Category: Articles

Alcohol Misuse on the Rise in Australia and New Zealand: The Over 50 Crowd

Alcohol is legal for those who are of age. However, that does not mean it cannot be misused or abused. A substance being legal does not mean it is safe in excess or even in general use. Australia and New Zealand are seeing a rise in the misuse of alcohol, especially in those over 50 years of age. While it is perfectly legal for people over this age to drink as much or as little as they desire, it can be dangerous.

Identifying Alcohol Misuse

Due to the rise in misuse in this age group, it has become important for aged care workers, as well as doctors, to be able to identify this type of misuse. Medical personnel should also be able to identify and watch out for long term impacts of alcohol misuse on cognition for this age group. Having the right response to those in this age category as far as medical needs is important as the number of individuals with issues will grow.

It appears that baby boomers worldwide are drinking more than previous generations. However, those in New Zealand drink more frequently and more during each drinking episode than older adults in at least nine other countries. This covers up to 40% of adults over 50 years of age. Specific to Victoria, those over 50 are responsible for the greatest increase in ambulance calls for alcohol related incidences. This is tied to an increase in young onset dementia.

Older drinkers have a higher sensitivity to alcohol physiologically and tend to have previous health conditions that are exacerbated by excessive alcohol use. Medications that are common to this age group are also affected by alcohol use, making it more dangerous, especially in excess. It is recommended that those over 50 should have only a single standard drink a day, with at least two alcohol free days each week. However, those with dementia, should not drink at all as it can make the disease progress faster. Unlike younger drinkers who tend to drink more in a shorter period of time, older drinkers drink less, but for longer periods. This increases the risk for heart disease, stroke, and a number of cancer types. Sadly, this is not a well-known or advertised fact for older adults.

Signs of Alcohol Misuse and Abuse in Older Adults

Since alcohol is legal for adults few people know what to look for as far as signs of alcohol misuse or abuse when it comes to this age group. This is especially true for those older adults who may not have been heavy drinkers in their younger years. Older people are often about to feel the effects of alcohol, the ‘high’, without increasing the amount they drink. This means a drink or two a day can have the effect on an older person that several have on someone younger. Unfortunately, this tends to lead to accidents like car crashes, falls, and fractures more often with this age group. For those 50 and older, drinking over a long period of time can lead to:

• Cancer, liver damage, brain damage, and immune system disorders
• Worsening already present health conditions (diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, memory loss, mood disorders, ulcers, and stroke)
• Make medical issues harder to treat or even find (i.e. warning signs for a heart attack)
• Cause confusion or forgetfulness which is often mistaken for Alzheimer’s and treated as such

Furthermore, alcohol can affect overall safety for adults in this age category. In addition to the increased rate of falls and household accidents, alcohol is a factor in 30 percent of suicides, 40 percent of crash and burns, and 50 percent of drownings and homicides. The falls that people in this age group have can lead to fractures and other injuries that cause permanent damage. Furthermore, alcohol misuse in this age group can strain family relationships and contribute to familial violence.

Signs of Alcohol Abuse

Though there are no hard and fast rules about who will become a problem drinker later in life or not, there are some factors that have been identified as contributing to the problem. As a person gets older, they tend to face major life changes like poor health, financial difficulties, and even loneliness. Other situations that may create a problem include:

• Empty nest syndrome, when children move away
• Boredom with lack of social activities
• Loss of friendships
• Traumatic events, when a spouse dies
• Sadness or depression following a life change, downsizing a home

Since alcohol is a depressant, it is responsible for brain changes. However, it works on the brain to make a false sense of happiness. Signs of alcohol abuse in seniors include:

• Drinking to cope with depression or loss
• Drinking with prescribed medications
• Being in danger due to drinking habits
• Being agitated when sober
• Lying about drinking amounts
• Hiding liquor bottles
• Slurred speech with the smell of alcohol on their breath

Seeking Help

No matter the age someone starts drinking or when they become a problem drinker, it is important to seek professional help. DARA offers help for those with alcohol issues and additions. With locations in several countries, including four in Australia (Melbourne, Auckland, Brisbane, and Sydney), DARA works with each person, mind, body, and soul.

DARA uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help each person learn how behaviors affect thinking and thinking also affects actions. If we are able to change the thoughts, then the behaviors will follow. Paired with individualized and group therapies are recreational and physical activities, proper nutrition, massage, relaxation time, and meditation. This allows a person to heal from the inside out while learning more about addiction in general. When a person leaves a DARA program, they are well equipped to stay on the road to long term recovery.

If you or a loved one is in need of help for alcoholism, alcohol dependence, or a simple alcohol problem, then call DARA anytime, day or night. The first step is up to you, make the call to change your life for the better.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment. Alternatively, you can click on the live chat icon to chat with someone right now.

Illegal Drugs in Australia

There are several areas of Australia that are very remote. Even though these areas seem cut off from the general world, illegal drugs still seemingly find their way into the furthest of regions. How is this possible? Many are smuggled in according to police. Particularly by flight attendants and on planes. Furthermore, Australia has been struggling to contain the increase in drug related deaths that are related to the drugs smuggled in through different means. Australia’s remote regions are also heavy buyers on the darknet where many people sell drugs. Both prescription and illegal, online.

What is the Darknet?

A darknet market is a commercial website on the web that operates via darknets like Tor or I2P. These are most often black markets that sell or broker transactions involving illegal substances or items, like drugs, weapons, or stolen credit cards. Many people in remote areas choose to order illegal drugs from different online sources. But this holds dangers beyond the illegal aspect. When ordering drugs online there is always a chance of being caught as personal information does have to be shared.  The buyer must give an address for the order to be delivered.

Since darknet sites are targeted and shut down on the daily basis, someone could order, pay, and never receive their drugs. There is no way to get a refund or even track down the original seller since it was an illegal activity. There is also a concern that if the order is sent, there is no real way to know what is sent. A person may be ordering prescription drugs without a prescription and the pills received may look right, but that does not mean the ingredients are what they should be. This creates a dangerous situation.

No longer are the days when it is easy to identify those who are buying or selling illegal drugs. The illegal drug trade has moved beyond dark alleyways and specific corners to digital stores and highly organized business organizations. Anyone could potentially be a drug dealer, manufacturer, or user and this is scarier than believing that a certain look or area can easily be identified as unsafe.

Children and Drug Use

As the drug world and industry changes, it becomes more accessible to children and adolescents. This can be overwhelming for parents who understand how easy it is to obtain drugs. Furthermore, how difficult it is to recognize who may not be aware of the signs to look for. There are a few ways to spot drug use in kids. This will be shared, but this should be shared with the knowledge that many children who experiment with drugs do not go on to become addicts. However, the earlier experimentation or use begins, the more likely that an addiction will develop or, in the least, make that person more vulnerable to addiction over time.

Drug Abuse

Drug abuse is the use of drugs, legal or illegal, for pleasure or for reasons other than why prescribed. It refers to a person who has become dependent on that drug in a physical or psychological manner, or both. For some drugs this can only take one use, like with heroin. However for other drugs an addiction may never begin. Signs of drug use in children and teens include:

• A dramatic change in appearance (This is more than teenage experimenting with a look)
• Health issues that are unexplained
• New friends that appear to be using
• A need or want for increased privacy (includes not wanting a parent to touch their book bag, purse, or room)
• Drug paraphernalia or actual drugs found
• Poor grades in school or behavioral problems that are new or getting worse
• Strong peer influence
• A change in attitude at home (hostile, irritable, or uncooperative – beyond normal teenage rebellion)
• Lying about whereabouts
• Symptoms such as bloodshot eyes, sore throats, runny nose, weight changes
• Memory issues
• Changes in sleep patterns, moods, and eating
• Unusual, typically bad, odor (associated with drugs like pot, alcohol, inhalants, or meth)
• Pupil changes that are not normal for the setting (pinpoint in dim light, dilated in bright light)

These signs may not be noticeable at first and some may not even be related to drug use as teenagers go through periods of transition, but when several appear at the same time, it is time to take action. This can be talking openly, getting the child drug tested, and if necessary, finding an appropriate rehab.

Potential Causes of Drug Use

While there is no sure-fire way to determine whether a child or adult will or will not use drugs over time, there are some factors that may create a higher risk of use. These include:

• Too little supervision and monitoring by parents
• Poorly communicated family and home rules about drug use
• Lack of communication
• Inconsistent or excessively severe discipline
• Family conflict
• Parental permissiveness around drug or alcohol use
• Mental disorders and/or issues
• Parents who abuse drugs or alcohol
• Poor academic achievement
• High need for risky behavior
• Low income family or chance of success

Finding Help

No matter how drugs enter your home or life, seeking help as early as possible is necessary for long term success. DARA offers an in-patient rehab facility with numerous locations in Australia and beyond. With locations in Melbourne, Auckland, Brisbane, and Sydney, as well as other countries, DARA can help get you started on the road to long term recovery.

DARA focuses on the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat addiction. This is paired with proper nutrition as prepared by top area chefs, physical activity, and meditation, massage, and periods of relaxation. There is also an education component as patients learn about the science and psychology behind addiction. These components working together can help individuals understand addiction and gain tools to stay in recovery upon returning home. Best of all, an in-patient facility offers a chance for an individual to get out of their daily environment where drugs and certain people are present. It is almost impossible to get and stay clean if the environment is not changed. If you or a loved one is in need of treatment, then DARA can help, but you have to make the first move by placing a call.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment. Alternatively, you can click on the live chat icon to chat with someone right now.

What is Monkey Dust?

While monkey dust may sound like a children’s cereal, it is actually a powerful, new, and dangerous drug that has recently been found in Australia. Specifically, monkey dust is MDPV or 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone. This falls into the same chemical category as bath salts or synthetic cathinones. MDPV has effects much like cocaine or even ecstasy, but the potency and outside effects are troublesome. Some party goers may think they are taking ecstasy or pure MDMA when they are actually using monkey dust and this is problematic.

MDPV was developed by a pharmaceutical company in the 60s originally, but the testing never reached humans. It was designed to be a central nervous system stimulant, but was obviously unsafe. In 2005 the term began circulating online and the DEA started reporting finding it in synthetic cathinones seizures. Made illegal in 2010, the amount seized by 2015 had started to drop significantly. However, a large seizure in Australia of four kilograms, means the market is still alive and thriving.

Monkey Dust, What to Look For

MDPV is a white, crystal like powder when it is pure, but when manufactured it turns off white or even pale brown. It is then sold as a powder or made into capsules or tablets that can be taken or snorted. Most often, MDPV is mixed with other street drugs, making it more dangerous. Though the main effects of monkey dust only last a couple hours, side effects can last for several additional hours and create problems. If you suspect someone is using MDPV, look for the following reactions:

• Euphoria
• Empathy (often for strangers)
• Stimulation (social and mental)
• Sexual arousal
• Increased sociability

For those who have consumed large amounts of monkey dust, there may also be signs of:

• Muscles spasms
• Paranoia and delusions
• Racing heart rate (or at least elevated)
• Rapid muscle breakdown (in extreme cases)

In extreme situations, the person may also suffer brain injury and death from use of monkey dust. An extreme case typically means excessive use, but can also occur with minimal use and a reaction to impurities in the drug itself.

Is Monkey Dust Addictive?

Monkey dust is primarily made from the khat plant and in many ways mimics that better known bath salts or ecstasy drugs. Monkey dust is highly addictive and can easily lead to long term health issues and death. When monkey dust is used with regularity, it can create a destructive pattern of drug abuse in the user’s life. This is likely to cause withdrawal from family, friends, and other responsibilities. This can lead to job loss and alienation from loved ones. Over time, a tolerance to the drug can develop and create a need for more and more each time.

Withdrawal from Monkey Dust

Since monkey dust is made from synthetic cathinones which are powerful stimulants, medical help is necessary to deal with withdrawal. Withdrawal from such a substance can range from uncomfortable to life threatening depending on how much was taken, how often, and the individual’s reaction to the drug itself. Specific withdrawal symptoms may include:

• Intense cravings
• Fatigue
• Unpredictable, possibly violent, behavior
• Insomnia
• Nausea and vomiting (gastric distress)
• Irritability
• Anxiety and depression
• Amnesia
• Paranoia
• Trouble concentrating

Withdrawal symptoms typically only last for two days to a week with a decrease in severity over time. However, some people do experience psychological symptoms for weeks after stopping the drug completely.

What to Expect at DARA Rehab

If you or a loved one is suffering from an addiction or just general use of monkey dust then seek treatment immediately. Since the drug can have long term effects starting with the first use, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible. DARA rehab offers many locations in Australia that include Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland, among others in different countries. DARA is an inpatient rehab facility with programs of different lengths to suit your personalized needs.

Drug and alcohol rehabilitation, at least at DARA, works because it removes you from the environmental triggers in your normal environment. This takes you away from what caused you to start using in the first place. Once you are in a safe environment that is totally drug free, you can concentrate on beginning the process of living substance use free. This is not always an easy process, but it is one that DARA can help you attain and provide the tools to maintain after being discharged from the facility.

DARA does this through an intense, yet effective program. Each patient receives an individualized treatment plan that will include physical wellness aspects, counseling, and even education, along with time to relax, unwind, and build their spiritual side. There is a concentration focused on dealing with the underlying issues behind your personal drug use with a commitment to teaching each patient better and appropriate coping skills.

The Benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Each week will be filled with activities that include both individual and group sessions with relapse prevention sessions. This is predominantly focused on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that will help you change the way you think about yourself, other people, and the world as a whole. CBT is created to help each person understand how your actions affect thoughts and feelings and thus affect your actions. Through cognitive behavioral therapy, you will learn to change how you think to change what you do, thus cognitive and behavioral aspects respectively.

In addition to CBT, physical therapy is offered weekly with two one-hour fitness sessions each week, daily water workouts and two group exercise sessions. The pool and gym can also be used during your free time. Three weekly massage sessions are also included. This allows each person to heal their physical body while also working on bettering the mental state. This is important as physical well being is often ignored while using drugs. Furthermore, meditation, recreation, and meals are included to improve overall well-being.

It is possible to live a happy, fulfilled life without drugs and alcohol, and you are worth the effort necessary. DARA can help, but you have to make the call. Someone will be available to answer seven days a week, 24 hours a day to help direct you into the next steps.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment. Alternatively, you can click on the live chat icon to chat with someone right now.