Alcohol Abuse and the Family Dynamics

 

Alcoholism is an insidious disease. It can sneak up on a person unawares. It normally takes the budding alcoholic many years to realize the problem and many more years to act on it. Such is the character of denial.

But it does not take nearly that long for family members, particularly the mate, to recognize there is a serious problem. The person suffering from alcohol abuse becomes a master at the game of denial, finding one excuse after another to explain away the need for a drink. "I can quit any time ..." "I'm just going through a difficult period." "If the wife/husband/kids/job (pick one or more) just were not so demanding ..."

Conversely, the wife/husband/significant other is well aware that there is more consumption of alcohol going on than the drinker admits. They begin finding empty bottles in the most unlikely places. They notice the bank balance being depleted at an amazing rate. They smell the tell-tale odor, but get the same excuses when they confront the abuser.

It can be a frightening situation for all involved. If you think the alcoholic isn't frightened by his own behavior, you would be wrong. Even though in denial, deep down he is well aware that the drinking is out of control and it scares him. (or her. Alcohol abuse knows no gender or age limits.)

They see the side-long glances from the mate, the kids, the coworkers or boss. They see the job in jeopardy, the bank account reflecting the over-spending, the health issues that have begun to plague them. But, sadly, there is always a "reason," a convenient excuse or scapegoat.

If you find yourself nodding or relating to the above in any way, do yourself and your family a favor while you still can by making an honest assessment of the situation and getting help. There is still a good life out there waiting for you, but only YOU can claim it.

Getting Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

 

Sometimes, people make the mistake of believing that they can use cocaine socially. However, this is generally not the case. The powdery substance is highly addictive and has been known to destroy lives.

Often, a user will begin by ingesting it along with another substance, such as marijuana. The cocaine, also known as blow, causes an increase in heart rate. The person may become paranoid and exhibit irrational behavior. The most common ways that addicts use cocaine are to inhale it or inject it. Both are dangerous and can lead to additional problems in those areas.

If a person has become addicted to cocaine, it will interfere with their social and work relationships. It is often difficult for the addict to maintain a proper work schedule. They are generally preoccupied with obtaining more of the addictive substance. Relationships with family and friends suffer if they do not join in the addictive behaviors.

However, there is help for those caught in the grips of substance abuse. There are treatment centers around the world that specialize in treating addiction. The first step in virtually all programs is detoxification. This allows the person to safely and medically withdraw from the cocaine or other substances.

Afterwards, the staff will set up a comprehensive treatment plan. The addict will have access to group meetings and activities where they can learn more about how addiction works and ways to avoid relapsing in the future.

In addition, they will have the opportunity to speak one on one with a counselor about any issues too personal to share in a group setting.

When a person is addicted to cocaine, it is critical that they receive help from a treatment center as soon as possible. It is the safest way to begin the recovery process.

The Dunes East Hampton Treats Even The Most Persistent and Difficult of Cocaine Addictions in Our East Coast Luxury Rehab Facility:

The Dunes East Hampton
201 Fort Pond Blvd., Suite 1 East Hampton, NY 11937
(888) 963-9234

Methamphetamine Addiction: The Facts

 

Methamphetamine is known by many names: crystal meth, meth, ice, crystal; but in the end it has the same symptoms, signs and effects irrespective of what you choose to call it.  Unfortunately, television shows have made it look like a 'cool' thing to do; but it just plain isn't.  It is a highly addictive, class-A drug made of toxic and explosive chemicals that are capable of killing people in or near the 'meth houses'.  So, if it can kill people while being cooked imagine what it's doing to you when you take it.

Meth is more often than not smoked, but it can also be injected directly into a vein or snorted.  Once received it has euphoric effects along with an increased arousal and rush of adrenaline.  Addicts have been known to stay awake for days because of the high until crashing from sleep deprivation.

With the good stuff, comes the bad.  While you feel great, you can also experience violent mood swings with strong feelings of paranoia.  Aggression, anxiety, extreme insomnia, hallucinations and dehydration are all common when using meth. 

Some meth addicts also show feelings of irritability, fear, major depression and homicidal and/or suicidal thoughts.  In fact, many addicts will act on these suicidal thoughts which is why they are placed on suicide watch when undergoing rehabilitation treatment. 

The psychological effects are not the only symptoms of meth addiction, there are also physical effects indicating that meth is a severe health risk.  These are elevated blood pressure, and irregular heart rate, tremors, convulsions and body sores from picking at the bugs that are supposedly crawling underneath your skin (hallucination). 

Those are the short-term physical effects; the longer-term effects are brain damage, stroke, coma and irreversible heart conditions. 

In conclusion, while there is treatment available to help overcome methamphetamine addiction it is recommended you consider whether the effects are worth a painful withdrawal process; as well as the possibility of detrimental long-term psychological and physical effects.

Information on Sleeping Pill Addictions

 

Sleep is an important part of life. In fact, to be healthy, you need to sleep a certain amount each evening in order to be alert and refreshed the next day. For most people, eight hours is the magic number. However, for a number of reasons, there are those that simply can't get as much sleep as they need or want at night. If this applies to you, you may have even tried (or thought about trying) sleep medication to help make the situation more bearable.

While these medications can help, there is also a hidden danger. Sleeping pills like Lunesta, Sonata and Ambien are addictive; it is possible that by taking the medication to help yourself sleep, you may become dependent on the pills. In addition, some patients do not follow the instructions on the packaging and take many more pills than they should to achieve a good night's sleep. This is often because their bodies have started to build a tolerance to the product, meaning that it does not work as well as it used to. Obviously, it is very dangerous not to follow the instructions as they pertain to any medication. An overdose is certainly possible under these circumstances.

Patients that are addicted to sleeping pills often feel panic at the thought of not having them by their side. They go through withdrawal if they run out of the product, a process that is very difficult on the body. However, it is important to remember that all hope is not lost for these individuals. A medical professional can point patients in the right direction and assist them in getting help for their addition. If you feel you might have a sleeping pill addiction, do not wait to get help. Similarly, if you fear for a friend or family member, reach out to them as soon as possible.

Hydrocodone Addiction

When a person has broken a bone or sustained some other bodily injury, a doctor will often prescribe oxycodone or hydrocodone to help alleviate the pain. For many people, when the pain is reduced and the medication stopped, they continue on with their lives. However, a small percentage of people become addicted to the medications and seek out other means of obtaining them.

If you are among those people, it is important that you get help for your addiction to pain meds. There are many treatment centers that can help you get clean and return to living your life free from drugs. Look around to find one in your area.

When you first enter treatment, they will help you to detox from the drugs. The first few days are the most difficult and the medically trained staff will help you through it. Afterwards, you will join other patients in a variety of activities.

You will be assigned a counselor that will help you with several aspects of your recovery. Not only can you talk to this individual about the problems that have arisen due to your substance abuse, they will also help you make a plan to stay clean.

Part of that plan will be relapse prevention. This is done before you check out of treatment. You will be connected with resources in your community, such as an outpatient counselor that can continue your therapy. In addition, you will be introduced to support group meetings. In these, you will have others to talk to. The support you find in these places can help you get through tough times when you may be tempted to use drugs again.

Although going to treatment is challenging, the rewards are worth it. They will help you learn how to live a life free from drugs.

Alcoholism and Caffeine Abuse

 

One might not assume that alcoholism, alcohol abuse, and caffeine abuse is so commonly linked, but the truth of the matter is that these two share a strong relationship with each other. Alcoholics eventually begin associating the drink that they are drinking with the desired effects that the drinking produces. With alcohol, the alcoholic is consciously aware that they need a drink to get the desired feelings they are looking for, so they begin administering that alcohol to themselves in the needed levels. The same thing happens when the alcoholic is drinking coffee, energy drinks, or other drinks containing caffeine.

Often times, an alcoholic will drink large amounts of coffee or caffeinated drinks in an attempt to sate the cravings for alcohol. This is very common in functioning alcoholics, who will often have up to 3 pots of coffee during a single day, before then switching to alcohol after the workday is over with.

Why is This Important to Consider?

If you are one of the many people out there who abuse alcohol on the weekends through binge drinking, or abuse alcohol regularly during the weeknights, while binging on caffeine at other times, your habit of caffeine abuse could either be much stronger than you originally thought, or a severe alcohol abuse problem could be present.

The link is not usually a severe one, in most cases, but the two are very indicative of issues with eachother.

Learning About Glue Sniffing The Hard Way

I only heard about 'glue sniffing' when I left school at 17 years of age.  It was strange, considering 'sniffing glue' had been around for years; but then again, I had lived a very sheltered life not being exposed to anything inappropriate.  I think the most rebellious thing I knew about and tried during my teenage years was smoking with friends on a night out celebrating someone's 16th birthday.  Little did I know there was a world of danger and mind-altering substances to be uncovered.

I've not tried glue sniffing, but being a drug counselor I do understand the concept and what effects it has on an individual.  Contrary to some belief, 'glue sniffing' does not refer to any type of glue and you cannot get 'high' from taking a few whiffs of those sticks of glue you use at school - no matter how hard you try.  I'm sure it will give you a bit of a fuzzy feeling, but that will only be followed by a substantial headache.

No, true glue sniffing involves inhaling intoxicating substances that are found in superglue.  The most commonly sniffed glue, mainly due to it being the most easily accessible, is the hobby glue like airplane model glue.

The inhaling of these toxic substances is called 'huffing' and can be inhaled directly from the canister. When inhaled the substance will produce immediate psycho-hallucinogenic effects; however, to maintain this 'high' feeling the user will require more glue.

Some short-term side-effects of glue sniffing include nausea, vomiting, severe headaches and migraines, loss of motor control, loss of speech, coughing and wheezing.  Long-term side-effects include psychological problems as well as physical harm like lung and cerebral damage.

After being exposed to glue sniffing and the users I was interested in learning more about drug abuse.  Until then I had been totally oblivious to drug use, now I want to help those who are dependent on these substances.