Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Meth Addiction's Downward Spiral
Health problems from chronic meth abuse can be life threatening. Smoking causes respiratory problems, residue concentrates in the lungs, aggravating pre-existing respiratory problems. Smoking meth is highly addictive and tolerance builds fast, causing the user to consume huge amounts in a short time. Meth in large quantities can cause circulatory problems leading to strokes and heart attacks.
IV meth use creates issues more severe than smoking. Complications from infections can lead to amputations, blood infections, and abscesses. A bacterial infection known as "cotton fever" can develop, causing fever, joint pains, and flu like symptoms. Vascular scarring from needle damage leads to vein collapse. The sudden spike in blood pressure after injection causes strokes and heart attacks. Blood born diseases are common in IV use. Hepatitis C and B and HIV are passed through sharing of syringes. These diseases are chronic, leading to serious problems.
After prolonged use, paranoia and schizophrenia develops. Disturbing behavior manifests. Delusional and obsessive behaviors interfere with all aspects of life. Involuntary movements of the face and tongue make the user appear mentally disturbed. The mental effects of prolonged abuse turn the addict into an outcast. This draws them closer to other addicts and deeper into addiction, contributing to the vicious cycle.
Meth addiction leads to criminal behavior. Identity theft is the most common crime committed by meth addicts. Crimes are committed to obtain personal information and forge documents. Fraudulent activities involving credit cards, checking accounts and credit accounts commonly occur. Crime is not limited to identity theft. Prostitution, child neglect, robbery, and violence are common. Meth users are prone to violence because of paranoia and delusions. At this point in the addiction process, the justice system often becomes involved. Once the justice system becomes involved, It's a matter of time before rehab or jail becomes the reality.
IV meth use creates issues more severe than smoking. Complications from infections can lead to amputations, blood infections, and abscesses. A bacterial infection known as "cotton fever" can develop, causing fever, joint pains, and flu like symptoms. Vascular scarring from needle damage leads to vein collapse. The sudden spike in blood pressure after injection causes strokes and heart attacks. Blood born diseases are common in IV use. Hepatitis C and B and HIV are passed through sharing of syringes. These diseases are chronic, leading to serious problems.
After prolonged use, paranoia and schizophrenia develops. Disturbing behavior manifests. Delusional and obsessive behaviors interfere with all aspects of life. Involuntary movements of the face and tongue make the user appear mentally disturbed. The mental effects of prolonged abuse turn the addict into an outcast. This draws them closer to other addicts and deeper into addiction, contributing to the vicious cycle.
Meth addiction leads to criminal behavior. Identity theft is the most common crime committed by meth addicts. Crimes are committed to obtain personal information and forge documents. Fraudulent activities involving credit cards, checking accounts and credit accounts commonly occur. Crime is not limited to identity theft. Prostitution, child neglect, robbery, and violence are common. Meth users are prone to violence because of paranoia and delusions. At this point in the addiction process, the justice system often becomes involved. Once the justice system becomes involved, It's a matter of time before rehab or jail becomes the reality.
Rehab or Jail Which Will it Be
Drug related crime is on the increase. Whether it's a meth addict stealing someone's identity or a heroin addict walking out of wal-mart with a big screen, everyone's at risk of being a victim. Crime linked to drugs has the nation's prisons bursting at the seams. In an attempt to prevent recidivism, the judicial system is running a rehab system. Court ordered rehab works well when the defendant is receptive to the idea. However, entering rehab to avoid a jail sentence will not result in true recovery. Offering a person the choice of rehab or going to jail is a flawed process. The average inmate sits in jail for weeks or sometimes months before a reaching a plea agreement requiring rehab. Offering someone the chance of rehab over the total lockdown of jail is a no-brainer. Rehab will be the choice most every time. I am not suggesting that everyone that chooses rehab over jail will fail. Some people sincerely want to change. However, the majority are looking for the soonest release date possible.
Deception is an art addicts have perfected. Weeding out sincere individuals from the ones that have no intention of recovery is the key to reducing recidivism. Manipulation and deception goes hand in hand with drug use. Exposing manipulation and deception during assessment process is the main goal of the interviewer. Participants in court ordered rehab brag about beating the system. These people take seats away from sincere individuals wanting to change. Compounding the problem is judges sending the same people back to rehab after repeated attempts.
The link between drug use and crime will continue being a problem as long as people use drugs. Trying to clear the prison system by offering rehab is a fine theory. However, its delaying the inevitable, jail for the people that refuse to stay off drugs.
Deception is an art addicts have perfected. Weeding out sincere individuals from the ones that have no intention of recovery is the key to reducing recidivism. Manipulation and deception goes hand in hand with drug use. Exposing manipulation and deception during assessment process is the main goal of the interviewer. Participants in court ordered rehab brag about beating the system. These people take seats away from sincere individuals wanting to change. Compounding the problem is judges sending the same people back to rehab after repeated attempts.
The link between drug use and crime will continue being a problem as long as people use drugs. Trying to clear the prison system by offering rehab is a fine theory. However, its delaying the inevitable, jail for the people that refuse to stay off drugs.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Relapse Warning Signs and Recovery Solutions
Recovery from addiction is a long and difficult journey. An endeavor requiring nurturing and vigilance, first attempts are seldom successful. Persistence is necessary for successful recovery. Relapse and doubts are natural enemies of the recovering addict. Most every recovering addict will experience relapse. The secret to overcoming it during recovery is having a good support system. Having a support system can prevent the episode before it happens. Relapse starts before the resumption of drug use. Signs of impending trouble are present before the addict returns to their drug of choice. Knowing these signs can reduce the chances of full relapse.
Warning signs of relapse include:
Having thoughts about past drug use.
Thinking drugs can be taken just once and no more.
Denial
Glorifying past drug use
The thought of being "cured"
The thought of being able to drink or drug like anyone else
Going back to places where drugs were once used
Going around old friends that use
Not utilizing support system
These signs are subtle and insidious. Vigilance is required to avoid falling into the faulty belief system that leads to relapse. Rehab can be beneficial in learning relapse prevention techniques. The important thing to remember is that relapse is not the end of the world It happens frequently in the initial stage of recovery. It is harder to recognize the warning signs in later stages of recovery. Complacency in late recovery leads to a false sense of security. Feeling comfortable with recovery is not conducive to continued success. Being aware of the fact active addition is just one slip up away is important. Knowing when to use a support system to intervene with faulty beliefs will guarantee success. Staying drug free is a challenge for someone suffering from addiction. It is a lifelong struggle that does not go away. Whether clean for two days or forty years the risk of relapse is realty. Addiction is a progressive process, a relapse after forty years can be as dangerous as a relapse after two days.
Warning signs of relapse include:
Having thoughts about past drug use.
Thinking drugs can be taken just once and no more.
Denial
Glorifying past drug use
The thought of being "cured"
The thought of being able to drink or drug like anyone else
Going back to places where drugs were once used
Going around old friends that use
Not utilizing support system
These signs are subtle and insidious. Vigilance is required to avoid falling into the faulty belief system that leads to relapse. Rehab can be beneficial in learning relapse prevention techniques. The important thing to remember is that relapse is not the end of the world It happens frequently in the initial stage of recovery. It is harder to recognize the warning signs in later stages of recovery. Complacency in late recovery leads to a false sense of security. Feeling comfortable with recovery is not conducive to continued success. Being aware of the fact active addition is just one slip up away is important. Knowing when to use a support system to intervene with faulty beliefs will guarantee success. Staying drug free is a challenge for someone suffering from addiction. It is a lifelong struggle that does not go away. Whether clean for two days or forty years the risk of relapse is realty. Addiction is a progressive process, a relapse after forty years can be as dangerous as a relapse after two days.
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