




Facts
According to the 1999 NHSDA, more than half of youths aged 12 to 17 (i.e., 12.7 million nationwide) reported that marijuana would be fairly or very easy to obtain if they wanted some. Approximately one in four youths (5.5 million) either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed that a lot of drug selling went on in their neighborhoods, and almost one in six youths (3.6 million) had been approached by someone selling drugs in the month before the survey. An estimated 42 percent of youths (9.5 million) reported that a few, most, or all of their friends used marijuana. Approximately 29 percent of youths (6.5 million) reported that a few, most, or all of the adults they knew used marijuana. Approximately 12 percent (2.7 million) reported that most or all of their friends used marijuana, and approximately 4 percent (860,000) reported that most or every adult they knew used marijuana. Overall, approximately 7 percent of youths aged 12 to 17 reported using marijuana in the month before the survey. Past month marijuana use was higher among youths who had been exposed to risk factors associated with marijuana use than among youths who had not been exposed to these factors. More than one in four youths who had been approached by someone selling drugs in the month before the survey had used marijuana in the past month. Compared with youths who reported that none of their friends used marijuana (0.5 percent), youths who reported that a few, some, or all of their friends used marijuana were more than 30 times as likely to have used marijuana in the past month (17 percent). Youths were also 9 times more likely to have used marijuana in the past month if they knew any adults who used marijuana compared with youths who did not know any adult marijuana users. Alcohol abuse robs you of self-control. Alcohol removes restraints that govern behavior. This may lead to broken relationships, loss of jobs, and ultimately, loss of self-esteem. Morphine is a controlled medication prescribed for the treatment of intense chronic pain and for post-surgery pain due to its strong analgesic (pain-relieving) properties. However, morphine is highly addictive and can present dangerous side effects. Ordinary doses of morphine may lead to respiratory depression, or the slowing or cessation of breathing, through the reduction of sensitivity of the brain cells that regulate breathing. A study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse has shown that the chronic administration of morphine to rats reduced the size of nerve cells that produce dopamine by 25%. Dopamine is a natural brain chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) that causes sensations of pleasure, joy, and reward. The euphoric effects of morphine and other opiates indicate that they act upon the dopamine receptors. It is also known that cells decrease sensitivity to a given medication when frequently exposed to it. Therefore, such observed cell size reductions may be the result of cell desensitization to the drug. This explains the tolerance effect that morphine and other drugs of abuse cause in the CNS, leading addicts to intake increased doses to obtain the same initial effects of euphoria. It also explains the deep depressive episodes that take place when the effect of the drug ceases, or when abusers are under detoxification treatment. Besides addiction, the other side effects of morphine chronic intake are sedation, constipation, nausea and vomiting, urinary retention, and respiratory depression. Withdrawal causes acute depression, tremors, emotional instability, and irritability. In the past decade, both production and consumption of opiates have increased in established zones and spread quickly into new areas. |
Residential Treatment
Residential treatment offers intensive drug addiction help over a period of weeks or months. This form of treatment has some advantages over out-patient treatment, although it may not be suitable for everyone. For example, those who are responsible for caring for young children may be better suited to attendance at an out patient treatment program. Residential treatment offers a safe, drug and alcohol-free environment where individuals can confront their own drug addiction and associated issues, with the help of qualified staff. Therapy usually consists of a mixture of group counseling, individual counseling and an introduction to the principles of a drug recovery program.
Withdrawal
Withdrawal is what happens when a person who is addicted to drugs or alcohol discontinues use. There are numerous symptoms that take place both physically and emotionally when an addicted individual stops using. Withdrawal can last a few days to a few weeks and may include nausea or vomiting, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety. Keep in mind; this only occurs if a person has regular, heavy use of a drug or alcohol. Withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable without professional help. Treatment for withdrawal from alcohol or drugs may require a medical professional to be present. Drug and alcohol rehabilitation is often the best way to overcome withdrawal and its symptoms as well as recovery from drug addiction.
Therapeutic Community
An effective therapeutic community attends to the many needs of the individual, not just his or her drug use. Care given at a therapeutic community addresses the individual's drug use and associated medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal problems. Also, a therapeutic community will continue to be flexible and provide ongoing assessments of the individual's needs, which may change during the course of care.
Remaining in care at a therapeutic community for an adequate period of time is critical for treatment effectiveness. The time depends on an individual's needs. For most people, the significant improvement is reached at about 3 months in treatment.
Addict
An addict is an individual who has a compulsive urge to use drugs, to the point where they feel they have no effective choice but to continue use. An addict will continue their self destructive behaviors in order to feel good or to avoid
feeling bad. It can dominate their mind, and keep them coming back for more. The addiction can be
different for each addict, depending on their vice and the kind of person they
are.
Relapse
Relapse is a term used to describe when an individual who has quit using drugs starts using once again. A relapse can mean just a one time use, a long term continues period of using or anything in between after a period of sobriety has taken place. An individual begins to experience a psychological relapse long before their first use after
quitting. Some things that can lead to relapse both physically or psychologically include: 1. Being in the presence of drugs or alcohol, drug or alcohol users, or places where you used or bought chemicals. 2. Feelings we perceive as negative, particularly anger; also sadness, loneliness, guilt, fear, and anxiety. 3. Positive feelings that make you want to celebrate by using. 4. Listening to others past drug use stories and just dwelling on getting high. 5. Believing that you no longer have to worry (complacent). That is, that you are no longer stimulated to crave drugs/alcohol by any of the above situations or by anything else – and therefore maybe it’s safe for you to use occasionally.
|
|

To Find Drug Rehab and Treatment Centers in Ridgeville
Call toll free


Ridgeville Drug Rehab and
Alcohol Addiction Treatment Information
|