Methadone Detox

Is Suboxone the Answer to the Crisis of Opiate Addiction?

2009-11-18T11:15:00.001-08:00

In the past few months 100s of fatalities spread across the nation from heroin overdose. The states most affected by those tragedies included Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. This surge in fatalities was due to
Fentanyl Laced heroin! A new tactic adopted by drug dealers to drag people into their webs. Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opiate that dealers mixed with heroin to increase its efficacy and appeal to their customers. Both federal and state governments felt the impact of this phenomenon on the society and acted swiftly to combat it.

In the course of my work with patients addicted to heroin, I have frequently heard from them that drug dealers are giving away free heroin bags in order to get the customers hooked. An estimated 140,000 new patients fall into the traps of those dealers each year. Most new comers into this underground world are our youth who hold that the future of the nation a nd world. 75% of these patients are men.

Painkillers addiction is also invading this section of the population. The 2004 National Institute on Drug Abuses (NIDAs) Monitoring the Future survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th-graders found that 9.3 percent of 12th-graders reported using Vicodin without a prescription in the past year, and 5.0 percent reported using OxyContin-making these medications among the most commonly abused prescription drugs by adolescents.

Does that seem compelling enough for us to consider it as a national crisis. In my eyes it definetly qualifies as such. Traditional drug rehabs for this particular condition have proven to be of minimal value and that prompted our government to research alternative approaches resulting in the approval of Suboxone for out patient treatment of opiate addiction.

Suboxone was approved by the FDA in late 2002 and became available on the market by early 2003. It does not cause significant seda tion like methadone does, rather it results in a feeling of normalcy, which is one of the reasons why patients really embraced this treatment modality. Another benefit is that it does not result in the same level of dependency as methadone does hence it is easier to detox patients off this medication.

Patients often tell me that Suboxone has changed their life and for the first time they feel that they are back to the way it was prior to using opiates. Could Suboxone be part of the answer to the crisis of addiction to opiates? We will just have to wait and see.

You Are Not Alone With the Fight Against Addiction

2009-10-26T10:03:00.005-07:00

It is an understood fact that fighting an addiction is not an easy job. In majority of the cases people suffering from drug abuse, drug addiction, eating disorder and even mental illness suffer from the symptom of denial. However there are organizations that can help you in coming to terms with your addiction. Once you have realized that you have a problem that needs to be tackled, and that too with the utmost urgency, half of the battle is already won. It's a journey that is going to be long and arduous. But there is no need to worry and fret. All that you are required to do is visit a place that can provide you with the much needed guidance in finding the right rehabilitation centre for you.

One of the most crucial factors in deciding the center is the economical factor. There are treatment centers that ask you to pay privately for the care. Other treatment centers would offer their rehabilitation program through insurance. The process of finding the right treatment center for you might be very cumbersome and time consuming. There are many organizations that can help you in cutting through the confusion of choosing the right drug addiction treatment centre, alcohol abuse treatment center, substance abuse and even eating disorder treatment centers. Any kind of bodily abuse like drug addiction, drug abuse, substance addiction or eating disorder is a life threatening malaise. It needs to be treated appropriately and quickly. Help is just round the corner.

All that you are required to do is contact the organization that will do the spade work for you in finding the most appropriate institute for rehabilitation. The rest would be nothing short of a miracle in your life.

For more information regarding Addiction Treatment Programs, Drug Detox Programs, Drug Withdrawal Information please visit: http://www.recoveryconnection.org

A Few Different Ways of Dealing With an Opiate Addiction

2009-10-26T10:03:00.003-07:00

Anyone who has been addicted to opiate drug before knows how difficult it can be to get off of them. Examples of opiates would be painkillers such as prescription medications like Vicodin or Oxycontin, but also street drugs such as opium and heroin. One of the reasons that it can be so difficult to break away from an opiate addiction is because the pain and discomfort that a person will feel during withdrawal can be very intense. Because of this, the potential strategies that we might use in order to get off of opiates mostly deal with ways of getting through this physical withdrawal.

The first strategy you might try is to check into a drug rehab center and detox there. This is generally the most accepted strategy for a few different reasons. First of all, you are going to get the highest level of support and possible resources from such an inpatient treatment center, whereas other strategies might not have this full level of support. Another reason that this is a good option is because the medical staff at a drug rehab can properly treat your physical withdrawal, making it more comfortable for you than it might have been otherwise. In addition to all this, going to a drug rehab has the greatest potential for aftercare options, and can probably provide a person with the most choices when it comes to continuing care. Of course, going to a treatment center is expensive, and many struggling addicts cannot afford it. If you can get it, go.

Another tactic for overcoming an addiction to opiates is to go to a physician and ask for some sort of drug therapy medication. This might involve taking various medications, such as Methadone or Suboxone therapy. To be specific, Suboxone is a man made opiate drug that can take away cravings for opiates when taken every day as maintenance, and can thus increase a person's chances of staying clean. One issue with this technique for staying clean is that it does not really mandate any sort of therapy or program involvement on the part of the addict. These tactics could be used together, but since they are not really mandatory, most people will become lazy and only rely on the drug therapy to get them through this recovery phase. Research has demonstrated that this does not work in the long run unless an addict gets more involved with either programs or therapies to try and change their life.

One last idea is to simply quit cold turkey, without using any assistance, and simply hope that this works out for you. As you can imagine, this is a recipe for disaster, and will likely result in a relapse very quickly for just about any opiate addict. But amazingly enough, some people have quit cold turkey and made it stick.

How would you like to learn more about opiate addiction? Visit http://www.spiritualriver.com/

An overview of Drug Treatment Programs

2009-10-26T10:03:00.001-07:00

Drug treatment programs are the most effective solution for those who have developed a dependency on drugs or alcohol. There are many different types of programs, ranging from establishments with all inclusive services, where patients spend some particular time on order to detox without any external influence, or less formal, such as the outpatient programs; in this case the drug treatment consists of an advocated series of meetings and emotional or even medical support, without isolating the patient at any case from his ordinary life and habits.
The main target of the drug treatment programs is to eliminate the dependency in alcohol or drugs and prevent further abuse. Some of them though offer a rather short term aid , aiming at breaking the usage immediately, and is applied in cases where the a life threatening danger is more than obvious or present, such as overdoses and illnesses. It is estimated that more than 25million people seek medical help just in Northern America so as to deal with their drug and alcohol problem. It is a really costly problem for every country and society not only because the government needs to pay huge amounts of money to help those people, but also because each country loses a serious number or potential professionals this way. Productivity is reduced, criminality is increased and the health care costs are skyrocketing. No matter how you see it, drug addiction is an onerous and burdensome situation.
Drug treatment programs are designed in such a way to combat the abuse of substances and alcohol. In most cases, the program includes some type of medication that helps the patient deal with the cravings for the substances and offer serious relief from the severe and intense withdrawal symptoms. What this medication does is to mimic temporarily the substance experience, so as to make the patient shift from the initial source of problem. Methadone is the most common used medication globally and it's considered to have impressive results.

Except for medication treatment, patients undergo behavioral therapies as well, which can reduce the drug addiction. This kind of treatment is available for both inpatient and outpatient programs and usually focuses on identifying the original problem and trying to eliminate the source itself that made the patient start using drugs or become an alcoholic. Drug treatments try to find some coping strategies so as to handle effectively the drug avoidance. Peer sharing helps a lot in these occasions, as it helps people re-enter the society and feel that they belong to a group.

The cost of a drug treatment program depends on numerous factors. In general the residential or inpatient programs are more costly because they provide not only the necessary treatment but also full inclusive staying for the patient. Outpatient programs are definitely more cost effective but should be implemented mostly to those who can deal with some issues, like the withdrawal symptoms or emotional setbacks more effectively themselves. Inpatient programs aim at those who experience more severe emotional and physical problems and need more dramatic and drastic help.

Dennis Draking is he creator of this website for people ho want to know more about drug rehab centers, you can also find more information on his Squidoo lens about what you need to know about Drug Rehab Centers

Drug Treatment Center - Healthy Life

2009-10-25T10:08:00.005-07:00

One important aim of the drug treatment center is the reduction of drug addiction stigma through community outreach and education. These centers provide great care and support to the addict through medication and counseling. Rehab centers also provide emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to the addict.

There are a wide variety of drug treatment centers, which can address the specific concerns and needs of the addict. These centers include long term, inpatient, short term, detox, halfway house and outpatient treatment centers for the addict. The treatment of the addict can differ depending on his/her circumstances. The treatment can vary from behavioral modification methods to detox rehabilitation and bio physical techniques, to methadone maintenance. Treatment is usually a mix of medication, exercise, and behavior therapy.

The inpatient as well outpatient services are available to the addict. In inpatient treatment, the addict remains in the rehab facility for the duration of the recovery program, whereas outpatient services allow the patient to reside at home. Field services are offered by many drug treatment centers, as well as community meetings and educational programs geared toward recovery. Addiction to a wide range of substances, including codeine, opium, alcohol, methamphetamine, heroine, cocaine, and morphine, are treated in these treatment centers. Treatment centers are skilled at helping addicts recover from all types of addiction.

The drug treatment center provides after care programs, recovery plans, family programs, spiritual support, and education programs for addicts and their families. The after care services offered by the drug treatment center can be very effective in preventing relapse. Constant counseling and exercise can help the addict return to a normal routine life without addiction. The addict can be completely cured if the rehab treatment is followed vigorously. Treatment can give the addict the key to a healthy life.

More Resources

Jason Ramage is a new author and recently a recovered addict. I am writing to help other gain control over their lives.

Some Various Strategies for Overcoming Opiate Addiction

2009-10-25T10:08:00.003-07:00

Anyone who has been strung out on heroin or even hooked on a prescription pain pill can know how tricky it can be to get off of opiate drugs. The power of the withdrawal makes it extremely difficult to even think about going for a few days without taking more of the drug, and so the cycle of using continues so that the addict can avoid these symptoms. The various techniques for detoxing from opiates and getting clean from them all have ways of dealing with the withdrawals.The first strategy you might try is to check into a drug rehab center and detox there. This is generally the most accepted strategy for a few different reasons. First of all, you are going to get the highest level of support and possible resources from such an inpatient treatment center, whereas other strategies might not have this full level of support. Another reason that this is a good option is because the medical staff at a drug rehab can properly treat your physical withdrawal, making it more comfortable for you than it might have been otherwise. In addition to all this, going to a drug rehab has the greatest potential for aftercare options, and can probably provide a person with the most choices when it comes to continuing care. Of course, going to a treatment center is expensive, and many struggling addicts cannot afford it. If you can get it, go.Another tactic for overcoming an addiction to opiates is to go to a physician and ask for some sort of drug therapy medication. This might involve taking various medications, such as Methadone or Suboxone therapy. To be specific, Suboxone is a man made opiate drug that can take away cravings for opiates when taken every day as maintenance, and can thus increase a person's chances of staying clean. One issue with this technique for staying clean is that it does not really mandate any sort of therapy or program involvement on the part of the addict. These things could be utilized, but since the are not required, many people will simply rely on the medication to solve all their problems. Research has demonstrated that this does not work in the long run unless an addict gets more involved with either programs or therapies to try and change their life.One last idea is to simply quit cold turkey, without using any assistance, and simply hope that this works out for you. As you can imagine, this is a recipe for disaster, and will likely result in a relapse very quickly for just about any opiate addict. But amazingly enough, some people have quit cold turkey and made it stick.

Would you like to learn more about opiate addiction?
Visit http://www.spiritualriver.com/

Some Strategies for Dealing with Opiate Addiction

2009-10-25T10:08:00.001-07:00

Anyone who has been strung out on heroin or even hooked on a prescription pain pill can know how tricky it can be to get off of opiate drugs. The power of the withdrawal makes it extremely difficult to even think about going for a few days without taking more of the drug, and so the cycle of using continues so that the addict can avoid these symptoms. The various techniques for detoxing from opiates and getting clean from them all have ways of dealing with the withdrawals.

The first strategy you might try is to check into a drug rehab center and detox there. This is generally the most accepted strategy for a few different reasons. First of all, you are going to get the highest level of support and possible resources from such an inpatient treatment center, whereas other strategies might not have this full level of support. Another reason that this is a good option is because the medical staff at a drug rehab can properly treat your physical withdrawal, making it more comfortable for you than it might have been otherwise. In addition to all this, going to a drug rehab has the greatest potential for aftercare options, and can probably provide a person with the most choices when it comes to continuing care. Of course, going to a treatment center is expensive, and many struggling addicts cannot afford it. If you can get it, go.

Another tactic for overcoming an addiction to opiates is to go to a physician and ask for some sort of drug therapy medication. This might involve taking various medications, such as Methadone or Suboxone therapy. To be specific, Suboxone is a man made opiate drug that can take away cravings for opiates when taken every day as maintenance, and can thus increase a person's chances of staying clean. One issue with this technique for staying clean is that it does not really mandate any sort of therapy or program involvement on the part of the addict. These tactics could be used together, but since they are not really mandatory, most people will become lazy and only rely on the drug therapy to get them through this recovery phase. Research has demonstrated that this does not work in the long run unless an addict gets more involved with either programs or therapies to try and change their life.

One last idea is to simply quit cold turkey, without using any assistance, and simply hope that this works out for you. As you can imagine, this is a recipe for disaster, and will likely result in a relapse very quickly for just about any opiate addict. But amazingly enough, some people have quit cold turkey and made it stick.

How would you like to learn more about opiate addiction?
Visit http://www.spiritualriver.com/

On Loving an Addict

2009-10-22T10:11:00.005-07:00

There are few things I hate in life. Hate is such a strong word loaded with negative emotions. But I hate Oxycontin. And I hate Heroin. In my unprofessional completely biased opinion - they are the same thing. If you are using and haven't made this connection yet - you're fooling yourself. If someone you love is using and you think - at least they aren't on dope - then wake up and see that it's just as bad and only a matter of time before they get there. Nobody wakes up one day and says, "I think I'll go shoot dope." They get there one desperate day when they can't afford the pills that they fooled themselves into believing for too long - were no big deal. I've lost a young cousin to suicide because he couldn't get and stay clean, a boyfriend to an overdose after years of trying to get straight. I also have many friends, family and neighbors who walk around each day living a horrible existence because of addiction. Each of them started taking OC's and some have graduated to Heroin.
I use the term junkie quite often in this story. I'm sorry if that label offends you. But I couldn't write this piece without using it. Strong words carry strong meanings. This is one of them and where I use it - I use it to relay the strong feelings I feel about this horrible addiction. I don't use this term as a put down - in fact I have come a long way and really try not to judge anyone about where choices in their life have taken them. As they say - "there but for the grace of God go you or I." So when I say junkie - I say it with love. Because there are many junkies in my life that I have loved or still love. And my choice of words is to distinguish between the whole healthy person who existed before the drugs took control and the addict that they have become. I don't hate them. Each and every one of them hate themselves enough. I don't think less of them. They've got that covered too. And if you haven't lived through watching someone you love turn into someone else in front of your very eyes you should thank God every day for shielding you from the heartache, pain and uncertainty that living life loving an addict can bring. And the next time your path crosses the path of a junkie remember that the shell of a person before you - is someone's son or brother or friend. Instead of looking down on them or judging them - say a prayer for them and thank God that you weren't given or didn't choose this cross to bear in your lifetime. Easier said than done if you've been affected directly by their need for drugs. Especially hard to do if you've been robbed by, lied to or manipulated by an addict. If you have been, then I know it's hard to read this with an open mind. If you have been I am sorry. And they are too whether or not they can tell you directly. They live with what they have done every day. I know it doesn't take it away or make it better - but their hell is here on earth. Don't judge those around you who are dealing with an addict in their life because until you are in a situation you never know how you yourself would handle it.
If your love and loyalty is not for the addict but for the person affected by them - then I know your frustration and anger first hand. I know how easy it is to see from the outside what you think the answer is or how you would handle it better maybe. But trust me when I say that it's not as clear cut as it seems from the outside looking in and there is no right or wrong way to do something when it comes to matters of the heart. We do the best we can with what we know at the time and the road that we have to walk is filled with life lessons that we can only learn ourselves. And the hardest ones to learn but the ones we grow the most from are the ones that knock us on our ass and shake us to the core. You may ask yourself how can anyone still love or care about a junkie. I ask you how couldn't we. My mother used to give me such a hard time each time I'd get back with my boyfriend. She wondered what was wrong with me that I would put up with the drama that came with our relationship. I even wondered sometimes what was wrong with me. Why couldn't I walk away? Why didn't I just leave? The answer is both simple and complicated. The answer is because I loved him - end of story.
I didn't go out one day and place a personal ad looking to meet a heroin addict. I was in love with someone who came to me one day and shared with me something that he wasn't proud of. Something he tried to battle and kick on his own. I asked my mother one day what she would have done if my dad came home one day and told her that he was an addict. My parents raised me to believe that you love someone no matter what. And I stood beside my boyfriend like my mom stood beside my dad when my dad battled cancer. It is well known that addiction is a disease. But we have such a hard time truly buying that. When someone has cancer or another life threatening illness people rally around the person who is sick and are there for the family for support. But addiction brings so many mixed emotions. There is shame and so many people don't even talk about what is going on in their homes, in their lives. And the ones who are strong enough to talk about are met with mixed responses from people who don't understand. For those of you who do understand - I wrote this for you but I also wrote this for me.
I wrote this after my cousin took his own life a few years ago. He had graduated to Heroin. But I think I hate Oc's even more because I don't think many of these kids would end up on Heroin if it hadn't been for the Oxys. I always wondered if he only knew that everyone who loved him would have put up with a million more chaotic days and nights, a lifetime of hope filled days followed by more heartache and failures if only we could have him back for one more day. Because one more day means one more chance to succeed.
I added to this after my boyfriend died of an overdose this year. Despite all the pain - I wish he could have seen just how much joy he brought to my life. I wish he could have known what a hole was left in the world the day he died. If the junkie could only see how much they are loved. If they could see themselves through our eyes - their lives might not be the daily hell they live through.
Ode to Heroin
I'm told it's a high like no other. One that makes you feel better than you could ever have imagined. Didn't they ever tell you that if something is too good it's no good? And so you're off on the run - always chasing that feeling of your first high.
A viscious cycle of ups and downs, highs and lows, doped up and dope sick becomes your all consuming daily routine. It holds you in its grip and motivates you to lie, cheat and steal and it doesn't matter where you turn or how far you run. And every time you try to break free and fail- the future looks less and less attractive every day.
You've seen your mother cry one too many times and the pain and hopeless look in the eyes of your father. You know they adore you and are still proud to call you son - despite the bad turn your life has taken.
They would do anything to fix things for you or to take away your pain. They don't hate you or love you any less for the way your life has turned out or the way you have turned their lives upside down or the things you have done for the drug.
They know it's not you they are dealing with anymore - it's Heroin. They've tried to help you battle the demon. But it's bigger than them and stronger than them. But they'll never give up on you - because their hearts ache to see the boy they used to know and they would do anything to get him back.
But Heroin renders you powerless and defenseless. And after all the bad you do and pain you cause and shame you feel - before long you don't even remember the man you once were. You look in the mirror and see the junkie waste of life you think you have become and you hate yourself for it. And you wonder how these people can continue to care after all you've put them through. So you hate yourself even more but you still get high because eventually Heroin convinces you not to care about anything else but your next fix and you'll do anything to get it. Day after day you'll choose Heroin over your parents, brothers, sisters, friends and girlfriend. You'll choose it over yourself.
You'll stop every once in awhile and wonder how you ever got to this point. You'll realize that your life has gone to hell. You'll see just how low you'll stoop to keep Heroin in your life. And some day you might even stoop so low or push your family too far or shock yourself with just what you'll do to keep up your habit. And the person you once were - the kind hearted caring and loving person who lies powerless within you just waiting and fighting to come back speaks up and says - ENOUGH.
And then you decide to say good bye to your old friend Heroin. You realize you miss the person you used to be and are willing to fight the monster to become that person again. But there's a problem. Heroin doesn't let you walk away without a fight. It shows you that you need it. It shows you how weak you are without it. It beats you down and makes you shake and moan in pain. It plays tricks on your mind and despite your desire to end this relationship - it does everything in its power to get you to come crawling back. And just getting through the physical withdrawals doesn't mean the worst part is over. It's the day to day, minute to minute, second to second struggle to stay clean and deal with life without drugs that is the real battle. Some line up at clinics each morning, made to feel like a second class citizen to get a dose of methadone that helps them lead a normal life. Others find the answer in AA or NA, and for some detox programs work. Suboxone has proved promising but so many are using it wrong as a way to still dabble when they want to. The hardest part is that there's no easy fix to get clean and it's even harder to stay clean and the statistics don't paint a pretty picture. So even the most determined and strong minded person quickly realizes that the life they dreamed of, a life without drugs isn't the easy street that they had imagined. In fact it's harder to get through each day than keeping up a habit was.
And so many people do crawl back and Heroin makes you feel instantly better and takes you by the balls again. And it grows stronger because it has convinced the junkie that he can't do it. Some people are more determined and keep walking away only to be pulled back in. Then they think it's useless to try. They don't think they can make it past the pain and can't see an end to the misery. So they stop trying to be the man they once were. They begin to resent him and all of the people who love him. Because they only remind him of the pain he has caused them. They make him want to get help and get better and he doesn't believe it to be possible.
So often he withdraws from his friends or they give up on him. But the friends that stay and the family that continues to hope and pray and help and suffer - he can't stand what he's putting them through. He lashes out at them. He steals from them. He lies to them and uses them to get what he needs. And they stay strong and are willing to fight to save him because there is no limit to their love. But he has only one love, one friend, one family - Heroin.
But they still hold on and hope. Maybe the next detox will work. Maybe God will answer their prayers for him. They tell him they know what he is going through - but he tells them they're wrong. They could never know what he is going through. He is angered by their claim that they can understand and feel his pain. He feels totally alone and helpless.
But they are right to say they know how he feels or can imagine his pain. Because they too have broken hearts and broken dreams. They have lost someone they love - he's close enough to touch but they know they might not ever get there.
But his addiction makes him arrogant and self centered to claim he is alone in his pain and nobody could understand what he is going through. He has Heroin. The people who love and care for him, the people who pray that he will get help and break free from the monster - they live and breathe his pain and suffering every day. They grieve for a loved one who walks, sleeps and breathes but in essence is dead already. But unlike him they only get to share his lows. They do not have the luxury of his euphoric highs that help him survive and escape reality.
Some can take only so much and can't bear to sit by helpless and witness him kill himself slowly and they cut ties. They still pray and worry and cry themselves to sleep feeling powerless. Others get angry and though the love they feel will never go away - they hate the monster and walk out of their lives because they have to in order to protect themselves. Because it is torture to watch the junkie take over and call the shots knowing that there is nothing they can do to stop and no way for them to reach the person they once knew.
Others enable them to continue because they can't stand to see the wrenching pain that comes form being dope sick. And they try to help them be comfortable until they find the strength and a way to win the battle.
Heroin takes over completely eventually and those of us who have had family, friends or loved ones who have seen the drug take over handle it in many different ways. We pretend it's not happening. We walk around in a state of denial or shock until we are forced to face it. Then we walk around in a state of anger, fear or helplessness. We feel shame and wonder how we could have let it get this far or happen at all for that matter.
We feel totally alone and live life walking on egg shells. We hope for the best but begin to dread the worst. We wait for the phone call telling us about an arrest, an overdose or a suicide. And the addict prays for the strength to stop the pain and get well but feels like they're fighting a never ending battle that can't be won. Some addicts think that an overdose might be a blessing in disguise to those who love them. Some take their own lives thinking that is the answer.
Others continue to use and pretend not to care. But those of us who love them no matter what - our addiction to hope is stronger than their addiction to dope. And so we hold on and hope that they will find their way. And we accept that we have no control over their addiction to Heroin. Some of us realize this slowly - others over time - still some will never see this. If they could only see that we would live through this never ending nightmare forever if it meant we could have them back for just one more day. If they could only see into our hearts and source some strength from us. If only our love was enough. But it's not.
In the end they need to stand up to Heroin on their own and prove to themselves what each of us believe deep in our hearts - that they are somehow still stronger than the monster. They are more than the junkie they see in the mirror each morning. They are our son, our brother, our sister, our mother, our father, our boyfriend our girlfriend and our friends. And though they don't recognize the person they used to be - we still see that person. We still envision a future filled with brighter days. We still wait for the day that they walk back into our lives and this nightmare we live becomes nothing more than a distant memory.
Until then remember that you are loved, you are strong and you can beat this.
Melanie Marsden is a massage therapist and co-owner of A Better Place to Be Day Spa. She is a Teacher at the Cortiva-Muscular Therapy Institute and was born and raised in Charlestown, MA. She can be reached at mmarsden@comcast.net

Heroin Addiction and Holistic Drug Treatment - Heroin Drug Rehabilitation Programs and Treatment with a Holistic Approach By: John Giordano, CAP, MAC & Trina Geiss, MPH

2009-10-22T10:11:00.003-07:00

June 7, 2004 -- Heroin is a highly addictive substance. It is both the most often abused and the fastest acting of all of the opiate drugs. Through all of the complications that may arise from heroin use and abuse, its use is on the rise. According to the 2000 Drug and Alcohol Services Information System (DASIS) report conducted through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), heroin was the leading illicit drug among substance abuse treatment admissions in 2000, and there is an increase in younger users.

Heroin is made from the processing of morphine, which is a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seedpod of the Asian poppy plant. It is usually sold as a white or brownish powder or as the black sticky substance known as โblack tar heroin.โ Most street heroin is mixed or โcutโ with other drugs or with substances such as sugar, starch, powdered milk, or quinine. Street heroin can also be cut with strychnine or other poisons. Therefore, heroin users rarely know the actual strength and concentration or the added substances resulting in an increased risk for accidental overdose and/or death, and spontaneous abortion.

Chronic use is associated with collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, cellulitis, and liver disease. Pulmonary complications may develop including various types of pneumonia, which result from the poor health condition of the abuser, as well as from heroin's depressing effects on respiration. Injecting heroin also increases the risk of disease transmission such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C, thereby complicating the problem. In addition to the effects of the drug itself, street heroin may contain additives that do not dissolve into the blood stream resulting in clogged blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. This may result in infection or even death of small patches of cells in vital organs eventually causing organ failure.

Heroin works by binding to specific receptors on neurons that are distributed throughout the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS), and tissues of the immune system. These opioid receptors work in regulating responses to stress, pain, temperature, respiration, endocrine and gastrointestinal activity, mood, motivation, and others. Once these receptors are activated many intracellular changes take place, some of which is the development of tolerance (decreased response to the same concentration of the opioid at the receptor) and altered excitability (withdrawal) when the stimulus is removed after a period of receptor activation. The short-term effects of heroin use appear quickly after use and may last several hours. First there is a surge of euphoria, accompanied by skin flushing, dry mouth, and heavy extremities. Following this initial euphoria there is an alternately wakeful and drowsy state. Mental functioning is clouded due to the depression of the central nervous system. Heroin has been proven to be extremely addictive due to the body's physical dependence on the substance developing after repeated use.

There are a variety of treatment methods available to reverse heroin dependence. However, most outcomes are poor, due to the strong physiological dependence on the drug. First the individual must enter detoxification to relieve withdrawal symptoms, after which, should be followed by long-term drug treatment. Traditional heroin addiction treatments typically rely upon pharmacotherapies. Their goals are to relieve the severity of withdrawal symptoms and to prevent relapse once abstinence has been initiated5.

One of the most commonly used of these is methadone treatment. Methadone is non-intoxicating and daily activities can be resumed, however it is addictive and may cause overdose. Others include naloxone and naltrexone, which block the effects of opiates; however naltrexone does have a higher rate of overdose. A newer medication for heroin addiction is buprenorphine, which has been shown to have a lower rate of overdose and physical dependence and can be distributed in an office-based setting3. However, once these medications are used in the place of heroin, the individual is never fully recovered from their addiction. In order to successfully overcome the power of opiate addiction, treatments that encompass the whole person holistically should be sought. These treatments truly allow the individual to be free from addiction.

With our current โdetox' methods, failure occurs much more often than not and most people never make it to receive the type of treatment they need. This is because most of the individuals leaving detoxification centers are still drug affected, rendering them unable to make clear decisions about treatment programs and recovery options. In order to effectively combat this alarming and growing problem, alternative treatment methods must be explored. These should be used in conjunction with other therapies. Proper diet and nutrition consisting of vitamin C, amino acids, essential fatty acids, and sulfur proteins can have a very positive effect. Vitamin C is a very potent anti-oxidant and will help cleanse and destroy free radicals in the tissues. It also aids in intestinal motility, which is an important component of getting clean and sober. Amino acids, especially glutamine will stimulate the body's natural opiates and endorphins to help alleviate some cravings. Amino acids will also help to build healthy stores of neurotransmitters, depleted through drug use. Essential fatty acids such as flax oil in combination with foods containing sulfur proteins (cysteine or methionine) such as yogurt, eggs, codfish, sesame paste, garlic, and onions will allow fat soluble toxins to become water soluble for excretion through sweat and urine. In order to facilitate and expedite excretion of toxic substance perspiration must be enhanced. This should be done through rigorous exercise and steam therapy, such as a Turkish wet steam, a sauna, or a hot whirlpool bath, also through outdoor activity like beach outings. Following heavy perspiration, the individual should clean themselves with a high-fat soap to remove toxins excreted on the surface of the skin and prevent their reabsorption. A deep-tissue and lymphatic massage should also be given once per week to ease tension, and detoxify the muscle fibers.

Another area to consider when approaching detoxification from heroin is the colon. The colon is a major part of the excretory system, and is responsible for eliminating food and other body wastes, as well as protecting us from infection and disease. In a normal functioning colon, all this is achieved with the help of billions of friendly bacteria which inhabit the colon and make up some 70% of the dry weight of our fecal waste. However, the delicate balance of this internal ecosystem can very easily be disturbed by a number of factors including stress, pollution, poor food and drink choices, certain drugs, smoking and exposure to toxic substances. Receiving a colonic will remove the wastes built up in the lower intestine and will definitely aid in its ability to absorb proper nutrients as it will no longer be clogged with toxins.

One such complementary modality that is quite popular for a variety of functions is acupuncture therapy. Acupuncture is most widely used for its pain relieving properties through sensory stimulation1. More recently, acupuncture has been shown to successfully treat depression4,6. The relief acupuncture causes works through local tissue healing effect and central anti-stress mechanisms1. Acupuncture detoxification therapy uses the application of acupuncture needles to the ear, also called auricular acupuncture. These points target different bodily functions and organs. The effects witnessed on the individual include relaxation, decreased anxiety and restlessness, reduced perspiration, intestinal cramps, watery eyes, and sneezing. It also aids in the excretion of toxic substances for a speedier recovery2,11. Acupuncture for addicted individuals supports a positive mood, relieves stress, and aids in craving control. This therapy also appears to assist in the healing process of the mind based on the client's affect. In Oregon, heroin addicts MUST try acupuncture before getting methadone7. Heroin addicts typically have lowered energy stores and they use heroin to feel more alive. Acupuncture will restore the energy balance, thereby reducing cravings for heroin.

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Panel on Acupuncture reviewed the scientific literature and concluded that acupuncture for addiction "may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management programโ. Overall, acupuncture has been shown to increase substance abuse treatment adherence, reduce recidivism, and stabilize mood.

Substance detoxification of the addicted individual is paramount for the holistic healing process to occur. Some of the most difficult substances to overcome include opiates and amphetamines. One such holistic treatment that has worked wonders with withdrawal and craving symptoms is ibogaine treatment. Ibogaine is taken from the shrub, Tabernanthe iboga, and native to West Africa10,12. Ibogaine has been shown especially effective for opiate detoxification and for short-term stabilization of addicted individuals preparing to enter substance abuse treatment8. Its healing effects have been shown to significantly decrease craving for both heroin and cocaine along with a decrease in depressive symptoms9,10. Ibogaine appears to be a promising drug for the future. The results seem extremely promising for long term recovery and relapse prevention. Ibogaine leaves the individual feeling clear-headed with increased motivation and significant insight into the causes of their addiction. For most, ibogaine does not serve as the proverbial โmagic bullet,โ however this treatment is definitely above current detoxification methods, where individuals leave shrouded in their addiction while remaining hopeless of a future free from the clutches of drugs.

In the fight against heroin addiction, all angles of treatment should be recognized. While there are a number of medications that will treat certain symptoms of heroin addiction, often times the individual is then dependent upon that substance to prevent heroin use, and many times those treatments themselves may cause overdose and death. New research into the world of holistic therapy and drug treatment continues to see positive results without relying on potentially dangerous drugs. Holistic treatment views the person as an individual, not an illness. It does more than just relieve symptoms; it allows for a new, healthier, happier life free from drug addiction.

More information can be found at http://www.drugrehabcenter.com, http://www.drug-alcohol-rehab.net and http://www.helpaddicts.com.

Drug Rehab Centers

2009-10-22T10:11:00.001-07:00

A drug rehab center is a beacon of hope for persons suffering from the curable disease of drug addiction. There are over 11,000 such locations and programs in the United States and a quick internet search will reveal one in the local area.
The variety and spectrum of rehab programs matches the physical diversity of drug addiction. There are simple group counseling programs that are free of cost. There are the celebrity driven residential treatment programs which are often quoted in the media. The vast majority of programs focus on treatment of physical and psychological aspects of addiction. The typical rehab center is in an urban area with outpatient facilities. Patients can get advice, medical referral and treatment as well as replacement opiates such as methadone in programs like methadone maintenance programs.
Insurance often covers many of these services but many are charitable organizations and depend on donations and sliding scale payment options. The rehab center is sometimes a focal point for the social reintegration of the individual and has counseling, vocational training and above all a means for further rehabilitation after the acute medical detoxification process is completed.
Many programs have a dual diagnosis focus where depression, other mental health issues and medical issues such as HIV/AIDS are also addressed. Special populations such as the adolescent addict and prison populations need special approaches. Other programs inculcate particular religious philosophy such as Christian drug rehab programs. Many treatment centers run outreach programs that are unique. For example there is one program that has a special van that goes around the city picking up homeless alcohol addicted persons who are intoxicated.
Other programs also involve continuity with 12 step approaches as an extension of an inpatient treatment for 3-6 weeks. Therapeutic communities are useful for persons with a long history of drug dependence and those with serious criminal histories.
Drug Rehab provides detailed information on Drug Rehab, Drug Rehab Programs, Drug Rehab Centers, Drug And Alcohol Rehab and more. Drug Rehab is affiliated with Drug Detox Rehab.

Drug Rehab

2009-10-20T10:03:00.005-07:00

Drug abuse or substance abuse is a widespread issue. Although popular culture has created certain stereotypes for the drug abuser, all are susceptible to drug addiction. The intensity of addiction, the type of substance abused and the effects may vary based on the genetic makeup of the individual among other environmental factors. It is heartening to note that drug addiction is treatable. This treatment process is also called drug rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation aims to integrate the person back into society to become a productive member. The process may involve avoiding the drug, learning new stress management skills, other behavioral treatments but often involves the use of specific medications. Another prominent component of drug rehabilitation programs is the use of a physical location with a controlled environment where the patient is taught life skills while undergoing treatment. Treatment centers can be private or government operated.
Popular celebrities often make the news when they go into treatment but there were over 1.7 million admissions to treatment centers in 2003 of which 23% are for alcohol abuse, 15% for marijuana and 14% for heroin. The largest age group entering drug rehab programs is 36 to 40 years old but all age groups have needed treatment. It is a fact that half of US teenagers try marijuana before finishing high school. It can affect school performance and sports adversely. Long term use can lead to addiction. There are a few treatment programs geared specifically for marijuana users. Rehab involves counseling and group therapy. The ultimate goal of teen drug rehab programs is to allow the teenager to be abstinent from drugs. They help the person become productive and overcome the health effects of the drug as well as the withdrawal symptoms.
Other drug rehabilitation programs are geared for specific drugs. For example methadone maintenance programs distribute a synthetic opiate, methadone to prevent the physiological effects of craving while avoiding euphoria in patients who have heroin addiction.
Some other programs are drug free and focus on counseling and regular clinic visits.
Drug Rehab provides detailed information on Drug Rehab, Drug Rehab Programs, Drug Rehab Centers, Drug And Alcohol Rehab and more. Drug Rehab is affiliated with Drug Detox Rehab.

Suboxone Treatments Provide A Solution To Oxycontin Addictions

2009-10-20T10:03:00.003-07:00

OxyContin is legal when prescribed by a doctor, but thousands of unsuspecting patients find out every year that it rivals heroin and fellow opiates in addictive power. Abuse of OxyContin as a recreational drug has reached epidemic heights, no doubt fueled by availability and reputation. These people also discover that OxyContin can be abused with ease but quit only at great difficulty. Withdrawal effects, physical cravings, and disorientation are real risks, especially in the first few days, and the recovering addict needs more than just will power.

He probably needs buprenorphine hydrochloride, marketed in the U.S.A. as Suboxone. It's an opiate, like OxyContin and Vicodin, but it's also a partial opioid agonist, which means that it can both activate and block the opioid receptors in the brain. Basically, the receptors promote panic and withdrawal when the OxyContin runs out, but Suboxone acts to placate those receptors while not triggering pleasure and reward centers. In this regard, it's not unlike Methadone as used to heroin addicts, but Suboxone can be used for a shorter time with greater effect. Until the last few years, a hospital or clinic stay was necessary for opiate detox, usually followed by a month or two in drug rehab. Today the patient can complete a Suboxone program from the doctor's office on outpatient status.

Suboxone also contains an opioid antagonist called naloxone, which produces instant withdrawal symptoms if someone dissolves the tablet and attempts to inject it. Naxolone is essential to keep the Suboxone from being abused and accomplishing its necessary purpose: to ease the client through drug detox as an outpatient. At the right dosage, Suboxone can accomplish the five most important steps to OxyContin rehab:

1. Suppress symptoms of withdrawal
2. Block the euphoric effects of OxyContin and other opiates
3. Decrease cravings for opiates
4. End illicit use of OxyContin
5. Make sure the patient stays in treatment

Of course the follow-up treatment should involve a variety of programs, including family counseling, behavioral modification, good nutrition and physical fitness, and individual counseling. If the underlying pain is still a problem, it can be addressed without opiates, using such therapies as hypnotism, deep tissue massage, acupressure, and meditation. A drug treatment center would be able to offer all of these options, unless they're exclusively for in-house residents. Even a brief search of the web will turn up plenty of specialists who conduct OxyContin rehab on an outpatient basis.

If this sounds like going to the family doctor, it's not. Even if the client isn't going to be sequestered in a clinic for several weeks away from family, friends, and co-workers, they will need all the support they can get. Love is the most important ingredient. As an outpatient, the client has a good chance of conducting his OxyContin treatment in private, but the doctor will insist upon him having a loving support network. Although it's tempting to avoid family and friends, this is not the time to do so. The recovering addict will be amazed how much sympathy she'll get and how many others have been in similar circumstances.

A recovering OxyContin abuser needs help physically, mentally, and emotionally, but they don't need recriminations and blame. The past is the past, unless it comes back to haunt them in the form of bad company they should avoid. This is where a full-featured rehab program is so essential, in breaking all the bad associations and habits that enabled the problem. Suboxone has been called a wonder drug for heroin detox, but it's only as good the behavior modifications and self-exploration that go along with it. It's a blessing that the patient doesn't have to be separated from family and familiar surroundings, but a responsibility accompanies that trust.

Prescription drug addiction is often difficult to confront, because the addict may feel entitled to the medicine by reason of a previous physical condition. But the labels clearly visible on every bottle of pills spell out the dangers in detail. Addiction is a side effect, often cause by prolonged use. No one would feel guilty if he suffered internal bleeding, liver problems, sexual dysfunction, or any number of serious side effects of prescription drugs, and neither should the recovering addict. She simply needs treatment.

The process may take months, although the recovery rate is high for motivated OxyContin users, most of whom never thought they would have a drug problem. Suboxone works wonders during the detox phase, but its long-lasting appeal is in step number five listed above: Make sure the patient stays in treatment.

Suboxone Treatments Provide A Solution To Oxycontin Addictions

2009-10-20T10:03:00.001-07:00

Drug Rehab Programs

2009-10-19T10:03:00.005-07:00

Drug rehab programs are geared toward the rehabilitation of persons who are trying to overcome their addiction. There are many types of rehab programs. Some of them are of short duration and some can be residential and others are long term such as marijuana replacement programs.
Rehabilitation depends on participation for a sustained period of time. The rehab programs are designed to address the physical aspects of drug addiction and the psychological aspects of integrating back into society. Some programs are residential especially for persons with serious drug addiction and may be covered by private or public insurance to some extent. There are also chemical dependency units where there is about a 3-6 week period of inpatient care where withdrawal from drugs is done in a medically safe fashion. It has been shown that plain replacement of opiate craving with methadone, while helpful is not as effective as a more comprehensive program with counseling and medical care.
Other programs also address co-morbid conditions like HIV/AIDS since drug addiction does not occur in isolation. There have been excellent prison rehab programs which have decreased the re-arrest rate by 25-50%. Methadone maintenance programs work best if the dose of methadone is at least 60 mg or so as a general approximation but the role of comprehensive care cannot be overemphasized. Relapse is a natural part of the curable disease that drug addiction tends to be.
All treatment programs should aim to budget this into their plans. Commitment by the staff will go a long way in creating trust and faith in the program since most people who are suffering from substance abuse issues will need reeducation in normal social interaction. There is a need for programs geared towards younger individuals since they have many competing challenges such as teenage physiological changes, peer pressure, juvenile delinquency and lack of support at home.
Drug Rehab provides detailed information on Drug Rehab, Drug Rehab Programs, Drug Rehab Centers, Drug And Alcohol Rehab and more. Drug Rehab is affiliated with Drug Detox Rehab.

Drug and Alcohol Rehab

2009-10-19T10:03:00.003-07:00

Rehabilitation from drug addiction is a complex process. It involves commitment from the individual addict to abstain from further drug use. The physical dependence on the drug needs to be overcome through medical intervention. Medical supervision is essential to safely detoxify an addicted individual. Safety is an issue since sudden withdrawal of a drug will lead to very profound physiological changes that can be very uncomfortable and can sometimes be life threatening. The range of drugs abused is wide but general principles apply to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
After the medical detoxification process, which is often in an inpatient setting, a program to continue the rehab process as an outpatient is essential. Sometimes replacement drugs are needed such as methadone maintenance programs where patients are given methadone to replace the heroin that is abused. The methadone helps prevent the euphoria and at the same time decreases the craving that is central to addiction. A typical dose that may work is 30-60 milligrams of methadone daily but this is variable and depends on the intensity of addiction among other factors. Alcohol rehab often involves an acute hospital based detoxification where a thorough medical assessment is done and then drugs belonging to the class called benzodiazepines are given to prevent withdrawal. Medical issues are often the main reason an addict enters a treatment entry point.
After this acute phase an outpatient 12 step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous is critical to maintain abstinence. Many patients who are addicted to drugs have co-morbid psychiatric conditions like depression that need to be addressed. Others have HIV/AIDS, which also need to be managed if a lasting solution is needed. Many rehab programs are covered by insurance and charity. They also have social workers who will help with the practical aspects of getting back to a productive life.
Above all, the commitment of the individuals working in the program helps sustain and develop faith and trust in the system since addicts are often marginalized members of society.
Drug Rehab provides detailed information on Drug Rehab, Drug Rehab Programs, Drug Rehab Centers, Drug And Alcohol Rehab and more. Drug Rehab is affiliated with Drug Detox Rehab.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Marlborough

Rehab and Personal Injury

2009-10-19T10:03:00.001-07:00

Every year thousands of people across the country check in to treatment centers for problems with alcohol or drug addiction. If they are run well, these centers can help people cope with the initial stages of withdrawal and rebuild their lives. Unfortunately patient injuries at these clinics are not unheard of. Some of the risks lie in the symptoms of physical withdrawal, while others stem from controversial or improperly supervised treatment for these symptoms.

The initial symptoms patients face can vary widely depending on the substances they abuse, the duration of their addictions, the amount of the substances they used each time, and the individual physiology of each person. Some patients never experience physical symptoms, while others may actually die from them, especially in the case of alcohol addiction.

The most symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include tremors, visual hallucinations, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and nausea. In extreme cases people may experience irregular heartbeats, seizures, and even coma or death. Trying to quit opiates or related drugs such as morphine or heroin can lead to tremors, nausea, muscle pain, anxiety, and a widespread painful itching. Although these symptoms are severely unpleasant, they are very rarely fatal.

The purpose of hospitalization is to monitor patients while they go through the rough period for two main reasons: to make sure they do not return to their drug of choice, and to protect their health during such a hazardous period. Sometimes drugs are administered to ease the problems listed. Alcoholics may be given barbiturates or benzodiazepines along with vitamins their bodies greatly need. Opiate addicts are most commonly treated with a milder painkiller known as methadone, but they may also be treated with benzodiazepines. No matter how or what the patient is being treated for, it is vital for hospital staff to keep their nutrition and hydration at acceptable levels.

One controversial form of treatment is known as the Waismann Method. This procedure entails placing a patient under sedation and clearing toxic substances out of their systems. While its proponents have reported many successes, it can also be a very dangerous procedure. Currently it is only legal in Isreal, where it was developed, and Orange County CA.

While millions of people have been helped at treatment centers, an alarming number have been injured or even killed. Causes of these injuries include poor monitoring of patients' health, improper administration of drugs, and the use of unsafe procedures. Fortunately victims of these errors do have the option of legal recourse.

For more information, contact Chicago hospital negligence lawyers Friedman & Bonebrake.

Joseph Devine

Prescription Drug Addiction Statistics Put Xanax In Fourth Place In Florida Overdoses

2009-10-18T19:54:00.003-07:00

Although Xanax isn't all over the news like OxyContin, 456 Floridians overdosed on Xanax in 2006, according to a report from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission. Xanax, also known as Alprazolam, is prescribed for anxiety. It affects the brain and central nervous system. Drowsiness, coordination difficulties and dizziness are the most common side effects, although there is a host of others - more serious. Xanax overdose statistics are just behind those of OxyContin, giving us even more reason to take prescription drug addiction and abuse seriously.

In addition to the common side effects listed above, Xanax can cause vision difficulties, seizures, mental confusion, depression, irritability, nervousness, sleep problems, stupor, nausea, muscle spasms, palpitations, tachycardia, incontinence, rashes, and unstable blood sugar levels. And that's the short list.

Why in the world anyone would want to take this drug to relieve anxiety is beyond me - just knowing the potential side effects is enough to bring on a panic attack. And to make matters worse, you could become one of the prescription drug addiction statistics we're all hearing about in the news.

Nevertheless, Xanax is the fifth-most commonly prescribed drug in America, according IMS Health. In the last five years, the number of prescriptions filled has gone from 29.9 million to 37.5 million. And in Florida, it's number four on the overdose list - the top three being cocaine, methadone and oxycodone-type drugs such as OxyContin.

Despite the increase in Xanax prescriptions, it's not because anxiety levels have increased says Dr. Bruce Goldberger, a toxicologist and director of forensic medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine, "People aren't any more anxious. But patients are being prescribed more and more medication in the past decade."

Recent news articles have focused on Xanax and DUI. The Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiners Office reported that Xanax was found in 177 drivers suspected of driving under the influence. And that's just in Pinellas County. Nine years ago, there were only four such incidents. The reason, say the experts, is that doctors just weren't writing as many prescriptions back then.

If you want to do something about prescription drug addiction and abuse in your family or among your friends, contact a medical drug detox center and get help. If enough people do that, maybe next year the death toll will be lower.

Detoxification From Addictive Substances

2009-10-18T19:54:00.001-07:00

Detoxification (“detox”), or withdrawal, is the period of time it takes your body to adjust to being without a substance which it used to have regularly. During this time period a previous bodily “homeostasis” is restored, one based on not using the substance or substances. This restored homeostasis is similar to the one you had before you started using the substances regularly.

Homeostasis refers to the body’s maintenance, by an ongoing balancing act, of a stable internal condition. If you go scuba diving to a depth of 100 feet, your body adjusts to having that much additional weight pressing upon it. We could say that the body is pressing back as much as the weight of the water is pressing in, thereby allowing the body to maintain its internal functioning. If you come to the surface too quickly, however, your body cannot re-adjust fast enough. You get “the bends” (decompression sickness). Proper scuba diving therefore involves coming to the surface slowly enough that you do not get sick. The time taken to come to the surface corresponds to the time it takes for detoxification from addictive substances.

Detoxification can also refer to the removal of toxic substances from the body. To the extent addictive substances are toxic this definition also applies. In addiction, however, the primary meaning of detoxification is the readjustment of the body’s homeostasis.

Some classes of substances create more concern about detoxification than others. Stimulants (cocaine, methamphetamine, Ritalin, nicotine, caffeine, etc) do not need medical supervision for withdrawal. The withdrawal syndrome can be uncomfortable (much like having the flu) but is not potentially fatal. Hallucinogens and marijuana may have no withdrawal symptoms or only minor ones. Therefore, with any of these substances, one can stop use completely at any time. Tapering off is not needed. For substances not listed here it would be wise to seek medical consultation if you are using them on a daily basis. If you use a substance intermittently, with days between uses, then you already know what it feels like when you take off a few days.

The two primary classes of substances for which detoxification is a concern are depressants—as in central nervous system depressants (including alcohol, benzodiazepines such as Valium, sedatives, tranquilizers, and some sleep aids)—and opiates/opioids (including heroin, methadone, opium, Vicodin, and Suboxone). Detox takes 3 to 10 days typically, depending on the substance and your history with it, your overall health, your age, and other factors. Detox is often accomplished in a hospital ward devoted to detox only. People get medical detox for two reasons: 1) prescribed medications can make the process easier, and 2) simply going “cold turkey” (stopping your addictive substance suddenly) can make you very sick or even kill you. Therefore, even if you do not wish to have treatment for the addictive behavior itself, it is safest to seek medical attention for the detox process.

Tapering off your substance, perhaps over several weeks, is a reasonable approach from a medical perspective, but is often a poor approach in practice. If you have the ability to taper off, you might not have become physically dependent in the first place! Tapering off has more chance of working if your dependence on the drug is primarily physical not psychological. This condition might have arisen, for instance, if you were taking a pain medication for a long time, but never developed a psychological dependence on it.

A. Tom Horvath, Ph.D., ABPP, is a board certified clinical psychologist and president of Practical Recovery (addiction treatment), an addiction treatment facility in La Jolla (San Diego), CA, focusing on collaborative care and self-empowerment.

Helping a Heroin Addict - Choices For Opiate Addiction

2009-10-18T10:27:00.005-07:00

For heroin addiction help in England people first turn to the NHS National Health System. Opiate addicts and family usually go to see their GP. The system is flawed as the impetus is on sending the heroin addict to the methadone clinic. What we end up with is a bunch of zombie like drug addicts who continue to be a burden on society and on the social network. The drug addict still enslaved. Private residential rehabilitation is the other option.

Choices for Opiate Addiction in the UK

For the heroin addict what they really want is to be free of drug addiction. Like the day you were born, free of the physical and mental desire for drugs. To me the following are not really choices but they are yours under the NHS.

Under the current system the GP can offer you a legal substitute called Naltrexone which acts as a blockade for the high if the addict was then to use an opiate such as heroin. The idea being that if you cannot experience the high, then you won't use. I don't buy this concept as the person is still stuck to pills, the reasons for his drug use were never addressed, it does not fix cravings.

Will You Choose Methadone? More difficult to withdraw from than heroin, methadone unfortunately seems to be the cheap solution most commonly offered by the medical system to the heroin addict. 1.8 million methadone prescriptions are given each year in the UK. This is a highly addictive drug and not a solution if you want to live a drug and addiction free life. If a drug is this addictive wherein the withdrawal is more crippling than that of heroin why would anyone see this as a solution. At the end of the day, the reasons a person began using mind altering drugs in the first place are not resolved. You still have a messed up individual barely getting by in life taking a bad drug that will eventually kill him.

Another prescription drug is Buprenorphine. Joining the type of drugs that street drug dealers come to profit from. To most addicts aka Subutex, Subuxone just becomes another dependency and I hear of drug addicts taking it along with their heroin, crack cocaine, ecstacy and speed.

what's left? Private Residential Rehab, including full physical detox to eliminate cravings and full life rehabilitation so the person feels like a capable member of society again. This is the only life-long solution.

Freedom from Heroin Addiction in the UK - here is someone's story "I was a heroin addict for over 10 years, until I went to NN. Nothing in my life had gone the way I wanted it to, I had no control or self-respect and I had succumbed to the effects of drugs. It took its toll on every single aspect of my life until I actually thought the only way to beat my addiction was to kill myself. So I tried and every time I put a needle in my arm I was truly wishing I would not wake up after. I came to the program in one hell of a mess. I was always a person who gave up on everything I had done but this time I was determined that I would complete the program and stay drug-free for the rest of my life. The program itself is so amazing! It gave me the frame of mind and control I had craved for so many years. I had tried other various treatment programs in the past and nothing had worked for me like this program. Every single aspect of my life is now in place for me. Everything I had ever wanted is coming to me. I'm confident, controlled and for the first time in 27 years I am actually happy. MM"

Do you want to learn more about the causes of addiction and how end it?

Go to: http://www.detox-narconon.org

Paula Dewar is a professional rehab consultant and refers clients to Drug-free Detox and Rehab Programs which End Addiction for Life. Paula speaks English and Portuguese.

PS: To subscribe to our free newsletter giving our Latest Discoveries go to: http://www.detox-narconon.org/family-training/subscribe.php

Prescription Drug Addiction Follows Availability and Effect, Not Safety

2009-10-18T10:27:00.003-07:00

The majority of people checking into drug treatment clinics for prescription drug addiction or abuse may have abused a dozen or more different prescription drugs because they're part of a new culture that celebrates pill-popping as a way of life.

Using prescription drugs recreationally is common across America, from grade schools through high school, college and on into the work place. Even seniors, especially aging "baby boomers", are reaching for prescription drugs like never before to get high, instead of traditional street drugs like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. And if one prescription drug isn't available, almost any other one will do. Only marijuana is more commonly consumed than prescription drugs.

This trend has led to soaring rates of prescription drug addiction everywhere in the country. Opioid painkillers like OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, Lortab and many others, including the generic opioids oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone and morphine, are all dangerously addictive and have caused tens of thousands of cases of prescription drug addiction. Some of them, especially OxyContin and methadone, are killing more Americans than all illicit drugs on the street combined.

The recreational prescription drug culture has led to most cases of prescription drug addiction, but a large minority -- some think as much as 40% -- have become addicted after taking legitimate prescriptions exactly as a doctor ordered.

Some experts say that the soaring abuse rates derive from a perception that prescription drugs are safer than street drugs. Prescription drugs may be safer than street drugs in terms of purity -- street drugs are cut and contaminated with all sorts of unknown and potentially dangerous substances. But as anyone who suffers from a full-blown prescription drug addiction will attest, there is nothing safe about prescription drugs once you're either addicted or dead.

This safety concept about prescription drugs evaporates when you consider that prescription narcotics, antipsychotics, tranquilizers and a host of other drugs can get you hooked or killed just as easily and quickly as heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine.

Prescription drug addiction is based on the fact that prescription drugs can and do get people high. And prescription drugs are safer to obtain and are available absolutely everywhere -- there's no need to lurk in dark alleys or seedy parts of town to find them.

Prescription drugs are passed around among friends and relatives by the thousands every day. They are sitting out for the taking on kitchen counters, in medicine cabinets, and on bedside tables in almost every home in America.

Yes, many of those suffering from prescription drug addiction wind up supporting their habits by buying stolen prescription drugs from street dealers. But most get their fix by faking symptoms to get prescriptions from a doctor -- a lot safer than scoring heroin or cocaine from a street dealer.

Until the government, the medical profession, and especially the public, wake up to the fact that prescription drug addiction is a serious epidemic, the problems will continue.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people addicted to prescription drugs stream into treatment centers every day seeking help, and more and more are turning to more comprehensive medically-based detox clinics, rather than submitting themselves to the difficult, hit-and-miss one-size-fits-all drug detox modality so prevalent, and so ineffective.

These newly-developed protocols carefully consider each patient's unique metabolism and DNA, state of health, the type of drug or drugs used, and the extent of physical dependence. They provide selected assistive therapies where needed, and watchful 24/7 medical supervision is always present during the detox period. Called medical drug detox, this approach reduces or eliminates unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, and can greatly reduce the time required to complete the detox.

Rod MacTaggart is a freelance writer who contributes articles on health.

info@novusdetox.com

http://www.novusdetox.com

Alcohol Addicted Patients Should Be Treated With Special Care

2009-10-18T10:27:00.001-07:00

Drug or alcohol addiction is no doubt a curse in one's life. Such addiction not only spoils one's life, but also drastically affects the lives of victims' near-dear ones. With the progress of time, the victims gradually increase the consumption of drug or alcohol. That's why, if you or one of your dear ones is addicted to drugs, then without any second thought you need to look into your option as per as detox is concerned.

An effective drug detox program is an absolute necessity for all the drug addiction affected people. In the present times finding out drug withdrawal information and the drug detox programs is not at all a tough job. A wide range of information about the detox process and the treatment center is available over the internet. But, before attending a program you need to properly verify the authenticity of the program.

But, before you go for drug a detox program, one thing you need to keep in mind. First of all, a drug addict needs to determine that they are not going to take drug anymore, if the person becomes successful to keep his determination then there is no need to go for detoxification. But, if the victim can't stop himself to take drug and becomes practically unable to control himself then he should be treated by a professional.

Remember; don't do any delay to go for drug detox programs, when you will recognize there is need to do so. Because, early treatment can only cure a patient in hassles-free way, on the other hand, late treatment can cause difficulty in the detoxification process.

For more information regarding Alcohol Detox Programs, Methadone Detox Programs, Alcohol Detox Symptoms; please visit: 99detox.com

Treating Drug And Alcohol Addicted Patients Is No More A Daunting Task

2009-10-18T00:18:00.005-07:00

If the names of worldâ€™s most threatening aspects to the human civilization are short listed then the name of addiction would come on the top. It has been revealed that one out of five youths is engaged in any kind of addiction. People fall into addiction at early stage of their lives and eventually it becomes impossible to get rid of that. In those situations nothing but the addiction treatment programs would the perfect solutions. In the present times, with the growing number of addiction affected patients the need of the addiction treatment programs is increasing day by day. The most important aspect to achieve the utmost quality treatments is to choose the best treatment program. Those people who are completely addicted to drug are both physically and psychologically changed. They need to treated through the drug detox programs. In these programs the patients are treated both physically and mentally to give them complete relieve from the curse of addiction. Like these programs, several health care institutes also offer alcohol detox programs and methadone detox programs to heal the alcohol addicted people. Now the question may be coming to your mind that how to find these treatment programs. Donâ€™t worry, because all the necessary information to the addictions and addiction treatment programs are easily available over the Internet. From there you will get a comprehensive range of information, like drug withdrawal information, health care center information and so on. You will also find valuable tips about how to handle a patient and what should not be done.

For more information regarding Drug Detox Programs, Methadone Detox Programs, Drug Withdrawal Information please visit: www.99detox.com

Is Methadone Treatment Obsolete?

2009-10-18T00:18:00.003-07:00

For opiate addicts, such as those addicted to heroin, opium or synthetic opiates such as hydrocodone, methadone has allowed them to cease use of the addictive substance without painful withdrawal symptoms while they are in rehab. Once a person in rehab has been on methadone for awhile, treatment protocols vary. Some rehabs taper a person off methadone and some will keep a person on maintenance treatment, meaning that the person may be on methadone for the rest of their lives.

In recent years, some opiate addiction rehabs are campaigning for a change in methadone treatment guidelines, stating that this indefinite maintenance with methadone is the best idea. One study from 2000 found that 80% of those who quit methadone treatment relapse within three years. Some practitioners may consider this a reason to keep opiate addicts on methadone indefinitely but some see a different logic.

â€œIf a personâ€™s only choice is addiction to an opiate or taking methadone prescribed by a doctor, then methadone might be a logical form of treatment,â€ stated Derry Hallmark, Director of Admissions and a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor at Narconon Arrowhead. Narconon is one of the countryâ€™s leading drug and alcohol rehab centers, located in Canadian, Oklahoma. â€œWhat many people donâ€™t know is that they have the choice of the tolerable withdrawal process that is offered at the Narconon Arrowhead rehab.â€ At Narconon, the withdrawal phase of rehab is followed by a precise, proven method of detoxification that for many, results in greatly lowered or even eliminated cravings.

Mr. Hallmark went on to read from the statements of people who had used the Narconon program to overcome addiction. â€œOne person who recently went through the withdrawal step had this to say when he was done: â€˜I have withdrawn from heroin many times. I would definitely say that I had the quickest and easiest detox ever here at Narconon. I feel extremely good considering it has been less than a week since I last used drugs.â€™ And a person who completed our detoxification stated, â€œI will not and do not crave the drugs that controlled me for two years. My life and future are up to me now.â€™ These people did not require methadone or other drugs as part of their rehab to help them overcome their opiate addiction. What they did was learn to live a live completely free from drugs. Seven out of ten of our graduates maintain a drug-free life after graduation, using this program.â€

To get more information on this subject, visit Is Methadone Obsolete? For a free addiction assessment and referral to addiction treatment anywhere in the country, visit www.stopaddiction.com.

If you know anyone who needs help to overcome a drug addiction, please contact

Narconon Arrowhead

Drug Detox Rehab

2009-10-18T00:18:00.001-07:00

People suffering from addiction need medical and therapeutic interventions. Though most of the people think they can get off the habit by themselves, drug addiction rehabilitation requires professional help.
The first step in drug rehabilitation comes with detoxification. This is the process of cleaning the body off toxins left by drug abuse. And for most patients, it is the most difficult phase of treatment.
Detoxification causes painful symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and uncontrollable shaking. The body in this phase is craving for the substance and is reacting to its absence.
Detox Rehabilitation
Dealing with addiction needs to be immediate. The abrupt withdrawal from drugs can cause sweats, cramping, and constipation, with extreme cases resulting in possible seizures and delirium. With long-term drug abuse, detoxification can be dangerous without proper medical supervision.
A patient who wants to be rid of his addiction must choose the right detox center and program. For quality services, a center must be able to provide a controlled setting where proper medical intervention can be administered. And it must be capable of crafting programs that will help the patient sustain his recovery even after his release from the facility. The center must also adhere to principles that preserve the dignity of patients under their care.
Detox Procedures
Centers differ from each other in terms of the programs they offer. Some offer rapid detoxification. Others require long-term processes.
Rapid detoxification is a medical procedure that puts a patient under general anesthesia. A doctor purges the toxins from the body by administering other drugs. Immediately, the patient undergoes withdrawal. The anesthesia prevents the patient from suffering the symptoms. This procedure contracts the withdrawal period from six days to six hours. This procedure is generally done to deal with heroin, oxycontin, methadone, codeine addictions. As the patient recovers, craving for the addictive drug diminishes.
But while results are immediate, studies show that a patient still needs to undergo continued therapy and counseling. Without follow through support, it is easy for patients to go back to old habits.
Drug Detox provides detailed information on Drug Detox, Drug Detox Centers, Drug Detox Rehab, Drug Detox At Home and more. Drug Detox is affiliated with Drug Rehab Centers.

Don't Get Caught Up in Methadone Addiction

2009-10-17T09:47:00.003-07:00

In some medical situations, a doctor or physician might order Methadone for a patient who is experiencing chronic pain or illness. Normally, Methadone is not generally prescribed for moderate or weak levels of pain because there are other, much safer medications that can be used such as Hydrocodone. But in some rare cases a doctor will prescribe Methadone when the pain is severe and it keeps popping back up, even when the patient is using a painkiller. Methadone lasts a long time in the body and therefore is a good choice when the pain is severe and keeps breaking through other medications that have been tried.This "sticky factor" is a huge part of what makes Methadone so addictive. It is very, very difficult to stop taking Methadone once you are on it. The problem is that the drug is so sticky that it tends to cling to your opiate receptors in your brain for much longer than other opiate painkillers would. This makes for an agonizing and slow withdrawal process.Keep in mind that treating chronic pain with an opiate is a bit like trying to use alcohol as an anesthetic for surgery. Consider this analogy for a while and you will start to see how painkillers are working in our brain in order to try and treat physical pain. What is actually occurring is that the actual site of the pain is not being treated at all, but instead the opiate drugs are fogging the physical brain so much that the person simply stops being concerned with any pain that their body might be in at the time. Getting to this point when a person is in intense pain means that you have to seriously medicate them to the point of being practically oblivious. Imagine using enough alcohol with a patient to properly prepare them for surgery and you have an idea of just how "out of it" a person can be on Methadone.People think that Heroin is the worse opiate drug in the world and they think it is the most addictive. In some ways this might actually be the case. But if you look at the severity of cold turkey withdrawal, Methadone is actually worse than Heroin. When coming off of Heroin, anyone can go to a treatment center or drug rehab, stop using the drug immediately, and have medications administered that can control most of the detox symptoms. With Methadone, if people are taking a high enough amount of the drug, then this is really not even possible. The only way to avoid an intense and miserable withdrawal is to slowly ween the addict down in their dosage over time so that they are only taking a minimal amount of Methadone. This is not easy for some addicts to do in itself, especially if they have chronic pain issues that they are dealing with also. In fact, it can be very difficult to get off Methadone, even with this slow weening down process in a person with no chronic pain.

Would you like to learn more about Methadone addiction? Visit
http://www.spiritualriver.com/

Why You Should Avoid Methadone Addiction

2009-10-17T09:47:00.001-07:00

In some cases, unsuspecting people who are not really using illegal drugs at all can be put on Methadone by their physician. This can occur due to illness, injury, or pain issues. Many times this happens when the pain is severe and other drugs are not working on it. This can also happen when other painkillers wear off too quickly and the pain always returns in full force. It is situations like these that might have a medical professional order Methadone for pain, because it tends to last for a long time compared with other medications.

This "sticky factor" is a huge part of what makes Methadone so addictive. It is really, really hard to get off Methadone once you are hooked on it. The problem is that the drug is so sticky that it tends to cling to your opiate receptors in your brain for much longer than other opiate painkillers would. This creates a very uncomfortable and very long detox process.

Keep in mind that treating chronic pain with an opiate is a bit like trying to use alcohol as an anesthetic for surgery. Consider this analogy for a while and you will start to see how painkillers are working in our brain in order to try and treat physical pain. What is really happening is that they are not treating the source of pain at all in our physical body, but instead the chemical is literally doping the brain so much that eventually the mind refuses to care about the intense pain signals that are repeatedly being sent to the brain. Getting to this point when a person is in intense pain means that you have to seriously medicate them to the point of being practically oblivious. Imagine using enough alcohol with a patient to properly prepare them for surgery and you have an idea of just how "out of it" a person can be on Methadone.

Most people believe that Heroin is the most addictive opiate that exists. By some measures this might actually be true. But if you look at the severity of cold turkey withdrawal, Methadone is actually worse than Heroin. When detoxing from Heroin, it is actually possible to stop abruptly and medicate most or all of the withdrawal symptoms in a medical setting. With Methadone, if people are taking a high enough amount of the drug, then this is really not even possible. The only way to avoid an intense and miserable withdrawal is to slowly ween the addict down in their dosage over time so that they are only taking a minimal amount of Methadone. This is not easy for some addicts to do in itself, especially if they have chronic pain issues that they are dealing with also. In fact, it can be very difficult to get off Methadone, even with this slow weening down process in a person with no chronic pain.

Let me invite you to learn more about Methadone addiction. Visit
http://www.spiritualriver.com/

Opiate Addiction and Detox Programs

2009-10-17T09:46:00.001-07:00

Methadone addiction can be very difficult to deal with because the drug is so sticky and hard to detox from. In fact it is much harder to detox from Methadone than it is to detox from heroin and so it is almost like the cure is worse than the disease in many cases. If you are on Methadone and are trying to get off then really you only have one way to do so that will go anywhere near smooth for you.

What you need to do is to slowly ween yourself down from the Methadone in 10 milligram increments. The slower the better. Take your time and keep steadily reducing the dose. If you can get it down to about 30 milligrams per day or less then you should try to finish your detox in a drug rehab center. There they can give you other medication that will help you to be fully detoxed from the drug and become entirely drug free.

Many people who were on Methadone as a maintenance drug are switching over to Suboxone because it does not really get you high and give you the same doping effect that Methadone does. If you are hooked on Methadone and you still feel that you need something long term for either pain or for opiate dependence then you should look into the possibility of switching over to Suboxone. Talk to your doctor about it and look into the cost of doing so. Unfortunately it is usually more expensive to do so but it is a much better option in terms of the side effects and the dependency issue.

Learn more about Methadone addiction and a drug detox program.

Methadone Treatment, Addiction and Detox

2009-10-17T00:16:00.005-07:00

Most people associate methadone with opioid treatment, to help addicts get off heroin, for example, and ease them into recovery, free of any drugs or pharmacological intervention. By design it works, but as with anything, there are times when the use of the drug is abused.

For starters, methadone is a synthetic opioid, and beyond drug addiction treatment, methadone is used as an analgesic for treatment of various pain conditions. It is a powerful pain killer, used as a substitute for morphine, and it is less expensive. When methadone is prescribed, there is careful monitoring of the dosage and frequency of use, so patients are closely watched.

Why methadone for opioid addiction treatment? Patients are placed on a methadone program to help with the withdrawal symptoms from addiction to opiate drugs, such as heroin. Those suffering from the disease will explain that the withdrawal is worse than the actual addiction, so many avoid treatment for fear that the withdrawal will be too severe. Also, when off their opiate drug of choice, addicts have to deal with the intense cravings that go along with abstinence.

Therefore, methadone, used under very controlled circumstances, is a tool to help addicts come down off the drugs without severe consequences. Understand that methadone is classified as a schedule II of the Controlled Substance Act, so even though it is used as a tool for treatment, it is still a powerful drug and can easily be abused. When used as an analgesic, physicians must have Drug Enforcement Agency registration. You can see that there are serious controls on methadone, and getting a prescription is not easy.

The physicians who are authorized to prescribe methadone have made an application to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the FDA, along with the Department of Health and Social Services, decide the dosage and the cases where methadone may be used. Clinics that use it have extra state and federal licenses. Moreover, because there are so many controls, there are only about 700 methadone clinics in the country, and some states do not have any methadone clinics at all. Addicts do not have an easy path to methadone treatment, and even if they do have access, the regimen itself is highly controlled and many addicts have difficulty following the plan.

Methadone can be taken by injection, or by mouth. When administered for the control of opioid withdrawal, methadone doses are slowly increased over five to seven days, but this is not always the case. It depends on how the patient responds to the treatment. For example, if the patient has a high tolerance to opioids, then the dosage will be higher, if necessary. Outpatients are encouraged to make frequent reports to medical staff during the early stages of treatment. This communication is vital to determining the proper dosage of the methadone. Each individual may need to have several adjustments before the right dosage is achieved.

Because methadone is a synthetic opioid, there are side effects which should be clearly understood. Patients can experience respiratory depression, which of course is a major concern for heroin users. Likewise, it is not uncommon for patients to have nausea, or to become confused. Patients also need to understand that methadone and alcohol do not mix, and the use of any other drug must be strictly by design and carefully considered.

There are alternatives to methadone treatment. For example, buprenorphine allows for an easier withdrawal. Remember, the patient has to withdraw from the heroin, and then be eased off the methadone. Buprenorphine is also different because if a person decides to abuse the drug for recreational purposes, they will be disappointed because they won't get high. They will, however, get the side effects. Opioid addiction in the last 10 years has also seen the advent of suboxone treatment, but like methadone, suboxone, a synthetic opioid, can be abused.

The important thing to remember about methadone detox is that the drug is used to help a person avoid the discomfort of withdrawal. It is a serious drug and carries serious consequences when abused. Persons seeking methadone treatment need to understand that the strict controls and the heavy oversight of their program are needed to ensure that the treatment is effective.

Ned Wicker is the Addictions Recovery Chaplain at Waukesha Memorial Hospital Lawrence Center, the author's website for addiction support:

Drug-Addiction-Support.org or

Drug Addiction Symptoms

Fighting Withdrawal: Methadone Abuse & Addiction & Testing

2009-10-17T00:16:00.003-07:00

Methadone is a prescription medication that is used to treat severe pain. It also helps those addicted to heroin to cease their use of the drug without experiencing horrendous withdrawal symptoms. Since heroin causes an excess of dopamine to be released into the brain, addicts feel a constant need for the drug to maintain this high. Methadone satisfies this need for an opiate without the euphoria associated with heroin. While users of methadone are ultimately transferring their dependence from one drug to another, they become more stable and no longer experience urgent impulses to take heroin. Once the desire to take heroin is completely diminished, patients are then weaned off of the methadone, although this process can sometimes take several years to complete.

Effects of Methadone Methadone side effects can vary greatly and should be closely monitored. Symptoms that are typical of methadone users include upset stomach, headache, drowsiness, constipation, dry mouth, insomnia, decreased sex drive and excessive sweating. Severe side effects should be reported to your doctor. These methadone side effects include lightheadedness, swelling of extremities, rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing and chest pain.

A methadone overdose can be very serious. Should someone you know exhibit the symptoms, call 911 or poison control immediately. Warning signs of a methadone overdose include loss of consciousness, coma, difficulty breathing, extremely small pupils, clammy skin and loss of muscle tone.

It should also be noted that methadone has a high interaction ratio with other drugs. For instance, Elavil is the brand name for amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant. Taking both Elavil and methadone can be potentially hazardous. A methadone interaction with Elavil could cause a dangerously high dose of methadone to be released into your system, causing an overdose. Should an overdose not occur, it is still highly likely that once the Elavil exits your system, withdrawal symptoms will be experienced for the high levels of methadone that were previously experienced.

Symptoms of methadone withdrawal include dilated pupils, irritability, stomach pain, fever, sweating, runny nose and eyes and nausea.

Signs of Methadone Addiction As with any addiction, someone with a methadone addiction will do whatever it takes to continue taking the drug. Some may make their doctors believe they require a higher dosage of methadone, while others may "double up" on their dosages. Still others may continue to take heroin and use methadone as a "topper" of sorts. Methadone is addictive, and most who begin taking methadone as a means of ceasing an addiction to heroin or another opiate become addicted to the new drug. Tolerance and dependence develops, creating the need for a methadone detox program, which can take much longer to complete than many other rehabilitation programs.

How To Test For Methadone Abuse Methadone drug testing is an invaluable resource for many individuals, including employers, parents and government agencies. While methadone does have its legitimate purposes, extremely high doses of the substance can create dangerous side effects and should be monitored. Methadone drug tests come in a variety of forms including urine drug tests, saliva drug tests and hair drug tests. Each of these methods works very well in detecting methadone in an individual's system. For a longer testing window, hair follicle methadone drug testing is the way to go. Results are achieved in a laboratory setting and can detect methadone use for up to the past 90 days.

Employers benefit from methadone drug tests, as they prevent potential drug-related liability claims, accidents and other misfortunes from occurring. Investing in a drug testing program helps to increase employee productivity and maintain the positive image you want for your company.

While methadone is a prescription substance, it can be obtained on the street illegally. Parents who are concerned about their children or teenager's behavior can benefit from methadone drug testing tremendously. Drug test kits put your mind at rest and allow you to either put the question of whether or not drug use is occurring in your house behind you or take the next step in getting your teen drug rehabilitation.

Fighting Withdrawal: Methadone Abuse & Addiction & Testing

2009-10-17T00:16:00.001-07:00

Methadone is a prescription medication that is used to treat severe pain. It also helps those addicted to heroin to cease their use of the drug without experiencing horrendous withdrawal symptoms. Since heroin causes an excess of dopamine to be released into the brain, addicts feel a constant need for the drug to maintain this high. Methadone satisfies this need for an opiate without the euphoria associated with heroin. While users of methadone are ultimately transferring their dependence from one drug to another, they become more stable and no longer experience urgent impulses to take heroin. Once the desire to take heroin is completely diminished, patients are then weaned off of the methadone, although this process can sometimes take several years to complete.
Effects of Methadone Methadone side effects can vary greatly and should be closely monitored. Symptoms that are typical of methadone users include upset stomach, headache, drowsiness, constipation, dry mouth, insomnia, decreased sex drive and excessive sweating. Severe side effects should be reported to your doctor. These methadone side effects include lightheadedness, swelling of extremities, rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing and chest pain.
A methadone overdose can be very serious. Should someone you know exhibit the symptoms, call 911 or poison control immediately. Warning signs of a methadone overdose include loss of consciousness, coma, difficulty breathing, extremely small pupils, clammy skin and loss of muscle tone.
It should also be noted that methadone has a high interaction ratio with other drugs. For instance, Elavil is the brand name for amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant. Taking both Elavil and methadone can be potentially hazardous. A methadone interaction with Elavil could cause a dangerously high dose of methadone to be released into your system, causing an overdose. Should an overdose not occur, it is still highly likely that once the Elavil exits your system, withdrawal symptoms will be experienced for the high levels of methadone that were previously experienced.
Symptoms of methadone withdrawal include dilated pupils, irritability, stomach pain, fever, sweating, runny nose and eyes and nausea.
Signs of Methadone Addiction As with any addiction, someone with a methadone addiction will do whatever it takes to continue taking the drug. Some may make their doctors believe they require a higher dosage of methadone, while others may "double up" on their dosages. Still others may continue to take heroin and use methadone as a "topper" of sorts. Methadone is addictive, and most who begin taking methadone as a means of ceasing an addiction to heroin or another opiate become addicted to the new drug. Tolerance and dependence develops, creating the need for a methadone detox program, which can take much longer to complete than many other rehabilitation programs.
How To Test For Methadone Abuse Methadone drug testing is an invaluable resource for many individuals, including employers, parents and government agencies. While methadone does have its legitimate purposes, extremely high doses of the substance can create dangerous side effects and should be monitored. Methadone drug tests come in a variety of forms including urine drug tests, saliva drug tests and hair drug tests. Each of these methods works very well in detecting methadone in an individual's system. For a longer testing window, hair follicle methadone drug testing is the way to go. Results are achieved in a laboratory setting and can detect methadone use for up to the past 90 days.
Employers benefit from methadone drug tests, as they prevent potential drug-related liability claims, accidents and other misfortunes from occurring. Investing in a drug testing program helps to increase employee productivity and maintain the positive image you want for your company.
While methadone is a prescription substance, it can be obtained on the street illegally. Parents who are concerned about their children or teenager's behavior can benefit from methadone drug testing tremendously. Drug test kits put your mind at rest and allow you to either put the question of whether or not drug use is occurring in your house behind you or take the next step in getting your teen drug rehabilitation.
A longer version of this article is located AddictiontoMethadone.com. The article is prepared by Serhat Pala who runs the website TestCountry.com.
Some of the information used in this article are taken from: Hair Follicle Drug Testing for Methadone

Opiate Addiction Symptoms and Signs

2009-10-07T06:45:00.001-07:00

Opiate addiction is an insidious problem that has plagued society for centuries, but perhaps never more so than today. A two-edged sword, opiates can heal or destroy.

An opiate is any drug derived from the opium poppy plant. The main opiates are morphine, heroin, and codeine. Thebaine and papaverine are also opiates. More commonly we see opiates in their synthetic forms: oxycodone (OxyContin, Percodan), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). Darvon, Demerol, and Methadone are other synthetic opiates. The majority of these drugs are used medically for pain management.

Opiates are particularly effective in suppressing pain and reducing anxiety. In sufficiently high doses, they can produce a euphoric state. For this reason, they are often used as recreational drugs. Psychological and physical dependence leading to addiction is common in frequent opiate users. The body quickly adjusts to the use of opiates such that increasingly larger doses are needed to produce the same euphoric effect. Overdosing, sometimes resulting in fatal respiratory failure, occurs when addicts take more than their body can handle.

Most opiates can be swallowed, snorted, smoked, or injected. Intravenous injection is the preferred method of longtime addicts as this method produces the quickest, most intense high. It is also a method accompanied by increased risk of infectious disease.

Physically, the effects of opiates include dry mouth; muscle spasticity; slow, shallow or labored breathing; pupil dilation; stomach and intestinal spasms; constipation; low blood pressure; and diminished mental capacity, drowsiness, and disorientation. A common behavior of the opiate addict is the nodding in and out of consciousness.

Opiate addicts are emotionally detached. Thus, dependents of addicts are often neglected and sometimes abused. Addicts have a difficult time reporting regularly to jobs and even keeping them. S ince they cannot function without the drug, looking for it, paying for it, using it, and enjoying its effects become first and foremost in their priority. Other needs are a poor second. Since funds are usually not commensurate to the need and desire, stealing and other criminal behavior are often parts of the addict's lifestyle.

Withdrawal from addiction to opiates can include hot and cold flashes, goose bumps, extreme restlessness, anxiety, muscle spasms, tremors, muscle and bone ache, insomnia, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Fortunately, there are many opiate dependency treatment programs available. Before anything else, detoxification is needed. In the opiate addiction detox center, a longtime user can begin the process of eliminating the toxins from one's body in a regulated environment where medical practitioners are available to monitor any adverse effects of withdrawal.

Some opiate addiction rehab centers administer medications such as methadone or buprenorphine to ease the pain of withdrawal. After the physical cleansing, the tough work of self-transformation begins. Opiate addiction rehabs offer counseling and behavior modification strategies and techniques to enable the recovering patient to sustain a drug-free lifestyle long after he's left the opiate addiction rehab center. Through counseling sessions, the patient discovers the emotional an d environmental factors that trigger his cravings, and he learns how to avoid these or control them. Realizing that the treatment for opiate dependency is far from over, even when the rehabilitated opiate addict returns to society, opiate addiction treatment centers connect him to support groups and family outreach programs to assist him and his family in rebuilding their lives.

Withdrawal Recovery in Record Time: Nutrients Hold the Secret

2009-10-06T00:45:00.001-07:00

Fear of withdrawing from drugs and alcohol will be long forgotten memories in ages to come. Future breakthroughs have arrived. Tibor A. Palatinus CCDC has discovered health clinics in advance of all others in the fields of drug and alcohol withdrawal and detoxification. Tibor is a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor who has made an extensive search into finding the healthiest and natural withdrawal programs which work.

Fast and effective detox and withdrawal recovery is the norm in several US and Canadian specialized withdrawal centers.

Nutrients are necessary for fast effective recovery.

While coming off drugs is often difficult even in a supervised withdrawal setting, the pain and discomfort associated with drying out need not be intolerable at all. Anxiety and depression so often associated with withdrawal from cocaine, crystal meth and other stimulants are unnecessary. Both physical and mental trauma dreaded by drug abusers can be and are being resolved naturally. The muscle spasms and aches and pains associated with withdrawal can be reduced significantly by the use of exact vitamins, mineral formula and rest in a non-disruptive environment. The use of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids have shown significant improvements in creating a positive attitude and reducing anti-social behavior when given to British prisoners, reports "The Province" newspaper in Vancouver.

According to Adelle Davis, nutritionist, drugs produce dietary deficiencies. Nutritional deficiencies stand at the cause point of all disease. Therefore, it makes sense to include a host of key vitamins and minerals as part of any dry out a person is doing to off-set the throws of withdrawal. A normally functioning body with ALL needed nutrients required for that person's survival, will feel great! If you aren't feeling great, trust me, you're in-sufficient in one or hundreds of key elements (including sleep and oxygen) required for good health and feeling great. A great deal of withdrawal pains, anxiety, depression and grumpiness may just be associated with the body trying to normalize function and eliminate toxins (drug metabolites) from its system.

Drugs hijack the body's sensitive hormone and nervous systems and throw them out of balance and into disorder. Once the body and mind become accustomed to the presence of these drugs (life threats), it gets used to operating with them and ceases to function normally. Strangely, the body substitutes the drugs for its own hormones and neuro-chemicals and ceases to produce enough of those for itself. The result is drug seeking behavior even to the point of anti-social activity. Removing drugs and alcohol from a drug abusers diet of self destruction through drugs and alcohol causes his / her body and mind to scramble again. This re-balancing (called homo-stasis) is the bodies and mind's effort to alert the body that these life hostile chemicals and poisons (drugs and alcohol) are no longer present. This experience is called a withdrawal symptom.

The use of niacin amide has long been used by health professionals in treating mental disturbance. The trauma associated with drying out is relieved considerably by niacin amide when taken with other nutrients in proper balance.

I have personally been consulted by experts in withdrawing people from long term use of heroin, Oxycontin, methadone, benzodiazepines, pain killers, crack cocaine, crystal meth etc. There exist several different clinics using similar methods of effectively withdrawing individuals with minimal and sometimes no alternative medications at all. According to the clients who've used these modalities, they experienced little or no adverse effects coming off of drugs instantly: even coming off of methadone and benzos was easy. These medical clinics / centers use cutting edge methods of withdrawal, not available in rapid opiate or medical withdrawal facilities.

Suboxone, a New Treatment Paradigm: Part One

2009-10-04T21:30:00.001-07:00

Suboxone is a relatively new medication for opiate dependence that will result in a sea change in addiction treatment. Physicians currently prescribing suboxone are aware of the usefulness of this medication, and news of the medication has reached 'the street' to such an extent that opiate addicts often call addictionologists and ask for the drug by name. Word of mouth is spreading the news about suboxone without the benefit (or need) of television commercials. My experiences with suboxone make me wonder if we are at the verge of an entirely new approach to opiate addiction, and in turn to other addictions as well.

The traditional approach to drug addiction treats all substances as essentially the same. Yes, the addict does develop a 'love relationship' with his/her substance, but the substance's sister, brother, aunt, or uncle can easily step in and take the place of the drug of choice in a process called 'cross addiction'. This is one reason why traditional treatment demands sobriety from ALL substances, but there is a more complicated reason as well. The addict, over time, becomes hyper-aware of his/her mood, comfort level, and anxiety. The addict constantly 'checks in' somatically, asking 'am I going up? Or 'am I (oh no!) coming down? Every bead of sweat may portend the pain of withdrawal. Every ache is a new excuse to use. The addict takes comfort in the '4-hour schedule' of use; an internal clock becomes all-important, and eventually the only thing that really matters. Sobriety and recovery demand that the addict learn to take life on life's terms, and give up the obsession with symptoms and medications. Sobriety will 'extinguish' the learned obsession with symptoms over time—sometimes a great deal of time. As the obsession fades, the addict takes steps away from relapse. But if the addict uses a new substance that changes perception, even a substance like diphenhydramine that is not addictive, the old attention to feelings and symptoms returns. Many addicts are aware of an 'addict' frame of mind and a 'sober' frame of mind; a drug that causes the addict to look inward and focus again on symptoms can trigger the addict mindset to re-appear. And once the addict is back, it can be very difficult to return to the mindset of sobriety.

The need for total sobriety no doubt keeps some addicts from asking for help, and there are other addicts who ask for help but simply cannot maintain sobriety from all substances despite multiple trials of treatment. To widen the appeal and utility of addiction treatment, other treatment models have appeared, including an approach that has been called 'harm reduction'. The harm reduction approach helps the addict find ways to reduce his/her intake and so reduce the harm that inevitably results from heavy or uncontrolled use. By introducing 'drink counting' and other behavioral techniques, harm reduction has similarities to cognitive therapy. Regarding the various traditional treatment approaches, there are patients who would clearly do better in one vs. another approach, and there also patients who would benefit from either approach. Specifically, some people use or drink in an almost nihilistic fashion—every episode of drinking characterized by drinking to total oblivion. I would favor complete sobriety for these individuals, because the cognitive changes made in treatment will likely be obliterated by the first drink. On the other hand, a patient with a 20-year long smoldering addiction facing his first DUI may be a good candidate for a harm reduction approach. In such a case, alcohol is a major part of the addict's personality, and the idea of total sobriety after one offense would be a difficult sell. But with education about changes in tolerance with aging, and an introduction to drink counting, the patient may do well for another 20 years.

There are problems with traditional treatments, beginning with the simple observation that relapse rates have always been high. The high relapse rate has implications for addiction that go beyond treatment methods, as I will explain later. Another problem with traditional methods is that they require significant motivation from patients--motivation that must be accessible over and over throughout patients' entire lives. Finally, some degree of detoxification is usually required before tradition treatments, requiring expensive medical services that may be far removed from the treatment center. The specter of detox and withdrawal are major roadblocks to treatment. Withdrawal is a unique experience, difficult to compare to other dysphoric experiences. Physical symptoms include headache, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and muscle spasms of the legs that result in involuntary movement. The withdrawing person usually feels profoundly depressed and anxious. Even in situations where there is no chance of access to drugs, the addict feels the desperate need to use. The description of these symptoms does not do justice to the misery experienced by the withdrawing opiate addict. I also suspect that memory has a 'kindling' effect on withdrawal such that symptoms become more and more severe each time withdrawal is experienced, so that eventually there is no such thing as 'mild withdrawal'—the addict experiences withdrawal as severe as any experienced to that point, regardless of the degree of tolerance going into the withdrawal episode. Addicts who have suffered through severe, unmedicated withdrawal have a sense of camaraderie akin to disaster survivors. Camaraderie is nowhere to be found during the withdrawal experience, however, and the addict feels completely alone.

There have been alternate treatment models for years that are less dependent on character modification and more reliant on medication. Opiate maintenance with methadone and opiate blockade with naltrexone are two treatment approaches that are not dependent on the 12-steps or cognitive therapy that may be used alone or in concert with traditional treatment. Methadone and naltrexone treatments are diametrically opposed to each other in several ways, but have some things in common as well. Methadone maintenance creates deliberate 'hypertolerance' to opiates in the addict by providing very high daily doses of opiates (usually methadone). The high tolerance prevents recreational use of opiates, and the high daily dose of methadone serves to treat opiate cravings. Patients in methadone programs often feel trapped, in that withdrawal from such high doses of methadone is extremely difficult, and any violation of the rules of the clinic (or problems paying the high cost of treatment) result in dose reductions. People maintained on methadone often claim that they always feel 'high', no matter the tolerance that develops. And while high doses of methadone will satisfy cravings for a time, eventually the tolerance will catch up and cravings will return. There are other problems with methadone; some users claim that methadone results in a lack of motivation to better themselves through education or employment. For decades, methadone maintenance was associated with blighted urban areas, where addicts could line up each morning for their daily 'fix'. There have been recent attempts to make methadone maintenance 'mainstream' by improving the physical facilities, and in some cases relocating to less-blighted neighborhoods. There have been few changes, however, in the regulatory control of methadone. Methadone maintenance for the most part requires addicts to add morning dosing into their daily schedules, which in some cases becomes a barrier to occupational growth.

Naltrexone has already been partially discussed. The Use of naltrexone is limited by the difficulty of achieving two weeks of sobriety prior to treatment, because it takes that long for the sensitivity of opiate receptors to normalize to a degree that avoids naltrexone-induced withdrawal. Another problem is that the addict can 'choose to use' by simply missing a couple days of naltrexone dosing.. In fact, patients maintained on naltrexone develop a hypersensitivity to opiates, making them subject to dramatic highs during relapse, and vulnerable to the associated risk of overdose by respiratory arrest. In addition to pills, naltrexone is marketed as an intramuscular, monthly medication, which helps reduce the 'choose to use' problem. The primary indication for this medication, interestingly, is alcohol dependence rather than opiate dependence. Naltrexone has been demonstrated to reduce cravings for alcohol. A related form of naltrexone treatment is called 'rapid opiate detox', where the addict is anesthetized and given withdrawal-inducing doses of intravenous naloxone. After 8 hours or so, the addict awakes with an implanted, slowly-dissolving chip of naltrexone under the skin. This technique has popularity since reports of patient deaths during the anesthesia, or by suicide some time afterward.

In Part Two, I will explain how Suboxone represents a dramatic improvement in the treatment of opiate addiction.

Treating Drug And Alcohol Addicted Patients Is No More A Daunting Task

2009-10-03T20:15:00.001-07:00

If the names of world's most threatening aspects to the human civilization are short listed then the name of addiction would come on the top. It has been revealed that one out of five youths is engaged in any kind of addiction. People fall into addiction at early stage of their lives and eventually it becomes impossible to get rid of that. In those situations nothing but the addiction treatment programs would the perfect solutions.

In the present times, with the growing number of addiction affected patients the need of the addiction treatment programs is increasing day by day. The most important aspect to achieve the utmost quality treatments is to choose the best treatment program.

Those people who are completely addicted to drug are both physically and psychologically changed. They need to treated through the drug detox programs. In these programs the patients are treated both physically and mentally to give them complete relieve from the curse of addiction. Like these programs, several health care institutes also offer alcohol detox programs and methadone detox programs to heal the alcohol addicted people.

Now the question may be coming to your mind that how to find these treatment programs. Don't worry, because all the necessary information to the addictions and addiction treatment programs are easily available over the Internet. From there you will get a comprehensive range of information, like drug withdrawal information, health care center information and so on. You will also find valuable tips about how to handle a patient and what should not be done.

A Brief Information Guide On How Methadone Works In Heroin Addiction Treatment

2009-10-02T19:15:00.001-07:00

Methadone is definitely the most popular medication used for heroin addiction treatment in the United States today. This medication has been in use since over three decades and still remains widely used, despite the emergence of the more convenient buprenorphine in recent times. When it comes to opiate addiction treatment, which includes heroin and morphine, methadone is the drug of choice in most treatment centers of the nation.

Let us understand the method of addiction treatment for heroin using methadone.

How does Methadone act in Heroin Addiction Treatment?

Methadone is an opiate just like heroin is. When the person is provided a dosage of methadone, the substance will act on the same centers of the brain that heroin does. For that reason, the person will feel a tremendous reduction in the craving for heroin. As long as the person is on methadone treatment, there will be no craving for heroin felt.

Hence, the main principle of using methadone for heroin addiction treatment is to mitigate the person's craving for heroin, which in turn can help the person come out of the heroin dependency. Effectively, the person's craving for heroin is replaced by a regular and controlled usage of methadone. For this reason, methadone treatment is usually called as methadone maintenance treatment because it maintains the craving for heroin at a particular level and then gradually diminishes it.

Another that it does, apart from reducing the person's craving for heroin, is that it effectively blocks the high that heroin can produce. Hence, when a person uses methadone, they will not be able to feel the euphoria created by heroin even if they use the drug. This can help them overcome the temptation for using the substance completely.

However, it must be remembered that methadone is an opiate itself. For that reason, there is a very strong chance that methadone can cause an addiction for itself in the person. In fact, this is supposed to happen because this is the entire premise of the heroin treatment. That is the reason methadone treatment is supposed to be given in a controlled manner and only by a treatment provider who is well experienced in the methadone treatment. The addiction for methadone remains, but the intense urge for heroin is slowly phased out with the methadone treatment.

What is the Dosage of Methadone used in Heroin Addiction Treatment?

The dosage of methadone might depend on the nature of the person's addiction and from one treatment center to another; however, the general dosage that is prescribed to the person is once a day. When it is taken once, the dosage is enough to repress the effects of heroin withdrawal for about one day. That means, within this period, the person will not feel the craving for heroin. Being a maintenance medication though, methadone will need to be taken the next day around the same time again or the person may again start feeling the effects of withdrawal.

Gradually though, this dosage is lowered. The patient is constantly monitored during the entire length of the methadone treatment to check how the person is responding to the treatment. As the person's craving for heroin reduces, slowly the amount of methadone that is provided to the patient is also lowered. This is brought down marginally at first and when the person comes to a stable level, that amount of methadone dosage is maintained for the further course of the treatment. However, it will be a long time before the medication of methadone is completely stopped for the person.

Why is Methadone always provided in an Inpatient Treatment Program?

Methadone is an addictive substance. That is one reason why its treatment should always be monitored. If not, there is a chance the person will develop an inclination for using methadone for recreational purposes. The second reason is that methadone can react drastically with some other prescription drugs that the person might be using. In some cases, this interaction can have fatal repercussions. In order to avoid such drastic eventualities, it is necessary to constantly monitor the methadone treatment.

Methadone treatment for heroin addiction is a very sensitive form of treatment with many chances of going wrong if the right kind of care is not taken. That is why this treatment is always provided in an inpatient detox program so that the progress of the treatment can be monitored. In some people methadone is contraindicated, such as in pregnant women. Such points also need to be taken into consideration.

Why Is Detox So Important In The Addiction Treatment Program In Indiana?

2009-10-01T18:15:00.001-07:00

Detox treatment is always the second phase of the addiction treatment program in Indiana, in most of the treatment centers. It comes immediately after the person has been brought out of the phase of denial and is employed in almost all forms of addiction that are above the slightly moderate. Detox treatment is a highly recommended by most counselors for addiction treatment in Indiana and some of them might prescribe detox for mild cases of substance abuse also. It is definitely worthwhile to understand why detox is given so much importance in the addiction treatment program in Indiana, especially if you are looking for a treatment program for someone in your family.

What is Detox Actually?

Detox is short for detoxification, which is a method to remove the accumulated toxins from the body of the person. When a person is detoxified in an addiction treatment center in Indiana, the first thing that is done is to make the person abstain completely from the substance of addiction. This causes the person to develop the withdrawal symptoms within a day or two, depending on how extensive the addiction is in the body of the person. The extent of withdrawal can be different in different people too.

In some people, the withdrawal will be so mild that they will not even feel it as it comes and goes, while in some other people, special forms of medication may be required. The medication is especially to help the person come over the tendency of using the substance and also to help mitigate the painful symptoms that the withdrawal causes in the body.

Take the example of methadone which is very commonly used in the addiction treatment program in Indiana for heroin treatment. As long as the patient is consuming methadone, the craving for heroin is kept under check. Hence, a regulated treatment of methadone helps the patient to curb the heroin craving, which will eventually take them out of the heroin addiction.

How is Detox Conducted in Indiana?

Since detox is quite a meticulous program as can be seen by reading what it contains, it is quite understandable that the program needs to be conducted under strict medical supervision. Most treatment centers in Indiana would recommend the detox to be carried out in an inpatient treatment format so that medical supervision can be provided to the patient through the entire course of the treatment and the condition of the patient as he or she improves can be kept in check.

The first part, i.e. abstinence, is not so difficult. But it is the withdrawal that will follow that makes this treatment so very difficult. The treatment center has to be very careful about how the person reacts at this stage. Only treatment providers that are experienced in the specific type of detox treatment are preferred for carrying out the treatment.

So why is Detox so Important in Indiana?

The whole addiction treatment program in Indiana depends on the success of the detox treatment. This is mainly because the detox is the only part of the treatment program in which the accumulated toxins from the body are removed. This is quite an important process in itself. Unless and until the toxins are not removed from the body of the person, it will not be able to forget the craving for the substance.

For example, if a person has to be brought out of an alcohol addiction, it is not possible to do this without cleaning the patient internally from all presence of alcohol. Once that is done, the patient will be able to forget the craving for the substance. As long as there is alcohol present within the body, this becomes quite difficult and that is the reason complete treatment can never be expected as long as the addictive substance is present within the body.

Another important thing is that the body needs to be purified from the presence of the substance. If that is not done, then even years later there might be complications caused by the substance of addiction. The person might give up addiction voluntarily or through some kind of therapy, but as long as the substance is present within the body of the person, there is always a chance that the person will have a health complication because of its presence within the body. Hence, it is very important to purify the body when you have to make it give up the temptation for the substance.

The addiction treatment program in Indiana understands this quite well. That is the reason for holding detox in high esteem in the overall treatment process.

Is Methadone Treatment Obsolete?

2009-09-30T15:15:00.001-07:00

In recent years, some opiate addiction rehabs are campaigning for a change in methadone treatment guidelines, stating that this indefinite maintenance with methadone is the best idea. One study from 2000 found that 80% of those who quit methadone treatment relapse within three years. Some practitioners may consider this a reason to keep opiate addicts on methadone indefinitely but some see a different logic.

“If a person’s only choice is addiction to an opiate or taking methadone prescribed by a doctor, then methadone might be a logical form of treatment,” stated Derry Hallmark, Director of Admissions and a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor at Narconon Arrowhead. Narconon is one of the country’s leading drug and alcohol rehab centers, located in Canadian, Oklahoma. “What many people don’t know is that they have the choice of the tolerable withdrawal process that is offered at the Narconon Arrowhead rehab.” At Narconon, the withdrawal phase of rehab is followed by a precise, proven method of detoxification that for many, results in greatly lowered or even eliminated cravings.

Mr. Hallmark went on to read from the statements of people who had used the Narconon program to overcome addiction. “One person who recently went through the withdrawal step had this to say when he was done: ‘I have withdrawn from heroin many times. I would definitely say that I had the quickest and easiest detox ever here at Narconon. I feel extremely good considering it has been less than a week since I last used drugs.’ And a person who completed our detoxification stated, “I will not and do not crave the drugs that controlled me for two years. My life and future are up to me now.’ These people did not require methadone or other drugs as part of their rehab to help them overcome their opiate addiction. What they did was learn to live a live completely free from drugs. Seven out of ten of our graduates maintain a drug-free life after graduation, using this program.”

To get more information on this subject, visit Is Methadone Obsolete? For a free addiction assessment and referral to addiction treatment anywhere in the country, visit www.stopaddiction.com.

A Look Into Detox Symptoms

2009-09-29T12:45:00.001-07:00

Medical technology has provided specific drugs that can help with detoxification symptoms. I know it sounds odd. Take a drug to get off a drug. But because some of the symptoms are so severe, having these drugs available can be very important. Plus, they are not addictive, and when you are under the care of a doctor, they will monitor your usage very carefully until you won't have to take those drugs anymore.

One very effective treatment of opiate withdrawal symptoms is methadone maintenance therapy. It is safe when administered under the care of a doctor. Taken orally once a day, methadone suppresses narcotic withdrawal for between 24 and 36 hours. Because methadone is effective in eliminating withdrawal symptoms, it is used in detoxifying opiate addicts. It is, however, only effective in cases of addiction to heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs, and it is not an effective treatment for other drugs of abuse.

Methadone reduces the cravings associated with heroin use and blocks the high from heroin, but it does not provide the euphoric rush. Consequently, methadone patients do not experience the extreme highs and lows that result from the waxing and waning of heroin in blood levels. Ultimately, the patient remains physically dependent on the opioid, but is freed from the uncontrolled, compulsive, and disruptive behavior seen in heroin addicts. Withdrawal from methadone is much slower than that from heroin. As a result, it is possible to maintain an addict on methadone without harsh side effects. Many MMT patients require continuous treatment, sometimes over a period of years.

Physicians and individualized health care give medically prescribed methadone to relieve withdrawal symptoms, reduce the opiate craving, and bring about a biochemical balance in the body. Important elements in heroin treatment include comprehensive social and rehabilitation services. When methadone is taken under medical supervision, long-term maintenance causes no adverse effects to the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, bones, blood, brain, or other vital body organs. Methadone produces no serious side effects, although some patients experience minor symptoms such as constipation, water retention, drowsiness, skin rash, excessive sweating, and changes in libido. Once methadone dosage is adjusted and stabilized or tolerance increases, these symptoms usually subside.

Methadone does not impair cognitive functions. It has no adverse effects on mental capability, intelligence, or employability. It is not sedating or intoxicating, nor does it interfere with ordinary activities such as driving a car or operating machinery. Patients are able to feel pain and experience emotional reactions. Most importantly, methadone relieves the craving associated with opiate addiction. For methadone patients, typical street doses of heroin are ineffective at producing euphoria, making the use of heroin less desirable.

Another huge part of safe detoxification has to do with nutrition. Because the body will be going through some harsh abuse, it's important that your body is at its strongest. That means eating healthy and getting some form of exercise. You may want to consult with a nutritionist to be sure that you are getting the proper nutrition, but you CAN simply make your own changes in what you eat so your body is at its peak level of performance.

You will also want to get some psychological help with a counselor or therapist. You must treat your mental state along with your body. The therapist can help you remain focused on your recovery and take away some of the mindsets that can hinder your recovery.As we said previously, twelve step programs have proven to be very effective in overcoming problems with addiction. These can be great self-help options.

Drug Detox and Rehab Treatment Centers

2009-09-28T10:45:00.001-07:00

It is not a joyful moment when you realize that you are going to a drug and alcohol rehab center. One thing is though, that when you leave the rehab center free of addiction, you will be a much happier person knowing you defeated the drug addiction. There are a lot of reasons a person is addicted to drugs. Some people got injured or had surgery and were given opioid based drugs like methadone, oxycodone, oxycontin, or other addicting prescription drugs. Others are people who made the choice of trying drugs for the purpose of feeling a high and ended up becoming addicted to the drug. A lot of people enter into a drug treatment center so that they can relieve themselves of the grip that the drug they are using has on them.

Going into a drug rehab center is very beneficial for someone because they are given 24 hour assistance. They also have the help of professionals that can guide them on what they will be experiencing when they are going through the drug detox. One thing that they focus on at a rehab center is that they are trying to make your detox the least painful and miserable as possible. Withdrawals from drugs can be very strong and they are not easy to cope with. Some people can be in the process of breaking an addiction for 6 months or more. Some cases do not take as much time, but it varies based on the drug, the amount of time used, and how the person's body reacts.

When looking for drug rehab centers, it is a good idea to see what your health insurance will cover. Health insurance should cover your treatment for breaking an addiction that was started because you were prescribed pain medication, and you now need to stop taking it. It is not always the case, but some health insurance can cover other drug treatments that are not like the case of being prescribed a pain medication for an injury or surgery. If anything, if you have health insurance, it is wise to see if and how much your insurance company is willing to pay towards your treatment.

People who are addicted to drugs have a lot of questions when it comes to how long it will take for their addiction to be over with. A health professional can help answer those questions and prepare you for defeating the addiction. The best way to do that is to get advice and learn what to expect. The success rate of someone who is addicted is substantially higher if they have the support of friends and family. Someone who is addicted to drugs should be encouraged that it is possible to break an addiction that they currently have. It is good to tell a doctor about the drug addiction and get information on how you can detox at a drug rehab center.

Don't Get Caught Up in Methadone Addiction

2009-09-27T08:30:00.001-07:00

This "sticky factor" is a huge part of what makes Methadone so addictive. It is very, very difficult to stop taking Methadone once you are on it. The problem is that the drug is so sticky that it tends to cling to your opiate receptors in your brain for much longer than other opiate painkillers would. This makes for an agonizing and slow withdrawal process.

Keep in mind that treating chronic pain with an opiate is a bit like trying to use alcohol as an anesthetic for surgery. Consider this analogy for a while and you will start to see how painkillers are working in our brain in order to try and treat physical pain. What is actually occurring is that the actual site of the pain is not being treated at all, but instead the opiate drugs are fogging the physical brain so much that the person simply stops being concerned with any pain that their body might be in at the time. Getting to this point when a person is in intense pain means that you have to seriously medicate them to the point of being practically oblivious. Imagine using enough alcohol with a patient to properly prepare them for surgery and you have an idea of just how "out of it" a person can be on Methadone.

People think that Heroin is the worse opiate drug in the world and they think it is the most addictive. In some ways this might actually be the case. But if you look at the severity of cold turkey withdrawal, Methadone is actually worse than Heroin. When coming off of Heroin, anyone can go to a treatment center or drug rehab, stop using the drug immediately, and have medications administered that can control most of the detox symptoms. With Methadone, if people are taking a high enough amount of the drug, then this is really not even possible. The only way to avoid an intense and miserable withdrawal is to slowly ween the addict down in their dosage over time so that they are only taking a minimal amount of Methadone. This is not easy for some addicts to do in itself, especially if they have chronic pain issues that they are dealing with also. In fact, it can be very difficult to get off Methadone, even with this slow weening down process in a person with no chronic pain.

Suboxone is No Miracle

2009-09-26T07:15:00.001-07:00

Touted by Congress as a miracle drug for heroine addiction treatment – buprenorphine – most commonly prescribed as Suboxone, was introduced to the American public in 2003. The idea seemed a good one: extend treatment options for opiate addiction (heroine or prescription pain killers) beyond specialized clinics to include private physicians' offices. And the drug held promise: it would be a replacement medication, like methadone, to relieve cravings and the painful effects of withdrawal as the patient comes down from the addiction, with only a "limited" euphoric effect. Such were the hopes at least behind Suboxone in 2003. But few today are quite so eager about it, and no one's calling it a miracle drug.

Unlike methadone, which is distributed in daily doses within federally controlled facilities, Suboxone is a prescription medication. And as physicians nationwide have been strongly and steadily encouraged to prescribe the drug, it's found its way into a great many medicine cabinets. This wide availability has, for 5 years now, been creating its own set of problems, most of them unforeseen by the lawmakers who first approved the sale of buprenorphine in 2000.

One of the first problems was in its formulation. Suboxone is a small, orange pill in the shape of a stop sign, designed to be dissolved under the tongue. US officials, to prevent it from being snorted or injected, required the producer of Suboxone, Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals, to add naloxone, a compound that makes users who inject the drug become sick. But "street" chemists very quickly found simple ways of filtering out the naloxone from the crushed pills so they could be injected or snorted, and a new street drug was born, paid for by US taxpayers and as addictive as any other opiate-derivative.

Another problem is common to all prescription opiates—the street market. Some patients sell all or part of their Suboxone prescriptions to buy other drugs, often the very drug for which they purported to need addiction treatment in the first place. And in some cases, taxpayers are subsidizing such schemes because Medicaid is picking up the prescription costs. Well-meaning doctors can try to curb this activity by randomly calling in patients for pill counts. And it works for a while, until users begin renting their pills to each other. The street market is a sophisticated economy, and "bupe" at street level is on the rise.

But for all the hype, promise, political currency, and millions of federal dollars behind it, Suboxone has an even bigger problem in that it fails to do the very thing it was created for—to free the addict from opiate addiction. Today, what some call the "bupe method" of drug-addiction treatment is doing for addicts what methadone clinics have been doing since 1973—taking one addiction in trade for another. Suboxone, whether it's used legally or illicitly, is a highly addictive opiate. And addiction to Suboxone requires the same attention as would addiction to heroine or prescription pain-killers. But replacement therapy is not—and has never been—the answer.

If you or some one you care about is struggling with an addiction to Suboxone, or to any opiate drug, please help them now.

Some Questions Answered About The Heroin Detox Program In Rhode Island

2009-09-25T05:45:00.001-07:00

Here are some commonly asked queries about the heroin detox program in Rhode Island and their answers. These questions are general questions about the treatment program and do not pertain to any one treatment center. These are meant to give a brief outline of how the detox program works for people with heroin addiction in the state.

Q1. What is the most popularly used medication for heroin detox treatment in Rhode Island?

Methadone is the most commonly used medication for heroin detoxification in Rhode Island. This medication has been in use since over three decades and is still going quite strong. Despite the introduction of several new methods of heroin treatment in recent times, methadone is still prevailing in the state.

Q2. What are the plus and minus points of methadone heroin treatment in Rhode Island?

The biggest advantage in using methadone is that it is the oldest form of treatment and hence is the most tried and tested. People and even the treatment providers themselves rely on this method of treatment more. Also, methadone is known to be a very effective agent in controlling a person's cravings for heroin and is thus a quite efficient heroin addiction therapy.

The drawbacks of using methadone are many as listed in the heroin detox program in Rhode Island. Firstly, methadone is habit-forming. In many cases, it has happened that the person has been able to come out of the heroin dependency but has then become hooked to methadone. This is one of the biggest risks in using this medication due to which methadone is always provided in an inpatient mode of treatment, under careful medical supervision. Secondly, methadone is contraindicated for several health complications and cannot be used with several prescription drugs. Even pregnant and lactating women are not permitted to use methadone. Quite simply put, the use of methadone in the heroin detox program in Rhode Island is under a lot of restrictions.

Q3. Is there an alternative to the methadone treatment for heroin addiction in Rhode Island?

The alternative to methadone heroin treatment in Rhode Island has made its arrival about ten years ago under the name of buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is an opiate just like heroin is, but it is not as habit-forming as methadone. For that reason, it can be safely used for the treatment. Formulations containing buprenorphine have also been specially prepared. These are medications such as Subutex (a pure form of buprenorphine) and Suboxone (a mixture of buprenorphine and naloxone, which is added to reduce the habit-forming nature of buprenorphine.

Q4. Why is the buprenorphine heroin addiction treatment program in Rhode Island becoming so very popular?

Organizations such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration have introduced the Buprenorphine Initiative that has played an instrumental role in making the drug popular for heroin treatment in the state. However, a very important reason for the popularity in the drug lies in the great benefits that it has. It is less habit-forming than methadone is and has therefore made outpatient programs for heroin addiction treatment in Rhode Island a possibility.

Also, by adding ingredients such as naloxone, the addictive nature of the substance can be completely reduced. Buprenorphine is also permissible for people with most health conditions and is also suitable for patients who have some or the other kind of mental illness. The drug is not quite contraindicated with most other prescription drugs. Hence it can be safely used.

Q5. Why is it important to know what kind of medication is used in the heroin detox program in Rhode Island?

There are many reasons. The progress of the treatment will depend on whether methadone or buprenorphine is used. Every person has a different internal constitution and based on that it is usually decided whether they will be more suitable with a buprenorphine treatment or a methadone treatment. Also, the costs of the treatment will be influenced by which kind of medication is being used.

Q6. What other points need to be seen when selecting a heroin detox program in Rhode Island?

The first thing to check is whether methadone or buprenorphine will be used for the treatment. Once that is done, you must check whether the treatment center has a license to conduct a heroin detox treatment program. It is also a good idea to check what kinds of accreditation the center has. If it has an accreditation, it means that the program has been reviewed by an external organization. Also, check up on the affiliates that the center has. This indicates how well-supported the treatment program is.

Detox Your Body Or That Recycled Offal May Turn You Into A Killer!

2009-09-24T03:30:00.001-07:00

With every breath we are taking in more harmful toxins every day. We are all drug addicts nowadays and our bodies need to be detoxed regularly. Even drinking good old water is hugely beneficial, as long as there is not too much chlorine and other approved "friendly agents" swimming around in it.

We all know this has been continually getting worse over time and the future is not looking too hopeful for a global cleanup any time soon. It feels as if even the governments of well meaning countries are powerless on a global scale to demand any action to improve the quality of our lives and health.

Normally, we think of toxins as being physical toxic substances. However, in our present world of fast living and high spending, there are several "toxins" that corrupt the mind. The obsessive craving for material items, the desire to live the lifestyle of the so-called famous and beautiful people, the hectic pace of work and life, and the hunger for more and more money eventually wear the mind down into a state of shock. The result is stress, depression, irritation, jealousy and anger all of which toxify the mind and can severely affect our relationship with family and friends. In extreme cases murder, manslaughter and a whole host of lesser crimes can result.

Good food for our internal engine keeps us going. Our internal organs are not particularly demanding. A bit of roughage, a bit of lubrication, some vitamins and minerals and we can keep going for a long time. Anything naturally grown is like food for the gods to our bodies. But what do we do? Load up with junk devised by accountants to increase the bottom line. The advertisers and junk food companies are making a killing - Us! Even a simple thing like our daily bread is now becoming so full of sugar and salt and "inclusions" it is difficult to recognize it as bread. We don't even have to chew it after its been steamed and the crust cut off! No wonder most people are at the doctors every 5 minutes.

It is becoming decidedly apparent that food is not grown or reared anymore. In fact, most would be difficult to class as food, rather mass produced filler with chemicals and fertilizers. Throw in some artificial colouring together with a hint of artificial flavoring and we have a diet that makes our internal organs work hard enough to collapse. What can we expect if we run the most complex piece of machinery on the planet, who only wants a touch of fibre and a few minerals and vitamins available naturally, on starch, filler, salt and fat? Good health comes with good food.

As if these toxins and pollutants are not enough to harm our body, we also voluntarily get addicted to quite a few other items that affect our body adversely. The most common among them are tobacco and alcohol. The next higher levels of addiction are drugs like marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methadone some of which can have extreme adverse effects and even be fatal once the addiction sets in.

Go Forth And Detoxify.

Some FAQs About Looking For A Detox Program In Indiana

2009-09-23T01:30:00.001-07:00

Here are some frequently asked questions that people have when they are searching for an option on a detox program in Indiana, and their answers.

Q1. What are the ways in which I can find a good detox program in Indiana?

Your surest bet would be the Internet. Go to any search engine and search for detox program in Indiana. You will get thousands of results. Some of these will be direct websites of the detox centers and some of them will be directories that contain listings of detox centers. Look at them carefully, weed out the ones you don't want and consider the ones that seem appealing to you.

Another method is to directly approach your family doctor or any treatment center in Indiana and ask them to help you locate a detoxification program. Most of these treatment centers will be affiliated with addiction centers and they will help you find what you are looking for.

If you are interested only in looking for centers that are state approved, then you can take the help of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website. You will find a Facility Locator link on this website from where you can search for various options that are present in the state. Of course, your telephone directory is of help too. Look under the section for Substance Abuse in Indiana.

Q2. Do all rehab centers in Indiana have their own detox treatment programs?

Most of them do, but don't expect all of them to have a detox program. If you are looking for a complete rehab package, you must look at their website to find out if they have a detox program or not. Some centers don't have detoxification facilities within their own center, but they might refer their patients to outside centers. Some of them would expect patients to get the detoxification done on their own steam and will then welcome them for the aftercare program. That is the reason you have to check out the website of the treatment program carefully. This will help you see if the center has what you are looking for.

Q3. What are the most important things that I must check on the website of a detox program in Indiana?

The first thing to look for is licensing. They must be licensed to provide the detoxification treatment in Indiana. If you are looking for a specific kind of addiction treatment, then they must have the special licenses required. This is usually the case for heroin and methamphetamine addiction treatment.

You must see if the treatment providers at the detox center are well-experienced or not. They must also have their requisite qualifications for providing the treatment, preferably through a federal body such as the American Society of Addiction Medicine. You will usually find licensing information in the About Us section of the website of the center.

Then you must see what kind of program they will be following. Do not just read the name of the program; check out its implementation also, because this is where most of the differences come in. You must also find out about the facilities that the center will provide you with. In short, you must ensure yourself that you (or the patient you are searching the treatment option for) will be comfortable during the treatment.

In case of addictions such as heroin, you will also have to make sure what kind of medication will be followed. There are two forms of addiction medication for heroin treatment in Indiana, methadone and buprenorphine. The treatment largely depends on what type of medication is used. Research on the pros and cons of the alternative medicines and see which detox program has a medication that you would like to be treated with.

Q4. What should be the ideal length of the detox program?

This is an aspect that confuses people who are not quite conversant with the way addiction treatment programs work in the state. A general treatment program could go on from three days to seven days. But that would depend mostly on the kind of addiction the person is in, the extent of the addiction, the length of time for which the person has been addicted, the frequency of use and the overall addictiveness of the substance in question. The withdrawal that the patient will experience will depend on all these factors.

In case of some strong addictions like those of heroin and methamphetamine, patients are known to experience withdrawal for up to a month even. Hence, you must not ask for a definite time limit for the detox treatment, but you can ask for an approximate idea.

What Factors Influence The Detox Treatment Program In Alaska?

2009-09-21T09:30:00.001-07:00

The detox treatment program in Alaska is considered to be one of the most vital parts of the overall addiction treatment program. This is a predominantly medical phase where the patient is forcibly made to stay away from the addiction. It is notable how the detox is the only part where force may be used on the patient to keep them away from using the substance. In all the other components of the addiction treatment program in Alaska, sensitive approaches such as counseling and education are used for the patient and though these programs may be persistent, force is rarely used.

Let us first understand what the detox treatment program in Alaska is all about. Mainly this is a cleansing program. The patient's body is medically cleansed for all traces of the addictive substance that are present in it. This is done by making the patient abstain from the substance at first. This will cause the patient to have withdrawal pangs in a short while. Once these withdrawal effects kick in, the treatment providers will use medicinal therapies to help the person feel a more relaxed withdrawal effect. This means finding a reduction in the symptoms of the withdrawal.

For every drug and for alcohol, there are different medications that work during the detoxification treatment. The detox treatment program in Alaska uses methadone or buprenorphine for heroin treatment, whereas it may use Antabuse of Naltrexone for the treatment of alcohol addiction. The medication is mainly targeted at reducing the patient's dependence on the substance and at curbing the symptoms of withdrawal that occur. When that happens, another stream of medication can be provided for the patient that can be effective in cleansing their bodies of the accumulation of the substance.

There are two main purposes of the detox treatment program in Alaska. The following are these two purposes:-
1. The first intention is to make the body risk-free for any future complications. This is done by removing all presence of the addictive substance within it. Proper medication methods are used to bring about this process.
2. The second purpose is to help the patient come out of the temptation of the substance of addiction. A person cannot come out of the craving for the substance unless and until the residual substances present in their bodies are not removed. By detox, the cleansing of the body can be done. This clean body will no feel the urge for using the substance so very strongly. Hence, it becomes an important part of the detox treatment.

You must know that the detox treatment program in Alaska is not the same for everyone. There are different factors that influence what kind of detox they will require. One of the first jobs of the treatment providers is to find out about the bodily and mental condition of the patient. This will give them a clear guideline on how they must proceed with the treatment.

The following are some of the factors on which the detox treatment program in Alaska depends upon:-

1. What kind of addiction has the patient been in? Some kinds of addictions require a much longer time during the detox treatment program than the others. An alcohol addiction or a marijuana addiction will not take more than three to four days, but a cocaine addiction will take longer. Addictions of intensely addictive substances such as heroin and methamphetamine will take a very long time for detox, even up to as much as one month.

2. How long has the person been using the substance, and how frequently? Both these points will directly influence the length of the detox program. If the person has been using the substance since several years, then certainly there will be a greater accumulation of the substance in the person's body and it will be more difficult to cleanse the body completely. The same applies to a person who has been using the substance to a greater frequency each day.

3. What is the physical constitution of the patient? If the patient has certain physical illnesses, detox becomes difficult. There are several chronic ailments with which the usual medications used in the detox treatment program in Alaska won't work. This will either require the treatment providers to use other forms of medication or to give smaller doses of it. In any case, it will reduce the effectiveness of the medication and necessitate a longer period of time in detox.

4. What is the mental setup of the patient? People who are emotionally unstable or have some mental illness will also find it quite difficult to go through the detox program because their mind cannot work up a strong determination to stay away from the substance.

Factors On Which The Detox Treatment In Connecticut Depends

2009-09-19T16:30:00.001-07:00

If you have been looking for options on detox treatment in Connecticut, you will have already seen that no two detox treatment centers have the same kind of program. In fact, the names of these programs may sound all similar, but the programs that they actually conduct will have a world of difference between them. In some centers providing detox treatment in Connecticut, the programs will be different for different patients even. Hence, you will find it difficult to be sure which program will be suited to your needs. However, there are some points that you should know about these programs that will help you decide how the program will move for you.

Here are some of the factors on which a detox treatment in Connecticut will depend:-

1. The Nature of the Person's Addiction

The nature of the person's addiction is an important deciding factor in what kind of detox treatment the person is provided. Detox entails removing the substance completely from the person's body. For this, the person needs to be kept on abstinence and then the withdrawal symptoms that follow need to be looked into. This is definitely not an easy thing to do, and it will depend on the kind of addiction the person is with.

For example, a person who has been using heroin will find it very difficult to abstain from it than a person who has been marijuana because heroin is several times more addictive than marijuana. For that reason, the patient using heroin will face a very strong withdrawal to the abstinence and the detox treatment will become difficult. The treatment providers will need to use different programs for heroin detox and for marijuana detox.

2. The Length of the Person's Addiction

If a person has been using a substance for a long time, it becomes much more difficult to remove the temptation of using the substance from the mind of the person. All addictive substances house themselves in the body and mind of the person. They trigger the brain to release pleasure inducing hormones such as dopamine. It is due to this substance that the person feels like staying with the addiction. As the length of usage increases, the patient pushes deeper and deeper into the addiction too.

That is the reason it becomes much more difficult to detoxify a person who has been with the addiction for a long time. This is an important point on which detox treatment in Connecticut differs from one center to another.

3. The Physical Condition of the Patient

Another very important point that is analyzed right at the start of the detox program in Connecticut is the health condition of the patient. If there are some chronic problems with the patient, then the normal format of the detox program cannot be used. In some cases, such as in heroin addiction treatment, medications such as methadone need to be provided which can seriously interfere with other prescription drugs that the person might be taking. Hence, it is very important to analyze the underlying health circumstances that might prove to be detrimental to some kinds of detox treatment. If the patient does have some health problems, it will become necessary to implement some different kinds of detox treatment processes for them.

4. The Mental Condition of the Patient

The mental state of the patient becomes an important factor in deciding the detox treatment for them because the patient needs to work up a determination to stay with the treatment. If the person does not have stability of mind, it will become much more difficult for them to face the difficult period of withdrawal. At the same time, substance abuse is itself considered as a mental illness in Connecticut and hence any other form of mental illness such as depression, phobia, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc. will be considered as a coexisting condition.

For people suffering from such coexisting conditions, a dual diagnosis treatment program is employed in Connecticut. Here, the patients are treated for both conditions concurrently so that they can be solved in a simultaneous manner.

5. The Age of the Patient

The age is another important consideration in providing detox treatment in Connecticut because this will influence the kind of medications and their dosage that can be deemed allowable for the patient. Very young patients and very old patients both become difficult to treat because of their age situations. Young patients may need mild forms of treatment while older patients will need strong forms that will not interfere with other health conditions. Special kinds of treatment patterns will need to be implemented for them.

Drug Detox: is it for You?

2009-09-18T13:30:00.001-07:00

Well, I hate to be the one to bring you the bad news, but drug detox is only your stepping stone to recovery from your drug addiction. Drug detox is the first step in becoming a recovered addict. An alcohol or drug detox is required when a person's body becomes physically dependent on alcohol, drugs or certain types of prescription medications. Although drug or alcohol detox may not be necessary for you or your loved one, for many, drug detox is an important step in their treatment program.

Drug Detox Is Equally Important For "Accidental" Prescription Painkillers Addicts. Drug detox is usually a short program and will normally last between 3 and 10 days. The basic feeling of an individual that enters a center for Drug Detox is desolation. Drug detox is performed in many different environments with a variety of philosophies. The goal of drug detox is the removal of poisonous toxins in the body that are accumulated from drug use. Medically supervised prescription drug detox is highly recommended for methadone dependency or addiction. Rapid opiate / narcotic drug detox is safe, effective, painless and fast. Drug detox is often necessary, especially when opiates such as heroin or prescription pills like OxyContin are involved.

Drug detox is sometimes ordered by the court as the result of a conviction related to charges stemming from possession or use of an illegal substance. Non medicated drug detox is the process of cleansing and getting rid of all the drugs and toxins in your system without the use of any medication. While it is not physically painful like drug detox is for most substances, it is very difficult emotionally to stop using. After drug detox is complete, comprehensive addiction therapy is crucial.

On What Factors Does The Detox Treatment Program In Kansas Depend?

2009-09-17T11:15:00.001-07:00

The detox treatment program in Kansas is one of the most important parts of the overall addiction treatment. In fact, if you search for options on addiction treatment over the Internet or even meet with a counselor on substance abuse treatment in the state, you will see that the detox treatment program features prominently. It is the very nature of the program that makes it so indispensable. The detox program is the only addiction treatment program in Kansas that is medical in nature. The other programs deal more with counseling and other nonmedical therapies.

However, a medical process is required when a person is trying to get recovery from an addiction. This is because the person's body will invariably contain various toxins that might have been accumulated in the body over the entire period of the addiction. Till the time these toxins are not removed, the person will always keep feeling the urge for the substance. Addictive substances do that; they can create a habit in the person for more of themselves. The treatment program in Kansas knows this quite well and hence the large amount of emphasis that is laid on the detoxification process.

Another reason is that there might be several health complications in store if the person is not successfully cleansed of the addictive metabolites present in the body. Addictive substances can do a lot more than just weakening the central nervous system and reducing the sensitivity of the person to environmental stimuli. If the person has to really fully recover, that means, really get back to his or her pre-addiction self, then the detox treatment becomes important.

Now, it must be remembered that the detox treatment program in Kansas is mostly used as an umbrella term for a wide variety of treatment options. There are various programs that are called as detox. Though all these programs will deal with biologically cleansing the person from the addiction, they will do so in different ways. There are certain factors on which the actual implementation of the detox program will depend. The following are some of the points on which this depends.

What kind of addiction the person is in: This is certainly one of the most important factors. Detox programs require medication to reduce the craving for the substance and different addictive substances will respond to different kinds of medication. During the heroin detox program in Kansas, for example, a medication like methadone may be used, while for an alcohol detox, Antabuse may be the medication used during detox. Even among these, there are various options to consider. Each form of addiction has different kinds of medication that they respond to. Heroin may be treated using both methadone and buprenorphine. The choice of these will depend on the preference of the person as well as what kind of treatment would be the most suitable for the person.

The biological constitution of the person: It is important to know the physical condition of the person before starting the addiction treatment. In fact, in every treatment program in Kansas, the first step is conducting various biological tests on the person to find out what kind of treatment they can withstand. If there are any health complications, then it would be necessary to use some different kind of treatment for them, such as a dual diagnosis program.

The mental setup of the person: This is the most significant factor. A person who is of a weak mental setup will find the detox treatment quite difficult because he or she will not be in a position to go through the painful withdrawal process. Also, the person might have started consuming the substance as an answer to the medical condition itself. There are many people who start drinking because of depression. It will be very difficult to control such people's drinking habits because of the association with their depression.

There is a special detox treatment program in Kansas that works for people with mental conditions which works in conjunction with psychiatric treatment. You will find such programs in special substance abuse treatment centers that cater to patients with mental conditions.

The length and frequency of the person's addiction: These will definitely influence the kind of treatment the person is getting. If the person has been consuming the substance of addiction since a lot of years and if the consumption has been too frequent, then it is quite understandable that it will be difficult to remove the addiction from the person's system. The person will face a strong withdrawal and it would be difficult to provide medication to control that strong reaction the body produces.

Rapid Detox Centers Can Be A Whole New Start In Life

2009-09-16T09:45:00.001-07:00

Detoxification is a vital step in the road to recovery from addiction. It is often difficult to take but most drug and alcohol sufferers have no choice. Extended periods of addiction necessitate the help of medical professionals.

Many of the hardened addicts who attempt to quit on their own, are not successful in breaking free from their habits. Before any long-term addiction recovery can begin, it is essential for the body of the addict to be detoxified.

Detoxification should not be taken as a cure for addiction. It is simply one of the first and most significant steps in a complete rehabilitation program. Addicts can be dependent on any of several substances like heroin, opium, methadone, oxycontin, percocet and codeine.

The objective of a detoxification period is to moderate the withdrawal symptoms because most rehabilitation programs fail due to their demandingness. Sometimes anesthesia is used to conduct opiate detoxification.

The point is to go through detoxification and reduce the body's craving for the abused substance. This process is mostly physical, though psychotropic drugs can be given to tone down the whole experience.

A big problem with drug rehabilitation is the danger of regress after it has finished. Regress usually occurs when the individual's body demands another "fix" even when the mind or emotional state does not demand it.

This physiological dependence is more potent than determination and self-will in a majority of cases and that is why addicts are not able to quit easily. Their bodies will not allow them do so. Rapid Detox Centers can give help with the first important step in the recovery process by helping a patient through the detoxification phase.

Rapid Detox is a straightforward procedure developed in order to reduce and, if possible, altogether eradicate the symptoms common with withdrawal. The more effectively withdrawal symptoms are suppressed, the chances of relapse are fewer and the chances are greater for complete recovery from addiction.

Be aware that, Rapid Detox should not be used as a replacement for regularly available comprehensive treatment and recovery programs. The one and only use for Rapid Detox is to give help people to cope better with their withdrawal symptoms.

Anesthesia Assisted Opiate Detoxification is the one of the first steps taken in a Rapid Detox procedure. The total process can take a long time depending on the psychological dependence and toxicity level of the individual in question. Detoxification "cleans" the body of all drugs and their residues and makes the body starve for them.

The starvation is what manifests itself withdrawal symptoms and the patient will do anything to cure those ephemeral hunger pangs. This is the most vital stage as the chances of relapse are greatest. This is the reason it is normal that, after "detox", most people pass through counseling in some form before proceeding to the next step. Post-detox care is vital to final recovery.

There will be a number of of Rapid Detox centers in your vicinity. If not, then your family doctor can readily provide patients with alternative suggestions.

Rapid Detox Centers can also be called "ultra rapid opiate detox" because they are experts in opiate based substances like heroin, methadone, vicodin, or prescription painkillers.

Some common opiate narcotics that can be treated in Rapid Detox Centers are:

· Codeine
· Dilaudid
· Morphine
· Percocet and Percodan
· Lortab
· Oxycontin

Rapid Detox is carried out under general anesthesia in hospital-like surroundings. This is imperative because detoxification should only be carried out by qualified anesthesiologists and medical staff under the supervision of a competent doctor, all of whom have received specialized training in detoxification procedures.

Withdrawal symptoms can last for a long time after a patient stops taking the narcotic substance. While under anesthesia in Rapid Detox, the patient is given medications that hasten the reactions to withdrawal symptoms. This procedure can last up to six hours.

Anesthesia Assisted Rapid Opiate Detoxification (AAROD) is an effective treatment for oxycontin addiction. The treatment aims to free the patient from dependency on the opiate by managing the "receptor level" of the patient's brain. This procedure does not involve any painful or debilitating withdrawal symptoms.

The selection of a Rapid Detox Center is based on factors like the type and amount of drugs, alcohol or other drugs the patient has been using, for how long, age of the patient, and medical history.

People need not be addicts to street-drugs like heroin. Sometimes, opiate based drugs administered during operations, injuries, and chronic pain conditions can also result in the patient becoming addicted to the opiate.

Many Rapid Detox centers have been opened in order to provide centralized information to all people who need to find qualified and certified rapid detoxification treatments.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Detox Treatment In Montana

2009-09-15T08:00:00.001-07:00

People usually have several questions to ask when they are considering options on the detox treatment in Montana. Here are some of the common questions that people ask, and their answers.

Q1. What does the detox treatment actually do? What are its benefits?

Detox is short for detoxification. When a person is detoxified, what is actually done is that the person is made to abstain from the substance and then through a series of medication the residues of the substance that may be present in their body are completely removed. Hence, detoxification is a medical method of purifying the body from the presence of the addictive substance in it. Also, because the person is made to forcibly abstain from the substance, it is possible that the person may experience some withdrawal effects. This is basically a strong tendency within the person's body to use the substance again. Again, medication is used in order to control withdrawal.

The main benefit of detox treatment is that it purges the toxic substance from the body without which addiction treatment is impossible. By cleansing the body, any potential health complications are also being mitigated and when the body is completely removed from the body, there is a much greater chance of the body overcoming the temptation of the substance.

Q2. Is detox treatment in Montana always an inpatient program?

It is mostly an inpatient program, but not always. There are cases of mild addiction in which a detox can be provided on an outpatient basis. There are basically two qualifications for this to be possible. First, the addiction should not be so strong that the withdrawal from the substance could be drastic and second, the medication that is being provided must be suitable for an outpatient treatment program.

For example, methadone which is used in heroin treatment in Montana cannot be provided as outpatient because it is habit-forming and because it can seriously interact with some other medications that the person might be consuming. However, the other option for heroin treatment in Montana, i.e. buprenorphine, can be easily provided as outpatient because it is not as addictive as methadone and it does not interact with other substances.

Q3. How is a detox treatment in Montana usually conducted?

First, a complete analysis is made of the patient's physical and mental condition in order to ascertain that there wouldn't be any negative repercussions of the detox and that the body will be able to bear the treatment properly. After that, the patient is put into the inpatient treatment center. The patient is then made to completely abstain from the center. Constant medical monitoring and attention is provided from this stage on. Within 1 or 2 days, depending on how intense the person's addiction is, the person will begin to show the withdrawal effects. Medication is provided to reduce the withdrawal and to curb the temptation for the substance. The detox treatment program continues till all the effects of withdrawal are answered to.

Q4. How long does a detox treatment in Montana continue?

Usually, detox treatments are completed within three days. This is in most cases of alcohol addiction and also in cases of mild drug addictions such as that of marijuana. But for more drastic cases of drug addiction, such as those of heroin and methamphetamine, the treatment can go on for longer.

There are many more factors to be considered, though. People who are with their addictions since a very long period of time will definitely experience a very intense withdrawal that might go on for several days. Another category of people who will find the detox treatment prolonged are the people that have some other coexisting condition that complicates the addiction recovery, such as people with physical ailments or mental afflictions. In such people, the addiction treatment through a detox can go on for up to three weeks even.

Q5. What happens after the detox treatment in Montana?

Rarely is the detox treatment considered to be the end of addiction treatment in Montana. In fact, most treatment centers would consider the detox to be the beginning of the addiction treatment. Detox only cleanses the body; for the addiction to be treated the mental tendency of using the substance needs to be treated. Hence, once the detox treatment is over, the patient will be led into an aftercare program where they will be counseled on keeping away from the substance and will be taught various methods so that they can reduce their temptations when they occur.

At Home Versus Drug Rehabs for Detox from PainKillers Addiction

2009-09-14T05:45:00.001-07:00

Patients who face the disease of addiction to painkillers have a few options to choose from. I will briefly touch on most of them but will focus on the 2 modalities that are mentioned above.

In my view the treatment options are divided into 3 main categories: 1-medically monitered withdrawal (i.e. detox), 2-maintenance therapy, 3-non-medicated recovery.

The latter approach utilizes spiritual recovery through NA meeting and other psychosocial rehabilitation options without the use of medications. This is usually associated with sever withdrawal symptoms and we feel that this can be avoided by the use of Suboxone (see below).

Maintenance therapy, where the patients are maintained on a long acting opiate medication for months or years, can be carried out using Methadone or the newer medication called Buprenorphine (generic for Suboxone and Sututex). The former is a stronger opiate medication that has been utilized for decades to treat opiate addiction. It is very effective in treating sever cases of heroin addiction but carries the porential for overdose that can lead to death. we can talk about methadone for hours but this is beyound the scope of this article.

Buprenorphine is a safer medication which lead the FDA to approve it for outpatient treatment of opiate addiction. After recieving a waiver from the DEA Physicians can prescribe or dispense it out of their regular offices without the need for a methadone clinic.

Many patients however choose to detx completely off opiates using the shortest but least painfull methods. Detox can vary in duration from few days, which I think is to fast and can be painful with more chance of relapse, up to few weeks. Traditionally has been done in hospitals and drug rehabs untill Suboxone became available in the US few years ago. Detox is the first step of a long recovery journey and need to be followed by long term spychosocial rehabilitation.

Now lets talk about the main topic; detox in a drug rehab or outpatient.
Drug rehab facilities have a great role in the treatment of Substance abuse and alcoholism but in the case of dependence on prescription pain killers, at-home detox can be as effective.

The difference: When patients are admitted to a drug rehabilitation facility they are secluded from all the surrounding triggers and hence can stay clean with no effort. When they are discharged they start to face the same circumstances that led them to develop the drug dependence in the first place. Without adherence to the after-care plan designed for them many patients relapse within 90 days of their discharge date. Outpatient/at-home program help patients to recover in face of those triggers and coach them through those urges to minimize the chance of relapse.

Privacy: At-home recovery provides a much more private environment than any other form of treatment. This helps patients avoid stigmatization which can have a tremendous hindrance on recovery. Clinicians help patients regain their self esteem and encourage reentry into the society.
A great value of in home recovery is that clinicians get to examine first hand the surrounding triggers and initiate a plan to reduce and eliminate those.

Functioning: With Outpatient/at-home programs there is no or minimal interruption of your life cycle with the ability to become productive and independent while you are recovering. An advantage that cannot be accomplished in a drug rehab.

Cost:Outpatient/at-home programs cost a fraction of the prices of private drug rehabs which can reach up to $30,000.

Family support: families should be engaged at the onset and through out the treatment period. The convenience of having recovery at home makes this option easy to establish.

Things You Should Know About The Detox Treatment In Oklahoma

2009-09-13T04:45:00.001-07:00

The detox treatment in Oklahoma is definitely one of the most important parts of the entire addiction treatment program in the state. Most programs for addiction treatment in the state include the detox treatment as the primary process of the treatment and the rest of the program follows suit. Let us understand the detox treatment in Oklahoma a little better.

What is the Detox Treatment Program?

The detox treatment program is a program wherein the person's body is cleansed from the substances that accumulate in it due to the addiction. When a person has been using a particular addictive substance for a period of time, there are high chances that the substance would not be metabolized properly and this could create a toxic buildup in the body of the person. Over time, this toxicity would hamper with the normal working of the body and create health complications. The main intention of the detox treatment in Oklahoma and elsewhere is to free up this toxic accumulation in the body.

How is Detox Treatment in Oklahoma conducted?

There is a definite process for conducting the detox treatment program in Oklahoma. When a person is put into this program, the first thing that is done is to make the person abstain completely from the substance. This is done in an inpatient treatment center so that the person can be constantly monitored for the abstinence and for the progress of the treatment.

Once the abstinence begins, the person will develop the withdrawal pangs within one or two days depending on how intense the addiction has been with the patient and the nature of the addiction. This can take on a very intense form in a very short while. That is the reason constant medical supervision is provided.

There are two aims that detox medication tries to achieve. The first intention of this medication is to stop or reduce the craving the person has for the substance. This is done through special medication that can target the same areas of the person's brain as the addictive substance does. Due to this, as long as that medication is kept on, the person won't feel the craving for that substance. One example here is methadone which is used in the heroin detox treatment in Oklahoma. Methadone is an opiate just like heroin is and it has almost the same influence on the person's brain as heroin. Hence, when a person takes methadone, the urge for heroin is allayed.

The second purpose of the medication that is provided during the detox treatment is to reduce the pain and the effects of the withdrawal. Depending on the nature and the intensity of the addiction, the patient will face several problems such as pains and aches, muscle cramps, giddiness and dizziness, hunger pangs, etc. Antidepressants and painkillers may be provided to mitigate these effects.

The detox treatment in Oklahoma will continue till the time all the withdrawal effects are removed from the patient. This can take anywhere from three days to three weeks, depending on how intense the person's addiction is. In normal cases, the patient will be out of the detox in three to seven days, but if the addiction has been for a very long time, or if there are some other bodily or psychiatric complications coming in the way, or if the addiction is of a very strong substance such as methamphetamine or heroin, then there is a possibility that the detox will go on for a long period of time.

What are the Benefits of the Detox Treatment in Oklahoma?

The primary benefit of the detox treatment is to purge all the toxic materials from the body of the person. This is very important if the person is looking at complete recovery. Without removing these substances, health complications can occur at any time in life, even years after the person has worked his or her own way out of the addiction. A good example of this is the possible occurrence of the fatal cirrhosis of the liver in people who have given up an alcohol addiction years ago.

But there is another very important reason why the detox treatment is considered to be a vital element of the addiction treatment program in Oklahoma. When the substance is completely removed from the body of the person, there is a definite chance that the person will lose the craving for the substance. This is not possible even if the faintest trace of the substance remains in the person's body. That is the reason detox has to be conducted, whether the person is physically and mentally able for it or not.

Some Necessary Information On The Detox Treatment In Georgia

2009-09-12T03:30:00.001-07:00

Most counselors for substance abuse treatment will recommend the detox treatment in Georgia quite emphatically if you visit them about options on addiction treatment programs in the state. The detox treatment in Georgia has always been regarded highly and it is certainly one of the surest ways to get a person back from an addiction. Here are some details on the detox treatment as it is conducted in Georgia.

What is Detox Treatment actually?

The detox treatment is a mode of treatment in which the person's body is cleansed from the substances that are accumulated in it completely. These substances are those that are collected in the body due to the addiction. They could be residues of the substance itself, such as in the case of alcohol, or they could be metabolic products that are produced within the body. Usually they are stored within the organs such as the liver and the kidneys and in the bloodstream. When the person is detoxified, the main intention is to remove all traces of the substance from these areas of the body.

How is Detox Treatment conducted in Georgia?

Georgia usually has an inpatient format for the detox treatment, though thee is outpatient treatment in many cases too. When the person is given an inpatient treatment, the first thing that is done is to isolate the patient from familiar surroundings. Then the patient is made to completely abstain from the substance. The abstinence will be quite alright in the beginning, but soon the patient will develop some withdrawal effects for staying away from the substance of addiction. Different people begin their withdrawals after different lengths of time. Normally, the detox should occur anywhere after one or two days of the beginning of the abstinence.

Once the withdrawal has begun, it is the job of the detox treatment providers to take care of the symptoms that go with it. This takes time too; the treatment providers will have to provide a proper medicinal therapy to take the patient out of the cravings for the substance. This is done by providing some kind of maintenance medication that will allay the urges for the substance as long as it is provided. For example, a patient who is entering for heroin addiction treatment in Georgia is provided a methadone treatment. Methadone is an opiate like heroin itself and as long as methadone is provided to the person, the craving for heroin is significantly reduced.

Also, since the patient will usually suffer from pains and aches and a lot of mental issues during the detox treatment, they are also provided a medication of antidepressants and painkillers. Together, purpose of all these forms of medication is to help the patient overcome the addiction as well as do it without undergoing the nasty withdrawal effects that are bound to occur.

How long does a Detox Treatment in Georgia last?

Most people want to know the duration of the detox treatment in Georgia before they begin. However, there is no such fixed duration. The length of the detox treatment will depend on how long the patient takes to come out of the withdrawal, which can depend on so many factors. The kind of substance the patient is addicted to, the length of time for which the patient has been using the substance and the frequency of use, all influence how long the detox treatment will be. Also, the patient's own condition and state of mind will be important deciding factors for the length of the detox treatment in Georgia.

What happens after the Detox Treatment in Georgia

Contrary to popular opinion, the detox treatment in Georgia is not the end of the addiction treatment program, but you might very well say that it is the start of the treatment program. This is because when a person is detoxified, it is the body of the person that is treated from the addiction; however, the addiction is still present within the mind of the person. It is the mind of the person that creates the repeated craving for the substance. For that reason, it is important that the temptation of the substance be removed from the person's mind.

That is why the patient is led into an aftercare program immediately after the detox treatment is over. This aftercare could be in an outpatient treatment format or in a residential treatment format; that would actually depend on the kind of addiction the patient is in. The length of this aftercare would also depend drastically on the length of the patient's addiction.

New âExecutive Alcohol/Opiate Detox' attracts celebrities to Palm Beach

2009-09-11T02:30:00.001-07:00

People from various walks of life such as business executives, professional athletes, celebrities, politicians, and even the armed forces and the religious world are flocking to Palm Beach from different parts of the globe, and not necessarily to enjoy the spectacular beaches, but rather to save their lives. They are coming to break harmful dependencies to a variety of addictive substances-- medical conditions which until recently were considered taboo to such people.

Recently substance abuse and its treatment have risen in the consciousness of society. With recent television shows such as A&E's Intervention, a general acceptance of substance abuse as a medical not moral issue is developing. Couple this with the recent liberal trends in dispensing opiate pain medications and anti-anxiety medications results in a trend of sorts. According to the most recent nationwide survey conducted in the United States by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), an estimated 6.3 million persons, or 2.7 percent of the population age 12 and older had used prescription psychotherapeutic medications non-medically in the month prior to being surveyed. This includes 4.7 million using pain relievers, 1.8 million using tranquilizers, 1.2 million using stimulants, and 0.3 million using sedatives. The problem is on the rise. According to this survey carried out in 2003, the increase in rates of addiction to prescription medication is significant when compared to previous survey results.

Substance abuse providers are seeing a new profile of patients; that of apparently normal professionals often successful in all other aspects of their lives. Dr Mark G. Agresti, Vice Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia Hospital explains that most of today's addicts are hooked on prescription medication—pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants and sedatives—not illegal drugs purchased on a street corner somewhere.

James Bevell, Director of Admissions for Poinciana, at Palm Beach, a facility that treats patients presenting with this profile, explains that these programs are adapted specifically for high functioning, motivated people who need individual attention and guidance. "Patients can free themselves from chemical addictions and continue with their lives", he says.

Bevell states that 'Executive Detox' is an emerging service being provided to this new patient demographic.

"Many people who have been otherwise successful in their lives yet find themselves addicted had found their choices limited and unacceptable when seeking treatment. In years past the only alternatives were psychiatric hospitals or free standing substance abuse hospitals. They used to find themselves thrown into a system which was often overburdened and understaffed. Some found themselves misunderstood, misdiagnosed and mistreated. These patients could not tolerate the treatment and therefore went largely untreated," he says.

According to Bevell, the concept includes an important component of luxury and confidentiality.

"Even though Poinciana is a hospital-based program, patients are discretely separated from regular hospital patients and other clinical facilities. At this center, they are offered exclusive concierge services for patients and family members. Upon request, they are even provided a private escort to accompany the patient to the facility", he says.

The creators of the plan promise that this method allows patients, while under the supervision and care of a medical team of experts in addiction, to withdraw in comfort from substance dependency as they continue to work or study. They add that this method is different from other treatment programs because it is individually modified for each patient, taking into consideration not only their medical history, but also their personal issues as well. It is a holistic, bio-psychosocial approach.

"This is not cookie-cutter medicine. It is a program created to suit the needs of the individual—one patient at a time," Dr. Agresti clarifies.

Dr. David J. Stern, an internist who practices in West Palm Beach, explains the general procedure as follows: "Patient arrives for assessment and medical examination by a Board Certified physician and substance dependency specialist. Then he/she is diagnosed and treated according to his/her specific needs. Patient receives a regimen of safe and effective medications, such as Buprenorphine, that promptly eliminate symptoms of withdrawal, including anxiety, sleeplessness as well as debilitating aches and pains normally associated with detoxification."

Throughout course of treatment, patient's physical and psychological progress is monitored daily by a team of addiction specialists. Bevell adds, "This safe and carefully controlled program may allow patients to return to their daily schedules within 2 or 3 days, and is a much safer alternative to the Rapid Detox Programs being offered."

After detox, patient returns home, to work or to his or her studies. Although consideration of further treatment options is recommended, hospitalization or confinement to a rehab facility is not strictly necessary.

According to the initiators of this new curative method, recurrence rates are minimal, and that is important because recurrence is the greatest obstacle detoxification treatments have encountered so far.

The new methodology is even applied, with some variations, for conquering addiction to Methadone, a drug used in treating addictions.

Dr. Agresti explains: "Treatment for Methadone is different than our standard treatment for conventional opiate dependency. Methadone poses additional problems and the course of treatment is longer. But the good news is we can help. Here's how it works. Utilizing a medical protocol called Rapid Receptor TransitionTM (RRT), the doctor will safely and comfortably switch your medications, monitoring your progress daily. After 7 days, when Methadone is out of your system you will be switched over to Buprenorphine. You may return home. Where you can follow up with an outpatient provider who will wean you off the Buprenorphine over the next 4 to 6 weeks. You may go back to work, your studies, or daily chores immediately. You will have energy. You will no longer crave Methadone or opiates."

For further information, please call 561-881-5904, write to admissions@detoxpalmbeach.com; or visit Opiate Detox

Comparing Suboxone With Methadone In The Context Of Heroin Detox Treatment

2009-09-10T01:30:00.001-07:00

Both methadone and buprenorphine have been recommended qualified treatment programs for heroin detox since a long time. Methadone has run for a really long innings, because it has been used for about thirty years now, while the use of buprenorphine is just about ten years old in most states of America. However, the popularity of buprenorphine as a medication for heroin detox treatment has increased by leaps and bounds in the last few years, especially because the FDA approved Suboxone, a formulation containing buprenorphine for heroin detox treatment in the US.

Suboxone contains mainly buprenorphine in combination with another substance known as naloxone. Both of these have a very specific action on the person's body. Buprenorphine is known to remove the temptation of heroin from the body and mind of the person quite effectively. This is because buprenorphine itself is an opiate like heroin and it has almost the same effect on the person's brain as heroin has.

But what is an advantage for buprenorphine here is that it is not as addictive as heroin. Hence, when the treatment provider sees that the administering of buprenorphine is slowly reducing the dependency of heroin from the person's mind, they will lower the dosage of buprenorphine. However, there is still a remote possibility that the person might get addiction to buprenorphine and might experience a withdrawal when the amount prescribed might be reduced.

This is where Suboxone proves to be better than pure buprenorphine (used in medications such as Subutex). Suboxone has naloxone in it. This helps by causing a strong withdrawal if taken in excess. Fearing the strong withdrawal, the person will not consume an excess amount of Suboxone. That is the result the chances of a person abusing Suboxone are quite less.

Now, the same cannot be said about methadone. Methadone is very addictive. It acts on the same principle as buprenorphine does, but the fact that it is quite habit-forming makes it difficult to administer it in an outpatient format. Even if an outpatient methadone treatment is provided, the center needs to be federally approved and the patient will need to check in everyday so that the treatment providers can monitor their condition and alter doses if the need arises.

It is therefore not unjustified that more and more people are turning towards Suboxone treatment. This substance has a very low possibility of being abused due to the presence of the deterring substance naloxone in it.

Heroin detox treatment with Suboxone is actually so simple that patients can just carry this substance home from the physician's office, under their prescription. They will not need a constant monitoring of their condition too. Though not advisable, there are people who self-administer Suboxone and even alter doses as they deem fit. This should not be done, but it indicates that Suboxone is a simpler form of treatment than methadone is.

Suboxone is considered to be a maintenance medication. What this means is, as long as the person is kept on Suboxone treatment, there are very less chances that they will revert to their opiate addiction. But the moment the Suboxone treatment is stopped or stalled, there is a possibility of relapse. Because Suboxone is a form of maintenance medication, it becomes important to use the right kind of dosage. However, this is where the big benefit with Suboxone lies. Due to the special formulation present in it, it is possible to keep the dosages flexible and still the drug will have its effect.

Suboxone is a substance meant for oral consumption. The drug is meant to be just kept under the tongue from where it is automatically dissolved and mixed into the body. The amount of naloxone is adjusted to such a degree that it does not cause withdrawal in the person. If the person were to take more of Suboxone, there would be a great possibility that the person might get addicted to it. However, if the person oversteps the prescribed amount of Suboxone, the amount of naloxone entering their body will increase too and they might experience a withdrawal process.

Thus, you can say that there is a mechanism in Suboxone that actually prevents any recreational use of the substance. This can definitely not be said about methadone treatment. There is actually a very high chance that a person will get addicted to methadone, while the chances of a person getting addicted to Suboxone are almost nil.

You must make sure you understand the effects of both Suboxone and methadone in heroin detox treatment before you plan on either one. The Internet can be a big help for you in this.

Some FAQs About Heroin Detox Treatment In Connecticut

2009-09-09T00:00:00.001-07:00

Here are the answers to some of the frequently asked questions about the heroin detox treatment in Connecticut. These are the questions that most people who are looking for this kind of treatment have, and their answers.

Q1. What is the main intention of a heroin detox treatment in Connecticut?

The primary purpose of the heroin detox treatment in Connecticut is to cleanse the body from the various toxins that the addiction might have accumulated in it. This is done by making the person abstain from the substance. Within a short time, the abstinence will bring about withdrawal effects. This is where a secondary intention of the heroin detox treatment comes in. The treatment providers will try to provide a medicinal therapy in order to completely remove the withdrawal in the patient. The detox treatment is only said to be over when the patient has been completely pulled out of the withdrawal that has been caused due to the abstinence from the heroin they are addicted to. For the long term, the purpose of the detox treatment is to keep the person abstinent from the substance and ensure that there are no cravings produced for it again, which ensures that the patient doesn't fall into a relapse.

Q2. How does methadone act for heroin detox treatment?

Methadone is an opiate like heroin itself. It is used to reduce the temptation that the person has for heroin. Strange though this may sound, this is the method in which the program works. Heroin, being an opiate, can be weaned away only when another opiate is introduced into the body and methadone fits the bill quite nicely. As long as the patient is kept on a maintenance medication with methadone, they will feel a reduction in their craving for heroin, and as this craving diminishes, the amount of methadone provided to the patient can be gradually reduced. This is not done all at once; rather it is done quite slowly, because methadone can produce withdrawal effects of its own.

That is the reason why methadone treatment always needs to be provided under strict medical supervision. Methadone is a habit forming drug and reducing its amount drastically can cause withdrawal. Also, methadone can react with some other substances that the person is consuming. Hence, medical care in an inpatient treatment setting becomes very important.

Q3. Are there any alternatives to the methadone treatment that is provided for heroin detox treatment in Connecticut?

Quite recently, the FDA has approved another substance for heroin addiction treatment in Connecticut. This substance is buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is also an opiate like heroin and like the methadone that is used for heroin treatment, but it is becoming more popular than methadone nowadays. The main reason is that buprenorphine is not as habit-forming as methadone is. While methadone needs to be provided in a carefully planned out medical routine with constant supervision, buprenorphine is not that drastic a form of treatment. Buprenorphine treatment can be provided on an outpatient basis also. This treatment can be altered in a more flexible way than methadone can be. For these reasons, buprenorphine is becoming quite widely accepted in the heroin detox treatment in Connecticut.

However, most treatment centers do not have the buprenorphine treatment yet. You will need to check out in advance whether the treatment is present or not. Asking a counselor for heroin addiction treatment in Connecticut will help, and you can also find out which centers provide buprenorphine treatment by visiting the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website.

Q4. How long does a heroin detox treatment in Connecticut last?

This actually depends on the condition of the patient who is undergoing the treatment. In most cases, the patient will be out of the heroin detox within seven to ten days. That is, this is the period within which the patient will be able to overcome most of the withdrawal pangs provided a maintenance medication has been kept up. However, for people whose addictions have been long running and for complicated cases such as people who are dually diagnosed with a mental condition also, the detox treatment can go on quite long. There have been some detox treatments for heroin addiction in Connecticut that have gone on for a whole month even.

Basically, the length of the detox treatment is quite unpredictable. People who seem to be relatively less addicted to heroin could have longer periods in detox and vice-versa. This is because the length of the treatment also depends on the physical condition of the patient and their determination to get out of the addiction.

Attend an Addiction Detox Program and Come Back To a Normal Life

2009-09-07T22:45:00.001-07:00

If all the jinxes of human lives are short listed then alcohol and drug addition will come at the forefront position. According to a recent report, there are millions of people all around the world suffering from the nuisance of these addictions and these eventually are becoming the reasons behind their death.

Those days are gone when the near-dear ones of alcoholics and drug addicted patients used to roam around for the proper treatment. Now due to the increasing number of sufferers, a need to implement drug and alcohol detox programs has been realized. Currently, there are thousands of such programs available all over the world, which serve the addiction affected people to get them back to a normal life.

A drug detox program implies the removal process of drug from the patients' body. Both drug and alcohol detox programs are brought about by abstinence from alcohol, medication and altering diet of the affected persons.

Human body's liver and kidney carry out the detoxification process. But, in case of the hardened drug addicted and alcoholics different kinds of detox programs are necessary.

In most of the cases detox programs can be organized at home, but in extreme cases, when the patients experience the Alcohol detox symptoms like hallucination and delusion, treatments are carried out in treatment centers.

You can easily get a comprehensive range of alcohol and drug detox and drug withdrawal information from the Internet. You will also get detailed information on the treatment programs and treatment centers from the Internet. So, why wait? If you or some of your near-dear one is suffering from alcohol or drug addiction then without wasting any more time go for the treatment and come back to a normal life.

Methadone Withdrawal -- Real Help

2009-09-05T19:45:00.001-07:00

You've decided it's time to withdraw yourself from methadone, but you're not ready for what happens.

Your withdrawal is hell. Your back aches, every joint aches and your bones hurt. Your arms and legs are cramping up and you feel like it may never end. The anxiety is making you shiver.

Did the injury not heal properly? Are you hopelessly addicted for life? Do you return to methadone use or stay semi-paralyzed with pains and sleepless nights? Nothing makes sense anymore.

You Are Not Alone.

1,000s of people are looking for help every week to solve problems withdrawing from methadone.

Their doctors don't know what to do. Their pain management specialists are at a loss or just write another prescription. Methadone clinic staff insist they need to either stay on methadone or just turn their back.

Why Withdraw From Methadone?

Withdrawing comfortably from Methadone and other opiates is known. There is a way to end drug dependence and get healthier right now. That's the good news.

The bad news is you're probably in worse shape than you think. Don't brush off the pains, the bad stomach, the low energy or the anxiety. These conditions were probably caused by taking methadone.

Methadone Facts And Effects

1. Mallinckrodt, the makers of Methadone, issued a warning that some of the effects of methadone are depression of blood flow and breathing, shock and death.

2. Almost 11 people / day die from methadone use in the USA.

3. More people die from methadone than heroin use; it's the #2 killing drug in the US.

Methadone is a narcotic prescribed to chronic pain patients as well as for opiate substitution. Many users eventually want to withdraw from methadone and return to a normal life.

How Can You End Methadone Withdrawal Pains?

Taking Methadone tends to leach the bones of needed calcium and magnesium. It upsets the body's normal chemistry. What should you do to bring yourself back to good health without drugs?

Your troubles are many, though the solutions are simple.

Three Different Approaches To Ending Methadone Use.

1. Go to a professional medical detox facility that knows how to safely and happily withdraw people from methadone.

2. Purchase at home manuals that give details of withdrawal techniques to quickly feel better and drug-free at home with minimal medical supervision

3. Taper off for the next 6 months with the help of a medical doctor.

Do Medical Detox Centers Differ?

Yes, more than you may be prepared for. Why do I say that? Only a few Medical Centers have any nutritional understanding of methadone withdrawal. As a result people feel unwell, medicated and ill while withdrawing. Cutting edge knowledge and methods exist for withdraw that exceed many expectations.

Here are some successes from clients withdrawing from Methadone. Only a few medical detox centers produce these responses.

"I'm leaving here drug free after years of pain management and pain free . . helping me find a newly developed method of treatment which relieved the cause of the pain that had remained after my operation. Pain meds withdrawal

"Major thanks. I was somewhat nervous at the fact of detoxing off methadone but it was smoother than I thought. " Methadone detox

"It saved my life and gave me - me back - to myself and my family and friends. Whenever you needed something, someone was always there. Calling a doctor whenever you needed something special instead of just saying it's not on our list was very impressive and helped that anxious/frightened feeling." Detox

"The counselors and nurses were all wonderful. The food was good, it was very comfortable. I realized . . I could be normal again and get back to being a great mom for my 2 beautiful children. I also realized there are other alternatives to pain meds and benzos." Housewife after detox from pain meds.

Medical detox facilities differ. The glitz and white coats mean nothing if you're feeling lousy and your needs aren't treated holistically. Medications are a small part of medical detox. It's the person that matters first and last.

Help is available for those interested in withdrawing from methadone correctly.

Methadone Detox and Rehab

2009-09-04T06:30:00.000-07:00

There are various methods of doing a Methadone Detox. Methadone is an extremely addictive drug, and it is important to detox from the drug as soon as possible. The longer a person is taking the pain reliever, the more difficult it will be to defeat the addiction. Methadone is a drug based from Oxycodone, which is related to heroin. Knowing that this drug is in the same class of heroin is not a comforting thing to learn. The withdrawal symptoms can be a living nightmare to go through, but it is something that must be done. There is no real way to avoid the withdrawals that result from this addiction. The only way to technically "avoid" them is to have your body detoxed while you are unconscious.

If the person who is addicted to methadone has health insurance, then he or she should start talking to them to help pay for a methadone rehab treatment. Getting professional help to deal with an addiction is much better than trying to do it alone. There have been people who were able to quit the habit by themselves, but it is very hard to do so. It is also a good idea to learn from a professional person to realize what breaking a methadone addiction involves. If the detox is done at home, everyone in the household should be educated on what could happen during your withdrawal sessions. It could also be a good idea, if you are currently working, to tell your job that you are extremely sick. A lot of people do not like the idea that they are taking leave because they are addicted to methadone and will be going through withdrawals from hell.

One way of detoxing from methadone is to either slowly decrease the dose each day, or substitute methadone for another opioid based drug and slowly decrease the dose of that. At drug rehab centers, people can monitor you and make sure to help you every way possible to make the withdrawal sessions less painful. The benefit of being in a rehab treatment center for methadone is that they can change any solutions for you if it seems to be a better fit. One popular method is to take suboxone which is an opioid drug. So far it is one of the drugs that is being taken as a substitute to methadone, and it is used to taper off of methadone. The idea is to detox slowly in order to avoid experiencing bad withdrawal symptoms from methadone.

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