The impact of khat chewing on cardiac activity and khat addiction rehabilitation therapy in healthy khat chewers

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To study the exclusive effect of khat chewing and khat addiction rehabilitation therapy, ECG data were collected from healthy chewing subjects, control subjects, and khat-addicted subjects admitted to a rehabilitation center. Variations in ECG signal characteristics were extracted using signal processing techniques to analyze changes in cardiac activity. Figure 1 shows the general procedure used in this study.

figure 1

General study procedures.

Study design

The effect of khat on cardiac activity

Selection of samples and eligibility criteria

For the effect of khat on heart activity study, a quasi-interventional design approach was used. Subjects were selected based on a pilot survey conducted to identify suitable subjects. Selection criteria and control procedures included (1) being able to comply with the restrictions and conditions of the study, such as not chewing khat and drinking alcohol for at least two days before the study, no coffee in the last 18 hours, no drink soda within the past 12 hours, and no tea within the past 8 hours, (2) being a young adult between the ages of 18 and 35 (people in this age group are frequent chewers and also relatively healthy at Ethiopia), (3) should not have a confirmed case of cardiovascular disease and is not taking any medication such as lopinavir, ritonavir, azithromycin that may affect cardiac activity (a diagnosis was made before the study) and (4 ) free from any other drug use such as cocaine, marijuana, cannabis and cigarettes. A total of 50 subjects (25 experimental and 25 control) were selected for this study. Among these, 38 of them were men, with 19 control subjects and 19 chewers; the remaining 12 were women, with 6 control subjects and 6 chewers. Its occupation includes students, health workers and civil servants.

Characteristics of the intervention

Chewing and control subjects were matched using criteria such as sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and occupation. To achieve the perfect match, control subjects were selected based on chewers’ sex, age (±5 years), BMI (less than 18.5 as underweight, 18.5-24.9 as normal, 25 -29.9 as overweight and more than 30 as obesity). To reduce environmental factors that may alter cardiac activity, ECG signals from matched chewing and control participants were recorded sequentially. Before the ECG recording, all subjects were asked to have lunch. Each subject was instructed to take a 5-minute break to reduce the impact of any potential physical movement.

For the post-chewing session, khat leaves were initially prepared by removing any non-chewing components. Each chewer was given 100g of the same type of khat called “Kellechaa” which is the most available, preferred and consumed khat in Jimma city. Tea, coffee, soft drinks and smoking were prohibited during the chewing session. Both the intervention and control groups were exposed to similar intervention/care conditions. Post-chewing ECG data acquisition was carried out after 2 hours of chewing session. Peak arousal usually occurs 2 hours after the initial chewing session19. Chewers were also able to identify their period of highest arousal.

ECG data acquisition

ECG data acquisition was then performed using Lead II while participants were in a conventional sitting ECG recording position. Appropriate techniques and strategies were applied to improve signal quality, electrode-skin interface conductivity, and reduce artifacts. Standard recording methods were used to set up the device and subjects for recording. Near the electrode placement areas, watches and jewelry were removed. Alcohol was used to clean the skin attachment sites of the electrodes. Subjects were seated upright and relaxed before recording. Typical cable configuration II was used to lay the cables. The negative electrode was placed on the palm side of the right forearm above the wrist, the positive electrode on the inner left leg just above the ankle, and the reference electrode on the inner right leg just below above the ankle Similar protocols were used to record the ECG data for all sessions. A total of 100 ECG signals with a duration of 1 min were collected from 50 participants (25 control and 25 experimental). The ECG signal acquisition procedure for the khat chewing portion of the study is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

ECG data acquisition procedure to investigate the effect of khat chewing on cardiac activity.

The effect of khat addiction rehabilitation therapy on cardiac activity

For the khat addiction rehabilitation therapy portion of the study, data were obtained from khat addicts admitted to rehabilitation centers on the first day of admission and the eighth day of admission for each subject . Most of the subject addicted to khat recovers after a week stay in the rehabilitation program. At the rehabilitation center, participants used to take medications such as benzodiazepines, antidepressants or clonidine and therapies such as watching television, playing darts, playing table tennis, lifting weights, jumping rope and other sports activities recommended by the doctor. A case study approach was used for this part of the study. The sample size was limited to 5 because most subjects with other coaddictions, including alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, opium, or a combination of one or more of these, were excluded from the study 10 ECG signals were recorded from these 5 subjects (1 female and 4 males), 5 before rehabilitation therapy and the remaining 5 after rehabilitation therapy.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Jimma Institute of Health, University of Jimma, under permit number JHRPGN/75/21, and the Institutional Review Board of the Faculty of Medicine of the mil ·leni of the hospital of Saint Paul, with the approval number PM23/385. In addition, written informed consent was obtained from all study participants prior to data collection. All methods were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards set forth in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its subsequent amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Study environment

For the effect of khat on cardiac activity part of the study, data collection for control subjects and healthy chewers was conducted at Jimma University Medical Center according to their intuitive protocol. For the effect of khat addiction rehabilitation therapy on cardiac activity part of the study, data were collected at the psychiatric department of Saint Paul’s Millennium Medical College Hospital and rehabilitation center Addis Hiwot according to their respective protocols.

ECG signal preprocessing

After signal imputation, all recorded ECG signals were annotated and denoised. Recorded signals were given a unique name to identify subject category, recording session, and count number. Low-frequency noises caused by respiratory muscle movement, temperature change, and electrode movement artifact were removed. The Savitzky Golay filter was used to smooth the signal and remove low-frequency disturbances20.

ECG signals are susceptible to disturbances such as power line interference, EMG noise, and electromagnetic interference, in addition to baseline abnormalities. As a result, unwanted noises must be removed before extracting the relevant features. For our purpose, a discrete wavelet transform that provides high performance to remove these noises from ECG signals21,22,23 was used for signal removal. Since the sampling frequency of the signals was 1000 Hz, the wavelet decomposition had frequency range patterns of 250–500 Hz, 125–251 Hz, 62.4–125 Hz, 31.2–62.6 Hz , 15.6–31.3 Hz, 7.79–7, . Hz, 1.95–3.92 Hz, 0.975–1.96 Hz, 0.487–0.979 Hz, 0.244–0.489 Hz, 0.0–0.243 Hz for detailed coefficients (D) D1, D2, D3, D4, D9 , D8, D6, D4 D10, D11 and approximate coefficient (A), respectively. Decomposition level 9 was used to remove frequency bands below 0.979 Hz assumed to be baseline stray noise. The wavelet noise-free signal was decomposed into wavelet coefficients, and the energy of each coefficient was calculated using a multi-resolution wavelet analysis (MRA) technique to remove residual noise. Low-frequency coefficients with a frequency range of less than 1 Hz that is outside the range of the ECG signal were excluded during wavelet reconstruction. Similarly, frequency coefficients in the ECG range with negligible energy contribution during reconstruction were excluded. As a result, the contribution coefficients from level 5 to level 9 were selected to reconstruct the noise signal.

Feature extraction

Temporal peak detection and interval calculation techniques were used to calculate time domain ECG features, following the QRS detection approach of Pan Tompkins24. The Pan Tompkins algorithm is a time-domain QRS detection algorithm consisting of a series of low-pass filter, high-pass filter, derivative filter, square, threshold, and windowing procedures. Heart rate is calculated from the detected R peaks of the QRS complex. Figure 3 shows the feature extraction model employed in this study.

Figure 3

Feature extraction model.

The MATLAB peak detector functions “max” and “min” were used to detect the location and amplitude of the maximum and minimum peaks with the calculated moving time windows. The maximum and minimum amplitude points of each moving window were detected as R peaks and S peaks respectively. For the Q wave, the time window was between the left margin of the moving window and the location of the R peak, for the P wave between the left margin of the moving window and the location of the Q peak, and for the T wave between the location of the S peak and the right margin of the moving window. Intervals and segments were calculated from the start and offset points of each wave. The VFC was calculated using the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) between each peak R. Finally, all important calculated functions were exported to an excel format from the MATLAB workspace for further analysis .

Data analysis

The extracted features were averaged for better data manipulation. Changes between the mean before and after the chewing session were determined for both chewers and controls. Similarly, changes between mean values ​​before and after rehabilitation therapy were determined and percentiles were calculated from these values. In addition, the results were statistically analyzed using a paired t test to show statistical differences between different groups (pre-chewing vs post-chewing of the experimental group, pre- vs post for the control group, pre-chewing of the experimental group ). vs the control and post-chewing session of the experimental group vs the control group).

Informed consent

A written informed consent form was obtained from all study participants.

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Blueprints for Addiction Recovery, Inc. develops a pre-sentencing program called Pathway to Recovery

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Summary: Blueprint for Addiction Recovery, Inc. is a behavioral health treatment center. The organization recently launched a post-arrest and pre-conviction program for drug users known as Pathway to Recovery.

Lancaster, PA–(Newsfile Corp. – December 23, 2022) – Blueprints for Addiction Recovery, Inc. is an innovative behavioral health treatment center that focuses on the full spectrum of treatment and is led by CEO Christopher Dreisbach. Blueprints has spearheaded several specialized programs to assist with treatment and provide resources to the community. These programs are located in Lancaster County, PA, but Dreisbach hopes their growing success will allow them to expand to surrounding areas and beyond.

Pathways to Recovery is a newly launched post-arrest and pre-conviction program that allows Magisterial District Judges (MDJs) to divert people into treatment and away from the criminal justice system. The program was founded in partnership with Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams. If participating individuals complete the program, they will avoid incarceration and a future criminal record. Pathways to Recovery participants work directly with Certified Recovery Specialists (CRS) throughout the process.

Each participant completes an assessment that will allow them to be placed in the appropriate level of treatment. With appropriate treatment and individualized programming, participants receive the medical treatment they need, reduce their chances of recidivism, and help them regain control of their lives. Treatment recommendations are made in cooperation with various treatment facilities, which could include options through Blueprints for Addiction Recovery, such as the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and the ambulatory (OP).

Pathways to Recovery is based on the principles of fun established by SecondChancePA. SecondChancePA was established in 2018 by Dreisbach and Blueprints for Addiction Recovery in partnership with twenty-four Lancaster County police departments. The program gives officers additional resources while allowing people to receive treatment and away from the burdensome criminal justice system.

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In addition, certified recovery specialists are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will be on site within an hour. The CRS will help the individual find a bed in an appropriate treatment center immediately at the person’s point of crisis. Depending on the potential charges, the individual can often avoid any recourse to the criminal justice system and be enrolled in appropriate and necessary medical treatment.

Dreisbach and Blueprints for Addiction Recovery have partnered with Lancaster County BHDS to create Gateways. Gateways partners with Certified Peer Specialists (CPS) with the BHDS team to assist with mental health emergencies. Through Pathways to Recovery and the other programs, Blueprints for Addiction Recovery and its partners hope to strengthen the community and enable all people to live satisfying and fulfilling lives.

About Blueprint for Addiction to Recovery, Inc.:

The Blueprint for Addiction to Recovery is an innovative addiction treatment center. The organization focuses on the maximum possibilities of Recovery and builds and improves recovery programs for the people who deserve it the most.

For more information, visit https://blueprintsrecovery.com/.

Media details:
Company Name: Blueprints for Addiction to Recovery, Inc.
Contact phone: 717 208 6417
Contact email: admissions@blueprintsrecovery.com
Contact person: Christopher Dreisbach
Website: https://blueprintsrecovery.com/

To view the source version of this press release, visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/149382

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Addiction and recovery

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Are you worried about your own addictive habits or those of someone you love? Find the treatment you need and hope for recovery at one of the many Avera Behavioral Health locations in the region. Find practical solutions and personalized treatments for addictions ranging from drug and alcohol abuse to compulsive gambling and other behaviors.

Addiction care personalized for you

From the moment you call or walk through the front door, our highly skilled providers will treat you with respect, dignity and compassion. Count on our comprehensive assessment services, individualized treatment planning, and supportive therapy to give you hope for the future and achieve the best outcomes for your unique situation.

Your level of care depends on your situation. Regardless of your needs, you can find inpatient addiction programs for adults, available in Sioux Falls or Aberdeen, or outpatient programs conveniently available throughout the region. We are here to help you compassionately address the roots of your addiction and provide steps to healing throughout your recovery process.

Addiction recovery program

Addictive behaviors can occur at any age. Take advantage of treatment for teenagers, adults and seniors suffering from conditions such as:

• Dependence on alcohol
• Chemical or drug dependence (including opioid dependence)
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Treatment for all stages of recovery

Your needs change along the road to recovery. Addiction relapses can happen, but hope for recovery remains. No matter where you are on your journey, we’re here for you with a variety of services, including:

• Early intervention groups – Gain knowledge about substance abuse, addiction and concepts related to recovery.
• Relapse prevention – Learn to deal with personal problems while safeguarding the gains made in primary treatment and early recovery.
• pain management – Address medication, substance use, and mental health issues related to your pain management situation.
• Aftercare – Continue recovery even after discharge with follow-up appointments.

Addiction and recovery support groups

No one should have to fight addiction alone. Contact your local Avera Behavioral Health location to ask about local addiction and recovery support groups; problems can range from drug and alcohol abuse to compulsive gambling and other negative behaviors.

Participate in nationally recognized addiction and recovery support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Gamblers Anonymous (GA). Learn more about addiction recovery and support options or call the 211 helpline for immediate crisis intervention.

Avera Addiction Care Center in Sioux Falls

Adults seeking treatment for alcohol or drug addiction can come to the Avera Addiction Care Center in Sioux Falls, SD, for top-notch residential care that follows criteria recognized by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

Read more about our addiction treatment center and view a photo tour.

Watch to learn how the Avera Addiction Care Center is serving the needs of the community.

Avera Addiction Care Center in Aberdeen

Specialized addiction care services are available in Aberdeen, SD at the Avera Addiction Care Center located at Avera Hospital St. Luke’s. This program is based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics, Gamblers and Narcotics Anonymous.

Avera Addiction Family Program

During treatment, family members are encouraged to learn new communication skills and build healthier relationships with their loved one by participating in the Avera Addiction Family Program.

Expect to receive the thorough treatment you need and deserve. Our addiction services use criteria for admission, continued service, and discharge developed by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

Partial Hospital Program

During our partial hospital program, you will receive six to 11 hours of treatment each week which may include counseling and therapy and group education. Find an Avera Behavioral Health provider near you and find support for the mental health issues you want to address.

The Helmsley Behavioral Health Center, a new four-story wing at Avera Behavioral Health Hospital in Sioux Falls, includes partial inpatient space for teenagers.

Choose from a variety of outpatient behavioral health services, including:

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Self Portrait: Help and Hope When Your Loved One Suffers from Addiction

Phyllis Jorgenson

You can never give up – that’s the central message of this compelling and honest look at addiction and its impact on people who strive to support those who are dealing with it. Through hopeful examples and clear, relatable language, Jorgenson offers guidance, as well as hope, to those who love someone struggling with addiction.

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It’s great to be alive: understanding addiction and offering hope

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As a cutting-edge treatment program, River Park and its professionals played a key role in the lives and survival of countless people dealing with addiction, including many celebrities. This compelling compilation of these stories documents program founder Glenn Jorgenson as he developed his approach and helped those seeking recovery. Although they are famous, the subjects in this book reveal the challenges that come with addiction: for the addict, the family, and the community.

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Patience and commitment help reporters capture the harsh realities of fentanyl addiction

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San Francisco Chronicle photojournalist Stephen Lam and reporter Trisha Thadani spent a year as part of a large team producing a multimedia project exploring the city’s growing number of fentanyl overdose deaths. They told the story through the lives of people caught in the crisis. Photo: Marissa Leshnov

In the year following the arrival of COVID-19, more than 100,000 people died of drug overdose in the US. In San Francisco in 2020 and 2021, a total of 1,300 people died of drug overdoses, twice the number of deaths from COVID-19. A common culprit was the illicit drug fentanyl. To help readers better understand the ongoing crisis, the San Francisco Chronicle engaged a large team of reporters, editors and photojournalists to follow people over the course of a year to put a human face on this crisis. The result was a multimedia package of stories, videos, graphics and photos published on February 3, 2021 as “A disaster in sight”.

I recently spoke with journalist Trisha Thadani and photojournalist Stephen Lam to find out how they approached this challenging project. One of the people they followed was Anthony Alexander, 42, who lives in an 80-square-foot room in the Mission District and is addicted to fentanyl. Our conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Q: This project reflects an important commitment from Crónica. You interviewed over three dozen people, including several regular fentanyl users, and spent a year doing so. Why did you decide to invest so much time?

Thadani: Instead of writing another one-off story, I really wanted to bring readers closer to the lives of people affected by addiction. Then I met Anthony by chance and started to develop a relationship with him. We took Stephen, and he went from there. When we started this in February 2021, I thought it would take a month or two.

Lam: It took time to build trust. Anthony was very open when I met him. But I still took the time to meet here and there. Maybe after a few months, I was finally able to visit him in his room. As the project progressed, there were times when I would spend half a day sitting in his room without a camera, just watching him and hanging out with him when he played video games.

Thadani: If it hadn’t been for Stephen’s persistence, we wouldn’t have reported a story as deeply as we did, especially with the footage. The amount of time he spent with Anthony was insane. They watched almost an entire season of Squid Game on Netflix together, and no photos were taken during it. That was just the time spent maintaining this relationship.

Anthony Alexander, one of the people the Chronicle followed: “The contours of Anthony’s life now at 42 (addiction, homelessness, depression) were not part of his plan,” the Chronicle reported. Photo: Stephen Lam / San Francisco Chronicle

Q: What were your editors’ reactions when they saw you develop these relationships?

Thadani: I think they saw the potential very quickly. Getting this access with trusted people is unique. My editor asked me to explore the idea of ​​what it takes to overcome an addiction to fentanyl. We got Anthony and another man into a unique precontemplative space where they said out loud, “Maybe I want to make a change.” We knew that if we spent more time with them, we might be able to capture them going through the ups and downs of trying to overcome addiction. And that’s exactly what ended up happening. One day Anthony came to us and said, “I’m going to the health center tomorrow.” And I said, “Oh my God, we’re coming with you. This is so exciting.” The next day he got there and asked for a detox. The nurse said, “There are no beds today. There is nothing available.” And then he left. To see him rejected was truly infuriating.

Lam: It was heartbreaking. We entered the center. It was very quick, and Anthony got out and quickly walked two blocks to the Tenderloin District. We walked over and he told us to wait a second, he disappeared and then came back with some fentanyl and started smoking right in front of us. Everything happened so fast. I could not believe it. He finished smoking his fentanyl and got on the bus and went home.

Q: Your project made it clear how useful it would be if the real-world system reflected the interconnectedness of job training, stable housing, addiction treatment, and physical health care, and that this kind of of services are not currently connected in this way.

Thadani: It was just a glimpse of how deeply disjointed the system is. There was no one to sit down and talk to Anthony about what the options were. We thought it was going to be the story of recovery and a guy who beat the odds. Unfortunately, it ended up being another story about how things could have lined up for him if the system worked. He is a perfect candidate for recovery who knows he wants to make a change in his life. He’s ready for it, but instead he ran into all these barriers. I saw it as the harsh reality of addiction colliding with a cracked San Francisco system. The crux of the problem is that the system is fragmented. With addiction, you really need to catch someone at that exact moment where their brain chemistry is aligning. They are fine that day. They decide they want help.

Anthony Alexander walks past San Francisco City Hall after being told no treatment beds were available. “Despite the death toll, San Francisco leaders have not treated the fentanyl crisis as the all-hands-on-deck emergency that many residents and advocates recognize,” the Chronicle reported. Photo: Stephen Lam / San Francisco Chronicle.

Q: What surprised you the most?

Thadani: I was amazed at Anthony’s determination and how much he wanted to stop using drugs. I think he is the most remarkable person because he would always take these steps. I went in and said, “It shouldn’t be like this. You deserve better housing and you shouldn’t live like this.” He wasn’t angry. He was resigned to it. I don’t think he even thought he deserved better, which he didn’t. it’s true. he does. he deserves so much better than him.

When he tried to quit smoking, you would see his behavior change a bit. And it was usually around the fifth day that I relapsed, because I couldn’t deal with it. As strong-willed as he was, he was no match for this drug. It is very difficult to stop using it alone, without help. I hope the readers have taken this away that it is not easy and many people with addictions are trying.

Q: What reaction have you gotten from San Francisco policy makers?

Thadani: Catherine Stefani, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, presented the article at a hearing on the city’s response to overdoses and at other public meetings. Another supervisor, Hillary Ronen, told me the story was a clear example of how the system doesn’t work because it doesn’t accommodate the realities of addiction. Many people can figure out how to navigate the system if they have the resources, money, time and mental space to do so. But this system is not tailor-made for the people with addiction it is meant to serve.

Q: I couldn’t help but wonder how Anthony felt when you follow him so closely. Was Anthony comfortable being scrutinized by reporters for an entire year?

Thadani: There was a part of him that was proud to be a part of this piece. But we never took that for granted. We would consult with him a lot. I’d say, “We know this is weird. We’re just here with you and peppering you with questions for hours at a time. If we ever cross a line or you just don’t want to be a part of this anymore, let us know and we’ll move on.” back.” And he always said, “No. I like talking to you.” And I think for him, I guess we were just people listening, which he hadn’t really had before.

Q: Stephen, the photos with this story are very compelling. What did you want the reader to learn from your images?

Lam: We were very intentional about how much we showed him smoking and when, because again, the point of the story is that he’s so much more than that. We were very conscious of reflecting that in how we portrayed him.

Anthony Alexander “isn’t worried about dying from fentanyl. What scares him most is a life strangled forever,” the Chronicle reported. Photo: Stephen Lam / San Francisco Chronicle

Thadani: This was a good example of what can happen when a newspaper has the resources to publish an important story that reporters really believe in. There were something like 20 people who contributed to this effort, but that may be an undercount. This was a lift for the entire newsroom. The amount of time and resources and people and meetings it took was enormous. I am very grateful that it was a very large group of people working on this, who were very diverse in age and background. It was a great asset, there was room for people to have their say, and that made it a more empathetic piece.

There were times when I thought, “I don’t want to do this anymore. i want to leave it I give up.” But I’m grateful that they kept pushing us to make it better, to spend more time. It was hard but it was definitely worth it. I was so proud to be a part of this place.

As a local newspaper, we are on the ground every day covering the addiction crisis in San Francisco. Chronicle reporters have maintained a steady focus on this issue for several years by covering town meetings, filing public records requests, walking the Tenderloin and interviewing elected officials. I firmly believe that our constant coverage of the issue has attracted more attention and action from the City Council. Without strong local newspapers, communities lose this important voice. It’s a good reason to subscribe to local news.

Lisa Aliferis

Lisa Aliferis is a senior communications officer focused on CHCF’s work to improve the integration of physical and behavioral health care, particularly in Medi-Cal, and to advance market research and analysis publications of the foundation Read more

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How CHCF Helped California Respond to the Opioid Epidemic, Putting Care in Context Opioid Safety Lessons Put Physician on Path to State Policymaking Marissa Leshnov

Marissa Leshnov is a self-taught portrait and documentary photographer based in Oakland, California. It often focuses on the disproportionate impacts on people caused by America’s political and cultural systems, as well as the people working to bridge the gaps of inequality. Marissa contributed to a Marshall Project article on the life-altering impact of police dog bites, an investigative story that received the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for National Information. She was one of 10 photographers nominated for the 2020 Atlanta Celebrates Photography Ones to Watch list. Marissa is a frequent contributor to the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and the San Francisco Chronicle.

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Drug addiction fueled by the opioid epidemic

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The Murdaugh family saga, a well-connected legal dynasty in South Carolina, has sparked attention on the state’s black market for prescription opioids and how officials have struggled to contain the drug crisis. booming during the pandemic.

Among the questions that state investigators must unravel to attorney Alex Murdaugh, who was charged Thursday in connection with an attempt to stage his own death, is the money he allegedly stole from the law firm. ‘lawyers of his family, how they were spent and who benefited.

Reports suggest they appropriated “millions of dollars” and his lawyer, Richard “Dick” Harpootlian, told NBC’s “TODAY” program Wednesday that the “vast majority” of the funds were used to buy opioids and that there were “checks written to drug traffickers.”

The public fall of Murdaugh, a prominent personal injury lawyer whose family patriarchs had previously exercised power as chief prosecutor in the coastal country of South Carolina, underscores how opioid abuse can wipe out people from all walks of life. , said Christina Andrews, an associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the University of South Carolina.

In addition, the perception from the outside that Murdaugh could take a job (he also volunteered in cases for 14th Circuit advocacy) should be a warning, he added.

“It’s a common misconception that if you have a serious addiction, the signs will be inescapable,” Andrews said. “That’s not the case. People can absolutely abuse opioids for years and others find it lacking.”

During his first court appearance after surrendering to authorities on Thursday, Murdaugh, 53, was given a $ 20,000 bail as he faces charges of insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud insurance and forgery of a police report, derived from his part in an attempt to create his own death earlier this month so that his son, Buster, could take out a life insurance policy of $ 10 million. Murdaugh filed no plea.

Harpootlian told a Hampton County judge that his client was a 20-year-old opioid addict and that his actions were the result of mental distress following the June killings of his wife, Margaret, and a another son, Paul. Their deaths remain unresolved; Murdaugh’s legal team has denied involvement, as the first murders sparked other family-related criminal investigations.

Magistrate Judge Tonja Alexander ordered Murdaugh to hand over his passport, but allowed him to return out of state to a drug rehab center.

“He’s fallen for grace,” Harpootlian said, with the client crying.

“He is no longer a man with significant means.”

According to his attorneys, Murdaugh told law enforcement division agents in South Carolina that his “main” opioid supplier was Curtis Edward Smith, a former client who was now accused of helping. lo in the tricky effort of staging his own death during a fake road attack during Labor Day weekend. Prosecutors say Murdaugh provided Smith with a gun and directed him to shoot him in the head, but Murdaugh was only superficially grazed.

Smith has been charged with conspiracy and insurance fraud and assisting a person in suicide, among others.

Murdaugh’s lawyers have said his client has an addiction to oxycodone and was trying to get off drugs when he first started thinking about suicide. It is unclear how his drug addiction began and Murdaugh’s lawyer did not answer questions about whether he previously sought treatment for his addiction or whether his family and colleagues knew the extent of it. .

Opioid experts say painkiller addiction can become expensive, especially after federal and state authorities like South Carolina cracked down on prescriptions and sales through drug control programs, which have inadvertently pushed people. black market addicts.

For example, 20 20-milligram oxycontin pills could cost about $ 25 each, Andrews said.

“You can accumulate tens of thousands of dollars over six figures throughout the year,” he added.

And if a drug dealer knows that his client is a media person who wants to stay discreet, it is not known what his addiction can cost. “This is not an industry known for its highest ethical standard,” said Andrews, who is studying the treatment of opioid use disorder for Medicaid recipients.

Alex Murdaugh cries during his bonding hearing on September 16, 2021 in Varnville, SCMick Smith / AP

South Carolina has been flooded with opioids with a devastating effect.

According to a preliminary report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this summer, deaths from overdoses of state drugs, the vast majority caused by opioids, including fentanyl and heroin, rose more than 50 percent. 2020. Across the country, there were 93,000 drug overdoses, most related to opioids, the highest figure recorded in 12 months and a 30% increase over 2019.

South Carolina ranked fourth among the states with the largest increase in fatal overdoses last year, behind Vermont, West Virginia and Kentucky.

Experts say the blockades and restrictions during the pandemic probably left drug users and people facing substance abuse isolated and without their normal treatments.

While prescription painkillers caused the country’s overdose epidemic, they were replaced first by heroin and then by fentanyl, a dangerously powerful opioid, in recent years. Fentanyl was developed to treat severe pain from diseases such as cancer, but has been increasingly sold illegally and mixed with other drugs.

“What is really driving the increase in overdoses is this increasingly poisoned drug supply,” Shannon Monnat, an associate professor of sociology at Syracuse University who investigates geographic patterns in cases of overdose, told the Associated Press. “Almost all of this increase is somehow contamination with fentanyl.”

South Carolina officials have studied ways to break the underground market for illicit opioids and drugs. In July, the “Operation Pentagon” of Hampton County authorities got at least 19 people involved in the distribution of heroin, fentanyl and other drugs.

In recent years, several counties have sued pharmaceutical companies and doctors for their part to fuel the opioid crisis.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, who has called opioids a “scourge,” signed a bill in August that expands access to naloxone, a life-saving overdose medication. .

Andrews said funding for treatment is essential to solving the problem, as he is also looking for ways to reduce the stigma of drug addiction.

“Addiction is a powerful disease,” he said. “As we have seen, it can lead to cloudy decision-making and underestimate the risks.”

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, send a HOME message to 741741, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/behind-alex-murdaugh-s-fall-grace-drug-addiction-fueled-opioid-n1279453

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Newsweek recognizes WhiteSands as one of the best addiction treatment centers in the United States News

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DEERFIELD BEACH, Florida., September 20, 2021 / PRNewswire / – WhiteSands Treatment Center (“WhiteSands” or “the Company”), a leading provider of behavioral health and addiction services for inpatients and outpatients, announced today that the company has been named one of the “best” American Addiction Treatment “. for the second year in a row by Newsweek. In the recently published ranking for 2021, WhiteSands’ Fort Myers i Plant City facilities classified # 1 and # 4 in the state of Florida, respectively.

“Raising standards of care is an endless mission,” he says Garry Jonas, founder and CEO of WhiteSands. “In a year overshadowed by a global pandemic, the epidemic of substance abuse in the United States has continued to grow at an epic pace. The need for effective addiction treatment solutions has never been greater and the responsibility lies with us. to the vendors to stand up and answer the call.At WhiteSands, everything we do is based on helping resolve this crisis, which means we never stop innovating, we never stop improving our offering, and we never stop to work to improve patient outcomes. We are honored to be recognized again by Newsweek for our relentless dedication to service and excellence. “

Newsweek’s annual rankings of the “best addiction treatment centers in the United States” are reported through a survey of physicians, health care professionals, and administrators and reflect each center’s reputation and level of accreditation. The survey, conducted and analyzed by global research firm Statista Inc., asked respondents to evaluate addiction treatment facilities based on quality of care, service, care. tracking, accommodation and amenities. WhiteSands was first named on this prestigious list in 2020, which was followed by a year of additional updates to the company’s treatment platform, including key contracts, enhanced services and expanded services.

Jonas added: “We have created truly unique offerings that not only address patient addiction and the underlying mental health issues, but also adequately prepare the individual to leave hospital care and return to normal life. This includes rooms. individual private facilities for each patient, elite clinic and support staff, responsible access to mobile phones and communication with the outside world, state-of-the-art athletic facilities with professional coaches and boxing coaches, robust and recreational and relaxed amenities , and a powerful life skills program that has been shown to increase sustained sobriety in the long run. “

WhiteSands operates three hospitalized patients (Fort Myers, Plant City, i Tampa) and 18 outpatient centers located throughout Central and Southwest Florida. The company is a member of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers, is accredited by the Joint Commission, and has received LegitScript addiction treatment certification for each of its facilities. WhiteSands, an addiction treatment provider of choice for veterans, offers an industry-leading treatment program, designed and run by specialized physicians, for the U.S. military and active veterans.

For more information on WhiteSands, visit www.whitesandstreatment.com.

About the WhiteSands Treatment Center

The WhiteSands Treatment Center (“WhiteSands”) is a leading provider of hospital and outpatient addiction and behavioral health treatment services for people with substance use disorders. As one of the largest private insurance treatment centers in Florida, WhiteSands uses an individualized approach to dual diagnostic treatment at its three Central and Southwest Florida (Tampa/Orlando regions) to identify and address the underlying problems that lead to addiction. With a commitment to the highest standards of patient care, safety and comfort, WhiteSands has successfully treated more than 12,000 Americans suffering from substance use conditions since its founding in 2014. Deerfield, Beach, Florida, WhiteSands is a member of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers, is accredited by the Joint Commission, Veteran’s Choice Addiction Treatment Provider, has received LegitScript addiction treatment certification for each of its facilities and has been named one of the “Best Addictions in America.” Newsweek’s “Treatment Centers (2020 and 2021), as well as No. 1 a Florida. For more information, visit www.whitesandstreatment.com.

CONTACTS

Gaffney Bennett PR

WhiteSands@gbpr.com

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