ALCOHOL AND DRUG REHAB
LIBRARY
The authors (who wish to remain anonymous) wrote these
articles based on their own experiences that they acquired
while struggling with drug and/or alcohol addiction themselves.
Their experiences as treatment providers after recovering
from their addictions delivers a unique perspective into
the world of addiction and recovery that doesn't exist
in many places.
Find an article that interests you and
then click on the title of the desired article, the link
below each highlighted portion or on the small photo below
to read the entire article.
Different
Types of Rehabs
Examples of different levels of care are day treatment
or outpatient care, where the client attends group and
other recovery activities 3 or 4 hours per day and usually
3 to 5 days per week, detoxification that is normally
inpatient and can be completed in 7 to 10 days for most
substances with the exception of some synthetic opiates
and short and long-term residential primary treatment.
Most residential drug and alcohol rehabs are 21 to 45
days in length, though some long-term programs are a year
or more in duration. Weekly out-patient aftercare groups
can continue for 6 months to a year and usually focus
on relapse prevention and "living life on life's terms".
CLICK HERE to read
Different Types of Rehabs.
Locating
The Right Alcohol and Drug Rehab
Drug addiction knows no geographic, age, gender or ethnic
boundaries. It can strike anyone and everywhere! So one
might argue that an addiction is an addiction and they
all need to be treated the same. If it were only that
simple! The disease of addiction is the only disease a
person can have that tells you that you don't have it.
Also, when an addict finally realizes that he does have
a serious problem, this disease assures him it's going
to be okay, just do some more and everything will be okay.
Addiction is a cunning and baffling foe and your chances
of beating it without help are slim to none.
CLICK
HERE to read Locating The Right Alcohol and Drug Rehab.
More
About Crystal Meth
The acute effects of methamphetamine include increased
heart rate and blood pressure, vasoconstriction (constriction
of the arterial walls), pupil dilation and hyperglycemia
(increased blood sugar). A person who ingests meth will
experience an increased focus and mental alertness, the
elimination of the subjective effects of fatigue and a
decrease in appetite. Continued high doses of methamphetamine
produce anxiety reactions during which the person is fearful,
tremulous and concerned about his well-being; an amphetamine
psychosis in which the person misinterprets others' actions,
hallucinates and becomes unrealistically suspicious; an
exhaustion syndrome, involving intense fatigue and need
for sleep after the stimulation phase; and a prolonged
depression, during which suicide is possible.
CLICK
HERE to read More About Crystal Meth.
Managing
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
When someone who has become "alcohol dependent"
stops drinking, they will experience some level of physical
discomfort. This is why it is extremely difficult for
them to stop drinking "on their own" without
assistance and support.
CLICK HERE to read Managing Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms.
Managing
Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms
Heroin addiction, as well as all opiate addictions,
usually require medically monitored detox for the severe
withdrawal symptoms the drugs produce. Heroin use causes
a strong physical dependence and therefore withdrawal
can result in serious complications when the use of the
drug is stopped abruptly. Cold-turkey heroin detox and
withdrawal symptoms can include seizures, heart irregularities,
vomiting, insomnia and the sweats. Once the body has adapted
to the presence of the drug, withdrawal symptoms may occur
if heroin use is reduced or stopped.
CLICK HERE to read Managing Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms.
Crack
Cocaine
The effects of cocaine normally occur immediately
after ingestion and can last from a few minutes to a few
hours. The duration of the drug's effects depends on how
it is ingested. Snorting cocaine produces a slow onset
of effects that can last from 15 to 30 minutes, while
the effects of smoking cocaine last from 5 to 10 minutes
and produce a more intense high. Cocaine produces euphoric
effects by building up dopamine in the brain, causing
the continuous stimulation of neurons.
CLICK HERE to read Crack Cocaine.
Guide
To A Successful Intervention
Persons suffering from alcoholism and other drug
addictions are prone to serious denial about the harmful
effects of their behavior on themselves and others. Efforts
to reason with them and convince them to stop causing
such damage are frequently met with denial, defensiveness,
justification or minimization and sometimes even attacks
upon the loved-one that is trying to help.
CLICK HERE to read Guide To A Successful Intervention
