Summer House

ORLANDO, Fla. — When Bryan stopped taking drugs six months ago, he got through the worst of his heroin withdrawal in a week. It was Xanax that tortured him for a full month.

He longed for the "benzos," slang for benzodiazepines, the class of drugs that includes Xanax, to take the edge off his skittishness, sleeplessness and anxiety.

Although Bryan used a variety of drugs for about 12 years, the Orlando man found Xanax one of the hardest to let go.

"Once you get fixated on downers like that, you don’t stop easily," said Bryan, 29, who asked not to be identified by last name to protect his business. "Especially if you’re a high-strung individual, it just gives you an extremely relaxing feeling. It’s slows down your thought process; you take everything in stride."

Xanax is a prescription medication used to treat anxiety. But it also is a highly abused, easily addictive tranquilizer and the focus of a fraudulent prescription drug charge against Gov. Jeb Bush’s 24-year-old daughter, Noelle.

If convicted, officials said, Noelle Bush likely would be given probation as a first-time offender.

She will not be required to appear in court personally until after formal criminal charges are filed, a process that generally takes four to six weeks, Leon County Assistant State Attorney Owen McCaul said.

Xanax and other prescription drugs are becoming increasingly popular with younger people, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. A government survey in 2000 found that about 5 million Americans have abused Xanax or a similar anti-anxiety drug at some point.

" It ’s basically the modern-day version of a Quaalude,  the mother’s little helper," said Lui Delgado, a certified addictions professional and executive director of Quest Counseling Centre in Altamonte Springs. " It ’s very common with young people, and it ’s very easy to find."

Xanax is the brand name for alprazolam, a drug developed at least 20 years ago as an alternative to Valium, a widely prescribed sedative that was considered too easily addictive.

But both drugs can create powerful addictions, and some say Xanax is worse than Valium.

"Xanax, in particular, is abused because it has a fairly quick uptake into the system, and many people get a buzz from it, " said Dr. Herndon Harding, medical director of Florida Hospital ’s Center for Behavioral Health.

Xanax works by depressing the central nervous system, enhancing the effects of a chemical in the brain that slows down the firing of neurons and reduces brain activity.

Bryan said taking Xanax felt like having a few drinks, minus the dizziness. He could get 100 pills for about $200, but the drug sells for up to $5 a pill on the street.

Most prescriptions call for no more than 2 mg of Xanax total a day. Because he had built up a tolerance, Bryan needed about 10 mg to get the desired effect.

WorldWideAddiction.com — Substance Addiction has been recognized "officially" as a disease for many years now, but there is still a great deal of ignorance on the subject -even amongst the medical profession.

Addicts/alcoholics (people tend to separate the two, but from here on in I will use the term "addict" to cover the broad range of substance abusers) are seen as weak people with no will-power.

Want to know what will-power is?

It is waking up in the morning, so nauseous that you race to the bathroom and don’t know which end to use first! After that initial wake-up purge, you then make your way shivering and shaking into the kitchen and drink an open, flat, warm beer that has a cigarette butt floating in it. Or because you are shaking so much, you drink that warm white wine that has been sitting out all night, through a straw since you can’t hold a glass! You do this, choking back the bile that is rising in your throat, because you know that the only way to begin functioning again on some sort of level is to try and build up the alcohol in your system before you take a seizure.

Do you think drinking methylated spirits at 5am in the morning is an easy thing to do?

I have known many addicts whose veins in their arms and legs are so damaged, that they inject themselves in their eyeballs. Because going without their "hit" is a far worse option.

Addicts have plenty of will-power…….

…it’s just focused in the wrong direction. Recovery teaches them us to refocus energy.

Back to the disease concept. Addiction is classified as a disease because it meets the criteria of all other terminal diseases:

- It has pattern of symptoms which are similar across all types of substance abuse

- It is a chronic condition. It doesn’t go away.

- It is progressive. Addiction only gets worse with continued use, and ends with death.

- The person is subject to relapse. In Australia, 66% of addicts who are lucky to live long enough to make it to detox will eventually die as a direct result of the disease.

- It is treatable. Here’s the good news, while substance addiction is a terminal illness, its progression can be arrested at almost any stage. But if you are seeking treatment, it is of the utmost importance that you gain medical advice. Sudden withdrawal, even from "socially acceptable" drugs such as alcohol, can cause death through seizures and coma.

It is crucial that you consult with a medical practitioner that understands addiction and withdrawal. Some well meaning, but uneducated doctors will prescribe large amounts of unsuitable medications that can lead to cross-addiction. This happened to me at one stage, and made a difficult situation worse. If you are addicted to one drug, the likelihood of becoming addicted to others is extremely high.

Wherever possible, detoxification is best carried out in a detox unit, where there is 24 hour patient care. There are a number of these units around the world, and in some cases (especially in Australia) there is no charge for this care.

When world governments begin to understand that the cost in providing this care free of charge is far outweighed by the benefits to society, we will begin to see an incredible drop in poverty, violence and divorce. The cost in providing this care will also be offset by the decrease in need of other hospitalization. 1 in 3 hospital beds in Australia are taken up by people with conditions that can be directly linked to drug abuse. At best, the world health systems overall are only currently providing band-aid solutions to one of the greatest scourges of mankind.

Are you thinking of getting help for yourself or a loved one?… do it now … for tomorrow may be too late. 

If you had terminal cancer, would you do anything about it? 

Substance addiction is a far worse disease in my opinion -it not only destroys the person, but everyone around them.

To those who helped me all those years ago -doctors, nurses, friends and strangers - even though I may not have been appreciative at the time….. my sincerest thank you. My life means something now.

Addiction is a disease, not just a state of mind.

WorldWideAddiction.com — Addiction is a very complex subject. The following is short explanation of it.

Substance addiction is a double edged sword. It is a physical compulsion coupled with a mental obsession with the substance being the focus. Because it attacks from these two fronts, it is an extremely hard problem to deal with. The disease is progressive, incurable and fatal, but can be arrested at almost any stage.

There is more and more evidence mounting to suggest that it is a genetic condition, an inherited intolerance. Addiction is a disease that affects around 5% of the worlds’ population. The disease concept I will expand on in another article, as this is a controversial subject.

A person having a genetic predisposition to the disease is usually not aware of it. The threshold between abuse and addiction is invisible and different in all individual sufferers. Some people can be successful social drinkers for years, and then - literally overnight, become alcoholic. Others, like myself, are addicted from the first experience.

The pattern of addiction is this:

- A drug is consumed and creates a desirable effect (not necessarily a high, it may be just a feeling of contentment or oblivion or pain relief)

- The behavior is repeated because of the desired effects

- The brain builds a tolerance to the substance, so it takes more each time to achieve the same effect. As addiction sets in, these original sensations that are pursued are never achieved again.

- The brain becomes "used" to the substance and creates triggers when the substance is not used to turn the persons attention towards it (cravings).

- After a period , the person is spending more time thinking about the drug and therefore retarding mental and emotional growth as these thought patterns become deeply entrenched. Aside from the undesirable effects of the abuse of the drug itself, one of the outcomes of being so preoccupied with the substance is that it prevents healthy relationships from being formed and maintained.

- After a further period of time, the brain also sends out physical indicators when the drug is not being used (sweating, shaking), known as withdrawals. These physical symptoms are caused by a release of chemicals that occurs while the drug is being used, especially in the case of CNS (Central Nervous System) depressants such as alcohol. The drug is depressing the CNS, so the brain counteracts with "stimulants" in an attempt to achieve balance. When the consumption of the drug is suddenly stopped, the brain is continuing to produce these chemicals at high concentrations which effectively send the body and brain into "overload". This overload can present itself in grand mal seizures and can be severe enough to cause death. Alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs to withdraw from.

- Because the sufferer is caught between the states of either being under the influence, recovering from the last consumption or thinking about the next one, their lives and the lives of all those around them become severely affected. High absenteeism from employment due to intoxication/associated physical illness and the expense of the substance leads to loss of work, social standing, financial security and self esteem. This sparks off a whole series of problems within self and family. If the person is approached by a loved one about the problem, this can create a strong defensive reaction. Lying and deceit now sets in.

If the drug is illegal, usage creates a network of people around the sufferer who are in the same situation to ensure a constant supply. Because substances sometimes cost a great deal of money, the person learns the "tricks of the trade" to procure it - mainly prostitution and theft. What would have at one stage be considered "insanity" by the sufferer, slowly becomes normal as this network of people begins to play a bigger role in their life. 

Because most drugs decrease inhibition and impair areas of the brain which control aggression and memory, incidents occur whilst under the influence which would be considered out of character for the person. As periods of intoxication increase, so do the incidents. As the impairment to these areas of the brain increase, the incidents may become more violent. Once again what was considered "insane" now becomes normal for the person.

The above pattern is repeated many times and becomes ingrained, so even when the usage is totally stopped, many of the thought patterns and coping mechanisms are still there. Ceasing the consumption is not enough, the sufferer needs to learn how to cope mentally and emotionally through life without the substance and how to integrate back into mainstream society again. This can take many years.

Even after long periods of cessation from the substance, the brain remembers it. When the addict begins using again, the downhill slide is very quick. You do not get to start from scratch. Addiction does not disappear. It’s in me….but it sleeps…. I am lucky that recognize I now have a conscious choice whether I wake it or not.

Addiction is not a weak person’s "designer disease". It just makes people weak……

Drug addiction is a treatable disorder. Through treatment that is tailored to individual needs, patients can learn to control their condition and live normal, productive lives. Like people with diabetes or heart disease, people in treatment for drug addiction learn behavioral changes and often take medications as part of their treatment regimen.

Behavioral therapies can include counseling, psychotherapy, support groups, or family therapy. Treatment medications offer help in suppressing the withdrawal syndrome and drug craving and in blocking the effects of drugs. In addition, studies show that treatment for heroin addiction using methadone at an adequate dosage level combined with behavioral therapy reduces death rates and many health problems associated with heroin abuse.

In general, the more treatment given, the better the results. Many patients require other services as well, such as medical and mental health services and HIV prevention services. Patients who stay in treatment longer than 3 months usually have better outcomes than those who stay less time. Patients who go through medically assisted withdrawal to minimize discomfort but do not receive any further treatment, perform about the same in terms of their drug use as those who were never treated. Over the last 25 years, studies have shown that treatment works to reduce drug intake and crimes committed by drug-dependent people. Researchers also have found that drug abusers who have been through treatment are more likely to have jobs.

Types of Treatment Programs

The ultimate goal of all drug abuse treatment is to enable the patient to achieve lasting abstinence, but the immediate goals are to reduce drug use, improve the patient’s ability to function, and minimize the medical and social complications of drug abuse.

There are several types of drug abuse treatment programs. Short-term methods last less than 6 months and include residential therapy, medication therapy, and drug-free outpatient therapy. Longer term treatment may include, for example, methadone maintenance outpatient treatment for opiate addicts and residential therapeutic community treatment.

In maintenance treatment for heroin addicts, people in treatment are given an oral dose of a synthetic opiate, usually methadone hydrochloride or levo-alpha-acetyl methadol (LAAM), administered at a dosage sufficient to block the effects of heroin and yield a stable, noneuphoric state free from physiological craving for opiates. In this stable state, the patient is able to disengage from drug-seeking and related criminal behavior and, with appropriate counseling and social services, become a productive member of his or her community.

Outpatient drug-free treatment does not include medications and encompasses a wide variety of programs for patients who visit a clinic at regular intervals. Most of the programs involve individual or group counseling. Patients entering these programs are abusers of drugs other than opiates or are opiate abusers for whom maintenance therapy is not recommended, such as those who have stable, well-integrated lives and only brief histories of drug dependence.

Therapeutic communities (TCs) are highly structured programs in which patients stay at a residence, typically for 6 to 12 months. Patients in TCs include those with relatively long histories of drug dependence, involvement in serious criminal activities, and seriously impaired social functioning. The focus of the TC is on the resocialization of the patient to a drug-free, crime-free lifestyle.

Short-term residential programs, often referred to as chemical dependency units, are often based on the "Minnesota Model" of treatment for alcoholism. These programs involve a 3- to 6-week inpatient treatment phase followed by extended outpatient therapy or participation in 12-step self-help groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous or Cocaine Anonymous. Chemical dependency programs for drug abuse arose in the private sector in the mid-1980s with insured alcohol/cocaine abusers as their primary patients. Today, as private provider benefits decline, more programs are extending their services to publicly funded patients.

Methadone maintenance programs are usually more successful at retaining clients with opiate dependence than are therapeutic communities, which in turn are more successful than outpatient programs that provide psychotherapy and counseling. Within various methadone programs, those that provide higher doses of methadone (usually a minimum of 60 mg.) have better retention rates. Also, those that provide other services, such as counseling, therapy, and medical care, along with methadone generally get better results than the programs that provide minimal services.

Drug treatment programs in prisons can succeed in preventing patients’ return to criminal behavior, particularly if they are linked to community-based programs that continue treatment when the client leaves prison. Some of the more successful programs have reduced the rearrest rate by one-fourth to one-half. For example, the "Delaware Model," an ongoing study of comprehensive treatment of drug- addicted prison inmates, shows that prison-based treatment including a therapeutic community setting, a work release therapeutic community, and community-based aftercare reduces the probability of rearrest by 57 percent and reduces the likelihood of returning to drug use by 37 percent.

Drug abuse has a great economic impact on society-an estimated $67 billion per year. This figure includes costs related to crime, medical care, drug abuse treatment, social welfare programs, and time lost from work. Treatment of drug abuse can reduce those costs. Studies have shown that from $4 to $7 are saved for every dollar spent on treatment. It costs approximately $3,600 per month to leave a drug abuser untreated in the community, and incarceration costs approximately $3,300 per month. In contrast, methadone maintenance therapy costs about $290 per month.

Its very simple, substance abuse effects body functioning. Drug use can lead to long term physiological effects that can not only be acutely harmful, but can also result in chronic problems. The use of drugs is not the only issue. It is all the harmful behaviors that come along with substance abuse that tend to make matters worse.
 

Substance abuse harms the body in two distinct ways: via the effect of the substance itself and via negative lifestyle changes, such as irregular eating habits and poor dietary intake. For example, infants who were exposed to alcohol while in the womb often have physical defects and mental disabilities. In this case, the growing fetus has deficits both directly caused by the substance crossing the placenta and indirectly due to inadequate nutrition of the mother while she was drinking.
 

Recovery from substance abuse involves many different components, including proper organ functioning, assuring mental well being and proper metabolism. A huge factor in the healing process is proper nutrient supply. Nutrients are essential for not only for energy, but also to keep the immune system strong which helps to fight off infection and keep one strong.
 

Though it is clear that substance use in general is not healthy, like anything else, different substances have different effects on the body. In this article we will discuss a few of the more popular drug categories and how they each can affect body functioning.

Opiates

Which Drugs Are Opiates?
 

This category includes: codeine, morphine, and heroin. All of these affect the gastrointestinal system. One of the main symptoms associated with opiate use is constipation. When one withdraws from opiates classic symptoms of withdrawal include: diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. The danger here lies primarily in a depletion of valuable nutrients and electrolytes. This includes imbalance in the amount of potassium, sodium, chloride, and calcium. Electrolytes are important for a variety of things, including proper cardiac, or heart, functioning.
 

To combat the severity of these symptoms, one should eat meals that are balanced (i.e. proper amounts of vegetables, grains, fats, and proteins). A high fiber diet with things such as whole grains, beans, peas and vegetables is advisable due to constipation associated with opiate use.
 

Alcohol
 

Out of all the drugs utilized in the US, alcohol is the major cause of nutritional deficiencies. The most prominent deficiencies include the following:
 

* Pyridoxine or Vitamin B-6
* Thiamine
* Folic Acid
 

An individual lacking in these nutrients may develop anemia which is a low blood count, for women a deficiency in folic acid can cause poor pregnancies, and B vitamin deficiency can also cause neurological problems. Lack of thiamine (B1) in particular, can lead to Korsakoff’s syndrome. It is important to understand that it is not necessarily the alcohol that cause the disorder, but the effect of alcohol of the absorption of nutrients that is damaging.
 

Alcohol damages the liver and pancreas in particular. These two organs are necessary for detoxification and processing (liver) and the pancreas effects blood sugar and absorption of fat. If these two organs are not working properly, one can have an imbalance of fluids, calories and electrolytes.
 

Permanent damage can take place in the form of cirrhosis which is liver damage, diabetes, seizures and malnutrition. Liver damage can also result in decreased clotting factors, which means an individual has the chance of bleeding unnecessarily. Women also have an increased risk for osteoporosis and may require calcium supplementation.
 

Stimulants

What is a stimulant?
 

This includes cocaine, methamphetamine and cocaine. Use of these drugs can lead to a decrease in appetite and weight loss which will eventually lead to malnutrition. As the name implies, stimulants stimulate the body thereby causing many users to stay awake for unhealthy periods of time. This can range from one night of missed sleep, to being awake for days at a time. This may result in dehydration and subsequent electrolyte imbalance. One should return to a normal, balance diet which may be difficult given the abuse the body has suffered especially if there has been severe weight loss.
 

The Marijuana Munchies
 

Marijuana can increase appetite, which, in chronic users can lead to being overweight. For these individuals it is probably best to cut back on sugar, fat and overall caloric intake.
 

Nutrition and psychological aspects of substance abuse
When people feel better, they are less likely to relapse. Since balanced nutrition helps improve mood and health, it is important to encourage an improved diet in people recovering from alcohol and other drug problems. Individuals recovering from substance abuse have just given up a huge part of their life and for this reason, it is better for these individuals to focus on not using again as opposed to putting all their energy into a drastic diet change.

How to Incorporate a Healthy Diet into Recovery
 

Perhaps the most important thing for prior substance abusers to remember is routine. For instance, regular meals throughout the day are recommended. An increase in proteins, complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber are highly recommended. Due to the irregularity of diet that tends to accompany substance abuse, most individuals will needs to supplement diet with vitamins and minerals. As every individual is different, it is recommended that recovering addicts meet with a dietician. A trained professional can then develop a plan that is specific to the person’s needs. The vitamins that are most often lacking include zinc, vitamins A and C and most of the B vitamins.
 

Keeping Your Sugar Steady Can Decrease Cravings
 

As many drug addicts do not eat regularly, they may forget what it feels like to really be hungry. Not eating steadily can cause a fluctuation in blood sugar levels which can lead to feelings of unsteadiness throughout the day. For a recovering addict, these feelings may be interpreted as drug cravings which could lead to one using. This is yet another reason to keep a steady and healthy intake of food.
 

The Importance of Water
 

Dehydration is common for substance users and it is very important to emphasize the need for fluids during and in between meals. As appetite can return during recovery, it is important to emphasize fluid intake as well as proper food consumption. For all the reasons discussed prior, it would be detrimental to recovery for an individual to begin eating the high calorie foods with little to no nutritional value due to all the abuse the body has already endured. Drinking water will help the body to absorb nutrients which is something most of these individuals are lacking.

Substance abuse recovery is a difficult road to follow. Good nutrition is something that can help to make that road a little easier to walk down. Encouraging healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle, is something concerned loved one can do to help ensure the people in their lives stay clean.

Acupuncture is an Eastern medicine technique that has been utilized for centuries. It has been used for various physiological issues in Asian culture but only more recently has entered the United States. Since it’s induction into popular culture, use of acupuncture has been broadening to treatment for many different health problems. Some of which include: back and neck pain, sports injuries, knee injuries, fibromyalgia, headaches, digestive and gynecological problems, among other things. One of the uses that surprises most people, is acupuncture as a method to treat symptoms of substance abuse withdrawal.

A Treatment Found by Mistake

It was 1970 and a neurosurgeon by the name of H.L. Wen, the only one in all of South China, was getting ready to use electro-acupuncture as a method of surgical analgesia. The patient who happened to be withdrawing from opium, reported a relief in symptoms of withdrawal. Wen immediately canceled the surgery and went looking for patients who were also experiencing symptoms of withdrawal. Wen utilized the same acupuncture treatment and found that these patients also experienced a reduction in symptoms. It was at this moment that acupuncture as treatment for substance abuse withdrawal came into fruition.

How Can Acupuncture Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms?

• Physical withdrawal symptoms are reduced.
• Relieves: depression, anxiety, and insomnia brought on by withdrawal.
• Specific withdrawal symptoms include:
o cravings
o body aches
o headache
o nausea
o sweating
o muscle cramping

What exactly is Qi?

Qi, pronounced chee, is achieved by inserting needles into routes underneath the skin which are called ‘meridias’. The only translation for the word Qi, which is not exact, is ‘vital energy’. If Qi is working properly it protects the body and makes the transition from one body state to another smooth. Chinese medicine works under the assumption that sickness occurs when energy cannot flow through the meridas freely. The needles utilized in acupuncture work by unblocking the meridias and allowing Qi to flow freely.

How Does Acupuncture Treatment Work?

There are points in the ears that pertain to specific organs in relation to detoxification treatment. To be more specific, this includes: the liver, kidneys, lungs, and the nervous system. Needles are placed in each ear, which relate to each organ mentioned prior. The entire treatment takes approximately forty five minutes. This is a good time for the patient to relax, meditate and take this time to think about changes that need to occur in one’s life. One of the reasons that acupuncture helps to relieve symptoms, is because endorphins, a natural body chemical, are released. Endorphins can be called the ‘happy hormones’. Endorphins tend to reduce cravings, ease symptoms of withdrawal and also tend to increase feelings of relaxation.

How Do They Know Where to Stick Those Needles?

The Chinese have been utilizing the proper acupuncture points for years; however, it wasn’t until 1955 that Paul Nogier, a French doctor completed research on these positions. Dr. Nogier, when testing for electrical activity on the surface of the skin, found that all the traditional acupuncture points on the body had a parallel point on the human ear. From that point on, needle stimulation of the ear, otherwise known as auricular acupuncture has been used. This type of stimulation has particular benefit in substance abuse treatment as it allows for several treatments to take place simultaneously thus eliminating the need for privacy.

What Does the Treatment Feel Like?

When needles are placed in the individual’s ears, they may begin to feel warm or start to tingle. Some people do not feel anything and others may even fall asleep. Regardless of which response the person has, they are all natural and normal. Acupuncture is a treatment which will not reap immediate results. It is only after treatments taking place over time, that a true benefit will be felt. The important thing to remember is that it takes time for the treatments to show results.

What is the Detoxification Process?

The purpose of detoxification is to remove toxins from the blood stream that have been building up due to substance use. Your body is able to filter out the toxins that have been stored up. This improves the circulation of blood throughout the body. It is possible to feel out of sorts during this period. One may have aches and pains and may not be sleeping well. Some people have even reported dreaming about substance use. If any of these symptoms occur, it is advisable to let the acupuncturist know in order to alter the pressure points utilized or add additional points in.

Is Acupuncture Treatment a Sufficient Form of Substance Abuse Treatment?

No. Acupuncture is a wonderful complementary treatment to add on to traditional for substance abuse management. In order for substance abuse to be effectively dealt with, a whole team of professionals need to be incorporated. If an individual is interested in natural treatments such as acupuncture, it is advisable to locate a program that specializes in Holistic addiction treatments.