Knowing When to Seek Alcohol Treatment

December 9, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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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.

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The long Allure of Drug Use

November 30, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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Almost from the beginning of the history of man examples can be found of the consumption of substances that offer no nutritional value. Consuming a plant or something that produces a feeling of ease or comfort provided man with a feeling of power. The consumption of alcohol or plants caused feelings of euphoria in early man, enough so that many civilizations thought that drugs or alcohol allowed man to tap into the power of the gods.

Perhaps the feature that most distinguishes man from other animals has been the ability to adapt or alter environment to promote survival. This led to the experimentation of using plants to improve or change an individuals’ psychological health. The resulting experiences that were the most profound have continued on and often been integrated into secular and religious cultures.

Some of the earliest documented drug experimentation occurred in ancient Mesopotamia. The poppy was cultivated sometime between 4000 and 3000 B.C. The opium derived from the poppy was turned into gil, which means “happiness and joy”. Marijuana is another drug that shows up in the recorded history of early man. While these drugs have become taboo and even outlawed in modern society, alcohol has not only maintained its popularity since man first got plastered, it also has become a widely acceptable form of recreation.

Alcohol consumptions can be easily traced back to the earliest societies. Ancient Egyptian society often consumed beer, and the god Osiris supposedly taught the Egyptians about brewing. In Ancient Greece alcohol was a gift from Dionysius, the god of the grape.

Man’s experimentation with drugs and alcohol seems to be part of the human experience, which means that finding effect ways to combat addictions is difficult. Drugs and alcohol have always fascinated and enticed man. And with thousands of years of tradition and history on the side of experimentation the most effective form of treatment, prevention, faces difficult odds.

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Age Old Problem, New Solutions

October 26, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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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

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Pinpointing Addiction

October 22, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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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.

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What To Expect In The Detox Stage

October 10, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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“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.

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What Causes Addiction?

October 6, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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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.

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Complex Definition of Addiction

October 2, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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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.

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Going Through Drug Rehab

October 2, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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If you’ve struggled with drugs and alcohol and finally decided to get help, you’ll need to see about a drug rehab facility. The seriousness of your addiction and other factors will help determine whether you need to have an in-patient stay (and for how long) or whether you can be treated as an outpatient. Of course, you may think an outpatient setting is enough for you when others think an in-patient program would be a better choice. It may be very difficult, but listen to your friends and family members. They’re trying to help you, even if they aren’t always sure about the best way to do that.

When you see that you really do have a problem and you have to get help, check around at different treatment centers. Find out about the programs they offer, how long they last, what they cost, and what type of success rate they have with your particular drug of choice. You want to pick the best option for you, because you’re ultimately the one who has to do the work. Everyone else can give you help and support, but they can’t conquer the addiction for you. You have to do that, and you need the right help to do it.

In other words, don’t just choose the first treatment option out there, or the one that someone else recommended. It might not be right for you, and you want to choose something that fits your lifestyle and addiction patterns. If you choose something in that way, you’ll have a higher chance of sticking with the program and seeing yourself succeed. Even if you make mistakes along the way – and many people do – having the right program can make all the difference in your long term goals.

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Public Vs. Private Rehabs – Which Is Best?

October 2, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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No one can tell anyone what is best for that person; that is an individual decision. However, sometimes knowing the differences between things, such as public and private rehabilitation facilities, can help a person determine exactly what is best. So, here are a few of the differences:

*Public rehabilitation facilities may provide services either free or at a much reduced cost. Many municipal, county, state, and/or federally-funded organizations often charge no fees, or may require only a minimal payment (which may be included in a court fine or other legal or civil remittance).

*Private rehabilitation facilities may also be free or have minimal fees. This can include those that are supported or operated by religious, fraternal, or community organizations. However, most private facilities do charge for their services, and depending on the facility, the location, and the operators, may require a substantial fee.

Does this mean the treatment is any better at a private facility? Not necessarily, although more money may mean more amenities for the patients, which may make them feel that the experience was a little more pleasurable.

Basically, however, all rehabilitation facilities offer pretty much the same services counseling, instructions in and assistance with lifestyle changes, and support, just to name a few. And, these all are (or should be) intended to accomplish the same goal that of addiction recovery.

*Public facilities may have a waiting list; private facilities may be able to offer admission right away. Not having to wait may give a person the incentive to go through with a recovery program, whereas having to wait may give him time to think up reasons not to go, or to even continue or relapse into addictive behavior.

*Public facilities may not be allowed to address one’s spiritual or religious wishes or needs; private facilities may actually be sponsored or run by those who hold the same beliefs as the person seeking help.

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What Are Some Warning Signs Of Substance Abuse?

September 21, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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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.”

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