




Facts
Though heroin addicts arrive at the decision to enter recovery under a variety of circumstances and for a variety of reasons, they must all begin the recovery process with a common first step, which is detoxification from the drug. The experience of detoxification is one with which all heroin addicts are already familiar to some extent, since they experience the beginnings of it every time the effects of the drug wear off and withdrawal symptoms begin to occur. When addicts undergo detoxification without the aid of medications to ease their discomfort—an experience addicts often refer to as "going cold turkey"—withdrawal symptoms reach peak severity about twenty-four hours following termination of drug use, and can continue at this level for up to a week or more. Though intensely unpleasant, unless severe health problems already exist, the detoxification process is not ordinarily life threatening. To avoid the withdrawal symptoms that accompany detoxification, addicts entering recovery may elect to take medication to either prevent these symptoms or lessen their severity. The most commonly used drug for this purpose is methadone. Methadone, which is administered orally and given in decreasing doses over a seven-to tenday period, can provide a relatively symptom-free detoxification. A drawback of using methadone for detoxification is the fact that methadone itself is addictive, and causes withdrawal symptoms of its own when the addict discontinues its use. Its symptoms are milder than those of heroin, however, and can themselves be lessened with other medications. Although the Balkan Route is considered the primary supply line for Western Europe Afghan and Central Asian traffickers smuggle heroin along the Silk Route into Russia, the Baltic States, Poland, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and other parts of Europe. Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, K azakhstan, and Turkmenistan are vital transit countries, with an estimated 24% of Afghan heroin smuggled along this route. After taking ketamine the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream where it travels to the brain. In the brain, it acts by redistributing a neurotransmitter called glutamate. Glutamate is a type of neurotransmitter (brain chemical) involved in memory, learning, the perception of pain and responses to the environment. Like most plants, Cannabis contains many substances, perhaps two hundred or more. Those that relate most to the drug effects are a group of chemically similar compounds called cannabinoids. Of these, the most important and plentiful are cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and cannabinol (CBN). The biosynthetic pathway in the plant (that is, the step-by-step sequence in which the plant produces substances) goes from CBD to THC to CBN. Thus it is possible to identify the maturity of the plant by the relative content of these three cannabinoids. Immature plants show a preponderance of CBD; old plants may contain solely CBN; plants that are at their peak contain all cannabinoids, but mostly THC, which is the agent that produces the mind-altering effect. Some strains of plants contain variants on the THC structure, which usually have somewhat less drug effect than those with THC. Although some users contend that marijuana has different effects from those of isolated THC, most evidence indicates that virtually all of the mind-altering effects of marijuana are attributable to the THC content. |
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.
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.
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.
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).
Addiction
Addiction is one of the many consequences of so-called 'casual' drug and alcohol abuse. A loss of control over drugs and alcohol can be driven by physical or psychological factors, or sometimes both. Physical addiction takes place when the body comes to need a drug to function normally. If it is not taken, unpleasant withdrawal symptoms occur. The only way to avoid this is to take more of the drug. Psychological addiction takes place when an individual comes to rely on a drug to supply good feelings, such as relaxation, self-confidence, self esteem, and freedom from anxiety. This is not just a casual desire, it's a powerful compulsion.
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