Welcome to Drug and Alcohol Treatment
| ||
Drug Treatment Article
This is a selection made from among articles on Drug Treatment. 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 Treatment
Drug Treatment Specific links
Drug Treatment News
Corey Haim's Death Highlights Difficulty of Addiction Recovery - ABC News
 ABC News | Corey Haim's Death Highlights Difficulty of Addiction Recovery ABC News Corey Haim and Corey Feldman address drug addiction in young celebrities. Haim was taken from his mother's North Hollywood home by ambulance to Burbank's ... Corey Haim Talks Drug Addiction In 2007 Lost Boy Corey Haim Dead from Apparent Drug Overdose Corey Haim found dead of 'accidental drug overdose', aged 38 |
County to get federal funds for drug treatment - San Diego Union Tribune
County to get federal funds for drug treatment San Diego Union Tribune San Diego County will receive $6.7 million in federal funds this year for community-based drug-treatment and ... |
UN official addresses increasing drug addiction in developing countries - News-Medical.net
 Austin American-Statesman | UN official addresses increasing drug addiction in developing countries News-Medical.net "Costa said his office is working with the World Health Organization to achieve universal access to drug treatment and urged governments around the world to ... Drug addiction 'disaster' faces developing world: UN Live From the 53rd Annual UN Drug Policy Meeting: Ready for the 21st Century? UN highlights plight of poor drug addicts |
Drug Rehab Helps Addicts Face Difficult Situations In Order - TransWorldNews (press release)
Drug Rehab Helps Addicts Face Difficult Situations In Order TransWorldNews (press release) The good news is that it can be sorted through by entering a drug treatment center that allows addict to untangle the mess the have created as a result of ... Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemic In Florida |
Charlie Sheen Is Getting Out Of Rehab To Resume Taping Of His Show - TV.com
 TV.com | Charlie Sheen Is Getting Out Of Rehab To Resume Taping Of His Show TV.com It seems all it takes to get rehabilitated from drug and alcohol abuse and addiction, especially if you're a repeat offender, is just a few weeks in rehab. ... |
Facet, InterMune lead drug stocks north - MarketWatch
 RTT News | Facet, InterMune lead drug stocks north MarketWatch The drug, which will be marketed under the brand name Esbriet, is for the treatment of the deadly lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. ... Novartis to sell $5B in bonds for Alcon buy; Abbott to buy Facet Biotech; Abbott Experiments with a $450 Million Deal for Facet Stocks in the News: Facet Biotech, InterMune, American Eagle |
Long-term use of popular osteoporosis drug may harm bone - Los Angeles Times (blog)
 ABC News | Long-term use of popular osteoporosis drug may harm bone Los Angeles Times (blog) Medications called bisphosphonates are standard tools for the treatment of osteoporosis. They include Fosamax, Boniva, Actonel and Reclast. ... Osteoporosis drug may weaken bones Long-term use of osteoporosis drugs linked to hip breaks Do osteoporosis drugs boost bone quantity at the expense of quality? |
FDA: Boxed Warning Added To Baxter, Cangene Treatment WinRho SDF - Wall Street Journal
FDA: Boxed Warning Added To Baxter, Cangene Treatment WinRho SDF Wall Street Journal ... (Dow Jones)--The Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that a boxed warning has been added to a blood disorder treatment from Cangene Corp. ... |
InterMune shares rise after FDA panel drug votes - BusinessWeek
 dBTechno | InterMune shares rise after FDA panel drug votes BusinessWeek ... a day after a federal advisory panel voted in favor of approval for its experimental lung disease treatment. A Food and Drug Administration panel of ... Intermune Soars On FDA Panel, Buyout Speculation InterMune Soars on FDA Advisory Panel Backing for Lung Disease Treatment (ITMN) InterMune Shares Soar After FDA Panel Backs Lung Disease Drug |
Allergan gets FDA nod for Botox therapy - OC Metro
 The Money Times | Allergan gets FDA nod for Botox therapy OC Metro Botox is the first and only neurotoxin approved by the FDA for the treatment of the condition, according to Allergan. The drug is also used in therapies for ... FDA approves Botox for treatment of spastic muscles FDA broadens Botox use; Four contractors team for drug development; Allergan wins FDA approval for spasticity drug |