Oxycontin

Oxycontin is the opioid pain reliever oxycodone in a time released capsule. It is used for short term pain relief by blocking pain messages and causing drowsiness. However, long term use can quickly lead to a chemical dependence and an Oxycontin addiction. A single, very large dose can cause severe respiratory depression followed by death. It is very useful for those with a medical need for this medication, but like many prescription medications, Oxycontin abuse is very common. Using this drug without specific medical guidelines and medical need can lead to some seriously negative consequences. These consequences can turn into drug use that is just as dangerous and illegal as street drugs, like heroin. As of 2006, prescription medication is the number one most prevalent drug problem in America.

Often referred to on the street as Killer, OC, OXY, and Oxycotton, Oxycontin is supposed to be taken every 12 hours because of the time-release function of each tablet. This sets it apart from most medications because pain medications are usually taken every three to six hours. When drug abuse takes place, Oxycontin abusers remove the time-release coating on the pill and receive a rush or relaxing, euphoric high similar to that of heroin. Many of the side effects include constipation, nausea, sedation, dizziness, vomiting, headache, dry mouth, sweating, weakness, and most seriously, respiratory depression.

After taking Oxycontin for an extended period of time, a user can begin to develop a tolerance to the drug. They feel that they must take higher doses of the drug to achieve the desired effect. If they do this, then they will find themselves face-to-face with an addiction to Oxycontin. Fortunately, there are many Oxycontin drug rehab centers located across the nation. Because the abuse of Oxycontin and other prescription medication is so widespread, there have been extensive efforts to work toward freeing people of their physical and psychological dependence on these substances. Many times in Oxycontin rehab, the patient will receive a similar synthetic opioid medication such as Suboxone or Subutex which reduces and diminishes the overall symptoms of their drug addiction. If the individual chooses to attend a holistic drug rehab center, they will find themselves attending many group and individual therapy sessions, as well as taking part in exercise and educational programs. The most effective treatment program has been shown to be a collaboration of both types of rehab to create a dual-acting program that encompasses all of one's needs.

If you or a loved on feel that you are suffering from a drug abuse problem, do not hesitate to get help. There are millions of people out there who are going through exactly what you are going through. You are not alone in your addiction, and through a treatment center like Ambrosia Treatment Center, you will not be alone in your recovery either. It is essential to your health and to your life that you get help with your addiction to Oxycontin. Your life is a life worth saving.

What Is Binge Drinking?

There are many people who are able to drink in moderate and healthy amounts. However, there are also many people who are not. Though in some cases it constitutes an alcohol addiction, this is not always true. There are many people who do not have alcoholism that will participate in negative and dangerous drinking behaviour. One extremely common form of dangerous drinking is binge drinking.

Binge drinking is defined as consuming enough alcoholic beverages in a short period of time to accumulate a BAC of at least .08. This amount, when driving in the United States, becomes illegal, as the drinker is quite impaired in this state. The BAC stands for "blood alcohol content." This means how much alcohol is in the bloodstream? An individual with a BAC measured at .10 has a tenth of one percent of their blood's volume consisting of alcohol. This may not seem like a lot, but it is. To give you an idea, a BAC of less than .50, less than one half of one percent of volume, is considered the lethal dose of alcohol.

Many factors play into the BAC level. Averages that instruct how many drinks would reach a certain BAC are often vague, as there are so many variables. A person's weight can influence the number quite a bit. More weight and more muscle mass are able to better absorb the alcohol consumed. While the average person may be heavier, some people will be affected by less drinks, reaching a high BAC level after only a couple of drinks. Certain individuals simply have a higher or lower tolerance for alcohol than others. Also, the BAC gradually reduces over time. One of the best ways to ensure safety while drinking is to give each drink time before starting another. The time varies per drink, but it is suggested that each drink be equivalent to about an hour of drinking time.

Unfortunately, this guideline is rarely adhered to, as many drinkers are binge drinkers. Whether the individual is an alcoholic, with a disease causing them to be dependent on drinking, or simply has a habit of drinking in a dangerous manner, the situation can cause great harm. Often, people will advocate or encourage others to drink as quickly as possible, insisting that it is cool. In other circumstances, people will try to quickly consume as much alcohol as they can before heading to another establishment or event, possibly one where they can't drink. Often, individuals brag to one another about how many drinks they have consumed in one night, eliciting responses of laughter or admiration, rather than fear or concern. Our culture has a backward view of what is important and what is the healthy way to live. 

Whatever the case, it may be necessary to seek out alcohol treatment. It can be done in a residential treatment setting, or as an outpatient, while living in their own home. Either way, this process can greatly assist the drinker to see the consequences of their actions and avoid great possible dangers in the future. Binge drinking is a very serious occurrence and, if not approached in the correct way, could result in legal trouble, injury, or death. If you or someone you know is having difficulty with binge drinking, please find out more information about alcohol rehab, as it could save a life.

What is Alcoholism?

As defined by the American Medical Association, alcoholism is a "primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations." Before sufficient medical research was performed, alcoholism was not considered to be a disease, but rather a lack of will power on behalf of the alcoholic. There came to be a social stigma associated with alcohol abuse and people with alcohol addictions were deemed to lack good moral fiber. However, medical researchers have now determined that alcoholism is indeed a disease just like cancer or diabetes, and it should be treated as such. There are many different alcohol treatment options available today, and recovery is possible when people commit to and work through the programs.

There are many different factors that influence one's likelihood to become an alcoholic at some point in their life. There are both physical and mental characteristics that should be taken into account, and certain people have a higher chance of having alcoholism abuse problems in their life than others. According to the World Health Organization, there are roughly 140 million alcoholics worldwide, and about 10 percent of the American population suffers from the disease of alcoholism.

Circumstances such as social environment, stress, mental health, family history, age, ethnicity and gender all play a part in how likely someone is to become an alcoholic. Those who are constantly surrounded by alcohol or people that are always drinking will have a higher chance of having alcohol problems themselves. Studies have also shown that people with high-stress jobs also drink more alcohol. Genetics has a lot to do with alcoholism. If your family has a history of heavy drinking, unfortunately you are predisposed to have these problems as well. Not to say that everyone who has alcoholic parents or grandparents will turn into an alcoholic themselves, but the chances are higher. Certain ethnicities also have higher rates of alcoholism, and research has shown that more men are alcoholics than women.

But what makes an alcoholic? And what is the difference between someone who simply drinks a lot and a full-blown alcoholic? This is somewhat of a blurred line, kind of like the one that someone who has had too much to drink might see. Even if someone only drinks on the weekends but still consumes massive amounts of alcohol, they might still be an alcoholic. Some of the telltale signs of alcoholism include an extended period of frequent and heavy alcohol consumption, the inability to stop drinking once you have started, withdrawal symptoms when coming down from alcohol, the need to drink more and more (building up a tolerance) to achieved the desired effect of alcohol, and social, legal and family or relationship problems resulting from alcohol abuse. If you or someone you know exhibits one or more of these symptoms, visiting a drug and alcohol therapist or counselor may be a good idea in order to regain control.

Having alcohol withdrawal syndrome when you do not have alcohol in your system is one of the major indicators of alcoholism. Symptoms of withdrawal are much more than the normal hangover sensations such as headache, nausea and fatigue. Withdrawal includes symptoms such as shaking, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, sleeplessness, depression, and sweating. Severe withdrawal can be deadly due to cardiac arrest or stroke. Anyone experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms such as confusion, hallucinations, or convulsion should immediately seek medical attention. Alcoholism is a deadly disease, and it kills millions of people every year. Knowledge is the best way to prevent people from falling into the trap of alcoholism, and educating the youth about the dangers of alcohol abuse will hopefully keep them from getting involved into this vicious cycle. 

Reese Witherspoon and Husband James Toth Arrested in Atlanta on DUI & Resisting Arrest Charges

Early Friday morning on April 26^th, 2013, actress Reese Witherspoon and husband James Toth were both arrested in Atlanta, GA after Toth was pulled over by police on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. According to police reports, Toth was driving in the wrong lane on Peachtree St. in Atlanta, and upon pulling him over he appeared disheveled and smelled of alcohol. Police ordered him out of the vehicle and escorted him into the nearby Walgreen's parking lot to administer a sobriety test, which he agreed to.

At this point, Witherspoon began hanging out of the car window, arguing with officers and being verbally abusive. According to the police report obtained by Variety magazine, she said she did not believe that the cop was a "real police officer," and asked him "Do you know my name?"

She then stepped out of the car and continued to be uncooperative when the officer ordered her to remain inside the vehicle. After repeated attempts by Atlanta law enforcement to get her to calm down and get back inside the car, they then arrested her, which she resisted. Toth claimed that he had only one drink that evening but ended up blowing a 0.139 on the Breathalyzer test. The couple was arrested and briefly jailed until being released around 3:30am.

Toth and Witherspoon were in Atlanta shooting scenes for the upcoming indie drama film "The Good Lie." They have been married since 2011 and have one son together. Witherspoon is an acclaimed actress for many different roles over the years, most notably her performances in the films "Sweet Home Alabama," "Legally Blonde," and "Walk the Line," for which she won an Academy Award in 2005. Toth is an agent for the Creative Artists Agency, Hollywood's leading talent agency. Following her arrest, Witherspoon went on ABC's "Good Morning America" to issue a public statement apologizing for her behavior. She claimed she had "one drink too many" and that she exercised "poor judgment."

Witherspoon and Toth are not the first celebrities to be arrested for charges involving driving under the influence, and they will surely not be the last. Drinking and driving is a persistent problem in the United States and all over the world that affects millions of people every day. It is estimated that roughly 900,000 people in the US are arrested each year for DUI/DWI, one-third of which are repeat offenders. Not only does this cause serious legal trouble for those that are charged, it can also result in fatal situations. Roughly 12,000 people die every year from DUI-related accidents.

Drinking and driving is simply not worth it. Not only do you risk putting yourself and other people at danger by getting behind the wheel after drinking too much, you also create a mountain of problems if convicted. First-time DWI offenders face time in jail, thousands of dollars in court fees and legal fines, community service, drug and alcohol education classes, and suspension of driver's license. Second-time offenders face even harsher charges - more fines, more jail time, having an Interlock system installed in their car, and possibly an ankle bracelet to monitor their alcohol intake. Third-time offenders face prison time, and fourth-time offenders can lose their driver's license for life.

The best form of prevention for not getting a DUI or DWI is to simply not drink. In addition to legal trouble, alcohol abuse and alcoholism present a multitude of problems. But if you are going to drink, just don't drive. Call a cab. Get a ride from a friend. Walk home. Whatever you have to do, just don't get behind the wheel. 

Overcoming Drug Abuse

Drug abuse is a serious issue. Many people do not understand the difference between drug use and drug abuse. Drug abuse is when recreational or medicinal drug use gets out of hand. Medicinal drug use, such as prescription drugs, can be easily abused because of the powerful but short-lived effects that they produce. Recreational drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, or even marijuana, can become abused because of the setting they are used in. The most common form of abuse is caused by the tolerance that very powerful drugs produce. The most dangerous tolerances produced show up in drugs such as heroin and Oxycontin. 

Overcoming drug abuse is much easier and faster than overcoming drug addiction. If the abuser keeps procrastinating and waiting to take care of the problem of drug abuse, it is very probable that they will become addicted to the substance. They will become a drug addict. The way to avoid this? Make a change! Making a change will be hard work. It will take a lot of dedication, but this commitment will be completely worth it in the end. Substance abuse is a tricky disease to handle, and so there are many rehab centers located throughout the United States that are available to help you in any way possible.

When an individual begins to change the way he or she lives, they will have to consider many different aspects of their lives. They will have to assess the way the deal with stress, in order to avoid self-medicating with drugs or alcohol. They will also have to begin to choose who they allow into their lives and who they want to spend their time with. When a person stops using drugs or drinking, they will feel as though they have lost a lot of friends. They must begin to build up a new support network of sober friends to help them through this time of need. They also must assess how they feel about themselves as a person, and what they would do to better themselves. Many times, a person's occupation has a lot of influence (more than they may realize) on who they are as individuals. It may be time to make a change in that part of their lives as well.

When you are getting ready to change, remember and constantly remind yourself of the reasons that you want to change. Think about any of your previous attempts (if there are any) and figure out what worked and what didn't work for you. Learn from your mistakes. Set goals, but make sure that they are attainable and specific. Rid your home and workplace of all reminders and temptations of your addiction or substance abuse problem. Also, be sure to tell your friends and family about the change you are making. Their support will be surprisingly helpful and encouraging. Begin to be conscious of a healthy lifestyle, and you will achieve it!