Common Drug Combinations And Polysubstance Abuse
Methamphetamines are often cut with other powerful substances, and some people deliberately mix in additional drugs in order to elicit a particular physiological reaction. Methamphetamine interactions can be incredibly dangerous and even fatal.
Drug overdose can be fatal. If you suspect someone is experiencing an overdose, call immediately. Do NOT be afraid to seek help. If you do not have access to a phone contact Web Poison Control Services for online assistance.
Its common for meth to be mixed with:
- Meth & Alcohol:
The stimulant effects of methamphetamines can mask the sedative effects of alcohol and lead to someone drinking more than they typically would. Concurrent consumption can also lead to high blood pressure, increased psychosis and hallucinations, chronic liver damage, cancer and sudden death.
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- Meth & Viagra:
Both Viagra and methamphetamines are associated with risky sexual behavior. The combination does not cause an interaction by itself, but Viagra allows for prolonged and dangerous intercourse sessions that may be desired by those taking methamphetamine. The combination is associated with increased HIV infection.
How To Stop Using
If you or a loved one have issues with methamphetamine abuse or addiction, do not wait to seek help. There are various treatment programs available, such as:
- The Matrix Model a 16-week approach, this well-rounded substance abuse treatment program integrates behavioral therapy, family education, personal counseling, 12-step support, drug testing, and encouragement for non-drug-related activities.
- Inpatient treatment centers detox and withdrawal can be dangerous without proper medical supervision. An inpatient treatment center can offer the medical and psychological support you need throughout the entire process.
- Contingency management interventions these programs offer incentives when you can adhere to treatment and stay methamphetamine-free.
Currently, no drugs are available to fight the effects of methamphetamines or those caused by long-term abstinence. There is, however, a promising method called MIEDAR . It comes from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and uses incentives to promote cocaine and methamphetamine abstinence.
What’s Next?
Recovering From Ice Addiction
It takes a thorough recovery program to help a person regain their mental and physical balance after an ice addiction. One of the most critical steps is cleansing the body of residues of ice abuse, which can be done as part of the Narconon addiction recovery program. By flushing out toxic residues left behind after ice has been smoked, a person can brighten their outlook and recover an improved mental condition.
Those who go through the phase of recovery called the Narconon New Life Detoxification often report lowered or eliminated cravings for more drugs and a better outlook on life. This phase uses a low-heat sauna, nutritional supplements and moderate exercise in a strictly controlled regimen that results in the thorough cleansing of drug residues. As a result, thinking is often clearer and faster as well, once the muddiness of drug use has been cleared out.
The Narconon program can help someone you know who has been addicted to ice recover a sober, enjoyable life once again.
Resources:
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How To Gain Weight After Drug Addiction & Rehab
I remember watching Requiem for a Dream when it came out . It probably didnt seem like a strange movie to watch because I had seen people close to me become addicted to cocaine, pills, and heroin my whole life. The drugs were never visible, but the whispers and warnings rang out with the obviousness of a 50 billboard.
I knew the signs of drug addiction without having to see someone use the drugs skinny, skittish, frantic, bumbling excuses. The movie depicted the devolution from healthy body weight to addiction-caused weight loss. I knew how to navigate the highs and the lows those delicate skills anyone learns who has loved ones addicted to drugs or alcohol. Unusually fast loss of weight was always the first sign of an addiction.
Drug addiction causes someone to lose weight in the way that you look at them and observe that they look sucked up, or emaciated. It looks like an unhealthy skinniness because it is. Many people with heroin, crack, or cocaine addiction lose weight during periods of substance abuse, but they do gain weight when they stop using and enter recovery.
Of course, there are many people with a Substance Use Disorder who do lose weight while using drugs, and some even gain weight. But if youre like me who enter recovery looking like they havent eaten a meal in about two weeks, you also might be experiencing difficulty re-gaining weight.
Tips To Gain Weight And Stay Healthy In Recovery
Gaining weight back is more important than looking healthy eating healthy is hugely beneficial for a better quality of life. Here are 5 Tips to gain weight after drug addiction and rehab:
Bananas have some excellent value for those new to recovery as they are not only high in calories and sugar content, but they also contain high levels of potassium and magnesium . And dont worry about the sugar as bananas still have far less sugar than packaged and processed snacks.
This might be one of the hardest parts of learning to live without drugs and alcohol. For many of us, sleep only happened when the drugs ran out, or youve stayed awake so long that your body finally shuts down. But its amazingly vital for health to get good sleep.
Lifting weights is hard at first if you havent done it for a while , but the payoffs are worth it. Not only does exercising in recovery increase muscle mass and promote weight gain but exercising regularly promotes better mental health and reduces the symptoms of anxiety.
How will going to an AA or NA meeting help you gain weight? Glad you asked! Many meetings have doughnuts galore, and if someones celebrating a sobriety anniversary or birthday, there will be enough cake for seconds . Most meetings have some sort of high caloric food to snack on.
Do you or a loved one need help?
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Is Methamphetamine Addictive
Yes. Methamphetamine use can quickly lead to addiction. Thats when people seek out the drug over and over, even after they want to stop and even after it has caused damage to their health and other parts of their life.
Methamphetamine causes tolerancewhen a person needs to take more of it to get the same high. People who usually eat or snort meth might start to smoke or inject it to get a stronger, quicker high.
People who try to quit using methamphetamine might experience very uncomfortable feelings of withdrawal. They might:
- get really tired but have trouble sleeping
- feel angry or nervous
- feel a very strong craving to use methamphetamine
What Can You Do
If you are addicted to crystal meth, help is available.
Successful treatment of crystal meth addiction typically includes counseling, medication, family education, structured lifestyle support, and behavioral therapy. Treatment and rehabilitation has helped thousands of individuals recover from meth addiction.
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Why Is Meth So Addictive
Meth use, like other amphetamines, results in increased activity, decreased appetite, enhanced sociability and talkativeness, and can induce feelings of pleasure and a sense of well-being. A key difference between meth and amphetamines, however, is that greater amounts of the drug pass into the brain when compared with a similar dose of amphetamines, making it a more potent stimulant.
When the drug is smoked or injected, the effects are felt extremely quickly causing an immediate and intense, but short-lived, rush.1 Snorting or oral ingestion produces effects of euphoria within several minutes but not an intense rush.
These pleasurable effects last longer than cocaine but are still somewhat fleeting, and users often try to maintain the high by taking more of the drug, sometimes foregoing food, sleep and other responsibilities as they binge on the drug over several days.4
Taking meth causes an increase in levels of dopamine, a brain chemical that plays an important role in motivation and the reinforcement of rewards.1,2
Crystal Meth: Addiction Symptoms
When your loved one starts using crystal meth, she can become a completely different person within weeks.
First, she starts to lose weight. Severe dental problems commonly known as meth mouth start to appear. She may have anxiety issues or sleeping problems. She may become violent, paranoid, and possibly experience hallucinations.1 Methamphetamine alters the structures in the brain used in decision-making.2 Research has shown that individuals who use meth keep taking the drug despite the negative health consequences and social effects.
If you think that your friend or loved one is living with crystal meth addiction, identifying the symptoms can help you gain the courage to get them the help that they need. Call Michaels House now for more information.
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Diet For Recovering From Alcoholism
The American Liver Foundation recommends people in recovery from alcohol use disorder whove experienced scarring and damage to the liver eat a liver-friendly diet . In addition to those tips, its important to eat a low-sodium diet. This is because liver damage can affect the way the body balances fluids. The body relies on a protein called albumin to keep fluid in the right places. Because the liver is partially responsible for producing and monitoring albumin, damage can affect fluid balances. This is why some people who have heavily abused alcohol can experience severe swelling of their abdomen.
Avoiding adding salt to foods and refraining from eating fast foods that often have a lot of salt. Also, a nutritionist in addiction treatment can make recommendations regarding protein in your diet, including how much you should eat daily and what types of protein to consume.
Physical Harm From Ice
A report on ice users in Australia noted that almost half the ice users who were studied had physical problems including weight loss and heart palpitations. Staph infections resulting in sores on the body are possible and can easily be spread among meth users as they compulsively pick at and scratch their bodies due to hallucinations of bugs crawling under the skin.
Ice smokers may have severe dental problems that ultimately require extraction of all the teeth. A combination of factors such as the harsh chemicals in the drug, poor diet, exhaustion and lack of saliva flow contribute to this problem.
There is a long list of specific harm that frequently results from ice abuse, including:
- Kidney and lung disorders that can be fatal
- Brain damage
- Stroke
- Mental Harm
Paranoia is very common among ice users which makes it dangerous to be in the household, especially for children. A heavy ice user can attack a child, baby or loved one because he or she is under the delusion that they are the devil or an enemy. Severe mood swings can simulate psychosis. The person who has not exhibited a history of mental illness prior to ice use may now show psychotic, delusional, suicidal, homicidal or hallucinatory behavior.
One study showed that half the ice users investigated had shown psychotic, hostile or aggressive behavior in the prior year, including yelling at people, hitting them or throwing furniture.
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Take Them To Appointments
It can be tough to start recovery alone, even if theyre already motivated to so do on their own.
If possible, offer a ride to their first appointment with a doctor or therapist. Even if you cant take them every time, your support can help them successfully navigate the first steps toward recovery, which can empower them to continue.
Vitamins For Withdrawal From Alcohol Addiction
According to a 2014 survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than half of Americans aged 12 and older use alcohol. Chronic alcohol use causes a change in brain chemistry over time, so when alcohol is eliminated, withdrawals can occur. These may range from depression, anxiety, sleep problems and fatigue to seizures, fever, and hallucinations.
Alcoholism causes deficiencies in B vitamins as well as vitamins C and A, so supplementing these nutrients is important for recovery. Other nutrients are also useful for minimizing actual withdrawal symptoms from alcohol. One such nutritional supplement is evening primrose oil. This essential fatty acid supports brain function and may be helpful in reducing symptoms of withdrawal.
Alcohol damages the pancreas, which regulates blood sugar. L-glutamine, an amino acid, reduces cravings while balancing blood sugar levels. Vitamin C is also commonly used to strengthen your immune system, which has been weakened by the stress of alcohol use. It also helps to rid the body of excess alcohol during the withdrawal period.
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Vitamins That Help With Meth Withdrawal
A nutritionist in recovery will usually recommend incorporating several key nutrients into a diet when someone is undergoing meth withdrawal. Examples of these include:1
Vitamin B12
This vitamin is important for promoting mood stabilization and nerve transmission in the body. Foods like dairy products, eggs, and lean meats contain vitamin B12.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids
These two fatty acid types are important in promoting brain health. Theyre often found in fatty fish, like salmon, and seeds. However, if you dont like fish, you can also take supplements that can help enhance your daily intake.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps to fight inflammation in the body. Its also important in maintaining skin health. Some nutritionists believe that a diet high in vitamin C can help reduce cravings for meth. Examples of vitamin C-rich foods include oranges, papayas, berries, tomatoes, and spinach.
Signs And Symptoms Of A Meth Addiction
Only a physician can diagnose a substance use disorder, but there are various signs, symptoms, and side effects of meth use. To be diagnosed with a stimulant use disorder, you would have to demonstrate at least 2 of the following symptoms within a 1-year period:5
- Experiencing strong cravings for meth.
- Having trouble completing what needs to be done at home, school, or work because of meth.
- Inability to stop using meth, even after it has caused or worsened physical, mental, or interpersonal issues.
- Quitting or cutting back on hobbies as a result of meth use.
- Spending a lot of time getting or using meth or crashing after a binge.
- Taking more meth or using it for longer than planned.
- Using meth in situations that can be dangerous, such as while driving.
- Wanting to cut back or stop using but not being able to.
- Developing a tolerance to the effects of meth, where you need to use more to feel the same effects.
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop using meth.
There are some signs of a meth addiction to be aware of if you are worried that you or someone you care about might have an issue with meth. These can include:5,6
- Behavior that is aggressive or chaotic.
- Burns on fingers or lips from smoking, nosebleeds from snorting, or track marks from injecting.
- Changes in eating and sleeping habits.
- Dilated pupils.
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The Best Drug Detox Foods In General
There was an old belief that during detox, a person should be able to eat whatever they want such as lots of caffeine or sugar because it could help someone in recovery find pleasure from food or drinks when they werent using drugs or alcohol anymore. Today, nutritionists in addiction treatment know this approach isnt as beneficial as it once seemed to be.5 Instead, it was like swapping one addiction for another and once a person was out of the detox phase, they had to learn about staying sober and avoiding foods that led to blood sugar crashes, anxiety, and fatigue.
Instead, most nutritionists in addiction treatment advocate starting off on the best and healthiest approaches from the start of detox, according to an article in Psychology Today.5 Some of the key principles of a detox diet include:
Eating breakfast every day
Drinking at least two liters of water every day
Eating fruits or vegetables with every meal and raw vegetables at least once a day
Eating beans, nuts, or seeds with every meal and snack
Avoiding sodas, energy drinks, or other highly sweetened drinks
Avoiding fried foods, artificial sweeteners, and any foods that cant be placed into the food group system
In addition, dessert should be enjoyed once or twice a week, with fresh fruit as a treat the other nights.
Crystal Meth Addiction And Treatment
Crystal meth is highly addictive and extremely dangerous. When someone is addicted to crystal meth, not only is the potential for COVID-19 complications more serious but the long-term health effects can also be devastating.
As crystal meth is an addiction that is difficult to treat, someone who has decided to try to get clean and sober needs professional assistance to ensure the withdrawal process is safe. Withdrawal symptoms can include:
- Anxiety
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Indicators Of Drug Influence
