Drug Rehab

Treatment Methods for Women

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:37:37 PDT

Addiction to drugs is a serious, chronic, and relapsing health problem for both women and men of all ages and backgrounds. Among women, however, drug abuse may present different challenges to health, may progress differently, and may require different treatment approaches.

Understanding Women Who Use Drugs
It is possible for drug-dependent women, of any age, to overcome the illness of drug addiction. Those that have been most successful have had the help and support of significant others, family members, friends, treatment providers, and the community. Women of all races and socioeconomic status suffer from the serious illness of drug addiction. And women of all races, income groups, levels of education, and types of communities need treatment for drug addiction, as they do for any other problem affecting their physical or mental health.

Many women who use drugs have faced serious challenges to their well-being during their lives. For example, research indicates that up to 70 percent of drug abusing women report histories of physical and sexual abuse. Data also indicate that women are far more likely than men to report a parental history of alcohol and drug abuse. Often, women who use drugs have low self-esteem and little self-confidence and may feel powerless. In addition, minority women may face additional cultural and language barriers that can affect or hinder their treatment and recovery.

Many drug-using women do not seek treatment because they are afraid: They fear not being able to take care of or keep their children, they fear reprisal from their spouses or boyfriends, and they fear punishment from authorities in the community. Many women report that their drug-using male sex partners initiated them into drug abuse. In addition, research indicates that drug-dependent women have great difficulty abstaining from drugs, when the lifestyle of their male partner is one that supports drug use.

Consequences of Drug Use for Women
Research suggests that women may become more quickly addicted than men to certain drugs, such as crack cocaine, even after casual or experimental use. Therefore, by the time a woman enters treatment, she may be severely addicted and consequently may require treatment that both identifies her specific needs and responds to them.

These needs will likely include addressing other serious health problems-sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and mental health problems, for example. More specifically, health risks associated with drug abuse in women are:

Poor nutrition and below-average weight
Low self-esteem
Depression
Physical abuse
If pregnant, preterm labor or early delivery
Serious medical and infectious diseases (e.g., increased blood pressure and heart rate, STDs, HIV/AIDS)
Drug Abuse and HIV/AIDS
AIDS is now the fourth leading cause of death among women of childbearing age in the United States. Substance abuse compounds the risk of AIDS for women, especially for women who are injecting drug users and who share drug paraphernalia, because HIV/AIDS often is transmitted through shared needles, and other shared items, such as syringes, cotton swabs, rinse water, and cookers. In addition, under the influence of illicit drugs and alcohol, women may engage in unprotected sex, which also increases their risk for contracting or transmitting HIV/AIDS.

From 1993 to 1994, the number of new AIDS cases among women decreased 17 percent. Still, as of January 1997, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had documented almost 85,500 cases of AIDS among adolescent and adult women in the United States. Of these cases,

About 62 percent were related either to the woman's own injecting drug use or to her having sex with an injecting drug user.
About 37 percent were related to heterosexual contact, and almost half of these women acquired HIV/AIDS by having sex with an injecting drug user.
Treatment for Women
Research shows that women receive the most benefit from drug treatment programs that provide comprehensive services for meeting their basic needs, including access to the following:

Food, clothing, and shelter
Transportation
Job counseling and training
Legal assistance
Literacy training and educational opportunities
Parenting training
Family therapy
Couples counseling
Medical care
Child care
Social services
Social support
Psychological assessment and mental health care
Assertiveness training
Family planning services
Traditional drug treatment programs may not be appropriate for women because those programs may not provide these services. Research also indicates that, for women in particular, a continuing relationship with a treatment provider is an important factor throughout treatment. Any individual may experience lapses and relapses as expected steps of the treatment and recovery process; during these periods, women particularly need the support of the community and encouragement of those closest to them. After completing a drug treatment program, women also need services to assist them in sustaining their recovery and in rejoining the community.

Extent of Use
The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA)* provides yearly estimates of drug use prevalence among various demographic groups in the United States. Data are derived from a nationwide sample of household members aged 12 and older.

In 1996, 29.9 percent of U.S. women (females over age 12) had used an illicit drug at least once in their lives-33.3 million out of 111.1 million women. More than 4.7 million women had used an illicit drug at least once in the month preceding the survey.

The survey showed 30.5 million women had used marijuana at least once in their lifetimes. About 603,000 women had used cocaine in the preceding month; 241,000 had used crack cocaine. About 547,000 women had used hallucinogens (including LSD and PCP) in the preceding month.

In 1996, 56,000 women used a needle to inject drugs, and 856,000 had done so at some point in their lives.
In 1996, nearly 1.2 million females aged 12 and older had taken prescription drugs (sedatives, tranquilizers, or analgesics) for a nonmedical purpose during the preceding month.

In the month preceding the survey, more than 26 million women had smoked cigarettes, and more than 48.5 million had consumed alcohol.

Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:36:49 PDT

Many people view drug abuse and addiction as strictly a social problem. Parents, teens, older adults, and other members of the community tend to characterize people who take drugs as morally weak or as having criminal tendencies. They believe that drug abusers and addicts should be able to stop taking drugs if they are willing to change their behavior.

These myths have not only stereotyped those with drug-related problems, but also their families, their communities, and the health care professionals who work with them. Drug abuse and addiction comprise a public health problem that affects many people and has wide-ranging social consequences. It is NIDA's goal to help the public replace its myths and long-held mistaken beliefs about drug abuse and addiction with scientific evidence that addiction is a chronic, relapsing, and treatable disease.

Addiction does begin with drug abuse when an individual makes a conscious choice to use drugs, but addiction is not just "a lot of drug use." Recent scientific research provides overwhelming evidence that not only do drugs interfere with normal brain functioning creating powerful feelings of pleasure, but they also have long-term effects on brain metabolism and activity. At some point, changes occur in the brain that can turn drug abuse into addiction, a chronic, relapsing illness. Those addicted to drugs suffer from a compulsive drug craving and usage and cannot quit by themselves. Treatment is necessary to end this compulsive behavior.

A variety of approaches are used in treatment programs to help patients deal with these cravings and possibly avoid drug relapse. NIDA research shows that addiction is clearly treatable. Through treatment that is tailored to individual needs, patients can learn to control their condition and live relatively normal lives.

Treatment can have a profound effect not only on drug abusers, but on society as a whole by significantly improving social and psychological functioning, decreasing related criminality and violence, and reducing the spread of AIDS. It can also dramatically reduce the costs to society of drug abuse.

Understanding drug abuse also helps in understanding how to prevent use in the first place. Results from NIDA-funded prevention research have shown that comprehensive prevention programs that involve the family, schools, communities, and the media are effective in reducing drug abuse. It is necessary to keep sending the message that it is better to not start at all than to enter rehabilitation if addiction occurs.

A tremendous opportunity exists to effectively change the ways in which the public understands drug abuse and addiction because of the wealth of scientific data. Overcoming misconceptions and replacing ideology with scientific knowledge is the best hope for bridging the "great disconnect" - the gap between the public perception of drug abuse and addiction and the scientific facts.

Be especially scrutinizing as you determine the drug rehab program that meets your specific needs. This site has listings of drug rehab programs and treatment centers, alcohol rehabilitation programs, teen rehabs, sober houses, drug detox and alcohol detox centers.

Please call (866) 762-3712 to find the right drug rehabilitation center for you or your loved one.

Detox

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:35:31 PDT

Length of Detoxification

Because detoxification often entails a more intensive level of care than other types of AOD treatment, there is a practical value in defining a period during which a person is "in detoxification." There is no simple way to do this. Usually, the detoxification period is defined as the period during which the patient receives detoxification medications.

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Third-party payers often manage payment for AOD detoxification services separately from other phases of drug treatment, as though detoxification occurs in isolation from drug treatment. In clinical practice, this separation cannot exist. Detoxification is one component of a comprehensive treatment strategy.
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Another way of defining the detoxification period is by measuring the duration of withdrawal signs or symptoms. However, the duration of these symptoms may be difficult to determine in a correctly medicated patient because symptoms of withdrawal are largely suppressed by the medication. Chapter 3 describes the typical lengths of regimens for withdrawal.

The Role of Detoxification in AOD Abuse Treatment

For many AOD-dependent patients, detoxification is the beginning phase of treatment. It can entail more than a period of physical readjustment. It can also be a time when patients begin to make the psychological readjustments necessary for ongoing treatment. Offering detoxification alone, without followup to an appropriate level of care, is an inadequate use of limited resources. People who have severe problems that predate their AOD dependence or addiction -- such as family disintegration, lack of job skills, illiteracy, or psychiatric disorders -- may continue to have these problems after detoxification unless specific services are available to help them deal with these factors (Gerstein and Harwood, 1990).

Immediate Goals of Detoxification

To provide a safe withdrawal from the drug(s) of dependence and enable the patient to become drug free. Many risks are associated with withdrawal, some influenced by the setting. For persons who are severely dependent on alcohol, abrupt, unsupervised cessation of drinking may result in delirium tremens or death. Other sedative-hypnotics may produce life-threatening withdrawal syndromes. Withdrawal from opioids produces severe discomfort, but is not generally life threatening. However, risks to the patient and society are not limited to the severity of the patient's physical disturbance, particularly when the detoxification is conducted in an outpatient setting. Outpatients experiencing withdrawal symptoms may self-medicate with street drugs. The resulting interaction between prescribed medication and street drugs may result in an overdose. Less severe side effects include sedation or a drop in blood pressure.

To provide withdrawal that is humane and protects the patient's dignity. A caring staff, a supportive environment, sensitivity to cultural issues, confidentiality, and the selection of appropriate detoxification medication (if needed) are all important to providing humane withdrawal.

To prepare the patient for ongoing treatment of his or her AOD dependence. During detoxification, patients may form therapeutic relationships with treatment staff or other patients, and may become aware of alternatives to an AOD-abusing lifestyle. Detoxification is an opportunity to offer patients information and to motivate them for longer term treatment.

Repeated Detoxification

Alling discussed detoxification and treatment in a text published in 1992:

Those not familiar with the chronic nature of addictive disorders often characterize detoxification programs as 'revolving doors' through which patients come and go in an endless cycle, and which have little or no impact on the recovery process. Although it is true that many people undergo detoxification more than once -- and some do so many times -- the assumption that little or no progress has been made is often false. (Alling, 1992)

Alling(1992) described a pattern in individuals who return for several detoxification episodes, observing that young people with a history of AOD dependence of short duration (a year or less) "often are unrealistically optimistic about being able to remain drug free following detoxification." When recently AOD-dependent persons return after several months for repeat detoxification, it is usually with a more realistic expectation about what is needed to remain free from AODs. Individuals who subsequently relapse and return for detoxification a third time may have an even clearer understanding of what is required to sustain recovery (Alling, 1992).

During certain expected and predictable phases of recovery, addicted persons are at increased risk of relapse. However, relapse can occur at any point in recovery. Thus, relapse prevention is a legitimate area for patient education, and the relapsed patient is appropriate for clinical treatment. Treatment services designed precisely for this stage of the disease may facilitate the individual's return to abstinence.

Issues in Postdetoxification Treatment

Few addicted persons enter detoxification or seek further treatment with the idea of maintaining lifelong abstinence. They may still believe they can control their abuse of AODs. Some persons enter detoxification and other treatment to satisfy the demands of their families, employers, or the courts. They may be motivated to seek treatment because attempts to relieve pressure through other means have proved futile. Clinicians should consider patient motivation when deciding upon appropriate treatment placement.

Families suffer severe consequences from the AOD abuse of their loved ones. The consequences may include obvious problems such as lost income, domestic violence, or divorce. Less obvious consequences may also occur, such as issues concerning trust and children's mirroring maladaptive ways to deal with problems encountered in everyday living. Addiction is a family disease because of the seriousness of its effects on family members and family functioning. Just as the person who abuses AODs needs support, education, and counseling, so too does the family. It is appropriate and important for treatment providers to engage the family in treatment as early as possible, even while the individual is undergoing detoxification.

Effects of AOD Exposure and Withdrawal

Tolerance and Physical Dependence

Continued exposure to AODs induces adaptive changes in an individual's brain cells and neural functioning. The changes vary depending on the drug of abuse and are not completely understood. The term "neuroadaptation" is often used to refer to these changes. One result of neuroadaptation is drug tolerance; that is, increasing the amounts of the drug that are required to produce the same effect. A second consequence of neuroadaptation is physical dependence; the brain cells require the drug in order to function.

Drug Withdrawal

Sudden removal of alcohol or another drug of abuse from the system of a person who is physically dependent produces either an abstinence or withdrawal syndrome. The abstinence syndrome for each drug follows a predictable time course and has predictable signs and symptoms. Signs are defined by Webster's Medical Dictionary as "objective evidence of disease especially as observed and interpreted by the physician rather than by the patient or lay observer." Symptoms are defined in the same text as "subjective evidence of disease or physical disturbance observed by the patient."

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There are three immediate goals of detoxification:

To provide a safe withdrawal from the drug(s) of dependence and enable the patient to become drug free

To provide withdrawal that is humane and protects the patient's dignity

To prepare the patient for ongoing treatment of his or her AOD dependence

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The signs and symptoms of drug withdrawal are usually the reverse of the direct pharmacological effects of the drug. Heroin use commonly produces elevation of mood (euphoria), a decrease in anxiety, insensitivity to pain (analgesia), and a decrease in the activity of the large intestine, often causing constipation. Heroin withdrawal, on the other hand, produces an unpleasant mood (dysphoria), pain, anxiety, and overactivity of the large intestine, often resulting in diarrhea. Alcohol usually reduces anxiety and causes sedation; large quantities may produce sleep, coma, or even death by respiratory depression. In a person who is physically dependent, cessation of alcohol use produces anxiety, insomnia, hallucinations, and seizures.

For short-acting drugs such as alcohol and heroin, the most severe signs and symptoms of withdrawal usually begin within hours of the individual's last use. With a long-acting drug or medication, such as diazepam (Valium), withdrawal symptoms may not begin for several days and usually reach peak intensity after 5 to 10 days. The most severe drug-withdrawal symptoms, during the initial stages of detoxification, constitute the acute abstinence syndrome. The adjective "acute" distinguishes the syndrome from a "chronic" or protracted abstinence syndrome, in which signs and symptoms of withdrawal may continue for weeks to months after cessation of use (Martin and Jasinski, 1969).

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The signs and symptoms of drug withdrawal are usually the reverse of the direct pharmacological effects of the drug.
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Protracted abstinence syndrome is the subject of considerable controversy. Providers often find it difficult to distinguish symptoms caused by drug withdrawal from those caused by a patient's underlying mental disorder, if one is present. The signs and symptoms of protracted withdrawal are not as predictable as those of acute withdrawal. Some patients may be predisposed to a protracted withdrawal. Acute withdrawal syndromes produce measurable signs that researchers can study in animals under controlled laboratory conditions; protracted withdrawal in patients, by contrast, is often confined to distress symptoms that cannot be studied in animals.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Be especially scrutinizing as you determine the drug rehab program that meets your specific needs. This site has listings of drug rehab detox programs and detox treatment centers, alcohol detox rehabilitation programs, teen drug rehab, sober houses, drug detox and alcohol detox centers.

Please call (866) 762-3712 to find the right drug rehabilitation center for you or your loved one.

What are effect if use Cocaine

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:34:50 PDT

Cocaine's effects appear almost immediately after a single dose, and disappear within a few minutes or hours. Taken in small amounts (up to 100 mg), cocaine usually makes the user feel euphoric, energetic, talkative, and mentally alert, especially to the sensations of sight, sound, and touch. It can also temporarily decrease the need for food and sleep. Some users find that the drug helps them to perform simple physical and intellectual tasks more quickly, while others can experience the opposite effect.

The duration of cocaine's immediate euphoric effects depends upon the route of administration. The faster the absorption, the more intense the high. Also, the faster the absorption, the shorter the duration of action. The high from snorting is relatively slow in onset, and may last 15 to 30 minutes, while that from smoking may last 5 to 10 minutes.

The short-term physiological effects of cocaine include constricted blood vessels; dilated pupils; and increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Large amounts (several hundred milligrams or more) intensify the user's high, but may also lead to bizarre, erratic, and violent behavior. These users may experience tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches, paranoia, or, with repeated doses, a toxic reaction closely resembling amphetamine poisoning. Some users of cocaine report feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety. In rare instances, sudden death can occur on the first use of cocaine or unexpectedly thereafter. Cocaine-related deaths are often a result of cardiac arrest or seizures followed by respiratory arrest.

What are the long-term
effects of cocaine use?

Long-term effects of cocaine

Addiction
Irritability and mood disturbances
Restlessness
Paranoia
Auditory hallucinations

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug. Once having tried cocaine, an individual may have difficulty predicting or controlling the extent to which he or she will continue to use the drug. Cocaine's stimulant and addictive effects are thought to be primarily a result of its ability to inhibit the reabsorption of dopamine by nerve cells. Dopamine is released as part of the brain's reward system, and is either directly or indirectly involved in the addictive properties of every major drug of abuse.

An appreciable tolerance to cocaine's high may develop, with many addicts reporting that they seek but fail to achieve as much pleasure as they did from their first experience. Some users will frequently increase their doses to intensify and prolong the euphoric effects. While tolerance to the high can occur, users can also become more sensitive (sensitization) to cocaine's anesthetic and convulsant effects, without incre?g the dose taken. This increased sensitivity may explain some deaths occurring after apparently low doses of cocaine.

Use of cocaine in a binge, during which the drug is taken repeatedly and at increasingly high doses, leads to a state of increasing irritability, restlessness, and paranoia. This may result in a full-blown paranoid psychosis, in which the individual loses touch with reality and experiences auditory hallucinations.

What are the medical complications of cocaine abuse?

Medical consequences of cocaine abuse

Cardiovascular effects

disturbances in heart rhythm
heart attacks

Respiratory effects

chest pain
respiratory failure

Neurological effects

strokes
seizures and headaches

Gastrointestinal complications

abdominal pain
nausea

There are enormous medical complications associated with cocaine use. Some of the most frequent complications are cardiovascular effects, including disturbances in heart rhythm and heart attacks; such respiratory effects as chest pain and respiratory failure; neurological effects, including strokes, seizure, and headaches; and gastrointestinal complications, including abdominal pain and nausea.

Cocaine use has been linked to many types of heart disease. Cocaine has been found to trigger chaotic heart rhythms, called ventricular fibrillation; accelerate heartbeat and breathing; and increase blood pressure and body temperature. Physical symptoms may include chest pain, nausea, blurred vision, fever, muscle spasms, convulsions and coma.

Different routes of cocaine administration can produce different adverse effects. Regularly snorting cocaine, for example, can lead to loss of sense of smell, nosebleeds, problems with swallowing, hoarseness, and an overall irritation of the nasal septum, which can lead to a chronically inflamed, runny nose. Ingested cocaine can cause severe bowel gangrene, due to reduced blood flow. And, persons who inject cocaine have puncture marks and "tracks," most commonly in their forearms. Intravenous cocaine users may also experience an allergic reaction, either to the drug, or to some additive in street cocaine, which can result, in severe cases, in death. Because cocaine has a tendency to decrease food intake, many chronic cocaine users lose their appetites and can experience significant weight loss and malnourishment.

Research has revealed a potentially dangerous interaction between cocaine and alcohol. Taken in combination, the two drugs are converted by the body to cocaethylene. Cocaethylene has a longer duration of action in the brain and is more toxic than either drug alone. While more research needs to be done, it is noteworthy that the mixture of cocaine and alcohol is the most common two-drug combination that results in drug-related death.

Are cocaine abusers at risk
for contracting HIV/AIDS
and hepatitis B and C?

Yes. Cocaine abusers, especially those who inject, are at increased risk for contracting such infectious diseases as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) and hepatitis. In fact, use and abuse of illicit drugs, including crack cocaine, have become the leading risk factors for new cases of HIV. Drug abuse-related spread of HIV can result from direct transmission of the virus through the sharing of contaminated needles and paraphernalia between injecting drug users. It can also result from indirect transmission, such as an HIV-infected mother transmitting the virus perinatally to her child. This is particularly alarming, given that more than 60 percent of new AIDS cases are women. Research has also shown that drug use can interfere with judgement about risk-taking behavior, and can potentially lead to reduced precautions about having sex, the sharing of needles and injection paraphernalia, and the trading of sex for drugs, by both men and women.

Additionally, hepatitis C is spreading rapidly among injection drug users; current estimates indicate infection rates of 65 to 90 percent in this population. At present, there is no vaccine for the hepatitis C virus, and the only treatment is expensive, often unsuccessful, and may have serious side effects.

What is the effect of
maternal cocaine use?

The full extent of the effects of prenatal drug exposure on a child is not completely known, but many scientific studies have documented that babies born to mothers who abuse cocaine during pregnancy are often prematurely delivered, have low birth weights and smaller head circumferences, and are often shorter in length.

Estimating the full extent of the consequences of maternal drug abuse is difficult, and determining the specific hazard of a particular drug to the unborn child is even more problematic, given that, typically, more than one substance is abused. Such factors as the amount and number of all drugs abused; inadequate prenatal care; abuse and neglect of the children, due to the mother's lifestyle; socio-economic status; poor maternal nutrition; other health problems; and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, are just some examples of the difficulty in determining the direct impact of perinatal cocaine use, for example, on maternal and fetal outcome.

Many may recall that "crack babies," or babies born to mothers who used cocaine while pregnant, were written off by many a decade ago as a lost generation. They were predicted to suffer from severe, irreversible damage, including reduced intelligence and social skills. It was later found that this was a gross exaggeration. Most crack-exposed babies appear to recover quite well. However, the fact that most of these children appear normal should not be over-interpreted as a positive sign. Using sophisticated technologies, scientists are now finding that exposure to cocaine during fetal development may lead to subtle, but significant, deficits later, especially with behaviors that are crucial to success in the classroom, such as blocking out distractions and concentrating for long periods of time.

What treatments are effective
for cocaine abusers?

There has been an enormous increase in the number of people seeking treatment for cocaine addiction during the 1980s and 1990s. Treatment providers in most areas of the country, except in the West and Southwest, report that cocaine is the most commonly cited drug of abuse among their clients. The majority of individuals seeking treatment smoke crack, and are likely to be poly-drug users, or users of more than one substance. The widespread abuse of cocaine has stimulated extensive efforts to develop treatment programs for this type of drug abuse. Cocaine abuse and addiction is a complex problem involving biological changes in the brain as well as a myriad of social, familial, and environmental factors. Therefore, treatment of cocaine addiction is complex, and must address a variety of problems. Like any good treatment plan, cocaine treatment strategies need to assess the psychobiological, social, and pharmacological aspects of the patient's drug abuse.

Pharmacological Approaches

There are no medications currently available to treat cocaine addiction specifically. Consequently, NIDA is aggressively pursuing the identification and testing of new cocaine treatment medications. Several newly emerging compounds are being investigated to assess their safety and efficacy in treating cocaine addiction. For example, one of the most promising anti-cocaine drug medications to date, selegeline, is being taken into multi-site phase III clinical trials in 1999. These trials will evaluate two innovative routes of selegeline administration: a transdermal patch and a time-released pill, to determine which is most beneficial. Disulfiram, a medication that has been used to treat alcoholism, has also been shown, in clinical studies, to be effective in reducing cocaine abuse. Because of mood changes experienced during the early stages of cocaine abstinence, antidepressant drugs have been shown to be of some benefit. In addition to the problems of treating addiction, cocaine overdose results in many deaths every year, and medical treatments are being developed to deal with the acute emergencies resulting from excessive cocaine abuse.

Behavioral Interventions

Many behavioral treatments have been found to be effective for cocaine addiction, including both residential and outpatient approaches. Indeed, behavioral therapies are often the only available, effective treatment approaches to many drug problems, including cocaine addiction, for which there is, as yet, no viable medication. However, integration of both types of treatments is ultimately the most effective approach for treating addiction. It is important to match the best treatment regimen to the needs of the patient. This may include adding to or removing from an individual's treatment regimen a number of different components or elements. For example, if an individual is prone to relapses, a relapse component should be added to the program. A behavioral therapy component that is showing positive results in many cocaine-addicted populations, is contingency management. Contingency management uses a voucher-based system to give positive rewards for staying in treatment and remaining cocaine free. Based on drug-free urine tests, the patients earn points, which can be exchanged for items that encourage healthy living, such as joining a gym, or going to a movie and dinner. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is another approach. Cognitive-behavioral coping skills treatment, for example, is a short-term, focused approach to helping cocaine-addicted individuals become abstinent from cocaine and other substances. The underlying assumption is that learning processes play an important role in the development and continuation of cocaine abuse and dependence. The same learning processes can be employed to help individuals reduce drug use. This approach attempts to help patients to recognize, avoid, and cope; i.e., recognize the situations in which they are most likely to use cocaine, avoid these situations when appropriate, and cope more effectively with a range of problems and problematic behaviors associated with drug abuse. This therapy is also noteworthy because of its compatibility with a range of other treatments patients may receive, such as pharmacotherapy.

Therapeutic communities, or residential programs with planned lengths of stay of 6 to 12 months, offer another alternative to those in need of treatment for cocaine addiction. Therapeutic communities are often comprehensive, in that they focus on the resocialization of the individual to society, and can include on-site vocational rehabilitation and other supportive services. Therapeutic communities typically are used to treat patients with more severe problems, such as co-occurring mental health problems and criminal involvement.

Buprenorphine Therapy

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:33:12 PDT

Buprenorphine, a derivative of thebaine, is an opiate that has been marketed in the United States as the Schedule V parenteral analgesic Buprenex®. In 2002, based on a re-evaluation of available evidence regarding the potential for abuse, diversion, dependence, and side effects, the DEA reclassified buprenorphine from a Schedule V to a Schedule III narcotic.

In October 2002, Reckitt Benckiser received FDA approval to market a buprenorphine monotherapy product, Subutex®, and a buprenorphine/naloxone combination product, Suboxone®, for use in opioid addiction treatment. The combination product is designed to decrease the potential for abuse by injection. Subutex® and Suboxone® are currently the only medications to have received FDA approval for this indication. In January 2003, Reckitt Benckiser began shipments of Suboxone® to pharmacies in the United States.

The approval of these formulations does not affect the treatment standards of previously approved medication-assisted treatments, such as methadone and LAAM (levo-alpha-acetyl-methadol). As indicated in Title 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 8 (42 CFR Part 8), these therapies can only be dispensed, and only in the context of an Opioid Treatment Program. Also, neither the approval of Subutex® and Suboxone®, nor the provisions of DATA 2000, affect the use of other Schedule III, IV, or V medications, such as morphine, that are not approved for the treatment of addiction. Lastly, note that other forms of buprenorphine besides Subutex® and Suboxone®, e.g., Buprenex®, are not approved for treatment of opioid addiction.

Applied Pharmacology

Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist. This means that, although buprenorphine is an opioid, and thus can produce typical opioid agonist effects and side effects, such as euphoria and respiratory depression, its maximal effects are less than those of full agonists like heroin and methadone. At low doses, buprenorphine produces sufficient agonist effect to enable opioid-addicted individuals to discontinue the misuse of opioids without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. The agonist effects of buprenorphine increase linearly with increasing doses of the drug until at moderate doses they reach a plateau and no longer continue to increase with further increases in dose—the so-called “ceiling effect.” Thus, buprenorphine carries a lower risk of abuse, dependence, and side effects compared to full opioid agonists. In fact, in high doses and under certain circumstances, buprenorphine can actually block the effects of full opioid agonists and can precipitate withdrawal symptoms in an acutely opioid-intoxicated individual.

Buprenorphine has poor oral bioavailability and moderate sublingual bioavailability. Thus, formulations for opioid dependence treatment are in the form of sublingual tablets.

Buprenorphine is highly bound to plasma proteins. It is metabolized by the liver via the cytochrome P4503A4 enzyme system into norbuprenorphine and other metabolites. The half-life of buprenorphine is 24–60 hours.

Safety

Because of its ceiling effect and poor bioavailability, buprenorphine is safer in overdose than opioid full agonists. The maximal effects of buprenorphine appear to occur in the 16–32 mg dose range for sublingual tablets. Higher doses are unlikely to produce greater effects.

Respiratory depression from buprenorphine (or buprenorphine/naloxone) overdose is less likely than from other opioids. There is no evidence of organ damage with chronic use of buprenorphine, although increases in liver enzymes are sometimes seen. Likewise, there is no evidence of significant disruption of cognitive or psychomotor performance with buprenorphine maintenance dosing.

Information about the use of buprenorphine in pregnant, opioid-dependent women is limited; the few available case reports have not demonstrated any significant problems due to buprenorphine use during pregnancy. Suboxone® and Subutex® are classified by the FDA as Pregnancy Category C medications.

Side Effects

Side effects of buprenorphine are similar to those of other opioids and include nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Buprenorphine and buprenorphine/naloxone can precipitate the opioid withdrawal syndrome. Additionally, the withdrawal syndrome can be precipitated in individuals maintained on buprenorphine. Signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal include:

Dysphoric mood
Nausea or vomiting
Muscle aches/cramps
Lacrimation
Rhinorrhea
Pupillary dilation
Sweating
Piloerection
Diarrhea
Yawning
Mild fever
Insomnia
Craving
Distress/irritability

Abuse Potential

Because of its opioid agonist effects, buprenorphine is abusable, particularly by individuals who are not physically dependent on opioids. Naloxone is added to buprenorphine to decrease the likelihood of diversion and abuse of the combination product. Sublingual buprenorphine has moderate bioavailability, while sublingual naloxone has poor bioavailability. Thus, when the buprenorphine/naloxone tablet is taken in sublingual form, the buprenorphine opioid agonist effect predominates, and the naloxone does not precipitate opioid withdrawal in the opioid-dependent user.

Naloxone via the parenteral route, however, has good bioavailability. If the sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone tablets are crushed and injected by an opioid-dependent individual, the naloxone effect predominates and can acutely precipitate the opioid withdrawal syndrome.

Under certain circumstances buprenorphine by itself can also precipitate withdrawal in opioid-dependent individuals. This is more likely to occur with higher levels of physical dependence, with short time intervals (e.g., less than 2 hours) between a dose of opioid agonist (e.g., methadone) and a dose of buprenorphine, and with higher doses of buprenorphine.

Evidence of Effectiveness

Studies have shown that buprenorphine is more effective than placebo and is equally as effective as moderate doses of methadone and LAAM in opioid maintenance therapy. Buprenorphine is unlikely to be as effective as more optimal-dose methadone, and therefore may not be the treatment of choice for patients with higher levels of physical dependence.

Few studies have been reported on the efficacy of buprenorphine for completely withdrawing patients from opioids. In general, the results of studies of medically assisted withdrawal using opioids (e.g., methadone) have shown poor outcomes. Buprenorphine, however, is known to cause a milder withdrawal syndrome compared to methadone and for this reason may be the better choice if opioid withdrawal therapy is elected.

Non-pharmacological Therapies

Effective treatment of drug addiction requires comprehensive attention to all of an individual’s medical and psychosocial co-morbidities. Pharmacological therapy alone rarely achieves long-term success. Thus Suboxone® and Subutex® treatment should be combined with concurrent behavioral therapies and with the provision of needed social services.

The choice of treatment setting in which to provide non-pharmacological therapies should be determined based on the intensity of intervention required for a patient. The continuum of treatment setting intensities ranges from episodic office-based therapy to intensive inpatient therapy.

Ideal candidates for opioid addiction treatment with buprenorphine are individuals who have been objectively diagnosed with opioid addiction, are willing to follow safety precautions for treatment, can be expected to comply with the treatment, have no contraindications to buprenorphine therapy, and who agree to buprenorphine treatment after a review of treatment options. There are three phases of buprenorphine maintenance therapy: induction, stabilization, and maintenance.

The induction phase is the medically monitored startup of buprenorphine therapy. Buprenorphine for induction therapy is administered when an opioid-dependent individual has abstained from using opioids for 12–24 hours and is in the early stages of opioid withdrawal. If the patient is not in the early stages of withdrawal, i.e., if he or she has other opioids in the bloodstream, then the buprenorphine dose could precipitate acute withdrawal.

Induction is typically initiated as observed therapy in the physician’s office and may be carried out using either Suboxone® or Subutex®, dependent upon the physician’s judgment. As noted above, Buprenex®, the parenteral analgesic form of buprenorphine, is not FDA-approved for use in opioid addiction treatment.

The stabilization phase has begun when the patients have discontinued or greatly reduced the use of their drug of abuse, no longer has cravings, and is experiencing few or no side effects. The buprenorphine dose may need to be adjusted during the stabilization phase. Because of the long half-life of buprenorphine it is sometimes possible to switch patients to alternate-day dosing once stabilization has been achieved.

The maintenance phase is reached when the patient is doing well on a steady dose of buprenorphine (or buprenorphine/naloxone). The length of time of the maintenance phase is individualized for each patient and may be indefinite. The alternative to going into (or continuing) a maintenance phase, once stabilization has been achieved, is medically supervised withdrawal. This takes the place of what was formerly called “detoxification.”

Please call (866) 762-3712 to find the right drug rehabilitation center for you or your loved one.

Adolescent Substance Abuse

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:32:24 PDT

Being a teenager and raising a teenager are individually, and collectively, enormous challenges. For many teens, illicit substance use and abuse become part of the landscape of their teenage years. Although most adolescents who use drugs do not progress to become drug abusers, or drug addicts in adulthood, drug use in adolescence is a very risky proposition. Even small degrees of substance abuse (for example, alcohol, marijuana, and inhalants) can have negative consequences. Typically, school and relationships, notably family relationships, are among the life areas that are most influenced by drug use and abuse.

One of the most telling signs of a teen's increasing involvement with drugs is when drug use becomes part of the teen's daily life. Preoccupation with drugs can crowd out previously important activities, and the manner in which the teen views him or her self may change in unrealistic and inaccurate directions. Friendship groups may change, sometimes dramatically, and relationships with family members can become more distant or conflictual. Further bad signs include more frequent use or use of greater amounts of a certain drug, or use of more dangerous drugs, such as cocaine, amphetamines, or heroin. Persistent patterns of drug use in adolescence are a sign that problems in that teen's environment exist and need to be addressed immediately.

What causes adolescent substance abuse?
There is no single cause of adolescent drug problems. Drug abuse develops over time; it does not start as full-blown abuse or addiction. There are different pathways or routes to the development of a teen's drug problems. Some of the factors that may place teens at risk for developing drug problems include:

insufficient parental supervision and monitoring
lack of communication and interaction between parents and kids
poorly defined and poorly communicated rules and expectations against drug use
inconsistent and excessively severe discipline
family conflict
favorable parental attitudes toward adolescent alcohol and drug use, and parental alcoholism or drug use

It is important to also pay attention to individual risk factors. These include:

high sensation seeking
impulsiveness
psychological distress
difficulty maintaining emotional stability
perceptions of extensive use by peers
perceived low harmfulness to use

How do you know when to seek help?
The earlier one seeks help for their teen's behavioral or drug problems, the better. How is a parent to know if their teen is experimenting with or moving more deeply into the drug culture? Above all, a parent must be a good and careful observer, particularly of the little details that make up a teen's life. Overall signs of dramatic change in appearance, friends, or physical health may be signs of trouble. If a parent believes his or her child may be drinking or using drugs, here are some things to watch for:

Physical evidence of drugs and drug paraphernalia
Behavior problems and poor grades in school
Emotional distancing, isolation, depression, or fatigue
Change in friendships or extreme influence by peers
Hostility, irritability, or change in level of cooperation around the house
Lying or increased evasiveness about after school or weekend whereabouts
Decrease in interest in personal appearance
Physical changes such as bloodshot eyes, runny nose, frequent sore throats, rapid weight loss
Changes in mood, eating, or sleeping patterns
Dizziness and memory problems

Howard Liddle, Ed.D.

Getting Over Your Morphine Addiction

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 10:09:01 PDT

What is Morphine?

Morphine is typically prescribed to patients for pain relief, it is one of the best drugs available to relieve severe pain and is considered as the yardstick against which new pain relief drugs are tested. Morphine is a narcotic, and has increased substantially during recent years. There are now many more morphine based products available on the market.

Morphine is available under different brand names in each country, in the US Morphine drugs are sold under the following brand names:
- MSIR
- Roxanol
- Kadian
- Oramorph SR
- RMS

Morphine can also be used to sedate patients before operations, instead of anesthetic and as a pain killer. This is one of the most widely used pain relief drugs for severe pain.

How is Morphine taken?

Morphine can be purchased in a number of different forms, including:

- Tablets and Capsules
- Suppositories
- Injections
- Oral Solutions

All of these forms of morphine are equally as addictive, it is actually very easy to get addicted to something like morphine. You can also get high concentration morphine products, some as high as 25mg injections which can be used to treat pain in patients which are tolerant to opiates.

What is Morphine Addiction?

A person can quite easily become addicted to morphine as a result of abusing it. Morphine is created from opium, it is a more refined drug and so it more powerful. This drug can be purchased in a number of different concentrations, from 4% up to 21%. Opium typically only has 10% morphine content, so you can see how powerful morphine is. In the United states very little opium is actually used in its raw form, only around 15 tons is used like this. The remaining 120 tons is processed into morphine and other similar products.

Morphine creates a sense of euphoria which is why it’s so addictive. It targets the reward centres of the brain which can make taking this drug to be very pleasurable. Your body will get used to morphine being in your system and so you might crave it if you stop using it. People suffering from Morphine Addiction will do almost anything to get the morphine that their body craves. Your body will start to build up a resistance to morphine which as in Opium Addiction will mean you have to take higher and higher doses to get the same feeling.

Morphine creates a state of euphonium which can lead to an addiction. It relieves pain, but it can also affect the mental and physical performance of the person. Morphine actually reduces anxiety and fear, and is well known to increase sex drive. Morphine can also affect a woman’s menstrual cycle, cause constipation and prevent someone being ale to cough. There are many reasons why people should not take morphine, however there are still many people that are addicted to it.

Study: Marijuana Smokers Not at Risk for Oral Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 10:06:01 PDT

A study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Wash., concludes that recreational marijuana smoking doesn't appear to increase the risk of oral cancer, the Seattle Times reported June 2.

"Oral cancer probably shouldn't be one of the things people should worry about when they decide whether to smoke marijuana," said Stephen Schwartz, a member of the center's public-health sciences division and the study's senior author. "Our study found no relationship between marijuana and cancer."

The study's findings contradict a 1999 UCLA study that concluded that marijuana smokers were more likely to develop head and neck cancers than nonusers.

Schwartz and his team of researchers analyzed 407 oral-cancer patients and 615 healthy participants from western Washington. Nearly all of the study participants smoked marijuana less than once a week, while 1 percent of the cancer patients and 2 percent of the healthy participants were daily users of the drug.

The researchers could find no link between oral cancer and marijuana use.

The study's findings are published in the June 2004 issue of Cancer Research, the journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Lung Cancer Patients Face Stigma, Blame

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 10:05:06 PDT

People with lung cancer feel they get blamed for their illness because the disease is mainly associated with smoking, the BBC reported June 11. The stigma attached to lung cancer was detailed in a study conducted by researchers at Oxford University.

The study of 45 lung-cancer patients found that those who had stopped smoking years ago or had never smoked felt unfairly blamed for their illness. The study said that some anti-smoking campaigns perpetuated the problem, causing damaged relations with family, friends, and doctors.

"Efforts to help people to quit smoking are important, but clinical and educational interventions should be presented with care so as not to add to the stigma experienced by patients with lung cancer and other smoking-related diseases," the researchers concluded.

Mike Unger, chief executive of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, supported the study's findings, saying there is a "huge" stigma attached to having lung cancer.

"At a meeting I had with patients a few weeks ago, without exception they were angry at the 'dirty lungs' image portrayed in recent [ads] -- this just reinforced the stereotype. This campaign might persuade some to stop smoking briefly, but it does nothing to help those with lung cancer, a significant number of whom have never smoked," he said. "[We] would much rather have such [ads] focusing on lifestyle."

The study's findings appear in the British Medical Journal.

Genes May Predict Lung Cancer Risk

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 10:04:01 PDT

New research from the Boston University Medical Center concluded that lung-cell genes may be used to determine whether a smoker will develop lung cancer or other chronic airway diseases, Health Day News reported June 22.

Researchers examined the gene-expression profiles of bronchial cells from 93 smokers and nonsmokers. They found that smokers had more genes that were altered by mutation, and thus may contribute to tumor development. In addition, smokers showed decreased expression of various tumor-suppressing genes and genes that regulate airway inflammation.

Some of the genes returned to normal levels after a smoker quit for two years. However, several genes never rebounded.

The researchers concluded that bronchial gene expression may be effective as a biomarker for lung cancer in smokers.

The study is published in the June 21-25 online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Busch Introduces Low-Carb 'Malternative'

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 10:04:01 PDT

Jumping on the low-carb bandwagon, Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. has introduced Bacardi Silver Low-Carb Black Cherry, a so-called "malternative" beverage, Fox News reported June 8.

The alcoholic drink contains 2.6 grams of carbohydrates and 96 calories, compared with 32 grams of carbs and 225 calories for other Bacardi Silver drinks.

Don Meyer, director of new products for Anheuser-Busch, said the company plans to target 21- to 27-year-olds with the new product. Anheuser-Busch also plans to promote Bacardi Silver Low-Carb through television commercials that emphasize the characteristics of the drink, rather than the lifestyles of consumers.

Louisiana Bill Targets At-Home Drinking Loophole

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 10:03:00 PDT

A Louisiana Senate panel passed a bill to partly close a legal loophole that allows minors to possess and consume alcohol at private residences, the Baton Rouge Advocate reported June 9.

Rep. Rep. Daniel Martiny (R-Kenner) introduced the bill after an incident at a private home in Ascension Parish that involved drinking by underage partygoers. Murphy Painter, the state Alcohol and Tobacco Control commissioner, said current drinking laws exempt private residences, thus hindering the ability of prosecutors, sheriffs, and police chiefs to break up underage-drinking parties.

"They argue that they cannot stop a 12-, 13-, 14-, 15-, 16- or 17-year-old from drinking in a private home, whether their parents are there or not," Painter said.

The new bill would only permit teens ages 18-21 to drink unsupervised in a private home. Those under 18 would only be able to drink in a private home if a parent or guardian is present.

Settlement in Nation's Longest Running Tobacco Lawsuit

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 10:03:01 PDT

After 20 years, the family of a New Jersey man who died from a smoking-related illness has reached a settlement with cigarette makers, the Newark Star-Ledger reported May 17.

Peter Rossi of Westfield smoked up to four packs a day for 40 years. When he died in 1984 of cancer at age 55, his three daughters, ex-wife, and second wife sued the tobacco companies. The case was finally settled in April.

The lawsuit, which claimed the cigarette makers produced a defective, unsafe product and inadequately informed consumers about the dangers of smoking, triggered the release of internal tobacco-company documents which have since been used in other individual tobacco lawsuits.

The terms of the agreement were not released. The lawsuit sought $358,000 in lost income for Rossi, $10,000 for medical and funeral costs, and punitive damages. Liggett Group Inc., was the only defendant named in the settlement. R.J. Reynolds, Philip Morris, and the parent company of Lorillard were removed as defendants because Rossi smoked their brands after warning labels were placed on the products.

"It feels like a huge victory," said Susan Haines, Rossi's oldest daughter. "There's been a whole change of consciousness. If my father had a small part to play in contributing to that, that's a good thing."

Making Breakthroughs

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 07:35:01 PDT

Reaching the Addict through Multifaceted Therapy Efforts

Opening up with Drug Rehab Therapy The setting: a support group meeting in a residential drug rehab facility. The group is made up of only male treatment patients, and the topic for group: Things in life that can influence addiction. A man in his mid 30's begins to share with the group. He discusses some things about his past that led him to drink. For the story's purpose, we will call him 'Tom'. Tom is approaching his second month of sobriety and has been in alcohol rehab just shy of 60 days. He is very open in this group, as he shares things about himself that fellow patients did not know.

Of course, originally it wasn't like this at all. Over the past two months of treatment, Tom has learned and developed through many different types and kinds of therapies.

When he first arrived to rehab, Tom was in pretty bad shape. His wife and parents forced him into this situation, and he wanted no part of it. He felt almost like he was betrayed by his family. Group was very different then. He wouldn't share; he felt he had nothing to share. Treatment was a struggle as Tom's unwillingness to work the program was evident. However, he couldn't leave, and he felt that he should at lease improve some for his wife and kids.

The drug rehab program, stepped up its approach with Tom, and used more personalized psychotherapy sessions. Initially this wasn't a help either. But, as he became more comfortable around the therapist, Tom began to open up. Soon, he learned that he could discuss everything that was troubling him.

At first, it was trivial day-to-day things that were happening in rehab. Things like his roommate's bad bathroom habits, or how the food was too spicy. Eventually however, Tom began to open up about other things in his life. The therapist assisted Tom in recognizing the things in his life that led him to drinking. One of which was a rift he developed in adolescence with his father.

A few weeks went by and Tom's progress began to show. He began to share in group. Not as much at first, but it was a considerable improvement. Before these breakthroughs he would just sit there with his arms folded. A couple of weeks went by and a different element of drug rehab came into play; Family Program. Tom was nervous and anxious to go through rehab courses with his family.

His kids were still pretty young, so he was just joined by his wife and parents. The different elements of family week began to show proof of the strained relationship Tom had with his father. In an intimate family therapy session, the issues of this problem were brought to light. A few weeks prior, Tom wouldn't have shared at all. However, because of breakthroughs, he was more open. In that setting amends and apologies that have been required for decades were made. Tom and his father, for the first time in years, embraced in a tearful exchange.

Back to present, in the group meeting, Tom shares with his fellow residents about his father and the healing and growing they are doing. He tells the group how every fight with his dad led to drinking when he was younger. He then expressed his hope that in the future he could learn to just communicate with his father, without fear and contention.

The many elements of drug rehab therapy made this possible. It worked miracles to show Tom not only how to stop drinking, but also what to change in his life to make this possible. Multifaceted alcohol and drug rehab therapies makes these types of breakthroughs happen. It all stems from the caring provided by a dedicated drug rehab counselor, staff member or therapist.

Drug Rehab Therapy : The Advantage to One-on-One

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 07:34:00 PDT

A more personal approach to treating alcohol and drug addiction

One-on-One Drug Rehab Therapy Addiction to alcohol and drugs can be the result of a number of things. Whether it is psychological or sociological means, or just the result of bad decisions in life, a number of factors can build into an uncontrolled addiction problem. Now there are a number of methods and treatments that go into bringing an end to addictive practices. It seems however, the more personalized the treatment, the more effective the result. Many of the leading alcohol and drug rehab programs offer personalized one-on-one therapy. A one-on-one approach between alcoholic/addict and a licensed therapist can address the underlying emotional, psychological, and behavioral issues that fuel addiction.

There are a number of underlying things that can be at the heart of addiction. The use of alcohol and drugs can simply be a cover up of more deeply seeded emotional problems. These problems can be the result of traumatic experiences in life. Things like abuse, personal tragedy, and a dysfunctional home can be emotional issues that cause a deeply seeded hurting. A person can turn to drugs and alcohol to self medicate away this hurting. The sensation of numbness can greatly desired over the feelings of these emotional issues. The result is usually an addiction, and not a solution for these emotional things. In drug rehab, one-on-one therapy is a welcome release for these traumatic elements that have left alcoholic/addict emotionally scarred.

Not all underlying problems are traumatic experiences. Some are actually caused by psychological things. Psychiatric disorders like depression can prime the central nervous system (CNS) for addiction problems. The delicate chemical structure of the CNS is already altered by the imbalances of psychiatric disorder. When alcohol or drugs is introduced, it almost is like the high is amplified by this imbalance. Drugs and alcohol become an obsession, because it comes a way to do away with the struggles of the disorder. Dual diagnosis drug rehabs offer a one-on-one therapy to treat not only the addiction, but the clinical disorder as well. This provides very much a solution to both problems in a personal therapeutic setting.

Finally, a one-on-one therapy can help in addressing addiction problems caused by behavioral means. Many times, alcohol and drug addiction can be a result of behavioral things or social environment. Behavioral therapies take an in depth look at the social elements that fuel the addiction. In this therapy, developing behavioral strategies against the social environment is imperative. This therapy addresses the triggers that can compel the impulse of addiction. A "trigger" can be anything. It can be people, places and situations that spark the impulse to use. The individual in drug rehab can benefit from behavioral one-on-one therapy to develop coping strategies against these triggers.

There is an effective advantage to one-on-one therapy. It is personalized. The therapist is working solely with the alcoholic/addict. In other situations you are looking at a large group environment for alcohol and drug rehab. A one-on-one element to the addiction treatment program can help the addict come to terms with the aspects of addiction that are beneath the surface. This article was provided by Cirque Lodge, a private drug and alcohol treatment center in the mountains of Sundance Utah. Treatment at Cirque Lodge is personalized for the best results with an effective attention to one-on-one recovery therapy.

Therapy, Breaking Down Addiction Barriers

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 07:33:01 PDT

Personalized Therapy Gets to the Heart of the Matter When it comes to Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Breakthroughs in Drug Rehab Therapy There are many ways to address the problems of drug and alcohol addiction. Each treatment modality yields a different result depending on the individual. Most addiction treatment centers do provide forms of therapy to assist the alcoholic and addict. Personalized therapy, in a one-on-one setting, is an effective way to break down the barriers of addiction and address the core addiction issues. Now, how personalized therapy is provided by the drug rehab facility may vary, but it is a great tool used in bringing an end to the destructive capabilities of addiction.

There are many subconscious defense mechanisms developed to protect the habits of drug and alcohol addiction. These mechanisms do not protect the addict themselves, just the behavior of seeking and using drugs. One defensive mechanism is building a barrier around the emotional feelings of the addict or alcoholic. This may seem harmless to some, but it can deeply affect the addict and pretty much everybody they influence. A part of personalized therapy is to break down these barriers, and make the addict feel something again.

In therapy of alcohol and drug addiction, you are dealing with several different personalities and behaviors. One addict may be very open and expressive, while another may be introverted. By personalizing therapy, an environment can be created to address the needs of the addict or alcoholic on their level; where they feel comfortable. The therapist can make breakthroughs into tearing down the defensive barriers of addiction.

Therapy is also meant to address many of the core addiction issues that can spark and fuel the addiction. Alcohol and drug addiction itself can be a result of underlying things. Underlying things can be anything from a traumatic experience to a psychiatric disorder. Alcohol and drugs are used to suppress these underlying things. Overtime this habitual practice develops into addiction and chemical dependence. Therapy can help the addict come to terms with these things. For the traumatic experiences, it is a therapeutic environment to discuss and give closure. For the psychiatric disorder, there is also discussion on ways to overcome, but also alternatives to helping them through modes of treatment. For a number of people, treating the underlying things is more impacting than treating the addiction itself.

So, when looking for a drug rehab program for you or a closed loved one, look for treatment facilities that provide personalized, one-on-one therapy. It can greatly assist in the recovery process. Many treatment centers offer personal therapists to work with through the entire drug rehab program. Cirque Lodge in Sundance Utah is one such program. The Cirque program is one that is committed to helping those in need of recovery from addiction. It is a treatment center that treats each addict personally and supplies them with needed elements of personalized therapy; to break down the barriers of alcohol and drug addiction.

Recovery People and Influential

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 07:31:01 PDT

The Influential Aspect of Drug Rehab in the Spectrum of Recovery

Influential People in Recovery At a 12-step meeting, someone is always looking forward to sharing their recovery story. Most times it is one of several triumphs and heartaches, fit for a Hollywood screenplay. They share of trials and downfalls, and ultimately the joy of finding recovery. There is always an applause and support for the days and years of sobriety. For many of these individuals, sharing their stories of recovery took a long process to get to this point. It took work, drug rehab, support, and influential people to make this possible.

Influential people can greatly impact the lives of those in recovery. Whether it is a sponsor, a parent, a therapist, or just a guy in drug rehab that wouldn’t give up on that individual; the influential people play an important roll in recovery. Many times influential people come from drug rehab. After a person has come off of drugs and alcohol is when they are most impressionable. It is in this time that a counselor, a therapist, or even a fellow rehabee can be the influential mouthpiece of recovery. After treatment is completed, a sponsor and those of a 12-step group can continue to be influential in maintaining sober practices.

Recovery is however, a process. It isn’t something that is obtained overnight. For a lot of people it is a process of countless trials and errors. Addiction has its way of producing this. In a lot of cases, it takes more than one stint in an alcohol or drug rehab facility. Finding recovery can also require different modes or styling of treatment. No matter the situation, or how recovery is finally obtained, influential people can still make all the difference in finding a lasting answer to drug and alcohol addiction.

Recovery still requires a change within oneself. This change alters the focus and makes recovery more desirable, and even a little easier. For some it is a spiritual change. They find a hope and relationship with something greater than themselves. For others it is a conviction change, and a desire to improve their lives. And finally for some, it is an example of someone influential to them that invokes a spiritual or convictive change.

There is never a shortage of influential people for recovery. There are always individuals willing to help those who need a hand in maintaining sobriety. The final step of the 12-step process admonishes individuals to help others in recovery; to share with them the vital experience of overcoming drug and alcohol addiction. For this reason, a lot of drug rehabs employ those in recovery; to be influential in someone else's recovery. Cirque Lodge, a private drug and alcohol treatment facility in Sundance Utah is known for its influential staff and their assistance that they offer. It is treatment staff that is dedicated to being the influential people in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.

Alcohol Problem

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 07:28:03 PDT

A Look Into if You are Drinking Too Much

Some Alcohol Problems Require Alcohol Rehab If you or someone you know regularly drinks alcohol, there are questions that need addressed. At times do you feel you drink too much? In conjunction to that do you ever feel like you should cut back on drinking? Has the consumption of liquor and alcohol become a habitual daily practice? It is an escape from the realities of life in general? Is it something you or that person does to escape problems? If the answer to these questions is yes, chances are you have an alcohol problem of some level. It isn't an indicator of an alcoholic or a need for alcohol rehab, just that the drinking is a little excessive.

The truth is most people can socially drink with no ill effects. Alcohol as a depressant can help to relax and calm individuals. Social drinking is perfectly acceptable behavior for those who can hold their liquor per se. However excessive drinking often can be an indicator of a greater alcohol problem. There are many factors that make up an addiction. An alcohol problem is one of them. With the right social situations and emotional or psychological issues, the consumption of alcohol can become habitual and even controlling in nature.

An alcohol problem, or drinking too much, doesn't initially require alcohol or drug rehab. If people feel it is a problem simply cutting back can help immensely. Even the help of a local 12-step group or support meeting attendance can be helpful at cutting back on alcohol. Alcohol rehab is needed when you can’t cut back, and the body and mind need the drinks to maintain a normal function. Alcoholrehab is needed when the abuse of alcohol takes over other aspects of life like jobs, friends and family.

An addiction to alcohol is a struggle. It is something that only escalates out of control. Initially alcohol addiction can be as harmless as a simple excessive drinking, but can result into a life or death situation. Alcoholism is a chemical dependence to liquor. The body and mind cannot maintain any sense of function unless alcohol is in the system. It is an endless carving to drink that can not be quenched. At this point alcohol rehab can be critical. At this stage of addiction the only solution is to stop consumption completely. Alcoholism is a gradual process from the initial alcohol problem. It is however a quick descent with a difficult process of climbing out.

If alcohol rehab is needed, an inpatient facility can be beneficial. Inpatient facilities function as a safe haven away from the influences of alcohol. They are controlled environments where it's possible to get control of life again. Inpatient alcohol rehab can provide the answers to many of the difficult questions of why a person must drink to feel normal. One of the leading inpatient alcohol rehab facilities is Cirque Lodge Sundance Utah. The dedicated staff of this facility knows what it takes to get life back from alcohol addiction. They do it with a unique program of leading therapies and a number of fun and enjoyable activities. It is a place to end the addiction and learn to control the alcohol problem.

Pharmaceutical Drug Companies Marketing and Policy Making

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 00:41:01 PDT

There are a lot of new readers to Better Body Journal because of a recent story that got promoted to the front page of Digg yesterday. First off, welcome. Second off, I’d like to give a quick background on this site before we piss any more people off. Well, actually, that’s what we do here. We piss people off. We get a little rude and crude because we’re tired of the “It’s not my fault,” blame-someone-else mentality that many Americans have developed when it comes their own lives and health.

A lot of people are taking the comments personally. Sorry if we hit a nerve. Like we tried to say in the previous article, we know that there are legitimate purposes for many, if not all, prescription drugs. We just want to see many of them being used as a last resort after exhausting all of the common sense, holistic techniques to treat an ailment.

By the way, we are not doctors. We are not qualified to give medical advice. The views and opinions expressed on this site are just that: views and opinions. On that note, we are not Scientologists or conspiracy theorists either.

That said, let us continue our attack on the business that is pharmaceuticals. Please read the “Killing You Legally” article first to understand the context of what is written below.

Restless Leg Syndrome is Actually a Real Disease

First and foremost, I’d really like to apologize to the actual Restless Leg Syndrome sufferers out there. In the previous article I treated RLS like a made up disease, which obviously it is not. There are most certainly people out there that suffer from Restless Leg Syndrome where it affects their daily lives. I don’t mean to pick only on RLS, but that is the way it came out in the previous article.

But 1 in 10 Americans? Really? How come we never heard of this disease 10 years ago? Now, all of the sudden, every tenth person I know is a sufferer of Restless Leg Syndrome? You should be weary of any disease and its cure that is promoted so heavily, where it affects so many people out of nowhere.

There is a huge conflict of interest here when the company that produces the drug to treat RLS runs the main information portal while providing “non-biased” research to prove their point. Take from it what you will, but I truly doubt these studies were non-biased. When millions of dollars are involved, there is no such thing as independent research.

The Good, The Bad, and The Profitable.

The Good

The pharmaceutical industry is huge in the scope of its work. There are drugs out there that treat anything from allergies all the way to yeast infections. There is very good work being done by very good people in the field of medicine, the foot soldiers and the pioneers. The progress of medicine in America and the world has been incredible. Cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer’s, and many more are life-threatening diseases that affect us in one way or another, whether we suffer from the disease itself, or a close family member or friend.

The Bad and the Profitable – Pushing the Big Pharma Agenda

I believe in capitalism and free markets. I don’t think health care and medicine should be in the hands of government. Not a very liberal point of view, but that’s just my opinion. For the record, I’ve never seen Sicko, not that it should matter.

But somewhere medicine stopped being about the common good. The “free market” of medicine is not free at all. It can’t be free when the there are more than 2 pharmaceutical lobbyists for every 1 member of Congress. It can’t be free when the pharmaceutical industry spends more than any other industry on its lobbying efforts. ($758 million since 1998 as of 2005)(1)

And this is my problem with the pharmaceutical industry, and it should be yours. This is the point I was trying to make in the previous article. There is plenty of good work being done in medicine, but it is being exploited and abused by those in control. Like when a drug to treat severe depression is marketed to the general public, so it can hook those with low self-esteem or those going through a rough patch in their lives to a habit forming pill. Promoting the common good has taken a backseat promoting a company’s bottom line. From USA Today(2):

Over the years those lobbyists have been very successful, demonstrating that the industry knows politics as well as it knows chemistry. Drug companies won coverage for prescription drugs under Medicare in 2003 while blocking the government from negotiating prices downward. They have so far kept out imports of cheaper medicines from Canada and other countries. And they have protected a system that uses company fees to speed the drug-approval process.

“They win more than they should,” says James Love, an industry critic who is director of the non-profit Consumer Project on Technology. “The one thing they have going for them is money.”

The Food and Drug Administration IS THE Pharmaceutical Industry, and vise versa

There is a conflict of interest when a government agency whose purpose is make sure pharmaceutical drugs are “safe and effective” before they hit the market, has advisers from that very industry. A USA Today article (3) reports that 92% of FDA advisory committee meetings from January 1998 to June 2000 had at least one member with a financial conflict of interest. 55% of meetings had half of the FDA advisers in those meetings with a financial conflict of interest. A more staggering fact is that 33% had a financial conflict when dealing with the fate of a specific drug.

When so few people will affect the lives of so many, it is a crime that their decisions are allowed to be influenced by their stake in a company. The very people who are hired by the FDA to debate, test, and finally approve these drugs are the very people working for the drug makers.

Advisers can be paid up to $50,000 as a consultant for a drug company before there is a “conflict of interest” according to the FDA. Private jets paid for by drug companies whisk politicians and lawmakers to and from closed meetings, events, and the capital. There is a lot of money involved. Your health and safety are footnotes.

Who is to blame?

Who am I going to blame for the sky-high drug prices, excessive promotion of unnecessary drugs that end up being not-so-safe, and rising death toll from prescription drugs? Everyone. Let’s begin.

Government

Lobbying is nothing new in Washington. Gun makers, cigarette companies, oil companies, farmers and so on. They all do it. Every industry has stake in the laws our government makes. But it is a disgusting practice that needs to be stopped or regulated better if you want real change in this country, no matter which candidate you support.

The public controls the government. That is the way it should be. But who really controls it? Sure, we the people have the illusion we control it, but decisions in Washington are heavily influenced by private interest. There is no getting around that.

The Pharmaceutical Companies

Pfizer spent $16.90 billion on marketing in 2004, and only $7.68 billion on research and development. GlaxoSmithKline spent $12.93 on marketing, and $5.20 billion on research and development. Merck spent $7.35 billion on marketing and $4 billion on research and development. (4)

Just like the previous article, I still want to put a lot of blame on the Pharmaceutical companies. Imagine if those numbers were reversed. Rather than 2:1 spending on marketing to R&D, what if pharmaceutical companies had a cap on marketing spend, or a minimum spend on research and development? Would that change anything? Who knows. It’s a pipe dream anyway. When big Pharma spends more on lobbying that any other industry, no law or act will ever be put into place that negatively affects their profits. Never.

Does the pharmaceutical industry want cheap drugs on the market? Of course not. Arbitrarily high prices are the reason their profits are so big. The barriers to entry for new drugs are so high that true, free-market competition is not possible. These barriers are put into place by the companies that make up the drug industry lobby. The industry functions very similar to a cartel.

Ourselves

I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. Wake up America. If you’ve read this article and the last, you have been warned. Pharmaceutical companies want you to take their pills whether you need them or not. If you need them and they work for you, thank the pioneers, thinkers, and scientists. There are honest in people in the pharmaceutical industry that want to rid the world of disease as much as you and I do.

But for the average Joe, think about the pills you think you need. The playing field is not level because we are bombarded with billions of dollars worth of advertising every year, convinced into thinking that we need expensive pills for all that ails us.

Try the holistic approach before you succumb to the lure of prescription pills. Do you suffer from depression because you’re over weight? Spend a year getting in shape and you will change your life for the better. Still suffering? Then maybe you have a real problem.

Do you suffer from heartburn? Take a look at your diet. Is it fully comprised of foods that would cause heartburn? Yes, the commercials say that heartburn is caused by both the foods we eat and genetics. Eliminate the “foods that cause heartburn” part first, and then talk to your doctor about the pill.

Always talk to your doctor before taking the holistic approach. We must state once again that this website not written by doctors. If you are on medication, talk to your doctor about ways you can get off of it safely if that really is your ultimate goal. Before going on medication, talk to your doctor about available natural cures and approaches, and what else you can do before you absolutely have to get on a prescription.

I truly believe in the ability to cure ourselves for many of the problems we have. I’ve heard and read too many stories of people turning their lives around by getting in shape and staying in shape, or changing their lifestyle for the better to eliminate the stress and heartache in their lives.

On that note, be weary of holistic scammers too. Not everything can be cured holistically. While the “natural cures and holistic treatment industry” pales in comparison to the racket that the pharmaceutical company has in place, there are still enough people waiting to rip you off. Be weary of anything that is promoted by scam artists or that is “too good to be true.”

Heroin Addiction and Treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 00:19:01 PDT

Heroin Addiction and Treatment

Heroin is a powerful addictive drug sweeping the United States causing intense euphoria and strong physical dependence in its users. Heroin is processed from morphine; a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seedpod of certain varieties of poppy plants and appears as a white or brown powdery substance.1
Heroin is highly addictive because it enters the brain rapidly and affects those regions of the brain responsible for producing physical dependence. This dangerous drug affects all decision-making, reaction time, the way one thinks, actions, and memory.

Heroin addicts, who use regularly, develop a tolerance. To get the same effect from the drug, the user must have higher doses, which in turn causes physical dependence and addiction. Despite the glamorization of heroin chic in films, fashion, and music, heroin use can have tragic consequences that extend far beyond its users. Fetal effects, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, violence, and crime are all linked to its use.2 Long-term effects of heroin use are also devastating to the body and mind.

The affect of heroin on the body is dependent on the method of administration. Heroin can be taken orally, which is metabolized into morphine before crossing the blood-brain barrier; snorted, which results in onset within 10 to 15 minutes; smoked, which has immediate effects; intravenously injected, which results in rush and euphoria within 7 to 8 seconds; and, intramuscularly injected which takes longer but results in onset within 5 to 8 minutes. Finally, heroin can kill. Of all reported drug abuse deaths, heroin is one of the top two most frequent.3,4 As with any drug addiction and physical dependency, withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced or stopped.

Withdrawal can occur anywhere from a few hours to 72 hours after the last dose and symptoms can include: drug craving, restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes, and kicking movements.5 For the user trying to quit, medications and behavior therapies are the most common treatment options.

First, the medications Methadone and Buprenorphine have proven to be successful in treating heroin addiction. Methadone, a synthetic opiate, blocks the effects of heroin for about 24 hours. Buprenorphine is the most recent addition to the array of medications available for treating addiction to heroin and other opiates. This medication is different from methadone in that it offers less risk of addiction and can be dispensed in the privacy of a doctor's office. Other medications include naloxone and naltrexone, both of which block the effects of morphine, heroin, and other opiates.6 In addition; there are many effective behavioral treatments available for heroin addiction. These can include residential and outpatient approaches. Contingency management therapy uses a voucher-based system, where patients earn "points" based on negative drug tests, which they can exchange for items that encourage healthful living. Cognitive-behavioral interventions are designed to help modify the patient’s thinking, expectancies, and behaviors and to increase skills in coping with various life stressors. Treatment can and should be integrated with support services to enable the heroin user to return to a stable and productive life.1

In conclusion, heroin addiction is a terrible way of life but can be overcome with hard work, a support group, a drug rehabilitation program or center and pure determination.

Acupuncture as a Method of Addiction Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 00:18:01 PDT

Acupuncture as a Method of Addiction Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Acupuncture is an Eastern medicine technique that has been utilized for centuries. It has been used for various physiological issues in Asian culture but only more recently has entered the United States. Since it’s induction into popular culture, use of acupuncture has been broadening to treatment for many different health problems. Some of which include: back and neck pain, sports injuries, knee injuries, fibromyalgia, headaches, digestive and gynecological problems, among other things. One of the uses that surprises most people, is acupuncture as a method to treat symptoms of substance abuse withdrawal.

A Treatment Found by Mistake

It was 1970 and a neurosurgeon by the name of H.L. Wen, the only one in all of South China, was getting ready to use electro-acupuncture as a method of surgical analgesia. The patient who happened to be withdrawing from opium, reported a relief in symptoms of withdrawal. Wen immediately canceled the surgery and went looking for patients who were also experiencing symptoms of withdrawal. Wen utilized the same acupuncture treatment and found that these patients also experienced a reduction in symptoms. It was at this moment that acupuncture as treatment for substance abuse withdrawal came into fruition.

How Can Acupuncture Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms?

• Physical withdrawal symptoms are reduced.
• Relieves: depression, anxiety, and insomnia brought on by withdrawal.
• Specific withdrawal symptoms include:
o cravings
o body aches
o headache
o nausea
o sweating
o muscle cramping

What exactly is Qi?

Qi, pronounced chee, is achieved by inserting needles into routes underneath the skin which are called ‘meridias’. The only translation for the word Qi, which is not exact, is ‘vital energy’. If Qi is working properly it protects the body and makes the transition from one body state to another smooth. Chinese medicine works under the assumption that sickness occurs when energy cannot flow through the meridas freely. The needles utilized in acupuncture work by unblocking the meridias and allowing Qi to flow freely.

How Does Acupuncture Treatment Work?

There are points in the ears that pertain to specific organs in relation to detoxification treatment. To be more specific, this includes: the liver, kidneys, lungs, and the nervous system. Needles are placed in each ear, which relate to each organ mentioned prior. The entire treatment takes approximately forty five minutes. This is a good time for the patient to relax, meditate and take this time to think about changes that need to occur in one’s life. One of the reasons that acupuncture helps to relieve symptoms, is because endorphins, a natural body chemical, are released. Endorphins can be called the ‘happy hormones’. Endorphins tend to reduce cravings, ease symptoms of withdrawal and also tend to increase feelings of relaxation.

How Do They Know Where to Stick Those Needles?

The Chinese have been utilizing the proper acupuncture points for years; however, it wasn’t until 1955 that Paul Nogier, a French doctor completed research on these positions. Dr. Nogier, when testing for electrical activity on the surface of the skin, found that all the traditional acupuncture points on the body had a parallel point on the human ear. From that point on, needle stimulation of the ear, otherwise known as auricular acupuncture has been used. This type of stimulation has particular benefit in substance abuse treatment as it allows for several treatments to take place simultaneously thus eliminating the need for privacy.

What Does the Treatment Feel Like?

When needles are placed in the individual’s ears, they may begin to feel warm or start to tingle. Some people do not feel anything and others may even fall asleep. Regardless of which response the person has, they are all natural and normal. Acupuncture is a treatment which will not reap immediate results. It is only after treatments taking place over time, that a true benefit will be felt. The important thing to remember is that it takes time for the treatments to show results.

What is the Detoxification Process?

The purpose of detoxification is to remove toxins from the blood stream that have been building up due to substance use. Your body is able to filter out the toxins that have been stored up. This improves the circulation of blood throughout the body. It is possible to feel out of sorts during this period. One may have aches and pains and may not be sleeping well. Some people have even reported dreaming about substance use. If any of these symptoms occur, it is advisable to let the acupuncturist know in order to alter the pressure points utilized or add additional points in.

Is Acupuncture Treatment a Sufficient Form of Substance Abuse Treatment?

No. Acupuncture is a wonderful complementary treatment to add on to traditional for substance abuse management. In order for substance abuse to be effectively dealt with, a whole team of professionals need to be incorporated. If an individual is interested in natural treatments such as acupuncture, it is advisable to locate a program that specializes in Holistic addiction treatments.

Alcoholism and Vitamin Deficiency - Treatment and Recovery

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 00:17:00 PDT

Alcoholism and Vitamin Deficiency - Treatment and Recovery

Korsakoff’s syndrome, which is also known as amnesic-confabulatory syndrome or Korsakoff’s psychosis, is caused by a deficiency of thiamine or vitamin B1 in the brain. The disorder is named after the Russian neuropsychiatrist, Sergei Korsakoff, who discovered and popularized the theory.

How does Korsakoff’s syndrome manifest itself?

There are six major symptoms of Korsakoff's syndrome:

* Anterograde Amnesia - a loss of memory of what happens after the injury that caused the amnesia.
* Retrograde Amnesia - where events prior to the injury-causing one are forgotten. To a large degree, anterograde amnesia remains a mysterious ailment because the precise mechanism of storing memories is not yet well-understood, although scientists know which regions of the brain are involved.
* Apathy- individuals don’t have interest in things for very long and seem indifferent to change.
* Little content is offered in conversations and a lack of insight.
* Confabulation – are memories that are invented to fill in gaps of memories. These gaps are usually associated with blackouts.

Other signs that are associated with Korsakoff’s include: ataxia, tremors, paralysis of eye muscles, coma and lack of insight into the severity of the condition.

How does this occur?

Causes

There are several conditions or behaviors that can lead to Korsakoff’s including:

Chronic alcoholism which is automatically correlated with vitamin deficiency and malnutrition is a precursor to Korsakoff’s. As alcohol can irritate and inflame the stomach lining, thiamine deficiency can occur.

Other dietary deficiencies causing Korsakoff’s include prolonged vomiting, eating disorders, or from the effects of chemotherapy. This can also occur in pregnant women due to a condition known as hyperemesis gravidarum, which is extreme morning sickness. Mercury poisoning has also been known to cause the disorder.

What is the mechanism in the brain that causes Korsakoff’s?

The symptoms mentioned above are caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1 or thiamine. This is thought to cause damage to the medial thalamus of the brain as well as damaging parts of the hypothalamus. In addition, thiamine deficiency can lead to an overall cerebral atrophy. This disorder involves neuronal loss, or damage to the neurons. In addition, gliosis can occur which is damage to the cells which support the central nervous system. The lack of thiamine and malnutrition can lead to the hippocampus decaying, leaving holes that cause ones short term memory to transfer into long term memory (see anterograde amnesia).

How is Korsakoff’s treated?

As the individual is lacking thiamine, treatment takes place by replacing the missing vitamin. Thiamine is replaced by intramuscular or intravenous injection. In addition, the proper nutrition or hydration is required. Irregardless of how much of the thiamine is replaced, the amnesia and brain damage that are caused by the disease do not respond to thiamine replacement. Even if treatment is successful, it often takes two years for some sign of recovery. In cases where recovery is achieved, it is slow and may not be complete.

Prevention of Korsakoff’s

The best way to avoid this syndrome is by making sure that a thiamine deficiency does not result. As the most common cause of thiamine deficiency in the Western world is alcoholism it should be quite clear that alcohol in excess should be avoided. It should be made clear that this deficiency does not result in an absence of thiamine in the diet, but rather a resistance on part of the body to properly absorb the nutrients. Alcohol can cause inflammation of the stomach and the intestines which is where nutrients are soaked in. At one point in time, thiamine was added to alcoholic beverages; however, it did not assist alcoholics. The addition of alcohol has been blocked by the U.S. governments as some political groups attest that adding thiamine to alcohol would further encourage excess drinking.

In addition to the effects of thiamine deficiency, alcohol is neurotoxic which means with time, the neurons (part of the brains framework and ‘communication’ system) can become damaged; specifically focusing on the hippocampus. This is the area responsible for short term memory and spatial thinking. When one consumes alcohol, the body releases cortisol, a stress hormone. In excess, it has been found that cortisol cause further damages to the hippocampus which may be irreversible if present for a long period of time. Using alcohol in moderation will not cause Korskoff, however, continued use can cause all of the effects mentioned above including dementias. This may give one something to think about before picking up that first or second glass of wine, or bottle of beer.

Lorcet Abuse: Another Derivative of Hydrocodone

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 00:16:00 PDT

Lorcet Abuse: Another Derivative of Hydrocodone

What is Lorcet?

Lorcet is a combination of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and hydrocodone. Hydrocodone is an analgesic opiate which is used to treat mild pain and reduces coughing. The chemical formation of Hydrocodone is very similar to morphine. Hydrocodone is a derivative of the opium plant and is considered to be potentially addictive. Lorcet is considered a Schedule II drug which means that its administration must be closely monitored due to the potential for addiction.

How is Lorcet Administered?

Loracet is prescribed to be taken usually every four to six hours in tablet, capsule, and liquid form by mouth.

How Does Lorcet Work?

Lorcet is a combination of medications which is why it works so well. The Hydrocodone in Lorcet binds to the pain receptors in the brain which alleviates the sensation of pain. The acetaminophen in Lorcet stops the production of prostaglandins which are released by the body as part of the inflammatory response, which in turn can cause pain. The result of proper use of Lorcet, is a reduction of pain and comfort on the part of the ailing party. Lorcet travels through the bloodstream quickly and stimulates opiate receptors which leads to feeling of pleasure. Hydrocodone specifically stimulates the body’s productioni of Dopamine. The high that is produced is followed by feelings of relaxation and contentment which can last for a number of hours. However, using Loracet in large doses in potentially damaging and should be avoided. In fact, continuous and extreme dosing of Lorcet can lead to the very serious side effect of respiratory depression which essentially means the individual can stop breathing and this is fatal.

What are common side effects of Lorcet?

* dizziness and lightheadedness
* nausea
* drowsiness
* euphoria
* vomiting
* constipation
* allergic reaction or rash
* blood disorders
* changes in mood and mental fogginess anxiety lethargy
* difficulty urinating or spasm of the ureter
* irregular or depressed respiration (which can be fatal)
* Liver or renal dysfunction or failure if taken in large doses
* Hearing loss

What Are Risks Associated With Lorcet Abuse?

As with any type of drug abuse, there are both psychological and physiological risks associated. Abuse of Lorcet, because of the Acetaminophen, is very toxic to the liver and long term abuse can lead to liver destruction. In order to bypass this complication may drug abusers extract the Acetaminophen using the hot/cold water method. This way, they get a purer dose of the Hydrocodone, which is what they are after. Long term use of Lorcet can lead to physical and psychological dependence. This means not only does the person mentally want to experience associated with the drug; their body also becomes dependent on the effects the drug provides. Perhaps the most serious risk associated with Lorcet is the possibility of respiratory depression which is associated with all opiate use. As Lorcet relaxes the body, it causes breathing to be slowed. This can happen to such an extent that the individual may completely stop breathing, which can lead to death.

Is Lorcet Abuse Common?

Addiction to Hydrocodone and all of its derivatives is on the rise in the United States. Between the years of 1990 to 2000 there has been a 400% increase of both the sales and production of Hydrocodone. Currently about 20 tons of Hydrocodone is used annually in the United States. It is more likely that Lorcet will be used orally as opposed to by injection use.

In 2005 124 million prescriptions for drugs containing hydrocodone were administered. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration drugs with hydrocodone are the most popular type of prescription drug in the country. As hydrocodone is found in a variety of different medications and under many different trade names, it is easy to have that be the source of one’s addiction. Since 2001, the DEA has reported the distribution of drugs with hydrocodone has grown by 66 percent.

What kind of treatment is available for Lorcet abuse?

There are many different approaches to drug detox and rehabilitation. It is common for Lorcet abuse to be treated using methadone, another opioid. However, this treatment is considered to be quite controversial. Perhaps the best method of drug treatment is one that combines different methods and is all encompassing. Meaning, it is not enough to help someone detox from the drug. In addition, psychological counseling is necessary to determine why the addiction commenced to begin with. If all of these variables are considered, the individual has a better chance of properly and effectively detoxing from Lorcet.

Binge Drinking

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 00:15:01 PDT

Binge Drinking

In the United States, when one thinks of binge drinking the first thing most people think of is a fraternity toga party. There is much debate over what actually defines binge drinking. The definition of binge drinking that is most often acknowledged is drinking twenty five or more drinks for men and eighteen drinks or more for women on one occasion. Binge drinking is usually associated with intoxication and being in a large group of people. However, people around the world may have a different perception of what binge drinking consists of. Different behaviors, different liquors, and difference of opinion as to what is considered acceptable will define binge drinking.

Australia

A culture of binge drinking is prevalent among many communities, for example at high schools, universities, at parties, amongst some Aboriginal groups and in sporting clubs. Those who are able to consume large amounts of alcohol are often held in high regard by their peers. Binge drinking and getting drunk to a point of complete loss of control may not only be accepted but encouraged. Drinking to this extent often begins, in a minority of social circles, at as young as 13 and 14, and may be very widely practised and accepted by most by age 16 or 17. This is the main advantage of binge drinking in Australia; it is passed off by the younger generations as "being Australian" and is seen as a perfectly normal cultural practice for some.

Canada

University students are often found binge drinking. It is common for drinking to be accompanied by hostile behavior. During the first week of orientation which is known as ‘frosh’ week, college students are known for binge drinking. In fact, many university towns and cities in Canada include drinking sub cultures.

Europe

As a general rule, European children have exposure to alcohol much earlier than American children, with the approval of parents. In most countries, the drinking age is eighteen, and in many restaurants as well as other jurisdictions adolescents can order certain alcohols with a parent’s supervision. Diluted wines and other mixed drinks may also be given to children as well. In several countries including: Denmark, Germany, Portuagal, Austria, the Netherlands, and Belgium the legal drinking age is sixteen. It is generally believed that binge drinking is less prevelant in the southern part of the continent— France, Italy and the Mediterranean.

Russia

In Russia, binge drinking or ‘zapoy’ usually consists of two days of continuous drunkenness. Close to fifty percent of working age Russian men are killed by alcohol abuse.

Spain

Big bottle drinking or ‘botellon’ is something that youth between sixteen and twenty four often do. Drinks are purchased in stores and taken to wide open spaces where friends sit, drink and listen to music. Most drink three to five drinks in less than five hours which consists of binge drinking..

United Kingdom

In the majority of Europe, alcohol is to be consumed with a meal over the course of an evening. In the UK however, alcohol is drank quickly and in massive quantities usually leading to drunkenness. In fact on a given night out, young adults are pressured into not only drinking but getting drunk. UK officials have begun to regard this as a more serious issue because of the number of casualties that have occurred related to binge drinking. In 2003 the cost of binge drinking in the UK was estimated as twenty billion pounds. In January 2005, one million admissions to UK accident and emergency units were alcohol-related.

New Zealand

Eight or more drinks in one session are considered to be binge drinking in New Zealand. The drinking age in New Zealand was recently dropped from twenty to eighteen. The argument being, at eighteen individuals are able to serve in war and vote, as well as other adult activities so drinking should be no different. This lead to more problems as opposed to alleviating concerns as more underage drinkers would ask their counterparts to buy them liquor.

South Africa

The most prevalent age for binge drinking in South Africa is between eighteen and thirty five years of age. The word 'Phuza' in Zula is translated as drink is often used to describe ‘Phuza Thursday’. In the event that someone is hung over one might say he or she is ‘Phuza face’.

United States

University students are often characterized as having a propensity for drinking even though the drinking age in the U.S. is twenty one. Athletes and fraternity/sorority members are the stereotypical heavy drinks, especially at football games, after final exams and on spring break when there were typically no rules enforced. An explanation for binge drinking behavior, is university students are on their own for the first time without parental supervision and drinking is considered the cool thing to do. It is arguable that the twenty one year old drinking age is the reason why youth drinks more. There are just as many arguments against the lowering the drinking age.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found binge drinking is most prevalent in the following states: Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The survey found that the lowest binge-drinking rate in the U.S. was in Utah.

This article was last modified on 9/16/2007.

References
1. Binge Drinking: Key Facts and Issues. International Center for Alcohol Policies. Last accessed November 20, 2006.
2. "Alcohol Alert Digest", Institute of Alcohol Studies, UK
3. Nemtsov, Alexander (2005). Russia: alcohol yesterday and today. Addiction 100 (2), 146–149.
4. Tomkins, S, L. Saburova, N. Kiryanov, E. Andreev, M. McKee, V. Shkolnikov, D. A. Leon (2007). Prevalence and socio-economic distribution of hazardous patterns of alcohol drinking: study of alcohol consumption in men aged 25-54 years in Izhevsk, Russia. Addiction 102 (4), 544–553.
5. Treml, Vladimir G. (1982). Death from Alcohol Poisoning in the USSR. Soviet Studies 34 (4), 487-505.
6. BBC Binge drinking costing billions 19 September 2003
7. Kapka Kassabova The unbearable lightness of being English
8. Perkins HW, Linkenbach J, Dejong W. Estimated blood alcohol levels reached by "binge" and "nonbinge" drinkers: a survey of young adults in Montana. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 2001 Dec;15(4):317-20.
9. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and alcoholism. Alcohol Tolerance (Alcohol Alert number 31 from NIAA). Washington, DC: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 1996.

Rohypnol Addiction and Abuse

noreply@blogger.com (Download Software) — Sat, 24 May 2008 00:14:00 PDT

Rohypnol Addiction and Abuse

Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam) is a benzodiazepine class of drug. It is primarily used as a hypnotic/sedative type of drug in Europe and South America. It is primarily used for sedation for general anesthesia. Flunitrazepam has similar pharmacological effects to other benzodiazepines but is 10 times more potent than valium. Rohypnol is not manufactured nor has it been approved for clinical use in the United States. It has been widely used in Europe and South America for more than a decade.

The majority of Rohypnol in the USA has been smuggled in from Europe, South America and Mexico. Recent seizures indicate that a significant amount of the drug is smuggled and distributed by the Israelis and Russian drug traffickers. Illicit use of Rohypnol originated in Europe in the 1970s and has increased worldwide since then. However, Rohypnol did not appear in the United States until the early 1990s.

Dose

Flunitrazepam is marketed under the trade name Rohypnol. It is available as a 1- and 2-milligram tablet. In Europe, liquid preparations are available for intravenous use. The effects of flunitrazepam appear approximately 15 to 20 minutes after oral administration, and last for approximately four to six hours. Some residual effects can persist up to 12 hours or more after administration.

Rohypnol Abuse

The drug is frequently available at raves, night clubs, all night parties and bars. The drug has been widely used as a “date rape” drug. Most users of Rohypnol also abuse other drugs including methamphetamine, alcohol and heroin. In the United States, Rohypnol is used widely in Texas and Florida where it is popular among high school students. All reports indicate that the population which uses Rohypnol is rapidly growing. Numerous seizures of the illegal drug have been made by the DEA.

Rohypnol is abused by individuals especially high school students and college students. In the US, each tablet costs about 2-4$. It is usually ingested with alcohol and frequently mixed with other drugs (cocaine, marijuana). Individuals who take it with alcohol report a euphoric feeling and lightheadedness.

Date Rape

Flunitrazepam is known to induce antegrade amnesia in sufficient doses; individuals are unable to remember certain events that they experienced while under the influence of the drug. This property of flunitrazepam has been used by males to aid in the commission of a sexual assault. Most victims do not remember or recall sexual assault, the assailant, or the events surrounding the event.

If an individual suspects that he or she has been a victim of a flunitrazepam-facilitated sexual assault, laboratory testing for flunitrazepam should be done as soon as possible. Recent technological advances can detect flunitrazepam and related compounds in urine for up to 5 days after administration of a single dose of Rohypnol and up to a month in hair.

In the United Kingdom, the use of flunitrazepam has been connected to robbery from sedated victims. Many individuals are robbed each year after having their drinks spiked with sedatives, making drug-assisted robbery as common as drug-assisted rape.

Side effects

Flunitrazepam is considered to be one of the most addictive of the benzodiazepines. It can produce several side effects including:

• Drowsiness, Fatigue
• Gait problems
• Dizziness, lethargy
• Lack of motor coordination
• Slurred speech
• Amnesia and forgetfulness
• Confusion
• nausea, vomiting
• Respiratory depression

Overdose with rohypnol can lead to coma, respiratory arrest and death. Although the drug is classified as a depressant, Rohypnol can cause paradoxical reactions in some individuals that may include excitability or aggressive behavior.

Rohypnol Addiction

Both short and long term use can lead to physical dependence on Rohypnol. The addictive features are more pronounced in individuals who use Rohypnol in large doses for a long time. Long-term use of flunitrazepam can result in psychological and physical dependence and the appearance of withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued.

Flunitrazepam impairs cognitive and psychomotor skills, affects reaction time and driving skills. The use of this drug in combination with alcohol potentiates these side effects, and can lead to toxicity.

Legal status

Flunitrazepam is currently a Schedule III drug under the international Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971; in the United States, it is on Schedule IV. According to FDA Associate Director for Domestic and International Drug Control

Nicholas Reuter:
Flunitrazepam was "temporarily controlled in Schedule IV pursuant to a treaty obligation under the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. At the time flunitrazepam was placed temporarily in Schedule IV . . . there was no evidence of abuse or trafficking of the drug in the United States."

Rohypnol is currently under consideration to be rescheduled to Schedule I, and is already considered such in the States of Florida, Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. Most states have introduced legislation that provide for stiff prison terms for the possession of flunitrazepam; penalties for use or distribution include life in prison, should death or serious injury occur.

The drug must be declared to US Customs upon arrival. If a valid prescription cannot be produced, the drug may be subject to Customs search and seizure, and the traveler may face criminal charges or deportation.

Drug Rehab

Treatment Methods for Women

Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction

Detox

Length of Detoxification

The Role of Detoxification in AOD Abuse Treatment

Immediate Goals of Detoxification

Repeated Detoxification

Issues in Postdetoxification Treatment

Effects of AOD Exposure and Withdrawal

Tolerance and Physical Dependence

Drug Withdrawal

What are effect if use Cocaine

What are the long-term effects of cocaine use?

What are the medical complications of cocaine abuse?

Medical consequences of cocaine abuse

Are cocaine abusers at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C?

What is the effect of maternal cocaine use?

What treatments are effective for cocaine abusers?

Buprenorphine Therapy

Applied Pharmacology

Safety

Abuse Potential

Evidence of Effectiveness

Non-pharmacological Therapies

Adolescent Substance Abuse

Getting Over Your Morphine Addiction

Study: Marijuana Smokers Not at Risk for Oral Cancer

Lung Cancer Patients Face Stigma, Blame

Genes May Predict Lung Cancer Risk

Busch Introduces Low-Carb 'Malternative'

Louisiana Bill Targets At-Home Drinking Loophole

Settlement in Nation's Longest Running Tobacco Lawsuit

Making Breakthroughs

Drug Rehab Therapy : The Advantage to One-on-One

Therapy, Breaking Down Addiction Barriers

Recovery People and Influential

Alcohol Problem

Pharmaceutical Drug Companies Marketing and Policy Making

Restless Leg Syndrome is Actually a Real Disease

The Good, The Bad, and The Profitable.

The Good

The Bad and the Profitable – Pushing the Big Pharma Agenda

The Food and Drug Administration IS THE Pharmaceutical Industry, and vise versa

Who is to blame?

Government

The Pharmaceutical Companies

Ourselves

Heroin Addiction and Treatment

Heroin Addiction and Treatment

Acupuncture as a Method of Addiction Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Acupuncture as a Method of Addiction Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Alcoholism and Vitamin Deficiency - Treatment and Recovery

Alcoholism and Vitamin Deficiency - Treatment and Recovery

Lorcet Abuse: Another Derivative of Hydrocodone

Lorcet Abuse: Another Derivative of Hydrocodone

Binge Drinking

Binge Drinking

Rohypnol Addiction and Abuse

Rohypnol Addiction and Abuse

What are the long-term
effects of cocaine use?

Are cocaine abusers at risk
for contracting HIV/AIDS
and hepatitis B and C?

What is the effect of
maternal cocaine use?

What treatments are effective
for cocaine abusers?