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Successful
Interventions
The
turmoil caused by practicing alcoholics and drug addicts
can be considerable and it tends to get worse rather
than better over any period of time. Addiction causes
people who are not naturally that way to become progressively
more self-centered, inconsiderate, dishonest, defensive
and suspicious as time passes. They may experience
unpredictable mood swings, outbursts of emotional
and sometimes physical violence and make major decisions
without any consideration. They begin to act like
the proverbial loose cannon and can cause a great
deal of destruction not only in their own lives but
in the lives of those close to them. Such people are
correctly said to be out of control and those who
care about them often do not know what to do but stand
helplessly by and watch as they create more chaos
for themselves and everyone around them, praying that
the outcome will not be legal problems, an institution,
injury or death and that sooner rather than later
he or she will hit bottom, come to his or her senses
and either stop on their own or seek professional
help. However, though he's roaring through other people's
lives like a tornado, left to his own devices, it
usually requires some type of very traumatic experience
to get an alcoholic or addict to admit that there
is even a chance a problem exists.
Crack
Cocaine Detox
Detox
or withdrawal symptoms from cocaine or crack cocaine
may include severe depression, fatigue, generalized
malaise, vivid and unpleasant dreams, agitation and
restless behavior, slowing of activity or increased
appetite.
Because at least 50% of all cocaine
addicts have a co-occurring disorder (particularly
bi-polar disorder, depression and attention-deficit
disorder), these conditions must be considered and
treated aggressively when treating cocaine addiction.
Relapse rates are dramatically reduced
when these co-existing conditions are treated appropriately.
All prescription drugs should be monitored carefully
in patients who abuse substances.
Symptoms
of Opiate Addiction
There
are many signs that would indicate a person is addicted
to, or at least abusing opiates. If a person is exhibiting
any of the following signs, there is good cause for
concern. If a person is displaying multiple signs,
they should be considered red flag warnings.
Some of the
more obvious signs of opiate addiction are: constricted
(pinpointed) pupils, nodding out, increased activity
level before nodding out, use of laxatives (heroin
causes constipation), vomiting, loss of established
friendships, new undesirable friends, depression,
track (needle) marks on arms, sudden change in behavior,
itching and scratching, weight loss, cessation of
menstruation, finding bent spoons with burn marks,
disappearance of spoons, stolen credit cards and checks
or cash, aluminum foil with burn marks, new purchases
returned for a cash refund, pawn slips found around
the house, theft of household valuables, blood spots
on clothing, bottles of vinegar or bleach (used to
clean syringes) and little cotton balls.
Alcohol
Detox Symptoms
Within
six to 48 hours after not drinking, hallucinations
may develop for the more seriously alcohol dependent.
These are usually visual hallucinations but they can
also involve sounds and smells. They can last for
a few hours or up to weeks at a time. Also within
this time frame after quitting, convulsions or seizures
can occur, which is the point at which alcoholism
and alcohol withdrawal becomes dangerous if not medically
treated.
Effects
of Crystal Meth
Other
side effects of crystal meth use include twitching,
jitteriness, repetitive behavior (known as "tweaking")
and jaw clenching or teeth grinding. It has been noted
that methamphetamine addicts lose their teeth abnormally
fast; this tooth loss may be due to jaw clenching,
although heavy meth users also tend to neglect personal
hygiene, such as brushing teeth. It is often claimed
that smoking crystal meth speeds the tooth decay process
by leaving a crystalline residue on the teeth and
while this is apparently confirmed by dentists, no
clinical studies have been done to investigate. This
early tooth decay in the young is often referred to
as "Meth Mouth or Meth Teeth".
Finding
Reputable and Ethical Detox Centers
It
may be more difficult for a person with a very limited
budget to access ethical and reputable drug treatment
centers, but help is available for everyone. In fact,
there are many organizations and treatment centers
that recognize and address the financial barriers
to treatment and recovery. In an attempt to screen
out the insincere these facilities may require the
indigent to display a little extra willingness that
a paying customer would not be required to display,
but they have limited space for these cases and don't
like them to be occupied by the reluctant to recover.
Different
Types of Rehab Programs
Most
alcohol and drug rehabs offer individual counseling,
group counseling, behavioral therapy, relapse prevention,
substance abuse education classes, lectures and workshops.
The ultimate goal of almost all alcohol and drug rehabs
is long-term continuous sobriety.
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