Alcohol Treatment and Recovery

Have you ever had an alcohol blackout?  According to a new study there are some people that are more likely to have these blackouts because there are differences in the way alcohol affects their brain.  The findings of these studies are published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research coming out this June.  There were researchers that examined MRI brain scans that were conducted while a group of people did a memory task with and without alcohol.  12 people had a history of alcohol-related blackouts and 12 people without a history.

Reagan Wetherill, author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow at University of California, San Diego said, “Our study’s findings suggest that some people are more likely to experience alcohol-induced blackouts than others due to the way alcohol affects brain activity in areas involved in self-monitoring, attention and working memory.  Given that approximately 40 percent of college students experience alcohol-induced blackouts and, in some cases, later discover they engaged in unwanted/risky sex, drove or other complex behaviors, our findings highlight the fact that alcohol impairs brain functioning and some people may be more vulnerable to alcohol’s effects than others.  In other words, just because your friend may be able to drink a certain number of drinks and appear to be functioning fine, it does not mean that you or everyone else can.” While this may seem like simple common sense, taking it seriously and thinking about it may just keep you out of an alcohol detox or one of California drug rehabs

Alcohol abuse is prevalent in this country.  This study may explain why my friend can throw down 6 beers and still look sober and my other friend does 3 beers and he looks too drunk to sit up.  But I already knew they had different tolerances.  That is my study.  If you know someone who wants to stop drinking get them to an inpatient treatment center

A study was done and it was found that 6.2 million physician office visits resulted in a diagnosis of ADHD in 2000 and by 2010 this number had jumped to 10.4 million office visits.  So in just the last 10 years children getting a diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder has gone way up to 66 percent more.  Dr. Craig Garfield, assistant professor of pediatrics and medical social sciences at Northwestern University of Chicago stated: “This study is really a 10,000 foot aerial view of this issue.  We looked at the trends in visits to doctors for ADHD over the last decade, and we were interested in overlaying some of the FDA’s public health advisories and the introduction of new medications to see the effect of those trends.”  This study gave us findings that are published in the march/April issue of Academic Pediatrics.  This study told us that ADHD is now a common condition in children and teenagers in the United States.  According to the National Institute of mental health (NIMH) the symptoms for ADHD include an inability to focus, trouble controlling emotions and hyperactivity.  This is what is eye opening…  Treatment for ADHD may include medications and those are usually stimulant drugs along with some behavior therapy.  Albeit new medications and new health concerns have changed treatment decisions over the last ten years.  Here is some background on why.  In 2002 a nonstimulant medication called Strattera was approved for use in ADHD.  In 2005 the FDA issued warnings that sudden death and suicidal thinking had been attached to Strattera.  Adderall came under concern for a potential link between this drug and cardiovascular risks and also psychiatric symptoms.  Then in 2007 the same warnings were issued to all approved ADHD medications.

Even though possible concerns are out there about the safety of the stimulant medications they remain the mainstay of treatment.  These drugs are potentially highly addictive–and they could land you in Chicago drug rehabs

More parents need to get educated about these drugs.  Children don’t need to be put on these drugs they need love and understanding that maybe something is just not right in there daily world.  Help someone get off drugs by getting them to an inpatient drug or alcohol treatment center

Did you ever stop to ask yourself, “Why do I feel different when I take these drugs?”  The fact of the matter is these drugs are affecting your brain.  Drugs can make you feel high, low, fast or slow and one more thing it can make you see things that are not there.  Some people take drugs and it affects their brain and how they act, or how their body feels.  Most of us would call that a problem and it could be with us for a short period or the rest of our lives.

There are drugs that will change your mood quickly.  For instance you may get sad, angry or you may get scared and there is no reason for it.  Overreacting is another thing that can happen.  You can act crazy and see or hear things that are not even there.  Oh yes, this one is most uncomfortable; you can think someone wants to hurt you and you may even get violent. If you’ve seen people on drugs before, as I have at our Louisiana drug rehabs

On another subject of paying attention, drugs may take that away from you.  You can’t remember things or even think clearly.  The next step with that is that you make bad decisions.

Enjoying things is an important part of living each day and some drugs can take that away from you.  When you are addicted things that use to make you feel good don’t work anymore, like visiting a friend or watching a movie.

Here are some of the things that can happen to you when you abuse drugs.

Depression – you feel sad and tired.  You moods change; energetic then tired and hopeless.

Anxiety – you feel nervous, worried and afraid.  Hard to pay attention, sit still and not act out.

Antisocial disorder – you will have a hard time to have good relationships and care about other people’s feelings.

Drug abuse affects you in all these ways.  Some people feel bad so they think taking the drugs make it better; that does not work for long.

If you would like to get off drugs get to an inpatient treatment center

A special agent in Charge (SAC) of the Omaha Office of Federal Bureau of Investigation made an announcement of 12 people arrested on March 23, 2012.  They were taken into custody at different locations in Omaha.  These arrests were part of a joint operation of the Greater Omaha Safe Streets Task Force (GOSSTF).  They went after the Must Be Criminal (MBC) clique of the Sureness XIII street gang in Omaha, Nebraska and associated Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTO) supplying the MBC with narcotics.  They were alleged distributing cocaine and methamphetamine.  Dun emphasized that it is important to remember that a subject is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.  U.S. Attorney Deborah Gilg stated:  “This represents exceptional teamwork by all agencies that participated.  A significant drug trafficking ring was dismantled due to their efforts.”   SAC Dun stated:  Thanks to the cooperation of the many federal, state, and local law enforcement officers involved in this operation, today’s takedown has struck a major blow against the drugs and violence in Omaha.  The city of Omaha is a little bit safer.  This coordinated effort is but one more solid step in the process of taking back our communities and giving young people the chance to make important life changing choices, alternatives to the often short-lived gratification that membership in a gang offer,”

The Omaha Chief of Police Alex Hayes stated:  The operation exemplifies what cooperation and collaboration between agencies can do to make a positive difference in our community.  We will continue our efforts working together with community partners and various agencies to make Omaha safe.” Let’s hope that this police action helps keep more at-risk individuals off drugs and out of Omaha drug rehabs

It seems that there are many cities just lately making large drug bust.  The war on drugs goes on with the hopes of cleaning the streets and the availability of drugs.  If you know someone who need to get off drugs get them to a inpatient treatment center

There has been a nine month investigation by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) El Paso Division and it has brought about law enforcement officers seizing more than 13 pounds of methamphetamine, with a wholesale value of about $208,000 and a retail value of about $585,000.  They also picked up $105,000 in currency and other assets and five firearms.  On March 2, 2012 the U.S. District Court unsealed a 23 count federal indictment charging 15 alleged members of a drug trafficking organization.  It is supposed that this organization was distributing large quantities of methamphetamine to drug dealers in the Albuquerque area.  The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales and Joseph M. Arabit, Special Agent in charge.  Arabit stated, “Methamphetamine exacts a terrible toll on its abusers and the overall quality of life in communities where its illegal distribution takes hold.  These arrests and seizures are expected to have an immediate positive impact by disrupting the distribution network of an organization responsible for trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine in the Albuquerque area.  We will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to pursue those who threaten public health and safety in our communities by dealing dangerous drugs, including methamphetamine.”  I do believe they did a good job with this investigation.

U.S. Attorney Gonzales stated: “This investigation has dismantled what we believe was one of the larger and more lucrative methamphetamine distribution organizations operating in Albuquerque area.  Methamphetamine is an absolutely devastating drug that destroys lives, families and entire communities.  We have to do everything possible to keep people from trying methamphetamine in the first place because of its highly addictive nature = too often it only takes one try before people begin a long very destructive path with no easy way out.  I commend my law enforcement partners for their unwavering resolve to do battle every day against the blight of methamphetamine that afflicts so many in our communities,”

These two gentlemen have said it the best.  Here are some descriptions of what methamphetamine does.

The Rush This is the first thing you get when you take meth is “the Rush” your heart beat races as well as your metabolism.  Your blood pressure and pulse go really high.  Meth is not like cocaine totally, because cocaine gives you a two to five minute rush but meth gives you a 30 minute rush.

The High This is when we get in what they call “the shoulder” which is the high.  During this high the abuser often feels aggressively smarter and becomes argumentative.  They will interrupt other people and finish their sentences.  Then the user gets delusional like intensely focusing on insignificant items.  An example of this is repeatedly leaning the same window for several hours.  The high can last 4 to 16 hours.

Meth hangover When the crash is over the abuser is in a deteriorated state.  You are starved, dehydrated and utterly exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally.  This stage ordinarily last from 2 to 14 days.

Withdrawal This may take 30 to 90 days after the last drug use before the abuser realizes he is in withdrawal.  He becomes depressed loses his energy and the ability to experience pleasure.  The craving for more meth Hits hard and you may become suicidal.  That is when you revert back to the METH. And this is exactly when you need the kind of professional help available at Albuquerque drug rehabs

If you someone who wants to get off methamphetamine get them to an inpatient treatment center