Category: United States

Drug Withdrawal

Drug Withdrawal

Articles, Australia, Education, International, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Drug Withdrawal is no easy feat, but it is important to understand that millions before you have managed it and millions more will continue to do so.

Let’s take a look at the issues which surround drug withdrawal and how best to achieve a life of continued sobriety.

When withdrawal begins:

Once a person forms a dependence upon a substance it means they cannot do without it. From the moment they cease use withdrawal symptoms will follow. It is important to understand that different drugs will have differing withdrawal symptoms and timespans. This is dependent upon how they interact with your brain and bodily functions.

When taken, drugs are absorbed and remain active in the body for differing amounts of time. You will often hear this being referred to as the drug’s “half-life”. This is in relation to the different withdrawal time periods for each substance.

Severity and duration:

The severity and duration of drug withdrawal is certainly influenced by the level of a person’s dependency on that particular substance as well as other factors which include:

  • The length of time you have been abusing the substance
  • The type of substance being used and abused
  • The favoured method of drug taking – This relates to whether you snort, smoke, inject or swallow the drug
  • Amount of the substance taken for each “hit”
  • Genetic makeup and family history
  • Medical factors that include the state of your physical and mental health

It stands to reason that the longer you have been addicted, the more pronounced the withdrawal symptoms will be.

Timeline examples of drug withdrawal:

The following information is a general overview and will not be specific to all. Some will feel withdrawal symptoms for a shorter period of time, others longer.

  • Heroin: Withdrawal begins within 12 hours from last dose, peaks between 24-48 hours and can last between a few weeks and a few months
  • Prescription opiates (e.g. methadone, OxyContin, Vicodin and morphine): Withdrawal starts within 8-12 hours for the majority of prescribed opiates, peaks between 12-48 hours and lasts 5-10 days. Methadone withdrawal is the exception. This begins within 24-48 hours, peaks in the first few days and lasts between a fortnight and one month.
  • Benzodiazepines (e.g. Valium, Xanax, Klonopin and Ativan): Withdrawal generally begins within 1-4 days and peaks during the first two weeks. It is possible that this group of drugs can cause protracted withdrawal lasting months.
  • Cocaine: Withdrawal starts within hours of the last dose, peaks in a few days and lasts between 1-10 weeks.
  • Alcohol: Withdrawal generally begins between 8 hours and a few days from the last drink, peaks within 24-72 hours and lasts a few weeks

Overcoming drug addiction is achievable:

While the above does not make particularly pretty reading, the fact is that the time spent going through withdrawal is nothing compared to the length of time you will have been addicted. As we stated at the beginning, drug withdrawal can be achieved. With strong will-power, determination, courage and self-belief you can kick your habit and look to a far better future.

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Rehab Aftercare

Why Aftercare Must Never Be An Afterthought

Articles, Australia, Education, International, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Rehab Aftercare – It cannot be stated too strongly to those who have successfully finished a stint in rehab just how important it is to continue with aftercare treatment and therapy.

Rehab is just the beginning:

Those recovering from addiction have taken 2 major strides.

  • Ended denial: They have quit denial, admitted that their substance of choice currently has the better of them and sought professional assistance.
  • Completed inpatient rehab: They have been through an extended stay as an inpatient at a rehab clinic where their treatment and healing has begun and progressed. Counselling has helped them to understand the root cause of their problems and given them the physical and mental ‘tools’ to help maintain sobriety.

Continuous care required:

While most addicts are fully aware that their challenges do not end with a successful rehab stint, many fail to understand the importance of continued, regular counselling and therapy.

This is known as Rehab Aftercare and it should never be an afterthought.

Here are 3 of the many reasons why aftercare is such a crucial part of the continuous journey of recovery:

Transition from rehab to a home environment:

Remaining sober during your time as an inpatient is relatively easy. This is due to the blanket-ban on substance use and the fact that you have every resource required to help with recovery.

Moving from this protective environment into reality can be a shock to the system. This is one of the major reasons so many recovering addicts relapse during the early stages of recovery.

A key way to avoid negative thoughts and temptations is to fully lean on the rehab aftercare services that should have been arranged before you left rehab.

Please understand that you cannot really have too much aftercare during the initial stages of your homecoming.

Achieving a program for success:

We have already mentioned the huge step taken in accepting and doing something about your addiction. This impetus needs to be maintained, and a solid, sensible, aftercare program can help achieve this.

Aftercare provides a path that can be followed for the long-term future. There will be different branches of this path to travel, such as the one that helps maintain a safe distance between you and your old addiction, and the ones that help you understand, achieve and surpass the goals your purposely set.

The important thing to remember about aftercare is that there are many different flavours and there will certainly be one that is to your liking.

Helping to create a new social network:

Your old social network is likely to be littered with those who continue to use and abuse substances. While this social network needs to be left behind, it is important that some type of social network is established and maintained.

By taking advantage of a comprehensive aftercare programme and availing of the services that best fit your needs means you are opening new social network doors.

New friendships will be formed with those who are also striving to maintain sobriety and these relationships will give added impetus to your determination in maintaining sobriety.

The key to continued sobriety:

Committing to a comprehensive aftercare programme means a recovering addict is committing to a life of sobriety. They are giving themselves the best chance of a future free of substance abuse and the issues it brings.

USA Drug Use 2017

USA Drug Use 2017

Articles, Education, Treatment, United States

The worrying and rising trend of USA drug use 2017 shows no signs of slackening. While it is true that some sections of the population are cutting back on one substance or the other there is evidence that far more are either maintaining or increasing their use of substances.

One major area that deserves close attention is that which may surprise many due to its legality:

Prescription medication:

The amount of people in the USA addicted to prescription medication has reached crisis point in the country. Estimates given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claim that the total economic burden of this type of misuse alone is running at $78.5 billion each year. This includes costs for:

  • Healthcare
  • Lost productivity
  • Addiction treatment
  • Criminal justice involvement

Commonly abused classes of prescription drugs:

These can be broken down into:

  • Opioids – For pain
  • (CNS) Central nervous system Depressants – For anxiety and sleep disorders
  • Stimulants – For ADHD and narcolepsy

The opioids that cause most addiction problems are seen as: Fentanyl, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone and Oxymorphone, the CNS category includes Pentobarbital sodium, Diazepam and Alprazolam while the Stimulants most abused are Dextroamphetamine, Methylphenidate and Amphetamines. All of the above medications have common registered trade names and while there has been a crack-down on the number of prescriptions issued legally, it is also known that such medication is widely available through ‘street dealers’.

Inherent dangers of abusing prescription medication:

We are all aware that prescription medication should be used “as prescribed and as stated”. With some prescribed medication, there is leeway to overdo things, but this is certainly not the case with the prescribed drug which is causing huge problems and contributing to death by overdose according to the USA Drug Use 2017 statistics. This frightening drug is:

Fentanyl:

Anyone using or considering the use of fentanyl must understand that this opiate is one of the most powerful painkilling drugs currently available. It certainly has its uses for those recovering from surgery or those in need of temporarily easing “breakthrough pain” when using other painkillers.

Fentanyl is a short-duration medication that must be administered with great care. It’s strength alone offers a fine line between a dose which eases pain and one that can be fatal. Sadly, many illegal users have learned to their cost through such a misjudgment.

When fentanyl is prescribed it must be done so under supervision and administered over short periods. The reason for this is that the drug creates a rapid increase in tolerance for higher doses.

A stark example is that a dose giving the required feelings taken over a period of 5 or 6 days of continuous use will not register those feelings the following week. The obvious answer for many is to take more, thus rapidly increasing the chances of addiction.

What is being done about the USA Drug Use 2017 crisis?

In response to the opioid crisis the HHS and the NIH are focusing their efforts in 5 major areas. These are:

  1. Improvement of access to treatment and recovery services
  2. Promoting the use of overdose-reversing drugs
  3. Strengthening understanding of the crisis through more effective public health surveillance
  4. Offering and providing support for cutting-edge research related to pain and addiction
  5. Progressing and advancing better practices for pain management

Let’s hope these initiatives and continued education as to the problems of drug abuse can help turn this crisis around.

gambling addiction

Effects Of Compulsive Gambling

Articles, Australia, International, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Gambling Addiction – Ask a general question between friends during a social meet-up relating to what causes addiction and the sure answers will be either a commonly abused drug or alcohol.

The odds that gambling will be mentioned as a major source of addiction are slim.

The Hidden Addiction:

Professional addiction specialists refer to gambling addiction as being the “Hidden Addiction”.

Gambling shows none of the outward signs that are displayed by those addicted to drugs or alcohol. There is no unsteady stature, no glazed eyes, no slurred talk or behaviour that generally indicates someone is under the influence of a substance. This makes it far more difficult for loved ones or those closest to the person to realise exactly how deep this problem is.

What is going on inside the head of an addict?

Just what is going on inside the head of someone who is addicted to gambling? Turmoil, angst, stress and anxiety. Their need to place a bet in whatever form is their preferred choice is overwhelming.

It will nag at them until they are able to gamble and as their addiction grows so will their determination to ‘play’.

Effects of a gambling addiction:

By its nature gambling has direct effects on the person concerned. Here are 3 common issues that gambling addicts will accept and deal with in their own way:

  • It’s my secret: In general gamblers are secretive, this is understandable, why shout from the rooftops if you have a dead-cert, or have devised a system that guarantees success? But the reality for compulsive gamblers is that as well as keeping any winning schemes to themselves, they are also determined to remain secretive about the extent of their gambling.
  • Lack of control: Most compulsive gamblers will maintain control of their thoughts, actions and emotions while in normal situations, but at the back of their mind they will be plotting their next gambling session. When it does begin, control goes out of the window They are in their zone and will often continue to gamble win, lose or draw. The two things guaranteed to stop a gambling session are exhaustion of funds or exhaustion of themselves.
  • Funds will be found: The need to fund a gambling habit means that wages will be spent, savings accounts exhausted, credit cards used to the limit, borrowings requested, items of value sold and in extreme circumstances theft or fraud committed.

Treatment for gambling addiction:

Anyone who feels that their gambling habits are becoming all-consuming, or those who have tried to leave gambling alone but failed needs to understand that treatment is available.

This treatment can be taken in 3 recognised forms and combinations of such treatment should be encouraged.

Therapy:

Behaviour therapy or CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) is a key treatment for those with a gambling addiction. The strategy behind this therapy in terms of gambling is to reduce the strong urges to gamble by systematically exposing an individual to their actual behaviour and changing the way an individual feels and thinks about gambling.

Medications:

Once assessed by medical and addiction specialists it may be found that those suffering with a gambling addiction need medication to help reduce symptoms and associated illnesses that can appear with such an addiction. Medication given includes mood stabilizers and anti-depressants.

Alternative medication also includes Narcotic antagonists; this type of drug is also used to help those with drug addiction.

Self-help groups:

This type of ‘treatment’ will not suit all, but benefits many. There are voluntary organisations and online self-help groups that can be highly effective for those struggling with gambling addiction. If an addict can open themselves up to this type of help they will be surprised at the openness, frankness and real-life advice available.

Inpatient Rehab at Dara

Preparing Yourself For An Inpatient Rehab Stay

Articles, Australia, International, Malaysia, Treatment, United Kingdom, United States

Once a person has taken the huge step of committing to an inpatient rehab stay the realities of a lengthy time away from their home environment will kick-in.

It is important to take a calm approach to this impending confinement. This means the first thing to do is from a mental perspective:

Stressful feelings and thoughts:

It is completely natural for anyone preparing for inpatient rehab to have stressful feelings and thoughts. There are many things that will need to be put on hold for a while, but by taking a measured approach and giving yourself ample time for consideration is the most positive way to proceed.

The hardest, but eminently most sensible decision has been made, so bear that in mind any time those stress levels begin to rise.

Do not be afraid or hesitant to lean on a loved one or a close friend who is aware of your situation. They should be only too happy to help you prepare and can lend a sympathetic but positive ear to any concerns you have.

Such concerns should be voiced as soon as possible. Keeping things bottled up will do no good whatsoever and will only serve to increase those stressful thoughts and feelings.

Alert your employer:

You may be hesitant to mention your extended absence to your employer, but this should be done far sooner than later. Any employer who appreciates you as a valued employee will want to see you get better and will understand that this treatment is targetted to do so.

Under employment laws of most western country’s there are clauses that allow you extended medical leave without affecting your employment situation.

During discussions, you should stress just how much the treatment will benefit you and that your strong desire is to return to work with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

Take care of your loved ones:

Make arrangements to ensure your loved ones will be cared and catered for during your absence. If children or the elderly are involved lean on other family members or close friends to look after them or give regular support to your partner.

Take care of your financial obligations:

Check for any bills that will need to be paid while you are in rehab. Most services and utilities now accept automated payment, so sign up for those that are relevant.

If electronic commerce is not your thing then rely on a loved one, family member or close, trusted friend to settle these bills. You should list out clearly the bills expected with approximate amounts against each.

Leave this with the person concerned and take a copy with you. While you will be confined to the inpatient rehab establishment during your stay you will still be permitted to make phone calls, so by referring to your list you can always check-in with the person responsible to make sure the relevant bill has been settled on time.

Determine to get the most from your experience:

From the moment you have a start date for inpatient treatment to the moment you arrive at the establishment it is important to maintain positivity. Determine and remind yourself that your aim is to derive maximum benefit from the treatment and therapy being offered.

Remember, this stay can be the springboard to a new, far brighter period of your life and full advantage should be taken.

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