NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Each
day in the U.S. 91 people die from an opioid-related overdose, and
the numbers are increasing. In observance of International
Overdose Awareness Day on August
31, American Addiction Centers (AAC) and Recovery Brands are
launching a nationwide awareness campaign on how to prevent deaths
from opioid overdoses. The campaign features shareable online
resources, including an animation video about how an overdose
impacts a body, an infographic about how to administer overdose
medication, and powerful videos of survivors sharing the
life-saving lessons they learned during their darkest hours.
Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8130951-american-addiction-centers-opioid-overdose/
"This is a meaningful endeavor as we partner with our parent
company, AAC, in order to present several life-saving resources for
people impacted by addiction," said Ruchi
Dhami, director of market insights and development at
Recovery Brands, a provider of digital addiction treatment
resources. "Since such a large amount of individuals look for
information online about addiction and treatment, we wanted to
ensure comprehensive education surrounding opioid overdoses existed
and is easily accessible for individuals and families impacted by
addiction."
Dr. Mark Calarco, chief medical
officer of American Addiction Centers, says that, "We know there is hope in the midst of
the national opioid epidemic. Overdoses are preventable. The more
we can educate people about the disease of addiction, the more
lives we can save."
Saving lives is also the reason Stephanie Maitner and Nick Zimmer agreed to publicly share their
stories as part of the campaign. Three life-saving lessons from
their testimonies include:
#1 Lower Tolerance - After a person has gone some time
without using, they are more likely to overdose due to much lower
tolerance. Additionally, it is often unclear what drugs from street
dealers contain.
"I had a higher habit than what I had actually overdosed on,"
said Maitner, who's four and a half years in recovery. "At that
point, I was using six to seven bags of heroin at a time. And I had
only done two at that point. And when I woke up, I came to find out
that I had passed out, I was blue."
Zimmer, remembering his first overdose, said, "From other
people's experience I knew that a lot of people would leave
treatment, use again, use the same amount as before, and then
overdose. So, I used about a quarter of the amount I normally used,
and I still overdosed."
Once people go through treatment, using again presents an even
greater danger of overdose, according to Dr. Calarco.
"Someone who is detoxed has lost their tolerance. So if
they relapse and take the same dose of drug that they used before
treatment, they can easily overdose. Also, people who think they
are taking heroin may actually be
taking a synthetic opioid like fentanyl and carfentanil (an
elephant tranquilizer 10,000 times stronger than morphine), leading
to sudden death."
#2 - Recognize Warning Signs - Familiarizing yourself
with the warning signs of an overdose can potentially save a
life.
"The girl that was with me had to do CPR," said Maitner.
During the animation video produced for the campaign, Calarco
details what happens to the body during an overdose.
"The key to surviving an overdose is to respond quickly before
they stop breathing. With no oxygen getting into the body, the
heart goes into an irregular rhythm and eventually cardiac arrest.
If not treated quickly, brain damage ensues and the person will
die," said Calarco. "Call 911 and give CPR if trained. If naloxone
is available, administer the recommended dose and repeat as
directed."
#3 - Addiction is a Brain Disease - A near-death
experience is not always enough to stop an individual from using
again. However, supporting those struggling with an opioid
addiction is critical for their survival, and, ultimately,
long-term recovery.
Even though Zimmer had to be revived after his first overdose,
he still used again only months later.
"I died that time [second overdose] from what the EMTs told me,"
said Zimmer. "I was not breathing and my heart had stopped."
Calarco said the brain of someone suffering with addiction is
markedly different from someone who doesn't.
"Opioids affect decision-making processes on a cellular level,"
said Calarco. "Despite knowing that opioids are harmful, their
brain has been so physically altered that they cannot resist even
if they wanted to. They need help and support to get on the path to
recovery."
Unfortunately, only one in 10 individuals who need treatment for
substance abuse actually seek it. Next to cost, stigma associated
with addiction is the second largest barrier for individuals to
consider treatment, according to Recovery Brands' research.
Zimmer and Maitner hope their stories empower others to speak up
and get help.
"I feel like there's a reason I survived everything I did, and
if one person reaches out to get help from hearing about my
experience then opening up to tell my story is always worth it,"
said Maitner. "It's so important for people to understand how easy
it is to overdose, especially for people who relapse with a
decreased tolerance. Spreading this message is matter of life or
death."
If you or a loved one struggle with addiction call the AAC
helpline at 800-822-9187 or visit Recovery.org to
learn about your treatment options.
About American Addiction Centers
American Addiction
Centers (NYSE: AAC) is a leading provider of inpatient and
outpatient substance abuse treatment services. We treat clients who
are struggling with drug addiction, alcohol addiction, and
co-occurring mental/behavioral health issues. We currently operate
substance abuse treatment facilities located throughout
the United States. These
facilities are focused on delivering effective clinical care and
treatment solutions. For more information, please find us at
AmericanAddictionCenters.org or follow us on Twitter
@AAC_Tweet.
About Recovery Brands
Recovery Brands, LLC owns and
operates leading addiction treatment websites, providing resources
to millions of people struggling with addiction to help facilitate
informed decisions about treatment options and facilities. Its
portfolio of authority websites, including Rehabs.com and
Recovery.org, provides online directories, rehab reviews, forums
and professional communities that have supported countless families
in their decisions to pursue recovery. Treatment providers leverage
its marketing platform to elevate their online brands through paid
media packages across its network. Recovery Brands is now operating
as part of Sober Media Group, LLC, a digital media arm of American
Addiction Centers.
Media
Contacts:
Joy Sutton
PR Manager,
American Addiction
Centers
(615) 587-7728
jsutton@contactaac.com
Shelby Ray
Senior PR
Specialist, Recovery Brands
(858) 461-9165
shelby@rehabs.com
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SOURCE American Addiction Centers and Recovery Brands