When an individual is addicted to drugs and/or alcohol, he or she is likely behaving in a manner completely inconsistent with his or her normal character. Severe physical and psychological effects related to addiction can cause an individual to put all of his or her efforts into obtaining and consuming dangerous substances rather than focus on everyday responsibilities. The longer that the addiction continues for, the more likely an individual is to lose his or her job, experience family or marital discord, and even suffer from physical ailments. While the scope of symptoms that one might experience while addicted to drugs and/or alcohol can be overarching, every individual is unique in his or her addiction. From symptoms to reasons why the addiction began, each individual has his or her own background that defines how they got to a dangerous point in their lives. And, just as distinct as each individual’s addiction is, so is the treatment that he or she will need to get into recovery. Fortunately, there are many different treatment options available so that addiction can be overcome and properly managed for a lifetime. For some, outpatient care is best suited for their needs, while others participate in a partial hospitalization program or an intensive outpatient program. However, one of the most common options for addiction treatment is long-term treatment. What is Long-Term Treatment? Long-term addiction treatment is an option for care that many people choose. Taking place in a residential environment, long-term treatment offers individuals who are addicted to substances including heroin, cocaine, prescription drugs, meth, and more the opportunity to place all of their focus on...
Alcoholism is one of the most common substance use disorders in the world, as alcohol is not only readily accessible, but its use is also socially accepted throughout many different cultures. While some people are capable of consuming alcohol responsibly, others are not. According to a survey conducted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in 2015, 15.1 million adults ages 18 and older had alcohol use disorder. Additionally, 623,000 young individuals between ages 12 and 17 had alcohol use disorder, according to the same survey. With alcoholism being one of the most prevalent mental health conditions in the country, millions of people are susceptible to experiencing the effects of this type of substance use disorder. Some of the most commonly discussed effects of alcoholism include liver damage and failure, cancer, depression, and hypertension. However, there is a multitude of other effects that can occur when someone is addicted to alcohol, including experiencing wet brain. What is Wet Brain? Wet brain, which is clinically known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, is a type of brain damage caused by excessive alcohol use. This condition is characterized by three specific symptoms: Mental confusion Ocular disturbances, including paralysis of eye movements Unsteady gait (known as ataxia) This condition occurs in response to a deficiency of thiamine in the body. Thiamine is an important vitamin that the body does not produce on its own, so it needs to be consumed. Most people consume enough thiamine through their everyday, healthy diets, however, the abuse of alcohol makes it difficult for the body to properly absorb this vitamin. As a result, the brain suffers significantly....
In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared an opioid epidemic in the United States. However, opioid abuse was occurring prior to that announcement, and has increased in popularity ever since. Currently, 2.1 million people are addicted to opioids including prescription painkillers. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 948,000 people abused heroin and 11.5 million abused prescription opioids in 2016. HHS also reports that an additional 2 million people abused prescription opioids for the first time within that same year. Also, 116 people died each day from opioid-related drug overdoses in 2016. In an effort to combat the growing opioid epidemic in the United States, a new bill has hit the floor requesting that Colorado have the freedom to develop supervised injection facilities within the state. Through these injection facilities (or “overdose prevention sites” are they are officially called), the hope remains that individuals can utilize clean needles in a clean environment, which will decrease the presence of blood-borne diseases like HIV and hepatitis. Also, these facilities will also be able to provide access to counseling services and treatment options for those who visit the site. Controversy over the development of injection sites has been occurring since the 1980’s when these facilities were first introduced to the public. However, now that the opioid epidemic has reached an all-time high, opinions are flying both freely and strongly. Seeking a Solution On one side of the line, there is a great sense of urgency to implement injection sites into cities where opioid abuse is occurring at a rapid rate. However, those on the other side...
You are currently browsing the Stout Street blog archives for April, 2018.
