http://www.houghtonhouse.co.za/heroin-addiction/
http://www.houghtonhouse.co.za/heroin-addiction-and-withdrawal/
http://www.houghtonhouse.co.za/effects-of-heroin-abuse/

If you find any person close to you, is getting addicted to some kind of drugs, then get him or her admitted in a rehab center as soon as possible. It is the only way to save that person from death.

The rehab centers follow several processes to cure the drug addicted patients; among them the drug detox program is one the most important. In this treatment process, the drug rehab centers follow several techniques to eliminate the toxic drug particles from the body of the addicted patients.

This process is often considered as the most important part of the total drug addiction treatment process. Most well known addiction treatment centers perform this detox program for curing the patients. Just after this treatment process, the withdrawal effects show up. Withdrawal effects are painful but it is a positive sign of the treatment. If these withdrawal effects do not show up, then it is for sure that the medicinal treatment is not working. However, the withdrawal effects of drug addiction are extremely painful; the addicts find it extremely difficult to tolerate it. In some cases, it has also been recorded that the addicted people run away from the rehab centers, when they cannot tolerate the pain anymore.

Such incidents are really unfortunate and prove to be a complete failure of the drug addiction treatment process. The drug rehab centers must provide good care and provide a suitable environment to the addicted patients to deal with such situation.

Along with proper medicinal treatment, care and comfort contributes a lot in the addiction treatment process. These two factors help the patients a lot in the treatment process to deal with the pain of the withdrawal effects and overcome it. They help the wild patients to stay calm and cool, and win over the withdrawal effects of the drug addiction. Treatment in a rehab center is very essential for the people suffering from drug addiction; it is the only place where the drug addicted people can win over their nasty addiction habit and get back to their normal life.

People suffering from any kind of mental depression must seek help in a depression treatment center; it is the only way to get cured.

When children are experimenting, it does not mean that it is part of growing up, but it is very tempting to them and sometimes too hard to resist. You need to set boundaries, but leave enough freedom for the child to develop his/her own personality. Things you child might experiment with are, smoking drinking, sex and drugs.

Usually when children are going through their experimental phase, the novice soon wears off and they lose interest. But sometimes this is not the case, and they can move on to harder drugs. They want to fit in with a crowd where drugs are used, and they fall into the trap. The trick is to have a good relationship with your children and let them know that you care enough to keep a close eye on them.

What to do if you find out your kids are using drugs:

Imagine you’re cleaning up your child’s room and you find a bag of weed. What do you do?
The first reaction of a parent is often panic, something that is very understandable, but not the best reaction. If your child is experimenting with drugs, it is important to talk about it. It is the only way to find if your child is at risk and panicking and screaming won’t help you find out the truth. If you simply prohibit your child, you will close the lines of communication and he/she will simply hide it better the next time. An open discussion will lead to a better mutual understanding and strengthen the relationship where you will then be able to find out the motive behind the drug use and work from there.

It’s a good idea to first do some research about the drug your child is using. This will give you an understanding of the risks involved and help you when you decide to talk to your child about his/her drug use.
Clear boundaries need to be set and if it gets dragged out for too long, your child will be the one suffering the consequences.

Once you have established your child’s drug use pattern, you can decide on a course of action. Rehabilitation might be needed. There are various options available including in-house treatment, where they can get better from home.
The most important thing to remember is that you need to take swift action. Your child’s long term health depends on your reaction.

Amphetamine are also known as ‘speed’.
Amphetamine effects seem refreshing and stimulating. Most users are active and outgoing and feel they have unlimited energy. Insecurity and feelings of inferiority disappear, and so do feelings of hunger and thirst.

Negative effects of amphetamines
The body gets used to amphetamine and you get withdrawal symptoms when not taking the substance. Their are signs of anxiety, restlessness, agitation, and users can become very aggressive. Users can also get highly depressed increasing the risk of suicide. In the longer term there is risk of developing a clinical psychosis. Alcohol and amphetamines counteract each others effects and gives a user the feeling that they can tolerate more alcohol than usual.

Amphetamines may also cause poisoning. The signs of poisoning are headache, fever, shivering and sometimes cramps. It is forbidden to take amphetamines to enter or leave the country. It is also prohibited to sell, buy, process and possessing amphetamines.

Psychotherapy: When you are out of the abuse, you can benefit from psychotherapy. Psycho Therapy can help one to become more aware of why they abuse substances and the consequences that abuse have on one’s life and network. Through conversations you can become more aware of the impact abuse has on your ability to solve problems. It may be a good idea to go into group therapy with others with addictions.

Psychosocial treatment: You may need help getting a house, a job or an education. And you can get training to cope with ordinary daily activities, and work better with other people when you no longer takes drugs.

Prevention

There is a part of preventive work in the form of information on drug abuse in schools

It can be done!

• The key is seeking help to escape abuse. In south Africa there are abuse centers where you can get treatment.

• If, besides the abuse has you have a mental disorder, for example. a psychosis or a depression, it is important to get treatment for it.

• The best thing you can do for a friend/family member who’s an addict, is to seek professional help.

In continuation of the “good” effects, MDMA’s psychological effects include confusion, depression, sleep problems, anxiety and paranoia under the influence and sometimes several weeks after you have ingested the substance. Physical effects can include, muscle tension, involuntary teeth fold, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, chills or intense sweating.

Increase the heartbeat and blood pressure is a particular risk for people with circulatory or heart failure. The stimulating effect of the substance that makes a person dancing in unusually long time, combined with the heat, usually in large groups of people dancing, may lead to that dehydrate, hyperventilate and experiencing cardiac and renal failure . Use of MDMA damages brain cells, neurotransmitters serotonin. Serotonin is believed to play a major role in regulating mood, memory, sleep and appetite. Recent studies have shown that over use of MDMA causes persistent memory problems.

Brain Damage in the Ecstasy User

According to recent studies, described in the 15th Published by Neuro Science magazine (June 15 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience) offers designer fabric Ecstasy, or MDMA, long-term damage to the brain part, which causes thinking and memory. In an experiment with monkeys, made by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, it was proven that four days’ use of the substance caused damage that was sustained 6-7 years later. These results helped to establish the earlier studies done on humans, the Hopkins team, which showed that those who had taken MDMA scored lower on memory tests.

“Serotonin system is exposed to MDMA, is fundamental to the brain’s integration of information and humor,” said Dr. Alan L. Leshner, director of National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute of Health, which funded the study. “People who take MDMA, even on a few occasions, the least likely long-lasting, perhaps permanent, problems with learning and memory.”

Purity and dosage of “ecstasy” / MDMA powder

Another concern associated with MDMA use is toxicity from chemicals other than MDMA in ecstasy tablets. Due to its near-universal illegality, the purity of a substance sold as ecstasy is unknown to the typical user. The MDMA content of tablets varies widely between regions and different brands of pills and fluctuates somewhat each year. Pills may contain other active substances meant to stimulate in a way similar to MDMA, such as amphetamine, methamphetamine, ephedrine, or caffeine, all of which may be comparatively cheap to produce and can help to boost overall profits. In some cases, tablets sold as ecstasy do not even contain any MDMA. Instead they may contain an assortment of presumably undesirable drugs and substances, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, talcum powder, etc.

There have been a number of deaths attributed to PMA, a potent and highly neurotoxic hallucinogenic amphetamine, being sold as ecstasy. PMA is unique in its ability to quickly elevate body temperature and heart rate at relatively low doses, especially in comparison to MDMA. Hence, a user who believes he is consuming two 120 mg pills of MDMA could actually be consuming a dose of PMA that is potentially lethal, depending on the purity of the pill. Not only does PMA cause the release of serotonin, but also acts as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, MAOI. When combined with an MDMA or an MDMA-like substance, serotonin syndrome can result. Combining MAO inhibitors with certain legal prescription and over the counter medications can also lead to (potentially fatal) serotonin syndrome.

Ref : Wikipedia

This purity dilemma very common in the case of ecstasy sold in South Africa where “methamphetamine” (a cheap and locally produced & highly addictive substance) is the most common ingredient mixed into imported MDMA powder “batches” and re-stamped into pills or simply sold in powder formats.

Is cocaine addiction serious?
Cocaine abuse can occur very quickly and be very difficult to stop. Studies in animals have shown that animals will work very hard (pushing an obstacle more than 10,000 times) for a single shot of cocaine, choose cocaine instead of water and food and take cocaine even when they know such an act was punished. Animals must have their doses reduced for not taking poisonous or even lethal doses. People who are dependent on cocaine, behaves like. They will go to great lengths to get cocaine and continue even if it hurts their education, job opportunities, even when it harms their relationship with those they love.

Other problems that can occur using cocaine or free base?
Cocaine and free base can create feelings of anxiety and depression, it can continue for weeks. Attempts to stop the drug may fail simply because the subsequent depression can be overwhelming and cause the addict takes more cocaine to get rid of depression. This overwhelming abuse can cause the addict will do anything to get cocaine!

Is methadone still used for pain relief.
Methadone is now primarily used to treat drug addiction. Methadone effect lasts longer than morphine-based drugs. Methadone effects may take up to 24 hours, making the reduction and maintenance programs need only provide methadone once daily.

What are the side effects of Methadone?
Because of unusually high doses (erroneous estimation of tolerance to the substance) accompanied by diseases such as hepatitis and pneumonia deaths occur mostly in early methadone treatment. Generally leads Methadone numerous side effects including the development of tolerance and physical and psychological dependence. Inhibited mental function is dangerous. The synthetic substances Methadone contains can cause hypersensitivity and bronchitis. Other symptoms are constipation, nausea or vomiting, stunned, dizziness, edema.

Dependence on Methadone?
Just as with opiates will use of methadone causes physical dependency – if you’ve used the (prescribed or not) so you will experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop. The physical changes associated with the substance is the same as at the opiates (like heroin) dialated pupils, impaired cough reflex, drowsiness and constipation. Some methadone users feel sick when they take the substance in the beginning. As previously mentioned, a long-term methadone or depot effect, which also makes detoxification can last longer, as the substance remains in the body longer than, for example. heroin.

Heroin withdrawal symptoms often take just hours after last dose. These produce drug craving, restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea and vomiting, cold sweats with goose bumps, kicking movements and other symptoms. The worst sets in between 48 and 72 hours after the last dose and only begin to subside after a week. Users in a poor physical condition attempting detoxification without assistance can prove fatal, although heroin withdrawal is statistically considered as much less dangerous than alcohol and sedatives.

What are the symptoms of heroin withdrawal?

Depending on the daily intake, may occur following reactions:

• Convulsions
• Abnormal heartbeat
• Increased heart rate
• Heartbeat
• Sudden and rapid high blood pressure
• Stroke
• Extreme depression
• Suicidal behavior

Are there other problems that can occur with heroin addiction?

Heroin can cause feelings of depression that can persist for weeks. Attempts to stop using heroin can fail simply because withdrawal symptoms can be so overwhelming that they force the addict to use more heroin to get rid of these symptoms. This predominance of addiction can cause the addict will do anything to get heroin.

Also see Methadone addiction as part of the opiate family of drugs.

• addiction.bundublog.com/heroin-addiction/
• addiction.co.be/what-is-heroin/