




Facts
Cocaine addiction reached peak levels in the 1980s, and continues to be a major problem in many societies. Curiously, before the 1980s, cocaine was considered to be a safe, non-addicting stimulant drug. There appeared to be no overt physical symptoms that would constitute a withdrawal syndrome. The spread of crack cocaine in the 1980s changed this perception. Crack (solid, free-base cocaine) was much cheaper than powdered cocaine and became widely available, particularly to the poor. The smoking of the drug leads to a rapid, short-lasting but profound euphoria that is extremely addictive. It rapidly became clear that the criteria for SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE were easily met with cocaine. Compulsive use, loss of control, and a withdrawal syndrome began to be clearly recognized. Cocaine WITHDRAWAL is characterized by several phases. A triphasic abstinence pattern generally follows a cocaine binge. The first phase is termed the crash, which lasts from hours to days. The crash is characterized by a sharp decrease in mood and energy, agitation, anxiety, depression and craving for cocaine. There is an extreme need for sleep, which is usually met by the ingestion of sedatives, alcohol or opiates. The next phase, withdrawal, can last for many weeks and is characterized primarily by an intense dysphoric syndrome. Depression and ANHEDONIA (inability to experience pleasure) contrast with memories of stimulant-induced euphoria and often lead to a repetition of the bingeing cycle. If the user continues to be abstinent, the third phase emerges, extinction. During this phase, normal mood and energy are restored. However, the user may experience occasional cravings for cocaine for months or even years after the last binge. The cravings are usually invoked by stimuli or memories associated with the cocaine experience. Previous positive experiences with LSD do not guarantee subsequent positive "trips". "Bad trips" are not predictable and are not related to dose, but often associated with a person's predisposition, setting and circumstances. Traces of drugs, drug metabolites, and alcohol can be detected in oral fluids, the generic term for saliva and other material collected from the mouth. Oral fluids are easy to collect—a swab of the inner cheek is the most common way. They are harder to adulterate or substitute, and collection is less invasive than with urine or hair testing. Because drugs and drug metabolites do not remain in oral fluids as long as they do in urine, this method shows more promise in determining current use and impairment. Many girls lose their virginity while drunk. Many of those become pregnant, or do things they wouldn’t do when sober. In one study of unplanned pregnancies in 14-21 year olds, one third of the girls who had gotten pregnant had been drinking when they had sex – 91 percent of them reported that the sex was unplanned. |
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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