I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.
Addiction to prescription opioid painkillers and heroin is devastating problem which is increasing here in the United States. Those suffering from chronic opioid dependence and heroin addiction are often strongly stigmatized. Sufferers are seen as morally corrupt, weak willed, bad natured and/or lacking good judgement. These common public viewpoints only feed the problem.
Prescription painkiller addiction is something that can sneak up on anyone. Over time, the very medication that is prescribed to mitigate the pain of injuries can become a huge problem in itself. Prescription painkillers can alter the brain’s chemistry. They can "reset" the brain, making someone both physically and psychologically dependent on opioids, just to get through each day. The addiction can become serious before the afflicted person or their loved ones even realize there is a problem.
While I have never suffered from addiction myself, it has touched my life several times. I've lost two friends to opioid addiction, and have one fighting it right now. Luckily, he is doing pretty well. It's a long road, but he seems to be doing better. His mind certainly seems more clear, since a medication change in conjunction with treatment.
For those who need help it is available. The public health initiative Reset Reality has the goal of spreading awareness and understanding about all aspects of of opioid prescription painkiller addiction in America. The primary mission of Reset Reality is to help individuals living with the addiction to step back, and with the healthcare professionals, begin the journey of resetting what their reality is . The website is an excellent resource for information and tools concerning opioid dependence. The site has a symptom screener to help visitors ascertain if they have a problem, as well as, a search function to find a doctor that is certified to treat opioid prescription painkiller and/or heroin addiction. There is also a spot on the site where you can share your "Words of Reality" or lend support with inspirational words.
Just one of the stories in the “Words of Reality” section of the site is that of Michael Sorrentino from the television program “The Jersey Shore”. His story is very much like that of my friend who is struggling with pain medication addiction at present. A back injury required pain killer use, which escalated into dependency and addiction. With a medication change and professional help, he is doing much better now.
By stopping by the website I not only learned symptoms to look for such as drowsiness and social isolation, but was surprised by the large array of treatments available. If you or a loved one is suffering with the difficult problem of addiction related to pain mitigation, there may be solutions you are not aware of. it is certainly worth a look.The post Help & Understanding for Opioid Addiction #ResetReality appeared first on Mom Foodie - Blommi.