Inhalants Your Brain on Drugs (Volatile Solvents, Gases, Aerosol Sprays, Nitrites)

When most people think about drug abuse and drug addiction, inhalants are not usually the first substances that come to mind. But statistics show that more than 23 million Americans have experimented with inhalants at some point in their life. By age 13, one in five children has used them. Inhalants such as aerosols, gases and solvents are some of the most common drugs tried by children. After tobacco, alcohol and marijuana, they are the most abused substance in the nation.

Volatile Solvents, Gases, Aerosol Sprays & Nitrites

There are four main types of inhalants, and most of them are commonly found in many households. Although the intended use of most of these inhalants is for cleaning, painting or other household purposes, when they are used to get high they can be deadly. Aerosol sprays are some of the most common inhalants found in households, and they can include spray paints, deodorants, and dust cleaning sprays. They are easily obtainable and accessible by children of all ages, and most parents do not realize how dangerous they can be.

Gases can be either medical substances such as ether or nitrous oxide, or commercial products such as butane lighters or refrigerants. Volatile solvents are liquids that turn into gas at room temperature, such as paint thinners, gasoline, glue and the chemicals from felt-tip markers. Nitrites, which are commonly called "poppers" or "snappers" can be found in room deodorizers and other products. When opened, they release a vapor that is inhaled by the user.

The Effects of Inhalants

Whether inhalants are sniffed, snorted, sprayed directly into one's nose, or inhaled through a rag, paper bag, or balloon, they can all have very dangerous effects on the brain and the body. Inhalants can be deadly, even at their first time of use. When the vapors are inhaled, they are absorbed into certain parts of the brain, and most of them slow down the user's body function. The effects of the drug abuse of inhalants are similar to that experienced by people who have an alcohol addiction or alcohol abuse problem. Their speech becomes slurred, and they can become tired, dizzy and have impaired motor skills.

Other side effects of inhalants include increased heart rate, unconsciousness and vomiting. People can die from using inhalants a number of different ways, including cardiac arrest, asphyxiation, choking on their own vomit, suffocation, and fatal injury. Inhalants are also extremely addictive, and long-term effects of drug addiction to inhalants include brain damage, depression, weakness, frequent headaches and nosebleeds.  Since the high experienced from using inhalants only lasts a few minutes, users often inhale the chemicals over and over again to keep their buzz going. This makes them even more dangerous, as more of these toxic chemicals are entering the user's body.

Inhalants are as dangerous as many drugs that are bought illegally. What's scary about these substances is that they are found in most households and most of them can be purchased from any grocery store or supermarket. In order to help prevent the abuse of inhalants, it's important for parents to educate their children about the dangers associated with their use and to try and keep them out of reach. Treatment programs for inhalant abuse and addiction are similar to those in drug rehab and alcohol rehab. Although inhalant addiction is not commonly thought of as a serious drug addiction, it is a common problem especially among young adults and children. Inhalants are dangerous, addictive, and they can be deadly. 

Alcohol Now 3rd Leading Cause Of Death

Sixty-six percent of the total population in the United States consumes alcohol on a regular basis. It is not hard to believe, then, that alcohol is statistically shown as the 3^rd preventable cause of death in the U.S.. Alcoholism is a serious and understated matter that is affecting more and more people each day. Treatment centers like Ambrosia Treatment Center are located all over America to assist those with an alcohol addiction, or an addiction of any sort. By taking a closer look at alcoholism and what causes it, perhaps we can gain an understanding about how to prevent alcohol dependence and unnecessary deaths because of it.

There are many possible causes linked to alcoholism. Chemical dependence, or addiction, forms after an extended period of drinking over a long period of time. This over-consumption and abuse of the substance may be directly linked to a person's daily stressors in life. They may use alcohol in excess to hide from their depression or anxiety, social pressures, or family/friend troubles. Also, a person is more susceptible to addiction if they have a family history of alcoholism. A general guideline for the avoidance of drinking in excess limits no more than 15 drinks per week for men and no more than 8 drinks per week for women. Of course, this varies from person to person, but keep these guidelines in mind.

Drug use, namely alcohol, depression, and suicide tend to go together. It has been shown that ninety-six percent of alcoholics who commit suicide are drinking alcohol up to their time of death. About thirty percent of all suicides also feature alcoholism, and seven percent of all alcoholics will commit suicide. One way to prevent this and other causes of death so strongly related to alcohol is recognizing this developmental disease early on, and intervening on behalf of those who may be in danger of developing this potentially fatal disease.

So, there are all sorts of causes, but what do you do if you or a loved one is an alcoholic? Get treatment. As I mentioned above, there are treatment programs all over America that can help with alcohol addiction. Ask for information from an alcohol treatment center and decide how you want to handle your addiction. All we can hope for is to spread the awareness that alcoholism is a chronic illness and brain disease. It has been recently discovered that most cases of alcoholism are established before the addict is even twenty-five years old.

Alcohol treatment, such as the programs at Ambrosia, allow for the alcoholic to undergo detox and rid their bodies of the toxins and carcinogens found in alcohol. After detox, they will proceed to a longer term alcohol drug addiction treatment, which will allow for a deeper examination of the individual's underlying causes of addiction and what they want for their future. Rehab will allow the addict to get their lives back on track. They will be better able to set goals and live a healthy and productive lifestyle – something they may have lost hope for.

Florida Marchman Act

There is a service for drug and alcohol rehab Florida has to offer that other states do not. This would be the Marchman Act. Florida provides emergency services and temporary detention for those who have substance abuse issues. These services and detention allow for a voluntary or involuntary substance abuse evaluation and treatment. The Marchman Act only applies to the state of Florida.

There are two different types of Marchman Act admissions to drug rehab. Florida is a beautiful place for a person to be admitted for rehab, under the Marchman Act or by any other circumstances. The two different types of admissions are voluntary and involuntary. A voluntary admission is when a person applies to a service provider themselves to enter treatment for substance abuse. An involuntary admission is a bit more complicated. Basically, if there is substantial reason to believe that the person who is abusing drugs is impaired because of this abuse, then they cannot make the rational decision to get help for this problem. Some of the specific criteria require that the individual demonstrate that they have lost the ability to make this rational decision by either showing their loss of self-control; has inflicted, attempted to or threatened to inflict, or is likely to inflict physical harm to his or herself or others; or that the person's judgment has been impaired to the point where they cannot make any decisions regarding substance abuse treatment. To be admitted involuntarily, the individual must clearly have demonstrated or be demonstrating one or more of these qualities.

There are other modes of being admitted as well. For example, a minor could voluntarily seek help without their parent's or guardian's consent. Also, an individual, either a minor or an adult, could be taken into protective custody by a law enforcement officer if that individual appears to meet any of the listed criteria. If a law enforcement officer is not on hand or available, there are others who are allowed to file an involuntary Marchman Act petition. These people include a private practitioner, a spouse or guardian, any other relatives, or any three responsible adults that have direct knowledge of the individual's substance abuse problem.

If you find yourself in a situation where you feel that the only option is an involuntary Marchman Act petition, you must be sure that the individual has lost self-control because of the substance abuse and will or has inflicted harm on him/herself or others. Also, if the person is incapable of realizing the need for treatment, this is also grounds for admittance. To file this petition, you will need to confirm that there is space for their admittance by contacting a service provider. Upon filing, you will need to bring some form of identification for yourself that includes your social security number and your date of birth. Also, you must provide an address of where to find the person who needs admittance so that he or she can be located by the police. After you file the Marchman Act, the person you are concerned about will be held for no more than five days for an assessment and stabilization period.

Going through a situation like this one is difficult for the addict, but many do not realize that it is also very difficult for those who care deeply for the addict. It takes a lot of courage and responsibility to file an involuntary Marchman Act petition. To see someone who cannot even realize that they need help get help is one of the most amazing things. Get information and help the person you are concerned about.

Whoonga: The Abuse Of AIDS Drugs

Many people who believe themselves to be opportunists take advantage of recreational drug users and their constant need to try new drugs for new experiences. By doing this, they may be creating a larger problem than they realize. They may have had a hand in creating a super-strain of HIV.

Mainly in South Africa, it has been shown that two of the steady drugs for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) treatment have begun to be used in a recreational fashion. It is commonly observed that many HIV patients are often physically resistant to the front-line medications, even if they've never been through treatment before – the treatment will not work for their body for some unknown reason. This may be, in part, due to the abuse that they may have been already exposed to.

Creating a larger problem than just drug addiction and abuse, the recreational use of the two commonly prescribed medications, efavirenz (brand name Sustiva) and ritonavir (brand name Norvir), can cause resistance to the medical function in people with HIV. This can happen when people with HIV smoke “whoonga” – an illicit concoction of a street drug, like heroin, and an AIDS medication. This can create mutant strains of the virus that is resistant to the medication. Another way this resistance is caused is by one person becoming infected with a strain of HIV that came from someone who used whoonga. One study has shown that this medicinal resistance has effected 3 to 5 percent of people with HIV.

A Harvard School of Public Health researcher explained that the main reason that these AIDS drugs are being abused is because of their enhancement of a high from another drug. For example, efavirenz (Sustiva) has the tendency to cause exceptionally colorful, vivid dreams due to its powerful effects on the central nervous system. When used with street drugs such as methamphetamine or heroin, it would be able to enhance the high that those drug produce because of its effects on the central nervous system. When mixed with some street drugs such as Ecstasy and powder cocaine, ritonavir (Norvir) will boost or extend the high that those drugs produce.

Although this abuse of the AIDS medications is not necessarily new, it hasn't had enough attention, and not enough people are seeing the significance of a strain of HIV that is resistant to what little medication we have available to fight this virus. This recreational use has been documented as early as 2007, found in clubgoers of Miami, Florida.

Not only is this drug dangerous because of the way it enhances the already dangerous effects of drugs like heroin and Ecstasy, but it is also dangerous for humankind. Each time someone uses a prescription drug for HIV in a recreational way, someone who needs that drug for medical purposes either doesn't get it, or has become resistant because of this abuse. Drug addiction and abuse is a serious problem and not enough people are aware and concerned. If you or a loved one have a problem with drug addiction or abuse in any way, get help immediately.

New Study Shows Dropouts More Likely to Drink & Use Drugs

Growing up, parents and teachers always say, "Stay in school. Don't do drugs." Some kids listen to this advice, and some choose to go down a different path. There is wisdom and knowledge in these words, and young students should pay attention to this age-old saying. A new report conducted by the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration actually shows that high school students that drop out before graduating are more likely drink, smoke and do drugs than those who stay in school.

Dropouts & Drug Abuse

According to this report, 31 percent of high school dropouts use drugs, compared to 18 percent - just a little over half - of students who stay in school and graduate. Of those who leave school before graduating, 27 percent smoke marijuana, and 10 percent abuse prescription drugs. Only 15 percent of students who graduate smoke marijuana, and roughly 5 percent abuse prescription drugs.

By dropping out, students put themselves at a higher risk for substance abuse and drug addiction problems, as well as a host of other problems. Without a high school diploma, young adults will not be able to get as good of a job as they would if they had stayed in school. This puts them at a higher risk for being in poverty and not having health insurance. Combine that with a drug problem, and it's a pretty dark road to travel down.

Dropouts & Smoking, Alcohol Abuse

In addition to having a higher rate of becoming drug addicts, high school dropouts are also more likely to smoke tobacco and drink alcohol. Both of these habits can put them at risk for a large number of health problems, including heart disease, lung cancer, liver cirrhosis, and ultimately an early death. Studies have shown that high school dropouts are twice as likely to smoke tobacco than students that graduate. Smoking tobacco is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the nation.

In addition, 42 percent of high school dropouts drink alcohol, and 33 percent of them binge drink. Binge drinking is defined as having five or more drinks within a two-hour period, and most people who binge drink usually drink much more than that. Out of the students that graduate, 35 percent of them drink alcohol, and one quarter of them binge drink. These numbers are still quite high, although significantly lower than the dropout population.

The US government released these figures in hopes that communities across the nation will develop better programs and strategies to keep kids in school. Roughly one in seven Americans drop out of high school, putting them at a higher risk for drug addiction, alcoholism, and a large number of other problems. Ultimately, students who drop out affect the entire public health. By staying in school, they will have a much better chance of leading happier, healthier and more productive lives.

Many students develop alcohol and drug problems before dropping out of high school, which may contribute to their leaving. By incorporating drug and alcohol awareness programs into the schools at an early age, the entire US population can have a better chance of keeping kids in school and hopefully far away from becoming drug addicts and alcoholics. For troubled youths and for anyone out there with substance abuse issues, there is help. There are thousands of drug treatment centers and support programs around the country, and it's never too early to get involved. 

Should My Family Be Involved in My Drug Treatment

Going to substance abuse treatment for a drug addiction can be a hard decision to make, and attending drug treatment can be a long and painful process. But in the end, it can save lives and give people another chance to turn things around and live free from the binds of drug addiction. In addition to deciding to go to treatment, there is also the question of whether or not you should involve your family. This can be as hard as making the decision to go to treatment. You may feel ashamed or embarrassed of your drug abuse problem, and you may not want to burden your family. But your family can offer much-needed support throughout the process of recovery which will benefit you greatly during drug treatment and after.

How Addiction Affects the Family

You may think that you drug addiction affects only you, but this is not true. It affects every one that is close to you in a variety of different ways. You may not realize the extent to which your substance abuse affects your family members. Addiction is not only a disease for the person that uses drugs, it is a family disease. Involving your family members in your treatment process will not only give you more support, it will also help them to understand exactly what you are going through. People that do not have substance abuse problems may not comprehend the severity of the situation, and how it is actually a disease and not just a habit.

Most drug treatment centers offer family therapy. During this process, family members can come in to the facility, meet with treatment professionals, and learn not only the severity of the addiction but how it affects them as well. Drug abuse is a destructive cycle that can tear families apart. By participating in the recovery process, families can be brought closer together, helping them to offer more support to the individual going through the recovery process. Family involvement is often strongly encouraged since it can be beneficial for everyone.

Enabling & Codependency

Two of the most destructive aspects of addiction that affect family members are enabling and codependency. Enabling occurs when a family member of an addict does certain things that they believe are helping the situation, when in fact they are just worsening the problem. This may include giving the addicted individual money, a place to live, making excuses for their actions, cleaning up their mess, and hiding their substance abuse problem. In doing these things, family members might think that they are protecting the drug addict, but they are really just making it okay for them to continue using drugs. This cycle can go on for years, getting worse and worse with time.

Codependency is when a family member becomes so involved in the addictive behavior of the one they love that they are dependent upon their needs and control. They put their own needs on the backburner and focus on what they can do to help the addict. This situation also worsens with time, as the family member may start to organize their whole life around caring for the drug addict. Both enabling and codependency rationalize and vindicate the destructive behavior of the addict, allowing them to continue to use. These issues are addressed in drug addiction treatment, and by involving your family in the recovery process, they can learn how to avoid falling back into this cycle and how to offer healthy support instead. 

Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is, among other things, extremely unhealthy. Becoming addicted to anything means that you begin to put that thing before other, more important, things in your life. All anyone wants in life are the basic forms of happiness – food, shelter, love, and understanding. To find these things, a person will do what they think is necessary and required to be happy. However, the idea of what it is exactly that makes them happy is where a problem can occur.

A person has a lot of control over the quality and quantity of the food they consume. They also have control over where they live and their environment, to some extent. The complicated factors begin to happen with love and understanding. This is something a person cannot control. And so, with this lack of control comes blind trust in things that may not be the best source of trust, such as friends who deal and/or use drugs and hanging out with people in clubs and other places where drug use is acceptable and even encouraged.

It is not up to me or anyone else to tell another person how to be happy or what makes them happy. I only wish to bring awareness to the idea that drugs and alcohol may be considered a type of short-cut to happiness. There is a common consensus that using drugs and alcohol recreationally causes a person to feel happy and euphoric, as well as feel more perceptive and open to other human connection. There should be an equally common consensus that these feelings and connections can be reached by other, longer lasting means – by means of healthy and positive cognitive and behavioral ways of living and functioning. By using drugs, a person loses their identity. They lose the conscious part of themselves that is extremely important when making any sort of connection with anybody, especially to feel loved and understood.

If you are reading this and understanding a bit of what I am trying to say, I would highly suggest attending a drug addiction treatment program. There is a sort of misconception about drug rehab that deters some people from admitting themselves because of the idea that they might be forced to be someone they're not. However, addiction rehab does just the opposite. It forces you to look at who you are now, and who you want to be as a person. It forces you to accept that these two versions of yourself are currently different. And best of all, drug addiction rehab forces you to work at who you want to become. An individual that is considered a drug addict has been through a lot of tough experiences. This has made them a strong person. Drug rehab is in existence to make them stronger. Take the time to assess your situation. If things need to change, get information about drug treatment programs. Get help for your addiction and become the person you know you are.

Alcohol Rehab Center

It is estimated that roughly 15 million Americans suffer from alcohol addiction, and alcohol is considered to be the number one drug problem in the United States. Alcoholics often start drinking at an early age, and their addiction can become increasingly worse as they get older. Their tolerance, and physical and mental dependence can easily increase, and they become more susceptible to the health and mental problems associated with alcoholism as they drink more excessively.

Problems with Alcoholism
Alcohol can have extremely negative effects on the liver, such as cirrhosis, cancer and failure. In addition, it also affects many other important organs in the body. People that drink routinely in excess are more susceptible to a wide range of medical complications, such as heart disease, decreased blood cell production, and gastrointestinal problems. In addition, alcoholism is known to cause many other life problems such as legal, financial and family matters. Even with the many negative associations that come with alcohol use, many alcoholics still continue to drink regardless of the consequences.
Alcoholism is a disease, and it can be extremely difficult for people with alcohol addictions to stop drinking on their own. As their condition worsens, their dependency increases, and they can find it hard to function without being under the influence. When people progress to this point in their alcohol addiction, sometimes the only answer for recovery is alcohol addiction treatment. Since more research has been done on the disease in recent years, treatment professionals have developed effective programs that can help people beat their addictions and learn to live without alcohol.

Alcohol Rehab
There are many different options for treatment. There are both inpatient and outpatient centers, and each alcohol rehab facility has their own programs designed for treatment. One of the most crucial steps in attending an alcohol rehab center is the detoxification process. During this stage, many people are learning to live without alcohol for the first time in a long time. Detox can be dangerous, and an alcoholic's body can go into shock when they are flushing the toxins from their body.

Rehab professionals are trained to treat individuals as they go through the process of detox and withdrawal, and their expertise can make the difference between life and death. In certain cases of extreme alcoholism, a person can go through delirium tremens, which can include symptoms so severe as seizure or even cardiac arrest. Without the proper treatment, detox can be fatal. By using the proper medications, these withdrawal symptoms can be treated and help alcoholics get through this process more easily.

During alcohol rehab, people learn helpful coping mechanisms to deal with the issues that led to their addiction. By attending classes, programs and therapy sessions, people in alcohol addiction treatment can learn about what may be attributing to their addiction and how to deal with these problems in a healthy manner. Even months or years after treatment, alcoholics can still have the urge to drink. Alcoholism is a disease that is incurable. But with the proper treatment, people can learn to live with their addictions and recover.

Relapse is also quite common with alcoholics, and it may take more than one period in an alcohol treatment center to recover. However, when there is a strong desire to get clean, there is hope for recovery. Millions of Americans have had successful treatment experiences and gone on to lead healthy lives free from alcohol. 

Alcohol Now 3rd Worldwide Leading Cause of Injury & Death

It is nothing new that alcoholism is an addiction that has the ability to destroy lives. People can become so enveloped in their alcohol addictions that they lose sight of the important things in life - family, work, school, and other responsibilities, and become wholly preoccupied with alcohol. In the United States, alcohol surpasses all other drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription painkillers as the number one drug problem in the nation. According to a recent study conducted by the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), alcohol is now the third leading cause of disease and injury worldwide.

Alcohol, Disease & Injury
Based on research gathered mainly from the 2010 Global Burden of Disease study, alcohol has been found to cause more than 200 diseases and injuries. When people think of alcohol and disease, liver problems are usually the first that come to mind. It is widely known that alcohol can cause serious liver diseases such as cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. But what many people do not realize is that alcohol affects nearly every single organ in the body. It can cause heart disease, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal problems, and several types of cancer. Researchers recently found that alcohol consumption by women can make them much more susceptible to breast cancer.

When people consume alcohol, their behavior changes. This is not true only of alcoholics, alcohol affects everyone that consumes it in different ways. Their judgment becomes impaired, and they may do certain things that they would otherwise not do if they were sober. Traffic accidents due to alcohol abuse are among the major problems of alcohol-related injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety, roughly 40 percent of all traffic deaths are due to driving under the influence. In addition to traffic-related injuries, violence and domestic abuse while people are intoxicated are also a major problem. Alcohol affects not only the person drinking it, but those around them as well.

Global Alcohol Abuse
It is estimated that around 2.5 million deaths per year are due to the harmful use of alcohol. In the age group of 15 to 29, roughly 320,000 people die each year from alcohol-related causes, which makes up about 9 percent of all deaths in that range. The global burden of alcohol is large, and it continues to grow. After high blood pressure and tobacco, it places third for disease and injury. The amount of alcohol consumed varies from region to region. Some nations drink more than others, and some engage in more reckless drinking behaviors. On average, drinkers in Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa consume the most alcohol worldwide. They drink the most, and they also engage in some of the most dangerous drinking behaviors, such as drinking in large quantities, drinking to get drunk, and binge-drinking for extended periods of time.

The figures recorded by the CAMH may even be an underestimate, considering that 30 percent of alcohol consumed around the world is unrecorded. This includes alcohol that is brewed at home and produced illegally, including moonshine operations. When alcohol is so readily accessible and socially acceptable, it is hard to not drink irresponsibly for many people. Even though only half of the world drinks alcohol, the half that does causes a large amount of disease and injury. Alcoholism is a serious disease and it causes a lot of damage. If you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol abuse, there are many different options for alcohol treatment. From support groups like AA to inpatient rehab treatment, there are programs out there to help everyone who is struggling with alcohol addiction.

Drug Facts

Drug addiction is a disease that affects millions of people every day. It can have severe impact on their health and well being, and affect multiple aspects of their lives. Drug abuse can tear apart families, cause financial problems and cause people to fall victim to untimely death or incarceration. In recent decades, there has been much research conducted on the reasons for and effects of being addicted to drugs. Having access to this information can help people learn more about the disease and how to recover from their addiction.

Prescription Pills
One of the most common drug problems in the past couple decades has been the addiction to prescription pills. Because they can be legally purchased, they are widely accessible, and people do not always realize how easy it can be to become addicted to a variety of prescription pills. Although they can also be purchased illegally on the street, many people become addicted to prescription painkillers such as Vicodin, Oxycontin and other drugs after they are prescribed the medications from their doctors.
Prescription drugs can be useful for a variety of different conditions. They can be used to treat mental disorders, depression, insomnia, chronic pain, anxiety and other issues. Although prescription drugs are intended for medicinal purposes, they can be highly addictive and detrimental to one's health when used in excess. What may first seem like a helpful way to treat an affliction can easily turn into a full-blown drug addiction if people are not careful with their use of prescription drugs.

Heroin, Crystal Meth & Cocaine
Some of the most abused illicit drugs are heroin, crystal meth and cocaine. Heroin and cocaine are derivatives of different plants, and they have been used to treat various medical conditions over the years. However, in their purest form they are both considered to be highly illegal narcotics. They are extremely addictive, and the possession or distribution of these drugs can easily lead to prison time. In addition, they are both very dangerous, and many people overdose and die from taking too much.

Crystal meth is a manufactured stimulant that is also very addictive. It can be made with ingredients that can be purchased at normal everyday stores, and with a little knowhow, it can be easily manufactured. The use of crystal meth in recent decades has become a nationwide epidemic, and it is often made in makeshift household labs. It is highly popular in rural areas, and drug addicts that use crystal meth can easily spiral into a vicious cycle of self-destruction.

Whether someone is addicted to prescription pills or illicit drugs, they suffer from a disease and become physically and mentally dependent on their substance of choice. When people develop severe drug addictions, the drug becomes the most important thing in their life and they often fail to deal with normal responsibilities such as school, work, family and their own personal well being. There are many different reasons that people become addicted to drugs. They may suffer from stress, depression or anxiety. They may begin to use them recreationally in moderation and quickly fall into their addiction. Either way, drug abuse is a terrible disease, and people that have drug problems should seek professional treatment to recover from their addictions. 

Binge Drinking on the Rise with Women

Binge drinking among college students is nothing new. For decades, the act of routinely drinking way too much has been glamorized among both college and high school students. Binge drinking is defined as having five or more drinks in one sitting. However, this amount is at the lower end of the actual number of drinks that college students are consuming when they go out partying. Some students admit to regularly drinking twenty or more alcoholic beverages in a night, putting them at risk for alcohol poisoning and injury, among a host of other problems that are associated with binge drinking.

Recent studies have shown that not only is this trend of heavy drinking not likely to taper off any time soon, women have begun to drink as excessively as their male counterparts. No longer is extreme alcohol abuse something only frat boys participate in, women are also participating in excessive alcohol consumption. This is dangerous for a number of different reasons. Not only do women typically weigh less and not metabolize alcohol as fast as men, they are putting themselves at risk to increased chances of heart disease, breast cancer, sexually-transmitted diseases, sexual assault and unplanned pregnancies by trying to keep up with the boys.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, roughly 1,500 student deaths, 500,000 injuries and 70,000 cases of sexual assault occur every year at the college level because of excessive alcohol consumption. It is estimated that nearly 50 percent of college students binge drink, participating in pregaming before going out to parties, drinking games, and the need to fit in with the rest of the crowd by drinking way too much. About 1 in 5 girls in high school and college binge drink, and it leads to nearly 23,000 deaths in women age 18 to 34 every year.

In addition to being a particularly dangerous activity to engage in at any age, binge drinking is also often the first step towards developing alcoholism for both men and women. What most young people fail to realize is that drinking excessively increases their tolerance and can lead to developing dependence on alcohol later on down the road. When men and women are dependent on alcohol, they find it hard to function in life without regular drinking. Having a few drinks every now and then is one thing, but drinking everyday and routinely consuming enough to put yourself in the hospital can lead to a long list of mental and physical complications.

Alcoholism is a deadly disease, and recovery is not an easy road. Many alcoholics never get professional treatment for their condition, and many even end up relapsing numerous times after attending rehab. Relapse is not the end, and people that struggle with alcohol addiction should not give up even if they do return to drinking after an extended period of sobriety. But the best prevention against alcoholism and other drug addictions is through educating the youths of America about the dangers of binge drinking, alcohol poisoning and alcohol addiction.

Why Detox from Alcohol and Drug Addiction?

Many drug addicts and alcoholics say that getting clean was the hardest thing they have ever done. Recovering from drug and alcohol addiction is not easy. It can be a lifelong process. Addiction is a disease of the mind, and the temptation to take drugs or drink can remain for years and years after becoming sober. But abstaining from drugs and alcohol has saved millions of lives. Carrying on in the path of destruction that is addiction usually either ends up with an untimely death or incarceration. Although it may seem like the hardest thing ever, it can also be the most important and positive step a person can take in order to get their life back.

Detox

Entering into a drug rehab or alcohol rehab program can be a difficult decision to make. When people become so used to living with their addiction, the idea of giving it all up and changing their life can be scary. One of the hardest and most crucial parts of drug rehab or alcohol rehab is the detox process. Whether patients are struggling with an addiction to alcohol or drugs, detoxification during the initial stages of rehabilitation may be the first period in a long time that they have gone without being under the influence of a substance. During this process, their bodies must acclimate to functioning without being drunk or on drugs.

When people become addicted to drugs or alcohol, over time their bodies become accustomed to always being under the influence. When someone stops taking drugs or alcohol all of a sudden, it can be a shock to their system. Drugs and alcohol affect the central nervous system in a way that can have long-term effects and irreparable damage. To go for months or even years on end while being under the influence of drugs and alcohol can have detrimental effects that are best controlled while being under the supervision of treatment professionals that are trained in the ways of dealing with people that are coming off of drugs or alcohol.

Withdrawal

When people enter into alcohol rehab or drug rehab, the first and one of the most difficult stages they must go through is alcohol addiction detox or drug addiction detox. During this process, they will most likely go through the various stages of withdrawal. Depending upon the severity of the addiction, symptoms of withdrawal can range from anxiety to full-on cardiac arrest. At certain stages of drug addiction detox and alcohol addiction detox, people can even go into seizures and suffer a heart attack or brain stroke. The effect of going from serious intoxication to complete sobriety is sometimes so extreme that it can send a person's body into complete shock.

Many people attempt to get clean on their own. Although this may seem like an admirable feat, enrolling into a rehab treatment center has proven to be ultimately more successful in treating addiction. Not only are people in a safe environment surrounded by medical professionals that can properly treat them for their condition, they can also rest assured that should any negative repercussions result from their withdrawal, they will be properly taken care of. Withdrawal can easily lead to death and most people do not realize the severity of the situation. Of course quitting alcohol or drugs is always a good idea, unless it is monitored under the close care of treatment professionals it may prove to be fatal.

What Is Rehabilitation?

Many a person find themselves at a crossroads with addiction. There is lucid window of opportunity that, if taken, a person will find themselves in a place that allows for complete recovery and understanding of their addiction. This place is referred to as rehabilitation.

Addiction is very common today, whether it be an addiction to shoe shopping, video games, junk food, or media. These examples can get expensive and interfere with a person's life and relationships. Well, it is similar with drug addiction. The difference is that drug addiction actually changes the addict's reward system in the brain, whereas with addictions such as shoe shopping, it is more of a personal choice to keep doing it (although it is definitely a hard habit to break!). Many people, even those who have a drug or alcohol addiction, do not realize that they are fighting something that is no longer really even their choice. A person can choose to buy or not to buy pair after pair of leopard printed heels, but a person cannot choose to continue or discontinue drug use after an addiction has set in. 

The way an addictive drug attaches itself to a person's chemical transmitters creates a disruption in a person's natural dopamine distribution. Because of this disturbance, the individual may begin to feel that drug or alcohol abuse is the only way to feel good and happy. However, this is not the case. When a person starts attending drug rehab, they may find that the educational part of rehab is one of the most beneficial things. Through education about one's addiction, a person can begin to understand why they are experiencing such a huge loss of control and feeling so down. 

Although education about a person's drug addiction is beyond helpful, some addicts may find that therapy works the best for them. Through therapy, an addict's drug addiction is addressed in a way that allows for a personal approach. When addiction is addressed in this way, it encourages an addict to open up about the underlying causes of their addiction and why they started abusing drugs in the first place. In a group therapy session, an addict is able to contribute and listen to stories and other insights toward the reasons for drug addiction, how to avoid triggers, and how to successfully live a sober life. In these therapy sessions, one of the most important things that is happening for an addict (and they sometimes don't even realize it) is the creation of a support network. By engaging in discussion and conversation about other people's addictions and how they are dealing with sobriety is very important. It is essential that an addict know that they are not at all alone in their addiction – there are others going through very similar situations.

If you are looking for information about rehabilitation and treatment, don't stop until you find a treatment center that fits you. Drug addiction is hard, and you do not have to face it alone. Explore your options and find the one that treats your entire person, not just your addiction. Don't wait to get the help you need, get treatment today.

New Studies Show Long-Lasting Effects of Meth Addiction

Drug addictions can have long-lasting effects on a person's mind and body. Even years after a person has become sober, they may still experience the temptations of drug use, and their brain may function differently because of it. Quitting drugs and becoming sober is a process, and it is difficult. A drug addict cannot simply wake up one day, decided to abstain from drugs, and go on to lead a normal life. Recovery can take years, and even after becoming sober, the effects of prior drug use can come to haunt recovering drug addicts.

Long-Term Effects of Meth Addiction

Recent studies conducted by the University of Florida have revealed that even long after people that are addicted to meth quit using the drug, their brain may still function differently. From research done on lab mice using the crystal meth drug, researchers found that mice that had been given the drug had impaired brain activity and problems remembering things two weeks after stopping use. Two weeks in the life of a mouse is equal to about a year in the lifespan of a human, indicating that even one year after stopping the use of meth, recovering addicts may still suffer from impaired brain activity.

In addition, researchers attributed this impaired brain activity to withdrawal. Even one year after quitting people with drug addictions to crystal meth can still suffer from withdrawal symptoms. This can be disconcerting to hear for meth users that are trying to become clean and sober. Withdrawal can be dangerous and painful, especially from a drug as harsh as crystal meth. In recent years, meth use has become a nationwide epidemic. It is cheap and relatively easy to manufacture, and it is highly addictive. Withdrawal from the drug can include symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, depression, nausea, and insomnia. Depending upon how long a person has been using the drug and how much they have been taking influences how serious their withdrawal symptoms can be.

Drug Addiction & The Brain

When people develop substance abuse problems, their brain chemistries change. The patterns in which their brains function are altered due to the increased levels of serotonin and dopamine that are released upon drug use. As discovered by the researchers at the University of Florida, this can have long-term effects on a person's brain activity. They stated that the way that a meth addict's brain functions during recovery and long after becoming sober is similar to that of a person with Parkinson's disease.

These findings further strengthen the argument and idea that drug addiction is a chronic disease, and recovery can be a lifelong process. Even years after a person with meth addiction has gone to rehab treatment and participated in the standard drug rehab programs, they may still suffer from the consequences of their drug use. The best way to avoid this is to simply not use drugs in the first place. Drug prevention programs, especially at a young age, are essential in teaching young people the dangers of drug addiction. Not only can meth addiction and other drug problems ruin lives, they can also have serious effects on recovering drug addicts long after they have ceased use.