Posts Tagged Drug Addiction

Lindsay Lohan Misdiagnosed for Bipolar Disorder and Drug Addiction

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction, Prescription Drug Abuse on August 21st, 2010

lindsay lohanDoctors who evaluated actress Lindsay Lohan during her stay at the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital of UCLA at Westwood are in the opinion that the actress was misdiagnosed for bipolar disorder and drug addiction, according to a feature on the New York Daily News.

Ms. Lohan has stopped taking her medications, which included Dilaudid, Ambien, Adderall, Zoloft, Trazodone and Nexium, according to the report. She did not, however, show any unfavorable reactions, despite having to stop taking her medications. She also did not exhibit withdrawal symptoms to the absence of alcohol.

Another misdiagnosis for Ms. Lohan is having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which is the reason why she was taking Adderall; the doctors at UCLA say that she is not suffering from the condition. People such as Ms. Lohan, who apparently was taking Adderall unnecessarily, are reportedly susceptible to bizarre symptoms such as: “driving around until all hours of the morning … smoking heavily … tweeting … and texting all night long,” as shared by addiction specialist Dr. Joe Haraszti to gossip site TMZ.com.

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Answers to Common Questions on Drug Addiction

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Addiction on April 28th, 2010

We’ve heard about substance addiction so many times and we probably know someone who is addicted to marijuana, alcohol or other drugs. Addiction is a complex, chronic disorder characterized by the compulsive need to use a substance despite the harms it may cause. Here are some of the most common questions asked about addiction and the answers to them.

drugsIs addiction a disease?

Yes. National Institute on Drug Abuse researches suggest that addiction or the compulsion to take drugs is linked to changes in specific neurons in the central nervous system. It can thus be considered as a brain disease.

What are the common signs of addiction?

As addiction has 2 components — physical and psychological — it manifests both physically and psychologically. Physical manifestations include shills, weird smell, vomiting, sweating, and weight loss. An addict may also show signs of aggression, anxiety, burnout, irritability, lack of energy, poor motivation, slow reaction time, denial, depression, and paranoia.

Can an addict quit using drugs if he has strong will power?

Most people suffering from an addiction to drugs cannot stop on their own, no matter how willing they say they are. It is important to seek help from organizations offering structured rehabilitation programs.

Can someone use drugs without being addicted to it?

It depends how strong the effects of drugs are. Many people are able to enjoy alcohol without suffering from alcohol addiction. Addiction happens when a person’s drug use becomes a central part of his or her life. This can be seen on the amount of time and money he or she spends on drugs, and on what he or she is willing to give up for it, such as relationships, jobs or school.

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Stupid Things People Do When They’re High

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Addiction on April 24th, 2010

Did you ever stop to wonder what people are actually capable of when they’re high? Well, they do a lot of crazy things since being high is somehow a kind of release — from inhibitions and proper thinking. This mental state can make one believe that anything and everything is possible, even if they’re not. There are serious detrimental side-effects to this condition, which makes it quite unpleasant to experience.

Harold and KumarTake the lead characters of Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle, a film about two friends who decided to go to White Castle after smoking cannabis. Of course, the trip did not prove to be as easy as they initially thought and they went quite a long way before reaching the restaurant.

Behavior during drug use is a central theme in the movie, as shown by its seemingly ridiculous premise. For neophytes in this genre, it may take a while to get used to since the shock factor of the things that they do may prove to be too extreme for some. But when placed vis-à-vis the real behavior of drug users, Harold and Kumar are rather manageable since drug abusers can resort to violence and lots of crazier things in order to acquire drugs.

While the movie itself is comical in nature, it also makes you think: do you want others to see yourself that way — the laughing stock of your group, to not be treated seriously by your peers and colleagues? I don’t think so. It’s probably one of the movies you can check to see how stupid one can be when on drugs.

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Drug Addiction: How Family and Friends Can Make A Difference

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Addiction on November 24th, 2009

The consequences of being addicted to drugs are many, and most, if not all of them, are adverse. So, what should you do when you find out that your friend or a member of your family is a drug addict, but wants out of the trap that he has fallen in? Can your actions, however small they are, make a difference in his life?

treatment supportThe answer is yes – your presence can make a big difference. Drug addicts often have no one to turn to regarding their problems, and this sense of isolation is one of the main motivations for prolonged drug use. Family and friends play a significant role in helping them get out of that rut and accept the reality of their situation. Remember that social connections can influence the individual’s perception of right and wrong, which can determine their decisions and actions later in life. By extension, the influence of these groups can help drug addicts change the way they see themselves. In this case, it’s to let them see that the drugs are in fact damaging their body, mind, and social lives.

The main thing you can do for your friend is to slowly convince and motivate him to undergo treatment, which becomes harder and harder as he becomes more and more dependent on the drug. In this case, social reinforcement becomes a vital component in motivating the soon-to-be patient. Also, involvement in a treatment program can help the individual come to grips with his situation, and can encourage him to go all the way through with the program.

Monitoring the individual’s actions is also important in order to avoid a relapse, which is the one thing that can waste the efforts done during treatment. It may take a very long time, but with your help, it is possible. And it also helps to believe that you can make that happen.

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Understanding the Reasons of Drug Addiction

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Addiction on November 9th, 2009

The social stigma attached to the label “drug addict” is a highly discriminatory one. However detestable an activity it is for the majority of people who choose to live their lives the right way, knowing how and why drug addiction persists within society is important in order to curb it and possibly eliminate it at its roots. There are definite reasons as to why drug addiction begins, and you will probably be surprised why it happens.

drug addictThose that most of us call “drug addicts” are stuck using drugs not only because they want it, but because their bodies start to become dependent on drugs. A large number, if not all drug addicts like to believe that they can stop drug use by their will alone, and these same people also choose not to undergo rehabilitation. But the likelihood of escaping the trap of drug usage is slim, especially if used in the long-term.  There are mental changes associated with long-term drug use, and this can affect and alter the way people behave, leaving them unable to control some actions – including their strengthening craving for more drugs.

So why do some people choose to use drugs? The reasons for this phenomenon can actually be quite logical – most drug addicts choose to use drugs because of the strong desire to escape from the stresses of their daily lives. These include psychological stress from work, home, or in school. The desire to escape reality becomes one of the most fundamental reasons of prolonged drug addiction.

With this mindset to guide our line of thinking, understanding drug addiction becomes a lot less difficult. The labeling and stereotyping of drug addicts prevents us from looking at the reality of drug addicts – that they are persons trapped within the cycle of drug use. Analyzing the reasons for their habit is a pressing task, and should not be taken lightly.

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Common Questions Asked in Drug Facts Fun Day

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Facts on November 4th, 2009

Transcripts of past Drug Facts Chat Day have been made available for other students, especially for those whose schools have not registered in time to get access codes and for those who may have missed seeing the answers to their questions.

Common questions asked during the Drug Facts Chat Day last year include the following:

What is the deadliest drug?
What are the worst effects of weed?
Can you die from using marijuana?
Does smoking affect your sex life?
Can weight loss pills have a harmful effect?
What’s the most commonly used drug in high school?
When were drugs invented?
How can drugs affect pregnancy?

There are also questions that may or may not be related to drugs, but still merit answers from NIDA scientists, like:

Who would win in a fight — Chuck Norris or a T-Rex?
How many questions do you get each minute?
If I ask a stupid question, will you answer it???
How much wood could a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck was on drugs?
Would you vote for Obama?

This year’s Drug Facts Chat Day promises to be more fun, informative and helpful to the participating students, teachers and scientists.

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