News

Do you Vive? Responsible College Students Should

Posted on by Christy Weeks

Vive – An Alcohol Monitoring Wristband that Connects to Social Networks

Many college students and young adults drink, and binge drinking is most common among this age group. Often, young adults will get accidentally drunk, not being in tune with their own limits or how what they have eaten or what they have done that day (i.e. a rigorous workout) may impact their tolerance.

This is particularly worrisome for college-aged females who are at risk of sexual assault. Recent news stories about sexual assault can attest to the fact that assault on college campuses is not on the decline. These two important topics – knowing one’s alcohol tolerance and sexual assault is why Vive, a wearable wristband that can let you know how drunk you while keeping you connected with the group you went out partying with, was created.

The wristband monitors a person’s biometrics related to alcohol consumption – namely their level of dehydration and overall consumption. The bracelet lets out a vibration after which the person wearing it is supposed to squeeze or “check in” it to let it know they are ok. If the wearer does not squeeze it in a timely manner, it will alert that person’s friends that they went out with because it is social media compatible. At the beginning of a night friends link their Vives together so they can alert the group if someone doesn’t check in or their intoxication level gets too high. Another feature – perhaps the most important one  – is the wristband’s ability to sense immobility if the wearer passes out somewhere. The band can harnesses Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi to triangulate the wearer in distress if necessary.

This technology can help mitigate both over-consumption and sexual assault by prompting friends to intervene early if a friend is too drunk – according to the makers of Vive “we’re intervening here earlier in this timeline, crucially, before an individual has been removed from the safety of their social network.” This is especially important since, according to well known data, alcohol is involved in at least half of sexual assaults.

The goal of the company who launched Vive is to have it become the norm accessory for venues that involve alcohol like fraternity and sorority parties, clubs and festivals. If it does become the norm, it may also have the added benefit of helping problem drinkers recognize they have a problem early on (and seek alcohol abuse help) while helping friends drink responsibly and stay safe while mitigating the risk of sexual assault.

Importance Of Meditation

Posted on by Christy Weeks
Lotus Flower

Meditation is one of the most important tools in recovery, but many people skip this step, or feel they don’t have time for it.

When we meditate, we can relieve some of the stresses in our lives. Stress negatively affects our health, bodies, and minds. We become frustrated, unhappy, and impatient. Stress is also one of the main reasons people turn back to drugs or alcohol.

Taking time to meditate can save us from making a disastrous mistake. Meditation can give us balance and calm our minds. We can transform our thinking from negative to positive, disturbed to serene.

It takes practice to meditate. When I entered rehab and participated in meditation, I felt like my head was going to pop off my body. The silence and sitting still almost drove me crazy. However, after a couple of days of practice, I actually felt better and more comfortable.

When our minds are not at peace, finding happiness is almost impossible. If we train our minds to meditate, we can learn how to quiet our heads, and eventually know peace even in the most challenging times.

Many times it is hard to control our minds. Our mind is like a sheet blowing in the wind, blowing everywhere from external situations. If things go as planned for us, we are happy. If a wrench is thrown into our plans, we are instantly unhappy. Our mood fluctuates because many of us are tied to external situations.

When we train to meditate, we create inner peace, so we can eventually control our minds no matter how bad the external situation becomes. Eventually, we will become balanced, instead of constantly being pulled from happiness to sadness.

There are a plethora of ways to meditate to find peace. Of course there are the more traditional ways to meditate with breathing exercises and meditating on compassion, peace, and love, but there are also other ways to clear your mind.

I like to take a long drive. There’s something about taking a long drive that clears my head. I can just focus on the road, and clear my mind. I don’t have to talk to anyone, listen to anyone, or do anything except drive. It’s cleansing for me.

Some people recommend taking walks. Getting outside the office or house and into fresh air has healing properties.

Many people pray to their Higher Power when they meditate. The power of prayer can be extremely healing.

Journaling is an excellent way to meditate. Putting thoughts and emotions onto paper gives you more perspective. If something is bothering you, writing it down and actually seeing it in front of you can help you work it out. Writing a gratitude list is also helpful. Focusing on positive things can also change your perspective.

Yoga or exercise is also a great way to rid yourself of negative feelings. Exercising produces serotonin, a chemical responsible for mood balance.

I also meditate through cleaning. I always feel better after spending a few hours cleaning my home. I feel like my mind is cleansed as well as my home. There’s something about sitting in a clean house that is especially healing for me.

Meditation and prayer ties into the 11th step in Alcoholics Anonymous. The step tells us, “sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”

Prayer can take many forms. If you are not comfortable with “God” in the dominant religious sense, don’t let that throw you off. “God” can be defined as your Higher Power, whatever you choose that to be.

You can pray to your Higher Power by asking for guidance, speaking out loud to Him or Her, or just expressing gratitude for living today.

Here at Harmony Foundation, we believe in the 12 Steps of recovery. If you are ready to start a new life and find peace in a life of sobriety, our treatment center is the perfect place for you. We have been successful in helping many people live 100% addiction free lives.

Teenager Dies From Using Caffeine Powder

Posted on by Christy Weeks
Caffeine Powder

A straight-A teenager from Ohio died from ingesting pure caffeine. Currently it’s not closely regulated or banned, but many people want others to know how dangerous it can be.

Logan Steiner, 18 years old, died suddenly days before his graduation from a lethal dose of caffeine powder. His autopsy showed he had more than 70 micrograms of caffeine in his blood.

Superintendent Jay Arbaugh said, “he was just a terrific kid, he was a role model for the Special Olympic athletes, they loved having him there.”

State Senator Gayle Manning said she is looking into if taking steps to regulating caffeine powder would be advantageous.

Only 1 teaspoon of caffeine powder is equivalent to 30 cups of coffee.

Lorain County’s Coroner Stephen Evans, MD. said, “this is news to the coroner’s office; we had never seen this before. What it does is, it leads to cardiac arrhythmias, speeding heart, and it leads into seizures and those two things are what took his life.”

Evans believes caffeine powder should be taken more seriously and closely regulated. He said the powder can be abused just like any other drug.

Many young people, athletes, and students use the caffeine powder to give them more energy. Many do not even know it could be dangerous.

Companies say its powder elevates mood, endurance, and increases focus.

Any substance we put into our bodies should be closely monitored. Many people have no idea anyone could overdose and die from caffeine, but it is possible. It’s also possible to overdose and die from alcohol, or illegal drugs.

Most people who take drugs or drink do not intentionally overdose. Alcohol poisoning happens when there is so much alcohol in the bloodstream, the brain controlling basic life-supporting functions like breathing, temperature control, and heart rate start shutting down.

Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include seizures, difficulty breathing, slow heart rate, dulled responses, and no gag reflex, which prevents people from choking.

Blood alcohol content (BAC) can rise even when a person is unconscious. The alcohol in peoples stomach and intestines continues to travel through the bloodstream and circulate through the body.

Drug overdose can be similar to overdosing on alcohol. Symptoms include abnormalities in vital signs like blood pressure, temperature, heart rate. Skin can be dry and hot or cool and sweaty. They can have abdominal pain, vomiting, or nausea.

If you are abusing substances and want to stop, Harmony Foundation can help you. Our facility offers specialized programs for both men and women to help you break the chains of addiction.

Benefits of Medical Detoxification

Posted on by Christy Weeks
Harmony Entrance

Harmony Foundation is a certified drug and alcohol treatment center where highly trained professionals handle medical detox. Detoxing from drugs and alcohol is imperative in order to start living a life free from addiction. Detoxification is a process where the toxins which have amassed in our bodies are safely removed and monitored.

Stopping immediately, or going “cold turkey” can have severe and even deadly health consequences. Purging toxins from your body at home can lead to hallucinations, seizures, and heart failure. It’s wise to detox safely at a fully licensed center like ours.

Checking into a facility with a certified medical detoxification center has a number of benefits.

Our caring and professional team here at Harmony Foundation provides each client with individualized care, and each patient’s treatment plan is customized. Each person is different, so we believe taking time to create a specialized plan is important.

Another benefit of going to a medical detox facility is access to medical professionals. Harmony offers a highly qualified team of nurses and medical staff. Our nursing staff is available 24 hours to assist with any patient’s medical and detoxification needs.

In order to give you the best treatment possible, we offer psychological and physical assessments. A physical examination is provided as well as comprehensive laboratory tests. Your results are evaluated with our Medical Director, and a consultation with our psychologist or psychiatrist is available if needed.

Detoxing in a safe, calm environment is also advantageous. Our facility is set in the Rocky Mountains, and situated on 43 acres of gorgeous scenery. It’s a place where you can find peace and serenity. Medical detox can sometimes be uncomfortable, but being in a tranquil environment will help you adjust more comfortably.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse’s research has shown that 90 days in treatment is the “gold standard” for treatment. When entering a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, the first week is when a patient goes through detox. During this time of expelling toxins, you may undergo some withdrawal symptoms.

When withdrawal occurs, it’s difficult to focus on recovery right away. Some patients need extra time to adjust and focus. This leaves only a couple weeks of the 30 day program to heal both physically and mentally.

Studies have also shown that it takes 90 days for the brain to reset itself after being chemically addicted to substances. It takes time to change old behaviors and to learn how to live a new life free from addiction. The more time you have to heal, the better chances you give yourself to remain sober.

If you are struggling with addiction, Harmony Foundation can help. Our caring staff members will walk you through the medical detoxification process and will tend to any of your needs 24 hours a day. Getting treatment in a tranquil and safe environment like ours is the perfect start to living a healthy, sober, new life.

HALT

Posted on by Christy Weeks

 

Photo Credit

HALT is something we hear in AA meetings, telling us to stop and take a look at what’s going on with our minds and bodies. HALT is an acronym for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. These are all thing we need to be aware of because it can throw a wrench in our day, or program of recovery.

H is for hunger. When we’re hungry, we cannot think straight. We are irritable, quick to fight, and it negatively affects our mood. A spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, Marjorie Nola explains, “when [blood sugar] is low, the hypothalamus is triggered and levels of several hormones such as growth hormone, leptin, and ghrelin are affected. This imbalance then causes a shift in neurotransmitters and suppresses serotonin receptors.”

When we aren’t producing enough serotonin, mood swings will surely arise. Frustration and anger usually follow. Eat a healthy snack, and healthy meals. Try to stay away from fatty or sugary snacks, and you’ll feel better throughout the day.

A for anger comes next. Anger is also something important to look out for. When we’re angry, we certainly don’t think clearly. We may say or do things that are mean, or inappropriate. Words spoken in anger cause pain and hurt. When we are in a program of recovery, we all strive not to induce any pain on others.

If we can stop ourselves before acting out in anger, real personal growth and development will follow. We will feel proud of ourselves and see a different person than we were when we were using.

L for loneliness can be scary sometimes. When we feel lonely, we feel like no one is there to support or understand us. Many times we turned to drugs or alcohol to fill the void of loneliness. When we enter the program of recovery, we learn we are never alone.

Most AA meeting will have a phone list on the literature table with the names and numbers of people who will be glad to talk to you or meet up with you. Every person in those meetings has walked a similar path, so they have a deeper understanding of what you’re going through. If you’re feeling lonely, pick up the phone and make a call.

T for tired. When we’re tired, we feel overwhelmed, irritable, and exhausted. Even the smallest task can seem impossible. It’s important we take care of ourselves and look out for our health. Get a good nights sleep. Meditate on a regular basis. Take a nap if it’s possible. It’s not selfish to take a break for yourself, it’s necessary.

When you feel hungry, angry, lonely, or tired, it’s time to stop, and take care of yourself. Make sure you’re giving your mind and body what it needs. If you are self medicating through drugs and alcohol, checking into our Colorado based substance abuse treatment center is a great idea. Harmony Foundation is a safe place where you can find recovery and learn to live a healthy life free from addiction.

Just Say “No” to Nootropics

Posted on by Christy Weeks

Nootropics Pose Danger to Addicts in Recovery

An important question to consider in addiction treatment programs is how safe are supplements? While multivitamins are generally safe, the rise of supplements to enhance physical and mental performance may be risky for the general population and especially those in addiction recovery. A recent class of supplements known as nootropics have been marketed online, especially through social media sources like Facebook. They promise to help with concentration, attention span and overall cognitive function – boosting memory, alertness and mental performance.

The target audience for these supplements are young college age adults and young working professionals and the demand is growing. Take, “Alleradd” for example, a play on the word for the drug “Adderall” that uses this marketing statement: “Alleradd elevates your energy, enhances your memory, and helps you find your focus, even if you are tired or stressed out.” AlternaScript says that among those who use their product are students, entrepreneurs, athletes and business executives. They also say they can deliver these benefits without the side effects of prescription drugs. Such marketing tactics make the unsuspecting believe they must be safe and even beneficial for use.

Unfortunately, these supplements may provide a “gray area” for addicts in recovery who don’t consider supplements mood altering and aren’t considered controlled substances. However, if drugs like Alleradd deliver similar effects to drugs like Adderall, then these pose a risky slippery slope for addicts. They certainly qualify as mood or mind altering, according to their marketing slogans, and may give an addict a “taste” of a high that could lead to a full-blown relapse. The commonly used phrase in Narcotics Anonymous that “one is too many and a thousand is never enough” is highly applicable to these supplements. They likely provide the former stimulant abuser, for example, with a feeling of the high, but not quite enough – which may influence them to seek the real thing.

While addiction treatment programs should educate clients on these supplements, the general population should be cautioned as well. Just like with synthetic drugs, little is known about the physical and mental effects of the combination of supplements like piracetam and tyrosine in nootropics even if they are “natural.” Unfortunately it usually takes a few adverse events for the FDA or other government agencies to ban such products. Until then, education and caution should be used – especially for addicts in recovery who may be vulnerable to the marketing tactics of AlternaScript, the makers of Alleradd.

DHA May Combat “Wet Brain”

Posted on by Christy Weeks

Omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid or DHA has grown in popularity as a supplement that supports brain health. Several studies have shown that that omega-3s help combat cancer, depression, asthma, cardiovascular disease, ADHD, and autoimmune diseases. DHA is beneficial for a magnitude of conditions because it targets inflammation, the root of many diseases. And just last week a study revealed that DHA can mitigate the side effects of alcohol abuse – namely, inflammation in the brain.

Long-term alcohol abuse can cause what is known as “wet brain” or alcoholic brain damage and dementia. To determine if DHA could help these negative effects of alcohol, scientists from Loyola University gave rats large quantities of alcohol for several days. They then gave some of the rats fish oil containing DHA and found that they had 90% lower brain cell death and inflammation of the brain than those not given DHA.

According to the study lead, Michael Collins, “Fish oil has the potential of helping preserve brain integrity in chronic alcohol abusers.” Obviously further research is needed to see if the same outcomes will persist in human trials. But at the very least, alcoholics in recovery have nothing to lose consuming DHA because of the many aforementioned benefits. Our Colorado addiction treatment center encourages healthy eating in early recovery to restore lost nutrients during active addiction. Several supplements, such as B complex vitamins, can support brain function and mood, and this study may motivate adding fish oil to a vitamin or diet regimen for all recovering addicts – not just those suffering the consequences of long term alcohol abuse.

Marijuana Abuse & Depression

Posted on by Christy Weeks

A recent study revealed that marijuana abuse could inhibit the brain’s reaction to dopamine – revealing that marijuana abusers may be more prone to depression.

The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse conducted the study by looking at the brains of 24 marijuana abusers after giving them Ritalin, which increases the amount of dopamine in the brain. The 24 subjects in the study smoked an average of 5 joints per day, 5 days a week for 10 years. Compared to the control group, they had a significantly dulled behavioral, cardiovascular and brain responses to dopamine – the “feel good” chemical of the brain. Overall their heart rate and blood pressure were lower and they reported feeling anxious and restless rather than elated.

The study concluded that marijuana abuse can diminish one’s reaction to dopamine and can impact the brain’s reward processing. In short, what normally causes feelings of euphoria in people may not for the marijuana abuser. The study suggests that their weaker response to dopamine may indicate that the area of the brain responsible for processing reward may be damaged; “Cannabis users may experience less reward from things others generally find pleasurable and, contrary to popular stereotypes, that they generally feel more irritable, stressed, and just plain crummy,” says Raul Gonzalez a neuropsychologist at Florida International University.

Often, those that are vulnerable to addiction feel “crummy” before abusing drugs anyway and often overindulge in order to self medicate. The study may not have accounted for the fact that the 24 abusers may have been prone to depression before abusing marijuana. This study also reveals information about marijuana abusers rather that the recreational marijuana user. However, now that marijuana is legal in Colorado, recreational use may lead to higher rates of abuse.

 

Groundbreaking for Our New Medical Detox Building

Posted on by Christy Weeks

In almost one week from today – on Friday July 18th, Harmony Foundation will host a groundbreaking ceremony for our new medical and admissions building.

The Howie Madigan Admissions/Medical Building will be the first of several new buildings slated to improve our 45-acre campus in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The medical building is made possible by our Support and Renew Capital Campaign. This campaign and our non-profit status allows us to put our excess revenues back into the development of treatment facilities and services for our Colorado rehab center.

As such, we have decided to build a state of the art medical building to help treat those most in need – those requiring intensive medical detoxification. Currently, many of our buildings are 80 years old and can’t be remodeled due to building code restrictions. Our health center is only able to accommodate 7 clients at a time, when many more in the area seek our services. Considering that we are the only detox facility in Larimer County, being able to accommodate more clients is tantamount to living up to our mission to provide the foundation for sustained recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.

Those that require detox are often those addicted to dangerous drugs that have high overdose potential, such as heroin and prescription opiates and benzodiazepines. Unfortunately, our current capacity causes us to have to delay client admission, which is risky for those heavily addicted. By the time bed space becomes available they may have decided against treatment, as the decision to enter treatment is often vulnerable to begin with.

The volume of those seeking detox and addiction treatment for these drugs doesn’t seem to be waning either, as Dot Dorman, our CEO explains, “Regrettably, addiction to drugs and alcohol is not getting better in our society, it is getting worse…We must meet this challenge head-on with state-of-the-art facilities and programs.”
 The new health center will do this by offering 20 detox beds – more than doubling its current capacity.

The groundbreaking ceremony is open to the public and will begin at 10am next Friday on our campus at 1600 Fish Hatchery rd. Estes Park, CO 80517.

Rehab was on this Lawyer’s Bucket List

Posted on by Christy Weeks

What would you do if you had just a year to live? Many entertain this question for “fun” allowing them to evaluate what is most important to them. For those that have this unfortunate reality, they truly realize what their values are.

John Eggers was faced with this question last year when he was given 12-15 months to live after being diagnosed a brain tumor. The Irvine, CA attorney reportedly began creating a bucket list that including things like skydiving, meeting Joe Biden etc. and soon realized the most important thing he wanted was to be sober when he passed away.

Eggers started taking Oxycodone for a back injury. Soon this grew into an addiction as he began using it to medicate anxiety and depression: “I was in an extremely dark place. A place you could never imagine being.”

He decided to check himself into an addiction rehab last month to become drug free. “I realize my life span is very short and that’s okay. That’s acceptable to me. What’s not acceptable to me is wasting more of the time I have left on opiates, on drugs” he said.
 Considering drugs could end his life before cancer, he is dedicated to staying sober and wants to give back by helping and giving hope to other addicts who are battling cancer.

Here at Harmony Foundation’s Colorado addiction rehab many have had a similar experience to Eggers. They start out taking a controlled substance for a medical problem and then begin using it for other things that it is not medically indicated for – like using opiates for depression. We know the propensity for this happening is high and among all walks of life from young adults to lawyers like Eggers. His story is an inspiration to all those who know what a gift sobriety can be and to those who want the gift of sobriety no matter what their life situation is.