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!

If you Know of someone who might find this information useful, please share on Facebook or: 

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.

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.

• 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.

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.

My journey began at a young age of 14. I was adopted and raised an only child. Loneliness was my constant companion.

My father’s job kept him away from the home most of the time. My mother was a strict and very formal lady. I had everything that a child could want but happiness.

When I was prescribed narcotic pain medication I immediately found that by taking a pill I felt pretty, was no longer lonely and I liked my mother. Life would never be the same from that day forward.

It was soon after the introduction to narcotics that I discovered alcohol. With the combination of the two my world was great. The days turned into weeks, weeks into months and months into years. Through the years I had developed many habits from Heroin to Cocaine.

During this time I had a son, James. My parents had passed and his father left before he was born. We were all that each other had. My son spent most of his life seeing mother in and out of treatment with no success. He was taken away from me and now I see that was a blessing.

Life spiraled into the black abyss. Nothing mattered and my only prayer was to die soon. In 2006 I found myself in a seedy motel in Sumter, SC. To this day I do not know how the phone call transpired but I was talking to a man that began describing my pain as if he knew exactly how I felt.

He told me that I never had to be alone again and that I was coming home. Those words meant more to me than anything in this world. He said that God was on the way.

And two women arrived to bring me home. They began to tell me their story and it sounded like mine. I could see life in their eyes and love in their hearts. I wanted what they had and they told me that I could have it if I followed a few simple steps.

I soon arrived at a placed called the Owls Nest. This was the beginning of a life far greater than I could ever have imagined. I was given unconditional love and I learned how to give love. One of the women that came to my motel room that night is and has been my sponsor. She took me through the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and showed me how to apply these steps in my everyday affairs. I now have a host of lifelong friends, a fellowship of brothers and sisters. We have discovered a common solution.

I completed the program at the Owls Nest and stayed on as a trusted servant. I have been honored to be on staff as the Admission Director for over 3 years. I now can bring others home and give to them what has been given to me.

My relationship with my son has been restored. We have a bond today stronger than ever before. My only wish is that others may find the peace and happiness that I have.

But I have known 3 people who’s lives are destroyed by them. One young mom, lost her life by overdose and left her 3 children alone in this world.

Two friends are barely existing because of their addictions, which take priority over Everything – Including a single fathers child! They are hurting everyone who cares about them; and I am moving away from both my friends, to get away from their addictions!

I pray daily that God will Bless us all; and we can find a way to solve Americas’ drug problems!! All the suffering families & friends, you ARE in my prayers!!! Kathy 40

[Editors Notes]:

The effects of Painkillers include slow breathing, vomiting, nausea feelings, constipated bowels, neck and face flushing, pupil constriction, energy loss, trouble concentrating, and feeling sleepy.

You should never combine painkiller medication with alcohol or other drugs (unless approved by your doctor). It is always a good idea to let the pharmacist know everything you are taking so they can advise you about possible problems – even if the doctor says everything is ok.

The pharmacists are far more knowledgeable in the area of drug interactions.

Longer term use of painkillers can lead to tolerance and needing higher doses of the drug for the same effect, addiction and overdose!

When you are physically addicted to a painkiller, not getting the drug into your system can lead to the following withdrawal symptoms:

Flu like symptoms

body aches

fever

sweat

shakes

chills

inability to sleep

pains in the bones and muscles

diarrhea

nausea and vomiting

Leg twitches

Feeling cold

See your doctor if you are experiencing or think you might be experiencing withdrawal and even more so if you think you are currently addicted to any medication, drug or even alcohol!

This list is a courtesy only and is no way an endorsement of any rehab centers. I have not investigated these centers personally. Please do your homework carefully before choosing a center that is right for you or your loved one.

Behavioral Health Treatment Center in FL

Offers successful treatment for alcohol and substance abuse. Specialty programs for young adults, pain management and depression.
www.bhopb.com

Crossroads Centre: Drug, Alcohol Rehab
Crossroads Centre at Antigua is an international rehabilitation center for the treatment of drug, alcohol and other addictive disorders. Founded by Eric Clapton.
crossroadsantigua.org

Rehab and Recovery for Teens
Regional treatment centers and private boarding schools offering teens extended rehab and recovery from drug or alcohol use.
www.aateens.com

Affordable Drug Rehab with Results
Drug rehab for adults and teens in TX and LA. Residential inpatient and outpatient programs. Ask about our treatment guarantee.
www.rightstep.com

Recovery for the Drug Addict/Alcoholic
Luxurious drug and alcohol treatment in a serene and private setting on the Texas Gulf Coast.
www.bayarearecovery.com

Drug Rehab Treatment Facility
Drug rehab and substance abuse treatment facility at Sunrise Recovery Ranch located in the majestic Southern California foothills.
www.drugrehabranch.com

Sober Living by the Sea Treatment Center
Drug rehab treatment program offering care in a structured 12-step program. Located in beautiful Newport Beach on the Pacific Coast.
www.soberliving.com

Non-Traditional Addiction Treatment
Long-term non-traditional addiction treatment.
www.addiction2.com

AAE Drug Rehab Retreat – One of a Kind
Upscale 14, 21, 28, and 35 day programs. One-on-one therapy in serene healing environment. Intimate 6 bed facility, confidential, organic cuisine, secure, nestled in Southern California.
aaeretreat.com

Renaissance Malibu – Drug Rehab Center
Individualized and confidential alcohol and drug addiction treatment offered in a Malibu, CA oceanfront mansion. We offer hope and healing in a serene environment.
maliburecovery.com

Addicts Are Healed Here
Trust can be restored – relationships can be healed. We treat more than the addiction by helping clients identify the cause of their addictive behavior and bring new meaning to their life.
www.pavillon.org

Passages Residential Drug Rehab Center
Exclusive residential treatment center in Malibu, California specializing in one-on-one treatment of drug abuse and alcoholism. Documented 84% success rate.
www.passagesmalibu.com

The Watershed: Drug Rehab
Make a change today. We are here to help you overcome alcohol and drug abuse. Contact us to receive free confidential online assessment and referrals. We can help you achieve recovery.
www.thewatershed.com

Stone Hawk Drug Rehabilitation Center
Stone Hawk Rehabilitation Center offers holistic residential alcohol and drug rehab programs on beautiful St. Mary’s Lake in Michigan. Over 70% of our graduates stay clean.
www.narcononstonehawk.com

Northern CA Residential Drug Treatment
Luxurious Northern California residential treatment center overlooking San Francisco Bay. Bayside Marin offers confidential, respectful, nurturing, individualized care in serene settings.
www.recoverycenter.com

Milestones Ranch Malibu Drug Rehab
Innovative, alcohol rehab research-based treatment for mental health/drug problems. 12 adult beds/3 levels of care. Beautiful mountain setting.
www.milestonesranchmalibu.com

1-800-Nodrugs.com: Drug Rehabilitation
1800nodrugs.com is a nationwide treatment referral service designed to help you find a rehabilitation center to fit your individual needs. Find addiction information online.
www.1800nodrugs.com

Holistic Drug Rehab Program
Addiction recovery program that works. Chronic relapse specialists. We are recovering addicts with over 17 years of experience.
www.drugrehabcenter.com

Executive Drug Rehab in Style
Enjoy being pampered. We provide compassionate and individualized treatment that offers the chemically dependent person a route to
recovery that is specifically tailored to their needs.
www.capobythesea.com

Tarzana Treatment Center – California
Comprehensive drug, alcohol and mental health treatment. Fully licensed and accredited. Detoxification, residential and outpatient treatment offered in multiple sites throughout L.A. County.
search.tarzanatc.org

Drug and Alcohol Rehab Program
Let us help you recover from your addiction. Cost-effective, caring and compassionate residential treatment rehab in seaside communities of South Orange County, California.
www.abletochangerecovery.com

Drug Rehab Program – Hope by the Sea
Hope by the Sea is a high-qaulity, yet affordable residential alcohol rehab center located in Southern California. Help can’t wait. Call now.
www.hopebythesea.com

Drug Rehab Uses Narcotics to Detox
Summer House offers a narcotic detox service in a no hassles stress free setting. Located in South Florida.
www.drugdetoxcenter.com

Helping with Drug and Alcohol Addiction
We help overcome drug addiction through an emphasis on helping the whole person. Located in secluded Belize, Central America we treat the mind, body and spirit.
www.newrivercove.com

Drug and Alcohol Recovery
Treatment. www.solutions4recovery.com

Drug Rehab
Exclusive, intensive rehab retreat Newport Beach. Executives, professionals, celebrities, pro athletes: alcohol/drug, addictions, burnout, stress. All private services, powerful, effective.
www.beaumondeprograms.com

Newport Beach Drug Rehab
Beautiful, seaside drug rehab facility offering individualized addiction treatment programs steps from the California sand. State licensed, court approved, highly successful. Live healthy.
www.recoveryhome.net

The Sundance Center – Drug Rehab
Professional inpatient, outpatient drug and alcohol rehab. Located in Scottsdale Arizona, we are here to help. thesundancecenter.com

Drug Rehab – Addiction Is Not a Disease
You are not powerless. There is a solution to alcohol and drug addiction. Change your life forever. Advanced technology for substance abuse recovery. Success rate 80%.
www.soberforever.org

Narconon Gulf Coast, Inc
Narconon offers drug rehab in Destin, FL. Recover fully and finally from addiction and get your life restarted. narconongulfcoast.com

Drug Rehab Center
The future of recovery is here today at A Better Tomorrow. Effective drug rehab center.
abettertomorrow.onsmartpages.com

Long-Term Drug Rehab for Adolescents
Caring, professional staff offering drug recovery services and education to drug addicted teens. Call our center in Kentucky today.
www.careacademyky.com

Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center
Cirque Lodge, Sundance Utah offers exclusive and effective drug and alcohol treatment. Let the mountains and our cognitive and experiential therapies provide you healing and hope. Call now.
www.cirquelodge.com

Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center
Beat your addictions at Florida’s Gulf Coast Recovery is a beachfront, comprehensive substance abuse treatment center that specializes in treating alcohol dependence and drug addiction.
www.gulfcoastrecovery.org

Capstone: Drug Rehab Center
Capstone Treatment Center is a residential treatment center for adolescent substance abuse. Capstone Christian treatment model uses proven innovative therapies to stop chemical dependency.
www.capstonetreatmentcenter.com

Texas Drug Rehab
A Texas drug rehab treatment center that is Christ centered and Bible based.
www.eawake.org

Drug Rehab
Affordable, sophisticated and highly-successful alcohol/drug treatment.
www.pachills.com

Drug Rehab
Addiction Information Center is providing complete and current information about rehabs, detox, treatment, alcoholism, drug abuse, centers addiction and other related topics.
www.addictioncareoptions.com

Drug Rehabilitation
Sierra Tucson Treatment Center in the Santa Catalina Mountains. Chat privately with a staff member online or call us toll-free. Compassionate, reassuring, understanding care is available.
www.sierratucson.com

Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Center
Austin Recovery provides effective, compassionate, and affordable drug and alcohol treatment in Austin, TX. Our non-profit organization has been helping individuals recover since 1967.
www.austinrecovery.org

Drug Rehab Resource Catalog
Find information on drug rehab. View parent resource videos online or have them mailed to you for free. Receive parental and educational information on schools and programs.
www.teenhelp.us

Drug Rehab
Alcohol and drug treatment alternative recovery program. Recover at home. Also links to drug/alcohol rehab alternative.
www.homerecovery.net

Executive Drug and Alcohol Rehab
Professional drug and alcohol treatment. Private rooms with baths available. Call for a confidential discussion. Located in Utah.
www.journeyrecoverycenters.com

Rapid Detox from Heroin Addiction
Project Straight offers medically assisted detox and detoxification under anesthesia from heroin, methadone, oxycontin, vicodin and other opiates. Caring, compassionate and affordable.
www.detox911.com

Stepping Ahead Drug and Alcohol Program
We offer women group therapy, transport to AA/NA meetings and a 12 step based community that aids in the development of a healthy support system for long-term sobriety in Palm Beach, FL.
www.halfwayhouse.net

Drug Rehab Ministry
Evangelical Christian ministry in Russia. With your support we build churches, drug rehab centers, and seminaries across Russia.
www.moscowministries.com

Hope by the Sea – Laguna Nigel, CA
Drug rehabilitation, alcoholism treatment, chemical dependency treatment, opiate detox programs, and more.
www.hopebythesea.com

We decided to buy a small house on a large lot together and ‘flip’ it in 12-15 months to a developer after I had obtained the permits. As she was younger than I, we took the mortgage out in her name.

We did this for speed of application, as we wished to pursue our ‘plans’ as quickly as possible. After all , we were only going to be living there a relatively short time.

Within 9-months of moving in she became ill with clinical depression and was placed on anti-depressives, which as time went on became increasingly stronger. She then began to drink alcohol in secret and her resulting behavior patterns started to create all sorts of problems in our previously fantastic relationship.

I had to suspend applying for the Planning permits because it became apparent that her health was not going to be able to deal with any move from, or sale of, our property. As the years rolled on she became worse, she left her job on sick-leave. I started to care for her on an almost 24/7 basis, which nearly destroyed my own working life.

She was still taking anti-depressants , sleeping tablets, tranquillizers and having clandestine alcohol binges at fairly regular intervals. I tried to stop her drinking, she promised to stop drinking but the binges still occurred until they were at just 10 day intervals.

We used a few Librium based detox programs but after each one she went back to alcohol abuse within a short time. She had started collapsing in the street whilst out walking and was admitted to A&E by paramedics-medics as a result many times.

Then, one evening, as it became apparent that she’d begun another binge, she suddenly collapsed at home. She died three days later in Intensive Care of a cerebral aneurysm (stroke) aged just 49.

I immediately realized she had not made a will, but did not know that owing to her condition she had omitted to renew the ‘death’ cover on the mortgage insurance for our home, Or complete the nomination for myself under her own death insurance. As a result,at age 61 I lost everything.

I loved her very much, and she loved me perhaps even more, but in the face of the terrible combination of alcohol and prescribed drugs our once wonderful lives, with a great future, were plunged into a tragic conclusion that I never expected, or had any warning of.

If you are the partner/relative of anyone who is suffering a similar condition, always make sure that your own position within your relationship, as to important matters of finance and legalities is taken care of. Only in that way can you can face up to their difficult day-to-day existence and perhaps unexpected developments, with some element of security and safeguard. Don’t end up like myself.

- All-Alone

— We (pen name)