Withdrawing from drugs should be done under the guidance of a medical professional to ensure safety. Detoxification is not equivalent to treatment and should not be solely relied upon for recovery. Going through detox is a crucial step in recovery, and it’s these first few weeks that are arguably most critical because they are when the risk of relapse is highest. Search for the latest prevention news, articles, events, organisations and individuals by location. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Louisiana has a near-total abortion ban in place, which applies both to medical and surgical abortions.

Medical Professionals

Anyone can visit the NHRTAC website and request technical assistance on harm reduction ― to be connected with experts who will respond in a timely manner. Grant recipients receiving federal funding must adhere to applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and other requirements as specified in federal grant terms and conditions of award. Other SAMHSA grants may also support https://virginiadigest.com/top-5-advantages-of-staying-in-a-sober-living-house/ harm reduction activities (see Notice of Funding Opportunities). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that polysubstance use like mixing stimulants (uppers) with depressants (downers) can be extremely dangerous and damaging to your organs. The meditation allows you to observe any pain you might be experiencing — physically or mentally — as well as your thoughts.

National Helpline

When people enter treatment, addiction has often caused serious consequences in their lives, possibly disrupting their health and how they function in their family lives, at work, and in the community. Most drugs affect the brain’s “reward circuit,” causing euphoria as well as flooding it with the chemical messenger dopamine. A properly functioning reward system motivates a person to repeat behaviors needed to thrive, such as eating and spending time with loved ones. Surges of dopamine in the reward circuit cause the reinforcement of pleasurable but unhealthy behaviors like taking drugs, leading people to repeat the behavior again and again. SAMHSA’S Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center works to provide communities, clinicians, policymakers, and others in the field with the information they need to incorporate evidence-based practices in their communities for prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

Stay mindful of mental health conditions

• As a person continues to use drugs, the brain adapts by reducing the ability of cells in the reward circuit to respond to it.
• Not everyone is responsive to their first treatment for depression, according to Brett Emmerson, Queensland chair of the Royal Australian New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).
• Although there’s no cure for drug addiction, treatment options can help you overcome an addiction and stay drug-free.
• National Prevention Week, May 12-18, is a platform showcasing the work of communities that are preventing substance use and promoting positive mental health.
• It’s important to remember that if medications are allowed to be kept at home, they must be locked in a safe place away from children.

SAMHSA Offices and Centers provide national leadership to advance the agency’s mission and improve the behavioral health of the nation. This bottom-up, peer-led approach sought ideas from youth to educate their peers about fentanyl and fake pills ― and prevent overdose deaths. The emergency and referral resources listed above are available to individuals located in the United States and are not operated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). NIDA is a biomedical research organization and does not provide personalized medical advice, treatment, counseling, or legal consultation.

Different ways of preventing drug use are proposed according to the target group and it is generally agreed that different approaches are required to meet different needs and circumstances. National Prevention Week, May 12-18, is a platform showcasing the work of communities that are preventing substance use and promoting positive mental health. SAMHSA recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month every May to increase awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall health and well-being and provide resources and information to support individuals and communities who may need mental health support.

Explore Topics in Substance Use and Addiction Science

The devastating consequences of drug use know no geographic, economic, social, or ethnic boundaries. Each year hundreds of thousands of people around the globe – rich, poor, educated, illiterate, male, female, and even young children – die from substance use disorders, and many are victims of drug-fueled violence. Beyond the toll drugs take on personal health, substance use disorders undermine economic development, diminish social and political stability, and reduce security around the world. INL’s drug demand reduction program plays a part in addressing the underlying problems that generate violence, fuel other criminal behavior, and heighten instability, thereby bolstering the safety and security of U.S. citizens. In adults, harm reduction approaches save lives, prevent disease transmission, and help people connect with substance use treatment (Harm Reduction, NIDA, 2022).

• Loved ones who are concerned about a person’s drug or alcohol use may consider an intervention.
• He said new treatments were needed, and ketamine could be an addition to the arsenal of treatments used by mental health professionals in Australia.
• It is to be used only by patients who have exhausted all other options to treat small cell lung cancer, and have a life expectancy of four to five months.
• As with other chronic health conditions, treatment should be ongoing and should be adjusted based on how the patient responds.
• A person will want to consider actions they can take such as committing to change, seeking support, and eliminating triggers.
• The devastating consequences of drug use know no geographic, economic, social, or ethnic boundaries.

However, this can be quite challenging given that behaviour change is very difficult to monitor and isolate. Quantifiable data is often hard to obtain and finding good control groups to measure achievement against is difficult and poses ethical questions by not allowing those involved in the programme intervention and evaluation to receive the intervention. However, this should not inhibit the need or the effort to undertake evaluation and it is important to take into account other means of evaluation that can include qualitative studies with feedback. This feedback often relies on case studies, observations and informal and formal feedback from different groups and individuals who are recipients, providers or observers of any intervention.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Our goal is to focus on preventing the possibility of unhealthy outcomes and behaviors that can push substance use into misuse or addiction. Research has demonstrated that as many as one in five children/youth have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Read about how coordination between public service agencies can improve Sober House treatment for these youth. If you aren’t sure, it is best to treat the situation like an overdose—you could save a life. Administer naloxone or another opioid overdose reversal medication (if available) and then call 911. Try to keep the person awake and breathing and lay the person on their side to prevent choking.

Harm reduction works by addressing broader health and social issues through improved policies, programs, and practices. Despite being aware of these harmful outcomes, many people who use drugs continue to take them, which is the nature of addiction. If you’re looking to maintain substance use without progressing into misuse or further, harm reduction has the potential to keep you safe without shame. Outside of physical pain management or treatment for disorders, substance use for pleasurable purposes is common and isn’t inherently harmful. Perhaps you’ve long used prescription meds to manage a chronic condition or you’re prescribed pain medication after surgery. Prevent Unsafe Drinking on Campus (PDF, 1 page)This data visualization flyer illustrates heavy alcohol use and binge drinking statistics amongst college age youth to inform colleges and communities.