




Facts
Abuse of Barbiturates: Many people who take barbiturates with a doctor's prescription to treat insomnia become dependent to some degree. Some of these individuals abuse the drug by taking increasingly larger doses to get the euphoric effect rather than to get the intended effect of sleepiness. In need of ever more drug, the person may obtain prescriptions from a number of doctors and take them to a number of pharmacists, or may buy the drug from illegal dealers. The person may abuse the drug daily or during binges that last from a day to many weeks at a time. This pattern of using barbiturates for the euphoric effect is more common among people who begin by buying barbiturates from illicit sources than among those who begin by seeking help for insomnia. People who are dependent on a particular drug often take barbiturates to boost the first drug's effects. Alcohol and heroin are also commonly taken together in this way. Since barbiturates are "downers," people also take them to counteract the unwanted over stimulation that stimulant drugs produce. Abusers of stimulants such as cocaine or amphetamines ("uppers") use barbiturates to come down from the continued high. Also, barbiturates are used to ward off the early signs of withdrawal from alcohol. Cocaine affects your brain. The word "cocaine" refers to the drug in both a powder (cocaine) and crystal (crack) form. It is made from the coca plant and causes a short-lived high that is immediately followed by opposite, intense feelings of depression, edginess, and a craving for more of the drug. Cocaine may be snorted as a powder, converted to a liquid form for injection with a needle, or processed into a crystal form to be smoked. Definition Of Drug: A substance that exerts an effect on a biological system. For the most part, drugs are either derived from living systems (plants for instance) or synthesized in the laboratory. Thousands of different types of drugs exist, which are used for a wide array of purposes ranging from therapeutic to recreational. Drugs that have an effect on the brain and/or behaviour are often termed psychoactive, and are studied in the field of PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY. Drug effects refer to the changes in the normal biological state that the drug causes. For PSYCHOACTIVE drugs, these changes are usually alterations in behaviour, perception, or subjective feelings. Drugs can, and usually do, have multiple effects; for example, MORPHINE lessens PAIN perception, but also depresses respiratory rate. COCAINE induces EUPHORIA, but also causes changes in heart rate and blood pressure. Drug effects are the result of drug actions, that is, the mechanism by which the drug causes behavioural or physiological effects. Drugs may have multiple actions as well. Although we mostly think of drugs as EXOGENOUS agents, compounds that occur naturally in the body or brain are also synthesized and used as drugs, such as INSULIN, MELATONIN, TRYPTOPHAN, L-DOPA, ADRENALINE and CORTISOL, to name just a few. In 1988, the percentage of adult male arrestees testing positive for any drug at the time of arrest ranged from 54% in Kansas City, Missouri, and Indianapolis to 83% in New York City. For adult females the range was from 44% in St. Louis to 81% in Detroit. By 1999, the percentage of adult males testing positive for any drug at the time of arrest ranged from 50% in San Antonio to 77% in Atlanta. For female arrestees, the range was from 22% in Laredo to 81% in New York City. During the first 9 months of 2001 (January to September), preliminary results for adult males testing positive for any drug at the time of arrest ranged from 51.8% in Dallas to 77.5% in New York City. |
Residential Treatment
Residential treatment offers intensive drug addiction help over a period of weeks or months. This form of treatment has some advantages over out-patient treatment, although it may not be suitable for everyone. For example, those who are responsible for caring for young children may be better suited to attendance at an out patient treatment program. Residential treatment offers a safe, drug and alcohol-free environment where individuals can confront their own drug addiction and associated issues, with the help of qualified staff. Therapy usually consists of a mixture of group counseling, individual counseling and an introduction to the principles of a drug recovery program.
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.
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.
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 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.
|
|

To Find Drug Rehab and Treatment Centers in North Charleston
Call toll free


North Charleston Drug Rehab and
Alcohol Addiction Treatment Information
|