Tag Archive | "addiction"

The Effects of Methamphetamine as an Addictive Substance

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There are many myths andor justification for taking all mind-altering substances and the use of methamphetamine, meth, crank, crystal, speed, etc. certainly has its share.

Probably the most detrimental myth about his drug is the idea that it is not addictive.Users of this drug will equate it to a potent caffeine-type substance, and in some ways they are correct.Methamphetamine and caffeine are both stimulants, but that is were the similarities end.A drug can be addictive at the psychological or physical level or both.However, all psychologically addictive drugs have a physical addictive component as well. The level of addiction is directly related to the amount of discomfort one experiences during abstinence from the drug.Everyone is familiar with the headaches that one can get when they have been drinking coffee on a regulardaily basis and then they abruptly stop.

The body gets accustomed to having coffee as an external stimulus and when that is removed, there is an adjustment that happens physiologically that causes stress.However, when a person uses methamphetamine on a regulardaily basis and stops, you find dramatic effects on the body.It isnt uncommon for a person to sleep for over 48 hours after being on a meth run.The over-stimulated glands, especially the adrenals, will under-produce until they can re-establish normal activity again, and in the absence of these hormones, a person is barely able to keep bodily functions alive, so it becomes necessary for a person to sleep for long periods of time while normal equilibrium is being renewed.

Whenever the body is under extreme stress, the persons emotions become unstable.In the case of the cessation of methamphetamine, one experience mild to severe depression, leading to suicidal thoughts.Knowing that one can stop these uncomfortable feelings by the use of more speed is the simplicity of this psychological addiction and the reason that most people will need professional care to progress without problems through this recovery.

Relieving Chemical Addictions – With Dietary Supplements

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It is not uncommon for those who remain totally chemically free to simply substitute their chosen matter with excessive use of another addictive meaning, such as refined sugar, caffein, or nicotine. The term dependence encompasses almost completely asymmetry and self-destructive behavior. Chemical and codependency tin create an illusory sense of well-being, but in the end, it severely damages physical, emotional, and Negro spiritual wellness. At that place ar underlying metabolous malfunctions common to almost totally forms of addictions.

Sugar is the foremost “addictive, yet legal” kernel used today. Several other drugs such as amphetamines, psychedelics, cocaine, , and nicotine temporarily increase the release of boodle into the bloodstream; this creates a “high” through a procedure similar to that involving bread and alcoholic beverage. These drugs also duplicate the mood-inducing effect of the consistency’s endorphins, chemicals which transmit messages to the brain that help to relax the nervous organization or make it “smile.” In that location many degrees of addictions. Some people mildly addicted to 1 or 2 cups of coffee or a few teaspoons of cabbage. Others consume II to three quarts of drinks with More significant amounts of clams.

At the other end of the spectrum addicts drinking pints of intoxicant daily, shooting heroin and doing large amounts of various drugs. The first base step is making a decision. It’s pickings and life into your have hands and departure your possess means.

It is not leaving it altogether to the doc, patronizing the local pharmacist and going away along the same old habits that brought on the trouble in the first gear place. It is a retracing outgrowth, a path that leads to restored . It is the rebuilding of the consistence. Other methods may provide symptom easing, but easement without correction leads only to a Thomas More chronic or degenerative condition.

Are you free from most unhealthy habits. In your diet, do you stress the vital foods fruits, grains, vegetables, and nuts. Do you engender to bed early and father enough sleep. Do you mother plenty of fresh air, sunshine, exercise, and contact with nature. If you answer YES to whole of these questions, you rich person come a long agency toward purification of the bodily temple.

Achieving balance requires fetching the meter to care for yourself. You may motivation to take steps to rejuvenate a badly damaged liver or build a strong resistant organisation. Regular nourishing and balanced meals crucial as nutritional supplements. No I toilet repair a lifetime of instability in a week. Catherine Howard Peiper is a nationally recognized expert in the holistic guidance field and a retrieval master. Peiper’s healing, healthcare and natural professional person credentials extend over a 30- year period and include those of naturopath, author, lecturer, magazine and radio consultant and co-host of a television program.

He has co-authored 12 books including The Secret of Staying Young, All Cancel Anti-Aging Diet, A.D.D. The Lifelike Approach, Bornp Solutions for Sexual Enhancement and Are You Poisoning Your Pets. Leslie Howard Peiper takes clip out from his busy counsel schedule to share a passion with readers convalescence. From boosting the system of rules to doing a systemic cleanse, he offers easy-to-follow tips for the physical side of healing. “For complete healing you motive to sire in touch with the apparitional side as well,” the good physician says.

How to Deal with gambling Addiction

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They say the first step to beating an addiction is to admit that you have a problem.

Dealing with someone who has a gambling addiction can be painful. They have a tendency to withdraw from family and loved ones, so what are you supposed to do when someone you care about has developed a gambling addiction.

There are several things you will need to do and some of them are very hard to do.

The first thing you have to do is to hide all your valuables, and if this person lives with you, then you need to keep them behind locked doors and if that is not possible then take them to a bank and lock them in a safety deposit box.

If this person is you child or your spouse then you need to limit there access to your money. In many circumstances people have spent their family’s savings and kid’s college funds. So if at all possible try to get that persons name of the accounts if it is not already too late, and cancel all their credit cards.

At some point you will have to confront them. When you do confront them it is important to not yell and do not get angry just tell them how what they are doing affects you. Make sure that all the persons close friends are there to help with this.

It is important that everyone take turns and tell the person how his gambling has affected their relationships, but in a non angry, caring manner. This will help the person realize that the people that care about him see something that maybe he does not and hopefully will take an honest look at his gambling.

Remember the goal of confronting someone is not to make them stop gambling, it is to help them recognize they have a gambling problem and to encourage them to seek professional help.

Some people recommend that you try to get your friend to go to a gamblers anonymous meeting, but I do not recommend this. Gamblers Anonymous is a great organization that truly helps those with gambling problems stay away from gambling, but before you are ready for this most people need one on one sessions with a psychologist or a counselor trained to deal with gambling addiction.

After all is said and done, you must be prepared because most of the time the gambler continues to gamble, maybe they will make a brief attempt to stop before starting again in secret.

With most addictions the person with the problem needs to hit what they call a “bottom”. This is when the gambler has lost everything that really meant anything to them, such as family and friends, and it is only at this point many will see the problem and seek help.
If you know someone who is unwilling to admit their gambling problem I recommend that after you have tried your best to get this person to seek help if they do not, you may have to be prepared to leave them, remember at some point you have to abandon a sinking ship before you go down as well.

To find more information on gambling addiction search gamblers Anonymous and
Codependence websites.

Mesothelioma a cancer caused by asbestos

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The internal organs of the human body are encased in a protective sac called the mesothelium. Examples of mesothelilial membranes are the peritoneum abdominal organs, pleura lungs, and pericardium heart.

Under specific conditions, the cells of the protective membrane divide uncontrolled and become cancerous. This disease is termed as Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer which is caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos dust.

The disease is found to occur among those who work in shipyards, asbestos mines and factories, industries that produce asbestos based products, and the heating and construction businesses. Approximately 3,000 cases occur each year in the US, and most patients are between 50-70 years old. Statistics show that males are commonly affected and among them whites more than African Americans.

First studied in the late 1700s in depth studies were only done in the 1960s. Tumors of the Mesothelioma can be benign or malignant. The malignant Mesothelioma are categorized into three types

Epithelioid, accounting for 50-70 of mesotheliomas.

Sarcomatoid, accounting for 7-20.

Mixed or bi-phasic, accounting for 20-35.

When asbestos fibers are breathed into the lungs they travel through large air passages to reach the smaller passages and from them the pleura. In the pleura they damage the mesothelial cells leading to cancer; lung tissue causing lung cancer; and the development of scar tissue within the lungs known as asbestosis. When asbestos fibers are swallowed they reach the abdominal cavity and cause peritoneal mesothelioma.

Research reveals that the disease only manifests 20-50 years after being exposed to asbestos dust. The symptoms are not specific to the disease but a patient may develop

Breathlessness.

Chest pain accompanied by tightness believed to be caused by accumulation of fluid in the pleura.

Low back pain.

Swelling of face and arms.

Sensory loss.

Muscle weakness.

Nausea.

Vomiting.

Weight loss that is unexplained.

Persistent dry cough.

Sore throat.

Anemia.

Fever.

Constipation.

Problems with blood clotting.

Since the above are common to minor ailments, patients often ignore the symptoms. It is advisable to consult a doctor if any of the above symptoms persist or if you feel you have been knowingly or unknowingly exposed to asbestos.

A doctor will

Take down a detailed medical history and try and determine the symptoms and risk factors.

Do a thorough physical examination and check for signs of

o Pleural effusion, fluid accumulated in the chest cavity.

o Fluid in the abdominal cavity.

o Pericardial effusion, fluid in the lining of the heart.

Take a chest x-ray and check for thickening of the pleura, calcifications, and lowered lung fissures.

Ask for a CT scan to determine clearly the location, size, and extent of the problem if any is suspected.

Recommend tests of tissue samples and pleural fluids.

Other risk factors are cigarette or cigar smoking, exposure to radiation, exposure to zeolite a compound that is similar to asbestos, exposure to or infections caused by SV40, a Simian virus.

Those who work in a risky environment should wear protective clothing, have the surroundings tested regularly for suspended asbestos particles, and ensure that they have regular medical tests and report to the doctor any ailments that persist.

Being aware of the disease and its problems helps.

10 Options in Treating Mesothelioma

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As with any cancer, treatment for Mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the progression of the disease, the age as well as state of health of the patient.

It is the oncologist who specializes in the disease who will decide on the line of treatment. The disease is difficult to treat and in most cases the prognosis is poor. Treatment options include

1. If the diagnosis is done in the early stages surgery may be recommended to remove all cancerous tissues. This means thoracoscopy, VATS or video assisted thoracic surgery, mediastinoscopy used for staging, or laproscopy. Often, doctors will advise palliative procedures like chest tube drainage and pleurodesis, thoracoscopy and pleurodesis, pleuroperitonial shunt, or pleurectomy, which treat the symptoms of mesothelioma rather than the disease.

2. Radiation is prescribed aggressively for mesothelioma patients and is often given in combination with surgery or in order to control symptoms, palliatively. Research on using radiation therapy using implants or UV light therapy is in progress as traditional radiation therapy damages surrounding healthy tissue.

3. Chemotherapy is an option and around 12-20 of patients respond to the drugs. Anti-cancer drugs destroy cancer cells and prevent their spread. In mesothelioma, chemotherapy is not considered to be curative. The aim is to prevent spread of the disease; shrink the tumor prior to surgery, known as neoadjuvant therapy; to annihilate any remains of the tumor in the body post surgery; and to relieve pain and other discomfort, palliative chemotherapy. Experts recommend prescribing premetrexed along with cisplastin. These drugs have shown positive results and this is now standard care for Mesothelioma not treatable by surgery.

4. Biological therapy using interleukin 2.

5. Immunotherapy where the bodys own immune system is stimulated to fight the disease. Biological response modifiers, BRMs, are used in treatment. These enhance the functions of the immune system; regulate metabolic reactions that promote growth of cancers; alter cancer cell division; block or reverse processes that lead to formation of cancers; and prevent spread of cancer.

6. Gene therapy, where attempts are made to correct the gene sequence that causes the cancer. This is of two kinds, replacement gene therapy and knockout gene therapy.

7. Administration of lovastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug.

8. Photodynamic treatment where a photosensitive medication is activated using a laser. This is done during the surgical removal of cancerous tissues.

9. Draining of fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity followed by introduction of medications into the cavity to prevent fluid accumulation is done for patients who have uncontrolled fluid accumulation and intense discomfort stemming from it.

10. Combination therapy or Trimodal therapy which means surgery accompanied by radiation and chemotherapy.

Often, complementary medicines are also used. Termed to be holistic this kind of treatment focuses on a patients physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well being.

In the case of Mesothelioma which is untreatable one can opt for clinical trials of new treatments that are in progress in several research laboratories and centers. The best advice on the line of treatment would be that recommended by the oncologist or physician.

KETAMINE

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Ketamine is a drug for use in human and veterinary medicine developed by Parke-Davis today a part of Pfizer in 1962. Ketamine is used to manage pain among large animals, though it has less effect on bovines. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic developed in 1963 to replace PCP and currently used in human anesthesia and veterinary medicine. Ketamine is relatively safe when used in hospitals. Ketamine is often used at all-night dance parties raves, nightclubs, and concerts. Ketamine is a liquid, but most users let it evaporate into a white powder, then snort it. Ketamine is an anaesthetic that is available only to physicians and is “scheduled” in several states. Ketamine is known to cause hallucinations, nausea, mental clouding, loss of memory and an amnestic feeling may occur. Ketamine is unusual among injectable drugs since it is injected both intravenously and intramuscularly. Ketamine is a depressant at higher doses and can dangerously reduce heart rate and respiratory function. Now that Ketamine is federally illegal, it is expected that most states will also eventually schedule it. The majority of fatalities occur when ketamine is combined with other CNS depressants like alcohol, benzodiazepines and a mixture of other illicit drugs. The most frequent and sometimes only way to obtain ketamine is through the diversion or theft of legal pharmaceuticals.

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