What Is Drug Abuse?

Drug Abuse And Addiction, refers to a persistent, relapsing condition in which the drug user instinctively spends time searching for and using a prohibited drug. This type of addiction is typified by neurochemical as well as molecular alterations in the brain. As it is cocaine, heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide, mandrax, barbiturates, and a variety of opiates are some of the most commonly used drugs, which are subject to substance abuse by drug users.

Signs Of Drug Abuse

Addiction happens to be a very complex disorder, which is typified by drug use. In general, those who get addicted to drugs feel an uncontrollable and overwhelming need for drug usage, even if there are threats of adverse outcomes. This type of self-destructive behavior may be quite hard to identify with.

The answer to this lies within the brain. Frequent drug usage modifies the brain, resulting in a long-lasting alteration in behavioral patterns and physiology. Such brain changes interfere with the ability to comprehend, control one’s behavior, apply sound judgment, or feel normal sans drugs. These alterations are also to be blamed for drug cravings and compulsion to drug usage, which make addictions so powerful.

Signs and symptoms of drug abuse include physical warning signs, such as bloodshot eyes, which are smaller or larger than usual, alterations in sleep patterns or appetite, unexplained weight gain or weight loss, deterioration in physical appearance, unusual smells, slurred speech, impaired coordination or tremors, etc. The behavioral symptoms in such a condition include a drop in attendance and performance in school or work, an unexplained requirement for money, which, if unsatisfied, may lead to stealing, getting engaged in secretive behavior, sudden alterations in friends or hobbies, etc. Apart from that, there may be several psychological warning symptoms, such as aggressive behavior leading to fights, irritability, sudden mood swings, giddiness, or lack of motivation.

In case of such warning signs, it is better to take appropriate steps in this regard. If a person is suffering from drug addiction, they should go for a drug rehabilitation program.

Drug Treatment Program

A drug rehabilitation program refers to medical or psychotherapeutic treatment regarding dependence on various psychoactive substances like cocaine, heroin, etc. The primary purpose is to allow the patient to stop substance abuse to avoid psychological, legal, social, financial, and physical consequences, which may be caused, mainly due to excessive abuse.

Several treatment procedures are applied for achieving the desired results, such as Top Treatment Centers, residential treatment, out-patient, extended care centers, local support groups, and recovery houses. Medication includes buprenorphine as well as behavioral therapies in case of stimulant addiction, which are often used. Certain opioid medications like methadone are also widely used for treating addiction as well as dependence on drugs. Buprenorphine and methadone are maintenance therapies used to stabilize abnormal opioid systems and are used for withdrawing the patients from narcotics. Ibogaine is another medication that may be used to interrupt both psychological cravings and physical dependence on a wide range of drugs.

Behavioral therapies include cognitive-behavioral therapy, multidimensional family therapy, motivational interviewing, as well as motivational incentives.

Stats On Drug Addiction

The statistics of drugs in the United States are staggering. According to a study from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 112,085,000 Americans aged 12 or over report having used an unlawful medication at any rate once in their life.. According to the national institute on statistics on drug use in america, 46.1 % of the US population aged 12 and over. Out of these people, the same study estimates that there are 30 million US citizens addicted to drugs, either prescription or illegal.

The rehab treatments available for addicts vary as much as the addictions themselves. The first step is to ascertain the severity of the person’s addiction and their drug of choice. Other issues, such as age, gender, race, sexual orientation, and environment, are also factored into the mix. Once that information is gathered, the counselor can find the best treatment for that particular person. Most treatments begin with behavior modification to help people cope with their drug cravings while offering them suggestions on ways to avoid drugs. Is sometimes the hardest lesson for people to accept as the first suggestion is usually to prevent known drug users, which often cuts the person off from their friends. Many medications have been used successfully in fighting drug addiction. These include, but are not limited to, methadone, naltrexone, and Levo-Alpha Acetyl Methadol, known as LAAM.

Methadone has been an accepted form of detoxification from narcotics for over thirty years. The patient receives a carefully monitored daily dose of methadone; a synthetic narcotic suppresses the opioid receptor in the brain that is triggered by opiate use and allows addicts to change their addictive behaviors. It reduces the cravings and uncontrolled impulses seen with heroin addiction, but the patient must then gradually weaned from the methadone, which could take years. However, since the harmful side effects of illegal drugs are gone, the patient can be helped to return to a healthy life.

Naltrexone isn’t too known as methadone, however it is exceptionally successful in people genuinely roused to defeat their enslavement. Naltrexone, when utilized related to clonidine, can abbreviate the detoxification time to one day instead of the fourteen days important for similar outcomes from methadone. Results in considerable cost savings. However, people using naltrexone have a higher relapse rate than patients using methadone. Doctors theorize that this is because naltrexone does not have side effects, such as the withdrawal symptoms experienced by methadone users, when it discontinued.

LAAM is another alternative to methadone. It needs to administer only three times a week, which, like naltrexone, results in significant cost savings. Studies have shown that patients on LAAM may need more counseling and support when they first begin treatment as their ignorance of the treatment causes more anxiety.

Besides behavior modification and medical intervention, many other rehab forms can be used concurrently with the former two treatments. These include substance use monitoring, support groups, counseling, family services such as childcare, housing and transportation, education, medical care, financial aid, and legal services. These subsidiary services are needed to help the patient return to a productive life since many addicts have concurrent problems such as depression or other psychosis.

Find out the top-rated addiction treatment centers for prescription drugs, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, or any other addiction to substances.