Alcohol addiction role in malnutrition and liver intoxication

June 28, 2015

Alcohol addiction role in malnutrition and liver intoxication: The pain of substance abuse

Alcohol addiction role in malnutrition and liver intoxication. This kind of addiction if not addressed will bring serious health complications in human life.

Do you know the content of alcohol you take? Of what nutritional value are you getting from the consumption of alcohol? Ideally when we eat, we expect to be well nourished by the kinds of food we take. Such food needs to be rich in all the valuable nutrients the body requires to function normally. However this is not always the case. In many occasions we have violated out body by feeding it with toxic elements and other foods that add nothing of importance to the well-being of our health. This is what this article is all about and we want to unlock all the hidden information about alcohol addiction role in malnutrition and live intoxication so that we are aware of the next cause of action. When dealing with any form of addiction, it is important to involve the various experts in the line of addiction from the very beginning. And that is why in our case study, we are going to be talking to doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. It is not advisable that when you are struggling with addiction, you self-medicate. This is not right and the services of a physician are very vital from the onset.

Now to the topic of discussion, alcohol consumption is never beneficial to human health. This is not any secrete but a common fact to both the producers, consumers and the licensing authorities of alcohol use. Being a legal drink, its usage is not prohibited by law and so people can drink at will so long as they keep to the limit. And talking about limit, this is where the problem begins, being highly addictive in nature, it is often very difficult to adhere to the required ceiling and so the abuse continues followed by all the effects that are associated with drug use.

Alcohol addiction role in malnutrition and liver intoxication: The nutrition content

Doctor Dalal Akoury says that the effects of alcohol abuse is actually felt in all homes either directly and indirectly and that is causing many alcoholics malnourished, either because they ingest too little of essential nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins or because alcohol and its metabolism prevented their body from properly absorbing, digesting and making good use of those nutrients. The consequences of this is that many alcohol users particularly the alcoholics, they suffer frequent deficiencies of vital nutrients including proteins and vitamins, and more so vitamin A, which may contribute to liver disease and other serious alcohol–related disorders.

Nevertheless doctor Akoury acknowledges that a complex relationship do exists between an individual’s alcohol consumption and his or her nutritional status. Majority of users of alcohol whether those abusing it or those taking in moderation or light drinkers who consume one to two glasses or less of an alcoholic beverage per day, consider those beverages a part of their normal diet and acquire a certain number of calories from them. When consumed in excess, however, alcohol can cause diseases by interfering with the nutritional status of the user. For example, alcohol can alter the intake, absorption into the body, and utilization of various nutrients. In addition, alcohol exerts some harmful effects through its breakdown (i.e., metabolism) and the resulting toxic compounds, particularly in the liver, where most of the alcohol metabolism occurs.

Alcohol addiction role in malnutrition and liver intoxication: Nutritional value of alcohol

When pointing out at alcohol addiction role in malnutrition and liver intoxication, the main reason behind it would be the nutritional value of alcohol if any. Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are in agreement that the water forms the greatest content of alcohol, followed by pure alcohol also known as ethanol and inconstant quantities of sugar (carbohydrates). The other content of alcohol like proteins, vitamin, and minerals are usually very negligible. And since these nutrients are considered negligible leaving water and ethanol as the main factors, alcoholic beverages are often considered as empty calories. This therefore means that, any calories provided by alcoholic beverages are derived from the carbohydrates and alcohol they contain. And remember that the carbohydrate content usually varies greatly among beverage types.

At least under certain conditions, however, alcohol–derived calories when consumed in substantial amounts can have less biologic value than carbohydrate–derived calories, as shown in a study in the weights of two groups of participants who received balanced diets containing equal numbers of calories. In one of the groups, 50 percent of total calories were derived from carbohydrates, whereas in the other group the calories were derived from alcohol. The study participants were observed on the metabolic ward of a hospital during the experiments. The quantity of alcohol administered did not exceed the amount routinely consumed by these volunteers.

Although all participants received the same number of calories, those in the alcohol group exhibited a decline in body weight compared with those in the carbohydrate group. Moreover, when the participants received additional calories in the form of alcohol, they did not experience any corresponding weight gain. This suggests that some of the energy contained in alcohol is “lost” or “wasted” meaning, it is not valuable to the body for producing or maintaining body mass.

Finally it is now evident that alcoholic beverages are not nutritious as users would want us to believe. Couple with that, users of alcohol often abuses the drink to the extent that they forget to take care of themselves by way of even feeding themselves. This practice is very dangerous and has landed many into the state of serious malnutrition. If this habit is not dealt with, we will be losing many of these people to alcohol. Therefore having read about alcohol addiction role in malnutrition and liver intoxication, you need to evaluate yourself and see if this article is describing any of your situations or that of a loved one. If the answer is yes, then you need to seek for help immediately today by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury to take you through the healing process in the most healthy and professional way. As you consider doing that, we are not done with this discussion, and therefore join us in the next article as we continue unlocking all the facts about alcohol addiction role in malnutrition and liver intoxication.

Alcohol addiction role in malnutrition and liver intoxication: The pain of substance abuse

The threats of stress and anxiety in addiction

June 24, 2015

The threats of stress and anxiety in addiction: Why it has become necessary to treat

The threats of stress and anxiety in addiction can make you lose your self esteem and bring your serious health complications

In life we are often faced with different threats that bring a lot of discomfort to our health and well-being. While discussing the dangers of stress and anxiety in addiction we noted that stress is closely associated with drug addiction and all for the wrong reasons. This collaboration is wreaking havoc to human health and we were able to identify some conditions that come with this relationship. Some of those conditions included gastrointestinal Problems, eating and Stress and diabetes. And as we progress in to the last part of this discussion, we want to dig deeper into other problems that come with the threats of stress and anxiety in addiction. Therefore doctor Dalal Akoury the MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is going to share with us some of the effects in relation to pain, sleeping disturbances, sexual and reproductive dysfunction, memory, concentration, and learning among other relevant conditions to the topic of discussion.

The threats of stress and anxiety in addiction: Pain

Pain is a common phenomenon in very situations of life. It can be physical or even psychological but in all these it will still remain to be painful. Currently the relationship between pain and emotion is still under investigation by the experts. This investigation or study is facing challenges in the sense that many factors like how different personalities responds to pain and emotion, and the fear of pain and stress itself. However available evidence point to the direction that that chronic pain may impair the action of neutrophils and thereby weakening the immune response. Let’s consider the following pain for a better understanding:

Muscular and Joint Pain – in this case it is believed that stress may intensify chronic pain caused by arthritis and other conditions. Psychological distress also plays a significant role in the severity of back pain. Some studies have clearly associated job dissatisfaction and depression to back problems, although it is still unclear whether stress is a direct cause of the back pain.

Headaches – Tension type headaches are highly associated with stress and stressful events. Sometimes the headache does not start until long after the stressful event has ended. Additionally, stress can contribute to the development of headaches or cause headaches to occur more frequently. Some research suggests that people who experience tension-type headaches may have some biological predisposition for translating stress into muscle contractions. Among the wide range of possible migraine triggers is emotional stress although the headaches often erupt after the stress has eased.

The threats of stress and anxiety in addiction: Sleep Disturbances

The tensions of unresolved stress frequently cause insomnia, which prevents stressed people from sleeping or causes them to awaken in the middle of the night or early morning. This appears to be due to the fact that stress causes physiological arousal during non-rapid eye movement sleep.

The threats of stress and anxiety in addiction: Sexual and Reproductive Dysfunction

Sexual Function – Stress can reduce sexual desire and cause women to be unable to achieve orgasm. The stress response leads to a drop in androgen (male hormone) levels, sometimes contributing to temporary erectile dysfunction in men.

Premenstrual Syndrome – Some studies indicate that the stress response in women with premenstrual syndrome may be more intense than in those without the syndrome.

Fertility – Chronic stress may affect fertility. Stress hormones have an impact on the hypothalamus, which produces reproductive hormones. This effect may lead to changes in a woman’s menstrual cycle, as well as a reduction in a man’s sperm count. Stress can also reduce sex drive.

Effects on Pregnancy – Old wives’ tales about a pregnant woman’s emotions affecting her baby may have some credence. Stress may cause physiological alterations, such as increased adrenal hormone levels or resistance in the arteries, which may interfere with normal blood flow to the placenta. Maternal stress during pregnancy has been linked to a higher risk for miscarriage, lower birth weight, and an increased incidence of premature births. Some evidence also suggests that an expectant mother’s stress can even influence the way in which her baby’s brain and nervous system will react to stressful events. One study found a higher rate of crying and low attention in infants of mothers who had been stressed during pregnancy.

The threats of stress and anxiety in addiction: Memory, Concentration, and Learning

Stress affects the brain, particularly memory, but the effects vary widely depending on whether the stress is acute or chronic.

Effect of Acute Stress on Memory and Concentration – Studies indicate that the immediate effect of acute stress impairs short-term memory, particularly verbal memory. On the plus side, high levels of stress hormones during short-term stress have been associated with enhanced memory storage, improved working memory, and greater concentration on immediate events. The difference in effect may be due to how cortisol impacts glucocorticoid receptors in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

Effects of Chronic Stress on Memory – If stress becomes chronic sufferers often lose concentration at work and home, and they may become inefficient and accident-prone. In children, the physiologic responses to chronic stress can interfere with learning. Studies have connected long-term exposure to excess amounts of the stress hormone, cortisol to a shrinking of the hippocampus, the brain’s memory center. It is not yet known whether this shrinking is reversible.

The threats of stress and anxiety in addiction: Substance Abuse

People who are under chronic stress often turn to illicit activities in the hope that they will get relief they can also indulge in misuse of alcohol or tobacco for relief. These substances are actually self-destructive in their own right and when accompanied with stress the damage caused by these habits becomes severe in relation to the same happening under ordinary circumstances without the presence of stress. Besides that many people also resort to unhealthy eating habits, smoking, or passive activities, such as watching television when they are stressed. Remember that alcohol affects receptors in the brain that reduce stress and luck of nicotine increases stress in smokers, which creates a cycle of dependency on smoking.

The experts reiterates that the cycle is self-perpetuating a sedentary routine, an unhealthy diet, alcohol abuse and smoking all these promotes heart disease. They also interfere with sleep patterns, and lead to increased rather than reduced tension levels. Drinking four or five cups of coffee, for example, can cause changes in blood pressure and stress hormone levels similar to those produced by chronic stress. Finally we have by now seen that the friendship between drug addiction and stress is not in any way good for human health. The two must be separated and most importantly we must desire to eliminate them. You can begin the journey of this worthy elimination by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for the commencement of your treatment that will restore your life back to the fullest.

The threats of stress and anxiety in addiction: Why it has become necessary to treat

Locating the best addiction crisis recovery treatment

June 23, 2015

Locating the best addiction crisis recovery treatment: When it has become necessary to treat

Come and let us help you in locating the best addiction crisis recovery treatment that will deliver solutions to all your addiction concerns

The campaign about substance abuse prevention has been on for several decades in different media and taking different dimensions every day from legislation, religious involvement and self-discipline. All these are professionally done in a bid to bring to order the act of irresponsibility that has been witnessed in the circles of drug consuming societies. I know of certain societies where alcohol abuse has completely killed the economic well-being of the people. Men no longer work to provide for their families and women and children are over burden with the double role of keeping the family a float. All these are happening because of misuse of drugs and alcohol. Before I get deep in to the discussion about locating the best addiction crisis recovery treatment, I want to ask, must we wait for the situation to reach a crisis level? And what are you doing in your big or small way to help bring this problem of addiction to a manageable level? I spoke to doctor Dalal Akoury the MD and also the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center about this great concern, and she is going to be very instrumental in shading more light for our understanding of some of the things we need to know.

Doctor Akoury says that when prevention has failed treatment should be sought for immediately. In some cases the situation could be urgent and recurring a crisis way of response, and should this be the case, then it is important to note that the best crises recovery centers should be the ones that can treat your behavioral disorder as well as your addiction. At this facility (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) we have highly trained personnel to take you through all the healing processes that will live you much healthier and free from any effects of addiction no matter the stage and all other complications that come with it. Therefore if you or someone you love has a behavioral disorder and is also suffering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol, help is readily available up on scheduling for an appointment with doctor Akoury today. Nonetheless it is important to remember that there are many crisis addiction treatment facilities around you and throughout the country and beyond and the choice you make should be above board so that the desired result is delivered timely and to the satisfaction of your needs.

Locating the best addiction crisis recovery treatment: Behavioral disorders

The phrase behavioral disorders a collection of several meanings ranging from mental health issues including anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders and personality disorders. In many cases, these disorders may start during childhood, and they may last through teenage years and into adulthood. Experts say that living with a behavioral disorder can make ones regular life very difficult and unbearable. Therefore, many people who are struggling with behavioral disorders may be tempted to turn to doing the wrong things to cope like taking drugs and alcohol. According to numbers compiled by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, people who suffer from behavioral disorders as well as addiction face life expectancies that are approximately 35 years lower than average. With the right help, however, there is hope. It is possible to get help for these issues from a crisis rehab facility. In order to increase your chances of a successful recovery, you should try to select the very best inpatient recovery center. The right center will be able to meet all of your needs, as they treat both your addiction and behavioral disorder.

Locating the best addiction crisis recovery treatment: Finding a crisis recovery center with a dual focus

We are in the business of find lasting solutions to some of these addiction related problems and therefore when looking for a crisis rehab facility, it is very important that you are aware of what you are looking for. Remember that choices has consequences either positive or negative meaning that your choice must be right from the beginning. You will have to choose between private facilities and government-funded facilities, and you will also pick from facilities that offer different types of treatment. The choices you ultimately make will depend on your personal preferences, your insurance provider and your long-term recovery goals. However one of the most important things to look for is a facility that focuses on both mental health issues and addiction issues so that all your conditions can be addressed simultaneously. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, about 32 percent of all crisis recovery centers have a dual focus on treating substance abuse alongside mental health issues which is a good indication that you will land in the right place for treatment. Nonetheless if you are not sure, then you need to consult with your physician for direction.

Locating the best addiction crisis recovery treatment: Finding the best services

Different facilities may offer different services, and to ensure that your needs are being adequately met, you need to find a facility that offers the services that are important to you. Some of the services that may be offered include:

Comprehensive assessments to determine substance abuse issues as well as mental health issues
Mental health diagnostics
Interim services so you can get treatment while you wait to be admitted to your facility of choice
Drug and alcohol testing throughout treatment to ensure you don’t relapse
Transitional services to help you prepare to move back into your community once you complete treatment
Medication to help withdrawal symptoms
Medication to treat mental health issues
Substance abuse classes and education
Behavioral therapy to treat addictions as well as behavioral disorders

Locating the best addiction crisis recovery treatment: The right therapy for your needs

There is no single type of therapy that works for every person, and when you are choosing a crisis recovery center, you will need to take steps to ensure that the facility offers the best therapy for your needs. Ideally, you want to select a facility that offers a behavioral approach to therapy, but you may want to consider other factors as well. Like for instance, if you know that your faith is important to you, you may want to choose a crisis recovery facility that offers a faith-based approach to therapy. If you have struggled with trauma that may have affected your behavioral disorder or your addiction, you may need a facility that can treat those issues. Therefore when looking for a crisis rehab facility, you will encounter facilities that have the following approaches to therapy:

Motivational incentives or other therapeutic methods that focus on giving you positive motivation to quit using drugs or alcohol
The matrix model of addiction treatment
Intervention
Addiction counseling and relapse prevention therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Anger management training
Twelve-step programs
Counseling to treat trauma
Rational therapy or rational emotive therapy

Finally it is important to appreciate that many facilities do offer more than one approach to therapy and treatment in the same facility. And in that case narrowing your selections to find the best inpatient behavioral disorder recovery center can be difficult without the right resources. And that is where AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center comes in. we have all the resources you need to have the job done all you need on your part is to call doctor Dalal Akoury today for an appointment and your worries will be sorted out in the most professional manner.

Locating the best addiction crisis recovery treatment: When it has become necessary to treat

Having a guide to drug addiction recovery

June 20, 2015

Having a guide to drug addiction recovery: Defeating drug addiction

Having a guide to drug addiction recovery is not only very important but healthy in giving direction on how you will be handling your addiction problem

For consistency in the fight against the prevalence of drug addiction, all of us need to purpose to having a guide to drug addiction recovery process. Knowing what to do, when to do it and how to have it done is very important. Therefore when it comes to drug addiction, it even becomes more significant to be on top of everything. Doctor Akoury states that addiction recovery programs generally include any process that treats patients for a dependency on psychoactive drugs or behavioral addictions. In the case of the former, this typically includes alcohol, opiates, barbiturates and amphetamines. The general purpose of drug rehab is to allow the patient to stop abusing these drugs, which can have serious financial, legal, physical and psychological consequences. Many specific types of drug addiction treatment exist, although they can generally be divided into medical and psychological methods. Psychotherapy is usually used in drug rehab programs, but medical treatments are typically used only for some types of drug addiction.

Drug recovery programs generally try to teach the patient ways to live in a drug-free environment. They encourage the patient not to associate with people who are still using drugs, and some programs explicitly prohibit this behavior. These programs typically emphasize the concept that recovery from drug dependency is a continuing process without a specific resolution. Some programs may advocate a reduction in the use of illegal drugs rather than outright abstention, although this is typically not a sustainable treatment plan in the long term. However, programs that deal with illegal drugs typically recommend abstention due to the legal consequences of consuming any amount of these substances. Some plans such as the 12-step programs used by Alcoholics Anonymous also encourage patients to change habits that may have led to their drug addictions.

Having a guide to drug addiction recovery: Disease Model

The disease model is one of the methods that have been use time immemorial in viewing drug addiction and it is still applicable currently. Under this model, the understanding is that the patterns of behavior leading to drug abuse have some biological causes that are intensified by environmental factors. In this model of drug addiction the understanding is that all addicts are not able of abstaining from drug abuse by themselves. Drug rehab programs based on this model require patients to admit their addiction and cease the behaviors that caused them to use drugs. These programs also instruct patients to obtain a support network of friends and family members in their effort to remain clean and sober. The 12-step programs are strongly based on the disease model of drug addiction.

In one of the studies conducted in 1999 and published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research shows that participation in 12-step programs is an accurate predictor of success after one year of abstinence. However, these programs have also received significant criticism based on the spiritual orientation of these programs. A socio-cognitive analysis of substance abuse appearing in a 1999 issue of Psychological Science challenges the psychological basis for 12-step programs. A class-action lawsuit in 2006 opposed the constitutionality of court-ordered 12-step programs. These programs are most successful with alcohol abuse, which was their original focus. They are less successful with opiate addiction, which tends to do best with maintenance therapy.

Having a guide to drug addiction recovery: Facility Types

In the advent of fighting drug addiction, it is important to note that drug rehab facilities may take many specific forms including some of the following:

Counseling
Extended care
Medical care
Mental health
Outpatient programs
Recovery houses
Residential programs
Support groups

Some centers cater to population groups based on criteria such as age, gender and religion. Organizations such as the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors classify treatment providers according to the providers’ spiritual beliefs. Most treatment centers currently treat multiple issues for each patient rather than just the addiction. Medical treatment for drug addiction in particular is generally viewed as ineffective by itself. The National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends that detoxification should be the first step in a drug rehab program and be followed by behavioral and medical therapy. NIDA also recommends that these therapies be followed up by a program to prevent relapse. Patient motivation is generally regarded as a critical factor in the success of a drug rehab program regardless of the specific methods used.

Having a guide to drug addiction recovery: Psychological Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the most common types of psychological therapy used in the treatment of drug abuse. The purpose of this therapy is to allow patients to recognize the situations that are most likely to result in a relapse and help them to cope with the situations. Family therapy is intended to improve a family’s functioning to support the patient’s recovery. The intent of motivational interviewing is to increase the patient’s motivation to enter a rehab and recovery treatment program. This technique relies primarily on positive reinforcement as an incentive for abstaining from drugs.

Having a guide to drug addiction recovery: Chemical Therapy

The medical treatments for drug dependence can generally be grouped according to the brain system affected by those drugs. For example, the same medications are used to treat opiate addiction regardless of the specific opiates the patient is abusing. Methadone is the traditional medical treatment for an addiction to opiates, which includes cocaine, heroin and morphine in addition to similar prescription drugs. Buprenorphine is a more recent medical treatment for opiate addiction. These medications are used as a detoxification aid and as maintenance addiction therapy as a patient can take them indefinitely. Maintenance therapy is especially important for addiction illegal drugs, given the high relapse rate of opiate addiction.

Having a guide to drug addiction recovery: Counseling

Finally in her over two decades of practice, doctor Akoury agrees that counseling is one of the traditional treatments of drug addiction that has been used for decades and it is still effective even today. Counseling as mode of treatment may deliver good result in the addiction recovery even though this process may be more difficult when the patient has a chemical imbalance in the brain. It is most often performed in a group setting where the patients have some traits in common. Individual counseling is more likely when the patient has unique psychological issues. Counseling often takes the form of regular sessions, typically on a daily or weekly basis. Additional counseling sessions may occur as needed, such as crisis counseling or drop-in counseling. Intervention is a similar process in which family members request that a counselor convince the addict to enter treatment. And when going through all these it is important for you to always be in close touch with the professionals in addiction. You may want to schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury to help you in your struggle with addiction today and she will be of great help to you and your family.

Having a guide to drug addiction recovery: Defeating drug addiction

The process of detoxification of cocaine and opiate

June 18, 2015

The process of detoxification of cocaine and opiate: The reasons why detoxification must be done

The process of detoxification of cocaine and opiate are very necessary for the eventual recovery from addiction

When one is suffering from drug addiction, the first thing that the individual needs to do is to accept that he or she has a problem that needs to be fixed. This is always one step that often looks very easy but on paper but always very difficult in practice. However when we succeed in this then the next step would be to detoxify. This is what we want to concentrate on in this article so that we can begin to appreciate the positive solutions accruing from the process of detoxification of cocaine and opiate. We will be relying heavily on the expertise of the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center to shed more light about this first step of drug addiction treatment.

The process of detoxification of cocaine and opiate: Cocaine Detoxification

First of all medical detoxification is a process that systematically and safely withdraws people from addicting drugs this process is usually done under the care of a qualified physician. The consequences of drinking alcohol or using drugs is that when abused over a period of time, they can cause physical dependence and stopping them can result in withdrawal symptoms in people with this dependence. Therefore detoxification process is designed primarily to treat the immediate bodily effects of stopping drug use and to remove toxins left in the body as a result of the chemicals found in drugs or alcohol.

While at the present time, no proven pharmacologic therapy for cocaine addiction exists, several kinds of medications have been used in the detoxification of cocaine. Withdrawal from chronic cocaine use produces anxiety, depression and intense cravings for the drug. Several types of medications address these issues in different ways.

Antidepressant drugs such as desipramine or a combination of phentermine and fenfluramine have been used to reduce cocaine withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and depression.
Benzodiazepines, tranquilizers such as Diazepam, have been used to reverse anxiety induced by cocaine withdrawal.
Amantadine, a drug used to treat Parkinson’s Disease, may be an effective treatment for cocaine-dependent patients with severe cocaine withdrawal symptoms and may reduce cocaine craving.
Bromocriptine, a drug that works on the brain’s dopamine system, has been used to decrease the craving for cocaine during detoxification and to reduce mood disturbance.
Propanolol, a beta-blocker drug used to treat high blood pressure, may be useful for severe cocaine withdrawal symptoms, as it slows down the effects of adrenaline, thereby calming the body’s “fight or flight” response to stressful situations.

This type of drug has been used to treat general anxiety and anxiety associated with alcohol withdrawal. Propranolol’s lessening of symptoms such as palpitations and sweating has helped reduce cocaine craving. Its use, however, is not risk free in patients who have taken cocaine and can be associated with decreased blood flow to the heart and other changes that predispose patients to arrhythmia and a severe increase in blood pressure that can lead to a stroke. Delayed toxic effects are possible. Any use of beta-blockers in this setting requires careful monitoring and caution.

The process of detoxification of cocaine and opiate: Opiate Detoxification

Medical Detoxification: In order to withdraw from certain addictive substances safely, it may be preferable and in some cases necessary to undergo medically supervised detoxification in a hospital or residential treatment center that has a detoxification unit. This would be advisable for patients that have been using an addictive substance heavily for a longer period of time and are more likely to have more severe withdrawal symptoms, or those with other significant health problems. Inpatient detoxification allows the patient to be closely monitored throughout the process and given appropriate medication to prevent severe withdrawal symptoms. It commonly involves the gradual administration of decreasing doses (tapering) of an agent that is related to the original drug of abuse that is now substituted to prevent withdrawal.

Rapid Detoxification: In this procedure drug withdrawal occurs while patients are asleep under general anesthesia. The patient is given intravenous injections of medications called opiate blockers which stop the action of narcotics and opiate drugs as well as injections of other medications that reduce the symptoms of withdrawal such as muscle relaxants or anti-nausea medications. This process results in rapid withdrawal from the physical effects of addiction. Through the use of opiate blockers such as naltrexone, naloxone, and nalmephine, physical detoxification is achieved within 4 to 8 hours. Rapid detox takes place in an intensive care unit of a hospital. Patients are usually discharged within 48 hours following recovery from anesthesia and assessment of their physical status.

Rapid detoxification helps reduce the distress of opiate withdrawal for people who are chemically dependent on narcotics such as heroin, Vicodin, Percocet, Demerol, Dilaudid, Darvocet, OxyContin, opium, morphine, codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, prescription painkillers, and all narcotic type drugs. It shortens the detoxification period and spares patients the pain and physical discomforts of withdrawal. It may be of great benefit to patients who suffer from severe withdrawal symptoms and who have failed repeatedly to complete conventional withdrawal programs. However, there are significant costs as well as risks associated with the use of general anesthesia. It is imperative that the procedure be performed by medical professionals who are highly trained in these procedures in a medical setting that is fully equipped to deal with any complications that may arise.

Ultra Rapid Detoxification: This procedure involves putting patients under general anesthesia and giving them a drug called Naltrexone which blocks all of their endorphin receptors. This accelerates the withdrawal process, pushing them into 100% detoxification within a 5-30 minute period. Although this is an extremely painful process it is tolerable under anesthesia. As with rapid detoxification, it is very costly and has significant medical risk.

Outpatient Detoxification: Outpatient medical detoxification is usually safe and effective for people who are more likely to have mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms. For instance, opiate detoxification in the outpatient primary care setting can be accomplished with a variety of medications such as buprenorphine-naloxone (BUP/NX) or clonidine alone or combined with naltrexone. Buprenex, approved by the FDA, can be given on an outpatient basis by physicians who receive required eight-hour training. Using Buprenex, the detoxification can take between 7-14 days.

Methadone: The most common method of opiate detoxification is to use Methadone in an approved clinic and slowly taper the patient down from the usual dose to zero over a period of approximately 21 days. This process still entails an uncomfortable withdrawal period and patients often use drugs during the withdrawal period. Now that you know what detoxification can do to those who are struggling with drug addiction, and being the first step of treatment, you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury for the process of detoxification of cocaine and opiate to begin in good time. Doing this is the best thing you can either do to yourself or to your loved ones because the result is comfort and productive life full of enjoyment and fulfillment.

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