Substance Dependence | Parents Anonymous

Fighting Back Against Drug Addiction Problems

When someone has a drug addiction, he or she often struggles with all kinds of aspects of life. The addiction can take over and stop the person from holding down a job, taking care of his or her family, or doing basic, daily tasks. There might also be a shortage of food or other items, because all of the money is going toward drugs, alcohol, and related problems. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t break out of those addictive patterns and fight back. You can do more than you think you can, if you’re committed to getting better.

Checking into a treatment program may be necessary, and whether that’s an inpatient or outpatient program will depend on several factors. Some people also cut ties with their old friends and with any family members who have drug problems, so they can get a fresh start. A few move to a new neighborhood, or even to a different city and/or state, so that they’re able to get away from the people and the places that they associate with their drug use. If you’re one of the people who is trying to get away from drug use, you may want to consider those kinds of options, if they’re feasible for you.

The more time you spend around the people and the places that make you think of drug use, the more likely you’ll be to continue to use drugs, even if you’ve sought treatment and are trying to get (and stay) clean. Don’t let the people around you drag you back into drug use when you don’t want to be involved in that lifestyle anymore. Say no, walk away, and spend time with people who don’t use drugs and who have the kinds of values you want to cultivate in your life.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse, Rehab Programs Tagged With: Patient, Substance abuse, Substance dependence

Study Shows Previous Drug Use by Expectant Mothers Affects Child’s Brain Chemistry

Women who are drug users, but stop before pregnancy, still run the risk of affecting not only their own children but their grandchildren as well. A new study shows that certain addictive drugs can alter the brain chemistry of offspring, in generations down the line.

Scientists recently conducted experiments on female rats. They exposed the rodents to morphine for ten days when the rats were in their adolescent years. Then, after three weeks of no drugs, the rats mated with healthy, drug-free males. Researchers found that their offspring produced a lesser quantity of dopamine, an important chemical messenger in the brain. This area of the brain is associated with reward-seeking behavior and chemical addiction. The next generation of grandchildren rats also exhibited a similar deficit of dopamine.

So far, it appears that the dopamine levels of male offspring are most affected by drug use in child-bearing women. Imbalances in the brain’s dopamine levels are linked to mental illness and problems with addiction.

In part two of the study, scientists exposed the offspring to a substance that imitates a dopamine-induced elevated release of stress hormones, which indicates that the rat’s abilities to control stress had been affected.

This research is important because it is helping researchers understand how the effects of drug use are passed on to subsequent generations, down to the genetic level. Understanding how gene expression, and the production of protein, is affected by substance abuse provides clues to how multi-generational changes in brain chemistry make offspring more susceptible to drug addiction.

Studies like these will eventually help treatment centers and doctors provide more effective drug counseling solutions, and help educators teach young people the importance of avoiding drug use. Anyone struggling with chemical dependency issues, and friends and family of those dependent on drugs or alcohol, can utilize sites like Rehab-International.org to learn more about how they can get help for their addictions.

Filed Under: Child Health, Drug Abuse Tagged With: Dopamine, Substance abuse, Substance dependence

What to do with a violent teenager

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Teenagers can get violent. When an explosion of hormones is brewing in them, they are susceptible to get volcanic once in a while. But not always. If it is always, then there is a problem. Violence is one among those teen issues that is dangerous. Because violence itself is dangerous. And dangerous is death.

Now the question arises, why are teenagers violent? Researchers dealing with teen issues feel that teen violence erupts from a lot of factors. The issues might be lack of harmony in the family. Addiction problems of the teenager. A general ferocious disposition. Attitude problems. Problems with the academic system. Substance abuse and so on.

Groups that teenage boys are part of play a big role in how the temperaments of a teenager shape up. Physically violent teenagers are mostly boys, though there are physically violent girls too. However, the percentage of physically violent girls is less as compared to boys.

Teenagers who have addiction problems have the highest violence problems. When their addiction is being treated at rehab centers, their violence reaches morbid peaks from the withdrawal symptoms they experience. Even before treatment is taken, teenagers with alcohol or drug addictions get violent the moment they are denied the addictive substance. The violence can take even fatal proportions. It is not surprising to see addiction-prone teenagers behind bars for murder, and assault.

Dealing with a violent teenager is tough. Before starting off, a root cause analysis has to be done. One needs to ascertain what causes the teenager to be violent. After finding the answer, concerted steps have to be taken to solve that problem.

Root causes can be plenty. It might be a personality disorder. Even a personal breakup issue. The teenager might be taking to drugs and alcohol. There could be a sex addiction problem. Academic grades might be low and so on.

By getting to the root of the problem and fixing it, teenage violence can be stemmed up to a certain level.

Filed Under: Counselling Tagged With: Addiction, Adolescence, Health, Root cause analysis, Substance abuse, Substance dependence, United States, Violence

Myths about teenage substance abuse

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Substance abuse in teenagers is a problem that is steadily rising. World-wide teenagers are getting into substance addiction problems very fast and are finding it very difficult to escape it. Given that teenage years are trying out years, teenagers easily fall into the den of drug addicts, and alcoholics.

Teenagers are introduced to addictions by their friends. Otherwise it is not possible for a teenager to just venture out and get into a drug-addiction zone. That’s why it is important for a teenager to have the right set of friends during that time.

Any repetitive use of a substance causes addiction. The brain is wired to fall into patterns. And these patterns become habits. Habits become obsessions. Obsessions become addictions. Unfortunately the brain is not that smart to detect all these things, although the mind is. The brain is a creation of the body, whereas the mind is a creation of the personality.

Addiction in teenagers has a lot of myths doing the rounds. Parents need to take cognizance of such myths.

Myth 1: A teenager’s addiction problem will solve on its own

Absolutely wrong. A teenager’s addiction problem will not solve on its own, but swallow the teenager alive. Teenage addictions rarely phase out completely, unless special preventive attention is given. Teenagers need to be helped out of the addiction problem. They are at an age when they can’t think for themselves. So how can teenagers solve their addiction problems?

Myth2: Parents are to blame

This is another popular myth. Parents are not the architects of a teenager’s substance addiction problem. Even the best of parents have had the worst of kids with alarming teen issues.
Myth 3: A teenager’s addiction should not be cured with medication. Since medication is also a drug.
Agreed medication is a type of drug. But it is not a psychoactive drug. It does not stimulate the nervous system, and cause addiction problems. Medication is merely a prohibitory mechanism to suppress the addiction tendencies of the teenager.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse Tagged With: Addiction, Adolescence, Brain, Health, Parent, Psychoactive drug, Substance abuse, Substance dependence

Family dinners can help teenagers put off drugs

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Family dinners create a sense of belonging in children, and can prevent addiction problems in their teenage years. When a family sits together, children are bonded by a purpose. It is an invisible thread that connects people together. Fully knowing how much their behavior can impact others, children will grow up feeling more responsible towards their family members.

Responsibility is the first step towards discernment. Familial ties strengthen this trait in children. Later on, they grow up to be more responsible teenagers. Families that don’t dine together, will lose their bonding over time. Children will feel more uncared for. Uncared for feelings in children might lead to teenage addiction problems. Such children when they become teens, feel that nobody cares for them, so why would they care about themselves.

Recent reports that studied families who dined together indicate that children in those families had very less substance abuse or addiction problems. This fact is enough to make it clear that family bonding is the key to teen issues. A strongly knit family will have lesser teen issues of substance abuse or addiction.

All said, it does not really mean that families who dine together do not have teenagers with addiction problems. Addiction problems can be developed anytime, and anywhere. Teenagers are most often that not introduced to drugs, and alcohol by their friends. When they go to parties, or for trips, they tend to pick up these habits. And habits later on become addiction problems.

Incidences of alcohol or drug addiction are however lower in well-knit families. Teenagers are more aware of the implications of their behavior and acts in such families. They are also emotionally attached to their family members. This is the chiefest deterrent to taking to substance addiction.

Families have to start to dine together. Dining together creates harmony in the household. It will also make children more loved and responsible. They will grow up to become well-mannered citizens of the country.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse Prevention Tagged With: Addictions, Adolescence, Child, Drug Addiction, Family, Health, Illegal drug trade, Parent, Substance abuse, Substance dependence, United States

Signs Your Teenager is Using Drugs and Alcohol

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It is common for teenagers to experiment with drugs and alcohol, but the experimentation usually ends after a few times. Some teens will develop a need to use drugs and alcohol regularly, which can lead to serious problems with school and health. Parents who understand the signs of drug and alcohol abuse can give them an advantage to help their teens prevent future risks.

Peer pressure in high school is a risk all of its own. When it comes to drug and alcohol use, teens have a hard time saying no. The two most common substances used by teenagers are alcohol and marijuana. Studies show that almost every teenager has tried these substances at least once. Alcohol experimentation begins before a child becomes a teenager at the age of 12 where a teenager is likely to experiment with marijuana at the age of 14.

Prescription medication is becoming more popular among teens because they are easier to get and less expensive. The use of illegal drugs is increasing into even more dangerous drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine. Teenage drug addiction can lead to depression and low-self esteem, which can lead to a lifelong battle of these diseases.

There are many warning signs of drug and alcohol abuse in teenagers. Parents can identify there is a problem if they can recognize the signs of abuse in their children. Sudden mood swings and unusual irresponsible behavior are telling signs of abuse among teenagers. Teens that have a constant cough, red eyes, and frequent headaches may be developing physical signs of dependency on drugs and alcohol. If your teenager has begun hanging out with a different crowd and enjoying activities that are not in their character, this could be a sign of addiction. The most common sign of teenage addiction is having problems in school when they were good students before.

Filed Under: Alcohol abuse, Child Health, Drug Abuse Tagged With: Addictions, Adolescence, Alcohol, Alcohol abuse, Alcohol Addiction, Drug Abuse, Drug Addiction, Health, Illegal drug trade, Prescription drug, Substance abuse, Substance dependence, Teen Issues

Addiction Treatment Facilities

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For a speedy recovery, and a better post-addiction treatment health, a good addiction treatment facility is of paramount importance. Professional rehabilitation centers are the need of the hour. Before heading to one, one needs to conduct a background check to verify if the rehabilitation center is a successful one, and has been recommended by others.

Although you can take a gamble with a newly opened rehabilitation center, you can easily find out if the facilities are up to the mark by taking a look inside. New rehabs can wait for serious addiction problems.

Rehabilitation centers use a multi-pronged approach to treat drug addiction problems. It might be suppressing withdrawal systems through psychological healing, quarantining treatments, and programs that encourage the drug addict to work in a controlled environment.

By getting a person with addiction problems to start working, half the battle is won. When the body starts to get tired, the addiction weans away. Giving the patient constructive and purpose-full activity is a way to rejuvenate the nervous system.

Most drug rehabilitation centers will have programs that are designed with a lot of research. Ultimately the success of a rehab center depends on the success of a person afflicted with addiction problems. Rehab centers are like mini-hospitals that have people who are on call all day and all night. Indeed, this is a very attractive feature, given that drug addicts can become panicky at any time during the day.

Rehab centers will have counseling services to counsel patients with addiction problems. Sometimes rehabs might invite former drug-addicts themselves to take a counseling session. This feat will inspire existing drug addicts to come out of their addiction problems.

For women, single gender rehabs are the best thing to do. In single gender rehabs, the women are treated in an only-for-women drug addiction center that takes only women addicts. It can be helpful for women to concentrate on their healing instead of getting distracted by other things.

Filed Under: Drug Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Centers Tagged With: Addictions, Betty Ford Center, Drug Rehabilitation, Health, Lindsay Lohan, Substance abuse, Substance dependence, United States

Addiction: More Than Substance

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For many, the term addiction is defined only for substances such as tobacco, alcohol, or narcotics. This type of addiction briefly alters the chemical setting of the brain, but there are new forms of addiction that do not require a substance. Many people believe that addiction should be defined for both physiological and psychological addictions.

Many people believe the definition of addiction should accommodate psychological addictions. Psychological addictions can include behavioral addictions such as gambling, eating, sex, pornography, and exercise. The psychological dependency on the listed behaviors and more are being treated as addictions because they have the same symptoms of guilt, hopelessness, and anxiety as physiological addictions create in the user. Psychological addictions, like physiological addictions, can create medical conditions such as epilepsy and depression.

The concept of physiological addictions is mostly considered addictions to substances that alter the brain chemistry, but the dependence factor of the addiction creates different views when addiction occurs. Most professionals believe that there is no dependence on a substance if the individual has not built a tolerance for the drug or does not display the symptoms of withdrawal. The psychological or behavioral addiction has been defined as compulsions of human behavior that is not related to an actual substance. A recurring compulsion to engage in a harmful activity regardless of the consequences is the basis for the definition of psychological addictions.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine has combined both substance abuse and behavioral addiction in their definition, “Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations.” With the broadening of the definition, there are many who suffer from addictions and are unaware their behavior is potentially harmful to themselves and those around them. By becoming more aware of your behavior patterns, you may be able to recognize psychological addictions that are developing or are already present in your life.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Addiction, American Society of Addiction Medicine, Behavior, Behavioral addiction, Disease, Psychology, Substance abuse, Substance dependence