When people take more than one drug at a time, this is considered to be polysubstance use. When different drugs are taken together, they can multiply, or potentiate, each other’s effects. The combined impact that mixed drugs create is called a synergistic effect, an effect that is usually greater in comparison to just taking one drug by itself. A huge change in body chemistry can result even if a small dose of one drug is combined with a small dose of another drug. There are two kinds of synergistic effects: similar actions and opposite actions. When two or more drugs have similar actions, such as alcohol mixed with benzodiazepines, they might greatly depress the central nervous system when taken together. When these are combined, even in …show more content…
Biological treatments consist of detoxification, antagonist drugs, and drug maintenance therapy. Detoxification is a withdrawal from a drug that is systematic and medically supervised. Outpatient detoxification programs exist, but hospitals and clinics also provide this service; individual and group therapy might also be available at the hospitals and clinics to provide a “full service” approach to treatment. There are two different approaches to detoxification. One way is to have clients gradually withdraw from a substance by taking smaller and smaller doses, until they are no longer on the drug. Another way, which is usually medically preferred, is to give clients other drugs that help with the withdrawal symptoms. For example, antianxiety drugs can be used to reduce alcohol withdrawal reactions that are severe, such as delirium tremens and seizures. Detoxification programs are successful in helping motivated people withdrawal from drugs, but relapse rates are usually high for individuals who don’t receive some type of follow-up
Working with any type of disorder can be challenging, let alone working with co-occurring disorders. It takes a skilled clinician to separate the symptoms of the diagnoses to best treat them. One way to assist the client in managing these symptoms is to educate the client on the slow process of repairing the brain, the post-acute withdrawal symptoms, and depressive symptoms. Non-judgmental and active listening techniques contribute in building a strong therapeutic alliance with the client while altering the experience of the client. Healing from substance use and depression is a very challenging and requires the partnership of the clinician and the client in order to have lasting recovery.
Some of the local and nearby drug rehab programs include Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Detoxification, Buprenorphine Used in Treatment, Naltrexone (oral), Vivitrol (injectable Naltrexone), Community Mental Health Center, Hospital Inpatient, and Partial Hospitalization/Day Treatment. Drug and alcohol rehab programs in the area provide residents with treatment methods ranging from “traditional” recovery options to those that offer alternative styles (e.g. holistic medicine). While the decision to get help with drug or alcohol addiction problems is often a personal choice, many people include their loved ones in the process in order to obtain insight and a different perspective. Ultimately, it is up to the addicted individual to make the effort and changes necessary to overcome their addiction
McKay, A., Koranda, A., & Axen, D. (2004, February). Using a Symptom-Triggered Approach to Manage Patients in Acute Alcohol Withdrawal. MEDSURG Nursing, 13, 15-20,
“Defining Detox” had some good information for everyone to know about how detox works. Robin Foroutan is a dietitian that wrote this article and had some very interesting knowledge to pass on to the readers. While Robin explained the fact that the medical community that refrain from using the word “detox”. “…much of the medical community eschews the term “detoxification,”…” (Foroutan, 2012) The three main points that I got out of this article and that everyone should know is what the medical community thinks about detox, how detox actually works, and the detox products available.
There are many options for substance addiction treatment and utilizing medication as a means of eliminating substance use is one that has been called a double edge sword. There are two schools of thought with medically assisted treatment. First, let 's define medication assisted treatment (MAT): “it is the use of pharmacological medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a “whole patient” approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. Research indicates that a combination of medication and behavioral therapies can successfully treat substance use disorders, and for some people struggling with addiction, MAT can help sustain recovery” (Watkins, 2016). One side of this treatment option is that it provides that extra little nudge to start recovery with less or more withdrawal symptoms. For example, disulfiram is an alcohol aversion agent, that when taken with alcohol the person becomes very ill (Watkins, 2016). There are also other medications that help with reducing symptoms of withdrawal, such as methadone.
Substance abuse treatments are offered in a variety of ways. Some treatments can be done on an outpatient basis, while others may require a stay in a hospital or other facility. The two types of treatments are similar in nature. The main difference is that outpatient treatment is offered to those addicts that have circumstances or situations that will not allow them to get treatment in an inpatient rehabilitation program. Outpatient programs provide patients with more freedom of movement which allows them to maintain a regular commitment to family, work, and educational responsibilities. (Gifford, 2015). This service is also used for those that have already been a part of an inpatient rehabilitation program, yet still require some further support so they do not relapse. Both treatment types first seek to help the individual with their physical addiction and get them rehabilitated, and then focuses on the underlying causes of their addiction and help them deal with it to help prevent and avoid any relapse. Choosing which type of treatment is needed and which would best benefit the individual would need to be decided between the addict and their doctor or counselor. It is not a decision to be made lightly especially for those that need the extra care that an inpatient facility would
Addiction is a complex psychiatric disorder that consists of social and psychological factors, but at its most basic level it is a biological process. Addiction may come in many forms, but its primary choice of substance is drugs. In particular, prescription medications in the form of pills have become a major health problem, not only to those addicted but the clinicians who prescribe them. In order to fully understand this disorder, considering what brain mechanisms and functions are involved with addiction, the next area to look into is the factors that make the prescription drugs so addictive, along with long term effects, and to discover any new treatment options out in practice today, whether it be through medicine and/or counseling.
There are many contributing factors and political issues that address substance abuse. Throughout the years, many researchers have designed many interventions and social policies designed to treat people who have used, abused, and became addicted to substances. Today, there are many new studies that address substance abuse at the individual, group, family, and community or policy levels. Today, there are many services that are effective for decreasing recidivism in youth who have completed a substance abuse program. A substance abuse treatment program or center is the best way to treat individuals who have abused substances.
Overcoming an addiction to alcohol can be a long and bumpy road. Many people feel that it is impossible to overcome an alcohol addiction. Many people feel that is it easier to be an addict than to be a recovering addict. However, recovering from alcoholism is possible if one is ready to seek the help and support they need on their road to recovery. Recovery is taking the time to regain one’s normal mind, health and strength. Recovery is process. It takes time to stop the alcohol cravings and pressure to drink. For most, rehab and professional help is needed, while others can stop drinking on their own. Recovery never ends. After rehab, professional help or quitting on your own, many people still need help staying sober. A lot of time, recovering
These physiological changes result in withdrawal symptoms, including seizures, anxiety, toxic effects on nerve cells, and altered perception of alcohol’s effects. Any of those symptoms may increase the patient’s potential for relapse and vulnerability to brain damage. With a drinking pattern of repeated bingeing and abstaining, the imbalance occurring during withdrawal may intensify with each successive episode and may culminate in a state of persistent CNS hyperexcitability seen as a augmented withdrawal response.
Substance abusers seek this impairment for a variety of reasons such as to get away from reality or to escape their problems. In the process of getting this “high” their brain chemistry changes and they become addicted. “Addiction is the repeated compulsive use of a substance even after the person suffers from the physical, mental, and legal consequences” (Williams, 2011). Substance abuse causes many negative effects to the person who is addicted as well as their loved ones. Even though these effects are devastating, the person continues to use because their brain and body are reprogrammed to need the substance. When the person isn 't using the substance they begin to suffer from withdrawal symptoms. “Withdrawal is a physical response to the sudden cessation of a substance that has been used over a period of time; these symptoms are specific to the substance” (Williams, 2011). When a person is suffering from withdrawal symptoms they have mental and physical effects. These effects can range from sweating to seizures. Physical symptoms are usually the first step followed by mental symptoms, these two steps together can last up to a few weeks. (Melemis, 2016). I was recently able to observe at a substance abuse rehabilitation facility where I witnessed a client withdrawing. This client seemed to be agitated and anxious. Also he was very red in
A search for current peer reviewed research studies was conducted using CINAHL, Medline, and PubMed. The research articles were generated by utilizing the search entry with the terms of polypharmacy, polypharmacy among the elderly, adverse drug reactions and polypharmacy, and consequences and polypharmacy. After receiving a few research articles, a new search was conducted replacing the term of polypharmacy with multiple medications. These searches yielded limited research articles pertaining to the topic of polypharmacy.
The most severe way of treating alcoholism is detoxification. The severity of withdrawal effects on your body increases each withdraw severe withdraws happened to 2% to 5% of heavy drinkers that have stopped and call consumption me last 3 to 7 days with treatment data is about 1% alcoholic should be taken to the hospital for detoxification if they are apt to have severe suicidal or homicidal thought disruptive job Or family situations or are incapable to accompany out patient facilities. (www.aafp.org 1)
The reason addicts have lost control is because they have suffered permanent physical neurological changes based in their brains and nervous systems. The disorder manifests in long term obsessive-compulsive behaviors outside the realm of the addicts own control. It is true enough that the use of chemicals begins with chosen behavior. But if alcoholism or addiction develops, the problem has moved outside the realm of free choice. It has developed into a long term mental and physical neurological disorder. All the emotional 'feelings' involved in drug or alcohol seeking are based in neurology. Addiction is based in physical dependency created by altered neurotransmitter balances, and driven by millions upon millions of new living, functioning active neurological pathways which have been established to sustain the condition in the addicts brain. The new neurological pathways are permanently established, and they will not just disappear. The primary neurological disorder is only complicated by physical dependence on the substances. The physical dependence on the substances is secondary! Physical drug withdrawal does not change the underlying neurological addictive disorder. After drug withdrawal, long term overpowering cravings are predictable. T...
Amphetamines are typically used to provide the same effect that pure adrenaline does. The drug is specified for people with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity as well as narcolepsy, although if you decide to abuse the drug and use it for recreational purposes you may start to feel paranoia and nervousness. Using amphetamines can also put a strain on the circulatory system by causing the user's blood pressure to increase suddenly. (Amphetamine) Long term psychological effects of the drug can cause something called amphetamine psychosis which is much like paranoid schizophrenia. This could lead towards hallucinations, paranoid delusions, and obsessions. (Amphetamine)