Addiction To Recovery

The Drug That Kills – Heroin

On February 13, 2010, In Heroin, By contributor

100% Pure Heroin

Pure heroin, which is a white powder with a nasty taste, is rarely sold on the streets anywhere. Most illicit heroin is a powder varying in color from white to dark brown. The differences in color are because of different dealers cutting and re cutting the drug down and most if not all the time the Heroin that is sold on the streets – when it reaches the streets is maybe 10-15% heroin. Another form of heroin, “black tar” heroin, is mostly only found in the western and southwestern United States. This heroin, which is produced in Mexico, may be sticky like marijuana or black cement, most user’s prefer to smoke or inject this type of heroin.

Try It Once – Try It Always Again!

The short-term effects of abuse appear almost immediately after taking the drug. Intravenous injection provides the greatest intensity one person may ever experience in there life. ( Is it worth the risk) – No. Most main liner’s or intravenous users typically experience the rush within 7 to 8 seconds after injection, while intramuscular injection produces a slower onset of this euphoric feeling, taking 5 to 8 minutes. When heroin is sniffed or smoked, the peak effects of the drug are usually felt within 10 to 15 minutes.

After repeatedly using for only a short period of time, the long-term effects of the substance begin to appear in the user. Chronic users may develop collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, and liver disease. Additionally, pulmonary complications, including various types of pneumonia, may also result in the user.

One of the most significant side effects of heroin use is addiction. With regular heroin use, tolerance to the drug will develop. Once this happens, the abuser must use more and more to achieve the same intensity or effect that they are seeking. As higher doses of the drug are used over time, physical dependence and addiction to the drug develop.

Heroin History

Heroin was first synthesized in 1874 by C.R. Alder Wright, an English chemist working at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London, England. He had been experimenting with combining morphine with various acids. He boiled anhydrous morphine alkaloid with acetic anhydride over a stove for several hours and produced a more potent, acetylated form of morphine, now called diacetylmorphine.

The Danger – How Its Used

Heroin can be smoked – (not usually) , sniffed or the bad part Injected. Injection is the worst way but also the most efficient way to taker low-purity. A lot of users have the fear of infection by sharing needles, but a lot do not and continue to share needles, spreading diseases with one another and to other people as well in other forms, such as unprotected sex, and any other way of blood contact. This has made snorting and smoking the drug more common.

Are You Addicted?

Withdrawal, which in regular abusers may occur as early as a few hours after the last administration, produces drug craving, restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps (“cold turkey”), kicking movements (“kicking the habit”), and other symptoms. Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 48 and 72 hours after the last dose and subside after about a week. Sudden withdrawal by heavily dependent users who are in poor health is occasionally fatal, although heroin withdrawal is considered less dangerous than alcohol or barbiturate withdrawal.

Treatment

Buprenorphine – (Suboxone) 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. Several other medications for use in heroin treatment programs are also under study.

Why Would Anyone Lick A Bufo Alvarius Toad?

On February 13, 2010, In Hallucinogens, By contributor

If you have ever heard of the Psychedelic Toad or about people licking toads to get high, it is most likely they were talking about Bufo Alvarius. Also called the Sonoran Desert toad and the Colorado River toad, Bufo Alvarius is unique because of its venom. These large toads have glands that produce a milky white venom that is composed of as much as fifteen percent the alkaloid 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MEO-DMT). This is a powerful hallucinogen, the mind altering effects of which were discovered in the late 1950s. 5-MEO-DMT is the active ingredient of hallucinogens used traditionally by several South American tribes.

The fact that a toad secretes a substance that can alter the human mind may lead to speculation about the “Frog Prince” fairy tale. In this folk legend, a woman finds a frog in the wild, kisses it, and it turns into a handsome prince. Could this ancient tale actually be based on fact? After all, if someone were to lick not a frog but the right kind of a toad, perhaps she might experience hallucinations that made her imagine the amphibian was transforming into a handsome prince. This theory is merely speculation, of course. In reality, licking the venom of toads or any other animal may be highly dangerous and is certainly not recommended.

Albert Most, the author of “Bufo Alvarius: The Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert” does not discuss the licking of toad venom in his text. Rather, his information involves drying and then smoking the toad venom in order to achieve what he calls “almost overwhelming psychedelic effects.” These effects are evidently not unlike those generated by LSD, in which hallucinations, visual illusions and distortions of the perception occur. The episode is relatively short, however, perhaps as little as fifteen minutes, after which, Most writes, “There is no hangover or harmful effect.”

It has been reported that Bufo Alvarius toads have been an element in the rituals of native shamans for hundreds of years. Returning to ancient European folklore, witches are often associated with toads. Toads supposedly give warts to people, and witches were frequently portrayed with large warts. In our more enlightened age, it is now known that so-called witches were more like wise women, possessing useful knowledge about medicinal herbs and plants. Could it be that these wise women were also aware of the powerful effects of toad venom?

Literature published by the California State Department of Fish and Game states that the problem of people trying to become intoxicated from licking the skin of toads or smoking dried toad venom is sufficiently extensive that laws against toad licking have been passed by some states, and that toad venom is currently classified as a controlled substance.

Tagged with: DMT • drugs • Hallucinogens • mood • peyote • physiological • psilocybin and psilocyn • sleeplessness

Dangers Associated With Anabolic Steroids

On February 13, 2010, In Steroids, By contributor

Anabolic (an-ah-BOL-ik)

This term refers to the process of building up. Steroids are called anabolic because they build up your muscles.

It is a fact that today’s bodybuilding arena is influenced by the use of anabolic steroids. The trend has become more and more apparent over the years. The use and abuse has become so wide spread that we can no longer afford to ignore the topic. Whether you feel strongly for or against the use of steroids is your own decision. However before making any decision it is your responsibility to fully educate yourself with the facts. Here is an analogy. A parent may not feel comfortable talking to their kids about sex for the first time but they can’t continue to avoid the topic. Simply because a parent talks to their children about sex doesn’t mean that they want them to go out and have sex. Instead they are hoping that with the proper information they will be able to make an educated decision.

Until you can put yourself in someone else’s position it is tough to know why they make the decisions they do. For example, if you are pro athlete and you have the opportunity to extend your career, or compete for a starting position perhaps you may be more likely to consider the alternative. You may call this an unfair advantage or cheating but where do we draw the line. People that use bodybuilding supplements have an unfair advantage over those that chose not to use them. Does that mean they are cheating as well? It is a very gray area and there doesn’t seem to be a clear-cut right or wrong answers to many of the questions we ask ourselves. In some countries it is legal to take steroids. Does that mean it’s ethically okay to use steroids in certain countries and not others? One could argue yes to that question. In the United States Steroids are illegal therefore it would be wrong to take them here. The debate could go on and on and I’m sure it will for many years to come.

One thing you can do is educate yourself about the possible dangers of steroid use. Most of the benefits are commonly known so this article will discuss the other side of the coin.

Dangers of Steroids

When prescribed and used correctly, steroids can be very beneficial for many people. Steroids are often used to control asthma or to improve the health of people with auto-immune disorders. When used without the supervision of a physician, steroids can be very dangerous substances that cause many mental and physical health problems. Understanding the risks involved with using steroids can be helpful in deciding whether or not to proceed with this dangerous habit.

There are two major types of steroids that can be taken by people looking to increase their muscle mass and enhance their athletic performance. Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones that are very close to the real hormones produced by the body. The most powerful one is testosterone. There are also steroidal supplements that contain DHEA and androstenedione. These steroids and supplements have become popular because they can help increase muscle mass by affecting the body the way that natural testosterone affects the body.

Steroids can cause mild or serious side effects. Some of the minor effects associated with steroid use are usually problems that can occur without the use of steroids and are associated with abnormal hormone levels. These minor side effects can include an increase in facial or body acne, hair loss, irritability, and dizziness. Steroid and supplement use can also cause very serious side effects that can be harmful in the short term and may even cause long-term side effects. Some of the side effects that can affect both men and women when taking steroids can be associated with several systems of the body. Some hormonal problems that can occur include premature balding and stunting of growth. Using steroids can cause cardiac issues such as rapid heartbeat and hypertension that causes permanent damage to the body’s blood vessels. The urinary system can also be affected by steroids and difficulty urinating can be a result.

The risk of developing heart disease, strokes, and some types of cancer is also increased when steroids are used when not needed to manage medical conditions. Digestive problems such as nausea and vomiting can start when the body is subjected to the use of steroids or steroidal supplements. Other medical problems that can result from the use of steroids are sleeplessness, trembling, achy joints, a greater risk of injury to muscles and tendons, liver damage, and skin jaundice. Some of the most startling problems associated with the use of steroids are the psychological problems that are created. Steroid use can cause paranoia, seeing things that don’t exist, severe mood swings, anger, and depression.

There are also gender-specific side effects of using steroids or steroidal supplements. Men can experience painful urination, shrinking of the testicles, impotence, sterility, and the development of breasts and other female characteristics. Women can also experience side effects from using steroids and supplements. These side effects include changes in the menstrual cycle, shrinking of the breasts, deepening of the voice, and increased facial hair growth. While taking steroids and steroidal supplements can have a positive short-term effect on muscle mass and athletic performance, the dangerous side effects make steroids a poor choice for gaining strength. A good diet and exercise program would be a much better way to increase performance and would also improve health.

Tagged with: androgenic • energy • Hormones • muscle growth • Steroids • testosterone

Handle With Care – How to Support Someone in Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

On February 13, 2010, In Benzodiazepine, By contributor

It can be difficult for family, friends, doctors and other caregivers to fully understand the effects of benzodiazepine withdrawal. No amount of empathy can prepare them for the impact of the physical and psychological symptoms, personality changes and emotional challenges, as well as the practical support which may be required. It is not unusual for them to allude to an overreaction or to the medication causing some form of permanent mental or physical disorder.

Compassion fatigue or burnout occurs when a caregiver becomes emotionally, socially, mentally and sometimes physically exhausted, resulting in apathy or lack of ability, willingness or energy to provide further attention and care. This is a natural response to the upheaval associated with especially chronic or intense situations.

If you care for someone who is withdrawing from a benzodiazepine, the following tips will help you to provide the required support without becoming fatigued.

Learn more about withdrawal and what it entails

The more knowledgeable you are about benzodiazepines and withdrawal, the better prepared you will be to cope with its stages and idiosyncrasies. You will find that you are more understanding and accepting of your loved one’s experience and will be well equipped to give the support needed.

Give unconditionally

You may have your own ideas regarding how withdrawal should be dealt with and what coping strategies and treatment are appropriate. As much as you may be able to empathise, you will not know what your loved one is going through. Resist suggesting visits to psychiatrists, accelerating or slowing tapers, reinstating the drug, querying other diagnoses or anything other than allowing the time and space to heal.

Withhold judgement

The true effects of benzodiazepines are understated and there is an ‘unbelievability factor’ which causes many to doubt that taking a legally prescribed drug could result in such adverse reactions. Try to be open and not make judgements based on assumptions or what you perceive to be credible. Even many well-intentioned medics are unaware and uneducated about the true effects of long-term benzodiazepine use, specifically dependency and withdrawal.

Release expectations

Appreciate that you have no control over the recovery process so that you don’t feel responsible or pressured. The benzodiazepine withdrawal experience is unique and unpredictable; you may have to provide support for a much longer period than anticipated.

Give practical support

Your loved one may be in severe discomfort and feeling extremely lethargic and depleted of energy. Mowing the lawn, cooking, cleaning, shopping and attending to the children can seem like insurmountable tasks during withdrawal. Also, for those with intense symptoms, any form of exertion can cause flare-ups. Offering to help with practical matters can make a big difference.

Listen actively

Withdrawal can be overwhelming and your loved one may feel traumatised. Talking is therapeutic and some people feel a need to talk about their experience. Follow your loved one’s cues: if you can, listen actively – without judgement or preconception – as feelings and concerns are shared; at other times space and/or companionable silence may be all that is needed. Remember too, that non-verbal communication can be powerful and your warmth, acceptance, expressions and body language are even more important than your words.

Don’t take things personally

If your loved one is agitated or becomes angry and overly-sensitive, try not to take it personally. The effects of withdrawal can cause mood swings, organic fear, paranoia and a host of other psychological symptoms. Understanding that these reactions are normal will allow you to accept them for what they are while you continue to give your support.

Look after yourself

Eat healthily, exercise regularly, maintain your hobbies, and get the rest and relaxation you need. Set limits and commit to what is realistic, rather than feel obligated to deliver on promises you are unable to keep as this will drain you even more. If possible, arrange a respite or back-up person who is reliable and trustworthy so that you can take regular breaks.

Get emotional support

Caring for someone in withdrawal can be mentally draining so you need to ensure that you take care of your own emotional needs and receive adequate support at this time. It is also important that you have a trusted friend or relative to discuss your fears, needs and feelings with. If you become emotionally drained and fatigued you will have nothing left to give.

Reassure your loved one

More than anything, someone experiencing withdrawal needs reassurance. Persistent, intense symptoms can cause doubt and increased anxiety. You will need to keep encouraging and reassuring your loved one that recovery is taking place. Hope is one of the most valuable coping tools and your attitude can make a big difference – at the very least to the way you feel.

Tagged with: Anxiety • Benzodiazepine • Calmness • medication • Panic Disorders • phobia • treatment

Steroid Effects; Anabolic Steroid Information

On February 13, 2010, In Steroids, By contributor

There are two chemical classes of anabolic steroids.

Despite the amount of media-bashing steroids have received over the years, it may surprise you to learn that steroids do have a number of legitimate medical uses. In males testicular cancer often requires the removal of the testes. After surgery, these men are often prescribed anabolic steroids to replace the testosterone that their bodies are no longer able to synthesize. This form of replacement therapy helps preserve the men’s musculature as well as such secondary sex characteristics as body hair, deep voice, and sex drive.

Adolescent males with pituitary problems can also be treated with anabolic steroids when they reach the appropriate age for puberty. The steroids are usually given for four to six months to initiate the growth spurt and development of secondary sex characteristics.

After certain kinds of surgery and cancer, most patients experience a loss of muscle tissue. Anabolic steroids can be used in such cases, with exercise and diet, to promote the regaining of lean muscle tissue.

Steroids effects, and anabolic steroid information There is research currently being conducted on anabolic steroids to see if one day they may be used as male oral contraceptive. Unfortunately the amount of negative press that steroids have received over the past number of years severely hampers this promising area of research.
Steroids effects, and anabolic steroid information will determine your decision on which types of anabolic you would be most likely to use.

Once the muscle-building properties of steroids became known, it was not long before athletes began experimenting in an attempt to get bigger and stronger. At first use was limited to weight lifters and bodybuilders, but it was not long before they made inroads into such other power sports as football, track and field, and power lifting.

Steroids effects and Anabolic Steroid information. Athletes are alleged to have been using steroids in the early 1930’s. In 1931 four Swedish Olympic athletes admitted to using the drug, Rejuven as a training aid. Rejuven was a German manufactured drug that contained the anabolic agent testosterone (derived from a natural source). Athletes were not aware that they were taking an anabolic steroid at the time. There were no rules against anabolic steroid use, because anabolic steroids as a class of drugs did not exist. The use of Rejuven in sports appears to have been an isolated incident. Clinical studies associating these drugs with anabolic effects first led to the suggestion in 1939 that anabolic steroids had potential for improving athletic performance. It seemed Steroids effects, and anabolic steroid information was getting very popular.

In 1954, Dr John Zeigler, was team physician to the American weightlifting team competing in Vienna. He was told that Soviet weightlifters were receiving Steroids to boost their performance. It was apparent to Ziegler that the Soviets were using steroids on their female athletes as well. Because steroids have masculinizing effects, it became difficult at times to identify an athlete’s gender.

The first steroid use among athletes in North America was probably in California. In 1958, successful bodybuilder, Bill Pearl (Mr. America, Mr. Universe), was told by Arthur Jones (inventor of the Nautilus exercise machines) about a new “chemical” that the Soviets were using. This aroused his curiosity and he began to do research on his own. At the University of California, a veterinarian informed Pearl about the anabolic steroid, Nilivar. This drug was used to promote strength and growth in cattle. Pearl took this drug for three months and gained 25 pounds of muscle mass. He also experienced a dramatic increase in strength. Steroids effects, and anabolic steroid information was beginning to cause some of the most dramatic changes of the decade.

In North America the first medically supervised studies of anabolic steroids and their effects on athletic performance, were carried out by Ziegler in California, in 1959. The drug used was Dianabol, and subjects reported tremendous gains in strength and size while using the steroid. Ziegler found that when he substituted a placebo (a medically non-active substance) for the drug, athletes reported the same results. He terminated the study when he learned that some of the athletes were taking up to 20 times the recommended dosage.

Tagged with: androgenic • energy • Hormones • muscle growth • Steroids • testosterone

Darvocet Pain Medicine

On February 14, 2010, In Darvocet, By contributor

Darvocet^® (propoxyphene/acetaminophen), a pain medicine, is specifically approved to treat mild to moderate pain. It comes in tablet form and is typically taken every four hours as needed for pain. There are three different types of Darvocet, including:

Darvocet-N 50
Darvocet-N 100
Darvocet A500.

The medication contains two active ingredients. Propoxyphene is classified as a mild, centrally-acting, narcotic pain reliever. “Centrally-acting” means that it works in the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). Propoxyphene is chemically related to methadone. The other active ingredient in Darvocet is acetaminophen, a pain reliever and fever reducer commonly found in non-prescription medications such as Tylenol^®. Adding acetaminophen to propoxyphene increases the effectiveness for relieving pain and also provides fever-reducing effects.

Most people appear to tolerate Darvocet well. As with any medication, however, side effects are possible. Some of the most common side effects that have been reported with Darvocet include vomiting, dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness.

Tagged with: acetaminophen • analgesic • Darvocet • drug • narcotic • opioid • pain killers • propoxyphene

Pain Medicine: Different Types of Pain Medicine

On February 14, 2010, In Prescription Drugs, By contributor

The formal term for painkillers is analgesics, a word derived from the Greek words an (without) and algia (pain). The three most commonly used types of pain medicine today are the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the paracetamol based drugs and the opioid drugs.

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) group contains a wide range of different painkillers. Examples of commonly known NSAID painkillers are Aspirin, Diclofenac and Ibuprofen. NSAID pain killers do not only alleviate pain; they will also lower fever and decrease inflammations. They are called non-steroidal in order to discern them from the steroids, since the steroids are also used for their anti-inflammatory capacity. Aspirin was discovered in 1829 when salicylic acid was chemically isolated for the first time, but willow bark containing salicylic acid has been used as a pain killer long before the 19th century. A lot of NSAIDs are available over-the-counter but this does not mean that they are harmless. When misused, even comparatively weak NSAIDs can have severe side effects, including bleeding ulcers and photosensitivity. NSAIDs are generally not recommended during pregnancy.

Paracetamol is also known as acetaminophen. Both words are derived from the chemical name for this painkilling compound: N-acetyl-para-aminophenol and para-acetyl-amino-phenol. Two examples of commonly known brand names under which Paracetamol is marketed are Tylenol and Panadol. Painkillers containing Paracetamol will relieve pain and decrease a fever, but unlike the NSAID painkillers they have no anti-inflammatory properties. One of the advantages of Paracetamol compared to NSAIDs is that Paracetamol painkillers will not affect the blood’s ability to clot. Nor will they damage the kidney or lining of the stomach as long as you stay within the recommended limits and never use too much Paracetamol. High doses of Paracetamol will however be damaging to a wide range of bodily functions. Paracetamol should never be combined with alcohol since the liver will be overloaded with the burden of breaking down both alcohol and Paracetamol, which makes the risk of Paracetamol poisoning higher. If you are healthy, well-nourished and do not drink alcohol, a single 10 gram dose of Paracetamol can cause significant liver damage.

Opioid drugs are very potent painkillers but will come with a sever side effects, even in low concentrations. Morphine is one of the most commonly used opioids in pain killing drugs. An example of a morphine based painkiller is Tramal. Pethidine is another pain killing opiate and can be found in medications such as Alodan and Demerol. Morphine will act directly on the central nervous system and can relieve even sever pains, such as post surgery pains and cancer pains. Morphine is addictive and it is important that it is used with caution. The addiction can be physical as well as physiological. The side effects are also both physical and psychological. Among the physical side effects are constipation and an inhibition of the cough reflex. Psychological side effects include euphoria as well as nightmares, and drowsiness can come hand in hand with insomnia. Morphine was isolated from opium in 1803 by Friedrich Serturner, a German pharmacist. He named it morphium after the Greek god of dreams, Morpheus. Serturner soon discovered its usefulness as a painkiller, but morphine didn’t grow really popular until the hypodermic needle was invented in 1853.

Tagged with: Addiction • addictive • diagnosed • medical conditions • narcotic • painkillers • Prescription Drugs

Teen Attention Deficit Disorder – They’re Being Treated With Hallucinogens

On February 14, 2010, In Hallucinogens, By contributor

What would you think if your child received advice to “tune in, turn on, and drop out”? Would you think it was Timothy Leary, Ken Kesey and the ‘Merry Pranksters’ Haight-Asbury Bay hippies era revisited?

What would you think if your child’s attention span issues were being treated by well-intentioned district psychologists with a known hallucinogen from a mushroom called psilocybin?

Think again, because that’s almost the case in many American schools, as the pharmacy kit-bag opens further with speculative treatment therapies for teen attention deficit disorder. Wide spread medication of American kids and adults is based on use of amphetamines and stimulants, which in recent clinical research are shown to mimic some of the hallucinogenic properties of mushroom psilocybin.

Over 6 million Americans each day receive behavior modifying medications like Ritalin for alleged attention deficit disorder. Perhaps no wider spreading trend, beyond over-budgeted and under-performing schools themselves, should cause parents to wonder than the medicating of teenagers in the pursuit of “normative standards”.

Straight Talk On Attention Disorder In Young People. Asking whether teens have attention span issues is like asking whether the Pope is Catholic? Of course they do…but it’s a matter of degree when comparing “Jody can’t concentrate on her class work” to increasingly obtuse and theoretical concepts of the “normative standard” for teens.

Here’s the current list of “usual suspect” symptoms to look for if you think your child may have attention deficit disorder. He’ll be fidgety, squirmy, evidencing low concentration, bored, unable to complete assignments, forgets what was taught in class.

Psychiatric Meds – Anti Depression And Anti Anxiety… Once you “prime the pump” and commence use of neural-blockers you’re playing in a complex arena. 4 million miles of nerve fibers are imbedded within your brain’s neural architecture of over 10 billion cells. Is it any wonder that “psychiatric theory” comes unstuck in the “reality” of this complexity and the necessary uniqueness of each person?

Stimulants And Amphetamines – Major Chemical Interventions. Remarkably, a clinically observed “over-active” child showing alleged attention deficit hyperactivity disorder receives mood-altering powerful stimulants from the class known as methylphenidates under brand names including Ritalin and Concerta. Now to the stimulants add another potion from the class of legally approved amphetamines under labels such as Dexedrine or Adderall.

Ritalin Side Effects. It’s true that 70% or more of the “standard population” will respond favorably to Ritalin for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. However, that leaves a “big chunk of statistical change” or 20% or more of the same medicated population that runs the risk of becoming seriously and psychiatrically unglued by the experience.

* Hyper-Nervous Jitters. Physical manifestations of Ritalin abuse can include profound states of agitation and “jittery feeling”. Doctor’s response? Take another intervention drug or beta blocker blood pressure med…so you now have two powerful drugs interacting.

* Irritability And Relapse Depression. As powerful attention disorder meds wear off, people can experience anger, irritability and a form of ‘rebound’ short-term depression. Solution? Other drugs may be prescribed such as serotonin or the class of alpha agonist medications.

* Stomach And Digestive Disorders And Headaches. It’s a known fact that amphetamines and stimulants, including Ritalin, can cause appetite suppression. Solution? While avoiding Ritalin abuse, users may be asked to time their meds, in order to “wear off” just before meal times. Other Ritalin users experience stomach irritability that takes months to control, accordingly are instructed to “take your meds with your meals”.

* Sleeping Disorder. “Short” and “long” acting stimulants remain neural-blockers, not matter which way you look at it. Not surprisingly, the chemically induced stated of “controlled stimulation” carries some unwanted baggage, such as sleeping disorders. Reduced meds may be a partial solution.

* Increased Blood Pressure And Blood Glucose. Borderline diabetics may trigger adult onset diabetes due to elevated blood glucose. Similarly, these stimulants and amphetamines meds stimulate all sorts of metabolic activity, including blood pressure.

* Nervous Tics Exacerbated. If a patient normally exhibits the sort of patterned nervousness and “tics”, then these drugs will amplify these tics as well as the underlying attention span disorder complex.

Non Pharmaceutical Alternatives. Fortunately, families can now turn back into time, and begin selective use of various herbs like St. Thomas Wort, nature’s valium, rosemary, ginseng, centella asiatica as well as to an evolving class of exercise and visual programming aids that allegedly can actually train the ADD-HD person to create new neural pathways (think brain right and left hemispheres) to adjust for certain imbalances.

Tagged with: DMT • drugs • Hallucinogens • mood • peyote • physiological • psilocybin and psilocyn • sleeplessness

Prescription Drugs, Addiction, addictive, narcotic, painkillers, medical conditions, diagnosed

On February 14, 2010, In Prescription Drugs, By contributor

Some prescription drugs can become addictive, especially when they are used in a manner inconsistent with their labeling or for reasons they were not prescribed. Those include narcotic painkillers like OxyContin or Vicodin, sedatives and tranquilizers like Xanax or Valium, and stimulants like Dexedrine, Adderall or Ritalin.

Steroid abuse is also on the rise. Steroids are prescription drugs that are legally prescribed to treat a variety of medical conditions that cause loss of lean muscle mass, such as cancer and AIDS. Men consistently report higher rates of steroid use than women. In 2008, 2.5 percent of 12th grade males, versus 0.6 percent of 12th grade females, reported taking the drugs in the past year.

In 2000, about 43 percent of hospital emergency admissions for drug overdoses (nearly 500,000 people) happened because of misused prescription drugs. This type of drug abuse is increasing partially because of the availability of drugs, including online pharmacies that make it easier to get the drugs without a prescription, even for minors.

There may also be a perception, especially among younger people, that prescription drugs are safer than illegal street drugs. Most people don’t lock up their prescription medications, nor do they discard them when they are no longer needed for their intended use, making them vulnerable to theft or misuse.

Prescription drug abuse is generally the same between men and women, except among 12 to 17 year olds. In this age group, research conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that females are more likely to use psychotherapeutic drugs for non-medical purposes. Research has also shown that women in general are more likely to use narcotic pain relievers and tranquilizers for non-medical purposes.

The number of teens and young adults (ages 12 to 25) who were new abusers of prescription painkillers grew from 400,000 in the mid-’80s to 2 million in 2000, according to a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. New misusers of tranquilizers, which are normally used to treat anxiety or tension, increased nearly 50 percent between 1999 and 2000 alone.

In a study of students in Wisconsin and Minnesota, 34 percent of kids diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) said they had been approached to sell or trade their Ritalin or Adderall, two drugs commonly used to treat symptoms of ADHD.

The growing population of aging Baby Boomers are also prime candidates for prescription drug abuse, intentional or not, as are the elderly. Once someone begins taking a number of pills for things like managing blood pressure and cholesterol, it becomes easier to take narcotic pain killers, prescription sleep aids and other, more addictive drugs. It also increases the risk of negative and possibly fatal interactions between drugs, especially when they are not used as prescribed.

Tagged with: Addiction • addictive • diagnosed • medical conditions • narcotic • painkillers • Prescription Drugs

Alcohol and Substance Abuse

On February 14, 2010, In Alcohol, By contributor

Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse is more insidious than drug abuse. Since having a drink is socially sanctioned, there is no overt reminder that the behavior may lead to trouble down the road. With illicit drugs merely using the substance is a reminder because it is illegal. Having a cocktail at dinner, drinking a beer at a ballgame, and celebrating a wedding with champagne are all socially supported and even encouraged. One can receive accolades for being able to hold one’s liquor. Becoming “shit-faced” in college is a right of passage. There are many models of respected people enjoying alcohol. This is not true for other substances. Hence, it is easy to rationalize moving from the occasional beer, cocktail, or glass of wine to daily use.

It is easy to go from the meal enhancing drink to using alcohol to self-medicate for social inhibition, depression, loneliness, anxiety, and other discomforting affects. Because some people can develop a tolerance for higher levels of alcohol in their system, they may need higher doses in order to experience the same effects. One drink becomes two, two becomes three. Where one beer was good, for some people it can easily become three, four, or more during the week with a few extras on the weekend.

Unfortunately, most alcoholics are not aware that they are alcoholics until they get into some difficulty. And when there is some warning, they often deny it. Often the early signs are related to work performance, health problems, social problems, legal difficulties, financial problems, or marital difficulties.

Some people are born with a genetic and biochemical predisposition that leaves them more vulnerable to abusing alcohol. They do not receive a signal from their brain that they have had enough or too much. Rather than producing sleep, nausea or other obvious physiological effect, they develop a tolerance for large amounts of alcohol. In fact, with continued abuse they begin to crave the substance. In addition, these people find that the alcohol temporarily comforts them by reducing shyness, anxiety, depression, and inhibition. In a world where alcohol use is approved of and even encouraged, it becomes part of the culture.

Alcoholics do not want to think of themselves as not able to control their drinking. They want to keep up with and be part of their social group. Declining a drink in many situations is difficult for these people. It is not until they have developed a dependence that interferes with work, family life, and social life that they begin to recognize that they have a problem. But by then it is often too late. The physiological craving for alcohol becomes so great that giving it up does not seem like an option. The centers of the brain that regulate judgment have been so affected that it takes a crisis to motivate these individuals to seek treatment.

Signs of Abuse

The very nature of substance abuse is such that people do not want to admit that they have a problem. People around them do not want to admit that there is a problem, and healthcare practitioners tend to either overlook or fail to investigate the possible existence of substance abuse. Hence, the individual goes diagnosed and untreated. There are several areas in which signs of abuse may appear.

Problems in living: financial problems including poor financial decision-making; poor judgment; legal problems including traffic tickets (e.g., DUI) and accidents; occupational difficulties such as poor performance, absence, conflict; social problems such as inappropriate behavior, missed appointments, chronic lateness.

Physical effects: increased incidence of health problems, poor dietary changes, higher tolerance for substance causing increased quantity and frequency of use; experiencing withdrawal when not using; higher incidence of nausea, dizziness, vomiting; disrupted sleep pattern.

Psychological and behavior effects: emotional instability, e.g., irritability, impatience; difficulty in abstaining from use; using substances to regulate affect, i.e., to reduce social inhibition, relieve stress, reduce anxiety or depression; denial and defensiveness when substance use is suggested.

Treatments

Interestingly, the research found that all people are not affected similarly by alcohol or drug abuse. For some the cognitive centers of the brain are more affected, for others the emotional centers are more affected. And for some both centers are affected. This has profound implications for treatment. One treatment does not fit all abusers. There is no magic bullet. In order to determine the best fit for any given individual, a complete psychological history and history of abuse and treatment must be taken. This places the individual into a context in order to decide what approach or approaches may be most beneficial.

Most treatment approaches agree that that the focus of treatment must be on the cessation of substance abuse. Even those experts who believe that it is possible for the alcoholic to learn to drink in moderation suggest that cessation for a period of time in the beginning of treatment is necessary in order for the patient and clinician to develop a clear picture of the role alcohol plays in the individual’s life. Most approaches, however, have abstinence as their goal, especially for those individuals who have a family and personal history of chronic abuse.

The following are some of the current treatment approaches for substance abuse:

Individual skill-based treatments: these approaches help clients interact more effectively with others without using alcohol or drugs. These approaches focus on coping and skills training to help clients quit or decrease abusing alcohol and drugs by teaching them strategies to address interpersonal, environmental and individual “skill deficits” that may provoke substance abuse.

Motivational Enhancement Treatments: this approach is based on a model that encourages patients to explore the consequences of drinking in a supportive, nonthreatening environment. One technique, called motivational interviewing, asks patients what about their alcohol or drug use causes them difficulties, enabling clients to examine their habits objectively. Once clients see how substance abuse or dependence affects their lives, they are motivated to change.

Cognitive Behavioral Treatment: CBT states that human behavior is learned through personal experience and cognitive thought patterns. Changing behavior requires learning how to think differently about situations and how to change dysfunctional behaviors that cause problems. Alcohol dependent people have learned to drink in response to specific situations. The treatment task is to identify the “alcohol triggers” and then apply techniques to develop new ways of thinking and new behavioral skills for coping with these triggers.

Environmental and relationship-based treatment: in this approach family members and significant others are taught coping skills and strategies to help influence their loved one’s drinking and motivation to change.

Behavioral marital and family treatment: this approach works with both the individual and the spouse or family to decrease or eliminate abusive drinking-related consequence.

Twelve-step programs: these inpatient or outpatient programs are based on the 12step model of Alcoholics Anonymous except that professionals lead them. Some professionals in private practice also use such a model, while other practitioners use AA to supplement and support the work being done by the patient in individual treatment.

Medications: Two medications disulfiram and naltrexone have been approved by the FDA for alcoholism with a third showing promise, acamprosate, which is pending approval. Naltrexone appears to be most effective with fewer side effects.

As mentioned previously, no one treatment is effective for all substance abusers. Several variables must be taken into account in order to find the treatment that is most effective for any given person. Such factors as duration of addiction, family history, degree of substance abuse, extent of disruption in the patient’s life, health, degree of motivation, to mention the most obvious, must be evaluated.

The first step in the treatment of substance abuse, after collecting a complete psychological, health, and substance abuse history, is to focus on harm reduction. If an individual is placing him or herself, or his or her family, in immediate danger, action must be taken to reduce the impending danger. Sometimes this may require inpatient treatment and sometimes it may involve the entire family. It requires developing a plan of action that can be implemented quickly. The focus during the early sessions is on changing the addictive behavior. In order for treatment to be effective, the individual must be sober. That is the first goal. Staying sober is the bulk of the work. Once sobriety has been achieved, treatment can focus on helping the patient restructure his or her thinking, behavior, lifestyle, and focus. Maintaining sobriety becomes a top priority especially in the early stages of treatment.

Frequently substance abusers have personality difficulties in addition to their addiction. Such concurrent psychological problems as depression, anxiety, social phobia, low self-esteem and other such personality issues, need to be addressed as well as the addiction. Alcoholics and drug abusers often use various substances as a form of self-medication to help them cope with these issues. In treatment, however, we first focus on the substance abuse and then work with the personality issues that may coexist. Sobriety or harm reduction is the immediate goal.

Tagged with: Addiction • Alcohol • Alcohol consumption • alcoholic • Alcoholism • drinking

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