Can Drug Addiction Be Cured Or Prevented
As with most other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, treatment for drug addiction generally isnt a cure. However, addiction is treatable and can be successfully managed. People who are recovering from an addiction will be at risk for relapse for years and possibly for their whole lives. Research shows that combining addiction treatment medicines with behavioral therapy ensures the best chance of success for most patients. Treatment approaches tailored to each patients drug use patterns and any co-occurring medical, mental, and social problems can lead to continued recovery.
More good news is that drug use and addiction are preventable. Results from NIDA-funded research have shown that prevention programs involving families, schools, communities, and the media are effective for preventing or reducing drug use and addiction. Although personal events and cultural factors affect drug use trends, when young people view drug use as harmful, they tend to decrease their drug taking. Therefore, education and outreach are key in helping people understand the possible risks of drug use. Teachers, parents, and health care providers have crucial roles in educating young people and preventing drug use and addiction.
To Improve Concentration And Increase Performance
Some people, and especially those who engage in sporting activities, take stimulants to increase their performance. Others, and especially students, take sleep alleviating drugs, to study for more hours. When these behaviors may give you short term gains, the side effects are worse and long-lasting.
Other reasons people risk getting addicted include
- Relieve tension
- Get accepted by their peers
- Increase alertness
- Reduce appetite
When there are more than one risk factors involved, the chances of becoming an addict are higher. However, sometimes, one can get addicted, even without any risk factors playing a part.
Substance Use Risk Factors
Although many people use drugs and alcohol, not all of them end up being addicted. However, as the statistics above indicate, a good number of substance users end up being emotionally and physically attached to the drugs. Just like in other diseases, there are drug addiction risk factors and these include
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How Relationships And Addiction Are Connected
Love addiction or addiction to people arent formal mental health diagnoses.
In fact, the term addiction is no longer used in general. Instead, medical experts talk about substance use disorder.
But people and relationships arent substances, and they dont have the same effects on you.
Although not everyone agrees, some researchers suggest you could experience symptoms similar to those of someone living with substance use disorder.
For example:
- significant changes in mood, including feeling fearful or anxious
- neglecting other responsibilities and relationships
- having your life revolve around that person
- staying in the relationship even when experiencing negative consequences
- symptoms of withdrawal when apart from that person
But while emotional dependence can lead you to engage in behaviors that may mirror symptoms of substance use disorder, this isnt the same as addiction. The causes and processes in place are different.
because theres limited to no evidence for it. That includes relationship and sex addiction.
Researchers also distinguish between substance addiction and addiction in relationships because love, unlike substance use, is a desirable experience for most people.
Still, research from 2016 suggests that because romance can stimulate the reward centers of the brain in a similar way to substances, it could lead to certain patterns that mimic what some people call addiction or, more accurately, compulsive behavior.
Get The Help You Need To Quit Cocaine
Cocaine abuse is a serious issue. While quitting without intervention is certainly possible, its not recommended. A professional treatment center with the trained oversight of medical professionals to manage the process can make it safer and easier.
If you or someone you love is living with an addiction to cocaine, help is here. Please contact FHE Health to learn more about our comprehensive treatment opportunities, including inpatient care, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programming.
Resources
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Can I Prevent Substance Use Disorder
Yes. Preventing drug addiction starts with education. Education in schools, communities and families helps prevent misusing a substance for the first time. Other ways to prevent substance use disorder:
- Dont try illegal drugs, even one time.
- Follow instructions for prescription medications. Don’t ever take more than instructed. Opioid addiction, for instance, can start after just five days.
- Dispose of unused prescriptions promptly to reduce risks of misuse by others.
When To Contact A Doctor
Anyone using substances, even socially, should discuss them with a doctor to ensure safe use and monitor for signs or symptoms of addiction.
However, a person with addiction may not be ready or willing to seek professional medical help, regardless of the negative impacts it is having on their health and wellness.
If a person experiences a substance overdose, those around them should seek emergency medical assistance immediately. A person who has recovered from an overdose may want to seek professional help to treat their addiction.
When a person is ready and wants help with their addiction, they may wish to contact a medical professional to discuss options for treatment. These options include rehab, therapy, detox, and medication.
- medical devices to treat withdrawal
- treating related psychological factors, such as depression
- ongoing care to reduce the risk of relapse
Addiction treatment is highly personalized and often requires the support of the individuals community or family.
Treatment can take a long time and may be complicated. Addiction is a chronic condition with a range of psychological and physical effects. Each substance or behavior may require different management techniques.
A person with addiction can find many organizations that may help them. A person can also call a hotline for help with their addiction.
The following organizations can be helpful for a person with addiction:
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Commit To A Treatment Program
Finding a program that fits your needs will decrease chances of relapse.No matter what program you choose, it is important to fully commit to it. Twelve-step programs and group therapy are popular options. Whatever you choose, it is important you find something that works for you. If you are religious, there are faith-based treatment programs that may work for you. There are programs like Narcotics Anonymous that offer support for people addicted to a certain type of drug. Finding a program that fits your needs will decrease chances of relapse.
If you would like more information to drug treatment programs or other information on how to stop doing drugs, call today.
Distract Yourself From Taking Drugs
When you want to avoid something uncomfortable like drug use, you desire to distract yourself from doing it. If drug use has become a pattern for you for a while now, you feel like stopping but you cant which is an addiction. You can try distracting yourself by shifting your attention. Its healthier to acknowledge and let go of these negative feeling.
However, you should transform the distraction into a healthy distraction, rather than into an unhealthy one. Some distractions such as eating junks or taking alcohol are considered unhealthy. Healthy distractions include taking a walk, reading a book, eating a fruit and such. Choosing productive distractions, show that you respect and care for your body.
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Emerging Trends In Substance Misuse:
- MethamphetamineIn 2019, NSDUH data show that approximately 2 million people used methamphetamine in the past year. Approximately 1 million people had a methamphetamine use disorder, which was higher than the percentage in 2016, but similar to the percentages in 2015 and 2018. The National Institute on Drug Abuse Data shows that overdose death rates involving methamphetamine have quadrupled from 2011 to 2017. Frequent meth use is associated with mood disturbances, hallucinations, and paranoia.
- CocaineIn 2019, NSDUH data show an estimated 5.5 million people aged 12 or older were past users of cocaine, including about 778,000 users of crack. The CDC reports that overdose deaths involving have increased by one-third from 2016 to 2017. In the short term, cocaine use can result in increased blood pressure, restlessness, and irritability. In the long term, severe medical complications of cocaine use include heart attacks, seizures, and abdominal pain.
- KratomIn 2019, NSDUH data show that about 825,000 people had used Kratom in the past month. Kratom is a tropical plant that grows naturally in Southeast Asia with leaves that can have psychotropic effects by affecting opioid brain receptors. It is currently unregulated and has risk of abuse and dependence. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that health effects of Kratom can include nausea, itching, seizures, and hallucinations.
Resources:
Can One Get Addicted To Prescription Drugs
Many people think that one can only get addicted to recreational drugs. The truth, however, is that one can get addicted to prescription drugs as well.
For a long time, abuse of prescription drugs has been common among adults than in teenagers.
However, the recent past has seen a drastic increase in the number of teens abusing prescription drugs. The most commonly abused prescription drugs are
- Anti-anxiety and sedatives
- Opioids
- Stimulants
Just like recreational drug abuse, abusing prescription drugs has side effects depending on what one is using. However, some common signs can alert you that a loved one is abusing drugs. These signs include
- Oversleeping or sleeplessness
- Looking all revved up than usual
- Making poor decisions
- Mood swings
- Major Causes of Drug Abuse
If you want to know how to prevent drug abuse, you need to understand the root cause of abusing. Below we look at common triggers of drug abuse risk factors.
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How Medications Help With Addiction Treatment
Medication can ease the difficult aspect of the treatment process and help those in recovery to remain sober. Many people trying to give up drugs or alcohol relapse because they cant cope with withdrawal symptoms.
Certain medications can mimic the effects of addictive drugs, which relieves withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Medications for addiction treatment may be prescribed as part of an inpatient or outpatient rehab program. Doctors may adjust dosages during the course of treatment to ensure that those with a substance use disorder have the best chance of achieving sobriety.
Featured Centers Offering Medication-Assisted Treatment
Bicycle Health Online Treatment for Opioid Addiction
Boston, MA
Why Are Drugs Difficult To Quit
Certain drugs are highly addictive because of the way they change certain types of brain functioning. For example, many drugs can result in changes to the way your brain relays messages through a process known as neurotransmission. The activity of one neurotransmitter in particular, known as dopamine, increases in association with several types of substance use. A drug-related surge in dopamine activity can have reinforcing effects, making compulsive use of that drug more likely.2
Fighting addiction is not a matter of willpower or desire its a matter of recognizing a problem and seeking help.1
Many of the most common drugs of abuse have an impact on dopamine activity throughout the brains reward centers. Dopamine neurotransmission is thought to underlie feelings of motivation, pleasure, and reward, and is believed to play a key role in the development of addiction.2,3
Typically, people release dopamine in response to performing pleasurable activities, such as eating or having sex. However, many drugs cause a surge in dopamine activity, which can result in a rewarding euphoria, and ultimately encourages the drug-using individual to repeat the experience. This is why many drugs are referred to as reinforcing and one of the reasons why drug addiction can be so challenging to recover from.2
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How To Stop Being Addicted To Your Phone: Set Your Smartphone Down
by Unify Health Team | Jun 17, 2020 | Wellness |
You might be wondering why anyone would write an article on how to stop being addicted to your phone. Is smartphone addiction even a real thing? Youve probably seen videos of people who were so engrossed in looking at their Facebook or Insta feed that they bumped into a glass door or even fell into an open manhole on the sidewalk.
A lot of people might find that humorous. But for some people, smartphone addiction is anything but a laughing matter. They simply cant put down their smartphone for anything not walking, not eating, not even driving. An addiction to a smartphone can be a serious and potentially dangerous issue.
Heres a look at some of the problems that can be caused by excessive smartphone use, and tips to reduce your reliance on your cell phone, games, and social media apps. Youll also learn what to do if you feel you or someone you love has a smartphone addiction that has become out of control.
Why Professional Detox Is Important
When addicts resolve to get clean, many of them decide that they want to detox at home, because they feel safe there, or because they dont realize there are effective and affordable detox facilities available to oversee their withdrawal. This is a natural impulse, and for some individuals, it is also a viable option. For most individuals, however, detoxing at home will make them much more vulnerable to relapse, as well as put them at risk of serious, possibly fatal health problems.
Not only can your drug of choice cause dangerous withdrawal symptomsfor example, withdrawal from long-term, heavy alcohol use can cause seizures that could be life-threatening without medical attentionbut the withdrawal symptoms themselves can lead to serious health complications. For example, the withdrawal syndromes of many drugs include diarrhea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and dangerous electrolyte imbalances that affect heart function.
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Wanting To Recover But Feeling Stuck
Most people with addiction struggle with a double life. You try to keep your addiction hidden from most people, most of the time, even when it is quite obvious to those around you.
You have a hard time admitting to yourself that you are a person with addiction because no matter how fleeting, it gives you that brief moment when everything feels okay. You want to free yourself from your addiction and not end up back where you started, with all the losses you have built up while you have been struggling.
Recovery is possible for every person with addiction. But facing the problems that caused the addiction in the first place is scary.
It’s difficult to cope with the deep dissatisfaction with your life and to take responsibility for how your behavior affects other people. It means learning how to experience a gentler sense of pleasure in the small things in life and coping with the many challenges and imperfections of life, without retreating back into your addiction. Which means accepting being human, just like everyone else.
Addiction Vs Abuse And Tolerance
Drug abuse is when you use legal or illegal substances in ways you shouldnt. You might take more than the regular dose of pills or use someone elses prescription. You may abuse drugs to feel good, ease stress, or avoid reality. But usually, youre able to change your unhealthy habits or stop using altogether.
Addiction is when you cant stop. Not when it puts your health in danger. Not when it causes financial, emotional, and other problems for you or your loved ones. That urge to get and use drugs can fill up every minute of the day, even if you want to quit.
Addiction also is different from physical dependence or tolerance. In cases of physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms happen when you suddenly stop a substance. Tolerance happens when a dose of a substance becomes less effective over time.
When you use opioids for pain for a long time, for example, you may develop tolerance and even physical dependence. This doesnt mean youre addicted. In general, when narcotics are used under proper medical supervision, addiction happens in only a small percentage of people.
Continued
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Tips And Tricks To Stop Being So Addicted To Sexting
Excess of everything is bad even sexting. Where sexting in itself can be a problem, the main problem is believed to be an obsession with pornography or addiction to cybersex can be the main reason. Pathological infidelity can also lead to addictive sexting. If you are sexting your spouse or sex partner and the content belongs to either one of you, sexting can be quite satisfying but in case you are sexting someone while you are in a committed relationship, it can result in a breakup. Like any other kind of addiction, sexting is progressive and it can take you to a point of no return. Here are 15 tips and tricks for everyone who is being addicted to sexting and wants to break free.
The First Step To Overcoming Drug Abuse And Addiction
Developing an addiction to drugs isnt a character flaw or a sign of weakness, and it takes more than willpower to overcome the problem. Abusing illegal or certain prescription drugs can create changes in the brain, causing powerful cravings and a compulsion to use that makes sobriety seem like an impossible goal. But recovery is never out of reach, no matter how hopeless your situation seems or how many times youve tried and failed before. With the right treatment and support, change is always possible.
For many people struggling with addiction, the toughest step toward recovery is the very first one: recognizing that you have a problem and deciding to make a change. Its normal to feel uncertain about whether youre ready to start recovery, or if you have what it takes to quit. If youre addicted to a prescription drug, you may be concerned about how youre going to find an alternate way to treat a medical condition. Its okay to feel torn. Committing to sobriety involves changing many things, including:
- the way you deal with stress
- who you allow in your life
- what you do in your free time
- how you think about yourself
- the prescription and over-the-counter medications you take
Its also normal to feel conflicted about giving up your drug of choice, even when you know its causing problems in your life. Recovery requires time, motivation, and support, but by making a commitment to change, you can overcome your addiction and regain control of your life.
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