



Facts
In a 2004 report, the National Drug Intelligence Center revealed that in 65 percent of all emergency room visits related to methadone use, another drug was also present. Frequently the second drug was alcohol. When used together, methadone and alcohol magnify each others' effects. Drinking while taking methadone can lead to very poor motor control, vomiting and breathing problems, coma, and asphyxiation. Among household residents aged 12 and older, an estimated 80 to 82 percent have consumed alcoholic beverages; this represents from 174,928,000 to 179,975,000 individuals. During the month prior to the survey, an estimated 51 percent had consumed alcohol. As might be expected, the prevalence values for 18-to 25-year-olds were somewhat higher than they were for the high school seniors, especially in relation to recent drinking: Almost 60 percent of the 18-to 25-year-olds had consumed alcoholic beverages during the month prior to the survey. The values for 12-to 17-year-olds were lower: About 37 percent in this age group had tried alcoholic beverages at least once, and about 19 percent had consumed alcohol during the month prior to the survey. An estimated 22.4 percent of respondents of all age groups from 12 years upward reported drinking at least once per week or more during the year prior to the survey. Corresponding estimates for respondents aged 12 to 17, 18 to 25, 26 to 34, and 35 were 4.6, 24.5, 23.8, and 24.6 percent, respectively. Alcohol dependence was found to have affected 15 percent of those who had consumed alcoholic beverages: Out of every six or seven persons who had tried alcohol, about one had become dependent on alcohol. In relation to the total survey population that included drinkers as well as abstainers, an estimated 14 percent were found to qualify for the diagnosis of drug dependence, according to the American Psychiatric Association's criteria. In 2004, 730,000 teenage girls started smoking cigarettes Health and safety consequences. Accidental injuries, physical disabilities, diseases, and possible overdoses are among the risks for alcohol- and drug-using youth. Drug-related suicides, homicides, accidents, and illnesses may result in death for some youth. Alcohol-related traffic fatalities have declined for young drivers, but youth still are overrepresented in this area. The volume of drug-related hospital emergency episodes for youth ages 12 to 17 reported by the Drug Abuse Warning Network (Greenblatt, 1997), a national survey conducted annually by SAMHSA, rose steadily beginning in 1992 and peaked in 1995 at 60,881. A slight decline, to 59,072 emergency room episodes, was reported in 1996. Use of alcohol and other drugs increases the risk that youth will contract HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. Injection of psychoactive substances with unsterile needles and other equipment is strongly associated with transmission of HIV. The effects of mood-altering substances, such as poor judgment and diminished impulse control, may result in youth being more likely to engage in unprotected sex. Diagnosed cases of AIDS are relatively low among teenagers compared with most other age groups; however, because there is often a long latency period between infection with the virus and the onset of AIDS symptoms, it is conceivable that many young adults with AIDS may have been infected with HIV as adolescents. |
Dependence
Dependence is the compulsive use of a substance despite negative consequences which can be severe; drug dependence is simply excessive use of a drug or use of a drug for purposes for which it was not medically intended. Physical dependence on a substance (needing a drug to function) is not necessary or sufficient to define addiction. There are some substances that don't cause addiction but do cause physical dependence (for example, some blood pressure medications) and substances that cause addiction but not classic physical dependence (cocaine withdrawal, for example, it does not have symptoms like vomiting and chills; it is mainly characterized by depression).
Drug Overdose
A drug overdose occurs when you consume more drugs than your body can tolerate. Drug users are constantly flirting with the risk of a drug overdose. There is a
fine line between the high they're seeking and serious injury or death. While many victims of drug overdose recover without long term effects, there
can be serious consequences. Some drug overdoses cause the failure of major
organs like the kidneys or liver, or failure of whole systems like the
respiratory or circulatory systems. Patients who survive drug overdose may need
kidney dialysis, kidney or liver transplant, or ongoing care as a result of
heart failure, stroke, or coma. Death can occur in almost any drug overdose
situation, particularly if treatment is not started immediately.
Alcoholism
Alcoholism, also known as "alcohol dependence," is a condition that includes craving and continued alcohol abuse despite repeated drinking-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law. It includes four major areas: Craving: - A strong need, or compulsion, to drink. Impaired control: -The inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion. Physical dependence: -Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking. Tolerance: - The need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects.
Drug Rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a place or program that an individual enters to treat a drug or alcohol addiction. Through therapy and education, the individual is restored to their former non-drug using self. They are then able to re-enter society clean and sober. There are many reasons why a person would need to attend a drug rehabilitation program. Some of the many reasons are: the inability to control their drinking or drug use, alienating their friends and family, problems with the law, and problems at work. Also, there are several different types of drug rehabilitation programs available: inpatient, outpatient, residential, short-term, and long-term.
Addiction Treatment
Addiction treatment is needed when an individual finds that they have developed a drug or alcohol addiction which they are not able to successful end on their own. With the help of addiction treatment, addicted individual can get help to control their drug taking behavior and live happy and successful lives. There are several addiction treatment options available for drug and alcohol addiction. Some of these options include self-help groups, counseling, drug rehabilitation programs (in and out-patient), and residential treatment facilities. Each of these differ
in their aims and outcomes and elements of these addiction treatment options are often
combined.
|
|

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


Ellsworth Drug Rehab and
Alcohol Addiction Treatment Information
|