Month: May 2024

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Post author By Asha Bhakta
Post date May 21, 2024

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JULY 2024

How to get help for substance use concerns

If you’re struggling with alcohol, drugs or opioids, or you love someone who is, you may feel hopeless, worried or guilty. You’re not alone — 7,500 Costco employees battled substance use concerns last year. The truth is, these problems are common, treatable health conditions. Your Costco benefits are here to help, without judgment, whenever you are ready.

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A complex disease

Some people don’t understand why or how other people become addicted to alcohol, drugs or prescription medicines. They may mistakenly think that those who use substances lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop by simply choosing not to.

In reality, substance use disorder is a complex, long-term disease, like asthma or diabetes. Drugs and alcohol change the brain in ways that make quitting hard, even for those who want to.

A devastating impact

Substance misuse has enormous costs to those who are struggling and to those that care about them. It can break up families and destroy relationships. The impact to physical health is substantial. For just one example, it can increase risks of disease, such as heart disease, cancer or stroke. It can also seriously affect your finances.

Not only does addiction require a steady supply of drugs or alcohol, but those who are struggling may have difficulty keeping a steady income, drain their savings or retirement accounts to fund their habit, and rack up legal fees or court costs if sustaining their addiction leads to unlawful behavior.

Treatment is available

While an estimated 54.6 million Americans battled a substance use disorder in 2022, only 26% got treatment.¹ One barrier to getting help is worry over the cost of care.

That’s why it’s important to know that substance use disorder is a medical condition. Treatment is covered when you use in-network providers, like any other medically necessary treatment. The same deductibles, copays and coinsurance apply.

Ready to get help?

Your medical plan provider, be it Aetna®, Triple-S or HMSA, is committed to giving you and your family the best possible care advice. For employees with an Aetna medical plan, the Live Healthy Team* can help link those battling substance misuse and their families with counseling, hospitals, rehabilitation centers and support groups, and help come up with care plan goals.

Treatment is highly individualized. One person may need different types of treatment at different times. Your doctor and care team will help guide you on your path to recovery and support your progress along the way.

Most treatments involve detoxification, during which you stop taking the substance and allow it to leave your body. You can go through detoxification in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Your doctor may recommend therapy to treat any co-occurring mental health conditions and to teach healthy coping techniques. Medication may also be part of your treatment plan to relieve craving and withdrawal systems.

Resources for Living (RFL) provides counseling to help people with substance use concerns learn healthier thought patterns and behaviors. Employees can also use RFL’s Mind Companion Self-care as a self-guided recovery tool.

Substance use in teens

Peer pressure and glamourization of alcohol and drug use in mass media can affect teens’ substance use decisions. In fact, a recent survey showed that teens are more likely to drink alcohol or use marijuana if the people they follow posted about it on Instagram or Snapchat.²

That’s all the more reason to talk to you kids about substance misuse. Take a deep breath, stay calm, and use these tips to be real with your kids.

Normalize the conversation based on their age and give them a safe space to ask questions.
Don’t be afraid to set ground rules and expectations together.
Accept their responses — even those you didn’t expect to hear — and resist the urge to lecture.

When kids test the substance use waters — or dive right into the deep end — it’s often the result of an underlying mental health condition. Teens with ADHD, anxiety and depression may use alcohol or drugs to self-medicate, even though that may worsen their symptoms. Telemynd* can help you and your child discover and address their mental health conditions through therapy, coaching and further evaluation, available for kids and teens up to age 18. 

If you’re concerned about substance use concerns, for yourself or a loved one, talk to your doctor. And look to the resources below for help and support.

*Available on the mainland only.

¹American Addiction Centers. Alcohol and drug abuse statistics.
²Florida International University. Teens are more likely to use alcohol and marijuana if they see themselves post about it on social media.

Sources:
Aetna. If you’re struggling with drugs or alcohol, Aetna can help.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. Understanding drug use and addiction.
Cleveland Clinic. Substance use disorder.

Tags physical-well-being, Substance misuse

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Post author By Asha Bhakta
Post date May 21, 2024

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JULY 2024

Know your options for pain management

Pain is a reality for many people. Whether chronic, such as back pain, or acute, such as after an injury, pain can disrupt nearly all aspects of your life. But if you’re struggling with misusing alcohol or drugs, getting relief can be complicated. People battling current or former substance misuse can be vulnerable to the addictive quality of prescription opioid painkillers such as oxycontin or oxycodone.

Luckily, there are options available for pain management that have fewer risks and may work better than opioids. These include over-the-counter medication, physical therapy, acupuncture and many others covered wholly or in part by your Costco benefits.

Looking for more? Find other articles below

Addiction and pain control

Dr. Peter Grinspoon, an internist at Massachusetts General Hospital, notes that patients are often nervous to tell their doctor about a past or current addiction because they’re afraid their pain won’t be treated. “There’s still a lot of stigma associated with substance use disorders, even among some medical providers,” he says. “But people who struggle with addiction deserve proper pain control.”¹

If you or a loved one has a history of addiction, the best course of action is to be upfront with your doctor. It’s your doctor’s responsibility to work with you to find ways to manage your pain safely. That includes exploring non-opioid medications and non-drug treatments.

Non-drug treatments for pain

Because of the side effects and risks of most medications, you may want to first try treatments that don’t rely on drugs. Some of these include:

Physical therapy

Often one of the best choices you can make when you have long-term pain or an injury, physical therapy (PT) relieves symptoms and improves flexibility through targeted exercises and stretching.

Omada Joint & Muscle Health provides virtual physical therapy with a dedicated physical therapist that you can do in the comfort of your own home.

Acupuncture

By inserting thin needles at key points on the body, acupuncture can interrupt pain signals and rebalance energy. Your Costco benefits cover up to 20 acupuncture visits per year, combined with homeopath and naturopath visits.

Electrical stimulation

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) sends a gentle current to painful areas to interrupt nerve signals to the brain. TENS is a covered benefit when medically necessary.

Massage

Therapeutic massage may relieve pain by relaxing painful muscles and joints, relieving stress and anxiety and releasing mood-boosting endorphins. Massage may be covered by your Costco medical plan when medically necessary as a short-term rehabilitation benefit.

Therapy

Behavioral therapy can teach people coping skills to deal with the stress that pain can cause. It can also help address the negative thoughts and emotions that can make pain worse.

Resources for Living (RFL) offers six yearly free counseling sessions to help you and your loved ones get support to manage substance misuse, stress, anxiety, depression and more. You can also try RFL’s self-guided emotional support program for substance misuse through Mind Companion Self-care.

Mindfulness

The practice of mindfulness can help people break down the experience of pain into identifiable sensations and help them reclaim a sense of pleasure and joy, despite the pain. You can find mindfulness exercises and other resources at RFL.com/Costco.

Non-opioid pain medications

The treatments above are often used in combination with medications that have less potential for addiction and can help with pain. You can fill your prescriptions at any Costco Pharmacy through Costco Health Solutions.* Some of these medications may include:

Over-the-counter pain medications, including acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Advil, can often be used together for mild to moderate pain.
Methadone, a long-acting narcotic, provides pain relief and helps calm the craving for other opioids.
Exparel, a non-addictive, one-time injection that relieves pain after dental surgery.
Cox-2 inhibitors, a prescription form of NSAID, block a specific enzyme to help reduce inflammation.
Prescription nerve pain medications can help calm nerve-related pain.
Topical ointments, such as lidocaine, can minimize pain signals at the nerve endings in the skin.
Interventional therapies, such as injections, can block nerve pain sensations from a specific area of the body.

If you do need to take opioids

In some cases, it may be hard to avoid opioids, for example, after a major surgery. If so, take these precautions:

Create a pain plan

Work with your doctor to know how you can reduce pain using a combination of treatments.

Find a partner

Identify a family member or friend who can hold on to your pills, manage your doses and check in on you while you take your opioid medication.

Get rid of leftover pills

Discard extra pills safely at drop off locations, including Costco pharmacies, so that you won’t be tempted to take them.

If you or a loved one has a history of substance misuse, don’t suffer in silence or worry that pain relief will upend your recovery. You can manage pain safely. Use the resources below to explore some of your options.

*Not available in Puerto Rico.

¹WebMD. Addiction: Know your options for pain management.

Sources:
Medline Plus. Non-drug pain management.
American Society of Anesthesiologists. Non-opioid treatment.
NIH Medline Plus Magazine. From opioids to mindfulness: a new approach to chronic pain.

Tags physical-well-being, Substance misuse

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Post author By Asha Bhakta
Post date May 21, 2024

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JULY 2024

The gut-brain connection

Do you ever get butterflies when you’re excited or nervous? Or feel hungry after watching a pizza commercial on TV? That’s your gut communicating with your brain.

The relationship between these two parts of your body affects your mood, sleep and digestion. So, it’s important to get the right treatment if you have gut issues, such as bloating, constipation or acid reflux.

If these conditions affect you, you’re not alone — digestive disorders are the second most common diagnosis among Costco employees. That’s why Costco employees now have access to a new, free digestive health program from Cylinder to help get the best possible care for gut issues.

Looking for more? Find other articles below

Substance misuse and the gut

95% of your body’s serotonin, the “happiness hormone”, is manufactured by gut bacteria. Misusing addictive substances, such as alcohol or narcotics, disrupts your gut health which lowers your serotonin levels. This can cause feelings of depression and anxiety. Restoring gut health is one way to help return serotonin to healthy levels, an important part of substance misuse recovery.

Gut health and diabetes

Gut health may also be tied to diabetes. For years, researchers have been studying the composition of the gut microbiome, a collection of microorganisms that include fungi, bacteria and viruses that live in the digestive tract. People with higher levels of certain bacterium are more likely to have insulin resistance, which can cause high blood sugar and diabetes. Improving your gut health can help balance your gut bacteria and may reduce symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease.

Your new digestive health benefit

If you’re one of the many people with gut issues, often suffering in silence, your new digestive health benefit from Cylinder can help. It’s available at no cost to employees and their family members age 18+ enrolled in a Costco medical plan.

This free virtual program offers 24/7 digestive health support, starting with a free at-home gut microbiome test to measure the good and bad bacteria in your gut. A registered dietitian and health coach will then work with you to get to the root problem of your digestive symptoms. This highly effective resource has helped 91% of users improve their GI health. For more information, visit Go.CylinderHealth.com/Costco and use access code: Costco or call 888-246-5019.

Better health starts with the gut. Get support from the resources below.

*Not available in Puerto Rico.

Sources:
National Geographic. Your gut health can affect the rest of your body. Here’s why.
Cedars Sinai. Gut bacteria may play a role in diabetes.

Tags Diabetes, Health care, physical-well-being, Substance misuse

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Post author By Asha Bhakta
Post date May 21, 2024

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JULY 2024

Video: Treatment options for substance use disorder

Substance use disorders are treatable, chronic diseases. Recovery is possible and there are many safe and effective treatment options. This 3-minute video from Resources for Living shares what inpatient and outpatient treatment can look like to help those who are struggling decide what path is right for them.

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Watch video

Show transcript

♫♫♫ A life without drugs. Right now, that may be hard to imagine. And even harder to do. But here you are. And that’s a huge, important first step. Getting treatment for drug use is about getting the help you need now to create a new life for yourself. Many people … who weren’t able to stop taking drugs on their own … found success when they went into treatment. The treatment can be inpatient or outpatient. Inpatient treatment may be part of a hospital or a treatment center. [First man] “To get the treatment I needed, I checked into a center, where I slept, ate, and lived for about 6 weeks. I was in some sort of therapy all day long, every day. It was intense–some of the hardest and most painful work I’ve ever done. But working on that stuff … and learning things about myself … has helped me in a way that my other ways of coping–using drugs–never could.” [First woman] “It took some time to adjust to living away from my friends and family, but I felt supported by the other patients and the care team. I think it was the only way that I could learn to understand why I started using and how to start dealing with the emotions I was avoiding.” [Second woman] “The doctors gave me a medicine that helped make my cravings easier to handle. I don’t think I could have gotten better without it.” Those are just some of the ways inpatient treatment can work. Does inpatient treatment sound like something you could consider? It’s okay if you’re not in a place where inpatient could work for you right now. Maybe outpatient treatment is another option for you. Outpatient treatment happens in mental health clinics or a counselor’s office. Hospitals and treatment centers may also offer outpatient treatment. Unlike inpatient, you don’t stay overnight. [Second man] “I still had my job, so it was important to fit my treatment around my schedule. Every day, after work I went straight to the clinic.” [Third woman] “During my time in group therapy, I learned better ways to deal with urges to use. I remember a person in the group suggested that I might change my daily route home. Just by walking down a different street, I broke an old pattern that often lead to me feeling like I needed to use again.” [Third man] “I’m lucky, because despite everything, my family is still willing to support me. They came with me to some of my sessions. And it’s because of them I worked so hard to rebuild my life.” [Third woman] “I finished my inpatient treatment a few months ago. But today I am going to meetings and counseling. It’s how I can continue my new life without drugs.” Whether it’s inpatient or outpatient, it’s important to stay committed to living without drugs. Treatment offers you the support, medicines, and counseling you need to recover. But it’s really up to you, isn’t it? With treatment, you’re giving yourself the best chance for a new way of life. And that’s something you can be proud of.

Sources:
Resources for Living. Substance use disorder: treatment options
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Substance Use & Substance Use Disorders

Your Costco benefits offer help for employees and their family members who are battling addiction. To learn more, see the resources below.

Tags physical-well-being, Substance misuse, Videos

Recipes

Healthy recipe

Post author By Asha Bhakta
Post date May 15, 2024

HEALTHY RECIPE

JULY 2024

Air fryer spice-rubbed salmon

The air fryer works magic with salmon, delivering a slightly crisp exterior and juicy, silky interior. Be sure to leave room between the fillets so air can circulate well around them and ensure even cooking.

Ingredients: 7

Prep Time: 2 min | Total Time: 12 min

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

4 sprays cooking spray

¼ teaspoon chili powder

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon ground cumin

¼ teaspoon Kosher salt

2 4-ounce skinless salmon filets

Directions:

Step 1

In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, garlic powder, cumin and salt.

Step 2

Lightly coat the salmon with cooking spray and sprinkle with the spice mixture.

Step 3

Preheat an air fryer, if necessary, to 400 degrees. Lightly coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray.

Step 4

Arrange the salmon in the basket. Air fry until the fish flakes easily or until the desired degree of doneness, 7 or 8 minutes.

Nutrition

Source: WeightWatchers

With the WeightWatchers program and app, you can lose weight and eat healthier. Costco employees can join WeightWatchers for as low as $14 per month, and spouses/domestic partners and dependents can join for as low as $19.50 each per month. Participants must be age 18 or older to join. Sign up at WW.com/Costco or call 866-204-2885.