Category Archives: alcoholism and addiction

Addiction consequences

Polysubstance abuse complications

September 19, 2016
Polysubstance abuse complications

Polysubstance abuse complications can be very disastrous if not addressed timely

Polysubstance abuse complications: Is there hope for polysubstance abuse victims?

Polysubstance abuse like any other forms of addition is affecting everybody without any favor based on race, religion, educational background or social status. Age doesn’t matter too since children and teenagers are also equal victims. With this vast scope of vulnerability, it will only be fair if we all pool together to help in the fight against all kinds of drug abuse. In our quest of addressing the problems of polysubstance abuse, we are going to rely on the expertise of doctor Dalal Akoury MD and also founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. It is important to note that adult polysubstance abuse is often associated with other mental health conditions. Homelessness, personality disorders, and psychiatric disorders such as major depression, psychosis, and bipolar disorder are common.

The overlap of polysubstance dependence and psychiatric problems points to a lot of self-medication. Typically, among multiple substance users, individuals used alcohol or marijuana at an early age and then added other substances (or changed their drugs of choice) without quitting their original substances.

The common abused polysubstance

Further to that, among young people, polysubstance abuse is often the norm, and not the exception. Doctor Akoury reports that the most commonly abused polysubstance by adolescents include heroin, marijuana and alcohol. Nonetheless, the other drugs which are also used include MDMA (ecstasy), dextromethorphan, multiple forms of opiates, cocaine, hallucinogens, and inhalants. In a study where young people were involved, it was established that one-half of the young people had used an illicit street drug by the end of their senior year.

This has now translated into the need of administering treatment to about two million young people for the abuse of alcohol and drug addiction. The point of concern is that even with this big number in dire need of medication, it is regrettable that only 8 percent of the victims actually get it. Besides that the study also established that nearly one-third of young people are addicted to psycho-stimulants and are also suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with 20 percent said they gave their medications to others.

One treatment facility said that 33 percent of the adolescents currently in treatment had polysubstance addiction and the elderly are another population that clearly has a problem with polysubstance abuse. The vulnerability of the elderly indicated that they have more medical conditions that often require prescriptions. Over time with debilitating illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease the tendency to over medicate increases the likelihood of polysubstance abuse. If this is combined with alcohol, the results can be devastating, even fatal.

Finally elderly women tend to keep their substance abuse and chemical dependency secret. Alcoholism occurs later in women’s lives, perhaps due to problems associated with divorce or separation. Women who are over 55 have less tolerance for alcohol and are therefore more prone to addiction. They are also less likely than men to seek treatment and also use prescribed psychoactive drugs. From the narratives we can conclude that polysubstance abuse is increasingly becoming more prevalent among the street drug user population. Some of the different substances abused include heroin, prescription opioids, benzodiazepines, cocaine, crack, alcohol, and marijuana. In all these, doctor Dalal Akoury and her team of experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center will be of great help if only you can call today.

Polysubstance abuse complications: Is there hope for polysubstance abuse victims?

 

 

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alcoholism

Digestive complications caused by alcohol addiction

September 16, 2016
Digestive complications

Digestive complications caused by alcohol addiction are real, the solution is quitting

Digestive complications caused by alcohol addiction: Risk of developing other diseases

According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, alcohol abuse can cause havoc in every organ of the digestive system. Doctor Dalal Akoury shares with us some of the most common digestive complications that are likely to come as a result of the abuse of this substance:

  • Alcohol increases the risk that people will develop mouth cancer remember that alcohol comes in second besides tobacco smoking to this effect. However it can also cause some people to develop gum disease.
  • Heartburn is frequently caused by excessive alcohol intake. It does this by relaxing the sphincter that is there to control the acidic contents of the stomach from passing into the esophagus. If this fluid makes it past the sphincter it can be highly irritating to the esophagus, and this is what causes heartburn.
  • Alcohol abuse can damage the lining of the stomach. This can lead to problems including inflammation of the stomach gastritis.
  • Alcohol may increase the risk of people developing stomach cancer, but there is no conclusive proof of this.
  • Alcohol abuse can increase the risk of people developing small intestine cancers.
  • It can cause mal-absorption so that the individual is not absorbing all the nutrients from food they need.
  • It may cause leaky gut syndrome where unwanted toxins are able to leak through the intestine into the rest of the body. These toxins then cause problems and lead to ill-health.
  • It can exacerbate irritable bowel syndrome
  • Alcohol can cause both diarrhea and constipation
  • Excessive alcohol intake can lead to an inflammation of the pancreas. This is known as pancreatitis and it can lead to life-threatening complications. It can also interfere with the ability of the digestive system to function effectively.
  • The effect of alcohol on the liver is well documented. If people are drinking excessively they can start to develop the early stages of alcoholic liver disease. If this progresses to cirrhosis then the damage will be so severe that this organ is unable to function properly. Not only is the liver vital for digestion, but it is also necessary for other important functions as well.

Digestive complications caused by alcohol addiction: Alcoholism and malnutrition

Researchers have established that many alcoholics fail to get adequate nutrition, and this leads to serious health consequences. The consequences of this could develop problems like alcoholic dementia and peripheral neuropathy because of nutritional deficiencies. The reason why this occurs is that alcohol contains empty calories while offering little nutritional value. This means that people do not feel hungry. Alcoholism also causes people to lose interest in food, and the impact of alcohol on the digestion of food can lead to mal-absorption when they do eat. This is why chronic alcoholics will usually suffer from poor health because of malnutrition. Finally the notion of moderate drinking has not worked for many owing to the addictiveness of alcohol. It is therefore advisable to quit alcohol altogether for your digestive system to be healthy and effective. Meanwhile if you are struggling with alcohol, then you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury to get professional help and treatment to correct any damage that may have been caused by the abuse of alcohol.

Digestive complications caused by alcohol addiction: Risk of developing other diseases

 

 

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Misuse of alcohol

Digestive system health and alcohol addiction

September 16, 2016
Digestive system health

Digestive system health and alcohol addiction has nothing to do with the levels of drinking. The dangers remain the sane

Digestive system health and alcohol addiction: What is not working out?

Alcohol consumption when abused can become one of the most dangerous substances that can cause serious health complication to the body. Even though it is said that the use of alcohol can be beneficial to the body, this fact is betrayed by the fact that this substance is very addictive and the minimum level of usage is often very difficult to attain. Moreover the said benefits are very insignificant when compared to the demerits of alcohol. For that reason we want to explore some of the effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system health with a view of understanding the possible corrective measures that we can take to salvage the problem.

When we talk of the benefits, it is often eluded to the moderate consumption of alcohol. Users of alcohol will tell you that when taken in moderation, it can make life a bit more enjoyable for some people. These people will tell you that it allows them to socialize more easily, and also cause them to relax after a hard day’s work. However what may not be clear to these users is that there is a dark side to alcohol consumption, and this will soon become apparent when individuals drink beyond the estimated limit. The consequences of this can lead to all sorts of physical and mental health problems. Therefore if people become addicted to alcohol it can completely destroy their life.

Digestive system health and alcohol addiction: Organs of the digestive system

Before we get to understand how alcohol addiction affects the digestive system health, it is important to appreciate that people need to consume food in order to survive, to be strong and healthy. Besides that, it is also not only needed for fuel but the body also uses elements of this nutrition for repair of the body. Now the digestive system is a group of organs in the body that are tasked with the role of removing all the needed nutrients from any food that is eaten. In other words, in order for people to live life to the fullest they need to have a fully functional digestive system. These digestive systems are made up of several different organs including the following:

  • The mouth is where digestion begins. The food that is eaten will be partly broken down by chewing so as to make it easier to digest. At this point, the saliva can begin to break down some chemicals in food.
  • Food is then transferred to the stomach by the esophagus.
  • The stomach contains a strong acid that helps to break down food. The churning motion of the stomach turns food into a sludge-like substance called chime.
  • The liver produces bile which is stored in the gallbladder.
  • The pancreas produces enzymes that are also required for digestion.
  • The small intestine is where bile and enzymes help to extract the nutrients from the food.
  • The large intestine contains microbes that assist in breaking down food. In this organ electrolytes and water is extracted from the chime.
  • Anything in the food that is not of use to the body ends up in the rectum where it is expelled as feces and that is the process of digestion which can be literally destroyed by the abuse of alcohol.

Finally alcohol addiction can be very fatal if not addressed in good time. If you’re wondering where to run to, doctor Dalal Akoury is on stand-by to hear and listen to your individual case for a much more professional solution.

Digestive system health and alcohol addiction: What is not working out?

 

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accessibility to alcohol is a hindrance to recovery

Challenges addicts face during recovery

September 15, 2016
Challenges addicts face

Challenges addicts face during recovery includes addiction that mutilates brains health

Challenges addicts face during recovery: Defeating relapse

When dealing with drug addiction by all means there will be numerous challenges along the way. How you go about those challenges will determine how determine you are with the treatment program. Ideally challenges addicts face are many and it will not be a walk along the park. Occasionally you may stumble which is very normal however the way you will behave when you stumble matters a lot to your recovery process. Many have relapse and stood up to pick the pieces and have succeeded while others have relapsed and deteriorated further into addiction of the substance they were taking and even more. This article is going to help us comprehend the challenges involved in addiction recovery and how best we can overcome them. Doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center tells us that comprehending the challenges involved in addiction recovery is not very easy due to the fact that most addicts are in denial and do not want to acknowledge that they have a problem.

In our last article we mentioned that a healthy mind and clear goals are very crucial when dealing with challenges involved in the treatment process. When the mind is not healthy, goals cannot be realized. That is why many are in great denial because their minds have been corrupted with the substances they are abusing. However it is not only a clear conscience that will help in this challenge, there are very many factors which when addressed properly, the issue of will be settled and that is what we want to further on this discussion.

Challenges addicts face during recovery: Healthy relationships

You may get the best professionals like doctor Dalal Akoury taking you through the recovery process but if the people around you are not supportive in your course, then the treatment efforts will be greatly affected. Remember that these drugs are very addictive and life threatening. Therefore maintaining your sobriety goes hand in hand with caring for the relationships in your life. There is no two ways about it; the relationship must be healthy and supportive by all means. And for the avoidance of doubt a healthy relationships will offer you support in your recovery program best. This support is very essential in drug relapse prevention. According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, a healthy family environment contributes in many ways including the following:

  • Providing support in sobriety
  • Creating a stress-free environment
  • Providing happiness and overall well-being
  • Offering a healthy outlet to talk about your feelings openly

How then do you bond with your family? Because these people will be there for you, it is very important that you strengthen your relationships with your family by attending family therapy with a mental health counselor. You and your loved ones will work on your communication skills with one another and strengthen the bond that you share through the therapy. You will learn to work through potential conflicts in healthy ways and establish a healthy family atmosphere. You can also call doctor Akoury for any concern you may be having.

Challenges addicts faced during recovery: Defeating relapse

 

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ageing skin naturally

Illicit substances affects the skin complexion

September 15, 2016
Illicit substances

Illicit substances affects the skin complexion further explaining why drug addiction solutions is vital

Illicit substances affects the skin complexion: The body’s fabric under threat

The fabric of our body is constantly under threat of destruction from all manner of things including all illicit substances or drugs. Skin care professionals at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury have been in this industry for more than two decades helping people across the globe regain their beauty from the various damages. In their many years of experience, they have discovered that all illicit drugs are unhealthy for the skin, and not just the illicit drugs but also other factors as well. It is interesting how everybody wants to look nice and radiant while on the other hand they are constantly abusing drugs knowing the consequences of such habits on their delicate skin. We want to help you reclaim your lost glory. In the past people were consulting with you about your secret of beauty but this honor is no more. If I have got your attention, then keep reading and get the best information you need to keep your skin more youthful and healthy with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center.

Illicit substances affects the skin complexion: How drugs affects skin health in all season

Doctor Akoury says that the skin is one organ that needs daily care and attention accorded to it must be from well informed and accurate sources. This is very important because any mistake done can be very damaging to the so many years of efforts. That is why when it comes to skincare, reading the information on the various products labels may not be enough for you to conclude that a given product is appropriate for your skin. In other words you must not be lazy with your skin’s health. Therefore to help you understand the magnitude of being lazy with your skin, we are going to discuss in this article how drug abuse affects the skin in all seasons and doctor Akoury is going to professionally take us through the discussion.

Let no one deceive you that some drugs are beneficial to the good health of your skin, in fact there is no better drug any ware on the surface of the earth. All the drugs known to you are all Illicit and will not add any value to your skin’s health. Some of those illicit drugs may include: heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine. All these and many more can take a severe toll on the health of your skin. Heroin for example is a central nervous system depressant that slows heart rate, blood circulation, respiration and metabolism

Illicit substances affects the skin complexion: Skin popping

Skin popping as it is commonly known or the practice of injecting heroin under the top layer of the skin leaves distinctive round sores along the skin’s surface. These sores can easily become infected, resulting in permanent scars. For users who are anxious, restless or experiencing cravings, the scabs can become the focus of obsessive picking. Picking at the sores increases the risk of cellulitis, or the infection of the soft tissues underlying the dermis.

Skin lesions are common in heavy methamphetamine users. This central nervous system stimulant can cause a condition called delusional parasitosis, or the false believe that the user is infested with organisms that are crawling across her skin. This condition which is also known as “meth mites” or “cocaine bugs” can lead to severe self-mutilation if the user is acutely intoxicated which is why you need to call doctor Akoury today for help.

Illicit substances affects the skin complexion: The body’s fabric under threat

 

 

 

 

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