Alternative addiction treatment the better option

March 26, 2016

Alternative addiction treatment the better option: Being consistent on the recovery path

Alternative addiction treatment is offering great hope for all kinds of addiction recovery

The problems relating to drug addiction are not new to us in this twenty first century and even though a lot is being done to contain the a lot more still needs to be done. One of the treatment options that is becoming popular is the alternative addiction treatment practices which many health workers are in cooperating in the addiction treatment. And to help us understand this treatment option, we are going to be speaking to doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center for more clarity about alternative addiction treatment. This is a conversation you don’t want to miss and we want to encourage you to keep on the link and together let us learn from the experts on some of the reasons why alternative addiction treatment is becoming popular with many people across the globe.

Alternative addiction treatment the better option: The revelation of drug addiction

There are a number of reasons why people often choose alternative treatment. Some of those reasons may include the following options:

One of the most common reasons for why people choose alternative treatment options is because there is the feeling that the available medical treatments are not meeting their needs. In the event that the scientific medications fail to work then naturally people will be tempted to look elsewhere for solutions.

Due to the fewer number of clients that alternative therapists attend to, it is believed that they offer more personalized care. This may be because physicians are overworked or in some cases they will treat patients like puzzles instead of people.

It is believed that alternative medication has little or no side effects further crediting their use by many people to be fewer side effects associated with many alternatives.

Many times physicians have recommended alternative medicine for their patients, this communicate strongly that if they believe it will complement the current treatment or if they feel unable to find an appropriate treatment within western medicine then alternative medicine is the way to go.

People can follow a spiritual path where there is a belief in healing energies that have not yet been discovered by science. Those individuals who believe in healing energies will want to benefit from them.

People come from different cultural backgrounds where they have their own way of doing things including treatment. It therefore means that some people may be comfortable with their approaches to treatment and not be keen on the main stream medications like for example, traditional Chinese medicine or Ayurveda medicine from India.

There are some theories that claim that standard western only treats the disease but alternative medicine treats the whole person. It is suggested that a more holistic approach really gets to the root of problems it does more than just treat the symptoms.

There is a common perception in the public that alternative treatments are more natural, and that natural means they are better and safer free from chemicals.

Those individuals who have had success with alternative treatments can convince family and friends to consider these options. A common reason for why people first experiment with complimentary is due to a recommendation for a friend.

Alternative addiction treatment the better option: Samples of alternative treatment for addiction

There are many alternative addiction treatments available including:

Some individuals do seem to be able to recover from an addiction by purely relying on their own inner resources; this could be described as true natural recovery. This is not an option for everyone, and most people who seek treatment will already have tried and failed many times to quit by themselves.

There are a number of herbal remedies that may be of value to those who are trying to escape addiction. An example of this would be passion flower which is said to help with the mental aspects of addiction withdrawal.

There are many addicts who claim to have benefited from reiki, acupuncture, and other energy treatments. These techniques tend to enhance and not replace traditional treatments.

There is growing evidence that practices such as mindfulness meditation and yoga can be of great value to people in recovery. These continue to be considered alternative treatments by many in the establishment, but this is likely to change in the future under the weight of evidence that supports them.

Alternative addiction treatment the better option: Hitches related to alternative addiction treatment

In everything that people do there will always be the merits and demerits and so even with alternative addiction treatment there will be a number of problems some of which may include the following:

If these treatments had sufficient evidence to support them they would not be considered alternatives. This of course does not mean that such evidence will not appear in the future a common problem with complementary therapies is that they have not been adequately researched on.

Meditation techniques can be highly effective for people in recovery, but it is also possible to overdo it. In rare instances people have developed meditation-related psychosis as a result of their practice.

Some alternative therapists make claims for their methods that are exaggerated. This may be because they actually believe such claims or because they are out to make money and they have no scruples about this.

Some alternative treatments could prove to be dangerous. This is particularly likely to happen when untrained individuals begin offering medical advice like for instance they may tell their clients to stop taking medications prescribed by their physician which is very wrong.

There are undoubtedly people out there who are willing to scam those who looking for help for their addiction. Almost anyone can claim a new addiction wonder cure and try to sell this to other people – those who are cunning enough will be able to do this and remain within the law.

There can be unpleasant side effects associated with most of the herbal remedies. It is not recommended that people begin taking any of these natural medicines without first consulting their physician this is particularly important for those who are already taking prescribed medications because there will be the risk of negative interactions.

Finally things could be worse for some addicts particularly those who only have one more chance at recovery. Doctor Akoury says that if such people make what they call their final attempt using alternative medication and this fails to work, they are likely to give up on ever recovering from their addiction. It would be advisable that patients consult widely before taking any action. If you are worried on where to start from, then look no further and schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for a more professional approach on your struggle with an addiction.

Alternative addiction treatment the better option: Helping addicts to remain focus in recovery process

http://regenerativepotential.com/integrativeaddictionconference/

Challenges in Using Opioids to Treat Pain in Persons With Substance Use Disorders

March 11, 2016

Opioids More often than not, pain and abuse of substance exist together and their co-existence makes treatment of one without the other difficult. In most cases, if the pain is to be addressed, then the substance abuse has to be dealt with first. Opioids are compounds that look like opium in their addictive properties or psychological effects. They are sometimes used as pain relief whenever patients are in severe pains and other pain reliefs seem to be inefficient. Opioids are narcotics and as such are to be used moderately to prevent addiction. This is why when there are cases with patients who are already used to substance abuse, using Opioids tends to just aggravate the problem of substance use. These challenges in using opioids to treat pain in persons with substance use disorders are what this article seeks to talk about.

Pain and Substance use

16 to 24 percent of Americans have been reported to have problems with alcohol abuse. 8% out of the total American population, from 12 years and older, do have a problem with illicit use of substance within a given month. Substance use disorders have been seen to be more significant in medical populations. For instance, 19 to 26% of hospitalized patients have substance use disorders, 40 to 60% are people that have sustained a major trauma, 5 to 67% are those who have been or are being treated for depression. From the above, it can be seen that the treatment of chronic pain poses challenges as the patient may just pick up an appetite which may be hard to shake off, long after their stay in the hospital.

Clinical and Ethical Challenges

Persons who have had a history with substance use are less likely to have an effective pain treatment. It is not as if the pain treatment is not effective but because such people are used to substances which have considerably altered or increased their tolerance and adaptability for such substances, even the most potent pain relief in their right doses will appear ineffective. This is where opioids come in.

Mild to moderate pains can easily be taken care of with physical modalities such as ice, rest and splints but when pains are severe, opioids appear to be one effective way of managing them. Clinicians are however concerned that opioids may be misused by patients. Opioids use in patients with substance use disorders does not only raise complex clinical issues, it also raises ethical issues. This is where the challenge lies. Principles of justice and beneficence demands that all persons have equal access to an effective pain treatment. However tension sets in when such persons are used to substance as the principle of non-maleficence asks that a medical practitioner ‘do no harm’ first when there are concerns about misuse which may cause harmful consequences.

Multidimensional Nature of Pain

Pain is multidimensional in nature. This is another challenge posed to treatment of pain. Pain is subjective, rather than objective, making it hard to actually verify if it exists. Since they are transferred by sensory and emotional experience, one can actually have pains without any physical signs that corroborate this. Therefore, since pain cannot be verified to be existent or not, it is advised that all clinicians attend to all cases of pain seriously. Some patients have the knowledge of this and may often feign pain in order to obtain opioids for non-pain related cases. Also, a patient with addiction who also has pains may not be able to properly coordinate or tell where the pain ends and a craving for opioids begins because actually, it may feel the same way. For instance, pain complaints come with distress calls, and when craving starts as well, the patient may show signs of serious distress. The chronic pain disorders’ spectrum as against addictive disorders is the same for everyone making it hard for actually append treatments accordingly. In patients with no past history of substance abuse, administering opioids is a whole lot easier than when it has to be administered to patients who history of substance abuse because it is very hard to tell when they are actually in need of opioids for pains.

In cases where clinicians are not sure, they have been taught to ask questions such as asking the patient how intense the pain is and asking them to describe their pains on the scale of 0 to 10. Sometimes, this may be useful in knowing the intensity of pain and at other times, some other methods needs to be worked up. In cases where pain seems to be persistent, not only the pain is assessed, the impact it will have on the individual receiving pain treatments will also have to be accessed. Such impacts as how it affects sleep, mood, stress level, work functions and recreational activities.

The challenges in using opioids in treating pains in persons with substance use disorders is high and complex and in most cases, clinician tend to evaluate the results. If the patient seems to get better by the use of Opioids, they should generally not be too concerned about the addiction. What can be done is to supervise the use on a short-term basis.

Addiction a big theme in 2016 American Election: Why Are All the Candidates Talking About Addiction?

March 10, 2016

Recently, the topic of addiction seems to have been getting influx of attention, even among the presidential candidates in the 2016 election. Why is addiction a big them in the 2016 American Election? Why are all the candidates talking about addiction all of a sudden as if it was never there? Is this some political tactics to appeal to the minds of Americans who have been affected by addiction or have had families who died because of addiction?

Well, no one knows the mind of a politician, I believe, but beyond that, I believe drug addiction is something that has affected most families more than any other kind of epidemic, around the world and I guess it has actually reached the politicians too. It wasn’t as if it was never there but they just never decided to face it head on.

So Why the Sudden Addiction Attention

According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in the United States of America alone, more than 23 million people of ages 12 and above have had need for rehabilitation for exposure to illicit drugs, including drugs that were prescribed, and alcohol. This figure is a representation of one person out of every 10 in the United States. These are only random figures, it doesn’t even include people with hidden addiction issues who never come out to request help; it doesn’t include people who are addicted to smoking – that’s more like a normal addiction.

I believe this has gotten bad enough and if the future of America is to be preserved and there will be people to be governed, safe streets and safer America, then the presidential candidates need to start looking for ways of better dealing with the spread of addiction in the society. Some people are of the school of thought that when it was only black people, no one was concerned about it and now that it has reached the white people, then attention is given. As much as I will like to believe that blacks may be more used to substance abuse, it doesn’t mean that whites have not been among the addicted. There have been many white Americans and there are still many more who are dealing with addiction. I believe a more general and realistic point of view is, there is a problem that needs to be tackled and that needs to be done urgently.

If something takes out 1 out of every 10 child in the US, that’s bad enough. Addiction is more like a subtle epidemic. It doesn’t come with red signals. In most cases, it starts with a good intention. A patient is given opioid for pain and by the time he or she is through with pain treatment, there is a craving for the feel good that opioid gives and then addiction begins. Some other youth got exposed to heroin. Just one shot and its like walking on heavens. The he goes back to take more and then, he got hooked absolutely. Everyone could be a victim. According to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie who lost a friend to addiction, “It can happen to anyone!”

Come to think of it, the best brains and talents are the ones that are getting stolen everyday by addiction to substance use. People with promising lives just get snatched one day because they never got the right help. I really believe it is time this was tackled. At the time of publishing this article, reports show that heroin use among US youths have doubled over the past 10 years according to CDC. Deaths related to heroin use has quadrupled between 2002 and now. Obviously, if the government does nothing about it, the citizens can do it all by themselves.

How Addiction should be viewed

In the past, drug addiction has been seen as a king of crime. It’s pretty simple, you get caught with crack, you get jacked by the police. It is a crime to be in possession of narcotics, period! While this has worked in the past to help reduce the circulation and distribution of these harmful substances, it hardly can work in today’s settings. One way of tackling the spread of addiction is to view drug use as issues of public health rather than issues of crime. This has been the general consensus now among the politicians.

When it becomes the issues of health, people tend to get aware and come forward for help. Many youths fear that if they present themselves for treatment for addiction based on substance abuse, they may get arrested and thrown into the prison. Once they all know this is not so, they most likely will come forward because the truth is, no one really wants to stay addicted.

So if addiction is a big theme in the 2016 American Election and all the candidates are talking about it, then it’s a right step in the right direction, it means it is time for a change and many families won’t have to keep losing their loved ones to substance use addictions.

You are invited to the Aware Med Network’s Integrative addiction conference where bothering issues on addiction and ways forward will be discussed.

Solving addiction worries to know the action point

February 26, 2016

Solving addiction worries by asking to know action point: The most points of concern for many

Solving addiction worries must be prioritize as failing to do so is causing family disintegration at an alarming rate.

Some of the problems we go through are only affecting us because we often don’t ask about them. Do you know that solving addiction worries is possible just by being aggressive by asking questions and getting answers to them? The holy book records that “my people don’t find because they don’t ask” are you struggling with this addiction problem and you are just quite there? We want to help you find answers to your problems. Talking to us at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center should be your starting point. This facility take pride in solving problems and your problem is only a problem because you have not shared it. Would you want to get solutions today? Doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President and founder of this facility want to help you and as you continue reading through this content, you will notice that it is about asking and getting answers. Keep reading and make a healthy decision today to live a more robust and healthy life with the experts.

Solving addiction worries by asking to know action point: Is there a difference between physical dependence and addiction?

The answer to this is absolutely yes. It is important to note that besides the chronic and harmful consequences that come with addiction, it is also characterized by the weakness or failure to stop using that particular drug; neglecting or failure to meet work, social, or family obligations; and, occasionally depending on the drug, tolerance and withdrawal. When tolerance sets in, the consequence is that the of physical dependence meaning that the body adapts to the drug, thereby demanding for more of it to achieve a certain effect (tolerance) and eliciting drug-specific physical or mental symptoms especially where there is a sudden stoppage (withdrawal) of the supply/use of the drug in question.

Physical dependence can happen with the chronic use of many drugs—including many prescription drugs, even if taken as instructed. Thus, physical dependence in and of itself does not constitute addiction, but it often accompanies addiction. This distinction can be difficult to discern, particularly with prescribed pain medications, for which the need for increasing dosages can represent tolerance or a worsening underlying problem, as opposed to the beginning of abuse or addiction.

How do other mental disorders coexisting with drug addiction affect drug addiction treatment?

In response to this concern, it is important first to note that drug addiction is not behavior but a disease of the brain commonly coming with other mental disorders. Available statistics indicate that up to 6 in every 10 people struggling with an illicit substance use disorder equally suffer from another mental illness; the same is true with users of licit drugs like tobacco and alcohol. Many of the people struggling with addiction are also suffering from mental disorders what is medically known as co-occurrence condition 9suffering from tow conditions at the same time). Successful treatment for such patients sometimes become very difficult more so if individual conditions are addressed differently. Because of the intertwined condition, both conditions must be assessed and treatment done simultaneously. Experts are in agreement that treating both illnesses simultaneously in an integrated fashion which is generally the best treatment approach for these patients.

Is the use of medications like methadone and buprenorphine simply replacing one addiction with another?

This is a good question but the answer to that is No. these (Buprenorphine and methadone) are prescription drugs only administered under medical experts authorization, they are taken under strict adherence of medical doctors and are safe and effective for treating opioid addiction when used as directed. They are administered orally or sublingually (i.e., under the tongue) in specified doses, and their effects differ from those of heroin and other abused opioids. Like for instance, heroin is administered through injection, snorting or smoked thereby causing an immediate “rush of intense euphoria. The rush is then short lived and in just a little while it wears off and ends in a “crash.” At the point individual will experience an intense craving to use the drug again to stop the crash and reinstate the euphoria. If this is not managed well the cycle of euphoria, crash, and craving may continue repeated several times in a day. This is often the most painful part or stage of addiction which must be addressed in the best and most professional manner.

Solving addiction worries by asking to know action point: Can exercise play a role in the treatment process?

Many people become less active as they approach their sunset days but this is one of the biggest mistakes we often make. And so in response to the question the answer is “Yes.” Exercise should be done regularly and it is increasingly proving to be one of the most attractive components in many treatment programs more so when combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy. Exercise may exert beneficial effects by addressing psychosocial and physiological needs that nicotine replacement alone does not, by reducing negative feelings and stress, and by helping prevent weight gain following cessation.

How does drug addiction treatment help reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C (HCV)?

Looking at the mode of administration of most of these drugs, they are mostly administered through injection. And one of the characteristic of drugs is that it causes users to lose focus. It is at this point when the damage is done. When users are drunk the will most likely share the needles they use further putting them at more risk of contracting HIN/AIDS and other STDI. Besides that drug-abusing individuals are likely to engage in risky sexual behavior further subjecting them to the risk of contracting these diseases. Finally by now you must have appreciated why solving addiction worries is very important if we have to live a more healthy life. It is our desire to see you enjoy your life for a very long time. Therefore if you or any one you know is struggling with any kind of addiction, you have an opportunity to redeem yourself by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury for professional treatment.

http://regenerativepotential.com/integrativeaddictionconference/

Solving stress complications and substance abuse

February 23, 2016

Solving stress complications and substance abuse: Providence of temporary relief from stress

Solving stress complications and substance abuse is a must if one is to live a much comfortable life. The tow conditions doesn’t complement one another and must be addressed individually and even collectively.

If there is anything that is causing us sleepless night in our daily activities, then it must be stress. In all sectors of life there will be something stressful and worrying. Certain stress can be very demanding positively while others can be very chronic in nature. In all these we have a duty of taking care of ourselves and being free from any danger caused by stress. Many people are not able to be good managers of their stressful situations and this article is going to interrogate a few points about stress to help you pick up portions that can help you be safe. Therefore our point of focus is going to be on solving stress complications and substance abuse in our daily lives. Talking to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, it is very evident that the effects of stress can cause harm to people’s mental and physical well-being. The experts at this facility are agreeing that the situation may not be all that bad, but the inability of people to deal with it effectively is the born of contention. Many at times people often choose the wrong ways in dealing with stress. Like for instance, many have attempted to manage their stress by indulging in alcohol or drugs. This is what worries experts the most and doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is making emphasis that it is this type of self-medication often offer a misleading temporary relief, and hence people run to alcohol and other illicit substances which are self-defeating. The understanding of that point is that an individual while under the influence of their choice drugs may feel better but the moment sobriety sets in, they pick up the pieces and often become even more stressful than they were before. Currently we have several ways of managing stress which doctor Akoury is going to share with us in a short while but in the meantime, let us understand the definition of stress clearly.

Solving stress complications and substance abuse: Definition of stress

Stress is known to everybody yet giving clear definition to this (stress) has proven very difficult to many. All that people often do while defining stress is to give details of a long of consequences of stress and some of the examples of what stress does. However in simple terms stress can simply be defined as the extent through which the human body attend and address life prevailing circumstances and demands. It does this by releasing different chemicals in the body so that it is prepared to take action. The fight or flight response is produced by the body when there is a sense of danger. Because of what stress is, we can allude to two significant elements that is bad reputation which is very essential for survival too. Why is this so? Listen to this suppose people were not reactive to the external events, they would certainly be in danger. On the other hand stress can be of some benefits take for example like for instance when one is preparing to sit an examination, there is always some pressures that come with ensuring that the student sits and pass the exam. It is stress that will cause the student to remains focus lets they fail to meet their objectives of doing well in the exams.

Stressors and triggers of stress response

Anything that triggers the stress response is referred to as a stressor. The most common stressors include:

The dangers of chronic stress
Substance abuse as a self-medication for stress
The dangers of using alcohol and other substances

Solving stress complications and substance abuse: The Dangers of chronic stress

If people spend a lot of time feeling stressed it can begin to cause damage both physically and mentally. This is because the chemicals associated with the stress response are only meant to be in the bloodstream for short periods. Those who are chronically stressed will have such chemicals working overtime and the dangers of such chronic stress may include:

Chronic stress causes the immune system to become less effective. This is because stress forces the immune system to release chemicals so that they end up being overused. Instead of helping people fight off infections, these chemicals begin to damage the individual’s own organs. This can increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Chronic stress leads to fatigue and depression. Those who are dealing with a lot of stress in their lives will have poor mental health.
It can increase the risk of developing ulcers and digestive problems.
Many people who are dealing with chronic stress will turn to substance abuse.

Substance abuse as self-medication for stress

We have already sited self-medication as a situation where people resort to using alcohol or drugs as tools of managing their stressful moments. These substances are just but depressants. Take for example a depressant like alcohol produce a calming effect on the body, and by so doing so, the individual will feel like they have escaped their difficulties. Because of this they may start to take these substances more and more as a way to manage their stress levels. This is dangerous because the cure can be far more damaging then the initial symptoms.

The dangers of using alcohol and drugs to deal with stress

Finally dear reader, indulging in alcohol and drug usage life is a short lived solution. This can be very dangerous because of the following:

It can lead to addiction. If this happens then the individual may find it difficult to stop. Addicts can end up losing everything including their possessions, health, friends, family, and self-respect.
Substance abuse only masks the problem and doesn’t solve it. It will be almost impossible for the individual to learn better ways of managing stress while they are still abusing alcohol or drugs.
Substance abuse increases the amount of stress in people’s lives. It makes it difficult to be effective at work, and it damages people’s ability to form meaningful relationships. The longer a person abuses these substances the more things they will have in their lives to feel stressed about. The whole exercise will then be repeated again and again causing the individual to be deeply rooted into drugs thereby causing then to be prisoners of substances and failing to escape the stress that is being caused by their substance abuse.

You can however escape this tragedy by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for a more professional treatment that will bring back your life to its best.

Category Archives: alcoholism and addiction