Without realizing it, they might bend over as their body tries to find a position that makes breathing easier. The bent-over position can make breathing problems worse, as being hunched over doesn’t allow the lungs to expand fully, depriving vital organs of oxygen. Individuals experiencing the fent fold often appear frozen in this unnatural posture, unable to respond or move for minutes to hours at a time. This occurrence has become commonplace in cities where fentanyl use has grown rampant. The sight of individuals in this bent-over stance has become a stark representation of the effects of the ongoing opioid crisis. Yes, the symbols μg (mu-g) and mcg are used interchangeably to denote the microgram.

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And that’s especially true today because of the dangers of fentanyl—an extremely potent synthetic opioid that’s been linked to the majority of overdose drugs in the U.S. today. In the national conversation about overdose, fentanyl is often framed as a single, wide-reaching crisis, but new evidence from five major U.S. cities suggests a more fragmented, complex reality. „Every overdose death is preventable, and every life lost is a reminder that compassion, harm reduction, treatment access, and honest conversations save lives.“

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Officers also found a handgun in the duffel bag Baber carried and he was arrested for possession with intent to deliver grams of fentanyl and being a felon Drug rehabilitation in possession of a firearm. Court documents show that on Jan. 20, 2024, police in Albuquerque stopped Baber and Burns for a traffic violation. However, officers began a search of their vehicle after seeing what they suspected to be three fentanyl pills on the floorboard of the vehicle. Clauson, who pleaded guilty to the same charge, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. „As alleged, Sainz Salazar served as a major producer of the Sinaloa Cartel’s fentanyl shipments bound for the United States,“ U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said. „In an operation carried out by the National Guard, the Mexican Army and Air Force, authorities detained Iván Valerio ‘N,’ alias ‘Mantecas,’ leader of a faction linked to the Beltrán Leyva organization,“ Garcia Harfuch wrote on X.

• Discover affordable rehab centers near you, offering easy access and convenience.
• Therefore, to convert mcg to mg, the value must be divided by 1,000.
• It is essential,” a former DEA agent who has previously worked in India on an assignment told Newsweek, on conditions of anonymity.
• The majority of overdoses were attributed to fentanyl consumed in combination with other substances.
• Place the sticky side of the used patch on the disposal unit and seal the entire package.
• Wilson hailed the work of his prosecutor – who has a reputation for securing stiff sentences – and vowed his office would continue its quest for justice on behalf of fentanyl trafficking victims across the state.

Georgia man sentenced to more than 3 years for threatening to kill Trump on TikTok Live

The fentanyl fold describes the characteristic posture adopted by individuals under the influence of fentanyl or other powerful opioids. Users appear to be “frozen” in a bent-over position, often with their upper body folded forward at an extreme angle, sometimes nearly touching their knees. This stance can last for extended periods, sometimes hours, while the person remains semi-conscious but fentanyl fold largely unresponsive to their surroundings. Only a relatively small portion of drug users deliberately seek out or prefer fentanyl—for the intense high and/or pain relief that it produces.

International Patients

• Read and follow the printed instructions on the disposal unit and use one unit for each patch.
• The information provided by Addiction Center is not a substitute for professional treatment advice.
• The patch could stick to someone else, such as when you hug them or if someone helps you put the patch on.
• For example, confusing micrograms (mcg) with milligrams (mg)—a unit 1,000 times larger—will inevitably result in a 1,000-fold overdose, a calculation error frequently leading to severe patient harm or death.
• Because fentanyl is so potent, it’s being mixed with lots of other illicit drugs being sold today, including heroin and cocaine.

It’s still too many and still too powerful and dangerous,” said Mayer, who also mentioned that mass overdoses have also declined. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 727,000 people in the United States have died from overdoses involving opioids since the epidemic began in 1999. In 2023, an average of 217 died daily from an opioid overdose, often from the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Other drug cocktails also contributed to fatal overdoses during that time period, Overmire said.

• A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine after surgery.
• India is a complicated node in the global fentanyl supply chain, but it is also a terrain where U.S. and Indian agencies are working together, sometimes quietly, to disrupt fentanyl networks before the drugs ever reach American streets.
• Our comprehensive, compassionate and unique treatment helps build a foundation for a healthy recovery and sober future.
• Prompt action in these situations can be the difference between life and death, as these signs often signal the onset of critical respiratory failure or other life-threatening complications like stroke or heart attack.
• This extreme potency is one of the main reasons that fentanyl is as dangerous as it is.
• The drug dulls both physical sensation and mental alertness, making you unaware of posture, surroundings, or danger.

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At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Ohio saw more than 5,000 overdose deaths, a 25% increase from 2019, according to Ohio Recovery Centers. The majority of overdoses were attributed to fentanyl consumed in combination with other substances. But by 2022, the number of overdose deaths began decreasing, hitting 2,927 deaths in 2024, according to preliminary data from the Ohio Department of Health. Fentanyl combined with cocaine was the single most common drug combination that contributed to fatal overdoses for the first nine months of 2025, accounting for 97 deaths, according to the data.

Why Fentanyl Users Bend Over (The Fentanyl Fold)

Some of the most common combinations that contributed to fatal overdoses for that same time period include fentanyl and methamphetamines, fentanyl with alcohol, and cocaine consumed with alcohol. While fentanyl remains the leading drug causing fatal overdoses in Franklin County, experts are warning that the powerful opioid is increasingly being found mixed with other recreational drugs and also leading to fatal overdoses. But this is more than a technical hurdle http://wp.haits.com/2022/10/19/alcohol-and-the-risk-of-dementia/ for health care providers, the researchers said. It’s a major barrier for people seeking treatment for opioid use disorder who experience rapid withdrawal symptoms or prolonged symptoms as a result. The study, published in JAMA Open Network, highlights the complexity of treating opioid use disorder.

Every day, I felt sad, unmotivated, lost, and unworthy. There are so many emotional benefits to volunteer work that you could use right now. Let’s also acknowledge that most of us who drink alcoholically are self-absorbed. We are obsessed with our Sobriety own pain and shortcomings but rarely think of others. She is a phenomenal talent and voice in the recovery world.

• Every day, I felt sad, unmotivated, lost, and unworthy.
• No friends, no relationship, cant even go out to socialize due to COVID.
• Now that music just doesn’t sound or feel the same.
• The physical and psychological withdrawals are one thing, but learning how to live as a sober person with problems that can’t be masked in alcohol is quite another.
• Since then, here’s the weird shit I’ve learned.

Mature Content

• Apparently, drinking is like sitting on the TV remote’s volume up button, except drunk people are the TV and I can’t find the remote.
• I think that’s fair to say for most people.
• When it seems like all you want to do is forget, to go get high or drunk and be gone, if only for a few moments, remember what addiction’s cost you.
• Within the safety and supports of a trusted rehab program and sober peer community, many people come to like and love the person they are when drugs and alcohol aren’t in the picture.

So far so good so I’m going to share what worked best because I no longer hate being sober and that’s the game changer. Head out of town with some sober friends for a few hours to get a change of scenery. If people go back to drinking heavy amounts of alcohol after the month of abstinence, these health benefits will probably go away. But some people may find that they like how they feel when they have stopped or reduced drinking and decide to continue to drink less going forward. Apparently, drinking is like sitting on the TV remote’s volume up button, except drunk people are the TV and I can’t find the remote.

• I am going to therapy before you comment it.
• Eventually, people don’t want to hear our apologies anymore.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help and let people know that you’re having a hard time.
• I met a woman after a show who looked to be about my age (a hard 28).

To get better, you have to change.

Their recovery is none of your business, and vice versa. The point is to find activities to fill the time and help you become a better person. You’ll start to transform your identity into someone who shows up, does the hard work, and looks smoking hot in a swimsuit. Now, not every program or being sober sucks therapy approach will work for you. But you don’t know until you try, and you have to genuinely try. Those were the days I’d make it to the gym and think that things would turn out okay after all.

Staying Sober When Life Sucks

Those who have been invested in AA swear these promises are realized. Many newcomers wonder how long-time members can make these claims when sober members are still acting out. Man https://hoangmainguyen.com/11-gripping-books-about-alcoholism-and-recovery/ I’m tired of trying to maintain sobriety.

Tips For Growing Up My 20 Years of Recovery

I’ve been waiting for the clarity of sobriety to wash over me and improve my life, but I think I might be someone who’s better off lost in the sauce. Yes I should feel happy I’m “in control” of life and I won’t have health issues. I just love sitting at home all day congratulating myself for having no social life.

My dad was an alcoholic and was a terrible parent, which was another reason I wanted to be sober, I didn’t want to become him. But…I dont want kids, and im not an angry drunk, so it’s not really the same. Before people say it, I do struggle with depression from time to time, but I dont think thats an issue here. I’m not sad, I don’t want to die, and antidepressants haven’t helped. Drinking and getting high was a lot more fun.

I was never a chronic drinker but I noticed bad patterns so I stopped totally. I had stopped for 2 years, decided to drink moderately again, before ultimately stopping probably for good this year. There’s good advice about exercising more, learning new things etc.. But I hate that underlying feeling that I just feel restless and unhappy while doing anything. I don’t have the energy to do too much yet, feeling very lethargic and not getting enough sleep. Since I’m feeling so crappy I’m not doing as much as I should be, but I am clooking and cleaning a little more often than when I smoked every night.

So many people have attributed their sobriety to her work after failing to succeed with more traditional approaches. It will instantly solve the problem of crippling hangovers, alcohol-induced anxiety spikes, and regrettable calls or texts made five drinks into your evening. Many of these problems enter our lives because of our drinking.

Since those effects don’t last long, you might not worry much about them, especially if you don’t drink often. However, don’t wait to find out why if you think they are not acting like themselves and may be misusing alcohol. Alcoholism is a brain disorder that can range in severity from mild to moderate to severe.

Social effects

Depending on a person’s background, their genetics and family history might contribute to their alcoholism. Anyone with a parent or close relative who has had issues with alcohol has a higher risk of alcohol use disorder. Genetic factors have been why do people become alcoholics demonstrated in twins, and research has highlighted similar findings in those who have parents with alcoholism.

• If you have experienced trauma, especially in your childhood, you are at risk for developing an alcohol use disorder.
• Social and cultural pressures from media and other sources may also affect the drinking habits of an individual.
• Similarly, non-biological children of alcoholics who are raised by alcoholics are less likely to become alcoholics than biological children who are raised by alcoholics.

Alcohol use disorder

They’re often used and misused in search of a „high,“ or to boost energy, to improve performance at work or school, or to lose weight or control appetite. Barbiturates, benzodiazepines and hypnotics are prescription central nervous system depressants. They’re often used and misused in search for a sense of relaxation or a desire to „switch off“ or forget stress-related thoughts or feelings. Substituted cathinones, also called „bath salts,“ are mind-altering (psychoactive) substances similar to amphetamines such as ecstasy (MDMA) and cocaine. Synthetic cannabinoids, also called K2 or Spice, are sprayed on dried herbs and then smoked, but can be prepared as an herbal tea. Despite manufacturer claims, these are chemical compounds rather than „natural“ or harmless products.

Educational Factors

They must participate in therapy to learn how to support their recovery. Some family members need to learn boundaries and how to stop enabling. MI is a therapy that helps people who need to make healthy changes, like quitting drinking alcohol, but who may not be ready to stop. The principles of MI include the ability to make decisions, acceptance, exploring motivations and reasons for change, and committing to change.

• These calls are offered at no cost to you and with no obligation to enter into treatment.
• While AUD can range from mild to severe, even a mild disorder can lead to serious health issues.
• You receive a reward for each milestone in recovery, like one month alcohol-free or 90 days in treatment.
• The pathway to healing and recovery is often a process that occurs over many years.

And prolonged alcohol use can lead to mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don’t recognize that they have a problem. An intervention from loved ones can help some people recognize and accept that they need professional help. If you’re concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person. Alcohol use disorder is a pattern of alcohol use that involves problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol or continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems.

One size does not fit all and a treatment approach that may work for one person may not work for another. Treatment can be outpatient and/or inpatient and be alcoholism symptoms provided by specialty programs, therapists, and health care providers. A health care provider might ask the following questions to assess a person’s symptoms.

But more recent research https://virajaceramics.com/how-long-does-marijuana-weed-stay-in-your-system-2/ suggests there’s really no “safe” amount of alcohol since even moderate drinking can negatively impact brain health. People who binge drink or drink heavily may notice more health effects sooner, but alcohol also poses some risks for people who drink in moderation. Knowing the possible causes of alcoholism is crucial to understanding AUD and providing appropriate treatment.

Although the brain normally shrinks in old age, excessive use of alcohol increases this rate. With the increased rate, such individuals are likely to develop dementia and have memory issues. The brain might be affected as certain changes occur in its structure and chemistry. This causes the inability to stop drinking and causes complications as one tries to stop the habit.