If you suspect someone you know may have an addiction to drugs, there are signs that you can look out for. Although these signs and behaviours are signs that someone may have a problem with drug abuse, exhibiting one or more of them doesn’t necessarily mean someone is a drug addict.
* Changes in eating habits or appetite and unusual change in weight.
* The odour of a substance about someone’s person or clothes.
* Unusual hyperactivity and alertness and uncharacteristic talkativeness.
* Unexplained needle marks and/or bruises.
* Change in attitude or personality for no apparent reason.
* Unexplained tiredness and lethargy.
* Hanging out with new friends and at new places, avoiding old friends.
* Loss of interest in activities and pastimes that were previously important.
* Problems at school or work such as lack of productivity and poor attendance. (more…)
There is a new drug pusher in town. He does not hang out in the alley or on the street corner-and it is not Heroin or crack this time. This time the pusher is hanging out much closer to home and the drugs are what most people would call medicines. More teens abuse these than all types of illicit drugs combined, if you exclude marijuana.
Online drug stores are happy to dispense any controlled drug at a price much higher than one would pay at a regular pharmacy and an estimated 85% of these sites require no prescriptions or positive identification. Drugs such as Opioid (opiumlike) pain-killers (Oxycontin, Vicodin), muscle relaxants and anti-anxiety drugs (Valium, Xanax), and stimulants such as Ritalin are the most often abused.
Left-over pills in the medicine cabinet can become a windfall for a young person looking to get high or make a little extra cash at school. Many teens who would never touch illicit drugs might abuse prescription drugs because they seem to be a safe way to get high and they are so readily available. (more…)
Drug courts are just some of the most effective things man has done in the corrections system and criminal justice system in a very long time. Since working in Oregon with judges and working with judges in the Haight it seems it is becoming more common and wished for. The judges themselves have gotten enamored with the drug court system. They are happy with what they are doing, how they can interact directly with the accused and the treatment alternatives presently. We call this in the drug obsession and law enforcement communities Coerced Treatment. Of course it is a choice, meaning you may end up in to prison, a drug court or you can do more time from that drug court, but it actually is a form of coercion treatment.
Drug addiction education videos are a rewarding assistance to folks wanting to make a difference in relapse prevention treatment drug addiction learning. It is through executives and those with the information that this research has made the impact it has. Research from across the country and from the start of this trend show that drug courts and education were highly valuable in promoting recovery and giving folks long-term sobriety. Most vital of all for the courts is that it reduced recidivism. Folk failed to get arrested and put back in the slammer. (more…)
An addicted person is not thinking clearly, it is obvious. When it comes to his or her addiction, they are making destructive decisions and doing stupid things.
Good choices and responsible actions are required to avoid worsening of the situation and deadly accidents. The user is not able to make those choices right now.
While you can never force someone into getting better, an expert interventionist can show the addict where he or she is headed and make it real to them that misery and possibly death lie down the path they are on. (more…)
There are different types of addiction rehabilitation available. For example, treatment options include:
* Residential rehabilitation centre
* Outpatient rehab clinic
* Counselling
Residential rehab
A stay in a residential rehab centre is an opportunity to focus entirely on quitting drugs or alcohol and to take time out from everyday life to focus. In a rehab clinic you will undergo a medically supervised detox and also undergo regular counselling and therapy to help beat your addiction. Counselling and therapy can take place in both a group and individual setting. (more…)
Being a parent is never an easy job, this is especially so when your child is in their teenage years. Teenagers are well known for their stubbornness, mood swings, sullenness and constant challenging of authority. Truth be told, it’s a difficult time for both parents and children.
Because your teenager is going through such a turbulent time in their life, there is always the risk of them falling prey to peer pressure. Peer pressure is one of the major causes of teenagers turning to drug abuse. Here are some signs to look out for that may indicate your teen is using drugs:
A Sudden Decline in School Work: If you start noticing a sudden drop in your child’s grades, this could be a sign that there is something wrong and warrants further investigation. Contact your child’s teachers to try to find out why this is happening. (more…)
If you’re worried that you or someone close to you is an alcoholic, the fact this is on your mind indicates that it is something worth looking into. There are signs you can look out for that you or someone you know is addicted to alcohol.
Once someone accepts that they have an alcohol problem, they are one step closer to dealing with it. Remember that just one of the following behaviours or symptoms or a one-off event does not necessarily indicate that someone is an alcoholic, but could indicate that there is a problem.
One of the major symptoms of alcoholism is drinking alone and lying about it or covering your tracks so that nobody else finds out. Hiding alcohol is also a classic symptom – if you or someone you know is hiding alcohol at home or at work, it is very possible that alcohol abuse could be happening. (more…)
“If only I had known then what I know now, I would never have taken that first hit!” This is the common cry of Drug addicted people all over the world. It matters little if the drug is Heroin, crystal Methamphetamine, Hashish or Crack Cocaine. The whole process that eventually led to this person’s ruined life, their diminished potential, ravaged body and blunted mental capacity could have been avoided if the original act had never occurred.
It seems obvious that no one would begin an activity that stands a good chance of ruining their life unless they did not know or did not believe that it could actually happen to them. But most schools in the United States have some form of drug education. So why is it that in the U.S. there are still roughly seven thousand young people trying illegal drugs for the first time each day?
We have been hearing for years that most kids will try drugs no matter what the adults say. This is from a group that forwards a theory called Harm Reduction. They hold that the best we can do is teach young people to use drugs safely or responsibly. But how do you take crack Cocaine safely? What is the responsible way to use heroin or crystal methamphetamine? (more…)
That first step to seek treatment for drug or alcohol addiction is an important one. However, not all rehab centres are the same – they vary widely in terms of issues such as approach, cost, style and success rate. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that you choose the right place for you and your needs.
Choosing your rehabilitation centre is not a decision that should be rushed – it could well be a key factor in your recovery. You may want to discuss your decision with your loved ones or someone you trust, if it’s appropriate for you.
Do not be afraid to do your research and ask questions of rehab centres. The following questions and research points will give you a good starting point. (more…)
With painkiller addiction, the number one question we are asked at our rehab centers is, “I can get off painkillers, but how do I STAY off?”
Just getting off addiction to prescription pain meds can be gruesome. If the addict tries to simply stop using and, without help, just grit his teeth and tough it out, the withdrawal symptoms can tear him up. It tears up everyone around him too.
Recently, a very concerned father called about his 27 year old daughter. She has had two back surgeries for which multiple pain medications have been prescribed. You guessed it, she has become very dependent on them. (more…)
