Once known as “poor man’s cocaine,” the crystalline white powder known
as speed or meth, quickly seduces those who snort, smoke or inject it
with a euphoric rush of confidence, hyperalertness and sexual arousal
that can last for hours, even days on end, and then the destruction
begins.

Meth initially became popular in rural areas in the midwest, and on the
West Coast. With alarming rapidity the epidemic of meth has found it’s
way into the mainstream on its steady march across the country. Cheaper
than most other hard drugs, the highly addictive stimulant is spreading
to people across the socioeconomic spectrum, from soccer moms in
Illinois, and computer geeks in Silicon Valley to factory workers in
Detroit and gay professionals in New York and Los Angeles.

Recently, the White House drug policy office, realizing the potential
disaster on the horizon, has set a goal to cut meth use by 15 percent
over the next three years and increase seizures of meth labs by 25
percent. The abuse of meth, mistakenly thought to only be a minor
problem, has now become an issue on a national level.

With more than 12 million Americans having tried methamphetamine, and
1.5 million admitting to being regular users (according to federal
estimates) meth abuse is quickly spreading. The production of meth is at
an all time high as well. Meth labs have been uncovered in all 50
states, with Missouri topping the list, with more than 8,000 labs seized
between 2002 and 2004. Law enforcement officials across the United
States rank methamphetamine as the No. 1 drug problem they face today.
In a survey of 500 law-enforcement agencies in 45 states by the National
Association of Counties, 58 percent said meth is by far the biggest drug
problem they face, compared with only 19 percent for cocaine, 17 percent
for pot and 3 percent for heroin.

Meth addicts are pouring into prisons and meth rehabilitation centers at an
ever-increasing rate, and a new generation of “meth babies” is choking
the foster-care system in many states. About half the counties reported
that one in five inmates are jailed because of meth-related crimes like
robberies and burglaries. Another 17 percent of counties reported that
one in two inmates are incarcerated for meth-related activity. About
1,000 of the 2,800 inmates in the Oklahoma County jail are incarcerated
for meth-related crimes, he said. Even Mormon Utah has a meth problem,
with nearly half the women in Salt Lake City’s jail testing positive for
the drug in one study.

One thing is for sure, meth abuse is America’s biggest problem, making
it Public Enemy No. 1.

In order to achieve marijuana rehabilitation one must first understand marijuana. Marijuana is a green or gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant Cannabis Sativa. There are over 200 slang terms for marijuana including “pot,” “herb,” “weed,” “boom,” “Mary Jane,” “gangster,” and “chronic.” It is usually smoked as a cigarette (called a joint or a nail) or in a pipe or bong. In recent years, it has appeared in blunts. These are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and re-filled with marijuana, often in combination with another drug, such as crack. Some users also mix marijuana into foods or use it to brew tea. A series of cellular reactions ultimately lead to the high that users experience when they smoke marijuana. The short-term effects of marijuana use include problems with memory and learning; distorted perception; difficulty in thinking and problem solving; loss of coordination; and increased heart rate, anxiety, and panic attacks.

Drug treatment programs based on marijuana rehabilitation are rare, partly because many who use marijuana do so in combination with other drugs. Nowadays, with more people seeking help to control marijuana abuse, research has focused on ways to overcome this disease.

One study of adult pot users found that 14 session cognitive behavioral group treatments and 2 session individual treatments that included motivational interviewing and advice on ways to reduce use were helpful in marijuana rehabilitation.

No medications are available to treat marijuana abuse. Recent discoveries about the workings of THC receptors have raised the possibility that scientists may eventually develop a successful medication for marijuana rehabilitation. Such a medication might be used to prevent marijuana abuse relapses by reducing or eliminating its appeal to the user.

Drug addiction is a serious problem that can affect us all. Whether you
know someone who has had a drug or alcohol problem, or have one
yourself, there is a way to get help.

Effective drug rehabilitation addresses both the physical dependence and
the psychological addiction of the substance abuser. By treating both
the dependence and the addiction harmoniously, the patient has the best
chance of making a full, lasting recovery. If only one aspect of the
affliction is addressed, the chance of a relapse increases.

Physical dependency is treated by putting the patient through a complete
and immediate detoxification process, during which time the patient is
not permitted access to either drugs or alcohol. This allows the body to
remove all traces of the abused substance. This process can take days or
months, depending on the substance abused and the length of the abuse,
both of which contribute to the patient’s tolerance to the substance.
Detox should always be closely monitored by trained medical personnel,
as withdrawal symptoms can be potentially life-threatening.

Once all traces of the drug have been removed from the body, the
psychological desire to continue using can become overwhelming. In order
to help overcome this addiction, it is recommended that the patient
enter into a custom counseling program or sober living facility. Twelve-step programs
are also recommended and they are one of the most effective ways to
battle this psychological desire.

In addition to regular counseling of some sort, the patient should be
diligent in maintaining a drug-free lifestyle. Especially at the
beginning of their treatment, they should distance themselves from
substance abusers and situations where substance abuse might be
occurring, even if this means alienating their friends. If a patient is
particularly susceptible to peer pressure, extended inpatient therapy
might be recommended to help establish a drug-free environment during
the most critical first stages of treatment. For those patients whose
addiction is not as severe, outpatient treatment is available.

Making the commitment to recover from a serious substance abuse problem
is a lifestyle change, and therefore it is not something that happens
overnight. The reasons people begin using and abusing drugs are
different for everyone, and the most effective rehabilitation plans are
custom tailored to each individual’s needs. Once the physical dependence
has been combated, the psychological addiction must be faced every day
for the rest of the patient’s life.

There is no magic wand to make an addict suddenly not be an addict
anymore, but with diligence and a strong foundation from a good drug
rehabilitation program, the recovering addict can lead a normal,
successful life.

A detox program is a program set up to help individuals who are addicted to drugs rehabilitate themselves. The basic definition of a detox program is a program established to detoxify one’s body and rid it of all harmful chemicals and/or toxins. Often times in the holistic world, a detox program can be used to boost the immune system, to lose weight, or as a fasting aid. These can be found in the form of herbal cleanses, colon cleanses, or detox teas.

In the drug rehabilitation world, a detox program is used to help drug addicts kick their destructive drug habits. There are several types of detox programs in the world as we know it. Some deal with the inclusion of legal drugs to counteract the patient’s dependence on the illicit drug they were abusing. One example of this would be the methadone treatment of an opiate addiction. Methadone, also known as Dolophine, is a misunderstood remedy for chronic pain. Even doctors do not understand its potential for improving pain relief methods. Methadone is a narcotic pain reliever for medium to severe pain, and is mostly used for the treatment of dependence on opiates such as Vicodin, Percocet, Morphine, and Heroin.

Unfortunately, it is an arduous task for one to find an effective drug rehabilitation/ detox program because many available methods offer little to no recovery. The success rate of most detox programs is so low because these programs and the people who created them neglect to actually heal the underlying causes of addiction. Alcohol and drugs are never the problem, but the solutions chosen by some to cope with their underlying conditions are.

Many drug-dependent clients enter treatment in a revolving door manner; from one program to the next, only to find themselves unable to break out of the vicious cycle of relapse. Chronic exposure to drug abuse and to alcohol changes the way that the brain functions. It is only by effective medications combined with counseling and support, that the individual can interrupt the vicious self-destructive cycle of abuse and dependence.