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Friday, April 29, 2011

Online support groups for those suffering from pica

1,440 items found in the stomach of a patient ...Image via Wikipedia
These are contents found in the stomach of someone suffering from pica

Addictions of any kind are a serious matter. If you live in South Carolina, you can seek information and help on addiction here: The William J. McCord Center

There are many different types of addictions that people suffer from. Some of the conventional addictions are alcohol and drugs, however there are addictions that don't fit into that category. There are non food addictions that people also suffer from. This is a disorder called pica.

Pica (pronounced PY-kah) is a medical disorder characterized by an appetite for substances largely non-nutritive (e.g. metal, clay, coal, sand, dirt, soil, feces, chalk, pens and pencils, paper, batteries, spoons, toothbrushes, soap, mucus, ash, gum,or an abnormal appetite for food ingredients (e.g. flour, raw potato, raw rice, starch, ice cubes, salt). For these actions to be considered pica, they must persist for more than one month at an age where eating such objects is considered developmentally inappropriate.

Many people with this disorder have a hard time quitting and so it has some of the familiar earmarks of addiction seen in drug use or alcoholism. Sufferers often do not think they are in any real harm however, non food items are not manufactured under strict conditions like food is, and therefore there are great quantities of impurities in the products. These impurities can be anything from dangerous pesticides and chemicals to rodent and insect body parts and fecal matter. There are a few support groups out there that can be seen by those suffering from this disorder. Here is a list of online pica support groups:


It is important that you seek medical supervision and help for your pica disorder. A medical doctor may be able to do certain blood tests to determine if your disorder is a deficiency that can be easily treated.
For other addictions, information and support, see: The Addicted Family
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Thursday, April 28, 2011

Online support groups for addiction

http://theaddictedfamily.blogspot.com/If you live in Orangeburg, South Carolina and you or a loved one is currently addicted, see: South Carolina Treatment Centers. This site offers a a list of all counties in South Carolina and is a directory of treatment centers near you.  There are tons of online support groups that can help families with a wide variety of issues. If you know an addict there is no time to hesitate, every day can be the last day and time is of the essence. Addiction does not get easier, and tomorrow will never be easier than today to get help.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Trichotillomania TTM Support Group

For addictional resources and support please see:
The Addicted Family 
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Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Addiction resources for parents and teachers

Logo of the United States National Institute o...Image via Wikipedia
Addiction information needs to start early if children are to stand a chance at staying straight. Parents and teachers can act to utilize programs that are in place online. If you have a child that needs help with addiction and you live in Orangeburg, SC, please see: The McCord Center. For ways that teachers and parents can help inform their family and students see below. These materials were developed to inform parents & teachers about the health effects and consequences of drug abuse and addiction.
For parents:
For teachers:
Elementary School
Middle & High School
K-12


Addiction resources for parents and teachers - Columbia Addictions | Examiner.com
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Monday, April 25, 2011

Does smoking crack make your lose your hair?

A woman smoking crack from a glass pipe.Image via Wikipedia
While no definitive research has been done to answer this question, there are a few things we know of with regards to the side effects of crack. Crack causes physical stress on the body, and sometimes the body reacts to the stresses placed on the heart and respiratory system by hair loss. Crack can cause rapid weight loss, which also can cause hair loss. Because the body's health becomes so neglected by addiction to crack, the body naturally responds by shutting down. Depleted health from addiction will cause many side effects, hair loss is one of many.
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Thursday, April 21, 2011

Nutritional needs for addicts in recovery

Fresh vegetables are important components of a...Image via Wikipedia
While no magic pills exist that will make recovery a breeze, it is no secret that most addicts are in poor health. The addiction that has had their body under siege has no doubt wreaked havoc on them internally. If you live in Orangeburg , SC and  you are addicted or have a loved one that is addicted, please visit:  Orangeburg South Carolina Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers and Programs . It is important that an addict regain strength through
a nutritionally sound diet. Different addictions have different affects on one's health.
The recommendations set forth by the Mayo clinic are as follows:

Here's a guide to nutritional recommendations designed to help promote health and prevent disease, based on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued by the Department of Agriculture. Use this guide to help plan your healthy diet. Keep in mind that if you have high blood pressure, heart disease or other conditions, your healthy diet recommendations may be different. Check with your doctor about your particular situation. To use this guide, click on the tabs to the left for a description of recommended nutrients and their amounts.

Carbohydrates

Description: Carbohydrates are a type of nutrient found in many foods and beverages. Carbohydrates are your body's main energy source. Most carbohydrates are naturally occurring in plant-based foods. Food manufacturers also add carbohydrates to processed foods as starches or added sugar. Carbohydrates in the form of sugars, starches and fiber are found in legumes, grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, baked goods and many other foods.

Recommendation: Get 45 to 65 percent of your daily calories from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates have 4 calories a gram. Based on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, this amounts to 900 to 1,300 calories a day, or about 225 to 325 grams. Emphasize natural, nutrient-dense carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, and whole grains. Limit less healthy sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts and refined grain products.

Protein

Description: Protein is an important nutrient, essential for growth and development. All the cells of your body include protein. Protein is also an important source of calories and energy. Both plant-based and animal-based foods provide protein.

Recommendation: Get 10 to 35 percent of your total daily calories from protein. Protein has 4 calories a gram. Based on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, this amounts to about 200 to 700 calories a day, or about 50 to 175 grams a day. Emphasize plant sources of protein, such as beans, lentils, soy products and unsalted nuts. Include seafood twice a week. Meat, poultry and dairy products should be lean or low fat.

Fat

Description: Fats aren't necessarily bad for you, but you need only a small amount. Dietary fat is a nutrient that helps your body absorb essential vitamins, maintains the structure and function of cell membranes, and helps keep your immune system working. Some types of fat, though, may increase your risk of heart disease and other health problems. Fat also has a lot of calories, increasing the risk of weight gain.

Recommendation: Limit total fat to 20 to 35 percent of your daily calories. Fat has 9 calories a gram. Based on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, this amounts to about 400 to 700 calories a day, or about 44 to 78 grams of total fat. Emphasize unsaturated fats from healthier sources, such as lean poultry, fish and healthy oils, such as olive, canola and nut oils. Limit less healthy full-fat dairy products, desserts, pizza, burgers and sausage, and other fatty meats.

Saturated fat

Description: Saturated fat is most often found in animal products, such as cheese, red meat, poultry, butter and whole-milk products. Other foods high in saturated fat include those made with coconut, palm and other tropical oils. Saturated fat may increase your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Recommendation: Limit saturated fat to no more than 10 percent of your total calories. Lowering calories from saturated fat to 7 percent can further reduce your risk of heart disease. Saturated fat has 9 calories a gram. Based on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, 7 to 10 percent amounts to about 140 to 200 calories a day, or about 16 to 22 grams of saturated fat. Replace saturated fats with healthier monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, found in olive oil, canola oil, vegetable oils, lean poultry, and unsalted nuts and seeds. Remember saturated fat counts toward your total daily allowance of fat.

Trans fat

Description: Trans fat occurs naturally in some foods, especially foods from animals. But most trans fat is created during food processing through partial hydrogenation of unsaturated fats. Trans fat is a common ingredient in some types of margarine, shortening, snack foods and commercial baked goods. Trans fat can increase your risk of heart disease.

Recommendation: The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend avoiding trans fat as much as possible by limiting foods that contain synthetic sources of trans fat, such as partially hydrogenated oils, and by limiting other solid fats. The American Heart Association recommends limiting trans fat to no more than 1 percent of your total daily calories. For most people, this is less than 2 grams a day. Limit less healthy commercially prepared desserts and snacks, such as crackers, cookies, cakes and doughnuts. Remember trans fat counts toward your total daily allowance of fat.

Cholesterol

Description: Cholesterol is vital because it helps build your body's cells and produces certain hormones. But your body makes enough cholesterol to meet its needs — you don't need any dietary cholesterol. Excessive cholesterol in your diet can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. Dietary cholesterol comes from animal products, such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy products and butter.

Recommendation: Keep dietary cholesterol to less than 300 milligrams a day. Cutting cholesterol to less than 200 milligrams a day can benefit anyone at high risk of heart disease. Reduce dietary cholesterol by cutting back on animal sources of food, such as beef, poultry and eggs. If an item is high in saturated fat, it's probably also high in cholesterol.

Fiber

Description: Fiber is the part of plant-based foods that your body doesn't digest and absorb. There are two basic types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber may help improve your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Oats, dried beans and some fruits, such as apples and oranges, are good sources of soluble fiber. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to your stool and can help prevent constipation. Vegetables, wheat bran and other whole grains are good sources of insoluble fiber.

Recommendation: If you're a woman, get about 22 to 28 grams of fiber a day. If you're a man, get about 28 to 34 grams of fiber a day. Emphasize whole-grain products, fruits, vegetables, beans and peas, and unsalted nuts and seeds.

Sodium

Description: Some sodium is vital because it helps maintain the right balance of fluids in your body, helps transmit nerve impulses, and influences the contraction and relaxation of muscles. Too much sodium, though, can be harmful, increasing your blood pressure and the risk of heart disease and stroke. Most Americans get far too much sodium in their daily diet and need to cut way back.

Recommendation: Limit sodium to less than 2,300 milligrams a day — or 1,500 milligrams if you're age 51 or older, or if you are black or you have high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease. To reduce sodium in your diet, limit processed and prepared foods, which are often high in sodium, avoid salty condiments, don't add salt at the table, and eliminate salt from recipes when possible.

Sugar
Description: All sugar, whether natural or processed, is a type of carbohydrate that your body uses for energy. Sugar occurs naturally in some foods, including fruits, vegetables, milk and some grains. Processed sugars also are added to foods and beverages. These added sugars do little more than add calories to your diet. Many processed foods have both solid fats and added sugar. Together, solid fats and added sugar are known as SoFAS.

Recommendation: The dietary guidelines recommend cutting back on calories from SoFAS. For most people, that means no more than 5 to 15 percent of total calories should come from SoFAS. Consider that 13 percent of a 2,000-calorie diet is about 260 calories a day. The American Heart Association has more specific guidelines for added sugar — no more than 100 calories a day from added sugar for most women and no more than 150 calories a day for most men. That's about 6 teaspoons for women and 9 for men. To cut back on SoFAS, limit table sugar, desserts, pizza, sausage and similar fatty meats, sweetened beverages, stick margarine and butter, and candy.

Once you are on the road to recovery it is a good idea to get a physical with your doctor to address the specific issues your body may have from your addiction.
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Friday, April 15, 2011

Attention readers looking for 2011 drug statistics

Hi this is Dawn the administrator and owner of this site The Addicted Family. Thank you for visiting this site. Recently I have been seeing  many searches here for 2011 statistics. Unfortunately 2011 statistics aren't usually tabulated until the following year. With 2011 only being 4 months into the year, there are no complete statistical data available as yet.  I will research 2010 statistics and data, but even a great deal of that is not readily available.  I promise to make available to you my readers the updated statistics for drugs, and drug abuse just as soon as it is made available. Until then, use what is here as a reference point only.
Thank you and I commend your quest for knowledge and awareness on this  extremely important subject.
~~Dawn

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Sexual Addiction

Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity: The Journal...Image via Wikipedia

Are you suffering some Sexual Addiction?
If you live in the Orangeburg, or other areas of South Carolina and need help with any form of addiction, please see: South Carolina Treatment Centers.com
Sexual addiction is a popular model to explain hyper-sexuality, which is in essence, sexual urges, behaviors, or thoughts that appear extreme in frequency or feel out of one's control. There is no consensus among sexologists for whether the phenomenon represents an actual addiction or even a psychological/psychiatric condition at all. Sex addicts engage in distorted thinking, often rationalizing and justifying their behavior and blaming others for problems. They generally deny they have a problem and make excuses for their actions. Proponents of the sexual addiction model draw an analogy between hyper sexuality and substance addiction, recommending 12-step and other addiction-based methods of treatment.

Behaviors associated with sexual addiction include:

  • Compulsive masturbation, self sexual stimulation
  • Multiple affairs (extra-marital affairs)
  • Multiple or anonymous sexual partners and/or one-night stands
  • Consistent use of pornography
  • Unsafe sex
  • Phone or computer sex (cyber - sex)
  • Prostitution or use of prostitutes
  • Exhibitionism
  • Obsessive dating through personal ads
  • Voyeurism (watching others) and/or stalking
  • Sexual harassment
  • Molestation/rape



Sexual rehabilitation and treatment:
  • Residential sex addiction treatment. With these programs, individuals live on-site at the treatment facility for the duration of the process. This level of inpatient care allows the individual to focus solely on his or her recovery without the distractions of the outside world (and the temptations that come with them).
  • Outpatient sex rehab. Some individuals are simply unable to put everything in their life on hold so that they may attend a residential sex rehab program. Outpatient treatment fills this void nicely as it allows men and women to attend sex addition counseling during the day, but then return home to be near their families and/or support system in the evening.
  • Holistic sex rehab. A number of programs seek to enhance overall wellness during sex addiction treatment through holistic means. These holistic rehab centers incorporate programs such as yoga or meditation into the flow of treatment. As a result, individuals are able to find a greater harmony and balance in their lives – a fact that greatly enhances their chance of overcoming sex addiction.



Treatment Centers in your area:
Starting Point LLC
1421 Bluff Road
Columbia, SC 29201

Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Center Earle E Morris Jr
610 Faison Drive
Columbia, SC 29203

Richland Springs Psychiatric Hospital
11 Medical Park
Columbia, SC 29203

The Midlands LRADAC/The Behavioral Health Center of
1325 Harden Street
Columbia, SC 29204

MCXL-PHS (ASAP) Moncrief Army Community Hospital
4500 Stuart Street
Columbia, SC 29207

Veterans Affairs Medical Center William Jennings Bryant Dorn
6439 Garners Ferry Road
Columbia, SC 29209

William Jennings Bryan Dorn
6439 Garners Ferry Road
Columbia, SC 29209

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Tri County Commission
910 Cook Road
Orangeburg, SC 29115

Call 1-877-772-6302 To Discuss Treatment Options if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Addiction and/or a Mental Health Disorder.
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So you love an addict?

GriefImage via Wikipedia     
 So, you love an addict?

Loving a person that is addicted to drugs and alcohol is a painful and sad life. Often we feel alone in our pain, our devastation and grief. The grief we feel is second only to that which we feel when we lose a loved one, and perhaps the two aren't totally unrelated. The Addicted Family is here for you. Families suffering from the addiction of a loved one need support along with the addict. Loving an addicted family member means grieving the loss of them, over and over again...its mental preparedness..as they are leaving you. There is also the realization, that the addict has a new love, and you are not it, you can't even compete with it. It's an unfair fight, that doesn't mean you have to lose it.
This site is for every person seeking information and understanding of the devastating disease of addiction. My aim is to supply plenty of information, answer questions from the readers, and hopefully encourage, inspire and offer hope to all. I'm here to fight with you, and give you the information and support you need to not only fight this battle, but win it. If you can't find what you are looking for, please email us at: theaddictedfamily@yahoo.com and we will do our best to help find the answers you may need.
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Thursday, April 14, 2011

Questions on Crack Cocaine

Cooking Crack in a Spoon with Sodium BicarbonateImage via Wikipedia

Crack Cocaine addict has reached epic proportions all over the world. If you live in Orangeburg, or any county in this state, the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (Click Here) is responsible for general health and addiction services in this state, and may also have information on problem gambling

 



1. How often do crack addicts smoke crack?

Crack addicts will smoke crack as often as they can. That may seem like an over simplified answer, but it is the truth. As long as an addict has crack he/she will smoke it until there is no more left. So the real answer is, every time they have crack they will smoke it. If they have the means to purchase it every hour they will smoke it every hour, if they have the means to obtain it every day, they will smoke it every day. As long as they have it in their possession, they will continue to smoke all of it. There is no "saving some for later" with a full blown addict of crack. 

2. Do people who smoke crack have abnormal personalities?

That is a difficult question to answer, if you mean does their personality become abnormal as a result of using crack, then the answer is, yes. Crack does have the capacity to take any person and literally convert them into a stranger, even to those who have known and loved the addict their whole life. Because the addict is now driven day and night by an urge he/she can no longer control, their mind is incapable of staying stable and rational. They may become severely agitated, paranoid and violent towards anyone, including their own loved ones and friends. If you mean do people with abnormal personalities smoke crack to begin with, well, crack has infiltrated families and taken hostage many a "normal" person. However, that being said, there are certain predispositions that experts claim are hereditary that makes a person more prone to become an addicted person. It has been argued that it isn't a genetic factor as much as it is an environmental conditioning of the addict that causes them to be prone to become addicted. The environmental conditioning argument suggests that the addict has perhaps grown up seeing substance abuse within the family, and because this is a familiar behavior to them they do not see it as the problem it is. This same argument has been made with childhood obesity, its the familiar behavior that the child mimics, over eating, and regular fast food meals is a behavior, not a disease, with overweight being the symptom of the behavior. The same is said for the addict, they grew up seeing substance abuse, and the behavior is mimicked. This type of environmental pre-conditioning occurs all over the world and also is at fault for domestic abuse as well.

3.  Can smoking crack cocaine put you at risk for HIV ?

People who smoke crack cocaine are at increased risk of becoming infected       with HIV — a finding that highlights the need to adopt and to evaluate the use of safe inhalation rooms and safer crack kits, B.C. researchers say. Some of the reasons for this risk is the users impaired ability to rationally make safe decisions, as well as participating in risky behavior to obtain money for their habit, such as engaging in sexual conduct.      

4. Is constipation a side effect of Cocaine?

Yes, constipation is a side effect of Cocaine use. Not only does it cause constipation, it causes intestinal damage, nerve damage, seizures, hallucinations, increased heart rate, blood pressure, constricted blood vessels, paranoia, insomnia, violent behavior that is extreme enough to cause an addict to kill, and death.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Questions from our readers: Is constipation a side effect of Cocaine?

Yes,  constipation is a side effect of Cocaine use. Not only does it cause constipation, it causes intestinal damage, nerve damage, seizures, hallucinations, increased heart rate, blood pressure, constricted blood vessels, paranoia, insomnia, violent behavior that is extreme enough to cause an addict to kill, and death.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Addiction to gambling

SlotMachineImage via Wikipedia

South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (Click Here) is responsible for general health and addiction services in this state, and may also have information on problem gambling. For statistics on gambling addiction in South Carolina, see: South Carolina Gambling fact sheet

For more information about gambling services in South Carolina, contact:
Christopher Reid
DAODAS,
101 Executive Center Dr., Suite 215
Columbia, SC 29210
telephone: 1-877-452-5155.



What is a gambling addiction?

In America alone, problem gambling affects more than 15 million people. More than 3 million of these are considered severe problem gamblers, otherwise known as gambling addicts or pathological gamblers.  Gambling addiction is a mental-health problem that is understood to be one of many kinds of impulse-control problems a person may suffer from. The types of gambling that people with this disorder might engage in are as variable as the games available. Betting on sports, buying lotto tickets, playing poker, slot machines, or roulette are only a few of the activities in which compulsive gamblers engage. The venue of choice for individuals with gambling addiction varies as well. While many prefer gambling in a casino, the rate of online/Internet gambling addiction continues to increase with increased use of the Internet. Gambling addiction is also called compulsive gambling or pathological gambling.

What are symptoms and signs of a gambling addiction?

Pathological gambling involves persistent and recurring problem gambling that includes several of the following symptoms and are not the result of another mental-health problem, like during a manic episode:

A preoccupation with gambling, either by reliving past gambling, planning for future gambling experiences, and/or thinking of ways to secure money to finance gambling

Needing more and more money for gambling in order to achieve the desired level of gambling enjoyment

Repeated unsuccessful attempts to stop or reduce betting behaviors

Becoming uneasy or easily irritated when trying to reduce or stop gambling

Gambling for the purpose of escaping problems or to relieve sadness or anxiety

Returning to gambling after losing money in an effort to recoup losses

Lying to family or other loved ones, mental-health professionals, or others in an effort to hide the extent of the gambling behavior

Committing crimes (for example, stealing, fraud, or forgery) in an effort to finance gambling

Risking important relationships, employment, or other opportunities due to gambling

Depending on others for money to resolve dire financial situations that are the result of gambling.


Treatment for a gambling addiction:

Where can people get support for gambling addiction?

Compulsive Gambling Center
924 East Baltimore St.
Baltimore, MD 21202
1-800-LOST-BET (1-800-567-8238)
http://www.lostbet.com

Debtors Anonymous
General Service Office
P.O. Box 920888
Needham, MA 02492-0009
Phone: 781-453-2743
Fax: 781-453-2745
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Gam-Anon International Service Office, Inc.
P.O. Box 157
Whitestone, NY 11357
718-352-1671

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) International Service Office
P.O. Box 17173
Los Angeles, CA 90017
213-386-8789
isomain@gamblersanonymous.org

Problem Gambling.com
24 Hours a Day
7 Days a Week
U.S. Gambling Hotline: 1-800-522-4700
Canadian Gambling Hotline: 1-888-391-1111

United States National Gambling Help Line
1-800-522-4700

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Check out these helpful DVD's

Friday, April 8, 2011

Questions from our readers: Why are addicts, addicts?

Standard question markImage via WikipediaWhile there are no simple answers to this question as to why an addict is an addict, there are certain factors that do contribute to the condition. Statistics do show common threads among almost all substance abusers. Some of the common backgrounds are: Childhood sexual and/or mental, emotional and physical abuse and neglect.

Family history- In almost every case of substance abuse there is a link to a friend or family member that the addict was exposed to during childhood. Many times alcoholism and substance abuse can be traced back several generations.

Mental illness-
Believe it or not, mental illnesses like depression are often found in those who are addicts. Because of the stigmas placed on mental illness in society many addicts try to self medicate using easily available substances. Unfortunately in this country, it is easier to get crack or marijuana, than it is to get medical help.

Low self esteem-
This is a no brainer but most all addictive personalities have deep seated self worth issues. The drug use that is intended to relieve these feelings of low self worth often perpetuate the feelings via guilt, etc. The "crash after the high" often leaves the addict feeling just as low and empty as they did prior to using.
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Questions from our readers: How often do addicts smoke crack?

A pile of crack cocaine ‘rocks’.Image via Wikipedia
Crack addicts will smoke crack as often as they can. That may seem like an over simplified answer, but it is the truth. As long as an addict has crack he/she will smoke it until there is no more left. So the real answer is, every time they have crack they will smoke it. If they have the means to purchase it every hour they will smoke it every hour, if they have the means to obtain it every day, they will smoke it every day. As long as they have it in their possession, they will continue to smoke all of it. There is no "saving some for later" with a full blown addict of crack.
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Questions from our readers: Do people who smoke crack have abnormal personalities?

A woman smoking crack from a glass pipe.Image via Wikipedia
If a child grows up seeing this behavior they will mimic it 

That is a difficult question to answer, if you mean does their personality become abnormal as a result of using crack, then the answer is, yes. Crack does have the capacity to take any person and literally convert them into a stranger, even to those who have known and loved the addict their whole life. Because the addict is now driven day and night by an urge he/she can no longer control, their mind is incapable of staying stable and rational. They may become severely agitated, paranoid and violent towards anyone, including their own loved ones and friends.

If you mean do people with abnormal personalities smoke crack to begin with, well, crack has infiltrated families and taken hostage many a "normal" person. However, that being said, there are certain predispositions that experts claim are hereditary that makes a person more prone to become an addicted person. It has been argued that it isn't a genetic factor as much as it is an environmental conditioning of the addict that causes them to be prone to become addicted.
The environmental conditioning argument suggests that the addict has perhaps grown up seeing substance abuse within the family, and because this is a familiar behavior to them they do not see it as the problem it is. This same argument has been made with childhood obesity, its the familiar behavior that the child mimics, over eating, and regular fast food meals is a behavior, not a disease, with overweight being the symptom of the behavior. The same is said for the addict, they grew up seeing substance abuse, and the behavior is mimicked. This type of environmental pre-conditioning occurs all over the world and  also is at fault for domestic abuse as well.
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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Addicted and pregnant

Craniofacial features associated with fetal al...Image via Wikipedia

Being addicted while pregnant poses additional risks to the health of the user and to their unborn child. If you live in Orangeburg, South Carolina and are addicted and pregnant, please contact: The William J. McCord Center, or if you live in South Carolina, please see:  South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services.

How Drugs Affect The Pregnant Woman:

Poor appetite
Trouble sleeping at night
Early (premature) labor
Hard to make decisions or plans
More chances of infections (transmitted through sex)
Water breaks too early
Not able to recognize or cope with normal changes during pregnancy
Sudden bleeding

How Drugs Affect The Unborn Baby:

Low weight at birth
Early delivery or miscarriage
Growth and development may be slow
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) or Fetal Alcohol Effect (FAE)
Mental retardation
Heart problems
Defects of the face and body
Death

How Drugs Affect You and Your Baby After Delivery:

Withdrawal symptoms that may keep you or your baby in the hospital longer
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Greater chance of feeling depressed after having the baby
Trouble being a parent
Hard to make decisions or plans
Hard to cope with your new baby's needs (i.e. eating, sleeping, crying)
Hard to bond with your baby
Hard to hold a job

See: Online Support Groups. Another great source for family support is Narconon. Tomorrow is never easier than today, get help now. For family members that are looking for additional information on drug addiction, visit: The AddictedFamily
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Tuesday, April 5, 2011

The effects of drug use on the family

Human Settlements- Campaign against Drug AbuseImage by United Nations Photo via Flickr
There is no easy way to describe the devastation and sense of loss that is felt by family members when they are faced with the addiction of a loved one. The predominant feeling that encompasses many families is a feeling of loss very similar experiencing a loved ones death. Except the dead are gone, and the addict is a living nightmare that causes a similar grief to the family and friends that are caught in their own hell.
The uphill challenges that many family members have to face is how to live a happy life with an addict in the family whether they get treatment or not. It is almost inconceivable to think of. Happiness with an addict in the family? How can I? They have taken possession of all of our emotions our lives? My happiness always is dependant on their happiness. They are miserable, I am miserable. In walks classic co-dependency.
This is why it is vital that families that have been affected by addiction find support services in their area to help them have the tools they will need to over come this co dependency, this emotional prison they are trapped in. Counselling services are available that will assist families in combating their addicts control, by giving them resources and guidelines to avoid enabling their addict, as well as finding interventionists that can assist with getting your loved one the help they desperately need.
The key thing to keep in mind is there is no better day than today. There is no ideal moment or time, it is now. Addiction will not be easier tomorrow than it is today. Freedom and happiness and the saving of your loved one's life is not on stand by, it must occur today.
If you live in South Carolina, visit South Carolina Intervention. You can also call at 1-877-728-1122.
If you need help in your state please visit:
National Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Information Center for help in your state. Or you may call 1-800-784-6776
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Are you addicted to PCP?

PCP, public domain from http://www.dea.gov/pub...Image via Wikipedia
What is PCP?
Phencyclidine (a complex clip of the chemical name 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)piperidine, commonly initialized as PCP), also known as angel dust and myriad other street names, is a recreational, dissociative drug formerly used as an anesthetic agent, exhibiting hallucinogenic and neurotoxic effects. Phencyclidine (PCP) was developed in the 1950s as an intravenous anesthetic but, due to the side effects of confusion and delirium, its development for human medical use was discontinued.

What effect does it have once taken?
PCP works primarily as an NMDA receptor antagonist, which blocks the activity of the NMDA receptor and, like most antiglutamatergic hallucinogens, is significantly more dangerous than other categories of hallucinogens. Other NMDA receptor antagonists include ketamine, tiletamine, and dextromethorphan. Although the primary psychoactive effects of the drug lasts for a few hours, the total elimination rate from the body typically extends eight days or longer.

How is it taken?
As a recreational drug, PCP may be ingested, smoked, or snorted. Users tend to demonstrate symptoms that mimic schizophrenia such as delusions, hallucinations, paranoia and disordered thinking.

How it effects the user's health

PCP is addictive and its use often leads to psychological dependence, craving, and compulsive PCP-seeking behavior. Users of PCP report memory loss, difficulties with speech and learning, depression, and weight loss. These symptoms can persist up to a year after cessation of PCP use. PCP has sedative effects, and interactions with other central nervous system depressants, such as alcohol and benzodiazepines, can lead to coma or accidental overdose. Use of PCP among adolescents may interfere with hormones related to normal growth and development.  Many PCP users are brought to emergency rooms because of PCP's unpleasant psychological effects or because of overdoses. In a hospital or detention setting, they often become violent or suicidal, and are very dangerous to themselves and to others. They should be kept in a calm setting and should not be left alone.

How PCP can kill you

At high doses, blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiration drop. This may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, flicking up and down of the eyes, drooling, loss of balance, and dizziness. PCP abusers are often brought to emergency rooms because of overdose or because of the drug’s severe untoward psychological effects. While intoxicated, PCP abusers may become violent or suicidal and are therefore dangerous to themselves and others. High doses of PCP can also cause seizures, coma, and death (though death more often results from accidental injury or suicide during PCP intoxication). Because PCP can also have sedative effects, interactions with other central nervous system depressants, such as alcohol and benzodiazepines, can also lead to coma.

Treatment for PCP Addiction


Recover from PCP Addiction Through Quality Treatment...
If you or someone you know needs treatment for PCP addiction, or for immediate assistance finding drug rehab centers that specialize in PCP addiction and treatment, please call Recovery Connection® now at 1-800-993-3869. Our caring counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The call is completely confidential and toll-free, so don't wait - get help now!
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Sunday, April 3, 2011

Questions from our readers: How does Oxycontin kill you?

myocardial infarction - Myokardinfarkt - schemeImage via WikipediaAbusers of Oxycontin can suffer severe and deadly heart attacks, as well as having their breathing slow down to the point that the user stops breathing. Oxycontin also can cause the heart to be  as little as ten beats a minute resulting in cardiac arrest. The user will many times want to pass out or sleep which can be deadly and the user may not awaken. The chances of a fatality occurring with this drug are enormous. Intervention is needed by professional interventionists. Many families attempt to have interventions on their own, and do so with out the resources needed for long term successful conclusions. A family that has attempted intervention in the past should reconsider one using professional help.
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Saturday, April 2, 2011

Valium Addiction

Eine Dose mit ValiumImage via WikipediaWhat is Valium?
Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that help people decrease anxiety, nervousness and sleeplessness. Benzodiazepines help people recovering from alcoholism because it seems to lessons withdrawal symptoms as well. Valium is a therapeutic drug that also has extremely addictive qualities.
It is used to manage short-term anxiety disorders as well as to reduce the negative effects of sudden alcohol withdrawal. It is also used as a muscle relaxant and anti-convulsant.

Valium addiction can be the result when the drug is used for longer or in greater quantities than was prescribed by a doctor for anxiety or pain. The addict may find that they need more and more just to achieve the desired effect. Approximately 50 percent of people who are on this medication for six months or more show Valium addiction signs.

The first step in confronting Valium addiction is often having the addict physically detoxify from the drug. This has to be done carefully because often stopping the drug can have the very effects that the drug was originally intended to help with: panic and anxiety.


Signs of Addiction to Valium
Lack of coordination
Fatigue or drowsiness
Decrease in memory
Blunt emotions
Confusion
Depression
Anxiety
Irritability
Difficulty in focusing
Aches, pains and other physical ailments

Valium withdrawal
Withdrawal from Valium can be serious and if not monitored properly could lead to death. It is important if you or your loved one is thinking about stopping the drug that it be closely monitored by a medical professional. If you or loved one has tried to stop before without success, there are substance abuse treatment centers available for this type of drug abuse.

Valium withdrawal symptoms:
Psychosis
Insomnia
Diaphoresis (sweating)
High blood pressure
Tremors
Hyper-anxiety
Vomiting
Cramps
Irritability
Depression
Seizures
Diarrhea
Increase in heart rate
Tingling in extremities
Loss of appetite and weight
Stomach problems
Vision problems
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