Category: Understanding Addiction

Meth is one of the many street names of Methamphetamine. Whatever your favourite name for this potent drug is, one thing should be made very, very clear. It is highly addictive.

What is it?

Methamphetamine is chemically similar to amphetamine and is generally sold as a white, non-smelling, bitter-tasting crystalline powder.

Choose How You Use This Poison:

Those who regularly use this drug will either swallow it, smoke it, snort it, or dissolve it in alcohol or water. Injecting or smoking it is the quickest brain delivery method.

What’s the ‘hit’?

It cannot, and should not be denied that this substance gives a cracking high. It offers immense, intense feelings of euphoria.

While this may intrigue many, it should also be noted that such feelings of pleasure fade quite quickly. The obvious solution to keeping this ‘high’ bubbling is to take more at fairly short intervals.

The ‘binge’ syndrome is something that regular meth users know only too well. One day melds into another and before the exhaustive crash calls, a weekend or longer has been lost.

As sure as night follows day dependence and addiction will follow:

Those who think they can dabble with ‘chalk’ and then leave it alone are treading a very dangerous tightrope.

This is because the drug works by increasing the amount of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical that, amongst many things is responsible for feelings of reward, pleasure and well-being.

The problem is that your mind and body quickly build up a tolerance for the drug. This tolerance demands regular feeding, but NOT of the same amounts as previously used. To attain the same cracking high as the previous one the user needs to increase the dose.

A drug maze that is difficult to exit:

It goes without saying that as a user increases the amount and regularity of meth use that dependence and addiction follow quickly. Those who find they are stuck in this addiction rut MUST seek the assistance of professional inpatient rehab services.

Where do you turn?

Addiction is depressing, degrading and has to be addressed. While there may be a consideration that withdrawal can be achieved on your own, it must be understood that this is a route with a very low success ratio.

This is NOT because you are weak, it is because the hold that methamphetamine has on your mind and body is akin to a tightening vice.

This frightening grip and the subsequent severe cravings demand feeding. Without the assistance of professional inpatient rehab programs your chances of recovery will be greatly reduced.

A fresh start with bright horizons:

Let’s face it, those dependent upon meth, or any other highly addictive substance are not giving themselves a fighting chance of beating their addiction by remaining in their current sterile environment.

The proximity of dealers and like-minded users leave far too many distractions open to you. A quick phone call and ‘meet’ with your dealer will be arranged before you even think about it, a visit to your ‘friends’ who are similarly addicted will be a journey you can make in your sleep.

You need a brand new beginning:

Determination, resilience and desire are needed if you are serious about kicking your addiction. It is therefore eminently sensible that you also consider inpatient rehab treatment in an environment that is conducive to your recovery.

Such an environment awaits in a luxury rehab resort. These establishments are completely focused in terms of giving you the best care and treatment possible in what will undoubtedly be a very testing time of your life.

Here are just 3 major reasons why such a route will give you the best chance possible of coming to terms with, and then beating your meth addiction.

Cost:

This may seem an unusual ‘advantage’ to start with, but the words ‘Luxury Rehab’ may leave some with a feeling that the cost of such a stay will be way above their means. This is most definitely NOT the case.

Indeed, there are two inpatient rehab resorts in Thailand that are two-thirds of the cost of similar establishments in western countries.

It should also be mentioned that certain personal health policies acknowledge the services provided by these overseas residential rehab establishments and have helpful staff who will help you ascertain whether your current health policy is valid for treatment.

Even if this is not the case, the actual cost of a stay is extremely affordable.

Minimal waiting lists:

When a person has taken the crucial first step of admitting to their drug or alcohol dependence prompt action is the order of the day.

Many western rehabilitation clinics are full and have waiting lists that stretch months ahead. The last thing an addict needs is to be told that help is available, but come back in 6 months. This is akin to a licence telling the addict to continue their habit.

Overseas rehab resorts are not subject to the same pressures in terms of demand. In the vast majority of cases these establishments will be able to accept a client within a couple of weeks from first contact.

Proven treatment methods and a track record of success:

The fully qualified western and local staff follow proven methods and use experienced councillors to help you overcome your meth addiction.

You will be staying in a calm, idyllic setting that is conducive to recovery. Yes, there will be a routine, and yes there will be pre-agreed rules that have to be followed, but these are there for a purpose. That purpose is to give the recovering addict the best possible chance of beating their addiction.

During a stay the client will participate in group and individual activities that include physical, psychological and spiritual sessions.

As they progress through recovery there will be 24/7 help and support available, along with constant advice and support as required.

The aim is that the client will leave the luxury rehab resort with a new, fresh mindset and be looking forward to continuing their treatment through one of the various outpatient programs offered.

Meth addiction can be beaten:

No one should think that beating such an addiction is a walk in the park, but this type of establishment is the perfect place to start your recovery.

Let’s take a look at your best chance of beating addiction and start with how something you dabbled with became a habit and is now a dependence.

Where did it all go wrong?

Those addicted to drugs or alcohol certainly did not set out with this aim in mind, so why is it that millions upon millions of people worldwide are addicted?

It is because the body quickly builds up a tolerance to your drug of choice. The brain and body feel rewarded when they receive their ‘hit’.

The problem with this building tolerance is that to achieve the same ‘high’ as previously you need to increase the amount and regularity of your substance of choice.

As you increase use and decrease the time between each ‘hit’ this dependence takes a stronger hold, and before you know it, you cannot live without it.

Indeed, trying to stop use will bring on intense cravings that will only be satisfied by taking yet more.

Common signs you have addiction issues:

There are many signs from a physical, psychological and social viewpoint that an addict will feel and show. Here are just 3 from each heading before we consider your best chance of beating addiction:

Physical:

Appetite and Weight:

Addicts will notice changes in their appetite. They will either eat very little for extended periods of time or go on food binges where they eat anything at hand and do so for a long period.

These poor eating habits can obviously affect your weight. Many addicts find they suffer from either sudden weight loss or weight gain.

Personal appearance:

Because the drug or drink of your choice has become all-consuming, the last thing many addicts care about is their personal appearance and grooming habits. While they may not bother with a mirror, such appearances are clear for all around you to see.

Prone to illness and infection:

The regular use of drugs and drink lowers your body’s resistance. This means an addict is leaving themselves wide open to regular bouts of illness.

In the case of those who choose to inject, the risk of infection from such blood borne diseases as Hepatitis B, C and HIV/AIDS is greatly increased.

Psychological:

When looking at your best chance of beating addiction it is very important to understand that the psychological effects will not disappear overnight. Such effects need to be managed through a long term drug rehab program.

Restlessness:

When an addict is not preparing or taking their next hit the mind can play strange games. Many state bouts of restlessness are ‘the norm’ between each ‘fix’.

Anxiety:

Most addicts will think about stopping use during their drug fuelled journey, however such thoughts will quickly lead to increased anxiety and even anxiety attacks.

Depression:

When an individual is either struggling to get their next high, or if they try to imagine a future without the drug/drink of choice feelings of depression will be evident.

It has to be said that anxiety and depression can stay with an addict for long periods of time after they have stopped using.

Social:

Partners, family and friends:

Because the drug or drink of your choice is literally all-consuming those closest to you such as partners, children and close friends will take a very firm back-seat in your thinking and priorities.

They will feel and show their hurt in a variety of ways, but because and addicts main priorities are elsewhere the damage they are causing often goes straight over their heads.

Social gatherings:

Parties, events and functions that were fun and relaxing before addiction took hold will become challenging. Those dependent on drugs will often make excuses to avoid attendance.

If an addict does attend such events you can be sure they will regularly disappear to the bathroom to keep topped up.

Work:

Addiction affects work performance and attendance. It is very common for addicts to phone in ‘sick’ on a regular basis as they are unable to face the ‘daily grind’ of their workplace.

Your best chance of beating addiction – Outpatient treatment?

Those who have finally faced up to the fact that drugs and/or drink are ruining their life, and that their actions are causing untold angst and heartbreak to those closest to them have a variety of rehabilitation services to consider.

Your health practitioner is often a first port of call. They can offer advice and support as well as giving information on outpatient and inpatient rehab establishments.

They should suggest a ‘tapering’ course of treatment which means that over time you will gradually reduce the amount of the drug taken.

There are also outpatient drug rehab centres that offer advice and support to help you withdraw.

The problem with both of these options is that care, supervision and attention is sporadic and appointment based, and you will still be living in the same sterile environment that put you on the addiction trail in the first place.

There will be temptation at every corner, and in all likelihood the least bit set-back in your personal life will have you scurrying back to your dealer as well as other addicts you are associating with.

Your best chance of beating addiction – Inpatient rehab:

Without a doubt a stint in an inpatient rehabilitation establishment gives an addict the best possible chance of coming to terms with their current situation.

It also gives them the best possible opportunity to overcome addiction and look forward to a drug or drink free future.

Many of those dependent upon drink and/or drugs are waking up to the fact that overseas luxury rehab resorts are an excellent alternative to what is on offer in their own country.

The benefits are many and varied. A new phase of your life will begin in a pristine and totally relaxed environment and crucially, waiting lists are either none existent or extremely short. This is a lot more than can be said for the oversubscribed inpatient rehab centres in your own country.

These overseas rehab establishments employ fully qualified, professional and understanding staff who are completely focused in helping you overcome your addiction.

This will be achieved through respect for yourself and others, and physical, psychological and spiritual sessions that will help put your present situation and future prospects fully into perspective.

Just as importantly, they will offer you a variety of quality aftercare options that are absolutely vital to helping you keep off drugs or drink once your initial stay at a luxury rehab resort has been successfully undertaken.

Your best chance of beating addiction begins with YOU!

If your dependence has reached levels that are ruining your life and those closest to you it is imperative you take the very brave step of admitting this.

Once you accept your current situation, the next step should follow very, very quickly. That step is to contact a luxury overseas rehab resort and speak with one of their understanding counsellors.

This initial contact will be a gigantic step with regard to you coming to terms with your addiction, facing up to it, and ultimately staying clean for the foreseeable future.

GHB impacts the same receptors that alcohol does. It can make you feel like your brain is slowing down. Users report increased sexual desire, intellect and emotion.

It can cause comas and seizures, as well as death.

Continue reading “What does GHB do?” →

Today, there are many misconceptions about drug use. The media feeds us so many differing opinions about drugs and how we should view them. It has become hard to determine where the truth lies concerning drug use. Many addicts and family members of addicts have become so mislead by the plethora of information out there today, they now feel hopeless in their battle toward recovery. Here are some myths that I hope to bust for you today:

All drug addicts fit a certain stereotype. Common stereotypes of addicts include those who abuse drugs have a criminal background; they steal from others to provide for their drug addiction; and all they have poor relationships. However, these misconceptions are simply not true. Drug users can be highly functioning members of society. They could be business people, and they can have a clean criminal background. They can be highly functioning individuals, who have normal relationships and look like anyone else who does not have a drug abuse problem. The issue with stereotypes is they are almost never true.Therefore, stereotypes are not fair to those who are struggling with a drug abuse problem. Also, stereotypes are often used to justify the beliefs of the person who places the stereotype on a person. Stereotypes lead to hatred or at the very least negative beliefs about others. Another problem with stereotypes is they can trick addicts into thinking they do not have a drug problem because they do not exhibit any of the behaviors they are “supposed to” according to the stereotypes of other drug addicts. Others do not want to admit they are an addict because they do not want the negative stigma attached to them which have been previously associated with other drug users.

Drug dependence is a more serious problem than alcohol dependence. It has actually been shown, overall, alcohol does more harm to one’s body than do drugs. The numbers show that more people abuse alcohol than drugs, and illegal substance abuse accounts for less deaths per year than deaths related to alcohol use. Many more people abuse alcohol than drugs as well. This statistic means that not only are there more lives directly affected by alcohol use, but there are more lives indirectly affected alcohol use, including family and friends who are affected by others’ drug use. Although both problems are serious issues, it seems that alcohol may be a bigger problem overall.

Drugs will relieve your stress. Not only are drugs not an effective way to relieve stress, the chemicals in drugs can produce more stress in one’s life. It is also important to note that not all stress is bad. Furthermore, a little stress is actually helpful. Small amounts of stress help us perform better under most situations. Everyone deals with stress in different ways and there is no one way to deal with stress. However, dealing with stress by using drugs is a counterproductive way to cope. It is important to develop different, effective ways to cope with stress for one’s long term health needs instead of turning to drugs to deal with stress. The best way to deal with stress is to take care of oneself by eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep. Another way to deal with stress is to stay as calm as one can during stressful situations by avoiding arguments and looking for other ways to keep calm.

You can stop using drugs anytime you want. Quitting drugs is much more difficult than simply making a decision to quit. It involves creating a brand new way of life, separate from how one used to live to prevent relapsing into drug use again. Creating new relationships with friends, who do not use drugs, is also a necessary step as well. Drugs often have an impact on one’s relationships, career and financial status that one must work through after stopping drug use too. One must learn new coping mechanisms to deal with stress instead of using drugs as a means to alleviate stress. There are many factors that play into quitting drugs and after use for an extended period of time it makes quitting more difficult.

Your baby will not be harmed if you use drugs while you are pregnant. There are many risks to babies who are born to women who used drugs while pregnant. Some of the effects include preterm birth, low birth weight, children who experience withdrawal symptoms as well and other lifelong disabilities the baby will have to deal with throughout its life.

There are no truths in the myths listed above. It is easy to believe the things we hear without thinking through the accuracy of them. It is also easier to place a label on people to make them seem different. Now that the myths are busted and you are better able to identify a true addict, help them seek appropriate, professional care for their addiction.

Substance abuse does not simply impact the one abusing alcohol or drugs, it also affects every person in the addicts life, especially their family members. Here is a description of how substance abuse can have an impact on the family.

Misusing drugs and alcohol can create tensions within families, causing increased conflict and arguments among family members. Not only can addiction cause conflict with one’s spouse, it can also cause stress in relationships with one’s children. An addict’s children might lose respect for his father because the father does not typically follow through with promises when he has been drinking or using drugs. His children may be afraid of him because they do know know when he will be drunk or high and lash out at him. There are many ways conflict can manifest and cause problems within relationships.

Emotional trauma or abuse within the household are also common factors associated with alcohol and substance misuse. Anger, rage and arguments are often part of family life when living with an addict. Belittling family members can also be a problem when alcohol or drugs take over. Often, addicts have other underlying issues that go hand in hand with their substance abuse problem and putting someone else down helps the addict feel better about herself and takes the focus off her problem temporarily. Addicts are also very good at manipulating situations as well as other people. Manipulation to score more drugs or sip that next drink or to even keep their addiction a secret often causes much tension and stress within the family dynamic. Emotional abuse is often prevalent among families of addicts.

Some addicts take the emotional abuse to the next level by physically abusing a family member. Violence, such as pushing or hitting can happen when a person has had too much booze or is high on drugs. Even if the person is not actually hitting his spouse, intimidating by throwing items or threatening them can be almost as scary. Any type of violence in a relationship is harmful to the relationship and causes unhealthy interactions within families.

Sexual promiscuity while drinking or using drugs is another factor that plays into familial stress with addicts. It may be because the individual is not thinking clearly when intoxicated or using drugs or because their relationship has become so strained, stressed and distant they choose to have an affair. It might not even be a physical affair in that the spouse is looking at pornography due to the distance felt by the stress within the relationship. Perhaps affection in the relationship has been lost because of the stress the addiction caused the person to go looking for affection elsewhere. There could even be an emotional affair that does not take the sexual step, but connects intimately with another person because she does not feel like she and her spouse are close any longer. Any of these types of affairs can happen on either side of the addiction coin-the person who is addicted or the spouse of the addict. These patterns can even lead to separation or divorce within a relationship, which could affect the family’s children as well.

An additional factor that plays into substance abuse is the financial strain it often creates within the family system. Not only are alcohol and drugs expensive habits, they can also cause job loss because of lack of performance or excessive absenteeism. Also, inebriated individuals can make poor financial decisions while they are under the influence. The person may also have legal trouble for which he must pay fines, court fees or jail time, which halts his financial income.  An alcohol or drug addiction can cause financial conflict among families for all of the reasons listed above and more.

Alcohol and drug abuse also has many health risks as well. Being intoxicated or high on drugs can lower one’s focus and impair his thinking, causing him to not pay attention to his children, perhaps causing them to be hurt or have an accident. Smoking also causes health risks for everyone residing within the home, not simply for the smoker himself. Drinking while pregnant can cause major health risks for the baby, which could drastically change one’s family dynamic when the baby is born. These health risk among many more make alcohol and drug dependence dangerous for the addict as well as everyone else in their lives.

If you have a family member who is dealing with addiction, it would be beneficial for the entire family to seek counseling. Alcohol and drug abuse impact the entire family unit. Addictions are often passed down through the family line as well, so if you have children, it is a good idea to include them in the counseling process for this reason. The longer an individual is dependent on alcohol or drugs, the more strain it causes to the family. Seek help for the love of your family.