Looking at Drug Addiction

Looking at Drug Addiction
Dr.Kedar karki
Drug addiction is a complicated disorder which may involve practically every aspect of an individual's life in the family, at work, and amongst friends. It is actually a brain disease as the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and the functioning of the individual's brain. Drug addiction costs taxpayers millions of dollars each year and is a major public health concern for all of us, as it is a chronic relapsing disorder, which means that it lasts a long time and individuals who are trying to quit are apt to start using drugs again.

Addiction

Drug abuse causes changes in the brain, which then leads to certain behaviour, like taking the drug compulsively, but drug addicts can learn to change their behaviour. This addiction is influenced by a range of factors which involve one's genes, environment, and the age of the person when drugs were first used. Addiction to drugs and alcohol is a vicious cycle that can destroy lives, families, friendships, and anything else it comes into contact with, and the individual can become addicted to many drugs, not just so called street drugs like heroin. It should be understood as a chronic recurring illness. Drug Addiction - Uncontrollable Repetition of A Behavior Drug addiction is an uncontrollable compulsion to repeat a behavior that is regardless of its negative consequences. A person who gets addicted to drug is called an addict. There are three types of drug addiction:

Physical dependence - physical dependency addiction refers to appearance of a special withdrawal symptom that occurs when the drug is suddenly discontinued. Drugs like benzodiazepines; opioids, barbiturates, alcohol, anti-depressants, cortisones and beta-blockers are examples for causing physical dependency.

Psychological addictions - show dependency of mind and social dysfunctions that lead to psychological withdrawal symptoms.

Eating disorders - sometimes these are also considered to be psychological disorders and are treated as elements of addictive behavior. It happens with items like chocolate, caffeine, and sugar and makes the sufferers experience elements of addictive behavior.

Side effects of the drugs

The side effects of drugs are huge and they often cause serious problems in human beings. The side effects include inability to sleep, loss of appetite, pupil dilation, stress and anxiety, stomach ulcers, constant drowsiness and blood circulation problems.

Following are the effects of other drugs:

Amphetamines - makes the addict face heart and circulatory risks, paranoia, distortions of reality and even at times hallucinations.

Cocaine - effects are it sends the body into overdrive, speeds up the heart rate, results in nausea, high body temperature, muscle reflexes, cramps, sudden heart attacks, severe mood swings, corrosion of nasal cavity and schizophrenia.

How to Recognize a Drug Abuser
The sign and symptom of an abuser become known over a span of time when we closely observe their nature. If we are really care and are aware of their pattern of life style, it is easy to recognize even the miniscule changes. We tend to neglect some diversion in personality considering it as a passing phase. But in reality the change in lifestyle and habits are important pointers to something brewing in the back.

Signs Of Drug Addiction in Teenage
1. If a child is disinterested in studies, neglects school and evades question related to performance and grades, then it is time for action. Inquire at school about attendance, performance both in studies and physical activities.

2. Look for symptoms of illnesses like fatigue, listlessness, loss of appetite etc.

3. Their sudden interest in money matters should be of concern to you. The demand for hike in pocket money without explanation should not be neglected. Use of fashionable or expensive items suggests that they are stealing money and hence should be questioned. In such cases they do not allow the parents and sibling to enter their rooms. Also they avoid talking and responding to your gestures of caressing, loving etc.

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4. Observe the change in sleep pattern, usually an addict either feels sleepless for many days or go to sleep for a long period.

5. Children love to do antics which every parent enjoy. If your child is showing hyper activity with inclination to do certain dangerous stunts, be careful not to appreciate it. The display of risky trick is due to the use of drugs which produces momentary energy.

In addition depending on the severity of addiction the patient may come up with signs like sunken cheeks, acne on face, dilated pupils etc. Some who are unable to tolerate the dose may show disorientation, vomiting, tendency to fall, slurred speech etc. Depending on the type of drug used the symptoms may vary from person to person. For example the designer drugs produce a sense of euphoria with increase in blood pressure and heart rate.

Drug taken by oral route like alcohol are easily detectable by their smell. The needle users also have the tell tale marks on their body parts.

In all, remember to be cautious once your child has grown to her/his teens. Try to assess her/him on a regular basis by having a talk about his studies and friends. Maintain an emotional relation to prevent him from diversion. Treatment
There are various drug addiction treatments that help people to escape from chronic addiction problems.

Following are the treatments:

Matrix model - the strict and personal therapist acts as your friend and performs intense drug addiction treatments.

Relapse prevention - this treatment offers you to control your behavior, learn to identify dangerous situations and avoid them. It helps you to increase your learning processes and developing your defense skills.

Supportive-Expressive psychotherapy - it works through interpersonal links that creates your sphere of comfort and teaches you to trust in other people's support. It is specially helpful and comfortable for heroine and cocaine addicts.

Behavioral Therapy for adolescents - it provides schemes for rewarding people who stop taking drugs.

Multidimensional Family Therapy - it offers interesting approach for addicts who suffer from dysfunctional family problems.

Motivational enhancement Therapy - it tries to concentrate on the addict's will that help them to fight infection.

Individualized drug counseling is a drug addiction treatment that not only concentrates on drug addiction but also on related subjects like family problems and employment status.

Drug addiction treatment is for people who find themselves not able to cope with life without drugs or alcohol and can be described as the therapeutic and educational process of initiating recovery. When it comes to prescription drug addiction, one of the main problems is that it is a hidden disorder. The treatment of drug addiction can vary widely according to the sort of drugs used, amount of drugs involved, duration of the drug addiction and any medical complications that occur. Any treatment also has to take into account the needs of the individual concerned. Treatment for drug addiction is administered in many different settings, employing a selection of behavioural and pharmacological approaches and can be tailored to each patient's drug abuse patterns and any co-occurring medical, psychiatric, and social problems they may have. This can then hopefully lead to sustained recovery and a life without drugs. Treatment medications, such as LAAM, methadone, and naltrexone, are available for any patient who is addicted to opiates.

Conclusion

It's a sad fact that drug addiction along with alcohol addiction is the number one cause of death among young people. The good news is that although breaking a drug addiction can be extremely difficult, it is by no means impossible. Obtaining the correct treatment is absolutely vital in an effort to end this compulsive behaviour.