Why Severe Drug Addicts Need Interventions

 

 When you are an addict, it changes your whole life. Because of your addiction, every aspect of your life has, or will soon change. Everything from what you wear, what you eat, where you live, who you are around, when you get sick, and various other things are directly linked to your addiction. Addiction is so all-powerful, that it is often impossible for addicts to get out of their lifestyle and situation without the help of another. In this article, we will discuss all of the aspects of why severe addicts NEED interventions and subsequent addiction treatment to be able to start on the path to recovery from addiction.

Addiction Is An Addicts Life

Let me start by saying that the addict is not going to make the change themselves -- in most cases. Addiction has become their life, and in the mind of the addict, they are this way until they eventually die. They simply don't have it in them to make the change themselves, they don't want to make the change themselves, or they don't see it as being possible to make the change themselves.

They Need Others to Make The First Step

Getting help for an addiction is much like jumping out of an airplane... Everything in your guts tells you not to jump; that it is dangerous and frightening for you, so don't do it. Even with a parachute on, some need a push to actually make it out of the plane.

An Addict Needs Help to Realize That People Still Care

Most severe addicts don't like themselves too much; in fact, many addicts hate themselves for what they do and what they have become. Because of this, they often see themselves as too far gone to be saved, and that the world will be happier when they are gone. Getting an addict to realize that this is not true, and that there are still people out there that care greatly can be enough of a push to start the recovery ball rolling.

Nobody Wants To Go It Alone

This one is true with all humans; addicted or not. Difficult things are hard to start and can leave a person terrified at just the thought of doing them. It is much easier to start something that scares you and will most assuredly be difficult if others are going on the journey with you. Imagine again the airplane... While some need to be pushed from the plane, others will gladly jump if you jump hand-in-hand with them.

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How Do You Taper Off Alcohol Usage?

 

There are individuals who can just quit alcohol without experiencing considerable withdrawal symptoms.  However, there are others who may experience severe symptoms of withdrawal when they stop drinking suddenly.  Withdrawing from alcohol is potentially fatal and as such, it is extremely essential that you gradually detoxify from alcohol if you start to experience severe symptoms when attempting to quit.  Tapering off alcohol is a great way to gradually detoxify.   

Severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms are typically experienced by:

• Individuals who have remained drunk for several consecutive days
• Individuals who have consumed small quantities throughout the day for 30 days or more
• Individual who are known to have alcohol withdrawal symptoms
• Individuals who have become intoxicated each night for 30 days or more

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms can be classified as severe, moderate and mild.

Severe

Also known as D.T.s or Delirium Tremens, severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms typically happen 48 hours after the decrease or cessation of alcohol consumption.  Intense sweating, rapid breathing, blood pressure spikes, agitation, irregular heartbeat and disorientation are some of the characteristics of severe withdrawal.  Left untreated, D.T.s will kill approximately 1 in 5 individuals.

Moderate

This typically happens between 24 and 36 hours after the intake of alcohol has ceased.  It is usually manifested as tremors, high blood pressure, intense anxiety, racing pulse, seizures, hallucinations and insomnia. 

Mild

Typically, mild alcohol withdrawal happens with 24 hours of having the last drink.  Insomnia, increased pulse rate, upset stomach, panic, anxiety and twitching are some of the characteristics of mild withdrawal symptoms.

Is Tapering Off Alcohol Right For Me?

After not drinking, if you start to sweat profusely, your blood pressure spikes, your hands become visibly shaky or you have irregular or rapid pulse, tapering off alcohol would be would be ideal.  Prescription medication or alcohol can be used to taper off.

Using Alcohol to Taper Off

When tapering off alcohol, it is tremendously important to replenish lost vitamins and fight dehydration.  During a medical detoxification, an IV may be used for re-hydration and vitamin shots could also be administered.  If you are self-detoxifying, ensure that you take vitamin supplements and drink lots of fluids. 

Important Note About Tapering Off Alcohol

Tapering off alcohol by yourself is not suggested for those who experience moderate or greater withdrawals. If you are experiencing any type of withdrawals from alcohol, it is highly recommended that you seek treatment from medical professionals or through addiction treatments facilities and rehab.

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Is Alcohol Really More Dangerous Than Heroin?

When discussing drug abuse, some people often claim that alcohol abuse is not as dangerous as heroin abuse. This misconception can also be blamed on the media, which normally focuses on the perils of heroin addiction. Since alcohol is legal while heroin is illegal, the myth of heroin addiction being worse than alcohol addiction may make sense to many people. The truth, however, is that alcohol addiction does more harm in society than heroin or any other drug for that matter. The question you may ask is, "Is alcohol really more dangerous than heroin?"

Why Alcohol is More Dangerous than Heroin

A recent study in the U.K. was carried out to determine the dangers of different types of drugs ranging from alcohol and heroin to tobacco and other types of drugs. Each drug was rated on a scale of 1 to 100, with the latter being the most dangerous. The results of the study revealed that alcohol was the most dangerous, with a score of 77. Heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis scored 55, 54 and 20 respectively. There are many reasons why people consider alcohol to be less harmful than heroin. They include:

• Alcohol is legal, so it is considered a recreational drug, while heroin is an illegal substance, so it is considered harmful. Possessing, manufacturing, using or distributing heroin is illegal and may land a person in jail.
• Alcohol use is usually shown in a positive light on TV commercials and programs, while heroin use is portrayed negatively, thereby influencing the opinion of the viewer.
• Alcohol manufacturers invest billions of dollars to make alcohol seem acceptable to consumers.

There are many other reasons why alcohol use may be considered acceptable and less harmful to personal health and the society in general. The truth, however, is that both drugs are harmful, but alcohol abuse is far more prevalent than heroin use. Think of the number of accidents that have been caused by DUIs, the domestic violence cases that were fueled by alcohol intoxication and the deaths caused by alcohol abuse. While the same can be said about heroin, alcohol-related cases are significantly more frequent.

What You Need To Know About Opana Drug Abuse

In the past, Oxycontin was one of the most widely-abused prescription drugs. However, more people are opting to use Opana, which is another type of opioid. Many news outlets have reported that people who abuse prescription killers are opting to use Opana.

The Rise In Prescription Drug Abuse

The Center For Disease Control And Prevention has declared prescription drug abuse an epidemic. In 2010, 1.3 million people visited the emergency room due to prescription drug abuse. That is a 115 percent increase since 2004.

There have also been a huge increase in pharmacy robberies. In fact, there was a case reported where a pharmacy was threatened to death if he  did not give the list of drugs the robber demanded. Opana was one of the drugs the robber wanted.

Why Are More People Switching To Opana?

In 2010, Oxycontin was reformulated to make it more resistant to tamper. It is now harder to dissolve and crush. If the drug is crushed, it can be injected or snorted. This can cause a person to experience an intense high. When it is harder to crush a drug, people just move on to the next one.

Deterring Opana Drug Abuse

Opana ER, or extended release has also been reformulated in order to deter obese. This drug will be preferred over Oxycontin as long it is available in its previous form. However, officers believe people will switch to another drug once the new version of Opana is available.

Law enforcement officers are predicting more people will start abusing Opana before they move on to the next drug. The number of people getting Opana prescriptions has increased by 46 percent within just a few months.

Kentucky is the state that could be seeing the worse of the Opana drug abuse. The key ingredient in Opana is Oxymorphone. Oxymorphone was involved in 23 percent of the overdose fatalities that occurred in Kentucky in 2011.

Opana drug abuse is a growing at an alarming rate, but fortunately, measures are being put in place to deter it. Follow us for more information and resources on drug abuse and treatment.

Could Medical Marijuana Be Used To Treat Opiate Addiction?

Medical marijuana is controversial to say the least, even though it is starting to gain acceptance among the general public for treatment of certain conditions. However, one treatment remains controversial--that of treating the growing problem of opiate addiction with medical marijuana.

According to clinical psychologist Shirley Stormo who works for  Gosnold on Cape Cod, an addiction treatment center in Massachusetts, medical marijuana is safer than opiates and has begun to focus her treatment efforts to prevent opiate addiction through marijuana use. Stormo has provisional approval to open a medical marijuana dispensary called Compassionate Care Clinics and hopes to help patients avoid opiates through this method if the dispensary is approved. She indicates that medical marijuana is safer than opiate use because it does not have a physically addictive component and thus no potential for overdoses or death.

Another medical professional, Thor Agustsson,a doctor with Integr8Heath, says that medical marijuana can be used as part of an exit strategy to for individuals addicted to opiates, alcohol or cocaine. Agustsson says some surveys and small sample studies show that when cannabis is taken appropriately, it can help individuals reduce the use of highly toxic substances. Although no controlled studies have yet been done, Agustsson believes medical marijuana may eventually be widely used in addiction treatment.

Other medical professionals believe that research is still preliminary. Kevin Hill, a McLean Hospital psychiatrist, believe it is risky to replace one harmful, addictive substance with another one. Hill indicates that about 9% of adults and 16% of adolescents who use it become addicted to marijuana. Additionally, Hill believes that medical marijuana will not make a difference in the rate of opiate addiction.

Others in the addiction recovery field feel that use of medical marijuana to treat opiate addiction is directly in contrast to what recovery is all about, namely abstinence and sobriety. Stormo, however, does not see a conflict in using medical marijuana to treat opiate addiction as she is interested in helping individuals with a variety of medical problems. She added that those who are fearful about the effects of medical marijuana would change their mind of they spoke to someone who has benefited from the drug.

How To Get Treated For LSD The Safe Way

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide is a substance that was originally made in the 1930s, something derived from fungus, specifically the type that grows on rye. Once it was extracted and processed, the scientists were able to create this odorless colorless substance that could be administered in gelatin, on a sugar cube, or on blotter paper. He was most effective when it was injected, causing almost instantaneous results, and although this substance is illegal, it can cause many beneficial things. It does, however, have very negative effects as well if administered in large amounts, and if you are addicted to LSD, you should get treated for it right away.

Positive Effects Of LSD Blotter

Some of the reported positive effects of this drug is that it can be used to actually help people that are suffering from alcoholism to stop. For those that suffer from pain, or that have chronic headaches, it has been shown to help people with these problems. This is contrary to what the DEA has stated officially, almost completely opposite verbatim. However, the people that have used it who have actually experienced the benefits, clearly understand that it can work in a positive way. The problem with the drug is that not only is it illegal per the United States of America, it is very dangerous if taken in excessive amounts.

Negative Effects Of LSD

When taken in large quantities, it can create what most people call an acid trip, something that can alter your awareness, your emotions, and even your memories. Your sensory perception will be greatly enhanced, but in strange ways, and depending upon how much you have taken, the sounds that you hear can take on physical form, and music can be seen. This can cause physical problems as well such as tremors, hypothermia, and elevated blood sugar. To get help for this addiction, you need to check into a treatment center as quickly as possible before you use too much and have an adverse reaction.

Oxycodone HCl And Hydrocodone Addiction Tips

If you want to stop being addicted to any type of pain medication, or even alcohol or high-level drugs, you can find places in your community where you can check into a clinic where you can get the help that you need. The problem is, you might want to not do this because it will take a considerable chunk out of your life. You can end your addiction on your own from painkillers, this is probably the better alternative. Here some tips on how to do this on your own, and also how to find a rehab center if you would like to go in this direction.

Addiction To Hydrocodone And Oxycodone HCl

Two of the most powerful opiate based drugs are oxycodone HCl and hydrocodone. They are opiate based which means they are derived from a poppyseed, and when they interact with your central nervous system, you will experience euphoria and also pain relief which is why people enjoy taking them, and why they are such a hot commodity on the street. Your addiction can only be stopped if you stop using the drugs, allowing your mu receptors to reset. Your only choices are to stop using them, go through the withdrawals on your own, or get professional help.

Professional Help For Opiate Withdrawals

You can go to a rehab center to get help for opiate withdrawals. You can usually end your addiction in about a week, longer if you have been taking them for quite some time. If you are taking strong opiates, those that are much stronger than Norco or Vicodin, several weeks may be necessary. The withdrawals will cause you to vomit on a shake, and potentially have convulsions, but when they are done, you will be absolutely 100% opiate free.