Addiction

A Look at Interventions

March 16, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

With the success of TV shows that center around interventions in confronting people with substance abuse problems many people have started to consider running their own intervention. While interventions can sometimes be successful, if intervention is done in the wrong way it could potentially be a disaster. If you are considering running in intervention here are some things to consider.

Seek The Help of Professional. Many drug and alcohol treatment centers have professional interventionist who can help run the intervention so that it is done properly. Many people might want to consider using one of these professionals as these professionals can help guide you through the process and make sure that you have the best chance for success.

Try to Confront When Not Intoxicated. This might be hard but it is recommended whether you run intervention with a professional or not that you try to confront the individual when they are not intoxicated. This allows you the best chance to reason and discuss the problem with the person with the problem.

Don’t Place Blame. Interventions are designed to tell the substance abuser exactly what they are putting each individual and their family through. However, the individuals in the family needs to make sure that they are not placing the blame on the person with the substance abuse but merely outlining facts. There is a fine line between placing blame and stating facts. The substance abuser will automatically feel as if they are being blamed the matter how things are being worded so the important part is to make sure that you choose your words carefully. Many people will often write out letters or practice what they’re going to say before they actually run the intervention.

Filed Under: Addiction, Drug Addiction Tagged With: Addiction, intervention, Substance abuse

How to Tell if Your Teenager Has a Drug or Alcohol Problem Part 2

February 8, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Being a parent is never easy. Being a parent of a teenager is even harder. One of the most difficult task parent faces is the ability to notice if their child is showing signs of a drug or alcohol problem. This is often difficult for many parents because some of the same exact sign that are used to distinguish drugs and alcohol problems are signs of your teenager growing up. Here’s a look at some more signs that many teenagers exhibit when there could be a drug or alcohol problem in existence.

Sudden Change in Friends. Many teenagers who have drug or alcohol problems will experience a sudden change in friends. Older friends will no longer want to hang out with them and your friends will start to show up unexpectedly. This can be distinguished as many teenagers will experience a change in a large group of friends.

New Interests. If your teenager is exhibiting signs of a complete change in clothing, music and other items this could be a sign of drug and alcohol problems. While changing is a part of becoming a teenager studying extreme changes can often be a sign that there is something more going on.

Changes in Behavior. Teenagers who have drug and alcohol problems will often skip school or have decreased motivation for school work. These are generally teenagers who enjoy going to school or at least did well in school.

Use of Perfume. If you notice that your teenagers walking in with extreme air fresheners or perfume it could be a sign that they’re trying to mask the owners of drugs and alcohol.

Filed Under: Addiction, Drug Addiction Tagged With: Addiction, Alcoholism, Substance abuse

How to Tell if Your Teen May Have a Drug or Alcohol Problem Part 1

February 3, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

When a teenager is using drugs or alcohol is up to the parent to discover the problem and help get them the help that they need. The problem is that many signs of drug and alcohol use can often be mistaken for normal teenage behavior. Here is a look at some of the things that parents should be aware of which can help them narrow down if their child may be experiencing a drug or alcohol problem.

Secretive. Many teenagers will often become secretive about who they are hanging around with and about their possessions. To an extent this is normal teenage behavior. However, if it they become extremely agitated when asked it could be a sign that there is more going on.

Privacy. Teenagers often need their privacy. However, avoiding family members, having doors locked when there is no need to have the door locked and other secretive behavior can often be assigned there is drug and alcohol use going on.

Missing Items. Many family members will notice missing items throughout the house. This is often because the teenagers unable to afford the drug or alcohol habit and often steal items such as money and valuables in order to fund the drug habit.

Increased Use of Eyedrops. Many teenagers who use drugs or alcohol will often start to use eyedrops as a way to mask their bloodshot eyes. If there is no logical reason for your child to be using eyedrops constantly it could be a sign that there is drug or alcohol use going on.

Filed Under: Addiction, Drug Addiction Tagged With: Addiction, Alcoholism, Substance abuse

Tennessee Drug Treatment Facilities Offer Strength and Caring for Patients to Overcome Addiction

September 10, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image by Melissa Bowman Photography & Creative Design via Flickr

Admitting that you have a drug problem is hard enough to do with yourself, let alone when you have to share the admission with friends and family. There are so many issues that are tied to drug abuse and depending on the length and depth of your struggle to stay sober, there are likely many relationships and opportunities that have suffered. Whether it’s missed appointments for your job or misunderstandings with family and friends, it’s likely that there are things that you regret because of your substance abuse. Some of these situations you want to remedy, and some you want to avoid reliving. If you are a resident of Tennessee who is coping with substance abuse, it’s time to stop the cycle and find help.

Taking Steps to Overcome Addiction

Coping with substance abuse is difficult and requires the help of trained professionals who understand the nature of addiction and the steps you need to take to begin your lifelong recovery. Understanding the origin of the disease and finding ways to substitute addictive behaviors associated with alcohol and drug abuse with healthy habits is part of the recovery process. Good staff members who are versed in addiction can help you trace back when you started turning to substances to cope and what led to your choices. The next part of the process is dealing with repercussions of your actions and finding ways to mend fences and repair your life as you re-enter society substance free.

Treatment with caring and trained professionals can lead to lifelong sobriety in patients, so finding a facility where you are comfortable is key. If you are ready to put an end to your addiction, contact one of the many Tennessee drug treatment facilities today and start a new, drug-free life.

Filed Under: Health, Rehab, Substance Abuse Tagged With: Addiction, Substance abuse, Substance dependence, Tennessee

Addiction: A Perplexing Problem for Psychiatrists

September 3, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

After decades of studying drug use, the phenomenon never ceases to puzzle psychiatrists. One psychiatrist reported that his patient said he continues to snort cocaine even though it doesn’t make him high anymore. People’s habits and addictions are hard to explain, and even more perplexing to diagnose and eventually cure. Cocaine addicts prefer a cocaine high more than anything else in the world, including eating, drinking, and sleeping. Apparently the patient mentioned earlier simply lost the euphoria that he experienced from cocaine, and eventually he lost he job. When his wife threatened to divorce him, he sought help from a professional.

It hasn’t been until recently that psychiatrists are beginning to understand the growing problem of substance abuse and addiction in our country. However, for years professional people have understood the attraction of recreational drugs like cocaine, alcohol, and opiates. These people know that their patients take drugs in order to activate the brain’s reward system and experience what many addicts call euphoria.

A medical definition of addiction may be difficult to nail down, but most people know what it means. Put simply, addiction is doing something you can’t stop. even though it interferes with your daily life.

Addictive Characteristics

The following are common characteristics people who are chemically dependent share:

1. A desire for increased amounts of the substance in order to achieve the same effect.
2. Using the substance for longer periods of time.
3. A prolonged desire for the substance (or failed attempts to cut down or stop using it).
4, Spending a lot of time trying to obtain the substance.
5. Giving up or cutting back on everyday activities (important social, work, or family activities).
6. Continued substance use/abuse even though it causes problems (social and legal).

Addictive Behaviors

For most addicts, addiction can involve any type of behavior, an addiction may involve a wide range of behaviors (e.g., gambling, spending money, eating, having sex). However, these behaviors interfere with an addict’s normal life or routine). In addition, addicts tend to get defensive when people criticize their behavior.

Filed Under: Addiction, Health, Substance Abuse Tagged With: Addiction, Health, Substance abuse

How Drug Abuse Affects the Brain

September 1, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Researchers are discovering that drug addiction can be prevented. Community leaders, medical professionals, and families have developed nationwide programs to help put a stop to drug abuse. It’s important for everyone to understand the risks involved when people take drugs. It’s a serious problem in our country, and people need to be aware of it. Most people believe that the majority of people spending time in jail are addicted to drugs, alcohol, or both. It’s important for the community to know that drugs are dangerous. However, by the same token, drug addiction can be prevented as along as people don’t abuse drugs in the first place.

Through years of study, researchers are beginning to understand how drugs interfere with the brain’s communication system. The nerves in your brain are responsible for calling, sending, receiving, and analyzing information. Drugs actually interfere with the brain’s natural communication system in many ways. Interestingly, drugs imitate the brain’s messengers. For example, heroin and marijuana have the same structure as the brain’s chemical messengers, so they are capable of imitating those messengers.

The chemical messengers in your brain are referred to as neurotransmitters. Since drugs have a similar structure as the neurotransmitters, they transmit abnormal messages and fool the brain. Drugs like meth and cocaine transmit large amounts of these messages to the brain.

Drugs also stimulate the reward portion of the brain with a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Dopamine is responsible for controlling peoples actions like movement, emotion, and motivation. It also makes the brain respond favorably to behaviors like eating, sleeping, and spending time with loved ones. Heroin and marijuana over stimulate the brain’s reward and produce a feeling of joy to the user. Drug users describe it as a feeling of euphoria.

In order for drug users to re-experience a feeling of euphoria, they continue to abuse drugs. After repeated usage, the brain reduces the amount of dopamine receptors in the brain. When this happens, it becomes more difficult for the user to achieve the same high as before, which is the reason why people take larger quantities of drugs.

Filed Under: Addiction, Drug Addiction, Substance Abuse Tagged With: Addiction, Health, Substance abuse

Substance Abuse

August 15, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Substance abuse is also called as drug abuse. Here the substances refer to anything that people use in a way that promotes harmful effects of the substance to the users. Substance abuse is not restricted to tobacco, alcohol, or drugs. It could also be excessive and harmful usage of drug prescriptions for a medical condition.

Substance abuse is a medical disorder as well as a behavioral disorder. Substances that induce a psychoactive effect are highly preferred for this kind of behavior. Psychoactive substances affect mental states and processes.

Substance abuse causes dependence syndrome. Dependence syndrome is a condition that affects people who repeatedly use a substance. After a point of time, the substance controls their day-to-day activities. This makes it difficult for the affected person to prioritize other things than looking for ways and excuses to use this substance.

Illegal drugs can be classified into three categories: stimulants, sedatives, and opiates. Stimulants like cocaine and nicotine excite the nervous system. Sedatives like alcohol calm down a person. Opiates are derivatives of opium. Opium is known to induce partial consciousness. Heroin is an example of an opiate drug.

Heroin and cocaine have the highest addiction-quotients. In other words, these drugs cause a combination of psychological and physical dependence that leaves the affected person unable to quit using it completely. Some people take self-medications to alter their mental processes. This might be a result of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) or general stress. Self-medication is the use of over-the-counter drugs, to relieve stress, or other psychological problems.

There are many symptoms of substance abuse. The general symptoms are: high and uncharacteristic irritability, chronic depression, alcoholism, forgetfulness, promiscuity, breaking laws, antisocial behavior, and morbid orientations.

The causes of substance abuse are mainly attributed to the quality of the adolescent years. Parental negligence will cause teenagers to adopt these behaviors. Peers and companions also influence the overall perception of health and well being in adolescent minds. It is important to also factor-in socialization skills and patterns, in that, it plays a huge role in total abstinence or total adoption of substance addictions.

Filed Under: Drug Addiction, Substance Abuse Tagged With: Addiction, Drug abuse, Health, Substance abuse

Factors that make you a softer addiction target

August 15, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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There are hundreds of thousands of people around the world who try out a drug or substance for the first time on any given them. Not all of these people attempt taking a drug again and many of them never take any form of addictive drugs once they have experienced the thrill of trying out something new. Yet, there are several people from amongst those who try drugs for the first time who will not only take drugs again but are at a greater risk of abuse and addiction.

One of the primary factors that lead to addiction is mental stress and disorders. If a person is going through a tough phase in life and has high levels of emotional and mental anxiety, there is a higher chance that such a person would repeatedly use drugs as a means of escape. Substance abuse provides them with a supposedly easy solution to the depression and so mentally stressed people are more likely to move on to addiction.

If a child has grown up in a family where drug/ substance abuse was an issue, such children are more likely to follow suit. In a psychological response to making their childhood family life seem normal, children coming from families with a history of drug abuse fail to realize that there is anything wrong with substance abuse. It is extremely dangerous when a person considers addiction to be “normal” as they are not only prone to becoming addicts themselves but are eventually more difficult to treat as well.

It also very likely that children who have grown up in families suffering from addiction also have a history of child abuse. Parents who are addicts often neglect their children and can be abusive as well, leading to traumatic situations for the child. Having a troubled childhood and drugs being freely available in the household leads to children using drugs at an early age, which again leads to an addiction that is more intense and difficult to treat. Children from such families need to be monitored or they might become victims themselves.

Filed Under: Addiction, Recovering, Rehab Tagged With: Addiction, Drug addiction, Health, Substance abuse

Recovering from Substance Abuse: Use Bill Consolidation as a Motivator

August 13, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Addictions are strong urges toward a harmful substance or an action. They don’t discriminate and can affect anyone at anytime. Substance dependency can be a devastating matter for a family to endure. If a person is struggling or she’s tried to stop the behavior on multiple times without success, family members should step in and help the person find guidance and direction to get her life back on track. If the person who suffers with the challenge of the substance abuse is open to help, you can use motivational tools to encourage her to begin the healing process.

People suffering from addiction aren’t all the same nor do they look alike. Many are professionals in corporate settings who go to work everyday, hold meetings, shop for groceries, and raise a family. For them, the dependency may be more difficult to cease, since they have an image to maintain and are fearful that someone will find out about their problem. It’s also noteworthy to mention that maintaining a drug habit is costly and creates a financial burden for the dependent person.

With a good program and a plan of intervention that will last awhile, a person can kick the drug habit. In addition to the program, the person will need some other type of motivation to help him realize the great things he can enjoy once he stabilizes his life. If he is in significant debt, which is very common, getting him to do a bill consolidation is effective in showing him how much money he will have left over on a regular basis by consolidating bills. A person may become motivated to work harder to cease the drug habit if she sees that there will be financial resources to buy other things like cars, home furnishings, or clothes. The process of consolidating debt can be very effective, motivating, and endearing when someone shares with an addict all the things he can enjoy with a life.

Filed Under: Substance Abuse Tagged With: Addiction, Health, Substance abuse

What To Expect From Detox

August 11, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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It is necessary for an addict, especially an alcoholic, to quit cold turkey when they stop using. Alcoholics cannot have one drink and be done with it. One drink is simply the gateway to more drinking and so it must be avoided at all cost. However, going off of a chemically dependent substance is one of the hardest things to do initially. It’s never easy quitting cold turkey and the detox itself can put you in a physically compromised state that could lead to hospitalization or even death. So if you are about make the decision to quit cold turkey you should understand that ins and outs of initial detox.

First you have to know that the severity of your symptoms during detox are usually dependant on how much you are dependant on the alcohol. In most cases the result of death during detox is usually in the case of patients who have had a severe alcohol dependency for years. So detoxing shouldn’t scare you to that extent. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be prepared.

The one thing you need to take care of before you decide to go cold turkey is consult a physician. Assuming you aren’t going the route of a rehab facility which will have doctors, nurses, and trained technicians to help you, then a doctor is your best bet. Be honest and upfront about the length and severity of your alcohol dependency so that your doctor can tell you what to expect and how to go about treating it.

Know that regardless of the length and depth of the dependency that there will be some physical as well as emotional adjustments that should be made. Vomiting, nausea, followed by symptoms like irritability and depression are all common symptoms of someone going through detox. Now, once again the severity that you will feel these symptoms depend a lot on you and your alcohol dependency but that doesn’t mean that mean it isn’t worth trying. It is a long hard road to recovery and the beginning and be the hardest but it’s always worth it.

Filed Under: Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, Recovering, Substance Abuse Tagged With: Addiction, Alcoholism, Centers and Counseling Services, Substance abuse