Thursday, December 10, 2015
Effects of Drug Addiction
Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment
Drug Addiction Recovery
Drug Addiction Programs
Drug Addiction in the Philippines
Most of the drug users in the Philippines are young people. Illicit drugs that are present include marijuana, LSD, opiates, and barbiturates. While there are no hard fast statistics available, it is estimated that as many as 60,000 young people in the Philippines are dealing with drug addiction.
Within a period of ten years, the incidence of drug addiction rose dramatically according to studies done in this tiny country. The majority of drug users are students with marijuana being the drug of choice. Many people believe that this rise is attributable to simple curiosity, but more likely because Philippine youth are trying to emulate their Western counterparts here in the United States.
Because so much attention is focused on drug addiction in America, the information is readily available in the Philippines as are the drugs. This has increased the demand for drugs thus pushing drug dealers to grow their own cannabis plants, which is illegal in the Philippines. There have been recent reports as well of drugs being manufactured in illegal laboratories. Local narcotics police have made several raids to try and curb this activity, but of course, to no avail.
To meet the challenge of the drug abuse problem several measures, both private and governmental, are being taken. Violators of narcotic laws who make known to the authorities the fact of their addiction and their desire to be cured are referred to the Addiction Institute of the National Bureau of Investigation so that they may undergo treatment and rehabilitation.
On another front, a new organization-the Narcotic Foundation of the Philippines-has recently been formed. This is a private association not related to Government institutions and treatment centers; its aims are to raise funds for the treatment and reorientation of young addicts, and to educate the public against the dangers of drug addiction. It is to be hoped that the efforts made by this newly-founded organization, along with the efforts of the Addiction Institute and other interested bodies, will help the country to eventually cope with the alarming growth in local drug abuse.
Drug addiction in the Philippines is a growing problem, but it is one that the Philippine government is trying to tackle and take hold of. Just as in the United States, drug addiction is nothing to be taken lightly no matter where it happens – here or in the Philippines.
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Drug Addiction Help
The truth is there is a reason why there are so many organizations and facilities that help people with drug addiction. That’s because these places truly believe that everyone who has a drug addiction deserves help. Alcoholics Anonymous was started because its founder wanted to help other people become free of the hold alcohol has on their lives. Many rehab facilities were opened for the same reason.
To get help for drug addiction, start with local resources. Talk with your doctor. If you don’t have a doctor, find one. They are going to be your best first contact when it comes to battling and eventually overcoming drug addiction.
In nearly every telephone book in the country, there are drug abuse hotlines that you can call to get help. These are staffed by sympathetic volunteers who can guide you to the help you are looking for. Plus, you’ll stay anonymous and be able to talk freely.
Talk with your family about your drug addiction. They will be your support system as you travel down the road toward sobriety. Having their support will be instrumental in making a full recovery. They can also help you find a facility or program that will fit your specific needs in overcoming drug addiction.
There is a lot of great self-help information on the Internet in the form of articles and books. You can also research rehab facilities online. There is really a lot of difference between treatment centers, so if you are considering this route for your recovery, find one that fits your particular needs.
If you think you have a possible drug addiction, it is so important to seek out help – both for your sake as well as that of your loved ones. Drug addiction doesn’t have to be a way of life. It is possible to stop the cycle of use and abuse and live a full, healthy life. When you seek out help for drug addiction, you are doing a very brave thing, but more importantly, you are taking control of your life instead of letting the drugs take control of you!
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Drug Addiction Facts
Drug addiction is characterized by an uncontrollable craving for a drug and the inability to keep from using that drug. Whether your drug of choice is marijuana, nicotine, alcohol, or something stronger like heroin or cocaine, it takes control of your life making it impossible for you to live without it.
The fact is that you have a physical dependence on the drug and when it is taken away from you – meaning if you don’t use it – the physical implications become too much to bear. Addicts are beset with uncontrollable shaking, hallucinations, sleeping problems, and even heart arrhythmia when they don’t use drugs.
Drugs affect the way our brain works. It takes hold of portions of the central nervous system and the effects of the drugs you use are shown in the way you act and think. They also affect the chemicals in your brain and how they work to regulate your brain activity. This is why drug use and addiction has such a strong hold on the user.
Drug addiction is also characterized by compulsive behaviors such as promiscuity, stealing, and acting in ways you wouldn’t normally without the drug. In fact, most drug addicts will do whatever they have to do to get their drugs, even if it means acting in ways that are less than desirable.
Another fact of drug addiction is that there are certain people who are more prone to becoming an addict. These include people who are children of drug abusers or users, people with low self-esteem, and people who feel they have no control over their lives. Unfortunately, once individuals with these pre-existing factors begin using drugs, those drugs become part of who they are and they are almost powerless to stop.
Social circumstances also play a huge part in addiction. Casual drug use often begins in social situations like clubs or parties. Then it spills over into private life and the user will find themselves using when they’re not in these situations. Eventually, they find they are addicted and cannot live without that drug.
Drug addiction knows no boundaries and doesn’t pick and choose its victims. All walks of life are affected from the rich to the poor and everyone in between. Well-known celebrities and everyday Joes can fall prey to its stronghold that drugs can put on their lives. That’s why it’s so important to learn as much as you can about drug use and addiction and stop the problem before it starts.
The facts about drug addiction are vast and widespread. But the cold hard fact is that it is an epidemic that is spreading and growing. Drug addiction is a blight on society, and it needs to be conquered. If we want to win the “war” on drugs and minimize its impact on our lives, we first need to get the facts – the facts about drug addiction. You’ve gotten a good start by reading this article!
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Drug Addiction Disease
Although drug use initially is voluntary once an addiction develops, that control is markedly changed. Imaging studies have shown specific abnormalities in the brains of some, but not all, addicted individuals. While scientific advancements in the understanding of addiction have occurred at unprecedented speed in recent years, unanswered questions remain that highlight the need for further research to better define the neurobiological processes involved in addiction.
Recent studies have increased our knowledge of how drugs affect gene expression and brain circuitry, and how these factors affect human behavior. They have shed new light on the relationship between drug abuse and mental illness, and the roles played by heredity, age, and other factors in increased vulnerability to addiction. New knowledge from future research will guide new strategies and change the way clinicians approach the prevention and treatment of addiction.
When we approach drug addiction as a disease instead of as a choice, the treatment options are greatly increased. We can research what areas of the brain are affected and find the best methods to address that affliction specifically. Doctors treat cancer, diabetes, and other disease like this, drug addiction should be no different.
Viewing drug addiction as a disease can also help researchers delve further into genetic propensity to drug use and addiction. That means we will know whether or not drug and alcohol use is linked to our family history and will be able to tackle the problem before it actually becomes a problem.
There are medications available to treat withdrawal symptoms when a person stops using drugs, but when drug addiction is researched as a disease, scientists will be able to come up with new medications that could actually prevent drug use from becoming an addiction. Similar to medications that make alcoholics sick when they drink.
There are all sorts of diseases in the world. There’s no doubt about it that drug addiction is one of them. We need to start looking at it in that way and then taking the appropriate steps to treat drug addiction just as we would another disease like cancer or Alzheimer’s.
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Drug Addiction Counseling
When you are trying to overcome a demon as huge as a drug problem, drug addiction counseling should be one of the first things you do after you realize you have a problem. Because of the complexity of the disease, it is essential that you find help as soon as possible in order to have an effective support system while you are going through the recovery process.
Drug addiction counseling can be as simple as contacting a therapist or counselor to talk to or as involved as finding a support group where there are several of you partaking of group therapy. Either way, you must have some help when going through recovery from drug addiction.
What should you look for when trying to find drug addiction counseling? You need someone who is certified and experienced with what you are going through. You may also want to look for someone who is willing to involve your family since they are going to be your primary support system in the first place.
How do you find counseling for your drug addiction? There are many places you can turn to. Look in your local newspaper for 12-step groups that might be meeting in your area. Contact a church minister and ask people you know. Someone knows how to get you the help you need.
If you really don’t know where to turn to find drug addiction counseling, go online and search the Internet. There are many, many places that offer online counseling for drug problems that can address your own addiction as well as many others. The advantage of a community like this is that you are completely anonymous and you are speaking with others who are in various stages of their own recovery. They can help you, and, perhaps, you can help them too!
Drug addiction counseling is very important when you decide it’s time to kick your drug habit. If you try to do it alone, you’ll be lacking a very important part of recovery. You need to treat both your mind and your body. When you take steps to get drug addiction counseling, you’ll be doing yourself a favor and your recovery will be much, much easier!
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Drug Addiction Center
There are many different types of drug addiction centers today. All are based on essentially the same premise – to heal the body along with the mind and allow an addict to live a drug-free life.
Faith based drug addiction centers center around spirituality and religion as their basis for healing and therapy. They are often associated with a specific religion, but others just ask that patients have a belief in a higher power. Faith based centers can be a great way to heal your drug addiction, but they can also be pushy when it comes to religion. If you’re not a religious person, you may be better off choosing a secular center.
Secular drug addiction centers are clinical environments that revolve treatment around tested principles for recovery. They offer both group and individual therapy and don’t necessarily focus on one specific type of spirituality but rather on the strength of the individual and his or her support system.
Almost all drug addiction centers treat addicts as normal people who just have a problem. If they don’t, they aren’t a reputable center. The people who work there should be compassionate individuals with a true interest in healing people of their addiction and getting them on the road to a drug-free life.
People from all walks of life are patients at drug addiction centers. You will see high-powered businessmen, housewives, teenagers, and street people at rehab facilities. Drug addiction doesn’t care who it takes hold of, it just wants some takers.
You will find an amazing amount of support in these places – support that is essential if you are going to beat drugs and get them out of your life. Drug addiction centers will also give you tools for coping with life once you exit the facility. This is essential because if you don’t know how to resist what led you to drugs in the first place, you will become a user again.
Drug addiction centers are wonderful places for people to go to beat the hold that drugs have on them. They are motivating, supporting, and can give hope to a person who thought that overcoming their addiction was a hopeless endeavor. Choose a rehab facility wisely and embrace what it has to offer. Then the healing can begin.
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Drug Addiction Articles
Why are there so many? Well, because drug addiction is a very real problem in our country affecting millions and millions of people. We are desperate to find information to help ourselves or our loved ones with an addiction problem and these articles are great sources of facts, figures, and helpful tips to help beat addiction.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are looking for drug addiction information through articles you find on the Internet. First, look at the author. Who are they? What makes them qualified to write an article on drug addiction? Are they credible and reliable?
See if the author quotes specific sources. There is a lot of false information on the Web, and the last thing you need is to get hold of erroneous data. This is especially true if you are looking for self-help ways to heal yourself or others.
Does the article provide real information or is it just “fluff” so to speak. Many writers will use filler words to make their articles look longer and they’re really not presenting you with any new information. Scan the article quickly and see if it’s something that would pertain to you and your specific situation.
Are there any statistics in the article? Data is readily available on drug addiction as studies are constantly being conducted so that we can better understand the problem and find ways to combat addiction. The use of statistics in an article is great, but be sure to look at the date the numbers were compiled. In 2007, a study that was done in 2000 probably will not present reliable information that can help you.
You will want to find a reliable article that can direct you toward finding more information than what is presented there in 500 words or so. Does the article send you to a specific drug addiction website for more information or do they just present the information and that’s that?
For example, if you are reading an article about how to find a drug addiction treatment facility, does the article state any specific facilities that you can look at or do they remain unbiased and not mention anywhere? This is good and bad because you may be looking for a specific name of a clinic but are left on your own to find one. On the other hand, you don’t want to get information from a one-sided source – meaning someone who has an affiliation with a specific facility. Then you are only getting part of the picture, and that part may not be right for you.
Drug addiction articles abound, and they can all be helpful. If you keep in mind these simple tips, you’ll be able to get the information you are looking for when reading that article.
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Drug Addiction and Therapy
When you seek therapy for your drug addiction problem, you are being pro-active when it comes to getting on the road to recovery. You will need someone to talk to as you try to get sober. What better person than a trained professional who can guide you down the rights paths as you make your journey?
Therapy can take many forms. You can participate in group therapy which involves sitting down with others who are also struggling with drug addiction. The advantage to group therapy is that there are people surrounding you who are thinking and feeling much of the same things that you are. You are able to talk with them about their own coping strategies and perhaps even share your own.
Individualized therapy for drug addiction is also a helpful avenue to explore. You speak one-on-one with a trained counselor who will listen to your concerns and then advise you on coping strategies. The advantage to individual therapy is that you can voice your personal concerns and they are addressed specifically toward you.
Some people find drug addiction therapy daunting and scary, but it truly is an effective way to overcome the pain that goes with becoming drug-free. The drugs have taken hold of not only your body, but your mind as well. You are just a person and can’t be expected to just go it alone. That’s why using therapy to overcome your drug addiction is so important.
Counseling and other behavioral therapies are critical components of drug recovery. No one treatment is appropriate for everyone. That’s why you need to do a little research and find the treatment that is good for you – the individual!
Drug addiction and therapy truly go together. You can’t expect to overcome one without the other. And why would you want to? You are starting a huge undertaking and going it alone is a recipe for disaster. If you have a drug addiction, look into therapy and heal thyself – with the help of your therapist, of course!
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Drug Addiction and the Family
There are many emotions involved in a family when dealing with drug addiction. You may find yourself feeling angry toward the addict. This is normal. You wonder how this happened, why it happened, and what you could have done to stop it.
You may feel depressed and helpless, even responsible for your loved one’s addiction. This too is a normal reaction. Often when someone we love is in pain, such as the pain associated with drug addiction, we tend to look for excuses for their behavior. We take the pain on for them and don’t make them take responsibility for their actions.
To begin with, realize that this is a huge mistake. The person with the drug addiction was the one who brought it into your family in the first place, and he or she needs to take responsibility for that. It’s not easy and will be painful for all involved, but once the addict realizes that their actions have consequences, they can take charge of their recovery fully.
Family therapy is a great way to help with drug addiction. Family therapy consists of all members of the family getting together with the assistance of a trained professional and talking about the issues that all are having when it comes to the addict and the addiction itself. Family therapy can be intense but amazingly therapeutic as well. It’s the perfect time to air your feelings in a safe setting with the help of a moderator to keep things on track.
Family and friends can play critical roles in motivating loved ones with an addiction to enter and stay in treatment. Family therapy is important – especially with teen addicts. Having the involvement of family members in a person’s treatment program can strengthen and extend the benefits of the addict’s treatment program.
Drug addiction and family is a volatile situation, but one that can be faced and addressed with love, caring, and compassion. If your family is affected by drug addiction, be supportive and listen with an open heart. It will help you, those around you, and most important the family member with the addiction.
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Drug Addiction and Pregnancy
A mother taking illegal drugs during pregnancy increases her risk for anemia, blood and heart infections, skin infections, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases. She also is at greater risk for sexually transmitted diseases. Most drugs cross the placenta – the organ that provides nourishment to the baby. Some can cause direct toxic, or poisonous effets and create a child who is born with a drug addiction.
During pregnancy, a woman needs to take active steps to combat her drug addiction, if not for herself, but for the good of her unborn child. While most drugs don’t necessarily cause deformities, what they can do is stunt the growth of the child leading to low birth weight and having a baby born already addicted to drugs.
Once that child takes his or her first breath, they begin the painful process of withdrawing from drugs. This puts stress on the baby’s organs and provides for a very unhappy life. As much pain as an adult goes through during withdrawal, the pain is compounded for a helpless child.
A urine lab test performed on a woman during her pregnancy called a chromatography can detect the presence of many drugs including marijuana and cocaine. Marijuana use during pregnancy is linked to behavioral problems in the child and cocaine can bring on premature delivery and even stillbirth.
Drug addiction is a very complex mental condition as well a physical one. During pregnancy, it becomes a serious health risk both for the mother and the baby. After birth, you may find yourself having troubles coping with the stress of a newborn. You may have difficulty dealing with your baby’s needs such as feeding and diapering.
So what can you do if you are dealing with drug addiction during pregnancy? This can be problematic, especially if the child is not planned. The best thing you can do is to stop using drugs immediately. Sure, this will cause severe physical symptoms, but those generally subside within a few weeks. Get yourself into some type of treatment program and get counseling.
A pregnancy is exciting, but when you are struggling with drug addiction, it can be painful. You owe it to yourself and you owe it to your child to beat your drug addiction and have a healthy pregnancy.
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Drug Addiction and Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is the use of illegal drugs or the inappropriate use of legal drugs. People who abuse drugs are using them to obtain a specific feeling – a “high” – that they can’t get from other substances. Often drug abuse is recreational with the drugs being used to loosen a person up and make them feel like they fit in with the crowd.
Drug addiction, on the other hand, is the uncontrollable use of drugs and the inability to stop using drugs in spite of health or social consequences. People with a drug addiction are physically and emotionally unable to stop using drugs. Their bodies have become used to having the drug in the system, and stopping the drug use brings about often painful physical and psychological symptoms.
Drug addiction does begin with drug abuse when an individual makes a conscious choice to use drugs, but addiction is not just "a lot of drug use." Recent scientific research provides overwhelming evidence that not only do drugs interfere with normal brain functioning creating powerful feelings of pleasure, but they also have long-term effects on brain metabolism and activity.
At some point, changes occur in the brain that can turn drug abuse into addiction, a chronic, relapsing illness. Those addicted to drugs suffer from a compulsive drug craving and usage and cannot quit by themselves. Treatment is necessary to end this compulsive behavior.
Many people view drug abuse and addiction as strictly a social problem. Parents, teens, older adults, and other members of the community tend to characterize people who take drugs as morally weak or as having criminal tendencies. They believe that drug abusers and addicts should be able to stop taking drugs if they are willing to change their behavior. This just isn’t true.
People from all walks of life abuse drugs and become addicted. We can start combating these problems if we educate ourselves and each other about drug abuse and drug addiction. It is an ever-growing epidemic that doesn’t have to take hold of people or society. Drug abuse and drug addiction can be stopped, but only if we start with education.
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Drug Abuse and Addiction
Drug abuse is basically the repeated or uncontrolled use of controlled substances. It can also be defined as the habitual misuse of a chemical substance. This definition includes the use of drugs for purposes other than what they were intended. In fact, drug abuse has a range of definitions, but all suggest disapproval at the use or overuse of a drug for non-therapeutic reasons.
Drug addiction, on the other hand is when the body has an uncontrollable craving for a drug and absence of that drug in a person’s system causes adverse effects such as insomnia, uncontrollable shaking, and nausea. Drugs interfere with the normal functioning of the brain making it altered to the point that functioning without the drug is virtually impossible.
When a person is addicted to drugs, they continue to use the drug despite adverse health reactions and possible damage to their bodies. They disregard their personal health in favor of continuing the feeling that they get when they are on their drug of choice. Stopping usage is just not a viable option for them. This is when abuse becomes addiction and when it must be faced and addressed head on.
Understanding drug abuse and addiction can help in preventing drug use to rise to problem proportions. When you know exactly what you are dealing with, it’s a little easier to begin looking for treatment options.
Whether you or a loved one is abusing drugs or are addicted to drugs, treatment needs to be sought as soon as possible to help ward off serious health implications. Treatment can have a profound effect on both the drug user, but also on society as a whole. Healing the addicts in our society improves social and psychological functioning and makes for a more peaceful community and world.
In fact, drug abuse is the number one cause of preventable illness and death in the United States. It doesn’t matter if we talk about cocaine, heroin, or alcohol, a drug is a drug and those drugs cause problems with the human body. It is preventable and education is the first step.
Drug abuse and addiction are blights on society. Both have been around for years and years, but if we take the time to recognize not only the difference between the two, but also the signs and signals that indicate drug use, we can begin to heal ourselves both as individual people and as a society.
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Definition of Drug Addiction
The definition of drug addiction should also include the fact that it is a state of heavy dependence on a specific drug. Generally, it’s thought of as a physical dependence, but in actuality, there is a psychological addiction as well as an emotional dependence. Some say that it is compulsive and pathological drug use or substance dependence.
Drug addiction is also a behavior disorder as the initial drug use is generally done as a reaction to a behavior or situation that seems out of control to the user. The user seems to have no other choice but to use that drug because of the body’s dependence on the fact that the drug will remain present in the system.
A distinction should be made between drug use and drug addiction. It is possible for people to use drugs without becoming addicted, but that is generally limited to prescription drug use. People who take drugs to cope with a physical ailment do so to control pain or the adverse effects of a physical condition. Those drugs improve the quality of life for the sufferer, but they are not necessarily addicted to the drugs.
To be dependent on a drug – or addicted to it – the user must take the drug regularly, and they experience unpleasant symptoms if they stop using the drug such as nausea or sleep disturbance. Substance abuse or addiction is present when a person uses a drug despite the harm that it causes to their system.
There is a difference between drug abuse and drug addiction. Drug abuse occurs when a person uses excessive amounts of a drug at one time or frequently. Drug addiction is present when a person cannot stop using the drug and stopping the drug seems like an impossibility.
Of course, no definition of drug addiction is complete without noting that it is both a physical dependence as well as a psychological one. Physical dependency occurs when a drug has been used habitually and the body has become accustomed to its effects. Psychological dependency is present when the drug is used habitually and the mind has become accustomed to the effects the drug produces.
When drug addiction affects a person’s life, the definition of that drug addiction becomes a bit less important than the reasons why people use. However, it can help multitudes if a definition is specified so that a better understanding of drug addiction can occur.
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Cops Bust Drug Ring
The people who run these drug rings are living a lavish lifestyle and profiting off the drugs that they peddle. Some of the biggest drug ring busts we hear about occur along the coastlines where smugglers will bring over large quantities of drugs from places like Columbia or Costa Rica.
But cops bust drug rings all the time right here in the United States. A quick “Google” search shows all sorts of news stories about how police have busted up drug rings in American cities. These busts usually involve intense surveillance and take quite a bit of time in order to build a case against the dealers.
Drug rings are located all over the United States, Canada, and also in foreign countries. You see, drugs are big business, so when these dealers find a way to increase their traffic and make more money, that’s when they begin to form a drug ring. When cops go to bust a drug ring, they have spent a lot of time building a case against the people involved.
Drug kingpins who run drug rings find out quite quickly that a bust is a very “expensive” endeavor. By “expensive”, we mean all assets acquired by the leader will be seized if cops suspect those assets were bought with drug money. Bank accounts are frozen, and personal property is gathered as the case against the leader gets stronger.
When cops bust a drug ring, the people who are arrested face a pretty hefty sentence as well. These vary from state to state and from country to country of course, but in general, sentences can run anywhere from 10 years to life in a penitentiary. They also face hefty fine and their families are inevitably affected.
Busting drug rings is a high priority for not only our federal government, but also for state and local municipalities. It’s essential for controlling the effects that drugs have on our society. When cops bust more drug rings, that’s one less chance that drugs will be available for sale and consumption – and then we can begin winning the war on drugs!
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Celebrity Drug Addiction
Big names like Whitney Houston, Keith Urban, Charlie Sheen, Robert Downey, Jr., and Drew Barrymore, to name just a few, have all been through drug rehabilitation for their addictions, and the list is much longer than that! Why do so many celebrities fall prey to the perils of drug addiction?
Just like people who are not in the limelight, celebrities deal with different stresses in their lives. The difference is that their stresses are much larger in general than everyday people. They have to deal with paparazzi, managers, critics, the media, and every word they say is noted and commented on.
There is a lot of insecurity in the world of fame and fortune. When celebrities feel that insecurity so strongly, they look for a way out, an escape from their problem – that escape is often drugs. That’s not even taking into consideration the price that comes with sudden fame.
When celebrities go from being everyday people to being thrust into the spotlight, they often have trouble adjusting. Leading a private life doesn’t become an option as their every move is followed and their rises and falls are noted sometimes with scorn from fans.
There’s something that goes along with celebrity in that many stars feel as if they’re almost immune to the possibility of becoming addicted to drugs. It’s a matter of having so much money, they figure, “Why not, I won’t get addicted”. Being a celebrity is a hugely stressful profession and actually, they are more prone to drug addiction because of that stress.
Celebrity drug addiction is really no different from non-celebrity drug addiction. It is just as serious and just as difficult to quit. That is why so many celebrities are seeking out rehab facilities in an attempt to kick their habit for good. Places like Promises and The Betty Ford Clinic are brimming with celebrity patients seeking to overcome their drug addiction.
The good news is that with celebrity drug addiction becoming so well-known, more people are less afraid to seek out treatment for their own addictions. They realize that if the people they look up to – celebrities – can fall victim to drug addiction, so can they. And if those same people are strong enough to be treated for that drug addiction, they can be strong as well.
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Causes of Drug Addiction
People who have a history of drug use or abuse in their families are at risk for drug addiction problems. It has been proven that children of alcoholics will exhibit addictive tendencies. Children of alcoholics or drug users generally have low self-esteem and see their parents escaping from problems using drugs. When they see this, their minds say that this is the way to act and they themselves become users.
There is also a biological basis for causing drug addiction. Drugs alter the brain’s chemicals and the way the brain functions. Drug addiction creates dependence in the brain by changing the brain’s reward functions – the part that reinforces certain behaviors.
Prescription drug addiction is caused by the person’s inability to function without the drug in their system. People become addicted to prescription drugs because they usually are taking them to overcome some type of pain. They begin to feel that if they are not taking their pills, the pain will return.
Some people are more prone to addiction than others. People who have low self-esteem, are often depressed, and who feel they have no control over their lives will often turn to drugs as a way to cope. They often feel they can’t please the people around them so they have to change themselves in order to fit in. The change is made easier by using drugs because the drugs transform them into someone and something that they are not.
Stress is often attributed as a cause of drug addiction. Life can be very stressful no matter who you are. Some of us are better able to cope with stress than others. Others still just look for an easy way to forget their stress – and that easy way is through drugs. Once the drug use starts, it’s often difficult to get away from it because the stresses will still be there once the high is gone, so the user feels he or she needs more drugs to cope. That type of cycle leads to addiction.
Finally, drugs are easily accessible. They are available in many places if you just ask around for them. Because of that easy access, it’s more likely that a person will begin using eventually becoming addicted.
The causes of drug addiction are wide and varied. The key to stopping drug addiction is to get rid of those causes before they become a problem.
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Causes of Drug Addiction Treated by Narconon
The treatment does not use any drugs of any type to ease the pain of withdrawal and provides drug rehabilitation, education, and prevention services. Much of Narconon’s programs are presented in school classrooms using materials developed by the Narconon professionals. The materials are meant to supplement the school’s existing drug prevention program.
Proponents of the Narconon program claim a 70 percent success rate with combating drug addiction compared to a 30 percent rate in other rehabilitation programs. Hubbard created the program after doing extensive research and studies on drug addiction causes and how to combat the disease effectively without the use of drugs.
The premise of the Narconon model states that addicts can resume normal, healthy, productive lives when they work with the skills they are given in the program. The program can be administered out-patient or at an in-patient Narconon sanctioned facility.
Generally, the Narconon program takes four to six months to work effectively. Participants are said to be going “back to school” to become re-educated on drugs, the dangers of drug, drug addiction, and drug recovery. All of this is done without the benefit of pharmaceutical help.
Like the Scientology religion, Narconon has its opponents who say that the information that is presented isn’t always scientifically sound even if the program claims it is. They say that Narconon skews information so that it supports their conclusions and doesn’t give the whole picture. Some see that as a form of brain washing and thus write off Narconon as a scam.
Opponents also say that the educational materials given to schools don’t take into account developmental abilities of the students they are trying to reach. The materials for elementary schools are basically the same as the materials for high schools. The materials are more scientific without providing explanations or definitions for presenters to help children with their comprehension of what is being presented.
The causes of drug addiction are wide and varied and Narconon claims to address them fully through their program. Even if their information isn’t as accurate as some would hope, they do have a certain amount of success with those who go through their classes. Because the causes of drug addiction are far-reaching, perhaps Narconon is an answer for those who need it.
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Books on Drug Addiction
Walk into any bookstore, go to the self-help section, and see how many books there are on drug addiction. For those who are struggling with addiction, it can be a soothing sight. If you have a loved one with addiction, it’s a comfort as well to know that there are so many tools available for you to help your loved one beat their habits.
A quick search on www.amazon.com for “drug addiction recovery” shows over 200 books available for sale. That’s a huge selection to choose from!
There are also a number of e-books available online that can be purchased and downloaded often for just a little bit of money. These e-books are often written by very qualified people who have researched the subject in-depth and brought together information from various sources. The advantage to buying an e-book is that you don’t have to pore through several different websites to get information plus, you can usually download them any time of the day or night. How convenient is that?
You don’t necessarily have to buy a book on drug addiction. There is a wealth of information available at your public library as well. Most libraries will let you keep your book for an extended period of time as long as you continue to renew the check-out.
What should you look for in a book on drug addiction? Actually, a lot! First, look at the author. Are they a medical professional or a therapist? Do they have the qualifications and credibility to write a book on drug addiction?
Is the book organized well and easy to read? Does it have chapters that apply to your particular situation? When you look over the index, see if anything interests you or looks like it’s something you have never thought about when it comes to drug addiction.
Of course, price has got to be a big factor when you are choosing a book on drug addiction. Will you be getting the information you need for the money you will be spending? Most books will be priced in the $20 - $40 range at the bookstore. E-books are generally much cheaper, so keep that in mind when making your selection.
If you are dealing with a drug addiction or have a loved one with a drug addiction, books can be great resources for getting help with the problem. Being pro-active when it comes to the situation you are in makes recovery from drug addiction a slightly easier road to travel. When you are armed with information, you’ll have the tools you need!
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Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is defined as an uncontrollable craving for a substance that a person feels they must have in order to live. Alcoholism is defined in much the same way. When a person has an addiction to alcohol, they can’t see their life without drinks in it. The presence of alcohol has become a “given” and they are not willing to give that crutch up without a fight. The cold harsh reality is that people with alcoholism are drug addicts plain and simple.
Alcoholism causes a person to think that they cannot live without the “buzz” that alcohol gives them. Alcohol has been classified as a drug by the Food and Drug Administration, so a person with alcoholism does suffer from a drug addiction.
The good news is that there is help for people who are suffering. Perhaps the most well-known organization that helps people with alcoholism is Alcoholics Anonymous. This is a private group that meets several times a week and centers on twelve steps of recovery. Making it through the twelve steps leads to a full recovery from alcohol addiction although it is still a struggle to stay sober.
People who have a drug addiction to substances such as heroin and cocaine suffer from withdrawal symptoms. People with alcoholism do too. The far-reaching effects of drug addiction and alcoholism can stay with a person for years making it obvious that the similarities between the two evident.
When you decide to seek out help for your alcoholism, it’s important that you acknowledge the fact that you are also suffering from an addiction to a powerful drug. Once you face that fact, you can really start on the road to recovery.
Alcoholism is a serious disease just as drug addiction is. While you may not think that being addicted to alcohol is as serious as being addicted to heroin, it can still affect your body in ways you never even thought of. Do a little research and pay attention to what the experts say about your problem.
If you think you have an addiction to the drug that causes alcoholism – alcohol – it’s important that you seek help as soon as you can. You deserve to be healthy and live a long, clean life. The time to start is now.
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Alcohol and Drug Addiction
Drugs and alcohol make people feel good. When they are able to feel those feelings, they are apt to use more just to maintain that feeling. Eventually, the drugs and/or alcohol take hold of a person’s life until they are completely controlled by the effects they are used to. They may realize they have a problem, but when the painful withdrawal symptoms start, using seems like a much better option than suffering.
The United States has declared a “war on drugs”. This is a great effort, but it might just be too big of an epidemic to control. The real truth is that if we take a personal interest in healing those around us, we can gain control of the problem one person at a time – if we’re lucky.
Recognizing the signs of alcohol and drug addiction are actually quite easy – when you know what you’re looking for. While the following signs are just suggestions to look for, don’t take them lightly:
* Chronic bloodshot eyes
* Behavior other than normal
* Always disappearing for long periods of time
* Problems with work or school
* Excessive shaking or tremors
* Financial problems
* Avoidance of social situations
* Spacey or unintelligible conversation
If you recognize any of these signs in a loved one, you should take steps to confront your loved one and try to steer them towards recovery efforts. The process is not simple, but when you take the time to help them realize that what they are doing is damaging not only themselves but those around them, they will possibly be more open to help.
Alcohol and drug addiction can be debilitating to families all over the world. It takes hold of lives and can ruin them in an instant. Drug and alcohol addiction are very serious diseases that should not be ignored. If you think you or a loved one might be struggling with this powerful problem, seek help now!
There are more resources available now than ever before when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction. Whether you seek out help from an in-patient rehab facility or through a counseling service, it’s imperative that help be gotten in any way. Drug and alcohol addiction can be conquered, but first, there needs to be an admission that a problem exists. That doesn’t mean weakness, that actually means strength!
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The Psychiatric Aspect of Drug Addiction
Because we are these complex beings with the capabilities of thinking and reasoning, we often discount the mind as just a small part of who we are. Nothing could be further from the truth. The psychiatric implications of drug use are ever prevalent and can wreak havoc in the lives of someone with an addiction to drugs.
What exactly are we talking about? The psychiatric aspects of the mind and how our mind can control our lives is something mental professionals have known about for awhile now. It’s time you learned yourself.
For example, if you are the child of an addict – whether it be a pot-head parent or an alcoholic parent, your mind begins to justify your own marijuana use or alcohol use as being alright. After all, if your parents are doing it, it can’t be all bad for you – right? Well, that’s what your mindset becomes.
Drugs also have an effect on the brain. It’s a proven, scientific fact that addiction is a brain problem and the American Psychiatric Association has proven this. When you start using drugs, your brain gets used to having that drug around. When it’s not present, your mind starts “talking” to you and you believe what it says – that you must have that drug to function.
What can you do to try and beat the psychiatric implications of drug addiction? The best answer to that question is to get some help. That means talking to a counselor or health professional about your addiction and asking ways that you can overcome your addiction.
There are many programs available to people who are dealing with drug addiction. They treat both the mind and the body, because you will be going through some withdrawal symptoms when you decide to stop doing drugs. With professional help, you will be able to successfully conquer the hold that drug addiction has on you, your life, and your mind.
You don’t necessarily have to enter a rehab facility, but when you contact a psychiatrist or psychologist seeking help for your addictions, you will find that beating that demon will become much, much easier. Rehab facilities can be expensive and so can psychiatrists, but once you realize that you will need outside help to beat your addiction, you will be better able to get on your way to a drug-free life.
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