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Cost-Benefit Analysis of Heroin Maintenance Treatment (Medical Prescription of Narcotics, Vol. 2)
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I have heard that when people hit their rock bottom is when they seek help. I hope you are doing OK. Take Care.
www.narcoticaddiction.com the only source you need for information regarding addiction to narcotic drugs
There are many sites. From experience, the better method is perhaps a detox at first. Once the substance is removed from the body, the physical/chemical dependency is put into remission. Then, the hard part comes; the psychological dependency. The best way, i believe is to interact or at least listen to others that are overcoming the addiction/dependency. There are many NA (Narcotics Anonymous) meetings, everywhere, or at least within a few miles of where you or the "pill head" is located.
The obsession to get high and stay high is extremely powerful. Lets face it, the crap makes people feel good (at first).
This quote from Anonymous makes good sense and is a start to helping all people to entertain some ideals:
God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can and Wisdom to know the difference.
Now, Here is a more detailed guide to self-help. These are the 12 steps of Narcotics Anonymous;
The 12 Steps of NA
How it Works
If you want what we have to offer, and are willing to make the effort to get it, then you are ready to take certain steps. These are the principles that made our recovery possible.
1. We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
This sounds like a big order, and we can’t do it all at once. We didn’t become addicted in one day, so remember—easy does it.
There is one thing more than anything else that will defeat us in our recovery; this is an attitude of indifference or intolerance toward spiritual principles. Three of these that are indispensable are honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness. With these we are well on our way.
We feel that our approach to the disease of addiction is completely realistic, for the therapeutic value of one addict helping another is without parallel. We feel that our way is practical, for one addict can best understand and help another addict. We believe that the sooner we face our problems within our society, in everyday living, just that much faster do we become acceptable, responsible, and productive members of that society.
The only way to keep from returning to active addiction is not to take that first drug. If you are like us you know that one is too many and a thousand never enough. We put great emphasis on this, for we know that when we use drugs in any form, or substitute one for another, we release our addiction all over again.
Thinking of alcohol as different from other drugs has caused a great many addicts to relapse. Before we came to NA, many of us viewed alcohol separately, but we cannot afford to be confused about this. Alcohol is a drug. We are people with the disease of addiction who must abstain from all drugs in order to recover.
It works if you work it, so work it- you're worth it!
I know someone who has been taking narcotics for a couple years and now has decided to stop taking them. Where do you start?
He has quit cold turkey and has had very bad diarreah for about 4 days. He has very bad stomach cramps. He says he feels like he will die. He lost 15 pounds in about 4 - 5 days. What can he do to stop the cramps and diarreah? He really wants to be drug free. He says he has learned a lesson and will never take pain medication again. He has been shaking all over and having hot and cold sweats. It's getting really unbarable!
HELP??!!
He really needs to go see a doctor, there are medications they can give hm to help with the withdrawls.
Also, get him CANDY, it has been a while since a family member went into treatment so I don't remember what is behind the candy but they ate candy like crazy--hard candy, like suckers,ect.
Everyone in the treatment center had huge bags of it.
I also have a Yahoo Group called 'Jenn's Phenomenal Women' if anyone is interested in joining. We can all help each other through such a hard time. :)
Thanks in advance to everyone!!!
I have started taking Suboxone on Feb 12th and have been drug free ever since, however, I have been having cravings and I am afraid I might relapse. Any advice from someone who is in my same situation? I also, have extreme anxiety, and I find it hard to control since my docs won't give me any anti-anxiety meds except Atarax (which is a fancy name for benadryl!)
Hi, good for you for taking the steps to becoming drug free. As you might already know, Suboxone is an opiate blocker, therefore, even if you did relapse, it would be for nothing as your brain will not feel it.
Don;t you have a support group? You don't go to meetings? That is what you truly need.
I have been sober for 4 years now but could not have done it without meetings. Meeting people who are going through the same cravings and struggles I was going through. Here is a link to Narcotics Anonmyous. You can find support in your area. Please, for the sake of making it, check these out. Opiates WILL kill you.
http://portaltools.na.org/portaltools/Me etingLoc/
I have suffered from RLS for about a year and its driving me crazy! In the past, the only treatment was narcotics...I think weighing the options I'll take the RLS. Thank you for any information :)
Treatment
An algorithm for treating RLS was created by leading RLS researchers at the Mayo Clinic and is endorsed by the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation. This document provides guidance to both the treating physician and the patient, and includes both nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatments.
Treatment for RLS is based on how disruptive the symptoms are. All people should review their lifestyle and see what changes could be made to reduce or eliminate their RLS symptoms. These include: finding the right level of exercise (too much worsens it, too little may trigger it); eliminating caffeine, smoking, and alcohol; changing the diet to eliminate foods that trigger RLS (different for each person, but may include eliminating sugar, triglycerides, gluten, sugar substitutes, following a low-fat diet, etc.); keeping good sleep hygiene; treating conditions that may cause secondary RLS; avoiding or stopping OTC or prescription drugs that trigger RLS; adding supplements such as magnesium, B-12, folate, vitamin E, and calcium. Some of these changes, such as diet and adding supplements are based on anecdotal evidence from RLS sufferers, as few studies have been done on these alternatives.
All people with RLS should have their ferritin levels tested; ferritin levels should be at least 50 mcg for those with RLS. Oral iron supplements, taken under a doctor's care, can increase ferritin levels. For some people, increasing ferritin will eliminate or reduce RLS symptoms. At least 40% of people will not notice any improvement, however. IV iron is being tested at the US Mayo Clinic as a method of treating RLS. It is dangerous to take iron supplements without first having ferritin levels tested, as many people with RLS do not have low ferritin and excess iron in the body can cause hemochromatosis, a very dangerous condition.
For those who experience RLS infrequently and do not need or want to try medication, in addition to lifestyle changes they can try:
some form of exercise for several minutes such as walking, stretching, yoga, etc. at bedtime
heat or cold, such as a hot or cold bath, a heating pad, or a fan
engrossing the mind into a game, the computer, or figuring something out
wearing compression stockings, tight pantyhose, or wrapping the legs in ace bandages
For those whose RLS disrupts or prevents sleep or regular daily activities, medication is often required. Doctors currently use, and the Mayo Clinic Algorithm includes, medication from four categories:
Dopamine agonists such as ropinirole, pramipexole, carbidopa/levodopa or pergolide
Opioids such as propoxyphene, oxycodone, or methadone
Benzodiazepines, which often assist in staying asleep and reducing awakenings from the movements
Anticonvulsants, which often help people who experience the RLS sensations as painful, such as gabapentin
There is also strong anecdotal evidence that medical marijuana alleviates RLS, although studies are lacking because of governmental restrictions.
In 2005, The Food and Drug Administration approved ropinirole to treat moderate to severe Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). The drug was first approved for Parkinson's disease in 1997. In February 2006, the EU Scientific Committee issued a positive recommendation for approving pramipexole (Sifrol, Mirapexen in the EU) for the treatment of RLS in the EU. US FDA approval is expected sometime in 2006. Another dopamine agonist, rotigitine delivered via a transdermal patch, is currently in process for US FDA and EU approval for RLS.
Dopamine agonists may cause augmentation. This is a medical condition where the drug itself causes symptoms to increase in severity and/or occur earlier in the day. Dopamine agonists may also cause rebound, when symptoms increase as the drug wears off.
Some people have reported partial or even complete relief with taking a supplemental magnesium salt such as magnesium oxide or magnesium gluconate once or twice a day, backing off on the dose if diarrhea develops. However anyone with renal problems should stay away from magnesium supplements.
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Outpatient Opioid Addiction Treatment Using Buprenorphine « Pain ...
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By: Dr. Sanford M. Silverman
Pain and Addiction
Opioid (narcotic) dependence is a serious and growing problem in the United States. Over 4.4 million people use prescription pain relievers non-medically. An estimated 2.4 million have used heroin at sometime in their lives. In 2001, an estimated 2.4 million used pain relievers non-medically for the first time-up from 628,000 in 1990. An estimated 1.9 million people 12 years of age and older have used oxycodone non-medically. In the general population, approximately 6-15% of patients suffer from the disease of addiction
The number of people using prescription pain relievers non-medically is increasing dramatically. This, added to the level of established heroin dependence, has set the stage for a critical shortage of qualified opioid dependence treatment physicians.
Chronic pain affects millions of people United States and costs of approximately 120-$150 billion annually. Untreated chronic pain often leads to substance and alcohol abuse. Over 80% of Americans will experience back pain at sometime in their life.
...News
Proposals to cut Kentucky prison population expected TuesdayLexington Herald Leader - Jan 16, 2011
Funding for options such as inpatient substance-abuse treatment has remained stagnant for many years, the Pew Center said. The task force's report was stillThe Northwest Florida Daily News - Jan 17, 2011
The drug is a "schedule III narcotic used in the treatment of opioid dependence," according to the National Library of Medicine. The deputy sent the drugsNPR - Jan 03, 2011
Scientists Test 'Trust Hormone' For Autism FightAnd just to be clear, it has nothing to do with the narcotic oxycontin. But some children with autism are already being treated with oxytocin, and more »Boston Herald - Jan 04, 2011
Kennebec JournalHe says 10 percent to 15 percent of high school students have used narcotic painkillers in the last month. The Portland Press Herald says that in 2008, Maine plagued by painkiller habitall 32 news articles »
NewsMax.com - Jan 14, 2011
a narcotic-like pain reliever, may be prescribed by doctors for moderate to severe pain. An extended-release version is offered when 24 hour treatment and more »Drug WarRant - Jan 16, 2011
Oh, and LSD is not a narcotic. And the penalty for LSD possession is actually much greater than for marijuana anywhere you go. What's he smoking?Boston Globe - Jan 17, 2011
“I have seen people with such pain they need narcotic medication afterward,'' Jen said. “They can't work, they can't function, and that can last months.
