The Need for Take Home

 

Naloxone Programs

 

Naloxone is a medication that can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist, which means that it binds to opioid receptors and blocks the effects of other opioids. This allows a person to breathe again and reverses the overdose.

Naloxone is not a controlled substance and has no potential for abuse. It can be administered by minimally trained laypeople, which makes it ideal for treating overdose in people who have been prescribed opioid pain medication and in people who use heroin and other opioids.

🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟

• Naloxone works by knocking opioids off of opioid receptors in the brain. This allows a person to breathe again and reverses the overdose. Naloxone only works if a person has opioids in their system; it has no effect if opioids are absent.
• Naloxone may be injected in a muscle, vein, under the skin, or sprayed into the nose. Naloxone that is injected comes in a lower concentration (0.4mg/1ml) than naloxone that is sprayed up the nose (1mg/1ml). It is a temporary drug that wears off in 30-90 minutes.

Opioid overdoses are a major public health problem. Many people who die from opioid overdose fail to receive proper medical attention because their peers and witnesses delay or do not call 911 for fear of police involvement. Naloxone is a safe and effective medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. However, in most jurisdictions, naloxone is only available in hospital settings and carried by emergency medical personnel. As a result, it is often not available to people experiencing overdose until they have already suffered severe harm. Take-home naloxone programs have been established in approximately 200 communities throughout the United States to expand naloxone access to people who use drugs and their loved ones. These programs provide comprehensive training on overdose prevention, recognition, and response in addition to prescribing and dispensing naloxone. Fatal overdose is the leading cause of death for people in the U.S. under 50 years old. Providing overdose prevention, recognition, and response education to people who use drugs, their neighbors, friends, families, and the service providers who work with them is a harm reduction intervention that saves lives.

References

Opioid Overdose Basics - Harm Reduction Coalition. (2019). Harmreduction.org. https://harmreduction.org/issues/overdose-prevention/overview/overdose-basics/

‌

 

 

Opioid Overdose Basics

• An overdose is when a toxic amount of a drug, or combination of drugs overwhelms the body. Opioid overdoses happen when there are so many opioids or a combination of opioids and other drugs in the body that the victim is not responsive to stimulation and/or breathing is inadequate.

• Opioids fit into specific receptors that also affect the drive to breathe. If someone can not breathe or is not breathing enough, the oxygen levels in the blood decrease, and the lips and fingers turn blue- this is called cyanosis. This oxygen starvation eventually stops other vital organs like the heart, and then the brain. This leads to unconsciousness, coma, and then death.

• Brain damage starts to occur after 3-5 minutes without oxygen, followed by death. Fortunately, this process is rarely instantaneous; people slowly stop breathing which usually happens minutes to hours after the drug is used. While people have been “found dead with a needle in their arm,” more often there is time to intervene between when an overdose starts and before a victim dies.

• 
  Heroin, prescription opioids, and other downers such as alcohol and benzodiazepines are a particularly dangerous combo since they all affect the body’s central nervous system, which slows breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate, and in turn, reduces body temperature.

• In a stimulant overdose, drugs like speed, cocaine, and ecstasy raise the heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature, and speed up breathing. This can lead to a seizure, stroke, heart attack, or death.

How to help someone who is overdosing:

1. Call 911 immediately.
2. If the person is unconscious, roll them onto their side to prevent choking.
3. Check their breathing and pulse. If they are not breathing, give CPR.
4. If you have Narcan, administer it according to the package instructions.

Stay with the person until help arrives.

References

 Opioid Overdose Basics - Harm Reduction Coalition. (2019). Harmreduction.org. https://harmreduction.org/issues/overdose-prevention/overview/overdose-basics/

‌

Saving Lives without Fear: 👀👀👀👀👀

 

 Legal Protections for Narcan Administrators

👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀

Laws that protect someone when they administer Narcan

Good Samaritan laws

• Good Samaritan laws are in place in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These laws protect people who call 911 or provide assistance to someone in an emergency from being arrested or sued. This includes people who administer Narcan to someone who is experiencing an opioid overdose.

Naloxone access laws are in place in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These laws make it easier for people to obtain Narcan, including through pharmacies and community organizations. Some of these laws also specifically protect people who administer Narcan from civil and criminal liability.

👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀

What to do if you see someone overdosing

• If you see someone overdosing, the first thing you should do is call 911. If you have Narcan, you can also administer it to the person. Narcan is a safe and effective medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.

🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥

To administer Narcan, follow these steps:

1. Remove the Narcan from the package and place it in your nose.
2. Push the plunger down to release the Narcan.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 if the person does not respond after 2-3 minutes.
4. Stay with the person until help arrives.

🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦

Legal protections for people who administer Narcan

1. In most states, people who administer Narcan in good faith are protected from civil and criminal liability. This means that they cannot be sued or arrested for administering Narcan, even if the person overdosing dies.

1. However, it is important to note that these laws vary from state to state. It is always a good idea to check the laws in your state before administering Narcan.

🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡

How to find out more about Narcan and Good Samaritan laws in your state

You can find more information about Narcan and Good Samaritan laws in your state by contacting your state health department or by visiting the website of the National Harm Reduction Coalition.

👀👀👀🟣🟣🟣🟣🔵🔵🔵🔵🧱🧱🧱🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟥🟥🟥🟥🟦🟦🟦🟦🟡🟡🟡

Conclusion

Laws that protect people who administer Narcan are essential for saving lives. By making Naloxone more accessible and protecting people from legal liability, these laws encourage people to help others who are overdosing.

The Beauty of Darkness

 

The Other Side of Light

🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥

Darkness is often seen as something negative, but it is actually essential for the existence of light. In fact, darkness is the glue that binds light together in the universe.

• Without darkness, light would not be able to exist. This is because light is the absence of darkness. When there is no darkness, there is no light.

Darkness is also essential for the formation of stars and galaxies. When gravity pulls matter together, it creates a dense cloud of gas and dust. This cloud is so dense that light cannot escape from it. This is why we see dark clouds in space.

Over time, the gravity in these clouds causes them to collapse and form stars. Stars are incredibly hot and bright, but they would not be able to exist without the darkness that created them.

Darkness is also essential for life on Earth. Plants need darkness to sleep and to grow. Animals need darkness to rest and to hunt. And humans need darkness to sleep and to dream.

So, while darkness is often seen as something negative, it is actually essential for the existence of light, stars, galaxies, and life on Earth.

🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵

Here are some specific examples of how darkness binds light together in the universe:

Black holes: Black holes are regions of space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. Black holes are invisible, but we can see their effects on the light around them. For example, when a star passes near a black hole, its light is bent and distorted. This is called gravitational lensing.

Nebulae: Nebulae are clouds of gas and dust that are found throughout the universe. Nebulae are often dark, but they can also be very bright when they are illuminated by nearby stars. Nebulae are the birthplace of stars, and they play an important role in the formation of galaxies.

Dark matter: Dark matter is a mysterious substance that makes up about 85% of the matter in the universe. Dark matter is invisible, but we can see its effects on the gravity of visible matter. Dark matter is thought to play an important role in the formation and evolution of galaxies.

Darkness is a fundamental part of the universe, and it is essential for the existence of light and life.

🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣

In addition to the above, darkness also has a significant impact on our perception of light. When we are in a dark room, even a small amount of light can seem very bright. This is because our eyes have adjusted to the darkness. In contrast, when we are in a brightly lit room, even a large amount of light may seem dim. This is because our eyes have adjusted to the brightness.

This contrast between light and dark is what allows us to see the world around us. Without darkness, we would not be able to perceive light, and the world would appear to be a flat, gray plane.

Darkness is also important for our mental and emotional well-being. When we are in darkness, our bodies produce melatonin, a hormone that helps us to sleep. Melatonin is also thought to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

In conclusion, darkness is an essential part of the universe and our lives. It is the glue that binds light together, and it plays an important role in the formation of stars, galaxies, and life on Earth. Darkness also has a significant impact on our perception of light and our mental and emotional well-being.

Self-Forgiveness

 And The Love You Feel For Yourself Will Come Down Like Rain

• Forgiveness is a powerful tool that can help us to heal from the emotional wounds of the past. It allows us to let go of anger and resentment, and to move forward in our lives with peace and joy.
• But what about forgiving ourselves? It is often difficult to forgive ourselves as we may feel guilty, ashamed, or even unworthy of forgiveness.

The truth is at our core we need to forgive ourselves for our mistakes and shortcomings. Forgive yourself unconditionally.

Here are a few reasons why it is so important to forgive ourselves:

1. When we forgive ourselves, we can heal. 
2. When we forgive ourselves, we let go of anger and resentment.
3. When we forgive ourselves, we learn and grow from our mistakes.
4. When we forgive ourselves, we develop self-compassion and understanding.
5. When we forgive ourselves, we move forward.

It is not always that easy though, is it?

When you first start the process you will have no idea where to start, and here are a few ways to "jump-start" the process:

1. Wake up every day and do something relevant, and this will vary depending on your situation. It can be as simple as taking a shower or any other ADL you may be neglecting.
2. Challenge your negative thoughts. This process works, but it takes time to foster and strengthen. 
3. Keep moving- metaphorically and physically.
4. Allow yourself to grieve and cry.
5. Set a small goal and work towards it every day. It does not matter how small your steps are, but what matters is that you are taking them or at least attempting to take them.

With every ADL, with every small step that you take, you are delivering messages to your core that you are worthy of forgiveness.

If you are struggling to forgive yourself, here are a few tips:

1. Acknowledge your pain. It is important to acknowledge the pain that you have experienced, both physical and emotional. Allow yourself to feel your emotions, and don't try to suppress them.
2. Be patient with yourself. Forgiveness is a process, and it takes time. Don't expect to forgive yourself overnight. Just be patient with yourself and trust that you will heal in time.
3. Practice self-compassion. Talk to yourself the way you would talk to a friend who is hurting. Be kind and understanding towards yourself.
4. Seek support from others. It can be helpful to talk to a trusted friend, family member, or therapist about your struggles with forgiveness. They can offer you support and encouragement.

Remember, you are worthy of forgiveness. You are not alone. And there is hope for healing.

X marks the spot

 

X

I'm passionate about mental health awareness, and I'm excited to share some great resources with you. X is an amazing platform for mental health resources. Here are a few sites that have stood out to me. These sites are excellent resources to connect with, and they all have good stories to share. I want to thank each and every one of you for sharing your knowledge and struggles, and for making this world a more positive place.

🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦

https://x.com/JasonKehlRMH?s=20

🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡

https://x.com/BipolarOwn?s=20

🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

https://x.com/BipolarSafe?s=20

🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦

https://t.co/qPvjAZRbgV

🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡

https://x.com/PaintedBraiNews?s=20

🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵

https://t.co/wma0fyxJI7

Deep Impact

 The Effects of a Second Concussion

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects nearly 2 million people annually in the United States, with falls and motor vehicle accidents being the most common causes (Hooley et al., 2019).
• According to Hooley and colleagues (2019), these are the most susceptible demographics to TBI:

1. Children 0 to 4 years old
2. Adolescents 15 to 19 years old
3. Adults 65 years and older

• The DSM-5 categorizes cognitive impairments from head injuries as major or mild neurocognitive disorders.

Explosive blasts in the past have caused an increase in TBI cases among military personnel, and this has caused TBI to become the signature injury of the Iraq War. About 15 percent of soldiers serving in Iraq experienced a TBI. Full recovery may not be possible for many survivers. (Hooley et al, 2019)

🔴🟠🟡🟢🔵🟣🔵🟢🟡🟠🔴🟠🟠🟠🟠🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢🔵🔵🔵🔵🟣🟣🟣🟣🔴🔴

Two types of brain injuries:

1. Closed-head injuries -  The skull remains intact.
1. 
   Close-head injuries cause indirect damage due to forces that cause the brain to actually inadvertently make contact with the skull wall.
2. Rotational forces can also cause the brain to inadvertently twist the brain mass in relation to the brain stem. This injury causes neuron damage due to shearing forces on the nerve fibers and their synaptic interconnections (Hooley et al., 2019).
2. Penetrating head injuries - An object enters the brain such as a bullet.

Severe head injuries will often cause someone to lose consciousness. When this happens there is a major disruption of circulatory, metabolic, and neurotransmitter regulation. These types of injuries usually lead to (Hooley et al., 2019) :

1. Retrograde amnesia - which is an inability to recall the events immediately preceding the injury
2. Anterograde amnesia - which is an inability to effectively store memories of events that happen after the trauma.

🟩⬛⬛⬛⬛🟦🟦🟥🟥🟥🟥🟩🟩🧱🧱🧱🟩🟩🟩🟩⬛⬛⬛⬛🟦🟦🟦🟦🟥🟥

Recovery

Recovery from unconsciousness caused by a head injury varies from minutes to days. It is not uncommon for the survivor to go through stages of stupor and confusion. In some cases, the survivor may remain in a coma for a period of time. This coma may be followed by delirium which is evident by acute excitement, disorientation, and hallucinations. Gradually all of this may clear up and the survivor may actually regain appropriate contact with reality.

🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🟢🟢

Minor closed-head brain concussions and contusions occur frequently due to car accidents, sports injuries, and falls. Some theme park rides can actually cause high enough G-forces in som individuals by creating small tears in delicate blood vessels in the brain. (Hooley, et al., 2019)

 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢🟠🟠🟠🟠🟠🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟢🟢

If you have a concussion, your brain is four to five times more likely to be damaged by a second head injury, and this increased risk lasts for several weeks.

References

Hooley, J. M., Nock, M. K., & Butcher, J. N. (2019). Abnormal Psychology (18th ed.). Pearson Education (US). https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9780135191033

 

When You're Partying And This Happens

GHB OVERDOSE

 

First of all, if you have ever been in a situation where you were hanging and partying with someone and that person overdosed on GHB and you did not leave their side then I salute you. It is a scary situation, and a recent study by Freestone and colleagues (2023) uncovered some common interventions that people are using when responding to a GHB overdose.

 

 Their study revealed a need for education on how to handle these situations (Freestone et al, 2023), and here are some of their suggestions:

When first notice something is wrong.

 Are they so sleepy that it's hard to stay awake and think clearly?

Do Not Leave Them Alone 

• Check their breathing (Freestone et al, 2023):

• Look, Listen, and Feel for Breathing.

• If non-responsive and not normal breathing, then first aid recommendations are to call EMS and start CPR

 Call emergency medical services if someone is not responsive, assess breathing, and place in the recovery position. To manage airway open mouth and check for foreign material. If foreign material is present roll the patient onto their side and clear the airway. If there is no foreign material, leave the patient in the position found, and open the airway by tilting the head back with a chin lift.

 

References

  Freestone, J., Ezard, N., Bourne, A., Brett, J., Roberts, D., Hammoud, M., Nedanoski, A., Prestage, G., & Siefried, K. (2023). Understandings, attitudes, practices and responses to GHB overdose among GHB consumers [Review of Understandings, attitudes, practices and responses to GHB overdose among GHB consumers]. Harm Reduction Journal, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00857-z

GHB And What You Don't Know

 

GHB and the Brain

• GHB, found endogenously in the brain, is a precursor of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (Le & Richards, 2019).
• GHB affects both GABA-B and GHB receptors.

GHB influences dopamine in a two-phase manner. At lower doses, it triggers the release of dopamine by interacting with GHB receptors. On the other hand, higher doses initially suppress dopamine release due to their agonist effects on GABA-B receptors, which results in neuro-inhibition and depression of the central nervous system (CNS). However, following this initial suppression, there is an increase in dopamine release via the GHB receptor.

⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

• This dual action of GHB explains its sedative and excitatory effects. The primary concern with GHB toxicity is the depression of the central nervous system and respiratory system.

🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥

Substitutes for GHB, namely Gamma-butyrolactone and 1,4-butanediol, were previously marketed as industrial solvents or dietary supplements. Upon oral consumption, these substances quickly transform into GHB, thereby replicating the same clinical impacts associated with GHB toxicity. (Le & Richards, 2019)

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

• GHB is rapidly absorbed into the body
• Average time of five to fifteen minutes for onset of action.
• Initially, The user experiences a wave of euphoria (Le & Richards, 2019).
• Symptoms typically peak within thirty to sixty minutes after administration.
• You can usually count on the effects lasting for two to four hours.
• Its half-life elimination ranges from twenty to sixty minutes.

🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦

According to Le and Richards (2019) here are some dosing considerations:

• Lower doses of GHB (10 mg/kg) can cause memory loss and varying degrees of sedation.
•  Doses ranging from 20 mg/kg to 30 mg/kg induce cycles of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
• 
  Higher doses (50 mg/kg) can lead to slower heart rate, respiratory depression, and even coma. 
  
  The presence of other intoxicants, particularly alcohol, can enhance the effects and prolong the duration of symptoms.

🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱

So how much are you actually taking??

The typical dosage of the substance falls between 1 and 5 grams, which equates to about 1-2 teaspoons mixed into a drink, depending on the purity of the compound. However, the concentrations in these homemade concoctions can vary significantly, often leaving users uncertain about the actual dosage they are consuming. (WHAT IS GHB?, n.d.)

Analogues

• Substances often used as alternatives to GHB include GBL (gamma-butyrolactone) and 1,4 BD (also known as “BD”), which stands for 1,4-butanediol.

 

These analogues are legally available as industrial solvents used in the production of various products such as polyurethane, pesticides, elastic fibers, pharmaceuticals, and coatings on metal or plastic.

• Illegally, they are also sold as supplements for purposes like bodybuilding, fat loss, reversing baldness, improving eyesight, and combating aging, depression, drug addiction, and insomnia. GBL and BD are marketed under innocuous labels like “fish tank cleaner,” “ink stain remover,” “ink cartridge cleaner,” and “nail enamel remover,” with a price tag of approximately $100 per bottle — a cost significantly higher than similar products. (WHAT IS GHB?, n.d.)

References

Le, J. K., & Richards, J. R. (2019, January 20). Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB, “G”, Liquid X, Liquid E, Juice, Mils, Fantasy) Toxicity. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430781/

‌WHAT IS GHB? (n.d.). https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/GHB-2020.pdf

‌

 

A New Study Illuminates A Need for GHB Overdose Education

 GHB Overdose: Education Can Save Lives

Objective 

The objective of this study was to understand how bystanders respond to Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) overdose. This situation is frequently found within sexuality and gender diverse communities carrying a high risk of fatality.

Methods

• This qualitative study involved interviewing 31 Australian residents who reported using GHB on three or more occasions in the previous twelve months.
• These participants were asked about their experiences witnessing GHB overdose more specifically:
1. Their actions
2. Their decision-making processes throughout the overdose.


• Their responses were analyzed according to dominant themes.

Results 

• All of these participants witnessed the overdoses in private settings and were involved in sexual situations.
• These participants reported their situations as ranging from GHB-induced symptoms of distress (Freestone et al., 2023) to comatose intoxication.
  
• These participants reported their drastic actions to keep someone alert and responsive after their GHB ingestion (Freestone et al., 2023). 
• Most of these participants reported many variables that influenced their decision to call or not call for EMS.
• The majority of these participants did not call the EMS and resorted to interventions that deviated from established first-aid protocols (Freestone et al., 2023).

Conclusions

The study illuminated an urgent need for GHB overdose prevention and how to respond to these situations for people who use GHB. According to Freestone and colleagues (2023), educational interventions need to address the following:

1. Addressing inaccuracies that inform street remedies for GHB overdose
2. Techniques for safely checking someone's breathing and responsiveness.
3. They should promote basic first-aid principles
4. They should address perceived barriers to contacting EMS.

References

 Freestone, J., Ezard, N., Bourne, A., Brett, J., Roberts, D., Hammoud, M., Nedanoski, A., Prestage, G., & Siefried, K. (2023). Understandings, attitudes, practices and responses to GHB overdose among GHB consumers [Review of Understandings, attitudes, practices and responses to GHB overdose among GHB consumers]. Harm Reduction Journal, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00857-z

‌

Splendor In The Grass

 A Coming of Age

Alcohol addiction has been around for centuries, and its early days were marked by a lack of understanding about the nature of addiction. Alcohol was often seen as a social lubricant and a way to relax and unwind. It was not until the 20th century that alcohol addiction began to be recognized as a serious problem.

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Video gaming addiction is a more recent phenomenon, and its early days were marked by a similar lack of understanding. Video games were often seen as harmless entertainment, and there was little concern about the potential for addiction. However, in recent years, there has been growing awareness of the dangers of video gaming addiction.

⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛

Video gaming addiction is becoming a serious problem. To validate its seriousness, I want to compare the coming-of-age of alcohol addiction to where video gaming addiction is at now.

1. Availability: Alcohol has always been readily available, but video games have become increasingly accessible in recent years. With the advent of handheld consoles, smartphones, and tablets, people can now play video games anywhere, at any time.
2. Social acceptance: Alcohol use has always been socially acceptable, but video gaming addiction is still stigmatized. Many people still view video games as a waste of time, and they may not take the addiction seriously.
   
3. 
   Symptoms: The symptoms of alcohol addiction and video gaming addiction are similar, but there are some key differences. For example, people with alcohol addiction may experience withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, tremors, and nausea. People with video gaming addiction may experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, and difficulty sleeping.
4. Treatment: There are a variety of treatment options available for alcohol addiction, including counseling, medication, and 12-step programs. There are also a growing number of treatment options available for video gaming addiction, but they are not as well-established as those for alcohol addiction.

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

1. Both alcohol addiction and video gaming addiction are serious problems that can have a devastating impact on individuals and families. It is important to be aware of the risks of addiction and to seek help if you or someone you know is struggling.

988

 

Suicide Prevention:

If you ever have a chance to intervene and help someone going through a suicide crisis and have surveyed the scene for safety, do not worry about not knowing what to do or say. Follow your heart to that person.  988 on your phone will connect you to someone who is trained and they will guide you.

Burnt Offerings

 Released Through Unrequited Channels

A few nights ago, I could not sleep and I was excessively worrying about a particular situation that I had under control. It was a situation that I had handled before. So why was I worrying so much? I felt an almost apocalyptic worry over this situation. In my head I spiraled thousands of situations
of how this particular situation and other situations would spawn off of it. I started having straight up old school panic attacks. I was using all my challenging tools to show myself that this situation did not warrent this level of anxiety, but they just were not working. And then I remembered.

 🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥

Everyone experiences anxiety which is a normal human emotion that keeps us alert and motivated. Repression is a psychological defense mechanism that pushes uncomfortable thoughts and feelings out of our conscious awareness. Which sounds great until it isn't because that anxiety does not actually leave rather it hangs around out of sight and deep in mind.

🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥

The mind will hold onto that anxiety and release it when the mind feels that it can be done so safely. A podcast that I was listening to reminded me of this defense mechagnism. With my anxiety that night my awareness was heightened enough to realize that the situation I was dealing with did not warrent this level of anxiety and I let go of it.

 🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

My thought challenging tools immediately became effective and I felt my anxiety burn away. I came back to the present and enjoyed the peace and quite in and around myself.

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

This was a huge milestone for myself. For once I did not attempt to bury my anxiety or put out the flames by using alcohol or maybe even getting high. I haven't dealt with panic attacks like that in several years, and several years ago they would have sent me running to the liquor store, or looking up an old acqaintance.

 

Cognitive and CBT works. Your mind is yours to control. You have to get in, lay down the ground work and reclaim your territory.

Some Facts about Suicide

 

🟨In 2021 over 48000 people died because of suicide.

🟨12.3 million people seriously thought about killing themselves.

🟥3.5 million people made a plan to kill themselves.

🟩1.7 million people attempted suicide.

⬛Every 11 minutes one person dies as a result of suicide.

The Centers for Disease Control (2022) stated that there were 46,412 suicides among adults in 2021. But suicides are just the tip of the iceberg. For every suicide death*, there were about:

1. 3 hospitalizations for self-harm**
2. 8 emergency department visits related to suicide***
3. 38 self-reported suicide attempts in the past year****
4. 265 people who seriously considered suicide in the past year****

Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

• Call or text 988
• Chat at 988lifeline.org

Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, June 28). Suicide Data and Statistics | Suicide | CDC. Www.cdc.gov; CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/suicide-data-statistics.html

‌

The Promise of Social Robots and BCI Video Games for Treating ADHD

🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity according to Cervantes and colleagues (2023)  definition. The current treatments for children living with ADHD combine different approaches, such as pharmacological, behavioral, cognitive, and psychological treatment (Cervantes et al., 2023). The computer science research community has been working on developing non-pharmacological treatments that are based on novel technologies for dealing with ADHD (Cervantes et al., 2023).

🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦

Social Robots

Therapists use these social robots to mediate between the therapist and some children living with ADHD. According to Cervantes and colleagues (2023), they can provide companionship and support to children with ADHD and they can also teach social skills.

Brain-computer interface video games

BCI video games use a brain-computer interface to measure the player's brain activity and can be used to improve attention, focus, and activity.

🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨

Cervantes and colleagues (2023) set out to perform a systematic review from an interdisciplinary approach to the current state of these two technologies these were the two main questions: 

• 1 How have social robots and BCI video games been evaluated? 
•  Are there still open challenges in social robots and BCI video games to improve their impact and benefit on children living with ADHD?

🟨🟨Their search strategy🟥🟥

1. Four major online databases were used: PubMed, Engineering Village, IEEE Xplore, and Scopus.
2. The search was limited to papers published from January 2010 to 15 June 2022.

• 🟥The search strategy for study 1: Social Robots for Dealing with ADHD was developed to identify papers that met the following criteria:

1.  They were published in peer-reviewed journals.
2. They were written in English.
3. They investigated the use of social robots or BCI video games for the treatment of ADHD.
4. The search strategy was based on the keywords "social robot", "BCI video game", "ADHD", and "treatment".
5. Out of 332 results, the researchers ended up evaluating 17 papers in the final S. L. R.
   
   

🟨Their search for Study 2: BCI Video Games for Dealing with ADHD

Cervantes and colleagues (2023) ended up with 19 papers.

🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦What they found🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦

🟦The review was conducted from an interdisciplinary approach, and the results were organized into two sections: engineering and healthcare.

 Engineering:

•  The engineering section focused on the type of applications developed, the most common robots used, and the input signals and environments used.
• The most common applications were for supporting rehabilitation therapies, and the most common robots used were humanoid robots.
• The real environment was the most common environment used in robot-based applications.
• The most common environments used in BCI video game applications were 3D, 2D, virtual reality, and mixed reality.

Healthcare:

• The healthcare section focused on the main characteristics of participants involved in trials, the results reported in each study, and whether these technologies can significantly reduce ADHD symptoms or improve any skill ability.
• The majority of participants in trials were children living with ADHD.
• The most common results reported were that these technologies can reduce attention deficit and improve some skills, such as learning, writing, spatial memory, working memory, communication, and interaction.
• Only two applications, Focus Pocus and EndeavorRx, are commercialized and prescribed for treating children living with ADHD.

Limitations of the study🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Cervantes and colleagues (2023) stated that the following were challenges identified during the systematic literature review for developing computational systems based on social robots or BCI video games to treat ADHD:

• 🟩Diagnosing ADHD: There are three different subtypes of ADHD, and people with ADHD can also have other neurodevelopmental disorders. This makes it difficult to develop a general system for diagnosing ADHD.
• 🟩Customizing cognitive training exercises: Cognitive training exercises need to be customized according to the individual's characteristics, such as the subtype of ADHD, the level of ADHD, and the person's preferences. This can be challenging to do.
  
• 🟩Capturing and maintaining attention: Children with ADHD can easily lose interest in tasks, so it is important for cognitive training exercises to be engaging and interesting.
• 🟩Long-term studies: Most studies on social robots and BCI video games for ADHD have been short-term. More long-term studies are needed to see how effective these technologies are in the long run.
• 🟩Certification: Some social robots and BCI video games for ADHD have been approved for use, but many are still in the development stage. It can be difficult to get these technologies certified because they are relatively new.
• 🟩Avoiding physical harm: Some social robots can pose physical harm to children, so it is important to design them safely.
• 🟩Compromised social-emotional development: Children with ADHD can form strong emotional attachments to social robots. This could potentially compromise their social-emotional development.

These are just some of the challenges that researchers and engineers face in developing and using social robots and BCI video games for ADHD. More research is needed to address these challenges and to develop effective and safe technologies for helping children with ADHD.

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩What this all means🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦

• Researchers looked at 36 systems that use social robots or BCI video games to help people with ADHD. Some systems help diagnose ADHD, others help with cognitive training, and others help study the brain. Most systems are still being developed and tested, but some have shown promise in helping people with ADHD. Researchers need to do more studies to see how well these systems work in real-world settings. Some people with ADHD have had positive experiences with these systems, but others have had negative experiences. Developers need to make sure that these systems are flexible and can be customized for each individual.

References

Cervantes, J.-A., López, S., Cervantes, S., Hernández, A., & Duarte, H. (2023). Social Robots and Brain-Computer Interface Video Games for Dealing with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review. Brain Sciences, 13(8), 1172. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13081172

‌

Frotteurism

 Frotteurism is a disorder characterized by sexual excitement at rubbing one's genitals against or touching the body of a non-consenting person. It is similar to voyeurism in that it reflects an inappropriate and persistent interest in something that many people enjoy in a consensual context (Hooley et al. 2019). Roughly 8 to 10 percent of men have a lifetime history of touching or rubbing against someone they did not know in a sexual way without their consent according to Hooley and colleagues (2019).  Some people have speculated that frotteurs are more likely to commit other sexual offenses, but there is no evidence to support this claim. People who are regularly on crowded buses or subway trains are often victims of frotteurism.

🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨

Dsm-5 Criteria for frotteurism

1. Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent and intense sexual arousal from touching or rubbing against a nonconsenting person, as manifested by fantasies, urges, or behaviors.
2. The individual has acted on these sexual urges with a nonconsenting person, or the sexual urges or fantasies cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

References

Hooley, J. M., Nock, M. K., & Butcher, J. N. (2019). Abnormal Psychology (18th ed.). Pearson Education (US). https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9780135191033

Could Gaming Addictions Become a Public Health Crisis???

Here is What One Study Found

• Video games provide relaxation and entertainment for billions of people; however, these games can sometimes lead to obsession or addiction (Kuperczko et al., 2022).
• Over the past two decades, there have been cases of people dying while playing video games for extended periods of time, and unfortunately, there have been cases of homicide or suicide where video games were a motivating factor (Kuperczko et al., 2022).

🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦

Kuperczko and colleagues (2022) state that between 1995 and 2017 internet use has gone from less than one percent to forty-six percent. This growth has also spawned an internet gaming disorder. People with IGD may spend several hours a day gaming, and in extreme cases may spend days online with little food or drink intake or sleep, leading to adverse or fatal physiological conditions.

Kuperczko and colleagues (2022) have determined that there has not been a substantial review of these deaths in medical or health science literature, nor have they found any studies or case reports. Kuperczko and colleagues (2022) set out to investigate the real size of the problem of death linked to playing video games, if these subjects were addicted to gaming, the connection between gaming and death, and the possible reasons leading to death.

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Their Methods of Investigation 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

• 🟥The researchers compiled all of the instances where the act of playing video games was linked to the player's death.

1. Their first search was a Google search using the keywords death, die, and video game which led them to numerous cases in online newspapers, blogs, and video portals. This search yielded a small collection of cases
2. Their second scientific search via Pubmed did not yield any relevant publications (Kuperczko et al., 2022).

🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦Their Results🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦

• They ended up with 24 cases up to the end of 2021 (Kuperczko et al., 2022):

1. Only one of the reported victims of gaming-related death was female, and little is known about her gaming habits.
2. Internet addiction among females typically involves social media rather than gaming, with IGD being seven times more common among male adolescents.
3. Deaths appear to be linked to action-rich games, which are less popular among females, and competitiveness in games may lead males to play for extended periods without pausing.
4. The victims were mostly adolescents or young adults, with ages ranging from 11 to 40 years.
   
5. The first victims were in their twenties, an age group that was among the first to become familiar with computer games and experience IGD as an emerging problem.
6. Over time, the age range of victims broadened as former teens and young adults aged into their thirties and the spread of computers, the internet, and games reached younger age groups.
7. More than half of the cases occurred in Southeast Asia, where internet cafes are popular and provide a cheap alternative to owning a personal computer and paying for internet access, electricity, and games.
8. Internet cafes also offer cheap food and drinks, as well as private rooms for sleeping or showering, allowing customers to remain inside for days without supervision.
9. In contrast, cases from Western regions typically occurred at home due to the lower popularity of internet cafes and the expansion of home-based internet access points.
10. The recent spread of smartphones has led to changes in internet access and gaming, with the first gaming deaths linked to smartphones also appearing.

⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛Limitations of the Study⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛

• The authors acknowledge that the search for cases may not have been complete and that there may be other cases that were not reported.
• They also note that the quality of source data was sometimes poor and that the exact cause of death was often unconfirmed or speculative.
• Despite these limitations, the authors believe that their findings are important and that they raise awareness of the potential risks of excessive video game playing.
• The search for cases was limited to English-language sources, like international electronic newspapers.

And while these numbers may appear small, it is definitely something worth monitoring. One death is too many deaths especially if they could have been prevented.

 References

Kuperczko, D., Kenyeres, P., Darnai, G., Kovacs, N., & Janszky, J. (2022). Sudden gamer death: non-violent death cases linked to playing video games. BMC Psychiatry, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-04373-5

‌