




Facts
Physical effects on meth: the teeth start grinding. The jaws clench. Long term addicts can actually crush their teeth to powder through incessant gnawing. Appetite is also strongly suppressed and the need to go to the restroom decreases substantially. Blood pressure and heart rate both tend to rise. Given the diversity of drug users and their sex partners, no single HIV/AIDS prevention strategy will work effectively for everyone. A comprehensive approach is the most effective strategy for preventing HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne infections in drug-using populations and their communities. A comprehensive approach readily adapts and responds to changing patterns of drug use and HIV/AIDS risk behaviors, to the characteristics of the local setting, and to the varied service needs of drug users and their sex partners. At every contact with a drug user, outreach workers, interventionists, and counselors deliver drug- and sex-related risk-reduction messages and provide the means to reduce or eliminate their risks for transmitting HIV and other blood-borne infections. Young people are at risk for contracting HIV and developing AIDS. According to CDC, about 38,490 young people age 13 to 24 in the United States had been diagnosed with AIDS by the end of 2003. And the trend was increasing-from 3.9 percent diagnosed with AIDS in 1999 to 4.7 percent in 2003. DESPITE THE FACT that drugs can have a terrible stronghold on people, those addicted to drugs can be helped. Not all drug abusers are able to benefit from treatment, however. Most experts estimate the number of Americans with a serious drug problem at six million. About two million of those are hard-core addicts who do not want to stop using drugs or are so addicted that they cannot stop. Roughly three-quarters of these addicts are hooked on cocaine and one-quarter on heroin; many are also alcoholics or use other types of drugs as well. That leaves about four million drug abusers who could potentially be rehabilitated. Some of these manage to get off drugs with just the support of family and friends, but most require help from a drug treatment program. Concrete statistics on recovery rates in treatment programs are difficult to pin down because many addicts either do not complete treatment or relapse afterward, sometimes several times over the course of their lives. |
Detox
Detox is necessary when an individual through their chronic use of drugs or alcohol has developed an addiction. The objective of detox is to help the individual achieve a drug and alcohol free state. Detox is intended to relieve the physical symptoms of withdrawal and helps prepare the individual for entry into drug rehabilitation. Therefore, the ultimate goal of detox is preparation for long term recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.
Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is a pattern of repeated drug taking that usually results in tolerance (the need for greater amounts of the drug to achieve the same effect), withdrawal (physical and cognitive effects when drug use declines or stops), and compulsive drug taking behavior (drug taking that persists despite efforts to reduce intake and despite problems with family, friends, and work). Drug addiction encompasses a diverse range of drugs (such as alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, and cocaine) and is caused by many different factors.
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.
Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is defined as the chronic or habitual use of any chemical substance to alter states of body or mind for other than medically warranted purposes. Drug abuse is a problem which has an effect on people of all income levels,
ages, and stations in life. Quite often the last person to see that there is a
problem is the drug abuser them self. Every year, more and more people become
drug addicts in their pursuit to get "high".
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.
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