Dr. Nicholas Atanasoff : Substance Abuse Prevention Month

Nicholas Anthony Atanasoff, D.O. is a psychiatrist who specializes in addiction and addiction treatment. For the fourth year in a row, the United States will recognize the month of October as National Substance Abuse Prevention Month in an effort to reduce the negative consequences of drug abuse in our communities. From alcohol to prescriptions to illicit drugs, substance abuse and addiction affects millions of people nationwide and the month of October offers a chance for recovering addicts, their loved ones and all members of the community to come together and show their support, explains Nicholas Anthony Atanasoff, D.O.

Dr. Nicholas Atanasoff : Strategies for Prevention

Nicholas Anthony Atanasoff, D.O. is a dedicated psychiatrist and the founder of Addiction Outreach Clinic who has years of experience and specializes in addiction therapy. While the government may be responsible for change on a broad scale, there are many things that individuals can do to help the cause. Nicholas Anthony Atanasoff, D.O. recommends that some strategies for substance abuse prevention include:

Educational Programs

Teens and young adults are in positions of high risk when it comes to starting down a path of substance abuse, explains Dr. Atanasoff. Middle schools, high schools, and colleges can educate students about the negative consequences of drug abuse and underage drinking. Additionally, targeted educational programs can help students make better choices about refusing or reducing drug use, depending on their current level of involvement.

Parental Involvement

Research suggests parental influence has the biggest impact on teenage substance abuse. Parents can make a huge difference in the life of their child by setting a good example of responsible substance use (or abstinence) and keeping the lines of communication open. Teenagers who feel comfortable talking to their parents are often less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol.

Community Support

Neighborhoods, religious groups, sports teams, and/or clubs can all support substance abuse prevention, encourages Nicholas Anthony Atanasoff, D.O. Hosting alcohol-free events can show young people that they do not need to be under the influence to have fun. Informational movie nights, fundraisers, as well as other healthy and engaging activities can all show support and increase awareness for the cause.

Dr. Nicholas Atanasoff : What is Naloxone?

Naloxone is a medication designed to reverse opioid overdose, explains Nicholas Anthony Atanasoff, D.O. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist (i.e., a medication that binds to opioid receptors and can reverse and block the effects of other opioids). In addition, Naloxone can very quickly restore normal respiration to a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped due to overdosing with heroin or prescription opioid pain medications. There are three FDA-approved formulations of naloxone, explains Nicholas Anthony Atanasoff, D.O.:

Injectable

Generic brands of injectable naloxone vials are offered by a variety of companies that are listed in the FDA's Orange Book under "naloxone".

Auto-Injectable

Prefilled auto-injection devices make it easy for families or emergency personnel to inject naloxone quickly into the outer thigh. Once activated, the auto-injection device provides verbal instruction to the user describing how to deliver the medication, which is similar to automated defibrillators.

Pre-Packaged Nasal Spray

Prefilled, needle-free devices that require no assembly and are sprayed into one nostril while patients lay on their back are also available.

The liquid for injection is what is commonly used by paramedics, emergency room doctors, and other trained first responders. To facilitate ease of use, a naloxone nasal spray is now available, that allows for the drug naloxone to be sprayed as a mist into the nose. Depending on your state, friends, family members, and others in the community may give the auto-injector and nasal spray formulation of naloxone to someone who has overdosed. Additionally, some states require a physician to prescribe naloxone. However, in other states, pharmacies may distribute naloxone in an outpatient setting without bringing in a prescription from a physician.

Dr. Nicholas Atanasoff : Don’t Punish Pain

Nicholas Anthony Atanasoff, D.O. lives and works in Boardman, Ohio as an addiction specialist.

Pain is the alarm that tells us something is wrong and is one of the main reasons why individuals seek medical care. However, when that alarm does not turn off (e.g., in patients with cancer, arthritis, or nervous system abnormalities) despair can often take over. Further, virtually every authoritative health, medical, and human rights group throughout the world once formally declared that relief from pain is a universal human right, including access to opioid analgesics, if necessary.

Fortunately, the majority of people with persistent, recurrent, or chronic pain do not require ongoing opioid therapy, especially when they have access to other effective treatments. However, when non-opioid pain management strategies do not work, opioids (in combination with other medical, behavioral, and rehabilitative therapies) can be the only means of providing a life that is functional and worth living. Each of the bedeviling condition of intractable pain and drug addiction rob patients of this "unalienable right," and deserve our best attentions, starting by neither blaming nor confusing one for the other. It is important that we do not let the war on drugs lead to untreated pain, cautions Nicholas Anthony Atanasoff, D.O.