Jan
18

Binge Drinking May Be A Bigger Problem Than We Think

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percent of adults who binge drink

Maine is at the high end for adults who binge drink.

New research shows us that the act of binge drinking is more prevalent than initially thought.

First, let’s define binge drinking for men and women. For men, binge drinking means drinking 5 or more alcoholic drinks within a short period of time. For women, binge drinking means 4 or more drinks within a short period of time.

Binge drinking can be extremely dangerous and increase one’s chances of getting hurt or hurting others through violence, car crashes and even suicide. 80,000 deaths are caused each year from drinking too much. In 2006, the cost of drinking too much -  including health care expenses, crime and lost productivity – was estimated at $746 per person in the US, or $223.5 billion.

But, it’s just the young, less affluent crowd that binge drink, right? Think again. While the age group with the most binge drinkers is the 18-34 year old crowd, the age group that binge drinks most often is 65+. Those who earn more than $75,000 per year make up the income group with the most binge drinkers. And while most people who binge drink are not considered alcoholics, the act of binge drinking can lead to alcohol dependence.

Geographically, New England, the Midwest, the District of Columbia, Alaska and Hawaii are the states with the most binge drinking. Maine is at the highest percentage, with an estimated 18.7% – 25.6% of adults who binge drink. Maine is also listed with the the highest “average largest number of drinks consumed by binge drinkers on an occasion” at 7.8 – 9.0 drinks.

So, what can we do about it? Some suggestions from the CDC include state and community efforts to prevent binge drinking, tracking and reporting how many people binge drink, developing community coalitions to help reduce binge drinking, screening patients for binge drinking and advising on how to reduce their alcohol use.

What are your thoughts? Is binge drinking a problem we’re not paying enough attention to? What can we do here in Maine to prevent the high prevalence of binge drinking?

Source: CDC Vitalsigns

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Jan
11

Tell Maine Legislators That Treatment Works

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Maine State HouseOn Thursday, January 12th (tomorrow), the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs will be discussing the elimination of MaineCare coverage for childless, non-disabled adults from the DHHS Supplemental Budget (LD 1746), as proposed by Governor Paul LePage. The work session begins at 10:00am and will be held in room 228 at the Maine State House. [Listen to the audio of the work session]

The complete elimination of MaineCare eligibility to non-disabled, childless adults between the ages of 21 and 64 living under the poverty level would be devastating. 68% of the individuals seeking treatment for substance abuse who have Mainecare are considered non-categorical.

These “non-categoricals” are not all young and healthy, a recent report by Maine Equal Justice Partners tells us. The study found that more than 40% of childless adults covered through MaineCare are older than 45, and many have serious medical conditions.

If this coverage is eliminated, most of the substance abuse programs in Maine will not be able to remain open because clients will have no means to pay for treatment.

Please call, write or e-mail your legislator now and share your concerns about these cuts. Tell them that treatment works and lives are saved when people have a chance to get help. That everyone deserves the chance to find a life in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Just ask the hundreds of clients that have come through the doors of Crossroads.

Contact Your Representatives:
Maine State Senators
Maine House of Representatives
Appropriations Committee
Health and Human Services Committee

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Jan
09

Crossroads Starts First Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for Men in Scarborough

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Crossroads in Scarborough MaineCrossroads’ first Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for men will begin this month at its Greater Portland Counseling Center in Scarborough, ME. The IOP will start on January 23rd and will be offered Monday through Thursday from 5:00pm – 8:00pm.

Since expanding outpatient services to men at the end of 2011, Crossroads’ goal has been to offer an IOP for men with substance abuse problems. As with the women-only IOP groups, this new IOP for men will focus on the unique needs of male clients.

About Crossroads’ Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Crossroads’ IOP is a structured group therapy option that provides substance abuse treatment either 3, 4 or 5 days per week at 3 hours a day. Gender-specific treatment issues are explored in IOP with an emphasis on addiction education, co-occurring mental health issues, coping skills, relapse prevention and the necessary tools for recovery. Total length of treatment varies, but is typically around 6 – 8 weeks.

FMI or to sign up for this new IOP group for men, call 207.773.9931.

See a list of current therapy groups being offered at Crossroads in Scarborough and Kennebunk, Maine

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Jan
05

Defining Recovery + a New Recovery Center in Portland

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SAMHSA recently announced a new “working definition” of recovery from mental disorders and substance use disorders. The definition comes from a year-long effort that involved SAMHSA and several members of the behavioral health care community and beyond. The definition reads as follows:

A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.

Through  SAMHSA’s Recovery Support Strategic Initiative, four major dimensions that support a life in recovery were also defined:

  1. Health : overcoming or managing one’s disease(s) as well as living in a physically and emotionally healthy way;
  2. Home:  a stable and safe place to live;
  3. Purpose:  meaningful daily activities, such as a job, school, volunteerism, family caretaking, or creative endeavors, and the independence, income and resources to participate in society; and
  4. Community : relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, and hope.

Crossroads works on all of these dimensions with clients in some way at every level of care. Without even one of these dimensions in place, finding recovery from substance abuse or mental health problems can be extremely difficult. It is somewhat validating to put into words what so many people have worked so hard to achieve.

By defining what recovery is, SAMHSA hopes to create greater public awareness and appreciation of the importance of recovery. In addition, the working definition of recovery helps policy makers, providers and others to deliver the needed services and support to those in recovery.

What do you think? Does the working definition of recovery encompass what life in recovery is all about? How does it compare to this definition of addiction recovery?

Read more about the new working definition of recovery

Portland Recovery Community Center
And while we’re on the subject of supporting those in recovery, Maine Alliance for Addiction Recovery recently announced the grand opening of the new Portland Recovery Community Center. The center offers “a visible haven and a home for recovery meetings and activities devoted to addiction recovery.” The grand opening celebration of the Portland Recovery Community Center will be held on Monday, January 23 at 468 Forest Avenue in Portland from 10:00am – 6:00pm. Very exciting!

Read more about the new Portland Recovery Community Center or download the flyer for the grand opening (PDF)

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Dec
20

New Studies Support the Need for Gender-Specific Treatment Programs

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wineA recent article from the Scientific American discusses some very good reasons for gender-specific substance abuse treatment programs. The article talks about studies that have been conducted and illustrate the differences between men and women when it comes to alcohol, its effects and treatment. Among the findings that various studies have revealed:

  • The difference in the ratio of alcohol dependent men to women has dropped to about 2.5 men for every alcohol dependent woman
  • Alcohol abuse causes neurological damage more quickly in women than men
  • Women get drunk on fewer drinks than men, due to a deficit in the enzyme in the stomach lining that breaks down alcohol
  • Women develop cirrhosis of the liver more rapidly than men
  • Women with addictions are more likely to suffer from associated mental health conditions
  • Women share more readily in women-only therapy groups and bond better with other group members
  • It takes longer for women to enter treatment for alcohol problems than for men

Crossroads has been focused on women’s treatment since 1974 and now offers men’s outpatient substance abuse and mental health treatment. We continue to use a gender-specific treatment model to address the unique needs that men and women have. This blog has talked about most all of the above bullet points at some point.

Emotional, physical or sexual trauma is also more likely with women, along with the responsibilities for child-care. So, both sociocultural and biochemistry factors come in to play with women. While the article notes that not all forms of treatment need to be all-female, it is particularly helpful for pregnant women and those that have been abused or have eating disorders. From what we’ve seen at Crossroads, many women who need treatment fall into these categories.

It is encouraging to see that more research is being conducted and more studies are recommending gender-focused treatment models.

Source: Scientific American

Photo Credit: Dreamstime

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Dec
15

Honoring an Amazing Clinician and Friend

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Faith Sheehan and Barbara Dacri

Faith Sheehan, LCSW, CCS, left, poses with Crossroads' Executive Director, Barbara Dacri.

Sometimes, a person comes along that makes a profound impact on an organization. Crossroads recently celebrated the contributions of an amazing clinical staff member who, over the past 10+ years, has helped shape the agency to what it is today.

Faith Sheehan, LCSW, CCS has meant so much to so many people at Crossroads, from clients to staff members. Faith will no longer be working with Crossroads, and her presence will be missed.

Following is a wonderful ode to Faith, written by our Outpatient Practice Manager, Tree Bendokas-Heinfeld.

Thanks for everything, Faith!

An Ode to the Great Faith Sheehan

 It cannot be counted how many times Faith said to us

“Great job”  “nice work”

“I’m proud of you”

And while you helped so many of us grow and change Faith,

We loved watching you grow, too.

Also countless are the people

Every name, every face

Families from near and far

You’ve shown so many that hope and healing

Are right there in their hearts.

Because of you some of us found our path

made improvements

claimed our power

others looked to you for life solutions

in a fifty minute hour.

Cruise director, party planner

With a photographic memory for names (just for Barbara!)

Electronics may not be your strong suit

But we love you just the same.

“Thank you” will not do this justice

“Appreciation” can’t describe

What you’ve done for Crossroads,

For all women,

For all those many lives.

And so today, sun shining on our celebration

And the expansive, sparkling Atlantic Ocean

We raise our unending vision of the future to Faith

for what she has shown

Devotion.

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Dec
09

Can Crossroads count on you to give this year?

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Crossroads in Scarborough Maine

Crossroads' new office in Scarborough houses the Greater Portland Counseling Center and administrative offices

Kristin R has learned a lot about herself at Crossroads. Through the halfway house program and regular outpatient counseling, she learned that she can make choices, her life can get better, and she’s not alone.

Can we count on you to give this year to help women like Kristin remember who they wanted to be?

Like many clients at Crossroads, Kristin’s life deteriorated severely when she turned to drugs. Today, through hard work and the support of Crossroads, Kristin has been able to build back her family relationships.

Crossroads has always put the primary focus on relationships through our gender-specific treatment approach. Understanding the way we, as individuals, connect with others and ourselves is an integral part of our well-being and Crossroads’ treatment philosophy.

There has been tremendous change at Crossroads this past year. Crossroads is now offering treatment for men in an outpatient setting using the same gender-specific approach.

This service expansion brings a number of important changes. We will be known simply as Crossroads. We have a mission update, along with a new logo and website re-design. We’ve moved our outpatient and administrative offices from Pearl Street in Portland to Scarborough, significantly reducing the costs of these programs. Our offices at Kennebunk Counseling Center have grown in size, and our residential intakes and admissions are now taking place in Windham. Read the memo from executive director Barbara Dacri about the recent changes.

What remains the same is our dedication to helping people – women, men, couples and families – lead healthier lives. Our therapy groups are gender-specific and our residential programs remain women-only.

Your gift will support the outpatient and residential programs that families in Maine have come to depend on. We’re very grateful for the incredible support of the community throughout the changes of this past year. We now encourage you to sustain our service by donating via our secure online giving website or by sending a check to Crossroads, attn: Lisa Merrill, 71 US Route One, Suite E, Scarborough, ME 04074.

Together, we can continue to help clients like Kristin remember who they wanted to be.

Sincerely,

       

Lisa Weldon                  Barbara Dacri
Board President           Executive Director

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Nov
21

Gender Differences in Prescribing Medication for Mental Health

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prescription medicationsA new report from Medco Health Solutions, a pharmacy benefit manager, illustrates the gender differences that exist when it comes to prescribing medications for mental health conditions.

The report compares the utilization of antidepressants, antipsychotics, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs and anti-anxiety treatments from 2001 to 2010 amongst 2.5 million insured Americans.

The analysis showed that women of all ages are taking more prescribed drugs for mental health conditions than men. Some of the findings:

  • 1 in 4 women were prescribed at least one mental health-related drug in 2010, compared to just 15% of men
  • Antidepressants were by far the most commonly prescribed mental health-related medication; Over 20% of women are prescribed a drug for depression
  • Women were more than twice as likely to be prescribed an anxiety medication than men; 11% of women 45-65 years old were on an anti-anxiety drug last year
  • Though boys are more often than girls to be prescribed medications to treat ADHD, adult women are 2.5 times more likely to be taking ADHD meds than men
  • The use of prescribed ADHD drugs for women aged 20-44 has grown 264% in the past 10 years

Why are women more likely to be taking mental health-related medications? The answer isn’t completely clear. Many believe that it could be due to the fact that women are more likely to seek treatment at a doctor’s office than men. Women may also have a higher risk for major depressive disorders, so there may be a biological factor at play. Men may simply be more resistant or unwilling to accept treatment for a mental health disorder and try to “tough it out” instead.

“The overall results, that substantially more individuals are on psychotropic medications is sobering and important. Understanding the reasons for this increase is the next critical goal,” says Dr. Martha Sajatovic, Professor of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Director of the Neurological Outcomes Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center. “The health care implications could be substantial given increasing financial constraints on individuals and health care funding entities.”

Sources: Medco, Huffington Post

Photo Credit: BROTHERS © Oleksandr Pakhay | Dreamstime.com

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Nov
15

Another Growing Epidemic: Newborns Addicted to Painkillers

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babyUSA Today is reporting that the number of babies born addicted to prescription drug painkillers is on the rise.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified America’s fast-growing problem of prescription drug abuse an epidemic. This problem is also affecting our newborn babies, as women abuse powerful narcotics, such as OxyContin and Vicodin, while pregnant.

While reporting by hospitals isn’t consistent, the number of addicted newborns seems to have doubled, tripled or more over the past decade.

The problem has become so severe that the American Academy of Pediatrics has convened a committee to revise its treatment guidelines for the babies. The committee will publish these new guidelines next year.

Maine is no stranger to painkiller addiction. It’s no surprise that Maine Medical Center, Mercy Recovery Center and Eastern Maine Medical Center were used as examples of the problem in the article:

  • According to Geri Tamborelli, nursing director at the Family Birth Center and neonatal intensive care unit, Maine Medical Center in Portland treated 121 babies dependent on prescription painkillers in 2010, up from 18 in 2001
  • According to Mark Publicker, an addiction medicine specialist at Mercy Hospital Recovery Center in Portland, the number of pregnant women with addictions to narcotic painkillers has grown so rapidly that Mercy developed a specialized treatment program for them
  • According to Jay Hagerty, a neonatologist at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, doctors screen every pregnant woman for opiate abuse because they “feel that the incidence is high enough that it’s a reasonable screening test”

Why don’t these pregnant women just quit taking the drugs? The problem is that quitting these powerful painkillers “cold turkey” can be more harmful to mother and baby than easing off the drugs slowly. The result could be miscarriage, and the withdrawal for the mother is extremely difficult and painful. The other problem is that many women fear that their children will be taken away from them by government social workers, and so hide their prescription drug problem from their obstetricians.

More needs to be known about the treatment and effects of babies exposed to prescription painkillers. And more screening and intervention needs to be made early on to help the addicted pregnant women find treatment.

Read the full USA Today article

Photo credit: Violet Star | Dreamstime.com

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Nov
09

Maine Tops States for Unwanted Prescription Drug Collection

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Photo credit: DEA

Mainers turned in more than 7 tons of unwanted prescriptions drugs during National Drug Take Back Day on October 29th. 14,140 pounds to be exact. According to the Bangor Police Department, that is more unwanted drugs per capita than any other state during the Drug Enforcement Administration-sponsored national event.

Good news considering all the talk about the epidemic problem Maine seems to have with painkillers. And just last week, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) came out that noted the number of overdose deaths from prescription painkillers has more than tripled since 2009. A CDC press release states that 40 people die every day from overdoses involving narcotic pain relievers like Vicodin, methadone, OxyContin and oxymorphone.

In fact, more people die from overdosing on painkiller than heroin and cocaine combined.

One of the main problems with prescription drugs is the sheer availability of them. You can find them in almost anyone’s medicine cabinet. While increased access to substance abuse treatment, prescription monitoring programs and laws to help reduce “doctor shopping” will help to fight the problem, getting the unwanted and unused prescriptions off the streets is a big step in the right direction.

Kudos to Mainers for taking advantage of the take back day.

Mainers can dispose of their unused and expired medicine year round by utilizing Safe Medicine Disposal for ME Program.

Sources: Portland Press Herald, CDC

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