What Are Some Warning Signs Of Substance Abuse?

Logo of the United States National Institute o...
Image via Wikipedia

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.”

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: General Rehab & Addiction Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Two Types of Addiction

A woman smoking crack from a glass pipe.
Image via Wikipedia

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.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: General Rehab & Addiction Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Medications Used In Drug Rehabilitation

ASHKELON, ISRAEL - JUNE 11: Dr. Claudio Krist...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

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.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: General Rehab & Addiction Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Alternative Treatments for Addiction

Consider adding holistic treatments to help recover from addiction. Creative arts therapy, yoga and biofeedback are just a few of the many available options that can drastically improve rates of recovery when combined with a traditional treatment plan, such as a 12-step program.

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!

Filed Under: Addiction Recovery Tagged With: ,

What to Expect With AA– Addiction

Alcohol addiction is a problem affecting millions of people in the United States. Its negative effects on home, work, and personal life cause many people to seek treatment. Treating an addiction is difficult, and many people turn to support groups to help them manage their addictions and rely on the experiences and advice of others who are going through or have already gone through 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.

Filed Under: General Rehab & Addiction Tagged With:

What Is a Twelve Step Program

For those who are battling addiction, there are a number of different treatment options to choose from to help them on their road to recovery. One of these is a Twelve-Step program for support.

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.

Filed Under: Addiction Recovery Tagged With: ,

What To Expect During Detox

When overcoming an addiction to drugs or alcohol, the first step of many addiction treatment programs is the detoxification stage. This crucial step in getting over an addiction involves removing the drug or alcohol completely from your body and is often accompanied by withdrawal symptoms. While the length of the detox varies depending on the program and the drug, it usually lasts about a week.

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.

Filed Under: Detox Tagged With: ,

Preventing a Relapse

Those who are dealing with any kind of an addiction know the difficulty that comes with the recovery process. Part of this is the potential for a relapse. A relapse occurs when the recovering addict resumes old habits; it could be anything from “just one drink” for an alcoholic or a full-blown return to drugs for a drug addict.

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.

Filed Under: Relapses Tagged With: ,

The Stages of Addiction Treatment

Overcoming substance abuse is a long, difficult process. Many addicts or alcoholics know their lives will be happier if they stop using or drinking, but are unsure of what to expect during the treatment process.

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.

Filed Under: Addiction Recovery Tagged With: ,

Overcoming an Addiction: What You Need to Change

Overcoming an addiction means more than just quitting a drug or habit. To truly move past your addiction and start a new life, you must be willing to make changes in your life and relationships in order to leave your old life behind.

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.

Filed Under: Addiction Recovery Tagged With: ,
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »