Drug addiction is a complicated disease that overwhelms both the addict and those who love him. After abusing drugs for a period of time, the user becomes both physically and emotionally dependent upon the drug. Understanding the differences between drug abuse and drug dependence, and how the two relate to one another, is vital in helping the addict recover from this devastating disease.
* Understanding Drug Abuse
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), published by the American Psychiatric Association, provides definitions and criteria for making diagnostic judgments relating to the use of drugs and alcohol.
According to the DSM-IV, the essential features of substance abuse are a “maladaptive pattern of substance use manifested by recurrent and significant adverse consequences related to the repeated use of substances.”
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Hydrocodone addiction usually starts when people have their guard down and are unsuspecting. Most often it occurs after and accident or injury. Then a doctor will usually prescribe hydrocodone for the pain. This is one way in which many people have become addicted to this drug. Now the question remains what can we do about this problem. OK here’s the thing if you have been using this drug for any length of time you are going to go through hydrocodone withdrawal.
Most people do not know that this type of withdrawal is really less dangerous than alcohol withdrawal which can be fatal. This is most addicts’ biggest nightmare. I have personally been in this situation many times and trust me here it is indeed a nightmare. Symptoms of hydrocodone withdrawal include; upset stomach, vomiting, tremor, nervousness, hot and cold sweats, just to name a few. However it can be done successfully with little or no discomfort depending on which way you choose to stop using. There are a couple ways in which to kick hydrocodone one of which is just go cold turkey in your own home.
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“Rehab is for quitters”. I saw it on a t-shirt the other day. A clever little play on words that pokes fun at addiction. I don’t think it’s funny, but then I’m here on the front lines.
What is rehab anyway? What does it mean to go to rehab? What is it like there? What happens? Who needs it? Nowadays most people have heard of, or seen the television show Celebrity Rehab. I admit I have never watched a whole episode, just a few minutes here and there, as that was all I could take. In the clip I saw, a counsellor had locked herself in her office crying, while a man having obvious trouble with his facial muscles and his ego (he wanted his mp3 player), yelled at her through the locked door. Chaos and drama abounding, what the addict loves.
On the other end of the spectrum is the government run ’spin dry’. The justice system often offers a choice of jail or rehab. Government funded treatment centers are filled with people not really interested in getting clean and sober, and drug use abounds there. British Columbia’s choice to move to the Harm Reduction Model means that if you use or drink while in government rehab, you don’t have to leave. Imagine the chaos and drama. The person who really wants to be free of his or her addiction has a lot of competition for attention.
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If you are looking for information on state funded drug rehab then you have come to the right place. What is one of these firstly? State funded means that the state (if you live in the United States or country if you live elsewhere) will pay for your drug rehabilitation program. After all it is in their interests to lower illegal drug usage rates. They pay for the whole thing in total and it is a program that is offered to all that are seriously committed to making a change right now.
What you have to do is make sure that you are seriously ready for change. Do you look at yourself when you use the drug and feel disgusted? I used to feel like that and that is when I knew I was ready for a change and to enter a state funded drug rehab. I wanted to change as much as I wanted life itself and I cured myself. So how do you get to this stage before you enter a state funded drug rehab?
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Marijuana is a tobacco-like substance, dull in colors like green, gray or brown, made up of dried leaves, stems, seeds and flowers of the hemp plant. Known by over 200 names, it is an addictive substance commonly referred to as pot, herb, weed, grass, boom and hashish is its stronger form. In whatever form it is taken, it alters the way the mind works as it contains an active chemical called THC, or delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol. Initially used for medication and healing, it became dangerous, dreaded drug in the 1970s as its addictive powers gripped thousands and became a forbidden drug that was smuggled into countries.
Marijuana is terribly addictive and obsessive. It is smoked almost like a cigarette and gets absorbed into the body almost instantaneously. It reaches the brain and united with receptors of nerve cells, affecting that part of the brain, which controls pleasure, thought, concentration, memory and coordination. It then impedes these activities. A person gets addicted to it very easily and it is peddled so much that it is often easier to procure than alcohol. Addicts think about the drug all the time, where and how to get it, how to raise funds for it, forgetting values and principles just to be able to get marijuana, and the fear of not getting it in the future. The biggest problem of its addiction is the body’s physical craving for marijuana, and more and more quantities are required to reach that level of bliss.
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It is not uncommon for parents of a teen abusing a variety of illegal mind altering substances, to attempt to make a deal with the teen; “that if they quit everything else, they will be allowed to just use pot.” This is not surprising given that Marijuana is the most commonly abused drug in the world, primarily because of the euphoric effects it provides its users and the comforting false information spread worldwide about the drug.
Here are three myths about marijuana use, every parent should know.
Myth #1: You cannot get physically addicted to marijuana.
On the contrary, you can become addicted to marijuana. People who use the drug on a daily basis, will usually experience withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, poor sleep, poor appetite, and they can also become aggressive.
Myth # 2: Marijuana is Natural, so it must be good for you.
There are plenty of plants which are poisonous to human beings, so just because something is natural does not mean is safe for you. The negative effects of marijuana on the human body, primarily affect cognition. While subtle, the effects of marijuana, if used consistently over time can prove challenging to reverse. Some of the negative effects that marijuana has on the cognition are, loss of short term memory, and a slower processing speed, subsequently slowing down the brain’s ability to solve problems. In the case of adolescents, prolonged marijuana use will also slow or stall cognitive maturity and neuroplasticity.
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Heroin abuse and addiction is a very serious problem all over the United States. The medical profession now realizes addiction is a disease because of the way human beings are affected both mentally and physically from the drug. Detoxification and rehabilitation are necessary for a person who has a severe addiction to heroin, and if the problem is severe enough the person might actually require an inpatient long-term treatment program to effectively deal with the situation.
A long-term care program is designed to handle severe forms of heroin abuse and addiction; it can be highly beneficial to a person who is unable to stop using the drug alone. A rehab facility is well-equipped to deal with the withdrawal and detoxification period associated with severe heroin abuse. A professional rehab facility provides care for the person under the supervision of a trained medical staff, which ensures the detox period goes smoothly and without any harm coming to the patient.
While enrolled in a treatment facility, a heroin addict will receive an intense and aggressive care plan which will address all the components of the addiction as a whole and not just treat the substance abuse. Using group and individual therapies, behavior modification, life skills courses and counseling sessions, an addict will share stories and struggles with others in the same situation, which is an important part of learning effective communication and interpersonal skills.
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Drug or alcohol addiction is no doubt a curse in one’s life. Such addiction not only spoils one’s life, but also drastically affects the lives of victims’ near-dear ones. With the progress of time, the victims gradually increase the consumption of drug or alcohol. That’s why, if you or one of your dear ones is addicted to drugs, then without any second thought you need to look into your option as per as detox is concerned.
An effective drug detox program is an absolute necessity for all the drug addiction affected people. In the present times finding out drug withdrawal information and the drug detox programs is not at all a tough job. A wide range of information about the detox process and the treatment center is available over the internet. But, before attending a program you need to properly verify the authenticity of the program.
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In 1999, at the age of 30, I came to a Drug Alternative Program, completed the program and graduated in 2001. Upon graduation, I was employed by the co-founders of the program, Cliff and Freddie Harris. I was hired as House Manager and Lawn Supervisor.
After getting married in 2001, my wife and I purchased a home in Redlands, CA. I was promoted to Assistant Program Director at DAP (Drug Alternative Program). This was the happiest time in my life, not having a mind-altering chemical in my body. I had a beautiful Christian wife, lovely home, a car that I had never wrecked, and money in the bank. In 2003, our son was born bringing us the joyful experience of parenthood. I loved my job that I had held for three years. Most important, Jesus was the Center of my life. In the past, I didn’t know or even care about God at all.
After 4 1/2 years of sobriety, I relapsed on pain medication due to a back injury. I had relapsed in the past but this one was the worst yet. I went down fast and hard. I awakened a demon inside of me again as I stopped praying, studying the Bible and attending church. I was running on self-will.
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With other symptoms like impaired judgment, comprehension, memory, speech, problem-solving ability, reaction time, and driving skills, marijuana addiction can be compared to alcoholism. Smoking the substance can damage your lungs and increase your risk of lung cancer.
You are in luck if you want to break this horrifying habit because marijuana is not physically addicting. For all the above-mentioned effects of the drug, it apparently has no known physical withdrawal symptoms. As a result, discontinuing the use of the substance is very possible and relatively easier than when you are hooked on nicotine. Although psychological dependence develops in a lot of long-term regular users of marijuana, they can be helped by simple therapy and perhaps some hospitalization.
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