Adventist Health Glendale | Healthline Quarterly | Summer 2018

When alcohol is an issue People become addicted to various substances, from drugs to alcohol, cigarettes and prescription medica- tions. It can begin at a very young age or as an adult. The good news is that addiction is treatable. Early recognition of signs and symptoms leads to even more successful outcomes. Opioids and medications It’s tough to live with pain, but millions of Americans do. That’s one reason why prescription opioids are so popular. “These powerful medications relieve pain in the short term,” says Cristian Penciu, MD, addiction psychiatrist at Adventist Health Glendale. “But opioids come with some serious risks, including addiction, overdose and death. It’s important to know these common opioids, like Vicodin (hydrocodone) and OxyContin (oxycodone).” Some generic drug names include: If you or a loved one has a problem with addiction, call Adventist Health Glendale’s Alcohol & Drug Services at (818) 242-3116 . Cristian Penciu, MD, is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both general psychiatry and addiction psychiatry. He attended the Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie in Romania for medical school. He completed his residency in psychiatry at Bergen Regional Medical Center in Paramus, New Jersey, and a fellowship in addiction psychiatry at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Bronx, New York. We met with Dr. Penciu to learn about signs of addiction and resources to help loved ones. Our behavioral health expert is here for you ●● Codeine ●● Fentanyl ●● Methadone ●● Morphine ●● Oxymorphone Finding solutions If you or a loved one is experiencing signs of addic- tion, the Center for Behavioral Health and Recovery at Adventist Health Glendale can help. “Our focus is to help individuals achieve and main- tain sobriety while managing mental health issues,” says Dr. Penciu. “People who are in emotional or physical pain in an effort to find relief are at risk to begin to self-medicate with alcohol, prescription drugs and street drugs.” If you’re living with addiction, talk with your doctor. Be honest about your personal history of drug or alcohol addiction. Discuss ways to help manage your pain, such as getting physical therapy, taking non-opioid medications and seeing a therapist who specializes in addiction care. “An important part of recovery is education,” says Dr. Penciu. “Individuals who learn more about their symptoms and work on developing a plan to manage those symptoms are able to manage addiction easier.” Dr. Penciu advises families to look for these signs: ●● Unexplained behavioral and attitude changes such as isolation, depression, anxiety, irritability and anger. ●● Use of controlled prescription medications, such as opiate pain medications, benzodiazepines and stimu- lants, and use of medications outside their prescribed indication. ●● Increased preoccupation with getting a substance and the time using it. ●● Giving up pleasurable activities or important activi- ties or duties in order to obtain or use a substance. What you need to know about addiction It’s painful to think that someone you love might have an alcohol problem. You may hope that he or she will somehow just stop drinking. Having strong social and family support can make it easier to give up alcohol. WARNING SIGNS According to the National Institutes of Health, a person may have a problem if he or she: ●● Regularly drinks and can’t cut back. ●● Spends a lot of time recovering from the effects of alcohol. ●● Has trouble at work, home or school because of alcohol use. ●● Has relationship problems because of drinking. TAKE ACTION “Recovery does not occur overnight, and relapses unfortunately are seen rather often,” says Cristian Penciu, MD, addiction psychiatrist at Adventist Health Glendale. “It’s rare that someone completes a form of treatment and never drinks again. The more understanding and supportive families and friends are, the more time spent in sobriety is achieved for individuals.” Adventist Health Glendale’s Alcohol & Drug Services can help. Since 1984, the center has offered hope and healing for people battling ad- diction. As part of one of the leading residential treatment programs in Southern California, the compassionate staff and clinicians support the Los Angeles area, including the Glendale, Pasadena, Eagle Rock and Burbank communities. Clinical services and programs include: ●● Interventions and assessments ●● Detoxification ●● Day treatment ●● Outpatient and treatment ●● Continuing care Adventist Health Glendale’s Alcohol & Drug Services specializes in treating not just the symp- toms of an addiction, but the whole person. Our team of expert specialists treats a wide variety of addictions and co-occurring disorders with a comprehensive program that is tailored to the individual. Additional source: National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence XXXXXXXXXXX As many as one in four people who take opi- oids for a long time become addicted. More than 165,000 people in the U.S. died from opioid overdose between 1999 and 2014. To learn more about our programs for co-occurring disorders, call (818) 500-5505 . TO L E A R N MO R E A B O U T A D V E N T I S T H E A LT H G L E N D A L E O R TO F I N D A D O C TO R , V I S I T A D V E N T I S T H E A LT H G L E N D A L E . O R G 7 Cristian Penciu, MD, Addiction Psychiatry BEHAVIORAL HEALTH