Is Addiction To Alcohol A Behavioral Or Chemical Dependency?

 

It takes an average drinker between 7 to 8 years to reach alcoholism. At this point, the individual may be considered to have acquired Alcohol Dependency Syndrome or Alcohol Use Disorder. Before an alcoholic realizes he or she has reached alcoholism, certain habits normally prevail. For instance, it starts with stealing alcohol when around 13 years of age followed by college party drinking to celebrating particular occasions like birth of child or achievement of an award. At 29 to 39 years of age, one experiences full blown alcohol addiction.

Before a drinker reaches the point of no return, drinking is characterized by behavioral addiction. This stage is not dangerous as the habit may be reversed through quitting or limiting the number of drinking sessions. Drinking which leads to alcohol addiction becomes a habit when you have to drink before doing any activity. This may be after work, before sleeping, while socializing or early in the morning. Individuals experiencing behavioral addiction like to hide or give reasons for drinking. With progress and a little trickery, full blown alcohol addiction may happen without you realizing it.

Chemical addiction is often described as the point of no return. In real sense, there is a chemical reaction which takes place in the brain and it makes one dependent on alcohol. Literally, you spend every chance or opportunity to drink endlessly. This is where observers describe you as a workaholic in alcohol use, that is, you drink with passion and feel compelled to do it every single minute. When dependency sets in, an individual with alcohol addiction may get drunk and sleep unknowingly till morning only to wake up to look for some more alcohol to neutralize or quench the hangovers effects.

There are adverse health effects which accompany alcoholism whether you face behavioral or chemical addiction. For instance, damage to the liver and kidney is imminent in both stages. They will make you feel nauseated, lack concentration, experience anxiety and insomnia, live with guilt conscience,  and endlessly shake your body even without getting drunk. While these situations vary with every single alcoholic, the characteristics are far much the same. The bottom line is that, behavioral and chemical addiction may lead to other serious conditions which may end your life prematurely.

Naloxone For Addiction Treatment

Opiates comprise some of the drugs that can quickly form habit/ develop an addiction. The extreme ingestion of these drugs increases the risk of overdosing significantly. Opiates, among them being naloxone, heroin, morphine and most painkillers, suppress the central nervous system by attaching to the opioid receptors in the brain. The effects of opiates on the brain and the body comprise confusion, low heart rate and labored or non-existence breathing among others. The symptoms of an overdose comprise the accelerated version of these drugs' effects; loss of consciousness, as well as slow or no breathing.

The Use of Naloxone in Addiction Treatment

Naloxone is a synthetic opiate that is used to displace the molecules of other opiates from the brain's opioid receptors, in effect reversing the adverse effects of opiate use and overdose. As an opiate overdose treatment, naloxone is available in nasal spray and injectable forms. Any of these naloxone forms can be used on a patient who has overdosed if and when s/he is unconscious and not breathing. Calling out a person's name, checking his/ her pain response by rubbing knuckles on his/ her sternum or shaking him/ her comprise some of the techniques of checking a person's responsiveness.

Naloxone forms and dosages

Injectable

This naloxone comes in a package that comprises the liquid naloxone in a bottle, and syringe. A person who has overdosed should be injected with only 1CC of this naloxone directly into his/ her muscle at a ninety degrees angle. The person should start breathing and regain consciousness in 3-5 minutes after the treatment administration.

Nasal Spray

This naloxone comes in a package that contains a cartridge and a needleless syringe. The cartridge must be screwed onto the syringe's barrel, before introducing this drug into a person's nostrils. Half the contents of the cartridge (0.5CC) must be sprayed in the patient's nostril and the other half into the other nostril.

Naloxone can be used to treat opiate addiction and overdose. This is possible because it (naloxone) is also an opiate whose high affinity for attaching to the brain's opioid cells displaces other opiates. Thankfully, most outpatient services and pharmacies stock injectable and or nasal spray naloxone for quick access. Patients should regain consciousness within five minutes of naloxone administration. The process should be repeated if and when the first spray/ injection doesn't work within the five minutes.

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The Average Costs Of Drug And Alcohol Rehab

 

Drug and alcohol abusers will often look for justifications to continue their habit. A common reason for not getting sober is the cost of rehab. The truth is that rehab can be rather expensive. However, it's still a small price to pay when your life is at risk. In the end, rehab pays for itself when you take into account the money clients save once they stop using drugs and/or alcohol. What's more, some clinics do not ask for all of the funds to be paid immediately. Some offer finance options that allow the client to pay off the money gradually over time in more affordable installments. People who would be otherwise unable to afford it might be entitled to state funded rehab.

So, how much does rehab cost? Well the price of rehab varies by country and continent. In the United States, the price of rehab has increased rapidly in recent years.  A respectable rehab facility will charge a minimum of ten thousand dollars for treatment. The most prestigious rehab facilities cost a thousand dollars per day, or more.

In Europe, the price of rehab differs quite dramatically between countries. In the UK, rehab typically costs around one thousand dollars per week. However, the most famous UK rehab facility, for example, charges close to five thousand dollars for a week. In other parts of Europe, clients can expect to pay between fifteen and twenty thousand dollars for treatment lasting four or five weeks.

In Asia, rehab is relatively cheap when compared to American and European prices. Thus increasing numbers of people now are traveling as far afield as Thailand for rehab treatment. Of course, the reasonable price is not the only benefit of undergoing rehab treatment somewhere exotic. Such locations also afford clients the opportunity to change their lives for the better in a positive, tropical, tranquil setting where they are free from all of the dramas and stresses of life at home.

State-funded rehab is a viable option for those who struggle financially, but it is problematic. The waiting lists for state-funded rehab are long. What's more, there are currently more people in need of rehab treatment than the system can cope with.

In reality, the best option is to pay for rehab. The treatment offered is generally superior. It equips the client with the tools they require to enjoy a rich, full, sober life. Clients who pay are investing in their future. Once sober, clients no longer need to find funds for their habit. Essentially then, rehab pays for itself, and in many cases saves the life of the client.

What Is Post-Acute Withdrawal?

Anyone who thinks detoxing from drugs and alcohol ends with withdrawal should think again. Contrary to what most addicts, their loved ones, and even some behavioral and medical professionals believe, life does not get back to normal once the offending substances are out of the body. In reality, some symptoms can persist for months after one has stopped using. The withdrawal process has two phases:
• Acute Withdrawal
• Post-Acute Withdrawal

The first stage usually lasts for the first couple of weeks. During this stage, an addict experiences flu like symptoms as well as other physical symptoms. The second stage, on the other hand, can last for weeks or even months, depending on the intensity and length of active use. This stage tends to be less severe than the first stage and mostly involves more emotional and psychological symptom, but fewer physical symptoms. These symptoms persist even after all physical traces of drugs and/or alcohol has left the body and brain.

Post-acute withdrawal happens because the brain chemistry is slowly returning to normal. As the brain gradually improves, the brain chemicals levels fluctuate as they move towards the new equilibrium. Most people experience the same post-acute withdrawal symptoms. In contract, acute withdrawal symptoms may differ from person to person.

Symptoms of Post-Acute Withdrawal
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Low enthusiasm
• Anxiety
• Tiredness
• Variable energy
• Disturbed sleep
• Variable concentration
• Brain fog
• Problems with memory
• Problems with coordination
• Feelings of depression
• Cravings
• Obsessive compulsive disorder

These symptoms vary in duration and intensity from one person to another, usually in correlation with the duration and intensity of one's substance abuse. In addition, the symptoms can come and go in wave--like recurrences and fluctuate in severity. The post-acute withdrawal phase is a necessary process that all addicts in early recovery must go through as the body and brain begin to recover and adjust to life without drugs and/or alcohol.

Sometimes, even when an addict has a genuine desire to stay sober, the symptoms of post-acute withdrawal can be a driving factor in his/her relapse. Recovery can be a minefield; however, with the conscious understanding of what the obstacles are, addicts can find their way through them successfully.

Benzodiazepines As A Treatment Option For Insomnia

 One of the most popularly prescribed drugs for insomnia and anxiety falls into the family of pharmaceuticals commonly known as benzodiazepines.  Generally, these potent drugs cause sedation, muscle relaxation, and can significantly lower anxiety levels. Some of the benzodiazepines that are commonly used in treating insomnia are traizolam (Halcoin), temazepam (Restoril), Iorazepam (Ativan), quazepam (Doral), estazolam (ProSom), and flurazepam (Dalmane).

How Benzodiazepines Work

Benzodiazepines slow down the nervous system, which results into feelings of nervousness and anxiousness. In most cases, they are prescribed for people with bipolar disorders (but usually for short term use due to the risk of addiction).

Benzodiazepines majorly affect the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutryic acid (GABA). They  increase GABA in the brain, resulting into relaxing and sedative effect which works to combat anxiety.

As aforementioned, benzodiazepines are only prescribed for short term use since prolonged use is associated with dependency and resistance---these effects are especially high among the elderly. They are also not recommended for pregnant women as they may cause birth-related effects, for instance cleft palate.  Benzodiazepines should also be used with caution by people with history of alcohol, tobacco or other forms of drug abuse; people with depression; and those with breathing problems, liver or kidney function issues.

Side Effects

Like any other drug, there are certain common and serious side effects that are associated with benzodiazepines. First off, besides addiction, benzodiazepines can have adverse effects on coordination and can cause sleepiness and amnesia. In some cases, these drugs can also result into hostility and aggressive behaviors. It is therefore not recommended that these drugs be combined with alcohol and other substances that have inhibition effects on the central nervous system.

Additionally, it is not advisable to suddenly stop the use of these medications due to potential risks of seizure and other withdrawal-related effects. As an alternative, it is advisable that the dose is tapered off when benzodiazepine medications are being stopped. The use benzodiazepines to treat chronic is never recommended either, because there are other alternatives.

Bottom Line

If after careful consultation with your local doctor, it is deduced that benzodiazepines medications are to be used to treat your insomnia, you should endeavor to learn more about the medication.

Getting Help For An Alcoholic

Helping an alcoholic is not always easy, especially if it is a family member or a loved one. The first step, before even deciding on what help you can offer an alcoholic, is to acknowledge the problem; only then is there any realistic hope of getting help for an alcoholic.

Once an alcoholic has acknowledged that they have a problem and would like to seek help, the next step is to determine exactly what sort of help would be best. In some cases, your support and understanding is worth more to the person than any amount of counseling or rehab. Rehab isn't necessarily the best solution for everyone; a person has to want to undergo the treatment, and it depends on the severity of the alcoholism. It's also important to understand that it is impossible to make an alcoholic stop drinking unless you lock them in an empty room; ultimately they need to make that decision themselves, although you can certainly help.

A large part of getting help for an alcoholic is acknowledging what you are able to do to help, and realizing what is beyond your control. If your spouse drinks because there is beer in the fridge, don't buy it. If they stop at the bar for a drink on the way home from work, pick them up so the temptation is removed. There may be external factors making someone drink more than they should, such as getting over a divorce, stress at work, the loss of a job or a loved one. Avoid any situations which make an alcoholic want to drink, if at all possible. Understanding and identifying these can go some way towards getting help for a an alcoholic.

If someone you know has a drinking problem, remember that you can't make them address their problem. After all, some alcoholics are perfectly content with being an alcoholic and don't want to change. You can only point out to them how it makes you feel, and how it is destroying your relationship and tearing you apart, and can offer to help. The rest is up to them.

Prescription Drug Abuse: Here Are The Facts

 

Prescription drug abuse is far more common than many persons think. Unfortunately it is becoming even more popular among young teens. The misuse of prescription drugs is the third most popular form of drug abuse among those persons 14 years old and older. Prescription drug abuse follows closely behind Marijuana and alcohol as the drug of choice.

Opoids, Depressants and Stimulants

Popular prescription drugs that are abused generally fall into the categories of Opioids, Stimulants and Depressants. Drugs falling into these categories also go by popular street names like:

• Depressants: Barbs, Downers, Tooies, Phennies, Zombie Pills, A-minus, Reds, Yellow Jackets and Red Birds
• Opioids: Oxy, Oxycotton, OC, Happy Pills, Percs, Vikes and Hillbilly Heroin
• Stimulants: The smart drug, Vitamin R, Speed, Uppers, Skilly, Black Beauties, Hearts and Roses

As is suggested by some of the street names like uppers, downers, and percs, Opioids, Stimulants and Depressants are basically mood altering drugs. Unfortunately, many teenagers and young adults (primarily) will take these drugs for a myriad of reasons ranging from numbing pain and getting high, to creating greater focus for the purposes of school work. Opioids are pain killers, while depressants are used to alleviate anxiety, while stimulants are used in treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Prescription drugs within these categories that are likely to be abused include:

• Opioids: Codeine, OxyContin, Vicodin
• Depressants: Xanax, Valium
• Stimulants: Riterin, Adderall

As is the case with just about any prescription drug, when used as prescribed by a doctor, they are generally safe without many adverse side effects. However, in the case of substance abuse, proper use of these drugs is thrown out the window. When this happens, addiction and other problems are likely to result.

Who Uses What and Why

The differences in why these drugs are used, are closely related to the sex of the abuser, with boys being more likely to use prescriptions to get high while girls may be to be more alert or to help with weight loss. Whatever the reason however, it is clear that these drugs are often abused by those who are ignorant to the consequences. This may or may not be due in large part to the perception that prescription drugs are not hardcore drugs like cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol. As such, the abuse of prescription drugs is generally perceived differently.

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