




Facts
The consequences of impairment are almost infinite when you think about them. For example, after using drugs, someone might not score well on a test, thus affecting grades, college placement, or obtaining a particular job. Someone might misperceive a situation, respond inappropriately, and cause a regretable argument. Someone could recklessly create serious physical risk by getting behind the wheel of a car. (See the sidebar on "drugged driving.") Or someone might become involved in a dangerous social situation that could lead to a sexually transmitted disease or an unwanted pregnancy. Alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and oxazepam (Serax) are metabolized and cleared from the body more quickly than the other members of this family, and are therefore more likely to produce withdrawal symptoms when they are discontinued. These three drugs, however, are less likely to produce side effects such as impaired coordination, concentration, and memory; and muscular weakness or sedation. Denial is a natural defense system, present in everyone to some extent. Making excuses for the reason people do things is natural and normal, but must be overcome before healing codependency or the stages of grief and loss recovery can take place. The problem with staying in denial is that you bring the unresolved issues into the next relationships. You may find yourself blowing up at little things at work as you feel in wrong to confront your family. Either that or the family is not open to your confrontation and makes remarks like you know that is not true. At times like these it is often necessary to seek outside counseling. Also, journaling the feelings and following the cycle of grief mentioned earlier is beneficial. Heroin use in the United States appears to be declining slightly after an upward trend between 1992 and 1997. According to the National Household survey, in 1997 there were 325,000 current heroin users; currently there are 200,000. Solid statistics on heroin use, are difficult to come by, however, both because of the relatively small number of users, and because the Household Survey data relies on self-reporting of a particularly stigmatized drug taking behavior. Other research has come up with substantially higher numbers. For example, an earlier ONDCP study estimated the number of hardcore users of heroin to be as high as 980,000 in 1998. |
Intervention
An intervention is when a group of loved ones and/or a trained intervention counselor meets with the person in need of help for the purpose of breaking down their denial and motivating them to immediately seek drug addiction treatment. Often, individuals in the midst of drug addiction engage in a variety of self destructive behaviors. Although baffling to friends and family members such people generally either aren't aware on a conscious level that they have a drug addiction problem, or even when they know they have a problem they may cling to the false belief that the problem will somehow go away without any outside help. When an intervention is held a moment of clarity is created
for the addict. Most people struggling with the problem of drug or alcohol
addiction will accept help the very day of the intervention.
Tolerance
Tolerance to a drug takes place when an individual is exposed to the same drug repeatedly and begins to build up an resistance to the drugs effects. The body then adapts and develops a tolerance for the drug. The addiction that is produced is so powerful that it creates cravings in the user. These cravings for the drug are the result of its impact on the individual's memory with feelings of pleasantness and euphoria which the individual has come to associate with the taking of the drug.
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.
Sobriety
Sobriety means the moderation in or abstinence from consumption of alcoholic liquor or use of drugs. When an individual with an addiction problem enters drug rehabilitation, their main goal is to attain long term sobriety. Unfortunately, sometimes drug addicts and alcoholics find they are able to sustain short periods of sobriety followed by a drug or alcohol relapse. This is why attending a drug or alcohol rehab will help the individual maintain their focus on sobriety. Often, it is only by getting help that individuals with severe drug addiction problems are able to achieve lasting sobriety.
Abstinence
Abstinence is the act or practice of refraining from indulging a desire. The type of abstinence we are referring to here is abstinence from drugs and alcohol. This term has two connotations when it comes to abstaining from drugs. The first refers to drug or alcohol treatment programs that aim to help an individual stop using drugs or alcohol for the rest of their lives. The time abstinence is also used in drug education and prevention. It refers to trying to stop children from ever using drugs.
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