International Archives - Page 109 of 111

Sep032015Oct032019

Singaporean’s Youth Facing Binge Drinking

Singapores-Youth-Facing-Binge-Drinking-in-Epidemic-Proportions When we first become adults and we are learning our limits in the world around us, sometimes we push those limits a little too far. Part of becoming an adult is learning our limits and when to say enough is enough. Unfortunately for many young adults, binge drinking is a dangerous way to test those waters. With the drinking age in Singapore is 18, it is crucial to educate these young adults while they are still being formally educated.

Singapore’s government has debated raising the legal drinking age to 21, but some elected officials state that raising the drinking age would only be a quick fix. Especially with many young citizens serving in the military, it does not make sense for many to raise the drinking age when you dedicate your life to your nation.

Some cultural trends might point to why teenagers and young adults are turning to binge drinking. With college and university schedules being rigorous and time consuming or while embarking on adulthood searching for the right path in life, binge drinking is a way for many to cope with the stress and anxiety of the difficulties of growing up. Drinking is a quick and socially acceptable way to unwind after a long day of classes, homework or job hunting. Yet as with most issues concerning young and emerging adults, they do not know their limits and drink to the point of physical detriment. Binge drinking can cause lifelong liver and kidney damage, peptic ulcers, damage to the esophagus from constant vomiting, and potentially death if not treated properly and immediately.

It is hard growing up and learning your way in the world. The best way to treat youth binge drinking is with a lot of understanding and with outreach. Being a young adult comes with a lot of freedom and learning about how to conduct yourself, but it also comes with the price of responsibility. Self-restraint is probably the most important part of educating the young of Singapore on how to avoid the pitfalls of binge drinking. When young adults learn to control their impulses instead of acting on them often they live happier and healthier lifestyles. For those who become alcoholics and are unable to control these impulses on their own, DARA is here to help you become the healthiest person you can be.

If you, or someone you care about, needs help for a drug or alcohol addiction,
contact us at 1-888-457-3518 US, 0-808-120-3633 UK or 1-800-990-523 AU.
We’re here to help you take that first important step.

Aug072015Jan272016

Need for Addiction Treatment Rising In Middle East

Articles, International, Understanding Addiction

Need-for-Addiction-Treatment-Rising-In-Middle-East Civil unrest and violence in Middle Eastern countries are having far-reaching effects in terms of rising incidences of drug and alcohol addiction and the need for effective treatment. Our internationally certified staff makes it a point to stay on top of current affairs worldwide. We are prepared to offer needed services to individuals in the Middle East who are suffering from addiction. Reports from Baghdad, Iraq, in particular have shown that the high rate of personal loss among families as the result of war and related violence has contributed to substance abuse. The emotional trauma of grief and loss has caused people to seek solace in drugs and alcohol. Dependence on chemicals to ease the pain has reached alarming rates. Of equal concern is the number of children who are using illegal drugs. When they experience the psychological stress of violence, they, too, are turning to drugs as a way to cope with the loss of family members. Officials have noticed the uprisings that have occurred since 2011 seems to have sparked drug-related problems, including incidences of smuggling and dealing.

DARA Prepared To Help In International Setting

As a highly reputable provider of addiction recovery treatment in the international community, DARA has set processes in motion to help alleviate the repercussions of increased substance abuse in the Middle East. We already are serving clients from these war-torn areas, and we are taking steps to increase our capabilities. We want these people who are traumatized by the violence and upheaval in their countries to understand that we have compassionate solutions to their substance abuse problems. Starting August 1, we will have an Arabic-speaking counselor on our team as part of our recognition of the needs of this growing segment of the population. We also offer Halal foods, in accordance with the spiritual beliefs of many clients from the Middle East.

Jun112015Jan272016

China’s War On Drugs Goes Mainstream

Articles, International

The Chinese government has launched a new war on drugs. As a result, many high profile citizens and celebrities have been paraded around in the media after arrests, and the Chinese government has made it clear: no one can run from their drug program regardless of societal status.

Chinas-War-On-Drugs-Goes-Mainstream After being arrested for a drug offense, users are sent to state ran detoxification centers. These centers concentrate largely on labor and production instead of medical and psychological care. Those arrested are also enrolled in a drug user registry, and minor of offenses can cost a Chinese citizen quite a bit of money.

Marijuana users are put into the same centers and programs as oxycodone and heroin addicts. As with most countries, there is a diversity in the drug of choice for most populations. For China, 60 percent of the registry consists of heroin users, and heroin users typically see the harshest of societal judgment.

Being added to China’s drug user registry is not only costly and lacks discrimination based on drug and dependency, but it also carries a high stigma that affects people’s ability to safely seek treatment.

Users who may have developed a disease such as HIV/AIDS due to risky behavior associated with drug use, are now hesitant to come forward and seek help due to the stigma associated with the disease. While wanting to clean up drug use is a noble endeavor, treating drug users inside of labor-intensive centers with little to no medical or psychological use can be detrimental to the recovery of an addict.

Stigma is a very weighed emotional concept, one that can send a user into a life of blacklisting and scorn. Individuals suffering from a drug addiction need complete medical, physical and psychological care through a team invested in their success.

Jun042015Jun212018

Upswing In UK’s Alcohol Use Causes Concern

Articles, International, United Kingdom

Upswing-In-UKs-Alcohol-Use-Causes-Concern Recent statistics showing an increased rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions in the United Kingdom, particularly among women, indicates an ongoing international need to address drug and alcohol abuse. As a respected worldwide leader for alcohol addiction treatment, DARA Thailand is prepared to provide solutions for the UK’s chronic drink problem. A recent article posted on Daily Mail.com reports that England’s public health officials are alarmed by a “deeply worrying” trend in alcohol addiction, particularly among women. A 2.1 percent rise in female patients compares with .7 percent rise for men over a yearlong period. Hospital admissions for alcohol-related illnesses include more middle-aged women and young mothers than ever before.

“Women are drinking much more than they used to, particularly wine in the evening, and that quantity of drinking is causing significant problems in terms of liver disease and other serious conditions,” said Dr. Niall Campbell, consultant psychiatrist at the Priory Hospital in London. “Women are literally dying for a drink, and it is a national pattern.”

DARA Thailand Serves International Clients

Our internationally certified therapists at DARA Thailand design personalized treatment plans for each individual who comes to us from near or far. We respect cultural norms, while at the same time we realize that addiction knows no geographic, social, ethnic, economic, gender or age boundaries. We have served clients from more than 50 countries to date at our rehab location in Koh Chang. At Koh Chang, our treatment uses cognitive behavioral therapy as its primary focus. Because of the intensive professional training our counselors receive, we specialize in dual diagnosis treatment for mental health issues that co-exist with substance addiction. DARA Thailand makes it a point to keep informed about drug and alcohol issues around the world, such as the alcohol abuse crisis in the United Kingdom. As the leading international destination for addiction treatment, we welcome all individuals seeking recovery solutions.

Apr302015Jan272016

Handling of Russian Heroin Epidemic Raises Concern

Articles, International

Handling-of-Russian-Heroin-Epidemic-Raises-Concern The Russian heroin epidemic, widely reported on in the media, and the resulting proliferation of HIV through shared needles, have been called a threat to national security by Russian officials. Yet the Russian government has been severely criticized for its handling of the problem. Though statistics vary, it’s clear that between 1.5 and 2 million Russians are heroin addicts, with a percentage of population that’s about eight times higher than in EU countries. The Federal Antinarcotics Service, a Russian agency, reports that Russia now uses more heroin than any other country in the world, and the incidence of HIV is growing rather than abating as it is in most other countries. It’s not that the government is ignoring the problem, but critics say its drug policies may be exacerbating the national dilemma.

Human Rights Watch recently released a report on the Russian drug epidemic stating that Russian policies for treating drug users “deliberately ignore the best available medical evidence and recommendations.” For instance, there are no nationally sponsored needle-exchange programs to address the spread of HIV. Methadone is banned in Russia so there is no methadone substitution program to help wean users off of heroin. Independent agencies geared to help addicts are typically shut down by the government. Addicts seeking help are put on a state “narcological register,” available to the public and used by police who often find cause for arrest. Some say that medical care for drug users is inferior and that addiction is not viewed as a disease by most Russians, as it is in many Western countries, but instead is considered a moral travesty. Critics say these policies and attitudes discourage addicts from seeking help.

The world watches as Russia addresses its catastrophic drug epidemic. The saddest fact of all: Most of Russia’s heroin addicts are aged 18 to 39 – a generation lost to heroin.