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Battling heroin addiction at family levels

September 15, 2016
Battling heroin addiction

Battling heroin addiction at family levels by exposing all it’s effects to help people make the right choices

Battling heroin addiction at family levels: Making the wrong choices

There are certain things that we do not because we want to but because we see our friends and relatives do. The motivation is to have the feelings they have upon using the things they use or doing what they do. In other words the sense of belonging is the reason why all these are happening. Take for instance in the world of drug addiction you will be amazed at what people do just not to be left out and in the process they find themselves into real problems not just in their health and peace of mind but also with the law enforcement agencies. Even though addiction cuts across and everyone is vulnerable, it hit the hardest at the family unit, which is why battling heroin addiction among other substances at family level is very important. We spoke to doctor Dalal Akoury the MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center about the battling heroin addiction in families and it is amazing seeing how simple desires can land us into real threats of addiction.

As a professional in this discipline doctor Akoury is going to shed some light on how influential heroin can be in your life no matter how you got introduced to it. She says that one morning while in her office a lady walked in and was very depressed. When she gave her time to share her problem she open up and poured out her heart on the battles she has with heroin addiction. For confidentiality we will call her Jimssy not her real name. Jimssy is a full-time housewife and mother hardly fits the stereotypical picture of a heroin addict. However for the past two of her adult life, she was obsessed with getting high on heroin a passion she shared with her husband, Jim not his real name who has been battled his own addiction for over two decades now.

Battling heroin addiction at family levels: Peer influence in addiction

Jim had been struggling with heroin addiction for years when his wife joined the league of shooting up heroin. Even though Jimssy was not ignorant of the effects of heroin on her husband, she voluntarily decided to test the water one day following an advice from her friend who informed her that using heroin would significantly relieve the pain of headache and muscular pains she had suffered from epileptic seizures she has been struggling with for more than 15 years now. It is amazing how friends can be very destructive to our wellbeing. This friend without any consideration of the know consequences, approached her friend with the news she knew Jimssy would be interested in, that is the solution to her struggle with pain. Jimssy acknowledges that, that was her first time and regret having such a friend in her life. She goes ahead to explain that her main reason for testing the waters even though she knew the struggles her husband, was to get better, the pain was becoming unbearable. What do you think about her decision? You may suggest that under the circumstances she was justified because she was looking for solutions about her pain. Nonetheless it is still not right, every advice you get from a friend must be confirmed by a medical doctor and that is why doctor Akoury founded this facility where you can get all the professional assistance concerning your health and addiction at any time of the day.

Battling heroin addiction at family levels: Making the wrong choices

 

 

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heroin addiction

Heroin treatment fears and worries

September 9, 2016
Heroin treatment fears

Heroin treatment fears and worries. Quitting heroin addiction is very important, generally heroin effects to human life can be very frustrating and depressing

Heroin treatment fears and worries: How long heroin withdrawal last?

It may not be convenient to point out with confidence the time frame that one will last in heroin withdrawal owing to the heroin treatment fears and worries. However the duration and intensity of heroin withdrawal effects will depend greatly on the individual addict and their particular situation. Those individuals who have been using heroin habitually for many years are likely to experience stronger withdrawal symptoms than those who have only been using it for a short period of time. As a general rule however, the individual who is engaged in natural heroin detox can expect their withdrawal symptoms to last anywhere from 2-3 days to 2-3 weeks depending on the severity of their heroin addiction.

Heroin treatment fears and worries: Handling withdrawal symptoms

Individuals who are coping with heroin withdrawal can benefit greatly from the care of treatment workers and professionals. Whether at a heroin detox center or a drug rehab program, these heroin addiction treatment experts know how to provide comfort and medical care that ensures the individual stays safe while getting rid of this dangerous drug.

The real dangers of heroin

There is no doubt that there is no positive health effects derived from heroin use. In fact, heroin is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance and is not available by prescription or for medical use. Heroin is illegal, which means that heroin production and distribution is completely uncontrolled. Every bag you buy is completely different from the last because it is cut differently and has a different potency. This means that even the most seasoned heroin addicts end up in the hospital or dead due to heroin overdose. Doctor Akoury and her team of experts stands with the principle that heroin is bad from the beginning to end and that should also be your position.

Heroin treatment fears and worries: Health conditions associated with heroinhttp://regenerativepotential.com/wp-admin

There are a number of bad health effects of heroin. Infectious, blood-borne diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C are especially common among those who are regularly injecting heroin using needles and share those needles with other users. Those who use needles intravenously also will experience collapsed veins and those who use intramuscularly are more likely to develop abscesses. Infections of the heart lining and valves is also a common issue among needle users, and even those who smoke or snort the drug open themselves up to kidney and liver failure and respiratory illnesses. The decreased defenses and overall health of a heroin addict means an increased rate of illnesses like pneumonia and permanent damage to vital organs.

Finally realizing that more deaths are being registered annually due to various kinds of addiction, Dr. Akoury made a decision to create a medical center whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. 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. This is the place to be for the very best in your addiction recovery. Take that bold healthy step and schedule for that lifesaving appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today.

Heroin treatment fears and worries: How long heroin withdrawal last?

 

 

 

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heroin addiction

Heroin treatment solution and opiate addiction

September 2, 2016
Heroin treatment solution

Heroin treatment solution and opiate addiction begins with detoxification effectiveness

Heroin treatment solution and opiate addiction

When one has come to terms with the addictive nature of these substances, the next point would be finding solution. Like for example when heroin is the problem, then heroin treatment solution become necessary. And for better understanding, doctor Dalal Akoury MD president and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center share with us the heroin treatment solutions as follows.

Detoxification/”Detox”

The primary objective of detoxification is to relieve withdrawal symptoms, stabilize participants and prepare them for longer-term treatment. Symptoms of withdrawal most of which peak between 24-48 hours after the last use include: restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps and uncontrollable leg movements. Medications like Subutex may be used to minimize withdrawal symptoms.

Residential Drug Rehab

This is a situation where residential treatment participants come to live in a safe, supervised setting for 30 days or more. Normally the intention of residential rehab is to create an environment where patients are able to remain focus to the assignment of recovering from their addiction. Some of the services offered may include drug education both individual and group counseling, family counseling and making referrals by way of making introduction to community-based self-help groups & referrals to community resources.

Therapeutic Communities

Research published by The National Institute On Drug Abuse states that one of the most effective drug-free treatments are the therapeutic community (TC) programs lasting 3 to 6 months. TC programs are residential, with participants and therapists living together. The program length gives participants the time they need to stabilize from their drug use and to develop new, healthy behaviors and support networks.

Outpatient Treatment

More intensive treatments may be followed by outpatient treatment regular structured therapeutic groups and individual counseling several days a week, usually for several months. Outpatient participants have stabilized in terms of their drug use, and are appropriate for a level of care that isn’t monitored or structured 24/7.

Community-Based Self-Help Groups

Group like Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous, along with non-12 step based programs, are designed to help addicts attain long-term abstinence. Group members gain new tools and support networks to deal with their addictions.

Maintenance Programs

Some heroin addicts do not find complete abstinence feasible. In these cases, a maintenance approach providing a small dose of medication so individuals can function without going into withdrawal is employed. The use of methadone, buprenorphine (Subutex) and levomethadyl has been found to most effective in the maintenance programs.

Finally the duty of managing heroin addiction must be done collectively and not to be left to the government authorities alone. All of us are affected and we all have a duty to perform. When doctor Akoury made the decision to form a medical center whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power, she was guided by this common fact of collective responsibility. 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. This makes her one of the best professionals you can rely on with your addiction problem. You can reach her on call to schedule for an appointment with her for the commencement of your addiction treatment.

Heroin treatment solution and opiate addiction

 

 

 

 

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How does heroin abuse affect pregnant women

June 5, 2015

How does heroin abuse affect pregnant women: Various health complications of Heroin abuse?

How does heroin abuse affect pregnant women

How does heroin abuse affect pregnant women is a worthy concern for all mothers and the family as a whole. Both the life of the mother and the unborn child will be at risk if treatment of heroin addiction is not done in good time

Heroin abuse can cause serious complications during pregnancy, including miscarriage and premature delivery. Children born to addicted mothers are at greater risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), as well. Pregnant women should not be detoxified from opiates because of the increased risk of spontaneous abortion or premature delivery; rather, treatment with methadone is strongly advised. Although infants born to mothers taking prescribed methadone may show signs of physical dependence, they can be treated easily and safely in the nursery. Research has demonstrated also that the effects of in utero exposure to methadone are relatively benign.

How does heroin abuse affect pregnant women: Pregnant & Using Heroin?

When we are struggling with drug addiction as adults we often find it to be very difficult to deal with. We first refuse to acknowledge that we have a problem with drugs and in the process our health deteriorates rapidly. Is there anything that can be done to remedy the situation? Certainly yes says doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. The concern of many is the health complications that are associated with substance abuse. The problem is further complicated if the victim is a pregnant woman. When we are talking about pregnant women the whole situation changes because the effect is now not just on the adult but also to the unborn baby begging the question “how does heroin abuse affect pregnant women?” this is what we want to unlock in this even as we progress into this discussion.

There is no doubt that if you are pregnant and using heroin it is fundamentally crucial that you need to be under a doctor’s care. If you are already seeing a doctor for prenatal treatment, it is not just enough to see him but it is important that you be honest and informs your doctor that you are using heroin quantity doesn’t matter the doctor needs to know if he is to help you and your unborn child get better. Remember that your case needs special medical attention and holding any information may not serve you well in this case. You may be in denial but the truth of the matter is that if you’re using heroin during pregnancy, you baby is also using the same. This is because your baby depends on you for everything food, breathing and any other needs of life while in the womb.

How does heroin abuse affect pregnant women: Effects of heroin on the unborn child?

Heroin slows the growth of your child both during and after pregnancy. As painful as it may be if you do not get medical care in good time, it is four times more likely that your baby will die during your pregnancy or shortly after being born. This is because the baby will be too small to survive thanks to heroin abuse. Doctor Akoury explains that babies born of heroin addicts weigh about one-fourth less than average infants resulting in premature delivery in many cases. It is equally important to note that even a year after birth, most babies of mothers who used heroin while pregnant will still be much smaller than average, and have smaller heads. The complications are further worsened if you fail to get treatment for your addiction. What will happen is that, there’s a good chance that your baby will experience heroin withdrawal, which can cause them to suffer pains for months. Therefore if you are pregnant and using heroin, you need to get help now. This is not something that you can take care of on your own. Talk to the experts AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center and get the professionalism in this life threatening situation.

In an effort of trying to get solution, careful attention should be taken so that you do not add more problems than you already have. Like for instance if you try to go “cold turkey” and quit drugs too quickly, you can cause the death of your baby abruptly. Experts believe that this occurs because the baby suddenly becomes hyperactive, then oxygen deprived. For this reason, doctors usually withdraw mothers from heroin after the baby is born or very gradually during pregnancy and on very close supervision, and sometimes this is done by using a replacement drug like methadone. Besides the effects it has on the baby your heroin use puts you too at risk for some serious health conditions. For example, you have a 50 percent chance of developing heart disease, anemia, diabetes, pneumonia, and hepatitis during your pregnancy. These are much higher odds than the average mother faces.

How does heroin abuse affect pregnant women: How does Heroin Abuse affect Pregnant Women?

As is the case with every person who uses heroin, pregnant women who expose themselves and their children to this drug run the risk of developing a wide range of health complications with the greatest one being death. Accidental overdose can cause the death of the mother and can also result in spontaneous abortion of the fetus, and can lead to infant death shortly after birth but even if no fatalities occur, the results of heroin use during pregnancy can still be devastating:

Like everything a pregnant woman ingests, heroin can cross the placenta meaning that their babies can develop a dependence on the drug before they are even born. According to the American Pregnancy Association, heroin use during pregnancy can lead to the following conditions in the baby:

  • Premature birth or low birth weight
  • Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
  • Bleeding in the brain
  • Impaired ability to breathe

Compared with a host of other risks, “low birth weight” may sound like a relatively innocuous effect but being born at less than 5 lbs., 8 oz., has been associated with myriad health problems, including heart failure, intestinal damage, and blindness. Various studies have linked low birth weight with an increased likelihood of developing certain health problems including hypertension, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Women who use heroin while pregnant are also more likely than sober women to experience poor nutrition and inadequate prenatal care both of which put mother and child at a decided disadvantage. Effects including impaired immune function, delayed cognitive development, behavior disorders, and stillbirth have all been associated with substandard nutrition, while neglecting proper prenatal care can allow relatively manageable conditions to progress into more substantial threats to both mother and child. Finally experts are working round the clock to develop safer and more effective means of treating heroin addiction in pregnant women and you can get more information about the best treatment options available for you by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today.

How does heroin abuse affect pregnant women: Various health complications of Heroin abuse?

 

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Various health complications of Heroin abuse

June 5, 2015

Various health complications of Heroin abuse: Short and long term effects

Various health complications of Heroin abuse

Various health complications of Heroin abuse can be corrected if treatment is sought in good time

While looking at the elaborate information about heroin addiction in our previous article, we noted that various studies have established the undoubted prevalence of heroin addiction in this generation. Doctor Akoury establishment of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center has been taking the lead role in creating awareness about the scourge of addiction and most importantly offering lasting solutions to the victims. This is the spirit that every other organization should have and meticulously implement for us to have a vibrant healthy and economically productive society. Because of the addictiveness nature of heroin, the various health complications of heroin abuse are very indiscriminative and everybody is vulnerable in equal measures. With the help of professionals from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury, we are going to explore with a view of understanding some of the effects of heroin abuse in our health.

As we had mentioned before that there are three major means of administration of heroin into the body with injection being the most predominant, it has also been established that soon after injection or inhalation and heroin crosses the blood brain barrier. And while in the brain, heroin is converted to morphine and binds rapidly to opioid receptors. With these done abusers will typically report feeling a surge of pleasurable sensation, a “rush” which now brings us to the understanding of some of the short term effects of heroin abuse.

Various health complications of Heroin abuse: Short-term effects of heroin abuse

  • “Rush”
  • Depressed respiration
  • Clouded mental functioning
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Suppression of pain
  • Spontaneous abortion

The intensity of the rush is a function of how much drug is taken and how rapidly the drug enters the brain and binds to the natural opioid receptors. It is important to note that heroin is particularly addictive because it enters the brain so quickly. With heroin, the rush is usually accompanied by a warm flushing of the skin, dry mouth, and a heavy feeling in the extremities, which may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and severe itching. Doctor Akoury further explains that after the initial effects, abusers usually will be drowsy for several hours. Mental function is clouded by heroin’s effect on the central nervous system. Cardiac functions slow. Breathing is also severely slowed, sometimes to the point of death. Heroin overdose is a particular risk on the street, where the amount and purity of the drug cannot be accurately known.

Various health complications of Heroin abuse: What are the long-term effects of heroin use?

One of the most detrimental long-term effects of heroin is addiction itself which is a chronic, relapsing disease, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, and by neurochemical and molecular changes in the brain. Heroin also produces profound degrees of tolerance and physical dependence, which are also powerful motivating factors for compulsive use and abuse. Other long-term effects of heroin abuse may include the following:

  • Addiction
  • Infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C
  • Collapsed veins
  • Bacterial infections
  • Abscesses
  • Infection of heart lining and valves
  • Arthritis and other rheumatologic problems

The common denominator with all addictive drugs is that their users will become their prisoners. In the same way heroin abusers will by and by spend more of their time, energy and resources in obtaining and using the drug. And once addicted and are now prisoners of drugs, their primary purpose in life will be to seek for the drug and use it disorderly thereby making very significant changes in their brains. Besides that as they continue abusing the drug, physical dependence develops with higher doses of the same. This will then cause the body to adapt to the presence of the drug and withdrawal symptoms occurring should the drug use be stopped abruptly. When we talk about withdrawal, it is important to note that this can take place even within few hours from the last usage. The following are some of the symptoms of withdrawal restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold sweats with goose bumps (“cold turkey”), and leg movements. Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 24 and 48 hours after the last dose of heroin and subside after about a week. However, some people have shown persistent withdrawal signs for many months. And even though heroin withdrawal may never be fatal to healthy adults, this may not be so with unborn children in the womb, it can cause death to the fetus of a pregnant addict.

When using heroin, it is important to note that the continued use of this substance may lead to the user being addicted to it. And this happens; many addicts will have to endure many of the withdrawal symptoms to reduce their tolerance for the drug so that they can again experience the rush. In the past explains doctor Akoury, physical dependence and emergence of withdrawal symptoms were believed to be the key features of heroin addiction. However studies have revealed that this may not be the case entirely, since craving and relapse can also occur weeks and months after withdrawal symptoms are long gone. We also know that patients with chronic pain who need opiates to function (sometimes over extended periods) have few if any problems leaving opiates after their pain is resolved by other means. This may be because the patient in pain is simply seeking relief of pain and not the rush sought by the addict.

Various health complications of Heroin abuse: What are the medical complications of chronic heroin abuse?

Finally medical consequences of chronic heroin abuse include scarred or collapsed veins, bacterial infections of the blood vessels and heart valves, abscesses (boils) and other soft-tissue infections, and liver or kidney disease. Lung complications (including various types of pneumonia and tuberculosis) may result from the poor health condition of the abuser as well as from heroin’s depressing effects on respiration. Many of the additives in street heroin may include substances that do not readily dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys and the brain. This can cause infection or even death of small patches of cells in vital organs. Immune reactions to these or other contaminants can cause arthritis or other rheumatologic problems. And of course, sharing of injection equipment or fluids can lead to some of the most severe consequences of heroin abuse – infections with hepatitis B and C, HIV, and a host of other blood-borne viruses, which drug abusers can then pass on to their sexual partners and children. With these explanations, it is only prudent that if you are struggling with heroin addiction, then you need to seek for immediate treatment which can be done professionally if you schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. Up on receipt of your request they will slot you in for treatment and help you all the way to reclaim your life back professionally and confidentially.

Various health complications of Heroin abuse: Short and long term effects

 

 

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