I am a recovering alcoholic, and I am in a 24 hour battle for my life. I urge you to talk to someone, anyone if you think for a second you may have a problem. It doesn't take long, and one drug may even lead to another as it did in my case. Please get help if you need it, and think about today, and not the past, and for sure not tomorrow, JUST FOT TODAY
Alcohol is used in liquid form.
How is it used?
Alcohol is drunk. Types include beer, wine, and liquor.
What are its short-term effects?
When a person drinks alcohol, the alcohol is absorbed by the stomach, enters the bloodstream, and goes to all the tissues. The effects of alcohol are dependent on a variety of factors, including a person's size, weight, age, and sex, as well as the amount of food and alcohol consumed. The disinhibiting effect of alcohol is one of the main reasons it is used in so many social situations. Other effects of moderate alcohol intake include dizziness and talkativeness; the immediate effects of a larger amount of alcohol include slurred speech, disturbed sleep, nausea, and vomiting. Alcohol, even at low doses, significantly impairs the judgment and coordination required to drive a car safely. Low to moderate doses of alcohol can also increase the incidence of a variety of aggressive acts, including domestic violence and child abuse. Hangovers are another possible effect after large amounts of alcohol are consumed; a hangover consists of headache, nausea, thirst, dizziness, and fatigue.
What are its long-term effects?
Prolonged, heavy use of alcohol can lead to addiction (alcoholism). Sudden cessation of long term, extensive alcohol intake is likely to produce withdrawal symptoms, including severe anxiety, tremors, hallucinations and convulsions. Long-term effects of consuming large quantities of alcohol, especially when combined with poor nutrition, can lead to permanent damage to vital organs such as the brain and liver. In addition, mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy may give birth to infants with fetal alcohol syndrome. These infants may suffer from mental retardation and other irreversible physical abnormalities. In addition, research indicates that children of alcoholic parents are at greater risk than other children of becoming alcoholics.
Think you know the facts about alcohol abuse? If you consume alcoholic beverages, it's important to know whether your drinking patterns are safe, risky or harmful. If you haven't done so already, you may want to take this Alcohol Assessment Quiz.
What is its federal classification?
Not Applicable
Source
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Think you know the facts about alcohol abuse? If you consume alcoholic beverages, it's important to know whether your drinking patterns are safe, risky or harmful. If you haven't done so already
Monday, June 15, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Signs of Meth use...
The signs of meth addiction take a toll on the user both physically and emotionally. It works directly on the brain and spinal cord by interfering with normal neurotransmission. Neurotransmitters are chemical substances naturally produced within nerve cells used to communicate with each other and send messages to influence and regulate our thinking and all other systems throughout the body.
The main neurotransmitter affected by methamphetamine is dopamine. Dopamine is involved with our natural reward system. For example, feeling good about a job well done, getting pleasure from our family or social interactions, feeling content and that our lives are meaningful and count for something, all rely on dopamine transmission.
The signs of meth addiction include more than the destruction of a person's ability to experience pleasure naturally. Chronic use can create a tolerance for the drug, leading a person to try to intensify the desired effects by taking increasingly higher doses, taking it more frequently or changing their method of getting high.
To support their habit, Meth users often participate in spur-of-the-moment crimes such as burglaries. Several signs of meth addiction include feelings of agitation and feeling wired. Addict’s behavior becomes unpredictable from moment to moment. They may start doing the same thing over and over, like taking apart and reassembling bits of machinery, or continuously picking at imaginary bugs under their skin.
Meth is referred to by many names including "meth," "speed .. crank," "chalk,"- "go-fast," "zip," and "cristy." Pure methamphetamine hydrochloride, the smokeable form of the drug, is called "L.A." or - because of its clear, chunky crystals which resemble frozen water - "ice," "crystal," 64glass," or "quartz."
Decreased appetite and possible weight loss
Rotting teeth
Picking at skin "Meth Bugs"
Dilated Pupils
Paranoia
Decreased interest in appearance
The signs of meth addiction include but are not limited to:
increased alertness
sense of well-being
paranoia
intense high
hallucinations
aggressive behavior
increased heart rate
convulsions
extreme rise in body temperature (as high as 108 degrees which can cause brain damage and death)
increased sweating/body odor
uncontrollable movements (twitching, jerking, etc...)
violent behavior
insomnia
impaired speech
dry, itchy skin
premature aging
rotting teeth
loss of appetite
acne, sores
numbness
disturbed sleep
excessive excitation
excessive talking
panic
anxiousness
nervousness
moodiness and irritability
false sense of confidence and power
delusions of grandeur leading to aggressive behavior
uninterested in friends, sex, or food
aggressive and violent behavior
severe depression
dilated pupils
The main neurotransmitter affected by methamphetamine is dopamine. Dopamine is involved with our natural reward system. For example, feeling good about a job well done, getting pleasure from our family or social interactions, feeling content and that our lives are meaningful and count for something, all rely on dopamine transmission.
The signs of meth addiction include more than the destruction of a person's ability to experience pleasure naturally. Chronic use can create a tolerance for the drug, leading a person to try to intensify the desired effects by taking increasingly higher doses, taking it more frequently or changing their method of getting high.
To support their habit, Meth users often participate in spur-of-the-moment crimes such as burglaries. Several signs of meth addiction include feelings of agitation and feeling wired. Addict’s behavior becomes unpredictable from moment to moment. They may start doing the same thing over and over, like taking apart and reassembling bits of machinery, or continuously picking at imaginary bugs under their skin.
Meth is referred to by many names including "meth," "speed .. crank," "chalk,"- "go-fast," "zip," and "cristy." Pure methamphetamine hydrochloride, the smokeable form of the drug, is called "L.A." or - because of its clear, chunky crystals which resemble frozen water - "ice," "crystal," 64glass," or "quartz."
Decreased appetite and possible weight loss
Rotting teeth
Picking at skin "Meth Bugs"
Dilated Pupils
Paranoia
Decreased interest in appearance
The signs of meth addiction include but are not limited to:
increased alertness
sense of well-being
paranoia
intense high
hallucinations
aggressive behavior
increased heart rate
convulsions
extreme rise in body temperature (as high as 108 degrees which can cause brain damage and death)
increased sweating/body odor
uncontrollable movements (twitching, jerking, etc...)
violent behavior
insomnia
impaired speech
dry, itchy skin
premature aging
rotting teeth
loss of appetite
acne, sores
numbness
disturbed sleep
excessive excitation
excessive talking
panic
anxiousness
nervousness
moodiness and irritability
false sense of confidence and power
delusions of grandeur leading to aggressive behavior
uninterested in friends, sex, or food
aggressive and violent behavior
severe depression
dilated pupils
Kids on Drugs...
It's hard to imagine your child using marijuana. But chances are, kids today will be faced with, "Should I or shouldn't I?" Young people have many stresses and the notion that "drugs will make you feel better" can have a lot of appeal. Also, youth might see drugs as something to experiment with or something that can help them fit in.
Research has shown that many parents today are ambivalent about drugs such as marijuana. Some consider it to be relatively risk-free and are more concerned about drugs such as cocaine or ecstasy. The wake-up call for parents, however, is that marijuana is not a harmless drug. It's time to teach your child that the answer to the marijuana question is, "I shouldn't, and I won't."
The drugging of America's schoolchildren for behavioral and emotional problems has been a scandal for at least two decades. Just when you thought things couldn't get worse, a new report shows that the prescribing of psychiatric drugs to children under the age of six has increased dramatically between 1991 and 1995. Here's one astounding statistic from the reports introduction: 3,000 prescriptions for the antidepressant, Prozac, were written in 1994 alone for infants younger than one year. This trend is alarming because there is no evidence of safety or efficacy for any of these drugs in children under age six.
The new report by Julie Magno Zito, PhD, University of Maryland, and colleagues, is based on the records of over 200,000 children between the ages of two and four who live in the Midwest and Eastern U.S. and were enrolled in an HMO or one of two Medicaid programs (JAMA, 2/23/00). The findings suggest that "1% to 1.5% of all children two to four years old enrolled in these programs are receiving stimulants, antidepressants, or antipsychotic medications," according to the editorial that accompanied the report. The largest increases in prescriptions were shown for stimulants, antidepressants, and the antihypertensive, clonidine (brand name: Catapres). Stimulants purportedly have the reverse effect in children. These drugs, most notably Ritalin, are primarily prescribed for a condition that some experts believe is nonexistent: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
To Peter R. Breggin, MD, the maverick psychiatrist and author of Talking Back to Ritalin: What doctors aren't telling you about stimulant drugs, "ADHD has one over-riding purpose--to put a medical veneer on the use of medication to control the behavior of children." According to the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a child has ADHD if he or she has six or more of the following symptoms for six months: "often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in a seat; often leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected; often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate; often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly; often 'on the go' or often acts as if 'driven by a motor;' often talks excessively; often blurts out the answer before questions have been completed; often has difficulty awaiting turn; often interrupts or intrudes on others." By this diagnostic definition, virtually all preschoolers may be headed for long-term drug therapy. Not surprisingly, boys are given 80% of the prescriptions for stimulants.
According to Dr. Breggin, there are no objective diagnostic criteria for ADHD, "no physical symptoms, no neurological signs, and no blood tests. Despite claims to the contrary, there are no brain scan findings and no biochemical imbalances. No physical tests can be done to verify that a child has 'ADHD.'" Ritalin has been on the market for over 30 years, he says, but no study has proved safety and efficacy beyond a few weeks.
The new report by Dr. Zito and colleagues notes that cardiovascular adverse effects have been reported in young children taking clonidine in combination with other medications. But the investigators did not explain why doctors would prescribe antihypertension drugs to children. Psychologist Dominick Riccio, PhD, of the International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology, was asked for his opinion as someone who has followed the field for years. "One possible explanation could be that when Ritalin and other amphetamine-like drugs don't work and may even cause the very symptoms they're purported to reduce, doctors add clonidine or anti-anxiety drugs to treat the side effects of the Ritalin, such as insomnia and nervousness," answered Dr. Riccio, in a telephone interview. "Polypharmacy--that is, prescribing more than one drug--generally is bad psychiatry because it is not clear what's having the 'therapeutic' effect and you don't know what's causing the side effects when they occur."
Research has shown that many parents today are ambivalent about drugs such as marijuana. Some consider it to be relatively risk-free and are more concerned about drugs such as cocaine or ecstasy. The wake-up call for parents, however, is that marijuana is not a harmless drug. It's time to teach your child that the answer to the marijuana question is, "I shouldn't, and I won't."
The drugging of America's schoolchildren for behavioral and emotional problems has been a scandal for at least two decades. Just when you thought things couldn't get worse, a new report shows that the prescribing of psychiatric drugs to children under the age of six has increased dramatically between 1991 and 1995. Here's one astounding statistic from the reports introduction: 3,000 prescriptions for the antidepressant, Prozac, were written in 1994 alone for infants younger than one year. This trend is alarming because there is no evidence of safety or efficacy for any of these drugs in children under age six.
The new report by Julie Magno Zito, PhD, University of Maryland, and colleagues, is based on the records of over 200,000 children between the ages of two and four who live in the Midwest and Eastern U.S. and were enrolled in an HMO or one of two Medicaid programs (JAMA, 2/23/00). The findings suggest that "1% to 1.5% of all children two to four years old enrolled in these programs are receiving stimulants, antidepressants, or antipsychotic medications," according to the editorial that accompanied the report. The largest increases in prescriptions were shown for stimulants, antidepressants, and the antihypertensive, clonidine (brand name: Catapres). Stimulants purportedly have the reverse effect in children. These drugs, most notably Ritalin, are primarily prescribed for a condition that some experts believe is nonexistent: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
To Peter R. Breggin, MD, the maverick psychiatrist and author of Talking Back to Ritalin: What doctors aren't telling you about stimulant drugs, "ADHD has one over-riding purpose--to put a medical veneer on the use of medication to control the behavior of children." According to the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a child has ADHD if he or she has six or more of the following symptoms for six months: "often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in a seat; often leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected; often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate; often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly; often 'on the go' or often acts as if 'driven by a motor;' often talks excessively; often blurts out the answer before questions have been completed; often has difficulty awaiting turn; often interrupts or intrudes on others." By this diagnostic definition, virtually all preschoolers may be headed for long-term drug therapy. Not surprisingly, boys are given 80% of the prescriptions for stimulants.
According to Dr. Breggin, there are no objective diagnostic criteria for ADHD, "no physical symptoms, no neurological signs, and no blood tests. Despite claims to the contrary, there are no brain scan findings and no biochemical imbalances. No physical tests can be done to verify that a child has 'ADHD.'" Ritalin has been on the market for over 30 years, he says, but no study has proved safety and efficacy beyond a few weeks.
The new report by Dr. Zito and colleagues notes that cardiovascular adverse effects have been reported in young children taking clonidine in combination with other medications. But the investigators did not explain why doctors would prescribe antihypertension drugs to children. Psychologist Dominick Riccio, PhD, of the International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology, was asked for his opinion as someone who has followed the field for years. "One possible explanation could be that when Ritalin and other amphetamine-like drugs don't work and may even cause the very symptoms they're purported to reduce, doctors add clonidine or anti-anxiety drugs to treat the side effects of the Ritalin, such as insomnia and nervousness," answered Dr. Riccio, in a telephone interview. "Polypharmacy--that is, prescribing more than one drug--generally is bad psychiatry because it is not clear what's having the 'therapeutic' effect and you don't know what's causing the side effects when they occur."
Heroin Information...
A) One of the most detrimental long-term effects of heroin is heroin addiction itself. Addiction is a chronic problem characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, and by neurochemical and molecular changes in the brain. Heroin also produces a profound degree of tolerance and physical dependence, which are powerful motivating factors for compulsive use and abuse. As with abusers of any addictive drug, heroin addicts gradually spend more and more time and energy obtaining and using the drug. Once they are addicted, the heroin abusers' primary purpose in life becomes seeking and using drugs. The drugs literally change their brains.
Physical dependence develops with higher doses of the drug. With physical dependence, the body adapts to the presence of the drug and withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced abruptly. Withdrawal may occur within a few hours after the last time the drug is taken. Symptoms of withdrawal include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps ("cold turkey"), and leg movements. Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 24 and 48 hours after the last dose of heroin and subside after about a week. However, some people have shown persistent withdrawal signs for many months. Heroin withdrawal is never fatal to otherwise healthy adults, but it can cause death to the fetus of a pregnant addict.
At some point during continuous heroin use, a person can become addicted to the drug. Sometimes addicted individuals will endure many of the withdrawal symptoms to reduce their tolerance for the drug so that they can again experience the rush.
Physical dependence and the emergence of withdrawal symptoms were once believed to be the key features of heroin addiction. We now know this may not be the case entirely, since craving and relapse can occur weeks and months after withdrawal symptoms are long gone. We also know that patients with chronic pain who need opiates to function (sometimes over extended periods) have few if any problems leaving opiates after their pain is resolved by other means. This may be because the patient in pain is simply seeking relief of pain and not the rush sought by the addict.
A) Because many heroin addicts often share needles and other injection equipment, they are at special risk of contracting HIV and other infectious diseases. Infection of injection drug users with HIV is spread primarily through reuse of contaminated syringes and needles or other paraphernalia by more than one person, as well as through unprotected sexual intercourse with HIV-infected individuals. For nearly one-third of Americans infected with HIV, injection drug use is a risk factor. In fact, drug abuse is the fastest growing vector for the spread of HIV in the Nation.
Research has found that drug abusers can change the behaviors that put them at risk for contracting HIV, through drug abuse treatment, prevention, and community-based outreach programs. They can eliminate drug use, drug-related risk behaviors such as needle sharing, unsafe sexual practices, and in turn the risk of exposure to HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. Drug abuse prevention and treatment are highly effective in preventing the spread of HIV.
) Heroin Withdrawal symptoms are some of the nastiest an addict can experience compared to withdrawal from any other drug. The individual who has become physically as well as psychologically dependent on heroin will experience heroin withdrawal with an abrupt discontinuation of use or even a decrease in their daily amount of heroin intake. The onset of heroin withdrawal symptoms begins six to eight hours after the last dose is administrated. Major heroin withdrawal symptoms peak between 48 and 72 hours after the last dose of heroin and subdue after about one week. The symptoms of heroin withdrawal produced are similar to a bad case of the flu.
Symptoms of heroin withdrawal include but are not limited to:
* dilated pupils
* piloerection (goose bumps)
* watery eyes
* runny nose
* yawning
* loss of appetite
* tremors
* panic
* chills
* nausea
* muscle cramps
* insomnia
* stomach cramps
* diarrhea
* vomiting
* shaking
* chills or profuse sweating
* irritability
* jitterness
Physical dependence develops with higher doses of the drug. With physical dependence, the body adapts to the presence of the drug and withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced abruptly. Withdrawal may occur within a few hours after the last time the drug is taken. Symptoms of withdrawal include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps ("cold turkey"), and leg movements. Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 24 and 48 hours after the last dose of heroin and subside after about a week. However, some people have shown persistent withdrawal signs for many months. Heroin withdrawal is never fatal to otherwise healthy adults, but it can cause death to the fetus of a pregnant addict.
At some point during continuous heroin use, a person can become addicted to the drug. Sometimes addicted individuals will endure many of the withdrawal symptoms to reduce their tolerance for the drug so that they can again experience the rush.
Physical dependence and the emergence of withdrawal symptoms were once believed to be the key features of heroin addiction. We now know this may not be the case entirely, since craving and relapse can occur weeks and months after withdrawal symptoms are long gone. We also know that patients with chronic pain who need opiates to function (sometimes over extended periods) have few if any problems leaving opiates after their pain is resolved by other means. This may be because the patient in pain is simply seeking relief of pain and not the rush sought by the addict.
A) Because many heroin addicts often share needles and other injection equipment, they are at special risk of contracting HIV and other infectious diseases. Infection of injection drug users with HIV is spread primarily through reuse of contaminated syringes and needles or other paraphernalia by more than one person, as well as through unprotected sexual intercourse with HIV-infected individuals. For nearly one-third of Americans infected with HIV, injection drug use is a risk factor. In fact, drug abuse is the fastest growing vector for the spread of HIV in the Nation.
Research has found that drug abusers can change the behaviors that put them at risk for contracting HIV, through drug abuse treatment, prevention, and community-based outreach programs. They can eliminate drug use, drug-related risk behaviors such as needle sharing, unsafe sexual practices, and in turn the risk of exposure to HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. Drug abuse prevention and treatment are highly effective in preventing the spread of HIV.
) Heroin Withdrawal symptoms are some of the nastiest an addict can experience compared to withdrawal from any other drug. The individual who has become physically as well as psychologically dependent on heroin will experience heroin withdrawal with an abrupt discontinuation of use or even a decrease in their daily amount of heroin intake. The onset of heroin withdrawal symptoms begins six to eight hours after the last dose is administrated. Major heroin withdrawal symptoms peak between 48 and 72 hours after the last dose of heroin and subdue after about one week. The symptoms of heroin withdrawal produced are similar to a bad case of the flu.
Symptoms of heroin withdrawal include but are not limited to:
* dilated pupils
* piloerection (goose bumps)
* watery eyes
* runny nose
* yawning
* loss of appetite
* tremors
* panic
* chills
* nausea
* muscle cramps
* insomnia
* stomach cramps
* diarrhea
* vomiting
* shaking
* chills or profuse sweating
* irritability
* jitterness
Crack Information
A.) Crack is inhaled and rapidly absorbed through the lungs, into the blood, and carried swiftly to the brain. The chances of overdosing and poisoning leading to coma, convulsions, and death are greatly increased. Crack's rapid rush -5 to 7 minutes of intense pleasure- quickly subsides, leading to depression that needs to be relieved by more crack. This cycle enhances the chances of addiction and dependency. Because of the brief high, users are constantly thinking about, and devising ways to get more crack. Psychologically, the drug reduces concentration, ambition, drive, and increases confusion and irritability, wreaking havoc on users' professional and personal lives. Habitual use may lead to cocaine psychosis causing, paranoia, hallucinations, and a condition known as formication, in which insects or snakes are perceived to be crawling under the skin. The paranoia and depression can instigate violent and suicidal behavior. The side effects of adulterants increase cocaine's risks. The drug is often cut with one or more of any number of other substances, such as the cheaper drugs procaine, lidocaine, and benzocaine, and substances that pose no serious risks, such as sugars (mannitol and sucrose), or starches. However, when quinine or amphetamines are added, the potential for serious side effects increases dramatically.
A) Once an individual has tried crack, they may be unable to predict or control the extent to which they will continue to use. Crack is probably the most addictive substance that has been devised so far. Crack addicts must have more and more crack to sustain their high and avoid the intense "crash" or depression that follows their binges. They become physically and psychologically dependent on crack, which is often a result of only few doses of the drug taken within a few days. This dependence can lead to addiction.
All to often, the process of crack addiction goes something like this: The "soon to be addict" takes their first hit. Upon inhalation of this powerful drug, the users body instantly begins the addiction process. The individual's mental and emotional being is soon to follow, but for now just their body suffers from the initial stages of crack addiction. After the first few times using the drug, their mind slowly starts the addiction process. This grows stronger and stronger until, mentally, the addict believes that they cannot live without the drug. They now are entangled in a full fledged crack addiction. Shortly after this occurs, crack takes complete control over their emotions.
Once the individual's emotions have been overridden by cocaine, they no longer feel normal without being intoxicated. When this occurs they feel the need to use more crack just to feel normal. In order to get high they have to take an immense amount of the drug. Their crack addiction has infiltrated all areas of their life. They can no longer function physically, emotionally, or mentally without crack. This cycle of addiction continues until the individual either quits using or dies.
The above process of crack addiction demonstrates the potential power of this insidious drug. Even though death lurks around the corner, individuals with an addiction to crack continue to use with no regard for their life or anyone elses.
A) The use of crack alters the processes of the brain by causing a change in the way neurons in the brain communicate. Nerve cells, called neurons, communicate with each other by supplying the brain with chemicals called neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters allow information in the form of electrical impulses to be passed through the body. This process works by neurotransmitters attaching themselves to certain areas in the brain. One of the neurotransmitters affected by crack is called dopamine. Dopamine is released by neurons in the part of the brain that controls feelings of pleasure and well-being. This area is in the limbic system of the brain. Normally, once dopamine has transferred to a nerve cell's receptors and caused a reaction in a cell, it is transferred back to the neuron that released it.
Crack cocaine causes damage to this system and blocks the process of transfer. Dopamine then builds up in the gap synapse between neurons. As a result, for crack cocaine users, dopamine keeps affecting a nerve cell after it should have stopped. That's why someone who uses crack cocaine feels an extra sense of euphoria and pleasure. Although crack cocaine may bring on intense feelings of pleasure while it is being used, crack cocaine can damage the ability to feel pleasure in the long run. Research suggests that long-term crack cocaine use may reduce the amount of dopamine or the number of dopamine receptors in the brain. When this happens, nerve cells must have crack cocaine to communicate properly. Without crack cocaine, the brain can't send enough dopamine to the receptors to create a feeling of pleasure.
A) Once an individual has tried crack, they may be unable to predict or control the extent to which they will continue to use. Crack is probably the most addictive substance that has been devised so far. Crack addicts must have more and more crack to sustain their high and avoid the intense "crash" or depression that follows their binges. They become physically and psychologically dependent on crack, which is often a result of only few doses of the drug taken within a few days. This dependence can lead to addiction.
All to often, the process of crack addiction goes something like this: The "soon to be addict" takes their first hit. Upon inhalation of this powerful drug, the users body instantly begins the addiction process. The individual's mental and emotional being is soon to follow, but for now just their body suffers from the initial stages of crack addiction. After the first few times using the drug, their mind slowly starts the addiction process. This grows stronger and stronger until, mentally, the addict believes that they cannot live without the drug. They now are entangled in a full fledged crack addiction. Shortly after this occurs, crack takes complete control over their emotions.
Once the individual's emotions have been overridden by cocaine, they no longer feel normal without being intoxicated. When this occurs they feel the need to use more crack just to feel normal. In order to get high they have to take an immense amount of the drug. Their crack addiction has infiltrated all areas of their life. They can no longer function physically, emotionally, or mentally without crack. This cycle of addiction continues until the individual either quits using or dies.
The above process of crack addiction demonstrates the potential power of this insidious drug. Even though death lurks around the corner, individuals with an addiction to crack continue to use with no regard for their life or anyone elses.
A) The use of crack alters the processes of the brain by causing a change in the way neurons in the brain communicate. Nerve cells, called neurons, communicate with each other by supplying the brain with chemicals called neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters allow information in the form of electrical impulses to be passed through the body. This process works by neurotransmitters attaching themselves to certain areas in the brain. One of the neurotransmitters affected by crack is called dopamine. Dopamine is released by neurons in the part of the brain that controls feelings of pleasure and well-being. This area is in the limbic system of the brain. Normally, once dopamine has transferred to a nerve cell's receptors and caused a reaction in a cell, it is transferred back to the neuron that released it.
Crack cocaine causes damage to this system and blocks the process of transfer. Dopamine then builds up in the gap synapse between neurons. As a result, for crack cocaine users, dopamine keeps affecting a nerve cell after it should have stopped. That's why someone who uses crack cocaine feels an extra sense of euphoria and pleasure. Although crack cocaine may bring on intense feelings of pleasure while it is being used, crack cocaine can damage the ability to feel pleasure in the long run. Research suggests that long-term crack cocaine use may reduce the amount of dopamine or the number of dopamine receptors in the brain. When this happens, nerve cells must have crack cocaine to communicate properly. Without crack cocaine, the brain can't send enough dopamine to the receptors to create a feeling of pleasure.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
For your loved ones
Family Education
Family Education plays an important role in the lives of those who are recovering from alcoholism or drug addiction. As family members gain a better understanding as to how their loved ones become addicted and the supportive role that the family plays in helping the addicted loved one in recovery the better the prospects are that the addicted individual will remain in recovery.
Unlike in functional family environments where no one person takes a central role, in a family where addiction is present the addicted individual takes center stage. Because the alcoholic or drug addicted individual’s behavior is so unpredictable all their attention focuses on the addicted family member. As a result of the emotional upheaval and the isolation that the family feels they begin to adopt the perspectives of the addict. They internalize the rationalizations that heaps blame upon themselves for the addict’s behavior. This ultimately leads to family denial of the addict’s illness and the perpetuation of their unwarranted self blame.
Addiction is a family illness. Regardless of the personalities of the individual family members, they will usually react in a similar manner as a result of the strain and stressors exerted by the addicted family member. These family reactions can range from enabling behaviors which supports the addict’s maladaptive responses to life’s stresses to obsessive and compulsive behaviors which mimic the addict’s behaviors.
Family education that is held concurrently as the addicted family member is in alcohol or drug addiction treatment, provides support and information that family members need in order to bring stability to the life of chaos that they are currently experiencing. This educational process provides understanding and encouragement as families learn that there are specific phases that recovery takes as healing in the addicted brain occurs.
During family education, family members learn to breakthrough the denial that they are also suffering and find reprieve from the isolation that they are experiencing as a result of the behaviors of the addict. The family members within the group are able to share in a confidential environment their struggles with shame, secrecy and isolation. Through this group process family members become empowered and encouraged as they learn that they are not alone in their struggle and that there is help not only for their loved one but just as importantly, for themselves as well.
Family Education plays an important role in the lives of those who are recovering from alcoholism or drug addiction. As family members gain a better understanding as to how their loved ones become addicted and the supportive role that the family plays in helping the addicted loved one in recovery the better the prospects are that the addicted individual will remain in recovery.
Unlike in functional family environments where no one person takes a central role, in a family where addiction is present the addicted individual takes center stage. Because the alcoholic or drug addicted individual’s behavior is so unpredictable all their attention focuses on the addicted family member. As a result of the emotional upheaval and the isolation that the family feels they begin to adopt the perspectives of the addict. They internalize the rationalizations that heaps blame upon themselves for the addict’s behavior. This ultimately leads to family denial of the addict’s illness and the perpetuation of their unwarranted self blame.
Addiction is a family illness. Regardless of the personalities of the individual family members, they will usually react in a similar manner as a result of the strain and stressors exerted by the addicted family member. These family reactions can range from enabling behaviors which supports the addict’s maladaptive responses to life’s stresses to obsessive and compulsive behaviors which mimic the addict’s behaviors.
Family education that is held concurrently as the addicted family member is in alcohol or drug addiction treatment, provides support and information that family members need in order to bring stability to the life of chaos that they are currently experiencing. This educational process provides understanding and encouragement as families learn that there are specific phases that recovery takes as healing in the addicted brain occurs.
During family education, family members learn to breakthrough the denial that they are also suffering and find reprieve from the isolation that they are experiencing as a result of the behaviors of the addict. The family members within the group are able to share in a confidential environment their struggles with shame, secrecy and isolation. Through this group process family members become empowered and encouraged as they learn that they are not alone in their struggle and that there is help not only for their loved one but just as importantly, for themselves as well.
Impotant information on legal drugs
Prescription Pain Pill Information and the Effects of Opiates
Prescription pain pills are usually classified as opiates. Opiates and their synthetic counterparts opioids, suppress pain, reduce anxiety, and at sufficiently high doses produce euphoria. They can be taken by orally, smoked, snorted or injected. Opiates and opioids act on opioid receptors in the spinal cord, brain, in the tissues directly. Opioids stimulate the opioid receptors of the central nervous system resulting in a depression of the system.
Natural opiates are extracted from the opium poppy and opioids are manufactured in a laboratory. Common opiates are heroine, opium and morphine. Synthetic opioids include Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Methadone, Darvocet, Demerol, Dilaudid, Vicodin, Lortab, Oxycontin and Percocet.
Opiates and the Body
Physical dependency or pain pill addiction develops when an individual is exposed a sufficient dose for an extended period of time. The pain pill addicted person’s body adapts and develops a tolerance, and intern requires higher doses to achieve the drug's original effects. Opiates mimic the action of chemicals in your brain that send messages of pleasure to your brain's reward center. They produce pleasurable effects by acting like normal brain messenger chemicals, which produce positive feelings in response to signals from the brain. Increased dependence and confidence is placed in the opiates while normal feelings are ignored and bypassed.
Pain pill addiction or abuse can bring about significant and long-lasting chemical changes in the brain. These changes cause intense cravings, physical discomfort and negative emotions when the dependent person attempts to stop. Because of the altered chemical state of the dependent brain, the majority of the people in recovery require medication in order to tolerate withdrawal.
Pain pill addiction and dependency produces many unpleasant side effects including anxiety, involuntary movement of the eyes, blurred vision and double vision, constipation, chills, depression, itching, cramps, dizziness, rash, diarrhea, drowsiness, seizure, nightmares, light headedness, fluid retention, nausea tremors and faintness.
As pain pill addiction worsens or dependence increases, the dependent person continues to consume more opiates and can possibly overdose. Overdose symptoms include slow breathing, seizures, dizziness, weakness, loss of consciousness, coma, confusion, tiredness, cold and clammy skin, constricted pupils, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting and impaired mental abilities.
When opiates are withheld, withdrawal begins very rapidly. Withdrawal is very painful and is accompanied by tiredness, hot and cold sweats, heart palpitations, constant and excruciating joint and muscle pain, vomiting, nausea, uncontrollable yawning, diarrhea, insomnia and acute depression.
A drug is available that allows the opiate addicted person to achieve total opiate detox with minimal withdrawal symptoms or pain. Buprenorphine, sold exclusively under the name Suboxone, has been developed over the past several decades. Suboxone is a partial agonist, a drug that has mechanisms of action that are similar to opioids but with less potency. Suboxone stays firmly attached to the brain's receptors, blocking the effect of other drugs. That means that opiate addicted or dependent individuals who take Suboxone won't get any additional effects from using other opiates. It clings to the receptors longer and makes the detoxification process gentler. Suboxone treatment has been compared it to sliding down a hill than falling off a cliff.
Suboxone alone is not totally successful in the treatment of a complex disorder such as opiate addiction. Appropriate counseling, psychotherapy and cognitive behavior therapy are also necessary to affect change in the dependent individual. People suffering opiate addiction or dependencies do not have to reach the extreme late stages of dependency to get help.
Prescription pain pills are usually classified as opiates. Opiates and their synthetic counterparts opioids, suppress pain, reduce anxiety, and at sufficiently high doses produce euphoria. They can be taken by orally, smoked, snorted or injected. Opiates and opioids act on opioid receptors in the spinal cord, brain, in the tissues directly. Opioids stimulate the opioid receptors of the central nervous system resulting in a depression of the system.
Natural opiates are extracted from the opium poppy and opioids are manufactured in a laboratory. Common opiates are heroine, opium and morphine. Synthetic opioids include Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Methadone, Darvocet, Demerol, Dilaudid, Vicodin, Lortab, Oxycontin and Percocet.
Opiates and the Body
Physical dependency or pain pill addiction develops when an individual is exposed a sufficient dose for an extended period of time. The pain pill addicted person’s body adapts and develops a tolerance, and intern requires higher doses to achieve the drug's original effects. Opiates mimic the action of chemicals in your brain that send messages of pleasure to your brain's reward center. They produce pleasurable effects by acting like normal brain messenger chemicals, which produce positive feelings in response to signals from the brain. Increased dependence and confidence is placed in the opiates while normal feelings are ignored and bypassed.
Pain pill addiction or abuse can bring about significant and long-lasting chemical changes in the brain. These changes cause intense cravings, physical discomfort and negative emotions when the dependent person attempts to stop. Because of the altered chemical state of the dependent brain, the majority of the people in recovery require medication in order to tolerate withdrawal.
Pain pill addiction and dependency produces many unpleasant side effects including anxiety, involuntary movement of the eyes, blurred vision and double vision, constipation, chills, depression, itching, cramps, dizziness, rash, diarrhea, drowsiness, seizure, nightmares, light headedness, fluid retention, nausea tremors and faintness.
As pain pill addiction worsens or dependence increases, the dependent person continues to consume more opiates and can possibly overdose. Overdose symptoms include slow breathing, seizures, dizziness, weakness, loss of consciousness, coma, confusion, tiredness, cold and clammy skin, constricted pupils, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting and impaired mental abilities.
When opiates are withheld, withdrawal begins very rapidly. Withdrawal is very painful and is accompanied by tiredness, hot and cold sweats, heart palpitations, constant and excruciating joint and muscle pain, vomiting, nausea, uncontrollable yawning, diarrhea, insomnia and acute depression.
A drug is available that allows the opiate addicted person to achieve total opiate detox with minimal withdrawal symptoms or pain. Buprenorphine, sold exclusively under the name Suboxone, has been developed over the past several decades. Suboxone is a partial agonist, a drug that has mechanisms of action that are similar to opioids but with less potency. Suboxone stays firmly attached to the brain's receptors, blocking the effect of other drugs. That means that opiate addicted or dependent individuals who take Suboxone won't get any additional effects from using other opiates. It clings to the receptors longer and makes the detoxification process gentler. Suboxone treatment has been compared it to sliding down a hill than falling off a cliff.
Suboxone alone is not totally successful in the treatment of a complex disorder such as opiate addiction. Appropriate counseling, psychotherapy and cognitive behavior therapy are also necessary to affect change in the dependent individual. People suffering opiate addiction or dependencies do not have to reach the extreme late stages of dependency to get help.
Being Clean...
Staying Clean
Recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction doesn't end with a 6-week treatment program. It's a lifelong process. Many people find that joining a support group can help them stay clean. There are support groups specifically for teens and younger people. You'll meet people who have gone through the same experiences you have, and you'll be able to participate in real-life discussions about drugs that you won't hear in your school's health class.
Many people find that helping others is also the best way to help themselves. Your understanding of how difficult the recovery process can be will help you to support others — both teens and adults — who are battling an addiction.
If you do have a relapse, recognizing the problem as soon as possible is critical. Get help right away so that you don't undo all the hard work you put into your initial recovery. And, if you do have a relapse, don't ever be afraid to ask for help!
Recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction doesn't end with a 6-week treatment program. It's a lifelong process. Many people find that joining a support group can help them stay clean. There are support groups specifically for teens and younger people. You'll meet people who have gone through the same experiences you have, and you'll be able to participate in real-life discussions about drugs that you won't hear in your school's health class.
Many people find that helping others is also the best way to help themselves. Your understanding of how difficult the recovery process can be will help you to support others — both teens and adults — who are battling an addiction.
If you do have a relapse, recognizing the problem as soon as possible is critical. Get help right away so that you don't undo all the hard work you put into your initial recovery. And, if you do have a relapse, don't ever be afraid to ask for help!
Don't be scared to ask for help
What Are Substance Abuse and Addiction?
The difference between substance abuse and addiction is very slight. Substance abuse means using an illegal substance or using a legal substance in the wrong way. Addiction begins as abuse, or using a substance like marijuana or cocaine. You can abuse a drug (or alcohol) without having an addiction. For example, just because Sara smoked weed a few times doesn't mean that she has an addiction, but it does mean that she's abusing a drug — and that could lead to an addiction.
People can get addicted to all sorts of substances. When we think of addiction, we usually think of alcohol or illegal drugs. But people become addicted to medications, cigarettes, even glue! And some substances are more addictive than others: Drugs like crack or heroin are so addictive that they might only be used once or twice before the user loses control.
Addiction means a person has no control over whether he or she uses a drug or drinks. Someone who's addicted to cocaine has grown so used to the drug that he or she has to have it. Addiction can be physical, psychological, or both.
Physical addiction is when a person's body actually becomes dependent on a particular substance (even smoking is physically addictive). It also means building tolerance to that substance, so that a person needs a larger dose than ever before to get the same effects. Someone who is physically addicted and stops using a substance like drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes may experience withdrawal symptoms. Common symptoms of withdrawal are diarrhea, shaking, and generally feeling awful.
Psychological addiction happens when the cravings for a drug are psychological or emotional. People who are psychologically addicted feel overcome by the desire to have a drug. They may lie or steal to get it.
A person crosses the line between abuse and addiction when he or she is no longer trying the drug to have fun or get high, but has come to depend on it. His or her whole life centers around the need for the drug. An addicted person — whether it's a physical or psychological addiction or both — no longer feels like there is a choice in taking a substance.
Signs of Addiction
The most obvious sign of an addiction is the need to have a particular drug or substance. However, many other signs can suggest a possible addiction, such as changes in mood or weight loss or gain. (These also are signs of other conditions, too, though, such as depression or eating disorders.)
Signs that you or someone you know may have a drug or alcohol addiction include:
Psychological signals:
* use of drugs or alcohol as a way to forget problems or to relax
* withdrawal or keeping secrets from family and friends
* loss of interest in activities that used to be important
* problems with schoolwork, such as slipping grades or absences
* changes in friendships, such as hanging out only with friends who use drugs
* spending a lot of time figuring out how to get drugs
* stealing or selling belongings to be able to afford drugs
* failed attempts to stop taking drugs or drinking
* anxiety, anger, or depression
* mood swings
Physical signals:
* changes in sleeping habits
* feeling shaky or sick when trying to stop
* needing to take more of the substance to get the same effect
* changes in eating habits, including weight loss or gain
Getting Help
If you think you're addicted to drugs or alcohol, recognizing that you have a problem is the first step in getting help.
A lot of people think they can kick the problem on their own, but that doesn't work for most people. Find someone you trust to talk to. It may help to talk to a friend or someone your own age at first, but a supportive and understanding adult is your best option for getting help. If you can't talk to your parents, you might want to approach a school counselor, relative, doctor, favorite teacher, or religious leader.
Unfortunately, overcoming addiction is not easy. Quitting drugs or drinking is probably going to be one of the hardest things you've ever done. It's not a sign of weakness if you need professional help from a trained drug counselor or therapist. Most people who try to kick a drug or alcohol problem need professional assistance or a treatment program to do so.
The difference between substance abuse and addiction is very slight. Substance abuse means using an illegal substance or using a legal substance in the wrong way. Addiction begins as abuse, or using a substance like marijuana or cocaine. You can abuse a drug (or alcohol) without having an addiction. For example, just because Sara smoked weed a few times doesn't mean that she has an addiction, but it does mean that she's abusing a drug — and that could lead to an addiction.
People can get addicted to all sorts of substances. When we think of addiction, we usually think of alcohol or illegal drugs. But people become addicted to medications, cigarettes, even glue! And some substances are more addictive than others: Drugs like crack or heroin are so addictive that they might only be used once or twice before the user loses control.
Addiction means a person has no control over whether he or she uses a drug or drinks. Someone who's addicted to cocaine has grown so used to the drug that he or she has to have it. Addiction can be physical, psychological, or both.
Physical addiction is when a person's body actually becomes dependent on a particular substance (even smoking is physically addictive). It also means building tolerance to that substance, so that a person needs a larger dose than ever before to get the same effects. Someone who is physically addicted and stops using a substance like drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes may experience withdrawal symptoms. Common symptoms of withdrawal are diarrhea, shaking, and generally feeling awful.
Psychological addiction happens when the cravings for a drug are psychological or emotional. People who are psychologically addicted feel overcome by the desire to have a drug. They may lie or steal to get it.
A person crosses the line between abuse and addiction when he or she is no longer trying the drug to have fun or get high, but has come to depend on it. His or her whole life centers around the need for the drug. An addicted person — whether it's a physical or psychological addiction or both — no longer feels like there is a choice in taking a substance.
Signs of Addiction
The most obvious sign of an addiction is the need to have a particular drug or substance. However, many other signs can suggest a possible addiction, such as changes in mood or weight loss or gain. (These also are signs of other conditions, too, though, such as depression or eating disorders.)
Signs that you or someone you know may have a drug or alcohol addiction include:
Psychological signals:
* use of drugs or alcohol as a way to forget problems or to relax
* withdrawal or keeping secrets from family and friends
* loss of interest in activities that used to be important
* problems with schoolwork, such as slipping grades or absences
* changes in friendships, such as hanging out only with friends who use drugs
* spending a lot of time figuring out how to get drugs
* stealing or selling belongings to be able to afford drugs
* failed attempts to stop taking drugs or drinking
* anxiety, anger, or depression
* mood swings
Physical signals:
* changes in sleeping habits
* feeling shaky or sick when trying to stop
* needing to take more of the substance to get the same effect
* changes in eating habits, including weight loss or gain
Getting Help
If you think you're addicted to drugs or alcohol, recognizing that you have a problem is the first step in getting help.
A lot of people think they can kick the problem on their own, but that doesn't work for most people. Find someone you trust to talk to. It may help to talk to a friend or someone your own age at first, but a supportive and understanding adult is your best option for getting help. If you can't talk to your parents, you might want to approach a school counselor, relative, doctor, favorite teacher, or religious leader.
Unfortunately, overcoming addiction is not easy. Quitting drugs or drinking is probably going to be one of the hardest things you've ever done. It's not a sign of weakness if you need professional help from a trained drug counselor or therapist. Most people who try to kick a drug or alcohol problem need professional assistance or a treatment program to do so.
Know what it does...
What are its short-term effects?
Short-term effects of cocaine/crack include constricted peripheral blood vessels, dilated pupils, increased temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, insomnia, loss of appetite, feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety. Duration of cocaine's immediate euphoric effects, which include energy, reduced fatigue, and mental clarity, depends on how it is used. The faster the absorption, the more intense the high. However, the faster the absorption, the shorter the high lasts.The high from snorting may last 15 to 30 minutes, while that from smoking crack cocaine may last 5 to 10 minutes. Cocaine's effects are short lived, and once the drug leaves the brain, the user experiences a "coke crash" that includes depression, irritability, and fatigue.
What are its long-term effects?
High doses of cocaine and/or prolonged use can trigger paranoia. Smoking crack cocaine can produce a particularly aggressive paranoid behavior in users. When addicted individuals stop using cocaine, they often become depressed.
Short-term effects of cocaine/crack include constricted peripheral blood vessels, dilated pupils, increased temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, insomnia, loss of appetite, feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety. Duration of cocaine's immediate euphoric effects, which include energy, reduced fatigue, and mental clarity, depends on how it is used. The faster the absorption, the more intense the high. However, the faster the absorption, the shorter the high lasts.The high from snorting may last 15 to 30 minutes, while that from smoking crack cocaine may last 5 to 10 minutes. Cocaine's effects are short lived, and once the drug leaves the brain, the user experiences a "coke crash" that includes depression, irritability, and fatigue.
What are its long-term effects?
High doses of cocaine and/or prolonged use can trigger paranoia. Smoking crack cocaine can produce a particularly aggressive paranoid behavior in users. When addicted individuals stop using cocaine, they often become depressed.
The effects of drugs.
Cocaine, like methamphetamine, is a stimulant that can have powerful effects on the brain and body. But how does it affect the brain over a long period of time? Can you tell which of the PET images shown here is of a normal brain and which one is of a cocaine addict's brain? Neurons that are the most active metabolize more glucose and are shown in red. The image on the left is the brain of a person who had never taken cocaine. The image on the right shows how cocaine decreases the activity of the brain.
After taking cocaine, the high wears off after about 30 minutes, but the brain is not the same as it was before. Once a person is addicted to a drug like cocaine, the brain is affected for a long time. In fact, the brain really is changed. These PET images show how cocaine affects the brain even after a person stops abusing drugs. Look at the brain of a cocaine abuser ten days after the last use of cocaine. How does the brain compare to a normal brain, that is, the brain of someone who has not abused drugs? Like most of the PET images you have examined, these measure glucose utilization and tell us about brain activity levels. The areas in red are most active. Even ten days after the last abuse of cocaine, the levels of activity in a drug abuser's brain are much lower than those in the normal brain. How long do these changes in the brain last? Even 100 days after the last cocaine use, the drug abuser's brain is much less active than the normal brain. That is over three months later. Scientists wonder if there are areas in the brain that never fully recover from the effects of drugs.
Scientific investigations reinforce the fact that drug addiction is a brain disease. Drugs really do change the way the neurons in the brain work. Scientists don't know all of the answers, though. Researchers continue to investigate how drugs exert their effects. But they must deal with several issues that make answers more difficult to find. First, each person responds to drugs differently. Not everyone who experiments with drugs will become addicted. An individual's genetic makeup undoubtedly plays a part in determining whether a person becomes addicted to drugs. Second, many drug abusers abuse more than one drug. Individuals who take cocaine, for example, may also drink alcohol. Taking more than one drug at a time makes the consequences of drug abuse more unpredictable. Third, addicts often have other health problems in addition to drug addiction. Heroin addicts, for example, spend a lot of energy trying to get their next fix. Their search for drugs takes over their lives. They don't eat right. They may have weak immune systems, and they often suffer from mental illnesses such as depression.
After taking cocaine, the high wears off after about 30 minutes, but the brain is not the same as it was before. Once a person is addicted to a drug like cocaine, the brain is affected for a long time. In fact, the brain really is changed. These PET images show how cocaine affects the brain even after a person stops abusing drugs. Look at the brain of a cocaine abuser ten days after the last use of cocaine. How does the brain compare to a normal brain, that is, the brain of someone who has not abused drugs? Like most of the PET images you have examined, these measure glucose utilization and tell us about brain activity levels. The areas in red are most active. Even ten days after the last abuse of cocaine, the levels of activity in a drug abuser's brain are much lower than those in the normal brain. How long do these changes in the brain last? Even 100 days after the last cocaine use, the drug abuser's brain is much less active than the normal brain. That is over three months later. Scientists wonder if there are areas in the brain that never fully recover from the effects of drugs.
Scientific investigations reinforce the fact that drug addiction is a brain disease. Drugs really do change the way the neurons in the brain work. Scientists don't know all of the answers, though. Researchers continue to investigate how drugs exert their effects. But they must deal with several issues that make answers more difficult to find. First, each person responds to drugs differently. Not everyone who experiments with drugs will become addicted. An individual's genetic makeup undoubtedly plays a part in determining whether a person becomes addicted to drugs. Second, many drug abusers abuse more than one drug. Individuals who take cocaine, for example, may also drink alcohol. Taking more than one drug at a time makes the consequences of drug abuse more unpredictable. Third, addicts often have other health problems in addition to drug addiction. Heroin addicts, for example, spend a lot of energy trying to get their next fix. Their search for drugs takes over their lives. They don't eat right. They may have weak immune systems, and they often suffer from mental illnesses such as depression.
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