Actor Dies at 46 of Suspected Heroin Overdose

The New York Times reported yesterday that actor Philip Seymour Hoffman died Sunday of a drug overdose. He was found dead in a Greenwich Village apartment by a friend who had become concerned about him. Authorities report that an envelope suspected to contain heroin was found near Mr. Hoffman and a syringe still in his
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ABC News Anchor Discusses Her Alcoholism

ABC News anchor, Elizabeth Vargas, recently went public with her struggle with alcoholism. After many years of concealing her addiction, she finally sought help and embraced recovery for her illness. In a candid interview with long time co-anchor, George Stepanopoulos, Elizabeth explains how her chemical use covered up feelings of panic & anxiety. Her testimony
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Prescription Drug Abuse Trends

The National Institute on Drug Abuse recently published some drug trend statistics pertaining to prescription medications in particular. The misuse of prescription drugs in the United States remains high and will require a concerted effort by all cities and states to educate the public & to prevent Rx drug abuse wherever possible. Here are some
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Addiction and the Brain

Food for thought: As a society, we often think of drug-induced behaviors as simply intentional misdeeds or “bad choices”. We live in a country that prizes personal independence, freedom, and self-determination. It is important to emphasize that drug addiction is a process which hijacks the brain’s neurochemistry and alters normal brain functioning. A drug addicted
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Heroin and Prescription Drug Overdose

Just released by The Partnership at DrugFree.org is another article highlighting the growing opioid overdose epidemic spreading across America. The popular vacation destination, Jersey Shore, experienced an increase in overdose deaths in 2013 which doubled that seen in the previous year. The article reports that three people have already died this year in Ocean County,
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Link Between Mental Illness and Substance Abuse

Treatment professionals have long recognized a causal link between active substance abuse and the exacerbation of mental health symptoms. Similarly, those treating addiction have observed a patient’s drug use and associated problems suddenly escalate when the patient goes off of a needed psychotropic medication. That these two illnesses are connected is no great surprise. The
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Heroin Addiction Treatment in Kentucky

Lawmakers in Kentucky will soon be evaluating a bill that, if passed, will accomplish several important milestones in support of people trying to cope with heroin addiction. The first element would be to fund opioid addiction treatment services through Medicaid. Medicaid already funds methadone in North Carolina and has been vital in helping opioid-addicted persons
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Teen Views On Marijuana

The world is one huge adventure for most kids in the 13-19 age range. As adults, we must remember that teenagers are only a few years beyond childhood. Many teens have not yet acquired good internal controls or a reality-based view of the world around them. Yes, some teens are mature beyond their years, but
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Methadone for Opiate Addiction

Methadone has been used successfully in the United States for over 40 years as a primary treatment for opiate addiction. Many thousands of patients across the country are now stable and have restored their lives by utilizing methadone medication to manage opioid withdrawal. SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) has identified methadone
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Project Lazarus

Project Lazarus is a secular, non-profit organization that was established in 2008 with the aim of preventing drug overdose throughout North Carolina. The organization accomplishes this by providing technical assistance to clinicians and community groups, working to build community coalitions, and helping to develop overdose prevention programs. The Project Lazarus website (www.ProjectLazarus.org) contains important data
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