Drugs | Cocaine Research

Why does a person become a drug addict?

July 22, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

There are lots of reasons why a person becomes a drug addict. Most of the problems behind a person’s reason to take to drugs are common with many other drug addicts. There is never a unique problem. That is why drug addiction is a solvable malady. The best thing would be to get to the root of the problem.

Here are some root problems that many drug addicts have…

Family discord

As a youngster a drug addict may face a lot of family problems. There would have been tremendous discord amongst the parents. Discord among children is not always the reason. When such a thing happens, there is total chaos in the mind of the to-be drug addict. To control this chaos, the to-be drug addict seeks a solace. The solace being sedatives. And in some time drugs.

Failed relationships

Love hurts. Emotions are more painful than pain itself. Failed relationships lead to drug addiction and alcoholism. It is often something that cannot be reconciled. The only solace would seem to be in the shadow of a sedative that lets them forget everything forever.

Circle of friends

Circle of friends decide the destiny of many people. It could also influence what a person chooses in the future. Even a single drug addict can influence other members of the friend-circle. Till everyone becomes a drug addict. And then coming together has a reason.

So the above are some common reasons. There could be many more. Drug addiction is something that can be dealt with. All it requires is will power and perseverance.

Filed Under: Drug Addiction, Drugs Tagged With: Sedative, Substance Abuse, Substance dependence

Increasing Rate of Drug Abuse Among Medical Practitioners

May 14, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

While drug abuse in the workplace has become such a common occurrence that some companies screen their employees, an alarming new trend suggests that doctors are turning to drugs now more than ever.

In the exhausting on-call world, many physicians are writing their own prescriptions for stimulants just to get through the workday. It’s not uncommon for these medical practitioners to prescribe themselves heavy pain relievers and sedatives as well. Some even stray to cocaine and stoop to stealing drugs from hospital pharmacies. Nurses have even been known to inject narcotics in their veins during bathroom breaks.

In 2010, the state of Illinois alone suspended or reprimanded at least 156 physicians and other professionals for failing drug tests, misusing drugs, or outright stealing them. Despite more employers requiring drug tests, even of doctors, the problem persists.

While most medical professionals feel in control of their drug abuse because they are more knowledgeable about the drug than the average person, the truth is that patients’ lives are being put at risk. Doctors under the influence can be influenced by clouded thinking and could perhaps make fatal mistakes. Patients who have been under the care of doctors who were caught abusing drugs may be entitled to legal action. Those patients in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco should seek out the best medical malpractice southern California has to offer.

Doctors who abuse drugs in California may have their licenses revoked by the California Attorney General’s Office. If placed on probation, the physician will be subjected to random drug screening and submit to a psychiatric evaluation.

Filed Under: Drugs, Medical Tagged With: Drug, Los Angeles, Substance Abuse

Different Types of Drug Addiction

March 7, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Most people think that drug addiction is confined only to the socio economic groups and mostly it refers to the usage of the illegal drugs. Drug abuse can happen to any people and no one is immune to this illness. Here are different types of drug addiction problems.

First well-known addiction problem is the alcohol addiction. Alcohol is a legal substance for the adults to consume and most of the adults become addictive. Alcohol has serious health consequences and also has drastic effect on mental health as well as personal relationship. Some of the serious health effects are liver damage, cirrhosis, and brain damage. Nicotine addiction is another big problem and the most addictive substance found on the world. Nicotine is linked with smoking and quitting this habit is very difficult. Some of the health consequences of nicotine usage are heart disease, cancer and stroke.

Heroin is also called as brown sugar, exists in various colors and forms. The heroin users soon become physically dependent on this drug soon after its usage. Opiate addiction is another common drug addiction. People with opiate addiction often loss their ability of decision-making and also often run into the risk of having HIV/AIDS because of injecting by means of needles. Methadone is a drug used to treat heroin, but the user become addicted to this drug when used for a prolonged period. Marijuana is an illegal drug and more and more people are becoming marijuana addicts.

Caffeine addiction is very common and some people tend to have coffee most of the time. Withdrawal symptoms of caffeine addiction are also high when the user tries to cut off chocolate or caffeinated drinks. Steroid addiction is very common in body builders and athletes as they use this drug to build their muscles. Steroid addiction is very difficult to recognize and causes numerous health problems.

Filed Under: Drug Addiction, Drugs Tagged With: Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, Substance dependence

Effects of Different Drugs on Brain

February 3, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

The brain is organized into many regions to do specified functions. Drug use causes drastic effects on brain. Here are summary of effects of some drugs on the brain. Some of the illegal drugs are heroin, marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, inhalants, ecstasy, LSD, steroids, tobacco, methamphetamine, and Ritalin. The highest addictive drug is the heroin and brain cells become highly affected by using this drug. The users get highly addicted and they often want this to use it frequently on a daily basis.

Marijuana affects different parts of the brain, especially the parts that controls memory, emotions, and judgment. Marijuana smoking often causes short-term memory loss and often blocks the information from being the long-term memory. It is also found that it shortens the ability of problem solving. Alcohol has same bad effects as that of drugs. The main effects are memory lapses and loss of judgment. Other than this, alcohol leads to vision distortion, blackouts, coordination problem, and brain damages disturb functions of other organs in the body.

Cocaine is an addictive stimulant and it is used either in the crack or powder form. This drug addict normally loses interests in their life that includes sports, school, friends, and family. Use of this cocaine always leads to anxiety problems and paranoia. The cocaine’s physical effect attacks the receptors of the brain. Inhalants are the main drug abuse and the inhalants normally used are paint thinner, gasoline, glue, and hair spray. The effects are also immediate on the brain. Some of the inhalants leave the addicts quickly, while some remains in the body for long hours.

The fatty tissues that completely protect the nerve cells surrounding the brain are completely destroyed by inhalants. This even stops the neural transmissions and this also diminishes the ability to remember, solve, and learn. The use of ecstasy causes difficulty in focusing and it also disturbs certain functions of brain cells. LSD can cause confusion, panic attacks, paranoia, and anxiety. Use of steroids can permanently curb the memory ability and even impair learning ability. use of Ritalin causes anxiety, delusions, headaches, and paranoia.

Filed Under: Alcoholism, Drugs Tagged With: Brain, Drug, Lysergic acid diethylamide

Addiction and Intervention on TV

January 25, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

For the last 4 seasons, Dr. Drew Pinsky, an internist who is board certified in addiction medicine, has been helping well known-addicts try to kick their addictions once and for all. While he first gained fame as a night time love doctor on the nationally syndicated Loveline, he has since helped to create VH1’s celebrity rehab. A reality TV show that takes the viewer into rehab with the addictby documenting the tumultuous times that one must go through on the road to recovery.

Originally the doctor approached VH1 to create a show that would counterbalance the media portrayal of celebrity indulgences and especially celebrity addiction. He believed that the show could be a media intervention of sorts with regards to rehab. Celebrity Rehab is a platform allowing him to create more awareness about the realities of drug, alcohol and chemical dependency without glorifying it. Countless celebrities are shown or have been reported to overindulge in substances and alcohol, yet no ramifications seem to ever be reported. Celebrity Rehab is not another reality show. It deals with addiction and rehab honestly and tries to show the positive steps that the addicts need to take to effectively complete treatment. It tries to authenticate addiction and the process by which someone goes about beating or managing one. The doctor and the counselors try to focus the patients on what triggers them to fall into their negative patterns and how they can try to remedy their triggers to see tangible results within their recovery.

While most of us wouldn’t want to take this journey in the spotlight, there are many places in Southern California that can help addicts achieve positive results with more discretion. Places like alcohol rehab orange county offer solutions that can turn a life around one step at a time. With the right attitude, knowledgeable and patient staff members anyone can find recovery if they are willing to take the first step.

Filed Under: Drug Addiction, Drugs Tagged With: Drew Pinsky, Loveline, Substance dependence

Medications Used to Help Heroin Detox

January 20, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Heroin is a very addicting drug. Many people become addict to it every year. The problem with this very heavy opiate is that once it has been used it causes the body and the brain to interpret it as a normal part of the body. This interpretation causes the body to rely upon the drug as if it were a regular body function. This makes detoxing from heroin very difficult because the body goes through intense withdrawals that can cause the addict to want to use the opiate again. Luckily, there are many medications that can be used while a person is detoxing from heroin to make the process easier.

Here is a look at the three medications that are used during heroin detox.

Methadone. Methadone is the most commonly used medication for heroin detox. It has been used for a number of years and been proven highly successful. When methadone is used as prescribed it will reduce the withdrawal symptoms of heroin without causing a dependence on the drug. Methadone is not a sedative and does not cause the person to become tired. However, the withdrawal process will make the person tired and this is commonly mistaken as an effect of the methadone. Methadone also reduces the addict’s craving for heroin which allows them to detox from the drug. Methadone only needs to be taken once every 24 to 48 hours and addicts are weaned off the methadone after a week on it.

Levo-Alpha-Acetyl-Methadol. This is a version of a fake opiate that is administered to heroin addicts who are detoxing. It reduces the cravings for heroin and only needs to be administered once every four days. It is believed to be less addictive than methadone.

Buprenorphine. This is common to the above mentioned drug and is still too new to be proven successful. This is less powerful than the previous two and believed to cure addictions without causing a new addiction.

Filed Under: Drugs Tagged With: Heroin

Getting Your Loved One Help Through Drug Treatment Centers

December 20, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Finding an opportunity to offer help to a loved one who is suffering from a drug addiction is a big step in the right direction. It can be heartbreaking to watch a close friend or family member struggle with this type of destructive behavior. Unfortunately, in order for your loved one to actually benefit from treatment, he or she must want to receive that help. This is often the most difficult aspect for family and friends. In many instances, the individual is in denial. It’s not hard to see why you may become frustrated, overwhelmed and feel unable to cope yourself due to the potential consequences of your loved one’s actions.

One of the biggest factors in helping someone get sober is to help support that loved one. Drug treatment centers can offer help throughout the process. It is very difficult to stop using drugs on your own. The services of a treatment center not only can help the person stop using drugs but also find a way to overcome the effects of those drugs on his or her life. You can offer plenty of support to your loved one through this difficult process of getting clean. Expect the person to falter, and be there to provide support in those trying times.

In addition to these factors, it is often necessary for individuals to realize that they cannot do everything. You cannot force a loved one to get help. You can offer support and encouragement, but you may alienate that person in the process. Learning to cope with the destructive action is difficult, but it may be something you need to do. Talk to a counselor or another good friend or family member to learn how to handle the effects of this drug abuse on your own life. You need to learn to handle the stress of the situation so you’re not overwhelmed.

Filed Under: Drug Addiction, Drugs, Medication Tagged With: Addiction, Health, Substance Abuse, Substance dependence

Getting Treatment at a Drug Rehabilitation Facility

December 11, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

More and more people all over the world are getting addicted to drugs every year. Sadly many of these people are teenagers. Once a person has admitted that they need help they will most likely go to a drug rehabilitation center for treatment.

There are hundreds of these centers across the globe. Most of these centers can provide an excellent service that gives many drug addicts a complete recovery. However some people may not recover the first time that they enter into a rehabilitation facility.

There are several reasons why this may occur. Those that are heavily addicted to drugs may find the withdrawal that they suffer far too painful. Because of this they may leave the center and continue to take drugs. Other people may not be able to stick to the strict requirements that some centers enforce. An example of this is that some facilities restrict the use of mobile phones. Many of them monitor the daily movements of their patients. Some patients may take some time to adjust to having this much structure in their lives.

However this does not mean that people should give up on trying to quit their addiction. Addiction recovery is not easy and should be looked upon as a long term endeavor. The responsibility of getting well lies on the addicted person as nobody can help them unless they want to help themselves. The time that will be most difficult for addicts to get through is when their body is adjusting to becoming drug free. The withdrawal process is not pretty and this is why it is best to go to a drug rehabilitation facility. These facilities have trained professionals that have seen the effects of withdrawal many times. This will make becoming drug free much easier than if the patient had to go through the process alone.

Filed Under: Drug Addiction, Drugs, Hospital Tagged With: Drug rehabilitation, Patient, Substance dependence

One or Two Drinks Will Not Send Someone to Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers

December 9, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Most people that enjoy having a drink once in a while do not end up in a drug rehab facility. In fact, a lot of those out there that enjoy a drink enjoy it socially or on occasion. Just because someone drinks alcohol does not mean that they are an alcoholic.

As the holidays get closer, this is something to remember. Many people who only drink on occasion will be drinking more. The holidays are a time that many people indulge a little more than normal. Between the holiday parties, and the stress that the holidays can produce, the wine, champagne, and other alcoholic drinks tend to flow a little more freely. Just because you see someone taking an extra drink, or drinking at multiple parties does not mean that they have a problem.

In fact, many people who have dealt with alcoholism will completely avoid any alcoholic drinks or even possibly avoid parties and get-togethers where drinking may be present. If a person has gone through alcohol and drug treatment centers, he or she will understand that being around alcohol can be dangerous to recovering. Even many people who are getting over alcoholism who haven’t been to a treatment center understand this.

If you have a friend, co-worker, or family member who is brushing off a drink, don’t try to force him or her into it. These people may have reasons of their own to not be drinking at these parties. Some people just don’t drink alcohol (and never have). Respect their reasons, whatever they are, and let it be. But don’t feel bad if you do decide to have a drink or two. Just be safe heading home! No one wants to hear about an accident because of irresponsible drinking and driving.

Filed Under: Awareness, Drugs, General Tagged With: Addictions, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drink, Driving under the influence, Health, Substance Abuse, United States

The Drug Recovery Process

December 8, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

When it comes to being hooked on drugs for a long time, recovery can definitely not only be the best step for you to take with your life, but it can also be a long process. Some drug addicts tend to give up the drugs on their own, but the ones who can’t tend to check into rehab for some type of drug addiction recovery. The recovery may not have to be rehab, but it can consist of you joining a recovering addict group in which people can help motivate you in not only getting off the drugs, but also staying off them.

The biggest hassles in drug addiction recovery are the withdrawals and also making sure that you don’t relapse. Withdrawals usually occur for weeks as the body has to get use to not having all the drugs in its system. At first the temptation may be hard to get through, but it can be done. Relapsing is something that is fairly easy for a person to do based upon the fact that something such as depression could get them right back on drugs. Relapsing has no time limit and a person can be off of drugs for a year and get right back on them.

If you or someone you know are on drugs or addicted to drugs, make sure that you go out and seek some type of drug addiction recovery facility today. There are many groups that people attend not only to keep them off the street where the drugs are, but to also tell their story and the reasons in why they gave up that lifestyle they were living. Just make sure that it is something you want to do and not something you were mainly forced to do just so you can go and please others.

Filed Under: Drug Addiction, Drugs, Hospital, Medical Tagged With: Relapse, Substance Abuse, Substance dependence