What Can Trigger A Relapse?

After drug and alcohol treatment, addicts still feel strong urges to continue their substance abuse. These urges are based purely on desire and sometimes can overrule all logical reasoning. This is referred to as a trigger. There are many triggers out in the world. Some are specific to each individual, and some are a uniform way of functioning. Completing drug treatment is a huge step toward living a healthy and productive life without drug abuse. The trick is maintaining this sobriety. One way to avoid a drug or alcohol relapse is to identify the different things that can trigger it.

There are some very common causes of drug relapse. These negative feelings (also found in other aspects of everyday life) such as anger, sadness, loneliness, guilt, fear, and anxiety can cause an addict to feel like they need to run and hide from them, and the only way they know how to do that is through drug use. Even positive feelings can trigger a relapse because they make the addict want to celebrate. 

Other ways that relapses can be triggered is through the physical body. Being in the presence of drugs and/or alcohol, around users of drugs or alcohol, or in places where you used or bought can be overwhelming and cause a lot of internal conflict. If you purposefully place yourself in situations just to show that you can do it, you may be placing yourself in unnecessary danger. Also, many people think that they will be fine after treatment, and that they don't need to worry about a relapse. This is a problem because they may fall back into their old patterns, and eventually fall back into drug use. If you allow yourself to become completely exhausted, you are not following the healthy patterns you have established, like rest, nutrition, and exercise. If you begin to pity yourself or expect pity from others, you are not being independent, and are therefore not taking care of your needs.

Dishonesty is another common problem for recovering drug addicts. Usually, it begins with small, unnecessary lies being told to those who are close to you. Then you begin to widen the spectrum and are soon making excuses for not attending meetings or for hanging out with old friends that still use drugs or alcohol. Someone might do this because they feel that they are the only people who have changed. Well, you can only expect to control yourself. Just remember to be honest and patient with yourself and others.

Drug relapse is never your fault, just as drug addiction is not your fault, but it can be avoided. Through drug treatment, you can find yourself. Through real life experience you can test your strength. It is important to know your limits and to respect your mind, body, and soul through sobriety. Don't wait until you relapse to express how you're feeling after you finish rehab. Counseling is provided to allow this transition to be more comfortable and understood.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Fetal alcohol syndrome or FAS is caused by drinking during pregnancy. The child is then born with a range of disorders, referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, or FASD. Fetal alcohol syndrome is the most severe effect of prenatal alcohol exposure. FAS is the number one most preventable cause of mental retardation and birth defects. It is a condition that causes many mental and physical disabilities which will be present throughout one's lifetime. The most telling physical disabilities include abnormal facial features, growth deficiencies, and central nervous system problems. There are also many other secondary conditions that develop, which include mental health problems, learning problems, legal issues, and drug and alcohol problems later in life.

This disorder is caused by the alcohol in the mother's blood crossing through the placenta and entering the fetus through the umbilical chord. It has not yet been determined what happens after this point and what the critical times of exposure are. It is known that consuming alcohol during the first trimester results in the facial defects, but the central nervous system and behavioral disabilities could be caused by alcohol use at any time during pregnancy. Many people believe that it is okay to drink in moderation throughout pregnancy or at after a certain point, but to be safe, a women who is expecting a child should not drink until after the baby is born.

Although there is no cure for fetal alcohol syndrome, it is a completely preventable disorder. FAS results from drinking during pregnancy, so as soon as a woman discovers she is pregnant or wants to become pregnant, she should stop drinking immediately. Of course, this may not be so easy if the woman has an alcohol addiction. If this is the case, there are plenty of addiction treatment and addiction recovery programs that will be able to help with that type of a situation. If the woman is a heavy drinker and does not want to have a child, she should take extra measures to make sure that she does not unknowingly become pregnant because she may not realize she's expecting for several weeks.

An alcoholic woman may need a lot of support when she becomes pregnant. Often, this pregnancy is the first realization that she has an alcohol disease and must seek treatment. There are many programs set up for just that. It is important for the woman to remember that it is not just her life anymore. Getting help will not only better the mother's life, but the child's also. The reason that fetal alcohol syndrome exists is because women are not educated about this problem or because they are unaware of their pregnancy. Be sure you and your loved ones are not one of these women.

If you have a problem with alcohol, do not hesitate to get help. Many women don't realize that they have a problem until they want children, get pregnant, and realize that not drinking is more of a problem than they though it would be. Instead of deciding that your addiction is your weakness, decide what you really want out of life and get help in achieving those goals.

Death By Abusing Laxatives: Georgia Willson-Pemberton

Laxative abuse happens when a person tries to rid their bodies of unwanted calories or lose weight through the repeated misuse of laxatives. Many abusers are mistaken in thinking that after binge eating (consuming a lot of food at one time) the laxatives will clear the food and calories through their system before they are absorbed into the body. However, this is a not the case. By the time laxatives act on the large intestine, almost all of the calories and food have been absorbed by the small intestine. All of the supposed weight loss, or what feels like weight loss is actually only water weight, minerals, electrolytes, and indigestible fibers and wastes from the colon. As soon as the abuser drinks any fluids the weight be be gained right back. Usually, the abuser will sense this weight gain and proceed to stop rehydrating, which eventually causes the organs to shut down (dehydration). No matter how the abuser goes about using, if they are using laxatives incorrectly, they will most likely suffer serious and dangerous health complications and life-threatening risks as a consequence.

In recent news, the death of Georgia Willson-Pemberton was ruled death by laxatives as of April 3^rd, 2013. At 26 years old, Willson-Pemberton was described as intelligent, beautiful, and the life of the party. She graduated from a European business school in 2008. After graduation, things went downhill. She then started her four year battle with anorexia. It was reported that Willson-Pemberton from West London bought thousands of laxative supplement pills over the internet and spent the four years of struggling with her eating disorder in and out of residential clinics both in America and England. On December 7^th of last year, Georgia Willson-Pemberton died due to laxative abuse.

This woman was 5'10”, addicted to Dulcolax, and weighed 104 pounds at her time of death. She was also very intelligent and would keep to herself about her private life, even from her therapists. She went to see a few different therapists, none of whom could identify any triggers of her addiction. She would hide her laxative abuse by taking sodium supplements when she went in for blood tests, the therapists speculated. Two days before her death, Willson-Pemberton overdosed on over 80 laxative pills, which caused irreparable internal damage. Her death was ruled a “multiple organ dysfunction caused by laxative abuse,” as a result from her anorexia nervosa.

Georgia Willson-Pemberton had a loving childhood which is reflected through her achievements. If she could have opened up and gotten help, she would probably still be alive today. Many people do not realize that underlying causes, such as anorexia, can cause very dangerous drug addictions and drug abuse. If you or a loved one are suffering from the abuse of laxatives or any other substance, do not hesitate to get help through rehab and drug addiction treatment. It is important that you treat yourself and your body with respect. Through rehab treatment, you will meet with medical professionals and a therapist who will help you through this time of need. Attending drug rehab will help you to know exactly what you're dealing with and exactly how to deal with it.

Why Are Women Less Likely to Seek Treatment?

When it comes to substance abuse issues, there are certain differences between men and women. In recent decades, more research has been done on the subject, and new information has come to light concerning gender-specific alcohol addiction and drug addiction matters. Studies have shown that men are more likely to develop drug and alcohol problems than women, due to a variety of reasons. Another aspect of gender-related substance abuse differences is that women are less likely than men to seek drug treatment or alcohol treatment for their addictions.

Women and the Social Stigma of Substance Abuse

One of the main reasons why women are less apt to seek rehab treatment for substance abuse than men is because there exists a social stigma for women that have drug or alcohol problems. It is more socially acceptable for men to take drugs or drink alcohol in excess than women. Because of the differences between body mass and other physical traits, women typically drink less than men when they do drink, and overall they drink less frequently.

Aside from the fact that overall, women drink less than men, there are certain mental, emotional and interpersonal issues that men may not face. Family responsibilities and economic issues have a lot to do with why women are less likely to go to rehab treatment. Being a mother, earning less money overall than men, and the shame or embarrassment they may feel from being in drug rehab or alcohol rehab all factor into the equation.

Overall, women are judged more harshly when they develop drug or alcohol problems. Going to drug treatment or alcohol treatment admits to the rest of the world that they do indeed have a substance abuse problem, and many women are afraid of facing the criticism associated with them going to rehab. What is interesting however, is that even though women are less likely to have substance abuse problems, once they begin to drink or take drugs their problems progress more quickly than men.

The Benefits of Rehab

Although many women may fear the harsh judgment they might face from going to rehab treatment, what is most important is that drug rehab is a positive thing. Even if people will criticize a woman for going to rehab more than a man, this should be the least of one's worries if they have a drug addiction or alcohol addiction. Rehab treatment saves lives, but unfortunately many people do not receive the treatment they need. It is estimated that nearly 25 million Americans have problems with substance abuse, yet only 3 to 4 million ever go to drug rehab or alcohol rehab.

As more research is being conducted, and because of the fact that drug addiction and alcohol addiction are now considered to be diseases, going to drug rehab or alcohol rehab is becoming much more common. Having to drop everything and be committed to a facility for months at a time can be difficult, but there are also many other options that do not involve inpatient treatment. Outpatient treatment that allows patients to return home after they participate in rehab programs and support groups such as AA and NA have proven to be extremely successful and effective alternatives to residential drug treatment.

MTV's Buckwild Stars, Drugs and Death

Buckwild, a recently produced MTV reality show about youngsters in Sissonville, WV has seen some rough times lately. The program focused on a group of friends living in a "holler" in West Virginia and chronicled their partying and shenanigans. Get-togethers typically involved four-wheeling and late nights, and the show was a hit for MTV. Unfortunately, the stars of the show have recently had to deal with one cast member being arrested twice for drug charges and another being found dead in his automobile.

A couple months ago, 24 year-old Buckwild cast member Salwa Amin was arrested on two counts of heroin possession with intent to deliver. She was freed on a $100K bond but was recently arrested again for violating the terms of her release. She is currently incarcerated and was put back in jail on April 1^st. Heroin possession is a serious drug offense and she is potentially facing multiple felonies and prison time. In addition, having an Intent to Deliver charge adds to the whole legal mess and makes for even more severe repercussions

In other news from the Buckwild crew, cast member Shain Gandee was found dead in a vehicle with his uncle and a friend in Kanawha County, WV early Sunday morning, March 31^st, 2013. Apparently the three individuals left a bar late Saturday night at 3:00 am to go four-wheeling, a pastime that was featured highly on the MTV program. According to authorities, they responded to calls of a distressed vehicle and arrived to find the three men dead in the vehicle, which was partially submerged. The deaths were ruled as accidental, and they quoted carbon monoxide poisoning the reasoning for their death.

Although they have not officially stated whether or not alcohol was a main factor in their deaths, they were leaving a bar at 3:00 am. Gandee was only 21 years old. It is unfortunate for tragedy to fall on his family, especially when he was so young. He was known as a "magnetic personality" and he was highly featured throughout the filming of the show, which was in its first season. Although plans were in the works for a second season, MTV has not stated whether or not they will continue production of the show after this recent tragedy.

Unfortunately, drugs, alcohol and celebrities tend to go hand in hand. Not to say that every famous person has substance abuse problems with drug addiction or alcohol addiction, but history has shown that numerous celebrities have had problems with drugs and alcohol. Whether they pass away at a young age, end up in legal trouble or getting too far gone substance abuse, it is quite common for actors, musicians and other famous persons to have drug issues. Fame brings a lot of pressure, which many tend to deal with through drinking or doing drugs. And people in that position also are around a lot of substance abuse, which can negatively influence them.

If you ever saw the Buckwild show, you may remember Shain Gandee as a goofy, fun-loving personality with a passion for life, a big heart, and lots of love for his friends. It's sad to see anyone go, especially at such a young age, and especially to a person that touched so many lives. And getting locked up for drug charges is no favorable fate either. Many celebrities and members of the cast have expressed prayers, thoughts and concerns for family members and friends of individuals in the Buckwild cast.