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heroin addiction

Heroin addiction realities

Heroin addiction realities

Heroin addiction realities must first be accepted if any meaningful solution is to be arrived at

Heroin addiction realities: The heroin drug

In appreciating the power of heroin addiction realities, three things are worth mentioning. And speaking to doctor Dalal Akoury MD President and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, when it comes to drug addiction and more so heroin. We must understand its mode of administration, effects, and treatment.

Heroin addiction realities: What is heroin and how is it used?

Heroin is an illegal, semi-synthetic drug processed from morphine, a substance extracted from the opium poppy. It is used as a recreational drug for the intense feelings of relaxation and euphoria it induces. Heroin is typically sold as a white or brownish powder or as a black, sticky substance known as “black tar heroin.” Most street heroin is “cut” with other drugs or with substances such as sugar or starch. Heroin can also be cut with poisons like strychnine.

Heroin is usually dissolved and injected, or the powder is snorted or smoked. All forms of heroin are psychologically and physically addictive, and a tolerance to the drug builds quickly. IV or intramuscular heroin use poses special problems because of the potential for transmitting infectious diseases. Over the past decade, researchers have observed a shift in heroin use patterns, from injection to snorting and smoking. With this shift comes an even more diverse group of users.

Heroin addiction realities: Effects of heroin use

Short-Term Effects: Soon after administration, heroin crosses the blood-brain barrier. Users report feelings a surge of intense pleasure (a “rush”). This is usually accompanied by a warm flushing of the skin, dry mouth, and a heavy feeling in the extremities. Nausea, vomiting and severe itching may also occur. After the initial effects, the heroin user will typically be drowsy for several hours. Mental function is clouded by heroin’s effect on the central nervous system. Cardiac function slows. Breathing also slows sometimes to the point of death. The following are some of the short-term heroin effects:

  • Euphoria
  • Depressed respiration
  • Flushed skin
  • Clouded mental functioning/sedation
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Suppression of pain
  • Infectious diseases

Long-Term Effects: One of the most harmful long-term effects of heroin abuse is addiction itself. Addiction is a chronic disease, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite negative consequences, and by changes in the brain. Heroin also produces profound degrees of tolerance and physical dependence, which contributes heavily to abuse. Painful withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced abruptly. The following are some of the long-term effects of heroin:

  • Addiction
  • Problems with the heart, liver, and kidneys
  • Overdose Risk
  • Infectious diseases, for example, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis
  • Collapsed veins
  • Abscesses (at injection sites)
  • Arthritis and other rheumatological problems
  • Infection of heart lining and valves
  • Depressed lung function

We will be discussing the last bit of treatment in the next posting and you don’t want to miss that. In the meantime, you can schedule an appointment with doctor Akoury should you have any concern about this discussion or any relating to any kind of addiction.

Heroin addiction realities: The heroin drug

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Treatment procedures for drug addiction

Treatment procedures

Treatment procedures for drug addiction are many and may involve the family too

Treatment procedures for drug addiction: Heroin and other substances

Drug addiction has stolen the dignity of our societies and we are all suffering in equal measure. Societies are ruined by the use of drugs and families have not known peace because a member is an addict of a given drug. Heroin has become one of the most abused drugs thanks to its easy accessibility and affordability. The enormity of this problem is getting out of hand and prisons blocks alone are not enough to offer the much need solution. Even though this problem is of this magnitude, the good news is that it is treatable. There are very good treatment procedures for drug addiction today and that is going to be our point of focus in this discussion. We spoke to doctor Dalal Akoury who is the MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center and she will be helping us understand the treatment procedures available.

Doctor Akoury says that this problem of drug addiction is a treatable disorder. Prevention would have been the best option but because it is already with us we are going to look at the mechanisms of treating this disorder and consider prevention in the next article. Now because of many different conditions in drug addiction, it is important that the specific treatment must be tailored to suits the individual’s needs. This is necessary because many drug addicts have a compound of other problems that hinders proper treatment like mental health, occupational, health, or social problems.

Treatment procedures for drug addiction: Types of treatment for patients

The success of this campaign would be realized when treatment procedures for drug addiction are adhered to. And treatments often include behavioral therapy, medications and sometimes a combination of both. The most important thing is that when patients are duly treated for their addiction, they will be able to have some control over their lives and be productive to the society. That is why all over the world the campaign is to have as many people as possible for treatment. Therefore if you or anyone you know is suffering from any form of addiction, then you can be of help to them by scheduling an appointment with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury today and you will have your life back in the most professional and dignified way.

One of the biggest hindrances to treatment is that many addicted people often make an assumption that they can quit using drugs all by themselves without treatment. Actually many have tried but they have failed consistently resulting in long-term abstinence. And that is why according to the NIDA Research has shown that long-term drug use results in significant changes in brain function that persist long after the individual stops using drugs. These drug-induced changes in brain function may have many behavioral consequences, including the compulsion to use drugs despite adverse consequences which are the defining characteristic of addiction. And that is why achieving abstinence without treatment is so difficult if not impossible.

Treatment procedures for drug addiction: Heroin and other substances

 

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heroin addiction

Buprenorphine application for heroin addiction

Buprenorphine application

Buprenorphine application for heroin addiction to deliver sobriety

Buprenorphine application for heroin addiction: Heroin addiction treatment solutions

The rate at which heroin addiction is ravaging our people in this generation is alarming. A lot is being done to bring this to manageable levers in various ways including the buprenorphine application as a potential heroin addiction solution. According to the experts at AWAREmed health and wellness resource center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD – this is a long journey of treatment, the very first step to take is that of acknowledgement of the problem and willingness to quit. Therefore, if you are ready to quit, using buprenorphine can help you use less heroin gradually until you can stop using altogether. This is made possible because buprenorphine application is essential in:

Blocking the effects of heroin – Buprenorphine stops heroin from getting you “high” and stops withdrawal symptoms and heroin craving (the strong feeling that you need to have it).

It is safe – Buprenorphine does not get you high if you use it the right way and it does not cause strong side effects. It is hard to get sick or overdose from it.

You can take it at home – Doctors prescribe buprenorphine and you can take it at home. It comes in tablets that you put under your tongue and let them melt.

Buprenorphine application for heroin addiction: How Does Buprenorphine Treatment Work?

There are three steps, or “phases” of how buprenorphine treatment works. The may include:

  • Induction phase
  • Stabilization phase and
  • Maintenance phase

Induction phase – This period usually lasts for about one week. The goal is to figure out the dose of buprenorphine that works best to relieve your withdrawal symptoms and craving.

  • You take the first dose when you are in the early stage of withdrawal – about 10 to 24 hours after your last dose of heroin. First you take a test dose, followed by another dose to relieve withdrawal symptoms.
  • Your doctor may ask you to stay in the office for several hours after your first dose to see how the early doses affect you.
  • During the first week, you may have to see your doctor several times. The dose can be raised if you still have withdrawal symptoms.
  • You may not be able to drive or use machines and power tools.

Stabilization phase – The goal in this phase is to use less heroin or no heroin and not feel withdrawal symptoms or craving while you keep taking buprenorphine.

  • Usually lasts about 1-2 months
  • You visit your doctor’s office for check-ups regularly.
  • You get a prescription for and take buprenorphine at home. Your doctor may increase your dose so that you do not have to take buprenorphine every day.
  • Doctors may test your urine to make sure you are not taking heroin or other drugs.

Maintenance phase – You visit the doctor’s office to get a refill of your buprenorphine about once a month.

Finally, when the three phases are adhered to and medication taken religiously, you will be bidding bye to your love for heroin. We appreciate that this may not be easy owing to the addictive nature of heroin. But in all this we will be with you all the way and you call always schedule an appointment with doctor Akoury for more professional undertaking.

Buprenorphine application for heroin addiction: Heroin addiction treatment solutions

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Buprenorphine side effects

Buprenorphine side effects

Buprenorphine side effects treatment can be corrected very effective when treatment is done professionally

Buprenorphine side effects: Heroin addiction treatment

Like with all medications applicable for addiction treatment, buprenorphine as a medication tool will deliver effectively but some side effects are also likely to be registered. Doctor Dalal Akoury MD is a veteran addiction expert for over two decades and has been very resourceful to many patients across the globe. Her practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. You can therefore call her today for any addiction concerns you may be struggling with and together with her team of experts at AWAREmed health and wellness resource center, all your problems will be attended to professionally. And as you consider doing that, the following are some of the buprenorphine side effects:

  • The most common side effects are constipation and nausea. Usually these are not strong.
  • If you feel light-headed at first, you may not be able to drive or use heavy equipment until you get used to the medicine.
  • You cannot take buprenorphine at the same time as some pain medicines, like morphine and codeine, because buprenorphine will block their effects. Use medicines like Tylenol® or ibuprofen instead. If you need surgery or have a long-term pain problem, you will need to stop buprenorphine for a while.
  • Do not take buprenorphine with sedatives to help you sleep or tranquilizers (like anti-anxiety medicine such as Xanax® or Valium) unless prescribed by your doctor. High doses of these drugs mixed with buprenorphine may cause an overdose.
  • If you have hepatitis or other active liver problems, your doctor may check your liver tests from time to time.

Buprenorphine side effects: Heroin addiction natural treatment

There are a few highly effective homeopathic ingredients that can be used on a heroin addict to get rid of the addiction in a natural way.

Plantago Major is the first ingredient that has been used for a very long time for treating various ailments, conditions, even as salad dressing, and also for treating heroin addiction; it is a dark green looking weed and it enhances the growth of cells in human body and releases a chemical compound in the body that makes the person stay away from tobacco and heroin. Not only is it effective in overcoming heroin addiction but smoking as well.

Tabacum is a diluted replacement that will work in place of heroin. This is the best way of gradually leaving heroin addiction and taking a step down. If you cannot just leave heroin right away; this treatment will make you gradually leave it.

Abies Nigra also known as Black Spruce; it is a natural relaxant. It’s not easy to coupe with withdrawal symptoms. In order to make these symptoms less pleasant, the patient can make use of Black Spruce. The nerves will calm down and the patient will no longer feel the thirst for heroin.

Natural methods for overcoming heroin addiction are very effective but they should always be combined by other medicinal treatments as well in order to make sure that they results are surely positive.

Buprenorphine side effects: Heroin addiction treatment

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New heroin addiction treatment solutions

New heroin addiction

New heroin addiction treatment solutions tailored to clean up our streets

New heroin addiction treatment solutions: Understanding more about heroin addiction

Heroin is an illegal and highly addictive drug. It is the most abused and most rapidly acting of the opiates. Heroin is processed from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of certain varieties of poppy plants. It is typically sold as a white or brownish powder or as the black sticky substance known on the streets as “black tar heroin.” Experts at AWAREmed health and wellness resource center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD agree that even though purer heroin is becoming more common, most street heroin is “cut” with other drugs or with substances such as sugar, starch, powdered milk, or quinine. Because of that finding solutions must be prioritized and that is why doctor Akoury and her team of experts are working on the new heroin addiction treatment solutions to help the ailing communities get better. Having said that this substance is addictive, you need to be sure of its symptoms so that timely action can be taken.

New heroin addiction treatment solutions: Symptoms and the side effects

Heroin produces a “downer” effect that rapidly induces a state of relaxation and euphoria (related to chemical changes in the pleasure centers of the brain). Like other opiates, heroin use blocks the brain’s ability to perceive pain. Heroin abusers, particularly those with prior drug abuse history may initially be able to conceal signs and symptoms of their heroin use. Loved ones or co-workers may notice a number of signs of heroin use, which are visible during and after heroin consumption like:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Dry mouth
  • Constricted (small) pupils
  • Sudden changes in behavior or actions
  • Disorientation
  • Cycles of hyper alertness followed by suddenly nodding off
  • Droopy appearance, as if extremities are heavy

Buprenorphine (byoo-preuh-nor-feen) is a medicine for treating heroin addiction. Buprenorphine works a lot like methadone, but instead of getting it at a special clinic, a doctor prescribes it in the office and you can take it at home which can make treatment easier for you. The next question I want to ask is “Why is it important to treat heroin addiction?” it is important to appreciate that heroin addiction is a disease and can cause many health problems including:

  • Overdose and even death.
  • If you inject heroin and share needles, you can get HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C, or give these diseases to someone else. Injecting can also cause infections of the skin, muscle, and heart.
  • Because heroin is illegal, you may have to go through a lot of trouble or do something illegal to get it. You can end up in jail if you get caught with even a small amount.

When you use heroin for a long time, your brain and body changes and become dependent on it. If this happens, you may need to take medicine every day for a long time to treat your addiction, just like people take other medicines to treat other health problems like diabetes patients who need to take insulin shots daily. Finally, methadone has been used for heroin addiction treatment but under this patients have to report to their methadone clinics for the medication and support. These are but a few of the new heroin addiction treatment solution and while continuing with the discussion, if you have any concern, you can schedule an appointment with doctor Akoury today for the commencement of your recovery program.

New heroin addiction treatment solutions: Understanding more about heroin addiction

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