Overcoming Drug Addiction

Most people realize that if they have a drug addiction, they need to get help from a medical professional or rehab facility. This is a complicated process that will allow the drug addict to recover from a physical addiction, but how will this person be able to proceed in overcoming drug addiction psychologically? Drug abuse takes a huge toll on an individual's mental and spiritual state. Here are a few steps in overcoming the mental addiction.

A Change in Lifestyle. Usually when a person becomes addicted to drugs, they are following a pattern of behavior and living a certain lifestyle. If this individual wishes to no longer be addicted to drugs, they need to get involved in other things and stay busy. By not allowing time or room for drugs to consume one's life, it will be that much easier for them to overcome addiction.

Friends Matter. Start spending time with friends who don't use drugs. It is important to respect others' lifestyles, and by expanding your friend base to others who do not live the way you do, you will begin to see the world in a new light. Look at situations and opportunities as they do. Also, if the individual who abuses drugs begins to spend time around others who don't, they won't feel as though that is the 'thing to do.'

Get Out and About. When a person decides to go out, they should start doing the opposite of what they usually do. Say that this person usually spends Friday night at the bar. Instead, they should try something like going on a long walk with a close friend, or to a late-night cafe or coffee bar. Try volunteering on the weekends or spending time with friends and family who don't abuse substances.

Appearance Change. Many people do not realize that appearance is nearly everything. By dressing in a certain way, we are expressing our creative side – we are being who we want to be. In an abuser's situation, try taking a second look. Dress in a sharp and clean way. When others see a person dressed in this way, they begin thinking of them in that way, as a sharp, clean person.

Keep Reminding and Remembering. Many people start to change there lives, begin feeling good, and then drop back down into their old habits. This becomes an unhealthy cycle. Don't allow this to happen! An addict or abuser should constantly remind themselves of how terrible their lives were as a drug user. This will help them to see how changing all of the little things really makes a difference in the long run.

If the addict cannot take control of their life without guidance, they should not be ashamed. This is not an easy undertaking. Overcoming drug addiction is much more complex than most people realize. If you know someone who needs help, or if you need help, do not hesitate to get it. Become the person you want to be.

Fentanyl Street Drug

It is estimated that roughly 22 million Americans use illegal drugs. This accounts for 9 percent of the US population that use drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin and prescription drugs. These numbers have stayed relatively level for the past decade. Drug use among the younger population is higher than the overall national average, with 20 percent of young adults age 18 to 25 using illegal drugs. One of the drugs that is widely abused is fentanyl, which is used medicinally to treat moderate to severe pain. It has proven effective to treat patients with chronic pain associated with cancer and post-operation recovery. However, many people use this drug illegally, which can be very dangerous.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid and narcotic painkiller with characteristics similar to other opioids, especially morphine. However, it is much more potent than morphine and even heroin. Many addicts who abuse the drug do not realize just how strong the drug is and end up overdosing, which can easily lead to death. Sometimes, fentanyl is sold as a street drug and passed off as heroin. Drug users then use it like they would heroin and do not account for the drug's high level of potency. This can lead to a dangerous situation.

Fentanyl can come in a wide variety of different forms - lozenge, pill, injection, film that dissolves in the mouth, and even as a skin patch. Skin patches are popular among people with a fentanyl addiction because of how easy to use and indiscreet they are. They simply apply the patch to their skin, and the drug is then absorbed into the bloodstream. Like other opioids, fentanyl produces feelings of euphoria in the user. It is highly addictive, even more so than heroin. The drug has a rapid onset and a short duration of action, leaving the user to crave more once the high wears off.

Legally, fentanyl is available only through special programs. Doctors typically only prescribe the drug to patients that have already been using an opioid and have built up a tolerance. Otherwise, because of fentanyl's high level of potency, they could end up taking too much during their first use and overdose. Fentanyl is sold under a variety of different brand names, including Sublimaze, Actiq, Duragesic, Tentora and Abstral. It is not easy to obtain a prescription for fentanyl, and it is typically reserved for patients with serious and chronic pain.

Like other opioids, users who develop a fentanyl addiction should seek drug abuse treatment. Fentanyl addiction treatment is similar to any other type of drug rehab. Initially, patients check in and are assessed to determine the level and length of their use. They then go through the detoxification process where they flush the toxins of the drug from their system. Withdrawal symptoms during detox can be painful and uncomfortable but are rarely fatal with fentanyl. They then attend group therapy sessions, one-on-one meetings with psychiatrists and treatment professionals, and support group meetings. By learning about their addiction and how to deal with their drug cravings in a healthy manner, patients have a much higher chance of a successful recovery after they complete their fentanyl drug addiction treatment.

Liver Disease

Alcoholism is the most common cause of liver disease. To see why this is a problem, we must first look at the liver and why this organ is important. Being the second largest organ in your body, the liver preforms many tasks that effect an individual's entire being. Mainly, it processes what a person eats and drinks and turns this into energy and nutrients to fuel the rest of the body. It also filters harmful substances from the blood. When a person drinks alcohol, the alcohol travels through their bloodstream and is filtered by the liver. If a person drinks more alcohol than the liver can process, it can become seriously injured or damage. It is common knowledge that the liver can repair itself, but alcohol can severely damage or destroy these liver cells – sometimes beyond repair. When this happens, it is called liver disease. There are three main types of alcohol-induced liver disease. They include fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcohol cirrhosis.

Fatty liver disease is the earliest stage of any alcohol-related liver disease. It is caused by the build up of extra fat in the liver cells. It is hard to tell when this happens because the symptoms are usually very mild and not recognized in a lot of patients. They may include weakness, fatigue, and weightloss. It can safely be assumed that almost all heavy drinkers have fatty liver disease. Luckily, because the liver is such a powerful organ, if these drinkers stop drinking, this stage of the disease will stop progressing, and the liver will repair itself to its normal state.

Alcohol hepatitis is caused in up to thirty-five percent of heavy drinkers. This disease causes damage to the liver, and it begins to swell. Alcohol hepatitis can be mild or severe. If it is mild, the damage done to the liver can still be reversed. If it is severe, it can happen suddenly and lead to immediate complications like liver failure. It can even lead to sudden, unexpected death. Symptoms of alcohol hepatitis may include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, and jaundice.

Ten to twenty percent of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic cirrhosis. This is the scarring of the liver which is caused by hard scar tissue replacing the soft, healthy tissue. Alcoholic cirrhosis is the most damaging type of alcohol-induced liver disease, and it exhibits symptoms similar to those of alcohol hepatitis. The damage done from alcoholic cirrhosis cannot be reversed and can end in liver failure. However, not drinking alcohol can prevent further damage to the liver.

People who already have a chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis C, are at a higher risk for developing and quickly progressing through alcoholic cirrhosis. Complications from alcohol-related liver diseases can be serious. They may include a build up of fluid in the abdomen, bleeding from the veins in the esophagus or stomach, an enlarged spleen, high blood pressure, brain disorders, coma, kidney failure, and liver cancer. Much of these complications from liver disease can be avoided or treated. Because alcoholism is a dangerous disease as well, alcohol rehab provides treatment for liver damage. The specific ways that liver damage is treated is through a healthy diet, abstinence from alcohol, and possible medications to help manage any complications that may have arisen. If you have a liver disease or are worried that you may be developing one, get help and get treatment. Chances are, you can save your liver and become completely healthy in the process!

Signs of Addiction

Millions of Americans struggle with addiction to drugs and alcohol every day. Addiction is a disease of the mind, and it is characterized by many different signs and patterns of behavior. Despite negative consequences and failed efforts to stop or reduce use, drug addicts will continue to use. If you are wondering whether or not you have an addiction, or if you are worried about someone close to you that may be struggling with a drug or alcohol problem, there are a wide range of signs to look for.

Drug Addiction & Alcohol Addiction Signs

Addiction can destroy lives and in many cases lead to death or imprisonment due to drug and alcohol abuse. What may start out as recreational and occasional use can easily lead to increased tolerance and physical dependence. One of the primary characteristics of addiction to look for is the failure to resist the impulse to use. Temptation plays a huge part in addiction, and addicts find it difficult and sometimes even impossible to resist their urges to drink or take drugs. This compulsive behavior is developed over time as the condition worsens, and addicts can soon find themselves being under the influence most of if not all the time due to their lack of impulse control.

When addicts begin to realize that they have a problem, they try to stop or reduce their use, often with failed efforts. Despite suffering from health issues, problems with work or school, or alienating themselves from friends and family because of their addiction, addicts will continue to use. They may have periods of abstinence, sometimes for months or even years, but the addiction can come back at any time. When they do start to use again, the addiction is usually stronger and they use more. With continued use of drugs and alcohol, people begin to build up a tolerance. It takes increasingly more to get the initial effect each time. This can led to spending large amounts of money on drugs and alcohol and eventually having serious financial problems.

Addicts have a preoccupation with using drugs or drinking alcohol. It consumes their thoughts, and if they do not have access to substances, they may begin to suffer from withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe, and they can even be fatal in some cases. These involve anxiety, depression, tremors, headaches, nausea, vomiting and even seizures. If you experience any of these symptoms when you are not under the influence or coming down from drugs or alcohol, you most likely have an addiction.

Physical & Behavioral Signs of Addiction

When people take drugs and alcohol for extended periods of time, they may begin to exhibit physical and outward signs of their addiction. These involve an overall decline in physical appearance, such as weight gain or loss, looking disheveled, poor hygiene, always looking tired, paleness, and even losing teeth with some types of drug use. Behavioral signs include being secretive or sneaky, being inaccessible for long periods of time, sleeping more or less than usual, and hanging out with people that also drink or use. Many of these behaviors result in no longer participating in normal activities and dropping them to drink or use instead.

Rehab

For most addicts, they cannot stop without professional help. There are thousands of drug rehab and alcohol rehab centers across the country. If you or someone you know is addicted to drugs or alcohol, there is help available. Many health care plans are also starting to cover the costs of drug and alcohol treatment as well. Since addiction has been recognized as a disease, health care organizations and medical professionals are treating it like one. Before your life or the life of someone close to you spirals out of control, looking into the options for rehab may be the best answer.

How Do You Detox?

Well, before the drug detoxification process, certain factors must be present in the patient. Let's call the patient Jim. Before detox, Jim will have some sort of physical dependence to a substance of some sort. The drug that Jim is addicted to may vary, but it will be a physical addiction, where withdrawal symptoms are present. A withdrawal symptom is some response the body has to the absence of a drug. This happens after frequent and sustained exposure to a substance. For example, Jim may have used heroin for a period of time, and afterward had several withdrawal symptoms after ceasing use. He will lie in bed, vomiting frequently and have extreme trouble sleeping. This will be extremely uncomfortable and especially so on the second day of the detoxification drug process. After one week, Jim will have gotten over the worst bulk of the symptoms and be approaching a healthy state once again. It may have been several months or even several years since he has experienced this healthy state, and there may be irreparable damage done to the body, but after the detox process, he will be far healthier than he has been.

The process is fairly similar for alcohol addiction. As alcohol can have a strong physical effect on the user's body, to detox alcohol from a patient's body is also quite common. Let us assume that a similar patient, Jill, is going through the alcohol detoxification process. She experiences some seizures during the treatment, though it is not nearly as severe as it would have been without professional help. Some instances of withdrawal symptoms can result in very intense seizures and, in some cases, death. After three weeks, Jill finally finishes the withdrawal symptoms. Though the process has not been extremely long, for the patient it can feel like a tremendously long detoxification. Alcohol as a drug can cause especially difficult physical responses during the recovery process and is known to last a long duration.

Whether an alcohol addiction or another drug addiction, the detox process is a necessary one. After detox, drug addiction patients will often transfer to a residential treatment center, or to a residential area with a strong support network. Jim may check into a halfway house, where he would live with other recovering heroin addicts. He can try to find a job and live as a functional member of society, leaving his drug addiction behind. Jill can move back in with her parents, who can support her through the difficult time in her life and attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings on a regular basis. In both instances, the recovering addict has an understanding and supportive team of people close by, which is important for the individual to find a healthy path. If left to his or her own devices, an individual might quickly relapse, ending up victim to the alcohol or drug addiction very quickly.

During the detoxification process, the patient is in a facility where professional help is available to ensure that each patient is cared for properly. This is very important to assist the patient through such a difficult recovery process, while maintaining a state of physical and mental health throughout. The risks for physical harm are especially common, and without professional help, many could find serious harm from the withdrawal process.

Before any of that, the first step to detox is to find a treatment facility equipped to handle that specific detoxification. If you are in need of detox, please contact a drug treatment center to find more information and begin the process to recovery. 

What Are Drug & Alcohol Addiction Treatment Programs?

The Outpatient Treatment Programs (OTP) is a common drug addiction and alcohol addiction program. It is often used after a longer-term rehabilitation program, or, most commonly, to allow for treatment while still maintaining presence at work or school. Offered for those who are stabilized in their addiction, this program seeks to bring effective treatment at a moderate level of care. Ambrosia Treatment Centers, as well as thousands of other treatment facilities around the United States, is certified and accredited to provide outpatient treatment programs.

Outpatient treatment is offered as group therapy several times a week, day and/or night, and as individual therapy outside of those sessions. This allows for a person to attend school, work, or their family life, and still receive treatment because of the flexibility. The duration of the program depends on the individual's personal needs, but can range up to 90+ days.

These addiction treatments are an excellent choice for those who wish to get help for their drug and alcohol abuse as well as uphold their commitments in their home life. Outpatient treatment allows the individual to interact with the real world and get help from a peer-oriented, therapeutically structured program. Drug abuse is a serious issue and should not be taken lightly. That's why there are programs that focus on getting you the help you need, and allowing for your interaction with your outside life. If you feel that you want this interaction, but are not strong enough to go right back home where your spouse or friends are using, sober living homes are commonly recommended. Part of the outpatient addiction treatment programs is to provide the option of safe, supportive, sober living. This is often provided, but not required.

Common programs provided through the outpatient treatment programs include an evaluation or assessment, legal system advocacy, educational groups, counseling (group and individual), individualized treatment planning, family educational groups, discharge planning, relapse prevention, 12-step recovery and self-help group contacts, and referral to various other needed services. After outpatient rehabilitation programs, aftercare programs will be touched upon and provided as needed. There are thousands of different addiction support groups all over the United States, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). In these groups, you will be encouraged to share your personal experience and how you're doing now. Aftercare programs are very helpful ways to release all of the pent up emotions that are commonly stored. There are others out there, many others, who are experiencing similar situations and frustrations that you are. Going to support groups and therapy sessions, you can connect with these people. You can help others, and by doing so, help yourself!

Don't hesitate to get treatment. Many people think that they have no time to get help because it would take them away from their family or there job – the place they need to be. But working through an outpatient treatment program, you are not only able to stay at your job and home life, you are also able to focus more of your energy and concentration on these more important things.