




Facts
Methamphetamine can have damaging effects on the lungs. Its use can cause shortness of breath, wheezing, and asthma. There have been reports of a condition called pneumothorax among methamphetamine users that occurs when the lining of the lung actually rips away from the chest wall, causing a part of the lung to collapse. Further into the body, methamphetamine has been implicated in damages to the kidney and liver. In the kidney, methamphetamine use has been shown to cause acute kidney failure by constriction of the blood vessels that nourish the kidney. In the liver, methamphetamines have been shown to cause direct liver damage both through the drug itself and through the many contaminants street methamphetamine often contains. 60.8% of Hispanic women reported ever using alcohol, while 48.4% reported past year use and 33.6% reported using alcohol in the past month. People who crush OxyContin tablets and dissolve them in water to inject the drug run several risks. Small, undissolved particles of a pill can lodge in blood vessels and cause damage or blockage. The use of shared hypodermic needles is one of the major ways that people contract human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that can lead to AIDS, as well as several types of hepatitis, a contagious liver disease. It should never be assumed that because OxyContin is a prescription drug, it is somehow "safer" to abuse than heroin. Both substances work the same way in the brain. Both lead to addiction and withdrawal symptoms. And both can lead to long-lasting health, legal, financial, and social consequences for individuals and their families. When the effects of a dose of recreational hydromorphone begin to wear off, the user will experience a "rebound" that includes heightened anxiety, muscle tension, and diarrhea. It becomes highly tempting to take another pill to relieve these uncomfortable symptoms. Over time—days or weeks—the body builds a tolerance to the pleasurable effects of hydromorphone abuse, while the uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal become worse. Hydromorphone shares the dangers of the other opiates in terms of breathing. The drug works on the part of the brain that automatically orders the body to breathe. Pain patients and drug abusers alike have been known to stop breathing after a dose of hydromorphone. If found in time, these users can be revived using the drug naloxone (Narcan), a substance that quickly rids the body of opiates. Many victims are not found in time, however, and they die of ASPHYXIATION. In a hospital setting, first-time users of hydromorphone are monitored closely until their tolerance level is established so that they do not quit breathing and die. Doctors may also prescribe some sort of laxative, a drug that brings on a bowel movement, to help with the constipation brought on by the drug's action on the muscles in the intestines. |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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