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Burning Tree announces Jeff Hatch as Business Development Representative

Burning Tree, a long-term drug and alcohol rehabilitation in Texas, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Hatch as a Business Development Representative based in California. After graduating from The University of Pennsylvania, Hatch played in the NFL for four years, including two seasons with the New York Giants. These days he’s an actor, artist and photographer, and his passion for helping others has earned him both The President’s Award for helping the homeless in Baltimore and continuous praise for his public speaking efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

“I am honored by the opportunity to be affiliated with this world-class treatment facility and to be of service to professionals in the addiction community across my service area in this exciting capacity. Spending valuable time on-site and getting the full Burning Tree experience has solidified my belief in and trust of the Burning Tree staff and program. I look forward to sharing the treatment philosophy, the passion of the care team and the integrated model of treatment that distinguishes our program and provides a foundation for recovery with compassion, respect and hope.”

National television audiences have seen Hatch in commercials for Buick and Head & Shoulders, playing a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the latter, and he made appearances in several editions of the Madden NFL video game series for EA Sports. The Maryland native is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Business Administration at Loyola Marymount University, attending classes at Playhouse West Acting School and Repertory Theater, and sharing his art at gallery shows and online at www.artbyhatch.com.

Burning Tree operates two long-term treatment centers in Texas, outside of Dallas and Austin. A full list of of services, including relapse prevention, can be found online at www.burningtree.com. For more information or to arrange for an interview regarding Jeff Hatch’s appointment as Business Development Representative, please contact Jeff at JHatch@BurningTree.com

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OxyContin: An Epidemic and the Winners in the War

The ongoing battle against abuse of pharmaceuticals is showing no signs of slowing down as 2011 comes to a close. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 20 percent of U.S. residents have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons. At the forefront of this recreational drug use is OxyContin. According to the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future Survey, 1 in 20 high school seniors have abused OxyContin, and its prevalence among adolescents and older groups is perhaps best documented by an abundance of legitimate prescriptions, more than 100 million in the 15 years.

Despite the pain killer’s direct or indirect relation to more than 11,000 deaths in 2007, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the popularity of OxyContin abuse has led to a sharp rise in criminal behavior to obtain the drug. An organization known as RXPatrol, which consists of pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma and various law enforcement agencies, reported in 2011 that pharmacy robberies in the last seven years neared the 2,000 mark. Attempted robberies averted by law enforcement, security systems or the pharmacists themselves who may post signs that OxyContin is not available, are not included in that figure.

Judging by sales of the product, two different groups are benefiting from the growing market for OxyContin. One group profits from the illicit sales, enhanced by large quantities made available during pharmacy robberies, although smaller quantities obtained through theft of OxyContin from a family member’s prescription can also be profitable. In Seattle, for example, investigators report the drug is being stolen and resold for a dollar a milligram. That translates to a revenue of roughly $5,000 for a bottle of sixty 80-milligram pills.

OxyContin also has become more profitable than ever for large-scale dispensers, many of whom set up so-called “pill mills” and “pain clinics”, in numerous states including Georgia and Florida. This quick distribution of OxyContin in exchange for cash generally includes little or no physical examination of patients, often due to the lack of trained or licensed health care professionals. Even though these operations have drawn the attention of law enforcement agencies and municipality leaders, the ability to quickly move them from one locale to another or from state to state makes it challenging to shut down the operators entirely.

The continuous efforts to reduce OxyContin abuse are coming from two different directions. Newly created databases allow most states, except Missouri and New Hampshire, to monitor prescriptions, giving doctors a view of a patient’s records to see if multiple narcotics prescriptions have been ordered. Also, the databases help pharmacists recognize doctors or clinics that are dispensing an unusually high quantity of prescriptions, and the same records allow police to strengthen cases against so-called “pill mills.”

Addiction specialists are also taking aim at abuse of this highly addictive drug. In Texas, addiction specialists at Burning Tree recognize that dependence on OxyContin may stem from previous substance abuse and co-occurring mental illness. The success rate of treating an OxyContin-dependent individual is increased with a dual diagnosis approach that integrates treatment for both disorders, while in a long-term drug rehabilitation setting. Burning Tree operates two such facilities, outside of Dallas and Austin, treating individuals from all 48 contiguous states.

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OPANA: OXYCONTIN TIMES TWO

OxyContin became a household name in the United States as abuse of this prescription drug surged. But a less recognized narcotic that’s considered twice as strong is growing in popularity among those who sell and consume prescription drugs for non-medical use. This painkiller is known as Opana, the brand name for oxymorphone. This article will give an insight into Opana abuse and oxymorphone addiction.

It’s making its way across America through legitimate prescriptions as well as through supplies diverted from hospitals and pharmacies and into the hands of those who take Opana to achieve a high. Combining it with other medications or alcohol makes it especially dangerous as does crushing the extended release version to maximize its impact all at once. A deadly outcome is possible due to abuse. In fact, more than 200 deaths in the first half of 2010 were attributed to Opana use, according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.

A lower price point than OxyContin may be contributing to Opana’s rise in popularity. At $30 to $50 per pill, it’s roughly half the price of an 80 mg. OxyContin pill. But just like OxyContin, Opana’s addictive nature can be overpowering to those who become psychologically and physically dependent and reach the need to get it at all costs.

On the street, its known by a wide variety of names. The list includes blues, blue heaven, new blues, octagons, stop signs, pink, pink heaven, biscuits, pink lady, Mrs. O, OM, Pink O, The O Bomb and more. And it’s not restricted to availability in large metropolitan areas. Drug sweeps in small towns—including Beatrice, Nebraska with a population of 12,000 people—have netted Opana distributors.

Addiction to Opana for some may not be a first time experience with opiate abuse. For many users, access to this relatively new drug may be part of a succession of addictions. In the past, they may have even attempted to end the addiction through a medical detox and/or a treatment program. For the majority of them who have failed, help is still available.

Burning Tree provides recovery solutions for those who have experienced chronic relapse due to addictions to narcotics and any other type of drug. The long-term treatment program provides a dual diagnosis approach to determine if co-occurring mental health issues have inhibited past attempts at a full recovery. The 12-Step Program is also a fundamental aspect of treatment at Burning Tree’s residential facilities in Texas.

Burning Tree’s facilities outside of Dallas and Austin serve to provide drug and alcohol recovery solutions for individuals from coast to coast. Those with a dependence on Opana, or their family members, are encouraged to speak to an admissions representative today. The number to call is 866-287-2877 and more information is available online at www.burningtree.com.

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Rising Popularity of Kratom Abuse

The name Kratom may not sound familiar, but this drug’s rising popularity already has the attention of addiction specialists nationwide. Kratom is a medicinal plant that gets processed much like cannabis, and offers versatility in the ways it can be consumed. For example, the plant’s leaves or powder created from them can be smoked, put into capsules, or placed in a tea.

Known by users through a variety of names—including Kratom, Ketum, Kakuam, Ithang and Thom—the plant is grown in Southeast Asia. In fact, Malaysia and Thailand are two hot spots for harvesting. The drug made from the Kratom plant can produce a high that lasts for several hours depending on the dosage of powdered extract or crushed leaf. The alluring aspect of Kratom abuse comes from its ability to produce feelings of euphoria at first, then reduce anxiety and/or provide a relaxing experience. Some reports suggest individuals suffering from opiate withdrawal may be turning to Kratom because of its opiate-like properties.

Users are getting access to Kratom through head shops and online stores. The drug is even drawing attention as a dietary supplement. Since it’s not a controlled substance, it’s legal to possess in the United States, although it is banned in Thailand. And users are finding out its not affecting drug tests because it doesn’t show up in standard drug testing at the moment.

Kratom is not considered a dangerous drug on its own as use generally leads to nausea, vomiting or prolonged sleep only. Yet mixing Kratom with other substances may be far more harmful. One documented case in Ireland reveals Kratom and other drugs were in the system of a 21 year old man who died of respiratory complications.

While attention is primarily placed on the resulting health risks associated with a particular drug, other concerns may be raised. In the case of Kratom, an individual abusing the drug may be negatively affecting his or her own financial independence, relationships and employment status. With ongoing Kratom abuse comes serious consequences that may even lead to criminal behavior. Recognizing the threat of these potential consequences may not be enough to stop an individual from abusing Kratom.

For Kratom abusers, there is help available at Burning Tree in Texas. This long-term drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility provides expert care in residential settings outside of Dallas and Austin. Addiction specialists guide individuals through the steps to enjoy life without substance abuse thanks to a program centered on a 12-Step recovery. The program is ideal for anyone who has experienced no progress despite multiple visits to short-term rehabs and other resources. Breaking the cycle of chronic relapse is a fundamental part of the program at Burning Tree, and more information can be obtained online at www.burningtree.com or by contacting an admissions representative today at 866-287-2877.

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What is Zohydro?

Zohydro is the name being used for a new type of pharmaceutical hydrocodone, not yet on the market. Medical addiction experts say there will be ten times as much hydrocodone in Zohydro as there is in Vicodin, making Zohydro Abuse a very real possibility. Four different pharmaceutical companies are currently testing Zohydro on patients. One of these companies, a San Diego-based firm called Zogenix, plans to apply to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in 2012 in hopes of selling the medication, beginning in 2013.

Zohydro’s Potential Dangers

Zohydro’s manufacturers intend to position the drug as a useful medication for managing moderate to severe chronic pain. Right now, hydrocodone is always buffered with other medications like acetaminophen. These hydrocodone potentiators can be toxic to the liver if taken in large amounts. This potential for liver toxicity limits the amount of a hydrocodone-containing medication any patient can take in a single 24-hour period. Zohydro manufacturers say there will be no potentiators in Zohydro, which means that severely ill patients will be able to take a larger amount of active hydrocodone in order to control their pain.

Addiction experts see it differently, noting the huge black market that’s sprung up in comparable medications already prescribed. Drug abusers, they say, will be able to crush and snort Zohydro for an intense, immediate high. Thousands of individuals, they fear, will end up suffering from Zohydro Addiction.

Zohydro consists of pure hydrocodone in a time release formula, without any of the traditional non-narcotic, non-addictive medications like acetaminophen or aspirin that are added to existing hydrocodone medications like Vicodin and Lortab. Hydrocodone, a semi-synthetic opioid, binds to selective receptors in the brain and spinal cord to produce analgesia. In addition to acting as an analgesic, hydrocodone can induce euphoria and sedation, which makes it popular drug for recreational use, particularly among teenagers and young adults. Hydrocodone, in fact, is the second-most abused prescription medication in the U.S.

Zohydro Abuse

Zohydro is pure hydrocodone, designed to be taken by patients who experience round the clock pain. Zohydro developer Zogenix argues that the FDA will very tightly regulate the medication in order to prevent abuse. Addiction experts argue that people will abuse Zohydro in order to experience the physical and psychological sensations of warmth and satisfaction that drug users refer to as getting high. The longer users take the drug, the more quickly they will build up tolerance to it, which means they will require a larger dose in order to experience the medication’s initial effects. Zohydro Addiction is a real possibility against this background. The exact physiological mechanism by which tolerance develops is not known. Interestingly, research has shown that individuals who are taking hydrocodone for legitimate pain control don’t build up a tolerance to it.

Eventually habitual hydrocodone users develop physical withdrawal symptoms if they don’t have regular access to the drug. Physical withdrawal symptoms are exceedingly unpleasant and can include severe cramping, “pins and needles” sensations, nausea, vomiting, sweating, restlessness and acute anxiety. Psychological withdrawal symptoms can include depression and intense cravings for the drug.

Recreational users who have developed a tolerance to hydrocodone will often take so much of the medication in the hopes of recapturing their initial high that they overdose. In 2009 alone, emergency rooms reported over 86,000 visits related to hydrocodone overdose. Addiction experts are afraid this number will escalate if Zohydro is brought to market.

Oxycontin: A Scenario for Zohydro Abuse?

In 1995 the Connecticut pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma introduced a time-release form oxycodone called Oxycontin that today is the most abused prescription medication in the U.S, according to the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration.) Although manufacturers have tried to make Oxycontin tamper-resistant, addicts have found many ways to get around these restrictions. Oxycontin addiction treatment is one of the primary therapies offered by rehabilitation facilities around the country. Zohydro critics say that Zohydro Addiction Treatment will be even as common as oxycontin addiction treatment if Zohydro succeeds in getting to market.

In November 2011, Zogenix met with the FDA one last time to discuss the drug application it intends to file in 2012 in hopes of introducing Zohydro in 2013. The FDA will not comment publicly on its discussions with Zogenix, but Zogenix officials say they are open to releasing a tamper-resistant form of the medication. Right now, however, they see the need for a hydrocodone product that does not contain liver-toxic acetaminophen as a higher priority. This means that Zohydro Addiction Treatment may soon be as common as Vicodin addiction treatment in rehabilitation centers around the universe.

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Kinship Provides a Clue to Addiction Risks

A link between siblings and self-control uncovered by researchers in Britain is drawing attention from addiction specialists at Burning Tree, a long-term drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilty in Texas. The research shows shared brain abnormalities among brothers and sisters even when one only of the pair is drug dependent. This new, evolving understanding of how different behavior can result despite common brain features can enhance Burning Tree’s mission to treat chronic alcohol and drug abuse and educate clients and family members about the benefits of an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Researchers at the Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute at Britain’s Cambridge University scanned the brains of 50 sibling pairs, one with a cocaine dependence and the other with no history of chronic substance abuse. These scans were then compared to scans of healthy individuals. While previous brain-scan studies have documented noteworthy differences in the brains of drug addicts, this research noted the siblings’ common abnormality in the part of the brain controlling behavior, suggesting that these brain differences could not only precede the onset of addiction but increase a susceptibility to addiction as well.

Although published in a peer-reviewed general-science journal, the findings hold value in a practical application manner too. The research provides a basis for beginning to assess how one sibling avoided or resisted dependence while the other sibling did not. The results also suggest another variable, beyond family history of drug abuse and occasional recreational use of drugs, that can influence the development of an addiction due to affected self-control abilities. That kind of information can assist in tailoring more effective treatment and relapse prevention plans.

As advocates of long-term treatment of drug and alcohol abuse, the addiction specialists at Burning Tree in Texas provide resources for individuals seeking treatment and their family members. Residential care is available at locations outside of Dallas and Austin for persons from all 48 contiguous states. An overview of services can be obtained online at www.burningtree.com or by phone at 866-287-2877.

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Lasting Impact of Long-Term Rehabilitation

The ex-wife of actor Charlie Sheen has opted to remain in drug rehabilitation voluntarily following her initial 30 day-stay after a drug arrest in Colorado. According to RadarOnline.com, Brooke Mueller extended plans to continue treatment at an unnamed facility outside of California. This is Mueller’s first attempt at a long-term rehabilitation, and the high profile nature of her case has been drawing media attention since she first checked into rehab two months ago.

Although Mueller’s treatment is ongoing and not conclusive, media reports revealed that she has ended a 10-year smoking habit during her stay. This result of her treatment to date can be an indicator of future progress related to maintaining abstinence regarding drug use. In fact, numerous studies link smoking and the failure to maintain drug or alcohol abstinence. A 2007 study from a team at the University of California at San Francisco was drawn from a telephone survey of clients five years after treatment, and concluded that smokers were more likely than non-smokers to return to alcohol or drug use (64.0% vs. 48.3%) in the 30 days before the survey.

Among the most important guideposts for evaluating treatment options is the success rate of specific program or type of program. While results may not be typical for all who enter a given program, a success rate is a helpful tool. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, between 40% and 60% of people relapse after a short-term drug treatment that lasts no more than 90 days. If Brooke Mueller remains in rehab one more month as expected, she will reach the 90-day mark.

The success rate of a long-term program is considerably higher, as evidenced by the clients who have completed a Continuum of Care at Burning Tree in Texas, far higher than the 31%-53% of short-term rehab clients who did the same elsewhere.

The reason for long-term drug and alcohol rehabilitation’s higher success rate can be attributed to a few key factors. A well-designed long-term rehabilitation program offers a custom approach to each individual beginning with intake and the initial evaluation. This first step allows addiction specialists to determine a diagnosis and create a treatment plan that is appropriate for the patient’s addiction, history, cultural background, gender and other personal factors. In some cases, the evaluation may lead to a “dual diagnosis” in which an individual with a documented history of substance abuse has also been living with a mental health disorder that may be contributing to past failed attempts at recovery. During treatment, a variety of coordinated therapies, including psychological therapy and behavior modification, may be offered to the person with co-occurring disorders.

Since chronic relapse is an common occurrence among clients who have repeatedly tried short-term rehab programs, relapse prevention is an essential part of a long-term rehabilitation program. The long-term program staff treats a relapse as an inevitable part of the treatment and recovery process, while teaching the individual how to recognize warning signs and behaviors that lead to relapse. Relapse prevention also encompasses learning how to create a new support system that will help sustain a recovery attempt.

Burning Tree is a renowned long-term rehabilitation facility with two locations in Texas. Addiction specialists at residential facilities outside of Dallas and Austin treat people from all 48 contiguous states. To learn more about the drug and alcohol treatment services at Burning Tree, visit www.burningtree.com, or contact Burning Tree by phone at 866-287-2877.

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