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. 

Drug Addiction Treatment Research

The principles of drug addiction are sometimes very unclear. What causes addiction? Why are some people addicts, while some aren't? How do you deal with dual diagnosis (a mental health disorder and a substance abuse issue) in a successful way? These questions cannot be answered simply, just as drug addiction cannot be treated simply. In order to approach the difficulties that result from drug addiction, drug addiction treatment is designed in a way that focuses specifically on certain aspects of the addiction and the consequences that follow. Addiction research is largely evidence based, which is reassuring to those who are taking part in drug rehab treatment. However, there are many professional researchers working on new methods of treatment and new ways for successful recovery. Of the existing drug addiction rehab treatments available, research has show two very successful methods: Pharmacotherapies and Behavioral Therapies. 

Pharmacotherapies are mainly used for opioid addiction, tobacco addiction, and alcohol addiction. In this type of therapy treatment, an addict is given different drugs to allow full recovery by lessening their dependence slowly but surely. Opioid pharmacotherapy is widely controversial because it is viewed as simply replacing one opioid for another more acceptable form of opioid. However, research has shown that taking the opioid prescriptions such as methadone and buprenorphine, an opioid addict can hold a steady job, avoid crime and violence, and reduce the risk of HIV through injection. For alcohol addiction, there are many different drugs that allow for a more comfortable withdrawal period. There are also some that, when taken, will cause the user to feel very ill if they drink alcohol. This is helpful for highly motivated persons, or in high-risk situations, such as parties where alcohol will be present. All of these drugs that allow for comfortable and reasonable changes in a person's lifestyle have been shown to work significantly better with the help of behavioral therapy, but it is also shown that with most addictions, what matters most is getting help.

Behavioral therapies have always been shown as the most helpful, probably because of the way they compel a drug user into approaching their abuse through the idea of complete treatment. They are forced to confront their problems – not only problems with drug use, but in the rest of their lives as well – and thus choose to modify their attitudes toward drug abuse. Many addicts will increase their life skills in drug rehab, relating to stressful situations and the cravings for drugs. There are numerous behavioral treatments as a result of positive study results. A few of the most common and successful are cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, the matrix model, 12-step programs, family behavior therapy, and behavioral therapies primarily for adolescents.

Through a drug and alcohol addiction assessment given by a treatment center, you will be able to join the therapy situation the best fits your needs and your life situation. Do not wait to get help – find treatment that works for you. Drug addiction is a scary thing to deal with, but you don't have to do it alone.  

Addiction Abuse

Addiction and abuse are commonly confused and therefore discussed in the same way. Although they are both very dangerous and similar in that way, there are also many things that differentiate the two. Addiction is a state of physical or psychological dependence on a potentially harmful drug. A person who has an addiction will continue to use the addictive substance despite the adverse consequences that it is causing in their lives. Sometimes these detrimental effects can take place in the workplace, at home, or seemingly everywhere in a person's life. This is where abuse differs from addiction. Drug abuse is generally considered to be excessive and/or illegal drug use. When this drug use begins to severely affect an individual's personal and/or professional relationships, it is very important that they seek help for the drug abuse that has become an addiction.

Often used in excess, alcohol is a drug that best demonstrates drug addiction abuse. Alcohol abuse is very common, especially among the young population (ages 18-30). But, when this abuse and source of new found freedom gets out of hand, addiction may creep in – perhaps unknowingly at first. Alcohol abuse can quickly lead to alcohol addiction abuse. Some people are more receptive to this change, whereas others have more control over their drinking habits. This does not mean that they are better or worse as individuals, it just means that some people are more susceptible to drug addiction and abuse because of the way their brains are built and function. This is not limited to alcohol addiction – it is applicable for all drug abuse situations.

Abuse and addiction tend to go hand in hand. Addiction abuse is basically the relationship that drug use has with a person's brain. Some people have addictive personalities, where they feel that once they start doing something that they like, they have to keep doing it, no matter what. Obsessive and compulsive are words that usually accompany people with addictive personalities. However, a person does not need to be naturally inclined toward addictive tendencies, nor does this mean that they will end up addicted to drugs if they are so naturally inclined. Anyone can become addicted to drugs if they begin to abuse them. Some drugs are more addictive than others, and each person reacts differently to specific drug use.

There are many different factors that affect the outcome of drug use and abuse. Some people and some drugs are more likely to produce addicts. If you or a loved one feel that your drug use has surpassed normalcy and become abuse or addiction, do not hesitate to get help. It is not your fault, but it is up to you to change your life. Finding a treatment center that speaks to who you are, and acknowledges how each addiction is unique, will help you fight your addiction. Through a treatment center like Ambrosia Treatment Center, you will become acquainted with your drug addiction in a way that allows you to work past the cravings and the triggers. You will become strong enough to maintain your sobriety – but, it all has to start somewhere. Call today.

Rehab Center For Alcohol

Alcohol addiction has been studied for decades, and even today researchers are beginning to learn more and more about the condition as a physical and psychological disease. Alcoholism was first considered to be a disease and classified as such in 1956, due to the way it alters an abuser's mind over time. However, alcohol abuse as a disease and not a “bad habit” has been discussed as early as the 1800's. Through research, it has been widely accepted that 40-50% of the disease is caused by genetics, which leaves 40-50% up to a person's environmental influences. Also through research, it has been concluded that although excessive and continual drinking can damage a person's brain function and thinking patterns, much of this can be completely stopped, and in some cases, it can even reversed to an extent. One of the easiest and best ways to go about realigning an individual's priorities is through an addiction rehab center.  A rehab center will force you to look beyond the walls you have built up.

When a person first hears “addiction rehab center” they might initially think of drug addiction such as heroin, meth, crack cocaine, and other hard drugs. They may not realize that commonly accepted drugs such as marijuana, some club drugs like ecstasy, and even legal drugs such as alcohol can also be linked with addiction. It can come as a shock that these commonly used and abused drugs, namely alcohol, can lead to the altering of brain function, and thus, physical and psychological addiction. Many times, people do not even consider alcohol a drug. For this reason, a drug rehab center may offer a specific alcohol addiction treatment program. Also for this reason, there are many alcohol rehab centers that focus only on alcohol dependence.

A rehab center, drug or alcohol, has the responsibility to educate its patients. It is extremely important that an addict understands how and why addiction happens. It is important for them to know that addiction is not their fault. It is completely out of their control. However, attending rehab is one of the few things an addict can do to regain that control. Alcohol rehab will be able to speak specifically to alcohol addicts about the underlying reasons behind their chemical dependence, whether it be genetic, environmental, psychological, or a combination of these characteristics. It will also provide information and knowledge about how to live a healthy and productive lifestyle – something that many addicts, regardless of their specific drug abuse, have a lot of trouble with.

If you or a loved one find that you are struggling with alcohol addiction, do not hesitate to discover the help of rehab. Rehab will allow you to admit your problem without judgment. It will allow openness and compassion to reach you, and you will be able to spread that understand through yourself and out into the world. Don't wait to get the help you need today.

Drug Dependence

Drug dependence is characterized by a preoccupation with using and obtaining drugs, and the necessity to get high in order to function normally. At this stage, drug addicts can be controlled by drugs, and the things that they used to enjoy in life, such as spending time with family and recreational activities, start to lose importance. Surprisingly, many people are able to maintain a job, family and other responsibilities while being addicted to drugs. Others fall hard to the power of drugs and either end up homeless, deceased or going to rehab.

How Drugs Affect the Brain

Dependence to drugs has a lot to do with how drugs affect the brain. When people take drugs, certain chemicals are released into the brain that alter the way that cells process, send and receive information. With certain drugs such as heroin and marijuana, chemicals in the drugs are so similar to the natural chemicals in the brain that they are received the same way. However, since they are altered, receptors in the brain process the information differently, creating a high. The chemicals in the drugs are basically tricking the brain into processing the information the same way and this can produce overwhelming feelings of euphoria.

With other drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, large amounts of dopamine are released into the brain. Dopamine has an effect on the reward center of the brain and is associated with pleasure, other emotions, and movement. The brain has its own natural way of releasing dopamine through other pleasurable activities, and altering this process can have negative long-term effects. After repeated use, a person becomes so used to receiving large amounts of dopamine at once that the normal amount is no longer sufficient. To compensate, they seek out more drugs and continue to get high. Just as with drugs like heroin and marijuana, the brain begins to respond differently to the altered messages, and the normal process that occurs in the reward center is altered.

Withdrawal & Dependency

At this stage, a person develops a drug addiction, and the drug user begins to feel mental withdrawal symptoms when they are not on the drug. These symptoms include depression, anxiety, lack of motivation, irritability, and the lack of interest in activities or the inability to feel pleasure from normal activities without being high. Depending upon the drug being used, physical withdrawal symptoms can also occur. The most common symptoms are nausea, tremors, cold sweats and can be as severe as seizures and cardiac arrest.

Young Drug Use & Dependency

Studies have shown that people who experiment with drugs and alcohol at a young age are much more likely than those who begin drinking or taking drugs at age 21 or older. According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 90 percent of Americans that have a dependence to drugs started smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol, or taking other drugs before age 18. With this in mind, the best way to treat drug addiction is through prevention. By teaching young people about the dangers of drug abuse and drug dependence through educational classes, they can learn about how drugs affect the brain and body. Through showing the severe and often disturbing effects that substances can have on a drug addict, young people will have a better idea of what they may be getting themselves into and hopefully think twice about using drugs. 

Florida Drug Rehabs

Drug and alcohol abuse continue to be a problem all over the United States, but recent research shows that drug addiction in Florida may be a larger problem than in other areas of the country. Roughly 8 percent of Florida residents admitted to using illicit drugs at least once in the past month, however this rate is probably lower than the actual number of drug addicts and drug abusers. The rate of drug deaths in the state of Florida is higher than the national average. It is estimated that 16 per 100,000 deaths in Florida were due to drugs, whereas the overall national rate is 13 per 100,000.

Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug epidemic in the United States, and crystal meth has also proved to be a serious issue of concern. Rates of meth lab seizures increased nearly 150% in Florida in recent years, and the drug is relatively easy to manufacture with products that can be purchased over-the-counter at regular supermarkets and farm supply businesses. In addition to illicit drug use, alcoholism is also a major problem in Florida and throughout the rest of the United States. It is estimated that roughly 10 percent of the American population are alcoholic, and the disease accounts for millions of deaths every year.

There are many different options for people that struggle with addiction to drugs and alcohol, and there are thousands of Florida drug rehab centers that can help people get their lives back on track with proper treatment. Drug rehab programs vary from center to center, and people can choose to do either inpatient or outpatient treatment. With inpatient treatment, patients will be required to live at the facility for anywhere from 45 to 90 days, while participating in group and individual therapy sessions and receiving counseling.

In outpatient treatment, patients can still live their daily lives and receive treatment without having to live at the rehab center. Many find this situation to be ideal since having to commit to living somewhere and receive intensive drug treatment care can be out of the question for some. Patients in outpatient treatment still attend therapy sessions and learn effective ways to deal with stress and other factors that may attribute to their drug abuse. Some drug addicts may require inpatient treatment in order to completely remove themselves from unhealthy environments and situations where they are frequently tempted by drugs.

Drug addicts suffer from the disease of addiction, and it can be difficult to treat them with proper care. In certain cases, drug abuse is so deeply engrained in their entire existence that it seems near impossible to imagine a life without drugs. Drug addiction is not curable, but it can be treated. Drug rehab treatment centers can teach people how to live without drugs, help them detox, and provide them with the necessary tools to deal with stress and other complications of everyday life. With the help of treatment professionals, drug addiction can be treated, and people can be offered a second chance at life. 

Treating Methamphetamine Addiction

The production and use of methamphetamine has been on the rise since the 1990's, especially in rural Midwestern communities. This epidemic caught many treatment centers and hospitals off-guard, and was thus termed untreatable. However, there are so many people suffering from methamphetamine addiction that researchers have recently begun to take a closer look at this highly damaging substance in hopes to uncover new possibilities for treatment.

To discover how to treat an addiction like methamphetamine, the course of the addiction must be studied, starting at the beginning. Getting hooked on meth is easy, according to addicts across America. Some people smoke it for the intense rush it produces. Others take it orally or snort it for functional reasons. When used in this way, it acts as an appetite suppressant used for weight loss purposes, or for a boost in energy that can last for more than 12 hours. This extended high happens because of the way methamphetamine reacts with the nerve cells in the brain. Meth actually attaches to this chemical nerve cell, causing dopamine to cascade throughout the brain. The chemical dopamine is generally associated with feelings of pleasure and euphoria, but too much of this chemical can result in aggression, irritability, and schizophrenic-like behavior. The abuse of methamphetamine is also linked to serious medical complications such as heart damage, stroke, and psychosis. The most frightening result of methamphetamine abuse is by far the long-term neurological damage that is unlike any other drug addiction result.

Through research, scientists have discovered that the neurological damage caused by methamphetamine addiction is done mostly to the dopamine centers and transporters. Because of the addiction, a meth addict's brain does not register that dopamine transporters are necessary – the brain has become accustom to having a regular dose of methamphetamine to release a flow of dopamine for an extended period of time. But, what does this decline in dopamine transporters mean for the addict and their recovery? Studies have shown that former meth users have an average of 24% loss in the total number of dopamine transporters in their brain structure. This loss has been linked to the cause of slowness in motor skills and poor performance on verbal and memory tasks. The higher the loss of these transporters, the higher the damage in necessary brain function. This same loss in dopamine transporters is reported in Parkinson's disease patients, but these patients experience this loss on a larger scale. 

When the abuse of methamphetamine traveled to the rural communities of the Midwest, treatment centers in those areas deemed the addicts untreatable. These centers had never really been exposed to the treatment of cocaine or heroin, and so meth was seemingly impossible to treat. However, many of the treatment facilities in larger urban settings have done the best they can to treat meth addiction, and have concluded that it is very treatable. The physical withdrawal is not as severe as a person might expect, but the psychological withdrawal is beyond intense. A methamphetamine addict may feel an inability to experience pleasure because of the very low levels of dopamine being produced in the brain. According to a rehab center in L.A., this inability can last for months, and many patients experience a relapse around six months into their recovery.

The only currently available treatment that is proven to work for methamphetamine addiction is behavioral therapy. However, there are hundreds of treatment centers and thousands of patients taking part in different types of treatment in order to discover the best method for treating a methamphetamine addiction. There is never a complete loss of hope. The misconception of meth being untreatable has been proved false time and time again. Meth may be dangerous, but there is hope of a healthy recovery.