Category: Articles

Why Is Hydrocodone An Opiate To Respect And Fear?

Articles, Australia, International, Understanding Addiction

Let us take a look at a highly effective painkiller and address some answers to the question: Why is hydrocodone an opiate that should be treated with caution?

What is hydrocodone?

It is a semi-synthetic opioid that is derived from codeine. This is one of the more commonly known opioid alkaloids found in the opium poppy.

It acts as a powerful narcotic painkiller and works very effectively by interfering with your central nervous system pain signals. When taken it prevents nerves in the body from sending pain signals to the brain.

While it is prescribed on its own it is often combined with other drugs. Two examples are by adding acetaminophen. This combination works in a two-fold way.

The acetaminophen helps to calm a person’s mood, and it boosts the effects of hydrocodone’s painkilling abilities. The prescribed drug Vicodin is an example of this combination.

It is also commonly used in lower quantities with antihistamines and sold over the counter in pharmacies as cough medicine and medicine which is used to give relief from pain caused by coughing.

So why is hydrocodone an opiate to be feared?

This is because of the very strong addictive properties it contains. Those using hydrocodone should only do so as prescribed by their health practitioner. It is also very important to be fully aware of the drug’s potential for addiction.

When it comes to recreational use many users may be aware of its addiction qualities, but this is certainly not stopping it being abused. Indeed, it is claimed that hydrocodone is the most abused opiate in the United States.

Is there a difference between dependence and addiction?

When asking this question there can be confusion. Even medical authorities are changing these terms because of such confusion.

It is generally felt that when the word “dependence” is used this is referring to a physical dependence upon a substance. Such dependence is marked by symptoms of tolerance and withdrawal.

Even though it is accepted that some users have a physical dependence on a drug it is also acknowledged that they are not classed as being addicted to it. Having said this it is also the case that addiction is very likely to follow dependence.

Addiction is generally acknowledged when biochemical changes take place in the brain after continual substance abuse.

Such addiction is seen in a person’s behaviour, their all-consuming need that prioritises the abused drug above everything else and irrational acts when they do not have the substance in their system.

Why is hydrocodone an opiate you become so quickly addicted to?

This is because it creates effects very similar to heroin and morphine although the intensity of the hydrocodone ‘hit’ and its associated highs are slightly lower.

Euphoria, relaxation and being at one with the world are common feelings that recreational users chase. The problem is that with regular use the mind and body quickly become tolerant of the drug.

Such tolerance often means that mentally you are quickly convinced that another hit is due, and physically you will begin to feel withdrawal symptoms if you do not feed your need.

The more often you take, the more you want, and quickly it becomes evident that you require more hydrocodone simply to achieve the same feelings as previous ‘highs’.

When such a cycle continues you are facing hydrocodone dependence and addiction.

If you are in this position or feel that hydrocodone is beginning to take over your life it is absolutely vital you seek the help of your medical practitioner. Better still, take a long look at the services offered by a professional rehabilitation centre.

Is hydrocodone an opiate to be messed with?

The answer here is very clear: NO! Many users have an attitude of “It will never happen to me”.

Sadly, while experimenting with hydrocodone on its own is bad enough, many users take an even more damaging step and begin to mix the drug with other illicit substances or alcohol in their effort to reach an even ‘higher high’.

It is true that this can be achieved, but please understand that you are also leaving yourself open to serious psychological and physical damage that has resulted in many fatalities caused by overdose.

Side effects:

Similar to other opiates, hydrocodone comes with a variety of side effects that affect different users in different ways. Some of the more common are feeling nauseous, constipation, a runny nose, chills or sweating and derogatory changes to your diet.

There are a whole host of other side effects that can rise in seriousness such as increased anxiety, feelings of depression and insomnia. Those suffering from such effects must seek professional help either from a rehabilitation centre or their doctor very quickly.

Is hydrocodone an opiate you can withdraw from easily?

The truthful answer is that it is easier to withdraw from hydrocodone than it is to stay clean from thereon in.

This is why the withdrawal process should be seen as just part of your ongoing rehab care. It is common for a medical practitioner to taper your dose. This means gradually reducing the amount taken over a given timescale.

While this is certainly a step in the right direction many feel it is simply not enough to see your doctor once a week while trying to kick your hydrocodone habit.

One major reason here is that in all likelihood you will be living in the same environment you became addicted in and temptation will be everywhere.

Consider a residential rehab clinic:

While tapering will be used to lessen your withdrawal symptoms when you enroll as an inpatient at such an establishment there are a host of other mental, physical and spiritual aspects included during your stay.

Caring councillors and medical staff fully understand what you are going through. Their mission is to help you manage what is undoubtedly a testing time of your life.

Just as importantly they realise how vitally important aftercare is when it comes to keeping you off hydrocodone.

When considering inpatient rehabilitation establishments it is very important that you look at the aftercare options offered. You should choose one that gives a variety of options.

Is hydrocodone an opiate addiction you can beat?

Without a shred of doubt the resounding answer to this final question is: YES!

Thailand Rehab Where Addiction Can Be Beaten

Articles, Australia, International, Treatment, Understanding Addiction

For those dependent upon alcohol or drugs and looking to kick their habit, South East Asia may not be the first port of call, but please think again; Thailand rehab resorts should most definitely be a consideration.

Let us first understand why you need professional rehab services, regardless of whether you take these in your own country or at an overseas rehabilitation establishment.

It is time for change:

If you are currently in, or heading towards a cycle of addiction you will have realised the damage you are doing to yourself and your loved ones. Realising such damage is one thing, admitting to it is another.

But, it is very important to understand that once you face up to, and take responsibility for your addiction issues, and the baggage your action is leaving behind it is the first crucial step in challenging your dependence problems.

This is when it is time to change your world.

Kicking your habit alone:

Before we consider the advantages of using a fully qualified, professional and extremely cost effective Thailand rehab establishment it should be pointed out that the first course of action for many addicts is to try and beat addiction on their own.

While this is an admirable route to take, it is filled with obstacles that in the majority of cases will derail your efforts to stay ‘clean’.

It is important to understand that this is not because you are weak, it is simply because the tolerance your body and mind have built up to your drug of choice mean they demand more of the same on a crushingly regular basis.

There is also a strong likelihood that you will have the distractions of being in the same social surroundings that helped begin, and continue to cement your love/hate relationship with your ‘poison’ of choice.

Such an environment and the ease of which illicit substances are freely available to you mean the slightest set-back, or temptation you are given will be the best excuse ever for ‘just one more hit’.

Addiction is easy to achieve, beating it is far more challenging!

Make no mistake, the illegal substances that are readily available on the street are ruthless. They will give you a cracking high, they will leave you feeling at ease with the world and of course, you will feel you can control your use and abuse.

If only this was the case! The payback is that your body and mind quickly build up a tolerance to such drugs and the vicious circle begins.

This tolerance begins a very hungry habit. The brain demands feeding, but because it continues to be fed, it needs more of the drug to achieve the same high as your last hit.

Simple solution: Take more!

As sure as day follows night, the more you take the more you need, the more you need the more you want.

No get out of jail free card:

Many already realise and many millions more will quickly find out that once your body is dependent upon and expecting its next ‘feed’, you will not be able to simply step away from it and stop use.

Withdrawal symptoms will remind you of this in a nagging, nauseous and not very nice way. The solution to curbing such withdrawal symptoms is either to “get back on it” or take the route that is inevitable:

Inpatient rehabilitation services:

Professional help is required if you are to face, challenge and beat your addiction problems. Here are some of the reasons why Thailand rehab resorts should be strongly considered.

Professional, qualified staff:

It goes without saying that those suffering from alcohol or drug addiction need the assistance of caring, professional and qualified staff. The luxury rehab resorts you will encounter overseas are based along exactly the same lines as your in-country options in terms of treatment, counselling and qualified staff, but they also give a whole host of additional benefits.

Challenging and caring:

While overseas rehab resorts offer idyllic settings and luxurious comfort, this alone will not resolve your addiction problems.

You need to receive caring, professional help from staff that fully understand the issues and challenges you face.

Such staff will have the knowledge, skills and presence to challenge you and your current problems in a way that will help you realise the extent of the problem, the damage it is doing to you from a physical and psychological point of view, the unnecessary heartache you are causing to your loved ones, and the steps required to overcome such challenges.

Out of your environment into tranquility:

Your current environment is not conducive to kicking a habit. By remaining in an often sterile environment this will do little to aid your efforts, indeed it simply adds fuel to the fire in terms of temptations and opportunities when it comes to relapsing.

The tropical and idyllic settings of a Thailand rehab recovery resort are exactly the opposite. They will give you a chance of a new start in a fresh, exciting and exhilarating setting, and such a setting will help prepare you to face the personal mountains you need to climb in beating your addiction in the short term, and then laying a solid foundation for long term rehabilitation assistance.

Tranquil surroundings, internal angst:

Please do not fool yourself that withdrawal and staying “clean” for the long term is an easy ride, but climbing and overcoming your initial withdrawal and angst issues is a far more achievable task if your surroundings give a calm and peaceful environment to do so.

Thailand rehab resorts offer such a setting over and over and over again.

Physical, Psychological, Spiritual:

Luxury rehab resorts will address your problems through physical exercises that are within your reach, they will help you explore the psychological reasons as to why alcohol or substance abuse has overtaken your life, and calming spiritual teaching is offered as part of your recovery process.

Cost effective care – Prompt attention:

Luxury overseas rehab resorts are often thought of as a bridge too far in terms of cost for many who have an addiction problem, or for those who feel their use of alcohol and/or illicit substances has taken a step too far.

THINK AGAIN: In many cases the cost of such care is far cheaper than in your own country, if appropriate it can be supported by medical insurance policies, and you will be entering a brand new environment with a fresh feel and ambience.

This on its own lends itself to positive thoughts, total encouragement and a determination you will find falls into place thanks to the surroundings and settings you will gladly expose yourself to.

THINK AGAIN: Waiting lists are the bane of anyone who has made a very hard and conscious decision to finally admit they want to quit their drug of choice.

When such a decision is made, this can and should be a monumental time of your life.

The last thing an addict needs is to be told: “Yes”, we understand you have a problem, join the queue, we will be back to you in 3, 6, 9 months’ time.

In the vast majority of cases, anyone contacting a Thailand rehab resort in need of care, professional attention and a real opportunity to beat their addiction in both the short and long term will be offered a placement that ensures treatment begins very quickly.

The Cost Of Drinking Alcohol

Articles, Australia, International

Overcoming an alcohol addiction can be a hard feat. If you have tried it in the past, you may even think it is impossible. Others may just not be ready to quit. However, when you are ready to quit, there are many ways to support your decision. You do not have to wait for a major life change to decide to quit either. Your choice to change may simply come after weighing the pros and cons of your alcohol consumption. Here are some ideas to help you decipher the benefits and the consequences you may be experiencing due to your alcohol intake.

Those who drink and associate forgetting their problems and alcohol together, view this as a gain for their lives. Some people, especially teenagers, who drink, may use drinking as an escape from having to deal with their family problems. Others may drink to avoid dealing with other negative relationships in their life, such as their boyfriend or spouse. Other people drink to deal with depression or other mood disorders they deal with everyday. Other individuals drink because they do not feel secure in their identity, so they withdrawal with alcohol. Often those who have been drinking for a period of time, have become addicted and cannot stop drinking. Whatever the case, they are using alcohol as a means to avoid complications in life.

Others use alcohol to help them relax; another positive outcome in their opinion. Alcohol can improve one’s mood and make you feel less stressed for a period of time. These people might also be the ones getting drunk in order to not have any feeling at all, where they are almost in a euphoric state because their body is totally relaxed, and they are no longer themselves.

Those who drink often worry about what will happen when they stop drinking alcohol, so they keep drinking because they are afraid of the negative results. Individuals, who use alcohol to loosen up, often worry about having to find a new way to cope with their problems if they give up their alcohol use. It is normal to fear the unknown when changing a lifestyle, specifically when choosing to quit using alcohol.

Other people also fear having to deal with responsibilities they have been putting off because of their alcohol consumption, so they choose not to deal with the consequences. However, if you stop drinking, you will have more money to deal with the responsibilities you have put on the back burner. You will no longer have to worry about missing work deadlines or school assignments because you will be more involved without alcohol in your life. You will have more time to fulfill your responsibilities rather than sitting at a bar. You can also be more involved in your spiritual life you have neglected because you will not have guilt standing in the way. After stopping consuming alcohol, this fear will be replaced with optimism because you will realize you will have more time, energy and other resources to deal with the responsibilities you have been ignoring.

Nonetheless, alcohol consumption can often leave you feeling more depressed and having more consequences. Alcohol is a depressant, so by nature, it is going to leave you feeling depressed at the end of the night. Drinking is often an easy way to self-medicate; to help you forget about your problems and your depression. However, alcohol abuse can worsen depression as well as other mental health issues. Alcohol abuse has also been linked to suicidal behavior. Since it is a depressant, it increases inhibitions and lowers judgment creating a dangerous atmosphere for suicidal thoughts. There are tons of resources dedicated to this topic, so if this idea is a concern in your life, check out some other reliable resources online to educate yourself better on this topic.

Some people also say a benefit to consuming alcohol is that boozing allows them to have more fun. It is true that alcohol can arouse your senses. Alcohol consumption, especially with teens and young adults, is viewed as having a good time with friends and partying, yet there are many facts disproving the notion that alcohol actually creates a more enjoyable atmosphere. Despite these facts, there are also many other ways to have fun and be fun without hitting the bottle, such as dancing or watching movies.

Another fear of those who are considering ending their drinking habit, is the fear of losing friends they often drink with and this negative consequence may prevent them from quitting. Many drinking companions will not understand the decision to stop drinking. They have not seen the effects that it has had on your life, so it will be hard for them to understand. Losing friends is never easy, notably, when someone is making a major life change. Even though your companions may not understand, you have to consider all the other benefits you will gain by not drinking, even if that means losing some people close to you in the process.

Some others associate problems in their relationships because of their alcohol consumption, which could end up leading them to a path of recovery. Alcohol can have many effects on relationships. If you see complications in your relationship due to boozing, it is a good sign that you may need to seek professional help for your drinking issue.

If you are relying on alcohol to solve or lessen the troubles you are having or are drinking because you think it creates a more enjoyable atmosphere, you may need to consider the costs of the habit you are developing. Weighing the costs and benefits is a good way to determine if you are ready for a change. Once you decide you need a change, please explore appropriate, professional options to help guide you to a path of recovery.

 

Binge Drinking – Why It Carries A Health Warning

Articles

Binge drinking really is something to avoid. While this may seem a very obvious statement it needs to be said because millions of people ignore it.

Here are some facts about this type of drinking and just some of the many issues it can cause:

Definition:

Consuming an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time.

What can this type of drinking lead to?

We need to divide this into two sections. This is from a social and health perspective.

Social affects:

While binge drink sessions are associated with young adults it is certainly not their exclusive domain. Many older adults binge drink and those that do will also feel the social consequences.

Increased aggression:

When drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time this can rapidly increase a person’s aggressive nature. Such aggression can lead to confrontational situations that result in either assaulting someone or being assaulted.

Apart from personal injury or injury to others, this type of aggression will often lead to the involvement of law enforcement officers. If you are the aggressor then there is a very good chance that criminal charges will be brought against you.

It goes without saying that a criminal record is not something one should search for.

One type of aggression that is very common with those who go on regular binge drinking sessions is domestic violence caused between themselves and their partners or family members.

The social repercussions of such aggression will almost certainly lead to partnership and family difficulties that may be so serious as to never be repaired.

Decreased inhibitions:

Drinking alcohol loosens a person’s inhibitions. While a moderate intake of alcohol can give pleasurable, relaxed feelings, too much alcohol can lead to a devil may care attitude.

An example of this is unplanned and unprotected sex. Such sexual activity can lead to unexpected pregnancies and unwanted sexually transmitted diseases.

Low self-esteem:

Heavy drinking sessions may well be classed as occasional binges. The problem is that there is a good chance that ‘occasional’ turns into ‘regular’. It should clearly be understood that alcohol is very addictive.

Your mind and body quickly become tolerant of alcohol, and this tolerance increases rapidly. What this means is you need more of the same to reach the same ‘high’ as previously.

Such increases in alcohol consumption can lead to alcohol dependence. Once dependent upon alcohol, the next stop on your journey is alcoholism.

Binge drinking or a dependence on alcohol can leave a person with a low self-esteem. This effect is increased as he or she slips deeper into addiction.

Work consequences:

Such heavy or regular drinking sessions certainly affect your work performance. Many in such a situation will phone work stating sickness as their reason for not showing up. They often find that work standards are slipping, and in extreme cases even drink before or during work.

There is only one sure consequence of such actions. That is being found out, and the strong possibility of dismissal.

If you are forced to search for another job because of your drinking problem, try explaining to a prospective employer why you ‘left’ your last job. Not an easy task, and certainly not one that many prospective employers would find endearing or advantageous to their business.

Health effects:

The second section of effects we will consider have to do with how binge drinking affects your health.

Apart from the possibility of injury due to increased aggression as discussed above, heavy or regular drinking sessions are likely to have a negative effect from a physical and psychological point of view.

The short term health effects lead to a whole range of probabilities. These include headaches, sweating and/or chills, feeling nauseous or being physically sick, shaking hands and body, anxiety, increased nervousness, depression and insomnia.

The answer to reduce such effects for many is to have ‘a hair of the dog that bit you’. This means that when you are feeling lousy due to a heavy drinking session, you try to counter and reduce such feelings by having another drink.

I think we can all guess where such an attitude will lead. It will not stop at just one drink, and before you know it you will be knocking drinks back and getting drunk again, and so the binge drinking circus can go on and on until you find that you are dependent upon alcohol to function.

Longer term health effects:

While cirrhosis of the liver is commonly acknowledged as one of the longer term health problems caused by heavy drinking, there are many other serious health problems you are leaving yourself open to.

These include, but are certainly not limited to: Anemia, cancer, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases such as blood clots, heart attacks or strokes, depression and dementia. Certainly not a pretty picture!

Where to seek help:

If you find your bingeing sessions are getting out of hand, or you have passed that stage and are now dependent upon alcohol you need to seek help in the form of professional alcohol addiction services.

This type of help can be in the form of outpatient treatment or at an inpatient rehabilitation centre.

The advantages of inpatient treatment are many and varied. These include taking you out of an often sterile environment that could well have contributed to your alcohol dependence in the first place and is now rapidly fueling it.

There are also completely focused counselling sessions during such a stay that are designed to help you fully understand what damage your binge drinking is causing to you and those around you.

Once you admit and accept the fact that you have a serious drink problem, and face up to the detrimental effects it is having on yourself and those close to you, you have taken a huge step on the long road to overcoming your alcohol issues.

You will be shown how to avoid potential relapse situations, and you will begin your long term recovery through physical, psychological and spiritual sessions.

Such intensive, personal and communal sessions are designed to give you the best possible opportunity to stop drinking, and just as importantly how to stay away from alcohol for the foreseeable future.

Quit Drinking – Why You Should And Who Can Help

Articles, Australia, Understanding Addiction

Waking up with the mother of all hangovers will have many people declaring “That is it, I am going to quit drinking”. The problem for millions of men and women the world over is that such a statement is far easier to say than it is to achieve.

Let’s consider why alcohol consumption can so easily get out of hand, how it can affect you, and just 2 approaches to prevent the demon drink from taking hold of your life in an extremely negative way.

Alcohol:

As long as you are over the age of consent it is legal, and even if you are underage it is easily obtained.

It can be extremely enjoyable and relaxing if taken in moderation and drinking is an accepted practice by a wide range of communities the world over.

Having said that, it should be very clearly understood that alcohol is also highly addictive.

Because of its availability and acceptance in society alcohol is readily available from many sources, this means it is very straightforward for people to start and continue to drink at will.

What is not easy for those over using alcohol is to simply quit drinking. Here’s why:

The Pleasure Palace!

Many who drink find a great deal of pleasure from their imbibing. This is because alcohol works on the brain to increase endorphin production. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that are responsible for many things including euphoria and relaxation. By drinking you begin to feel good, confidence can grow and inhibitions are loosened.

Addiction Avenue:

So far, so good. The problem is that your mind and body quickly develop a tolerance to alcohol consumption. This tolerance gives you a drinking problem.

It means that to achieve the same effects as previously experienced you need to drink more. The more you drink, the more dependent you become on alcohol both from a physical and psychological aspect.

Such a dependence upon alcohol will eventually lead to addiction. This is because the quest to satisfy your craving will grow and grow. The end result is that you will continue to consume evermore quantities.

The brain needs feeding and it tells the body this in no uncertain terms. It is vital to understand that if you take the approach to stop drinking abruptly your body will show its displeasure in the form of:

AWS – Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome:

When you accept there is a problem with the amount of alcohol you are consuming, you have taken a major step in the right direction. While it is admirable to try and quit drinking on your own this is a tough path to travel.

In all likelihood your cravings will get the better of your efforts, and you will rapidly need ‘just one drink’ to ease such cravings. Of course, one drink will lead to another and then another, and thus the vicious alcohol addiction circle will begin to spin even faster.

This is why it is advisable to seek the assistance of a professional, qualified alcohol rehab centre. Before we explain why such establishments can give you the best possible chance of overcoming your alcohol addiction here are some AWS facts:

AWS onset:

The time it takes for AWS symptoms to appear will vary from person to person and how deeply dependent they are upon alcohol. Such symptoms can occur anywhere from 6 hours to a couple of days after your last drink.

Symptoms:

AWS symptoms vary from person to person, but commonly include such things as body tremors, in particular the shaking of your hands, you will feel anxious, nervous and irritable, nauseous feelings will be fairly constant and in some cases you will experience vomiting.

Headaches and sweating are common and many who try to stop drinking abruptly will suffer confusion and insomnia, and when they do fall asleep this uneasy rest will often be accompanied by nightmares.

It gets worse before it gets better:

These symptoms along with others will get worse before they get better. There is a good chance that over the first 2 or 3 days they will worsen and then persist for weeks.

That is the good news!

While the above symptoms are quite common, those with serious alcohol addiction problems will suffer from the most severe type of withdrawal. This is known as Delirium Tremens, or DT’s.

Such symptoms include extreme agitation and confusion, fever conditions, and tactile hallucinations. This means you suffer from feelings of itchiness, numbness or a burning sensation that do not exist. Many then have to add into the mix visual and sound hallucinations where they see images or hear sounds that do not exist.

Anyone suffering from severe AWS symptoms needs to seek emergency medical treatment.

Who is best placed to help you quit drinking?

The initial admittance of having a drink problem, the misery it is causing to your loved ones, and the physical and psychological damage it is doing to your body must first come from within, as we have already touched on, trying to go it alone is not the best, nor easiest route to take.

Alcohol addiction needs treating with the assistance of professional alcohol rehab establishments.

They fully understand the issues and challenges you face, the signs and strength of the withdrawal symptoms you will go through, and the measures required to give you the best chance possible of accepting your situation, and in helping you progress with a positive roadmap in terms of getting your life back on track.

Physical, Psychological and Spiritual treatment – Now and for the future:

The very best alcohol rehab programs will incorporate a residential stay that includes mentoring through achievable physical exercise based on your current condition.

It will include psychological mentoring that meets and faces the reasons why you are in the position you are in, and they will offer spiritual teachings to help you come to terms with your alcohol addiction.

Just as importantly such treatment will offer extensive aftercare programs that are tailored to suit you and your ongoing circumstances.

When such treatment is combined the desire to quit drinking will be as resolute as possible, and it will give you the best possible chance to overcome an addiction that is very easy to acquire and very difficult to challenge.