Treatment for cocaine addiction targets relapse
An experimental drug called nepicastat shows promise in helping treat cocaine addiction, based on its ability to stave off relapse-like behavior in animals trained to give themselves cocaine. The National Institute on Drug Abuse is beginning a clinical …
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Drug-addicted doctor entitled to disability insurance benefits
In a controversial and precedent-setting opinion, a federal court found that a doctor who was addicted to a pain medication is entitled to disability insurance benefits because the chance of relapse after treatment is considered a long-term disability …
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Valium has been available since 1963 for the treatment of insomnia, anxiety, and to aid in relaxing muscles Valium is a benzodiazepine, which is a depressant on the nervous system. Valium abuse is when a person takes more than prescribed by their physician or take the drug without a prescription at all. Once a person begins abusing valium, they will notice that the need for more and more of the drug is needed to experience the same effect. The sad news is that fifty percent of individuals that stick to their prescription and take the drug for six months can have an addiction problem.

The way to know if a person or if you are having problems with valium abuse is that if you experience or notice any withdrawal symptoms which can include abdominal cramps, anxiety, vomiting, insomnia, dizziness, heart palpitations, and more. Valium abuse does not only affect a person physically but emotionally as well as the drug provides a euphoric feeling.

At this time, valium is at the top of the list of prescription drugs that is being placed on the black market. As stated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Drug Enforcement Agency, valium is very high on the list of the prescription drug abuse. In 2006, close to two million individuals in the United States admitted to abusing prescriptions in that year. The number of individuals with either valium abuse or other prescription drugs is fast gong up the list.

When a person thinks of club drugs, they often think of ecstasy, however, valium is now on that list which is causing valium abuse among teenagers and young adults that visit clubs or enjoy rave parties. Since valium is often so easily obtained such as in the medicine cabinet at home, the amount of valium on the street is increasing. Today, instead of just taking the pill, it is being crushed so it can be snorted to shot up in order to achieve a more intense rush.

If you believe, a family member or friend is having a valium abuse problem you should watch for signs including sleepiness, clumsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth, memory loss, shaking, headache, confusion, and trouble breathing.

Today, there are all kinds of treatment centers to help each individual with a valium abuse problem. If you or a loved one is experiencing difficulty with valium, you should seek medical help. The longer a person abuses valium the harder it will be to become drug free.

Today, all across America there are around 14,000 drug rehab and alcohol abuse treatment centers. Each one offers a wide array of services to help those that wish to take control of their lives. In some cases, if the valium abuse is severe, the person may need to enter a medical detoxification center prior to beginning drug abuse treatment. Programs will vary but most include drug detox, counseling, and behavior modification.

Methamphetamine known as meth is fast becoming the most abused illegal drug in the United States. A matter of fact, meth abuse is one of the fastest growing problems to hit America. This illegal drug started on the west coast smuggled in from Mexico, however, now it can be found in every corner of the United States.

The major reason that meth is such a huge problem is that it is so extremely addictive that many people can become addicted to this stimulant with the first use. After a person is addicted, then meth becomes a bigger problem. Meth abuse is one of the hardest drugs addictions to treat. Not only is meth abuse hard to treat, but it is also the cause of permanent damage to the person body. Along with being a devastating problem for the body and for treating it is also a huge tornado on relationships, emotions, and work.

By a report in 2006, close to two million individuals have tried meth in the United States. Meth abuse is more prominent with individuals under the age of 25 with most trying the drug at age 19. From 1997 and 2007, the number of individuals admitted to treatment centers for meth abuse tripled and is still rising.

On the street you will hear meth called chalk or speed, which is actually easily made with ingredients from over the counter cold medicines. This is one reason that in many states you cannot purchase medicines over the counter like you could prior to 2004.

Meth is growing quickly due to it being a cheap drug that most teenagers can purchase with their allowance and with an intense quick hit with a high that can last up to eight hours.

One main reason meth abuse is concerning parents and law enforcement is that the drug causes a person to feel very energized but with a high agitation shortly after the rush. Not only that but violent behavior and mood swings have been noticed.

Meth releases dopamine in the brain, which creates powerful feelings of pleasure. Along with this it also blocks the ability of the brain to reabsorb the dopamine, which creates the long lasting high. Chronic meth abuse can and does change the function of the brain by reducing motor skills, impairing verbal learning, emotional problems, and cognitive problems.

Not only will meth abuse cause the above problems with the function of the brain but physical problems also occur including severe weight loss, rotted teeth, insomnia, anxiety, confusion, delusions, paranoia. Some individuals feel things crawling on their skin causing them to scratch causing sores.

A person with a meth abuse problem will need to seek help through a drug rehab center that has a drug detox service as detoxing will need the supervision of a medical professional. The best treatment as stated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse is comprehensive cognitive-behavioral interventions. This type of program for meth abuse involves behavioral therapy, family education, individual counseling, 12-step support, drug testing, and encouragement for non–drug-related activities.

Drug rehabilitation has many faces from outpatient care to the most popular inpatient drug rehabilitation care. Today, many cases of drug or alcohol treatment is often performed on an outpatient basis, however, the best rehabilitation treatment program is a residential or an inpatient drug rehabilitation program. This type of inpatient drug rehabilitation program lasts from three to six months and is often called “therapeutic community” inpatient drug rehabilitation programs. Even the National Institute on Drug Abuse agrees that this type of treatment program is the best for success stories. In the United States there are close to 14,000 different drug and alcohol treatment centers, however, only 3,000 are inpatient drug rehabilitation centers.

Inpatient drug rehabilitation programs offer many more benefits than outpatient programs. The sad news is that due to finances ninety percent of addicts are treated on an outpatient basis or in some cases, the addiction was minor. Outpatient programs have more dropouts than inpatient drug rehabilitation centers, which means that most return to drugs. In 1993, a study was published in the medical journal Psychiatric Quarterly that outpatients were four times more likely to be failures early on in treatment than inpatients. The study showed that addicts with meager social support or psychiatric conditions would benefit more from an inpatient drug rehabilitation program.

For those trying to kick the habit with an outpatient program while doing their daily life chores along with handling the cravings often cannot get through the day and turn back to their addiction. Many individuals using outpatient programs do not follow through with counseling often finding all kinds of reasons to miss a meeting or two and finally stop altogether. Individuals in an inpatient drug rehabilitation program are admitted and stay for the duration. They are on a schedule and must attend individual counseling sessions as well as group counseling sessions. The only stress in this environment is that you will have to do chores, attend classes, and attend counseling sessions. In this type of environment, patients learn to live life again without the use of the drug or alcohol they believe they have to have each day to survive.

Most inpatient drug rehabilitation programs are private nonprofit and private for profit centers. There are many different inpatient drug rehabilitation centers across the United States. In each state, almost all rehab centers receive some type of public funding, thus giving more individuals the chance to life a drug free life. In some cases, the criminal justice system sends people to inpatient drug rehabilitation facilities to ensure they receive the help they need to overcome their addiction.

If you have a loved one that needs inpatient drug rehabilitation due to alcohol or drug abuse, you may be able to receive help with finances through the federal Access to Recovery Program. You can find a large variety of drug treatment programs and inpatient drug rehabilitation facilities all across the United States. Every state has several different treatment programs to help you recover from drug abuse.

Heroin addiction and abuse is not as concerning in the United States as it once was with marijuana and cocaine way up on the list above heroin. However, heroin is so addictive and the effects of the drug so overwhelming that heroin addiction and abuse should not be put on the back burner and ignored. In the US, there are around one million chronic heroin users, eleven percent of all emergency room visits are due to heroin abuse, and in 2006, 335,000 individuals were treated for heroin addiction and abuse. Of course, this is only the number of people that received help.

Heroin is an illegal drug and is not used for any type of medical treatment. It is however, created with a medical drug, morphine. The drug is then sold on the street to addicts. Heroin addiction and abuse is a larger problem than most people expect with availability all across the nation in every state. The sad news with heroin is that it is very addicting once a person uses it just a few times on regular basis. Heroin, a synthetic opiate, is extremely addictive and works on the central nervous system and the brain in systematically ways.

Heroin addiction and abuse is not something a person can just walk away from any time they please. Once the addiction or abuse is present, a person will need detoxification in order to rid their body of the drug. When a person intravenously injects heroin into the veins it binds to the opioid receptors found in the brain. This creates a rush in only seven to eight seconds. This is one of the reasons that heroin is so addictive. Once the rush is gone, the rest of the high is not so pleasant with symptoms including sleepiness, impaired mental function, slowed respiration, and heartbeat. The slowed respiration and heartbeat can be so severe that it can result in death.

The major deal with heroin addiction and abuse is that once a person is hooked, more and more heroin is needed to achieve the same rush. A study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse revealed that any usage of heroin including intravenous and intramuscular injection, sniffing, and smoking, are highly addictive.

Heroin addiction and abuse causes the addict to only live for the next fix. They have nothing else in life worth living for, the only think about how to get the next fix. The sad part is that a person abusing heroin will never decide to seek help on his or her own. It will take the persistence of family and friends to begin the treatment program. In most cases, for heroin addiction and abuse residential treatment programs lasting from three to six months have the best success for recovery.

The only treatment that works for heroin addiction and abuse includes drug detoxification, counseling, and behavior modification. Without this type of treatment program, many addicts return to their life of abusing heroin.