Drug Abuse Treatment

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Treatment of drug abuse is difficult, as people who engage in it may not, whether overtly or deep down, really want to recover. If you have determined that you truly do desire to recover, you must accept the fact that you cannot use the formerly abused drug again. Then you must withdraw from the drug. The appropriate way of doing this depends on the particular drug you have been using. If you have been using central nervous system depressants such as heroin, barbiturates, or antianxiety agents, you will have to taper off gradually under the supervision of a health-care professional, possibly in a hospital setting. The days of locking an addicted patient in a room and letting nature take its course are over. Sudden withdrawal can be extremely dangerous. It can take anywhere from one to two months (or longer) of gradually weaning the body from the substance to achieve complete remission.

If you are addicted to heroin, methadone therapy may be prescribed. Methadone is a less addictive narcotic that can ease the stress and depression caused by withdrawal. Without methadone, these symptoms can be so severe they drive a user back to drug. Methadone is used only under a doctor's supervision, and it is meant to be used for a limited period of time. Methadone itself is addictive, and withdrawal of methadone must be done slowly over a period of six to seven weeks to avoid unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. It should not be taken by anyone with liver disease, or by pregnant women or nursing mothers. Mothers addicted to methadone can give birth to addicted babies.

Lithium may be prescribed to relieve depression, but it tends to be most effective for bipolar, or manic, depression. His trace mineral is available only by prescription.

Stopping the use of drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, or amphetamines can result in depression and fatigue, but there is generally no need for physiological support. Withdrawing from hallucinogens often requires considerable reassurance that the bizarre thoughts that can accompany withdrawal will pass.

Withdrawal from phencyclidine (PCP) can cause seizure activity, and a tranquilizer such as diazepam may be required to interrupt them. Treatment for high - sometimes extremely high - blood pressure may be necessary as well.

Solvent-fume addiction can cause a multiplicity of problems. Most of these substances are very toxic, particularly to the liver, so complications affecting that organ are not uncommon. The specific treatment necessary depends on the particular agent involved and focuses on trying to control the damage.

Amyl nitrite causes no withdrawal requiring medical intervention other than controlling symptoms. However, there is some question as to whether this drug can depress the immune system.

Once you are physically "clean", appropriate support in the form of an outpatient maintenance program, psychotherapy, a self-help group such as Narcotics Anonymous or Cocaine Anonymous, a halfway house, or some other proven approach to dealing with substance abuse is recommended to help you deal with cravings and psychological dependence, and stay away from drugs. Staying clean requires that you make substantial lifestyle changes, which is always difficult.

An important premise of drug treatment is that loved ones must learn how to stop "enabling" the abuser. This is necessary if he or she is to be cut free of anything that protects against having to meet the situation head-on. To this end, friends and family members can receive invaluable education through the services of Nar-Anon or Al-Anon, which are designed to help other people in the life of a drug abuser realize how they may have been involved in the behavior. Even though they may be completely unaware of it, they may have been making the situation worse.

Have your thyroid checked. If your addiction centers on stimulants, such as amphetamines, it is possible that you may have subclinical or even clearly diagnosable hypothyroidism. You are likely to be more successful in withdrawing from a stimulant if your thyroid is functioning normally.

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