Alcohol & Drug Addiction Disease Research

October 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

There are major effects on the economy happening in the U.S. because of all the problems with drug and alcohol addiction. Just the cost alone for healthcare, processing the criminals and paying the workers in the judicial system totals more than $500 billion each year. Researchers are looking for different to treat for behavioral and physiological problems.

Addiction is a disorder that’s gotten worse and worse over the years. Even after being sober for so long, there’s still the possibility of a relapse. This is why it’s not so uncommon for people to go through treatments again. Going to treatment is the first step in trying to get rid of the addiction problem.

To help with addiction people will almost always have to go through detox so the body can get rid of all traces of whatever was in the system. After this, it’s important to lower symptoms from withdrawal. After a patient completes this part, he or she will then work on a relapse prevention plan.

Researchers specializing in addiction think of addiction as a disease that’s never-ending, advanced and can sneak up on people again. While each person is different, researchers focus mainly on groups with certain characteristics. This is why treatment won’t help everyone.

National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN), started by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, was created to take the results from different studies and put them on a scale at a universal level. The group is working on a variety of science-based therapies.

The American Psychological Association did a lot of research to find the process of decision-making within a person’s brain by continuing his or her addiction. The effects on the brain makes researchers wonder what role decision-making really has on an addict being able to stay sober.

It’s important top fully understand the effects when working on treatments in the addiction recovery process.

Filed Under: Addiction, Alcohol, Drug Addiction Tagged With: , ,

Fighting Depression After Battle With Drug Addiction

October 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Depression can be a difficult problem to fix. Fighting depression at the same time as recovering from a previous addiction battle can be even harder. There are two things going through your mind. The first, wanting to win the difficult battle of drug addiction and staying clean. The other is wondering if you can even fix the problem. Depression is no different than drugs, they both work on your mind. Having doubt, problems and even pain, can sometime be too much to handle. Don’t worry; it’s ok to ask for help. You got help battling your drug addiction and now it’s time to fight your battle with depression.

Going to a doctor and asking for a pill isn’t always the best way with dealing with depression. Reading up on and fighting it could help. Often times an addict will use drugs in hopes of ending their depression.

Knowing that drugs won’t make depression any easier needs to be stated from the very beginning. Yes, for a few hours you may forget about your problems, but once the drug wears off your problems will return. And when it comes back, it’ll come back even worse than before. You could experience deep inner pain that could make you want to end your life or want to do more drugs. Ignore your problems won’t help. It’s important to battle your depression head on in order to beat it.

Asking for help is the first and more important step. You asked for help when battling your drug addiction and it’s important to ask for help now. While medication has been proven to make the pain of depression a little bit easier, it’s not always the best thing. If you take something, keep your doctor up to date, this means informing your doctor of your previous drug use.

Going through depression is common and there’s someone out there who has experienced it. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and advice from other people who has experience what you’re going through. They’re here to help. Get that help and get control of your life back.

Filed Under: Addiction, Drug Addiction Tagged With: ,

Medical Complications Due To Drug Addiction

August 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment
None - This image is in the public domain and ...
Image via Wikipedia

People who abuse drug start using them repeatedly in order to get a superficial pleasure or illusory pleasure out of it. The euphoric feeling compels them to take drugs again and again as they start feeling depressed soon after the drug effects wear off from their bodies. Thus, they become addict and as a result of prolonged addiction, many medical – both physical and psychological — complications arise in their body.

Psychological Problems

Due to sudden increase in the need of money, drug addicts start stealing and become criminals. Even using illicit drugs is against the law and this causes lots of psychological problems in the drug addicts that includes –
• Reduced level of performance at work place or school is very common.
• Lose their near and dear ones due to the changes in their behavior after taking to drug addiction.
• They can easily fall a prey to sexual abuse and can become a victim of Hepatitis or HIV infection. With prolonged addiction, addicts can succumb to psychosis or disorientation advancing to cerebral hypoxia and hemorrhage.

Physical Problems

As the abused drugs impede functioning of brain, they are at a risk of overdosing most of the times. Many drug addicts resort to drug abuse by assembling in groups. They also have a habit of sharing needle for injecting the substance. Thus they become an easy victim to HIV infection, gangrene, lymph edema, cellulites or pseudo aneurysms. Other infections like endocarditis, pneumocystis pneumonia, amyloidosis, renal failure and more are very common in drug addicts as a result of opportunistic infection.

What Studies Indicate?

According to a study conducted to know about the medical complications of drug addiction, medical conditions like tetanus and malaria which frequently occurred in the past in drug addicts have now become rare. But conditions like HIV (human Immunodeficiency Virus) occur quite frequently in drug addicts these days.

Final Word

The complications that arise after drug addiction are much more than the euphoric highness you get from their abuse. Hence, keep safe distance from drugs and tackle your peer pressure with the help of trusted elders.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Drug Addiction Tagged With: , , ,

Help For Your Loved One

June 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Addiction can be a devastating experience, not only for the one who is addicted, but for those friends, family, and loved ones who are close to the addict. Typically, the relationships with these people tend to diminish in importance for the addict, and loved ones are forced to watch the addict spiral deeper and deeper into a web of lies, detachment, and self destructive behavior. When you see this happening, you may wonder what you can do, how you can help. Addicts often feel attacked when you try to intervene on their behalf. They may distance themselves from you, or worse, use you for money or a way to get drugs.

The person you knew and loved has been replaced by someone who does not think clearly, or think of anything at all except how to get the next fix. There are so many frustrations that occur when dealing with these individuals. Many find that they simply can’t deal with all the problems of the addict on their own. Sometimes, one of the best ways to help is by checking the addict into one of the many inpatient drug alcohol treatment centers in the U.S. There are many, so you’ll need to do some research. You may find that one of these centers is just what your friend or relative needs to help get his or her life turned around. The watchful care of trained professionals who have resources and science to back them up can be a real boon to both you and your addicted loved one. The centers can provide the structure and environment necessary to help users get clean and stop the downward spiral. Once your loved one has hit rock bottom, he or she is ready for help, and you can begin the process by getting that person checked into a center where professional help is readily available.

Filed Under: Medication Tagged With: ,