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Heather R. Hayes August News & Happenings
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August 2021
In last month's newsletter, I mentioned that overdose death numbers have grown steadily over the past few years, until we recently hit a horrifying new record.  In 2020, according to the most recent preliminary data available, drug overdose deaths in the United States rose 29.4% from 2019, with an estimated 93,331 lives lost.

In Georgia alone, from 2010 to 2020, the total number of opioid-related overdose death increased by 207% and stimulant-related (such as Adderall) overdose deaths rose 546%; in 2020, 67% of drug overdose deaths in Georgia were related to opioids (1,309 total) and 51% of drug overdose deaths (996 total) were stimulant related. Georgia healthcare providers currently write 63.2 opioid prescriptions for every 100 persons, compared to the average U.S. rate of 51.4 prescriptions (source: NIDA.gov).

According to the 2020 Georgia Student Health Survey, 151 Forsyth students in grades 6-12 reported using heroin once within the last 30 days; 153 Forsyth students in grades 6-12 reported using methamphetamine once within the last 30 days; 146 Forsyth students in grades 6-12 reported taking a pain killer (opioid) that was not prescribed to them; 144 Forsyth students in grades 6-12 reported taking a prescription sedative (Xanax) once within the last 30 days; and 148 Forsyth students in grades 6-12 reported using a prescription stimulant (Adderall and Ritalin) that was not prescribed to them at least once within the last 30 days.

Therefore, Heather R. Hayes & Associates has worked with the county commissioners in Forsyth county GA, as well as with parents who had lost their children to overdose, to have August 31st proclaimed as Overdose Awareness Day. We are extremely proud to say that they embraced our suggestion. Together, we are taking steps to fight this deadly foe. #Zeroacceptablelosses
The Full Proclamation!
Monthly Blog Round-Up
The following is a round-up of our monthly blogs in case you missed any on our social media pages.
The idiom, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” refers to the characteristics you share with your parents. It may be your mother’s laugh, your grandfather’s sporting prowess, or your father’s eyes. Unfortunately, there are also negative characteristics that can be passed down from one generation to the next. For many families, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a cycle that is passed intergenerationally and can be extremely difficult to break.
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COVID-19 causes increased adverse effects among those with at least one pre-existing, underlying health condition. Commonly known pre-existing conditions include lung disease, obesity, liver disease, and heart conditions. While individuals with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) are also at an increased risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19, the increased stigma around this group has unfortunately meant that their risk has not been widely acknowledged or discussed.
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Much controversy surrounds sex addiction. Although it is widely recognized as a mental disorder in psychological and counseling circles, it is yet to be formally recognized as such in the medical field. Like any form of addiction, an unhealthy relationship with sex can affect a person’s mental and physical health and relationships. It also places a person’s safety at risk and can result in STDs and unwanted pregnancy. 
 
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Thankfully, menopause is not the taboo subject it once was.  Most of the discussion in recent times has centered on hormone replacement therapy used to treat the most common vasomotor symptoms. However, the brain’s role in more serious post-menopausal conditions affecting women--specifically, those related to estrogen receptors--is becoming more fully understood, with some surprising findings.
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