Welcome to Drug and Alcohol Treatment

Drug Addiction Article

Thumbnail example

This is a selection made from among articles on Drug Addiction. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.

Drug addiction

from:

by Marcel Gemme

When looking at drug use, drug abuse, drug dependency and drug addiction, one finds that there are many divergent opinions about these terms and how they identify the drug-using behaviors of the public. Dr. Alan Leshner, the Director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse for the U.S. Government, states: "There is a unique disconnect between scientific facts and the public's perception of drug addiction,"From a lecture in March, 1998 at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Leshner explained how brain function is modified by drug use and how that change persists after an individual stops taking drugs. Addiction also has to be recognized as a result of many bio-behavioral factors. Dr. Leshner said a user does not have control over the change when voluntary drug use becomes a compulsive addiction. He likens the change to a flip of a switch, although the change may be a result of opponent processes where changes have accumulated over time. Regardless, Dr. Leshner believes it is important that people understand that once addicted, a person is literally in a different brain state. Anyone that has known and witnessed the changes in behavior and ethics in a person caught in the thralls of addiction can see the declining spiral of personal care and ethics, work ethics, emotional stability and generally, a feeling that one hardly recognizes the addicted person as being the same individual as they were before the drug use. One very important point to know is that any drug use may set off these destructive behaviors in an individual and that using drugs �recreationally� is playing Russian Roulette with one�s life. The effects of these �poisons� on the brain and nervous system are always destructive, but the timeline of when the effects will be obvious varies from immediately to, sometimes, after years of �casual� use.The scientist�s say that one of the tasks of treatment is to revert the brain to its original state or repairing the damage that these poisons can do. Some scientist believe that this can be done by introducing other drugs, then called medicines, into the delicate brain chemistry of someone suffering from drug addiction. That is what National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) is doing now as it begins to design new medications. "We have molecular targets," Dr. Leshner said.� We don't need serendipity." Serendipity is defined as �a natural gift for making useful discoveries by accident.�However, don�t be fooled by the scientist since they have yet to discover any medications that restore a person to full and, more importantly, enthusiastic living. These �medicines� are always a tradeoff in giving up some of the beauties of life to keep the addict from using a more destructive drug. For a total cure, one should pursue getting the original poisons out of the body and letting the body�s natural repair mechanism restore the person to his original, functional and loving self.

Mr. McGregor received his B.S. degree in psychotropic pharmacology and drug interactions and his Masters of Social Work from the University of Houston. He has served for the State of New Mexico as Director for Drug Treatment and Prevention. He is currently a surveyor for the national Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. www.drug-rehab-center.org

Related Articles for Drug Addiction

(Alcohol and Drug Rehab: Triggers, Cravings, Relapse and Recovery )

(Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Rehab )

Whitney Houston and Her Drug Addiction ( )

Drug addiction (When looking at drug use, drug abuse, drug dependency and drug addiction, one finds that there are many divergent opinions about these terms and how they identify the drug-using behaviors of the public. Dr. Alan Leshner, the Director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse for the U.S. Government, states: "There is a unique disconnect between scientific facts and the public's perception of drug addiction,"From a lecture in March, 1998 at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Leshner explained how brain function is modified by drug use and how that change persists after an individual stops taking drugs. Addiction also has to be recognized as a result of many bio-behavioral factors. Dr. Leshner said a user does not have control over the change when voluntary drug use becomes a compulsive addiction. He likens the change to a flip of a switch, although the change may be a result of opponent processes where changes have accumulated over time. Regardless, Dr. Leshner believes it is important that people understand that once addicted, a person is literally in a different brain state. Anyone that has known and witnessed the changes in behavior and ethics in a person caught in the thralls of addiction can see the declining spiral of personal care and ethics, work ethics, emotional stability and generally, a feeling that one hardly recognizes the addicted person as being the same individual as they were before the drug use. One very important point to know is that any drug use may set off these destructive behaviors in an individual and that using drugs �recreationally� is playing Russian Roulette with one�s life. The effects of these �poisons� on the brain and nervous system are always destructive, but the timeline of when the effects will be obvious varies from immediately to, sometimes, after years of �casual� use.The scientist�s say that one of the tasks of treatment is to revert the brain to its original state or repairing the damage that these poisons can do. Some scientist believe that this can be done by introducing other drugs, then called medicines, into the delicate brain chemistry of someone suffering from drug addiction. That is what National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) is doing now as it begins to design new medications. "We have molecular targets," Dr. Leshner said.� We don't need serendipity." Serendipity is defined as �a natural gift for making useful discoveries by accident.�However, don�t be fooled by the scientist since they have yet to discover any medications that restore a person to full and, more importantly, enthusiastic living. These �medicines� are always a tradeoff in giving up some of the beauties of life to keep the addict from using a more destructive drug. For a total cure, one should pursue getting the original poisons out of the body and letting the body�s natural repair mechanism restore the person to his original, functional and loving self.>Drug rehab centers services )

The Straight Scoop About Drug Rehab Programs (Alcohol abuse and drug abuse are reaching all time highs in this nation. Many people do not even realize or acknowledge that they are an addict. The term "addict" conjures up images of someone who has reached the bottom of the barrel and is not a pleasant picture, yet many of the alcohol abusers and drug abusers are at that place, or if their affliction is left untreated, will soon find themselves in that place. Many of these people take the position that "that could not happen to me" but it can and it will if they do not seek help before the situation gets totally out of control.Drug abuse is rampant and at the same time, it is probably the more difficult of the two addictions to convince someone of or make them aware of. Drug abuse is not limited to the illegal drugs like crack or heroin or cocaine. While these can indeed be considered addictive drugs that can represent a drug abuse problem, drug addiction can also occur accidentally via legally prescribed pharmacy drugs. These are drugs that have been prescribed by a real doctor to treat a condition or a pain, but the user keeps on taking them long after the original cause has gone away, because they have become addictive. There is really very little difference between these two types of drug addicts, since an addiction is an addiction.The most difficult task in getting someone into a drug rehab program is to convince them that they are indeed a drug addict. Most people, especially if the addiction is due to legal prescription medication, are unwilling to accept the label of "drug addict", and many have even convinced themselves that they can quit any time they want to, they just have not had an occasion to "want to" yet. This is a potentially dangerous situation, and can only get worse over time.Almost all drug rehab programs have the detox phase. In this phase, the addict's body is detoxified, or in other words, the drug is no longer given and the person may even go through withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the particular drug that the person was addicted to, this is determined to either be cold turkey, or it can be with gradually reduced doses to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms. The important point is that the person's body is given less and less of the drug to where they begin to live normally and realize that they can live without the drug.Withdrawal symptoms are real and should not be minimized. When the body has become used to a particular chemical substance being in the body and that substance is suddenly or even gradually taken away, the body reacts, sometimes severely. Some people think that withdrawal symptoms are all in the mind, but you need to know that withdrawal symptoms are indeed real and can be very painful for the person going through it.If someone you love is addicted to drugs or alcohol, the best thing you can do for them is to get them into an alcohol rehab program or drug rehab program. The programs are very good and are usually at minimal or even no cost. At least have that person agree to talk with a counselor about it. This is certainly a preferable option to watching them destroy their lives bit by bit over time. )

Drug Addiction Specific links

Drug Addiction News

Your Brain May Be "Wired" For Addiction (But You Don't Have To Surrender)

A new study may answer the age-old question of whether brain changes precede or are a result of drug addiction.

LAWRENCE: Addiction agency is OKâd

The former Mercer Oxygen Supply Co. building at 1931 Brunswick Pike, which has been vacant for several years, is going to be transformed into the new headquarters for the Mercer Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Inc.

New Jersey's approach to drug addiction, and how policy priorities will be hampered by budgetary constraints

New Jersey is making progress, at last, toward adopting more enlightened policies on drug addiction. But the yawning hole in the public purse remains a huge impediment

Fighting drug addiction in the midst of war

Channel 4 News Chief Correspondent Alex Thomson reports from the streets of Kabul on Afghanistan's spiralling drug addiction - and the difficulty of tackling it in the middle of a war.

Inspire Malibu's Drug Addiction Treatment Authority Dr. Akikur Mohammad Cautions Public About Addiction Transference

Addiction transference is running rampant in the post-bartiatric surgery community and beyond.Malibu, CA (PRWEB) February 07, 2012 February 6, 2012 – Dr. Akikur Mohammad, Founder of Inspire Malibu, recognized by many as the top addiction treatment center in Malibu, California and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California ...

Mexico makes vaccine against drug addiction

Mexico City, Feb 6 (IANS/EFE) A vaccine against heroin addiction that has been patented in Mexico will be ready for human use in around five years.

Drug Addiction May Spring From Inherited Brain Abnormalities

Siblings share a susceptibility to drug addiction, according to new research that looks at brain abnormalities and impulse control in brothers and sisters. Researchers led by Karen Ersche of the Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute at Britain's Cambridge University compared the brain structures of 50 pairs of siblings to those of healthy, unrelated people. One sibling in each pair ...

New editorial offers clarity on confusing drug and alcohol addiction terminology

A new editorial released this week offers clarity and structure on confusing drug and alcohol addiction terminology for prescribers, users and regulators. "Through a glass darkly: can we improve clarity about mechanism and aims of medications in drug and alcohol treatments?" is published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, the official journal of the British Association for Psychopharmacology ...

Jamar Rogers Beat Drug Addiction Before 'the Voice'

Jamar Voice the 29-year-old contestant on the second season of The Voice battled drug addiction and homelessness before making it to the Hollywood auditions of the hit singing show The Bronx singer said I really do believe Im the comeback kid befor...

Brain Changes Cause Drug Addiction, Researchers Say

Drug addicts and their nonaddict siblings share the same brain abnormalities linked with poor self-control and drug dependence, a new study suggests.

Drug and Alcohol Treatment

Drug Addiction Section

Drug Addiction Navigation

Drug Addiction Best Seller

Best Drug Addiction Products

Main Drug Addiction Sponsors

Latest Drug Addiction Link Added

Submit your link on Drug Addiction!

Welcome to Drug and Alcohol Treatment

Drug Addiction Article

Drug addiction

Related Articles for Drug Addiction

Other Drug Addiction related Articles

Do you want to contribute to our site : submit your articles HERE

Drug Addiction Specific links

Drug Addiction News

Your Brain May Be "Wired" For Addiction (But You Don't Have To Surrender)

LAWRENCE: Addiction agency is OKâd

New Jersey's approach to drug addiction, and how policy priorities will be hampered by budgetary constraints

Fighting drug addiction in the midst of war

Inspire Malibu's Drug Addiction Treatment Authority Dr. Akikur Mohammad Cautions Public About Addiction Transference

Mexico makes vaccine against drug addiction

Drug Addiction May Spring From Inherited Brain Abnormalities

New editorial offers clarity on confusing drug and alcohol addiction terminology

Jamar Rogers Beat Drug Addiction Before 'the Voice'

Brain Changes Cause Drug Addiction, Researchers Say