Tag Archives: cocaine addiction treatment

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Cocaine abuse ruins human health

September 9, 2016
Cocaine abuse ruins human health

Cocaine abuse ruins human health and all the body organs

Cocaine abuse ruins human health: Chest pain

If you are still wallowing in the wilderness of ignorance, then this article cones to you at the best time of acknowledging how cocaine abuse ruins human health in very many ways. In fact this substance affects the whole body and its most sensitive organs too. With the help of doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, we are going to be touching on the various organs that are directly affected by cocaine abuse as follows.

One of the most common reasons for requiring emergency treatment is the enormous tightening of blood vessels, in the coronary arteries and the rest of the body. Cocaine deprives the heart of its normal blood supply, increasing the risk of a heart attack or a heart rhythm disturbance which might cause the user to drop dead suddenly. The shape of the pattern on the electrocardiogram (heart trace) can look worrying to the doctor, especially as it can change from minute to minute. But in most cases it settles down and no major harm results.

Cocaine abuse ruins human health: The heart, blood pressure/vessels

Consistent use of cocaine causes massive stresses and strains on the blood vessels in the coronary arteries and the rest of the body. This leads to a build- up of cholesterol in the walls of arteries, especially the coronary arteries. With cocaine use your blood vessels can be 30 years older than your age which can lead to unexpected heart attack.

Cocaine releases massive amounts of noradrenaline from the nerve endings, which causes blood vessels right through the body to narrow. This leads to a major surge in blood pressure. To the onlooker, the user looks pale and staring, but there may be no other outward signs of the enormous rise in blood pressure. This may still cause a heart attack. The heart aorta is very vulnerable to cocaine abuse. A surge in blood pressure following cocaine use forces the blood between the inner and outer casings of the aorta and each time the heart pumps this false passage becomes longer and more liable to block off a branch vessel or to burst, with possibility of fatal results.

Brain and the nose

Regular cocaine use can lead to a bulging weakness in the wall of a branch point of the arteries in the brain. This is often called a berry aneurysm. Eventually this aneurysm bursts, and blood pouring out of the leak is known as a subarachnoid hemorrhage. If not corrected, it can cause major damage to the brain. This damage can be permanent leading to difficulties in thought, speech, sight and movement. Cocaine powder is ‘snorted’ into the nostrils, and although it is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, the drug also causes the blood vessels in the lining of the nose passages to shrink. Shortly after use, the blood vessels widen again, and the red, runny stuffed-up nose of the recent user can be a telltale sign.

Cocaine abuse ruins human health: Skin

During treatment, some people may experience some unfriendly crawling feelings beneath the skin as they are withdrawing from cocaine. They may describe cocaine bugs as biting, creeping, burning or itching, and may scratch their skin until it bleeds. Although this sensation can be treated to some extent by tranquillizer type drugs, in most cases the user has to wait until it settles down and goes away of its own accord.

Finally cocaine is not any drug you would want to flow in your system. It is highly addictive and life threatening. If you are struggling with this drug, you may have noticed that from this article, very vital organs of the body are all affected by this drug. Your health cannot be compared with anything. You must make a U turn to redeem your life back. Doctor Dalal Akoury will help in every step of the way. All you need to do is to schedule for an appointment with her today.

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brain

Treating brain impairment caused by cocaine abuse

November 25, 2015

Treating brain impairment caused by cocaine abuse: Is healing of addicted brain possible?

Treating brain impairment

Drug addiction is very dangerous to human health and therefore treating brain impairment caused by cocaine abuse is very essential in the recovery process.

The human brain is the engine of life and any infringement to its proper functionality is not only a problem to the brain but to the whole body. The brain can be affected in several ways but one emerging common fact that cause damage to the brain is the use of drugs. There are so many drugs in the market both the legal and illegal once capable of causing damage to our social well-being by infringing on the brain and for the purpose of this article; we want to narrow our discussion on one substance that is among many substances raising havoc to the brains operations. Therefore cocaine is going to be our key focus even as we explore on treating brain impairment caused by cocaine abuse or addiction. This is a very interesting topic you do not want to miss and therefore if you are joining us for the first time, we want to encourage you to stay with us on the link and get the best you need to know about the impact of cocaine in your health and how best you can be on top of it for the betterment of your life and that of your loved ones. And now to set the ball rolling, we want to engage the services of experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center which is a health facility founded by doctor Dalal Akoury MD and also the President of the establishment. It will also interest you to note that doctor Akoury is a veteran addiction expert who has offered addiction treatment very passionately to millions of people across the globe for several decades now making her to be one of the most experienced and qualified to handle your condition. You can therefore seek for her professional advice by scheduling for an appointment with her today by calling her on telephone number 843 213 1480 and she will be able to address all your concerns in confidence and with high standard of professionalism.

Treating brain impairment caused by cocaine abuse: The lifestyle of a cocaine user

Ideally cocaine users are living a very disturbing life owing to the complications that come with the usage of this substance. These are people who need our help and that is one of the reasons why doctor Akoury founded this establishment (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center). It is however regrettable that for cocaine users, every high is a little less great. Thus they continue to go back for another high even as they try to match their last high. Professionally doctor Akoury registers that the most horribly tragic thing about this habit is that even though they repeatedly use more units every time, they will never reach those highs again and frustratingly every next high results in lower highs and higher lows. Because of this reasons, there has been a great deal of discussion about healing the addicted brain and whether or not true healing of an addicted brain is possible.

Brain scans have indicated that in the short term, the revival of dopamine transporter (DAT) binding is not very healthy. One month of discontinuance still shows a stark drop in DAT binding. However, in their example, 14 months of abstinence shows an almost full return of dopamine transporter binding. When cocaine is first used, the dopamine levels in the brain are found to skyrocket by two or three times. However, once this short high of approximately 12 hours wears off, then dopamine levels are depressed to lower than normal levels. This actually explains the reason as to why users (drug addicts) are often yarning for that next high to get their dopamine levels back above normal. Even though this is a push and pull event, the truth is that the end result is just never quite as high as the previous one.

Treating brain impairment caused by cocaine abuse: The role of serotonin in solving the problem of addicted brain

Looking at the topic of discussion before us, it is equally important to note that serotonin is another neurotransmitter that plays a significant role in the addicted brains inclination towards the continued cocaine use. It therefore means that Serotonin is involved in a variety of physiological states impacting on sexual behavior and even being culpable for things or conditions such as depression. Doctor Akoury registers that when drugs are abused in whichever way, the impact of that action is that the levels of serotonin will be elevated. It therefore means that each time when the drug users make an attempt to stop their serotonin levels are depressed. And besides that there has been a lot of pharmacological use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) to raise a depressed individual’s serotonin levels without the use of the drugs that first elevated their high, like cocaine. Even though that has been helpful for many people in the past and even currently, many users are still out in the exploration field wanting to try and get their addicted brain fully healed.

Finally these research findings that it is really the behavioral effects of the addicted brain that never fully return to normal, in some cases. While the brains serotonin can be regulated through the use of SSRIs, and DAT binding returns to quasi-normal levels after prolonged discontinuance, there is always the X factor of whether or not these users will return to their prior behaviors. This is very important in securing a permanent solution to the problem and therefore, if you are not so sure of your position or that of your loved ones, you can schedule for an appointment with the experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury today for further direction. Up on receipt of your appointment, doctor Akoury will professionally take you through all the process you need to know in order to be on the right path when it comes to curing the addicted brain from the effects of cocaine abuse.

Treating brain impairment caused by cocaine abuse: Is healing of addicted brain possible?

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Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach

October 7, 2015

Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach: Treating cocaine addiction

Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach

Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach is quickly gaining roots in the delivery of addiction treatment among therapist

If we want to have any meaningful treatment of all kind of addiction, it is first important that we have a team of well-trained and competent professionals to handle the job. That is why doctor Dalal Akoury and her team of experts from the home of addiction solution (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) strongly believe in substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach among other training modes available. It is also important for the qualified experts to appreciate that the integrating cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) and medication is very essential since it is highly compatible with pharmacotherapy. When applied in combination with medication, the range of CBT interventions expands to include a focus on enhancing medication compliance. Generally, medication response and compliance are monitored during the early part of each session and that is to say that the first third of each hour of the training session which then translate into a 20/20/20 session. And for a better understanding of these facts, the following are some specific strategies that have been found useful:

Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach: Inquire as to patients’ previous experience with medication

It is always very important that specialist attending to the needs of addicts should explore deeply about the previous experience with medication by asking questions as this will help in laying down the frame work of proper treatment. the following are some of the questions the therapist may consider asking:

  • Therapists should ask patients about their prior history with pharmacotherapy for any psychiatric disorder or condition.
  • Why was it prescribed?
  • Was it helpful?
  • Under what conditions was it terminated?
  • Did they take the medication as prescribed faithfully to the last dose?

From the results of such questions, the therapist should be able to point out areas of noncompliance and this should alert them into professionally establishing the patients’ view as to why they did not comply previously and also to attempt to address those issues proactively.

Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach: Address patients’ concerns about medication

Listening is very paramount in the treatment process. It is therefore important that therapist take time to listen to their clients carefully for any concerns, including any misunderstandings, or prejudices about taking medication and find ways of addressing them timely and assertively. These may include misconceptions about expected medication effects, time needed to experience the effect, side effects, dosing, and interactions with cocaine and other substances. It is important that therapists provide clarification in clear, familiar terms and frequently check back with patients to be sure that they have understood.

Besides that, sometimes the effects of medication may not come immediately apparent, it is important to inform patients that it may take several weeks before therapeutic effects emerge; thus, patients should be encouraged to expect gradual rather than all-or-nothing change. Explaining the gradual emergence of medication effects provides an opportunity for the therapist to emphasize that patients should not expect to benefit from an entirely passive stance regarding CBT treatment simply because they are taking medication. Mastery and implementation of coping skills remain an essential and important part of treatment; medication may be an additional, useful adjunct or tool.

Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach: Assess medication compliance since last session

Close, consistent, and careful monitoring is one of the most effective strategies for enhancing compliance with medications. Thus, a portion of each session should be devoted to evaluating medication compliance and working through any difficulties that might arise. In general, until the patients’ compliance pattern is clearly established, therapists should, in every meeting, inquire about medication compliance, day by day, since the last session. This should include asking when patients take the medication, how they take the medication, and a thorough discussion of any deviation from the prescribed dose and schedule.

In her many years of service in this discipline, doctor Akoury has noted that compliance and retention are most difficult to achieve early and late in treatment – early if the patient is not receiving obvious benefit, and later if the patient, after obtaining a partial or full therapeutic response, does not appreciate the need to continue treatment. Thus, therapists should be particularly attentive to compliance and motivation issues during early and late sessions.

Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach: Praise medication compliance

Therapists should also convey confidence in the medication and inform patients of the likely benefits. Therapists should be strongly on the side of compliance and praise patients’ compliance enthusiastically and genuinely. Like for instance you could appreciate your patient by saying that “I have seen you take your medication diligently since our last meeting and that’s really great. I know you may have had some doubts about whether the medication would work for you, and I’m glad you were willing to give it a try. And by the way have you noticed any positive changes you think might be related to the medication?” for better assessment, doctor Akoury suggest that the patient improvement should be related to compliance and lack of improvement and luck of it to noncompliance.

The other point of significance to the therapist is to establish and stress the connection between medication compliance, psychotherapy sessions, and improvement. Therapists should make explicit causal links between patients’ compliance and improvement in cocaine abuse and other appropriate target symptoms. Conversely, therapists might tie poor compliance to failure to improve. Therapist should continue appreciating the effort of their clients from time to time like for instance you could point out that “since you’ve been taking the medication, I can see a lot of positive changes in your life. And by the way you’ve cut down significantly on your cocaine use and it is impressing that you’ve been feeling a lot better. I think the changes indicate that the medication is helping you. What do you think?” engagements like that are very important for recovering addicts in every session you have with them. That way they will see some progress and put in more effort in their commitment to kicking out cocaine addiction out of their lives.

Finally we want to assure you that we are always very much available for you as professionals anytime of the day and therefore if you need help in any way, remember that at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care we focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. Take note that doctor Akoury is offering her exclusive NER Recovery Treatment to other physicians and health care professionals through training, clinical apprenticeships, webinars and seminars. Therefore any qualified professional can now be a part of this truly successful and fast addiction recovery treatment any time any day by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Akoury today.

Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach: Treating cocaine addiction

 

 

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Addressing craving challenges in dealing with addiction

October 6, 2015

Addressing craving challenges in dealing with addiction: Coping with cocaine addiction

addressing craving challenges

Cocaine can only be described as the crystal of death and therefore Identifying and addressing craving challenges is very fundamental in finding lasting treatment solution.

In dealing with drug addiction it is important that we first deal with the element of ignorance which can pose a great hindrance towards realizing the success of the objective which is total eradication of addiction from our lives and societies. It is no wonder in the holy book, it is recorded that “our people suffer because of lack of knowledge” meaning that if we are enlighten of the facts around addiction, then we will be comfortable addressing craving challenges and dealing with addiction of cocaine  professionally for the betterment of our health. Doctor Akoury acknowledges that it is only after identifying the problem, and then can you start on the modalities of dealing with it. In other words you may not succeed in effectively dealing with addiction if you haven’t identified the kind of addiction you are struggling with. That is why we want to focus this discussion on the identification then we can react to what we now know. Our drug of exploration in this article is going to be cocaine and how users often crave for it even when they are in the treatment process. In our previous articles we did mentioned a lot of negativity of drugs cravings and strategies of coping as and when craving knocks on our appetite. We want to progress on that by focusing on two elements including recalling negative consequences and using self-talk.

Identifying and dealing with hidden craving challenges: Recalling negative consequences

Craving for drugs often make very many users of drugs to lose hope and give up on ever recovering from their addiction. This is so because many at times when one is receiving treatment for any kind of addiction, the urge to continue with the habit never dies and this is further complicated with the abundance of triggers around the users on treatment. Doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is a veteran addiction expert having been in consistent practice for over two decades says that many at times when people are experiencing craving, they often have a tendency of only remembering the positive effects of cocaine or any other drug they have been craving for or using before; this is often the norm and it is regrettable that users in that state of mind often forget the negative consequences which has far reaching effects on their lives. But on the contrary, doctor Akoury says that it is very important that when experiencing craving, it is often effective for them (users) to remind themselves not just the benefits of abstinence but also the negative consequences of continuing indulgence in cocaine addiction. When this perfectly done, it therefore become much easier for patients to remind themselves that there is actually nothing good in using drugs let alone cocaine.

Because of the difference in feelings, doctor Akoury advices that it is necessary that users document in writing on a piece of paper all the reasons why they want to be abstinent and alongside that all the negative consequences of use. This list will act as their point of reference and therefore must be kept safely and be made available as and when it is needed. Remember that a glimpse of the document when confronted by intense craving for cocaine or a high-risk situation can remind the user of the negative consequences of cocaine use at a time when they are likely to recall only the euphoria. This may sound useless to many but it will impact to you very positively and by being reminded of the bitter consequences of using the drug, you are likely to engage in activities that will help in addressing craving challenges by distract you from causing more harm to yourself by avoiding further usage.

Addressing craving challenges in dealing with addiction: Using self-talk

For many patients, a variety of automatic thoughts accompany craving but are so deeply established that patients are not aware of them. Automatic thoughts associated with craving often have a sense of urgency and exaggerated dire consequences. Some of those automatic thoughts may include the following:

  • I have to use now
  • I’ll die if I don’t use or
  • I can’t do anything else until I use.

Doctor Akoury is of the opinion that in coping with craving, it is important that both the patient and the therapist should collectively recognize the automatic thoughts and take measures of encountering them effectively. To help patients recognize their automatic thoughts, therapists can point out cognitive distortions that occur during your sessions with the client. Like for instances your therapist could point out that a few times today you’ve said you feel like you have to use the drug and then the question would follow that, while you were having that feelings were you really aware of those thoughts when you mentioned them?. That is just one strategy and the other strategy could be when you are using a tape recorder, you could help your patients by slowing down the tape to recognize cognitions.

The good thing about recording the session is because it can be replayed over and over. Like for instance the patient may have said something and so you could play it again saying “when you decided to go out last night, you said that you really weren’t aware of thinking about using cocaine.” That is when he/she said but in your own professional evaluation you think otherwise, in situations like that you could play the tape again and help the user to try to remember what the night was like, sort of play it back like a movie in slow motion, we could find a couple of examples of things you said to yourself, maybe without even realizing it, that led to cocaine use.

Finally once automatic thoughts are identified, it then becomes much easier to counter or confront them using positive rather than negative self-talk which may include cognitions such as challenging the thought like “I won’t really die if I don’t have cocaine” and normalizing craving which can be very uncomfortable if not handled professionally. Remember that if you are having any concerns about craving for any drug and you are wondering where to begin from, you can call on doctor Dalal Akoury today for the commencement of your treatment today.

Addressing craving challenges in dealing with addiction: Coping with cocaine addiction

 

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Drug cravings negativity and coping strategies

October 5, 2015

Drug cravings negativity and coping strategies: A cognitive behavioral approach of treating addiction

Drug cravings negativity

Doctor Akoury says that knowing drug cravings negativity and coping strategies without really seeking for help will not be beneficial to you. Once this is known, it must be accompanied with action immediately for good health to reign

We have in the resent past been discussing serious topics touching on the cognitive behavioral approach of treating addiction and in particular cocaine addiction and techniques of coping with craving. We are not about to give it up because we understand the seriousness of the problem in our societies and even closer to our individual families. This is a war we are determined to win by all means and for that reason, we want to further into the discussion by looking at the drug cravings negativity and coping strategies we can adopt to defeat this scourge. Doctor Dalal Akoury an addiction expert of several decades has been sharing with us very healthy information about a cognitive behavioral approach of treating addiction as being one of the best strategies in finding lasting solution to cocaine addiction. She is going to progress from where we left in the previous article for us to have a better understanding of what is before us. She says that in coping with craving for cocaine or any other substance, there are a variety of strategies for doing so and some of those strategies may includes the following.

  • Distraction
  • Talking about craving
  • Going with the craving
  • Recalling the negative consequences of cocaine abuse
  • Using self-talk

We appreciate that different professionals may have different view about this like for instance some therapists may wish to point out that these strategies may not stop craving completely, however at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury, we believe that with practice, recovering addicts will reduce the frequency and intensity of craving and make it less disturbing and frustrating when it occurs. It is therefore very prudent that we take keen interest in adopting mechanisms that will enable us to cope successfully with craving for cocaine and other drugs.

Drug cravings negativity and coping strategies: Entertainment and distractions

When under the influence of drugs, all that you will be thinking about is drugs because that is what keeps you going, without it, you will actually fall sick. In that case it is only fair that you get distracted so that your mind can be engaged into other things. Professionally doctor Akoury can now confirms that this has been tested and found to very helpful. It is therefore very necessary that you prepare a list of reliable distracting activities and with the help of your doctor in anticipation of future craving. Such activities might include taking a walk, playing basketball, and doing relaxation exercises. Preparation of such a list may reduce the likelihood that patients will use substances, particularly alcohol and marijuana, in ill-fated attempts to deal with craving. Leaving the situation and going somewhere safe is one of the most effective ways of dealing with craving when it occurs.

Drug cravings negativity and coping strategies: Sharing freely about craving

Talking about drug addiction is not a taboo as some people make it to look like. Doctor Akoury says that when patients have supportive, abstinent friends and family members, talking freely about craving when it occurs, it gives the recovering addicts the confidence to move forward. Sharing is a very effective strategy and can help reduce the feelings of anxiety and vulnerability that often accompany it. Besides that it can also help patients identify specific cues. It’s true that sure family members may become distressed when they hear their loved ones (patients) sharing about craving because of the fear that this might ultimately lead to use of drugs, it is therefore very important that therapists and other lined professionals to spend some time in identifying which patients would feel comfortable to talk with freely about craving, how that person would react, and whether it makes sense to ask that person in advance for support.

Socially isolated patients, or those who have few non-using friends, will find it difficult to nominate a supportive other who can assist with craving, thoughts about cocaine, and other problems. This should alert therapists to the need to consider addressing social isolation during treatment. For example, therapists and patients can brainstorm ways of meeting new, non-using others, reconnecting with friends and family members, and so on. To help patients “own” these strategies and be more likely to initiate positive social contact, therapists might suggest applying the problem solving strategies which we have already dwelt on in our previous postings.

Drug cravings negativity and coping strategies: Going with the craving

Doctor Akoury says that the idea going with the craving technique is to let it (craving) occur, peak, and pass and that is to say experiencing them without either fighting or giving into them. Giving patients the imagery of a wave or walking over a hill may help convey this concept that is, gaining control by avoiding resistance.

Experts through several studies have identified the steps involved which should ordinarily be practiced within sessions or at home before craving occurs. Besides that patients should also be told that the purpose is not to make the cravings disappear, but to experience them in a different way that makes them feel less anxiety provoking and dangerous and thus easier to ride out. The steps are summarized below.

Pay attention to the craving – This usually involves, first, finding someplace safe to let oneself experience craving (e.g., a comfortable and quiet place at home). Next, relax and focus on the experience of craving itself – where it occurs in the body or mind and how intense it is.

Focus on the area where the craving occurs – This involves paying attention to all the somatic and effective signals and trying to put them into words. What is the feeling like? Where is it? How strong is it? Does it move or change? Where else does it occur? After concentrating in this way, many patients find the craving goes away entirely. In fact, the patient may find it useful to rate the intensity of craving before and after the exercise to demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique.

Finally understanding the drug cravings negativity and coping strategies alone will not be helpful if you do not take the next step of seeking for help. Yes you now have the information, but if you don’t apply that information, it will not be helpful. That is the reason why doctor Dalal Akoury founded AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center for every individual who is struggling with any form of addiction to seek for help. You can reach out for her on telephone number 843 213 1480 so that you can have a one on one with her and you will have all your addiction related concerns addressed professionally.

Drug cravings negativity and coping strategies: A cognitive behavioral approach of treating addiction

 

 

 

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