America has long since been known to be one of the world’s leaders in the healthcare industry. Despite the insane costs of healthcare and health insurance, we are known to be a country that fuels innovation, finds new answers, and saves lives. Birth rates in the US have long been backed by healthy statistics and positive life expectancies. That is, until the last few years. Over the last decade, the number of deaths of pregnant or new mothers has begun to rise in the state of Colorado, as well as several other US states. Among the leading culprits of this upswing in maternal death rates, suicide and overdose have quickly climbed to the top of the list. The question is, where did this come from, and who is working to stop it? The Rise It seems strange that this topic isn’t receiving more attention, but has become somewhat of a subset of the opioid and mental health epidemic that is currently ravaging Americans. Strictly speaking about mental health and substance abuse rates, It has become very clear that America is one of the most medicated populations in the world. Data indicates that around half of the population takes at least one prescription drug every day. Many of these drugs revolve around managing mood or mental disorders, but many of them can have the power to lead to addiction. Some of the most common mental health disorders in the U.S. are: Depression Anxiety Insomnia Disordered Eating Bipolar Attention Deficit Among this population, is hundreds of thousands of pregnant women. Women who struggle with addiction, or who experience postpartum depression just like...
One of the most incapacitating aspects about watching a close friend or loved one struggle with addiction, is watching them destroy themselves, and often be unaware of the problem. It is extremely common for alcoholics and addicts to deny that the one thing that brings them the most pleasure, is also causing them the most pain. So if your loved one is denying their addiction and need for inpatient treatment, how can you make sure to take care of yourself in the meantime? Seeking Help for Yourself As common as it is for addicts in denial to not want help, it is equally as common for their loved ones to sacrifice themselves trying to offer it. One of the best ways to deal with a loved one struggling with addiction is to use the oxygen mask metaphor. If the plane is losing oxygen, you are instructed to put your own oxygen mask on before helping others. In other words, you can’t save someone else if you yourself can’t breathe. As difficult as it may be, to lovingly separate your own life from the others, it is completely essential if you are going to be any sort of helpful presence in their life. How does someone do this? Al-Anon Meetings: Al-anon is a program that was created by the loved ones of alcoholics in the early days of AA. It is completely free and open to anyone who struggles with relationships with addicts or alcoholics. You can find a list of meetings near you here. CODA meetings: Many people are unaware that their own behavior when dealing with an addict...
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