Category: Articles

Drug Withdrawal Management

Why Drug Withdrawal May Need To Be Managed

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

Withdrawal from your substance of choice is not a pleasant experience, but it is something that must be experienced if you are to free yourself from addiction.

How difficult is drug withdrawal?

There is no straightforward set of answers to this one. It depends upon many factors that include:

  • The type of substance a person is addicted to
  • The length of time consistent use has been present
  • The amount of the drug being used daily
  • How rapidly this use is increasing
  • The physical health of the person concerned
  • The mental health of the person concerned

Symptoms to be expected during drug withdrawal:

Ceasing drug use after a sustained period means that the body will react in a negative fashion. These effects will be felt in many parts of the body, particularly the nervous and hormonal systems.

This is why those suddenly ceasing heavy drug use feel:

  • Physical pain – aches and pains throughout the body are common.
  • Blood pressure – Rises in blood pressure or unstable blood pressure levels will occur.
  • Profuse sweating – A person will feel uncomfortably hot, even in rooms that are cool and well ventilated.
  • Severe nausea – Feelings of sickness are often accompanied by the person being physically sick.

If you have decided to go through drug withdrawal without professional help then these are symptoms that must be recognized. If any of these symptoms, a rapidly increasing heartbeat or breathing problems occur then professional help must be sought immediately.

Detoxification should be considered:

This point is particularly relevant for those users that have a long-term history of abuse. Professionally monitored detox can help to ease symptoms and ensure that withdrawal does not cause life-threatening issues.

Detox offers a set of medically supervised interventions that help manage acute intoxication and withdrawal. A successful detox will help to clear the substance from a person’s body while minimizing any physical harm.

Unique plans but 3 constant elements:

Dependent upon which treatment centre a person chooses for detox will depend upon the exact type of procedures involved, but there are 3 major elements all establishments will address. These are:

  • Evaluation: Your detox professional will test for drugs present in the user’s system. They should also establish any co-occurring physical or psychological conditions. This evaluation is important for withdrawal, but will also serve to define the type of treatment a user receives once withdrawal is complete.
  • Stabilisation: This is the core of the detox procedure. It involves the user being assisted to help overcome the various withdrawal symptoms. This can be achieved either by intensive counselling or through the use of medical therapy and medication. Another key factor here is making it clear to the user what their role and responsibilities are during detox, ongoing treatment and recovery.
  • On-going treatment: It needs to be made very clear that detox alone will not ensure a user remains drug free in the long-term. To achieve this recovery, they need to accept and embrace rehabilitation treatment. There are many different types of treatment available and decisions need to be made on which is most suitable for the individual.
Grey Death

Grey Death – Russian Roulette With Your Life!

Articles, Australia, International, Malaysia, United Kingdom

Those who experiment with newly introduced street substances like Grey Death, are finding out that this one in particular is a potential killer.

Authorities have named the new designer drug ‘Grey Death’ due to the colour of this potentially lethal substance, and warned that its grainy mixture increases the risk of serious health issues with some users already paying the ultimate price.

Working around current drug bans:

Ruthless overseas drug labs will concoct any number of new chemical combinations in efforts to get around a country’s current drug bans, but what is known about Grey Death is that it contains the highly dangerous carfentanil.

Make no mistake, minute quantities of this drug can kill, and have already done so.

You do not know what you are purchasing:

Please do not believe the street drug sellers when they describe the ‘contents’ of the bag you are purchasing.

While there is a strong likelihood they will have added fillers of their own to make the stash go further and to increase profit margin, they will have as much of an idea as you do about what the original consignment of the substance they are selling contains.

Not knowing what you are purchasing can lead to serious reactions when a substance is taken. At best, it could send you fleeing to the Emergency treatment facility at your local hospital, at worst it will be an early and untimely journey to the morgue.

Widespread opioid abuse makes detection more difficult:

Due to the increasingly widespread problems of opioid abuse and addiction it is no easy task for officials to pinpoint exactly which chemical is the cause of serious reactions and the death of some users.

Tests on seized substances may well show only one substance as being present when in reality there are others that are as damaging, if not more.

Same, similar, but very different:

Drug enforcement units are aware of a similar street drug that has been around for over 5 years now. This comes by the name of ‘Pink’, but Grey Death is in a league all by itself due to the fact that traces of the potentially fatal carfentanil are contained.

The likelihood of heroin in the mix:

It is also very important for those who dabble in new designer drugs to understand that the chances of heroin being included are very strong indeed.

Heroin is dangerous enough on its own and for this reason many users purposely avoid it, but the underlying risks taken when using a newly introduced drug is that you are unwittingly introducing yourself to heroin.

The onset of heroin addiction can be rapid. If a person is looking for a fast-track to deep dependence and addiction then heroin is the perfect provider.

The amount of Carfentanil that can cause an overdoes
The amount of Carfentanil that can cause an overdoes is significantly smaller than most drugs.

Think long and hard before experimentation:

Those looking for highs from illegal substances would be well advised to think long and hard before they try Grey Death or any similar grainy substances offered.

What may appear to be the promise of a higher than high ‘high’ may well turn into a low that will stay with the user for the rest of their lives, or prematurely end it!

If you need to ask us anything, you can contact us here.

relapse

Heroin Relapse – Close To The Surface

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

Heroin is a highly addictive drug and it takes more than most for those dependent upon it to withdraw.

A common theme of those who have managed to kick the drug is that thoughts, feelings and desires for more of the same often surface.

Below we will consider the price of heroin, what high’s it offers, the withdrawal symptoms that can be experienced and why heroin overdose is very much a reality for those who re-start use.

Bargain price!

It is easy to understand reasons for users progressing to heroin. Major factors are its wide availability and the fact that it is not as expensive as many other drugs. Indeed, prescription opiates are far more expensive. An added ‘bonus’ for users is that heroin purchased offers higher purity.

Highest high:

Those users who have been through heroin addiction describe the high as a wonderful, euphoric one. It puts them in their own world and leaves everything else way behind. Relaxation, a pleasant drowsiness and a complete feeling of well-being are some of the reasons that this moreish drug is used again and again.

In short, users cannot get enough of it, but the caveat is that while they may quickly become addicted, ‘Smack’ will not let go easily. It becomes so much of a person’s life that nothing else really matters, and this is where the problems escalate. Heroin users will do pretty much anything to ensure they have a constant supply of the drug.

Trouble with a capital ‘T’:

Physical and mental illness are regular partners to those who remain on heroin for any amount of time. Social exclusion for a person addicted to heroin can be expected, isolation in terms of nowhere to turn are common.

This can lead to a person breaking the law simply to feed their habit. Opportunist theft, burglary and prostitution all constitute ways to get quantities of the drug that will only deepen dependence the longer use continues.

Heroin Relapse – Withdrawal is difficult:

Suddenly withdrawing from heroin will offer pain that can be excruciating. This includes:

  • Greatly increased anxiety.
  • Insomnia and deeply troubled sleep when it eventually comes.
  • Aching bones and muscles.
  • Restless leg syndrome – A user coming off heroin will be unable to keep their legs from shaking.
  • Immense agitation
  • Varying levels of irritability

Then there are the physical symptoms that regularly include:

  • Feelings of nausea
  • Physical vomitting
  • Cold sweats
  • Excess body heat or extremes of cold
  • Diarrhea

Beating heroin addiction is achievable:

While the above symptoms may appear unbearable, they are not. With fierce determination, a heroin user can leave the drug in the past, but they must always be on their guard in terms of a relapse.

Ex-users often relate how tempting it is to climb back on the ‘Horse’, the problems with doing so are many-fold and such thoughts need to be quashed. By re-starting use a user will be undoing a lot of the good work in terms of recovery.

Another serious danger is the risk of overdosing. This is because when a person re-starts use they often do so at dosage levels equivalent to what they were using at their peak. Such huge amounts are simply too much for the body to handle and often result in fatal overdoses.

Please bear this in mind if you have managed to kick heroin and thoughts of returning to use surface at any time.

Excessive Drinking

The Increasing Problems Excessive Drinking Brings

Articles, Australia, United Kingdom, United States

Many people look down their noses at those who regularly use illegal drugs, yet rarely give a second thought to the problems that excessive drinking of alcohol can bring.

Perhaps this is because of its legal status, but whatever the reason, the problems that excessive alcohol intake bring cannot and must not be overlooked.

Increased social problems:

Those who drink to excess will find their social problems increase. Friends will start to shun them due to their boorish nature when drunk, family members will be wary of their moods that can change at the drop of an ice-cube and relationships with a loved one will suffer due to lack of attention or care.

This is because the only thing that is really important to someone dependent upon alcohol is where their next drink is coming from.

Trouble can tend to follow:

Getting involved in arguments or fighting can often be a trait of those who regularly drink too much. The fact of the matter is that they are not fully in control of their senses.

Excessive drinking can lead to them being obnoxious, aggressive or violent for little reason while they are out drinking, and often happens in a cowardly way in terms of domestic violence.

Once back home, arguments can start that will be blown out of all proportion and the aftermath can lead to upset, worry and injury.

Increased health risks:

Regular or excessive drinking builds a tolerance for alcohol. What this means is that a person who drinks regularly needs more of the same on a regular basis simply to achieve the feelings previously experienced.

In many cases a regular, heavy drinker can consume quantities of alcohol that would put those who drink in moderation in serious danger or even kill them.

Some of the unwanted long-term health risks that a heavy drinker, or one who regularly binges are leaving themselves open to include:

  • Serious liver problems – The liver takes the brunt of alcohol consumed. This is because one of its functions is to safely breakdown the toxins it contains. Flooding or overloading the liver on a constant basis will eventually lead to problems that will at best reduce a person’s quality of life and at worst place them in an early grave.
  • Heart disease – The extra pressure a heavy drinker is putting on their heart can lead to a wide variety of heart diseases. Heart attacks being a prime example
  • Strokes – Many heavy drinkers suffer from strokes that can leave them with varying degrees of paralysis. Once again, a person’s quality of life will be adversely affected.
  • Blood pressure issues – Many heavy drinkers suffer from high blood pressure in later years. Others must contend with low blood pressure. This can lead to conditions such as anemia and malnutrition.
If you are struggling with a drinking problem PLEASE do not hide it:

There should be no excuse for trying to hide a problem with alcohol. Shame should not come into it, nor embarrassment.

The fact is that alcohol currently has the better of you and it will continue to do so until you seek much needed professional help and seek treatment for alcoholism.

By quitting denial and asking for help you are making a very brave statement and one that could ultimately save your life.

Ritalin Abuse

What are the Long Term Effects of Ritalin Abuse?

Articles, Education, Understanding Addiction

Ritalin Abuse – Ritalin, also known by its scientific name of methylphenidate, is an amphetamine-type prescription drug which can have a stimulating effect on the body, just like speed. Anyone who uses this drug recreationally or in large doses through injection or snorting, is putting a massive amount of pressure on their brain and body.

If Ritalin is taken as prescribed then its effects can be beneficial to individuals.

So what are the long term effects of constant Ritalin abuse? And can one become addicted to such a drug?

Long Term Effects of Ritalin on the Body

Ritalin effects the whole body, especially when used over the long term. Here are some of the effects that people have experienced:

  • Muscle tightness
  • Numbness and tingling in the feet and hands
  • Verbal tics
  • Seizures
  • Uncontrollable movements in parts of the body
  • Weakness in the arms and legs

Long Term Effects of Ritalin on the Brain

Ritalin works the same as other stimulants by increasing levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which provides the feeling of pleasure, attention and movement. Stimulants provide a therapeutic effect by slowly and steadily increasing the effects of dopamine. This is similar to the way that the neurotransmitter is naturally produced in the brain and explains why medical practitioners will prescribe a low dose and increase steadily until the therapeutic effect is reached.

If taken in large doses, and by means other than those prescribed, Ritalin can cause dopamine levels to rise to rapidly which can disrupt the normal communications between brain cells. So to answer the earlier question – Can one become addicted to Ritalin; the answer is yes because it can produce euphoria which will increase the risk of a person becoming addicted.

Here are some the effects that prolonged use and high doses can have on the brain.

  • Possibility of strokes
  • Possibility of epilepsy
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Permanent damage to blood vessels
  • Headaches
  • Speech problems

Other Reasons For Ritalin Abuse

Similar to amphetamines such as speed, Ritalin will supress the appetite, promote wakefulness and increase attention and focus. Because of this, Ritalin can often be abused to promote weight loss or to enhance performance. Studies have shown that while the drug helps improve concentration, irritability and restfulness in people with ADHD, it does not provide the same effect to people who do not suffer from the illness.

Another reason that people often abuse Ritalin is purely for recreational use. The drug can give a feeling of euphoria. This is most often provided when pills are crushed and then snorted, however, some people may even mix with water and then inject themselves.

Can Long Term Use Damage You Permanently?

There is no evidence available from trials that has given an answer on how long someone with ADHD can be treated on Ritalin. However, it is generally agreed that patients may need to be treated for extended periods and for as long as there is a genuine need.

The general rule is that the treatment can last for as long as the benefits outweigh the risks.

 

If you or someone you know is suffering from Ritalin abuse and you feel that they would benefit from rehab, please feel free to contact one of our professional adviser today via the contact form.