<p><strong><em>A haunting portrayal of <a href="https://esme.com/resources/c/addiction" target="_blank" class="wordlink">addiction</a></em></strong></p><p>In this short film, the kiwi ingests a nugget and the flightless bird is lifted into the air for the first time. The twirls above the earth prove intoxicating, and the kiwi begins a pursuit of the nuggets to recreate that experience. Using simple line drawings and changes in background color, the German animator, <a href="http://www.hykade.de/" target="_blank">Andreas Hykade</a>, creates a visual metaphor for addiction that is gripping and surprisingly human.</p><hr><p><span style="font-size: 11px;">Thumbnail credit: Screenshot from Nuggets by Andreas Hykade</span></p>
<p><em><strong>How methadone works and what it might mean for your custody</strong></em></p><p><strong>What is methadone?</strong></p><p>Methadone, also known as Dolophine, is a synthetic opioid. Its medical use is twofold: Sometimes it’s used as a pain medication, but methadone is more frequently employed as maintenance therapy in people with opioid dependence. In the case of heroin <a href="https://esme.com/resources/c/addiction" target="_blank" class="wordlink">addiction</a>, methadone is not a cure; it is a pharmacological tool designed to mitigate withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. It is treatment, not antidote.</p><p>Use of methadone is not without controversy. Many critics point to the use of one drug being utilized to combat addiction to another drug. Methadone, however, does not deliver the euphoric high or instant rush of release that heroin or other opioids do, and it has helped many people who are addicted to heroin recover from severe opioid dependence. </p><p><strong>How methadone works</strong></p><p>Methadone is a long-acting opioid that helps to normalize your body’s neurological and hormonal functions. It blocks the high of opiate drugs and will prevent someone from getting high from opiate use. While some people continue to use opiates while in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), the effects of the opioids are blocked at doses higher than 100mg. The most compelling benefit of methadone is its ability to prevent the addicted person from experiencing withdrawal so she can be free from symptoms and begin recovery.</p><p><strong>Methadone use </strong></p><p>MMT bloomed in the 1960s as a way of treating Vietnam veterans who came out of the service with heroin addiction. MMT originally did not include anything but a daily dose of the medication. As the medical field began gaining insight into the nature of addiction, the need for treating the underlying causes of opioid use became apparent. Clinics now offer individual and group counseling in addition to the medication. </p><p>To participate in MMT, the client generally has to travel to a clinic. The dose is measured and taken in the presence of medical staff. A doctor and psychiatrist are frequently in attendance during the hours of the clinic’s operation. Twelve step meetings, counseling, and other psychosocial resources are usually available on site.</p><p><strong>MMT and Solo Moms</strong></p><p>Solo Moms may hesitate to begin MMT for fear of losing their child or children. MMT is making public what may have been a hidden addiction. The courts now see MMT as a positive in <a href="https://esme.com/resources/c/parenting" target="_blank" class="wordlink">parenting</a>, because drug addiction is not a moral failing, it is a medical condition, and methadone is treatment not drug use. </p><p>Beginning treatment with MMT is an indication that the parent is taking definite steps toward recovery. Participating in MMT is no different from taking medication to control any medical condition. You can obtain documentation from a clinic to show the court that you are participating in the program as a means of recovery. The clinic will also keep track of your clean drug screens, and you can obtain records and present them to the court as evidence of your commitment to sobriety. </p><p><strong>Some methadone facts</strong></p><ul><li>When taken as directed, MMT can improve your overall health and your sense of well-being.</li></ul><ul><li>MMT cannot create euphoria.</li></ul><ul><li>Methadone does not make you sick.</li></ul><ul><li>Methadone does not affect your immune system.</li></ul><ul><li>Methadone does not damage your teeth and bones. (This misconception stems from methadone’s common confusion with methamphetamine.)</li></ul><ul><li>You will not gain weight from MMT.</li></ul><ul><li>Methadone is taken orally, which is much less complicated than intravenous dispensing. </li></ul><p><strong>Some precautions</strong></p><ul><li>You cannot get a prescription for methadone; you need to travel to a clinic as it is administered once a day. After a time and with clean tests, some take-home doses are available.</li></ul><ul><li>Withdrawal from methadone can be lengthy and require in-patient treatment.</li></ul><ul><li>Methadone providers are required to be specially licensed and are subject to strict monitoring and reporting regulations. For this reason, the availability of qualified providers may be limited.</li></ul><ul><li>Side effects can include profuse sweating, decreased libido, constipation, and itching among other symptoms.</li></ul><p>If you are thinking of trying MMT as a means of treating your opioid dependence, you can get more information at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.samhsa.gov">www.samhsa.gov</a> or call their national helpline at 1-800-662-4357.</p><p>If you would like to visit a clinic, click <a target="_blank" href="http://www.methadone.us/methadone-clinics">here</a> for state locations of current methadone clinics.</p><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><hr><p><span style="font-size: 11px;">Image via Shutterstock.com </span><br></p>
<p><strong><em>Al-Anon understands the unique challenges of living with, or loving, someone who is addicted </em></strong></p><p>We’ve all heard about 12-step programs and how they have turned lives around for the better. For alcoholics, there is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and for those addicted to drugs there are Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Pills Anonymous (PA), and Cocaine Anonymous (CA). Each group follows certain steps that have helped millions of people obtain and maintain sobriety. Attendees find fellowship and support, and the only requirement is a desire to stop using the substance.</p><p>For people who have an person who is an addict or alcoholic in their lives, there is Al-Anon, which follow a similar pattern of adhering to 12 steps. Living with or loving an addicted or alcoholic person presents a unique set of challenges, and these meetings are geared to help. The only requirement for attendance is to have a qualifier (a person who is an addict or alcoholic) in your life. </p><p>It took me a very long time to attend my first Al-Anon meeting, and when I did I had a response that was life changing, but in a way that I never would have expected.</p><p>I was sitting in a room filled with wonderful people at an Al-Anon meeting in a beachy part of southern New Jersey. The room was filled with light. I remember thinking how it reminded me of church, how I was sitting there in this wonderful light thinking about behaviors and consequences and how I fit into the whole picture. As I sat there listening, something happened. A voice whispered: What if you don’t <em>have</em> to learn how to live with the addicts in your life? What if you can leave? I stilled the voice at that time, but the seed was planted at that meeting, and eventually I did leave.</p><p>I am not saying that attending a 12-step meeting will grant you a life-changing epiphany. I am certainly not saying that 12-step meetings are for everyone, or that they are essential to learning how to deal with the addictions and addicts in your life. I am saying that they work for a lot of people and that they have a golden reputation.</p><p>Here are seven reasons they may be worth an hour or so of your time:</p><ol><li>The meetings provide support for <em>you</em>. Solo Moms are great at giving support to their kids. By contrast, 12-step meetings focus on you. I was surprised at how little I thought about how I was feeling until it was pointed out to me at my first meeting.</li><li>It’s anonymous. Truly. Living with your qualifier can create some strange events in your life. You can talk about them here without giving your last name or your occupation.</li><li>They get it. They nod. They aren’t surprised. Eyebrows aren’t raised.</li><li>You can shop. If you don’t care for the folks at one Al-Anon meeting, you can try another one, then another, until you find one that feels like the right fit. You are never obligated to return.</li><li>You can learn by listening. It really is that easy.</li><li>You will find out about resources you may not have known about in your community.</li><li>Solo Moms aren’t known for their active social lives. But 12-step meetings are uniting and offer events that you can attend with people you trust. You can extend your circle of friends easily through your common bond.</li></ol><p>The bottom line? Many of these meetings offer free child care while you attend and tons of support. You can take what you need and leave the rest. If nothing else, a 12-step meeting will remind you that the focus sometimes has to be on you.</p><hr><p><span style="font-size: 11px;">Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com</span><br></p>
<p><strong><em>Know the warning signs of teen drugs use</em></strong></p><p>What mom hasn’t struggled through the shifting moods of adolescence as her child matures? The sudden tears and moments of high drama or gleeful exuberance are all part of the expected atmosphere when living with a teen. </p><p>Except one day you notice real changes and your teen doesn’t seem their normal self. Something is wrong, but you can’t be sure what it is. Then comes that first shiver of suspicion: Could your child be using drugs?</p><p>Since teens rarely own up to drug use, it is up to the parent to know the warning signs of drug use. </p><p>Here are ten of the most common:</p><p>1. Your child’s moods swing more than they did a short time ago. Sudden outbursts of anger or sadness are particularly worrisome.</p><p>2. You notice glassy eyes, a runny nose, or an increase in sleeping. Any of these alone may indicate drug use.</p><p>3. Grades begin to drop. A loss of interest in school or former interests, such as sports or a hobby, may be due to an increased interest in substance use.</p><p>4. Your child begins to isolate. If your child formerly joined you for dinner and now spends dinnertime or family time locked in her room, this is a red flag.</p><p>5. A new group of friends shows up. New habits will bring friends.</p><p>6. There is an increase in risk taking behavior: incidents of truancy, shoplifting (even of petty items), or vandalism occur. This shows an inability to connect choices with consequences.</p><p>7. Your notice deterioration in your child’s personal grooming habits and/or new smells on her breath, body, or clothing. </p><p>8. Without explanation, there is a sudden need for money. You might notice your own cash or other belongings missing.</p><p>9. Your teen demands more privacy and begins locking doors.</p><p>10. An inability to focus, appearing very tired, or being alternately fearful or paranoid without any apparent reason are hallmark signs of drug use. </p><p>If you think your teen has begun using drugs, contact the <a href="https://ncadd.org/" target="_blank"><u>National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence</u></a> for resources and support.</p><hr><p><span style="font-size: 11px;">Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com</span></p>