MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'drug addiction'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:56:20 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862955&cid=t_128912_158_f&fid=38949&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAgingWithGraceCareconnection%2F%7E3%2FqUHPVRO7fdI%2Faddiction-knows-no-age.html The following article appeared in the Wall Street Journal on May 18, 2011 and speaks to the growing problem of drug and alcohol abuse among our older citizens. "I retired, I started drinking more," one man said. "I lost my father, my mother, my dog, and it gave me a good excuse," said another. A remarkable shift in the number of older adults reporting substance abuse problems is making this scene more common. Between 1992 and 2008, treatment admissions for those 50 and older more than doubled in the U.S. That number will continue to grow, experts say, as the massive baby boom generation ages. "There is a level of societal denial around the issue," said Peter Provet, the head of Odyssey House in New York, another center offering specialized substance abuse treatment programs for seniors.... Aging with Grace CareConnection blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862955 Wed, 25 May 2011 20:47:00 +0100 4862955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803537&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2FwQvw3PQc9_Y%2Ffalling-down-and-getting-up-nic-sheffs.html  Sheff jumps back on the carousel, lives to tell about it. What would it be like to have written a drug memoir and an autobiography before you turned 30? Would it seem like the end or the beginning? Are there any worlds left to conquer? The last decade has brought us fleshed-out young examples by Augusten Burroughs, age 37 (Dry); Joshua Lyons, 35 (Pill Head); and Benoit Denizet-Lewis, 33 (America Anonymous). This more or less fits the pattern established by the doyenne of the genre, Elizabeth Wurtzel, who, at age 35, wrote the addiction memoir More, Now, Again. And now along comes Nic Sheff to put them all to shame, making geezers out of every one of them.  Sheff wrote Tweak at 24, telling the world about addiction and how he’d conquered it. Well, as it turns out, not really. B... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803537 Mon, 09 May 2011 00:00:37 +0100 4803537 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4829166&cid=t_128912_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FfqBcrr6erTs%2F Do you know Seth Jaffe? I didn’t, but now I kind of do, which makes me lucky. Seth is a sober coach for drug addicts who appears on the A&E docu-reality show Relapse. A few weeks ago, I wrote a Blisstree post called 6 Reasons to Watch A&E’s Relapse Even If You’ve Never Met a Junkie, and in it I said some positive things about Seth regarding his sober coaching techniques and the very affecting presence he projects on the show. Seth saw my post and liked it. He found my email and contacted me. I was both surprised and thrilled: I knew I had a million questions for him about drug addiction and being a sober coach that I’d want to get answered for Blisstree readers. Also, I respect Seth, and it’s always fun to interview someone you hold in high regard. Bei... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4829166 Fri, 06 May 2011 15:15:45 +0100 4829166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4794993&cid=t_128912_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FfqBcrr6erTs%2F Do you know Seth Jaffe? I didn’t, but now I kind of do, which makes me lucky. Seth is a sober coach for drug addicts who appears on the A&E docu-reality show Relapse. A few weeks ago, I wrote a Blisstree post called 6 Reasons to Watch A&E’s Relapse Even If You’ve Never Met a Junkie, and in it I said some positive things about Seth regarding his sober coaching techniques and the very affecting presence he projects on the show. Seth saw my post and liked it. He found my email and contacted me. I was both surprised and thrilled: I knew I had a million questions for him about drug addiction and being a sober coach that I’d want to get answered for Blisstree readers. Also, I respect Seth, and it’s always fun to interview someone you hold in high regard. Bei... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4794993 Fri, 06 May 2011 15:15:45 +0100 4794993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789495&cid=t_128912_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FD6pzjwl-BEw%2F I don’t smoke pot. (It just makes me sleepy. Plus, I’m 35 weeks pregnant, so it’s probably not the best time to be taking up weed as a hobby.) But when it comes to marijuana, I’ve always adopted kind of a live-and-let-live mentality. Oh, I know full well that it’s illegal in all but 15 U.S. states, but like a lot of people I know (and Willie Nelson, who I don’t know), I don’t think pot should be illegal in any of them. I even know someone who knows someone who knows someone who’s related to someone who may be (or may not be ) a full-time, professional ganja dealer to rich people who like to have their drug of choice delivered to them directly and regularly in a civilized manner. And near where my husband and I own a weekend country home, ther... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789495 Wed, 04 May 2011 21:00:40 +0100 4789495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753888&cid=t_128912_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FZreb6XEhRCA%2F I think the thing that scared me the most about Kelly on last night’s episode of Relapse on A&E was that she looked so normal. Okay, well, maybe not normal, exactly. (Poor thing wears waaay too much makeup, tacky jewelry, and maybe applies too much self-tanner. Oh, and the color of her dyed blonde hair could electrically power a small city.) But to me, overall Kelly looked like a fit and healthy young woman who gets enough sleep and cares about her appearance. Turns out, she’s a serious meth addict who has already lost custody of her young daughter and is facing a year in jail. Now, I know perfectly well that, in life, appearances can be deceiving, but I guess I never really thought that cliché applied to hardcore drug users; I always naively thought that addicts were easy... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753888 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 20:00:04 +0100 4753888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734437&cid=t_128912_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F5QvZKe6pbmc%2F My reasons for watching TV are manifold: Escapism, boredom, I-can’t-sleep-ism, it’s like having company over, (which I think was my grandma’s reason), to make myself feel better about myself, and just out of plain old (mostly bad) habit. But sometimes I watch TV simply to terrify myself to the core. Not by watching anything in the horror genre, but by catching a show like Relapse on A&E. This network is king of docu-reality series that focus on serious mental and physical health issues (Heavy, Hoarders, and Intervention are also very well done, though Intervention is a little too “Dateline NBC” for my tastes.) Relapse makes tough-love weight-loss reality TV shows like Heavy and The Biggest Loser look like springtime picnics in the park. You don’t hav... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734437 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:23:16 +0100 4734437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560272&cid=t_128912_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fteens-who-smoke-pot-at-risk-for-mental-illness-later%2F2011.03.08 Teenagers and young adults who use marijuana may be messing with their heads in ways they don’t intend. Evidence is mounting that regular marijuana use increases the chance that a teenager will develop psychosis, a pattern of unusual thoughts or perceptions, such as believing the television is transmitting secret messages. It also increases the risk of developing schizophrenia, a disabling brain disorder that not only causes psychosis, but also problems concentrating and loss of emotional expression. In one recent study that followed nearly 2,000 teenagers as they became young adults, young people who smoked marijuana at least five times were twice as likely to have developed psychosis over the next 10 years as those who didn’t smoke pot. Another new paper concluded that early marijuan... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560272 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:00:56 +0100 4560272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549875&cid=t_128912_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FOhvRkM0JHPY%2F photo: Thinkstock I didn’t mean to become a junkie. It just kind of happened. My addiction to the prescription drug Ambien occurred back in 2001. There I was, in my late 20s, happily traveling to a lot of cool domestic and international locations thanks to my job as an editor at a travel magazine. But I’d planned to cut back on my usual 10-day-a-month work jaunts just for the summer, so I could do some serious hanging out at a pretty house I’d rented with a few other friends in New York’s Hudson Valley. It was going to rule: Long weekends, bike rides, nightly barbecues, cold beers, fireflies, picnics on the grounds of historic mansions, inordinate amounts of time logged at local swimming holes, and plenty of nights of good sleep in our sprawling, 19th-century careta... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549875 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:30:14 +0100 4549875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419141&cid=t_128912_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-cocaine-vaccine%2F2011.01.30 Although cocaine use has declined steadily since its peak in the early 1980s, public health officials estimate that about 7 million Americans used the drug at least once last year. Many of these folks are addicted to the drug, and its intense, short-lived euphoric effects mean the addiction is terribly difficult to overcome. Addiction specialists believe existing treatment paradigms for cocaine addiction can be enhanced by a vaccine that prevents the drug from crossing the blood-brain barrier, thus blunting its euphoric effects. Scientists have worked hard to develop such a vaccine, but have had limited success so far.  About a year ago for example, Thomas Kosten and colleagues at Baylor reported partial success in a human trial of a cocaine vaccine. In that trial, 38 percent of subjects... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419141 Sun, 30 Jan 2011 23:00:04 +0100 4419141 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394530&cid=t_128912_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F24%2Feugenics-the-story-of-carrie-buck%2F Psychology has a fascinating and rich history, filled with amazing advances. But it wasn’t all progress. Psychology has a painful past — with many victims. One of the most devastating times in psychology was a movement called eugenics, a name coined by Sir Francis Galton in 1883. The goal of eugenics was to improve the genetic composition of the population: to encourage healthy, smart individuals to reproduce (called positive eugenics) and to discourage the poor, who were considered unintelligent and unfit, from reproducing (negative eugenics). One of the main methods to discourage reproduction was through sterilization. While it seems ludicrous now, many people, both abroad and in the U.S., agreed with the principles of eugenics. In fact, state governments soon started establishing st... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394530 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:52:48 +0100 4394530 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4162922&cid=t_128912_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdrug-seekers-and-a-new-threat%2F2010.11.13 I wish I could say that every patient encounter worked out well, that all my patients went home happy and satisfied. It would be nice, but unfortunately that is not true at all. There are many patients who present with unrealistic expectations or an agenda which is non-therapeutic, and I am relatively straightforward and unapologetic about correcting patient’s misconceptions about the care that is or is not appropriate in the ED. Unsurprisingly, this often though not always involves narcotic medications. Which is not to say that I am a jerk. I try to be compassionate, and I try to find alternative solutions, and I have been told that I can turn away a drug seeker more nicely than any other doctor in the department. But when it is time to say “no,” I say “no” ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4162922 Sat, 13 Nov 2010 20:00:00 +0100 4162922 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074459&cid=t_128912_154_f&fid=35946&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCanadianMedicine%2F%7E3%2FToGPD39dVYY%2Fgetting-drug-addiction-treatment-on.html Implants may trump liquid and pillsMethadone has helped countless people hooked on heroin and prescription pain relievers wean themselves off for over 40 years. A methadone alternative may soon outshine the well-known withdrawal aid in some important ways.Buprenorphine hydrochloride, a semi-synthetic opioid compound used for pain control and detoxification, has been available in pill form for two years. But its downside includes diverting the tablets for sale on the streets and crushing and liquefying them into an injectable – and therefore more potent -- form.A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/304/14/1576) shows promise for a buprenorphine implant, called Probuphine by its California makers, Titan Pharm... Canadian Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074459 Thu, 14 Oct 2010 23:05:00 +0100 4074459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4003257&cid=t_128912_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnational-prescription-drug-take-back-day%2F2010.09.27 The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) coordinat[ed] “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day” this [past] Saturday [September 25th], encouraging people to turn in their unused prescription drugs. The agency hopes the event will help decrease rates of crime and addiction linked to prescription drug abuse, the New York Times reports. From the DEA press release: This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtain... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4003257 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0100 4003257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3993794&cid=t_128912_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fmayo-clinic-employee-steven-beumel-barred-practicing-radiology-technologist%2F Former Mayo Florida clinic radiology technologist Steven Beumel has been barred by medical authorities in Florida from serving in a professional capacity. He is accused of stealing powerful narcotics from patients to feed his own drug addiction, allegedly infecting three Mayo patients with the hepatitis C virus while doing so. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3993794 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:37:42 +0100 3993794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3868937&cid=t_128912_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FqbTzwDVHOnc%2F This article is for informational purposes only and is not to be interpreted as medical advice. If seeking medical advice, consult a licensed physician. Don’t forget to follow PTB on Twitter! : Overcoming Addiction and Escapism 5 Reasons Your Life Will Improve Through Writing 10 All Natural Ways To Stop Feeling Depressed A Muscle Building Work Out You Can Do Without Weights (Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement) PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3868937 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 05:38:04 +0100 3868937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753783&cid=t_128912_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fdoctors-on-impaired-or-drunk-colleagues-not-my-problem%2F photo: ABC If you ever watched Lost, you’d know that many of the demons torturing the hunky-yet-annoying surgeon, Jack (played by Matthew Fox), are a product of turning his father in for performing an operation while drunk (Don’t worry — definitely not a spoiler. Jack’s daddy issues are evident from the first episode.) It turns out that pretend Jack is more responsible than many doctors in the real world. A recent study shows that more than a third of doctors who knew that a colleague was impaired by incompetence, substance abuse, or a mental health issue didn’t report them. In fact, 31% of doctors said that reporting incompetence wasn’t their responsibility, even though many professional medical organizations require doctors to rat out inadequate colleague... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3753783 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:13:57 +0100 3753783 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695570&cid=t_128912_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fscience-and-the-pain-scale%2F2010.06.24 Every day in the emergency department I am confronted by pain. In fact, the treatment of pain is one of the most important skills emergency physicians, indeed all physicians, possess. For instance, I recently cared for a child with sickle cell disease who was having a pain crisis which involved severe leg pain. His life is one of frequent, intense pain. I gently, and repeatedly, treated his pain with morphine until he had relief. I see hip fractures; all broken bones hurt. I am thrilled to alleviate that discomfort.  Pain is one of the things I can fix, if only temporarily. It makes me happy to see the relaxed face of a man or woman with a kidney stone or migraine, who suddenly smiles and says “thanks!” But pain is also the source of so much subterfuge. Emergency depart... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695570 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:00:26 +0100 3695570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3633445&cid=t_128912_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fprescription-drugs-and-high-school-students%2F2010.06.06 A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that one in five U.S. high school students have taken a prescription drug that they didn’t get from their doctor. According to the 2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) that was released today from the CDC, the survey asked more than 16,000 high school students if they’ve ever taken a prescription drug such as Oxycontin, Percoset, Vicodin, Adderall, Ritalin and Xanax. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Health in 30* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3633445 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 12:00:16 +0100 3633445 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3374094&cid=t_128912_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fyou-know-youre-unwell-if-4%2F …TLC picked you to appear on tonight’s premiere of its new docu-series “Addicted“. (10 p.m. ET) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3374094 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:38:35 +0100 3374094 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3374381&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2010-03-16%2Faddiction-is-sometimes-about-learning-the-same-mistakes-over-and-over-again%2F How many times do we have to learn some lessons?  Why do we continue to follow a behaviour until it crashes around us and we are forced to do something different?  Addiction is repetitive and non-productive.  It has great cost to self esteem and physical health.  A simple answer is that people will change when they are ready or hit bottom.  Addiction is complex and how do you know you are really ready to change?  How do you know that this bottom is the rock bottom?  We don't.  There is no test.  (Source: US Drug Rehab Centers) US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3374381 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:22:46 +0100 3374381 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366441&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FkjCHziS7Fpo%2F I sometimes get the sense that there is a parallel universe besides this one, and I am not sure which one is real.  In one, the kids grow up safely, and every premature death is cause for alarm that generates immediate effective action by the community.  In the other universe, kids in their teens are dying in ever-increasing numbers, and only their family members and a few close friends react with alarm.  After a few weeks each death is forgotten and life goes on–  for some.  The parents and siblings of the children who lose their lives somehow stumble forward, living the rest of their with the horrible realization of this second universe–  the one that they didn’t know about until it was forced upon them. My heart goes out to any parent who has found the way to thi... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366441 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:06:20 +0100 3366441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3363827&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FkjCHziS7Fpo%2F I sometimes get the sense that there is a parallel universe besides this one, and I am not sure which one is real.  In one, the kids grow up safely, and every premature death is cause for alarm that generates immediate effective action by the community.  In the other universe, kids in their teens are dying in ever-increasing numbers, and only their family members and a few close friends react with alarm.  After a few weeks each death is forgotten and life goes on–  for some.  The parents and siblings of the children who lose their lives somehow stumble forward, living the rest of their with the horrible realization of this second universe–  the one that they didn’t know about until it was forced upon them. My heart goes out to any parent who has found the way to thi... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3363827 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:06:20 +0100 3363827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3290841&cid=t_128912_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fmedical-marijuana-on-kevinmd.html Lockup doc gave us the head's up that KevinMD is also talking about the legalization of marijuana for medical uses. He has good discussion of the issues up, do check it out: Medical Marijuana has Doctors Asking Questions. How'd he know I was asking about this?The summary comes from HCPLive:In January, New Jersey became the 14th state in the nation to legalize marijuana use for certain chronic illnesses. Other states where the use of medical marijuana is permitted include Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington; around a dozen more states are weighing pending bills. The New Jersey law is the most restrictive in the nation and authorizes prescribed marijuana for only a handful of chronic illnesses, such... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3290841 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:30:00 +0100 3290841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3283599&cid=t_128912_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fgoing-to-pot-or-lets-talk-about-medical.html Our state is considering legalizing medical marijuana.As a psychiatrist, my first thought is : NO! We treat addictions, and we try hard not to cause them. Marijuana (and many other illegal substances) may help mood and anxiety in the moment, but they don't seem to fix things for the long haul. And chronic pot smoking decreased motivation, burbles your brain, and does nothing good to your lungs. I have visions of patients at the door saying they need me to prescribe pot for their anxiety. Please, doctor, please.But then I think of end-stage cancer patients, and it really doesn't bother me if a little cannabis helps with their symptoms.There are those who claim that oral THC (marinol) can be helpful for many symptoms, oh, but unliked the smoked stuff, Marinol doesn't get you high. There's le... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3283599 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:18:00 +0100 3283599 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3159979&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2010-01-10%2Fincreased-demand-for-free-drug-rehab%2F As the recession grows deeper, the demand for low cost solutions for drug and alcohol rehab grows even at a more rapid pace.  The decrease in job security and cuts in employee assistance programs add to the already overworked rehabs offering free services.  Throw into this mix the loss of consumer credit for a large majority of homes and we have a growing crisis in funding people in need of treatment.  Maybe instead of bailing out banks and big corporations, we could help those with real needs and no assets. (Source: US Drug Rehab Centers) US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3159979 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:38:51 +0100 3159979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3105066&cid=t_128912_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F19%2Faddicted-to-sex-the-internet-friendship%2F Some would argue that one can become “addicted” to the Internet. I’ve argued for over a decade this is a fairly ridiculous assertion that doesn’t even withstand a simple test of logic. Because if we can become addicted to the pipes that bring us information and friendship, it stands to reason one can become “addicted” to virtually anything in the world — sex, cake, shopping, TV, reading, the Internet, even friendship itself. Where do we draw the line and how? Why single out Internet use as its own disorder, but not someone who can’t be pried from in front of the TV 30 hours a week? Or from reading a book? I’m certainly not alone noting how the term “Internet addiction” helps sells newspapers more than it helps us understand ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3105066 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:30:03 +0100 3105066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912264&cid=t_128912_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dare-to-dream.us%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2Fbarriers_behaviors_subcultures_and_the_homeless_po.php I really enjoy reading the blog Kellevision.com. She says it like it is and seldom misses the point of what she's writing about. She identifies a problem in programming for homelessness and proposes a set of concepts to help clarify the situation. Image via Wikipedia Many of the "barriers" faced by the chronically homeless are not external. They are self-inflicted. Repeatedly failing to pay one's utility bills is not a barrier. It is a behavior. Repeatedly getting into relationships with drug addicts and being evicted because you have allowed your new girlfriend to turn your affordable housing into a crack house is not a barrier. It is a behavior. Choosing to pay your boyfriend's bail instead of the rent is not a barrier, it is a behavior. Consistently refusing to hold down steady employm... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912264 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:12:07 +0100 2912264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2836336&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2Fz6GC-4leY3s%2F I recently receive e-mails or read posts at Suboxone Forum that go something like this: I used all kinds of pain pills over the past ten years—Vicodin, then oxycodone, methadone, and even fentanyl patches. Then I got into heroin for a year and finally hit my rock bottom. I went to a Suboxone doctor and he put me on 16 mg per day. At first everything was great, but I don’t like the side effects. I get so tired every day. I’m not happy like I used to be. I wake up in the morning and don’t have any energy or excitement for life. I really don’t like what the Suboxone is doing to me and want to stop. Sometimes it is a little different—the first part is the same, but then the person writes: I really wanted to stop taking it so that my body is free of chemicals so I stopped. I was rea... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2836336 Sun, 27 Sep 2009 03:37:12 +0100 2836336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2571234&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FapFKEHcdAbo%2F I was an anesthesiologist for ten years, before my opiate dependence destroyed that career. During the tail end of my time working with mega-substances I had occasional days where I was desperate for something to ease the symptoms of withdrawal, primarily on the weekends when I was unable to go to work– as work was where the drugs were! I had no aversion to needles; in fact, by that time I had a positive association with them (and still do– an example of simple classical conditioning at work, just like the salivating dogs of Pavlov). I ‘used’ a couple different medications to help ease the pain; midazolam, reglan for nausea, diazepam for anxiety… but I never had any desire to inject Diprivan (aka propofol), the anesthetic induction agent supposedly found on th... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2571234 Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:01:51 +0100 2571234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441751&cid=t_128912_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fshoveling-up-mess.html This went out on a mass email. I liked it and I decided that since the author wants it disseminated, he wouldn't mind being made a Guest Blogger:According to a report CASA issued this morning, federal, state and local governments spend almost half a trillion dollars every year -- almost 11 percent of their total budgets -- as a result of alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse and addiction. The worst part is that, for federal and state spending, about 95% of that money is spent "Shoveling Up" the mess created by a failure to provide enough money for prevention and treatment. That's right. Out of every dollar federal and state governments spent on substance misuse in 2005 (the latest data available), 95 cents paid for the enormous burden of this problem on health care, criminal justice, chil... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441751 Fri, 29 May 2009 19:13:00 +0100 2441751 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2325199&cid=t_128912_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fanother-view-confessions-of-an-uncontrolled-diabetic.html I’ve been accused more than once of being too chipper about my diabetes.  Heck — I have created “the sunny yellow blog,” after all.  So when I received the following email this week, I sat back in my seat and took a deep breath.  Writing a book about how much diabetes sucks certainly isn’t all [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2325199 Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:02:40 +0100 2325199 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2302387&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F3xt1hNWzCR8%2F Even the best private drug treatment center in Malibu can’t help a client who refuses to engage with his drug treatment program. Drug treatment is only successful to the extent that patients make it successful, for no more or less a reason than that healing can only be the product of personal effort. No one can take you anywhere you refuse to go under your own power. If your residential drug treatment program experience is going to be successful, it’s going to be because you find the strength to make it so. But that’s not to say that drug treatment centers are unimportant to the healing process. In fact, the support you get from an exclusive drug treatment center will be vital in helping you achieve meaningful and lasting sobriety. The only catch is that that support has to be empowe... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2302387 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:49:23 +0100 2302387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2302389&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F7iUiBqH6XsE%2F Drug treatment centers aren’t all alike. In fact, the differences between and among drug treatment facilities in Los Angeles can be startling—and can have an enormous impact on the ultimate outcome of your drug rehabilitation experience. In the end, the plain fact of the matter is that a drug treatment program can only be successful if it’s administered by competent, compassionate professionals. Drug treatment centers that can’t provide that level of service to their clients can’t ever be expected to achieve lasting success. The search for a Malibu drug treatment center in California can be overwhelming. The sheer number of drug addiction treatment centers on the market leads many prospective clients to assume that one facility must be more or less as effective as the next one. B... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2302389 Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:00:55 +0100 2302389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2302390&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F-9iQ9heyEsM%2F No one can do the heavy lifting for you in a drug treatment center. After all, drug addiction recovery isn’t a passive activity or a spectator sport. Healing demands effort, and energy, and the sort of commitment that no one else can ever make for you. A successful drug treatment center experience will quite literally change your life. But that success, in the end, can only be as real as you make it. You already know what you stand to lose in the fight against drug abuse. It’s well past time you started learning what you stand to win. The day you enroll in the best drug treatment center will be the first day of the rest of your life, provided that you’re serious about getting better for good. Given the stakes, it’s hard to imagine that the right choice could ever be more obvious. (... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2302390 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:01:47 +0100 2302390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2261029&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2FidHZruMGVlM%2F The best drug addiction treatment centers are invariably the ones that embrace the most holistic vision of the healing process. The plain fact of the matter is that addiction is both a physical and psychological disease, and drug addiction recovery must pose both a physical and psychological solution to it. Unfortunately, some private drug addiction treatment centers in California fail to properly account for both dimensions of the healing process. As should go without saying, the results can be disastrous for clients and their families. The right drug treatment program will change your life. The wrong one will only lead to more of the same. If you’ve made it this far, you shouldn’t need a lecture on the importance of drug addiction treatment centers to the healing process. Now all tha... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2261029 Sat, 14 Mar 2009 02:51:37 +0100 2261029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2261030&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2FMXT_7Mh9PeQ%2F Many prospective drug treatment patients wrestle with the decision to seek help. The problem, of course, is that to enroll in an exclusive drug abuse treatment center is to admit to having a problem that you can’t solve on your own, which is an acknowledgment that few drug abusers are willing to make. But the alternative is too bleak to contemplate. When push comes to shove, no addict in the world can afford to forego private drug treatment when the situation calls for it. Sometimes the hardest things in life are the ones most worth doing. Your decision to seek drug treatment will mean swallowing your pride, and surrendering your vanity. But nothing you do will ever be more important. You already know what drug addiction can do to its victims. Now it’s time to learn how the right drug ... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2261030 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:21:21 +0100 2261030 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2195099&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F532227807%2F If you think you need drug treatment, you almost certainly do. Addiction is a sinister disease, one that generally infects its victims without their being conscious of it. By the time most drug abuse victims recognize their condition, it’s already too late to do anything about it. For those lucky enough to identify the problem in its early stages, the decision to seek private drug treatment from a professional drug treatment facility can quite literally make a world of difference. Drug addiction is a devastating disease. Drug treatment can fix what’s been broken, by helping you rebuild your life from the inside-out. All that remains, now, is for you to take the first step. Drug treatment centers can’t help those clients who refuse to walk through the front door. The decision to enrol... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2195099 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:27:38 +0100 2195099 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2149773&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F526937703%2F The decision to enter a private drug rehab center is the most important one you’ll ever make. It may also be the most difficult. Enrolling in a professional drug rehab program means admitting imperfection, and vulnerability, and that you have a problem you can’t solve on your own. But there’s simply no other way you can expect to get sober. The fact of the matter is that drug rehab centers are essential to the healing process. Anyone who tells you otherwise badly misunderstands the nature of drug rehab and recovery. Drug addiction is a disease. Like any disease, it can only be overcome with medical assistance. The counselors and therapists at an exclusive drug rehab center can help you get back to living life the way you used to know it, before drug abuse made you a stranger to every... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2149773 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:05:52 +0100 2149773 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2131597&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F521425907%2F There is no shame in succumbing to drug addiction. To fall victim to the disease is not a sign of personal weakness or moral failure. On the contrary, drug addiction exists outside the scope of human will, and drug addicts don’t “choose” to be drug addicts any more than diabetics “choose” to be diabetics. If you’re sick, it’s not your fault. The catch, of course, is that you can’t expect to get well again without the help of drug addiction treatment professionals. The right private drug addiction treatment facility will change your life. Only by committing yourself to an exclusive drug addiction treatment program can you hope you to rediscover yourself as you used to be, before your disease turned you into the person you are today. Drug addictions strip victims of their dig... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2131597 Fri, 23 Jan 2009 23:28:16 +0100 2131597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2125635&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F519194961%2F Drug abuse can happen to anyone. Drug abuse treatment patients come from all walks of life, and all of strata of society. A big bank account can’t make you immune to drug addiction. Neither can a fancy house or an expensive car. The disease doesn’t care who you are or what you do for a living. When you’re sick, you’re sick. And there’s only one way you can ever hope to get better. Drug rehabs save lives. As melodramatic as that might sound, there’s no clearer way to frame the issue. The truth is that unchecked drug abuse will ultimately destroy everything it touches. The good news is that the right drug abuse treatment can solve the problem—but only if you’re willing to take the first step. The day you seek help from an exclusive drug rehab center will be the day you start ... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2125635 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:38:12 +0100 2125635 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2100963&cid=t_128912_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5856 Yvonne writes: Hello, I’m a pharmacy student in the UK right now. I was just wondering whether the pharmacies in Malaysia are allowed to dispense methadone now? Is there something like the methadone treatment being prescribed by doctors in Malaysia? Hello Yvonne, if you are referring to private pharmacies, I think the short answer to your question is No. If I am not mistaken, in Malaysia, the National Drug Substitution Therapy programme is strictly monitored and only certain public hospitals, public clinics, NGOs and selected private practitioners can participate. You can read more about news items related to Methadone in Malaysia here More links: You might be interested to take a look at some pictures of the Kota Bahru Methadone Clinic Infosihat on Methadone replacement therapy Met... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2100963 Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2100963 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2081355&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F503755154%2F All private drug addiction treatment centers make bold promises to their clients. Some deliver. Some don’t. For you and the people who care about you, the difference is more important than any in the world. The success or failure of your drug rehab experience will quite literally change your life. Under those circumstances, it’s inconceivable that you could ever settle for a subpar drug addiction treatment facility. Of all the drug treatment centers in Los Angeles, only one is exactly right for you. To find it, you’re going to have to research your options and understand your needs. And please, for your own sake, don’t be seduced by fancy online brochures. Some of the most “exclusive” drug addiction treatment centers in Malibu put more emphasis on style than substance. If you�... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2081355 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:40:16 +0100 2081355 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2078862&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F501313605%2F Malibu methamphetamine rehab will change your life. Whoever you are, however hopeless you believe yourself to be, the right methamphetamine addiction drug treatment program can help you rediscover the world as you used to know it, before drug addiction turned you into a shell of your former self. The only catch, of course, is that you have to be willing to take the first step. Meth rehab centers don’t work miracles. They can’t help clients who refuse to be helped. If you’re going to get better, it’s going to be because you muster the courage to make the right choice. For your own sake, for the sake of the people who care about, here’s hoping that you can do just that. Some things are too important to leave undone. Cliffside Malibu methamphetamine rehab is certainly one of them. (... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2078862 Fri, 02 Jan 2009 22:36:35 +0100 2078862 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1996858&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F466581265%2F The search for an Oxycodone rehab center in Los Angeles can be a daunting one. In fact, the sheer number of Oxycodone rehab centers in Southern California leads some prospective patients to assume that every facility must be or less capable of delivering competent care to its clients. Unfortunately, though, no assertion could be further from the truth. The plain fact of the matter is that an Oxycodone rehab center can only be as successful as those individuals who staff it. If you’re going to get better, it’s going to be because you get the right kind of help from the right kind of people. The good news is that some Malibu Oxycodone rehab facilities really can help their clients get where they need to go. The catch is that you have to know how to distinguish the good from the bad, and ... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1996858 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:51:13 +0100 1996858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1889068&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F426007800%2Fstone-age-drug-paraphernalia.html Ceramic bowls and tubes discovered--but what were they sniffing?Archeologists have never doubted that prehistoric man liked to get high. Previous excavations in Mexico and Texas have yielded indirect evidence of the New World use of peyote and mescal several thousand years ago. However, researcher Quetta Kaye of University College, London, says she has found the actual works—“The objects tested for this study are ceramic inhaling bowls that were likely used for the ingestion of hallucinogenic substances,” Kaye wrote in the Journal of Archaeological Science.Such physical finds are not uncommon, but the estimated age of these ceramic items caught the attention of archeologists. In a report published in the London Sunday Times, science editor Jonathan Leake writes that the bowls likely ... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1889068 Mon, 20 Oct 2008 03:03:00 +0100 1889068 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1933456&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F438503904%2F Opiates rehab is an arduous undertaking. Whoever you are, however tough you believe yourself to be, your opiates rehabilitation experience will demand every last ounce of your resolve. The corollary, of course, is that you’re going to need plenty of support if you intend to complete the process successfully. The good news is that the right opiates rehab center really can help you master your demons. The catch is that opiates rehab must and can only begin with a personal decision. Even the most exclusive opiates rehab facility in California can’t help an addict who refuses to walk through the front door. If you’re going to get better, then, it’s going to be because you muster the courage to take the first step, by admitting you have a problem that you can’t solve on your own. Succ... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1933456 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:52:20 +0100 1933456 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1933458&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F438503906%2F Many patients hesitate before making the decision to seek drug addiction treatment. It’s not hard to see why, given the stigma attached to drug abuse in most corners of polite society. But that stigma doesn’t make drug addiction any more the fault of its victims—and it certainly doesn’t make drug addiction treatment any less important. Drug dependency is never a choice. Addicts don’t decide to be addicts, in the same sense that cancer victims don’t decide to be cancer victims. On the contrary, addiction is a disease, and like any disease it can only be overcome with the help of trained medical experts. Drug addiction treatment, then, is absolutely vital to any addict’s prospects for long-term recovery. If you’re going to get better, it’s going to be because you get the ri... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1933458 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:40:49 +0100 1933458 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1856277&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F413011962%2Fjohn-mccain-and-ambien.html Is he sleep-driving through the campaign?After the last three weeks of erratic and unpredictable behavior from presidential candidate John McCain, it seems reasonable to revisit an issue first raised in May by ABC News: Is McCain’s use of the drug Ambien as a sleep aide affecting his behavior and judgment?After the press was allowed a brief look at candidate McCain’s medical records earlier this year, Dr. Peter A. Fotinakes of the St. Joseph Sleep Disorders Center in Orange, California, told ABC News that, while Ambien was generally a safe medication, “Taking more than the recommended dosage of Ambien or combining it with other sedative-hypnotics--for example, alcohol—may result in amnesia, fugue states, and sleep walking.”Ambien’s official website lists other reported effects:... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1856277 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:02:00 +0100 1856277 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1853705&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F412075693%2Faddiction-and-recovery-news-recovery.html Jason Schwartz at Addiction and Recovery News has a similar reaction to the happy spin SAMHSA put on its recent survey:Addiction and Recovery News: Recovery and stigma"I'm not sure what to make of the prevention attitudes," Jason writes. "I suspect SAMHSA finds them encouraging, but I assume that they are more symptomatic of the belief that addiction has a lot to do with a person "losing their way", "getting hooked", or falling in with the wrong crowd." (Source: Addiction Inbox) Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1853705 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:19:00 +0100 1853705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1852700&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F411421268%2Faddiction-stigma-lives-on.html Would you live next door to a drug addict?A telephone survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, shows that public attitudes toward addiction and recovery are still laced with negativity.Undertaken as part of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, the survey was released in late September. For all the positive spin SAMHSA puts on the findings—emphasizing that only a fifth of survey respondents said they would think less of a friend or relative who was in recovery from addiction--the telephone survey also showed that negative attitudes and stigmas associated with drug and alcohol addiction are slowly waning—but still demonstrably present. People continue to view alcohol addi... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1852700 Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:51:00 +0100 1852700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1825568&cid=t_128912_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F09%2F23%2Fb5media-salutes-national-alcohol-and-drug-addiction-recovery-month%2F September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recover Month and in recognition of this, the bloggers at b5Media’s Health and Wellness Channel have put together their interpretation of the 12 Steps, looking at each step not just from it’s orginal intent but also in relation to their own blog topic. The result is an interesting and informative group of posting that provides ‘food for thought’ in own lives. We’ve all heard of the 12 Step Program, but most of us won’t be able to recite what each step was. That’s because we are lucky enough not to need to. But for thousands of people around the world, the 12 steps is their world. Mark over at A Dozen Steps lists the 12 Steps  that he believes are designed to bring the person who practices them to ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825568 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:21:58 +0100 1825568 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1815453&cid=t_128912_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2FLgdy_k7DZQk%2F AlzheimersNotes.com In recognition of   National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, the Health & Wellness Channel has initiated a project.  Various bloggers are writing posts revolving around the Twelve Steps of Recovery designated by Alcoholics Anonymous.  The bloggers have selected one or more steps to write about in relation to their own blog topic.  Then Liz Lewis at Healthbolt will compile them. Although I didn’t participate by writing about any of the steps, I considered how this topic might relate to Alzheimer’s patients.  Do they become addicted because they are prescribed medications, depressants, stress relievers to enable them to cope? When my mother was very agitated, even hostile, at the first nursing home where she stayed, her doctor prescri... Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1815453 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 05:00:55 +0100 1815453 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1815386&cid=t_128912_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F0X63Wy908Kw%2F In recognition of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, b5media bloggers on the Health and Wellness Channel are blogging about the 12 step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. (For a list of the 12 posts on the 12 steps, check out Healthbolt.) This is Step 10: Step 10 - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it I don’t know a lot about the 12 steps; the call to self-scrutiny and to reexamination of oneself stated in Step 10 have been important for me to apply in figuring how to help Charlie. Parents today frequently note how overwhelmed they feel by the sheer range of treatment—educational, biomedical, and otherwise—options that they hear about for autism. Should one try the special diet? Try brushing or a therapy dog or mu... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1815386 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:00:19 +0100 1815386 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1811437&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F398541760%2Fcindy-mccains-drug-addiction.html She’s no Betty Ford.In 1989, Cindy McCain had back surgery for ruptured disks. By her own admission, she became addicted to powerful painkillers—Vicodin and Percocet. Mrs. McCain spoke openly on television about her addiction, which had culminated in 1992 with an intervention staged by her parents. She told Jay Leno on the “Tonight Show” that she wanted to talk about the experience as often as possible, “because I don’t want anyone to wind up in the shoes that I did at the time.” She also penned a column about her addiction for Newsweek in 2001, and did an interview for Harper’s Bazaar.As it turns out, however, Mrs. McCain’s openness about her addiction may have been the involuntary result of a yearlong DEA investigation into her drug use. Moreover, it is far from clear t... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1811437 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:21:00 +0100 1811437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1788829&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F389936187%2Falcohol-and-medicine-when-drugs.html Is it okay if I drink with these pills?We've all seen the warnings; the labels on prescription bottles telling us not to mix the pills with alcohol. The warnings tell us that alcohol may blunt or enhance or nullify the effect of the prescribed drugs.But what's so bad about mixing alcohol with common medications? What, really, can go wrong? "Nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, or loss of coordination," according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). "It can also put you at risk for internal bleeding, heart problems, and difficulties breathing. In addition to these dangers, alcohol can make a medication less effective or even useless, or it may make the medication harmful or toxic to your body."The NIAAA reminds consumers that certain medicines,... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1788829 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:05:00 +0100 1788829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739532&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F376597958%2F Buprenex rehab can only be effective if it’s aimed at every facet of Buprenex addiction. On its face, that principle seems obvious. After all, addiction is a holistic disease, and addiction recovery must be a holistic process. But the unfortunate truth is that too many Buprenex rehabs in Los Angeles make the mistake of emphasizing one dimension of treatment while ignoring the others. In the end, that isn’t a recipe for anything but failure. Buprenex addicts are sick in body as well as in mind. Buprenex rehab, then, must promote both physical and psychological healing. A Buprenex rehab facility that fails to acknowledge that much does a tremendous disservice to its clients and their families. For your own sake, don’t make yourself learn that lesson the hard way. Make today the day you... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739532 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:52:05 +0100 1739532 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1734306&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F374678766%2F Drug addiction treatment can never succeed if it isn’t administered in a secure and serene environment. Remember, addiction is a remarkably resilient disease, and any addiction treatment program is bound to test the will of the individual who undertake it. Under those circumstances, it’s absolutely vital that a recovering addict get proper support throughout the treatment process. That support, in turn, has to foster peace of mind, because no drug addiction treatment patient can get sober if he doesn’t feel comfortable where he is. The moral of the story is that you have to find a drug addiction treatment center that feels like home. As clichéd as that might sound, the success or failure of your drug addiction treatment experience will quite literally hinge on the context in which y... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1734306 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:40:16 +0100 1734306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1723680&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F371300524%2F Oxycodone rehab is no easy undertaking. Some Oxycodone rehabs in Los Angeles would have you believe that getting sober is as simple as enrolling in a treatment program and then waiting for someone else to do the heavy lifting for you. But that’s not the way it works. The plain fact of the matter is that Oxycodone rehab must be driven by personal effort, because Oxycodone addiction is invariably a personal disease. When push comes to shove, you have no choice but to meet your enemy on his own terms. Of course, this isn’t to say that the right Oxycodone drug treatment center won’t be instrumental in your pursuit of meaningful recovery. On the contrary, the support you get from Oxycodone rehabilitation professionals will be vital in helping you get where you need to go. The catch, thoug... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1723680 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:49:28 +0100 1723680 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1714245&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-08-18%2Fare-complications-for-drug-rehab-really-just-lies%2F When someone is in an addictive cycle, or attempting to move past addiction the all have one thing in common.  They are all "terminally unique".  They think the adice and stategies you are recommending are wonderful… for everyone else.  They all have these special complications and reasons why it is not quite the right thing for them to do.  Are these complications real?  Are they real justifications for delaying treatment?  The truth is that we are all unique.  No two people are the same.  No two addictions are EXACTLY the same.  However the result is the same.  Chaos, destuction, loss of money, values and family.  In addiction, if you add up all the issues, there are far more similarities than there are differences.&... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1714245 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:40:49 +0100 1714245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1709464&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F366754507%2Fnothing-beats-booze.html Annual survey ranks alcohol as #1 problem.Drugs may make headlines, but alcohol is the elephant sitting in the corner of the room, according to Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), a non-profit organization that conducts an annual survey of community anti-drug service groups. CADCA, sponsored in part by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, found that 68 percent of community anti-drug coalitions ranked alcohol as “the number one problem facing their community.”The group said that marijuana was in second place, listed by 60 percent of communities as one of the major problems in their areas. Tobacco was a close third.“It’s no surprise that our members are seeing big problems with youth alcohol use in their communities,” said Arthur T. Dean, CADCA chairman ... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709464 Sat, 16 Aug 2008 19:51:00 +0100 1709464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1692410&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-08-08%2Finterventions-and-drug-rehab%2F Most of us know at least a few people who are having difficulties with drug and alcohol.  You see there behavior deteriorate.  You see the light gradually go out in their eyes.  You see them start to look more and more unhealthy.  They break boundries.  They break promises.  They need to ask for help and money.  Rent becomes a problem every month.  Often their phone is disconnected or "broken" for periods of time. So when do you step up?  When do you ask questions?  Where do you draw the line?  How much poor behavior or destruction does it take before you feel compelled to do something?  Obviously there is no cut and dried answer to this question.  I think the sooner the better.  Simple but powerful questions s... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1692410 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:11:42 +0100 1692410 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1668588&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F350838586%2Ften-ways-to-battle-coffee-addiction.html Caffeine-free energy boosters(From the mailbag)Kelly Sonora at the Nursing Online Education Database (NOEDb) recently sent me an article by Christina Laun, entitled "50 Ways to Boost Your Energy Without Caffeine." The complete article is available on the NOEDb web site. If you are making an effort to decrease reliance on coffee, Laun writes, the suggestions will "give you a boost when you're feeling sleepy or prevent tiredness altogether."Herewith, a sampling:--Turn on the lights. Your body responds naturally to changes in light, so if it's unnaturally dark where you're working or sleeping it may make staying alert a lot harder. Try keeping your blinds open a bit so you'll wake up naturally in the morning or adding a few extra lights to your workspace to keep you from feeling sleepy throug... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1668588 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:29:00 +0100 1668588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1606051&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F331966293%2Frogue-pharmacies-on-internet.html You've got drugs!No prescription? No problem. Of 365 web sites advertising or selling controlled drugs, fully 85 percent do not require a written prescription, according to the 5th annual White Paper from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA).Although the overall number of drug-peddling web sites declined from 2007, the report found that benzodiazepines like Xanax and Valium were the most frequently offered online drugs, followed by painkillers like Oxycontin and Vicodin. 27 percent of the sites also offered Ritalin, Adderall, and other stimulants.The paper, entitled "'You've Got Drugs!' V: Prescription Drug Pushers on the Internet," reported that only two of the 365 sites were certified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, an offi... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1606051 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:35:00 +0100 1606051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2033692&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35815&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.encognitive.com%2Fdrug_addiction%2Feverything_youve_wanted_to_know_about_drug_addiction Tibor A. Palatinus is a trained Narconon Drug Prevention Specialist, Drug Interventionist and Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor. Today, he consults drug users and parents and friends of drug users on how to save an addict's life by getting those in need to the Narconon Drug Rehabilitation program. Since 2001 he has been the Executive Director of Narconon Vancouver Society, in Vancouver, BC. read more (Source: ENCOGNITIVE.COM - Drug Addiction) ENCOGNITIVE.COM - Drug Addiction blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2033692 Sat, 05 Jul 2008 06:10:25 +0100 2033692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1582272&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35815&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.encognitive.com%2Fdrug-addiction%2Fmarijuana-and-other-drugs-cause-brain-damage-linked-to-mental-illness-2008-jul-04.html Study strengthens marijuana brain damage case A new Australian study says long-term, heavy cannabis use causes brain damage that is equivalent to mild-traumatic brain injury or premature aging. The research is published today in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry. The study also found that all users are at risk, and the more you smoke, the more your brain shrinks. Doctors have known for years there is nothing "soft" about the drug cannabis. Professor Jon Currie is the director of addiction medicine at St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne. read more (Source: ENCOGNITIVE.COM - Drug Addiction) ENCOGNITIVE.COM - Drug Addiction blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1582272 Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:40:04 +0100 1582272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543670&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F319829876%2Faddiction-treatment-who-is-client.html The Overselling of Drug RehabProfessor David Clark, who runs the Wired In recovery website in the U.K., recently posted several passages from William L. White's "Slaying the Dragon: The History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery in America."According to Professor Clark, "In highlighting [these quotes] on my Blog, I am not questioning the value of treatment. However, I am providing a word of caution to those who are trying to tell 'society' that the government-led treatment system is successful and is a panacea to some of society's problems."Among the observations from White's book:Who is the client?"Addiction treatment swings back and forth between a technology of personal transformation and a technology of coercion. When the latter dominates, counselors become, not helpers, but behaviora... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543670 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:24:00 +0100 1543670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1535876&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F317078038%2Fbattling-addiction-with-exercise.html It helps you quit. Can it keep you from starting? We've all heard the claim: Physical exercise helps addicts who are working their way through withdrawal and recovery. It is one of the most common prescriptions given out by doctors and health professionals, whether you are a recovering alcoholic or a chronic binge eater.And it makes sense. Exercise has verifiable impacts on not just endorphin levels, but also levels of circulating serotonin and dopamine. All three neurotransmitter systems are heavily implicated in both maintaining addiction and withdrawing from it. Countless drug addicts have extolled the virtues of vigorous exercise, and there seem to be no compelling reason to doubt them.But is there reason to think that regular exercise can help prevent addiction from blossoming in the ... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1535876 Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:01:00 +0100 1535876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1535942&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F316493930%2F Subutex detox is a vital precursor to Subutex rehab. Anyone who tells you otherwise simply doesn’t understand the nature of the Subutex recovery process. Subutex addiction is at root a physiological disease, and Subutex treatment must begin with physiological recovery. In the end, any other course of action can only lead to failure. Some “exclusive” addiction treatment facilities marginalize the Subutex detox process, or even ignore it altogether. That’s a recipe for disaster. If you’re going to get better in a Subutex rehabilitation center, it’s going to be because you get the right kind of care from the very beginning of the healing process. You owe it to the people you care about to find a place that understands the importance of Subutex detox. More importantly, you owe it t... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1535942 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:21:02 +0100 1535942 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060719&cid=t_128912_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F06%2Fcomparing_cannabis_and_nicotine_withdrawal.php There has been a long standing myth about marijuana that has been around since the 1960s. The myth says marijuana is less harmful to you than alcohol and tobacco. At best the myth is misleading. At worse, it becomes part of the denial based self-justification for marijuana dependence. Marijuana today is 100 to 1000 times the strength of marijuana of the 1960s. Studies from that era are simply no longer applicable. At that time, it was asserted that marijuana is NOT addictive, rather it produces psychological dependence on those so inclined. This is still a controversial topic today. Addiction theory hinges on a habituation response. Alcoholics "learn to handle" more alcohol before getting drunk. Actually, their body becomes tolerant to it's psychological effects. Other addictive drugs ar... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060719 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:30:54 +0100 4060719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1516839&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F311326491%2F Heroin rehab can only be successful if you make it successful. Drug addiction is a profoundly personal problem, and heroin recovery is invariably the product of a profoundly personal effort. No one can get better for you in a heroin rehab facility. No one can help you if you refuse to help yourself. If you’re going to get better, it’s going to be because you commit yourself to your drug rehab program. In the end, anything less than that sort of engagement simply isn’t good enough. It’s true that the care you get from your heroin rehab center will be vital in helping you get where you need to go. But that help will only be useful to the extent that you resolve to make it so. If you want to get clean, you can. If you give all of yourself to the heroin rehabilitation process, you will... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1516839 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:31:14 +0100 1516839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1499901&cid=t_128912_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fi-didnt-hurt-anybody.html I am not a happy ClinkShrink right now. I'm a bit hot under the collar. In fact, I'm a bit hot everywhere right now.I have no air conditioner. I know, I know, I should be used to this by now. I don't have a phone, I don't have a desk, I have to hunt for chairs to sit on every day. I should be used to this.I am, I'm just not used to this at home.This isn't something I typically blog about. I generally keep my personal life off the Internet and stick to mainly professional-type topics, but I promise I will make this relevant to psychiatry.I called up the local heating and air conditioning guy, who took one look and pointed out what was wrong. He saw it immediately, and I can't believe I didn't.Someone stole my copper freon pipe. It was four or five feet long, leading from the external pump u... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1499901 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 09:54:00 +0100 1499901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1499986&cid=t_128912_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F306145194%2Fnaltrexone_decreases_urge_to_gamble.html A new study released by Dr. Jon E. Grant of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and his colleagues has found that the urge to gamble was decreased in pathological gamblers who were treated with naltrexone.Naltrexone, a drug frequently used in the treatment of alcohol and drug dependence, was found to help control the urge to gamble in nearly 40% of pathological gamblers receiving the treatment. Gamblers were able to abstain from all gambling for a period of at least one month. Those receiving a placebo had an abstention rate of 10.5%.The study randomly assigned a daily dose of naltrexone to 58 men and women aged between 14 and 59 and a placebo to another 19 participants for a period of 18 weeks. The study found that not only were gambling urges significantly decreased but that ... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1499986 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:00:46 +0100 1499986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1464245&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F296091748%2F The best drug treatment centers are those which respect the individuality of each and every one of their patients. That might sounds obvious, but the truth is that too many “exclusive” drug treatment facilities try to turn recovery into a generic process. That’s simply not the way it works. Drug addiction is a personal problem. Drug treatment can only succeed on a personal level. The drug treatment center that’s right for you is the one that can help you get sober on your own terms, in a way that’s meaningful to you and no one else. In the end, anything less than that simply isn’t good enough. There are plenty of drug treatment centers in Los Angeles. Some of them really can help their residents get where they need to go. Some can’t. More often than not, the difference comes ... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1464245 Thu, 22 May 2008 23:15:25 +0100 1464245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1446326&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F291327527%2Fneuroaddiction-and-reward-pathway.html How addictive drugs fool Mother Nature"The addicted brain is distinctly different from the nonaddicted brain,” writes Alan Leshner, the former director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA). “Changes in brain structure and function is what makes it, fundamentally, a brain disease. A metaphorical switch in the brain seems to be thrown as a result of prolonged drug use.”Addiction is both a cause and a consequence of these fundamental alterations in brain function. If physical abnormalities in the brain are at the root of the problem, then any treatment program worth its weight ought to be dealing—directly or indirectly--with these differences in brain state. Writing in Lancet, researcher Charles O’Brien has suggested a similar orientation: “Addiction must be approached m... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1446326 Fri, 16 May 2008 01:22:00 +0100 1446326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1432666&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F287050096%2Fcoffee-addiction.html The pharmacology of caffeine.Recent studies have documented the existence of severe caffeine addicts who suffer significant depression and lessened cognitive capacity for several weeks or months following termination of coffee drinking. Balzac, the nineteenth century French writer, reportedly died of caffeine poisoning at roughly the 50-cup-per-day level.At low doses, caffeine sharpens cognitive processes--primarily mathematics, organization, and memory--just as nicotine does. The results of a ten-year study, reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, showed that female nurses between the ages of 34 and 59 who drank coffee were less likely to commit suicide than women who drank no coffee at all.Until recently, coffee and tea were rarely thought of as drugs of abuse, even though it is c... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1432666 Fri, 09 May 2008 19:38:00 +0100 1432666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1419133&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F282967311%2Ften-things-to-know-about-addiction.html From "Rethinking Substance Abuse."In the closing chapter of their 2006 book, "Rethinking Substance Abuse,” editors William R. Miller and Kathleen M. Carroll attempt to sum up what has been learned about the science of addiction. Their useful contribution, entitled Drawing the Science Together, offers "Ten Principles" that are designed to synthesize the welter of recent scientific research on addiction and help make sense of what we know.In vastly truncated form, they are as follows:1. Drug Use is Chosen Behavior At least in the beginning, people choose to take drugs, as one of the behavioral options available to them.2. Drug Problems Emerge Gradually "Dependence emerges over time, as the person's life becomes increasingly centered on drug use," the authors write. "The diagnostic crite... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1419133 Sat, 03 May 2008 22:12:00 +0100 1419133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1373883&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35815&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.encognitive.com%2Fdrug-addiction%2Fmarijuana-linked-to-schizophrenia-retardation-affects-memory-attention-speech-thinking-2008-apr-15.html Smoking marijuana can cause a person to acquire brain damage to the point of retardation... The facts of whether or not marijuana causes cancer is hotly debated by doctors today. read more (Source: ENCOGNITIVE.COM - Drug Addiction) ENCOGNITIVE.COM - Drug Addiction blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1373883 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:12:31 +0100 1373883 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1336896&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F260513567%2Famphetamine-blues.html How meth addiction happensIf alcohol’s impact on brain cells is wide-ranging and diffuse, and marijuana’s impact is selective and subtle, the impact of cocaine and amphetamine is much more straightforward. “There is certainly lots of evidence for common neurological mechanisms of reward across a wide variety of drugs,” said Dr. Robert Post, chief of the biological psychiatry branch at NIMH.Animals will readily administer cocaine and amphetamine, Dr. Post once explained to me, but when researchers surgically block out areas of the brain that are dense with dopamine receptors, the picture changes dramatically. “The evidence definitely incriminates dopamine in particular,” said Dr. Post. “In animal models, if you make selective lesions in the dopamine-rich areas of the brain, pa... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1336896 Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:46:00 +0100 1336896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1315449&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F254533229%2F Drug addiction is not a choice. No one ever “decides” to be an addict. By the same token, no one can ever simply “decide” to get sober. On the contrary, drug recovery is and can only be the product of clinical drug treatment. Remember, drug addiction is a disease. Like all diseases, it can’t be overcome without help. You wouldn’t expect a cancer victim to get better without cancer cancer treatment…and you shouldn’t expect an opiate abuser to get better without opiate treatment. That’s simply not the way healing happens. The good news is that drug addiction doesn’t have to be the end of the story. The right addiction treatment center can make a world of difference, first and foremost by helping you find the strength to reclaim life as you used to know it. The only ca... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1315449 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:57:24 +0100 1315449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1306101&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F252589565%2F The good news is that the market for drug rehab in Los Angeles offers plenty of options. The bad news is that they aren’t all good ones. If you’ve made it this far, you probably already know that a simple Internet search for “Malibu drug rehabs” turns up a long list of facilities, all of them offering exclusive drug rehab programs “guaranteed” to help patients get better. But you shouldn’t believe everything you read online. The truth is that drug rehab is a delicate art form, one that can only succeed if it’s administered with empathy and expertise. If you’re going to get better, in other words, it’s going to be because you find a drug rehabilitation program that’s right for you. Remember, drug addiction is a personal disease. Drug rehab has to be a personal process.... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1306101 Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:40:46 +0100 1306101 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1297873&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F250214268%2Fdrug-addiction-and-dissociation.html Where does the “self” go during active addiction? Where does the everyday self go during active cycles of addiction? It is not a simple case of amnesia, or sleepwalking. It is more like a waking trance, or autohypnosis. Psychologically, it is a state of dissociation. The sense of self becomes impaired through the processes of intoxication, denial, neuroadaption, withdrawal, and craving. This impaired sense of self causes behavior that is baldly contradictory to the addict's core beliefs and values. Honest men and women will lie and steal in order to get drugs.Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary defines dissociation, rather vaguely, as “the splitting off of certain mental processes from the main body of consciousness, with varying degrees of autonomy resulting.” How autonomous were yo... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1297873 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:19:00 +0100 1297873 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1288468&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F248036557%2Fpaul-wellstones-legacy.html House passes Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act I live in Minnesota, so it is with great pride that I report passage by the U.S. House of mental health and addiction legislation named after the late U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone from Minnesota, involving issues that were very close to his heart.Wellstone, who died in a plane crash in northern Minnesota in 2002, was a two-term Democratic Senator who championed the cause of full medical insurance for the coverage of addiction treatment and mental illness. The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007, sponsored by Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island, passed the U.S. House on a vote of 268-148. The legislation will now be the subject of negotiations with the U.S. Senate, which earlier passed a similar but less stringent bi... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1288468 Sat, 08 Mar 2008 20:03:00 +0100 1288468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1288603&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-03-08%2Fdrug-rehab-is-much-more-school-than-it-is-church%2F Drug rehab is an area of life where the boundaries between religion and state are blurred for more than other areas of life.  One of the core values of 12 step is the concept of God and a Higher Power.  I know it is said that a Higher Power can be anything, but the prayer repeated at every 12 step meeting is "God Grant me the Serenity….".  There is a lot of "God" in addiction treatment.  That is wonderful for those whom the concept of God is meaningful.  However it leads almost to the question of do you have to find God, in order to find sobreity?  Since the vast majority of drug and alcohol treatment is based in the 12 steps today, purely from a view of statistics, it would seem for a large number of clients the answer is yes. Addict... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1288603 Sat, 08 Mar 2008 14:53:21 +0100 1288603 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1287899&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F247645116%2Fdrug-abuse-state-by-state.html Vermont leads nation in marijuana useA new report released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) includes maps that purport to show the ratio of drug and alcohol usage from state to state. Rhode Island leads the nation in the use of illicit drugs, with 11.2 percent of respondents over the age of 12 reporting drug use in the past month. At the other end of the scale, a scant 5.7 percent of North Dakotans used drugs in an average month, according to numbers extracted from the 2005-2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services.The figures and explanatory text are from SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health. (Source: Addiction Inbox) Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1287899 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:20:00 +0100 1287899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1280880&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F246293776%2Fmarijuana-withdrawal-rivals-nicotine.html Kicking pot or cigarettes leads to anxiety, sleep problemsA small study in the journal Alcohol and Drug Dependence likened withdrawal from cannabis to that of withdrawal from nicotine, in the case of smokers addicted to either or both substances. The study gave further support to the growing body of evidence supporting the existence of a clinically significant marijuana withdrawal syndrome in heavy marijuana smokers.As one cigarette smoker in withdrawal famously put it, “I cannot think, cannot concentrate, cannot remember.” Now it appears that heavy marijuana smokers who go cold turkey might be susceptible to the same symptoms of withdrawal from addiction.Dr. Ryan Vandrey, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and principle author of the study, told Amy Norton ... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1280880 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:57:00 +0100 1280880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1268508&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F243538910%2Faddicts-alcoholics-overload-prison.html 1 Out Of 100 Americans now in jail For the first time in American history, according to a study released by the Pew Center on the States, more than one in every 99.1 adult men and women are now in prison or in jail. States spent a total of $49 billion on prisons in 2007, compared to $11 billion 20 years ago. The United States incarcerates a larger percentage of its population than any other country. China ranks second.“For all the money spent on corrections today, there hasn’t been a clear and convincing return for public safety,” according to Adam Gelb, director of the Pew Center’s Public Safety Performance Project. The report says that higher incarcerations rates have not been caused by increased crime or a corresponding surge in population numbers. Rather, stricter sentencing po... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1268508 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:51:00 +0100 1268508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1268649&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-02-29%2Fanother-reason-for-drug-rehab%2F There are many causes of addiction. Stress and anxiety, are key in the development on any addiction. Self medication for negative emotions and feelings are integral to the abuse of drugs and alcohol. As our society becomes more and more disconnected, and filled with more and more stress, drugs and alcohol become a larger and larger concern. There is also another issue. As a country and society we are losing our ability to wait for anything. We have become addicted to immediate gratification. We all expect to be rich by 30 and retired by 40. We wait to lose 20 pounds in a week, and solve all our problems by listening to a taped program with 10 easy lessons. We have lost the ability to look at a time line for anything beyond the next quarterly results. This is having a large impact on drug a... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1268649 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:57:29 +0100 1268649 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1251914&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-02-23%2Fthink-of-shades-of-grey-in-drug-rehab%2F Many times clients in a drug rehab center make problems tougher than they are. Actually we are all probably guilty of this. It involves how we phrase and look at both problems and their solutions. When we see problems as black and white, or all or nothing we create barriers and hurdles which make things difficult. Here is what I mean. A lot of clients that arrive in a drug rehab center have some issues or problems with the relationships in their family. A typical statement may be something like this. “Every time I talk with my dad, we have a fight. It is hopeless, we just can’t communicate!” If we look at this statement, (which all of us have said something similar to in our lives) it has two all or nothing qualifiers in it. The first is “every time” and the s... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1251914 Sat, 23 Feb 2008 13:41:55 +0100 1251914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1248040&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-02-21%2Ffoundations-addiction-and-drug-rehab%2F I had another interesting and challenging conversation last night. I am really very lucky to do what I do. Never the same thing, and boy it is never, ever boring. I was discussing the possibility of drug rehab with someone last night. They thought rehab might be a fairly good option for them. Drugs had been in theri life for a long time, and their life seemed to be stuck in somewhat of a rut lately. They hadn’t worked in quite some time. The question arose, that would it not be a better idea to invest the money for drug rehab into starting a business for them, so they could actually support themselves. If they had a business and were accomplishing some things in life, they would not need drugs in their life and could move past addiction. There is good logic in this path and would it ... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1248040 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:16:28 +0100 1248040 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1242147&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F237717624%2F100-million-killed-by-tobacco.html WHO estimates 1 billion more deaths in 21st century. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 100 million smokers died of tobacco-related causes in the 20th century, making cigarettes the leading preventable cause of death worldwide.The agency estimates that as many as a billion people will die from tobacco in the 21st century, if present trends continue.According to the WHO report, “Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008,” almost two-thirds of all smokers live in only ten countries, with China accounting for as much as 30 per cent of the total. Nearly 60 per cent of Chinese men smoke cigarettes, the report claims. The other leading countries, in order of consumption, are India, Indonesia, Russia, the U.S., Japan, Brazil, Bangladesh, Germany, and Turkey.“The shift of the tobacco epid... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1242147 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:27:00 +0100 1242147 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1237111&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-02-16%2Fwhat-do-you-appreciate-about-your-addicted-family-member%2F Sending a family member to a drug rehab program is about new beginnings.  It is about the faith in someone to get their life back on track with their dreams and goals.  This can be difficult for the rest of the family.  Sometimes Moms and Dads as well as other as other family members harbour deep seated resentments and anger over the past. Parents who have spent a good deal of their retirement funds on their adult child's addicition and drug rehab.  Siblings who have felt a loss over family trust and anger about the addicted individuals impact on the family.  It serves no purpose re-living these evnts over and over.  Setting boundaries for today and getting on with your own dreams is vital.  If you can it might be wise to give the person going to drug... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1237111 Sat, 16 Feb 2008 13:10:31 +0100 1237111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1233306&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F235393562%2Fsoros-funds-addiction-initiative.html Urges insurance companies to close “treatment gap” In a move designed to jump-start a reluctant insurance industry, philanthropist George Soros is pushing an addiction initiative aimed at the estimated 20 million Americans who cannot afford treatment for substance abuse.Through his New York-based Open Society Institute (OSI), Soros will award $10 million in grants to study “obstacles associated with addiction treatment.” Victor Capoccia, who previously ran community-based drug and alcohol treatment programs for the Boston Department of Health and Hospitals, will serve as director of OSI’s Initiative to Close the Addiction Treatment Gap. Capoccia also directed the addiction prevention effort at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.Any future system of universal health care should pr... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1233306 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:24:00 +0100 1233306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1231950&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F235042637%2Ffighting-fire-with-fire.html An introduction to anti-craving drugs The early neurobehavioral research on addiction has been vindicated by the development of anti-craving drugs and new drugs for depression.On the other hand, the psychopharmacology of addiction is not much studied in med school, and all but unknown among the general populace. Even the treatments now in existence are woefully underutilized. Moreover, there are good reasons to question whether these drugs are being prescribed with sufficient care and forethought in cases where they are being used. Legitimate, unanswered questions exist about pharmacotherapy for addictive disorders.The most important effect--the reregulation of brain receptor arrays with time--is little understood. And we cannot say with certainty whether messing with Mother Nature’s rec... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1231950 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:25:00 +0100 1231950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1222448&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35815&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.encognitive.com%2Ffiles%2FCase+Studies--Orthomolecular+Approach+to+Drug+Addiction.pdf We have developed a non-toxic, detoxification procedure where we can take the addicts off heroin or methadone with no withdrawal symptoms. The addicts have no desire to return to the drug and if they do take a 'fix', it is like injecting plain water, the detoxification is so complete and rapid...Methadone is far worse on the body, from a metabolic point of view, than is heroin...It is unconscionable to me to put a person on methadone maintenance with no way to get them off." --Dr. Archie Kalokerinos A.M.M., M.B.B.S., Ph.D., F.A.P.M. read more (Source: ENCOGNITIVE.COM - Drug Addiction) ENCOGNITIVE.COM - Drug Addiction blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1222448 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:10:42 +0100 1222448 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1221352&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-02-10%2Ffinancing-options-for-drug-rehab%2F The vast majority of people who call us for drug and alcohol rehab simply do not have the means to pay for it.  The plain truth is that we need more and creative ways to finance drug rehab.  The other option is to find ways to give drug rehab at a much lower cost.  Of course we all would like to have the government pay to help all these people.  Again either the government cannot afford it, or the political will to pay for it is just not there.  So if the government is not going to pay for drug rehab, what other things can we do? We are trying to offer something at a much lower cost.  Of course it is not like going to a drug rehab center.  It will never be as good as going to a drug rehab center.  However it might be good enough to save someone's... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1221352 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 04:11:04 +0100 1221352 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1221326&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F232780865%2Flsd-and-serotonin.html Early psychedelic research on alcoholism.What did LSD do to the brain, exactly, in order to set off the fireworks that so fascinated brain scientists, hippies, and government spies? And why, after years of massive, unauthorized field-testing, so to speak, was there so little evidence implicating LSD as an addictive drug? Powerful as it was, LSD did not show any of the classic attributes of addiction, such as withdrawal or craving, although it was possible to build up a tolerance to its effects with repeated dosings.Another novel brain chemical, discovered less than a year after Albert Hofmann's discovery of LSD, proved to be a crucial piece of the puzzle.According to an early theory, the aberrant mental functioning produced by the tiniest dose of LSD was due to interference with normal lev... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1221326 Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:50:00 +0100 1221326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1220034&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-02-09%2Fchronic-pain-plus-narcotic-pain-medications-equal-drug-rehab%2F There is a needs for a better solution or a more involved solution for people in long term chronic pain.  Narcotic analgesics for these clients seems like making a deal with the devil.  Over time the medications become less and less effective.  Over time in the pursuit of temporary relief, clients take larger and larger doses of the narcotics.  The sad truth is these clients seem utimately still in pain, but simply taking large doses of narcotics as now they are addicted.  The drugs have become their coping mechanism.  These clients might need a two pronged approach drug rehab.  They still need all the classic help from a drug rehab.  They need stress management and help with distorted patterns of thinking.  They also need help on the pain mana... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1220034 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 14:21:10 +0100 1220034 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1215525&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-02-07%2Freligion-disease-and-drug-alcohol-rehab%2F Clients at the depths of their addiction want to change.  They are depressed.  They are isolated.  They are very tired of trying to find their drug and at the same time juggle all the lies in their life.  They want a change.  This however makes them very vulnerable.  They are so desparate for a change, they are willing to believe anything if it looks like it will get them out of the addicted hole they are in. Drug rehabs might need to understand and use caution because of this.  Sometimes I question the wisdom or fairness of running a rehab for vulnerable people and then telling them about religion and God as their solution.  Is it fair to indoctrinate vulnerable people?  If addiction is a disease, why would we allow this?  Would we be just... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1215525 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:23:00 +0100 1215525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1215521&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35815&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.encognitive.com%2Fdrug-addiction%2Fthe-orthomolecular-treatment-of-drug-addiction-2008-feb-07.html by Archie Kalokerinos A.M.M., M.B.B.S., Ph.D., F.A.P.M., Glen Dettman A.M.M., BA, Ph.D., F.A.P.M. Introduction read more (Source: ENCOGNITIVE.COM - Drug Addiction) ENCOGNITIVE.COM - Drug Addiction blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1215521 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:36:40 +0100 1215521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1207803&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F229813087%2Fmarijuana-withdrawal-part-2.html Is cannabis addictive?Until recently, there was very little evidence in animal models for marijuana tolerance and withdrawal, the classic determinants of addiction. For at least four decades, million of Americans have used marijuana without clear evidence of a withdrawal syndrome. Most recreational marijuana users find that too much pot in one day makes them lethargic and uncomfortable. Self-proclaimed marijuana addicts, on the other hand, report that pot energizes them, calms them down when they are nervous, or otherwise allows them to function normally. They feel lethargic and uncomfortable without it. Heavy marijuana users claim that tolerance does build. And when they withdraw from use, they report strong cravings.While the scientific evidence weighed in against the contention that mar... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1207803 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:21:00 +0100 1207803 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1208190&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-02-05%2Fin-drug-rehab-learn-it-all%2F Let's face it.  Sometimes we all can just be a little lazy.  We all like shortcuts or faster ways to do things.  What you do in a drug rehab center is not one of these times.  There are situations in our lives where maybe we do not need a great foundation of understanding.  Someitmes just knowing what to do will work.  You do not have to know why it works, and why it is the right step. Do not cut corners in drug rehab.  There are going to be lots of challenges in your life.  There are going to be lots of unforseen circumstances after you leave a drug rehab center.  In these tougher moments, rules may not cut it.  Cute phrases will seem hollow and not much support.  It is it the most fluid and surprising hurdles of life, that u... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1208190 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:40:31 +0100 1208190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1198738&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F228589018%2Fchantix-and-suicide.html Discussions about a possible link between Chantix and suicide were fueled by the death last year of New Bohemians lead singer Carter Albrecht, who was shot while attempting to break into a house in Dallas. His girlfriend told authorities that his behavior had been erratic since he began taking Chantix in an effort to stop smoking.In no case are the numbers of suicides linked to any of the drugs alarmingly high. The FDA study of epilepsy medications appears to demonstrate, as summed up by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Bernadette Tansey, “2.1 more people for every 1,000 on the medications exhibited suicidal thoughts or behavior, compared with every 1,000 on placebo.”Note that the FDA is not discussing an increased risk of suicide, but rather an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or fe... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1198738 Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:59:00 +0100 1198738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1196059&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2005-05-02%2Fself-help-for-drug-addiction-and-drug-abuse Discussions about abstinence as well as avoiding high risk situations make this a very useful resource. The 52 pages are very well done and can be downloaded immediately free of charge. It is simple and easy to use, and may assist someone in deciding if self-management of their addiction is possible or if admission to a drug rehab might be considered. The link is:http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/helpmewith/psuworkbook.shtml (Source: US Drug Rehab Centers) US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1196059 Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:33:49 +0100 1196059 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1195024&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F227446140%2F Drug addiction spares no one. Having a big bank account won’t save you from the perils of drug abuse. Neither will living in a big house, or driving a fancy car. Whoever you are, however invincible you believe yourself to be…drug addiction can happen to you. And when it does, private drug rehab will be the last best chance you have to get better. Addicts can’t get sober without help. They just can’t. Drug addiction is a disease, not a choice. Like all diseases, it can only be eradicated by competent clinical care. If you’re a victim of addiction, drug treatment isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. Don’t wait another day to finally make the right choice. If you’re here, reading this, you already know how devastating substance abuse can be. Now you know what you can do abo... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1195024 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:31:30 +0100 1195024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1194809&cid=t_128912_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F227441607%2Fnew_vaccine_prevents_getting_h.html Advances in curbing the addiction to drugs has revealed a new vaccine that prevents the person from getting high. Could this prevent the downward spiral of addiction that follows relapse? The only available results say that the vaccine decreases the amount of cocaine that reaches the brain. It triggers the immune system telling it that the drug is a foreign substance. The result is the immune system then attacks in the blood stream by creating antibodies to fight it. Once attacked in the blood stream, cocaine then passes through the kidneys and is excreted through the urine making it so the drug never reaches the brain. In time, antibody levels would rise and there will be less of a high every time cocaine is used. Cocaine, the only drug found to have promising results with the vaccine, is... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1194809 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:00:46 +0100 1194809 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1194914&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F227425342%2Fibogaine-and-addiction.html Can a psychedelic shrub diminish drug cravings? In 1957, two scientists in the research department of CIBA Pharmaceutical Products in New Jersey, reported on “an indole alkaloid with central-stimulant properties” used by native peoples in the Congo: “The crude extracts of Tabernanthe iboga caused a feeling of excitement, drunkenness, mental confusion, and, possibly, hallucinations.” The CIBA researchers were working from early reports by French and Belgian explorers in the 1800s, which had noted the use of this remarkable shrub in the Congo and surrounding regions.Years later, a few researchers had begun to wonder whether ibogaine might not harbor properties that could be used in psychiatry and the treatment of addiction. It was the beginning of an unlikely renaissance in the study... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1194914 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:41:00 +0100 1194914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1195023&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35815&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.encognitive.com%2Fdrug-addiction%2Fwhat-drugs-alcohol-and-addictive-behaviors-do-to-the-brain-2008-feb-01.html Brain Chemistry. The changes brought on by psychoactive drugs and addictive behaviors cause temporary and permanent changes in various parts of the brain that can be viewed. For many years, Dr. Daniel Amen, M.D., has studied these changes in brain function at his clinic in Fairfield, California, using SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) scans of the brain. read more (Source: ENCOGNITIVE.COM - Drug Addiction) ENCOGNITIVE.COM - Drug Addiction blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1195023 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:16:08 +0100 1195023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1179743&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-01-26%2Fempowered-drug-rehab-clients Empowered is one of those words sometimes I do not like.  Comes across as sort of new age assertion type of thing.  What is an empowered client in a drug rehab center?  I think it may involve some of the following things.  Firstly they would know the rationale and evidence of the treatment they are participating in at a drug rehab center, and are comfortable with it.  They also know how to maximize the benefits they get in drug rehab. Simple things like arriving on time and organized for their one to one counseling.  Write down your questions as they occur during the day. Then you will not have to remember them during your counseling session.  Write down things during the drug rehab groups that are confusing to you.  Again order them as to which are ... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1179743 Sat, 26 Jan 2008 13:59:26 +0100 1179743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1173513&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-01-23%2Fdrug-rehab-success-and-relpase-the-same-as-other-major-health-conditions I found this in “Dispelling The Myths About Addiction, Strategies To Increase Understanding And Strengthen Research,” Institute Of Medicine, National Academy Press, Washington, 1997, pages 73-74. “One of the most enduring myths about addiction is that treatment for these disorders is ineffective.' "O’Brien and McLellan (1996) reviewed and compared treatment literature for addictive disorders and three common health problems – hypertension, diabetes, and asthma. Treatment effectiveness for addiction was defined as a 50% decrease in drug taking after 6 months. The literature reviewed showed treatment for alcoholism to be successful for 40% to 70% of patients; success rates for cocaine addiction were 50% to 60%, opioids 50% to 80%, and nicotine 20% to 40... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1173513 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:31:29 +0100 1173513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1170254&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-01-22%2Ftype-free-drug-rehab-in-google My frustrating search for free and low cost drug rehab programs continues.  It is easy to see why those who absolutely need free drug rehab services continue to call from one place to another.  If you type free drug rehab as a search into google, the first page has no listings at all that are free.  There are four free drug rehab consultations.  There are toll free numbers.  There are rehabs that will make you drug free.  Apparently google is unable to sort out the actual drug rehab programs that might be free.  The second page of listings is not much better.  Two of the listings actually deal with free drug rehab, the other eight so not.  The rest are back to the free drug rehab consultations again. The point I am trying to make here is that if... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1170254 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:25:36 +0100 1170254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1166509&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-01-21%2Ffantasy-in-drug-rehab-and-addiction Is there danger in letting your mind wander and imagine drug use?  If after attending a drug rehab program should you train your mind to quickly move on to other topics when you mind starts to imagine drug use?  A simpler question to ask might be what good things could happen by slipping into a fantasy of drug use?  That seems like an easier question to answer.  I guess someone could make a sort of remote arguement that in the fantasy you could make drug use painful or damaging and therefore promote sobriety, but I think really there is not a lot of good that can come out of these fantasies. The real danger lies in that in fantasy, we always have control.  We never get caught.  We never get diseases.  We never get arrested.  Drug rehab is about remem... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1166509 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:48:36 +0100 1166509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1163732&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F219980290%2F The only successful private drug treatment is that which rehabilitates patients on their own terms. Too many exclusive drug treatment centers in Los Angeles offer generic drug treatments, as if what worked for one addict should necessarily work for them all. That’s the not way healing happens. Drug addiction is a personal disease, and treatment for drug addiction has to pose a personal solution to it. Residential drug treatment has to help you get healed from the inside-out. Anything less than that simply isn’t good enough. In fact, a luxury drug treatment that can’t offer you that much isn’t even worth your time. The moral of the story? You have to do your homework before you choose a Southern California drug treatment facility. Some Malibu drug treatment centers really can help t... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1163732 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:08:23 +0100 1163732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1156850&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-01-16%2Fits-the-program-in-drug-rehab-not-the-building If a nice facility was really a critical point in the success in drug rehab, how come the Hilton or the Marriott are not advertising for drug rehab clients?  Drug rehab is about changing yourself and your life.  If getting spoiled and pampered in a beautiful stting had anything to do with sobriety, why is there any drug addiction at all in Hollywood?  The rich and famous have no problems at all with addiction.  They have such beautiful homes they get "cured" while they sleep ….. right? If the building is clean and has the facilities to teach, work out, eat and sleep, that is pretty much all you need.  If you are paying for your drug rehab treatment you hve the "right" to be as picky as you want I guess, but if your family is paying fo... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1156850 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:20:08 +0100 1156850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1149854&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-01-14%2Frehab-blog When I am writing this rehab blog, I can not help but get nosey and see what other people writing in the rehab blog field are also doing.  While doing this I had one of those "aha" moments when you figure out your onw view of the world sometimes keep you from seeing the big picture.  You see, because I am seeing the world through the eyes of someone in the drug rehab field, rehab has one meaning in my head.  Rehab is a place where you go to get off drug abuse and alcohol abuse.  Guess what the number one blog on google with the term rehab is?  It is about rehab for physical injuries.  Car accicdents, sports injuries, and post surgury to get back all the mobility life requires.  I really started to laugh.  The neat thing about getting ... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1149854 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:41:22 +0100 1149854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1147376&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F216034474%2F The best private drug rehabs are the ones that deliver holistic care. There are no partial victories in the drug rehab process. If you’re going to get better, you’re going to have to get all the way better. Remember, addiction is both a physical and a psychological disease. California drug rehab centers have to be in the business of promoting both physical and psychological healing. Even the most exclusive drug rehab facility in Los Angeles can’t help you if it fails to do that much. There are, to say the least, a great many luxury drug rehabs in Malibu. They aren’t all the same. Some really can help their patients get sober. Some can’t. The difference, for you, is more important than any in the world. The practical implication here? Do your homework before making a drug rehabili... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1147376 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:21:57 +0100 1147376 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1146590&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F215722453%2Fvote-of-no-confidence-for-prometa.html Addiction drug loses major fundingIt is composed of three common and inexpensive drugs used for other purposes. It has never been subjected to clinical double blind testing. It costs thousands of dollars for the full treatment package, and the company that markets it says it cures about 80 percent of the drug addicts who use it.If that description sounds familiar—if it seems to give off a faint whiff of blue-green algae and multi-level marketing—such concerns have not stunted the promotion and acceptance of the anti-addiction drug Prometa. But MSNBC reported last week that Prometa, the drug “cocktail” designed to combat addiction to cocaine and methamphetamine, was dealt a severe blow when accountants in Pierce County, Washington froze the funding for an $800,000 pilot program, cit... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1146590 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:13:00 +0100 1146590 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1140112&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-01-09%2Fa-lighter-look-at-drug-addiction You know, we all need to look at the funny side of life, even with serious topics like addiction.  I found this blog with the great idea of listing things that we all could do, instead of resorting to using a drug or having a drink.  If you need a chuckle check this out by clicking here. (Source: US Drug Rehab Centers) US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1140112 Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:04:36 +0100 1140112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1131731&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F211696674%2Fcocaine-prices-climb-us-drug-czar.html NPR Investigation Suggests OtherwiseIt’s hard to win a war on drugs. Success stories are few, so it is not surprising that a temporary hike in recent cocaine prices in selected American cities was seized upon by U.S. Drug Czar John Walters as the lynchpin of a promotional campaign touting a victory in the war on drugs. After the U.S Coast Guard’s seized a record 160 metric tons of cocaine in early December, Walters declared: “These seizures are having a profound effect on availability of drugs in the U.S.”But are they? In late December, National Public Radio (NPR) undertook an investigation of this claim by contacting the police departments in the 37 cities—including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee--in which Drug Czar Walters claimed that interdictions had ... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1131731 Sat, 05 Jan 2008 17:25:00 +0100 1131731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1129514&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-01-04%2Fdrug-addiction-stories-from-the-boomtown-of-fort-mcmurray When you go to a boomtown like Fort McMurray in Northern Alberta, you can make a lot of money fast.  You can go from almost nothing to owning your own company and living life large in 2 or 3 years.  The problems of sudden wealth and long hours are not without dangers though.  Since I wrote a spot about the need for drug rehab programs for the rapidly growing drug addiction problem in Fort McMurray, I have recieved calls detailing some of the extent on how drugs can undermine hardworking, focused, young people and destroy their lives.  Things like working 28 days in a row for months to build a small successful company.  Having growth and new employees join them.  Then all destoyed by crack cocaine and meth.  From profits to big debts in 6 months.  My... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1129514 Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:01:29 +0100 1129514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1128877&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-01-03%2Fbuprenorphine-treatment-and-drug-rehab-programs Buprenorhine is one way to detox and stop talking opiates, such as heroin and oxycontin.  It may have several advantages of methadone and rapid opiate detox.  It boils down to getting quality information and help, followed by making the decision that is right for you and your circumstances.  You need a successful detox if you are to have a good drug rehab.  The following is a webiste by a non-profit organization dealing with the issues involved in the detox from opiates. Click here for more information about Buprenorhine treatment and Physicians that can help you. (Source: US Drug Rehab Centers) US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1128877 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:23:44 +0100 1128877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1127434&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2008-01-02%2Ftwo-types-of-excuses-in-drug-rehab There are always excuses involved in addiction and drug rehab.  Things like, "you don't understand the pressure I'm under".  I can't go to drug rehab right now, because I'm too busy at work and with my family.  Given enough time, we can always find a "good reason" not to the things we need to move on in our life.  The I'm too busy hanging on to my crappy life to work on improving it. Even clients at a drug rehab center can find excuses.  My favorite aunt is sick and I have to leave early.  I think my wife is leaving me, and I have to go back and try to save my relationship.  I think I have learned enough and I can save my family some money by leaving early.  ( Funny how when buying drugs or alcohol th... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1127434 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:35:33 +0100 1127434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1126456&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F209963940%2F The best private drug treatment centers are the ones that aim to nurture holistic drug recovery. There’s no such thing as a partial victory in the fight against drug addiction. Remember, drug abuse is both a physical and psychological disease. Drug treatment has to effect both physical and psychological healing. It isn’t enough for a California drug treatment center to help patients get better only in body, or only in mind. If you’re going to get sober, you’re going to have to get all-the-way sober. Even the most exclusive drug treatment centers in Los Angeles can’t succeed on any terms other than those. Remember, a drug treatment program can only work if it’s administered with compassion and competence. Some luxury drug treatment centers really can help addicts get sober for g... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1126456 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:57:29 +0100 1126456 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1121835&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2007-12-29%2Fsplitting-in-drug-rehab When you deal with a addicted person or client and you are one of a group of people dealing with this person, at some point you may come across splitting. This happens is a drug rehab quite often, especially at the beginning of the rehab program.  Splitting is a manipulation technique.  It inolves making you feel special, and tries to pull you away from the group concencus.  Here is a typical splitting scenario.  Someone may come up to you and say, " Do you know what Bill did to me?"  Then they explain the injustice or how they were "treated unfairly".  Then comes the splitting comment ….  I know YOU would never do that!  In one sentence they give you a "compliment", and pull you away from the other person.  ... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1121835 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:48:57 +0100 1121835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1120919&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2007-12-28%2Fgood-thoughts-in-drug-rehab-and-the-rest-of-your-life Tony Robbins is an amazing speaker.  I have seen him live, up close and personal, and if you ever get the chance …. Go.  As 2007 draws to a close, thought naturally turn to next year and what you would like to accomplish in the New Year.  Drug rehab is about change and so is the start of a new year, so it is doubly important to stop, and plan a little for the future.  I saw this and thought I would pass it on.  It only take 3 or 4 minutes to watch and will help you a lot in thinking about what direction you would like to go after drug rehab.  Click here for The 12 Tenets for the New Year, from Tony Robbins! (Source: US Drug Rehab Centers) US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1120919 Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:29:18 +0100 1120919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1120920&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35792&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.usdrugrehabcenters.com%2F2007-12-28%2Fnon-drug-addictions Addictions gradually isolate and destroy lives.  With the so called war on drugs, many times it seems that it is the only addiction we really focus on as a society.  The other addictions ruin careers, marriages and families as well.  If you want to determine the "popularity" of the different types of addictions, again looking at the number of searches for that term on the internet is a fairly valid method.  If a lot of people are searching for gambling addiction, then it must be a concern. When you look at the top ten non drug addictions I was quite surprised again by the number one spot.  Maybe I forgot just how much that comuters have become a part of our lives, but still I didn't expect it.  Click here to see the top ten and also the next ten ... US Drug Rehab Centers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1120920 Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:28:36 +0100 1120920 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1108730&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F203506080%2Fpan-addiction.html Why addicts can switch drugsThe newer views of addiction as an organic brain disorder cast strong doubt on the longstanding assumption that different kinds of people become addicted to different kinds of drugs. The behaviors known as pan-addiction and substitute addiction seemed to demonstrate that some addicts were vulnerable in an overall way to other addictive drugs as well.If it was one addiction at a time, that was known as substitute addiction. If it was many addictions simultaneously, researchers called it pan-addiction. The fact that a striking number of alcoholics also had cigarette addictions, and were heavy coffee drinkers, or had been addicted sequentially or simultaneously to various illegal addictive drugs—this was no great secret in the addiction therapy community.Addicts ... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1108730 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:38:00 +0100 1108730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1106372&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F203081318%2F Whoever you are, however tough you believe yourself to be, private drug rehabilitation will test your will. Some California drug rehabs would have you believe drug rehab is an easy process. It isn’t. The truth is that your drug rehab program can’t succeed without sustained and concerted effort from you yourself, for the simple reason that drug addiction never dies easy. You really can get better, if you want to. But you’re going to have to work for it. Drug rehabilitation in Los Angeles is and must be a trying process. For your own sake, here’s hoping you have the courage to see it through to the end. Cliffside Malibu can help. Our luxury drug rehabilitation facility can give you all the support you need to make drug recovery a reality. Our exclusive drug rehab programs have a prov... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1106372 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:14:46 +0100 1106372 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1106307&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F202786820%2Fwhat-is-drug-craving.html Exploring the engine of drug relapse“In terms of treatment, you can’t just attack the rewarding features of the drug. In the case of alcohol, we already have a perfect drug to make alcohol aversive--and that’s Antabuse. But people don’t take it. Why don’t they take it? Because they still crave. And so they stop taking it. You have to attack the other side, and hit the craving.”--Dr. Ting-Kai Li, 1990 interviewIt causes relapses and treatment failure. It leads good people to break good promises and do harm to themselves and others. What is this thing called craving? Isn’t it just another word for lack of will power?Scientists have gained a much deeper understanding of how and why addicts crave. For years, craving was represented by the tortured tremors and sweaty nightmares of... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1106307 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:29:00 +0100 1106307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1100336&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F201942361%2F Some people will tell you addicts can get better without help from private drug rehabs. They’re either lying or delusional. The plain fact of the matter is that no drug abuse victim gets better without help from a California drug rehab facility. After all, drug addiction is a disease, not a choice. You can’t simply decide to get sober. On the contrary, you need the kind of professional help that only exclusive Los Angeles drug rehabs can provide. With so much to lose, and so much more to win, you simply can’t afford to settle for anything less than that. The good news is that Cliffside Malibu really can help you beat addiction…provided you have the courage to let us. Our luxury drug rehab facilities and exclusive drug rehab programs have a record of success that speaks for itse... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1100336 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 01:05:46 +0100 1100336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1076619&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F196602111%2Fdrug-foods-and-addiction.html Amino acid restoration therapyAddicts frequently resort to sugar foods and other high-carbohydrates snacks as a substitute drug addiction, therapists frequently report. Since diet has a direct effect on neurotransmission in the brain, food of this type may play a role in keeping drug cravings alive.Dr. Candace Pert, one of the founders of modern neuroscience, believes that the pain of drug withdrawal and the stress of associated cravings could be drastically lessened through attention to nutritional needs. “Recovery programs,” she writes in her book Molecules of Emotion: Why You Feel the Way You Feel, “need to take into account this multi-system reality by emphasizing nutritional support and exercise. Eating fresh, unprocessed foods, preferably organic vegetables, and engaging in mil... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1076619 Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:40:00 +0100 1076619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1064964&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F193972088%2F Private drug rehabs in California aren’t all alike. Too many Los Angeles drug rehab patients make the mistake of assuming otherwise. The real truth? Some “exclusive” drug rehabilitation centers really can help their patients get sober for good. Some can’t. The difference often comes down to personal attention. Drug rehabs can only succeed if they recognize the unique needs of their unique patients. At Cliffside Malibu, that principle informs everything we do. Remember, drug addiction is a personal disease, and drug rehabilitation has to be an intimate process. With so much at stake, you can’t afford anything less from your drug rehab program. Drug rehab at Cliffside Malibu will change your life. Our exclusive drug rehab programs and luxury drug rehab facilities can give you all t... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1064964 Sun, 02 Dec 2007 18:11:35 +0100 1064964 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1044204&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F188421210%2F How important is private drug detox? It can make the difference between the success and failure of any California drug rehab program. Some Los Angeles drug rehab centers marginalize the detox process. That’s a mistake. The truth is that drug detox is essential to drug rehabilitation, because drug addiction is at its root a physical disease. Drug rehab patients can only get better if they successfully manage the physiological side effects of drug withdrawal. The right detox program can help them do that. In the end, nothing could ever be more important. At Cliffside Malibu, we understand the importance of drug detox. Our luxury drug rehabilitation center encompasses special detox facilities, and our exclusive drug rehab programs all begin with an extensive detox period. Remember, drug reh... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1044204 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:39:26 +0100 1044204 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1030201&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F185381961%2Fcyp2d6-factor.html Enzymes And Drug AbuseDifferent drugs effect different people differently.Drugs are broken down into their constituent waste products by specific sets of enzymes. A subset of the human population, variously estimated at 3% to 7%, are categorized as “poor metabolizers.” For them, a drug’s recommended dosage is often far too high. The culprit is a gene variant that codes for a liver enzyme called cytochrome P450 isoenzyme 2D6, known in shorthand as CYP2D6. Poor metabolizers produce less of this crucial enzyme, which means that drugs are broken down and excreted at a much slower pace. In these people, the recommended dose results in higher drug concentrations. This obviously can make a crucial difference in how a person reacts to the drugs.About one out of 20 people has a mutation in th... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1030201 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:32:00 +0100 1030201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1024425&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2F184372717%2F Private residential drug treatment is not a magic act. Drug treatment centers do not succeed by accident. On the contrary, the most successful drug treatment programs in Los Angeles are those driven by the efforts of drug treatment patients. Drug abuse is, obviously, a personal problem. Beating it has to be a personal process. Simply stated, treatment for drug addiction in Los Angeles cannot work unless you make it work. In the end, it’s hard to imagine how any lesson could be more important than that one. At Cliffside Malibu’s luxury drug treatment facility, we’re here for you. Your exclusive Cliffside Malibu drug treatment program will give you all the care and support you need to get sober for good. But that help will ultimately be what you make of it. If you want to get better, y... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1024425 Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:22:36 +0100 1024425 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1019421&cid=t_128912_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F183183493%2Fafghanistan-opium-supplier-to-world.html Will defoliants be used (again) on Afghan farmers?Afghanistan appears poised to break all opium harvest records in 2007. Experts estimate this year’s crop at more than 8,000 tons of opium, a 34 per cent surge over 2006. This amount represents roughly 93 per cent of the world market for heroin and other opium products, according to information provided by the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA). The amount of land under cultivation for poppies exceeds the amount of land used for coca cultivation in all of Latin America combined. For all practical purposes, Afghanistan has cornered the market, and is the undisputed leader.And, according to U.S. defense officials, serving as a primary source of ready cash for the Taliban insurgents in the south. According to Reuters... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1019421 Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:58:00 +0100 1019421