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Drug addiction

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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

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(Drug Alcohol Rehab Program - Get Rid Of Drugs Once And For All )

Pregnancy and Drug Rehabilitation Treatment (The damage done to the unborn child through the continuing use and abuse of drugs or alcohol devastates that child throughout their natural life. The teratogensic effects of substance abuse on the unborn child are a completely preventable tragedy, and we must all do whatever possible to avert this damage.In many sad cases, the mother to be does not know of her pregnancy until much damage has been done, or even worse, knows of the pregnancy but is unable or unwilling to stop the use and abuse of drugs or alcohol.Fortunately, many women take pregnancy as a motivation to change their behaviors, if only to protect the health of their unborn child; and to best ensure success when the stakes are so high, pregnant women needing drug or alcohol treatment need to consider residential rehab.Unfortunately, although pregnant women seem deserving of immediate treatment above all others, the additional complications of treating pregnant women greatly limits the number of available facilities willing or able to take them in.Ideally, pregnant women searching for drug or alcohol rehab need:1 Safe detoxBoth the bodily stresses of withdrawal as well as certain medications used to ease detox symptoms can harm the fetus. Pregnant women need to detox in a facility aware of the unique health needs of pregnant women.2 Intense and comprehensive drug therapiesThe personal toll of relapse extends to the fetus, and to ensure a successful period of treatment pregnant women need intensive and comprehensive therapies; ideally incorporating an intense period of one-on-one therapy and other group and cognitive therapies.3 Prenatal care and educationAll pregnant women deserve adequate prenatal care, and all unborn children benefit from appropriate medical management of a pregnancy. Pregnant women substance abusers often enter into treatment in imperfect health, and as such the risks to the fetus are proportionally greater. Comprehensive prenatal care within a residential drug treatment facility offers both the mother and child the best chance of health and happiness.4 Parenting classesDrugs don�t discriminate, and a substance abuse problem indicates nothing about a woman's background, level of education or future capabilities as a parent; but all women benefit from parenting education, and since mothers newly struggling with sobriety face challenges above and beyond the normal mothering experience, they benefit greatly from parenting education and learned strategies.5 Intensive aftercareThe single greatest predictor of long term success and sobriety is an intense and lengthy participation in offered aftercare therapies; with the stakes of relapse so high, pregnant women need intense and frequent aftercare and ideally case management observation.What has potential for tragedy can turn to beauty if a substance abusing women uses a pregnancy as a motivation for change and treatment. Pregnant women need the most intensive care possible, they need it right away and they need it for as long as necessary. )

(Drug Detox Is Equally Important For "Accidental" Prescription Painkillers Addicts )

What Everyone Ought To Know About Alcohol Detox (As the years go on, there is one problem that our society still deals with: alcoholism. Once an alcoholic has identified him or herself as such, then it�s time that they reach out for help for their addiction. The majority of the time, the addict�s family intervenes before the alcoholic comes to term with his or her own problems. This can mean that the alcoholic�s family or friends speak to them about seeking help for their problems. It can also mean that a more formal approach is used, such as an intervention. An intervention gives the alcoholic�s loved ones the chance to give the addict an ultimatum: choose your addiction, or choose your family and friends.After an alcoholic is ready to seek help for his or her addiction, he or she is faced with the task of choosing an alcohol detox program to help them to stop abusing alcohol. Detox is going �cold turkey;� this is when an addict abruptly stops ingesting alcohol. Also, this cold turkey approach is used in conjunction with different drugs which are used to minimize withdrawal symptoms. Detox happens in a rehabilitation center setting; this is where a detox may be the most effective, as rehab centers are fully stocked with the drugs and staff needed to help an addict get off of his or her drug.Detox can happen in many different ways, depending upon the degree of alcoholism present. Drug treatment centers use detoxification to help to treat the physical effects of prolonged drug use. At a drug treatment center, detox commonly takes about a week to complete; after this time, the patient will not experience the extreme physical withdrawal symptoms. After a patient is finished with detox, relapse may occur, especially if the recovering alcoholic receives no further addiction treatment. One further treatment that many alcoholics participate in at rehab centers and elsewhere is group therapy or psychotherapy to help combat the mental ailing that often accompanies rehab from alcohol. These group therapy meetings will also give the recovering alcoholic the tools that he or she needs to combat his or her addiction and prevent relapse. The most popular group therapy is Alcoholics Anonymous, but there are many other support groups to aide in addiction recovery.Whether you yourself are an addict, or a loved one is an addict, you will most likely need help figuring out what drug treatment program is right for you. Stepping Stone Centers provides you with the most helpful resources to help you to find a drug treatment program ideal for you or your loved one�s situation. )

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