What do you know about substance abuse

June 30, 2015

What do you know about substance abuse: Behind the smoke screen

What do you know about substance abuse? Is you habits in control of you life and you appear to be helpless? Seek for professional help today

The way we understand some of the things around us often make us do things which would one day be very costly for our health. Like for instance those in the business of drugs are out to make money but their line of business is very costly for their clients and the society in general. Today the world is chocking with effects of substance abuse thanks to the business done by drug barons. It is quit ironical that majority of their clients are those how cannot sustain the habit financially. And because these drugs are very addictive in nature, users have no choice but to continue doing what it takes to finance their addiction even if it will land them into the wrong side of the law. The other problem with drugs is the issue of tolerance. This is a serious contributing factor to drug addiction, and young people who are lured into drugs often start with what would be considered as soft drugs and when they can no longer get the high the used to get even after taking the same drug more and more, then they find themselves being graduated to more powerful drugs which will speed up the high experience. Before they realize, they are full addicts of hard drugs. So I ask how well do you know your drug and what do you know about substance abuse.

Speaking to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center a facility which was established by doctor Dalal Akoury you will find out that the use of marijuana is not only harmful to the pot smoker himself but this habit is also a risk to the whole society.

Research clearly shows that marijuana has the potential to cause problems in daily life. A study of 129 college students found that, among those who smoked the drug at least twenty-seven of the thirty days before being surveyed, critical skills related to attention, memory and learning were seriously diminished. A study of postal workers found that employees who tested positive for marijuana had 55% more accidents, 85% more injuries and a 75% increase in being absent from work.

In the recent past, experts have also established that cannabis intoxication was responsible for 4.3% of driver fatalities. And with the trend currently, it is becoming difficult to bring up children in clean environment where they will not be exposed to drugs. The rate at which young people are doing drugs is very high and the problem is that in most cases such individuals are not having accessed to the right and accurate information about drugs they use let alone the dangers they are putting themselves into. And in fact you will be surprised to at the ignorance of many people who will tell you out right that drugs like marijuana are not dangerous. If you have ever met with somebody like that, then be the best teacher to pass to them the right information. Some of these people may not really be ignorant but out of their own selfish quest to have more sales, will conceal the truth about the dangers of drugs and only sugar coat the information they know will appeal to your hearing.

The truth is marijuana is not just addictive, but very dangerous and can harm a person’s memory with the impact lasting for days or weeks after the immediate effects of the drug wear off. In one study, a group of heavy marijuana users were asked to recall words from a list. Their ability to correctly remember the words did not return to normal until as long as four weeks after they stopped smoking. Again it has been established that students who use marijuana have lower grades and are less likely to get into college than nonsmokers. They simply do not have the same abilities to remember and organize information compared to those who do not use these substances.

What do you know about substance abuse: What dealers will tell you?

Oh my goodness the major threat to the social fabric of our societies are the selfish drug barons. These people are only interested about their pocket and what gets into it. Your health is the least of their concern and they will tell everything persuasively to make you buy their drugs in total disregard of the consequences attached. In their irresponsible narration, they will tell you that soft drugs like marijuana are not harmful and will not in any way lead you into taking hard drugs. These people don’t care if the drugs ruin your life as long as they are getting paid. All they care about is money. Very shamefully many former dealers have admitted that they saw their clients as “pawns in a chess game.” What a description, the most painful part of it is that today our teenagers are so much into drugs thanks to their irresponsible supplies. It is important for young people to be alert all the time since these people will come as very good friends who want to help you out with something to bring you up. This is not helping, it is simply destroying since the drugs will help you fit in or make you cool but the consequences of those progressively can cost you your life. The best thing to do is to run away as fast as you can.

What do you know about substance abuse: Why do people take drugs?

The reasons why people take drugs very disappointingly crazy to say the least, simply because they want to change something in their lives they endanger that very life with drugs, what a pity. The following are some of the reasons young people have given in for taking drugs:

To fit in
To escape or relax
To relieve boredom
To seem grown up
To rebel
To experiment

With this they think that drugs are going to offer a lasting solution. But when they have taken the drug, they realize that the effect is only temporal and eventually, the drugs become a serious health problem. It is important to appreciate that as difficult as it may be to face one’s problems, the consequences of drug use are always worse than the problem one is trying to solve by taking the drugs. The real answer is to get the facts and not to take drugs in the first place. These facts are available at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of Doctor Dalal Akoury, you can therefore schedule for an appointment with her for a more professional approach in dealing with the problem at hand.

What do you know about substance abuse: Behind the smoke screen

The Effects of Marijuana on the Body

June 30, 2015

The Effects of Marijuana on the Body: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

The Effects of Marijuana on the Body can be very fatal. Look at the ruptured lungs of one seriously into marijuana smoking! It is very disturbing

Having the knowledge about the effects of marijuana on the body is very important not just to the addicts but also the family friends and relatives. With such information, individuals can take the right precautions in good time to avoid occurrence of serious health complications. I know that you may be wondering where to get such valuable health information, and I want to inform you that you are at the right place where you will meet great experts in their own right. I am making reference to the experts and professionals at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury’s care. You can therefore be the first to know with the experts by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today and your life will never be the same again.

Now to start us off on the discussion, doctor Akoury says that marijuana originates from the Cannabis plant. Besides the roots nearly every other part of the plant is used by its users. However before it is ready for consumption, it has to be prepared meaning that its flowers, seeds, leave, and stems must be shredded and dried before they can be useful. According to doctor Akoury, the most common means of administering this drug into the body system is through smoking; however it can also be mixed into food, brewed into tea, or even used in a vaporizer. Remember that marijuana has quite a number of ingredients that affects the normal functionalities of the body but one of its major ingredients is a mind-altering chemical called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). We will be making a lot of references about this as we progress into the discussion. Now experts have established that when you inhale marijuana smoke into your lungs, it is quickly released into your bloodstream which will act as its vehicle transporting it right away into your brain and other body organs. This journey is always a little bit faster when the substance is smoked however it will take a little longer to be absorbed when you eat or drink it.

It is also very important to note that the effects of marijuana on the body are immediate. Longer-term effects may depend on how you take it, how much you take, and how often you use it. Nevertheless a lot is being done about this substance and even though it is an illegal drug in many states across the globe, like in the US, this position is causing conducting large-scale studies to be very difficult to manage. Nevertheless in the recent years, the medicinal properties of marijuana are gaining acceptance in mainstream America. And in fact medical marijuana is now legal in 23 states and the District of Columbia. With THC and another ingredient called cannabidol (CBD) being the main substances of therapeutic interest. However it is important to note that the National Institutes of Health-funded research into the possible medicinal uses of THC and CBD is ongoing and it will be interesting to get there findings when the study is concluded.

The Effects of Marijuana on the Body: Respiratory System

The respiratory system of human beings is one such sensitive aspect of life. Anything affecting in the negative way literally brings down ones health to its knees. And therefore marijuana just like cigarette smoking produces intoxicated smoke loaded with a variety of toxic chemicals. These chemicals can be very irritating to the bronchial passages and even extends to the lungs. It therefore means that with this degree of irritation, anybody addicted to regular and intensive smoking of marijuana will most likely suffer coughing, wheezing and produce phlegm in the process. With such happenings, such users will be at increased risk of bronchitis and lung infections, and besides that it is worth noting that marijuana use may also exacerbate the prevailing respiratory illnesses like asthma and cystic fibrosis. In her submission, doctor Akoury also says that marijuana smoke is very rich in carcinogens, meaning that with constant abuse it can potentially raise ones risk of developing lung cancer. However, and this is very important, studies on the subject have had mixed results. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), there is no conclusive evidence that marijuana smoke causes lung cancer. It therefore means that a lot more research needs to be done to have a conclusive scientific statement about this.

The Effects of Marijuana on the Body: Circulatory System

With the use of marijuana, the circulatory system is one of the biggest casualties. This is because THC moves very fast from your lungs into your bloodstream and throughout your body. Within minutes, your heart rate may increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute and that is according to the NIDA findings. And remember that with this, the rapid heartbeat can continue for up to three hours. For people with heart disease, this faster heartbeat could raise the risk of heart attack and you can just imagine how fatal that can be. And just to bring you up to speed with some signs of marijuana use, it is worth noting that one of the revealing signs of recent marijuana use is bloodshot eyes. They look red because marijuana causes blood vessels in the eyes to expand or dilate. Marijuana may help stop the growth of blood vessels that feed cancerous tumors.

Ideally from the discussion so far it is very evident that the effects of marijuana on the body are not anything to be treated with contempt. This is something that we are going to be following for you from time to time so that this link can become your first one stop clinic for all matters relating to health and substance abuse. As we progress into this discussion in the next article, doctor Akoury will be shedding more light about the effects of marijuana on the body and particularly in relation to:

This is definitely something you don’t want to miss on so I want to take this earliest opportunity to request you to stay on the link and also to invite a friend so that we can all pool together in the fight against this vice of marijuana addiction and its effects to human health. But in the mean time I know that this article will not be conclusive if I don’t offer you solutions about all these effects and I promise I will not disappoint. All the solutions you need are rested at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. This facility was formed by doctor Dalal Akoury primarily to give her contribution in the transformation of each and every individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. This is one experience that you don’t want to be left out on. Remember that Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. What that means is that this is the home of all addiction related solutions and you are welcomed to associate with it for the benefit of your health and that of your family, friends and relatives.

The Effects of Marijuana on the Body: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

Role of Addiction Rehabilitation Therapy in Recovery

June 18, 2015

Role of Addiction Rehabilitation Therapy in Recovery: When rehab is all you need

Role of Addiction Rehabilitation Therapy in Recovery is very important in the treatment process of drug addiction because it is much detailed

In the course of treatment of drug addiction, the physician will have several options that he can administer to the patient. Before any physician can enroll a patient for whatever treatment, they will first carry out an evaluation on the patient and from the findings of the evaluation; an appropriate treatment method will be applied. Rehabilitation is one of the most commonly used in the treatment of drug addiction. Therefore we are purposing in this article to find out the role of addiction rehabilitation therapy in recovery process or as a means of treatment. With the help of doctor Dalal Akoury and her team of expert from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center the brain child of doctor Akoury we are going to explore in details all the benefits of rehabilitation therapy and a treatment mode of drug addiction. According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, the effects of drug and alcohol abuse can be significant in an individual’s life however, with the right addiction recovery therapy program; victims of drug addiction can still have an opportunity to lead a healthy life. Nonetheless it is important to note that when this problem is not addressed professionally, drug and alcohol abuse can take a heavy toll on every aspect of your life. It cause strain in family relationships and can impact on your health badly.

Role of Addiction Rehabilitation Therapy in Recovery: When should one opt for an addiction therapy?

Before we get to this, it is important that we erase from our minds the concoction that we can do it on our own. This has been the norm with many people suffering from drug or alcohol addiction that they can overcome their addictions alone. The truth is that, drug addiction is quite complex and that is why in many cases you or your loved ones may very well have a strong desire to quit on your own and you keep relapsing, this is a testimony that for a successful recovery from drug or alcohol addiction you can’t do it all by yourself and so you will need the professional help from the experts and doctor Dalal Akoury and her team of experts will be glad to give you just that if only you could schedule for an appointment with her today.

Remember that with drug addiction, even the most strong-willed person will still find it difficult to conquer addiction without the help of an addiction recovery program. The reason behind this is because drugs and alcohol actually alter the way the brain functions. The chemicals contained in drugs and alcohol creates changes in the brain that actually foster substance abuse on a compulsive level. Doctor Akoury advices that if you or any of your loved ones have tried to quit unsuccessfully in the past, don’t lose hope or give up, it is important knowing that it is possible to pick up the pieces again and again and finally recover from this scourge of addiction.

Role of Addiction Rehabilitation Therapy in Recovery: The strength of scientific advances

As time lapses more new useful scientific findings are being discovered about drug and alcohol recovery therapists. And now there is a lot of information about this problem and we understand far more about the way substances work in the brain. This new insights has made it possible to successfully treat drug and alcohol addiction, so patients are able to once again lead productive lives. Besides that one sole problem with addiction is that of denial. Admitting that you or a loved one may need addiction recovery therapy can be difficult sometimes. Therefore it is important that you are aware of some of the indicators that can make you suspect that an addiction is cropping in your life or on your loved ones. The following may help you blow the whistle:

Mood swings
Red or glassy eyes
Social withdrawal
Behavioral changes
Irritability
Sniffy or runny nose
Careless grooming
Changes in sleeping patterns

If you have noticed any of the symptoms of drug abuse listed above in yourself, a family member or a friend, it may be time to seek out professional addiction therapy. Obtaining professional help is essential to drug and alcohol abuse recovery. And remember that there are many different types of addiction recovery therapy that will suit your situation up on seeking for help.

Role of Addiction Rehabilitation Therapy in Recovery: The Role of Therapy

The role of addiction recovery therapy in the entire recovery process is quite important. Without addressing the reasons that led to the initial addiction and understanding how to cope with those challenges in the real world, many patients may find they are vulnerable to relapse once they leave the treatment program. As part of the addiction recovery therapy process, you will often have the opportunity to meet with other patients. Drug and alcohol recovery therapists work one-on-one with patients to help them understand emotional addictions that can complicate drug and alcohol recovery. A variety of methods may be used to help treat such emotional dependencies, including:

Twelve-step programs
Group therapy
Talk sessions
Cognitive therapy

Doctor Akoury says that the primary objective of group therapy is to help drug addiction patients in connecting with other patients on an emotional level. This process also often helps in building bonds that provide patients with much-needed support once they leave the program. Peer support can prove to be a crucial element in successful recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. The benefit of this is that once a patient has left the program, he will be able to continue attending therapy sessions on an outpatient basis in the quest to maintain an addiction-free and healthy lifestyle. This can help to greatly reduce the chances of relapse. In fact, a study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that such programs can dramatically increase the chances that patients will abstain from drug or alcohol use in the future.

Finally the effects of drug and alcohol abuse on your life and the life of your family and friends can be very devastating. Therefore it is possible to counter those powerful effects with a comprehensive addiction recovery therapy program. When a treatment approach is customized to a patient’s individual abuse patterns while also addressing co-occurring social, psychiatric and medical problems, the result can be a sustained recovery and productive life free from abuse. Regardless of how long you or a loved one have suffered from addiction or how severe the addiction may be, help is available. Get to your phone and contact us today at 843 213 1480 to get the help you deserve and begin the path to a happier, sober life full of comfort and fulfillment.

Role of Addiction Rehabilitation Therapy in Recovery: When rehab is all you need

Dopamine and Infidelity

May 23, 2015

Dopamine, Infidelity and Sex Addiction

Dopamine People think of infidelity differently from other social vices like marijuana addiction. They need to think of these two phenomena the same way since the behavior that takes place during an affair mimics exactly the behavior of a drug addict. A person who is addicted to sex or is practicing infidelity has been compared to a moth attracted to candle light. And infidelity has been referred to as “flame addiction.”

Infidelity can be defined as unfaithfulness in a relationship. It is a societal vice that has far reaching negative impacts on relationships and most painfully marriages. Infidelity is one of the major contributors to the tremendous numbers of divorce cases witnessed in the world today.

Another vice that goes hand in hand with infidelity is sex addiction. Sex addiction is in most cases the seed upon which infidelity sprouts. It is a compulsive behavior that completely takes control over the addicts life. The addict is willing to sacrifice what he/she cherishes most in order to preserve and continue his/her unhealthy behavior. They use sexuality to regulate their emotional life like relieving pain or anxiety.

Helping sex addicts and infidels requires first understanding the science of what happens in the brains of these people and seeking to find a way of controlling these biochemical processes towards the desired direction.

What happens when one falls in love?

The brain will produce changes in neurochemicals that alter the feelings of normality at the beginning, a period of infatuation. Then there will be a surge of adrenaline which will take the love struck individual to unimaginable heights. After this serotonin will drop thereby leaving a feeling of emptiness and an obsessive preoccupation with the other person. As have always been known, dopamine is the lighter of the flame addiction (infidelity).

What is dopamine?

Dopamine is a very crucial hormone as it is crucial for such effects as boldness, improved memory, attention, elation and a temporary desire to explore the world and take risks. During orgasm the levels of dopamine surge intensely and the person will be affected in similar manner to a person who has taken heroin. Dopamine is the hormone that causes addiction and once its levels have been fluctuated it will take up to a week to return to normal.

After dopamine surge has calmed down, prolactin is released and it works against the effects of dopamine causing such effects as depression, irritability and depletion.

If you have been blaming your lover for your post-sex and post-romance frustration, you need to know the chemistry causing it. It is advisable to have non-orgasmic sex as it helps avoid the dopamine peak and its side effects.

Dopamine and infidelity

Dopamine may cause infidelity. when a couple has been married and nothing is kept new or fresh the dopamine levels will be low while when a person has been seeing an attractive person out of marriage and he/she seems unreachable the levels of dopamine will surge and so the pursuit begins.

Since time immemorial, mating and reproduction is an activity that was not for the faint hearted as an individual has to pursue the possible mate with efforts and even fights to win. This could not be possible without a reward system, so the reward center was placed in the brain dopamine and it heightens when the pursuit for mate is successfully finished, hence a motivation to the pursuer.

Something new in relationship will boost the dopamine level that is why a couple who has been married for a long time will spend some nights without sex but a man who has just had sex may have sex with other women as the level of dopamine will be rekindled with each new partner. Infidelity is fuelled when the partner is playing hard to get as it heightens dopamine level.

Dopamine and sex addiction

Sex is addictive. All human behaviors that are rewarding in nature are prone to be addictive and sex is just one of the many addictive human behaviors, once a person has tasted the waters it becomes very hard to quit. If you need to break the chains of sex craving you need to be principled and committed to the course as it’s not an easy task.

Addictions sometimes do overlap and replace each other. When a person falls short on the dopamine triggered by having sex, he will turn to another source like eating, to fill the vacuum. This explains why some people prefer smoking a cigarette after sex; they seek the dopamine heights from nicotine smoking to make up for the falling levels after sex.

Apart from dopamine here are other hormones that may cause happiness but it is the hormone that persistently asks you to repeat an act that induces pleasure even when it has adverse effects.

Dopamine is a vital hormone but the pleasure it offers is addictive but you will never be willing to face the truth as it will be very rewarding. You therefore need to mind the frequency at which you do some pleasurable activities as you may become addicted to them.

Is there hope for infidels and sex addicts?

Dopamine Understanding the process of flame addiction is crucial to healing—for both the victim and perpetrator. For any person who wants to quit philandering, it is essential to cut all the links between him/her and the mate with whom they had an affair.

Just like drug addictions quitting this behavior needs commitment, you may fail many times but you should not give up on your marriage. Feel open; seek help from leaders and people you respect.

Finally, Sex addiction is a serious menace, please call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre will give you the support you require and help you wrestle down this menace.

Dopamine, Infidelity and Sex Addiction

Sex Addiction Affects the Nervous System

May 21, 2015

Neurobiology of Sex Addiction

Sex addiction is a crucial topic and when anybody has taken time to read very post about it, it is only prudent that I simplify everything and walk along with everyone as know about the neurobiology of sex addiction. This is really necessary as not very person who suffers from sex addiction can understand medicine jargons. To begin with;

What is Neurobiology?

This is the study of cells of the nervous system and how these cells are organized into functional circuits that helps in processing information and influence behaviors. Neurobiology is a sub unit of both biology and neuroscience. In comparison, neuroscience is broader as a scientific study of the nervous system than neurobiology.

The nervous system is very essential in the body owing to its vital functions. Firstly let’s delve into the functions of the neurons that we may validate its relevance in this topic of sex addiction. The neurons are cells that are specialized to receive, propagate, and transmit electrochemical impulses to initiate certain responses that are important for optimum functioning of the body. The human brain has neurons that amount to more than billions. The neurons are specialized to perform different functions; they are also diverse in morphology.

The nervous system is very important owing to its many function, it is therefore essential that it remains healthy all the time as any disorder may affect it negatively and culminate into more serious or even fatal conditions. Anytime there is a defect in the neurotransmitters the person must suffer the effects. Contrary to what people think, imbalances in the neurotransmitters never affect the health of a person only but also it influences the behaviors of a person.

Neurobiological disorders refer to diseases of the nervous system and they may be caused by genetic, metabolic and other biological factors. Most of the disorders termed as psychiatric disorders are neurobiological. They include but not limited to; autism, obsessive-compulsive disorders, Tourette syndrome, bipolar disorders and even schizophrenia. These disorders are common and can affect anybody, it is advisable to adopt good nutrition and avoid substances that may deplete the neurons and interfere with the proper functioning of the nervous system. In this post we will look at the changes or imbalance in the nervous system that may lead to sex addiction and how sex addiction relates to these neurotransmitters.

Neurobiology of sex addiction

For there to be an effective approach in sex addiction treatment, there has to be a detailed understanding of how the compulsive behavior affects the brain. This has led to many researchers to establish the link. In a research done by the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, a study that looked into brain activity in nineteen male patients affected by compulsive sexual behavior and then compared them to the same number of healthy controls. The patients that participated in this research study had begun watching pornography at early stages in their lives as opposed to the healthy volunteers.

Dr. Valerie Voon, a Welcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellow at the University of Cambridge explained that the patients had been suffering from lack of control of their sexual desires and acts and this had exposed them to adverse consequences that were weighing them down, ruining their lives and relationships. The doctor further observed that these patients exhibited the characteristics similar to those who from drug addictions. Part of the research goals was to show if there were similarities in the brain activity of sex addicts and drug addicts.

For this study, were shown videos some of which were sexually explicit while others were just sport videos, their brain activity was thereafter monitored by the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which uses a blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal to measure brain activity.

The researchers found that three regions in particular were more active in the brains of the people with compulsive sexual behavior compared with the healthy volunteers. Considerably, these regions; the ventral striatum, dorsal anterior cingulate and amygdala were regions that are also particularly activated in drug addicts when shown drug stimuli. The ventral striatum is the part of brain that is involved in processing reward and motivation, while the dorsal anterior cingulate is implicated in anticipating rewards and drug craving. The amygdala is involved in processing the significance of events and emotions.

Brain activity mirrors in sex addiction is similar to that in drug addiction

When the patients were asked to rate their level of desire after watching the explicit sexual videos, they showed higher levels of sexual desire but when asked when they liked them, they didn’t rate them high an indication that they watch porn compulsively but they really don’t like watching porn. This phenomenon is similar to drug addicts who do drugs but they don’t like doing it. Their desire was also correlated with higher interactions between regions within the network identified with greater cross-talk between the dorsal cingulate, ventral striatum and amygdala for explicit as compared to sports videos.

SEx Addiction The researchers verified that the brain activity of those who are addicted to sex is similar to the brain activity of patents who are addicted to drugs and other substances.

“There are clear differences in brain activity between patients who have compulsive sexual behavior and healthy volunteers. These differences mirror those of drug addicts,” concludes Dr. Voon.

There is need to restore the chemical balances in the brain for a successful addiction treatment. At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center we have made it our priority to ensure that every addict has a place he can call on and find a lasting help. Call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

Neurobiology of Sex Addiction

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