Often it is not easy for a non-addicted individual to
understand what drug addiction is and how a person becomes paralysed on mind
and cannot come out of it. It is often mistakenly assumed that drug abusers
lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop using drugs simply
by choosing to change their behaviour. In reality, drug addiction is a complex
disease, and quitting takes more than good intentions or a strong will. In
fact, because drugs change the brain in ways that foster compulsive drug abuse,
quitting is difficult, even for those who are ready to do so. Through scientific
advances, we know more about how drugs work in the brain than ever, and we also
know that drug addiction can be successfully treated to help people stop
abusing drugs and lead productive lives.
Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease
that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to
the addicted individual and to those around him or her. Although the initial
decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, the brain changes that
occur over time challenge an addicted person’s self-control and hamper his or
her ability to resist intense impulses to take drugs.
Fortunately, treatments are available to help people
counter addiction’s powerful disruptive effects. Research shows that combining
addiction treatment medications with behavioral therapy is the best way to
ensure success for most patients. Treatment approaches that are tailored to
each patient’s drug abuse patterns and any co-occurring medical, psychiatric,
and social problems can lead to sustained recovery and a life without drug
abuse. But for treating any such patients you need to know their addiction.
Usually people tend to hide the addiction they have from their family, friends
or near ones who are concerned. Let us tell you about few signs which could be
taken as warning of drug use / abuse / addiction.
The few signs which we can notice and can take as a warning
sign are:
Physical and health warning signs of
drug abuse
·
Eyes that are bloodshot or pupils that are
smaller or larger than normal.
·
Frequent nosebleeds--could be related to snorted
drugs (meth or cocaine).
·
Changes in appetite or sleep patterns.
Sudden weight loss or weight gain.
·
Seizures without a history of epilepsy.
·
Deterioration in personal grooming or physical
appearance.
·
Injuries/accidents and person won’t or can’t
tell you how they got hurt.
·
Unusual smells on breath, body, or clothing.
·
Shakes, tremors, incoherent or slurred speech,
impaired or unstable coordination.
Behavioural
signs of drug abuse
·
Drop in attendance and performance at work or
school; loss of interest in extracurricular activities, hobbies, sports or
exercise; decreased motivation.
·
Complaints from co-workers, supervisors,
teachers or classmates.
·
Unusual or unexplained need for money or
financial problems; borrowing or stealing; missing money or valuables.
·
Silent, withdrawn, engaging in secretive or
suspicious behaviours.
·
Sudden change in relationships, friends, favourite
hangouts, and hobbies.
·
Frequently getting into trouble (arguments,
fights, accidents, illegal activities).
Psychological
warning signs of drug abuse
·
Unexplained change in personality or attitude.
·
Sudden mood changes, irritability, angry
outbursts or laughing at nothing.
·
Periods of unusual hyperactivity or agitation.
·
Lack of motivation; inability to focus,
appearing lethargic or “spaced out.”
·
Appearing fearful, withdrawn, anxious, or
paranoid, with no apparent reason.
No Doubt Prevention Is the Key:
Drug addiction is a preventable disease. Results from
NIDA-funded research have shown that prevention programs involving families,
schools, communities, and the media are effective in reducing drug abuse.
Although many events and cultural factors affect drug abuse trends, when youths
perceive drug abuse as harmful, they reduce their drug taking. Thus, education
and outreach are key in helping youth and the general public understand the
risks of drug abuse. Teachers, parents, medical and public health professionals
must keep sending the message that drug addiction can be prevented if one never
abuses drugs.
Treatment:
Because drug abuse and addiction have so many dimensions
and disrupt so many aspects of an individual's life, treatment is not simple.
Effective treatment programs typically incorporate many components, each
directed to a particular aspect of the illness and its consequences. Addiction
treatment must help the individual stop using drugs, maintain a drug-free
lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in the family, at work, and in
society. Because addiction is typically a chronic disease, people cannot simply
stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Most patients require long-term
or repeated episodes of care to achieve the ultimate goal of sustained
abstinence and recovery of their lives.
Too often, addiction goes untreated: According to
SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 23.2 million persons
(9.4 percent of the U.S. population) aged 12 or older needed treatment for an
illicit drug or alcohol use problem in 2007. Of these individuals, 2.4 million
(10.4 percent of those who needed treatment) received treatment at a specialty
facility (i.e., hospital, drug or alcohol rehabilitation or mental health centre).
Thus, 20.8 million persons (8.4 percent of the population aged 12 or older)
needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem but did not receive
it. These estimates are similar to those in previous years.
Principles of Effective Treatment
Scientific research since the mid–1970s shows that
treatment can help patients addicted to drugs stop using, avoid relapse, and
successfully recover their lives. Based on this research, key principles have
emerged that should form the basis of any effective treatment programs:
·
Addiction is a complex but treatable disease
that affects brain function and behavior.
·
No single treatment is appropriate for everyone.
·
Treatment needs to be readily available.
·
Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of
the individual, not just his or her drug abuse.
·
Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of
time is critical.
·
Counseling—individual and/or group—and other
behavioral therapies are the most commonly used forms of drug abuse treatment.
·
Medications are an important element of
treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counseling and other
behavioral therapies.
·
An individual's treatment and services plan must
be assessed continually and modified as necessary to ensure that it meets his
or her changing needs.
·
Many drug–addicted individuals also have other
mental disorders.
·
Medically assisted detoxification is only the
first stage of addiction treatment and by itself does little to change
long–term drug abuse.
·
Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be
effective.
·
Drug use during treatment must be monitored
continuously, as lapses during treatment do occur.
·
Treatment programs should assess patients for
the presence of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and other infectious
diseases as well as provide targeted risk–reduction counseling to help patients
modify or change behaviors that place them at risk of contracting or spreading
infectious diseases.
Effective Treatment Approaches
Medication and behavioral therapy, especially when
combined, are important elements of an overall therapeutic process that often
begins with detoxification, followed by treatment and relapse prevention.
Easing withdrawal symptoms can be important in the initiation of treatment;
preventing relapse is necessary for maintaining its effects. And sometimes, as
with other chronic conditions, episodes of relapse may require a return to
prior treatment components. A continuum of care that includes a customized
treatment regimen—addressing all aspects of an individual's life, including
medical and mental health services—and follow–up options (e.g., community – or
family-based recovery support systems) can be crucial to a person's success in
achieving and maintaining a drug–free lifestyle.
Medications can be used to help with different aspects of
the treatment process.
Behavioral Treatments
Behavioral treatments help patients engage in the
treatment process, modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug abuse,
and increase healthy life skills. These treatments can also enhance the
effectiveness of medications and help people stay in treatment longer.
Press Note:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants NGOs to write to him
about their experiences in helping battle drug addiction, a topic he plans to
highlight in his third radio address to the country, likely to be held on
Sunday, November 16.
"I invite you to share your views on the issue of
mitigating the menace of drugs. If you worked in this area, please share your
experiences," the PM tweeted this morning. "I call upon NGOs that are
working on this to share their experiences as well," he added.
News Report: NDTV
When you try to come out of this addiction, Remember It
will hurt, it will take time, it will require dedication, it will require willpower,
it will require sacrifices, there will be temptation, but I promise you, when
you reach the goal, it’s worth it.
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