Recovery Connection - August 2022

Recovery Connection - August 2022

WEIGHING THE OPTIONS ORAL VS. INJECTABLE MEDICATION- ASSISTED TREATMENT

(877) 557-3155 www.drughelp.com

At Recovery Connection, we believe strongly in the power of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for drug and alcohol use disorders. We’ve seen (and sometimes experienced) the benefits for ourselves. Despite the increased stigma that people seeking MAT might face, its use is growing in popularity, and more options are available than ever before.

It is also convenient for clients because they only need to visit the office once a month for a shot. For users afraid of stigma, it makes medication- assisted treatment more discreet. The medication also cannot be lost or stolen once it’s in the client’s bloodstream. But that’s not to say there aren’t any downsides. As helpful as the medication is at fighting addiction, it makes many clients less likely to attend counseling appointments. Medication- assisted treatment works extremely well but works much better when coupled with strategies that help people learn to deal with the problems and stress they’ll regularly face throughout recovery. Unless people get to the root of their addiction, they’re more likely to relapse and not enjoy the long-term recovery we want all of our clients to experience. So, it’s fair to say I have mixed feelings about the use of injectables. I love how they give our clients additional control over their lives and discretion to seek treatment privately. But we also don’t want our clients to forgo their regular counseling. While some people will be fine forgoing it, the vast majority need to speak with someone about their problems and feelings. Medication- assisted treatment is not a solution on its own — counseling is key! Change is the only constant in medicine, and treatments for drug and alcohol use disorders will continue to evolve. As they do, we’ll be keeping an eye on the latest science and adapting in the ways that will best serve our clients’ interests. Their health and happiness are always our primary objectives, and we never want to put that at risk. If you have questions about your MAT or want to learn more about the available options, we hope you won’t hesitate to ask during your next appointment — or after scheduling your first one today! We’ll help determine the treatment option that will serve you best both now and in the long term.

AUGUST 2022

They include long-acting injectables like

buprenorphine, which clinics use to treat people with opioid use disorder. If you’ve received it before, you may know it by the brand name Sublocade. Buprenorphine is one of the ingredients in our primary medication- assisted treatment, Suboxone, and it binds to the opioid

receptors in the brain. As a result, buprenorphine helps reduce cravings but doesn’t get the user high, and

studies have shown it helps people reduce or eliminate opioid use.

There are several benefits to long-acting injectables like buprenorphine and Vivitrol, which is a similar medication that treats alcohol use disorder. They only require one shot a month and slowly release the drug into the blood system to help the client avoid cravings for 30 days. As a result, clinicians don’t have to worry about clients failing to take their Suboxone.

“MEDICATION- ASSISTED TREATMENT IS NOT A SOLUTION ON ITS OWN — COUNSELING IS KEY!”

–Michael Brier

• 1 (877) 557-3155

Published by Newsletter Pro | www.NewsletterPro.com

LIVE LONGER AND STRONGER CHANGING THE SCOPE OF EXERCISE

Gardening While gardening doesn’t seem as vigorous as other exercises, it is a hearty physical activity. Digging around in the dirt is actually great for your immune system, and it strengthens your arms, legs/knees, and balance. Mycobacterium vaccae, which is a bacteria commonly found in gardening soil, can alleviate symptoms of allergies, asthma, and even psoriasis. Cycling Whether it be in a class or outdoors, cycling can be very beneficial for stiff or sore joints. You’re able to get your blood flowing and build muscles in the front and back of your legs as well as your hips. Your arms are also strengthened due to the resistance of balancing your arms and shoulders to steer. Yoga Holding a series of poses can stretch and strengthen your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It also helps lower heart rate and blood pressure and can even relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression. For older adults, a well-rounded workout that consists of endurance, strength, balance and flexibility can help in many ways. Some can even be fun!

Your body undergoes a variety of changes over the years, many of which are

degenerative and can be debilitating to your health. But exercise can help slow these age- related issues, like heart disease or high blood pressure, and even prevent them in the long run. Here are four ways you can get moving

without overexerting yourself.

Walking or Jogging Taking a stroll around the neighborhood or a few laps around the park can help build stamina, strengthen lower body muscles, and help fight against bone diseases like osteoporosis. If you want to sweat it out some more, jogging might be a great alternative. But remember to be kind to your joints: Walk at a pace you’re comfortable with, wear supportive shoes, take breaks as needed, and walk on soft surfaces, like tracks or grass.

We Want to See You Healthy! THE 3 MAIN GOALS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

Prevention It’s not enough for us to heal you. We also want to help strengthen

When patients arrive at their very first physical therapy appointment, they usually don’t know what to expect. In many cases, they have experienced an accident or injury and need physical therapy to regain the use of their body so they can enjoy their usual daily activities. They might think that the physical therapist's only goal is to heal their body, but that’s actually only one part of it. Many of us have three goals in mind when we are working with our patients.

your body to prevent future injuries to the same area. Prevention often ties to education: You need to understand what caused the issue in the first place to know how to prevent it. We will also teach you stretches and exercises that you can do at home to continue strengthening the injured areas. If you’ve never been to a physical therapy appointment, it can be intimidating walking through our doors. Now that you know we’re here to heal and educate you while helping to prevent future injuries, that first appointment should be much more manageable.

Education For the most part, education increases understanding. We want our patients to understand why their body is responding the way it is. If you’re in pain, we want to educate you on why you feel that way and what you can do to decrease symptoms. We want to be transparent so you feel comfortable and know you’re in a safe place with physical therapists who want you to feel better. This often leads to positive outcomes when we’re finished with treatment.

Healing Healing is a big part of physical therapy since, in most cases, you’re here to fix a physical issue that’s been plaguing you. We will work through stretches and exercises to relieve your pain and improve your functional abilities. Through physical therapy, we can accelerate the stages of healing while restoring muscle flexibility. After a few appointments, you will really start to notice a difference.

2 •

www . drughelp . com

Published by Newsletter Pro | www.NewsletterPro.com

IT’S NICE TO MATCHA Benefits of Powdered Green Tea — And Risks

Reap the benefits. Matcha can increase your intake of antioxidants, which may help prevent cell

Matcha is an incredibly tasty, high-quality powdered green tea that has swept the food scene across the globe. It flavors popular hot teas, lattes, bubble teas, milkshakes, and even sweet breads and desserts. But is it worth the hype? Let’s find out. What’s matcha, anyway? Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder that has a strong and earthy tea flavor. For most teas, you steep the leaves in hot water. However, with matcha, you put the powder directly into water to create a hot, foamy drink. It’s processed from relatively young tea leaves and pairs well with sweet flavors. That’s why you’ll find matcha in sweetened drinks and desserts on most menus. Here’s a quick nutritional breakdown. On its own, matcha has no sugar or added ingredients. Two grams of matcha contain about 5 calories, 1 gram protein, 1 gram carbohydrates, 1 gram dietary fiber, 0.36 milligrams of iron, 1.2 milligrams vitamin C, and 200 international units of vitamin A. The most surprising numbers here are fiber and vitamin A, which are both 4% of your daily value. Importantly, matcha has a high level of antioxidants — specifically, catechins. It’s estimated that matcha may have up to 137 times more catechins than other forms of green tea.

damage and even lower your risk of several chronic diseases. Green tea extract is a well-researched ingredient commonly used for weight loss, and matcha may have a similar effect. Green tea’s properties are especially helpful at promoting good liver health. Additionally, matcha has a concentrated amount of caffeine — with an added bonus, if you’re caffeine wary. Matcha contains a compound called L-theanine, which alters the effects of caffeine to promote alertness and prevents an energy crash after caffeine’s effects wear off. Avoid the risks. Unfortunately, despite matcha’s exceptional health properties, it’s often used in not-so-healthy drinks and foods. If you consume matcha, avoid adding a lot of sweeteners. Excessive sweetener will cancel out the benefits. So, buy a bag for yourself and stir a small amount into a cup of hot water — you might be surprised how tasty a simple cup of hot matcha with very few additives can be!

Zucchini Corn Fritters Inspired by MakingThymeForHealth.com

TAKE A BREAK!

If you have a bowl and 30 minutes, you can make these fritters for dinner! Add them to your list of go-to meals that celebrate summer vegetables.

DIRECTIONS

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups shredded zucchini • 1/2 cup corn kernels • 6 green onions, chopped • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 1 1/4 cups chickpea flour

1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except oil and toppings. Stir until well combined and let rest for 5 minutes until a batter forms. 2. In a large skillet, warm the oil over medium heat. Scoop 1/4 cup of zucchini mixture into the skillet. Cook for 3–5 minutes, then flip. Cook for another 3–5 minutes until fritter is golden brown. Repeat with the remaining batter. 3. Serve topped with nacho cheese, black beans, salsa, and avocado.

• 2 tsp ground cumin • 1 tsp dried oregano • 1 tsp dried thyme • 1 tsp each salt and pepper • 1 tbsp olive oil • Vegan nacho cheese, black beans, salsa, and avocado for toppings

• 3

(877) 557-3155

Published by Newsletter Pro | www.NewsletterPro.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

(877) 557-3155 | www.drughelp.com 381 Wickenden Street | Providence, RI 02903 Offices Operating in Providence, RI; Brockton, Attleboro, North Dartmouth, Taunton, Worcester, Springfield, Natick

INSIDE

1.

The Pros and Cons of Injectables

2. 4 Simple Yet Effective Ways to Work Out Understanding the Objectives of Physical Therapy 3. Matcha Health Benefits — And Risks Zucchini Corn Fritters 4. 4 Reasons Why You Might Not Be Losing Weight

Find Your Focus AND ACHIEVE THE BODY YOU WANT

You’re doing too much cardio. Though cardio is an important part of a workout routine, it can’t be the sole focus. It keeps your heart healthy and boosts your metabolism, but if you’re doing too much, it can have side effects that reverse your progress. Long cardio sessions can eat away at lean muscle mass; your muscles are important for your metabolism to burn more calories. Try to keep cardio on the lighter side. That way you can also focus on other major muscle groups. You’re not taking recovery days. When you feel that afterburn and soreness following a workout, it is the prime time to take a recovery day. Recovery and rest are important steps in a workout routine, because

As anyone who struggles with their weight knows, dropping a few pounds can be incredibly difficult. Even if you’re working out regularly and your diet is great, you may still find it hard to get to an ideal weight. Our bodies and metabolisms are complex, working out isn’t always enough, and you need to address all of the issues that may be affecting your body. Here are a few reasons you might not be shedding pounds even if you’re working out. You’re not eating the right foods. People tend to focus all their energy on burning calories without considering what they’re eating as fuel for their bodies. A great tip is to look for all natural, whole foods. These will have all the nutrients you need, whereas processed foods have little to none.

most of your fat burning will be done in that period. Make sure after working hard that you listen to your body and give it the break it may need before your next workout. There may be many reasons you aren't making as much progress on your weight loss goals as you'd like. But you can do many things to help yourself lose weight in a safe, sustainable way.

You’re eating too much. Your body needs to burn as many or more calories than you consume. Don’t focus on counting calories; instead, focus on eating when you’re hungry, but eat slowly enough to where you don’t get full too quickly. This way you can find a healthy balance between what your body needs versus what you want.

4 • www . drughelp . com

Published by Newsletter Pro | www.NewsletterPro.com