One of the fascinating things about studying addiction is that nobody can agree on a definition.

The biopsychosocial model of looking at addiction is an attempt to broaden the older, traditional view of addiction as strictly a medical problem. It was thought that by forcing people to look at it in a multidimensional aspect accuracy of diagnosis and treatment could be improved.

The medical people had their spin on it, the 12-step people had their definition, and neurobiological scientists are starting to discover new features. A more comprehensive way of looking at things is the biopsychosocial model of addiction. What exactly is that?

Well, the clue is in the name. It is an attempt to describe the complexity of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social features of addiction. They are basically saying they each component is insufficient unto its own to explain addiction.

The biological aspects take into account the genetic and inherited components of addiction, as well as the effects of addiction on the body itself. It also includes the neurobiological and neurobehavioral theories and studies, that are becoming predominant studying addiction. With the advent of brain scanning technology such as MRI scans, CAT scans, and SPECT scans, a whole new world of knowledge is opening up.

Psychological components of the disease of addiction are related to the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors surrounding and generated by addiction. Psychologists have looked at addiction through psychoanalytic theory, social learning theory, classical conditioning theory, as well as personality theory. The psychological component has gained importance recently because of the fact that people diagnosed with addiction more often then not have a co-occurring mental health diagnoses such as depression, anxiety, or disordered eating.

The social component of the biopsychosocial theory of addiction focuses on families and relationships. Unquestionably addiction has a negative effect on how the addict relates to the world and people around him. Socail theories include family systems theory, social systems theory, and even cultural or anthropological theories.

Viewing will addiction in a multidimensional way is instrumental in getting a well-rounded view of both the problems generated by addiction and the areas that need to be addressed in treatment. Recently, some people have added the spiritual component to this multidimensional approach actually making it a biopsychosocialspiritual look at addiction.

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There are a lot of smokers that are generally shunned away because of their habit. Well, what if you could enjoy a cigarette regardless of where you are, and not have one person say anything about it? An electronic cigarette will give you the ability to smoke whenever you desire to.

These cigarettes are known by many different names such as
smokeless cigarette ore-cigarettes . These electrified cigarettes are actually making the world a better place. The electronic devices are designed to simulate smoking, and a lot of smokers actually feel as though they are engaging in smoking, every time that they smoke one of these devices.

The cigarettes look, feel and even taste like the real thing. Aside from all of these features that these cigarettes have, they are also a lot safer for you to use. The electrified devices actually do not burn any tobacco at all, thus making them highly effective and safe to use.

Individuals that choose to smoke these cigarettes inhale water vapors instead of smoke. These vapors include nicotine, propylene glycol as well as a tobacco scent that is simulated as well. When you begin to suck with your mouth, the water vapors are released into your lungs, which emulate an actual smoking sensation.

The electronic devices do not have any glue or tar added to them. Aside from not having any additives added to these tubes, there is also no tobacco that has been added either. Without any tobacco added to these tubes, your chances of obtaining cancer are actually diminished.

People also can smoke these cigarettes wherever they want to. The cigarettes do not emit any type of smoke out of them. So, you can easily smoke one of these vapor filled tubes in any place that you desire. Everything is locked inside of the tube that the devices come in, the only way to release the water vapors is to suck on the tubes. The vapors will not release harmful toxins into the air.

The electronic devices come with refillable nicotine cartridges. Aside from having these cartridges, you can also decide on the type of nicotine that you want to consume. The nicotine flavors range from regular, menthol flavored and even an apple or strawberry flavored nicotine product as well.

Believe it or not, there are a lot of people that have managed to find a way to cease their smoking habits. These electronic devices are not meant to be a smoking cessation, but they are meant to be a smoking alternative. With the ability to be able to change the nicotine strengths that you consume, you will be able to gradually decrease your nicotine consumption.

Nicotine patches and other oral pills typically do not individuals quit smoking. However, with these electronic devices assisting you with your desire to quit, you will still be able to treasure smoking a cigarette without being adversely affected by the additives that are put into these cigarettes. You will be able to satisfy your desire to smoke, and also help curve some of your tobacco cravings.

Find more information and details on the benefits of using an electronic cigarette today! When you want to add distinction to your experience, using a Blu Electronic Cigarette will give you the unique look and feel of a regular cigarette.

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By definition, an addiction is described as being abnormally tolerant or dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming. Addictions come in many forms, from substance abuse addiction to behavior addictions, all of which may require intervention or professional treatment to overcome. As addictions have changed and redeveloped over time, programs have had to progressively change and modify approaches as well. In fact, while addiction trends have changed in the last three decades with some becoming more problematic than others, more help is available for overcoming addiction than ever before.

Though alcohol dependency has been a constant addiction recognized for many years, in the mid-1970s, illicit drug use and addiction peaked to a point almost rivaling that of alcohol. Illicit drugs, including cocaine, heroine, and marijuana were the primary source of drug addictions until the 1990s. At this point, illicit drugs that were more cheaply made and acquired, like meth, became a growing trend.

Marijuana dependency and addiction is a source of interest in both the medical and political sectors today. As more states explore the legalization and government control of marijuana for medical purposes and even recreational use, the potential for marijuana use to peak and become as problematic as alcohol addiction is possible.

While dependency on illicit drugs continues to be a problem for some, prescription drug addiction has nearly overshadowed illicit drugs in the last decade. Narcotic pain relievers and stimulants top the list of prescription drug addictions. In 2001, reports indicated that nearly 87 percent of prescription drug addicts were white. Some reports also indicate prescription stimulates, such as those used to treat ADHD, are primarily abused by people under the age of 21. In addition to prescription drug addiction, over the counter (OTC) drug addiction has seen a rise in the last decade.

In addition to substance abuse, other addictions that are behavior oriented have seen rises and falls as well. Some behavior-based addictions that have existed for years have only recently become recognized as genuine addictions requiring intervention. For example, where gambling addictions were once unacknowledged, 12-step programs for gambling addicts are now as mainstream as AA. Similar addictions, including sex addiction, have also seen an increase in awareness. Certain addictions, like food addictions, have less social stigma but have come into the forefront as behavior addictions requiring modification nonetheless.

For many, an addiction may stem largely from habitual familiarity but many addictions are both psychological and physiological. Those who struggle with addiction are bound not only by the psychological habit but in many cases, a physical addiction. Substances that cause the body to respond to an absence, such as caffeine, nicotine, or an opiate drug, make overcoming addiction that much more difficult.

With an increase of studies pertaining to the psychological and physical dependencies created by addiction, programs to overcome addiction have improved as well. Programs to treat addiction were once barbaric in some sense, ignoring the psychological aspect of addiction. Today, programs that focus on the individual and each aspect of their addiction make it possible to overcome addiction once and for all. Through various support and treatment programs that address an individual’s addiction in both traditional and non-traditional methods, addiction recovery is becoming more successful.

Addictions of all varieties have seen some resurgence in different times but the core of addiction and the road to recovery remain the same. People struggling with addiction are often depressed and can see their life spiraling out of control but feel too alone or ashamed to ask for help. Oftentimes, denial is at the core of addiction, with those suffering from addiction unable to acknowledge their dependency. Those who are involved in an addict’s life also feel alone and afraid and may not know how to help.

Thankfully, as addiction at its core has remained virtually unchanged, the influx of information available through the Internet and the increase in public awareness and health education curriculum has improved the way people can find help. Additionally, this increase in information and awareness has improved the way recovery and treatment facilities are able to offer help. Treatment and recovery centers exist for nearly all types of addictions, in nearly every part of the country. Substance abuse hotlines and mental health benefits through insurance companies have also helped to facilitate addiction help. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, the first step to recovery is to ask for help.

Catherine Cosgrove is a representative of Heritage Home Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center. Heritage Home Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center offers a tranquil and therapeutic environment to begin your recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. Our team has worked together in drug rehab centres for many years and will give you a personal, unique, and individualized approach to emotional healing and sobriety.

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Opiate addiction and the need for opiate treatment is definitely on the rise. But these days it is not in the traditional form of heroin, but rather in the form of prescription pill medication. Prescription pain killers are a segment of drug use that is rising astronomically.

It is now not uncommon in alcohol and drug rehab’s to have groups with 50% of the people either abusing or addicted to opiates. And within this group of people one of the most common fears verbalized instead of ‘drug sickness. This is not the unpleasant effects of with drawl are described by the users. Withdrawal from opiates while as dangerous in a medical sense, as withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines, can be very unpleasant and prolonged.

So the concept of getting high and stay high becomes cemented in the mine of an opiate user not from the desired to feel the effects of the high, but to avoid negative effects of the withdrawal. This is an extremely powerful motivator for continued use.

There is a high rate of opiate users needing treatment for the end of the program because the fear of the withdrawals becomes so great that they feel they must use. Getting through an opiate withdrawal can be described in the sense of getting over the hump. There is great discomfort and then there is a breakthrough moment. Unfortunately, many people eat before they have the breakthrough.

Fortunately, there is some government approved medication that can help with the unpleasant effects of opiate withdrawal; Buprenorphine (Subutex) and buprenorphine and naloxone (Suboxone). That is the good news. The bad news is that there are many misconceptions about its use, and effectiveness. In order to be effective they must be taken in a precise way. Unfortunately, people with addiction have difficulty taking medications exactly as prescribed.

Buprenorphine (Subutex) and buprenorphine and naloxone (Suboxone) are used to treat opioid dependence (addiction to opioid drugs, including heroin and narcotic painkillers). Buprenorphine is in a class of medications called opioid partial agonist-antagonists, and naloxone is in a class of medications called opioid antagonists. Buprenorphine alone and the combination of buprenorphine and naloxone prevent withdrawal symptoms when someone stops taking opioid drugs by producing similar effects to these drugs.

They are usually taken once a day. To help you remember to take buprenorphine or buprenorphine and naloxone, take it around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take buprenorphine or buprenorphine and naloxone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

You will start your treatment with buprenorphine, which you will take in the doctor’s office. Your doctor will start you on a low dose of buprenorphine and will increase your dose for several days before switching you to buprenorphine and naloxone. Your doctor may increase or decrease your buprenorphine and naloxone dose until the medication works properly.

Do not stop taking buprenorphine and naloxone without talking to your doctor. Stopping buprenorphine and naloxone too quickly can cause withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor will tell you when and how to stop taking buprenorphine and naloxone.

as a learning opportunity. Make sure you get a ‘take away’, some form of growth. Do not let them become the team, mundane, or simply a reporting of facts.

Technorati Tags: Addiction, Buprenorphine, drug sickness, drug sickness withdrawals, drug-addiction, opiate addiction, opiate withdrawals

If someone uses nicotine again and again, such as by smoking cigarettes or cigars or chewing tobacco, his or her body develops a tolerance for it. When someone develops tolerance, he or she needs more drug to get the same effect. Eventually, a person can become addicted. Once a person becomes addicted, it is extremely difficult to quit. People who start smoking before the age of 21 have the hardest time quitting, and fewer than 1 in 10 people who try to quit smoking succeed.

When nicotine addicts stop smoking they may suffer from restlessness, hunger, depression, headaches, and other uncomfortable feelings. These are called “withdrawal symptoms” because they happen when nicotine is withdrawn from the body.

Nicotine also activates areas of the brain that are involved in producing feelings of pleasure and reward. Recently, scientists discovered that nicotine raises the levels of a neurotransmitter called dopamine in the parts of the brain that produce feelings of pleasure and reward. Dopamine, which is sometimes called the pleasure molecule, is the same neurotransmitter that is involved in addictions to other drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Researchers now believe that this change in dopamine may play a key role in all addictions. This may help explain why it is so hard for people to stop smoking.

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It is an all-too-common scenario: A person experiments with an addictive drug like cocaine

Perhaps he intends to try it just once, for ‘the experience’ of it. It turns out, though, that he enjoys the drug’s euphoric effect so much that in ensuing weeks and months he uses it again — and again. But in due time, he decides he really should quit. He knows that despite the incomparable short-term high he gets from using cocaine, the long-term consequences of its use are perilous. So he vows to stop using it.

His brain, however, has a different agenda. It now demands cocaine. While his rational mind knows full well that he shouldn’t use it again, his brain overrides such warnings. Unbeknown to him, repeated use of cocaine has brought about dramatic changes in both the structure and function of his brain. In fact, if he’d known the danger signs for which to be on the lookout, he would have realized that the euphoric effect derived from cocaine use is itself a sure sign that the drug is inducing a change in the brain — just as he would have known that as time passes, and the drug is used with increasing regularity, this change becomes more pronounced, and indelible, until finally his brain has become addicted to the drug.

And so, despite his heartfelt vow never again to use cocaine, he continues using it. Again and again.

His drug use is now beyond his control. It is compulsive. He is addicted.

While this turn of events is a shock to the drug user, it is no surprise at all to researchers who study the effects of addictive drugs. To them, it is a predictable outcome.

To be sure, no one ever starts out using drugs intending to become a drug addict. All drug users are just trying it, once or a few times. Every drug user starts out as an occasional user, and that initial use is a voluntary and controllable decision. But as time passes and drug use continues, a person goes from being a voluntary to a compulsive drug user. This change occurs because over time, use of addictive drugs changes the brain — at times in big dramatic toxic ways, at others in more subtle ways, but always in destructive ways that can result in compulsive and even uncontrollable drug use.

The fact is, drug addiction is a brain disease. While every type of drug of abuse has its own individual “trigger” for affecting or transforming the brain, many of the results of the transformation are strikingly similar regardless of the addictive drug that is used — and of course in each instance the result is compulsive use. The brain changes range from fundamental and long-lasting changes in the biochemical makeup of the brain, to mood changes, to changes in memory processes and motor skills. And these changes have a tremendous impact on all aspects of a person’s behavior. In fact, in addiction the drug becomes the single most powerful motivator in the life of the drug user. He will do virtually anything for the drug.

This unexpected consequence of drug use is what I have come to call the oops phenomenon. Why oops? Because the harmful outcome is in no way intentional. Just as no one starts out to have lung cancer when they smoke, or no one starts out to have clogged arteries when they eat fried foods which in turn usually cause heart attacks, no one starts out to become a drug addict when they use drugs. But in each case, though no one meant to behave in a way that would lead to tragic health consequences, that is what happened just the same, because of the inexorable, and undetected, destructive biochemical processes at work.

While we haven’t yet pinpointed precisely all the triggers for the changes in the brain’s structure and function that culminate in the “oops” phenomenon, a vast body of hard evidence shows that it is virtually inevitable that prolonged drug use will lead to addiction. From this we can soundly conclude that drug addiction is indeed a brain disease.

I realize that this flies in the face of the notion that drug addiction boils down to a serious character flaw — that those addicted to drugs are just too weak-willed to quit drug use on their own. But the moral weakness notion itself flies in the face of all scientific evidence, and so it should be discarded.

It should be stressed, however, that to assert that drug addiction is a brain disease is by no means the same thing as saying that those addicted to drugs are not accountable for their actions, or that they are just unwitting, hapless victims of the harmful effects that use of addictive drugs has on their brains, and in every facet of their lives.

Just as their behavior at the outset was pivotal in putting them on a collision course with compulsive drug use, their behavior after becoming addicted is just as critical if they are to be effectively treated and to recover.

At minimum, they have to adhere to their drug treatment regimen. But this can pose an enormous challenge. The changes in their brain that turned them into compulsive users make it a daunting enough task to control their actions and complete treatment. Making it even more difficult is the fact that their craving becomes more heightened and irresistible whenever they are exposed to any situation that triggers a memory of the euphoric experience of drug use. Little wonder, then, that most compulsive drug users can’t quit on their own, even if they want to (for instance, at most only 7 percent of those who try in any one year to quit smoking cigarettes on their own actually succeed). This is why it is essential that they enter a drug treatment program, even if they don’t want to at the outset.

Clearly, a host of biological and behavioral factors conspires to trigger the oops phenomenon in drug addiction. So the widely held sentiment that drug addiction has to be explained from either the standpoint of biology or the standpoint of behavior, and never the twain shall meet, is terribly flawed. Biological and behavioral explanations of drug abuse must be given equal weight and integrated with each other if we are to gain an in-depth understanding of the root causes of drug addiction and then develop more effective treatments. Modern science has shown us that we reduce one explanation to the other — the behavioral to the biological, or vice versa – at our own peril. We have to recognize that brain disease stemming from drug use cannot and should not be artificially isolated from its behavioral components, as well as its larger social components. They all are critical pieces of the puzzle that interact with and impact on one another at every turn.

A wealth of scientific evidence, by the way, makes it clear that rarely if ever are any forms of brain disease only biological in nature. To the contrary, such brain diseases as stroke, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, schizophrenia, and clinical depression all have their behavioral and social dimensions. What is unique about the type of brain disease that results from drug abuse is that it starts out as voluntary behavior. But once continued use of an addictive drug brings about structural and functional changes in the brain that cause compulsive use, the disease-ravaged brain of a drug user closely resembles that of people with other kinds of brain diseases.

It’s also important to bear in mind that we now see addiction as a chronic, virtually life-long illness for many people. And relapse is a common phenomenon in all forms of chronic illness — from asthma and diabetes, to hypertension and addiction. The goals of successive treatments, as with other chronic illnesses, are to manage the illness and increase the intervals between relapses, until there are no more.

An increasing body of scientific evidence makes the compelling case that the most effective treatment programs for overcoming drug addiction incorporate an array of approaches — from medications, to behavior therapies, to social services and rehabilitation. The National Institute on Drug Abuse recently published Principles of Effective Drug Addiction Treatment, which features many of the most promising drug treatment programs to date. As this booklet explains, the programs with the most successful track records treat the whole individual. Their treatment strategies place just as much emphasis on the unique social and behavioral aspects of drug addiction treatment and recovery as on the biological aspects. By doing so, they better enable those who have abused drugs to surmount the unexpected consequences of drug use and once again lead fruitful lives.

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Technorati Tags: Addiction, cocaine, drug-abuse, drug-addiction, substance-abuse

Increased Risk For Alcohol Problems In Adulthood When Alcohol Consumed Before 15 Years Of Age

It may seem like a minor point, but it matters when someone takes their first drink of alcohol relative to later development of alcohol problems.

A new study of the relationship between age at first drink (AFD) and the risk of developing alcohol-use disorders (AUDs) during adulthood has found that the risk is greatest when AFD occurs before the age of 15. Results will be published in the December issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View.

“Some early drinkers become alcohol dependent while still in their teens, a time when those who have not yet started drinking are not even at risk of becoming dependent.” explained Deborah A. Dawson, staff scientist at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and corresponding author for the study. “By looking at adult-onset dependence, we can see for the first time that the association between early AFD and increased AUD risk … is not time limited, but rather persists into adulthood.”

“In addition,” said Howard B. Moss, associate director for Clinical and Translational Research at NIAAA, “this study controls for a variety of individual risk factors that could contribute to both early drinking behavior and later alcohol problems.”

“The key finding of this study was that people who started drinking before age 15, and to a lesser extent those who started drinking at ages 15 to 17, were more likely to become alcohol dependent as adults than people who waited until 18 or older to start drinking,” said Dawson. “Past studies have often suggested that this association might result from common risk factors predisposing people to both early drinking and AUDs. Although the current study does not provide conclusive evidence that early drinking directly increases AUD risk, it suggests that it is premature to rule out the possibility of such a direct effect.”

“By controlling for a variety of confounding risk factors in their analysis, Dawson and colleagues were able to demonstrate that … early alcohol consumption itself, as a misguided choice or decision, is driving the relationship between early drinking and risk for development of later alcohol problems,” observed Moss.

“We believe that impaired executive cognitive function (EGF) may lead to choices that favor the immediate pleasures of heavy drinking over avoiding the long-term risks of developing an AUD,” said Dawson. “Impaired EGF would likely result from frequent and/or extremely heavy drinking at early ages, not from the simple fact of having initiated drinking at early ages. The big question is whether the impaired EGF preceded and led to the early drinking (and the increased risk of AUD), or whether the early drinking caused the impaired EGF.” These findings, she added, help build a body of research that will eventually help scientists deduce whether early drinking is a marker of high risk for AUD or a direct risk factor for AUD. “If the latter is true, it adds to the importance of preventing early drinking,” she said. “Especially in light of the finding that the likelihood of developing these AUDs in adulthood is about 50 percent higher for persons who start drinking before 15 as for those who did not drink until 18 or older.”

Moss agrees. “The data support the notion of delaying the onset of drinking behavior as late as possible as an important principle for the prevention of AUDs later in life,” he said. “More specifically, these findings provide the scientific basis of those prevention programs that focus on decreasing underage drinking, as well as supporting those public-health policies that are geared towards the prevention of underage drinking.”
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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER) is the official journal of the Research Society on Alcoholism and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism. Co-authors of the ACER paper, “Age at First Drink and the First Incidence of Adult-Onset DSM-IV Alcohol Use Disorders,” were: Risë B. Goldstein, S. Patricia Chou, W. June Ruan, and Bridget F. Grant of the Laboratory of Epidemiology and Biometry in the Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Source: NIAAA Press Office
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Technorati Tags: Alcoholic beverage, Alcoholism, drug-abuse, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, substance-abuse

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

Teen drug abuse is real and for parents to have an impact on the decisions their kids make, they need to keep their responses ‘real’ too. The time to get involved is now. Don’t wait until you suspect a problem; taking a proactive stand can significantly alter the course of your child’s life.

Research has proven that the primary way to prevent teenage drug abuse is for parents to become a central and guiding influence in the child’s life. Teenagers want their parents’ trust and respect and it’s this single factor that keeps kids off drugs. But developing this kind of relationship requires the application of a few key principles.

• Knowledge is Power

Before talking to your kids about drugs, parents need to do their homework. Get the latest facts from websites like www.TheAntiDrug.com or www.freevibe.com

The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information is another excellent resource and can be reached at 1-800-788-2800

• Talk to Your Child

If you suspect drug use, plan to talk to your teen when you are calm. Make sure both of you have plenty of time to talk. Be honest about your feelings. Sure you’re angry, but are you worried and disappointed too? Tell your child. Encourage a real sharing of feelings.

• Listen to Your Child

A teen on drugs is a teen who is troubled. Find out why drugs became an answer. Listen as your child expresses feelings of fear, stress or anger. Allow these emotions to be articulated without condemnation.

• Determine the Level of Involvement

Did your child try drugs once at a party out of curiosity or is your teen regularly using drugs? Are there certain friends who are promoting drug use? Where do they get the drugs? While all of these questions will help you determine the best course of action, don’t make your conversation sound like a police interrogation. Encourage your child to talk, reminding him that you need answers in order to help. Stress that you are not out to punish this behavior, but rather you want to promote a healthier and happier lifestyle for the teen.

• Set Ground Rules

Once you understand your child’s involvement with drugs, you need to set up some rules. Once again, these rules are not meant as punishment, but they are needed to keep the flow of communication between you and your teen possible. Hiding drug abuse is a form of lying and honest communication stops at that point. You may need to set up a curfew or even prohibit certain friends from coming to your house.

• Talk to Your Child…Again

Don’t think one conversation is enough. Engage your teen in talks on a regular basis. Stay in touch with their lives, their studies and their friends. Ask questions and be sure to give honest answers in return. When your child sees that you are making a genuine effort to connect with their life, positive changes can occur. Stay talking, guard against angry feelings and don’t be ashamed to hug your child. The power of a loving touch can do wonders.

Each day, about 4,700 young people under age 18 try marijuana for the first time. Eighth grade students report that at least half of them have tried alcohol. Yes, the numbers are high, turning the odds against you.

But parents who are committed to the well being of their children don’t need odds on their side because they have a determined love to do whatever it takes to keep their children safe and happy.

Technorati Tags: drug-abuse, Drugs, teen drug abuse, teen-drug-use

“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