What is OxyContin?

What is OxyContin?

OxyContin is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers. It is similar to morphine.
OxyContin tablets are used to treat moderate to severe pain. The extended-release form of this medication is for around-the-clock treatment of pain. Oxycodone is not for treating pain just after a surgery unless you were already taking oxycodone before the surgery.
OxyContin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important information about OxyContinOxyContin may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. OxyContin should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking OxyContin. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with a narcotic pain medicine. Check your food and medicine labels to be sure these products do not contain alcohol.

Never take more than your prescribed dose of OxyContin. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain. OxyContin can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Do not stop using OxyContin suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.

Is Alcoholism a Disease?

Is alcoholism a disease?
Yes, alcoholism is a disease. The craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems.
Like many other diseases, alcoholism is chronic, meaning that it lasts a person's lifetime; it usually follows a predictable course; and it has symptoms. The risk for developing alcoholism is influenced both by a person's genes and by his or her lifestyle.
Is alcoholism inherited?Research shows that the risk for developing alcoholism does indeed run in families. The genes a person inherits partially explain this pattern, but lifestyle is also a factor. Currently, researchers are working to discover the actual genes that put people at risk for alcoholism. Your friends, the amount of stress in your life, and how readily available alcohol is also are factors that may increase your risk for alcoholism.
But remember: Risk is not destiny. Just because alcoholism tends to run in families doesn't mean that a child of an alcoholic parent will automatically become an alcoholic too. Some people develop alcoholism even though no one in their family has a drinking problem. By the same token, not all children of alcoholic families get into trouble with alcohol. Knowing you are at risk is important, though, because then you can take steps to protect yourself from developing problems with alcohol.

Medicine.net

Kevin Dixon on "Gone Too Far"

The episode aired last night October 19, 2009 called "Gone Too Far" . We are so blessed to be a part of a show that is trully helping families raise the bottom to save their loved ones from the disease of addiction. We wanted to let everyone know to watch the show on Monday nights at 10:ooPM. We hope you can tune in each week to young adults find the gift of life. The show is centered around drug & alcohol intervention and families that are need of help to save their loved one's life.

If you know someone who is struggling with their addiction and they are unwilling to stop please call us toll-free 1-866-631-0026 or visit our website at http://www.kdconsulting.org/. Someone is always there to help.

KD CONSULTING CORPORATION
A DIVISION OF http://www.lifelineintervention.com/

"Gone Too Far" with Host DJ AM

"Gone Too Far" with host DJ AM

We wanted to make announcement that Kevin Dixon, President & Founder of KD Consulting Corporation A Division of Lifeline Intervention.com will be appearing on MTV Network show called "Gone Too Far" with host DJ AM. The episode I will be appearing on airs on MTV Networks on Monday, October 19, 2009 at 10:00Pm. You may check your local listing or go to www.mtv.com to see what channel and time it will be playing on MTV Networks.


As you may or may not know DJ AM the host of the show was in personal recovery himself and he lost his life recently to the disease of addiction. And being part of this project I hope that the bigger message as we know that sometimes the disease of addiction takes the life of those that we love the most. And that it is a disease and without treatment can be terminal. I hope that you will watch this piece and keep Adam Goldstein's family in thoughts.

Sincerely,

Kevin Dixon

KD Consulting Corporation

A Division of Lifeline Intervention.com

Why Cocaine Becomes Addictive

Why cocaine becomes addictive: Research with cocaine has shown that all laboratory animals can become compulsive cocaine users. Animals will work more persistently at pressing a bar for cocaine than for any drug, including opiates. An addicted monkey pressed the bar 12,800 times until it got a single dose of cocaine. If the animal survives, it will return to the task of obtaining more cocaine.

The human response is similar to that of the laboratory animal. The cocaine-dependent human prefers it to all other activities and will use the drug until the user or the supply is exhausted. These persons will exhibit behavior entirely different from their previous lifestyle.
Cocaine-driven humans will compel themselves to perform unusual acts compared with their former standards of conduct. For example, a cocaine user may sell her child to obtain more cocaine. There are many stories of professionals, such as lawyers, physicians, bankers, and athletes, with daily habits costing hundreds to thousands of dollars, with binges in the $20,000-$50,000 range. The result may be loss of job and profession, loss of family, bankruptcy, and death.

©2009 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.eMedicineHealth does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See Additional Information.

Drug Abuse

Drug dependence


Definition
Drug addiction, or dependence, is the compulsive use of a substance, despite its negative or dangerous effects.

However, a physical dependence on a substance (needing the drug to function) is not always part of the definition of addiction. Some drugs (for example, certain blood pressure medications) do not cause addiction but they can cause physical dependence. Other drugs cause addiction without leading to physical dependence. Cocaine is an example.

Tolerance to a drug (needing a higher dose to attain the same effect) is usually part of addiction.
Alternative Names
Drug addiction; Addiction - drug; Dependence on drugs

Causes

Drug abuse can lead to drug dependence or addiction. People who use drugs for pain relief may become dependent, although this is rare in those who don't have a history of addiction.
The exact cause of drug abuse and dependence is not known. However, a person's genes, the action of the drug, peer pressure, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and environmental stress all can be factors.

Peer pressure can lead to drug use or abuse, but at least half of those who become addicted have depression, attention deficit disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or another mental health problem.

Children who grow up in an environment of illicit drug use may first see their parents using drugs. This may put them at a higher risk for developing an addiction later in life for both environmental and genetic reasons.

Commonly abused substances include:

Opiates and narcotics are powerful painkillers that cause drowsiness (sedation) and feelings of euphoria. These include heroin, opium, codeine, meperidine (Demerol), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), and oxycodone (Oxycontin).

Central nervous system stimulants include amphetamines, cocaine, dextroamphetamine, methamphetamine, and methylphenidate (Ritalin). Caffeine and nicotine are the most commonly used stimulants. These drugs have a stimulating effect, and people can start needing higher amounts of these drugs to feel the same effect (tolerance).

Central nervous system depressants include alcohol, barbiturates (amobarbital, pentobarbital, secobarbital), benzodiazepine (Valium, Ativan, Xanax), chloral hydrate, and paraldehyde. These substances produce a sedative and anxiety-reducing effect, which can lead to dependence.
Hallucinogens include LSD, mescaline, psilocybin ("mushrooms"), and phencyclidine (PCP or "angel dust"). They can cause people to see things that aren't there (hallucinations) and can lead to psychological dependence.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the active ingredient found in marijuana (cannabis) and hashish. Although used for their relaxing properties, THC-derived drugs can also lead to paranoia and anxiety.

Symptoms
OPIATES AND NARCOTICS
Symptoms of opiate and narcotic use:
Needle marks on the skin in some cases (called "tracks")
Scars from skin abscesses
Rapid heart rate
Small "pinpoint" pupils
Relaxed or euphoric state
Coma, respiratory depression leading to coma, and death in high doses
Symptoms of opiate and narcotic withdrawal:
Anxiety and difficulty sleeping
Sweating
Goose bumps
Runny nose
Stomach cramps or diarrhea
Enlarged (dilated) pupils
Nausea and vomiting
Excessive sweating
Increase in blood pressure, pulse, and temperature

References
Samet JH. Drug abuse and dependence. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 32.

Warning Signs and Symptoms of Internet Addiction

Warning Signs and Symptoms of Internet Addiction
Author: Michelle Devon

Is it Real? How Can You Tell If You or a Loved One Suffers from Internet Addiction?
The internet can be a fun place, with a lot of things to do, information, resources, chat, messaging, forums and groups—you can find something that suits your fancy, no matter what your fancy might be. The internet has also provided a bit of anonymity to people who might want to purchase things they normally would not be willing to purchase from a store in person. You can research for school or work. You can make money, blog, buy and trade and sell things, and start an eBusiness. You can even view pornography, if that’s what suits you. In fact, there’s not a lot you can’t do nowadays on the internet. That all being said, how can you tell if your or a loved one’s fascination with the internet has become less of a tool and more of an obsession?

Internet addiction disorder, IAD, is relatively new in the field of psychotherapy, but recently, many therapists and counselors have seen an increase in cases where their clients, or family members and loved ones of clients, are claiming to have issues with how much time is spent online. Interestingly enough, there is a huge dispute in the psychological field over whether or not internet addiction is a real disorder afflicting people.

One argument against internet addiction as its own disorder is that internet addiction really only falls into the same category as ‘addictive behavior’ or compulsive behavior and is simply another means that people use to exhibit addictive tendencies. However, drug addiction is a different disorder than sexual addiction, so the proponents for internet addiction use this differentiation and argue that internet addiction should be classified as a separate disorder altogether.

It is also difficult to diagnose internet addiction in instances where, perhaps, a person’s work is solely or mostly online or on the computer. Can a person who is just very dedicated to their job actually be accused as being an internet addict, when in reality, perhaps they are merely a work-a-holic?

That’s why establishing clear criteria for what internet addiction disorder really is will be crucial in determining whether or not this disorder is given the attention in the psychological community that many feel it deserves. As with any addictive disorder, one of the main criteria that must be met in order to be considered addictive behavior is that there must be a significant impairment or dis-function in normal ‘life’ activities.Some of these ‘life’ activities include things such as: maintaining gainful employment; taking care of financial responsibilities; maintaining healthy relationships with friends and family; taking care of family responsibilities such as children, pets and house cleaning; and personal health and hygiene properly maintained, to name a few. When any of these basic life skills are neglected, and they are neglected because of an individual’s time on the computer online, then internet addiction may pose a real concern.Where the psychological community seems to miss the mark is that, in the end, it doesn’t matter whether or not a person is suffering from something called internet addiction disorder or is simply exhibiting compulsive or addictive behavior through the use of the internet. If a person’s internet use, regardless of the reason or cause, is causing impairment in their functioning, then the issue needs to be addressed.Do you worry that you or a loved one suffers from internet addiction, regardless of the cause? How can you tell for sure? Below is a list of some commons signs that the internet has become a compulsive and even addictive problem in your or a loved one’s life:

Methamphetamines (Meth)

What does it look like?
Methamphetamine is a crystal-like powdered substance that sometimes comes in large rock-like chunks. When the powder flakes off the rock, the shards look like glass, which is another nickname for meth. Meth is usually white or slightly yellow, depending on the purity.

How is it used?
Methamphetamine can be taken orally, injected, snorted, or smoked.

What are its short-term effects?
Immediately after smoking or injection, the user experiences an intense sensation, called a "rush" or "flash," that lasts only a few minutes and is described as extremely pleasurable. Snorting or swallowing meth produces euphoria - a high, but not a rush. After the initial "rush," there is typically a state of high agitation that in some individuals can lead to violent behavior. Other possible immediate effects include increased wakefulness and insomnia, decreased appetite, irritability/aggression, anxiety, nervousness, convulsions and heart attack.

What are its long-term effects?
Methamphetamine is addictive, and users can develop a tolerance quickly, needing larger amounts to get high. In some cases, users forego food and sleep and take more meth every few hours for days, 'binging' until they run out of the drug or become too disorganized to continue. Chronic use can cause paranoia, hallucinations, repetitive behavior (such as compulsively cleaning, grooming or disassembling and assembling objects), and delusions of parasites or insects crawling under the skin. Users can obsessively scratch their skin to get rid of these imagined insects. Long-term use, high dosages, or both can bring on full-blown toxic psychosis (often exhibited as violent, aggressive behavior). This violent, aggressive behavior is usually coupled with extreme paranoia. Methamphetamine use can also cause strokes and death.

What is its federal classification?
Schedule II
Source
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

NIDA InfoFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction

NIDA InfoFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is a complex but treatable disease. It is characterized by compulsive drug craving, seeking, and use that persist even in the face of severe adverse consequences. For many people, drug abuse becomes chronic, with relapses possible even after long periods of abstinence. In fact, relapse to drug abuse occurs at rates similar to those for other well-characterized, chronic medical illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. As a chronic, recurring illness, addiction may require repeated episodes of treatment before sustained abstinence is achieved. Through treatment tailored to individual needs, people with drug addiction can recover and lead productive lives.

The ultimate goal of drug addiction treatment is to enable an individual to achieve lasting abstinence, but the immediate goals are to reduce drug abuse, improve the patient's ability to function, and minimize the medical and social complications of drug abuse and addiction. Like people with diabetes or heart disease, people in treatment for drug addiction will also need to change their behavior to adopt a more healthful lifestyle.

In 2006, 23.6 million persons aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem (9.6 percent of the persons aged 12 or older). Of these, 2.5 million (10.8 percent of those who needed treatment) received treatment at a specialty facility. Thus, 21.2 million persons (8.6 percent of the population aged 12 or older) needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem but did not receive it. These estimates are similar to the estimates for 2005.*

Untreated substance abuse and addiction add significant costs to families and communities, including those related to violence and property crimes, prison expenses, court and criminal costs, emergency room visits, healthcare utilization, child abuse and neglect, lost child support, foster care and welfare costs, reduced productivity, and unemployment.
The cost to society of illicit drug abuse alone is $181 billion annually.1 When combined with alcohol and tobacco costs, they exceed $500 billion including healthcare, criminal justice, and lost productivity.2,3 Successful drug abuse treatment can help reduce these costs in addition to crime, and the spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases. It is estimated that for every dollar spent on addiction treatment programs, there is a $4 to $7 reduction in the cost of drug-related crimes. With some outpatient programs, total savings can exceed costs by a ratio of 12:1.

1 Office of National Drug Control Policy. The Economic Costs of Drug Abuse in the United States: 1992–2002. Washington, DC: Executive Office of the President (Publication No. 207303), 2004.2 Harwood, H. Updating Estimates of the Economic Costs of Alcohol Abuse in the United States: Estimates, Update Methods, and Data Report. Prepared by the Lewin Group for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2000. 3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Annual Smoking–Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Productivity Losses — United States, 1997–2001. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 54(25):625–628, July 1, 2005.4 The National Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study (NTIES): Highlights. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 97-3159. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Office of Evaluation, Scientific Analysis and Synthesis,

The Relationship of Chronic Viral Hepatitis, Alcoholism, and Cirrhosis to Liver Caner

The Relationship of Chronic Viral Hepatitis, Alcoholism, and Cirrhosis to Liver Cancer

Medical Author: Jay W. Marks, MD

Medical Editor: Leslie J. Schoenfield, MD,

Cancer can start within the liver (primary liver cancer or hepatocellular cancer) or spread to the liver (metastatic liver cancer) from other sites, such as the colon. Cancer that starts in the liver, which I will refer to simply as liver cancer, is the fifth most common cancer in the world. In the U.S., it is among the 10 most common cancers. This cancer is more frequent among Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics than among Caucasians.
Liver cancer is a bad cancer. It has frequently spread beyond the liver by the time it is discovered, and only 5% of patients with liver cancer that has begun to cause symptoms survive even five years without treatment. The only hope for patients who are at risk for liver cancer is regular surveillance so that the cancers can be found early. Early cancers can be treated by surgical removal (resection), destruction of the individual tumors, or liver transplantation. Although the current techniques for surveillance are not very good at detecting early liver cancer, newer techniques are being tested and appear to be better.
The most common diseases associated with liver cancer are chronic viral hepatitis, alcoholism, and cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). Moreover, chronic viral hepatitis is common in alcoholism, and both viral hepatitis and alcoholism cause cirrhosis which usually precedes the development of cancer. Therefore, the contributions and interrelationships of alcohol abuse, viral hepatitis, and cirrhosis in the development of liver cancer are complex. Despite the complexity, it is important to try to understand the contributions of each disease so that patients at highest risk for liver cancer can be targeted for surveillance. Theoretically, they also might be targeted with treatments that prevent the development of liver cancer, when such treatments are developed.
Learn more about the link between alcoholism and liver cancer »

Drug, alcohol treatment vital in solving problem

Drug, alcohol treatment vital in solving problem
Health Happenings
Alamogordo Daily NewsBy Ken Nicholson, For the Daily News
Posted: 08/09/2009 12:00:00 AM

In spite of the nationwide prohibition of street drugs, New Mexico and Otero County, as well as the rest of the United States, has a persistently growing drug problem with increasing numbers of younger students using drugs and alcohol.
With that is the typically disastrous results of addiction, incarceration, unintended pregnancies, failing grades and school drop-outs. While education and law enforcement are making strides in stopping the illegal drug trade while educating our youth about the consequences of drug use, drug and alcohol use continues to be a devastating problem, suggesting once again that peer-pressure can be a stronger force than education.

Making drugs illegal has, no doubt, been a deterrent to the vast majority of Americans. On the other hand, this has put the burden of the drug war on law enforcement and the judicial system, especially since 1986 when Congress enacted mandatory minimum sentencing laws, which mandated judges to deliver fixed sentences to individuals convicted of the crime of addiction, regardless of culpability or other mitigating circumstances.

Overwhelmingly, drug defendants 85 percent of them are nonviolent, according to Families Against Mandatory Minimums. Yet many mostly minorities and the poor are convicted of felonies and receive mandatory minimum sentences of five to 10 years or more. Also, those addicted at the time of their incarceration are generally still addicted upon release and still need treatment.

While giving a big boost to the private prison industry, incarcerating drug offenders is expensive for the tax payer. In New Mexico, the average cost of incarceration is $30,000 per inmate per year. The average cost of probation and parole in New Mexico is $1,533 per person per year. According to a 1998 study conducted at the Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, the average cost for drug treatment per year is between $1,800 for regular outpatient care and $6,800 for long-term residential care.

For each person that receives treatment, rather than being incarcerated, New Mexico could save between $22,000 and $27,000 per year (prison savings less probation/parole and treatment costs), according to the Drug Policy Alliance.
The American Medical Association has given formal recognition to the disease concept regarding addiction since 1956. Medically, addiction is classified as a chronic disease similar to other chronic diseases such as Type II diabetes, hypertension, asthma and cardiovascular disease. Research conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse has shown that they all have similar relapse rates.

Addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disorder that should be managed with all the tools at medicine's disposal. While lifestyle choices may be a contributing factor in diabetes, lung cancer or cardiac disease and is the only factor in an addict's first use. No one regards lifestyle choice as a reason to withhold treatment for any of these conditions, except for addiction.
Just as it takes an average of seven attempts for a smoker to quit tobacco, we should understand that relapse is an integral part of the disease of any addiction. We should treat the addict with the same care and compassion we treat diabetes or cardiac patients struggling to make prescribed lifestyle changes.

Ken Nicholson represents Peace & Justice, of La Luz. This column is provided as a service of the Otero County Community Health Council and the Alamogordo Daily News as a way to provide the latest in health and wellness information, services and events. This column is submitted by OCCHC partners and does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the OCCHC.

Painkiller Addiction: Rough Road To Recovery

Painkiller Addiction: Rough Road to Recovery

Fresno - According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, prescription drugs account for the second most commonly abused category of drugs in the United States behind marijuana and ahead of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine.

There really is no easy or right way to recover, but doctors agree there are only certain outcomes of addiction - and if left untreated - death is one of them.

Dr. Richard Guzzetta, of Touchstone Recovery center in Clovis, is noticing an increase of younger addicts.

"We see several people under the age of 18... we didn't see as many a few years ago," said Dr. Guzzetta.

And he says, it could be because the drugs of choice these days - Oxycontin and other prescription painkillers - take a faster and stronger hold.

"There are certain drugs that are more satisfying to the addictive cravings that you have, so if you get a hold of those your addiction takes hold faster and a little bit harder. We find that opiates attack two recepters...so you get a double whammy, that's why it takes hold of kids so fast," explains Dr. Guzzetta.

According to the Monitoring the Future study, nearly 10% of 12th graders surveyed in 2008, reported using Vicodin without a doctor's orders that year. And nearly 5% reported using Oxycontin.

Dr. Guzzetta says he knows there's a lot of peer pressure in Clovis and Fresno high schools.

"My son goes to high school, and several of his friends are taking drugs, and making fun of those who don't take drugs," said Dr. Guzzetta.

But not all kids who try it become addicted.

"Addiction is not willpower or a moral problem, it's a brain chemistry problem, usually children are born with a propensity for addiction, all they have to do is add that brain to an addictive chemical, and you'll have an addiction going on," explains Dr. Guzzetta.

It's not just rich kids getting caught up in addiction.

"The unknown demographic is the stay at home mom... I've met so many women in recovery you would never suspect," said Fresno housewife, Julie Valles.

Valles is recovered from an addiction to the painkiller Norco - but it took a stint in jail for her to stay sober.

She says the withdrawal process, is what kept her going back to the pills.

"It is the worst pain describable, it's like having the flu ten times over, aches and pains, every bone in your body hurts, every muscle hurts, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, you just feel sick, you cannot function," said Valles.

"When people are addicted to it, and they don't get it, they go through a withdrawal... it can be as simple as having anxiety, or as severe as having a panic attack. People seeking their medication and they need help right now, and it could be life threatening," explains pharmacist Michael Winton, of Winton Pharmacies.

In 2008 alone, 81 people died in Fresno County, because of prescription drug abuse.

"No it's not shocking, if you're going to become an addict, there are only certain courses that lay ahead of you, and death is one of them," said Dr. Guzzetta.

Dr. Guzzetta says only about a third of people who go to rehab for addiction, will successfully remain sober.

He says it's important for people to be aware of the reality of prescription drug abuse in our community.

It's a sobering reality that Clovis police, the Fresno county coroner, and local pharmacists already accept.

"Oxycontin is very addictive, typical effects are euphoria, feeling of well being... these kids don't know what they're doing, they're playing with fire, if it continues they will get hurt, if not dead, and we as a community have to stop it," said Winton.

But recovery can be a long road back with many of its own pitfalls, including new addictions.

Medicines like methadone and buprenorphine are commonly prescribed to help addicts get clean.

And many people interviewed for this series say patients sometimes get hooked on their anti-addiction pills.

Successful recovery depends on matching the individual to the right doctor and treatment.


Posted:
May 13, 2009 02:18 AM EDT



If you know someone with an addiction and they are unwilling to get the help please call us toll-free 1-866-631-0026. You can also visit our website http://www.kdconsulting.org/.

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

Bipolar disorder causes extreme mood swings, from feeling overly energetic (mania) to feeling very sad or having low energy (depression).

Mania may cause a person to:

Feel extremely happy or very irritable.
Have a very high opinion of himself or herself (inflated self-esteem).
Not need as much sleep as usual (feel rested after 3 hours of sleep).
Talk more than usual.
Be more active than usual.
Have difficulty concentrating because of having too many thoughts at the same time (racing thoughts).
Be easily distracted by sights and sounds.
Act impulsively or do reckless things, such as go on shopping sprees, drive recklessly, get into foolish business ventures, or have frequent, indiscriminate, or unsafe sex.
Depression may cause a person to:

Feel sad or anxious for a significant time.
Feel hopeless or pessimistic.
Have slowed thoughts and speech because of low energy.
Have difficulty concentrating, remembering, and making decisions.
Have changes in eating and sleeping habits leading to too much or too little eating or sleeping.
Have decreased interest in usual activities, including sex.
Have suicidal thoughts.
Not enjoy things he or she normally would enjoy.
Types of bipolar disorder
Bipolar I. Considered the classic form of the illness, bipolar I causes recurrent episodes of mania and depression. The depression may last for a short time or for months. You may then go back to feeling normal for a time, or you may go right into a manic episode.
Bipolar II. If you have bipolar II, you will experience depression just as in bipolar I. But the episodes of mania are less severe (hypomania). People with bipolar II have more depressive episodes than hypomanic episodes.
Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. If you have rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, you will experience at least four episodes of depression, mania, or both within a 12-month period. You may go directly from an episode of depression to an episode of mania, or you may have a short time lapse between the two extreme moods. The mood swings are the same as with other types of bipolar, but the frequency of mood swings distinguishes rapid-cycling bipolar disorder from the other subtypes.
Some people may have bipolar disorder with mixed symptoms, in which episodes of depression and mania occur together. Symptoms include sadness, euphoria, and irritability. Other symptoms can include agitation, lack of sleep, appetite changes, and possibly, thoughts of suicide. This makes the disorder challenging to treat and very frustrating for you and for those around you. It can also lead to hospitalization if your daily functioning becomes impaired.

In addition to changes in mood, some people with bipolar disorder also have symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks, or symptoms of psychosis.

Symptoms of bipolar disorder in children can be very different than those in adults and can be confused with other childhood mental disorders, such as depression or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Bipolar disorder in children significantly interferes with a child's ability to function in school, with friends, and at home.

Some other conditions with symptoms similar to bipolar disorder include depression, schizophrenia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

People with bipolar disorder—men more often than women—may have substance abuse problems, especially during manic episodes.4 Abusing alcohol or drugs may affect treatment and interfere with taking medicines as prescribed. Other disorders that may occur along with bipolar disorder include:5

Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Panic attacks or panic disorder.
These illnesses need to be treated along with the bipolar disorder.

Last Updated: March 14, 2008
Health.com
Author:
Jeannette Curtis
Medical Review:
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry
© 1995-2009 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

Methamphetamin Abuse Costs U.S. $23.4 Billion

Methamphetamine Abuse Costs U.S. $23.4 Billion
Study cites crime, court fees, productivity losses and deaths among consequences

HealthDay

By Robert Preidt

Wednesday, February 4, 2009
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 4 (HealthDay News) -- In 2005, the economic cost of methamphetamine use in the United States was $23.4 billion, according to a RAND Corporation study of the financial impact of addiction, premature death and other issues associated with the drug.

While methamphetamine causes some unique types of harm, many of the costs associated with its use are the same as those identified in economic assessments of other illicit drugs, the study found.

Almost two-thirds of the costs caused by methamphetamine use resulted from the burden of addiction and the estimated 900 premature deaths among users in 2005. The second largest cost category was crime and criminal justice, including the costs of arresting and jailing drug offenders and dealing with non-drug crimes committed by methamphetamine users, such as thefts committed to support their drug habit.

Loss of productivity, the removal of children from their parents' homes because of methamphetamine use, and drug treatment were among the other factors associated with the economic cost of the drug.

The study cited the production of methamphetamine as another cost category, explaining that producing the drug requires toxic chemicals that can result in fire, explosions and other dangerous events. The resulting costs cover such things as cleaning up the hazardous waste generated by methamphetamine production and injuries suffered by emergency workers and other victims.

"Estimates of the economic costs of illicit drug use can highlight the consequences of illegal drug use on our society and focus attention on the primary drivers of these costs," study lead author Nancy Nicosia, an economist at RAND, said in a news release from the nonprofit research organization. "But more work is needed to identify areas where interventions to reduce these harms could prove most effective."

The study was sponsored by the nonprofit Meth Project Foundation and the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse.

"We commissioned this study to provide decision-makers with the best possible estimate of the financial burden that methamphetamine use places on the American public," Tom Siebel, founder and chairman of the Meth Project, which aims to reduce first-time use of the drug, said in the news release.

"This is the first comprehensive economic impact study ever to be conducted with the rigor of a traditional cost-of-illness study, applied specifically to methamphetamine," Siebel said. "It provides a conservative estimate of the total cost of meth, and it reinforces the need to invest in serious prevention programs that work."


HealthDay

Copyright (c) 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.

What is Alcohol?

What Is Alcohol?
Alcohol is created when grains, fruits, or vegetables are fermented. Fermentation is a process that uses yeast or bacteria to change the sugars in the food into alcohol. Fermentation is used to produce many necessary items — everything from cheese to medications. Alcohol has different forms and can be used as a cleaner, an antiseptic, or a sedative.

So if alcohol is a natural product, why do teens need to be concerned about drinking it? When people drink alcohol, it's absorbed into their bloodstream. From there, it affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), which controls virtually all body functions. Because experts now know that the human brain is still developing during our teens, scientists are researching the effects drinking alcohol can have on the teen brain.


How Does It Affect the Body?
Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows the function of the central nervous system. Alcohol actually blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain. This alters a person's perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing.

In very small amounts, alcohol can help a person feel more relaxed or less anxious. More alcohol causes greater changes in the brain, resulting in intoxication. People who have overused alcohol may stagger, lose their coordination, and slur their speech. They will probably be confused and disoriented. Depending on the person, intoxication can make someone very friendly and talkative or very aggressive and angry. Reaction times are slowed dramatically — which is why people are told not to drink and drive. People who are intoxicated may think they're moving properly when they're not. They may act totally out of character.

When large amounts of alcohol are consumed in a short period of time, alcohol poisoning can result. Alcohol poisoning is exactly what it sounds like — the body has become poisoned by large amounts of alcohol. Violent vomiting is usually the first symptom of alcohol poisoning. Extreme sleepiness, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, dangerously low blood sugar, seizures, and even death may result.

Why Do Teens Drink?
Experimentation with alcohol during the teen years is common. Some reasons that teens use alcohol and other drugs are:

curiosity
to feel good, reduce stress, and relax
to fit in
to feel older
From a very young age, kids see advertising messages showing beautiful people enjoying life — and alcohol. And because many parents and other adults use alcohol socially — having beer or wine with dinner, for example — alcohol seems harmless to many teens.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: November 2006
Originally reviewed by: Eugene Shatz, MD

Drugs + Depressed Teens = A Dangerous Combination

Drugs + Depressed Teens = A Dangerous Combination
By Psych Central News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on May 9, 2008 Friday, May 9 (Psych Central) --

U.S. teenagers who attempt to self-medicate through the use of marijuana or other drugs can end up worsening their depression, says a new report. The report suggests that such drug use could also lead a teen toward other serious mental disorders.

The report cites research which it says shows that some teens are using drugs to alleviate feelings of depression (”self-medicating”), when in fact, using marijuana can compound the problem. The report found, for instance, that teenagers who smoke marijuana at least once a month are three times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than non-users.

The report, from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), suggests that up to two million teens felt depressed at some point during the past year, and depressed teens are more than twice as likely as non-depressed teens to have used marijuana during that same period.

Depressed teens are also almost twice as likely to have used illicit drugs as non-depressed teens. They are also more than twice as likely as their peers to abuse or become dependent on marijuana. Marijuana use is associated with depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts.

“Marijuana is not the answer. Too many young people are making a bad situation worse by using marijuana in a misguided effort to relieve their symptoms of depression,” said John P. Walters, Director, National Drug Control Policy.

“Parents must not dismiss teen moodiness as a passing phase. Look closely at your teen’s behavior because it could be a sign of something more serious.”

Although marijuana use among teens has dropped by 25 percent since 2001, more teens use marijuana than all other illicit drugs combined. The new report, Teen Marijuana Use Worsens Depression: An Analysis of Recent Data Shows ‘Self-Medicating’ Could Actually Make Things Worse (PDF), also found the following:

Using marijuana can lead to depression and other mental illnesses;
The percentage of depressed teens is equal to the percentage of depressed adults, but depressed teens are more likely than depressed adults to use marijuana and other illicit drugs;
Teen girls who use marijuana daily are more likely to develop depression than girls who do not use marijuana;
Depressed teens are also more likely than non-depressed teens to engage in other risky behaviors such as daily cigarette use and heavy alcohol use.
“Don’t be fooled into thinking that pot is harmless,” said Dr. Drew Pinksy, internist, addiction expert, and host of VH1’s Celebrity Rehab. “Marijuana is an addictive drug. Teens who are already depressed and use marijuana may increase their odds of suffering from even more serious mental health problems.”

In fact, the potency of smoked marijuana has risen consistently over the past decades and higher potency translates into serious health consequences for teens. Some studies show that higher potency marijuana may be contributing to an increase in the number of American teens seeking treatment for marijuana dependence.

The risks associated with recent and long-term marijuana use include schizophrenia, other forms of psychosis, and even suicide. “Not only are adolescents at greater risk for drug abuse, but they may suffer more consequences,” said Nora D. Volkow, M. D., Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “There is also some evidence that in vulnerable teens-because of genetic factors-the abuse of marijuana can trigger a schizophreniform disorder.”

The report was released to coincide with May’s Mental Health Awareness Month.

Source: U.S. National Drug Control Policy

Teen Smoking Could Lead to Adult Depression

Teen Smoking Could Lead To Adult Depression, Study Says
ScienceDaily (Feb. 6, 2009) — Teenagers who smoke could be setting themselves up for depression later in life, according to a groundbreaking new Florida State University study.

Psychology Professor Carlos Bolanos and a team of researchers found that nicotine given to adolescent rats induced a depression-like state characterized by a lack of pleasure and heightened sensitivity to stress in their adult lives. The findings suggest that the same may be true for humans.

"This study is unique because it is the first one to show that nicotine exposure early in life can have long-term neurobiological consequences evidenced in mood disorders," Bolanos said. "In addition, the study indicates that even brief exposure to nicotine increases risk for mood disorders later in life."

The Florida State researchers injected adolescent rats twice daily with either nicotine or saline for 15 days. After the treatment period ended, they subjected the rats to several experiments designed to find out how they would react to stressful situations as well as how they would respond to the offering of rewards.

They found that behavioral changes symptomatic of depression can emerge after one week of nicotine cessation and -- most surprising -- that even a single day of nicotine exposure during adolescence can have long-lasting effects.

"Some of the animals in our study were exposed to nicotine once and never saw the drug again," Bolanos said. "It was surprising to us to discover that a single day of nicotine exposure could potentially have such long-term negative consequences."

The rats that were exposed to nicotine engaged in behaviors symptomatic of depression and anxiety, including repetitive grooming, decreased consumption of rewards offered in the form of sugary drinks and becoming immobile in stressful situations instead of engaging in typical escape-like behaviors. The researchers were able to alleviate the rats' symptoms with antidepressant drugs or, ironically, more nicotine.

Interestingly, adult rodents that were exposed to the same nicotine regimen as the adolescents did not display depression-like traits. It is not known exactly how nicotine works on the brain and nervous system to induce these effects, but exposure has toxic effects in several brain regions and neurotransmitter systems at distinct periods of development, Bolanos said.
Because various neurotransmitter systems in the brain continue to develop throughout adolescence, the researchers theorize that nicotine may negatively influence these systems resulting in altered functionality later in life. The study's findings underscore the need for further research into how this process occurs.

Scientists have long known there is a connection between smoking and mood disorders, but they have not been able to say for sure that one causes the other because there are so many factors influencing human behavior. This study provides support for the idea that smoking can induce symptoms of depression, and paradoxically, can also be a way of managing those same symptoms and enhancing the risk for addiction.

"The message to young people of course is don't smoke and don't even try it," Bolanos said. "If they do smoke, they need to be aware of the potentially long-term effects that recreational or even occasional cigarette smoking can have on their systems."

The work was supported by grants from the state of Florida's James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In addition, Iniguez has a McKnight Fellowship from the Florida Education Fund and a Neuroscience Fellowship from Florida State University. Warren also is supported by a Neuroscience Fellowship.

Journal reference:
Iñiguez et al. Nicotine Exposure During Adolescence Induces a Depression-Like State in Adulthood. Neuropsychopharmacology, 2008; DOI: 10.1038/npp.2008.220
Adapted from materials provided by Florida State University.
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What happens to your brain when you take drugs?

What happens to your brain when you take drugs?

Drugs are chemicals that tap into the brain's communication system and disrupt the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information. There are at least two ways that drugs are able to do this: (1) by imitating the brain's natural chemical messengers, and/or (2) by overstimulating the "reward circuit" of the brain.

Some drugs, such as marijuana and heroin, have a similar structure to chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters, which are naturally produced by the brain. Because of this similarity, these drugs are able to "fool" the brain's receptors and activate nerve cells to send abnormal messages.

Other drugs, such as cocaine or methamphetamine, can cause the nerve cells to release abnormally large amounts of natural neurotransmitters, or prevent the normal recycling of these brain chemicals, which is needed to shut off the signal between neurons. This disruption produces a greatly amplified message that ultimately disrupts normal communication patterns.

Nearly all drugs, directly or indirectly, target the brain's reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that control movement, emotion, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. The overstimulation of this system, which normally responds to natural behaviors that are linked to survival (eating, spending time with loved ones, etc), produces euphoric effects in response to the drugs. This reaction sets in motion a pattern that "teaches" people to repeat the behavior of abusing drugs.

As a person continues to abuse drugs, the brain adapts to the overwhelming surges in dopamine by producing less dopamine or by reducing the number of dopamine receptors in the reward circuit. As a result, dopamine's impact on the reward circuit is lessened, reducing the abuser's ability to enjoy the drugs and the things that previously brought pleasure. This decrease compels those addicted to drugs to keep abusing drugs in order to attempt to bring their dopamine function back to normal. And, they may now require larger amounts of the drug than they first did to achieve the dopamine high—an effect known as tolerance.

Long-term abuse causes changes in other brain chemical systems and circuits as well. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that influences the reward circuit and the ability to learn. When the optimal concentration of glutamate is altered by drug abuse, the brain attempts to compensate, which can impair cognitive function. Drugs of abuse facilitate nonconscious (conditioned) learning, which leads the user to experience uncontrollable cravings when they see a place or person they associate with the drug experience, even when the drug itself is not available. Brain imaging studies of drug-addicted individuals show changes in areas of the brain that are critical to judgment, decisionmaking, learning and memory, and behavior control. Together, these changes can drive an abuser to seek out and take drugs compulsively despite adverse consequences—in other words, to become addicted to drugs.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

Drug Addiction Prevention

Prevention
The best way to prevent an addiction to an illegal drug is not to take the drug at all. Your doctor may prescribe narcotics to relieve pain, benzodiazepines to relieve anxiety or insomnia, or barbiturates to relieve nervousness or irritation. Doctors prescribe these medications at safe doses and monitor their use so that you're not given too great a dose or for too long a time. If you feel you need to take more than the prescribed dose of a medication, talk to your doctor.

Parents can take the following steps to help prevent drug dependency in their children:

Communicate. Talk to your children about the risks of drug use and abuse.

Listen. Be a good listener when your children talk about peer pressure, and be supportive of their efforts to resist it.

Set a good example. Don't abuse alcohol or addictive drugs. Children of parents who abuse drugs are at greater risk of drug addiction.

Strengthen the bond. Work on your relationship with your children. A strong, stable bond between you and your child will reduce your child's risk of using or abusing drugs.

Article provided by
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Oct. 5, 2007
© 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
DS00183

Drug Rehab: The Intervention

Is a member of your family or a friend of yours battling with drug addiction? One effective way you can assist them to address their addiction is by intervention. You can get all those who are affected by the addict to a neutral location. The addict is then to be told how his or her addiction has impacted others and their lives. Intervention is the first step to drug rehab and recovery from addiction.It is not easy to intervene. It takes courage to intervene. There are a lot of issues to be considered before the intervention. Prior meetings and detailed planning are to be carried out before the designated date of intervention. You also need to decide what all you must be saying and how you will like to say them.

Assistance of a professional is essential if you plan an intervention. The professional should be someone who has had experience with persons and problems of abuse and addiction of drugs. The person should also be able to facilitate the intervention. The facilitation should not only be to assist the drug addict but also to assist you to handle your thoughts around the issue.

It is conceivable that confusion and apprehension are the initial feelings that arise within you. There is also the feeling of pain and anger. You fear that the drug user will turn against you and hate you for meeting head-on the issue of drug use. Surely this will at least be the first reaction of the drug user. The purpose of the intervention is to make sure that the drug users know that the drug addiction has also affected others beside themselves. The exact nature of the impact of their drug use around them is to be laid bare.

Intervention in some one's life is considered to be a violation of the privacy of the person by one school of thinking. It is considered to be a human right violation and an imposition of sorts. Moreover, there is also no correct way of intervention. However, it must be noted that the reality is that as persons and as society there is always a mutual influence that is exerted. This is inevitable. Often intervention with a purpose is resorted.When we need to assist drug users to go for assistance to deal with their problems, then intervention is made. But when there is imminent danger to them such as inflicting injuries on themselves or others, or of death or possibility of being arrested, then there is a need for crisis intervention. The objective of crisis intervention is to diffuse the crisis and steer it to safety for all those involved.

The drug users are the primary focus of attention in any intervention. All are encouraged to be utterly honest to share their feelings and detail out the problems that have risen on account of the drug addiction. This might have to be carried out in an atmosphere filled with anger and discomfort. However, with increasing realization of the situation, the atmosphere is likely to become conducive when the drug users realize that the problem has not only gone out of hand but has expanded around them.

Intervention in drug addiction is a method to ensure that the addict is enabled to accept assistance. This is best achieved in an atmosphere of respect and love. Moreover, it should be non-confrontationist in approach and non-judgmental in essence. In such an atmosphere, intervention can be quite a powerful tool to success in dealing with the problem. Often family intervention is the best way and probably in many instances the only way out. It must be recognized that this can be successful and therefore needs to be done now.

By: Marlon Dirk
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Word Count: 624

If you know someone who needs an intervention please call us toll-free at 1-866-384-8411. You can also visit our website at www.lifelineintervention.com which is part of KD Consulting Corporation. Someone is there standing by to help you and your family.

Random Drug Test for High School Students Set in March

Random drug test for high school students set in March
01/15/2009

The random drug test for both public and private high school students will kick off by March, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus confirmed yesterday.

He explained though not all students will be subjected to the drug test because it will be done on a random basis.

But, all secondary schools across the country are mandated to comply with the President’s directive.

“Ang utos ng Presidente ngayon lahat ay magpapatupad ng random drug testing, not all students will be tested pero lahat ng schools magpapatupad,” Lapus said.

Students found positive for drug use during the random drug testing will have to undergo another round of drug testing for confirmation as well as to determine the level of drug dependency or addiction.

“Yung mag pa-positive sa random drug testing magre-retest ulit para sigurado,” Lapus said, stressing the random drug testing will be conducted by the Department of Health (DoH)-accredited laboratories.

He added this will not be a ground for expulsion and the DoH is expected to provide counseling to help student “kick out” the addiction.

Lapus also stressed the random drug test in schools is not new and in fact provided under Republic Act 9165 or Dangerous Drugs Act.

The DepEd actually conducted a random drug tests in 2003 to 2005 after study showed that drug use in six regions of the country, including the National Capital Region, increase by 10 percent.

In 2004, the DepEd, through its Health and Nutrition Center, also conducted drug testing of high school students in 17 randomly selected schools in each region to determine the prevalence of drug users among students.

During the test which was conducted on 8,760 students only 15 students tested positive.

This indicates a 1.3 percentage in drug users among students, but only 0.8 percent tested positive in the confirmation testing.

Under the order of President Arroyo, 30 from each of the 6,000 high schools nationwide will undergo a drug test.

This means that 180,000 high school students will undergo the drug test.

The DepEd would also shoulder the expenses.

Lapus said if a student is found positive for drugs, he or she is required to go through a confirmation testing.

Students found positive are then subjected to counseling which is kept confidential. Those who are found to be deeply into drugs are sent to rehabilitation centers.

“Ang ating intensyon dito ay unang una hindi naman hihiyain ang estudyante. Very strict ang confidentiality (Our intention is not to humiliate the students. We are very strict about confidentiality),” Lapus said.

He added during the last drug testing, 1.3 percent of students tested were found positive for drug use in the initial tests, but only 0.8 percent tested positive in the confirmation testing.

The DepEd chief assured the public testing positive for drug use is not ground for expulsion but only for disciplinary action.

He said random drug testing will serve as a deterrent for students who are influenced by their peers into taking illegal drugs.

The Commission on Higher Education, for its part, earlier had asked university heads to arrange random drug tests with the DoH among college students to ensure a drug-free campus.

Jason Faustino

NAC as a Natural Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

(NaturalNews) Three recent clinical studies, two about cocaine addiction and one about compulsive gambling, examine the role of a simple amino acid in normalizing brain chemistry of those with addiction. Drug addiction and various forms of pathological gambling has widely ruined personal finances, family cohesiveness and health. Relapse rates are extremely high. These studies offer much hope for an inexpensive, non-toxic option for healing.

N-acetylcysteine, a form of the sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine is a precursor to the brain neurotransmitter glutamate. There is observational evidence that low levels of glutamate in the brain will increase compulsive and addictive behaviors and intensify cravings. Taking NAC by mouth has been shown to increase glutamate concentrations in the regions of the brain (the nucleus accumbens) which, when low in glutamate, promotes addictive behavior.

In the first study, 15 volunteers with a history of cocaine addiction received either 600 mg of NAC
or placebo every 12 hours for 2 days. The test subjects taking NAC were significantly less likely to scan the internet for cocaine-related news than those on placebo, and the NAC group also revealed in a questionnaire an impressive reduction in cocaine craving (1).

A second study conducted by the same investigators, gave 23 cocaine addicts who were seeking treatment 600, 1200, or 1800 mg of NAC twice daily for 4 weeks. Sixteen patients completed this study and cocaine use dropped dramatically. The amount of NAC didn't seem to matter, and no side effects were noted. Before seeking help, the 16 patients who stuck with the 4 week program, on average, decreased their cocaine use from 8 days out of the month before starting the NAC, to only 1 day during the month taking NAC (2).

This sounds great (85% reduction in cocaine use) but keep in mind that these patients sought treatment. The will to arrest a destructive behavior is key to successful therapy. NAC may help correct brain chemistry, for less than $2 per day, and cement the desire to quit with the ability to
modify behavior.

The third study looked at offering up to 1800 mg daily of NAC to those wanting to relieve themselves of their addiction to gambling. A positive response to treatment was defined as at least a 30% decrease in parameters measured by a tool called "Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale Modified for Pathological Gambling." The average effective dose of NAC was 1500 mg daily. Sixteen gamblers completed the study and their scores improved 42% (3).

Earlier studies have suggested that there is a biochemical component to addiction. The beneficial effects of glutamine, B vitamins, lithium, and dietary modifications have been shown for people addicted to alcohol. The field of optimizing brain chemistry is in its infancy. Hopefully future research will continue to focus on safe, natural, inexpensive and effective nutrients to provide much-needed help for the millions of people who want to quit, but haven't yet.

About the author
Dr Emily Kane is a practising naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist. For more info see www.DrEmilyKane.com


References:

1. LaRowe SD, Myrick H, Hedden S, Mardikian P, Saladin M, McRae A, et al. Is cocaine desire reduced by N-acetylcysteine? Am J Psychiatry 2007;164:1115-1117.

2. Mardikian PN, LaRowe SD, Hedden S, Kalivas PW, Malcolm RJ. An open-label trial of N-acetylcysteine for the treatment of cocaine dependence: a pilot study. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2007;31:389-394.

3. Grant JE, Kim SW, Odlaug BL. N-Acetyl cysteine, a glutamate-modulating agent, in the treatment of pathological gambling: a pilot study. Biol Psychiatry 2007;62:652-657.

What is Alcoholism

What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependence, is a disease that includes the following four symptoms: Craving—A strong need, or urge, to drink.
Loss of control—Not being able to stop drinking once drinking has begun.
Physical dependence—Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after stopping drinking.
Tolerance—The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to get "high."
For clinical and research purposes, formal diagnostic criteria for alcoholism also have been developed. Such criteria are included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, published by the American Psychiatric Association, as well as in the International Classification Diseases, published by the World Health Organization.

Is alcoholism a disease?
Yes, alcoholism is a disease. The craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems. Like many other diseases, alcoholism is chronic, meaning that it lasts a person's lifetime; it usually follows a predictable course; and it has symptoms. The risk for developing alcoholism is influenced both by a person's genes and by his or her lifestyle.
Is alcoholism inherited?Research shows that the risk for developing alcoholism does indeed run in families. The genes a person inherits partially explain this pattern, but lifestyle is also a factor. Currently, researchers are working to discover the actual genes that put people at risk for alcoholism. Your friends, the amount of stress in your life, and how readily available alcohol is also are factors that may increase your risk for alcoholism.
But remember: Risk is not destiny. Just because alcoholism tends to run in families doesn't mean that a child of an alcoholic parent will automatically become an alcoholic too. Some people develop alcoholism even though no one in their family has a drinking problem. By the same token, not all children of alcoholic families get into trouble with alcohol. Knowing you are at risk is important, though, because then you can take steps to protect yourself from developing problems with alcohol.

Can alcoholism be cured? No, alcoholism cannot be cured at this time. Even if an alcoholic hasn't been drinking for a long time, he or she can still suffer a relapse. Not drinking is the safest course for most people with alcoholism.

Can alcoholism be treated? Yes, alcoholism can be treated. Alcoholism treatment programs use both counseling and medications to help a person stop drinking. Treatment has helped many people stop drinking and rebuild their lives.

From the Doctors of MedicineNet.com

How Cocaine Addiction Develops

Permanent drug seeking and relapse after renewed drug administration are typical behavioral patterns of addiction. Molecular changes at the connection points in the brain's reward center are directly responsible for this. This finding was published by a research team from the Institute of Mental Health (ZI) in Mannheim, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg and the University of Geneva, Switzerland, in the latest issue of Neuron. The results provide researchers with new approaches in the medical treatment of drug addiction.

Addiction leaves detectable traces in the brain: In particular regions of the central nervous system, which produce the messenger substance dopamine, the drug cocaine causes molecular restructuring processes at the synapses, the points of connection between two neurons. As a reaction to the drug, protein subunits are exchanged in specific receptor complexes. As a result, the modified synapse becomes able to transmit nervous signals with enhanced strength - a phenomenon that has been termed 'drug-induced synaptic plasticity'. Researchers have suspected for many years that drug-induced synaptic plasticity plays a crucial role in addiction development. However, this hypothesis has not yet been proven experimentally. Using genetic engineering, researchers headed by Professor Dr. Günther Schütz at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have now been able to selectively switch off those protein components in dopamine-producing neurons that are integrated into the receptor complexes under the influence of cocaine. Jointly with the team of Professor Dr. Rainer Spanagel at the Central Institute of Mental Health (Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, ZI) in Mannheim and the research group of Professor Dr. Christian Lüscher at Geneva University, the Heidelberg researchers studied the changes in physiology and behavior of the genetically modified animals. The scientists performed standardized tests to measure addictive behavior in the animals. At first sight, both the genetically modified and the control animals displayed the usual behavior under the influence of cocaine. Forced to increase their agility, the lab animals covered significantly greater running distances and preferentially frequented those places where they had been conditioned to be regularly administered the drug. If normal mice do not find drugs at the familiar places over a longer period of time, their addictive behavior and preference for the cocaine-associated places subside. However, this is not true for animals whose receptor subunit GluR1 has been switched off: These mice invariably frequent the places where they expect to find the drug, i.e., their addictive behavior persists. Mice whose NR1 protein has been switched off have surprised scientists with a different conspicuous behavior. If control animals withdrawn from cocaine are readministered the drug after some time, addictive behavior and drug seeking are reactivated. In contrast, NR1 deficient animals proved to be resistant to relapsing into the addiction. "It is fascinating to observe how individual proteins can determine addictive behavioral patterns," says Günther Schütz, and his colleague Rainer Spanagel adds: "In addition, our results open up whole new prospects for treating addiction. Thus, blocking the NR1 receptor might protect from relapsing into addiction. Selective activation of GluR1 would even contribute to 'extinguishing' the addiction."

----------------------------Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
---------------------------- David Engblom; Ainhoa Bilbao; Carles Sanchis-Segura; Lionel Dahan; Stéphanie Perreau-Lenz; Bénédicte Balland; Jan Rodriguez Parkitna; Rafael Lujan; Briac Halbout; ManuelMameli; Rosanna Parlato; Rolf Sprengel; Christian Lüscher; Günther Schütz and Rainer Spanagel: Glutamate Receptors on Dopamine Neurons Control the Persistence of Cocaine-Seeking. Neuron, August 14, 2008 The task of the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum in Heidelberg (German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ) is to systematically investigate the mechanisms of cancer development and to identify cancer risk factors. The results of this basic research are expected to lead to new approaches in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The Center is financed to 90 percent by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and to 10 percent by the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg. It is a member of the Helmholtz Association of National Research Centers (Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren e.V.). Source: Dr. Sibylle KohlstädtHelmholtz Association of German Research Centres

(Drug Intervention)

Crossing the Line to Addiction: How and When Does It Happen?

"No one becomes addicted the first time they try a drug," says George Koob, M.D., a professor in the neuropharmacology department at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California. Although there are some cases where a person's reaction to first use is so positive that they immediately begin to abuse a drug, Koob says most addiction has a subtler start. It usually doesn't take place until the person has been using chronically. The person has become an addict when his or her brain has literally been changed by this chronic use of the drug.
Many substances and activities, from food to sex, exert control over human behavior by motivating us to indulge in them. But addictive drugs, such as alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, and heroin, can affect the structure and function of the brain -- and hence our motivations -- in long-lasting ways. They can actually alter and "usurp," in one scientist's term, the "circuits" in the brain that are involved in the control of emotions and motivation, impairing an addicted person's will. "What addiction really is, is a result of brain changes that over time get translated into behavior changes," says National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) director Alan Leshner, Ph.D.
If a person uses drugs, at a high enough dose, frequently enough and for a long period of time, these drugs change the way the brain works. "You change the way nerve cells communicate in such a way that you develop this compulsive, out-of-control use despite knowing that all kinds of terrible things can happen to you, and despite even experiencing many of those things," says National Institute of Mental Health director Steven Hyman, M.D.
Studies using new technologies show the precise effects of drugs on the brain. "In many cases, we can actually see changes in the structure of synapses and in the shapes of [brain] cells," says Hyman. A NIDA study released in 1996 provided the first direct evidence that chronic use of opiates (such as morphine and heroin) is linked with structural changes in the size and shape of specific neurons. Researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine found that rats chronically given morphine experienced marked structural changes in critical brain "circuits." Other NIDA studies have shown that altered brain circuits could be responsible for the major differences in brain functioning between an occasional cocaine user and a cocaine addict.
-- Janet Firshein