Alcohol and Drug Addiction Library
The authors (who wish to remain anonymous)
wrote these articles based on their own experiences that
they acquired while struggling with drug and alcohol addiction
and withdrawal themselves. Their experiences as treatment
providers after recovering from their addictions delivers
a unique perspective into the world of addiction and recovery
that doesn't exist in many places.
You may read the portions of the drug
and alcohol rehab articles found on this page or find
an article that interests you and then click on the title
of the desired article to read it in it's entirety.
Please choose an article...
|
More
About Crystal Meth
The acute effects of methamphetamine include
increased heart rate and blood pressure, vasoconstriction
(constriction of the arterial walls), pupil dilation
and hyperglycemia (increased blood sugar). A person
who ingests meth will experience an increased focus
and mental alertness, the elimination of the subjective
effects of fatigue and a decrease in appetite. Continued
high doses of methamphetamine produce anxiety reactions
during which the person is fearful, tremulous and
concerned about his well-being; an amphetamine psychosis
in which the person misinterprets others' actions,
hallucinates and becomes unrealistically suspicious;
an exhaustion syndrome, involving intense fatigue
and need for sleep after the stimulation phase; and
a prolonged depression, during which suicide is possible.
CLICK
HERE to read More About Crystal Meth.
|
|
|
Managing
Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms With Suboxone
Heroin addiction, as well as all opiate addictions,
usually require medically monitored detox for the
severe withdrawal symptoms the drugs produce. Heroin
use causes a strong physical dependence and therefore
withdrawal can result in serious complications when
the use of the drug is stopped abruptly. Cold-turkey
heroin detox and withdrawal symptoms can include seizures,
heart irregularities, vomiting, insomnia and the sweats.
Once the body has adapted to the presence of the drug,
withdrawal symptoms may occur if heroin use is reduced
or stopped.
CLICK
HERE to read About Managing Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms
With Suboxone.
|
|
|
Crack
Cocaine
The effects of cocaine normally occur immediately
after ingestion and can last from a few minutes to
a few hours. The duration of the drug's effects depends
on how it is ingested. Snorting cocaine produces a
slow onset of effects that can last from 15 to 30
minutes, while the effects of smoking cocaine last
from 5 to 10 minutes and produce a more intense high.
Cocaine produces euphoric effects by building up dopamine
in the brain, causing the continuous stimulation of
neurons.
CLICK
HERE to read Crack Cocaine.
|
|
|
Guide To
A Successful Intervention
Persons suffering from alcoholism and other
drug addictions are prone to serious denial about
the harmful effects of their behavior on themselves
and others. Efforts to reason with them and convince
them to stop causing such damage are frequently met
with denial, defensiveness, justification or minimization
and sometimes even attacks upon the loved-one that
is trying to help.
CLICK
HERE to read Guide To A Successful Intervention |
|
|
There
Are Many Different Types of Rehabs
Examples of different levels of care are
day treatment or outpatient care, where the client
attends group and other recovery activities 3 or
4 hours per day and usually 3 to 5 days per week,
detoxification that is normally inpatient and can
be completed in 7 to 10 days for most substances
with the exception of some synthetic opiates and
short and long-term residential primary treatment.
Most residential drug and alcohol rehabs are 21
to 45 days in length, though some long-term programs
are a year or more in duration. Weekly out-patient
aftercare groups can continue for 6 months to a
year and usually focus on relapse prevention and
"living life on life's terms".
CLICK
HERE to read There Are Many Types Of Rehabs
|
|
|
Locating
A Suitable Drug Treatment Center
Drug addiction knows no geographic, age,
gender or ethnic boundaries. It can strike anyone
and everywhere! So one might argue that an addiction
is an addiction and they all need to be treated
the same. If it were only that simple! The disease
of addiction is the only disease a person can
have that tells you that you don't have it. Also,
when an addict finally realizes that he does have
a serious problem, this disease assures him it's
going to be okay, just do some more and everything
will be okay. Addiction is a cunning and baffling
foe and your chances of beating it without help
are slim to none.
CLICK
HERE to read Locating A Suitable Drug Treatment
Center
|
|
|
