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| John Kingsley (name changed), a 36-year-old, former welder at a well-known San Diego shipyard, is in the midst of two difficult battles of his life. He was laid off on disciplinary grounds, owing to his addiction to prescription drugs, some time back. Soon he started experiencing health problems and had to go in for a checkup.

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John Kingsley (name changed), a 36-year-old, former welder at a well-known San Diego shipyard, is in the midst of two difficult battles of his life. He was laid off on disciplinary grounds, owing to his addiction to prescription drugs, some time back. Soon he started experiencing health problems and had to go in for a checkup. Sitting in the waiting lounge of a hepatitis C screening program, at a behavioral health center in downtown San Francisco, he felt as if his heart had stopped beating as he saw his worst fear coming true. The results from the medical reports were out; he had tested positive for the blood-borne virus, which was lying dormant in him, all these years when he was an active intravenous drug user.

Sadly, there are millions such as John across the U.S. It is unfortunate that once considered as a baby boomer disease, hepatitis C is soon becoming one of the fastest spreading viral infections among young drug users nationwide, with the majority of them being unaware of the infection. According to the findings of a national study conducted by a team from Rutgers Biomedical and Sciences, Rutgers University, New Jersey, published in March 2017, better hepatitis C screening and treatment facilities across the country can go a long way in preventing about 90,000 fatalities by 2030. In fact, the study committee also noted that the disease kills more individual than road accidents, diabetes and even HIV.

Experts say that the blood-borne hepatitis C virus is generally spread through the intravenous use of drugs, especially among heroin and prescription drug users, who share needles. Though a few symptoms of the viral infection may manifest quite early, the dangerous warning signs may continue to be dormant for decades. If the patient is not treated, he or she could be exposed to the risk of developing cancer or scarring of the liver including complete failure of the organ, resulting in death. The latest report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC), suggests that new cases of hepatitis C infections in America have increased by 294 percent during the years 2010-15, especially among young adults in the age group of 20-29 years, who inject drugs. However, the CDC believes that the actual figures could be much higher as symptoms of the infection are comparatively less known and most newly infected cases generally go undiagnosed.

Additionally, a new report from Amino, a technology-based health care solutions company that helps patients find doctors, indicates that Americans battling an addiction to opioids are highly susceptible to hepatitis C infections, back pain and alcoholism. The company revealed this finding after a meticulous examination of insurance claims, filed between 2014 and 2016, of more than 300 million patients with private health insurances.
Awareness is key to a healthy life
Spreading awareness about the nature of hepatitis C among drug users and the general public at large is the only way to save lives. It is important to educate people about this current trend in viral infections, especially among the youth and promoting proactive screening for the disease. Thanks to innovations in medical sciences, several new classes of effective drugs and direct-acting antivirals are now available in the market to treat infected individuals.

Experts have identified five basic types of barriers to treating hepatitis C cases, namely:

Restricted insurance cover

Inability to afford treatment

Failure to deal with an underlying addiction

Challenges in communication

Faulty perception of the disease in patients

While sharing used syringes is the most common mode through which the virus is transmitted, there is also a huge possibility of catching the infection by engaging in unprotected sex or using something, which is contaminated with blood infected by the virus, such as a razor or a toothbrush. Further, pregnant mothers can also pass on the virus to their unborn babies. Therefore, this World Hepatitis Day, which is on July 28, 2017, it is incumbent on the global community to ensure that the disease is eradicated in the next 13 years. Health care organizations nationwide are placing greater emphasis on awareness, diagnosis and key preventive actions such as vaccinations, harm reduction and treatments to ensure a healthier society. However, it should be noted that treating an underlying addiction in any form can be the first step to combat the viral infection.
Seeking treatment is the first step
It is sad to note that innumerable vulnerable individuals are increasingly getting caught in the vicious cycle of addiction. The sole option to break free from the stronghold of lethal substances is to seek professional treatment for addiction to opioids at a reputed drug addiction rehabilitation center to reverse the devastating effects of the deadly drugs.

Sovereign Health understands the plight of someone who is unable to discontinue the use of harmful substances despite the negative impact on his or her life. The customized addiction treatment services, at Sovereign Health of San Clemente, are designed to treat the person holistically.

If you or your loved one is battling an addiction to any prescription drug, call our 24/7 helpline number to know about the most effective drug addiction programs at our state-of-the-art centers. You can even chat online to one of our representatives for further assistance.

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World Hepatitis Day: Opioid crisis is fueling a surge in Hepatitis C cases nationwide - Sovereign Health Group

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John Kingsley (name changed), a 36-year-old, former welder at a well-known San Diego shipyard, is in the midst of two difficult battles of his life. He was laid off on disciplinary grounds, owing to his addiction to prescription drugs, some time back. Soon he started experiencing health problems and had to go in for a ...

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American senators vote down Obamacare repeal bill

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American senators vote down Obamacare repeal bill

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| Senators cast their votes narrowly on July 25, 2017, to initiate a debate on a bill aimed at overruling significant provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). However, in a matter of hours, Republicans had to deal with a major blow when their exhaustive plan to repeal the former President Barack Obama’s health care law didn’t get the required number of 60 votes. Republicans lost the bid by 43-57.

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Teens take to internet to buy deadly opioids

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Teens take to internet to buy deadly opioids

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| Amid the ongoing opioid epidemic that has ravaged the United States, authorities are battling an unruly player in the illegal trade of deadly opioids — the internet. Now, many teens and adolescents are making clandestine online purchases using virtual currencies such as bitcoin to acquire deadly opioids either for personal use or to circulate among peers.

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When alcohol becomes only way to cope with trauma

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When alcohol becomes only way to cope with trauma

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| An acute feeling of anguish weighed heavy on her heart. Cold rivulets of sweat trickled down her forehead. Once again, she could feel one of those distressing panic attacks coming on, which caused her hands to tremble while she poured a large glass of vodka.

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Massage therapy can treat low back pain, says study 

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Massage therapy can treat low back pain, says study 

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| Estimates suggest that about 100 million Americans grapple with chronic pain in their daily lives, leading to dependence on prescription opioids. Studies conducted by several national health agencies have found that lower back pain is the most common neurological ailment in the United States, followed by severe headaches or a migraine, neck pain and facial ache.

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Estimates suggest that about 100 million Americans grapple with chronic pain in their daily lives, leading to dependence on prescription opioids. Studies conducted by several national health agencies have found that lower back pain is the most common neurological ailment in the United States, followed by severe headaches or a migraine, neck pain and facial ache.

Statistics show that today, in America, an alarming six out of 10 drug overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC), from 2000 to 2015 more than half a million people lost their lives due to drug overdoses. In fact, 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose, shows the CDC data.

Experts in the medical community believe that a customized, multi-disciplinary approach is needed for an effective long-term solution. Moreover, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH), there is insufficient data to support pain management via long-term use of opioids. This situation, thus, presents possibilities to explore alternative treatment options for pain such as by physical therapy and complementary medicine.
Study finds real-world massage effective in treating pain
A new study published in March 2017, in the journal Pain Medicine, has found that real-world massage may be the best way to deal with chronic lower back pain. Niki Munk, professor at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and one of the co-first authors of the study, said that more than 50 percent of American adults with lower back pain who participated in the study experienced clinically meaningful pain relief.

Patients were referred by a doctor to a massage therapist, who provided customized 10 massages, free of cost, in a clinical treatment environment that mimicked the experiences of people who chose to opt for massage therapy in the real world. The study revealed that baby boomers and older generations were more inclined to experience clinical relief from pain. Researchers also observed considerable improvements in obese patients, though they couldn't retain the changes over a period of time.

According to the study, in some cases, even patients who were on opioids experienced improvements in their condition. However, they were twice less likely to experience the same level of clinical relief from pain, compared to their counterparts who were not on opioids. According to the authors, though the findings are quite promising, the fact remains that chronic lower back pain is a complex matter and massage therapy shouldn't be considered as a quick fix. Rather it should be treated as a long-term maintenance option to avail maximum benefits.
Opioid addiction widespread in society
Abuse of prescription medicines to relieve pain is the underlying cause of this nationwide epidemic of opioid addiction. According to the CDC, doctors writing millions of prescriptions for opioid painkillers has been a major factor fueling the epidemic ravaging the nation. Popping pills have become a daily ritual for most Americans. What is posing to be an even more worrisome trend is that 20 percent of children in the U.S. are now pharmaceutical drug users. In 2015 alone, more than 15,000 Americans succumbed to overdoses involving prescription opioids. The CDC statistics show that since 2003, there has been a steady spike in the number of prescription drug abuse-related deaths. Painkillers have claimed more lives than heroin and cocaine combined.

One of the reasons why most Americans are unaware of the dangers of prescription drugs is an inherent misapprehension about the drug testing and approval procedures. Many falsely believe that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has a rigorous testing and evaluation mechanism in place. This is actually far from the truth as the current system shrugs the entire onus of clinical trials and safety testing of a new drug on the pharmaceutical company, which develops the drug. The other reasons for the widely rampant prescription opioid use disorder are:

Easy availability: All one needs is a valid medical prescription to legally procure prescription drugs. This could lead to potential abuse if a patient decides to exceed the prescribed doses or go on a doctor-shopping spree.

Abuse leads to addiction: Many are unaware that prescription drugs such as opioids are basically pharmaceutical-grade heroin legally produced in a laboratory. They are undoubtedly as addictive as their counterparts being sold on the streets.

Internet is a great market: Typing "no prescription online pharmacy" can throw up a plethora of websites where anyone can purchase any kind of prescription drug without a doctor's prescription.

Online purchases could be fake: It is highly possible that prescription medicine purchased online might be counterfeit or composed of toxic ingredients, which could be lethal.

People think they're safe: Most people place blind faith in their doctor and continue to exceed their prescribed doses. This builds tolerance in them leading to substance abuse and addiction.

Prescription drugs are sedative: Sedation is the common outcome of drug use, and it could temporarily impair a person's senses leaving him vulnerable to accidents.

Risk of mixing drugs is high: Those addicted to prescription drugs often tend to mix them with alcohol or other drugs, resulting in a lethal combination.

Don't live with opioid addiction, seek help
More and more people are falling prey to prescription opioid addiction these days. For them, it is important to know that opioid abuse can be treated with timely medical intervention. Sovereign Health understands the plight of someone who is unable to discontinue the use of harmful substances such as opioids. Our customized substance use disorder programs are tailored to individual needs in order to treat the person holistically. Sovereign Health of San Clemente's pain program is designed to assist those individuals whose pain has led to an addiction of either prescription and/or illegal drugs.

If you or your loved one is battling addiction to any prescription drug, get in touch with Sovereign Health to gain access to the latest and innovative treatment methods at our state-of-the-art drug addiction treatment centers spread across the U.S. Whether you are looking for substance abuse treatment centers in California or at a place closer home, call at our 24/7 helpline number 866-629-0442 or chat online to know about the most effective recovery programs at our reliable behavioral health treatment centers in California.

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Massage therapy can treat low back pain, says study - Sovereign Health Group

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Estimates suggest that about 100 million Americans grapple with chronic pain in their daily lives, leading to dependence on prescription opioids. Studies conducted by several national health agencies have found that lower back pain is the most common neurological ailment in the United States, followed by severe headaches or a migraine, neck pain and facial ...