Tag Archives: Addiction

Have Scientists Found a Molecule that Blocks Cocaine Addiction?

July 18, 2014

What is cocaine addiction?

cocaine addictionA person is considered to have cocaine addiction when he/she is faced with a psychological desire to use cocaine regularly. This is also referred to as a stated of cocaine dependency. The risk of being in this state is that, overdose of cocaine may result to cardiovascular and brain damage such as constriction of blood vessels in the brain, which may result to stroke and if the constriction occurs in the arteries in the heart, it may cause heart attack especially in the central nervous system.

The problem of cocaine related addiction has been on the rise, even though cocaine is an illegal drug almost in every part of the world. This alarming problem has prompted researches to try to curb the problem.

Have Scientists finally found a Molecule that Blocks Cocaine Addiction?

There has been some breakthrough in the search for the molecule that blocks the cocaine molecule, but the big question is, have the scientists really discovered a molecule that is capable of blocking the cocaine molecule? Or is it the beginning of the big discovery? This still debatable, but let’s look at what they have already achieved.

What scientist have already discovered

The recent researches reports show that scientist have been able to identify a molecule that they claim can block the cocaine molecule. This molecule is known as CGP3466B. In the recent study, this molecule was able to block cocaine addiction in mice. Does the molecule then block the cocaine molecules in human? Scientists have been testing the molecule or the compound CGP3466B on humans for the treatment of Parkson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but unfortunately it didn’t work. Fortunately, the researchers were able to know the pathway that cocaine works on, and knew CGP3466B was able to block that specific pathway.

How was the research conducted?

The study used mice, by giving them choice to choose two rooms for visiting freely. One of these rooms occasionally dispensed cocaine while the other didn’t. The point of interest was to let the mice eat the cocaine, until a point when they would be addicted. The mice were considered addicted when they remained in the cocaine dispensed room without bothering going to the other room. The addicted mice then received the CGP3466B dose. Let’s now see what the scientists observed after giving the addicted mice the CGP3466B molecule dose. The scientists found that the addicted mice resumed their normal time schedules by spending equal time in both rooms. This was a clear indication that they were no longer addicted.

The most exciting part is on how this drug works. This dose works at very low doses, and it looks to have no possibility of any side effect, since it works by blocking specific pathways and not affecting any other part. This study on CGP3466B was very vital since it helped in the confirmation of the details of cocaine’s action and potential treatment options.

How will you identify somebody addicted with cocaine?

Cocaine is one of the drugs which causes very powerful effects by acting upon the brain. The most common symptoms of addiction are:-

  • Loss of sense of smell
  • Increased libido
  • Isolation from friends and family members
  • Lying about drug use
  • Depression after long period of abuse
  • Feeling of superiority where one feels above the others
  • Mood swings
  • Increased energy and alertness
  • Engagement in risky sex
  • Violent behaviors
  • Damage in nasal passage
  • Dilated pupils
  • Vasoconstriction of blood vessels in the heart.
  • Chronic runny nose

It is important to note that some of these symptoms are similar to those shown by addiction from other substances, and you may not be able to conclude at once that a given person is addicted of cocaine because a given behavior like violence has been depicted. It could be addiction from marijuana, or even another factor not related to addiction. Just like with any other type of addiction, try to assemble sufficient evidence grounds for conclusion on addiction.

cocaine addiction

Effects of Cocaine Addiction to our bodies?

This is actually a knowledge that every person should have. The dangers of using cocaine are deadly. This is one of the worst illegal drug substances which despite their threat to healthy living many people are still abusing them. Let’s look at the dangers of cocaine abuse;

  • Cocaine is known to cause heart attack
  • It may lead to permanent damage of lungs
  • It may cause ulcers
  • It is also reported to cause decrease in sexual activity
  • It causes serious skin infections and abscesses
  • Perforation of the stomach is also a common problem
  • It also causes perforation of nasal activity
  • Seizures are also common when one is an addict of cocaine.
  • Strokes due to the blockage of blood vessels in the heart are also a threat.
  • Also something that is worth mentioning is that cocaine abuse can lead to death if un-attended in time.

Looking at all these effects of abusing cocaine, and when you turn to every corner of the world people are abusing this drug, every human being will always pray that the scientists researches on the treatment of this killer disease be successful. This is the only thing that will save the world but not illegalizing the drug.

Have Scientists Found a Molecule that Blocks Cocaine Addiction?

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Quitting Smoking

July 17, 2014

Quitting Smoking – Drug Addiction

If there is anything good you can do for yourself, is to quite smoking and kick it out of not just your life but also out of your neighborhood.

Have you ever wondered how and why smokers turn themselves in kitchen chimney that billows smoke from the very vital organs of their bodies! What amazes me is that all smokers are not ignorance of what the dangers they are putting themselves to. Despite of all the warnings visibly indicated on the packaging and all adverts run people still smoke as if smoking gives them certain values in life. This is very disturbing and we have deliberately decided to create an impact into seeing people adopt positive behaviors that do not endanger their own lives and that of others around them. It is my wish that reading this article will help you make the right decision of quitting your habit of smocking and if you are not a smoker then you will be able to help someone who is already smoking. I will then ask you a simple question do you want to quit smoking? If your answer is yes then I hope this article will be helpful to you.

Dear reader I want to bring to your attention a few facts about smoking and quitting. It is all about good news in stopping smoking because just within hours of stopping cigarettes smoking, your body begins to recover almost immediately from the effects of nicotine and all additives. Blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature all of which are raised because of the nicotine in cigarettes normalize to healthier levels. The capacity of your lung also increases and the bronchial tubes feels relaxed making breathing much easier. The toxic carbon monoxide in your blood also decreases permitting the blood to transport more oxygen within the body’s systems. I can tell you for sure that quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your own health.

Challenges in Quitting Smoking

This is not an easy exercise by all means but it is not impossible either, the difficulties will depend on a number of factors like:

  • The number of cigarettes sticks you smoke on a daily basis.
  • The kind of association you keep if you relate with smokers and spend time with them a lot then there will be problems.
  • What motivates you into smoking (weight control, social situations, peer pressure)

These are challenges you are likely to face in your journey to quitting smoking and you must be ready to face them positively.

Smoking is so addictive

One will not be penalized to blame nicotine the main drug element in tobacco, for their smoking addiction. When you smoke the brain quickly becomes friendly to the nicotine and develops tolerance for it increasing the urge to smoke more so as to achieve the same rush you often get from smoking a single stick of cigarette. Smoking cigarette is addictive and for your information nicotine acts on the same pathways as cocaine. However tolerance will occur when your brain attempts to keep itself balanced. Chemicals from the cigarette cause the brain to discharge chemicals called norepinephrine and dopamine. Too much discharge of these two chemicals causes the brain chemistry to get unbalanced and discharges its own anti-nicotine chemicals when one smokes. These “anti-nicotine” chemicals would make you feel down, depressed, and tired if you were not smoking and over time the brain will be able to foresee when you need to smoke and discharges the ant-nicotine chemicals which will make you feel tired, depressed and desires to smoke a cigarette.

Addiction to cigarette smoking is influenced by different trigger. A trigger is anything your brain associates with smoking easily. Smokers do not have the same triggers it could be:

  • The smell of cigarette smoke
  • A cigarette smoke ashtray put next to you
  • Seeing a carton of cigarettes at the store
  • Having certain food or drinks
  • The ending a good meal
  • Talking to someone with whom you normally smoke cigarettes.
  • Sometimes just the way you feel (sad or happy) is a trigger.

One of the biggest keys to quitting smoking understands the triggers that make you crave for smoking.

Desire to Quit Smoking – There is many ways of quitting smoking and they work differently to people some work better than others. The best approach is to choose a method which will challenge you to quit, but also one that you can achieve.

Behavioral therapy – With behavioral therapy, you visit a therapist who will help you find the most effective way to quit. The therapist will help you to identify your triggers, come up with ways to get through cravings, and provide emotional support when you need it most.

Nicotine replacement therapy – Nicotine gum, patches, inhalers, sprays, and lozenges are nicotine replacement therapies also known as NRT. Replacement therapy works by giving you nicotine without using tobacco. You may be more likely to quit smoking if you use nicotine replacement therapy however for persons age 18, your doctor’s consent to use nicotine replacement therapy will be necessary. This therapy works best when combined with behavioral therapy and lots of support from friends and family.

Medicine – Some drugs, including Zyban and Chantix, are formulated to help people quit smoking. You must never administer these on your own a prescription must come from your doctor.

Combination treatments – Using a combination of treatment methods can increase your chances of quitting e.g. by using both a nicotine patch and gum may be better than a patch alone. Other confirmed combination treatments include:

  • Behavioral therapy and nicotine replacement therapy
  • Prescription medication with a nicotine patch
  • Nicotine patch and nicotine spray.

What If I Start Smoking Again?

To go back to your old habit is known to us relapse which is normal in strong addictions like smoking. If this happens to you, you must not give up because you are not alone in relapsing. Many people will relapse many times before quitting permanently. I want to encourage you not to give up on this journey quitting is a process that might take some time and you will need the advice and guidance from addiction experts.  Dr. Dalal Akoury is one of the many you can seek help from. She has been offering addiction treatment in a very unique way to many people globally for over two decades now. In her quest to serve you better she founded AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center a facility offering exclusive NER Recovery Treatment to all people from all works of life including other physicians and health care professionals through training, clinical apprenticeships, webinars and seminars. Your condition will be best attended to at this facility where only qualified professional serve. Welcome and be part of this truly successful and fast addiction recovery treatment.

Quitting Smoking – Drug Addiction

 

 

 

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Homeopathy Treatment and Addiction

July 16, 2014

Homeopathy Treatment for Addiction

This is a natural method of treatment which is based on the philosophy that body has ability to heal itself. It is one of the oldest methods of natural treatment dating back to the late 1700s when it was founded in Germany. This medicine views symptoms of the illness as normal response of the body while it is in the process of healing itself. An interesting principle of this medicine is that, “like heals like” which means if a substance can cause symptoms when given to someone, it means the substance can be used to cure the illness if given small amount.

How does it work?

Since this medicine believes that giving a small amount of a symptom causing substance can heal the illness, it uses small substances which are diluted in water. These substances are diluted until no part of the original substance remains undiluted.

This kind of medicine is used to treat extremely wide range of conditions, which include physical conditions like asthma and psychological conditions like depression.

Is this medicine safe?

Yes. Homeopathic remedies are generally safe and they have no history of residual effects. The risks and side effects which may arise from the usage of these methods are clinically thought to be negligible.

Homeopathy Treatment

When is homeopathy useful?

If we look at history, homeopathy has been used in the maintenance of long-term illnesses such as:-irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis among others. They have also been used in the treatment of minor injuries including cuts and strains. This medicine is still useful in those areas, but it has been cautioned that homeopathy is not appropriate for treatment of illnesses such as heart diseases, cancer, major infections and emergency. This is for obvious reason that these kinds of illnesses require urgent treatment and failure to which they are known to pose life threat and one may die.

Where do I get these medicines?

As a matter of fact, homeopathy is not commonly available in most of the hospitals in the world. This is because homeopathy is normally practiced privately. However, there are hospitals and therapeutic health care centers which offer this important medicine. Are you now wondering where they are located? AWAREmed is your solution! We have homeopathy medicines in our store and professionals who will help you out. All you need to do is to visit us all call us for details.

How is the medication process?

The process or procedure which will be used when you visit a health facility for medication will vary, but a few things will always be common.

When you visit a homeopath for the first time, a point of interest will be to first grasp your health status and pointing out any specific health condition. Therefore, they will most likely ask you about any specific health condition, but also more importantly your general wellbeing, lifestyle, emotional state and even diet.

What happens next? Based on the information collected above, the homeopath will be able to decide on your course of medication. This treatment in most cases will take the form of homeopathy remedies given as pills, capsules or sometimes tincture.

It is important to note that the course of treatment will depend on the individuals and the homeopath’s assessment of your condition. It is also vital noting that, just like many other treatment and recovery methods, the results are always not instant especially in the view that this method that will rely on the body to heal itself after ensuring necessary conditions for recovery are maintained. Regular assessments by the homeopath may be consequently important to know the progress. Ensure that you keep in touch with your homeopath regularly for assessment of your progress.

What Can We Conclude About Homeopathy?

Homeopathy TreatmentThere are a few thing that we can conclude from this treatment, one of the outstanding ones being that there is no enough evidence to the believe that substances can that induce certain symptoms can be used to treat them. Also the idea of shaking those substances into water has not been proven whether it can produce a reliable medicine though it has in many cases healed patients.

It can be argued that, since the substances which are used in the shake to produce the medicine are usually diluted with water up to a point where the original substance parts are not available, it is likely that in the final medicine there will be no single molecule of the substance. What does this imply? It is possible for us to conclude that homeopathic remedies are nothing but water. Thus the argument of them being able to treat becomes questionable.

It is also possible that the people who use homeopath remedies see improvements in their health due to the phenomenon known as the placebo effect which is the power of the mind to influence the body. This is also referred to as “having faith”, something which will make you believe the medicine will heal you even if the medicine doesn’t have any capability to make any noticeable change. It is always important for us to be aware of the placebo effects before we judge the medication that we are undergoing.

Homeopathy Treatment for Addiction

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Effects of Crack Cocaine

July 14, 2014

Effects of Crack Cocaine-Drug Addiction

Cocaine

Crack cocaine addiction, it does not matter how you take it the bottom line is that it is death in waiting. Good news is that you can stop it.

It is everybody’s wish to be healthy and remain so in their whole life time. This desire is always under attack from all directions by all manner of things. Drug addiction is one of the most dreaded conditions that reverse the live healthy wish. In an attempt to trying to unlocking the this we have chosen to use this link to post informatory addiction articles to educate the public of the dangers involve in life if one associate with drugs. There are so many drugs being abused today however for the purpose of our discussion we will zero into cocaine and revel how it affect the addicted individuals and the general public. Our discussion will be in broken in two segments that is:

i.        Short term effects

ii.        Long term effects

Short term effects of crack cocaine

  • Crack cocaine will temporarily lift your spirit as an addict but this feeling when the concentration dies off in your blood stream the addict experiences extreme depression and craves for more of the substance.
  • Individuals addicted to crack cocaine normally skip meals and often don’t have enough sleep.
  • They also experience high heart rate, muscle spasms, convulsion etc.
  • This dug can make users feel obsessed, irritated, unfriendly and nervous even when they are not high.
  • The risks of experiencing heart attack, suffer stroke, seizure or respiratory failure are systematic with crack cocaine users irrespective of quantity used. These can be very fatal killing the individual.
  • Smoking crack further presents a series of health risks. Crack is often mixed with other substances that create toxic fumes when burned. As crack smoke does not remain potent for long, crack pipes are generally very short. This often causes cracked and blistered lips, known as “crack lip,” from users having a very hot pipe pressed against their lips.

Long term effects of crack cocaine

Besides the common dangers related to cocaine use, addicts are likely to suffer respiratory complications, alongside coughing, shortness of breath bleeding and lung damage.

Long-term effects from use of crack cocaine include:

  • It causes severe damage to the heart, liver and kidneys. Users are more likely to have infectious diseases.
  • Continued daily use causes sleep deprivation and loss of appetite, resulting in malnutrition.
  • Smoking crack cocaine also can cause aggressive and paranoid behavior.
  • Since crack cocaine also interferes with the way the brain processes chemicals, one needs large quantities of the drug just to feel “normal.”
  • Those who become addicted to crack cocaine lose interest in other areas of life.
  • Crack cocaine causes depression and when this becomes intensified, the addict can do anything to get the supply. They can be very extreme even to the point of committing murder. If for whatever reason the supply is not fourth coming, depression can drive the addict to the wall of suicide.

Physical and Mental effects- Short term

Because it is smoked, the short term effects of crack cocaine are more immediate and more intense than that of powdered cocaine as discussed below:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature
  • Contracted blood vessels
  • Increased rate of breathing
  • Dilated pupils
  • Disturbed sleep patterns
  • Nausea
  • Hyperstimulation
  • Bizarre, erratic, sometimes violent behavior
  • Hallucinations, hyperexcitability, irritability
  • Tactile hallucination that creates the illusion of bugs burrowing under the skin
  • Intense euphoria
  • Anxiety and paranoia
  • Depression
  • Intense drug craving
  • Panic and psychosis
  • Convulsions, seizures and sudden death from high doses (even one time)
Physical and mental effects-Long term effects
  • Permanent damage to blood vessels of ear and brain, high blood pressure, leading to heart attacks, strokes and death
  • Liver, kidney and lung damage
  • Severe chest pains
  • Respiratory failure
  • Infectious diseases and abscesses if injected
  • Malnutrition, weight loss
  • Severe tooth decay
  • Auditory and tactile hallucinations
  • Sexual problems, reproductive damage and infertility (for both men and women)
  • Disorientation, apathy, confused exhaustion
  • Irritability and mood disturbances
  • Increased frequency of risky behavior
  • Delirium or psychosis
  • Severe depression
  • Tolerance and addiction (even after just one use)
Effects on the young Children

It is so painful that very innocent babies in their mother’s wombs become victims of cocaine. When pregnant women uses cocaine in whichever form the mother and the unborn child will all be in danger. This may increase the risk of losing the pregnancy especially in the early stages of the pregnancy. The consequences of cocaine use by pregnant women may result in the unborn baby suffers stroke, heart attack or have permanent brain damage.

Drug dealers/supplies

Research has established that most young people in drugs today got into it because of pressure from their friends. They wanted to belong, feeling cool and famous. These pressures from friends are known by the supplies and they will use this as your weak point to lure you into drugs because they are only motivated by their need of making money. You must be careful with the drug dealers because all they care about is money, money and more money. They care less if the drugs ruin your life as long as they get money.

The truth you need to know

To help you be safe you must get to know the facts at fingertip so that you do not fall prey to these heartless drug dealers.

 

  • You must distance yourself from drugs by all means.
  • Drugs are basically poisons. The quantity taken determines the damage caused.
  • A small amount acts as a stimulant (speeds you up).
  • A greater amount acts as a sedative (slows you down).
  • An even larger amount poisons and can kill.

This is true of all drugs. Only the quantity needed to achieve the effect differs nonetheless many drugs have other liabilities like: they affect the mind directly distorting the user’s perception of what is happening around them and as a result, the person’s actions may be odd, irrational, inappropriate and even destructive.

Drugs block off all sensations, the desirable ones with the unwanted. So, while providing short-term help in the relief of pain, they also wipe out ability and alertness and muddy one’s thinking.

Finally all the medicines we use are drugs whose objective is to correct something about the way your body is working with a view of trying to making it work better. These drugs are sometimes necessary but all the same they are still drugs: they act as stimulants or sedatives, and too much can kill you. So if you do not use medicines as they are supposed to be used, they can be as dangerous as illegal drugs. Therefore you must ensure that you are always seeking guidance from the experts to avoid doing wrong things. At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care you will get all the information and guidance you need and you will also be attended to by a team of experts who will focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE.

Effects of Crack Cocaine-Drug Addiction

 

 

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INTERNET ADDICTION AND ITS TREATMENT

July 14, 2014

Tackling Internet Addiction

Internet addiction is an impulse control disorder that does not usually require use of intoxicating drugs. It’s also very similar to drug addiction and even gambling. These addicts of the net may at times build up emotional affection to friends they meet online. Some of these friends that they have never met physically before in their lives. Some will even create activities online to keep them going back to the net. These platforms like social networking websites, chat rooms are just some of the aspects that these internet addicts use.

Blogging has also been known to keep internet lovers for many, many hours on screen while searching for internet topics and even end up trying to imagine themselves in the topic of discussion. What is blogging? It’s a web blog where a person can post their comments or ideas while keeping ordinary journal of events.

Just like other addictions, internet addicts usually have the desire of connecting to the real people or at least who they think are real through the net. They find it as an alternative to connecting to people who they would have not achieved by and large. This addiction is growing so much and very fast rate among the youth. The fact that gadgets like mobile phones are easily attainable has also widely contributed. There is also very little restrictions as to who and what age one should handle a phone. The world has gone very digital that a day without internet can be a very long day for these addicts.

internet addiction

Effects of internet addiction

Just like any other addictions, internet addiction will most of the time end in academic, , personal, financial, occupational and even family problems that are more often characterized by other addictions. Most real life affairs like marriage, friendship and even social life are always affected because of too much use of the internet because these addicts spend too much of their time in seclusion. They don’t spend enough time with the real people around them. They become so anti social that people will start finding them awkward because of the time they spend on the internet.

Have you even seen the people who surf the net and when they see someone approaching they hide whatever it is they were doing in the net? Well these are just some of the characteristics of internet addiction. They always don’t like people knowing that they spend too much of their time on the net. These kind of actions will also lead to the detriment of a quality relationship that was once very stable.

Some will even go as far as creating multiple online identities or profiles where they will pretend to be someone other people and even engage people in conversation using all those identities. They even go as far believing that all those identities are real. People who are susceptible to this kind of addictions are mostly people with very low self esteem of themselves. The ones who feel unwanted and inadequate in the society or among their peers

Addiction is addiction and people facing internet addiction are bound to face severe withdrawal symptoms that will include mood swings, fear, anxiety, loneliness, sadness, anger and even depression. Others will even be bored and have stomach upsets. Too much dependency on the net will also make someone develop medical problems that will most of the time include backaches, dry eyes and carpal tunnel syndrome. Some are even known to have eating irregularities, difficulty in sleeping and even poor personal hygiene.

Signs and symptoms of internet addiction

When one stays on the net for more hours than he had expected and is still not satisfied. When your thoughts are constantly on what you had encountered or watched on the net earlier even when you are not online and is anxious about the next episode or series or program. When you find yourself gradually remaining alone without friends, job or even an important relationship that there once was then know that you are headed to the problem of getting addicted to the net. Some even go as far as lying to close friends, bosses, family members and even therapists that they don’t have such problems in an attempt to hide the extent of the addiction.

Help and treatment of internet addiction

Agreeing and accepting that one has a problem with internet is the first step to getting help. There are usually trained addiction therapist who will more often execute assessment to find out the level of addiction and give an appropriate care. Counseling and abstinence can help resolve internet addiction. One needs to get help as soon as possible as this addiction has led to serious problems such as infant deaths or malnutrition due to neglect by their parents or caretakers who spend more time on net instead of tending to them due to internet addiction.

Tackling Internet Addiction

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