Why Many Think Prescription Drug Abuse is not Dangerous

The Epidemic of Prescription Drug Abuse

Prescription drug abuse has been on a sharp increase over the last several years. Perhaps most shocking has been the rise of this type of drug abuse amongst our youth. In a 2013 study released by the Partnership at Drugfree.org, it was reported that teen prescription drug misuse and abuse has risen by 33% since 2008. This equates to one in four teens who have misused or abused a prescription drug at least once, with one in eight teens reporting that the drug used was a prescription psycho-stimulant like Ritalin or Adderall.

If you think that the idea to abuse these drugs comes only from the teenagers themselves, think again. The same report also stated that nearly ONE IN THREE PARENTS believe that these Rx stimulants can improve a teen’s academic performance even when not prescribed for ADHD. These facts alone are cause for alarm in even the most simplistic interpretation of a rudimentary textbook on the basics of drug abuse.

Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs

The most commonly abused prescription drugs are:

1. Opiate (opioid) painkillers (OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, etc.) 
2. Central Nervous System Depressants 
3. Stimulants (Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, etc.)

The range of CNS depressants is very wide and includes anti-anxiety drugs, aka benzodiazepines (Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, etc.); antipsychotics, aka major tranquilizers (Zyprexa, Abilify, Seroquel, etc.); and sleep drugs, aka hypnotics (Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata, etc.). Antidepressants (Zoloft, Lexapro, Effexor, etc.) are also abused.

Prescription cough syrup containing codeine (an opiate) is also commonly abused and mixed with promethazine (allergy medication) and other ingredients into a concoction called “Purple Drank”, “Sizzurp”, or “Lean.” Over-the-counter cold medication containing dextromethorphan (DXM) is also regularly abused.

The Tidal Wave of Drugs

If all this information seems confusing, then that is part of the problem. There must be thousands of different types of prescription drugs (it has been difficult to locate an actual number). Any generic drug name can have several brand names connected with it. A drug is released under one name and then re-released with a different name.

Drugs are heavily marketed in print ads, on the internet, and on television. The disorders themselves are marketed along with the drugs that accompany each one – like a package! Pharmaceutical companies profit billions of dollars and spend millions upon millions on advertising to consumers and directly to doctors. They also allocate millions to settle law suits, lobby legislative bodies, and entice the FDA to fast-track their new drugs and patents. Oh yeah, and they pay big money for “authoritative” papers and studies that extoll the efficacy of their drugs.

So if you are wondering why the problem appears overwhelming, wonder no more. It is designed to confuse you and short circuit your ability to reason.

A Notorious Example: Methylphenidate

Let’s take but one example: Ritalin. What is Ritalin? Ritalin is methylphenidate, a Schedule II narcotic in the same category as morphine, oxycodone, cocaine, and methamphetamine. What is a Schedule II drug? This is the criteria for Schedule II as determined by the United States Controlled Substances Act:

1. The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.

2. The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions.

3. Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

Why is Ritalin (methylphenidate) Schedule II? Here are some of its short-term and long-term effects:

• Dilated pupils 
• Nausea 
• Loss of appetite; malnutrition 
• Increased heart rate & blood pressure 
• Disturbed sleep; insomnia 
• Erratic behavior 
• Irritability; aggression 
• Delusion; hallucination 
• Depression; apathy 
• Paranoia; psychosis 
• Suicidal thoughts or actions 
• Violent behavior 
• Lesions in nose when snorted 
• Respiratory damage when smoked 
• Infections & abscesses when injected 
• Damage to blood vessels 
• Damage to internal organs (liver, kidney, lungs) 
• Brain damage 
• Severe psychological dependence; addictive behavior 
• Convulsions; seizure 
• High blood pressure; stroke; heart attack 
• Unconsciousness; coma 
• Death

Brand names for methylphenidate include Ritalin, Concerta, Methylin, and Metadate. But there is a new brand of methylphenidate called Quillivant SR advertised as “The first and only once-daily extended-release liquid medicine for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).” Its maker (Pfizer) advocates it for children ages 6-12 and it lasts for twelve hours. This narcotic is advertised as “Fruit-flavored liquid medicine.” This is the same chemical as Ritalin which has become notorious for making addicts out of small children and teens who crush, snort, smoke, and inject the drug. Ritalin has become a street drug earning it the following slang names: Kiddie Coke, Diet Coke, Kiddie Cocaine, Poor Man’s Cocaine, R-Ball, Rids, Skittles, Smarties, Vitamin R.

Marketing the “Disease” and the “Cure”

But it goes much deeper than that. We know that these drugs are marketed to the broad public and bring in billions of dollars for their manufacturers. But did you know that the very disorders for which they are prescribed are also the subject of mass marketing?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is the “psychiatric bible” fueling the widespread prescription of mind-altering drugs. This book lists hundreds of “disorders” and a checklist of symptoms for each. The DSM is not based on any legitimate medical science and its contents are voted on by committee. These facts are well-known and attested by psychiatrists and doctors. The newest DSM is called DSM-5. It is over 900 pages long and lists well over 300 disorders, such as bibliomania (collecting or hoarding books), nicotine withdrawal, dyscalculia (difficulty with arithmetic), night eating syndrome (late night binge-eating), perfectionism, and the list goes on and on.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), for which methylphenidate is prescribed, is connected with a long list of “symptoms.” The child need not exhibit all of the symptoms to be diagnosed. The list reads in part:

• Difficulty paying attention to details and tendency to make careless mistakes in school or other activities 
• Easily distracted; inability to sustain attention on tasks or activities 
• Difficulty finishing schoolwork or paperwork or performing tasks that require concentration 
• Frequent shifts from one uncompleted activity to another
•  Frequent shifts in conversation; not listening to others 
• Not following details or rules of activities in social situations 
• Fidgeting, squirming when seated 
• Getting up frequently to walk or run around 
• Running or climbing excessively when it's inappropriate 
• Having difficulty playing quietly or engaging in quiet leisure activities 
• Always being 'on the go' 
• Often talking excessively

Difficulty paying attention? Making mistakes? Not finishing schoolwork? Not following rules? Fidgeting? Running? Climbing? Not playing quietly? Being on the go? Talking? Isn’t this the behavior of any child – a happy, healthy one who is interested and learning about life? Why would anyone want to crush that?

I asked a friend of mine from Boston who had been put on Ritalin at age SEVEN, why a stimulant would be given to a child that is already very active. His answer was that the drug made him FIXATE on whatever was placed in front of him which to some could look like the drug was “working.” He eventually crushed and snorted Ritalin and became a heavy drinker and cocaine addict. He kicked drugs in his early twenties and went on to reach over 100,000 people with drug awareness and education. His story had a happy ending. Not everyone’s story ends like his.

Conclusions

I’ve been focusing on the psychotropic variety of prescription drugs and haven’t even gone into any great detail about opioid painkiller abuse. Oxycodone (known by its brand name OxyContin) is often referred to as synthetic heroin due to its potency. Painkillers and anesthetics are of course necessary in performing surgery and to alleviate moderate to severe pain. But administration of opioids must be closely supervised and ceased as soon as possible.

Why do many people think that prescription drug abuse is not dangerous? There are something on the order of FOUR BILLION prescriptions written every year in United States alone. Americans have been spending over 300 billion dollars annually on prescription medication. Drugs are everywhere, in our schools, neighborhoods, and medicine cabinets. People assume they are OK because they’re legal and they believe the advertising and they blindly trust “authority.” Even doctors assume they are alright because they’ve been approved for use.

FACT: Cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin were developed in labs and sold by pharmaceutical companies. They were fully legal. It took years for the public to wise up. Cocaine was an ingredient in Coca Cola – hence the name. Pharmaceutical grade meth is still sometimes prescribed for ADHD.

Deceit for Profit

People have the wool pulled over their eyes. They do not understand the medical jargon and that is exactly what is intended. Covert tactics are used to obscure what these drugs actually are and what they do. Yet, the information is readily available.

To a drug manufacturer, anyone is a potential customer. Don’t assume that everyone in the pharmaceutical machine is a saint who cares deeply about you and your children. A lifelong drug addict is the ideal customer because he or she is loyal to the product and keeps buying. Hopefully, I have shed some light on the subject.

How to Tell Your Doctor Your Drug Problems

Substance abuse is something many teenagers and young adults have adopted from friends due to peer influence or even as a result of idleness, lack of parental guidance or increased stress. As a result, school dropouts, accidents, crime, spread of diseases such as HIV are now on the increase. This problem is a global concern and governments, churches and individuals have now partnered together by establishing drug and alcohol rehab centers to help the victims of drug and substance abuse. The activities of drug and alcohol rehab centers have however not registered the level of success desired mainly because, most youths visit these centers but shy off from telling the doctors their drug problems. If you are among such groups of persons, the following tips will help you tell your doctor your drug problems.

Make a List of Things to Discuss With Your Doctor

A list will not only help you remember the issues to discuss with your doctor but can also help you in the event that you are shy about expressing yourself. It is normal for most drug and alcohol victims to fear expressing themselves before other people but with a list, you can easily hand it over to your doctor. However, you should ensure that your list is filled with enough information so your doctor will be able to determine what course of action is best for your needs.

Take a Relative or a Friend With You When Visiting a Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center

By not going alone when visiting a drug and alcohol rehab, you will at least have someone who understands you knows your problem well. Such a person will be able to help you articulate your issues to the doctor to help him better understand how to assist you.

Respond to Your Doctor's Questions

The best way to serve someone is by getting feedback from them. It is therefore important for you to respond to your doctor's questions by giving them the information they need. Feel free to share with your doctor so that he/she can decide the best course of action to take.

Make a List of Drugs You Have Used or are Still Using

A list will help you remember all the drugs you are using or have ever used. Be honest with yourself and try not to hide any information from your doctor. Do not try to cheat. For example, don't tell the doctor that you only smoke cigarettes when you also smoke marijuana. Also, be sure not to underestimate your daily usage of the drugs. In conclusion, drug and substance abuse is not an easy thing to stop. Neither is it an easy thing to confess and share with your doctor or any other person who can help you fight this problem. It is important to follow the above tips and be completely honest in order to get the best help available. Meta: How to tell your doctor your drug problems is a common fear of addicts who are expressing themselves, but with a list, you can easily hand it to your doctor.

Why Alcoholics Must Want to Change, not be Forced

More than 17.6 million people in the United States are abusing alcohol. The reason for such a high number of abusers is the addictiveness of the product. Alcohol consumption begins for a wide variety of reasons and for some it does not end until that person has almost ruined his or her life. Although alcoholism is a serious illness that can cause damage to the liver, death, and psychosis, people still over drink every day. Most alcoholics have the desire to change in their hearts, but they do not want to be forced. The following are reasons why alcoholics do not want to be forced to change.

Excruciating Withdrawal Symptoms

The most common reason that alcoholics do not want to be forced to change is the physical withdrawal. Stopping alcohol consumption prompts very painful withdrawal symptoms such as headache, nausea and vomiting, heart palpitations, tremors, delirium, and convulsions. Many people fear the withdrawal symptoms and are not sure if they have the strength to survive them. Therefore, a person addicted to alcohol will prefer to stop at a time when he or she is capable and strong enough to quit. Fear is the largest cause of procrastination.

Pride

No one likes to admit that he or she has a drinking problem. An even more undesirable situation is when a person like this is told to cease by a family member, loved one, or boss. The alcoholic may feel a loss of control, which causes anxiety and further irritability. In some cases, the alcoholic will continue to drink or drink greater quantities when a person tries to force cessation. The best way for a caring party to get an alcoholic to seek help is by finding a way to make that person think that it was his or her idea.

Abrupt Loss of “Friends”

Many people with alcohol problems associate with other people who have the same problem. Lifestyles change when an individual has an addiction. Full recovery includes distancing one’s self from former social circles. Forcing an alcoholic to seek help is the same as asking him or her to give up on friends and acquaintances. This might cause a great deal of anxiety and anger in the alcoholic. He or she may feel that there is no support system other than the existing social of friends. This may cause that person to refuse treatment for fear of being alone.

Psychological Dependence

Unfortunately, people who suffer with alcoholism have a psychological dependence on it. Alcohol is sometimes used as a problem solver, escape route, and pleasure provider. The longer a person has been an alcoholic, the more difficult it will be for that person to change the habit of looking to alcohol to solve life’s problems. The thought of not having a way out of conflict and problems might make the alcoholic reluctant to accept being forced to change. He or she may strongly desire to change, but will buck back if someone tries to force the change too early. Every alcoholic has a feeling that there is something wrong and he or she should stop. What slows the progress of getting help is often stubbornness and fear. Family members should never point fingers or make threats when it comes to trying to convince someone to see the best drug rehabilitation specialists. Instead, they should outwardly embrace the person and the addiction. They should be around for chatting, off topic activities, and overall moral support. When that person is able to put the fear aside to make the decision to cleanse himself or herself of alcohol, it will happen with no pressure. META: Every alcoholic has a feeling that there is something wrong and that they should stop. What slows the progress is often stubbornness and fear.***142 CHARS***

How to Convince a Drug Addict That They Need Help

In the United States alone, there are 22 million people with existing drug problems. That means that one in fifteen people suffer with an addiction. Therefore, many people know someone in their families or friend circles that have a problem. Loved ones only want what is best for those who are dearest to them, so many people struggle with the idea of trying to convince the affected parties to seek help stopping. An individual with an addiction can seek help from the best drug rehabilitation center or a special program, but the individual must want to change before anything positive can progress. The following are five suggested tips on how to convince a drug addict that he or she is in need of help:

Private Inquiries

In order to convince someone that he or she needs to seek treatment, the interested party has to establish a drug addiction. The user may not be a point in which he or she can admit the problem. Additionally, a suspected drug addiction may be an embarrassing subject. Therefore, the best way to tackle the initial consultation is by getting the person to an isolated room and talking to him or her. Discussions of this matter are not meant for telephones or text messaging devices. The user will want privacy and direct communication. The person asking about the addiction should not openly accuse the suspected party. Instead he or she should calmly state the concern of a possible addiction. The person should then offer his or her help should there be a problem. The objective is to make the user feel safe instead of guarded.

Discussing the Negative Effects

Discussing the negative effects that certain drugs have on the body and mind is an excellent way to begin a conversation about possible drug addiction. That way the user is not being accused of being an addict. Instead the other party is passing along helpful information that may prompt the user to think about what he or she is doing. The suspected party may respond to this information in an irate fashion or a welcoming fashion, depending on the stage of the addiction.

Intervention

An intervention is a procedure in which a person’s family and closest friends meet with the accused party and speak openly about how that person’s drug usage is affecting the relationships. Family members may discuss times the addicted person stole or borrowed money. A romantic partner may discuss cheating or abuse. A child may discuss neglect. Interventions have a 50 percent success rate. The addict may take it that everyone in his or her life is ganging up on one person. Alternatively, the individual may have an epiphany and decide to get help.

Educational Material

Another effective method in convincing an addict to get help is showing him or her educational material. A documentary on the life of a drug addict may hit home for the abuser. Pamphlets from rehabilitation institutions may also strike a nerve for that person to seek help.

Tough Love

When other methods fail, sometimes tough love is in order. Tough love acts may include temporarily suspending relationships, cutting off financial backing, or threatening the person’s job. This method is meant to jar the user to consider the important elements in life and get his or her priorities in order. Tough love works with some people but will not work in all situations. The key to getting an addict to seek help is patience. Family members and friends must be supportive in letting the addict know they will be there during the recovery process. Knowing that one has support with treatment will help a great deal. META: Tough love acts are meant to jar the user to consider the important elements in life and get his or her priorities in order. ***124 CHARS***

5 facts you didn't know about alcoholism

ALCOHOLISM

                Alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependency or alcohol dependence syndrome, indicates a physical or psychological addiction and chronic compulsion to drink, marked by increased tolerance, uncontrolled consumption, and severe withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol is often portrayed as a source of infinite fun and an efficient method of oiling the social machinery. When abused, it has been a source of untold misery, familial strife, sickness and death. Alcohol refers to ethyl alcohol, the chemical result of fermentation or distillation of grains or fruits. It is a depressant drug that can also have a stimulant effect in smaller doses. Here are some facts about alcohol and alcoholism that you may or may not be aware of:

STATISTICS  

§  Alcoholism affects some 12 million Americans and an estimated 140 million people worldwide.

§  Close to $200 million dollars is spent daily on alcohol in the United States alone.

§  Fermented drinks like beer and wine contain from 2%-20% alcohol.

§  Distilled drinks – called liquor or spirits – contain from 40%-60% alcohol.  

§  Approximately 100,000 deaths per year in the United States are classified as alcohol related. These include fatalities due to traffic accidents, circulatory and respiratory disease, alcohol poisoning, falls, drowning, fire, suicide, homicide, and other incidents.

§  One in ten children in America has a parent that is an alcoholic.

§  Alcohol abuse is directly connected with a number of violent crimes: Over 40% of rape cases; 80% of spousal battery cases; as well as over 70% of stabbings, felonies, and incidents of child abuse.

CRAVINGS

                A person suffering from alcohol dependence experiences cravings for drink on a continual basis. The cravings are such that they will often drink in inappropriate settings – while working, driving, operating heavy machinery, or during other sensitive activities. Their drinking will often be concealed and others may not be aware of the fact. They will go away to drink and return, or mix their drink with something else to hide it (such as vodka with orange juice). They’ll mask their breath and deny they were drinking. A heavy drinker will often state that they drink because they “choose” to do so. They’ll explain away all manner upsets in their life that stem from their alcohol abuse. It is an unfortunate fact that they will often exhibit “denial” and will routinely lie to conceal their habit.

TOLERANCE

                As an individual is drawn further and further into alcohol abuse, their bodies build up tolerance. They must drink more and more to get drunk. They must drink more and more to feel “normal.” Some alcoholics “drink to blackout” on a routine – even daily – basis, wherein they will drink until they literally pass out, or the next morning they cannot recall what happened after blackout. The sheer quantity an alcoholic will drink is enough to astound someone unfamiliar with the subject. Not uncommon is a person who will drink a quart of liquor and as many as ten beers on a daily basis. The combination of cravings, tolerance and an inability to limit consumption makes for a continually deteriorating situation for the individual afflicted with alcohol dependence. Professional rehabilitation is the answer.

LONG-TERM RESULTS

                Heroin and methamphetamine have earned their place amongst the most destructive drugs to the human body. But alcohol is high on the list. The course of alcohol addiction can go for years or decades. The deterioration may be more gradual than illicit opiates or amphetamines, but this only adds to the insidious nature of alcoholism. Alcoholism could be described as more of a downward-spiraling progression than a single destination. A person can wake up one day and realize they have been an alcoholic for years. A partial list of some of the long-term effects:

§  Injuries and fatalities associated with driving while intoxicated, falls, burns, drowning, firearms.

§  Sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse.

§  Loss of productivity, absenteeism, getting fired.

§  Broken relationships, broken homes, familial strife and trauma.

§  Alcohol poisoning (toxic level in bloodstream which can be fatal).

§  B vitamin deficiency – characterized by disorientation, memory loss, and depression.

§  Malnutrition.

§  High blood pressure, stroke, cardiovascular disorders.

§  Cirrhosis (degeneration) of the liver.

§  Permanent nerve and brain damage.

§  Cancer of the mouth or throat.

§  Sexual dysfunction.

§  Fetal Alcohol Syndrome – birth defects caused by the mother's consumption of alcohol during pregnancy, characterized by retardation of mental development and physical growth, particularly of the skull and face of the infant.

§  Ulcers

§  Gastritis (inflammation of stomach walls).

WITHDRAWAL

                Protracted dependence upon alcohol creates serious physical addiction and attendant withdrawal symptoms. These can be very severe in nature and include nausea, sweating, tremors, and anxiety. An alcoholic is also very likely to experience delirium tremens, also known as DTs (literally means trembling delirium). The violent nature of DTs requires medical supervision; people have been known to die from DTs alone. The symptoms of DTs include extreme agitation, seizure, hallucinations, loss of touch with reality, and a form of psychosis. The experience of withdrawal is another reason the alcoholic will not want to quit – it’s just too painful.

HOLISTIC REHABILITATION

Rehab centers often utilize a number of prescription drugs while attempting to help a person through alcohol withdrawal. A breakthrough in the field of holistic rehabilitation was the discovery that a long-term alcoholic or drug addict has essentially been malnourished. Their bodies have been depleted of vital vitamins, minerals and nutrients. In particular, the B vitamin group, as well as calcium and magnesium, have been isolated as key nutrients to replenish in the withdrawal process. By concentrating on providing the body with natural compounds, and avoiding pharmaceuticals, holistic rehabilitation has made a significant stride in drug-free withdrawal. The programs available at Best Drug Rehabilitation offer a full array of proven holistic methods. Where a person was once a slave to alcohol, they can be free to live their lives. Where they once had to get drunk just to get through the day, they can instead experience a rewarding and sober existence. 

Why it is so hard to beat drug abuse

Demand and Supply

Drugs and alcohol offer a chemical release. One thing they do is trigger brain chemistry that makes people feel good. They are substances that make someone high and help them to forget their troubles and lose track of reality. Why would anyone want to quit, right? Drugs and alcohol also make people slow, dull, foggy, stupid, unaware, and out-of-touch with reality. They also kill, either slowly and insidiously, or suddenly and violently. Drugs are a double edged dagger – perceived benefits and deadly consequences intertwined. Why don’t people simply see through the veil of deceit surrounding drugs? Why don’t they wise up? It’s not because no one is attempting to cut the supply. The problem is the demand. As the “war on drugs” wages against the suppliers and their cohorts, the public demand only rises. But it’s not really the “public” that is demanding. Factually, that is way too general a statement. Distill the problem down and you wind up with individuals. Understanding the problem requires an understanding of why the individual turns to drugs – why drugs are appealing in the first place and why a person repeatedly uses them: 

The Appeal

                Drugs and alcohol are attractive because they offer an alternative to the status quo. They are a route by which one can rebel against his or her parents. They are linked to a counter-culture, and the idea of experimenting in them can be appealing to youth. What they seem to miss is that one can rebel against the status quo all they want without taking a single drug. There’s plenty wrong with status quo already. Drugs are also attractive for the opposite reason. They offer a way to fit in. People use drugs to “feel normal” and feel comfortable in a social situation. Social drinking is a prime example, but there are many more. Broad scale television and print advertising espouse the need to take psychoactive pills to be well-adjusted – yet those same pills are fueling a pandemic of prescription drug abuse. Drugs offer easy and quick escape from stress and tedium. But just as a deal with the devil requires payment, drugs exact a price in return. Just ask an addict.

Dependency and Addiction

                As one journeys further into drug abuse, they will begin to “need” drugs. This dependency or addiction can be physical or psychological – but it is commonly both. Protracted alcohol abuse takes a heavy toll on the drinker. First they build up tolerance; they must drink more and more to get the same effect. If they decide to quit they experience painful and severe withdrawal symptoms, including seizures and unpleasant hallucinations. Their “solution” is to keep drinking. Cocaine, crack, meth, heroin, and a wide array of illicit drugs provide a euphoric high and a dismal low, and they all send an addict down a trail of misery from which many do not return. Prescription psychotropic drugs – stimulants, benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety), antidepressants, antipsychotics – offer a whole new level of addiction. Many people have been on these since childhood, having been prescribed them at a young age (by doctors or psychiatrists). To compound the situation, people get strung out on multiple drugs, with one prescribed to offset the side-effects of another. These types of drugs are often harder to kick than opiates like heroin or methadone.

Relapse

                Why do people revert to drugs after having been through rehab? One answer is that they choose to do so. But that is too simplistic an answer. A primary factor is that the rehab program did not address WHY they turned to drugs in the first place. Previously, they had been experiencing problems, stress, insecurities, apathy, trauma – or any of a long list of barriers – for which drugs provided an easy “out.” They subsequently got off drugs, but the original difficulties returned and they had no other solution. Thus rehabilitation, to be complete, would need to offer effective solutions to the fundamental problems the user sought to solve. Not an easy proposition, but a necessary one.

Environment

                Some users are pushed back into the same environment that fomented (stirred up) their drug abuse in the first place. They go hang out with the same crowd, the users and the pushers. They put themselves in a lose-lose situation. The people involved can be in their own family, further complicating the situation. Some former addicts, in analyzing their situation, even move to a different city or town in order to avoid putting themselves in the same scenario. But it is true that a person who intends to find drug will find them. Ultimately, rehabilitation without the element of relapse prevention is at best incomplete.

Holistic

                Holistic rehabilitation means addressing the physical, mental, environmental, societal and spiritual aspects of drug abuse. It means confronting the body, the mind, and the spirit. Hence, holistic, meaning whole – the whole person and all the influences surrounding him or her. Why is it hard to beat drug abuse? Why is a person a person? Each person is an individual. By addressing the individual, we beat drug abuse – one person at a time.

What is Inhalant Abuse

 When children and teenagers begin acting oddly, parents can worry about drug or alcohol abuse. Although drugs and alcohol are a concern, parents also need to realize that inhalant abuse is a potential problem. By understanding what it is, signs of abuse and the potential dangers, it is possible to reach out to Best Drug Rehabilitation for help when suspicions about a loved one arise.

Basic Definition

Inhalant abuse is a term used to describe the act of breathing in or inhaling chemicals to get high. Although the chemicals are not an illegal substance, they are also not safe to inhale and can cause serious reactions. In the case of inhalant abuse, the common methods of reaching the high include soaking a rag with the chemical and breathing it in, spraying the chemical into a bag before breathing it in or spraying the chemical directly into the nose or mouth. All of the methods are potentially dangerous and can cause serious reactions.

Although the basic definition of the act is breathing in the fumes of a chemical, it is easy to overlook the potential dangers. Unlike many other drugs, inhalants are legally accessible and are commonly found in households. Any chemical cleaner, permanent marker, glue, paint or similar item can become a potential concern if children or teenagers begin using it as a recreational high.

The problem with inhalant abuse is that it can occur at any time and so many household products have the potential for abuse.

Potential Inhalants

Although inhalants can take many forms, certain types are more commonly abused than others. Part of the abuse relates to accessibility and part of it relates to the supposed high that is expected while abusing the chemical.

The types of household items and chemicals that are often inhaled and abused include:

·         Aerosols, which are chemical sprays like hairspray, spray-on deodorant and air fresheners.

·         Solvents, which are liquid chemicals that produce vapors after leaving the bottle, such as paint thinner, correction fluid, ink in felt-tipped markers and certain glues.

·         Gases, which are chemicals found in lighters, whipped cream dispensers and refrigerant.

Although the chemicals that are abused can take on many different forms, the way the material gets into the system is by breathing it in. Since it comes into the system by breathing, it will hit the central nervous system and the blood stream very quickly.

Dangers of Inhalant Abuse

Inhalant abuse is a very dangerous activity because the chemicals can have negative impacts on the body and mind. Although the specific dangers can vary slightly based on the chemical, the amount of time the chemical was breathed in and the individual, certain elements are a primary worry for many parents and substance abuse professionals.

The dangers of inhalant abuse include:

·         Dizziness

·         Loss of the ability to coordinate limbs

·         Difficulty speaking

·         Hallucinations

·         Heart palpitations

·         Heart failure

·         Kidney damage

·         Seizures

·         Death

Even if the inhalant abuse is occurring for the first time, it can cause potentially dangerous and deadly effects. If a loved one is abusing inhalants or is showing risks related to inhalant abuse, then it is important to seek help as soon as possible. Inhalant abuse is a potentially deadly activity and it can lead to serious physical and psychological problems if measures are not taken to stop the abuse.

Getting Help

Although inhalant abuse is a concern, it is possible to overcome the problem with the help of Best Drug Rehabilitation. The professionals at the facility understand the potential problems that can develop after abusing inhalants and the appropriate methods of overcoming the substance abuse before it leads to more dangerous situations.

Seeking help is an important part of overcoming any addiction or substance abuse problem. Since inhalant abuse uses common items, it is particularly important to reach out for help and find different ways to cope with emotions, psychological challenges or pressure from peers.

Substance abuse can take many forms, including the abuse of common household items. By recognizing the dangers and understanding the basics, it is possible to stop the abuse before it leaves lasting results. With the help of professionals and a personalized treatment plan, living a normal lifestyle without substance abuse is possible.