Drug Detox – Diagnosing the Symptoms and Finding Help

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that as of 2013 9.4 % of US adults had engaged in the use of an illegal drug in the previous month.
The physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms that addicts experience when they stop using the substance in question and are detoxing can be extremely difficult to cope with. This is so much the case that a person often turns back to the substance and relapses. This is why it’s so important to get help through the detoxing process.

Detox is the first step of treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. The purpose of detox is to find an initial level of physical and mental balance so that a patient is more capable of continuing to abstain from the addictive substance.

The Detoxification Process
On a basic level, the term “detox” simply means that the body is expelling all of the toxins that have accumulated as a result of the alcohol or drug abuse. When a person has professional medical assistance and treatment for this initial phase of treatment, it tends to be more effective since caregivers will also be attending to withdrawal symptoms.

The process will vary from person to person and can take place either at an outpatient or inpatient method.

Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms will depend on the type of addiction a person has as well as the severity of a substance. It also may depend on various other health factors and the type of ingestion that occurs.

Some of the most common substance abuse issues treated in detox programs are alcohol, heroin, prescription drugs, and cocaine, and often there is more than one addiction that needs to be treated concurrently.

Alcohol Withdrawal 
According to the US National Library of Medicine, typically people will start to feel the effects of alcohol withdrawal after 8 hours and those may last for 24-hours to a few weeks. It’s quite common for alcoholics to feel mood changes like depression and anxiety, shakiness, and an inability to concentrate. They may also be nervous, unable to sleep, or in the most severe cases, experience fever and seizures.

 Benzodiazepine Withdrawal   
In general, those using prescription drugs can expect flu-like symptoms to appear when you stop taking them. Benzodiazepine is a type of prescription drug typically prescribed for anxiety or as a relaxant. Withdrawal from this type of medication can put a person in a state of serious anxiety to the point where they have trouble concentrating, experience panic attacks, have headaches, problems sleeping, nausea and hypertension, just to name a few symptoms.

Because withdrawal from this class of drug can be so severe, some researchers recommend a graduated and supervised discontinuation process.

 Cocaine Withdrawal 
The US National Library of Medicine reports symptoms of cocaine withdrawal as fatigue, anxiety, paranoia, general restlessness, nightmares, increased appetite, and even suicidal thoughts in extreme cases.

The initial “crash” usually happens a few days after the last dose, but cravings, anxiety and suicidal thoughts can last for months. It is often the distinct feeling of darkness and depression that leads users to relapse.  

Heroin Withdrawal 
When a person decides to stop using heroin, withdrawal results in a number of symptoms — body pain, diarrhea, and cold flashes are common. Symptoms are usually most severe within a week after the last dose, but ongoing support is usually needed to manage residual effects.
Heroin is notoriously difficult to stop using because the withdrawal symptoms can be so severe. At the mild end, a user typically experiences bad stomach pain and nausea, along with other flu-like symptoms. Severe symptoms include difficulty breathing, anxiety, hypertension, severe cravings and muscle spasms.

Medical Treatment
Detox is typically the first step in addiction treatment. Treatment more often than not involves medical supervision to help ease the painful process of recovery. Medical professionals will also closely monitor blood pressure and other vitals in case of seizures or other serious reactions. Sometimes sedation is necessary.

Even if sedation or other substances are not necessary, and the addiction is not in its most severe phase, it’s important to have a medical professional monitor you at a treatment center to make sure that you are safe and as comfortable as possible.

Medications are often used to ease detox symptoms and according to NIDA were used 80% of the time through treatment in US facilities. For instance, Methadone and levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) are often administered for those with opioid dependence. Sometimes modafinil can help to manage those coming off of cocaine.
It is not uncommon for those going through detox to be prescribed medications like antidepressants in order to cope with the emotional changes that are common reactions in almost all cases. Anxiety and depression can be expected as the brain attempts to re-balance itself without the assistance of substances.

Getting Help
Rehab treatment can benefit patients in various ways, and helping them get through the initial detoxification phase is key to a successful treatment plan. In addition, detoxing can be dangerous and even fatal if attempted without medical assistance.

Many people resist quitting “cold turkey” for fear that the detoxification process alone will be too much to bear. That’s why it’s so crucial on both a physical and emotional level and is the initial step in almost all kinds of professional treatment plans.

NIDA reports that while over 22 million Americans in 2013 required addiction assistance, only 2.5 million were treated at a facility. If you’re one of the millions of Americans who need treatment for substance dependence, don’t hesitate to contact a trusted treatment center today.

7 Signs Someone is on Heroin

As of 2016, 948,000 people in the US reported using heroin in the past year, and many of these were young adults aged 18-25, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Perhaps even more frightening is that the number of first-time users doubled between 2006 and 2016 for people (primarily males) in this age bracket. The American Society of Addiction Medicine reports that some 25% of those who use heroin regularly will get addicted to the substance.
But it’s not only this age group that we need to be worried about. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heroin use is on the rise across all demographics, especially for those who are already addicted to alcohol or other drugs.

What is Heroin?
Heroin, a derivative of morphine, is available on the street as a white or brown powder and sometimes comes in a crudely processed form called “black tar.”
According to the CDC heroin-related deaths in rose by 19% from 2015 to 2016, and many of these deaths are likely related to the fact that a deadly substance called fentanyl is being added to cut heroin.
How can you tell if someone has a problem? Keep reading for important information about this dangerous drug.

1. Drug Paraphernalia

Heroin requires specific paraphernalia. For smoking, people may use glass or tin foil pipes. Often the glass pipes are straight tubes, and sometimes they have a bulbous end. If a person is injecting, you will want to keep an eye out for syringes, as well as other things like rubber tubing, cotton balls, spoons with burn marks, scales, vials, and empty zipper baggies, as well as brown packaging paper.

2. Track Marks

American Addiction Centers reports that the majority of those in treatment for heroin or other dependency said that they primarily injected the drug. Injectable drugs have specific symptoms and medical issues that are more noticeable than other types of drug use, track marks being the most obvious ones.
If the track marks are new, they’ll look like puncture wounds, whereas older ones will typically take the form of small scabs or scars. Most of the time the location of the scars will be in the forearm near the elbow crease, but sometimes people do inject in their hands or other parts of the body like the groin or feet.
If you notice that someone refuses to wear T-shirts even in hot weather, or is taking great lengths to cover another part of their body, this may be an indicator that something is seriously wrong.

3. External Physical Changes and Symptoms

After the initial rush of a “hit,” a user will initially feel extreme euphoria followed by a relaxed state where limbs get heavy and mental and physical function is slowed. They may experience nausea, and they will probably fall into a semi-conscious state where their heart rate is slowed. Thus, you may notice them “nodding off” at strange times.
Other physical signs that someone is using include cloudy functioning, dry mouth, small pupils, a runny nose, flushed face and a general impairment of movement and speech. Excessive weight loss, sleeping at odd hours, and sexual dysfunction may also indicate of heroin addiction.

4. Psychological Changes

If a person uses any drug over an extended period, their brain will change, and normal systems involving hormones and neurotransmitters become unbalanced. In the case of heroin, there is  evidence that the brain will actually change structure, which affects behavior, decision-making and people’s ability to cope with stress.
Thus, most people notice that heavy users become less functional psychologically overall.

5. Antisocial / Self-Destructive Behavior

Many people who fall into the habit of using drugs tend to lose interest in things they find enjoyable. They may have a new group of friends or start spending time alone in a private space. Work or school is likely to take less of a priority as well. They may even start to neglect or ignore their loved ones, forget about normal responsibilities, or become moody or violent.
Lying and manipulation, along with any sort of self-destructive behavior, often occur alongside addiction.

6. Financial Problems

In its most severe form, heroin addiction presents itself as heroin use disorder, which is characterized by excessive seeking behavior. This means that when a person is deeply addicted, they become less able to focus on anything but the drug.
They may steal money, frequently ask to borrow money, miss rent payments or even cash out lifetime savings accounts just to pay for the drugs.

7. Serious Medical Problems

Injecting heroin is dangerous because of not only the drug but also the injecting process itself. If needles aren’t clean, users are susceptible to Hepatitis and HIV. Snorting, too, can result in serious infections in the nasal cavity.
Other medical conditions that can result from heroin use include bacterial infections, pneumonia, arthritis, liver and kidney disease, heart infections, and more

If You Suspect Addiction

We’ve all seen movies where people have a puff of marijuana and then in the next scene the drug user is selling their last possessions and desperate to find another “hit.” And while this does happen to some people, it’s important to note that people can appear functional for years while hiding their addictions, leaving little to no trace of their problem in plain sight.
Typically, the worse a habit gets, less capable a person will usually be of hiding it, though they may stay functional for years and the signs may be subtle or even inconsistent.
While conversations about the topic may be difficult to have, it’s important that you stay engaged with the person on a regular basis and stay cognizant of mood swings and behavior changes, as well as physical signs and symptoms.

Here Are Adult Drug Rehab Treatment Options In Tucson, AZ

Drug rehab in Tucson, AZ can follow a number of procedures and treatments, some of which are tailored to specific needs while others are more generic. Centers that take rehab and treatment seriously usually opt for a holistic approach and pay a lot of attention to the environment in which a patient is being treated, because this can make a world of difference to the recovery process. High-quality treatment must be coupled with teamwork where experts collaborate to offer care and support. If you’re looking for adult drug rehab treatment options, it helps to get a sense of what the process involves.

Understanding rehab
The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines detox or detoxification as the process by which the body clears itself of drugs. Drug rehab centers in Tucson, AZ help patients addicted to powerful opioids with the help of medical detox, which is the first procedural step to manage withdrawal. They understand that detoxifying without medical management can have potentially fatal consequences.

Rehab is also necessary for prescription drug addiction, which causes physical changes based on the prolonged use of approved medications used to treat an array of medical conditions. Prescription drugs such as opioids used to treat pain, anti-anxiety medications,and sedatives or stimulants can also be particularly hazardous in terms of addiction. It is important to choose drug rehab centers in Tucson, AZ that are trained to recognize these addictions and offer treatments tailored to patients based on individual requirements.

When to consider drug rehab
The first step towards recovery is identifying the existence of a problem. Adults should consider drug rehab centers in Tucson, AZ if they have symptoms that include an increase or decrease in sleep, poor decision-making, excessive mood swings or hostility, a need to take higher doses of a drug than prescribed, stealing or selling prescriptions, and requiring more prescriptions after continually ‘losing’ the ones given. These are all signs that there may be a problem.

Drug Rehab In Tucson, AZ
When you consider drug rehab in Tucson, AZ, it makes sense to consider factors like cost, location, success rate, facilities and treatment offered. America’s Rehab Campuses is a preferred rehab center for all of these reasons and more. To find out more about how we can help, contact us today.

How To Find The Right Alcohol Treatment Center For You

Fighting alcohol addiction is an extremely difficult thing, which is what makes alcohol treatment centers so important in the life of a patient. There are all kinds of things that must be kept in mind while narrowing down the right choice of center, from the potential costs and location to the kind of treatment and services or facilities being offered. Here are few things that can help you narrow down your decision and help you choose the alcohol treatment center that is best for your needs.

Costs matter
All alcohol treatment centers come with different price tags, so cost is definitely a major consideration that cannot be ignored. Try and understand what you are getting in exchange for your money though. Some centers may charge more but may offer you more benefits or services that other centers will not cover. Some may offer you better food and recreation facilities, for example, or more state-of-the-art equipment. None of these may make a difference, of course, but they matter nonetheless when it comes to working within a budget or while trying to figure out what your insurance covers.

Consider location
Where is the alcohol treatment center located? If it’s close to where you live, it may allow friends and family to visit more often, which can make a huge difference to the treatment and recovery process. Also, proximity to trained staff can help even after you graduate from a treatment center.

Other factors
Ask about the center’s success rate, because a higher relapse rate means it isn’t working for patients who check in. If you have to pay more for a center with a high success rate, it can still make sense in the long run because it may mean not having a relapse after six months, so factor those possibilities into your decision too. When you find an alcohol treatment center that feels right, it also takes away some of the stress related to treatment, which boosts the chances of succeeding in the program.

The Right Alcohol Treatment Center
There are a number of reasons why America’s Rehab Campuses are preferred alcohol treatment centers for so many patients. Our staff is committed to helping individuals achieve true recovery. To find out more about how we can help you,contact us today.

How To Find Affordable Drug Rehab In Tucson, AZ

Drugs can be illegal to process or legally prescribed, but still cause serious damage to addicts without the intervention of trained professionals. This is why rehabs in Tucson, AZ are important, because they recognize how a wide variety of illicit drugs can affect the body and brain in different ways and offer the right kind of services and treatment to counter them. If you’re looking for affordable drug rehab, here are a few reasons why you should consider America’s Rehab Campuses.

A great facility
To begin with, you get access to what was once a historic hotel in Tucson, AZ and is now a state-of-the-art drug and alcohol treatment facility. It offers patients resort-style amenities, healthy dining and experienced therapists at affordable costs, all geared towards helping patients recover and bring their personal wellness to an entirely new level. Patients routinely describe America’s Rehab Campuses as life-changing, and with good reason. The center’s dual-licensed and credentialed staff offers treatment therapies in a comfortable, healing environment, in campuses designed to offer the kind of care necessary for life-long recovery.

What to expect
When you choose America’s Rehab Campuses over other rehabs in Tucson, AZ, you get an individual treatment regimen carried out by medical doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists and licensed therapists. Among the many treatments offered here are individual, group or family therapy, and chemical dependence treatment. Patients are also taught about the nature of addiction and given tools to get better and prevent relapse. They also get access to behavior therapy, self-help groups and valuable information on how to cope with cravings and emotions or any mental health conditions.

Why America’s Rehab Campuses
If you’re looking for a transformative experience, as well as emotional, physical and spiritual support, that is what you get at America’s Rehab Campuses. The center gives patients access to inclusive, luxurious campus environments along with facilities like pools, exercise rooms and meditation classes, art rooms, a movie theatre, and restaurant, all of which boost patient well-being and go a long way towards the healing and recovery process.

Affordable Drug Rehab In Tucson, AZ
Finding the right drug rehabs in Tucson, AZ is easier when you choose a center that emphasizes a holistic environment focused on teamwork. This is why America’s Rehab Campuses is a preferred rehab center. For more information on our treatment, services, and costs, get in touch with us today.

7 Signs of Prescription Drug Abuse

The National Institute on Drug Abuse maintains that some 20% of US teens and adults have used prescription drugs for reasons not intended for their original purpose at some point in their lives, and prescription drug use is on the rise.
Why is prescription drug abuse or misuse so prevalent? Individual reasons will vary according to a person’s gender, history, age, background and other factors. But the main reason that prescription drug abuse is so common yet difficult to spot is that prescription drugs are not only common but also legal.

Sometimes people become addicted without even knowing it – for instance, if pain medication is required after a traumatic incident such as a car accident or surgery, it may help them cope, and they may become dependent.

However, the main reason that they’re being misused is that they’re legal and available. And because they’re legal, many people don’t recognize how serious addiction can be.

Are you concerned that a loved one may be addicted to prescription drugs? One or more of the following seven signs could be an indication that something is seriously wrong.

1. Unusual or Dishonest Behavior
When people become addicted, they often start displaying unusual behavior as they try to cover up the fact that the addiction is taking over their lives. They may lie about being sick to get out of work, they may be obsessed with finding new doctors to talk to, or they may even use excuses having to do with their kids to get out of events and activities.

Someone who is honest can become manipulative in response to the drug seeking and management. But even when they’re not being dishonest, they may become distant or quiet, or simply deny certain behavior.
If you suspect prescription drug abuse, look out for changing patterns and schedules. Fatigue, not coming home at the right time, lack of personal hygiene, problems at work or school and unusually secretive behavior can all be cause for alarm.

2. Gender Might be a Risk Factor
It’s worth noting that the rate of prescription drug addiction is rapidly increasing amongst women. One 2017 report from the Office of Women’s Health claims that more men than women use these types of drugs, but actually the rates of misuse are increasing faster for women.

Deaths from prescription opioids amongst women increased by 471% between 1999 and 2015, and the percentage for men is less than half of that at 218%. To this end, while it’s never okay to make concrete assumptions based on gender, it’s important not to assume that addiction only happens to men or people in certain income brackets, for example.

4. Financial Difficulty
Financial changes are a key indicator that something is wrong. This is because the more a person becomes addicted, the more they need to satisfy their high. So, they will likely be purchasing higher volumes of a given rug as time goes on.
As their addiction takes hold, they may start to go to extremes such as stealing from family members and fall behind on payments and bills because their addiction becomes too expensive.

You may also notice that a person suddenly has more money than normal, which could indicate that they are involved in the selling or transport of drugs.

5. General Personality Changes
Personality changes are a normal part of drug use, but they can be subtle enough that you don’t notice them until an addiction becomes severe. Sometimes they may take the form of mood swings or simply “shutting down” and disengaging. They may be more likely to request privacy, stay out late at night, or withdraw from activities they enjoy.

If you bring up a topic like drug use and they get particularly emotional, this may be a sign that they are ashamed and trying to hide something. In general, if people are consistently emotionally volatile or more withdrawn than usual, this could be a sign that something is wrong.

6. Physical & Behavioral Symptoms 
According to the Mayo Clinic, prescription drugs that are most likely to be abused are opioids (e.g., OxyContin, Vicodin) for pain, anti-anxiety medicine (e.g., Xanax, Valium), and stimulants (e.g., Ritalin, Dexedrine).

Symptoms of sedatives include drowsiness or dizziness, as well as confusion and memory loss. The results of misuse of stimulants over a long period of time include weight loss, insomnia, and restlessness, as well as sometimes-rash behavior.

Opiates can cause a drop in blood pressure, constipation, sweating, confusion, and depression. When any of these types of addictions are combined with others such as illicit drugs or alcohol, symptoms will likely be intensified.

7. Social Withdrawal or Isolation
When people begin to do things like neglecting normal responsibilities, sleeping for long hours, hanging out with new people, or even just isolating themselves for no apparent reason for long periods of time, this can be a sign that something is seriously wrong. Depression, anxiety or paranoia may be present or even exacerbated because of the addiction.

What should you do?
Prescription drug abuse is a complex issue and can affect anyone, yet many people are likely to be in denial about it simply because it’s legal and therefore may not “seem” like an addiction in the same way heavy drug or alcohol use may be.

But the truth is that people easily can fall into the trap of prescription drug misuse simply because they start out using them to quell pain, anxiety, or even mental illness. Sometimes teens might be more prone to addiction if they feel a lot of pressure to perform socially or academically, and people at high-pressure jobs may use things like stimulants just to “get through a day.”

If this description fits you or someone you know, consider calling a treatment center to get help as soon as possible.

Heroin Abuse & Addiction Signs, Side Effects, & Withdrawal Symptoms

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that 948 000 Americans used heroin in the year preceding 2016, and this is only the use that was reported. Young adults are particularly susceptible to this trend and usage appears to be on the rise in that age group.

Though heroin is typically less accessible than other drugs, there are still far too many people in all age brackets becoming addicted and ruining their lives. So, what is heroin exactly, how can you tell that someone’s using it and what are the withdrawal symptoms? Read on for more information.

About Heroin  
Heroin is a drug derived from morphine, a naturally occurring substance in the poppy plant. On the street, people typically purchase heroin as a white or brown powder that may be cut with other substances. Pure heroin is difficult to obtain in most parts of the USA.

The CDC reports that between 2015-2016, drug overdose rates rose by over 21% and that heroin-related deaths, in particular, rose by 19%. The recent upswing in heroin overdoses across the US and beyond may very well be due to the addition of the deadly substance fentanyl.

Users take heroin by smoking, snorting, or injecting, with injecting being the most potent format and the most popular way of taking it. Once someone takes a “hit” and heroin hits the brain, the user experiences a powerful rush of dopamine, the “happiness” neurotransmitter in our brain, and resulting euphoria. The intensity of the rush typically depends on how much is taken but can also be related to the purity of the substance.

This dopamine hit can bring an extremely intense temporary feeling of comfort and happiness to users, which is what makes the drug so addictive.

Signs of Heroin Addiction
Heroin is quite a dangerous drug because unlike some other drugs; it is possible to acquire a severe physical dependence on the drug. A physical dependence is different than an addiction. Addiction is simply characterized by an inability to stop using a substance to the point where it interferes with normal life. Physical dependence, on the other hand, refers to a high tolerance level and severe withdrawal symptoms when a person stops using the drug.

In other words, it’s not just that a person feels psychologically like they require the drug to cope, their body actually needs the substance to continue functioning at a “normal” level. Physical dependence often comes hand-in-hand with addiction.

Side Effects of Heroin Addiction
Side effects of heroin will vary depending on a person’s mental health, tolerance, weight, and the volume and purity of the drug in question. Sometimes drugs are cut with various substances such as fentanyl or even harmless substances such as baking soda, which makes them more or less effective. It’s often impossible to tell what street drugs are cut with, which is why heroin use can be so dangerous.
In the short term, the results of using heroin include an initial euphoric rush accompanied by a certain heaviness. This rush, along with a feeling of being in a trance, will typically last for a few hours. Users often describe a feeling of “no pain,” which makes sense since heroin is derived from morphine.

Physically people will have warm skin and be extremely relaxed, sometimes even to the point where they may fall asleep in strange places. They may also exhibit nausea and vomiting which is accompanied by a loss of appetite.

The dangers of long-term heroin usage are vast and varied. Some of the most severe results for chronic users include collapsed veins, depression, anxiety, constipation, heart problems, hepatitis, HIV, kidney and liver problems, miscarriages, and a general lack of ability to self-regulate with regards to mood and behavior.

Withdrawal Symptoms of Heroin Addiction
Withdrawal symptoms of heroin can be particularly severe especially after a person has developed a physical dependency. And although the initial symptoms are only extremely severe for about a week maximum, there are plenty of longer-term residual effects that can cause a person to relapse.

Depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, and cravings are probably the most common and basic ongoing symptoms to expect. These will usually subside over time, though they may also be treated concurrently if diagnosed as a part of a more serious disease such as bipolar disorder or ADD.

On a physical level, however, initial withdrawal symptoms can be extremely painful, including muscle cramps, severe stomach pain and upset, nausea, a runny nose, repetitive yawning, sweating, extreme cravings, and shaking. On a mental level, people typically experience a high level of fatigue, mood swings, and insomnia, just to name a few possible reactions.

These withdrawal symptoms are the main reason why so many people fail to quit heroin “cold turkey.” As they start to experience discomfort, they go back to the drug looking to find relief. This is the primary reason why heroin detox should be completed with the help of medical professionals.

Treating Heroin Addiction
Treatment of heroin addiction typically involves drugs like methadone, naloxone or other types of medication, which help patients to manage the often-severe withdrawal symptoms that can accompany cession. Inpatient programs in treatment centers are one of the most effective options as medical supervision is necessary, but in less severe cases, outpatient programs may also be effective.

The first step in recovery will be detoxification, and the rest of the treatment will likely involve a combination of medical monitoring, medications, and counseling.
It’s almost always possible to recover from heroin addiction. The important thing is that you get help fast before the disease takes a toll on your long-term health. There are numerous options available for those looking to find recovery from heroin addiction. However, the most successful options include detox followed by inpatient rehab.