Drug Addiction

How To Quit Pain Pills, Methadone or Rehab?

2009-07-26T20:42:00.000-07:00

While addiction to anything can sneak up on you when you are least expecting it, there are ways to quit and it is best to stop as soon as you noticed that you might be addicted. Whether you started using pain pills for a legitimate reason, like pain management or just experimenting, the strong effects of these drugs can be too much to bear for most of us. I once heard a doctor say that "he has seen the biggest, strongest men come to him, crying like a little girl from the withdrawal symptoms. Just know that if you do find yourself addicted to pain pills or anything else for that matter, you are not alone. Statistics show more than 6 million Americans currently addicted to pain pills.

Some of these pills can be as addictive as heroin, but since they are prescribed, people tend to believe that they can't get addicted. This is nothing further from the truth. Doctors usually don't warn the patients enough and since the pills make us feel so good we don't care at the moment.

The most commonly abused pills are opiate type narcotics, and whether Vicodin, Demerol, Oxycontin or morphine, they all share a commonality of physical addiction, and a very long and painful period of withdrawal. When you make the decision to get off of the drugs, you have three basic options for your cessation of use.

It is very likely that you will need professional help to get through your addiction and most importantly your withdrawal. Withdrawal can be very painful, agonizing and dangerous. If you believe that you can quit on your own, this is great. The best way is to try to taper down, and decrease your dose a little each day until you don't take any at all. If you find that you can't do it on your own there is more than just one option out there.

3 most common ways to get off pain pills

1) You can try a long and gradual tapering of the dosage, until ultimately you are down to none a day.

2) You can try an opiate substitution program, such as methadone maintenance, where intoxicating opiates are switched for non intoxicating methadone, and then the dosage of methadone is gradually reduced.

3) You can enter into a rehab or drug treatment program, and detox quickly yet painfully off of the opiates, and then undergo therapies and counseling to ensure that you stay off of the pills for good

How To Pay For Rehab

2009-07-04T23:06:00.000-07:00

It's unfortunate that all of us are not able to access the best of medical care, and when we or a family member struggles with addiction and substance abuse, it can be hard knowing that there are great drug rehabs available locally, but at a price that is simply out of reach to any of us without private insurance coverage.

If you are unable to pay upfront for your drug rehab care, you are left with three options, and they are all possibilities.

Three options you have

1…Ask for a reduced cost stay

This sounds unbelievable, but the truth is that many if not most better private drug and alcohol rehabs have some form of program available for lower income participants. This can be a mutually beneficial program of subsidizing care, and the rehabs can deduct their charitable care as a tax write off. You can sometimes access very high quality and otherwise prohibitively expensive drug rehab facilities, at a price you may be able to afford.

It will probably still require of you a significant investment, but they may work with you to come to terms acceptable to all.

Additionally, although private drug and alcohol rehabs do exist to make a profit, most people working in these drug rehabs are compassioned and committed professionals who truly want to help you, and they don’t like turning away people in need any more that you like not getting help you deserve.

It won’t always work, but it worthy of an attempt.

2…Ask about financing

There are enough people without insurance coverage (and without tens of thousands of dollars at the ready!) that rehabs have had to, by necessity, arrange for credit and financing options for payment. You may never hope to be able to afford the best of private facilities (whose admissions can range upwards from $20 000 per month) but you could certainly obtain credit for a car of that amount; and if you can get credit for that--- you can get credit for rehab.

You are ultimately responsible for the full price of the rehab, but working together with staff at the facility, you may be able to negotiate a payment schedule satisfactory to all.

No one wants to be left with monthly payments for years after a rehab stay, but if it works, and if you can achieve sobriety, the savings in drugs or alcohol, in reduced health care costs and in increased workplace productivity, should more than pay for your monthly payments for treatment.

No one wants to pay for care, but addiction is a disease much like any disease, and it can kill you in the end if left untreated. You wouldn’t hesitate to pay for cancer treatment, and you shouldn’t defer addiction treatment either. You don’t have so many years in this earth that you can afford to waste many of them with a life of addiction.

3…Look into public rehab programs

There are hundreds of government funded programs for drug and alcohol abuse, and some of them offer an excellent standard of care, and many of them will offer free treatment to those unable to pay for rehab.

Unfortunately, because the available treatment spots never meets demand for care, there is often a waiting list, you may not be able to stay as long as you need, and you won't get as much individual attention and therapy.

These drug rehabs do the best they can with the resources at their disposal, but these resources are inevitably stretched very thinly. Private is not always better, and there are some excellent public options, but in general, public rehabs have to treat more people each year than they can treat with an optimal level of care.

If you decide that a public rehab is your best option, you should contact your local health clinic about information on how to get onto a waiting list immediately.

Anything is better than nothing

It is well worth it to spend a little time and do some research into the best available local drug and alcohol rehab facilities. If you find a drug or alcohol rehab that would be perfect, but is slightly (or even a lot) too expensive, do not hesitate to ask about a reduced cost of stay and to ask about financing. They want to make it possible for you to enter just as you want to access great quality care.

If you simply cannot afford private inpatient care, get on a waiting list today for the next available local governmentally run program of rehab.

Confessions Of A Recovering Drug Addict

2009-07-02T15:14:00.000-07:00

Drug addiction can be very unbearable and overwhelming for the person who is experiencing the drug addiction themselves and also for someone who is close to a drug addicted person. Anyone who is addicted to alcohol or any kind of drug, prescription drugs or illegal drugs, is in need of drug addiction treatment. Okay, so send them away to a drug rehabilitation center, simple as that. Not quite. Not all drug addiction treatment is the same, it doesn't necessarily mean drug rehab. There are many different ways to treat addiction.

As being a person who has experienced alcohol and drug abuse for as long as I can remember and was addicted to drugs myself for many years, I understand what it is like! I have been through two drug rehab centers,a Methadone program three times, and had one pretty serious drug overdose. Did I mention that I am 25 years old?

Yes, I have now been clean for almost two years but believe me I've been through it all. I worked as a nude dancer to support my habit, pawned everything that meant anything, and alot more that I'd rather not mention. Bottom line, you name it, I've probably done it or been through it.

Anyway, I just wanted to write this blog to let people know the truth about drug addiction and that there is help for drug addicts. Although, for the loved ones of addicts, it might not always be what you think. Your not going to just have a drug intervention and then things will get better. The fact is, most of the time that is not the case. It is hard to understand something like that especially if you have never experienced it yourself. I hope to help someone out there.

I want to help people understand drug addiction a little bit better and hopefully help someone that might need a little extra support(from someone who has really been through it). I'm not even suggesting rehab or anything really. Cuz I know that, that's not always the cure for everyone. The number one thing is, the person who is addicted to drugs or alcohol has to want to do it themselves. It is sometimes a hard fact to face but there is absolutely nothing that anyone else can do to make a person quit. Sure, if they are under age you can put them on lock down but you can't do that forever.

There is no right or wrong answer, and it is a very difficult and debatable subject. I just want to tell my experiences a little bit and explain drug addiction and the many things that go into it. I hope you all follow up with my next blog. It will be less about myself and more about the facts. Please, leave comments. Whatever you want, I'm here to help. I'm young, I know what it's like but I'm also a mother so I know that perspective as well.

Signs and Symptoms Of Drug Use

2009-07-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

If you are suspicious that someone you know might be addicted to drugs look for certain signs and symptoms.The particular signs and symptoms of drug use and dependence vary depending on the type of drug.

Cannabis compounds: Signs and symptoms
Cannabis compounds are found in marijuana and hash. Signs and symptoms of use and dependence on these drugs include:

A heightened sense of visual, auditory and taste perception
Poor memory
Increased blood pressure and heart rate
Red eyes
Decreased coordination
Difficulty concentrating
Increased appetite
Slowed reaction time
Paranoid thinking

Central nervous system depressants: Signs and symptoms
Barbiturates and benzodiazepines are examples of central nervous system depressants.

Signs and symptoms of use and dependence on these drugs include:

Drowsiness
Slurred speech
Lack of coordination
Memory impairment
Confusion
Slowed breathing and decreased blood pressure
Dizziness
Depression

Central nervous system stimulants: Signs and symptoms
This class of drugs includes amphetamines, methamphetamine, cocaine and methylphenidate (Ritalin). Signs and symptoms of use and dependence on these drugs include:

Euphoria
Decreased appetite
Rapid speech
Irritability
Restlessness
Depression as the drug wears off
Nasal congestion and damage to the mucous membrane of the nose in users who snort drugs
Insomnia
Weight loss
Increased heart rate, blood pressure and temperature
Paranoia

Designer drugs: Signs and symptoms
Synthetic compounds, such as Ecstasy, which has both amphetamine-like and hallucinogenic effects, are included in this category.

Signs and symptoms of using designer drugs vary depending on the drug. You might be able to tell that a family member or a friend is using or abusing a drug based on the physical and behavioral signs and symptoms associated with the drug.

For example, Ecstasy produces a mild hallucinogenic effect and a feeling of euphoria. It also causes an increased heart rate, overheating, high blood pressure, kidney and liver toxicity, and memory problems.

Hallucinogens: Signs and symptoms
Use of hallucinogens produces different signs and symptoms depending on the drug. The most common hallucinogens are LSD, phencyclidine (PCP) and ketamine (special K), a so-called "club drug."

Signs and symptoms of LSD use include:

Hallucinations
Greatly impaired perception of reality, for example, interpreting input from one of your senses as another, such as hearing colors
Permanent mental changes in perception
Rapid heart rate
High blood pressure
Tremors
Flashbacks, a re-experience of the hallucinations — even years later

Signs and symptoms of PCP use include:

Hallucinations
Euphoria
Delusions
Panic
Loss of appetite
Depression
Aggressive, possibly violent behavior

Signs and symptoms of ketamine use include:

Increased heart rate
Nausea and vomiting
Numbness
Impaired motor function
Loss of memory

Inhalants: Signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms of inhalant use vary depending on what substance is inhaled. Some commonly inhaled substances include glue, paint thinners, correction fluid, felt tip marker fluid, gasoline, cleaning fluids and household aerosol products.

When inhaled, these products can cause brief intoxication and a decreased feeling of inhibition. Long-term use may cause seizures and damage to the brain, liver and kidneys. Inhalant use can also cause death.

Opiates: Signs and symptoms
Opiates are narcotic, painkilling drugs produced naturally from opium or made synthetically. This class of drugs includes heroin, morphine, codeine, methadone and oxycodone (OxyContin).

Signs and symptoms of use and dependence on these drugs include:

Reduced sense of pain
Sedation
Depression
Confusion
Constipation
Slowed breathing
Needle marks (if injecting drugs)

These signs and symptoms can help diagnose a drug addiction but they vary vastly and depend on the situation,whether or not they were mixed together and other factors. If you think someone is using drugs sit them down privately and ask them, don't acuse and if denied believe them or at least pretend you do. Try to be as understanding as possible. Sometimes bringing another person into the equation helps. That is why some people opt for interventions, I only suggest this after other methods are exhausted.