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Will the CVS Deal Affect the Rehab Industry?

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Will the CVS Deal Affect the Rehab Industry?

It’s been recently rumored that CVS was buying Aetna for $69 billion. While that had just been a rumor it’s been announced by both companies this past week. Leaving the healthcare and rehab industry in question of all the changes to come. With CVS being the massive drugstore chain and prescription drug insurer and Aetna as one of the nation’s largest health insurers, this deal would go down as the largest mergers in pharmaceutical history. The merger would affect the way consumers are receiving their prescriptions. Consumers are beginning to wonder why a massive company such as CVS would want to own Aetna.

The hope is that drug prices would end up reducing because CVS already owns CareMark and now Aetna, it may exert some pressure to other substantial companies to keep the prices lowered. However, nothing has been set in stone and that will be one of the biggest factors that will be looked at in reviewing the deal.

A recent report has stated that Amazon is looking to break into the pharmacy business. Prospectors believe CVS is making such a bold move [in buying Aetna] due to business moguls such as Amazon. Many smaller insurer companies are questioning if they will be picked up by a larger company before Amazon does. “Even though many Americans have prescription drug plans through work, Larsen wrote that Amazon could “create a ‘prime drug discount program’ … where some members could choose to purchase their pharmacy benefit through Amazon, not their employer.” says CNN Money. While this is all still uncertain, it is a very plausible reason as to the merge.

In light of this news, many are questioning if this will directly affect the rehab industry. While it is a huge change, the hope is that drugs would become more accessible to patients as well as affordable. Many patients are in need of a lot of different medications when coming off of their addiction. These drugs are acting as counter affects to the drugs they have already been ingesting. Many people who are addicted and in drug or substance abuse aren’t prepared for the cost of treatment and medications required to help them achieve sobriety.

However, a counter to this merger is the much easier accessibility to over the counter prescriptions and medications. Creating a service as easy as Amazon may make it significantly easier for patients to receive medications potentially adding to his or her addiction. While either of these outcomes are unknown at the moment it is a business deal the rehab industry will keep a close eye on.

 

For more content visit us at myrehabrecovery.com

 

rehab

The Flaw of Relying on Rehab Alone

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Minding The Gaps in Recovery

The Flaw of Relying on Rehab Alone:

Going into a drug and alcohol vicinity has to offer more than just procedure recovery programs. A recently held study has estimated almost half of those who resolve a drinking or drug problem do so without assistance. Meaning more than 9 percent of respondents to a national survey indicate overcoming a problem, but only 46 percent of them consider themselves actually in recovery says ScienceDaily.

This leads to the question as to how are people recovering on their own and what do rehab vicinities need to work on more?

In the nature of helping someone recover, from any one addiction, is going to be a process in itself meaning not every patient needs the same thing. Just as not every addiction is the same. In our opinion there are many paths to recovery and no one person has been able to stake his or her claim in knowing the solution. The ambiguity of people’s process in achieving either sobriety or freedom from addiction should be acknowledged and not swept under the rug of rehab being the only solution.

It is a well known idea that any one person who is struggling with an AOD problem should immediately go to rehab or a program such as AA. While it has been studied and analyzed that while those severely struggling with a disorder do find results from those programs, many do not. This results in our need, as rehab facilities, to broaden our cultural mindset. Some research shows that combining treatment medications (where available) with behavioral therapy is the best way to ensure success for most patients. Naturally, treatment approaches must be tailored to properly cater each patient’s drug use patterns and drug-related medical, psychiatric, and social problems.

Addiction does not have to be a life sentence. (Drugabuse.gov)

Overall, there needs to be an open mindedness when it comes to finding the proper solution for any one patient or those in need of recovery in general. Not just one solution will be the formula for every patient. Treatment must address the needs of the whole person in order to be successful. Anywhere between counteractive drug therapy, usually to aid in withdrawal symptoms, cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, motivational enhancement therapy and family therapy are all some of the tools aiding in helping patients receive a life full of freedom from addiction. As rehabs we must keep a receptive mindset to the topic of recovery in rehabs alone.

If you feel that treatment is an option you’d like to choose for your process, please call 855.977.3422. My Rehab Recovery is here to serve you in the first step process of getting clean.

 

 

Your Sweet Tooth Could Be a Leading Cause to Your Drug Addiction: Study shows a diet high in sugar primes the brain for drug dependence

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A recent article posted by Daily Mail shares the finding of a Canadian Professor on his correlations between sugar and opioid addiction.

It all started with the question, ” Could a diet high in refined sugars make children and adults more susceptible to opioid addiction and overdose?”

Opioid abuse is also associated with poor dietary habits, including preferences for sugar-rich foods, as well as malnutrition.

These connections have led to questions of whether excessive consumption of refined sugar may affect vulnerability to opioid addiction.

To explore the possible role of a sugar-rich diet in opioid addiction, we investigated whether unlimited access to high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) altered rats’ neural and behavioral responses to the semi-synthetic opioid, oxycodone.

Our findings suggest that a diet high in corn syrup may dampen the reward associated with oxycodone and may, therefore, encourage consumption of higher quantities of the drug.

Opioids, High Fructose Corn Syrup, and Addiction

High fructose corn syrup is a refined sugar that typically includes more fructose than glucose. It is a commonly used food additive in North America, produced by chemically processed corn.

In a study conducted by one of the Professors’  Ph.D. student Meenu Minhas, animals had unrestricted around-the-clock access to bottles containing a water solution sweetened by HFCS.

After about a month of voluntary drinking, the bottles were removed and, after a few sugar-free days, animals’ behavioral and neural responses to oxycodone were assessed.

Similar to other opioids, oxycodone induces pharmacological effects that include analgesia, euphoria, and feelings of relaxation. Some common street names include: ‘hillbilly heroin’, ‘perc’, and ‘OC’.

Oxycodone is the active ingredient in a number of formulations which include intravenous injections, immediate release solutions/capsules (Percocet, Percodan, OXY IR, OXY FAST), and extended-release preparations (OxyContin).

Oxycodone is also highly addictive and has impacted the lives of numerous North Americans. There are estimates that its consumption increased by almost 500 percent from 1999 to 2011.

The US National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that approximately 27.9 million people aged 12 or older used oxycodone products.

Moreover, 4.3 million people aged 12 or older reported misusing oxycodone-containing products in the past year.

Dampening Drug’s Reward May Increase Use

At the neural level, HFCS exposure decreased the oxycodone-induced release of dopamine, which is a desire-promoting neurotransmitter active in the brain’s reward circuits.

Furthermore, at low doses, sedative drugs like opioids and alcohol normally interfere with inhibition and stimulate a variety of ‘psychomotor’ behaviors – such as sociability, extroversion, talkativeness, sensation seeking and interest in novelty.

Our study in rats found that exposure to the high fructose corn syrup reduced this psychomotor stimulation induced by oxycodone.

Our experiments show that chronic exposure to high fructose corn syrup had an impact on both the neural and behavioral responses to oxycodone, resulting in changes likely to affect drug-taking and drug-seeking behavior.

They suggest that a high sugar diet may dampen the reward associated with a given dose of oxycodone. And that this may cause people to consume more of the drug.

These results suggest that nutrition, and high fructose corn syrup intake, in particular, can influence responses to opioids – a finding that may be relevant both to clinical uses of opioids and to the treatment of addiction.

We can win the war on opioid addiction only if we tackle the problem from multiple angles.

Our findings, and those of other laboratories, strongly suggest that prevention of unhealthy diets may not only help reduce the obesity epidemic, but also reduce environmental factors that may predispose to opioid addiction.

My Rehab Recovery‘s View

As you see from the study above, a sweet tooth can affect more than just your teeth. It can enable you to consume more drugs that your body normally would not be able to handle. We believe that each individual deserves the right to be whole and healthy. Many of our treatment centers are equipped with 5-star chefs that will give you a balanced diet to aid you in your road to recovery.  If you are looking for a new start and need help finding the right facility, please call 855.977.3422. My Rehab Recovery is here to serve you in the first step process of getting clean.

 

 

 

Harvey Weinstein Draws Attention Before Heading to Rehab

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Harvey Weinstein was spotted at his lawyer’s office Wednesday flipping out the paparazzi before entering the building. The disgraced movie exec then jetted off to Arizona for rehab.

He was spotted having dinner in Scottsdale with a few men and women the night before he elegantly checked into rehab.

The Daily Mail published images of Weinstein holding up his middle fingers, as a TMZreport surfaced claiming that Weinstein took off on a private jet Wednesday evening from Van Nuys Airport bound for Wickenburg, Arizona. The outlet noted that the destination is very close to the Meadows rehab center, which is uniquely equipped to deal with sex addiction issues, but there’s no word yet on specifically where the 65-year-old will receive treatment.

There were rumors that Weinstein had plans to flee the country to escape statements that have been realized on him sexually assaulting and harassing women. However, TMZ reports that those plans were scrapped as his team wanted him to receive inpatient treatment within the country.

Paparazzi has been hot on the movie execs tracks. He was photographed outside his daughter’s house Wednesday afternoon.

Photographers say he stated,”not doing OK.”

“I gotta get help guys,” he told the paparazzi as he got into a car. “You know what? We all make mistakes — second chance, I hope.”

He then took a jab at Hollywood A-listers, many of whom have turned on him in recent days.

“And you know what? I’ve always been loyal to you guys,” he told the photographers, adding “not like those f–king pricks who treat you like s–t. I’ve been the good guy.”

In addition to the firestorm of negative press surrounding Weinstein, his wife of 10 years, Georgina Chapman, announced that she’s leaving him on Wednesday.

“My heart breaks for all the women who have suffered tremendous pain because of these unforgivable actions. I have chosen to leave my husband. Caring for my young children is my first priority and I ask the media for privacy at this time,” her statement to People read.

Weinstein hopefully is treating his addiction and the law will move forward on the statements that have been made.

 

Demi Lovato Speaks Out on the Moment That Made Her Seek Treatment for her Addiction

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Demi Lovato has never been shy about discussing her past addiction struggles. At the turning point of her becoming an adult, popstar Lovato checked herself into rehab for several different struggles involving mental health, eating disorders and substance abuse.

Recently Lovato released a Youtube documentary Simply Complicated, where she reveals the exact chain of events that made her seek treatment in the first place. Most of the public know the majority of her story from fans and social media. The turn of events happened when her excessive use became too much and she punched one of her backup dancers. In the documentary, she is not afraid to reveal the incident. Lovato along with her loved ones expose the details of the scene with much vulnerability.

“I was not easy to work with,” Lovato says in the documentary, before Nick Jonas chimes in, “And then this episode happened”—referring to the punching, presumably.

“Demi walks up onto the plane. I turn around, and Demi had punched her backup dancer in the face,” a friend of Lovato’s says.

After this, Lovato says she went on a two-month “bender,” where she was “using daily.” It was this that led the people around her to think she was on a “road to suicide.” They all knew in this moment that change needed to happen.

“I’m on a journey to discover what it’s like to be free of all demons,” she also says in the film, which hits YouTube on October 17.

Glamour states that in November 2016 Lovato spoke frankly to Glamour about how hard it’s been to get to a place of peace and sobriety. “I feel healthy, I feel happy,” she said. “Back then I felt an emptiness inside of me, and I reached for so many things—a person, a substance, a behavior—to fill that void. And now there’s not a void anymore. The void is filled by me taking care of myself.… Getting sober was difficult. I went into rehab, I came out, and I didn’t stay sober. I still had issues occasionally. Now some days it’s difficult; some days it’s easy.”

Addiction doesn’t target a single people group. Everyone is a target. My Rehab Recovery has created an extensive network that does not turn down anyone in need. Call 855.977.3422 for assistance into treatment or go to myrehabrecovery.com.

 

Las Vegas Shooting: Health Science Professor Doesn’t Believe Paddock had a Mental Illness

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What a tragic day in American history. My Rehab Recovery is praying for all who have been affected by the mass shooting at the country festival in Las Vegas this last weekend. One man’s hurt and desire to be loved caused thousands to feel the same pain.

Indianapolis News WTHR sat down with a professor from Ball State to discuss the matter if Paddock had a mental illness which led him to his actions. They concluded no and this is why.

According to Health Science Professor Jagdish Khubchandani, mass murderers plan their actions and rarely snap, whereas people with a mental illness cannot hide their illness and more often than not will take their own lives.

Some are speculating that Steve Paddock had to have been mentally ill to commit such an act, but Dr. Jagdish Khubchandani isn’t so sure.

“How could a mentally ill person take care of his family, travel, gamble, plan meticulously and not show any sign of any mental health problems?” he asked. “Generally, mentally ill people are dysfunctional and no one noticed. People believed he was normal.”

Khubchandani has done extensive research in the area of mental health and says statistics show a majority of firearm deaths in this country are not committed by the mentally ill. In fact, he says people with a mental illness are more likely to take their own lives.

“They are less likely to kill others and more likely to kill themselves. Eighteen thousand out of 30,000 gun deaths this year have been suicides, of all deaths, suicides, and that should tell us something,” he clarified.

So that leads to the question: If Paddock did not have a mental illness, what was he?

“He’s a cold-blooded mass murderer, and that is all we can say for now,” he declared.

“The level of intelligence, functioning in society, no dysfunction is seen by people shows there’s a less possibility of being mentally ill. The way he was spending his money … making money out of property and gambling means a high level of thinking and hiding it from people. That needs a lot of upper-level thinking,” Dr. Khubchandani concluded.

My Rehab Recovery stands and apologizes for all who suffer from mental illness. We understand that this disease is blamed for a lot of troubled individuals in the world today.

If you struggle with mental illness are know a loved one who shows signs of mental illness visit My Rehab Recovery or call 855.977.3422. We are excited to rise above the stereotypes and challenges of mental illness. Check out one of our amazing treatment facilities today!

San Francisco: Drug Crisis Proposal

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San Francisco is a hit city for activity on the map of America. Walking around Chinatown or Mission District and maybe even hitting the beach, there is plenty of things to do by foot in the city.

If you walk around long enough you may see someone shooting up in plain daylight. If you didn’t see the action, you may step over their syringes they shot and tossed.

The drug epidemic is rising to the plain site on the streets of San Francisco. With the uprising, the city officials are starting to move towards the first ever supervised injection site.

Supervisor London Breed has been a supporter of the idea. According to California Today, in an interview with Breed, she recounted some of the efforts so far to address the drug problem: outreach, a needle exchange program and cleanup crews that collect thousands of syringes a month.

“But that’s not all working,” she said.

The United States has had a needle exchange program since 1980. The effects have slown the spread of deadly viruses and lured in addicts to public health centers.

Other countries such as Australia, Canada, and multiple other European countries have had them for years. Supporters in those countries have said,” Injection facilities that include clean syringes and medical supervision extend the benefits for reducing users to spread deadly diseases.”

There are many Californians who are in opposition to this plan. They feel that it normalizes drug use. Alongside the citizens, there was a strong resistance from law enforcement.The proposal was sent to the state Senate on the matter of injection sites but was declined due to the influence of law enforcement.

Ted Gaines, a Republican lawmaker from Roseville, was one of the “no” votes. “I don’t think you should enable a person to remain in misery,” he said.

This month, the San Francisco board of supervisors will hold a hearing on the injection site proposal to bring the project up once again.

Ms. Breed, the board president, said she had once dismissed the idea as out of bounds. But her thinking evolved in April after a trip to have a look at the supervised injection program in Vancouver.

She was impressed by the cleanliness of former drug enclaves and the testimonies of addicts who were now at least in dialogue with counselors.

She said,” “This is hard for me. I’m still struggling with it. But what we’re doing now is not solving the issue.”

The city of San Francisco is looking to clean up their streets and allow citizens and tourists an enjoyable walk throughout the city.

My Rehab Recovery is working with quality treatment facilities to get addicts off the streets and the help they are looking for. We do not stand to enable the use of substance abuse. There is nothing more valuable than your life.

If you or a loved one is looking to reclaim your life go to My Rehab Recovery or call 855.977.3422

Google Puts a Limit on Addiction Treatment Ads: Corruption Coming to a Halt

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Most Americans turn to Google to search or answer any question they may have. This includes drug addicts and their families. They search Google for what sounds to be the best option to reclaim their life. How do they know what they are clicking on is true to what they will receive?

It is easy to say what people want to hear, but it is hard to deliver. In this $35 billion industry, there is so much wiggle room for corruption many are getting away with it.

Google has acknowledged the severity and corruption in the treatment industry that is going on. This week they put a restriction on the number of ads promoting rehabilitation centers on their sites.

Google spokeswoman Elisa Greene said,”We found a number of misleading experiences among rehabilitation treatment centers that led to our decision.” They found ads for rehab center that are misleading and only putting the client at more risk if they are admitted into the center.

This is not the first time Google has put up restriction on advertisement on their site. They have limited payday lenders, adult content, and many more. With this action from their past decisions, it has created such things as a verification process for locksmiths to prevent fraud. Google’s decision to limit treatment center ads will effect thousands of small operating companies in the industry.

Many of these companies were paying as much as $70 per click to have their facility advertised through Google. Google understands the loss financially on their end, but justice is what they partner with. The cost of a life is worth more than the funds they were receiving.

One of the leading forms of advertisement for the treatment industry is through the internet. Their biggest strategy is buying ads space that pop up with words relating to treatment, such as “rehab” or “drug treatment center”. With Google’s restrictions put in place last week, they have stopped selling that ad space related to those words.

This may not seem like a big deal, but it is now raising the standard for you or your loved one looking to get into treatment.

A treatment center on average makes $30,000 a client per month from private insurance. With their biggest form of advertisement removed, they are now having to use other ways to attract clients.

There are over 3,000 treatment centers in California alone. The competition to be first on Google was a race of who could cough up the most money that month. It is very easy for any company to write a tag that will lure you in to be admitted into their facility. Then buy Google ad space for that tag to be the first to appear. With the new limitations, it will force companies to use different forms of advertisement to be seen.

There is now new hope being presented that this move by Google will weed out the corruption and true genuine treatment centers will rise to the surface.

We are part of the new hope. My Rehab Recovery has created a certification process so you know what you will expect when you are admitted into one of the treatment centers in our network. We are in close relationship with each one of our treatment centers to know that they are up to date, trustworthy and excellent at all times.

My Rehab Recovery reviews their content and stays in communication with the owners and operators with each company to know for certain that there is no concerns in sending someone to treatment.

We stand on ethical grounds and evidence based results to offer all of those in need. My Rehab Recovery is fighting for justice. We are fighting for lives.

You or loved one looking for help with addiction or mental illness, visit My Rehab Recovery or call 855.977.3422

Josh Gordon to end treatment soon, hopes for NFL return: Tim Montgomery WR Trainer

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Tim Montgomery, trainer of  Josh Gordon, said to cleveland.com,” Suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon returned to rehab in June to try to show the NFL he was worthy of reinstatement and will end his treatment on Sept. 21.”

According to cleveland.com, this is not Gordon’s first time in treatment. It is believed to be his fourth time to a rehab center.

“He’s been clean, so we’re hoping after 90 days he’s reinstated and they put him back in the league, which it looks like they’re going to do that,” said Montgomery to cleveland.com

Tim Montgomery uses his history and mistakes to work with athletes who struggle with a troubled past. In 2005 Montgomery’s records were taken from him, as he admitted to using performance enhancing drugs. He had also spent 4 1/2 years in prison for selling heroin and a check fraud scheme.

Montgomery is able to relate to Gordon on his circumstances and speak to him about the lessons he learned from his own life mistakes. He now runs a facility, N.U.M.A. Speed, stands for “never underestimate my ability.”

Gordon and Montgomery were paired together by a friend who know Montgomery’s college partner. They work together not only on his body, but on his mind as well.

When Gordon was denied to be reinstate in May, Montgomery’s true colors came out. He said,” I took you on for life. I ain’t taking you on as a project.’ It wasn’t until he didn’t make it and I was still there that he understood it.”

 

Montgomery was able to see Gordon on a day visit from his rehab facility. He told cleveland.com that Gordon had been working out there and it will not take him long to get back at peak shape.

Gordon now surrounds himself with people who support his sobriety. He understand that it will be difficult if he is reinstated, Montgomery told cleveland.com.

Both Gordon and Montgomery understand the game of football is not just physical, but mental too. They are wishing that he can maintain a healthy mental state to then contribute to a team.

“I’m just praying daily that he can wake up and walk out of there,” said Montgomery as his last statement to cleveland.com.

 

The team at My Rehab Recovery believes in reclaiming your dreams. Don’t let your past get in the way of your future. Check out our Redeem the Dreams campaign for inspiring stories of those who reclaimed their dreams after addiction.

State of Addiction: Finding early indicators of heroin addiction

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Where does heroin addiction start?

It is most commonly blamed on prescription pills abuse, but what if we looked deeper into the issue to discover other indicators.

Where does it all start?

Criminology professors John Lewis, of IUP, and Eric Kocian, of Saint Vincent College, conducted a study to disprove the opioid epidemic for the sole cause of heroin addiction. The questions that motived the study was simple; How and why do people become addicted to heroin? Where does it all start?

The Truth

Lewis and Kocian interviewed 158 people in Westmoreland County, PA who admitted they had substance abuse issues. Out of the 158 people, 128 of them were addicted to heroin. Only 1 out the the whole study reported to have involvement of substance abuse before they were prescribed pain killers. After interviewing, both Lewis and Kocian believed blaming prescription drugs were the sole cause of heroin addiction was far from the truth.

Other signs

Looking far back before the step into heroin addiction can give a warning sign of what is to come. Did the addict take part in alcohol or marijuana use? Did they have a traumatic life incident happen? Were their parents or grandparents addicts? These are all things to research as the leading causes for heroin addictions.

In the Westmoreland study, over 55 people started using alcohol at the age 15. 90% of those are now addicted to heroin.

Common Cure

Society today does not know how to cope with their stress or traumatic incidences safely. There is a pill to cure every issue our body’s deal with, physically and emotionally. Even as children we are taught to fix any pain with a pill. But where does the line get drawn of healthy use of prescription drugs and abuse lie? Simple. Following the prescription given to you by the medical professional.

Early Action

How do we monitor the legal substances that are more commonly being abused? Early education plants a seed into child showing the health factors that cause damage. Also, following state and federal laws will help guide a personal into not falling into addiction.

Take action

Knowing that the warning signs to heroin addiction are not just prescription drugs, are you more curious about your child, family member or friend? Sit down and have a conversation before their life is at risk.

If you know of anyone struggle with heroin addiction or any other substance abuse visit My Rehab Recovery or Call 855.977.3422. We have network of qualified and quality treatment centers that will stand along side any addiction and walk addicts to sobriety.

For more information on the case study, click here.