Tag Archives: Illicit substances

Fighting opioid addiction

Skin picking and illicit drugs effects

Skin picking

Skin picking and illicit drugs effects on your beauty can cause serious health complications too

Skin picking and illicit drugs effects: Heroin withdrawal

Withdrawing from heroin, a highly addictive opiate is an intensely uncomfortable experience. Restlessness, nervousness, severe cravings and goose bumps can trigger the urge to self-mutilate. Users in withdrawal often say that they feel like they’re crawling out of their skin. In this state, skin picking may provide a momentary sense of release. Heroin withdrawal affects the skin in several important ways. Goosebumps, along with chills, shivering and cold sweats, occur as the brain adjusts to the absence of this powerful opioid. These bumps are caused by tiny muscles that tighten at the base of the fine hairs that cover the skin. For the user in withdrawal, compulsively rubbing or tugging at the skin may counteract the sensations of cold and restlessness.

Skin picking and self-mutilation can also help the user cope with opiate cravings. The sensations of pleasure or pain are a temporary distraction from the desire to use heroin. Ritualistic picking can provide an outlet for the intense anxiety, nervous tension, and restlessness that characterize withdrawal. But skin picking provides only a temporary relief from the symptoms of opiate withdrawal. Once physical withdrawal symptoms begin, they can last for several days. The best way to avoid withdrawal symptoms like goose bumps, sweats, and muscle pain is to enter a medically supervised detox program like AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD. At a detox center, you can receive the physical and moral support you need to minimize the symptoms of withdrawal and avoid a relapse.

Skin picking and illicit drugs effects: Treatment for skin disorders

This is one such treatment which needs a lot of expertise that is why doctor Akoury carries out an assessment on all her patients to evaluate their psychological soundness before taking any treatment action. It must be noted that this substance is very addictive and a comprehensive psychiatric assessment is very vital. Under normal cases an initial, personalized assessment should cover the following areas:

  • What triggers the behavior?
  • What does the individual get from the behavior?
  • Does the individual have co-occurring mental health problems, like anxiety or depression?
  • Does the individual have an alcohol or drug problem?
  • Does the person have a family history of mental illness?
  • Has the person tried any medications or therapies in the past?

Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have not approved any medications specifically for the treatment of BFRBs, several drugs have been used successfully to control the impulse to pick or scratch the skin. The following are some of the medications which can be essentially helpful:

  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and escitalopram (Lexapro), have been approved for the treatment of depression and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil) and imipramine (Elavil)
  • Opioid antagonists, such as naltrexone (ReVia), are used to reduce the pleasurable effects of alcohol and certain narcotics
  • Neuroleptic medications, such as olanzapine (Zyprexa) and risperidone (Risperdal), are used to treat repetitive, compulsive behaviors

Along with these medications, behavioral modification therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can help reduce the urge to self-mutilate. These therapies have also proven to be valuable in the treatment of drug addiction. You can benefit from all these by scheduling an appointment with doctor Akoury now.

Skin picking and illicit drugs effects: Heroin withdrawal

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over the counter drug abuse

Understanding legal high drugs

Understanding legal high drugs

Understanding legal high drugs as those types medication which is not illicit but is equally addictive

Understanding legal high drugs: Even legal drug can be addictive

The threat of addiction is not new to us in any way. We are surrounded by all kinds of addictive elements some of which are legally acceptable for use either in the health sector or in our social life. We spoke to doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President and founder of AWAREmed health and wellness resource center over this with a view of understanding legal high drugs and how they affect our life. It is true that at the mention of addiction, our minds gets turned to hard drugs. This feeling is in order because such are addictive too. What many may not know is that we can be addicted even to some legal drugs known as a collection of drugs sold legally but mimic the effects of illegal drugs like cannabis, ecstasy, and cocaine. Some of these drugs may include herbal smoking mixtures, diet pills (ephedrine), herbal ecstasy and mephedrone. We can also include GHB, BZP (benzylpiperazine) poppers such as amyl nitrite and caffeine drinks/pills.

Understanding legal high drugs: Legal high appearance and method of usage

These substances have the same effects as an illegal drug but are not prohibited by law and are not regulated by the Misuse of Drugs Act though changes are being made to control have them controlled. Many of these drugs are naturally occurring substances but the most recent one -mephedrone, has been synthetically produced in laboratories. The come in different looks in the market with some being herbal solutions which can be mixed with tobacco and smoked normally while others like Mephedrone, come in white powder, tablets or capsules forms. Poppers such as amyl nitrite or butyl nitrite are inhaled while others like ephedrine are found in over the counter medicines or pills used for weight control.

They can be taken be taken orally, smoked, inhaled, added to drinks or injected through this last method of consumption is very rare. Like any other drugs legal high drugs also have their street nouns. Many of these substances have ‘trade names’ or brand names for marketing purposes, for example, the herbal smoking mixture or solution is known as ‘Spice’. Other names may include:

  • Meow (mephedrone)
  • Herbal Viagra
  • Eclipse (herbal ecstasy)
  • Cloud 9 (herbal ecstasy/ephedrine)
  • Liquid gold (poppers)

These drugs are often used by young people and particularly the youth, clubbers and festival goers.

Understanding legal high drugs: Effects of legal highs

The effects of these drugs vary depending on which substance you are using. If you smoke Spice, you will experience the effects similar to those of cannabis like feeling relaxed and ‘chilled out’ or hyperactive or talkative and giggly Majority of users will find that their sensitivities have been altered or that they experience mild hallucinations. A drug-like mephedrone will have similar effects to those from using ecstasy or cocaine. The experiences may include:

  • Euphoria
  • Increased confidence
  • Lots of energy
  • Empathy with others
  • It can also suppress the appetite
  • Speed up the heart rate
  • Reduce inhibitions.

Finally, all these experiences are not healthy for anyone and must be addressed professionally. If you have been having any of the mentioned problems, you can schedule an appointment with doctor Akoury now for professional solutions today.

Understanding legal high drugs: Even legal drug can be addictive

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Marijuana addiction awareness and treatment

Marijuana addiction awareness

Marijuana addiction awareness and treatment effectiveness in the transformation of addiction recovery

Marijuana addiction awareness and treatment: Also known as cannabis sativa

Many at times we are faced with certain misleading statements about illicit drugs, with their users making every effort to convince non-users of how good these illicit drugs are good and should be used freely. The truth is that once illicit it is bad and nothing can be good about it. Looking at the way drugs ruin families, societies and even nations, I cannot just sit and pretend that things will normalize with time without doing something about it. And that is the reason why doctor Dalal Akoury MD a renowned addiction expert of several decades made a very passionate decision to create a medical center (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to finding their own inner healing power and exercising it for total recovery about all kinds of addictions. And as we explore on all kinds of addiction, we want to narrow down on the marijuana addiction awareness and treatment progressively.

Besides that in the level of professionalism, it will interest you to note that Dr. Akoury’s practice primarily focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. And now with such a professional onboard we can proceed to sharing with you what you need to know about marijuana so that you can separate between myths and facts. In the meantime, if you have any concerns that you need clarification from the expert then you can call doctor Akoury on telephone number 843 213 1480 and she will gladly address your concerns professionally.

Marijuana addiction awareness and treatment: The hemp plant

Now back to the discussion, marijuana is derived from the hemp plant, cannabis sativa and it is a dry, shredded green and brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves. Marijuana is one of the most commonly used and abused illicit drug globally with the U.S being one of the highly rated in is abuse. This substance is loaded with over 400 different chemicals with the main one being that which brings alteration to the mind known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. The level of THC content in marijuana after cultivation can range from less than 1% to more than 30% and has been increasing dramatically, making marijuana increasingly potent and more addictive. This therefore defeats the myth that marijuana is harmless because the fact is and according to the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), in 2010 there were over 572,000 marijuana-involved admissions to hospital emergency rooms. This is not a small thing that you can easily wish away, and in the same report it was also established that during the same timeframe, an estimated 11,406 emergency department visits involved a synthetic cannabinoid product, sometimes referred to as “synthetic marijuana” and commonly known by street names like “Spice” or “K2”. That can only mean that this is a very dangerous drug and this awareness is timely.

Marijuana addiction awareness and treatment: Also known as cannabis sativa

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Cocaine addiction

Problematic substances patterns

Problematic substances

Problematic substances patterns moves with wrong choices

Problematic substances patterns: Treating sexual addiction concurrently with drug abuse

When examining problematic substances patterns and who they are use in individuals seeking help for a sexual addiction, it becomes clear that the two are indistinguishably linked together. It is estimated from the various studies that between 40-60% of individuals struggling with sexual addiction also meet the criteria for alcohol or drug addiction. And according to the experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center it is evident that many individuals with sexual addiction problems have actually admitted to using substances in order to deal with, or escape from, the pain caused by their sexual behavior. Besides that it is also very common that many people are currently using substances to get over their inhibitions in order to engage in sexual behaviors that might be uncharacteristic for them if they were not drunk or high further explaining the significance of multi addiction.

We must therefore seek for information by way of investigating how multiple addictions can feed into one another. This is very important because it is possible that individuals may use one of their addictions to mask or dismiss the other addiction and this could be influenced by various reasons including fear and shames especially those elements that are considered shameful addiction. Like for instance, an individual may deny having a problem with sexual addiction and insist completely that their problematic sexual behavior is only caused by intoxication. The truth of the matter in this case may be that the drugs or alcohol are merely concealing the pain and shameful acts that are associated with the sexual addiction thereby helping the person to be spared from the emotional consequences of his or her actions. By the same token, both addictions may work on intensifying one another in such a way that the person only engages in their sexual addiction under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These rituals then serve to protect the addiction and ensure that patterns of use are stable and predictable and this can be very dangerous if not dealt with expeditiously.

Problematic substances patterns: Addressing the whole addictive process

A major concern with treatment of substance use disorder alone is that untreated sexual addiction often precipitates a relapse of substance use. Dealing with one addiction while ignoring the other may end up intensifying the problem that has not been addressed. A good example would be when a person in early recovery from a substance addiction turns to sexual performance enhancers in order to continue the ritualized sexual behavior that was previously enhanced by the substance use. This sexual behavior can continue to be problematic for the individual. The individual may continue to feel a sense of shame and pain.

Therefore recovery is about addressing the entire addictive process, not just those associated with a particular substance or behavior. The addictive process, whether related to sexual behavior or substances is often characterized by a pattern of secrecy, cognitive distortions and rituals. Consequently recovery from addiction regardless of type, would involve embracing and attempting to live a life of honesty, authenticity and emotional growth. All these are attainable with professional guidance from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center.

Problematic substances patterns: Treating sexual addiction concurrently with drug abuse

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Teen-sexuality

Controlling teens substance abuse professionally

Controlling teens

Learning teenage addiction prevention from experience is working for many families

Controlling teens substance abuse professionally: What to do when your child won’t stop using drugs?

We are often faced with the challenge of handling the teens substance abuse professionally because may at times we are caught unaware of this new development. It is however very painful to have a son or a daughter who is lost in drugs and alcohol. The peace of mind run away and the worries of their conduct being adopted by their young siblings aches the heart beyond measure. Therefore we ask “what can you do when your teen just won’t stop abusing drugs?” This is what we want to focus on in this discussion and with the help of doctor Dalal Akoury M.D who is a veteran addiction expert and also the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, through her professionalism, we are going to deliver to you the very best health addiction information that will be of great help to you and your loved ones in handling the teens substances abuse professionally. This is something you don’t want to miss ones therefore we encourage you to stay on the link as we impact on you positively.

Ideally there are so many misconceptions about alcohol and drug addiction, these misconceptions have resulted into many people believing that the addicts have willfully chosen the path of addiction. Although behavior and personal choice represents an important factor in the development of addiction, the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are of the opinion that there are other components as well. Like for instance, it may be that for some individuals, it is a biological or genetic predisposition that makes them more likely to develop an addiction if they experiment with substance abuse; while many others are led down the path of addiction due to environmental circumstances. Nonetheless doctor Akoury reiterates that no matter how or why it occurs in the first place, alcohol and drug addiction is a chronic problem, progressive disease that initiates a dramatic transformation, turning good people into individuals who are only concerned about their next fix. This is not good for anyone and therefore it is very important that lasting solutions is found and adopted immediately.

Controlling teens substance abuse professionally: Substance abuse vulnerability for all age groups

Now to the focus of our discussion, it is important to appreciate that substance abuse is not dangerous for adolescents and teens but also very disastrous to the whole communities where our teens resides. Impressionable by nature, our youths are commonly curious about substance abuse and have traditionally experimented with alcohol and marijuana at young ages. This is a terrible mistake that anyone can do no matter the circumstance or situation. However, with a heroin epidemic having taken the globe at ransom with United States taking the lead, from the available statistics, there’s clear evidence of increased heroin use among high school and college-aged individuals. Doctor Akoury is professionally sounding an alarm that substance abuse at such a young age is dangerous since these individuals are not yet fully developed; and remember that when youths abuse alcohol and drugs to the point of addiction, they run the risk of stunting their physical and psychological development. Moreover, addiction makes individuals more likely to resort to criminal behaviors and damage important relationships, which can have a major impact on the rest of their lives and that of their loved ones and the society in general. You can avoid this by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Akoury for a lasting solution.

Controlling teens substance abuse professionally: What to do when your child won’t stop using drugs?

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