Depression Vs. Addiction

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10 Most Common Addiction

The word addiction is often related to drugs and alcohol but the fact is that there are many types of addiction that are really messing up people’s lives. Following is the list of the 10 most common addictions out there:

1. Nicotine: Nicotine addiction is the number one item on our list when it comes to addictive substances. There are over 40 million nicotine addicts in the country. The problem with nicotine is that it is legal to consume and its bad effects are often seen after prolonged use.

2. Alcohol: With over 18 million addicts in the country, alcohol addiction is a serious threat to those who consume it.  This addiction really destroys the very moral fiber of the addict and breaks homes.

3. Marijuana: With some of the states in the USA making it legal, the drug is now getting social approval and acceptance. However, its addictive potential cannot be ignored. The rate of marijuana addiction is also attributed to the fact that over the last decade its potency has increased.

4. Pain Killers: Also known as opioids, painkillers are basically prescription drugs that have a potential to be abused. More and more people are succumbing to this lethal addiction.

5. Cocaine: Cocaine is a hard drug and very addictive. However, the rate of cocaine addiction is on the decline as the drug is not that freely available and is very expensive. However, a cheaper version called crack cocaine which is highly addictive is now doing the rounds.

6. Heroin: Heroin addiction is really a serious issue as its highly addictive and the withdrawal symptoms are really hard to break. Even a single use of this drug is enough for making a person an addict.

7. Benzodiazepines: These are basically mood elevating drugs prescribed to those suffering from depression. However, they have a high potential for abuse. Most of the addicts are not even aware of the issues until they cannot function normally without its consumption.

8. Stimulants: Stimulants comprise of a very broad spectrum of addictive substances. They can vary from prescription drugs to meth. These substances are highly addictive and detox without medical supervision can be lethal in this case.

9. Inhalants: Inhalants are volatile substances with high addictive potential, they include stuff like gasoline and thinners. They are lethal if overdosed on.

10. Sleeping Pills: Thousands of Americans are prescribed sleeping pills every year. These pills are potentially addictive and leaving this addiction without medical intervention can be lethal.

The Process and Side Effects of Detoxification

If you are familiar with the drugs rehab terminology then chances are that you would have heard of the term called detox. Detox is short for detoxification. It's the process by which harmful drugs that intoxicate your body system is purged out of you.

Be it drug addiction or alcohol addiction going through the detox process is an essential part of it. Let us tell you this that going through detox is not easy and every person has a different experience when it comes to detox. Anyways we are not here to discuss the experience but the process of the detox. This will help our readers get a hang of things that might come in handy if need be.

As we had mentioned earlier everyone's detox process is different. But there are some rules to detox which have universal applicability.

Evaluation

The medical team at the detox center screens everyone who approaches them for a detox program. A blood test is conducted to reveal the kind of addiction that you have and the extent of addiction. Post which a team of medical professionals would ponder over your unique case and determine the best course of action for you. At this stage, they would also determine the medicines which you might have to take in order to become sober again.

Stabilization

The next step in the process of detox is stabilizing the patient. You see when a person enters the detox program he is already heavily addicted to drugs or alcohol and the detox program might put him in the self-destructive mode. He would do things which might harm him. Hence a mental, as well as physical stabilization is needed at this stage. Doctors at the detox program might put the addict on certain medications if they feel that it could help the person have a better detox experience.

Preparing Entry in to Treatment

Preparing the addict or the patient for treatment is the final step of the detox program. The rate of success for people having inpatient care is pretty high than with those opting for an outpatient rehab. It is very crucial to the overall rehab of the patient/addict.

Side effects of Detox

Common side effects include :
• Nervousness or anxiety
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Muscle weakness
• Mood swings


We hope that you are now aware of the detox process. Should you need more information then please feel free to get in touch with us.

Outpatient Alcohol

If someone you know is struggling with drug addiction then its natural to search for rehab options. We know how evil an addiction can be and how it can actually destroy lives and families. Well, today we are here to educate you about the outpatient rehab.

What is outpatient rehab?

An outpatient rehab is a rehab option where the addict does not need to commit himself full time into a rehab facility. This happens under two circumstances. One your addiction has yet not reached a stage where medical intervention is necessary. Two you have already undergone medical detox and need to support your new found sober state of existence. Outpatient rehab provides the patients with an option to resume their daily lives and still undergo rehab.

Outpatient rehab allows you to live in your home and resume your job. All you need to do is visit the rehab center from time to time in order to progress on your treatment. Outpatient programs usually last from one to three months and are great in terms of the flexibility they provide.

As a general practice or observation almost all outpatient programs have the following features:

• They provide one to one counseling with a therapist.

• They provide information and assistance on medication management as required.

• They cater for group and family therapy sessions.

• They provide nutritional coaching for the addicts

• They provide recreational therapy for the addicts.

• They advise on things that would help prevent a relapse.

• At times such programs also provide for a sober living option if required.

An outpatient rehab does not include monitored residential premises as a service. It has more to do with your faith and trust. We as a rehab center trust an addicts intentions to improve himself. Anyways any drug rehab includes an element of faith on the intent of the person enrolling for rehab.

Benefits of outpatient rehab

• Saves time: It allows you to resume your regular life and hence saves precious time.

• Saves Money:  This mode of rehab is cheaper than being committed full time in the rehab center.

• Autonomy: Here you learn to be more accountable for your actions and work towards living a more sober life.

• Support: You get to meet people who have the same struggles as you. You get the collective support and motivation which can help you break free from this habit.

To summarize our publication we would say that rehab is a must for anyone addicted to drugs or alcohol. Outpatient rehab provides a lots of freedom and flexibility so if you want to know more about the options then please feel free to get in touch with us.

Alcoholism Causes and Risk Factors

Alcoholism is a very complex addiction. In fact its a disease. To tell you guys the truth we ourselves run out of words when it comes to defining this curse on human society. Its a serious problem which the American society needs to address.

What causes alcoholism?

Wish there was a single factor which could be attributed to alcoholism.  Unfortunately, the causative factors of alcoholism are as diverse as the problem itself. There are many reasons which contribute to alcoholism and we are mentioning them below:

Psychological Factors

There are certain psychological conditions which are highly associated with alcoholism. Things like depression, bipolar disorder, and social anxiety are the leading factors which promote over drinking. 40% of bipolar are dependent on alcohol, and approximately 20% of those suffering from depression are also found to be dependent on alcohol.

Personality Factors

It has been observed that certain personality types are more prone to developing alcohol addiction than others. It has to do more with genetics and the risk-taking behavior. Another contributing factor is the fact that some people consider drinking alcohol as a gateway to social acceptance.

Personal Choice factors

Drinking or not is also a personal choice. There are some people who even being in close proximity to heavy drinkers never develop this habit. While there are others who are full-blown alcoholics without much exposure factors in place.

Family History

If a child is exposed to heavy drinking or even regular drinking at home. Then chances are that he will adapt to drinking as a normal habit early in life. When this habit is caught on early then chances of it becoming a full-blown addiction are increased by leaps and bounds.

Religious Factors

Well, religion does play its role in acting as a factor. People following any religion can become addicted to alcohol but it has been observed that religion which despises or bans alcohol consumption often see less people with this issue. This is true in the case of Islam and Orthodox Judaism.

Age Factors

Age also plays a vital role when it comes to being a contributor factor for alcoholism. Individuals who start drinking at the teens have a higher chance of becoming a full-blown addict by the time they reach mid-twenties. The rule of thumb here is earlier you start drinking more are the chances of this habit becoming an addiction.

We hope that the above-mentioned factors would give you an idea of what causes alcoholism. We promise to keep on blogging such topics in the future too.

What is the Opioid Epidemic?

Did you know that close to 115 people are dying every day due to opioid overdose?

Yes, that's a fact that needs to be understood and taken very seriously. Over the years opioid misuse has taken the form of an epidemic of mass proportions and we seriously need to do something about it. Off late media has been very active in highlighting the issue. In fact opioid epidemic is the term coined by them, in official terminology; it is referred to as opioid overdose crisis. The situation is really bad and is affecting the very social fiber of the nation.

 How did it all start?

Well as far as we can say it all started in the late 90's. Somehow the pharmaceutical sector of the country was able to convince the drug regulators that using opioids as painkilling medicines will not have any long-term impact on the health of the consumer. What followed was a proliferation of painkillers and their misuse.

Some noticeable points 

• 21 to 29 percent of all those who were prescribed opioids for pain management abused them.

• Almost 8 to 10 percent of these people become a full-blown addict

• 4 to 6 percent of people who misuse opioids move on to become heroin addicts.

This has become a national health crisis. With so much people abusing prescription medicines things are really spiraling out of control.  Apart from the addiction, it is the other added damages that this addiction does which is taking everyone for a spin.

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

A syndrome which is crippling the very future of our great nation, it is a known fact that whatever the the growing embryo of pregnant opioid addicts also gets addicted. When such a child is born then he suffers from opioid withdrawal syndrome which in medical terminology is known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Children born with this syndrome are likely to have lower birth weight and respiratory complicationsmother consumes during pregnancy is directly fed to the child in her womb. The problem here is that.

What are we doing about it?

The government agencies are doing their best for controlling this epidemic. They are providing access to recovery and rehab centers for this addiction. Running campaigns for making people aware of the issues that this dreaded addiction has created for the whole society. We are of the opinion that it’s the battle that has to be fought by the people and everyone should do their part in fighting this epidemic.

Opioids vs Opiates - Do you know the difference between them?

Yes there is a difference between opioids and opiates

More often people are really confused between the two words. They think its one and the same thing. Well, the truth cannot be farther. Opioids and Opiates are two different things. They are pretty similar in mode of action and effect on the human body, but they are pretty different in the constitution.

Opiate – narcotic analgesic derived from an opium poppy (natural)

Opioid – narcotic analgesic that is at least part synthetic, not found in nature

This is what you need to remember. These two things are different. One is natural in origin whereas the other is synthetic and completely man-made.

Both of the compounds have similar levels of addiction and impact on the human mind and the body. There is nothing much which differentiates them in this part. Both of them work on the dopamine of the human body.  It all about the reward system of the body getting a kick. Both the compounds do that, and they do that with utmost efficiency. A single exposure is enough to make a person a full-blown addict.

One of the most common forms of drug name that comes to our minds when discussing opioids/opiates is heroin. Most of the time people are confused whether heroin is opioid or opiate. Well to answer this let us first educate you that according to the US laws heroin does not serve any medical purpose hence it is completely illegal and a banned substance. A single exposure to heroin is enough to make a person a full-blown addict. The substance is so addictive that people crave for it even when the high is only lasts a few minutes.

What follows is depression and delusion and complete lack of self-control. It also causes heavy mood swings. Technically speaking genuine heroin is an opioid as it sources its raw material from opium plant. However since its completely illegal to produce hence there is no agency who can actually vouch for its authenticity.

Our word of advice, stay away from all sort of addictions. It can ruin your life and make your miserable. There is more to life than these small-time pleasures. If you want to be high then be high on life and nothing else. Do good for the society and live a life full of grace.

We know at times owing to many reasons people do fall prey to addictions. That's why we are here to help. Should you need help with your opiod/opiate addiction then please feel free to give us a call. We are there to help and will be more than glad if we could save your future. Help is only a call away.