Archive for November, 2009

The Challenge of Living With a Drug Addict

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on November 18th, 2009

If you think that there’s nothing harder than being a victim of drug addiction, there is something else that can rival it in terms of difficulty – living with one. Being aware of your loved one’s drug problem can hurt you, and can leave you with a sense of powerlessness, since you feel that you are unable to do anything about it.

drug abuseBut this is no reason to just give up. There are things that you can do to cope with your partner’s drug use. Discouraging him outright can potentially damage your relationship, since he can deem his “need” a far greater priority than your relationship. However, another way of doing this is to steer clear from drug use. Taking part in your partner’s addiction can lead him to believe that it is okay to use drugs, so make your stance clear at the outset.

As someone who lives with a drug user, sometimes it is not a wise decision to directly intervene against the person’s drug use. Instead, make your stand clear — that you do not want to participate in the activity nor encourage his lifestyle. Do not support his lifestyle by giving him money to buy more drugs; doing so can just worsen the situation.

As the addiction grows, so does your partner’s desperation to acquire the drugs by any means necessary. This may sound a bit extreme, but also make sure that your valuables (such as jewelry, watches, etc) are kept hidden from him. The possibility of him selling these valuables to buy drugs cannot be outruled, especially if the cravings grow stronger than his conscious will.

And the most important thing to remember is to be patient. Realize that it is hard to get out of the cycle of addiction, which is all the more true if it has been going on for a long time. Empathize with your partner well to find the best ways to convince him to undergo treatment. If the convincing goes long and difficult, have the courage to take him or her to a rehabilitation facility even against his or her will.

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Why Teens Are Susceptible to Drug Abuse

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on November 17th, 2009

Several studies have revealed that teenagers are especially susceptible to drug use. While peer pressure may play a large role in this, there are also other factors to consider about this issue. Factors such as their psychosocial development and maturity level play a part as well.

teen drug abuseDuring adolescence, teenagers tend to be rash and headstrong. While this kind of behavior is what makes a teenager a teenager, there are in fact biological facts that can support this claim. Brain development during this stage begins to go on a rapid rate, and the decision-making, self-control and judgment parts of the brain start to change as well. Sometimes, teenagers don’t cope with this change well, and a lot of anxiety can result from being unable to cope with these changes.

Here, the teenager’s sense of what is right and wrong may be impaired for a while, and the frustration that can result from this may take a long time to completely disappear, if it actually does. Those seeking an escape to this sometimes do drugs, which is a clear sign of desperation to get away from the harsh realities of life.

Because adolescence is a period of transition from child to adult, the individual’s sense of maturity can change as well. The natural inclination during early adolescence is to go out and try and do activities for adults. These activities may include sex, alcohol, marijuana and other drugs.

The lack of understanding of the nature of these matters can lead teenagers to destroy their lives. Here, the importance of educating the young adolescent properly on drug abuse, drug effects, drug testing and drug rehabilitation becomes important, as most drug users don’t have the know-how of the effects of drug use in the long run.

Growing up can be quite painful, but it is important to make the teenager realize that delving into drugs doesn’t make life any better. Knowing the adolescent’s reasons for using drugs can aid a lot in significantly reducing the rate of drug addiction.

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Ways to Prevent Drug Addiction

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on November 16th, 2009

As much as it would benefit society, finding one surefire way of preventing drug addiction is next to impossible. This social issue is generally multi-pronged, and would require great insight in different fields in order to tackle it. This may also require help from the community for far greater effects.

preventive group sessionsThe first thing that a community can do to prevent drug addiction is to start by making people aware of the issue. People should be educated about the harmful effects of drug addiction on the body, mind, and social relationships. For this to happen, programs can be held to discuss the issue as well as address the concerns of those who have yet to know about it.

Media can also play a great part in the act of preventing drug addiction, since it is the most powerful influential force in the world. If the media were to portray drug use as dangerous rather than cool, people would be discouraged to use it.

Of course, since behavior is generally learned and acquired at home, families play a major role in this as well. Parents should be outstanding examples for their children. If, for instance, they see a parent indulging in the act, chances are that they would think that it’s okay to do it. Education on how drug addiction can damage lives is critical in this case.

From the local community to the media to the family, the ways to prevent drug addiction are varied, and go on many different levels. While it may be effective on a grand level, it would also help if even the smallest of social units lend a hand in the cause, so as to achieve the desired goal of a drug-free world. There may be a long road ahead, but what’s important is that we all do our part.

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Importance of Support in Drug Addiction Treatment

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Rehabilitation on November 15th, 2009

Perhaps one of the most difficult things to come to grips with is finding out that your loved one is addicted to drugs. The initial and most common reaction is shock, especially if you knew that he was living a clean life well before the addiction even started, and the frustration that this can give to you can lead to conflicts later on.

family supportBut what you need to understand when you find out about it is that it is often an involuntary act, especially if it has been going on for quite a while. The longer the user has been taking drugs, the harder it is to escape because of the strengthening craving and growing dependence on the substance.

With this in mind, it becomes a difficult task to pry him away from using drugs. In fact, it is quite inadvisable to do so forcefully, since this may lead to possible violent encounters. Encouraging them to get treatment can be one of the things that you can do for them without great risk of damage to your relationship.

The hardest part of any recovery is the withdrawal stage. This can sometimes be fatal if left alone. The feelings associated with withdrawal also depend on the length of drug use –the longer the drug use, the more intense the sensations become, which can be extremely unpleasant for the individual. In this case, realize that he cannot make it through without guidance and support, which can be given by both medical professionals and friends.

Of course, drug treatment is not a one-shot deal. It is a long, painful, and ongoing process, and hoping that the individual can get over it miraculously may be a bit much to expect. Feelings of pain can surface long after contact with drugs, and these must be anticipated and dealt with carefully. Emotional support is critical even after treatment. Only then can true, lasting recovery take place.

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Effects of Long-Term Drug Use

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on November 14th, 2009

During the first few tries, drug use may seem like a harmless and innocent activity since its immediate effect is to bring the user to a near-euphoric state. But this initial deception sheds its guise midway, as the user grows more and more dependent on the drug, which then proceeds to damage his body, mind and social life.

drug useOne effect of long-term drug use is the growing dependence on the drug, and this can manifest itself in a number of different ways. Physically, it can do damage do the brain. For example, the active ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), does damage to brain cells, specifically the axons, which serve as the channels through which information passes from neuron to neuron. Most drugs damage the brain in relatively the same way, and the user begins to experience paranoia and acute anxiety when away from the drug for a certain length of time.

Mentally, the damage shows itself through the user’s behavior. The user may show signs of instability, irritability, and stress. This is, once again, due to the drug’s damage on the brain.

Of course, the people around the immediate vicinity of the user suffer the most because of this erratic behavior. A great deal of confusion, frustration, and anger can come out of this, since the user’s pattern of behavior can change along with his length of drug use. Friends and family would find the user a changed person, who has the tendency to isolate himself from the rest of society just to continue the habit.

While the pleasure brought about by drug use can be exciting at first, its long-term effects far outweigh its positive one. The damage that long-term drug use does on the physical, mental, and social health of the user is great, making this an urgent issue to address.

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Why People are Unwilling to Undergo Drug Addiction Treatment

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Rehabilitation on November 13th, 2009

While treatment for drug addiction is readily available in most areas today, there are still those who refuse to undergo treatment. It then becomes critical to understand the reasons why they refuse to be treated, since as of 2007, only 16.8 percent of those needing treatment actually went through with it. So once again a question comes to mind — why are they unwilling to do it?

drug addictionOne of the greatest reasons of refusal is the perceived stigma that would-be patients receive, especially if the drug use was done secretly. In this case, admitting the problem and agreeing to being treated can potentially further damage the individual’s personal relationships, and alienation and isolation can happen. In lieu of being treated by professionals, some try to kick the habit on their own, with minimal chances of success, while some give up and resign themselves to their fate thinking that they can’t beat it anyway.

The second reason is perhaps a more surprising one — some of them don’t know that treatment of this kind is available. Individual awareness is an important thing to also consider in this case. The best time to recommend treatment is before the patient develops serious drug problems, and appropriate referrals must be made in order to curb it. More often than not, however, these potential patients are left uninformed and go on with their addiction.

These two reasons are quite common when you think about it, which makes it all the more important to reduce the stigma associated with drug addiction treatment, and inform patients about the existence of rehabilitation sessions and treatments. While drug addiction is hard to beat, it’s best to consider every possible option. The understanding of their refusal to undergo treatment is a huge step, and hopefully this can be the beginning of successful and fruitful recoveries.

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