Signs and Symptoms of ICE Use and Abuse

Posted on June 28, 2017 by dr-admin

Ice is a purified crystalline form of methamphetamine that is also known as crystal meth. It can be manufactured using cold medicine and chemicals like battery acid, antifreeze, or drain cleaner. Ice is a central nervous system stimulant that can rapidly lead to dependence and addiction. Among the most common signs that someone is using ice are irritability, problems sleeping, tooth decay, and weight loss. A few of the symptoms of ice abuse are kidney damage, heart attacks, depression, anxiety, and intense cravings.

It can be difficult to determine if someone is using ice if you don’t know what to look for. Commonly referred to as crystal, crank, shards, glass, Tina, or crystal meth, ice has become a serious problem across the globe. Ice abuse can lead to psychological issues, co-occurring disorders, and other problems in a person’s life.

A lot of people using ice don’t know who to turn to when they want to stop, or where to go for help for that matter. If you suspect someone is using crystal meth or ice, or if you yourself are using crystal meth—don’t give up hope. There are a lot of people who want to help.

What Is Ice?

Ice first showed up in the 1980s and has since become popular in the United States, Europe, Mexico, and other countries throughout the world. Ice is a central nervous system stimulant that can be smoked, diluted and intravenously injected, or ground into a powder and snorted. Ice is a purified crystalline form of methamphetamine and looks like a fragment of glass. The color of the drug can be clear, gray, brown, yellow, orange, or pink; depending on the ingredients.

How Is Ice Made?

Crystal meth is characteristic of large cities, but drug trafficking brings it to rural areas as well. Make no mistake, ice isn’t only manufactured in cities or other heavily populated regions; it can be produced in what are known as meth labs. These labs can be anything from a shed, van, or even a tent in the woods. To make ice, a person cooks up ingredients like pseudoephedrine (cold medicine), battery acid, antifreeze, or drain cleaner.

Unfortunately, those preparing the drugs are often using them as well, so this can rapidly become a dangerous situation. Not only to society but also to the environment. Meth labs create a lot of toxic waste which isn’t likely disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. Not only that, the accidental explosions meth labs can cause are often detrimental to anyone nearby.

Understanding Ice Abuse

Methamphetamine is similar to amphetamine, which is used in medicine to and treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder by stimulating the part of the brain and nerves that control impulsive behaviors. The Drug Enforcement Administration has categorized methamphetamine as a Schedule II drug because of its high potential for abuse. Ice is among the most potent and addictive drugs on in the world. Abusing it can lead to serious psychological addiction and fast; it can have a person hooked after just one use.

It’s true, crystal meth is a dangerous, addictive, and often deadly. Those who become addicted to meth might not be able to control the amount of the drug they’re using, because so frequently an addiction starts with an obsession and leads to compulsive use of a drug. So why do people use the drug? “Methamphetamine increases the amount of dopamine in the brain, which is involved in body movement, motivation, pleasure, and reward” (National Institute on Drug Abuse).

No matter how you look at it, it’s important to remember that the people suffering from addiction weren’t always that way—they’re still our neighbors, brothers, mothers, teachers, friends, and citizens who happen to suffer from a chronic disease. They’re people who need as much love and support as they can get.

Signs Someone Is Using Ice

Some people abusing ice may wind up in a binge and have hallucinations, become extremely antisocial, or even seem like there’s no hope for a cure. Even though addiction is a defined as a chronic disease, there’s always hope for recovery. If you aren’t sure if someone is abusing ice, here are some of the signs to look for:

Weight loss as a result of decreased appetite
Decaying teeth or Meth Mouth
Irritability and violent behavior
Problems sleeping
Trouble remembering
Serious emotional issues
Hyperactivity
Psychotic episodes
Paranoia
Confusion
Hallucinations
Meth Mites or belief that there are microscopic parasites under the skin

Long-Term Effects And Symptoms Of Ice Abuse

If use of crystal meth persists, the drug can cause symptoms beyond the signs and short-term effects; some of which aren’t treatable. Ice abuse can lead to:

Intense Cravings
Fatigue
Anxiety
Depression
Stroke
Kidney Damage
Psychotic Behavior
Psychosis
Faster Breathing
Increased Blood Pressure
Irregular Heart Rate
Heart Attack
Withdrawal Symptoms
Overdose
Death

When a person becomes physically dependent on crystal meth, they’re likely to experience withdrawals when they stop using, or run out of the drug. These symptoms are both mentally and physically draining and can be quite painful. Some of the withdrawals embody the long-term effects of crystal meth, and “can include anxiety, fatigue, severe depression, psychosis, and intense drug cravings” (NIDA).

Is There Treatment For Ice Addiction And Dependence?

There a lot people who are addicted to crystal meth, and some of them never make it to treatment. That doesn’t mean they wouldn’t try if given the chance. It’s possible that some of them (or a lot of them) never ask for help due to fear of rejection, or because of the guilt and shame they feel. And there’s a huge scope of crystal meth abuse in the United States.

According to NIDA, in 2012 “approximately 1.2 million people reported using methamphetamine in the past year.” Not all of these people ever overdosed or developed an addiction, for that matter. Some of them didn’t need rehab to quit, but a lot of them did—sometimes it’s just a safer route to go.

With the right inpatient treatment there’s hope for a full recovery and drug-free life. Choosing to go to rehab can save your life, or the life of a person you care about; and there’s a treatment program that suits nearly everybody.

Behavioral Therapies For Substance Use Disorders

Behavioral therapies are some of the most effective methods for treating an addiction to ice. Furthermore, people come from all kinds of different backgrounds, so an individualized treatment tends to be the most effective—and there really isn’t a one size fits all method for treating addiction. The most commonly employed methods for treating a crystal meth addiction are cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and contingency management.

Cognitive behavioral therapy can prevent relapse by helping a patient to recognize unhealthy behavior patterns, and situations that would normally evoke a desire to use drugs. Dialectical behavior therapy helps a patient learn to change behaviors by teaching acceptance skills through mindfulness and distress management, and change skills through emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. Contingency-management uses a system of rewards and motivational incentives to teach a person healthy behaviors for a substance free life.

Is There A Rehab Center That’s Right For Me?

If you would like to learn more about an ice addiction, Contact DrugRehab.org at 1-833-473-4227 to confidentially speak to someone who understands crystal meth addiction, and can help find a treatment that meets your needs.

For More Information Related to “Signs and Symptoms of ICE Use and Abuse” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

Sources

National Institute on Drug Abuse – What is the scope of Methamphetamine abuse in the United States?

Understanding The Combat Methamphetamine Act

Posted on June 15, 2017July 14, 2017 by dr-admin

What is the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act (CMEA) of 2005? In short, it’s an act that was implemented by our nation’s government to do just what the name implies: combat abuse of methamphetamine and meth derivatives.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) explains that the Act was intended to regulate “retail, over-the-counter sales of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine products.” These three drugs, among others, are ones that have either methamphetamine chemical structures, or structures similar to it.

Each is used to treat conditions like asthma, congestion, narcolepsy, and cold symptoms. In higher doses, these medications can be used as stimulants for increased alertness. Because of this, these types of medication are often targets for abuse.

In response to high numbers of abuse, the CMEA is supposed to impose limitations to daily sales, monthly purchases, limits to customer access, and more strict enforcement of customer ID practices, sales logs, staff training, and regular certification for sellers.

Why Is The CMEA Important?

According to the DEA, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine are all “precursor” products used in the illicit manufacture and sale of methamphetamine. In other words, theses drugs are bought, processed to extract methamphetamine, and abused.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug that comes with a whole range of side effects and can lead to a number of consequences, including high risk of overdose. People abuse meth by smoking it (crystal meth) or by crushing and snorting the tablet forms, or by dissolving it with liquid and taking the oral solution.

Meth affects the body by releasing extremely high levels of dopamine, a chemical that naturally occurs in the brain. When meth releases larger doses of dopamine than the brain is used to, you feel a rush of pleasure—the brain’s response to this feeling of reward. However, the brain also changes its chemistry to this new experience; it makes you crave this feeling again and again.

Because of this, people fall easily into abuse of meth, and shortly into addiction. Side effects of meth abuse can cause a number of health issues and personal consequences, some of the most dangerous of which can be fatal overdose or coma.

The U.S. government implemented the CMEA to help regulate sales of products containing meth in hopes of decreasing numbers of abuse in the nation. While meth abuse may not be gone, regulating sales and use of prescription drugs is always an effective way to fight addiction.

For those who are already struggling with methamphetamine abuse or addiction, treatment can help them before it’s too late. At DrugRehab.org, our experts can help you find a rehab center that best suits your needs, and design a treatment plan that addresses all aspects of your health.

How Does The CMEA Work?

As previously mentioned, the CMEA regulates sale and purchase limitations for drugs that contain methamphetamine chemical properties. How does it do this?

As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explains, sellers of these medications must:

Limit the amount of these medications sold daily and monthly to any one person
Require to see photo ID for each medication purchased
Keep personal information records for people who buy these products for minimum two years after purchase
Make sure customers don’t have direct access to these medications (i.e. keep them behind the counter and only sell after first going through all proper ID, personal information, and sales logs procedures)
Keep a detailed sales log for these products, including: product name, amount sold, name and address of person who bought it, date and time of sale

Essentially, the CMEA made the medications containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine “behind-the-counter” products. This means the medications are kept out of direct customer access, whether behind a pharmacy or sale counter, or in another part of the building.

Those who sell these products must also submit proof of certification to the Attorney General to sell these products. The Act does not change the requirements for these medications; you still don’t need a prescription to buy them, but sale and use of them are regulated.

Who Is Affected By Methamphetamine Abuse?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that approximately 1.2 million people in 2012 reported use of methamphetamine in the past year. Of that number, 440,000 had used it in the past month, and 133,000 of those who reported abuse were aged 12 and above.

Meth abuse is increasing among youth and young adults, ages 12 to 20, and is seen most among white (non-hispanic) males. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, meth abuse has decreased since first being added to the survey in 2004. This means meth abuse has decreased since the CMEA was enacted.

But the NIDA also explains that while the number of emergency room visits associated with meth have gone down, meth is still quite popular as a drug of abuse, and abuse rates are still high. This is especially true in western and Midwestern parts of the nation, and increasingly in rural areas.

Effects Of Meth Abuse

What happens when you abuse meth? The immediate effects produce the rush that many people seek when they abuse it, but some of the side effects, even after a short time, can range from uncomfortable to extreme or even dangerous.

Though some of the short-term effects may seem harmless, when you begin taking meth frequently and taking larger doses due to tolerance, you enhance the short-term effects which can contribute to risk of overdose.

The following are possible short-term effects of meth abuse:

Decrease in appetite
High blood pressure and body temperature
Increase in alertness and activity
Rapid breathing
Rapid or irregular heartbeat

In addition to increased risk of overdose which can be fatal, prolonged methamphetamine abuse can lead to a number of damaging effects to your health. These are just some of the possible effects meth can have on your health, mood, and behavior:

Anxiety
Confusion
Dental problems: “meth mouth” or severe mouth sores and tooth decay
Extreme itching problems, leading to severe scratching, sores, lesions, and infections
Paranoia, or extreme issues with trust of others and fear of certain situations
Hallucinations, or hearing or seeing things that aren’t happening

Consequences Of Meth Abuse

Aside from all the possible health effects, meth abuse can and does infect many aspects of your life. When you become addicted, no part of your life goes untouched. To start, abuse of meth not only hurts your health, it can also cause alterations to your brain that are permanent.

The NIDA explains, “continued methamphetamine use causes changes in the brain’s dopamine system that are associated with reduced coordination and impaired verbal learning.” It can also alter the parts of the brain responsible for emotion and memory.

Some changes to the brain may be reversed after quitting use of meth, with treatment, but others may be permanent. Prolonged meth abuse may also contribute to development of Parkinson’s disease.

Addiction to meth brings consequences of its own. Having an addiction can take a toll on finances. Even if making meth is cheap in the beginning, abusing it can alter the way your brain works, make your life change to seek meth, which could result in troubles at work or loss of job.

When you start abusing meth, your family and others close to you may not understand. This can strain your personal relationships, or cause you to lose touch with those you love. Addiction can make you do things you normally wouldn’t, like risking your reputation or doing something illegal to get the drug.

There are so many adverse consequences possible when you abuse meth, and it really isn’t worth the risk of trying the drug. But if you’re suffering with meth addiction, then you know how hard it can be to stop. We can help you put meth abuse behind you, and move forward to a new phase of life with substance abuse treatment.

How To Treat Methamphetamine Abuse

How do you treat abuse of a drug that is so potent? You treat it with a multidisciplinary method, integrating several types of treatment modalities to ensure holistic healing.

Our rehab centers offer healing in a supportive, welcoming environment far from the triggers of abuse. We also provide licensed and trained professional staff, who have experience treating abuse of substances, including meth. For those coming to us with more than one substance abuse problem, or who also struggle with mental health issues, we’ve got you covered with excellent dual diagnosis care.

Meth addiction can result in some severe withdrawal symptoms, but medication assisted treatment (MAT) can ease these symptoms. With MAT, you receive medication to help you manage withdrawal symptoms, taper off use of drugs, and are monitored closely to ensure safe levels of withdrawal.

Addiction also affects mood and behavior, which is why behavioral therapy and counseling are important components to any addiction treatment program. We offer both at our rehab centers, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and counseling at the family, group, and individual level.

These are just some of the research-supported methods we utilize at our rehab centers. We also work closely with you to design a treatment plan that addresses all your needs and aspects of your health. Comprehensive healing is necessary with meth abuse and addiction—they affect much more than just your physical being, and we work to ensure overall wellness.

Combat Methamphetamine Abuse: Find Treatment Today

Our government has implemented measures to combat meth abuse and addiction. While this helps the fight, it isn’t enough to stop meth abuse. The only real way to stop meth abuse and addiction is to treat the cause of addiction, and help you find a way to deal with triggers as they come.

We’d like to help you get out of meth addiction, and heal today. Contact us today at DrugRehab.org to speak with a specialist and learn more about treatment, our rehab centers, and more.

For More Information Related to “Understanding The Combat Methamphetamine Act” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

Sources

National Institute On Drug Abuse—DrugFacts: Methamphetamine
U.S. National Library Of Medicine—Methamphetamine

What is the Difference Between Cocaine and Crack?

Posted on June 1, 2017February 28, 2018 by dr-admin

Where Do Cocaine And Crack Come From?

The coca-bush (erythroxylum coca) is natural stimulant that’s native to South America. Its leaves are believed to have been used in ceremonies by the Incas over 4,000 years ago to speed up their heart rates and better sustain survival in high elevations. Fast forward a few thousand years, and in the 1500s, Peruvians chewed on the leaves for the natural euphoric and numbing effect they produced—this was eventually put to a halt by Spanish conquerors.

Since then the coca plant has grown in popularity among the rest of the world, especially since cocaine was first developed in 1859 by German chemist Albert Niemann. Years later, in the 1880s the coca-bush and cocaine made a name in medicine as an anesthetic, and ingredient in popular soft-drinks like Coca-Cola (Note: it’s no longer used in the beverage).

Nearly 100 years after the first appearance of cocaine, appeared crack. It was an experimental drug at first, that was born out of the 1970s and gained most of its popularity in the 1980s. Though both cocaine and crack are derivatives of the coca-bush, and widely popular in the world of drug abuse, they became popular in very different times of human existence.

What Is Cocaine And How Is It Produced?

Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant that can be snorted, injected into the bloodstream, or it can be freebased. Cocaine is usually a fine white substance and generally comes in powder form. The chemical, cocaine-chloride comes directly from the coca-bush, but when drug dealers get their hands on it they can cut or lace with other non-psychoactive substances such as “cornstarch, talcum powder, flour, or baking soda to increase their profits. They may also adulterate cocaine with other drugs like procaine (a chemically related local anesthetic) or amphetamine” (National Institute on Drug Abuse – NIDA).

What Is Crack And How Is It Produced?

Crack is a smokeable, less expensive, and more profitable version of cocaine. Crack comes further down the line from cocaine, and after it’s mixed with a legal non-euphoric substance like ammonia or baking soda it’s cooked down to remove the hydrochloride and produce a smokeable product—typically in the form of an off-white or yellow looking rock. A crack rock, unlike cocaine powder, is water insoluble. “The term crack… refers to the crackling sound heard when the mixture is smoked” (NIDA).

What Schedule Drugs Are Cocaine And Crack?

Cocaine and crack are labeled as Schedule II drugs by the DEA, because of their “high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence. These drugs are also considered dangerous.”

Can You Smoke Cocaine Or Snort Crack?

Cocaine can be mixed with marijuana; a combination referred to in some circles as a one-fifty-oner but by itself, cocaine isn’t normally smoked. Similarly, since crack comes in the form of a rock, it would be unfit to snort up one’s nose. These drugs are dangerous enough on their own as it is, and the preferred methods of use seem to be working—and no matter how a person uses the drug (unless in medicine) it’s illegal.

How Many People Are In Prison For Cocaine Or Crack?

“Over three-quarters of DWI offenders in jail reported using drugs in the past. Among jail inmates held for DWI, marijuana (73%) and cocaine-based drugs including crack (41%) were the most commonly used drugs. Thirty percent of those in jail reported drug use in the month prior to arrest” (Bureau of Justice Statistics). This source will go on to say that in 2002, 11% of U.S. prison inmates were high on cocaine or crack at the time of their arrest—a number that was down from 16% in 1996.

Is Crack More Dangerous Than Cocaine?

Both cocaine and crack are considered dangerous and can be fatal. There were approximately 7,000 cocaine fatalities from 2002 to 20015, and about 60% of those involved an opioid such as heroin (NIDA). Because most of these results were found during an autopsy, it’s inconclusive as to whether the drug being used was crack or cocaine.

Cocaine And Crack Can Be Laced With Other Drugs

Cocaine and crack are regularly laced with other drugs such as meth, marijuana, and opioids. Some people will mix cocaine or crack with heroin which makes for a less intense come-down from the heroin. This mixture of stimulant and depressant is known as a speedball and it can be a fatal combination. What tends to happen when a user mixes an upper with a downer is the drugs cancel each other out—the cocaine reduces the effects of the heroin, so users will continue using heroin to get the high their brain and addiction is seeking.

The serious issue and danger occurs when the cocaine wears off well before the heroin. After that, a user is left with an intense, and often deadly heroin high. Because of the mind blowing euphoria that comes with speedballing; addiction and overdose are much more likely to happen.

Euphoria from Cocaine and Crack

In an interview with ATTN:, clinical pharmacist Jenni Stein described the euphoria produced by cocaine and crack. “A high from snorted cocaine will hit you in about 1-5 minutes, be at its peak within 20-30 minutes, and last 1-2 hours. A high from inhaled or injected cocaine will hit you in less than a minute, be at its peak within 3-5 minutes, and last 30 minutes to an hour.”

Stein went on to describe crack; “the onset and peak occur much faster with inhaled [if smoked] and injected cocaine, and the user experiences the effects of the drug ‘all at once’—so the user will get higher than if the same amount of cocaine were snorted.”

What Are The Short And Long-Term Effects Of Cocaine And Crack?

As defined by NIDA, “cocaine prevents dopamine from recycling, causing excessive amounts to build up between nerve cells. This flood of dopamine ultimately disrupts normal brain communication and causes cocaine’s high.”

Some of the short-term effects of cocaine are:

extreme happiness and energy
mental alertness
hypersensitivity to sight, sound, and touch
irritability
paranoia—extreme and unreasonable distrust of others

Some of the long-term effects of cocaine, as described by NIDA, are:

constricted blood vessels
dilated pupils
nausea
raised body temperature and blood pressure
faster heartbeat
tremors and muscle twitches

Cocaine Versus Crack Withdrawals

Both cocaine and crack can have similar withdrawals, however one difference is that because the high from crack is an intensified version to that of cocaine, it’s over faster and adverse symptoms occur sooner. Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms of both crack and cocaine are increased appetite, anxiety, depression, nightmares, insomnia, general discomfort, and restlessness.

Do Crack And Cocaine Have Different Effects On The Health?

No matter how you use it, cocaine is a powerful drug and can lead to serious health risks whether it’s snorted, smoked, or injected. After prolonged use of cocaine or crack, it begin to take a serious toll on a person’s health. From NIDA, few of those risks include:

Snorting: loss of sense of smell, nosebleeds, frequent runny nose, and problems with swallowing.
Consuming by Mouth: severe bowel decay from reduced blood flow.
Intravenous Injection: higher risk for contracting HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood-borne diseases. However, even people involved with non-needle cocaine use place themselves at a risk for HIV because cocaine impairs judgment, which can lead to risky sexual behavior with infected partners

How To Treat An Addiction With Rehab

Finding the right kind of treatment can be the best way to live a healthy, happy, drug free life, Contact us today at 1-833-473-4227 to speak to one of our addiction specialist if you or a loved one is struggling with cocaine today.

For More Information Related to “What is the Difference Between Cocaine and Crack?” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

Sources

National Institute on Drug Abuse – Cocaine
National Institute on Drug Abuse – What is Cocaine?

Commonly Abused Benzodiazepines

Posted on May 25, 2017February 6, 2018 by dr-admin

Like a lot of drugs, there is room for abuse of benzodiazepines—which is commonly referred to as “benzos.” With drug seeking behavior often comes raiding the medicine cabinet or doctor shopping for drugs, because what treats one person’s condition can often give another person the euphoric feeling of ease and comfort. Next to opioids, benzodiazepine has become one of the most highly sought after prescription pills for abuse.

Definition Of Drug Abuse

As mentioned before, benzodiazepines are used in medicine to help treat anxiety and panic disorder by essentially slowing down brain activity. This drug can be helpful for someone who can’t stop feeling anxious or dismiss the feeling of impending doom, but some can people abuse benzos. Drug abuse is broadly defined as, “when people use illegal drugs or use legal drugs inappropriately…

This includes the repeated use of drugs to produce pleasure, alleviate stress, and/or alter or avoid reality. It also includes using prescription drugs in ways other than prescribed or using someone else’s prescription” (National Institute on Drug Abuse – NIDA).

List Of Most Commonly Abused Benzodiazepines

There are more than 25 different benzodiazepines on the market, but not all of them are as widely abused or even known about. Some are more potent than others, and therefore most likely to be abused. When a person starts abusing benzodiazepines, they might only use it a few times here and there. Over time they can build up a tolerance to the drug, and start seeking a more potent dosage. They can potentially experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using the drug.

Maybe they’re self-medicating for a self-diagnosed panic disorder—which certainly could require medication, but self-medicating can be extremely dangerous and is illegal. Some of the most commonly abused benzodiazepines are Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, Ativan, and Restoril.

Withdrawal Symptoms Of Benzodiazepines

Abusing benzodiazepines can often lead to dependence accompanied by serious withdrawal symptoms when a person tries to stop abusing them. Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms related to benzodiazepine abuse and dependence are:

Sleep Disturbance and Insomnia
Irritability
Increased Tension and Anxiety
Panic Attacks
Hand Tremor
Sweating
Difficulty Concentrating
Dry Heaving and Nausea
Weight Loss
Palpitations
Headache
Muscular Pain and Stiffness
Perceptual Changes

Can I Overdose On Benzodiazepines?

Yes, especially when the drug is mixed with other substances like alcohol or opioids. From the Food and Drug Administration, overdose symptoms “include somnolence, confusion, impaired coordination, diminished reflexes and coma. Death has been reported in association with overdoses of alprazolam by itself, as it has with other benzodiazepines. In addition, fatalities have been reported in patients who have overdosed with a combination of a single benzodiazepine.”

Xanax Abuse

Abusing Xanax can be more than just buying it on the street, crushing it up and snorting it. Prescription drug abuse can be anything from using someone else’s prescription to continuing use of your own prescription after a doctor advises you to stop—which can be a result of dependence or addiction.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “withdrawal symptoms similar in character to those noted with sedative/hypnotics and alcohol have occurred following discontinuance of benzodiazepines, including Xanax. The symptoms can range from mild dysphoria and insomnia to a major syndrome that may include abdominal and muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, tremors and convulsions.”

Klonopin Abuse

From the drug’s description by the FDA, Klonopin can pass into breast milk and cause dependence. Dependence to Klonopin can end in withdrawals and further cravings, and furthermore “stopping Klonopin suddenly can cause seizures that do not stop, hearing or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations), shaking, and stomach and muscle cramps.”

Valium Abuse

Valium is considered a schedule IV drug by the Drug Enforcement Administration, because of it’s lower potential abuse; however when mixed with opioids it can lead to sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. From the FDA’s description of Valium, “abuse and dependence of benzodiazepines (Valium) have been reported. Addiction-prone individuals should be under careful surveillance when receiving diazepam or other psychotropic agents because of the predisposition of such patients to habituation and dependence.”

Valium can be used to help treat acute alcoholism withdrawal symptoms, but on the other hand can lead to withdrawals of its own when dosage is increased or when the drug is abused.

Ativan Abuse

Like other benzodiazepines, Ativan can lead to dependence but it can also lead to worsening conditions of depression for someone who was previously diagnosed with a depression disorder; therefore it is highly discouraged to use Ativan if you suffer from depression or psychosis. Also similar to other benzodiazepines, “the risk of dependence increases with higher doses and longer term use and is further increased in patients with a history of alcoholism or drug abuse or in patients with significant personality disorders. The dependence potential is reduced when lorazepam (Ativan) is used at the appropriate dose for short-term treatment” (FDA).

Even in the realm of drug abuse, Ativan should be slowly tapered off of. According to the FDA, “withdrawal symptoms can appear following cessation of recommended doses after as little as one week of therapy. Abrupt discontinuation of product should be avoided and a gradual dosage-tapering schedule followed after extended therapy.”

Restoril Abuse

From Xanax to Restoril, benzodiazepines have a common theme, do not mix with opioids or alcohol—it’s dangerous and can lead to overdose and death. Some of the best ways to avoid these risks is to avoid mixing drugs; however avoiding the negative consequences of benzodiazepines can work on both sides of the pharmacy window, and from a professional aspect doctors must:

Reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate.
Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required.
Follow patients for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation.
(FDA)

More About Benzodiazepine Dependence

As is true with most mood altering drugs, dependence to benzodiazepines is possible but not certain. From the Drug Enforcement Administration, “there is the potential for dependence on and abuse of benzodiazepines particularly by individuals with a history of multi-substance abuse.” So what exactly is the relationship between abuse, dependence, tolerance, and addiction?

The FDA sums it up perfectly, “abuse is characterized by misuse of the drug for nonmedical purposes, often in combination with other psychoactive substances. Physical dependence is a state of adaptation that is manifested by a specific withdrawal syndrome that can be produced by abrupt cessation, rapid dose reduction, decreasing blood level of the drug and/or administration of an antagonist…Tolerance is a state of adaptation in which exposure to a drug induces changes that result in a diminution of one or more of the drug’s effects over time.”

“Addiction is a primary, chronic, neurobiological disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations.” It can be hard to stop using drugs once you’ve become dependent or addicted, and sometimes the best way to start recovery is to ask for help.

How To Find Treatment For Addiction And Substance Abuse

Benzodiazepine abuse isn’t always a death sentence, but there is no guarantee for a good life either. “More than 22,000 people die every year from prescription drug abuse, more than heroin and cocaine combined” (NIDA). If you are suffering with an addiction to prescription drugs, getting into treatment today can be one of the best things you can do for yourself. With a detoxification, behavioral therapy, peer and family support and more you will be back on your feet and on the road to recovery in no time.

Contact us today to speak to one of our addiction specialists about getting the treatment you deserve. Recovery starts with addiction treatment, and we can find it for you.

For More Information Related to “Commonly Abused Benzodiazepines” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

Sources

Drug Enforcement Administration – Benzodiazepines
Food and Drug Administration – Ativan
Food and Drug Administration – Klonopin
Food and Drug Administration – Restoral
Food and Drug Administration – Valium
Food and Drug Administration – Xanax

What Is Pseudoaddiction?

Posted on May 11, 2017 by dr-admin

The opioid epidemic has reached crisis proportions within our nation. The misuse of prescription opioid painkillers is in large part responsible for this devastation. In 2015, ScienceDaily reported that 100 million Americans live with chronic pain.

At the heart of these two trends lies an unfortunate truth—while necessary and effective, these drugs hold a massive potential for abuse and addiction. Commonly prescribed (and abused) prescription opioid drugs include fentanyl (Duragesic), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), and oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet). Because of this dual dynamic, many medical practitioners are hesitant to prescribe these drugs.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Pseudoaddiction?

If you’ve lived with chronic pain or love someone who has, then you likely understand how it can change most every aspect of your life. Inadequately treated chronic pain may cause certain emotions or behaviors to surface. Many of these closely resemble characteristics of addiction. These include:

Isolation
Hopelessness
Depression
Anxiety
Mood instability
Fear or panic
Anger or frustration
Nervousness or irritability
Low energy or fatigue
Trouble sleeping

In addition, a person may also:

Experience relationship troubles
Withdraw from social activities
Lose interest in activities they previously enjoyed
Have thoughts of suicide

As the physical, mental, and emotional side effects of this mismanaged pain increase, a person’s behaviors begin to shift.

A person with pseudoaddiction may:

Ask for increased dosages of pain medication.
Request a different or stronger pain medication.
Worry about when they’re able to refill their prescription.
Be preoccupied with thoughts of the next dose.
Become anxious if there’s any uncertainty regarding their medication supply or dosage.
Expend great time and energy towards finding and/or maintaining access to pain medication.
Excessively think or talk about the medication or its effects.
Make sure they always have their medication on hand even if they don’t expect to need it.

To the outside observer, an individual with signs of pseudoaddiction could appear to be addicted. This incorrect diagnosis can make this already unbearable situation even more stressful and painful.

What Is The Difference Between Pseudoaddiction And Addiction?

It can be very confusing to separate the characteristics of these two concerns. Both medically prescribed use and addiction can create opioid dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal. So what makes these things different?

The main thing that separates pseudoaddiction from addiction is the motive behind the drug seeking. In the former, an individual seeks out more pain medication for self-care. Contrasting this, an addicted individual is consumed by a harmful and compulsive desire to obtain these drugs to create a feel-good effect.

In theory, you can also tell pseudoaddiction apart from addiction by observing if the drug-seeking behaviors change over time. When someone suffering from pseudoaddiction finally gets adequate pain management, drug-seeking subsides.

Why Is It Important To Recognize Pseudoaddiction?

As the opioid epidemic rises, it is important to identify these differences. Critics of the pseudoaddiction theory caution that a patient’s own feedback may not be the most accurate indication of pain. Additionally, some individuals may pretend to be in pain so that they can obtain more painkillers for illicit purposes.

Recognizing the difference between these two scenarios is key to protecting either type of patient. Understanding these distinctions can help you to advocate for a higher quality of care. Recent reports suggest that effective pain management could even save your life. Lack of access to proper pain medications has been anecdotally linked to suicide.

For those with untreated concerns of pain, treatment should be adjusted so that they can have a better quality of life. If pseudoaddiction is properly treated a person should be less inclined to misuse these drugs. By stopping this illicit use, the risk of painkiller abuse and addiction significantly declines.

On the other hand, it is important to stay alert and recognize recreational drug-seeking behaviors. This provides an opportunity to get these individuals help. If a person is feigning pseudoaddiction to get more drugs, funneling more painkillers into them will only serve to drive them deeper into addiction.

How Is Pseudoaddiction Treated?

As pseudoaddiction is not addiction, it alone does not require drug addiction treatment. Doctor-supervised treatment can help you to regain functionality within your life through better pain management. However, in certain cases, pseudoaddiction could develop into patterns of drug abuse or addiction.

Are you worried that your drug-seeking and using are becoming compulsive? Are the reasons you want pain medication less about pain management and more about creating a sense of pleasure? If any of this sounds familiar, it’s a good idea to get help right away before your drug use spirals further out of control.

Can Pseudoaddiction Turn Into Addiction?

Yes. Even prescribed medical use of opioid medications can lead to addiction. Addiction may develop because a person:

Misuses their own prescription: Pseudoaddiction can be a long and overwhelming road. This can exhaust a person. Some people who no longer needs pain management may use their leftover medication to feel good and escape. Just because the drugs were prescribed to you doesn’t mean it is safe to use them in this way.

Turns to illicit painkillers: If pseudoaddiction is not properly recognized or treated, a person may try to obtain painkillers illicitly. Without professional medical guidance, a person may begin to use too many pills too often. Painkillers purchased off the street have no regulation. These pills may not even be the drug you think they are. They could even contain other dangerous and more addictive drugs such as fentanyl. These fake prescription drugs could even cause overdose and death.

Self-medicates with other drugs: The risk of addiction isn’t only to opioids. If a person with pseudoaddiction fails to receive proper and compassionate treatment, they may turn to other types of drugs or alcohol to cope or dull the pain. They may also use these substances to mask any emotional or mental struggles.

Struggles with mental illness: Current Addiction Reports warns of this connection, writing that:

“Mental illness comorbidity is high among chronic pain patients, where psychiatric illness is a risk factor for chronic pain, analgesic abuse, and drug addiction in general…putting those who are depressed, and more likely to seek chronic pain treatment, at especially high risk for analgesic abuse.”

Regardless of how addiction develops, you or your loved one will be exposed to countless risks. Opioid painkillers can be intensely addictive. Because of this, painkiller addictions may be best treated by both a medically supervised detox and an inpatient drug rehab program. If you’re addicted and still facing concerns of pain, certain programs can help you to manage both concerns.

We Can Help You Heal From Addiction

Have prescription painkillers taken over your life? Or are you worried that they might be? Whether you’re suffering from opioid abuse or addiction, the opportunity for a better life exists. DrugRehab.org can help you to create sobriety goals, treatment plans, and the desire for a better life. Contact us now.

For More Information Related to “What Is Pseudoaddiction?” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

Sources

The American Academy of Pain Medicine — AAPM Facts and Figures on Pain
American Society of Addiction Medicine — Definitions Related to the Use of Opioids for the Treatment of Pain: Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the American Pain Society, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine
Medscape — “On the Meaning of “Drug Seeking”

Consequences Of Injecting OxyContin (Oxycodone)

Posted on May 1, 2017October 19, 2017 by dr-admin

What Happens When You Inject OxyContin?

There are many ways to abuse drugs.When you’ve fallen victim to addiction, the fastest way to attain a high is usually the one you seek. Injecting is one of the quickest ways to get high. Administering drugs through injection into the muscle or directly to the bloodstream ensures quick results—the “rush” feeling.

Many prescription drugs like OxyContin (oxycodone) are designed for a slow release of effects. Injecting OxyContin allows you to skip the waiting period, producing an immediate rush. Unfortunately, abusing the drug in this way also comes with consequences.

As the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) explains, when abusing OxyContin, “the risk of an overdose increases dramatically since the drug is not intended to be used in this manner.” Also, many who abuse it may pair it with abuse of other substances like alcohol, which can be a dangerous combination.

But these negative outcomes aren’t the only adverse effects. Injection of any drugs can cause you health risks, and addiction to prescription drugs like OxyContin can affect your health and other aspects of your life.

What Are The Risks?

Some risks of abuse by injection include:

Bacteria on the cardiac valves
Cardiovascular infections
Damage to veins: collapsed or inflamed veins
Puncture marks or track lines at the injection sites
Infections of the skin, such as abscesses or cellulitis
Swelling in feet, legs, and/or arms due to poor blood flow

What Are The Signs Of Addiction?

OxyContin is the brand for Oxycodone, which is a prescription opioid. Opioid prescriptions are used to treat moderate to severe pain, and many of these drugs are highly addictive. OxyContin is no exception. In fact, like other opioids, it is typically prescribed only for a short time to help avoid abuse.

However, even if you take the drug for only a short period of time, you can develop addiction to it. Here are some signs to look for if you suspect you may be falling into addiction:

You take the drug more often than prescribed
You change the method of administration to get quicker results (such as crushing the tablets and injecting instead of taking orally)
You experience strong cravings for the drug
You can’t get the same effects from one dosage, and start taking more (tolerance)
You experience physical side effects when you aren’t taking the drug (withdrawal)

While addiction may be avoided if taking a prescription drug exactly as prescribed, the possibility of becoming addicted to the effects of opioids is high. It’s important that we all take part in fighting prescription drug abuse: following directions for prescriptions, not sharing our medications, making sure we know the risks associated with our medications, and more.

For those who need help with addiction, treatment for opioid abuse is available, and has proven to be effective. Treatment is the single best way to safeguard against continued drug abuse and the effects it can have on your life.

Where Do People Get OxyContin?

OxyContin is a prescription pain reliever; in short it has to be prescribed. This is where many of us can become susceptible to the dangers of addictive prescriptions. We don’t always realize the risks of medications because we assume they are intended to help us get better.

Many medications can be helpful. Opioids can be the only relief for people experiencing severe pain and ailments. But they can also be harmful when abused, and if you aren’t aware of the dangers it can be all too easy to fall into abuse.

Prescription Opioid Abuse

Prescription opioid abuse is a problem that has expanded in recent years. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that over 2 million people abuse prescription opioids in the United States. Globally, abuse of opioids (the larger group of opiates which includes prescription opioids and illicit drugs like heroin) affects anywhere from 24 to 36 million.

Opioids affect the brain by attaching to opioid receptors and changing the way our brains respond to pain. The brain adapts to this new way of responding to pain, and begins seeking these results again and again through cravings.

Once you have become addicted, you may find you experience withdrawal symptoms when not taking the drug. Some withdrawal symptoms are moderate, but others may be severe enough that you don’t want to be without the drug. Withdrawal is what keeps many addicted, along with tolerance.

Tolerance happens when your brain no longer responds to the drug like it used to. While your brain may not feel the effects, your body can only process so much of the drug at a time. It’s in this way that you risk overdose. Forcing too much of a drug on your body or forcing the drug to work more quickly or differently than it should is dangerous, and can be fatal.

Who Is Affected?

Perhaps it seems like we should have prescription opioid abuse under control, but the truth is we simply don’t. The NIDA explains that in 2012 more than five percent of the population ages 12 and above reported non-medical use of prescription opioids.

Teens may be at increased risk simply because they can easily gain access to prescriptions through family members or friends. Women also are more likely to have chronic pain, get prescriptions for pain relievers, and subsequently abuse or develop addiction to those medications.

What Can We Do About Prescription Opioid Abuse?

There are a few measures we can all take to prevent prescription opioid abuse, both for ourselves and others. First, always take medications only as prescribed, never increasing dosage or method of administration without talking with a doctor.

We can also keep medications in a secure place, and keep track of the dosage to be sure no one else is using them. Lastly, we can work to inform teens and children of the dangers of prescription drug abuse, opening conversations to share information and discuss safe medication practices.

If you or someone close to you is struggling with prescription opioid abuse, you can find the help you need in treatment. We at DrugRehab.org are here to assist you on this journey, and make the transition to healing as easy as possible.

Treatment Options

There are many different methods of treatment at your disposal when you are ready to take that first step and enter a rehabilitation center. Opioid addiction treatment first requires detoxification, which allows your body to dispose of the chemicals acquired during abuse.

Our rehab centers offer medically supervised detoxification to help you succeed in this process. They may also implement medication assisted therapy to help ease the symptoms of withdrawal. After detox, you can begin therapy, counseling, and any combination of methods that are right for your individual needs.

Our rehab centers will work with you, designing treatment goals that meet your specific needs. Just a few of the evidence-based methods we offer include:

Treatment for men’s unique needs
Treatment for women’s unique needs
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Medication Assisted Therapy
Counseling—individual, family, group
Fitness and nutrition help
Assistance with aftercare

Find The Help You Need

If you have been struggling with injecting OxyContin, then you already know it can be hard to stop abuse. We want to help you put this difficult time behind you, and begin a new part of your life. Contact us today at DrugRehab.org to learn more about prescription opioid abuse, our renowned rehab centers, and the best treatment options for you.

For More Information Related to “Consequences Of Injecting OxyContin (Oxycodone)” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

Sources

Drug Free World—OxyContin The “Hillbilly Heroin”
Mayo Clinic—Oxycodone (Oral Route): Side Effects
U.S. Food And Drug Administration—OxyContin Questions And Answers

Understanding A Heroin Use Disorder

Posted on April 28, 2017July 18, 2017 by dr-admin

Because heroin is an opioid, individuals that abuse the drug have an opioid use disorder (OUD). This disorder was previously termed opioid dependence and abuse. A heroin-related OUD causes impairment and distress to the user within a period of one year. A heroin use disorder (HUD) includes patterns and behaviors which many commonly refer to as abuse and addiction.

Heroin is highly addictive and may cause coma, brain damage, and death. Heroin use and heroin-related overdose deaths are on the rise among most U.S. demographics. Fortunately, treatment exists which can help you or your loved one achieve a sober and more balanced life.

What Is Heroin?

Heroin is one of the most addictive illicit drugs known to man. Heroin is derived from morphine, a naturally occurring drug synthesized from the opium poppy. It is found in one of two ways, either as a white or slightly brown powder or in black tar form. When a person uses heroin, the drug causes an excess of dopamine to build up in the brain. The overabundance of this chemical causes the pleasurable rush and euphoric state that heroin abusers seek.

Users may abuse the drug in the following ways: intravenously (injecting), insufflation (snorting), or by smoking it. Typically, the more pure, powdered forms are snorted or smoked whereas impure heroin (black tar) can only be injected. No matter how an individual chooses to abuse this drug, you still face risks of addiction, disease, and death.

What Is The Criteria Of A Heroin Use Disorder?

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines an OUD as “a problematic pattern of opioid use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by at least two of the following, occurring within a 12-month period.” These criteria, as outlined by the APA include that an individual:

Takes a greater dose of heroin or continues to use for a period of time that lasts beyond what they intended.
Is not able to decrease their heroin use despite a desire or an attempt to do so.
Spends increasing amounts of time seeking or using the drug and/or recovering from ill effects associated with heroin abuse.
Experiences cravings or an intense urge to use heroin.
Persists at using heroin even though it is creating or worsening relationships or other social obligations.
Decreases or completely stops taking part in job-related, social, or recreational obligations or events due to their heroin use.
Consistently uses heroin in a way which exposes them to physical dangers.
Does not stop using the drug even though they know it is causing or worsening a physical or psychological condition.
Experiences a tolerance. Specifically, the amount of drug they previously used does not create the same effects, leading them to use more to gain the pleasurable feelings they seek.
Experiences heroin withdrawal if they suddenly stop using. A person may continue to take the drug in an attempt to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms may include muscle and bone aches, uncontrollable leg movements, goosebumps and chills, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, nervousness or anxiety, intense cravings, and more.

What Are Other Signs And Symptoms Of A Heroin Use Disorder?

Are you concerned that your loved one is experimenting with heroin or suffering from an HUD? Being on the look out for the following signs and symptoms can help you to identify if you loved one may be at risk for an HUD. If a person is using heroin, they may:

Have a decreased sense of pain.
Have warm and flushed skin.
Complain of a dry mouth.
Become very itchy.
Have small (pinprick) pupils.
Feel like their limbs are very heavy.
Seem to move very slowly.
Become nauseous and even vomit.
Alternate between drowsiness and wakefulness.
Have slowed thinking.
Decreased heart and breathing rates.
Have track marks on their arms from injecting the drug.
Wear long sleeves in warm weather to cover up these marks.
Steal money or objects to pay for their habit.
Withdraw from their loved ones.
Lose interest in hobbies, friends, or things they previously enjoyed.
Begin struggling at work or school or even quit or get fired/kicked out.
Become evasive or lie if you try to talk to them about the drug or their behaviors.

Heroin use requires certain equipment. Knowing what to look for can help you to spot a problem. These items may include straws or hollowed out pens (for snorting), syringes, lengths of tube or belts (to tie off with prior to injection), and/or a metal or glass pipe. Many people may keep these supplies in a kit or bag.

What Are The Risks And Dangers Of Heroin?

Addiction is one of the biggest dangers of heroin use. The American Society of Addiction Medicine estimates that of those who try heroin, 23 percent will develop an OUD. An HUD may also cause:

Financial and legal problems
Loss of job
Marriage problems
Child custody battles
Infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C)
Scarring and infection at the injection site
Collapsed veins
Miscarriage
Irregular menstrual cycles for women
Sexual dysfunction for men
Mental health disorders (depression and antisocial personality disorder)
Heart trouble
Other organ complications and damage
Withdrawal

Other severe risks include coma, overdose, and death. Overdose can occur even on the first use. According to the CDC, since 2010 deaths related to heroin have quadrupled. To further avoid these risks, it is urgent that you or your loved one get treatment. While an HUD is a pattern over a year, some individuals might get addicted much sooner. Don’t wait, start exploring your treatment options today.

How Do You Treat A Heroin Use Disorder?

Due to the intensely addictive properties of this drug, we highly recommend medically supervised detox and inpatient drug rehab. Detoxing from heroin can be very unpleasant, painful, and even dangerous. This is why you should never attempt to do this on your own.

Certain medications or pharmacotherapies may be used during detox and/or treatment. The following medications are supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse as evidence-based practices.

Buprenorphine
Methadone
Naltrexone

These drugs treat symptoms of withdrawal and cravings and may also be used as maintenance medications. Other medications may be used to treat any co-occurring disorders.

These medications are best supported by certain behavioral therapies as part of medication-assisted treatment (MAT). This integrative method addresses a person’s physical, mental, and emotional needs in one comprehensive approach.

An individualized rehab program for an HUD may use a variety of treatment modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing. A thorough program should also offer individual and/or group therapy, family therapy and support, relapse prevention, and aftercare support. Every treatment program is different. Some may also offer holistic therapies, men’s or women’s only treatment programs, adventure therapy, equine therapy, art therapy, and more.

Don’t Let Heroin Rule Your Life Any Longer

While a heroin use disorder is a serious problem, it is not un- treatable. DrugRehab.org wants you or your loved one to succeed and find a fulfilling, drug-free life. Our treatment specialists can help you find the right program that fits your individual needs. Take the first step into living a life free from heroin—contact us today.

For More Information Related to “Understanding A Heroin Use Disorder” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

Using Naltrexone To Treat Opioid Addiction

What is Heroin Cut With?

Utilizing Equine Therapy In Addiction Treatment

Is Buprenorphine An Opiate?

What is Methadone?

What Are The Side Effects Of Heroin Use?

The Dangers of Snorting Oxycontin (Oxycodone)

How To Detox From Heroin

Sources

The National Institute on Drug Abuse — Heroin: Research Report Series

The Dangers Of Snorting Vicodin (Hydrocodone)

Posted on April 25, 2017July 18, 2017 by dr-admin

Vicodin is a pain reliever which combines the opioid narcotic hydrocodone and pain reliever acetaminophen to produce fast relief of symptoms. Sometimes, people abuse Vicodin, including crushing the tablet and snorting the powder.

Snorting any substance tends to produce a quicker high—it’s the reason snorting appeals to the addicted individual. But snorting Vicodin can also cause some dangerous consequences, including the following:

Fast, unpredictable “rush”: while this may appeal to someone seeking that high, it’s dangerous because you can’t control it. Essentially, the high is more intense when snorting, and that increases your chance of intensified side effects and overdose.
Increased risk of addiction: if you are just snorting recreationally, and haven’t struggled with addiction yet, you increase your risk of addiction by snorting. Addiction results from the changes in the brain when you abuse a substance.
Breathing and sinus issues: these can include everything from sores and sinus infections to nose bleeds and choking.
Enhanced side effects: snorting any substances enhances the side effects you’ll experience, which increases risks associated with abuse.

Prolonged abuse by snorting can lead to other physical troubles, like severe congestions that can keep you up at night, lung infections, pneumonia, voice changes, and sleep apnea.

What Are The Side Effects?

In addition to the immediate rush, here are some side effects you may experience with Vicodin abuse:

Drowsiness
Confusion
Constipation
Fainting
Nausea
Slowed breathing
In extreme cases, coma

Side effects experienced depend on the person abusing the drug, duration of abuse, and amount of the drug abused. Prolonged abuse can lead to tolerance, which means you may start taking more of the drug to get the same effects.

After a while, your body becomes dependent on the effects of the drug. When not taking it, you may undergo withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal for opioids isn’t always severe, but it can be enough to keep you from stopping abuse.

Addiction takes its toll on your health and in your life. One of the biggest concerns that comes with addiction to opioids like Vicodin is the risk of overdose.

Overdose—What’s The Risk?

Overdose is a medical emergency. If you or someone you know experiences Vicodin overdose symptoms, you should seek help right away. These include the following, according to Mayo Clinic:

Blood in or cloudy appearance to urine
Chest pain
Cold, clammy skin
Confusion
Extreme drowsiness
Increased sweating
Irregular heartbeat
Lack of breathing
Lack of muscle movement
Lack of response
Loss of consciousness
No pulse
Stopped heartbeat

How To Get Help For Vicodin Abuse

If you have been abusing Vicodin, then you know how easy it is to get addicted, and how fast it happens. Withdrawal only keeps you from wanting to quit—the cravings alone may seem unbearable at times.

But stopping abuse and breaking the addiction cycle is important. By making that change, you can live without the risk of overdose, without the adverse effects to your health and life, and with a new set of life goals. In treatment, you can get help implementing these changes. At DrugRehab.org, we have access to some of the best rehabilitation centers in the nation, and contacting us is a phone call or click away.

What Happens In Treatment?

With opioid addiction treatment, you first undergo a detoxification period. During opioid abuse, your body is exposed to a lot of toxins, and this process allows you to rid yourself of them. After detoxification comes healing.

Healing works differently for everybody. That’s because we each have unique treatment needs, just as we are unique individuals. Our rehab centers work to design a plan that meets your specific treatment needs. For instance, if you are a woman seeking treatment for opioid abuse and mental health issues, your needs might be different from a man seeking treatment for alcohol abuse.

Many of our facilities offer a variety of treatment modalities based on the array of people who seek services. Methods may be used in combination with other types of treatment to ensure a comprehensive healing plan.

There are aspects of treatment which focus on healing your mind and behavioral habits. Much of recovering from addiction includes reversing the way the brain has learned to function during substance abuse. That’s why we offer behavioral therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which teaches you to build positive lifestyle habits you will continue after completing your rehab stay.

You’ll also work on healing your body, engaging in adventure therapy or wilderness therapy which pairs activity and the benefits of nature with motivation, skill-building, and capabilities. The result of this is rejuvenation of the body and spirit, and an increase in self-confidence and sense of fulfillment.

To ease the process of withdrawal during detoxification, you may be offered medication, known as medication assisted therapy. With careful monitoring and medical supervision, you can withdraw from opioid abuse safely and effectively, with as little pain as possible.

These are just some of the methods offered at our rehab centers. To build a plan that is right for you, we take into account your unique needs and help you work daily toward your end goals.

Don’t Delay Recovery

Falling into addiction is easy, it’s overcoming it that can be difficult. Don’t let that stop you from seeking the help you need and deserve. We’re here to make the entire process of recovery as easy as possible so you can get back to focusing on what matters most: your life.

Contact us today at DrugRehab.org to find more information about Vicodin abuse and addiction and where to find treatment.

For More Information Related to “The Dangers Of Snorting Vicodin (Hydrocodone)” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From RehabCenter.net:

Sources

Mayo Clinic—Hydrocodone And Acetaminophen (Oral Route)
U.S. National Library Of Medicine—Hydrocodone
WebMD—Vicodin

How To Treat Vyvanse Addiction

Posted on April 21, 2017July 18, 2017 by dr-admin

Vyvanse is the brand name for the medication Lisdexamfetamine. This drug is prescribed to treat symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but can also be used to treat binge eating disorder.

Vyvanse belongs to a class of drugs called central nervous system (CNS) stimulants, which work to change certain chemical levels in the brain. CNS stimulants usually work one of two ways:

Increasing certain “happy” chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin or dopamine.
Blocking the brain from reabsorbing these “happy” chemicals.

The first type creates an influx of the happy chemicals, and creates the feeling of euphoria and increased energy and alertness—results that foster addiction. Cocaine and amphetamines belong to this class. The second type helps control mood and behavior by slowing brain communication and regulating certain body functions, also fostering addiction. Vyvanse belongs to the second type.

While Vyvanse can be used safely to treat some disorders, it is highly addictive and use of it should be monitored. The U.S. National Library of Medicine warns, “Lisdexamfetamine can be habit-forming. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, take it for a longer time, or take it in a different way than prescribed by your doctor.”

What Are The Side Effects?

All medications come with their own set of side effects, but abuse can enhance these effects. Consequences of abuse range from moderate to severe, and may include:

Anxiety, tremors
Constipation, diarrhea
Dizziness
Dry mouth
Headache
Increased sweating
Insomnia
Irritability
Loss of appetite, weight loss, dry mouth
Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps

What Are The Signs Of Addiction?

Signs of addiction differ for each person, but if you suspect you may be at risk, here are some signs. First, have you developed tolerance? This happens when you can no longer feel the effects of a drug when you take it. With time, you may feel you have to take more of the drug to feel the same effects.

Eventually, you may not feel the effects at all. If you stop taking the drug, or can’t get it for some reason, you may experience withdrawal. Some symptoms of withdrawal include headaches, nausea, and anxiety when not taking the drug.

If all that weren’t troubling enough, addiction changes the way your brain works. Since Vyvanse affects how your brain communicates, the brain adapts to this new way, making you crave the drug to achieve this effect again and again. Cravings, mounting tolerance, and withdrawal that punishes you when not taking the drug are often the reasons people continue to abuse substances rather than seek help.

Addiction can have some dire consequences, though. The immediate ones may affect your health, personal relationships, and finances. With prolonged abuse, you may find your health in jeopardy, have trouble at work or school, get in trouble with the law, or even do things you wouldn’t do if not for addiction.

One of the most dangerous possible outcomes of addiction is overdose. Before addiction leads to that point, it’s best to seek medically supervised treatment.

What Are The Signs Of Overdose?

If you or someone you know is experiencing overdose, seek help right away. Overdose is a medical emergency, and should be treated as one. The following are signs to watch for, as listed by the University of Michigan:

Aggression
Confusion, hallucinations, panic attacks
Dark-colored urine
Diarrhea
Depression
Fatigue
Fever
Flu-like symptoms
Increased breathing
Irregular heartbeats
Lightheadedness, fainting
Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain
Muscle pain, soreness, twitching, tremors, or weakness
Restlessness
Seizures
In extreme cases, coma

Who Is At Risk?

Vyvanse is usually prescribed for children and adolescents with ADHD issues or binge eating disorders. It’s important to always carefully monitor medication for your child or teen, but even more so when the medication has such great risk of addiction.

What we have to recognize is that not just children are at risk for abuse of this medication. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) explains that, “many young people think that prescription drugs are safer than illegal drugs because they are prescribed by a physician, dispensed by a pharmacist, and manufactured by pharmaceutical companies.”

Unfortunately, this isn’t always true, especially when use of a drug turns to abuse. For example, in 2014 6.2 percent of all youth ages 12 to 17 had misused medical prescriptions in the past year. For those ages 18-25, 11.8 percent reported abuse of medical prescriptions.

These numbers are lower for the age groups above age 26, but still affect these groups as well. Overall, the younger age groups may be most affected by prescription drug abuse. Many first obtain these drugs from a family member or friend.

We can do our part in helping to reduce these numbers: keep prescriptions in a secure place, dispose of them when finished, monitor prescription use in youth. For those who already suffer from addiction, we can provide support by helping to secure treatment.

What Treatments Are Available?

Addiction treatment isn’t what it used to be, and that’s a good thing. Research of recent years have focused on new and improved methods for helping people heal from addiction, and the result is modalities of treatment that truly work.

The best rehab centers, like the ones you’ll find at DrugRehab.org, design treatment plans based on your individual needs. What does this mean? Women have different treatment needs than men. People who suffer from abuse of multiple substances have different treatment needs than someone who needs help overcoming one substance. And those with mental health issues will need help managing those issues while healing from addiction.

The best rehab centers help you build a comprehensive plan that works to treat all aspects of your health: mind, body, and spirit. Addiction doesn’t just affect your body, or just your brain, so neither should treatment.

Instead, it should provide ways for you to heal your body through detoxification, nutrition guidance, and fitness or exercise. It should provide ways to heal your mind through counseling, skill-building, and therapy. It should help heal your spirit through recognition of your capabilities, motivation, and increased self-confidence and sense of self.

Some of the treatment methods offered at our rehab centers, which embody this holistic approach include:

Gender-based treatment
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Counseling: group, individual, and family
Holistic healing
Medication assisted therapy
Medically supervised detoxification
Adventure therapy
Aftercare support
Intervention services

Let Us Help You

Confronting addiction head on can be intimidating. You might feel ashamed, or like you can’t face it alone. Luckily, you don’t have to. We are here to make the process of finding and getting into treatment as easy as possible.

The sooner you get into treatment, the sooner you can heal and rebuild your life. Let us help you today. Contact us at DrugRehab.org to learn more.

For More Information Related to “How To Treat Vyvanse Addiction” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

Sources

National Institute On Drug Abuse—DrugFacts: Stimulant ADHD Medications
Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration—Specific Populations And Prescription Drug Misuse And Abuse
University Of Michigan Health—Lisdexamfetamine
U.S. National Library Of Medicine—Lisdexamfetamine

The Dangers of Using Heroin with Crack Cocaine

Posted on March 29, 2017July 19, 2017 by dr-admin

Heroin and crack cocaine are both highly addictive drugs that claim the lives of tens of thousands per year. Cocaine was responsible for over 7,000 deaths in 2014, and about 5,000 of those deaths involved an opioid like heroin. Mixing depressants and stimulants like heroin and crack is dangerous and can have unpredictable results. Also known as “speedballing,” when the highs from these drugs are mixed, it can be even more dangerous. Addictions to heroin and crack can be difficult to kick with willpower alone. Oftentimes an extended stay in an addiction treatment facility will be necessary for a successful recovery.

Back in the late 1800s, heroin was used as a potentially less addictive substitute for Morphine—it could be purchased at a local pharmacy, and the most likely people to be addicted to heroin were middle aged women. Since then the drug has been illegalized, but is still widely used and manufactured around the globe. Cocaine was also used as a medicine in the late 1800s; it could also be found in wine and soft drinks (like Coca-Cola).

Crack cocaine first hit the scene in the 1980s and swept the nation with a new way to get high. As the drug world has developed, users have found new ways to seek euphoria, and it’s pretty common for a person to use a number of drugs at one time. People with drug addictions can be pretty crafty, when it comes to new ways of getting high, and with drug use constantly evolving; people are finding new ways to better their buzz.

What Is Speedballing?

A lot of the time, people with addictions will shift from one drug to another, and sometimes experiment with a mixture of different drugs. Some of the popular slang terms for drug mixtures are candy flipping, cannon balling, cheese, cocktailing, and speedballing. Speedballing started out as mixing cocaine and heroin to snort or inject for a dual drug euphoria, or sometimes people would use heroin to help with the withdrawals from cocaine.

A little more recently, people have adapted a smokeable method of speedballing by mixing crack with heroin. This mixture was popularized in places like New York City in the late 80s—(more detail in a New York Times article).

Why Do People Mix Drugs?

There are a lot of reasons why people mix drugs like heroin and crack cocaine—To achieve greater euphoric effects, to save money, or to stay high for longer (just to name a few). Another reason might be to counteract the withdrawals from one drug by using another. Here are a few suggested reasons from the Australian Government Department of Health as to why people mix drugs:

In an attempt to increase the effect of another drug or to ‘bring on’ its desired effects. For example, sometimes people smoke cigarettes to enhance their experience on ecstasy, or drink alcohol when they’re also under the infuence of cocaine.
In an attempt to reduce the negative effects of a drug, usually when ‘coming down’ from that drug. For instance, some people use cannabis or take a sleeping pill after they have used ecstasy.
To substitute for the drug they were really looking for, ‘the next best thing’
It seemed like a ‘good idea at the time’. Sometimes people will mix drugs when they are already intoxicated, aren’t thinking straight or if people around them are mixing drugs.

How Are Crack And Heroin Made?

Though heroin and crack are both manufactured drugs, there are a lot differences. First of all, heroin is taken from Morphine, which is a natural substance from the seed pod of the Asian opium plant. Once the Morphine has been extracted from the opium plant, it then goes through further steps before heroin is made.

Crack isn’t much different, in that it comes from another substance—the coca plant is native to South America, and it’s the raw form of cocaine. Like heroin, cocaine, must be ‘synthetically’ created to get the final product. After that, cocaine can be mixed with baking soda to get the final product of crack rock. Freebasing cocaine is another way to get the desired result of crack…

What’s The Biggest Difference Between Crack And Heroin?

At face value, heroin is an opioid depressant and crack cocaine is a stimulant. Heroin causes a person to feel tired and seem depressed; crack cocaine can make a person hyper and seem manic. Each type of drug can have a serious crash period when a person is coming-down off of them. Whether depressant or stimulant, both can be responsible for replacing serotonin (which makes a person feel happy) in the brain; using a drug enough can hinder a person’s ability to feel happy on their own.

What Happens When You Speedball Crack And Heroin?

Speedballing is also known as polydrug use, or “the mixing of different drugs, or taking one drug while under the influence (or experiencing the after-effects) of another drug” (Australian Government Department of Health).

Speedballing is highly dangerous, and mixing depressants with suppressants can have unwanted or accidental results. Mixing depressants with suppressants can actually send contradicting messages to the brain and body. This is because stimulant drugs increase activity in the central nervous system, whereas depressant drugs decrease it; mixing the two can have fatal results.

Heroin And Crack—Overdose Statistics

More than 20,000 people died from overdose of heroin and other non-methadone synthetic drugs in 2015—which was about four times more than the number of people who died from the same drugs in 2002. There were also approximately 7,000 people in the United States who died from cocaine overdose in 2015; and about 5,000 of those deaths involved an opioid (National Institute on Drug Abuse).

Heroin And Crack—User Statistics

“Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences” (National Institute on Drug Abuse). Heroin and crack are both highly addictive, but most people don’t start off using “hard core” drugs.

For instance, someone with a heroin addiction probably didn’t start off chasing the dragon, and may have actually gotten a taste by using another opioid. From the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) “nearly 80 percent of people who use heroin report having first misused prescription opioids.”

In 2012, there were somewhere around 669,000 people (NIDA) who admitted to using heroin in the past year. Although statistics for crack use were unavailable, in 2014, there were 1.5 million people (NIDA) who were currently using powder cocaine. Though an interesting fact from a study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information was that, “crack users were at higher risk than powder cocaine users for reporting a lifetime arrest or multiple recent arrests.”

How To Tell If Someone Is Addicted To Drugs

Though addiction can be tricky to wrap your head around, it’s important to remember that even though people might behave differently because of an addiction, it is not necessarily a result of a moral failing. Addictions can be a direct result of biological, environmental, and developmental precursors in a person’s life. A person suffering from an addiction might behave differently than they used to, and here are some of the things they might do:

spend a lot of time alone
lose interest in their favorite things
get messy—for instance, not bathe, change clothes, or brush their teeth
be really tired and sad
be very energetic, talk fast, or say things that don’t make sense
be nervous or cranky (in a bad mood)
quickly change between feeling bad and feeling good
sleep at strange hours
miss important appointments
have problems at work
eat a lot more or a lot less than usual
(National Institute on Drug Abuse)

How To Find Treatment For Addiction

If you’re suffering from an addiction to crack, heroin or both; you’re not alone, there are millions of people like you who understand what it means to suffer from an addiction—and so do we. If you’re worried about a loved one or your own well being, or just have questions about speedballing crack cocaine and heroin Contact Us today to discuss your future of recovery with a helpful professional. Your life can be yours again with proper treatment and recovery.

For More Information Related to “The Dangers of Using Heroin with Crack Cocaine” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

Sources

Australian Government Department of Health – Polydrug Use: What You Need To Know About Mixing Drugs
National Center for Biotechnology Information – Powder Cocaine and Crack Use in the United States: An Examination of Risk for Arrest and Socioeconomic Disparities in Use
National Institute on Drug Abuse – Overdose Death Rates
National Institute on Drug Abuse – Understanding Drug Use and Addiction
New York Times – Potent Crack Blend on the Streets Lures a New Generation to Heroin

What Helps With Heroin Withdrawal?

Posted on March 27, 2017January 26, 2018 by dr-admin

Heroin withdrawals are painful and can feel like a bad case of the flu. Such withdrawals can be worse based on the amount of a drug that a person is using and how long they have been using the drug for. Drug withdrawals are a period of time when your body is not only craving a drug, but also trying to push the last of it out; this is also known as the detoxification period. Detoxing from heroin is serious and without help can lead to relapse and/or overdose.

If you abuse drugs, then you might have experienced withdrawals—the fact is, drug abuse and withdrawals pretty much go hand in hand. Some of the drugs well known for their withdrawal symptoms are alcohol, cocaine, and heroin. Withdrawals can be anything from a headache to nausea or diarrhea. Heroin can be dangerous; because people suffering from an addiction will sometimes do things, or commit crimes that seem out of character—just to get the drug.

It isn’t only dangerous in the way of addiction, but also because of the withdrawals that come with quitting, stopping, or running out of the “fix.” During a withdrawal period, a person might seem irritable, short tempered, and dangerously hostile—this is pretty normal behavior for a person experiencing withdrawal from a drug.

What Is Heroin And How Can It Be Used?

Heroin is an extremely potent and addictive drug made from Morphine which is gathered from the Asian opium plant. In its purest form, heroin is a white or brown chalky substance which can be snorted, smoked, or injected. Heroin also comes in the form of a black substance which is usually injected—after it has been diluted with water or another fluid. A couple of other lesser known ways to use heroin is by suppository, or transdermal patch.

Heroin abuse often leads to addiction, and sometimes overdose and death. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 13,000 people died from heroin in 2015—which was a 20.6 percent increase from the previous year. Before they even have a chance to reconsider or regret a decision, heroin has people hooked both mentally and physically.

How Does Heroin Affect The Brain?

Most drugs will affect the user more than just physically, but also mentally—mental disorders and other serious conditions can arise from prolonged use of drugs like heroin. How does heroin affect the brain? According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Heroin enters the brain rapidly and changes back into morphine. It binds to opioid receptors on cells located in many areas of the brain, especially those involved in feelings of pain and pleasure. Opioid receptors are also located in the brainstem, which controls important processes, such as blood pressure, arousal, and breathing.”

Once a person’s brain has become used to having the substance around, they are more likely to get addicted to the drug, and then without it, they don’t feel like they can function normally. A heroin high can last for up to 4 to 6 hours, and a person might use heroin anywhere from 2 to 4 times per day in order to keep from experiencing withdrawals.

High From Heroin—Then Withdrawal

Once heroin has hijacked the opioid receptors in the brain, a person experiences the high from the drug—which is likely to be a numbing euphoria, and is often characterized at first by a tingling feeling. This feeling is followed by a clouded mental state, dry mouth, and feeling of heavy extremities. After the initial high, a person will normally slip or “nod” in and out of consciousness and partial consciousness.

As a person becomes more comfortable using heroin, the more of the drug they will need to use to achieve the same buzz as before. Then as heroin is removed or taken away, a person is likely to experience the withdrawals—which can be one of the largest factors as to why a person doesn’t seek help. They might fight it, or put off quitting drug use altogether. Heroin withdrawal “symptoms usually start within 12 hours of last usage and within 30 hours of last methadone exposure” (U.S. Library of Medicine).

Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms

The withdrawal symptoms from most drugs start out mild to moderate and even though they typically don’t start for an average of 8 hours, with heroin, they can feel sick even sooner. “With physical dependence, the body adapts to the presence of the drug and withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced abruptly. Withdrawal may occur within a few hours after the last time the drug is taken” (National Institute on Drug Abuse).

There are different stages of opiate withdrawal, each can depend on how long a person used and how much they used as well as other factors. Heroin and other opioid withdrawals can feel like a bad case of the flu, and the short-term and long-term symptoms of heroin withdrawal can include:

Short-Term:

Agitation
Anxiety
Muscle aches
Increased tearing
Insomnia
Runny nose
Sweating
Yawning

Long-Term:

Abdominal cramping
Diarrhea
Dilated pupils
Goose bumps
Nausea
Vomiting
(U.S. National Library of Medicine)

How Long Do Heroin Withdrawals Last?

The heroin withdrawal timeline will be longer or shorter based on the amount or length that a person repeatedly used the drug. Heroin is considered a short-acting opioid and the first withdrawal symptoms will show up 8 to 24 hours after last use and can last for 4 to10 days (this is frequently considered to be the worst of the withdrawal period). When a person tries to quit cold turkey, the symptoms can last up to like two weeks. Long-acting opioids like methadone begins 12 to 48 hours after use and can last for 10 to 20 days (National Center for Biotechnology Information – NCBI).

Though they last significantly longer, heroin withdrawals will peak (or be most intense) around 2 days since last use. This period of withdrawals is also known as detoxification.

Detoxification From Heroin

After a person decides to stop using heroin, the next step will be enduring the detoxification period. Detoxification is essentially the act of cleaning a drug out of the system. The withdrawal process is the body’s natural reaction to a system’s detox. It’s advised to take on a clean food regimen, along with lots of fluids and vitamins C and B.

As far as the professionals are concerned, “patients should drink at least 2-3 litres of water per day during withdrawal to replace fluids lost through perspiration and diarrhea.” (NCBI). Quitting heroin and facing withdrawals can be pretty terrifying and it’s not going to be easy. Let’s face it, withdrawals can be painful and unbearable, but the end result of recovery and sobriety will be worth it.

Managing Opiate And Heroin Withdrawal

Possibly one of the most important things to remember about detoxing is that professional treatment, therapy, or guidance is essential to a successful early stage of recovery. Trying to self medicate or manage your own opiate withdrawals can lead to neural damage, or even more intense withdrawals—which can lead to a relapse or substitution of another drug. Heroin withdrawals are serious and must be treated as such…

For instance, along with lots of fluids and a healthy diet, in some cases there was a need for medicine to help deal with the withdrawals from heroin; this is also known as a medication-assisted therapy. Some of the medications used for opiate treatment can include clonidine or opioid medications such as buprenorphine, methadone or codeine phosphate. There are also other over the counter medicines like ibuprofen, aspirin, pepto bismol (for nausea), and others that can be purchased at a reasonable price.

Sometimes, a person must go through a strict detoxification before starting a medication, or behavioral therapy, and these are by no means the end all for addiction—they are simply the beginning. Recovery can sometimes need daily maintenance to be successful.

Addictive Opioids Besides Heroin

Heroin is not the only opioid drug that can cause serious withdrawals. Even prescription opioid drugs can lead to an addiction and eventually painful withdrawals. “In 2014 in the US, about 435,000 people used heroin. In the same year, about 4.3 million people were nonmedical users of narcotic pain relievers. This means they were taking narcotics that were not prescribed to them. Narcotic pain relievers include:

Codeine
Heroin
Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
Methadone
Meperidine (Demerol)
Morphine
Oxycodone (Percocet or Oxycontin)”
(U.S. Library of Medicine)

How To Get Help For A Heroin And Other Opioid Addiction

Opiate addictions can come in a lot of shapes and sizes, and some are worse than others, but the fact of the matter is that all of them can cause serious withdrawals and can even lead to an untimely death. If you’re worried about a person you love and their drug use, or maybe your own drug use has gotten out of control; you might need help. We have a solution and can help you find the treatment you need—so don’t give up. Contact Us today to get the tools for a successful recovery. Heroin addiction kills thousands of people per year—you don’t have to be one of them.

For More Information Related to “What Helps With Heroin Withdrawal?” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

Sources

National Highway Safety Administration – Drug and Human Performance Fact Sheets
National Institute on Drug Abuse – What are the long-term effects of heroin use?
National Institute on Drug Abuse – Heroin
National Center for Biotechnology Information – Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings
U.S. National Library of Medicine – Opiate and Opioid Withdrawal

Common Street Names For Illegal Drugs

Posted on March 21, 2017July 20, 2017 by dr-admin

Illegal drugs sold on the street are often marketed or discussed under different names. These code names were devised to dissuade authorities (such as parents, police officers, or others) from evidence of drug abuse. Knowing the common street names for illegal drugs can be useful to those who suspect someone they know is abusing drugs. Treatment for illegal drug abuse or addiction requires comprehensive healing plans and professional support.

Have you ever heard a drug called by a name that’s unrelated to the drug itself? Or, maybe you suspect someone you know is abusing drugs, but aren’t sure and would like to find out.

Knowing the common street names for illegal drugs can help you learn how drugs are regarded on the street—sometimes the street name hints at the drug’s intended effects. An overview of street names for drugs can also help you identify them in conversation if someone close to you is at risk of abusing them.

The best recourse for abuse of drugs, and addiction to them, is treatment. DrugRehab.org can connect you with the resources necessary to find treatment that works for you or your loved one.

Why Street Names?

In simple terms, street names were developed for common use in conversation about illegal drugs. What do you do if you don’t want authorities, parents, teachers or others to know about drug abuse? You speak in a sort of code.

Some street names may have entered mainstream vernacular (everyday language). Others are used mostly by those abusing or trafficking drugs. Either way, if you suspect someone you know is abusing illegal drugs, it can be useful to know the everyday names for them.

Common Street Names

Cocaine:

Aunt Nora
Bernice
Binge
Blow
Bump
C
Candy
Charlie
Coke
Dust
Flake
Mojo
Nose Candy
Paradise
Rock
Sneeze
Sniff
Snow
Toot
White

Crack cocaine:

24-7
Apple jacks
Badrock
Ball
Base
Beat
Candy
Chemical
Cloud
Cookies
Crack
Crumbs
Crunch and munch
Devil drug
Dice
Electric kool-aid
Fat bags
French fries
Glo
Gravel
Grit
Hail
Hard ball
Hard rock
Hotcakes
Ice cube
Jelly beans
Kryptonite
Nuggets
Paste
Piece
Prime time
Product
Raw
Rock(s)
Rockstar
Roxanne
Scrabble
Sleet
Snow coke
Sugar block
Topo (Spanish word)
Tornado
Troop

Depressants (prescription sedatives)

Barbiturates:

Barbs
Phennies
Red birds
Reds
Tooies
Yellow jackets
Yellows

Benzodiazepines:

Rohypnol (AKA Flunitrazepam):
- Circles
- Date rape drug
- Forget pill
- Forget-me pill
- La Rocha
- Lunch money
- Mexican Valium
- Mind eraser
- Pingus
- R2
- Reynolds
- Rib
- Roach
- Roach 2
- Roaches
- Roachies
- Roapies
- Rochas Dos
- Roofies
- Rope
- Rophies
- Row-shay
- Ruffies
- Trip-and-fall
- Wolfies

Other names for Benzodiazepines:
- Benzos
- Candy
- Downers
- Sleeping pills
- Tranks

Sleep medications:

Forget-me pills
Mexican valium
R2
Roche
Roofies
Roofinol
Rope
Rophies

Hallucinogens

Ketamine:

Cat Valium
Green
K
Jet
Special K
Super acid
Super C
Vitamin K

LSD:

Acid
Battery acid
Blotter
Bloomers
Blue heaven
California Sunshine
Cid
Cubes
Doses
Dots
Golden dragon
Heavenly blue
Hippie
Loony toons
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Microdot
Pane
Purple Heart
Superman
Tab
Window pane
Yellow sunshine
Zen

Mescaline (AKA Peyote):

Buttons
Cactus
Mesc

PCP:

Angel dust
Boat
Hog
Love boat
Peace pill

Psilocybin:

Little smoke
Magic mushrooms
Purple passion
Shrooms

Ecstasy (aka MDMA):

Adam
Beans
Cadillac
California sunrise
Clarity
E
Essence
Elephants
Eve
Hug
Hug drug
Love drug
Love pill
Lover’s speed
Molly
Peace
Roll
Scooby snacks
Snowball
Uppers
X
XE
XTC

Heroin

Inhalants

Air blast
Ames
Amys
Aroma of men
Bolt
Boppers
Bullet
Bullet bolt
Buzz bomb
Discorama
Hardware
Heart-on
Hiagra-in-a-bottle
Highball
Hippie crack
Huff
Laughing gas
Locker room
Medusa
Moon gas
Oz
Pearls
Poor man’s pot
Poppers
Quicksilver
Rush snappers
Satan’s secret
Shoot the breeze
Snappers
Snotballs
Spray
Texas shoe shine
Thrust
Toilet water
Toncho
Whippets
Whiteouts

Khat:

Abyssinian tea
African salad
Catha
Chat
Kat
Oat

Kratom:

Biak-biak
Herbal speedball
Ketum
Kahuam
Ithang
Thom

Marijuana:

Astro Yurf
Bhang
Blunt
Bud(s)
Blaze
Dagga
Dope
Dry high
Ganja
Grass
Green
Hemp
Herb
Home grown
J
Joint
Mary Jane
Pot
Puff
Reefer
Roach
Sinsemilla
Skunk
Smoke
Texas tea
Trees
Weed
White widow

Hashish:

Boom, Chocolate, Gangster, Hash, Hemp

Methamphetamine

Beanies
Brown
Crank
Chalk
Chicken feed
Cinnamon
Crink
Crypto
Crystal
Fire
Get go
Glass
Go fast
Ice
Meth
Methlies quick
Mexican crack
Redneck cocaine
Speed
Tick tick
Tweak
Wash
Yellow powder

Crystal meth:

Batu, blade, cristy, crystal, crystal glass, glass, hot ice, ice, quartz, shabu, shards, stove top, Tina, ventana

Over-the-counter drugs

CCC
DXM
Poor man’s PCP
Robo
Robotripping
Skittles
Triple C

Prescription opioids (AKA Painkillers)

Codeine:

Captain Cody
Cody
Doors and fours
Lean
Loads
Pancakes and syrup
Purple drank
Schoolboy
Sizzurp

Fentanyl:

Apache
China girl
China white
Dance fever
Friend
Goodfella
Jackpot
Murder 8
Tango and Cash
TNT
Hydrocodone or Dihydrocodeinone:
Vike
Watson 387

Hydromorphone:

D
Dillies
Footballs
Juice
Smack

Meperidine:

Demmies
Pain Killer

Methadone:

Amidone
Fizzies
(Mixed with MDMA) Chocolate chip cookies

Morphine:

M
Miss Emma
Monkey
White stuff

Oxycodone:

O.C.
Oxy 80
Oxycat
Oxycet
Oxycotton
Oxy
Hillbilly heroin
Percs
Perks

Oxymorphone:

Biscuits
Blue heaven
Blues
Heavenly blues
Mrs. O
O bombs
Octagons
Stop signs

Prescription Stimulants

Amphetamine (Adderall, Benzedrine):

Bennies
Black beauties
Crosses
Hearts
LA Turnaround
Speed
Truck drivers
Uppers

Methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin):

Diet coke
JIF
Kiddie cocaine
Kiddie coke
MPH
Poor man’s cocaine
R-ball
Skippy
Skittles
Smarties
The Smart Drug
Vitamin R

Synthetic Drugs

Synthetic Marijuana:

K2
Spice

Synthetic stimulants (AKA Bath Salts):

Arctic blasts
Aura
Avalance or Avalanche
Bliss
Blizzard
Bloom
Blue silk
Bolivian bath
Cloud nine
Cotton cloud
Drone
Dynamite or Dynamite plus
Euphoria
Glow stick
Hurricane Charlie
Ivory snow
Ivory wave or Ivory wave ultra
Lunar wave
Mexxy
Mind change or Mino Charge
Monkey dust
Mystic
Natural energy powder
Ocean snow
Purple wave
Quicksilver
Recharge
Red dawn
Red dove
Rock on
Rocky Mountain High
Route 69
Sandman Party Powder
Scarface
Sextasy
Shock wave
Snow day
Snow leopard
Speed freak miracle
Stardust
Super coke
Tranquility
UP energizing or UP Supercharged
Vanilla Sky
White burn
White China
White dove
White lightning
White rush
White Sands
Wicked X or XX
Zoom

Treatment For Addiction To Drugs

Reading this list, you may feel a bit overwhelmed at the possibility of addiction in our nation and elsewhere. The important thing to remember is that treatment for illegal drug abuse and addiction is ever-growing.

In fact, treatment for addiction in recent decades has improved. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states, “most people who get into and remain in treatment stop using drugs, decrease their criminal activity, and improve their occupational, social, and psychological functioning.”

Treatment works, and getting to treatment could make a vast difference in your life. Methods of treatment are changing, focusing on healing a person as a whole—mind, body, and spirit—rather than just targeting symptoms of addiction.

How To Get Help With Addiction

If you or someone you know is addicted to illegal drugs, you may be uncertain about the next step. You can find help and the treatment you need with our help. Contact us today at DrugRehab.org, and we will help you find a rehab center that fits your needs with a treatment plan that suits your specific goals.

For More Information Related to “Common Street Names For Illegal Drugs” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

Sources

Drug Free World—The Drug Facts
National Institute On Drug Abuse—Commonly Abused Drug Charts
National Institute On Drug Abuse—DrugFacts: Heroin

Signs Of Percocet Abuse

Posted on March 8, 2017 by dr-admin

Percocet is a combination opioid narcotic—a pain-relieving prescription medication. Many opioid prescription drugs have highly addictive properties, presenting great risk of abuse to those who take them. The opioid epidemic looms large in the United States. In 2015, two million people had a substance use disorder involving opioid narcotic prescriptions. This number includes adolescents age 12 and older, and accounts for nearly ten percent of all substance abuse, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

The best way to fight this growing trend is to help addicted individuals get into treatment, and raise awareness about the risks associated with prescription opioids like percocet. DrugRehab.org can assist you in finding resources for treatment.

Not everyone understands the dangers of abusing prescription drugs. In fact, many people never question a medication’s potential for abuse simply because it is prescribed by a physician. Yet abuse of opioids has increased in the past few decades, resulting in alarmingly high rates of overdose deaths.

When people enter treatment, they can learn to manage their addiction, and eventually abstain from use of substances altogether. Behavioral therapy remains the most effective form of treatment for opioid addiction as it teaches addicted individuals to focus on a substance-free lifestyle. Rebuilding life outside of substance abuse is key to successful recovery.

What Is Percocet?

Percocet belongs to a group of opioid narcotics known as combination medications. It is comprised of the narcotic pain reliever, oxycodone, and the non-opioid pain reliever, acetaminophen. The medication works by changing the way a person’s brain responds to the pain (oxycodone) and also by relieving pain and reducing fever (acetaminophen). It is available in tablet or liquid form, and dosage depends on a person’s medical needs.

What Are The Signs Of Percocet Abuse?

Knowing the signs of percocet abuse can be the first step to getting a loved one into treatment. Signs may appear as changes in behavior, physical appearance or health, or thoughts and mindset. The following are signs of opioid abuse, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians:

Agitation
Anxiety/panic attacks
Breathing changes (slowed or shallow)
Constipation
Depression
Drowsiness
Irritability
Lack of coordination
Lack of interest in hobbies or daily activities
Lowered or lack of motivation
Making bad decisions/lack of inhibitions
Mood changes
Poor performance in school, work, or other obligations
Slurred speech
Sleep changes (sleeping a lot or insomnia)

What Are The Side Effects Of Percocet Abuse?

Perhaps the most dangerous side effect of percocet abuse is the risk of physical dependence. Percocet, like many opioids, is prescribed only for a short period of time—because it is highly addictive. Even if taken as directed, a person can develop tolerance to the effects of the medication. This means that a person no longer feels the effects when taking it. As a result, a person may begin taking higher or more frequent doses to achieve the same euphoric effects (the “high”).

Within a short time, when a person’s body and brain become accustomed to the effects of the drug, that person may experience withdrawal symptoms when not taking it, or when trying to stop taking it. Withdrawal can be harsh, resulting in such symptoms as:

Extreme fatigue
Depression
Diarrhea
Insomnia
Nausea and/or vomiting
Pain
Tremors

In extreme cases, opioid abuse can be fatal. As a person becomes tolerant, he or she may begin taking higher or more frequent doses, increasing the risk of overdose. To avoid this outcome, it is best to seek treatment for prescription drug abuse right away, and we at DrugRehab.org can help with this.

Who Is Affected By Opioid Addiction?

Of the millions of Americans affected by opioid addiction, the ASAM explains, “women are more likely to have chronic pain, be prescribed prescription pain relievers, be given higher doses, and use them for longer periods than men.” Prescription opioid abuse is particularly common among youth, who often obtain unused or unsecured medications from a relative.

But one of the most far-reaching effects of prescription opioid addiction is that it can lead to abuse of other recreational drugs. For example, four out of five people newly abusing heroin began first abusing prescription drugs. With such a vast scope, and excessive numbers of overdose deaths, opioid addiction has become an epidemic. Treatment in an inpatient rehab center is the best recourse for those struggling.

How To Help Someone With Addiction

Addiction to prescription opioids such as percocet can have dire consequences to a person’s health and life. Long-term use can also increase a person’s chances of developing addiction to other illicit drugs, or suffering overdose. Help your loved one find appropriate treatment before it’s too late. Contact us today at DrugRehab.org to learn more about rehab centers and treatment options.

For More Information Related to “Signs Of Percocet Abuse” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

Sources

American Academy Of Family Physicians—Opioid Addiction
American Society Of Addiction Medicine—Opioid Addiction 2016 Facts And Figures
U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services—The U.S. Opioid Epidemic
WebMD—Percocet

Environmental Risk Factors for Developing an Addiction

Posted on February 28, 2017February 15, 2018 by dr-admin

Environmental Risk Factors play a part in all of our day-to-day life. A person who goes to work as a fireman has a risk of getting burnt, much like a person who is subjected to alcohol and drugs has a risk of getting high or drunk and becoming addicted. There are a variety of environmental risk factors that play a part in developing an addiction–the more common ones are Community, Peer, Family, and School. Not everyone who tries drugs will become addicted, or even like it for that matter, but some people are hooked right from the start. It might not be too late to educate yourself, and your teens about addiction…

Have you ever known somebody since they were young, and the tragedy of addiction has always been their fate? Everyone in their life, including them, is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Their mom and dad are both addicted to drugs, their brothers are addicted to drugs; their whole family seems to be addicted to drugs or alcohol. Maybe their neighbor is even addicted to drugs. This person, like millions of others, had environmental risk factors which contributed to their own addiction.

There are a lot of different contributing factors leading to an addiction; these can be community, family, school, and friends (peers). Though not everyone who experiments with drugs becomes addicted, approximately 10% of people who try drugs do, and major contributions to addiction come from a combination of environment and genetics. That translates to roughly one in ten people who will become addicted to a drug after trying it once.

How To Identify Addiction

Addiction can be tricky to understand for someone who hasn’t experienced it first hand. It can be just as confusing, for someone who is battling addiction, to try to explain how they wasted their life savings, stole from a loved one, or went to the hospital. One of the easiest ways to understand addiction is by recognizing that the person suffering from it is very ill–both mentally and physically. They might not be able to stop using drugs or alcohol–as hard as they might try or as many times as they say they’ll quit–they’re hooked.

Are you or a loved one suffering from addiction?

Don't wait, get the best treatment options today

Call Now: (833) 473-4227

Teens And Addiction

Teens will be exposed to drugs and alcohol, whether they’re the one using them or not. If they aren’t, it will be someone they know of who is using the drug. Scientists from the National Institutes on Drug Abuse have discovered that adolescent brains are more susceptible to addiction than an adult brain, because they are not fully developed yet. They go on to say that the same teen’s still developing brain can also be more resilient to addiction, and can be taught. So there is hope…

Unfortunately, with the stigma attached to drug dependence, many families refuse to look outside the home for treatment. Most people suffering from addiction didn’t choose to become addicted to a drug–it’s just the nature of habit. Addiction can happen where we least expect it, but perhaps with the right evidence, the mind of a potential drug user will be guided elsewhere.

How Many People Are Suffering From An Addiction?

Addiction affects 23.2 million Americans, and sadly, only 10% of those people are receiving the treatment they need. With that distressing statistic, there is most likely a person in your life who is suffering from an addiction. It isn’t a disease that only affects cities, or people below the poverty line… Addiction affects everyone.

Moreover, “1 in 10 Americans over the age of 12 classified with substance abuse or dependence, addiction takes an emotional, psychological, and social toll on the country. The economic costs of substance abuse and addiction alone are estimated to exceed a half trillion dollars annually in the United States due to health care expenditures, lost productivity, and crime.” (National Institutes of Health)

What Are Some Environmental Risk Factors For Addiction?

Just about anything can play a role in a person’s addiction, but we can safely assume that each person started off experimenting with drugs that they had previously seen someone else use. A person’s first exposure to drugs and alcohol might have been brought on by a common environmental risk factor–these factors can all be better understood when put into the more specific categories:

The Community Domain
The Peer Domain
The Family Domain
The School Domain (Genetic Science Learning Center)

A person is at great risk of becoming addicted when exposed to these environmental risk factors. Though it isn’t just young adults in jeopardy; substance addiction can happen when life gets the best of you–and sometimes a person will start using a drug or alcohol to cope with loss–because it makes them feel better. This can often lead to addiction of the substance overtime. Substance use coping is dangerous and unhealthy.

Community Risk Factors For Developing An Addiction

A person’s community can play a major role in their subjection to alcohol and drug addiction. “If a…community has favorable attitudes toward drug use, firearms and crime, their risk is increased.” (Genetic Science Learning Center) Most teens have a seemingly “cooler” neighbor whom they look up to or want to be like.. Teens are impressionable, and if they see this person they look up to smoking cigarettes, using drugs, or drinking, they might think that this is how to be cool.

Many urban communities and neighborhoods have outreach programs and “drug-free school zones,” but sometimes communities are completely shocked to find that the drugs and alcohol are being used by their very own children–or even by people of their own stature. It can be difficult for parents, worried about addiction, to decide who to let their kids hang around with. The best method might be to educate them before the problem arises.

Peer Risk Factors For Developing An Addiction

“The single biggest contributing factor to drug abuse risk is having friends who engage in the problem behavior.” (Genetic Science Learning Center) So how do we pick and choose friends, or try to encourage our friends not to use drugs and alcohol? Everybody is going to come across peer pressure in their life–it’s just part of being human–and it will likely always be that way.

Not every misdirected kid who invites his friends to join him for a drink or a smoke is addicted to the substance, but it’s like the old saying goes “misery loves company.” By nature, prolonged use of said drug very often can lead to addiction–it’s just the way our minds work. The human brain craves euphoria, and when something feels good, tastes good, or looks good, we want more of it.

Home Risk Factors For Developing An Addiction

An adolescent’s first exposure to drug and alcohol use often takes place in the home–this usually depends on parenting practices and general home life. These risk factors are broken down into several categories, but two common understandings of child upbringing (as related to drug and alcohol use) are maltreatment and traumatic events. Parenting practices can play a significant role in substance use disorders and addiction. Sometimes, if a mom or dad is never around to see the sometimes obvious signs of drug and alcohol use, or neglect to educate their children–those same children can be at risk.

Maltreatment and traumatic events can include physical abuse, sexual abuse, or simply a cruel upbringing. Maltreated or abused children are 7 times more likely than others to use drugs or alcohol by age 12. Incredibly, maltreated children, on average, are likely to use alcohol 2 years before their peers.

School Risk Factors For Developing An Addiction

Teen may be at risk for substance use and addiction when they miss out on extracurricular activities, or or when they lack some of the social structure that comes from good grades and commitment. People strive to fit in with whomever they surround them self with, these school mates might be involved in drugs (and who knows? Maybe there is an opportunity to help them out of it.), but when such an adolescent is surrounded by others who strive to do great things, they too will seek self-improvement and success.

Schools offer a wonderful opportunity for teens to grow socially and mentally, but can also offer them an opportunity to grow experimentally with the exposure to drugs and alcohol. Schools can also offer information on drug and alcohol use. Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) is one example of how schools attempt to educate teens about smoking, using drugs, and drinking alcohol. Unfortunately, D.A.R.E. was claimed to be ineffective by the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

There are other classrooms which can help a person develop healthy habits: Psychology Class, Health Class, Physical Education, and Sexual Education.

How To Learn More About Environmental Risk Factors Of Addiction

Over 50,000 people died from an overdose in 2015, a number that grows leaps and bounds larger each year. If you are a parent of, spouse of, or a person suffering from an addiction–there is no reason to become another statistic. There is hope for you and your loved ones to get well, and to leave your addiction behind. If you have questions about Environmental Risk Factors for Developing an Addiction and are seeking treatment–it is not too late. Contact us today! Together, we can help make environments safer for everyone.

For More Information Related to “Environmental Risk Factors for Developing an Addiction” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

Sources

National Library of Medicine – The Science of Addiction: Drugs, Brains, and Behavior
Genetic Science Learning Center – Environmental Risk Factors
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) – Adolescents at Risk for Substance Use Disorders
National Institute on Drug Abuse – Overdose Death Rates

Opioid Addiction in Cancer Patients

Posted on February 23, 2017 by dr-admin

Cancer can seem like a losing battle, and then even if you survive cancer, you might become addicted to the medicine used for treatment. Opioids like oxycodone and morphine can be highly effective in treating pain, but are also terribly addictive. Even if a person is taking the prescribed doses of their medication, they can become addicted to it. Addiction treatments are sometimes the only answer, because even though cancer can seem like a losing battle, addiction is a treatable disease.

Fighting cancer can be a pretty scary business, and the pain it causes can be unbearable; someone who is suffering a terminal illness like cancer is likely to be in unimaginable pain. Pain is actually reported to be the biggest fear of someone suffering from cancer; not death, and not the loss of their life, but pain. For a person suffering with an often incurable condition, sometimes the only thing medical professionals can do is give them painkillers and anxiety medication to help them feel comfortable.

The tragedy occurs, not only when the person has to accept mortality, but when they become dependent on their medication. The list of prescription drugs used to treat cancer patients is astounding. Opioids are the most utilized drugs in treating cancer patients, and though they are highly successful in pain management, opioids are also highly addictive.

Why Are Opioids Used For Treating Cancer Patients?

The dilemma that has been challenging physicians, when it comes to treating cancer patients, is what kind of medication to give them? It’s not a secret to health care professionals that opioids are highly addictive, but sometimes a cancer patient just needs something stronger for pain. Opioid painkillers are “among the most effective drugs for the treatment of pain… Their use in the management of acute severe pain and chronic pain related to advanced medical illness is considered the standard of care in most of the world, (National Center for Biotechnology Information).

Cancer patients are likely to experience cancer pain, end of life pain, and severe acute pain–therefore an intervention of opioid painkillers is often necessary for them to feel comfortable. Once it becomes established, opioid addiction can be tough to kick because of the withdrawals and euphoria they create…

How Does One Become Addicted To Opioids

Opioid use over an extended period, can change the way a person’s brain works–the cells become dependent on the drug, and thus, so does the person using them. Addiction is a chronic brain reward pattern, wherein the individual is unable to abstain from a drug, even once it is no longer available. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “The nerve cells grow used to having opioids around, so that when they are taken away suddenly, the person can have lots of unpleasant feelings and reactions…” also known as withdrawals. A good sign that a person is becoming addicted to a substance is if they have withdrawals when they stop using the substance or drug.

Can I Become Addicted Even If I’m Taking The Correct Doses?

Yes, unfortunately, even when taken in the correct doses, prescribed medicine causes addiction. Most people don’t choose addiction–addiction chooses them. Much like the woman coping with the loss of her husband didn’t want to become an alcoholic; the person fighting for their life didn’t expect to beat cancer and then lose to addiction. Addiction occurs when a person continues craving a drug, even when they don’t want to take it… It really comes down to the obsession and compulsion of addiction.

Obsession And Compulsion Of Addiction

Obsession occurs when all a person can think about is one thing–whether it’s their new car, their boyfriend, or in this case opioids. A cancer patient might be lying in their hospital bed watching the clock, because they know that once 4 hours have expired, they are due for another dose of drugs; that is obsession. Compulsion is when a person loses control over an action, they use the drug even though they know they aren’t supposed to–or even if they don’t want to use a drug, but they do anyways.

The point here isn’t to get cancer patients to throw away their oxycodone and go on suffering from pain; it is to inform them of what can happen when they take them regularly–and if an opioid addiction has already taken over, where they can go for help.

Different Approaches For Treatment Of Opioid Addictions

The medical fraternity has come a long way in treating an addiction. Sometimes cognitive behavioral therapy is performed by a psychologist to get to the root of the problem, and sometimes partial-opiates like suboxone are issued by a physician to help with withdrawals and craving. The one thing that stands true for all addiction is that a single method of treatment doesn’t work for everyone. However, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse a successful treatment should include these steps:

Detoxification
Behavioral Counseling
Medication
Evaluation and Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders (such as: Depression and Anxiety)
Long-Term Follow-Up to Prevent Relapse
Non-Opioid Options For Pain Treatment

Non-opioid (or non-narcotics) like acetaminophen are for treatment of mild to moderate pain. They are non-habit forming and are typically available without a prescription. According to the American Cancer Society, “in many cases, non-opioids are all you’ll need to relieve your pain, especially if you “stay on top of the pain” by taking them regularly.” They go on to say that acetaminophen and other non-habit forming drugs are “stronger than most people realize.”

More On Prescription Medication Addiction

Sometimes we have losing battles in life–we might lose a job or a loved one, but we don’t have to lose to addiction. Prescription pain medication can be highly addictive, and addiction can feel like a complete loss. One thing that always stands true, even though it’s a chronic disease (which means that there isn’t necessarily a cure), addiction is treatable–and there are people who want to help you get there.

Finding Help For An Addiction

Have you beaten cancer, but lost to an addiction? It should comfort you to know that there are millions of people who were addicted just like you, but have now recovered. If you, or a loved one is battling an addiction to opioids and afraid that there is no hope. Contact us today to find out more information on treating your loved one, or yourself. Sometimes we can be victorious against cancer, but lose the battle to drug addiction in the process… You can beat addiction today!

For More Information Related to “Opioid Addiction in Cancer Patients” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

Sources

American Cancer Society – Non-opioids and Other Drugs Used to Treat Cancer Pain
National Cancer Institute – A to Z List of Cancer Drugs
National Institute on Drug Abuse For Teachers – How Does Someone Become Addicted to Opioids?
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) – Opioids and the Treatment of Chronic Pain