Cocaine is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant and is both a stimulant of the central nervous system and an appetite suppressant. Cocaine readily passes into the brain when ingested into the body. A high level of dopamine is built-up in the brain which stimulates nerve cells causing euphoria. Read more at Cocaine Addiction.
Sadly, though the possession, cultivation, and distribution of cocaine are considered illegal for non-medicinal and non-government sanctioned purposes in virtually all parts of the world it is one of the most freely commercialised products in the world. Ever since its discovery, it has destroyed many lives all through history due to its addictive properties.
The use of Cocaine is a cancer that is prevalent across all socioeconomic strata and is no respecter of age, demographics, economic, social, political, religious, and livelihood.
Cocaine Addiction
The world’s most powerful stimulant of natural origin known to man is cocaine. It is usually sold on the streets in the form of a fine white powder. It can either be absorbed, inhaled, injected, sniffed or taken orally.
There are two primary forms of cocaine: one, the powdery type used for snorting up the nose. The second is freebase, better known as crack cocaine, used for smoking.
No matter the form or type of cocaine you take, addiction is swift to follow and dependency evolves in less than 2 weeks. Did you ever imagine that a habit you started casually, maybe to fit in with your peers or maybe due to stress would make end by you being so totally addicted and in danger of losing your life? No mercy is shown by this addiction and is swift to act.
Cocaine addicts like to believe that it is not addictive because it lacks the physical withdrawal symptoms seen in alcohol or heroin addiction. Cocaine has powerful psychological addictive properties. Which ever way you put it, it is addictive, “If it is not addictive, then why can’t the user stop using?”
Methods of Cocaine Abuse
People should be aware that Cocaine is presently the most abused major stimulant in the world and has become the drug most frequently involved in emergency department visits. Even though it is not a new drug it is termed as the caviar of recreational drugs.
Addiction, severe health problems and death are lead to cocaine abuse. In failed attempts to recreate the pleasurable sensations of their first exposure to cocaine, abusers are trapped in a vicious cycle of increased cocaine abuse. The route of drug administration commonly used for cocaine: snorting, injecting, and smoking causes the intensity and duration of cocaine’s effects, which include increased energy, reduced fatigue, and mental alertness. Cocaine powder is inhaled through the nose in the snorting process, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream through the nasal tissues. Injecting is the use of a needle to release the drug directly into the bloodstream. Cocaine vapor or smoke is inhaled into the lungs in smoking process, where absorption into the bloodstream is as rapid as by injection. Other severe problems and addiction are lead by using these methods.
Health Risks from Cocaine Abuse and Addiction
Different methods of cocaine abuse produce different adverse effects - make no mistake - they are severe and life-threatening.
” Losing Sense of smell , suffering nosebleeds, having problems with swallowing, hoarseness, and a chronically running nose are caused due to snorting.
” Severe bowel gangrene are suffered by ingesters as a result of reduced blood flow. Severe allergic reactions are caused to injecters ,who also have an increased risk for contracting HIV and other blood-borne diseases.
” Irritability, restlessness, anxiety, and paranoia are suffered by bingers.
Remember, prolonged cocaine abuse may lead to a temporary state of full-blown paranoid psychosis, causing the abuser to loose touch with reality.
Regardless of the method or frequency of cocaine abuse, you should know that you are only hastening your own end. Each one of us should have a sense of purpose in our lives to enable us to avoid the lure of Cocaine.
Read more at Recognizing And Treating Alcohol Abuse
A drug, Marijuana, prepared for human consumption in an herbal form is also called by Cannabis, one among its several names. The fact that using Marijuana is in fact Drug abuse should be apprised by people. People have termed Marijuana safer to use than other drugs and tried to whitewash it; however, real psychological harm and physical harm are caused. What remain are facts: Marijuana has been termed a hallucinogenic drug; Marijuana like any other drug leads to addiction and abuse. For more information visit, Marijuana Abuse.
Symptoms Of Marijuana’s Addiction
Both emotional and mental addictions are caused by Marijuana. The mind becomes Marijuana obsessed and you start gravitating towards friends and people who are like minded. Full blown addiction causes the person to function under the Marijuana high. Their constant abuse is due to the misconception that marijuana is what they need to solve their problems.Addicts hate to be without their stash and are constantly concerned with the next hit. In a nutshell, you live, breathe and dream Marijuana. Some classic symptoms are:
” Marijuana tolerance: the need for markedly in increased amounts of marijuana to achieve intoxication or markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of Marijuana.
” Greater use of marijuana than intended: Large amount of marijuana is taken or it is taken for longer period than was intended.
” Unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control marijuana use.
” For using marijuana a great deal of time is spent.
” Marijuana use causing a reduction in social, occupational or recreational activities.
” significant problems will be caused due to continued use of marijuana despite knowing about it.
Marijuana and Addiction-Myths and Facts
As there are several myths surrounding the use of Marijuana interpretations vary from one another so the reader is urged to keep an open mind.
Cause for Permanent Mental Illness Marijuana users become irrational and often behave erratically when intoxicating them.
While there is no convincing scientific evidence that marijuana causes psychological damage or mental illness, Marijuana users do experience psychological distress following marijuana ingestion, which may include feelings of panic, anxiety, and paranoia.
Marijuana is Highly Addictive. To break the addiction long term users experiencing physical dependence and withdrawal often need professional drug treatment.
This holds good only for people who are long term users, however most people studies show only smoke Marijuana occasionally and in very small quantities.
Marijuana is far more potent today than in the past. The youth of today are using a much more dangerous drug than their counterparts from the past ever did.
This is a highly debatable point as common sense tells us it must be true considering that man has always tried to improve everything so why not Marijuana.
Marijuana offences are not severely punished. Continued use of this drug is encouraged by few marijuana addicts being arrested or sent to prison.
But statistics shows that the number of arrests have more than doubled and is increasing. They do get arrested, tried and jailed and make no mistake about that. The Law in every country in the world wishes to see the end of the drug rule - be it Marijuana or any other drug.
Marijuana is more damaging to the lungs than tobacco. There is elevated risk of developing lung cancer and related diseases to marijuana smokers.
The belief that moderate marijuana smoking poses minimal danger to the lungs has been under dispute. Unlike heavy tobacco smokers, heavy marijuana smokers exhibit no obstruction of the lung’s small airway. Smoking is smoking - no matter what it is you are smoking - so wise up.
Read more at Ambien, Wonder Pill or Downer
Opioid addiction is treated by an opioid medication called Buprenorphine. It is usually dispensed by a physician as a take home treatment. It is considered a safe treatment for heroin and other opiate addictions and has crossed one major hurdle in the process of gaining American FDA approval. For more information, visit Suboxone Treatment.
The generic name of chemical compound Buprenorphine Hydochloride is called shortly Buprenorphine which is a semi-synthetic opioid. The brand names of Buprenorphine-based medications are Suboxone and Subutex.
Four parts Buprenorphine and 1 part naloxone is contained in Suboxone. Only active ingredient in Subutex is Buprenorphine. Most physicians prefer Suboxone because it is less likely to be misused due to presence of the naloxone. Even though Suboxone was invented for the US market, it is available in other countries as well.
Buprenorphine as a Cure
For treating opiate addiction Buprenophine as an analgesic may act as fourth medication other being methadone, naltrexone, and LAAM (l-alpha-acetyl-methadol). Buprenorphine is an attractive and clinically helpful treatment option because of its unique effects and pharmacology. For example, buprenorphine produces less euphoria than morphine and heroin. When compared with other opiates, it also causes a significantly lower degree of sedation and respiratory depression, the slowing down of breathing that makes heroin overdoses so dangerous. Even high doses of buprenorphine–as much as 100 times the dose at which it produces analgesia–do not produce dangerous respiratory effects. “Respiratory depression caused by buprenorphine is not of clinical concern,” says Segal, “which makes it an extremely attractive treatment alternative.”
Buprenorphine being an agonist which are chemicals that bind to and stimulate opiate receptors has limited side effects.
SUBOXONE Treatment
The use of Suboxone as an office based treatment for opioid dependence can be divided into 6 phases:
Pretreatment Screening: in pretreatment screening the goal is to determine whether office-based treatment is the best course of action for a particular patient. This stage usually consists of a brief interview conducted either over the phone or in person.
Intake: patients accepted for treatment in the pretreatment screening are then scheduled for intake. To establish the patient’s medical record showing suitability for office based treatment is the main objective of the intake.
Induction: With adequate doses of Suboxone opioid withdrawal is suppressed safely. The patient should be warned of possible moderate opioid withdrawal symptoms. This stage usually lasts anywhere from 2-5 days and should begin immediately following intake.
Stabilization: During this stage the patient’s SUBOXONE dose is “fine-tuned.” Finding the minimum dose necessary to hold the patient in treatment and suppressing opioid withdrawal effects are the objective of this stage. Progressive dose adjustments are used for this stage.
Maintenance:
Chief goals are:
Prevent opioid withdrawal symptoms
Opioid cravings are suppressed
Greatly attenuate the use of self-administered opioids
Medically Supervised Withdrawal: this is done only when the patient and physician agree that to do so would be beneficial. The rate at which the patient’s Suboxone dose should be tapered by getting acceptance from both physician and patient.
Patients should be prepared for the possibility of mild, transitory withdrawal symptoms, which may include reduced energy, reduced appetite, irritability, or insomnia.
Psychosocial counseling and therapy should be continued and regularly monitored when applying Suboxone treatment. These steps are crucial to the person’s recovery and well being.
Read more at Alcohol Abuse, Recognizing and Treating the Problem
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