments and therapies that will most benefit your loved one.

Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong Talks Drug Addiction Recovery

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All of Green Day’s shows were canceled at the end of 2012. Why? Because their front man, Billie Joe Armstrong, was in rehab and getting the help he had long needed to begin the battle against substance abuse.

In his first interview after his stay in treatment, Billie Joe talked to Rolling Stone magazine about his experience with drugs and how he ended up in rehab. He said he would often get so wasted that he couldn’t remember what he had done when he woke up the next morning: “I couldn’t predict where I was going to end up at the end of the night. I’d wake up in a strange house on a couch. I wouldn’t remember how. It was a complete blackout.”

In September, Billie Joe played a show at the iHeart Radio Music Festival and had a total meltdown on stage, and reportedly broke his guitar while screaming: “I’m not ****ing Justin Bieber, you mother****ers!”

Though he doesn’t remember much of what happened, he says: “I remember tiny things. The next morning, I woke up. I asked [my wife] Adrienne, ‘How bad was it?’ She said, ‘It’s bad.’”

Billie Joe called his manager and went into rehab two days later. Now, he’s completely clean and sober and Green Day has rescheduled their tour with dates through the spring.

Billie Joe’s story is a testament to the efficacy of intensive drug rehabilitation. At 41, Billie Joe has been on a bender for years, but when he decided to make the change, he went through treatment and learned how to stay sober for the long-term.

Finding the Courage to Make a Change

When you are a parent or successful in your career as is Billie Joe, it can be difficult to admit that you have a problem and take the time out of your life to go get help. Prioritizing your recovery is difficult – there are always a thousand excuses to continue drinking or getting high. But there are also a thousand reasons to kick drugs and alcohol for good. Imagine a life where you no longer had to worry about:

  • Hangovers or “crashing” after using drugs
  • Running out of money
  • Embarrassing yourself or hurting people you love under the influence
  • Health problems related to drug abuse
  • Fear of losing your job or being unable to maintain a job once hired

Are You Ready to Make a Change?

A new life is waiting, one that you can design however you choose. Regain control of your behavior, your health, your opportunities, and your future when you get the treatment you need to overcome a substance abuse issue. At Orchid Recovery Center, we’re here to assist you. Call now.

The War on Drugs: Did We Win or Lose?

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In 1971, Richard Nixon declared war on the drug problem in the United States. The goal was to cut the supply of drugs coming into the country by increasing federal policing efforts and thus significantly decrease the rate of drug addiction in the US. Clearly, it hasn’t been a success. Drug usage rates and deaths caused by overdose are on the rise – but not necessarily because of incoming substances. Prescription drug abuse and addiction is one of our biggest problems and most addicts source their pills right here in the United States through pharmacies and diverted sources.

Many believe that the billions that have been poured into law enforcement, federal policing, and other costs related to the “war” on drugs – currently $40 billion each year – have been wasted and that the evidence says that the problem is worse than it was in the 1970s. The better choice for those funds? Drug addiction treatment for those who need it.

Here are the facts surrounding the current state of drug use, addiction, and consequences in the United States, according to the Wall Street Journal:

  • The rate of drop out in American high schools is at 25 percent – not among white middle class kids but among Hispanics and black children who live in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Profit from the drug trade and drug abuse are believed to be a big part of the cause.
  • The number of inmates serving time for drug-related offenses have tripled in the past 30 years from about 330,000 to 1.6 million. About 50 percent of current federal prisoners and 20 percent of state prisoners are convicted of using or selling drugs.
  • Increased rates of incarceration lead to higher prices for the drugs – which may initially be a deterrent for users but only serves to increase the incentive for those who would take the place of incarcerated dealers and expand the business.
  • Constant changes in who is running the drug trade translates into increased violence – at home and around the world. Deaths in Mexico alone that are related to the drug war have increased exponentially: as many as 50,000 people have died since 2006.
  • Prescription drug addiction is still one of the biggest problems in the US and no amount of foreign intervention or federal policing has managed to stem the rising tide of prescription drug overdose deaths.
  • Some say that the focus of funds on the “war on drugs” and paying for incarceration means that less money, research, and time is invested in treating drug addiction and prevention, which means that addiction is allowed to run rampant. Because of this, some say that the “war on drugs” may actually increase addiction rates in the United States.

If you are struggling with dependence upon drugs and alcohol, the only one who can help you get the treatment you need to heal is you. Contact us today at The Orchid to learn more about how we can help you beat drug and alcohol abuse and addiction.

Recovery Tip: Replace Drinking with Running

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Active alcoholics spend a lot of time drinking. In fact, many alcoholics in recovery report that one of the most difficult parts of early recovery was trying to figure out a way to fill the day without alcohol. Many respond to this challenge by choosing a new, healthy activity to obsess over. For some, the perfect solution is running. Why? Here are just a few reasons why some believe that alcoholics make great runners:

  • Great determination. Alcoholics can get through rough hangovers and drink even when they feel horrible. Runners, too, often run through sore muscles or when they’re not feeling the best.
  • Persistence. Drinkers drink every day, and the key to running is regularity. Over time, you can increase the length of your run and/ or the distance you run in a certain amount of time – but only if you run regularly.
  • Comfortable with solitude and social interaction. Drinkers drink alone and drinkers drink with friends. It’s the same with running. You can run every morning at dawn by yourself and clear your head or you can run with someone else and make it more sociable – and also have someone to keep you accountable and running regularly.
  • Mini escapes. Escape is the name of the game in addiction. People drink to escape boredom, to escape negative feelings, to escape responsibility. When you run, you can escape the pressures of life but in a positive way, and you don’t create a batch of new problems for yourself along the way.
  • Feeling good. Though alcohol ultimately makes you feel horrible – emotionally and physically – running can give you a “runner’s high” because it causes a release of endorphins, or “happy hormones.” Plus, there’s the sense of satisfaction you feel when you tick off another run or knock another minute off your mile.

If running isn’t your thing, what would give you a sense of satisfaction and provide you with something positive to fill your days in recovery? Have you always wanted to go back to school and get your degree? Would you like to start your own business? Are you interested in learning how to play a musical instrument or plant a garden or develop your own photographs?

The key to replacement therapy is finding something that requires regular practice, allows for measurable progress, and interests you. Not sure what you’re into? Try something. If it doesn’t work, try something else. There are no rules or limitations other than the obvious: don’t choose anything that threatens your recovery.

Seeking Pain Meds? How to Tell if You’re Addicted

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You may struggle with chronic back pain or a pain issue that never went away after an accident or surgery. When your doctor prescribed you OxyContin or Percocet or hydrocodone, you both thought it would be for the short term. But now, months have passed and you find that you are taking more and more of the drug, not less. You know you’re physically dependent on the pills – you have built a tolerance and take a higher dose than when you started plus you don’t feel well if you’re late taking a dose or run out of the medication – but are you addicted to your pain meds?

Signs of Pain Med Addiction

In addition to physical dependence, psychological dependence must also be in evidence if you are to be diagnosed with a painkiller addiction. You may experience:

  • Cravings for your medication
  • Obsession over when it’s time to take more
  • A preoccupation with making sure you always have enough of the drug on hand
  • Secretive nature when it comes to telling others how many pills you take or how often

Additionally, there are a number of signs that pain medication abuse is a problem. Even if you haven’t developed an addiction, you may be abusing your painkillers if you:

  • Crush the pills before snorting or injecting them
  • Use other substances with them (including alcohol) in order to enhance their effect
  • Lie to your doctor about the level of pain you are experiencing in order to get a higher dose
  • Report that you have “lost” your prescription to get an emergency prescription
  • Go to the ER and claim pain symptoms in order to get an extra prescription
  • Go to more than one doctor in order to get a duplicate ongoing prescription for painkillers

Does Your Life Revolve Around Your Medication?

If you feel like your mood, your activities, your relationships – everything in your life is contingent upon how your pills make you feel, then you are living with an active addiction. It doesn’t matter whether your first pill was given to you by a friend or if you have a legitimate prescription from a doctor. Neither situation is more or less safe. When you continue to abuse painkillers or live with an active addiction, it can quickly turn deadly. In fact, in most states, more people die due to prescription overdose than in car accidents.

Prescription drug abuse or addiction is not something to take lightly. Contact us at The Orchid to learn more about our woman-focused, comprehensive drug addiction treatment programs and find out how we can help you get your life back.

Touring India With The Orchid

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When Julie Queler founded The Orchid in 2004, she wanted to reach out to women of all walks of life, helping them to understand why addictions are so very dangerous and providing them with the tools they could use to control their addictions in the future. Now, The Orchid is one of the only treatment centers in the world that provides addiction treatments that are specifically designed with the needs of women in mind. In order to further her mission and touch the lives of even more women who are in need, Julie is heading to India.

See More of Orchid Recovery Center on www.deaddictioncentres.in

A Tour That Sparks an Essential Conversation

The tour, which will commence in the middle of January of 2013, is designed to start a conversation between addiction specialists in the United States and addiction specialists and women’s rights activists in India. De-Addiction Centres.IN will provide crucial support during this visit, promoting the tour and ensuring that Julie sees all the experts who wish to speak with her about addiction in India. Much more about the tour can be found here (Tour of Addiction in India)

It might seem like an inopportune time to visit India, as the region continues to reel with riots after the attack and death of a student in Delhi. Mere weeks ago, the Daily Beast reported that police forces used water cannons on protestors marching in Delhi, and the Huffington Post reported that another gang rape of a woman was reported in Delhi in the beginning of January. The security risks are certainly present for anyone who visits the area right now, but recent events have also shed light on the plight of women in India, and executives at The Orchid believe that now is the right time to discuss women’s rights and women’s addiction rates within the country. People are talking about women in India, for the first time in a long time, and this open discussion might present opportunities for collaboration and real problem solving that were never possible before.

Touring India might also be the only method officials can use in order to develop a clear understanding of the addiction issue. As an article in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry makes clear, addiction rates in India can vary dramatically from region to region, and studies can sometimes be hard to interpret from afar. In a tour, many of these hidden problems can be addressed and Julie can receive an on-the-ground view of addiction she might find impossible to attain in any other way. It is a valuable undertaking, sure to bring benefits to the women of India.

If you’d like more information on women’s addiction issues around the globe, or if you’d like help getting care for your addiction, please contact us here at The Orchid.

View The Orchid Recovery Center Profile on De Addiction Centres .In .




The Reports are In: Buprenorphine Treatment for Addicted Mom Reduces Fetal Distress

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It’s an ongoing debate: what is the best way to provide treatment to women who are addicted to opiates but pregnant? Immediate cold turkey withdrawal will almost always result in a spontaneous abortion, so the common response of the medical community is to offer methadone maintenance to the mother so that she can mitigate the harm done to her unborn child in utero. Babies are born safe but addicted to the maintenance medication. These withdrawal symptoms can be harsh on the baby, and little research has been done on the long-term effects of the drug on the baby’s development.

But a new study reports that the use of buprenorphine by opiate-addicted pregnant women may limit the risks of neonate distress, according to National Institute on Drug Abuse. Though it is not perfect, it may be a slightly better solution than methadone according to the study results.

Methadone and Buprenorphine: The Similarities

The study showed that women who took buprenorphine during pregnancy experienced many of the same complications and issues that pregnant women who took methadone experienced. Additionally, babies born to mothers on both drugs exhibited similar results in terms of birth weight and other health factors. However, the big bonus is that babies born addicted to the maintenance medication experience far more mild withdrawal symptoms when their mothers took buprenorphine as compared to babies whose mothers took methadone. Based on the study, researchers are suggesting that pregnant mothers choose buprenorphine over methadone as long as they fit the criteria for its use.

More Research is Necessary

In order to better understand the effects of both methadone and buprenorphine on the child’s emotional, behavioral, and physical development in the long-term, more research is needed. Increased focus should also be placed on helping the mother to deal with her ongoing addiction issues. The best possible chance for any baby is a childhood with a mother who is drug-free and able to handle the challenges of parenthood. As important as it is to ensure the baby’s health throughout pregnancy and after, it’s also important to make sure that the mother has the support she needs to deal with her own addiction.

If someone you love is pregnant or a mother and living with an active addiction, don’t wait to help her find treatment that can help. Here at The Orchid, we are focused on providing comprehensive care that provides women with the tools they need to be successful and strong without the need for drugs or alcohol. Call today to learn more.

Lance Armstrong Admits to Doping

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Over the last few years, Lance Armstrong has repeatedly denied all charges of doping during his biking career – and the charges came thick and fast from multiple legal entities. Ultimately, the World Anti-Doping Agency stripped him of his seven Tour de France titles though he never confessed. But in an Oprah interview that will air over two nights, Armstrong has reportedly come clean, apologizing to many of his staffers and to fans for his use of performance enhancing substances during his career.

Drug Use for Performance Enhancement

Whatever your opinion of Lance Armstrong, the incident highlights a growing problem in our country. Use of performance enhancing substances has plagued sports like weight lifting, wrestling, and baseball for years, and it’s an issue that is slowly spreading to all areas where performance ability is measured. Even high school students striving to score well on the SAT, maintain leadership positions in extracurricular activities, and make As in advanced placement classes abuse stimulant drugs like Adderall or crystal meth. College students and entry-level professionals continue the trend as they attempt to establish themselves in the business world. In addition to the risks that come with drug abuse, the use of performance enhancing substances in any competitive environment sets a standard that makes it next to impossible for non-drug users to beat.

Competitive Women

Whether it’s in the workplace or at home, women are struggling with the use of drugs to increase their ability to meet the expectations and standards that they perceive are requirements to do well in life. In the workplace, women often feel that they have to do better than men in order to gain half the recognition. At home, women struggle to manage everyone’s diverse schedules, the finances, and maintain the home in a way that is receptive to guests as well as family. It’s not easy and turning to stimulant medications and other drugs often feels like the only recourse.

Asking for Help

Even more difficult? Admitting to drug use and asking for the help necessary to return to healthful living. Because this includes changing the definition of success, it’s often a long-term process that starts with drug detox and continues through intensive psychotherapeutic treatment and aftercare support.

If you are struggling with drug use in an attempt to keep your head above water at work or at home, we can help here at The Orchid. Our woman-centered drug addiction recovery program is designed to help you learn how to handle the challenges you face without the use of drugs or alcohol. Call now to learn more about ou

Are Synthetic Drugs Over?

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Synthetic drugs of all kinds – usually sold under the name of K2, spice, or bath salts – were all over the media last year. Whether it was headlines that touted high rates of emergency room admissions caused by the drugs or the bizarre behavior of patients who were under the influence of the synthetic substances, it’s caused a wave of panic among some, a flurry of activity in law enforcement, and entrepreneurism among the black market drug makers. Because the drugs are synthetic – developed in a lab – all dealers have to do to stay ahead of regulations banning them is to make minor changes to the ingredients or how the drug is manufactured.

With all the hype and myths and new laws surrounding synthetic substances, will we be seeing much of them in 2013?

Synthetic Drugs Aren’t Going Anywhere

Though more people are aware of the dangers inherent to abusing synthetic drugs, the new substances available on the street are constantly changing in chemical makeup and being sold under different names. It’s not always clear that these are all a part of the same synthetic drug family, and it’s likely that young adults who are the most common users of these drugs may be unclear of the risks they are taking. And as long as there is money to be made in their sales, dealers will continued to manufacture and sell the substance.

Dangerous Synthetic Drug Myths

There are so many misconceptions surrounding synthetic substances, all of which will likely perpetuate their use among those who are not aware of the truth. These myths include:

  • “Synthetic drugs are safe.” Many believe that because there is little to no scientific research to support the fact that they are dangerous drugs that that means they are safe. Wrong. There is little research done in labs because they are new substances, but anecdotal evidence garnered from emergency room doctors and families strongly supports the fact that the drugs are dangerous.
  • “Synthetic drugs are non-addictive.” Nope. Every illicit substance is addictive if it is mind altering and creates a high. Synthetic drugs are included.
  • “Synthetic drugs are legal.” Synthetic drugs are banned by the government and though they are often available on the shelves of mini marts and gas stations across the country, they are often there illegally. The same goes for the substances sold online. Because laws around synthetic drugs are always changing, many proprietors may not even be aware that they are selling illegal substances.

Synthetic Drugs are Addictive

Because it is possible to abuse synthetic drugs chronically and develop an addiction, dependence upon the substance is a treatable issue. Is it a problem for someone in your family? Contact us at The Orchid today and learn how we can help the addicted woman in your life to leave behind the risks associated with ongoing drug abuse and addiction.

5 Tips to Stay Sober in 2013

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New year, fresh start. How are you going to mark the new calendar year? Many often use this time to “negotiate” their use of substances. Some common resolutions among those who believe that their substance abuse is still manageable include:

  • Limiting the number of drinks at dinner, after dinner, or when they go out
  • Waiting to begin drinking or getting high until later in the day
  • Waiting to drink or get high until the weekend or vacations
  • Only drinking beer instead of liquor – or drinking only wine instead of beer

Is one of those – or something like it – one of your new year resolutions for 2013? What about last year? Did you resolve something similar in 2012 and find that by Valentine’s Day – if not earlier – you’d already blown it?

What’s Wrong with Resolving to Limit Substance Abuse?

The problem with resolutions is that they signify awareness that change needs to be made but they often aren’t followed up by a step-by-step plan to make it happen. Acknowledging the desire to lead a healthier life is the first step, but real work is necessary in order to implement that change. You have to have a plan that can be accomplished in small steps each day as well as a support system that holds you accountable for your actions. Simply saying the words is a good start, but long-term change happens when you plan out actionable steps that will help you accomplish your goal.

Substance Abuse is a Medical Disorder, Not a Bad Habit

Daily habits are made or broken in about 21 days, when they are not medically related or mental health behaviors. For example, if you decide that you want to stop biting your nails, you can do this through sheer will power, forcing yourself to stop the habit every day. After three weeks, it becomes easier and in order to maintain the new habit of not biting your nails, you have only to recognize the desire to indulge in the behavior and then not do it. Difficult, but not impossible.

When the behavior that needs curbing is related to addiction, it can be a far more difficult process and almost impossible to accomplish in the long-term on your own. Medical disorders require medical treatment. If you are unable to stop drinking or using drugs on your own for more than a few days, it is likely that addiction is an issue and if that’s the case, the first step in your actionable plan to accomplish your new year’s resolution is to seek professional treatment. Women who are ready to change their lives in 2013 can contact us at The Orchid today to get started on a woman-centered treatment program that will give you the tools you need to build a solid new foundation in 2013. Call now.