Sunday 7 April 2013

Beating Alcohol Addiction

By: Kieran Ali


Alcoholics Anonymous is a proven way to beat alcohol addiction


  • The 12-Step program used in Alcoholics Anonymous has helped many people stop drinking. By gaining support and encouragement from those who were once alcoholics and who beat the addiction, patients are often able to recover. They can work through the 12 Steps and make a committment to continue attending meetings of the group. Recovered alcoholics still refer to themselves as alcoholics, and they know that they need to continually work the 12-Step program to avoid falling back into their old habits. Alcoholics Anonymous is almost always part of a drug addiction treatment
Link to videos and real life stories beating Alcohol Abuse: http://new-day.hubpages.com/hub/Beating-Alcohol-Abuse-101-Days-to-Sobriety

Teenage Alcohol Abuse


How Much Alcohol do teens use?

 

Alcohol is the most frequently used drug by teenagers in the Canada. About half of junior high and senior high school students drink alcohol on a monthly basis, and 14% of teens have been intoxicated at least once in the past year. Nearly 8% of teens who drink say they drink at least five or more alcoholic drinks in a row (binge drink). 
Effects of Alcohol Abuse for Teenagers:
Just a few of the many dangerous effects of alcohol use in teens include the following:
  • Alcohol decreases teens' ability to pay attention.
  • Teens who have experienced alcohol withdrawal tend to have difficulties with memory.
  • In contrast to adults, teens tend to abuse alcohol with other substances, usually marijuana.
  • Male teens who drink heavily tend to complete fewer years of education compared to male teens who do not.
  • The younger a person is when they begin drinking, the more likely they are to develop a problem with alcohol.


Treatment for Alcohol Abuse

By: Kieran Ali

The goal of treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Among alcoholics with otherwise good health, social support, and motivation, the likelihood of recovery is good. Approximately 50% to 60% remain abstinent at the end of a year's treatment and a majority of those stay dry permanently. Those with poor social support, poor motivation, or psychiatric disorders tend to relapse within a few years of treatment. 


  • Treatment for alcoholism can begin only when the alcoholic accepts that the problem exists and agrees to stop drinking. Treatment has 3 stages:
  1. Detoxification (detox): This may be needed immediately after discontinuing alcohol use and can be a medical emergency as detox can result in withdrawal seizures, hallucinations, and confusion of delirium tremens (DT) and in some cases can result in death.
  2. Rehabilitation: This involves counseling and medications to give the recovering alcoholic the skills needed for maintaining sobriety. This step in treatment can be done inpatient or outpatient. Both are equally effective.
  3. Maintenance of Sobriety: This step's success requires an alcoholic to be self-driven. The key to maintenance is support, which often includes regular Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings and getting a sponsor.
There are also certain medications that may assist in the treatment process for more information please visit : http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0201/p441.html

Health Effects of Alcohol Abuse

By: Kieran Ali

It's no secret that alcohol consumption can cause major health problems, including cirrhosis of the liver and injuries sustained in automobile accidents. But if you think liver disease and car crashes are the only health risks posed by drinking, think again: Researchers have linked alcohol consumption to more than 60 diseases. 

  • Short Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse:
    Depending on how much is taken and the physical condition of the individual, alcohol can cause:
    • Slurred speech
    • Drowsiness
    • Vomiting 
    • Diarrhea
    • Upset stomach
    • Headaches
    • Breathing difficulties 
    • Distorted vision and hearing 
    • Impaired judgement 
    • Coma
    • Blackouts
Long Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse
Binge drinking and continued alcohol use in large amounts are associated with many health problems, including:
  • Unintentional injuries such as car crash, falls, burns, drowning 
  • Intentional injuries such as firearm injuries, sexual assault, domestic violence
  • Increased on-the-job injuries and loss of productivity 
  • Increased family problems, broken relationships 
  • Alcohol poisoning 
  • High blood pressure, stroke, and other heart-related diseases 
  • Liver disease 
  • Nerve damage 
  • Sexual problems 

Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholism

By: Kieran Ali 


  • There are many signs and symptoms related to drinking problems. Alcoholism is considered a progressive disease, meaning that the symptoms and effects of drinking alcohol become increasingly more severe over time. 
  • Early signs of alcoholism problems:
    •  Frequent intoxication, 
    • An established pattern of heavy drinking and drinking in dangerous situations,
      • When Driving. 
      • Black-out drinking 
      • Drastic change in demeanour while drinking.
  • Symptoms of Alcoholism
    • For someone who is alcoholic or alcohol dependent, the symptoms include all of those associated with alcohol abuse.
    • The main symptom of alcohol abuse occurs when someone continues to drink after their drinking reaches a level that causes recurrent problems. 
      • Continuing to drink after it causes someone to miss work,.
      • Drive drunk, shirk responsibilities or get in trouble with the law is considered alcohol abuse.
Link to the National Council on a Alcoholism and Drug Dependance:

Friday 5 April 2013

I am linking a variety of website below that will give information on how to properly deal with an addicted family member.  Each website lists steps and instructions on how best to approach and deal with the issue.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/10-ways-to-cope-with-addict-in-the-family.htm
http://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-a-Drug-Addicted-Family-Member-or-Loved-One
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/drug_substance_abuse_addiction_signs_effects_treatment.htm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-redmond/addiction-recovery_b_822021.html
By Matt Shea
Here is a list of various treatment centers available in high population provinces within Canada.  Any information on applying to the programs can be found through the links.  Whether you are searching for drug addiction support, or alcoholic recovery, the treatment centers listed are all you will need.  Just click the link for the province you are interested in, and a group of addiction treatment centers within the province will be listed for you to choose from.

  • http://www.oatc.ca/  --- Ontario
  • http://www.drugtreatmentcenters.ca/quebec-drug-treatment-centers.html --- Quebec
  • http://www.canadiandrugrehabcentres.com/residential_treatment_centres/British_Columbia_residential_treatment_centres/index.html --- British Columbia
http://www.journeyofrecovery.org/alcohol-drug-addiction.htm

In the above website, stories from previous drug and alcohol addicts are saved in a collection.  Please read the stories and learn from what these people have to offer.

Wednesday 3 April 2013

meth where is it made


Side Effects

Meth can increase heart rate, raise body temperature and induce uncontrollable movements like twiching. It also has appetite supressing properties and can make the user paranoid, excited and violent.

Meth users will often have unpleasand body odour and their skin will turn yellowish. Behaviroural effects include:

 

-Schizophrenia

-Lack of sleep

-Excessive excitation and talking

-Panic

-False sence of confidence

-Violent behaviour

-Convulsions and body tremmors

-Lack of appetite

-Hallucinations

 

Long term effects

-Brain damage

-Kidney and lung disorders

-Liver damage

-Malnutrition

-Extreme weight loss

-Death

 

Withdrawal

When the user stops taking the drug they feel sick, depressed and guilty. The user has to keep taking meth to eliminate unpleasant feelings and feel normal.

 

Binges

Since users will develop a tolerance to Meth really quickly, users begin to take several doses in a row to maintain the feeling of being high and avoid withdrawal. Users will go on periods of heavy use known as binges when users stop eating and sleeping. Those who inject will inject as much as a gram of crystal meth every 2 - 3 hours for days in arow until they can no longer function or their supply of the drug is exhausted.

 

 

Effects on the brain

Meth can cause neurological problems like motor skills and verbal memory impairment. Researchers at the UCLA found that meth users' brains had brain damage and swollen nerve fibers. This caused participants in the study to have memory problems and drepression.

 

Where is it made?

Meth is made in meth labs, and these are usually located in Car trunks, RV's, Motel rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, outdoors or anywhere you can think of.

Meth why do people use it?


Why do people use it?

-Improve physical performance

-Be alert

-Have more energy

-Lose weight

-Feel good

 

Meth


What is meth?

Meth is a Central Nervous System Stimulant that has the effects of increased alerness and an intense high.

 

Meth Street Names

-Ice

-Crystal

-Tweak

-Speed

-Glass

Meth is the most popular street drug today and one of the most dangerous. In 2006 the UN World Drug Report called meth the most aboused hard drug in the world with 26-millio addicts world wide.

Taken orally or snorted can produce a loger lasting high than smoking or injecting it. It's effects can last from 8 hours to 24 hours.

 

What are the dangerous effects of alcohol use in teens?

 

Just a few of the many dangerous effects of alcohol use in teens include the following:

·         Alcohol decreases teens' ability to pay attention.

·         Teens who have experienced alcohol withdrawal tend to have difficulties with memory.

·         In contrast to adults, teens tend to abuse alcohol with other substances, usually marijuana.

·         Male teens who drink heavily tend to complete fewer years of education compared to male teens who do not.

·         The younger a person is when they begin drinking, the more likely they are to develop a problem with alcohol.

How much alcohol do teens use?


How much alcohol do teens use?


 


Alcohol is the most frequently used drug by teenagers in the Canada. About half of junior high and senior high school students drink alcohol on a monthly basis, and 14% of teens have been intoxicated at least once in the past year. Nearly 8% of teens who drink say they drink at least five or more alcoholic drinks in a row (binge drink).

 

Tuesday 2 April 2013

Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse


Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse

The main symptom of alcohol abuse occurs when:

  • Repeatedly neglecting your responsibilities at home, work, or school because of your drinking.
  • Using alcohol in situations where it’s physically dangerous.
  • Experiencing repeated legal problems on account of your drinking.
  • Continuing to drink even though your alcohol use is causing problems in your relationships.
  • Drinking as a way to relax or de-stress.

(http://www.helpguide.org/mental/alcohol_abuse_alcoholism_signs_effects_treatment.htm)

Do you have a Drinking Problem?

You may have a drinking problem if you...

  • Feel guilty or ashamed about your drinking.
  • Lie to others or hide your drinking habits.
  • Have friends or family members who are worried about your drinking.
  • Need to drink in order to relax or feel better.
  • “Black out” or forget what you did while you were drinking.
  • Regularly drink more than you intended to.

What is Alcohol Abuse


What is Alcohol Abuse?

An individual leading to alcohol abuse first begins in the “binge drinking” stage.  It’s simply drinking to get drunk. It is the most common drinking problem for young people, under age 21. Men commonly consume 5 or more drinks, while women consume 4 or more.

Binge drinking turns into alcohol abuse when someone's drinking begins to cause problems and the drinking continues anyway. Alcohol abuse is when someone continues to drink in spite of continued social, interpersonal or legal difficulties. Alcohol abuse can result in missing time at school or work, neglecting child or household responsibilities or trouble with the law.