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Does Anxiety Heighten The Chance For Drug Addiction?

Saturday, August 6th, 2011
anxiety and drug abuse

Does Anxiety Increase Risk of Drug Abuse?

The concept suspected by Manitoba researchers and written about in the Vancouver Sun is that those who have anxiety problems are more susceptible to drug abuse.

Another instance of research confirming common sense?

We can see primitive versions of this behavior in others and also in ourselves to varying degrees.  We get nervous or anxious about something and that causes us to overeat.  That is why they call it “comfort” food.   So why wouldn’t the same concept apply to drug use?  Of course it does.  Instead of food, a person may go for a beer.   Wouldn’t the same concept apply to a joint, or a harder drug for some people?  It is the same basic concept applied in of these cases – The avoidance or escape from pain!

The human brain is highly addictive.  We also know that the two greatest motivators for the human brain are getting pleasure and AVOIDING PAIN.

Feeling anxious is a sort of uncomfortable feeling – and that IS a kind of pain!

From The Vancouver Sun:

“The work by Manitoba researchers writing in the Archives of General Psychiatry, which followed close to 35,000 people, is one of the first to try to answer a longstanding question: Do anxietyridden people self-medicate because they are substance abusers, or do they become abusers because they selfmedicate?

“Self-medication in anxiety disorders confers substantial risk of incident substance abuse disorders,” wrote lead researcher Jennifer Robinson at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg and colleagues.”

There you have it! Of course, the researchers are on to something.  This is really nothing new.  It is obviously a part of human nature.  We have all experienced trying to escape from our feelings / problems by turning to chocolate, a drink,  or in many cases – something worse.  However, some personalities are more prone to doing this than others.  I think we all know that is true.

You can always submit your story to this site if you have one to share in this regard.  Keep all the information, including your name, anonymous!

Drug addiction is a serious problem.  This is just one of the many reasons why!

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Family Support Can Prevent the Need For Drug Rehab…

Monday, December 6th, 2010

One of the aspects of drug abuse and addiction that many people fail to realize is the fact that it isn’t just the addicted individual that suffers.  Granted, they are suffering on the emotional, mental, and physical level but it also tears the family of the individual apart in the process.  By far, this is one of the saddest aspects of drug addiction.  Sometimes there is no other option than placing the individual in an addiction treatment and recovery center, but this is not always an easy proposition.  Oftentimes, families have to help the individual by bringing in an intervention specialist to help them get the person into rehab.

Ways to help the individual before the abuse and addiction get out of control

There are occasionally those circumstances where the individual’s abuse and/or addiction is in early enough stages where the drug addiction intervention process can be avoided.  The key is the family support issue and in many cases, this alleviates the need for any intervention services being brought into the picture.  The support of the family could be the difference between whether or not the individual quits using the substance and returns to a drug-free lifestyle.  The first key element of any family support is that you have to separate the love you have for the person from what will them and is in their best interests.

Ways to approach a drug addled individual

Remember first and foremost that you want to approach the suffering individual with compassion and let them know that they are hurting themselves the more they continue to pursue their current lifestyle.  In addition to that compassion, you do have to be firm and put the love that you have for that person to the side.  That doesn’t mean pulling the plug on your love for them.  It simply means that you should still make a loving suggestion here and there, but you want them to know that the love you have for them is what is propelling you to take action and try to turn things around for them.

The deeper that a person’s drug abuse and addiction runs, the less they are able to control what they are.  Eventually, their addiction will control every aspect of their life, from the time they awake in the morning until they fall asleep at night.  In many instances, this “tough love” concept combined with the support of the family is what proves to be the most beneficial to turning addicted individual’s lives around.  The sooner you are aware of the problem, the sooner you will be able to take action and avoid the need for a drug addiction intervention.

About our US website

We developed our website to not only help addicted individuals in their struggles but to provide inspiration, information, and hope for them and their families as well.  It is our goal to always be compassionate and understanding while offering advice and suggestions that can help addicted individuals and the ones who love them in there situations.

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Marijuana Addiction is Real and can be a Stepping Stone to More Powerful Drugs

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Marijuana Addiction

Marijuana or Cannabis is indigenous to central and southern Asia, and has been taken as a form of drug or medicine for centuries. There is evidence of its use dating back to an ancient burial site in ancient Romania in the third millennium BC. Today, there are two schools of thought regarding marijuana addiction. It is often characterized as a powerful addictive drug by some, while others feel that this addiction is just an uncontrollable urge to enjoy the drug and smoke it.

In the US, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that roughly 40% of the population aged 12 and older has tried marijuana at some point during their lives. Many have continued to use the drug since they first started taking it, while others have stopped. Many of those who have stopped did so of their own accord, while others have had to rely on addiction treatment and recovery centers such as one of the many California drug rehab facilities that currently exist.

Marijuana as a Gateway Drug

Again, there are two schools of thought regarding marijuana use as a way of escaping from the day-to-day stresses of life. Some feel that marijuana leads to the abuse and addiction of more powerful substances such as cocaine and methamphetamines. Conversely, there are those who feel that this statement is just a myth that has been perpetrated to scare people away from its use. This is oftentimes referred to as the “Gateway Drug Theory” and there are many proponents of it worldwide.

The gateway drug theory basically claims that the use of marijuana will increase the probability of the user moving on to harder drugs. This has been the central premise that many US anti-marijuana drug policies have been based on. However, the implications and the validity of this theory have been hotly debated for quite some time now, as research studies reveal that smoking regular cannabis is a better predictor of the eventual use of harder drugs.

Developed Dependency on Marijuana

Granted, people throughout the world today are using marijuana for recreational purposes. However, many cultures have been using it for religious and spiritual purposes for centuries as well. In more recent times, marijuana is now being prescribed for medicinal purposes because of its anaesthetic qualities. But when you are talking about tolerance and dependency issues, a smaller percentage of marijuana users become dependent on it compared to other substances such as alcohol, opiates, and regular tobacco.

Impacts of Marijuana Usage

Orange County drug rehab rehab facilities have found that the impacts or effects of marijuana usage are both physiological and psychoactive in nature. It only takes about 10 micrograms of marijuana for every kilogram of body weight to produce these psychoactive effects. The end result is a change in moods and perception of your surroundings. On the other hand, the neurological and physiological effects include decreased psychomotor coordination, impairment of concentration and memory, increased heart rate, and lowered blood pressure. At the present time, research does not have a clear picture of what the long-term effects of Marijuana use are.

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Prescription Drugs – When you Cross the Line Between Use and Abuse

Monday, November 8th, 2010

It’s an irony of sorts that the drugs that are meant to save lives and restore health are also the ones that destroy both; there’s no denying the fact that there’s a thin line between drug use and drug abuse, and that many of us straddle or cross this without realizing the implications of our actions and the dangers that we’re getting into. Prescription drugs are just chemicals, and if they’re taken indiscriminately, they can end up causing more harm than you ever dreamt they could; so if you’re a pill popper, here’s how you can become aware of your habits, restrain yourself and regain your good health:

  • When your doctor prescribes drugs for your condition, follow your prescription to the letter – don’t stop short of the prescribed period or take the drugs for a longer period of time. If you feel your condition has not improved, talk to your doctor again and ask for their opinion.
  • Don’t use drugs left over from someone else’s prescriptions; if you take the wrong kind of medication, you could fall seriously ill and even die; or if you swallow painkillers you find when you’re in the smallest amount of pain, you could end up becoming addicted to them.
  • Remember that when you take drugs without a prescription and combine them with alcohol or other prescription medicine, you could suffer adverse reactions that could affect your health in the short and long term and also cause complications and bring about chronic conditions.
  • OTC drugs may be available without a prescription, but that does not automatically make them safe. So no matter how good cough syrups and other OTC drugs make you feel, no matter how relaxing they may seem to be, don’t waste your money on these drugs. Prolonged usage not only makes you dependent on them, it also wreaks havoc on your health and wellbeing.
  • An increasing addiction to prescription drugs is the first step to serious drug addiction; sooner or later, the highs you receive from cough syrups and painkillers is not going be enough and you’re going to gravitate to harder stuff. This leads to further complications and before you realize it, you’re a full-blown addict.

The first sign of addiction is denial; so if you find yourself reassuring yourself that you’re not an addict and that you can stop anytime, it’s time to seek help and start getting out of the rut before you dig yourself into too deep a hole.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Paul Hench, he writes on the topic of masters in public health . He welcomes your comments at his email id: paul.23hench[@]gmail[.]com.

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Kansas City Addiction Recovery Walk…

Sunday, September 19th, 2010

marijuana-addictionCongratulations to those who participated in The Mike Johnson Memorial Walk for Recovery in Kansas City on September 18th 2010.

Anything that can be done to further the cause of addiction recovery is valuable. In addition, you were able to raise awareness for the problems of addiction which are vast and far reaching.

Since much of mainstream society is a bit ignorant about the problems of addiction, it is good that this walk took place in Kansas City.

I once met a woman from KC who had a deep scar on her face. She told me that her boyfriend was in rehab. It took the car accident in which he was driving and caused the scar on her beautiful young face to get him to wake up to his addiction problems.

If awareness can be raised about the problems of addiction and substance abuse, it would be of great help to society – and to many individuals as well as those who love them.

If even one such similar tragedy can be prevented, then it was worth every ounce of effort that went into the walk and other events like it.

YOU can help, even now! Even though the walk is over, you can add your efforts to the fight for awareness!

Submit your anonymous drug or alcohol related story here.

YOUR story can help others who are struggling with either the awareness of their addiction or the need to overcome the addiction once the person becomes aware. In addition, your story may help to inspire people who love someone who suffers from an addiction. They need support and encourgement to not give up hope!

Submit your anonymous drug or alcohol related story here.

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