July « 2009 « Drug Abuse Rehab Solution Blog

July 30, 2009

Detecting Signs of Drug Use

Filed under: Riverbend — Tags: drug addiction, drug rehab, signs of drug use — admin @ 9:46 am

A closer look into the different symptoms that indicate someone is under the influence of drugs.

While more and more people are educating themselves on drug-use, and how to prevent it, it is important to realize that different drugs cause different reactions in the body. Drugs are essentially poisons; the amount taken determines the effect. All drugs are dangerous and many who have loved ones that are using drugs are unable to recognize the signs that someone is high on narcotics until it is too late.

Right now alcohol is the number one abused drug in our country. An individual under the influence of alcohol may exhibit clumsiness; difficulty walking; slurred speech; sleepiness; poor judgment; dilated pupils; possession of a false ID card.

The second most commonly abused drug currently are prescription medications. These include depressants and stimulants. Depressants, including barbiturates and tranquilizers, may seem like the user appears drunk as if from alcohol but without the associated odor of alcohol. Other symptoms that someone may be under the influence include difficulty concentrating; clumsiness; poor judgment; slurred speech; sleepiness; and contracted pupils.

Another category of depressants, opiates include drugs like OxyContin and heroin. With heroin some common things to look for are needle marks; sleeping at unusual times; sweating; vomiting; coughing and sniffling; twitching; loss of appetite; contracted pupils; no response of pupils to lights.

Stimulant drugs have the opposite effects and include drugs prescribed for Attention Deficit Disorder like Ritalin. These drugs cause individuals hyperactivity; euphoria; irritability; anxiety; excessive talking followed by depression or excessive sleeping at odd times; may go long periods of time without eating or sleeping; dilated pupils. weight loss; dry mouth and nose. Some illegal stimulants include cocaine and methamphetamine.

Another commonly abused drug is marijuana. When someone is using marijuana some common symptoms include glassy, red eyes; loud talking and inappropriate laughter followed by sleepiness; a sweet burnt scent; loss of interest, motivation; weight gain or loss.

Inhalants are another drug with increased use, especially amongst adolescents. Inhalants, including glues, aerosols, and vapors cause watery eyes; impaired vision, memory and thought; secretions from the nose or rashes around the nose and mouth; headaches and nausea; appearance of intoxication; drowsiness; poor muscle control; changes in appetite; anxiety; irritability; an unusual number of spray cans in the trash.

Another category of commonly abused drugs by adolescents are hallucinogens. Hallucinogens cause dilated pupils; bizarre and irrational behavior including paranoia, aggression, hallucinations; mood swings; detachment from people; absorption with self or other objects, slurred speech; confusion.

It is important to note that if someone displays a few of these symptoms, it does not always mean they are under the influence of drugs. A more foolproof method of detection is a drug test, which can be bought at your local pharmacy.

Drug use does not have to go unhandled. If you or anyone you know is in need of help please contact Narconon Riverbend drug rehab prorgram at 866-422-4650.

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July 20, 2009

Prescription Drug Abuse Does Not Have To Go Untreated

Filed under: Riverbend — Tags: drug abuse rehab, drug rehab program, prescription drug abuse — admin @ 4:05 pm

As people’s awareness of drugs is increasing, more information regarding prescription drug abuse is coming to light. The most recent statistics report that prescription drug abuse is on the rise. Between 1999 and 2004 the amount of deaths from overdoses from Vicodin, Oxycontin, and Demoral went up 142%.

The most common prescription drugs that are abused are benzodiazepines; drugs such as Clonipin or Xanax, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) medication such as Ritalin, Aderal, Welbutrin), and pain killers; drugs like Vicodin, Oxycontin, and Percocet. In many cases, most people obtain these medications legitimately by their doctors for health conditions in the beginning. But, because of their addictive nature, the number of people who consume these drugs as a method to getting high is increasing both with those with legitimate prescriptions and those who are getting them illegally.

There are several ways that drug abusers get a hold of these prescriptions. The first is doctor shopping. People will call or visit different doctor’s offices looking for someone to prescribe them with the drugs they want. A new addition to doctor shopping is dentist shopping. An addict will call a dentist out of the Yellow Pages, explain that they are in pain, and request a prescription for pain medicine. If the doctor or dentist refuses, the addict simply moves on to the next one.

Addicts don’t have to look very far to get their hands on prescription medications; the medicine cabinet at home has become a favorite spot for a quick fix. The amount of people who leave half full bottles of prescriptions in their home is astonishing.

One ex-prescription drug addict, Tim Larson, recalls how he acquired his drugs. “My parents lived next door to an elderly woman.” explains Larson. “I would come over and do a few odds and ends around the house. I would always ask to use the restroom. Right there, in her medicine cabinet was a bottle of Vicodin. Each time I came there I would leave with a pocketful of pills.”

“I didn’t realize that I was addicted to the pills until I tried to stop” explains Larson. “I always thought that I was above the people that used street drugs, because I was taking drugs that were “legal”.”

Tim Larson struggled for years with prescription drug abuse. It wasn’t until he found a rehabilitation facility located just outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana that he finally found a way to get and stay clean.

That program was the Narconon Louisiana drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. Narconon Louisiana is a non-profit, drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. Jeff Lukas, Executive Director of the center explains what makes Narconon different from other drug rehab programs, “We do not subscribe to the idea that addiction is a disease. We believe that a person starts using drugs as a solution to a problem, and then what ends up happening is that the drug use causes the individual much greater problems.” Lukas goes on to say that “Once an addict handles why they started using drugs in the first place they can live a life free from the grips of addiction.”

Narconon Louisiana’s unique method of detoxification is another way they set themselves apart from the norm. Clients are able to rid their bodies of the harmful drug residue that has stored in their fatty tissues by undergoing detoxification in a dry heat sauna that eliminates the drug cravings that are so often the downfall of sobriety.

After three years in operation Narconon Louisiana achieves an over 76% success rate for permanent sobriety, and far exceeds the industry norm of 10-20%. “We focus on returning a person to their true selves.” explains Jeff Lukas. “I have met countless numbers of people who never thought they would end up living a life of an addict. Here, they are able to regain the abilities they once had.”

Prescription drug abuse is a major problem currently but it does not have to go untreated.

If you or anyone you know is in need of help please call Jeff Lukas at 866-422-4650. You can also visit Riverbend Retreat’s drug abuse rehab website.

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