What Is Drug Rehab

Unless you have a long history of experience with addiction (personally or through a loved one who has struggled), you may or may not have a thorough understanding of what drug treatment really is.

What is drug rehab? Although philosophies and methods of treatment can vary greatly, drug and alcohol rehab is a place for substance abusers to take time for themselves to undergo individualized programs and therapies geared towards sober living. 

The goal of treatment is to improve the overall living situation of the person who is under the influence of drugs and alcohol. This includes not only abstinence from drugs but the ability to stay free from crime and have employment. To help a person to become a productive member of society who is contributing to it, instead of someone who may be trying to take away from it.

Strategies Can Vary

In the United States alone, there are hundreds of different types of rehab programs and strategies. To find the one which is best for you (or your loved one), it’s probably best to understand what isn’t going to work for an addict and then determine what is. Drug rehab should be as individual as the addiction itself.

Short-Term Drug Rehab vs. Long Term Treatment

Longer-termed programs (usually 4-6 months or so) generally are able to deliver more effective results by the sheer virtue of how much time is afforded to the participant. It can be extremely difficult to undo months or years of bad decisions in a matter of a few weeks.

Group and Individualized Programs

Some programs deliver group-based therapies (where counseling is done in a group setting), while others employ the method of one-on-one sessions or individualized programs. While this is largely an issue of preference, individualized programs which give the addict personal attention to his/her issues has proven out to be more effective, statistically speaking.

Outpatient Facilities and Residential Settings

Drug rehab can be performed both in an outpatient setting, during which time the addict goes home after his/her treatment sessions or exercises. Residential drug treatment is a live-in situation wherein the addict lives at the treatment facility in private housing or dormitory-style rooms.

Many treatment experts agree that the benefits of residential drug rehab far outweigh those of an outpatient program, but again, this is a matter of personal preference and what is feasible for the addict and his/her family at the time of admission.

Family Involvement

In learning what drug rehab is and what it has to offer, remember that family involvement is valued highly by addiction specialists. By offering support and positive encouragement, families of substance abusers can make the treatment process much smoother.

A few suggestions for family involvement during drug rehab are:

• Periodic visits
• Correspondence (messages or phone calls)
• Care packages
• Coordination with counselors regarding progress
• Acceptance of amends
• Gestures of support

In addition to this most effective programs will also work out remedying and bettering relationships with family members, friends and other supporters of a sober life.

Drug Rehab Purposes and Objectives

Answering the question, “What is drug rehab?” requires personal research. Although there are too many treatment philosophies to list in one short article, remember that the purpose of drug rehab is to return an individual to a happy and drug free life. Further, and as stated, a drug rehab program effectively executed will restore a former drug abuser to a functioning and contributing member of society.

This should be kept in mind when choosing a facility for yourself or a loved one. The ultimate goal is longstanding and even permanent improvement in the overall quality of living for the former drug user.

The Rise Of Fake Prescription Drugs

The prescription drug abuse epidemic we currently face in the United States may be, to some, old news. By misusing or taking more the prescribed dose of opiate and other pills, individuals place themselves at risk of a laundry list of physical and mental adverse reactions.

The rise of fake prescription drugs, however, is “new” news and presents risks which, in many ways, are more dangerous than the original prescriptions which they mimic.

What Are “Fake Prescription Drugs”?

The issue of counterfeit pharmaceuticals is accordingly much more prevalent in undeveloped countries but has recently presented itself in the United States, putting prescription consumers and abusers alike at tremendous risk.

Reports indicate US pill consumers have reason to question whether the prescriptions in their possession are “fake.” FDA-issued warnings about illegal and dangerous prescription counterfeits have been distributed in light of incidents related to foreign imports of subpar pills.

Allergic Reactions

In the case of counterfeit prescriptions like the Turkish-imported fake Avastin (a drug designed to attack tumor growth), allergic reactions have manifested due to unusual ingredients. In 2008, a chemically tainted blood thinner from China was found to contain US-banned ingredients and caused nearly 150 deaths.

Dangerous Ingredients

The FDA has placed a good deal of resources on cracking down on the illegal importation of fake prescriptions via online pharmacies. In 2009, over 800 packages of fake prescriptions for Viagra, Vicodin (opiate painkiller) and antihistamines were found to contain chemical fillers such as drywall, yellow paint (the kind used on highway lines) and antifreeze.

Dangerous Dosage Levels

Fake prescriptions rarely have the appropriate or indicated dosage levels. In FDA counterfeit pill seizures, some pills have been found to contain none of the active ingredient (instead, 100% filler chemicals) while others were found to contain triple the indicated amount.

Counterfeit Drug Dangers

The most obvious threats of fake prescriptions lie in the fact that their ingredients are generally unknown and unpredictable. While it is estimated that a mere 1-2% of US prescriptions are counterfeit, this still translates to millions of potentially hazardous fake pharmaceuticals delivered to unsuspecting consumers and addicts. In fact, over 4 billion prescriptions are filled every year in the United States. It is estimated that roughly 4 million of those pharmaceutical drugs contain dangerous chemical fillers, double or triple the indicated drug amount or completely useless ingredients altogether.

For the millions of Americans currently addicted to prescription drugs, fake pharmaceuticals can mean death. An individual who already takes too much of a drug, then ingests a pill which has 3x the indicated amount, can easily overdose.

Even for non-addicted prescription drug consumers, this presents blatant risks—how can we be sure these pills are safe?

Signs Your Prescription May Be Fake

American prescription regulations on distribution of drugs are generally tight, but obviously not stringent enough.

Fake prescriptions are truly impossible to sniff out without lab testing. As a consumer, however, you can use your sensibility and go with your gut if you suspect your prescription may be suspect.

Avoid coming into contact with these dangerous fake drug duplicates by obtaining your necessary prescriptions from legitimate, qualified sources only. Further, watch out for some of the following suspicious signs:

• Strange packaging or labels. Fake pharmaceutical packaging also may appear to have already been opened. 
• Oddly shaped or colored pills with any sort of chips, cracks or malformations.
• Unusual drug taste or texture than you are used to.
• Abnormal side effects or drug reactions.

If you are certain your prescription is an illegal counterfeit, contact your healthcare provider and report it to the FDA right away.

What Is The Difference Between Psychoactive And Psychedelic Drugs

 Psychoactive drugs and psychedelic drugs have been talked about by researchers and have been used by teens for a very long time. However, many people don't truly understand what they are or what the difference is. According to researchers, psychoactive drugs are a more broad classification of drugs, which includes an entire range of different drugs.

In fact, any drug that affects the central nervous system is considered to be a psychoactive drug, which means that a large group is included. Psychedelic drugs are simply one of the classifications within the wider classification. Therefore, a psychedelic drug is one of the smaller classifications within the broader classification of psychoactive drugs.

Psychoactive Drugs

These types of drugs, as mentioned above, affect the central nervous system. They typically affect behavior and cognition in subjects that use them. There are several different sub classifications of these drugs however, which affect the body and behavior slightly differently. Though each of these classifications will affect arousal, thought, mood, and perception, they can do so differently. For example, some of these types of drugs will improve the mood of the user while others will cause negative outcomes.

The classifications, which are used, are sedatives and hypnotics, stimulants, opiates and hallucinogens and psychedelics. As mentioned they each cause different outcomes. A sedative or hypnotic, for example, tends to cause lowered brain activity and sleep. As the name suggests, these types of drugs make the individual more relaxed and calm or sedated. On the other hand stimulants tend to cause arousal and increase activity in the user. Opiates tend to give a feeling of euphoria or an intense happy feeling as they slow down the brain and entire system.

There are many different types of drugs, which fall into each of these categories, and teens have been known to abuse many of them. Some drugs within each classification have medicinal uses and are considered to be safe when used as directed. These can include medications such as Xanax, Demerol, caffeine or Valium. Others are considered illegal in all doses and have no medicinal use. These would be drugs such as cocaine or opium. All of these drugs can also cause very dangerous side effects up to and including death of the user when used in large amounts or used incorrectly.

Psychedelic Drugs

The final category of psychoactive drugs is psychedelic drugs. These are drugs that produce hallucinations of some type. There are many different types of drugs, which are used for this from peyote to ecstasy and LSD. These types of drugs are slightly different from other forms of psychoactive drugs. The main reason for this difference is that, the vast majority of psychedelic drugs are actually not lethal. This means that, even when taken in very large doses they do not kill the user; however they can cause permanent mental and physical damage.

The only real use for these drugs is to produce these hallucinations, which, depending on the drug, can be done by different processes. For example, some psychedelic drugs alter norepinephrine transmissions while others alter serotonin.

There are, however, some types of these drugs that are more harmful. These are called cholinergic psychedelics and they have the ability to cause many of the same problems that other forms of drugs can cause. Since all psychoactive drugs affect the central nervous system this could cause trouble with mood, behavior and brain activity which could result in slower decision making, bad decision making and of course a variety of health problems.

Source: http://www.biologyreference.com/Po-Re/Psychoactive-Drugs.html

Why Marijuana Is A Problem Amongst The Youth

 The use of marijuana by teens has often been seen as something to be unconcerned about. Many of those who are now among the adult population remember their own days of using these drugs and some may still use them to this day. They assume that if their own children use then it will be “no big deal” and they will simply “outgrow” it.

Even if they don't, the promotion of marijuana legalization of it can many assume that the drug cannot harm them excessively. However, marijuana use is proving, to researchers, to be a very big problem with today's youth and seems to be far worse than it was in their parents' generation.

           

The levels of THC that are continually rising have not helped this. Or the fact that some will mix the drug with other substances like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.

           

What Studies Show

           

There are many different conclusions being drawn from the data that's been discovered. For one thing it's apparent that youth as young as 15 and possibly even younger are beginning to use drugs such as marijuana. The ages at which teen's first try this drug seems to be falling and the number that use seems to be rising. It's been found however, that rates are higher amongst boys than girls though both rates are very high.

           

Marijuana is available in different 'levels' and in some areas of Canada it's available at some of the highest levels recorded. Teens have also reported to using marijuana up to five times per day though most claim only to use occasionally at recreational times. Of course the majority of users fall into a middle-ground where they use somewhat more frequently than at recreational times yet less frequently than the five times per day of heavy users.

           

Another problem that researchers have found is that less than 50% (41.7%) of eighth grade students believe that using drugs such as marijuana only occasionally is harmful and only 66.9% see regular use as harmful. These numbers get even lower as the age of students surveyed goes up. In fact, only 20.6% of 12th graders think it could be potentially harmful to use marijuana regularly.

What Teens Believe

Many teens that use marijuana do not believe it to be harmful to them or believe that the benefits outweigh the risks. For example, many teens believe that smoking marijuana makes them cool, helps them focus, or makes them feel better talking away unwanted feelings or sensations.

Others believe that this is what keeps them “going throughout the day.” These teens are experiencing the side effects that can come along with the use such as feeling more open, relaxed or calm. This drug has also been compared to sleeping pills and ADHD medications such as Ritalin and many believe it to be helpful to them in some way even if it is done harm.

What Parents Should Do

It’s important for parents to talk with their teens about drug use. It's also important to get other people involved such as health care professionals or counselors or even teachers. All of these people together can play an important role in helping teens to overcome addictions or even to head them off before they start.

Being open discussing how teens use, why they use and to what extent is, according to researchers, crucial to helping them overcome their addictions and the destructive behaviors that come along with it.

Source: http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/19/marijuana-use-holds-steady-among-u-s-teens/

The Definition of Alcoholism and How to Spot It

Alcohol is the most widely abused drug, and while it poses a serious public health problem throughout the world, this is especially true in the United States. It has been estimated that more than one in ten American adults at some point in their lives experience problems with alcohol dependence, and this figure is particularly high for men, at one in five. It is difficult to say with accuracy exactly what percentage of the population suffers from alcoholism, partly due to the fact that there is some dispute over the criteria for applying that term, as well as the fact that many alcoholics are never formally labeled as such. The precise statistics concerning alcohol are of little concern, however, to the friends and family members of an alcoholic: what matters the most to them is helping the person they care about to put an end to the drinking problem and make a fresh start in life.

What is the definition of alcoholism?

As mentioned above, there is some dispute over the exact definition of alcoholism, but there are certain basic elements of the condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the characteristics of alcoholism include:

●       Powerful alcohol cravings

●       Ongoing use of alcohol in spite of chronic physical, mental, or interpersonal problems

●       Inability to place limits on one’s levels of drinking

In addition to the above elements, the Mayo Clinic describes alcohol as being a disease which is characterized by a preoccupation with alcohol, physical dependence which manifests as a need to drink increasing amounts to achieve the same effect, experiencing withdrawal symptoms upon stopping drinking, as well as an inability to predict or limit the quantity, duration, or consequences of drinking.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholism

To a large degree, the signs that a person is an alcoholic are similar to its characteristics. Alcoholism is typically recognized by the behavior of the alcoholic, rather than being diagnosed by a scientific test. The loss of ability to restrain oneself from taking the next drink, or to refrain from getting started drinking in the first place, is one of the most glaring indicators of a drinking problem. Most people who drink on a regular basis know their limits and at some point will put the bottle away or turn down an offered drink, but an alcoholic will often just keep on drinking. Further, alcoholics tend to develop a tolerance to the drug, so that they have to drink progressively greater quantities in order to feel the same effects. Further, while alcohol is normally consumed in social settings such as at parties, restaurants or bars, alcoholics tend to start drinking alone, and they will often take measures to conceal the fact of drinking, such as by hiding bottles in secret places at home or at work, and by making up excuses to sneak off and have a drink. Worse, an alcoholic will often develop rituals for drinking, and is prone to becoming irritated when the schedule is interrupted or questioned. Blacking out while drunk, which is characterized by engaging in conversations and activities which are not remembered later, is a common sign that a person is an alcoholic, as is experiencing withdrawal symptoms including nausea, sweating and shaking when it has been a while since the last drink. Another hallmark of an alcoholic is that you may notice that he or she no longer seems normal until having a few drinks; rather than getting drunk, the person simply starts to seem like their usual self. These are only a few of the common signs of alcoholism. The most important question to ask yourself or someone you care about and who you fear may be an alcoholic is, “Do you feel like you can stop?” If the answer is, “No,” your next question should be, “Do you want help in quitting?”

Is Caffeine Bad for You?

If you ask someone to name the most widely used psychoactive drug, he or she is likely to name marijuana, LSD or some other type of street drug -- and he or she would be wrong. The correct answer is one which many people do not think of as a drug, largely due to the fact that it is so ubiquitous in our society: caffeine.

The vast majority -- 90 percent -- of American adults consumes caffeine in some form every day, whether it is in coffee, tea, soda or energy drinks, and some even take it in more direct forms such as in caffeine pills. Unlike most other drugs, caffeine is fully legal for purchase in nearly every corner of the world, but this fact does not make it safe for consumption.

Caffeine is notoriously addictive, and its consumption can cause many harmful effects, whether it is taken in a single large dose or in smaller amounts over a long period of time. To understand how it is that caffeine may be harmful to an individual, one of the first things to understand is what exactly it is. Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance which is produced by certain plants, and its purpose is to serve as a pesticide. Insects that would otherwise devour the plants become paralyzed after eating a small amount, followed by death by poisoning.

Contrary to popular belief, consuming caffeine does not give you energy. Instead, it inhibits the function of a chemical in the brain which is associated with feeling drowsy. In other words, caffeine does not give you an energy boost, but instead simply staves off fatigue. Further, the increased levels of alertness and mental performance which are associated with caffeine consumption are not actually above and beyond the person’s normal levels, but are rather the effect of recovering from the early symptoms of withdrawal, according to a recent study conducted at Johns Hopkins University.

When you feel better after having your cup of coffee, this is simply a result of the fact that you are now no longer suffering from withdrawal. Regularly consuming caffeine, therefore, does not give you a mental edge; it gives you a handicap which you must continually fight to stay ahead of by repeatedly satisfying your dependence to this central nervous stimulant.

Dangers Of Caffeine Consumption

The effects of missing your regular caffeine dose -- drowsiness, slower thinking, headaches and irritability -- are usually bothersome but not overwhelming. The problem becomes more serious, however, when the individual has grown accustomed to consuming considerable amounts of the drug. The Mayo Clinic lists common side effects of heavy daily caffeine use as including insomnia, restlessness, muscle tremors, fast heartbeat and nervousness. Conditions such as these can have considerable ramifications, such as when insomnia causes serious sleep deprivation and a resultant inability to function during the day as well as reduced immune system performance.

It is not only the long-term health effects of caffeine which are cause for concern. The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) recently published a warning concerning a dramatic increase in the number of emergency room visits for patients who had been consuming large quantities of caffeine in energy drinks such as Monster and Red Bull, and the Food and Drug Administration is currently investigating a number of deaths which have been linked to these high-caffeine drinks.

Given that caffeine seems to be everywhere in today’s society and that it may be a significant part of your own life, it can be difficult to give the drug up all at once. If you are concerned about the risks that caffeine poses to your health, you should at least start by scaling back on you consumption, working your way down to no more than one drink per day. Then, work towards a life without drugs, including caffeine.

It may be difficult to get over the hump of withdrawal symptoms, but once you do it will be well worth it as you begin to wake up in the morning without craving the drug that so many other Americans do.