Drug Addiction Archives | Page 2 of 5

What It Means To Have A Mood Disorder

What It Means To Have A Mood Disorder A common element seen in many addicts/alcoholics is the existence of a mood disorder. A mood disorder may be primary or secondary, as a main factor in substance abuse or as the result of the chemical dependency and resultant withdraw syndromes. Correct diagnosis, identifying any underlying problems; education, in regards to how the mood disorder coexists in a symbiotic fashion with the addiction; and treatment of both the substance abuse issue and the mood disturbance, are integral to the approach we use at Oceanside Malibu Addiction Treatment Center. In order to define and diagnosis a mood disorder, we must look for a… Read More

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Medication-Assisted Treatment The medications traditionally used in harm reduction or medication-assisted treatment programs for opiod addiction are Suboxone, Subutex & Sublocade. Suboxone is really made up of two medications with the main med being Buprenorphine. It is a long-lasting opiate. Now why would you take someone off of opiates and put them on more opiates? Well, Buprenorphine attaches to those opioid receptor sites in such a way that makes it very difficult to overdose. Consequently, it increases safety for anyone addicted to opioids or heroin. Another thing is, since suboxone has a tiny bit of naloxone, which is an opioid blocker, it adds a bit more of a safety net.… Read More

What Is Drug Addiction?

What Is Drug Addiction? Why is addiction so rampant? The illness of addiction is cunning, baffling & powerful. The process of drug addiction can be so subtle, that by the time one hits the final stages of addiction, it may be hard to pinpoint at what point exactly, you got there. Once drug use begins, the user maintains access to the substance and begins to use it more frequently as a positive reward system is set in place. The main goal is to regain the positive experience felt the first time drug use began. While this usage may be controlled at first, eventually it’s not. The rate of usage will… Read More

Disorders of the Self

Disorders of the Self Understanding addiction as a neurological disease that takes away the self-control one has over their own behavior helps to differentiate between addictive behavior and native personality traits. An addict’s character may become extremely distorted when they are under the influence of drugs. Once sobriety is established, the personality then reverts back to individual baseline behavior. Therin sometimes lay the problem. A very high percentage of those who suffered from drug and alcohol abuse at some period during their lives also had personality disorders or disorders of the self, a term coined by psychologist Heinz Kohut. It has been suggested that up to 77 percent of alcoholics… Read More

Fentanyl Facts

Fentanyl Facts Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid painkiller. It’s one of the most potent narcotics on the market and highly addictive. The fast-acting painkiller is prescribed for severe and chronic pain. Prescription Fentanyl comes in the form of tablets, a nasal spray and lozenges. The most popular form of Fentanyl is a patch that releases the drug slowly over three days. These patches can be abused by scraping out the gel contents and eating or smoking the entire dose all at once to get high. Fentanyl’s potency is so deadly, it can be up to 100 times more toxic than the same amount of morphine and up to 50 times… Read More

Adderall

Adderall Adderall is the brand name for a mixture of amphetamine salts that were developed for treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Since 2007, prescriptions have doubled in the U. S and even those who don’t have a prescription are using it. An estimated 30% of university students used Adderall at some point as a study enhancer. So, what affect does this substance have on a person? As Adderall is a combination of amphetamine salts, it is a close relative of methamphetamine, commonly known as meth. When the drug is ingested, it takes effect on the brain within an hour of use. It affects neuroreceptors in the central nervous system,… Read More