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Addiction Treatment
Library
Click on the title of any article to read it in
it's entirety.
Choose an article...
Withdrawal
Symptoms of Opiates
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by clicking on it's title...
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.
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Signs
of Crystal Meth Use
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article by clicking on it's title...
Methamphetamine use can be difficult to detect
at first. However, it is easily revealed if the observer
knows what warning signs to look for. Meth users exhibit
a number of physical and psychological conditions
that can be identified with methamphetamine. Among
them are: dilated pupils, insomnia, decreased appetite
and possible weight loss, increased agitation and
physical activity, excited speech, intense paranoia,
possible hallucinations or delusions, episodes of
sudden, violent anger, repetitious behaviors such
as pick at skin, tooth loss, acne/sores, increased
sweating/body odor.
Crystal meth detox and withdrawal symptoms are typically
characterized by drug craving, depressed mood, disturbed
sleep patterns, and increased appetite. Anti-depressant
medications can be prescribed to combat the depressive
symptoms frequently seen in methamphetamine withdrawal.
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Alcohol
Withdrawal Syndrome
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Alcoholism doesn't begin with apparent alcohol
withdrawal symptoms, they can take years to develop.
The process is know by clinicians as "Alcohol Withdrawal
Syndrome". Alcoholism itself begins when drinking
starts to adversely effect the physical health and even
the mental health of the drinker, though he or she usually
has no clue that anything is wrong. It is at this time
a person crosses over that imaginary line (you may or
may not have heard of it) into alcoholism.
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Alcohol
and Drug Interventions Can Save Lives
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The aim of most interventions is to get the
alcoholic or drug addict immediately into a detox center.
Experience shows that promises of reform, sincere and
often tearful as they may be at the time, seldom hold
up down the road without ongoing assistance of some
kind. A well-planned intervention has arranged the specific
detox center in advance, taken care of all practical
objections, and even packed the alcoholic's suitcase
so that he can be driven straight to the detox facility.
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Crack
Cocaine Effects
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Users of cocaine or crack cocaine often feel euphoric,
energetic, talkative and mentally alert after taking
small amounts of cocaine. Cocaine use can also temporarily
lessen a user's need for food or sleep. Short-term
physiological effects include constricted blood vessels,
dilated pupils and increased temperature, heart rate
and blood pressure. Ingesting large amounts of cocaine
can intensify the user's high, but can also lead to
bizarre, erratic and violent behavior. Users who ingest
large amounts may experience tremors, vertigo, muscle
twitches and paranoia. Other possible effects of cocaine
use include irritability, anxiety and restlessness.
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Which
Is The Right Treatment Center For You?
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Most of the more than 10,000 alcohol and drug
rehabs in the United States are 12-step oriented and
Social Model (they emphasize learning through "doing
and experiencing" while providing positive role models)
in nature. Other philosophical differences might be
12-Step vs non 12-step, Gender Specific, Christian Based
or Christ Centered, Holistic, Dual
Diagnosis with treatment for Co-occurring Disorder
and Court or Probation Approved Rehabs to name a few.
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Accessing
A Reputable Drug Treatment Center
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article by clicking on it's title....
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.
There's President Bush's substance abuse treatment
initiative, Access
To Recovery, which provides drug addicts with
vouchers to pay for treatment. Keep in mind that not
all states participate in this drug treatment initiative
and most of the treatment centers that do are faith-based.
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