Alcohol abuse can be a tricky term to use, considering that ‘abuse’ can have different meanings to different people.

However, it is often understood as referring to the excessive use of alcohol, and causing problems or negative consequences. While it may not automatically mean addiction to alcohol, alcohol abuse remains as one of the topmost public health concerns facing our society today and is in fact, the most common substance that often causes chemical dependency.

Is it alcohol abuse or alcoholism?

Can you have an alcohol problem is still not be labeled as an alcoholic? Some experts say yes, alcohol abuse can occur without a person actually becoming an alcoholic. In alcohol abuse, the intake of alcohol can occur often and in big quantities but may not often result to alcohol dependency.

Alcoholism, on the other hand, is characterized by physical and psychological dependence, the lack of control over the frequency and amount of drinking, along with the strong craving to drink. Alcoholism is also marked with tolerance, a state where the amount of alcohol needed by the body to get the feeling of ‘high’ continually increases. Alcoholism is also chronic and may exhibit certain withdrawal symptoms.

Can alcohol abuse be inherited?

There are certain research studies that show the tendency of alcoholism or [tag-self]alcohol abuse[tag-self] to occur in families. It seems that a gene exists that predisposes an individual toward addiction to substances such as alcohol. However, this is not always the case. While certain genes may be to blame for alcohol abuse, lifestyle and the environment are also strong contributing factors.

Is there a specific group of people who are more likely to develop alcohol abuse?

Alcohol abuse does not depend on sex, race or nationality. However, certain generalities exist. More men, for example, have alcohol problems than women. There is also a higher incidence of alcohol abuse among people between 18 to 29 years old compared to people 60 years old and older.

Young people who start drinking alcohol earlier, say, at 13 or 14 years old, are more likely to develop alcohol problems when they get older, compared to people who start drinking when they are already adults.

Is there such thing as safe drinking?

Alcohol isn’t all bad, provided it is taken in moderate amounts. By moderate, we mean 1 to 2 drinks a day for men and less for women and people who are older. This type of alcohol drinking is possible if you do not have the proclivity toward addiction.

People taking medication or have certain diseases, for example, are advised to stay away from alcoholic drinks. For informational purposes one serving of alcoholic drink should consist of:

1.5 oz. of 80-proof drinks (few people measure with tis accuracy)
5.0 oz of wine
12 oz. of beer, wine coolers and mixed spirits

Is there a cure for alcoholism and alcohol abuse?

There is no magic pill, drug, cream or ointment that will cure alcohol abuse. However, it can be treated, although the efficacy of treatments is highly dependent upon an individual’s willingness to avoid or control alcohol intake and the frequency of exposure to circumstances that lead to alcohol use.

More from aroud the Web:

• Alcoholism: The Genetic Puzzle (Cont.) (addiction-dirkh.blogspot.com)
• Alcohol Poisoning (marginalrevolution.com)

Technorati Tags: Addiction, Alcohol Addiction, Alcoholic beverage, Alcoholism, substance-abuse

It is my experience that no group of drug users more staunchly and irrationally defends the use of their drug of choice than marijuana users.

In fact, based on past experience I will get a lot of ranting rebuttals to my stand against marijuana. It is not a friendly, benign ‘soft’ drug

The facts are the more you use…the worse it gets.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has reported that marijuana can be harmful both from immediate effects and damage to health over time.

Specifically…

1. Multiple studies have shown that marijuana can hinder the users’ short term memory and ability to handle difficult tasks (Schwartz et al. 1989). Students may find it difficult to study and learn.

While many of the long-term effects of marijuana use are not yet known, studies have shown that:

2. Daily marijuana smokers who did not use tobacco had more sick days and doctor visits for respiratory problems than a similar group who did not smoke either substance. A person who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers have (Tashkin et al. 1987).

Other studies have shown that:

3. The regular use of marijuana may play a role in cancer and problems of the respiratory, immune and reproductive systems. Heavy marijuana use can affect hormones in both males and females.

4. Both animal and human studies have shown that marijuana impairs the ability of T-cells in the lungs’ immune defense system to fight off some infections.

5. Because of the drug’s effects on perceptions and reaction time, users could be involved in automobile accidents (NIDA 1995). According to the 1996 NHSDA, nearly one million 16-18 year olds (11 percent) reported driving at least once within two hours of using an illicit drug in the past year (most often marijuana) (SAMHSA 1998).

Although it is not yet known how the use of marijuana relates to mental illness, some scientists maintain that regular marijuana use can lead to chronic anxiety, personality disturbances, and depression (NIDA 1995). Some frequent long-term marijuana users show signs of lack of motivation and tend to perform poorly in school (Pope 1996). A recent study demonstrated similarities between marijuana’s effect on the brain and those produced by such addictive drugs as cocaine, heroin, alcohol, and nicotine (Volkow 1996).

Technorati Tags: marijauna-use, Marijuana, marijuana studies, marijuana-laws

Most commonly abused classes of prescription drugs

• Opioids, such as OxyContin and Vicodin, which are most often prescribed to treat pain;
• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants, such as Valium and Xanax, which are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders; and
• Stimulants, which are prescribed to treat certain sleep disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and include drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall.

Risks of prescription drug abuse

Opioids:

• High risk for addiction and overdose. This is a major concern, particularly for recently synthesized slowrelease formulations, which abusers override by crushing the pills and injecting or snorting the contents, heightening their risk for respiratory depression and death.
• Dangerous combination effects. Combining opioids with other drugs, including alcohol, can intensify respiratory distress.
• Heightened HIV risk. Injecting opioids increases the risk of HIV and other infectious diseases through use of unsterile or shared equipment.

CNS Depressants:

• Addiction and withdrawal dangers. These drugs can be highly addictive and, in chronic users, discontinuing them absent a physician’s guidance can bring about severe withdrawal symptoms that must be properly managed by a medical professional.
• Risk of overdose. Overdose can cause severe breathing problems and lead to death, especially when these drugs are combined with other medications or alcohol.

Stimulants:

• Reputation as performance enhancers. Incorrectly perceived as safe for enhancing academic achievement and weight loss, these drugs are highly addictive and potentially harmful.
• Range of risky health consequences. These include risk of dangerously high body temperature, seizures, and cardiovascular complications.

Being confronted with misinformation about drug addiction is a daily occurrence when trying to shed light in alcoholism and drug addiction. Perhaps the hardest thing in the world is explaining addiction and addiction recovery to people unaffected by the disease. It really is hard for folks to ‘get it’. Perhaps exploding some myths may help.

Exploring Myths about Drug Abuse

by Alan I. Leshner, Ph.D., Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health

Myth: Drug addiction is voluntary behavior.

A person starts out as an occasional drug user, and that is a voluntary decision. But as times passes, something happens, and that person goes from being a voluntary drug user to being a compulsive drug user. Why? Because over time, continued use of addictive drugs changes your brain — at times in dramatic, toxic ways, at others in more subtle ways, but virtually always in ways that result in compulsive and even uncontrollable drug use.

Myth: More than anything else, drug addiction is a character flaw.

Drug addiction is a brain disease. Every type of drug of abuse has its own individual mechanism for changing how the brain functions. But regardless of which drug a person is addicted to, many of the effects it has on the brain are similar: they range from changes in the molecules and cells that make up the brain, to mood changes, to changes in memory processes and in such motor skills as walking and talking. And these changes have a huge influence on all aspects of a person’s behavior. The drug becomes the single most powerful motivator in a drug abuser’s existence. He or she will do almost anything for the drug. This comes about because drug use has changed the individual’s brain and its functioning in critical ways.

Myth: You have to want drug treatment for it to be effective.

Virtually no one wants drug treatment. Two of the primary reasons people seek drug treatment are because the court ordered them to do so, or because loved ones urged them to seek treatment. Many scientific studies have shown convincingly that those who enter drug treatment programs in which they face “high pressure” to confront and attempt to surmount their addiction do comparatively better in treatment, regardless of the reason they sought treatment in the first place.

Myth: Treatment for drug addiction should be a one-shot deal.

Like many other illnesses, drug addiction typically is a chronic disorder. To be sure, some people can quit drug use “cold turkey,” or they can quit after receiving treatment just one time at a rehabilitation facility. But most of those who abuse drugs require longer-term treatment and, in many instances, repeated treatments.

Myth: We should strive to find a “magic bullet” to treat all forms of drug abuse.

There is no “one size fits all” form of drug treatment, much less a magic bullet that suddenly will cure addiction. Different people have different drug abuse-related problems. And they respond very differently to similar forms of treatment, even when they’re abusing the same drug. As a result, drug addicts need an array of treatments and services tailored to address their unique needs.

By Dr. Anderson Morris

“Scientists announced that they have located the gene for alcoholism. Scientists say they found it at a party, talking too loudly.” Conan O’Brien [American late night Talk Show Host. b. 1963].

Although much can be said about alcoholism and its impact on society, one thing is clear- We are breeding a nation of alcoholics. Drinking has become part of our national past time. I myself have been guilty of the excessive use of alcohol- a condition not learnt until university days when, some may say, I took a “crash” course in drinking.

However, we in Trinidad and Tobago do have a serious problem. According to Hari D. Maharajh and Akleema Ali in “Crime in Trinidad and Tobago: the effect of alcohol use and employment,” a reduction in beer available for home consumption – a major public health concern- would significantly reduce the occurrence of minor offenses. In fact, the consumption of beer accounted for 64% of minor crimes in this country. However, this aspect of the impact of alcoholism will be looked at in another article.

The purpose of this article is to summarize the statistical literature concerning the effects of alcohol consumption on earnings and employment. One of the most important findings of this research is that alcoholism has both direct and indirect effects on earnings. That is, there is evidence that alcoholics’ earnings are depressed both because alcoholism causes reduced labour productivity and because it discourages investments in “human capital” (e.g., education). Problem drinking is also found to increase unemployment.

Alcoholism is considered to be a disease, and affects earnings as such. The physical and mental health problems associated with problem drinking have direct effects on labour market productivity and reliability. That is, sickness, hangover, late arrivals, extended lunch breaks, and early departures are some work characteristics that lead to reduced reliability and productivity. This in turn leads to lessened earnings and fewer promotions and raises.

Alcoholism can have other direct effects on wages, namely, alcoholism can affect career choices and stability. It is possible that alcoholics self-select into jobs that are less demanding, and therefore lower paying. The further advanced the state of alcoholism, the less the alcoholic is concerned about his or her career. Therefore, alcoholics tend to gravitate towards jobs that are not strenuous or taxing.

An important way in which alcoholism can affect earnings is through its effect on human capital characteristics. If the disease is advanced in youth, the alcoholic may not have the stamina to complete schooling, post-secondary or otherwise. This possible lack of education could lead to lower wages and selection into “dead-end” jobs. It is important to note that alcoholics may select into such jobs because of choice (the direct effect) or because of a lack of education (the indirect effect).
It is likely that alcoholics will have difficulties maintaining employment due to their condition. The reduced reliability discussed above can lead to job losses and decreased employability. The subsequent lack of work experience can lead to lower wages and earnings.

A significant indirect effect arises from familial and relationship problems associated with alcoholism. Alcoholics have higher divorce rates than non-alcoholics. As well, there is a higher probability of an abusive home life among problem drinkers. The emotional and mental strains arising from these factors can be expected to have negative impacts on productivity, and therefore earnings.

Alcoholism’s effect on earnings has been the subject of a number of recent scholarly articles, which attempt to estimate this impact empirically. These studies indicate that, when direct and indirect effects are combined, alcoholics earn approximately 40 percent less than non-alcoholics. When human capital characteristics are controlled for, alcoholism alone leads to an 18 percent reduction in wages. That is, almost one half of the effect of alcoholism on earnings is due to lower human capital characteristics, namely education and work experience. Conversely, this implies that an alcoholic will earn approximately 18 percent less than will others with similar education levels and work histories.

It is significant to note that alcoholics earn less not only because of the effect heavy drinking has on human capital, but also because of the nature of alcoholism. A recent study found that alcoholics are more likely to be unemployed than alcoholics, and earn less when they are employed, even after controlling for the effect of education and experience. As the disease progresses, the earnings potential of the alcoholic lessens.

Alcoholism and employment have a causal relationship. Alcohol abuse negatively affects employment, but lack of work also affects drinking habits. Depression and stress resulting from unemployment can lead to increased reliance on alcohol and other drugs. Alcoholics can enter a vicious circle in that the longer an individual is unemployed, the more advanced the state of alcoholism. As the disease becomes more debilitating, becoming employed is increasingly difficult.

Recent medical research has found that moderate alcohol use leads to health benefits such as reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Since healthy employees are productive employees, it is not unreasonable to suggest that moderate drinking can lead to greater productivity, and therefore higher earnings. In fact, there is evidence to support the hypothesis that alcohol and earnings have a parabolic relationship. That is, teetotalers and heavy drinkers both earn less than moderate drinkers.

In fact, studies show that non-drinkers earn between eight and ten percent less than moderate drinkers. It has been estimated that wages peak for individuals consuming an average of 2.40 drinks per day, which is consistent with the medical literature. Individuals who do not drink at all may miss out on the health benefits of moderate drinking, as well as on social opportunities and networking to further their careers. Conversely, alcoholism deteriorates one’s state of health. As well, alcoholics may endure public shame because of their condition, and this can decrease the opportunities to advance their careers at social functions.

It is vital to realize that a future alcoholic may currently display only minor symptoms of problem drinking. Alcoholism is a disease, and when left untreated can have ravaging effects on the individual’s physical and mental states. These effects can have significant negative impacts on employment, productivity, and earnings.

The lost productivity and lowered earnings of alcoholics are significant costs that have merited recent attention in the economic literature. The alcoholic and his or her family suffer from lowered earnings. Employers and co-workers suffer from the alcoholic’s lost productivity. In addition to the well-known costs of alcoholism, illnesses, automobile accidents, and crime, problem drinking leads to decreased productivity and therefore, lower wages and earnings.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Anderson_Morris http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Economic-Impact-of-Alcoholism&id=557099

“There’s a lot of talk about the importance of being honest in all our affairs and relationships. I really don’t know where to start it’s been so long since I’ve been honest it’s almost easier to lie.”

There are two major challenges concerning dishonesty that must be met and overcome in order to enter into a healthy recovery.

1. The dishonesty and lying has to stop. Unfortunately, for many people, this has become a habit. This behavior needs to be ‘unlearned’and the habit broken.

2. We must also overcome the fear of the consequences of once again being truthful

Being dishonest can easily become the standard of action, or way of life for most alcoholics or addicts. We deceive ourselves and we lied to others. We lie about how much we used, and how often we used.  We hid our feelings and emotions, or became distant from our relationships, perhaps not in all areas, but certainly in terms of our substance use.

We lied about where we went and what we had been doing. It’s a way of staking our claim to our right to continue drinking or using drugs. The lies, self deception, and self delusions were created for the for the purpose of allowing us to continue to use. Somehow we needed it all to make sense.

Sometimes it was not even our intention to deceive. But it is simply that our thought processes had become so clouded and confused and distorted, that our sense of reality was way off base and we no longer made sense.

Many people have discovered that there is a tendency to continue to be untruthful it just doesn’t go away when your substance abuse stops.

Technorati Tags: clean-and-sober, honesty, sober

Concerning drug and alcohol relapse and its prevention there is a good news, bad news, scenario. Here are three important points that everyone should be aware of:

1. Relapse is not uncommon following drug and alcohol addiction treatment.

The frequency with which relapse can occur following treatment is the bad news, the good news is relapse need not be a part of anyone’s addiction recovery. It is not mandatory that you have one or two slips or a full-blown relapse in order to achieve lasting abstinence and sobriety. However, relapse happens with her frequency that cannot and should not be ignored. Provisions should always be made for an action plan if relapse does occur.

2. [Tag-tec}Relapse[/tag-tec] is most certainly preventable.

It can be arguably stated that the most common cause of relapse is complacency. It is very important for someone in recovery to be monitoring their thoughts, feelings, urges, and actions at all times. It has been shown that being active in a 12 step program, and/or extended professional treatment at some level increases positive outcomes, and helps against relapse. Both sobriety and addiction treatment should be seen as an ongoing process and not an event with a definitive beginning and end. You never quite graduate.

3. Relapse is fairly predictable.

That statement may come as a surprise to some people. However, there are distinct signs and symptoms of one who is engaged in the relapse process. Unfortunately, the early stages of relapse are not noticeable to the person in recovery themselves, but they are apparent to those surrounding them. In easily remembered danger gauge is the acronym H.A.L.T. this stands for being hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. On a professional level, work should be done in identifying patients’ individual external relapse triggers and cues, as well as emotional triggers. It can be a little more complex than simply avoiding “people, places, and things”.

Technorati Tags: alcohol relapse, drug relapse, relapse, Relapse Prevention

By Donate Fagiano

It is difficult to admit that we have faults. It is, at times, the last avenue for us-admittance that we have problems and that we need help. If you believe you have a gambling addiction then your reading of these words is the all important first step. If you don’t think that you have a gambling problem, read on and, then at the end of this article, see if you feel the same way. Think carefully! Do you or someone you love need to overcome the real problem of gambling addiction.

Three Clues

Clue # 1 You think gambling is going to make you rich.

Big mistake! If you have this mentality then you will be spending a long time in the dregs of addiction. Here is a little fact: most professional gamblers are not rich. Sure there are some who are, but the majority just gets by (look this up if you are skeptical). Sure they live off their winnings and don’t have to work a 9-5 job, but they are professionals, they have dedicated their lives to the art of entertainment gambling. And besides, professional gamblers are moderate in that they do not gamble compulsively.

Clue # 2 You think that your gambling will help pay your bills.

Have you ever had a friend who thought that they were going to gamble his/her way back to solvency? I have and it was not a pretty sight. My friend came to me after a weekend in Atlantic City and asked me for a small loan (some friend). If you think that gambling is going to pay your bills then you have a gambling problem. If you think gambling may be able to make you an extra hundred or so bucks then you are realistic in your assessment of what you might make as an entertainment gambler.

Clue # 3 Your loved ones (family, friends, colleagues) are affected by your gambling.

Part of life is giving up what you know you can no longer possess for the benefit of something else you can’t afford to lose. When your family, friends, and/or colleagues are negatively affected by your gambling sprees, it is time to realize that you have a gambling problem and need help to control your addiction. If you have kept your gambling a secret and your loved ones are unaware of your problem then ask yourself this question: Are they being affected by my penchant for gambling. Remember, your loved ones don’t need to be consciously aware of your problem in order to be affected negatively by it.

Life is too wonderful to be enslaved to any addiction. But don’t worry, you are not alone. The first step is to call this free and private hotline 1-800-522-5700, or find a G.A. near you on the web.

Donate Fagiano is probability theorist who specilizes in statistical analysis and gaming theory. He is the creator of the entertainment gambling website http://www.merlinsmind.com

Donate spends his time writing and researching when he is not spending quality time with his family. He lives in the South of France.

Technorati Tags: gambling, gambling-addiction

By Patrick Meninga

There is a big secret to overcoming addiction that is counter-intuitive and thus remains elusive for most people.

The secret is that beating addiction involves creation, not elimination. What does this mean?

Most people think of recovery as an act of elimination. We need to purge the drugs and the alcohol and all of the toxic relationships and bad environments that came along with our drug use, right?

Well this is part of the process, of course, but real recovery goes much further than an elimination strategy.

Why do we need to create? You need creation in recovery because if you simply eliminate the drugs and the alcohol then you will be left with a shell of a life. With no purpose or passion in your life you will inevitably return to drinking and drugging. The way to overcome this is through creation.

What is creation? It is purposeful, conscious living with an emphasis on holistic growth. The idea is that you’re going to create a new life for yourself in recovery. This is necessary because you are not just replacing the drugs and the alcohol, you are in fact replacing an entire lifestyle that came along with using and drinking every day.

For some people, they can replace this lifestyle with a new lifestyle of 12 step meetings and the fellowship that comes along with those meetings. But others will seek a different path and that is what creation is all about. You don’t have to accept 12 step meetings as your only solution for recovery. Meetings represent a very valid path and some will in fact take that route and do well with it but many fail to find sobriety in the fellowship and that is where the creative theory comes in.

The secret of recovery is creation. Even those who are working a 12 step program are actively creating a new life for themselves, they are just doing it within the framework of the 12 step program. The actual framework is irrelevant though. What’s important is the creation.

So how can we create this new life for ourselves? I would suggest 3 basic strategies as a starting point for newcomers:

1) Push for personal growth
2) Caring for self
3) Networking with others

These are the 3 pillar strategies to focus on. Push yourself to grow holistically. That means that you try to grow in every area of your life, from the physical to your emotional balance to your spiritual growth.

Caring for self means just that: take care of yourself and putting a high level of importance on your health.

Networking with others is especially important in early recovery. Reach out and connect with other recovering addicts in order to strengthen your own recovery.

The big secret is in creating a new life with purpose. Ask any person who has many years sober if they basically had to create a new life for themselves in recovery and they will tell you that yes, they did in fact do exactly that. It’s more than just giving up the drugs and alcohol. We have to create.

And now I invite you to learn more about how to get help for addiction. Visit http://www.spiritualriver.com

Technorati Tags: Addiction, overcoming addiction

Addictive personality vs. Genetics, nature vs nurture. In this two part series we will look at the evidence on both sides of the equation. This is part 1 on the addictive personality.

Representing the addictive personality side will be Bryce Nelson of the N.Y.Times and his article The Addictive Personality: Common Traits Are Found. This is based largely on the work of Alan R. Lang, a psychology professor at Florida State University.

In the other corner, we have Bill Moyers and Dr Steven Hyman, M.D.,on the brain and its role in addiction.  Hyman directed the National Institute of Mental Health.

Lets get ready to rumble.

Alan R. Lang, a psychology professor at Florida State University has published a new study prepared for the National Academy of Sciences concludes that there is no single set of psychological characteristics that embrace all addictions. But the study does see common elements from addiction to addiction.

The report finds that there are several ‘’significant personality factors” that can contribute to addiction:

1. Impulsive behavior, difficulty in delaying gratification, an antisocial personality and a disposition toward sensation seeking.

2.A high value on nonconformity combined with a weak commitment to the goals for achievement valued by the society.

3.A sense of social alienation and a general tolerance for deviance.

4. A sense of heightened stress. This may help explain why adolescence and other stressful transition periods are often associated with the most severe drug and alcohol problems.

The author of the study, Alan R. Lang, a psychology professor at Florida State University,  “believes that the insights provided by this kind of research could lead to much more effective preventive programs than those available today, to be used ”before problems reach the critical stage.” Supplementing the personality factors listed in the academy’s report, other behavioral scientists who have studied addicts point to additional often-found features of personality or background – a lack of self-esteem, marked depression or anxiety, physical or sexual abuse in childhood, and sharply conflicting parental expectations.

The N.Y Time article continues With an approach taken by Lawrence J. Hatterer, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the Cornell University Medical College who wrote in his book, ”The Pleasure Addicts” “(Barnes) that ”Addictive behavior has invaded every aspect of American life today. We all feel the cloud of concern about becoming addictive – preoccupation with weight, smoking, drinking too much, or being caught in an excess of spending, acquiring, gambling, sex or work.”Among other activities which, done in excess, have been characterized as addictive behavior are caffeine consumption, eating of chocolates or other sugar-laden foods, television watching, playing video games and even running.”

“But not all addictions are equally harmful and not all behavior that could lead to addiction necessarily does. Although Dr. Hatterer is among those who argue that addictions of all kinds are similar, he finds it useful to classify the abuse of alcohol, barbiturates and narcotics as ”hard addictions” because of the quickness with which such substances affect many aspects of behavior, and adversely influence many people around the abuser. Dr. Hatterer terms compulsive behavior such as excessive smoking, gambling, running, spending or work as ‘’soft addictions” because the consequences are not immediately felt by the abuser.”

None of these activities are considered to be addictions by Dr. Hatterer unless they involve excessive, repetitive use of pleasurable activities to cope with unmanageable internal conflict, pressure and stress. While such activity may begin pleasurably in a person’s life, the process in the addict involves increasing activity to achieve the same effect and eventually results in injury to the person’s health or to his work, family and social relationships. The addicted person typically denies that his activity is detrimentally affecting him. If the addict is forced to stop, he finds he suffers physical or psychological withdrawal pains, and often feels compelled to resume his excessive pattern. Compulsiveness Is a Key.”

Tomorrow we continue with Part 2, addiction as a brain disease.

Click here for Part 2

Technorati Tags: Addiction, addictive personality

Did you know that if someone takes alcohol and cocaine at the same time, they increase and compound the danger of each drug? By mixing them together, you are essentially turning your body into a complicated chemical experiment. Scientists and researchers have discovered that when alcohol and cocaine is combined in the human liver, it creates a substance called cocaethylene.

This third substance, cocaethylene is an amplifier which intensifies cocaine and its pleasurable effects. The newly created substance, cocaethylene, increases the risk of sudden death from cocaine use substantially.

Technorati Tags: alcohol-addiction, cocaethylene, cocaine

I enjoy tracking down “promising research ” that the  media jumps to up and down over that professes to have a found a ‘magic pill’ to combat addiction.

I think this one takes the cake, or should I say candy. A new treatment has been found for cocaine addiction, eat licorice.

This is even dumber than I thought.  I thought we would be talking about eating candy or getting a sugar rush to help with cravings.

But the it gets even sillier apparently an ingredient in licorice shows promise as a treatment for cocaine addiction, but involves injections. I guess the solution is to have plenty of liquice to inject in case somebody overdoses.  Here’s the full report, if you want to bother as reported in Science Daily

Hmmmm, I wonder if THIS one will stand the test of time.

Technorati Tags: magic pill

Fighting porn addiction can seem like a battle with your own libido especially if you have been masturbating to online pornography for a long time for a number of reasons:

• Anything done for a long time becomes a habit that can be so ingrained into your lifestyle it is hard to shake.
• You have trained your body to expect sexual reward and the lack of such a reward becomes like a physical craving.
• Ease of access means that relief to your frustrations and cravings is so easy to satisfy many continue to give in and do not gain addiction recovery.
• Help is hard to come by because the subject is so taboo with most people making this a very lonely addiction.

So what can you do to fight porn addiction and come out on top and in control of your life and sexuality?

One such method that may help is to find a way to refocus your sexual energy. It is too easy to simply say i will do something else when i feel the need to pop online to view pornography but it is a part of the puzzle. The real results come from changing your mental addiction triggers to be positive rather than negative (being excessive porn and masturbation). When you discover what triggers your episodes online find something you can do to take your mind off it and stick to that, write it down and make it a new habit. It could be that you are depressed or sad which would require something targeting that particular trigger. It may be that you have sexually frustrating relationship issues which would require an approach aimed at solving that problem. One of the biggest problems though is boredom for many people and when online it is such an easy way to spend time despite the problems with sexuality that porn is known to cause .. if this is the case the best way to start changing this is to find a non-computer based alternative to relieve boredom because any association with the PC and the internet can easily lead down the path of addiction again.

For more information on fighting porn addiction for yourself or if you know someone who is addicted click below to find the answers you need to end your addiction and be unchained, free and happier with yourself and your sexual life without having to go to sex addiction counseling

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com

Technorati Tags: Addiction, pornography addiction

We’ve all heard the phrase emotional baggage, but what does it mean and what role does it play in addiction? Emotional baggage is defined as painful memories, mistrust and hurt carried around from past abuse, control, or emotional rejection. And, this underlying emotional trauma is not only the primary component of emotional baggage, but it’s also the root cause of addiction.

When emotional baggage is present, and it’s combined with a low level of coping skills, you have a formula for habitual behavior. Therefore, addiction freedom requires liberation from dysfunction behavior, but it also requires removing emotional baggage. And, that entails forgiveness! But, how can you forgive someone that committed such atrocities against you? Many people have a misconception about forgiveness. Forgiveness is not reconciliation! In fact, there’s a drastic difference between the two. Reconciliation is an acceptance of and a submission to a person’s behavior while continuing the relationship under those circumstances. Therefore, I am not at all suggesting that you accept your family’s behavior and condone its continuance while condemning yourself to a life of unhappiness. I’m suggesting that you remove yourself from their behavior and release the resentment and anger you’re harboring towards them. Think about it for a moment! If you can’t forgive them, how in lord’s name are you going to move on with your life? You can’t! The angrier you become over their dysfunctional act, the more you will be tempted to punish them for it! There’s and ancient Chinese saying; “Before seeking revenge first dig two graves!”

When you harbor anger and resentment towards another are you hurting them or are you hurting yourself? Forgiveness is defined as giving up or ceasing a resentment of an offender. So, I am not at all suggesting that you reconcile with anyone, but I am suggesting that you forgive them! However, you need to understand that you are forgiving them for you and not for them. One may even ask “how could I reconcile with someone that has inflicted such horrific, emotional pain upon me?” The answer is you can’t, if you want to be happy. Remember, you should not forgive the act, but you should forgive the person. The more you harbor these feelings the more emotional distress you will experience in your life, which increases the odds you’ll reach for drugs, alcohol, or some other compulsion to relieve it!

I want to make sure you have a clear understanding of the meaning and end goal. So, I want you stand in front of a mirror for a moment. Now, looking yourself squarely in the eyes, I want you to slap yourself in the face! Next, look in the mirror and say “It’s ok,

I know you’re going through a difficult time, and so I forgive you” OK! Now, slap yourself in the face again! Next, say “It’s ok, I know your having a hard time, and so

I’ll just turn my head, and I’ll forgive you.” Is your face swelling up yet? Is your nose bleeding? OK! Now, slap yourself in the face again, really hard! Next, look in the mirror and say “My face is swollen, my nose is bleeding, but I know you’re having a rough time, so I forgive you.”

This is most people’s misguided perception of forgiveness, isn’t it! And, it’s exactly the way you’ve been reacting to your families dysfunctional behavior, isn’t it!

OK! Let’s use the same scenario we did above to demonstrate true forgiveness!

Standing in front of the mirror, once again, slap yourself in the face! Next, look directly in the mirror and say “I understand that you’re having a rough time and I feel sorry for you. But, I am going to walk down a different path because I don’t want to share in your misery. I am not going to be angry or harbor any resentment towards you, but if you every do that again, I’m going to knock the living hell out of you!”

This is true Liberation and forgiveness! Put a stop to abusive and dysfunctional behavior. Walk a different path but forgive by releasing anger and resentment!

In conclusion, harboring resentment causes great harm to you and very little if any to the perpetrators! So, forgive for you, not for them! And, drop that baggage and kick it to the curb. It happened in the past! Leave it where it belongs, in the past!

Best wishes,

David Roppo

The Addiction Freedom Coach

For more information on how to overcome your addiction subscribe to my fee e-guide below……..

http://www.5stepstoaddictionfreedom.com

As a life coach, Roppo has helped addicted clients learn the secrets to overcoming addiction, and he has established his unique five-step process as a potential benchmark for recovery. His success has overwhelmingly convinced him that the mainstream approach to addiction is fundamentally amiss because formal treatment programs attempt to defeat the symptoms rather than address the core issue.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/addictions-articles/emotional-baggage-the-addiction-chains-that-bind-789582.html

There are four different types of rehabilitation centres available to those looking for drug and alcohol rehab facilities: Primary care, extended primary care, secondary care and tertiary care. These different drug and alcohol treatment centres accommodate all the different stages in the treatment process and a patient will usually complete at least two of these by recommendation of their therapist or recovery counsellor.

Primary care facilities

Primary care facilities usually have a programme lasting three to four weeks and are an intensive treatment type which requires a doctor or psychiatrist to examine the patient and refer them to the centre. Clients will stay in the centre as in-patients for the duration of their stay but are allowed visitors at allocated times and only after their first week in the centre. The first week is generally a time for detoxification if needed or if it has not been completed in a hospital already, and also a time to settle in and become introduced to the recovery programme of the centre.

The programme at a primary care rehab will consist of intensive therapy groups, individual counselling and written work throughout the day and attending recovery meetings such as Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous. In primary care, addicts begin the process of living each day without drugs, yet without much stress of exposure to the outside world as this may cause heavy emotional reactions resulting in the relapse of the patient. Primary care treatment centres are extremely costly and whilst some medical aids do pay for the treatment fees, many do not.

Extended primary care facilities

Extended primary care is a type of facility that runs an inpatient programme similar to a regular primary care facility, but the client stay for a longer period; usually three months but in some cases and when the client is still not ready to progress to the next stage of their recovery they can stay longer. Extended primary care facilities will run a recovery programme exactly like the normal primary care facilities with all day groups and one-on-one counselling.

The difference between the two types of centre is that extended involves a longer stay, the patients will perform therapeutic duties such as cooking dinner at week-ends, making their beds and gardening as well as their therapy. With extended primary care treatment, patients are able to access the same level of therapy as in a regular primary care centre, but for much longer, allowing clients a better chance at recovery.

Secondary care facilities

Drug and alcohol rehab patients will often leave a primary or extended primary care facility to move to a secondary care facility for further assistance with their substance abuse problems. Every treatment centre differs from another but a secondary care centre will generally have a less intensive programme than primary care centres and allow much more freedom than primary or extended primary.

There is usually an all day programme but with only one or two therapy groups per day. Clients participate in career counselling, therapeutic duties, written work and house meetings as well as the therapy, whilst some that have jobs or are studying are allowed to go out during the day to work or college/university.

Patients at a secondary care facility are free to go out during the evenings, whether it is to recovery meetings or to have good, clean fun. There is a curfew and every client must fill in a daily plan detailing their plans for the next day which must be followed. In secondary drug and alcohol rehab facilities, clients are reintroduced back into society gradually and without too much pressure, but still having a programme to follow at their treatment centre.

Tertiary care facilities

Tertiary care is a drug treatment facility that allows a little more freedom whilst still helping the addict to immerse themselves further back into society and additionally providing a safe place to return to at night. Tertiary care facilities usually do not run a day time programme except for maybe an occasional art therapy group or step work group and will have group therapy a couple of times per week in the evening.

Clients are free to spend their day as they wish as long as they abide by the rules of the centre such as no using substances, no association with anyone using substances, no visiting bars or night clubs etc; they also do not need to provide a daily plan with their intended whereabouts. Job seeking or finding some meaningful way to spend time working on themselves is compulsory, this could entail voluntary work for instance. The curfew of the centre is generally later and patients can often request to sleep at home on weekends as long as their home is a safe place.

Research has shown that addicts who receive long term, in-patient treatment in a drug and alcohol treatment centre are more likely to remain abstinent than those who participate in shorter programmes.

Drug and alcohol rehab centres are a very successful way for struggling addicts to seek help for their addiction and most centres will refer clients to further centres to help them start a successful life of recovery. Clients benefit from healthy living, intensive therapy and a daily programme of recovery in a drug and alcohol rehab, giving them the chance to begin a new life and maintain it once they have finished with their addiction treatment.

Oasis Counselling Centre is an extended primary care drug and alcohol treatment centre facility that also specialise in treatment of other addictions at their Plettenberg bay rehab.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/addictions-articles/types-and-process-of-a-drug-and-alcohol-rehab-facility-778580.html

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