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It happens to anyone, making no distinctions for gender or intelligence. ‘It’ is substance abuse, and one of the most prevalent kinds of abuse out there is the abuse of a legal substance, alcohol. It is because it’s legal that people fail to see its overuse as a problem. Waking up with a hangover, wondering where you’ve been the night before might be common, and legal, but it’s a signal to any substance abuse counselor. The easiest way to determine if you’ve got a problem with this legal substance is to honestly examine your usage of it. You’ve got to answer one question – does your usage lead to harm? If you wake up feeling sick, or with a splitting headache, or do things the night before that you regret the morning after, these are all signs that you’re doing yourself harm.

It can be hard to admit this, especially when your entire circle of friends is acting the same way. It’s just too easy to slip into the ‘everybody else is doing it, so I don’t have a problem’ mentality. But you’ve got to focus on yourself, because as much as you might wish your friends will provide the same focus, they really won’t. They’ll even give you a hard time if you tell them that you’ve been questioning your own alcohol consumption habits.

And after an honest session of thought on the subject, you may determine that a detox program is the right step to take. It’s never a bad thing to detox. That’s because as your body clears out the toxins left behind, your mind will start to clear up as well.

The situation of an addict developing a new addiction while in treatment or seeking treatment for another disease or illness is very unlikely. There is no exact number to prove how infrequently this happens but it is infrequent. However, there are certain addicts who do develop an addiction to the psychotherapeutic drugs which is why all doctors and supporters of addicts need to make sure that the proper steps are taken to ensure an addiction does not occur.

Addictions to psychotherapeutic drugs can be prevented by making sure that the drug or alcohol addict is taking the medication as prescribed. Generally if the directions are followed it rarely leads to addictions. Addictions are also prevented by informing the doctor of any past substance abuse problems or family history of substance abuse that the person may have had. This will allow the doctor to monitor the intake of psychotherapeutic drugs and make sure no addiction is forming. A doctor might also prescribe a completely different medication that has less of a chance of leading to an addiction if there is a history of addictions to drugs or alcohol.

Relapses. Many people wrongly believe that treatment centers cure the addiction completely. However, relapses are a major part of the recovery process so they are bound to happen to any addict. The problem arises when people with the belief that the addiction is cured see that an addict has relapsed. They often wrongly believe that the treatment did not work and blame it on the treatment center. This blame causes many people to believe that treatment centers do not work.

Each Addict is Different. Every substance abuser is different. The reason they use drugs, what drugs they use and how long they have used the drugs will play a part in their treatment process. Due to the differences in addicts some addicts will respond better to treatment than others. This does not mean that treatment is ineffective just that the treatment was not right for them. Many people wrongly blame the treatment center for not curing the addiction or helping the addict when the addict was the one to be resistant to the treatment.

Almost everyone who starts out using drugs or alcohol believes that at some point in time they can stop using the substance on their own. While there are the occasional addicts who have success with this many people find that they quickly go back to using their substance of choice.

Even though they had no intention of going back to using drugs or drinking alcohol many addicts cannot help it. It is believed that long term use of drugs and alcohol can actually change the shape and structure of the brain. These changes can range from brief periods of memory loss to behavioral changes. Some of the most common changes that the brain undergoes over a long period of drug or alcohol use is the inability to have impulse control. This lack of impulse control leads many people to continue to use the substance of choice long after they have given up their addiction.

While the addict might have had good intentions of stopping their substance abuse the changes in the brain cause them to not be able to stop on their own. This is why it is important to see therapy or enter a rehab center. One of the most common forms of therapy that is recommended for addicts is behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can actually help the addict relearn impulse control so that they can eventually give up their addiction.

Heroin is synthesized from morphine, derived from opium poppy. It is more addictive than morphine. Ironically, heroin was first marketed as an over the counter drug as a morphine-substitute that was supposed to be without the addictiveness of morphine. It is a depressant that works on the brain’s pleasure centre and retards the brain’s perception of pain.

Heroin can be injected into the vein, or muscle. Injecting into the vein is known as mainlining while chasing the dragon means inhaling the smoke through a straw. It can also be smoked in a water-pipe, regular pipe, mixed in marijuana joints or normal cigarettes, and snorted as a powder through the nose.

Once the heroin hits the bloodstream, the effects start becoming apparent. There is a sudden feeling of euphoria, also known as a rush. The extremities become heavy, and the mouth goes dry with warm, flushed skin. After the initial rush, the next stage is a going on the nod where the user becomes alternately wakeful and drowsy. The central nervous system is affected and depressed leading to lowered mental functioning. The speech becomes slurred, the gait slow, pupils constrict and eyelids start to droop. Night vision becomes impaired and vomiting and constipation may also occur.

A user can get addicted to heroin after just a single use, but the long term effects can be quite devastating. Some of these can be collapsed veins, heart lining infection, liver disease and abscesses. Several types of pneumonia can be the manifestation of pulmonary complications caused by poor health condition and the effects on respiration. Along with the effects of heroin, several other complications could arise from the additives in it. Some of the substances used as additives were never meant to enter the human body and can clog up blood vessels that lead to the liver, lungs, kidneys or brain. Without proper blood circulation to these important organs, there could be cell damage, infection or even death.

Get a Job

Everyone feels better when they’re able to contribute to society and support themselves. By getting a job, you can help your finances while you help yourself! Having a regular routine and feeling needed is a great way to increase your self-esteem. By feeling better about yourself and the future, you’ll be even more motivated to resist temptation and continue your new life of sobriety. If you can’t find a job right away, don’t overlook volunteer opportunities. Helping out a cause you believe in can feel just as good as a paying job, and it can create great contacts for future job searches.

Go Back to School

If your addiction started early in life, you may not have reached your educational goals or you may have set some new ones during your recovery. It’s never too late to go back to school to improve yourself and your job skills. If you are also employed, there’s a wide variety of online university programs that can let you study at your own pace and on a schedule that’s convenient to you. The most important part of going back to school is that you’ll be using your brain. This is a very important part of both your recovery effort and your overall mental health!

Congratulations on your new life of sobriety! As part of your new life, continue to improve yourself and your skills.

The following tips will help you know what to do when you think a loved one has an addiction to alcohol, drugs, or any other substance:

• Join a support group for yourself. Groups like Al-Anon and many others exist specifically to provide support and coping mechanisms for loved ones of those who have an addiction problem. This can be a valuable tool.
• Don’t place blame or guilt. Threatening to punish an addict, appealing to their emotions (“Can’t you see what you’re doing to the family?”), and trying to guilt-trip a loved one into getting help can actually be counterproductive. More often than not, they already know there is a problem.
• Don’t blame yourself. It’s easy to turn the blame inward, but it’s important to remember than no one forces another person to drink or do drugs.
• Don’t attempt to reason or argue with them when they are impaired. This could be dangerous to you.
• Do not try and force them to get help. If your loved one doesn’t want to get help or doesn’t think there is a problem, they can’t be forced to seek treatment.
• Provide support. It’s important to provide support as a loved one receives treatment for addictions. Recovery takes time and can include relapses or therapy to get to the initial problem.

Whether your loved one is addicted to drugs, alcohol, or something else, encouraging them to recognize there is a problem and seek treatment and then supporting them through that treatment is a long and difficult process. Luckily there are a number of resources available to those who are dealing with their loved ones’ addictions.

There are a number of factors that determine whether or not a person is at risk for developing a drinking problem. Some of these include:

• Genetics. Many experts believe that alcoholism can in part be explained by genetics. A family history of alcoholism can be a result of learned behaviors as well as a genetic predisposition to alcohol addiction.
• Mental health. People with mental health disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, or others may be at a higher risk. Often times, people turn to alcohol to help them cope with their depression or illness.

These is no definitive answer regarding diagnosis of alcoholism. As a general rule, however, many health professionals will agree that if a person’s drinking is causing problems in their relationships, jobs or school life, or their ability to function in society, they have an alcohol abuse problem.

Some of the warning signs of alcoholism include:

• Feeling guilty about your drinking or lying to others about going to bars or the frequency with which you drink.
• Feeling out of control when you drink, like you can’t stop at one drink
• Turn to drinking to help cope with stress, depression, or other problems in life
• Friends and family members express concern with your drinking
• You miss work, school, or shirk other responsibilities because of your drinking

Recognizing there is a problem with alcohol abuse is the first step to getting it under control. Fortunately, there are many programs and treatment centers available for alcohol addiction.

It is a sad time for any family, when it is realized that someone in the home needs alcohol treatment. Unfortunately, this happens way too often in the United States. It has become common for those dealing with stress and frustrations to turn to alcohol. Some of these people are able to partake of a drink and not have a problem. Many others, though, are unable to do this. In fact, alcoholism is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

For those in the situation of dealing with alcoholism, it can be hard to admit that it is time to look into alcohol treatment. It can also be difficult for those around the person dealing with the problem to admit it. This is because it is a very hard thing to deal with. Admitting that there is a problem, as we all know, is the first step. But that first step can feel like a never ending fall to some. Many people believe that if you have to seek treatment or help that you are weak or have some sort of personality flaw. This is most definitely not the case. In fact, admitting that there is a problem, and seeking help for that problem is one of the strongest things that a person can do.

Alcoholism should not be treated lightly. It is something that hurts not only those that are dealing with it themselves, but also those around them. Cases of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse rise significantly when alcohol and alcoholism are in play. This is something that can affect everyone around you. If you feel that you have a problem, and may need help, or if you have a loved one that is in this situation, finding help is crucial. There are treatment centers for alcoholism out there that are there to help.

Addiction is a brain disorder that some people are more prone to develop than others due to genetic, psychological and environmental risk factors. But it is also due to a repetitive act of will that a person will get far enough down a road for the brain disorder of addiction to develop. While some might take this to mean that addicts only have themselves to blame, the problem of addiction is so complex and has so many unforeseen risks that blaming the addict does almost nothing to ease the problem.

The first step remains for the addict to realize that a problem exists and must be dealt with. The personal decision to seek treatment causes the moral model and the disease model to come together. Addiction might be a disease, but it is one that can be combated by willing parties.

Addiction might be best described as a disorder of will. When an addiction sets in a person’s will is over taken by the need to use. Perhaps not all will is lost but enough is that drinking or other destructive behavior occurs more often and in great quantity than expected. As a result priorities change. The need to drink or use drugs take precedent over all else. This leads to dishonest, self-centered and irresponsible behavior. When on the path the end result often becomes incarceration, brain damage or death. By taking even the smallest step toward recovery a person can take advantage of the research into fighting addiction. Treatments and therapies exist for those willing to take a small step forward. Alcoholic Anonymous describes this step with the slogan “Just for Today”.

Addiction is a brain disorder that cannot be separated from morality and personal responsibility. The reasons for the addiction matter less than taking responsibility to seek out treatment. And it seeking a way out of their addiction people can use resources from both schools of thought.

A good majority have genes that make them more vulnerable to addiction. But genetics alone do not provide the answer. A substance has to be available and the person has to be willing to try it. Families that include drinkers are far more likely to produce children who are willing to start drinking. Many addictions starts seemingly harmlessly with drinking on weekends with friends. A social environment that encourages drinking and drug use is far more likely to put people on a path to addiction.

The initial steps into addition will usually be pleasant A person might find that drinking or using drugs solves psychological or emotional problems. For many it eases the anxiety of socializing. Other addictions might start with treating a chronic pain with prescription medications. The first step is in associating a behavior such as drinking or taking a drug with relief from uncomfortable feeling or pain.

Many addicts have a background that includes psychological trauma or other forms of abuse. Being intoxicated provides a feeling of well-being and an escape from the psychological effects of the torment. From this point recreational use can easily slip into reliance on the drug for its emotional effects. The pleasure of achieving a high makes the negative consequences seem like a small price to play. Obtaining the drug, using it and recovering from its effects become a priority. At this stage people ignore the possibility that addiction can develop. Denial sets in and the behavior repeats over and over.

Denial is a defense mechanism. It operates to protect self-esteem and keep people even emotionally. Denial might protect a person when a harmless insult is sent, but it can also serve to empower addictive behavior.

Addiction is an age old problem that dates nearly to the beginning of recorded history.

A passage from Proverbs 23:29-35 states “Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.”

While ancient societies might have lacked to the science to understand addiction the effects of alcohol dependence were well documented. Substance dependence affects every level and group in society. National Institutes of Health reports have estimated that one in four people in the United States have a parent, child or sibling who is addicted. Reports on the economic impact of addiction place the drain at more than $250 billion annually.

But the impact of addiction cannot be measured in dollar figures alone. Abusing drugs or alcohol disrupts personal development, injures relationships and corrupts a functioning society. Families affected by addiction understand the difficulty in reversing an addict’s behavior.

Although there are some differences between abusing alcohol and addiction to other drugs there are also many similarities. The basic nature of addiction is interchangeable, and many times people who cannot control themselves with one substance with develop a dependence on another. The ease at which people can obtain illegal drugs has made it more common than ever for people to be addicted to multiple substances. The basic nature of addiction also shares characteristics with compulsive disorders such as gambling or overeating.

The problem is in knowing when has a behavior become an addiction? At what point does social drinking develop into alcoholism? Is someone an addict just because he or she uses an illegal drug? The problem of addiction seems to be an ill that will forever be tied to the human experience. Studying the reasons behind addiction and applying scientific treatments have allowed some people to conquer their demons

It seems that it should be easy to pinpoint when drinking or using a drug has become an addiction, but arriving at the point can be difficult. Confusion occurs because observing behaviors is not an exact science. Scientists are attempting to define a change in the way the brain functions as a result of exposure to an addicting substance. Researchers has try to illustrate this problem through the story of the three blind men and the elephant.

One man feels the elephant’s ears and concludes that the creature is broad and thin akin to a leaf. One man feels the elephant’s trunk and believes that he is touching a creature similar to a snake. The final man touches the elephant’s leg and believes that the animal is tall and sturdy like a tree. All three are correct and also wrong. The true nature of the elephant has been lost due to observing only one part of the whole.

Addiction is a condition that has biological, physiological, psychological and behavioral aspects. As a result compulsive use of an addicting substance is only on part of understanding the problem of addiction. In 1972 the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence released a definition of addiction that attempted to include every aspect. The two main components of their definition constitute perhaps the best working definition: loss of control over the use of the substance and continued use despite negative consequences.

Just using substances even to excess is not enough to define addiction. Behavioral clues have to be included for a true diagnosis. This is why it is difficult to diagnosis alcoholism in certain segments of the population. It might be easy to discover a drinking problem when a person has numerous DUI arrests. But for someone show does all their drinking at home and limits their interactions while drinking, a hidden addiction could occur.

“Detox” is short for “detoxification”, the stage in which the body is undergoing both physical and psychological withdrawal from the substance of abuse, and metabolizing the drug for removal from the body as well as starting to repair the damage that has been caused from abusing drugs or alcohol. It is necessary that a person undergo detox before continuing in a drug rehabilitation program, and, unfortunately, it is not a pleasant experience.

The withdrawal phase is part of the detox stage. This phase can start as early as thirty minutes to an hour after the last drink or alcohol or last drug “fix”. Early signs include stronger cravings, excessive sweating and nervousness.

As a person goes longer without drinking or taking a drug, the body continues to react to the absence of the drug. The cravings become more intense, and the body begins to react in other physical and psychological ways. Nausea and vomiting may occur, either preceded or accompanied by severe abdominal cramps.

Muscle tremors start to appear, and become more pronounced as more of the drug or alcohol is metabolized and the levels present in the body begin to fall. The person may begin to suffer hallucinations or the feeling that insects are crawling all over his body, when indeed none are present.

Eventually, the withdrawal symptoms do begin to abate, but the detox process continues as the body works to rid itself of all traces of the drug or alcohol. It can sometimes take as long as a week for full detoxification to occur.

Many drug rehabilitation programs will not allow admittance until the detoxification phase has completely passed. Some facilities, however, are equipped to handle the detox phase, and will go ahead and admit the person. Once the detox phase has passed, the patient immediately begins the rest of the drug rehabilitation program.

Some people, experts and laymen alike believe that some people may have a genetic predisposition to addiction. Others may vehemently oppose that opinion; instead believing that it is a moral or psychological weakness.

A person’s environment, socio-economic status and other outside influences have been presented as causes of drug addiction. Again, others take exception to this, saying that anyone who wants to or is strong enough can rise above any negative occurrences in their past or present.

So, what actually “sets a person on the path” to drug or alcohol addiction is unclear. It can be any of the things mentioned above, or there may be no clear reason as to why someone became addicted.

Instead of trying to figure out the circumstances that might have caused addiction to occur, it might be better to determine exactly how addiction, both physical and psychological for there are two kinds affects a person. What changes take place that cause physical reactions if alcohol or a drug is withdrawn? For that matter, what happens in the physical brain (not the mind) to make the brain send out signals that alcohol or a drug is needed? What actual psychological reactions take place when a person becomes addicted?

Addiction can occur when the receptors in the brain that receive and record feelings of pleasure are affected by drugs or alcohol. In an effort to retain those feelings, the receptors send out signals that urge the body to repeat the actions that caused the feelings in the first place. In the case of addiction, this means drinking more or taking more drugs. The receptors receiving and sending out signals can be linked to both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction.

It is known that certain drugs, such as crack cocaine or methamphetamine, cause such an immediate, intense high the very first time they are used, that the receptors literally “work overtime” to stimulate the body into trying to imitate that exact same feeling once more. The result is literally an instant addiction, as opposed to one that happens over time.

“Meth” is short for methamphetamine. Originally derived from amphetamine, the drug that is so addictive and so often abused has been chemically produced to where it provides a stronger effect than any true amphetamine can.

Methamphetamine is made by taking substances that contain amphetamine, such as cold tablets and other medications and combining them with other chemicals, many of which were never intended to be introduced into the human body. This mixture is then “cooked” and allowed to cool. As it cools, it forms a solid mass, which is then either chipped up into individual pieces or ground into a powder.

When it is left in its solid form, the pieces are usually ignited, and the resulting fumes inhaled-the same as would be done with “crack” or solid cocaine. In its powder form, it is mixed with liquid (including alcohol), inhaled-in much the same way as powdered cocaine or heroin is-or mixed with water or another liquid and injected. The injection can be just under the skin, into a muscle, or directly into a vein.

No matter how the methamphetamine gets into the body, it is so addictive because of the way the brain reacts to it. Meth produces an instantaneous, intense “high” the very first time it is used. There is no having to wait for enough of the drug to build up in one’s system to start feeling the effects, as can often happen with other drugs. No matter what amount of meth is used, the high occurs as soon as the drug gets into the body, again the very first time it gets into the body.

The receptors in the brain that are stimulated by meth respond so strongly that they immediately send signals to the body to repeat the same procedure that caused the feelings of pleasure the first time again. This, of course, means using more meth. However, subsequent highs are never as intense as the first one was, and this causes the receptors to increase the number of times they send the signals, in an effort to recapture the original feelings.

Methamphetamine has both physical and psychological effects on the body. And, it is both of them combined that make it so highly addictive. To begin with, methamphetamine (more commonly referred to as “meth”) is probably the only drug besides crack cocaine that produces an immediate high that is extremely strong. This happens with the very first use.

A good way to describe how meth affects a person so quickly is to compare it with “crack” cocaine. “Crack” cocaine is powdered cocaine that has been mixed with liquid and “cooked” until it forms a solid mass. The intense heat caused by the cooking burns off all the impurities that may have been in the powder (added ingredients such as sugar, corn starch, or flour, or anything else it might have been mixed with.) What is left is pure cocaine.

Once it has been manufactured and cooled, meth is also in a “pure” form, and it is distributed and sold in that form. Unless a user dilutes it in some way, either by adding liquid or “cutting” the meth powder with another substance, he is going to get the “pure” stuff.

As anyone knows, the purer a substance, the more potent it can be. And, this is the case with “crack” cocaine and meth. The potency of these drugs is so high that it causes an instantaneous reaction in the brain.

Once the drug hits the brain, it triggers certain receptors. These receptors then interpret the effect as a pleasurable sensation, and direct this signal to the brain. The brain immediately decides that this is a sensation it wants to experience again, very soon. It, in turn, sends out its own signals to the receptors, instructing them to tell the body to do again whatever it was that was done the first time to cause the feelings.

Unfortunately, the very first “high” can never be achieved again. Because of this, the brain continues to send the signals to the receptors, which continue to prod the body to repeat the behavior, which causes, of course, the urge to do more meth.

Addiction is a complex subject that fails to sit in a single category. Often times it is portrayed in the simple terms of being either a disease or a moral problem.

Compulsory education teaches the value of self-control and sober judgment. Addiction is often portrayed as abnormal and something to be ashamed of. Drinking to excess represents a lack of character or a moral failure. Addicts are portrayed as untrustworthy, unreliable and selfish. Part of this belief systems stems from religious views of alcohol. Some religions teach that alcohol consumption is a violation of a moral code and admitting that a problem exists and repenting is the only way to be absolved of a weakness in character.

Treatment centers take a far less harsh view. Addicts and their families are taught that alcoholism is a complex physical and psychological disorder. Addicts and alcoholics are shown to be sick and in need of treatment and understanding. In the view of science, addiction is a chronic and potentially fatal disorder that can be treated if proper conditions are met. Professionals can use therapeutic techniques to deal with denial and certain medications can ease cravings.

The two position of morality versus disease are divergent and far to simplistic to properly sum up something as complex as addiction. In historical writings this type of analysis can be compared to the singular causation fallacy. Weak historical writing will often credit one single event to causing another. An example would be that the election of Abraham Lincoln as President caused the American Civil War. While this analysis might be true in some respects, the Civil War was the result of thousands of other events tied together. Understanding the causes of addiction require digging deeper than painting broad strokes to describe the epidemic, while understanding that each case of addiction probably has unique causes.

The 12-step program is an addiction support program that encourages participants to move through 12 individual steps. Emphasis is on making sure that each step is fulfilled completely before advancing to the next step. Further, participants are urged not to give up if they relapse into their addiction before completing all 12 steps, but rather starting over.

The original 12-step program was created by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. Those steps, as set out on the official Alcoholics Anonymous website, are explained below and summarized for better understanding.

12 Steps

1. Admitted that one is addicted and powerless over drugs or alcohol

2. Believes that a higher power can help restore their life to normalcy.

3. Made a decision to ask for help from higher power.

4. Evaluated one’s life in terms of morals and values.

5. Admitted to higher power, themselves and their family and friends of their mistakes regarding their drug or alcohol addiction.

6. Ready for change implemented by higher power in terms of character defects.

7. Asked for forgiveness from higher power.

8. Made a list of their mistakes and is willing to ask for forgiveness to family and friends they have wronged.

9. Follows through with asking for forgiveness from loved ones.

10. Continues to take personal inventory of their life and is focused on becoming a productive member of society.

11. Prays and meditates in order to improve one’s spiritual relationship with higher power.

12. Believes in sharing his or her story and helping other alcoholics or addicts heal their lives.

Participation in any 12-step program is always free. Participants use first names and last initials only, and protect each other’s privacy and anonymity. Each person either acts as or is provided with a support person who is available when needed to offer moral support or even help a person resist the temptation to relapse into addiction once again.

A simple definition of substance abuse would be using a substance, specifically alcohol or some type of drug, to an extent that would be considered excessive.

Some experts, however, believe that, like anything, “excessive” may be open to interpretation because what is considered excessive for one person may be the minimal amount needed by someone else for the substance to even have any effect. Likewise, even the word “drug” may be considered as having multiple interpretations, as one person, professional or layman either one, may not consider a particular substance as falling under the category of a “drug”.

So, rather than debate the meanings of specific words, perhaps some comparisons could help us in deciding if something falls under the category of substance abuse. Not all readers may agree with the ideas put forth here, and that is fine.

Comparison #1: One to two drinks a few times a week, with little, if any, signs of intoxication, drinking does not interfere with ability to work or function in society-social or moderate drinking. Frequent drinking during a 24-hour period, drinking interferes with ability to work or function in society-substance abuse.

Comparison #2: Use of a prescribed narcotic pain reliever as prescribed or intended-legitimate use. Continuing to take the narcotic pain reliever after pain has been sufficiently alleviated or the cause has been totally eliminated, using illegal or illicit methods to obtain more than has been prescribed-substance abuse.

If you are still not certain if your situation or that of a family member’s constitutes substance abuse, you have a number of options:

*Ask yourself the twelve questions that Alcoholics Anonymous gives as guidelines to determine if you have a drinking problem. You can substitute the words “taken drugs” for drinking and drink.
*Ask a trusted friend or clergyperson-someone who will be honest, but will not betray the confidence – if he or she thinks you have a problem.
*Ask your healthcare professional if you are showing symptoms of substance abuse.

Substance abuse can manifest itself in physical, emotional, and psychological ways. Let’s look at them separately; however, remember that there are other signs, so none of these lists should be considered all-inclusive.

Physical: While it is true that some of the symptoms listed mimic actual illnesses, taken with the emotional and psychological symptoms, they can be considered as caused by substance abuse:

*Excessive sniffling or a runny nose: This can be a sign of drug use where the drug being used is inhaled through the nose.

*Bloodshot eyes: Can be a sign of alcohol abuse, marijuana abuse, or sleeplessness caused by using any number of drugs.

*Excessive sweating: Can be a sign of withdrawal (in other words, the person is needing to take more drugs).

*Muscles tremors (“twitching”): Can occur with methamphetamine use or as a sign of the “DTs”—severe alcohol withdrawal.

*Extreme weight loss: Caused by not eating at all or not eating enough because the body is not sending hunger signals.

*Sores, scabs, or physical signs of injection on the body, especially in the crook of the elbow or other places where easy access to a vein is possible.

Emotional and Psychological: Since many of these symptoms can actually be both emotional and psychological, they are listed together:

*Inappropriate reactions to immediate situations, such as laughing at a serious moment, or unexplained crying when there is really no good reason.

*Little or no reaction to any situation, immediate or otherwise.

*Paranoia.

*Hallucinations. This is often common when a patient is suffering from alcohol withdrawal.

*Extreme mood swings, from happy to sad or extreme anger when it is unwarranted.
Inability to remember recent events. This can occur after excessive drinking; it is sometimes referred to as “blackout.”

There are actually two types of addiction: physical and psychological. In the physical type, the body is actually reacting to the absence or withdrawal of the drug because it has become used to having it; in psychological addiction, the urges and cravings, as well as the physical symptoms, are present.

Psychological addiction can occur after just one use, as can be the case with crack cocaine or methamphetamine. That is because the first high from these drugs is so intense that the parts of the brain that record pleasure are stimulated to try to mimic that feeling again and again.

The same thing can also occur with nicotine. Nicotine is metabolized through the body within three days after a last cigarette has been smoked. No nicotine is left in the bloodstream, but the craving for a cigarette is still present.

Physical addiction manifests itself in true withdrawal symptoms when it is time for another “fix” or drink. The body actually begins to react to the absence of drugs. Symptoms can include nausea and vomiting, excessive sweating, muscle tremors, and other physical signs.

It is perhaps the psychological addiction that is responsible for those who have stopped using alcohol or drugs to refer to themselves as “recovering” addicts; in other words, it is an ongoing process. Once a person has stopped drinking or using drugs, a conscious effort must be made not to “slip up” and have just one drink or just one more ” fix.”

The recovering addict must be on the alert for signs that a relapse-an episode where alcohol or drug use does occur-is imminent and take steps to remove himself from the situation. This may mean not attending social functions where alcohol is served, or physically and emotionally distancing himself from those people with whom he shared the addiction.

Some rehabilitation facilities and programs utilize medications in drug rehabilitation. When combined with other rehabilitation methods, including therapy and support groups, these medications often help a person suffering from drug addiction to achieve more success in his rehabilitative efforts.

Some of the medications used in drug rehabilitation are listed below:

Suboxone®: This is the brand name for the drug buprenorphine. Suboxone is used to treat people who are addicted to substances with an opium base, such as the “street” drug heroin or the prescription drug oxycodone.

Suboxone works by easing the withdrawal symptoms that come from ceasing heroin, oxycodone, or any other drug that have an opium base and by helping calm the physical and psychological cravings and urges that come with opium addiction. A small amount of the drug naloxone, which is also used as a drug addiction medication, is added to Suboxone. Doing this makes it harder for a person to dissolve and inject Suboxone into a vein.

Some people do this either in the mistaken belief that the relief symptoms will take effect quicker, or that they might be able to achieve the “high” that the opium-based drug gave them. The only thing injecting Suboxone does is make a person go into the withdrawal stage more quickly, something that is not very pleasant at all.

Methadone: Methadone has been used for more than 30 years. It, too, treats opium-based addictions, such as addiction to heroin or codeine. Methadone works by replacing the receptor in the brain that is triggered from opioids being metabolized in the body due to heroin or codeine use with the synthetic medicine found in the Methadone. By “filling” this receptor, Methadone causes a stabilizing effect. This in turn allows users to be able to withdraw from heroin or codeine use without suffering withdrawal symptoms.

Antabuse®: Antabuse® is used to treat alcohol addiction. It works by causing actual physical reactions to the ingestion of alcohol, such as nausea, chest pains, breathing difficulties, headaches, and other unpleasant symptoms. These symptoms appear within ten minutes of ingesting alcohol and can last for an hour or more.

For example, creative arts can provide an avenue for the addict to explore and express feelings that are difficult to understand, identify or express in words. It’s easier for an addict to draw an abstract picture of a child with dark tears falling on his face and a male adult figure leaving in the background than to write down or talk about how his father left home when the addict was a boy, and he never saw him again. Exploring the feelings of abandonment and the anguish of such an event can help the addict understand the underlying cause of his addiction and give him an opportunity to break an old pattern. Coloring, painting and drawing can also help with anxiety by calming the mind and easing the anxiety attendant upon recovery.

Musical therapy, such as drumming, and biofeedback can be other effective techniques. Scientific research indicates that drumming and biofeedback can change brain wave patterns that have been damaged by drug or alcohol abuse. Drumming has been shown to slow down brain wave cycles, while biofeedback can keep the addict on the straight and narrow, preventing a fall off the wagon.

Physical exercise such as yoga can give the addict a renewed sense of control over the body — an element that is sorely lacking when a person is abusing alcohol or drugs. The continued practice of yoga can also help with cravings. anxiety and detoxification by calming the mind and the spirit. In addition, strengthening the body is always helpful in recovery, and mastering yoga moves such as downward dog can give the addict a sense of accomplishment.

When exploring rehabilitation avenues, ask if holistic treatments are offered as part of the program. If so, give them a try and start on the journey to recovery!

Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA, is one recovery group that utilizes a Twelve Step program that leads to recovery. It has been successfully helping people with alcohol addictions for over 60 years. If you are considering AA for treatment of alcoholism, there are a number of things you can expect:
• Regular meetings. AA members typically meet on a weekly basis. The type of meeting will vary; some are open groups in which anyone can attend, some are for women or men only, and some are closed, which means only those who need help to stop drinking and invited to attend.
• Meetings are run by other alcoholics. Meetings are typically discussion-led and fairly informal. There are suggested meeting guidelines, but the groups will run their meetings however they want.
• Sponsors. Members of AA who have successfully completed the Twelve-Step program and have remained sober for at least a year sponsor other members. The purpose of a sponsor is to provide assistance and encouragement to new members who are having difficulty. Members are encouraged to call their sponsors when they are tempted to drink.
• Abstinence from alcohol. AA believes that completely abstaining from alcohol is the best way to recover from alcoholism and encourages all its members to avoid any drinking at all.

AA has been a successful program for many people. Through group therapy and individual encouragement, members of AA can successfully overcome their alcohol addictions.

The Twelve-Step program originated with Alcoholics Anonymous over 60 years ago as a way to overcome alcohol addiction. Now, the Twelve Step program is used by people for many different types of addiction, not just alcohol. Other groups that use this type of system with permission from Alcoholics Anonymous include support groups for gamblers, drug abusers, overeaters, and people with debt and spending problems.

Although Alcoholics Anonymous is not affiliated with any religious groups, the original Twelve Steps focused heavily on relying on God for support for alcohol treatment. Today, the main goals behind the twelve steps include:

• Recognizing and admitting that the addiction has caused a complete loss of control over the person’s life
• Turning to a higher power for a source of support and strength
• Willingness to work to overcome the addiction
• Take a close look at problems in life or relationships that were harmed as a result of the addiction
• Attempting to make amends to those who were affected or hurt by the addiction
• Learning and applying new habits to break the addiction
• Striving to help other who are suffering from the same addictions, often through a sponsorship program

The twelve step program focuses on total healing, including the mental, spiritual, and physical aspects. These vary with each addiction, for example, a drug addict’s physical tolls may include hyperactivity or lack of control, mental may include the feeling of not being able to stop using drugs, and the spiritual could be the self-centered nature of addiction. After identifying these problems, they work to overcome each aspect.

Many people have used the Twelve Step program successfully to overcome an addiction, whether it’s an addiction to gambling or drugs or alcohol or anything else.

If you are worried about the detox portion of your treatment or are unsure of what to expect, the following are a few things you can expect during the detox phase:

1) Medical supervision. When drugs are involved, the detox phase is almost always done in an inpatient facility or hospital so you can be closely monitored by doctors. The doctor will monitor your vital signs like breathing and blood pressure, and will also give any medications he or she deems necessary. These can help you with your symptoms as well.
2) Withdrawal symptoms. As the drugs or alcohol are leaving your body, you will experience withdrawal symptoms because your body has come to rely heavily on drugs or alcohol, and responds adversely when they are no longer there. Some of the most common side effects of detox include sweating and/or chills, strong drug cravings, vomiting and nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhea, and insomnia.
3) Emotional side effects. The detox period is emotionally draining as well as physically draining. You will most likely experience some emotional side effects, such as depression, irritability, or anxiety. Everyone responds differently to detox, but there will be trained counselors and support staff to help you through the emotional side effects.

Detox may not be a pleasant experience or one anyone looks forward to, the symptoms and side effects are only temporary. It is a vital step in progressing towards the life you want.

But relapses don’t just happen. It takes some time to get to that point, and typically there are signs to warn you that you may be headed for your bad habits again. Knowing what leads to a relapse is the best way to prevent them before they occur. Your behavior will change gradually rather than dramatically at the beginning of a relapse. A few of the ways you can tell if a relapse is imminent include:

• Skipping your recovery or support meetings
• Rationalizing your addiction or thinking that life was better then
• Hanging out with old friends you used to drink or use with
• Frequently thinking about drinking, using, or whatever else the addiction was

If you begin to notice these signs, a few things you can do include:

• Call your sponsor. If you are in a program like Alcoholics Anonymous or Gamblers Anonymous, you will most likely have a sponsor. Part of his or her job is to help you through these rough patches and remember why you wanted to quit in the first place. If you don’t have a sponsor, call a supportive friend or family member.
• Do something do distract yourself. Make a list of things you can do instead when you’re tempted to relapse, and turn to the list before you start using again. This can include working out or going for a walk, watching a movie, playing with your children, hanging out with friends, or anything else.

Relapses can be prevented if you know what to watch out for.

Treatment for an addiction typically involves a number of stages or steps. The most common stages of addiction treatment you will see include:

Step One: Detoxification
Also called detox, this is the period in which the patient is weaned off of the substance they are addicted to. It involves gradually removing the substance from the body. Because it can be dangerous and is both mentally as well as physically exhausting and demanding, it is usually done in an inpatient treatment center under the watchful eye of medical professionals. During detox, patients experience withdrawal symptoms like shaking, vomiting, and cravings. They may also be irritable or anxious.

Step Two: Support
Once the detox is complete, the patient must then develop new habits and thought patterns to help them get back to life without depending on drugs and alcohol. This involves support from a number of different sources. The patient’s support network will probably include family members, close friends, counselors and therapists, support groups, and a sponsor. The support network will help the patient steer clear of old habits and friends and get help with underlying issues that may have caused them to turn to drugs or alcohol in the first place.

Step Three: Abstinence and Maintenance
The final ongoing step of drug or alcohol addiction treatment is to abstain from the substance for good. This helps the patient not be tempted to relapse back into old habits, and it also gives them a feeling of control over their lives.

Addiction can be overcome with the right treatment plan and support network.

Some of these things include:

Find New Friends
Many times, people who are addicted to drugs, alcohol, gambling, or anything else associate with those who have the same addictions. In order to get past your addiction and start a new life, you have to surround yourself with people who want to help you change and encourage and support you. Associating with people who also use will not only put you in tempting situations, but because they are also addicted, they won’t encourage you to quit.

Find New Hobbies
Oftentimes, people who have addictions let the addictions run their lives. Replace your gambling, drug using, drinking, or whatever it is you were addicted to with a new hobby or pastime. You could take up a sport, learn a new hobby, or begin focusing your attention on developing a more healthy lifestyle by joining and gym and exercising.

Find New Coping Skills
Most people drink, do drugs, or turn to an addiction to help them when they are stressed, depressed, or lonely. Finding new coping skills when you’re feeling down can make it so you’re less likely to rely on their addiction to get through certain feelings. These skills can include calling a friend on the phone, exercising, going for a walk, listening to music, or visiting people who will help you get your mind off of your addiction.

Join a Support Group
There are support groups for virtually every addiction, and they can be a great tool to help you start your new life.

Getting past an addiction is difficult, but it helps to make changes in your life.

If you are thinking of an inpatient facility, consider the following pros and cons:

Pros:

• Help through the hard parts. The first step of a rehab program is the detox period, in which you wean yourself off of the substance that was addictive. This period of time is considered the most difficult, as it is physically and emotionally draining. An inpatient facility provides constant monitoring by professionals during this time, making it easier to deal with.
• Difficult to get access to substances. Inpatient treatment centers control and monitor the center and anyone coming and going to ensure drugs and alcohol are not allowed on the premises. Removing this temptation makes it easier to get through the treatment program.
• Support 24 hours a day. The beginning of any addiction recovery program is difficult. An inpatient program offers support and medical assistance around the clock.
• Better environment to recover in. The support of peers and counselors, as well as a structured environment free of temptation and access to substances, makes it a much better environment to recover in.

A few of the cons of an inpatient facility include:

• Cost. Some rehabs cost tens of thousands of dollars. What’s more, many insurance companies don’t cover this type of treatment program, so it must be paid for with loans or out of pocket.
• Confining. Some residents may feel like they are being too closely monitored or “punished” for trying to get help by taking away a sense of their freedom. With a negative attitude towards rehabilitation, it makes it harder to recover.

Knowing the pros and cons can help you make a better decision regarding inpatient treatment.

When deciding if an outpatient facility is for you, it’s important to take into account the pros and cons:

Pros

• Flexible schedule. An outpatient facility is a good choice if you have responsibilities and obligations such as school or a job you have to go to each day. An outpatient allows you to make appointments based on your schedule.
• Family responsibilities. If you have a family you must take care of, an outpatient facility will allow you to go home to them each day, get them ready for school, and so forth.
• Cost. Outpatient centers are more affordable than inpatient, and most insurance companies will cover the cost.

Cons
• Greater temptation. The biggest threat of outpatient is the uncontrolled environment. This is especially true in the beginning of treatment and during the difficult detox period, when it’s easier to go back to old habits when not under constant monitoring.
• Less monitoring. An outpatient facility does not provide the constant monitoring that an inpatient facility provides. This is important because 24/7 monitoring of the facilities and patients’ coming and going means less chance of relapse. Once they leave the outpatient facility, patients may go back to surroundings that don’t monitor usage.
• Less support. 24/7 support is important to help recovering addicts get through the most difficult parts of their treatment. Outpatient facilities don’t have the 24/7 support that is so important for recovery.

Choosing the right outpatient facility is an important part of recovery. Weighing the pros and cons of each type can help you choose the best one for you.

There are a number of things that can lead to teen substance abuse. Some of the more common ones are:

• Stress. Teens face stress just like adults do. Dealing with things like getting into the right college, grades, fitting in with friends, and dating relationships can cause great amounts of stress in teens. Some of them turn to drugs or alcohol to help them deal with the pressure.
• Peer pressure. Friends are a huge influence on teens. Many teens with substance abuse problems got started by hanging out with a crowd that frequently drank or did drugs. Not wanting to feel left out, they participate and end up getting addicted themselves.
• Acceptance. Most high school kids want to be accepted by their peers, yet many find themselves alienated. Some turn to drugs and alcohol with the hopes that it will help them fit in. Or, they find that people who use are more accepting of them, and get caught up in their habits as well.
• Problems at home. Abuse, divorce, strained family relationships, and money problems are a reality for many families these days. Teens who live in environments like this may find themselves drinking or doing drugs to escape from their home life.
• Depression. Depression isn’t just an adult disease—teens with depression may find they feel better if they drink or use drugs to get high. To them, it helps deal with the depression they face each day and provides a temporary respite.

Teen substance abuse is a growing problem, and these are just some of the most common reasons teens start to use drugs or drink.

What is a Wilderness Program?
A wilderness program, or outdoor therapy, or anything similar to that takes place in the outdoors, typically away from any large cities or major modern conveniences. They range anywhere from a few weeks to an entire summer or fall, depending on the program. They are frequently used in conjunction with another substance abuse treatment program, like in-patient or out-patient therapy.

How Does it Work?
During their time in the wilderness, teens are supervised and led by trained counselors with experience in dealing with teens as well as drug recovery. A variety of programs and projects are put in place that are designed to build self-confidence and self-esteem and respect for authority. Group therapy is also a big part of a program like this.

What are the Pros/Cons?
Benefits of a wilderness substance abuse program include:
• Controlled environment. The temptation of drugs and alcohol are not present, nor is the ability to acquire them.
• Increased self-confidence. Many teens fall into drugs because they feel they didn’t fit in, had low self esteem, or were depressed. These programs give them an increase in confidence.

Drawbacks include:
• Short-term success. These programs have a shorter success rate than others when used alone, which is why they should be used with other treatments.
• Return to “real world” can be hard. Once out of the program, teens have access to bad friends, drugs, alcohol, and other things that can cause a relapse.

A wilderness program can be a great way to build up a teen who suffers from a substance abuse problem when used alongside other forms of treatment.

Some types of substance abuse treatment include:

Residential treatment centers. A residential treatment center provides intensive therapy that includes detoxification as well as counseling and group therapy. Because residents live at the facility and are closely monitored, they are not faced with the temptation of old friends or drugs and alcohol.

Outpatient treatment centers. This type of treatment occurs on an outpatient basis, where the patient has appointments to help with drug treatment. While this is a good idea if the patient has work, school, or family obligations, it’s difficult because the patient still has access to situations and substances that could cause a relapse.

Detox programs. This type of program occurs under the supervision of medical professionals and includes weaning the body off of the substance they are addicted to, which helps to alleviate the physical cravings for the drug. Many treatment programs require patients to go through detox before they begin therapy or treatment.

Counseling. Counseling works to get to the root problem of the addiction and helps patients find alternatives to coping with their addiction. Often, addiction can be the result of depression or other underlying problems. Counseling may help by providing treatment for these problems as well.

Support programs. Support groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous, offer a group therapy setting to help recovering addicts deal with situations and provide support and treatment tips. They frequently include a sponsor, or someone who has successfully overcome an addiction, to provide more personalized support over the course of their recovery.

These are just a few of the different types of treatments and facilities for substance abuse.