Painkiller addiction doesn’t just go away. Painkiller addiction isn’t the kind of thing you can just hope into submission, or will into oblivion. Painkiller addiction, you might say, never dies easy. If you’re going to beat it…if you’re going to get back to living life like you used to…you’re going to have to get help.

Painkiller addiction treatment programs really do work: really can help painkiller addicts rediscover their old selves. Painkiller addiction treatment, though, can’t do anything for you if you won’t let it. Before you can beat painkiller addiction, you have to find the courage to seek help. Anything less just won’t cut it.

Painkiller addiction is an awful disease. If you’ve made it this far, you shouldn’t need to be told that. Painkiller addiction, when it works, can fix what’s been broken, and restore what’s been lost. With so much at stake, you can’t afford to bring anything less than your best effort to the fight against painkiller abuse. Let today be the day you make the right decision.

Painkiller addiction is an insidious disease, a condition which almost literally sneaks up on its victims, so that painkiller addicts don’t realize they’re painkiller addicts until it’s already too late. No less importantly, painkiller abuse can happen to anyone. Anyone. And the only way to beat it…the only way to get back to living life as you used to know it…is to get help from addiction treatment professionals.

Painkiller addiction never dies easy. Let there be no mistaking that much. Painkiller addiction never dies easy: never goes down without a fight, never gets beaten without the fiercest sort of resistance. The corollary, of course, should be obvious: Painkiller abuse victims can’t better on their own.

Drug treatment is vital to addiction recovery, for the simple reason that addiction itself is never a choice. Painkiller abuse victims don’t abuse painkillers because they want to; they abuse painkillers because they’re sick, and because their sickness outstrips anything we might understand as conventional will. Again, drug addiction never dies easy. If you’re going to get better, you’ve got to get help.

Painkiller addiction is an insidious disease. Painkiller addiction develops subtly, gradually; it makes a sort of piecemeal encroachment an addict’s being, so that he’s consumed by the need to abuse painkillers without really understanding what’s happening. Painkiller addiction, simply put, will sneak up on you. And when it does, you can’t get better without help.

Painkiller addiction, it’s worth noting here, is never anyone’s “fault.” Painkiller addiction isn’t a product of individual will, or a lack thereof; it’s a sickness, one that exists outside the scope of active individual agency. Painkiller addiction victims are no more to blame for their conditions than cancer patients are to blame for theirs. Such is the nature of disease: You’re sick because you’re sick, not because you want to be.

What that means, in a practical sense, is that there’s no shame in seeking painkiller addiction treatment. In fact, the only shame would lie in doing nothing. Painkiller addiction treatment really can work for you…but not before you take the first step, by checking into a painkiller addiction treatment center. With so much to lose, and so much more to win, you can’t afford to make any other choice.

I was hooked on painkillers for the better part of two years. Or so they tell me. Point of fact, I don’t remember much of anything about my painkiller addiction…except perhaps the Need, and the sense that I couldn’t ever get enough of whatever it was I wanted.

Painkiller addiction…like any kind of drug addiction…is serious business. Addiction to painkillers ruined my life: chased away my wife, alienated me from my kids, cost me my job. When I woke up, after all those years, it was like everything I’d cared about was gone, like everything I’d ever known had been some kind of dream, dissolved into Nothing as if it had never been. It isn’t, obviously, the kind of thing you get over overnight.

If you or someone you care about has a painkiller addiction problem, please: Get help. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Don’t think it’s all right to just to “let it go.” That’s what I thought. And I let go of more than I ever bargained for.

The statistics on drug abuse in the United States are staggering. According to a study from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 112,085,000 Americans aged 12 or over report having used an illicit drug at least once in their life. That is 46.1 % of the US population aged 12 and over. Out of these people, the same study estimates that there are 30 million US citizens addicted to drugs, either prescription or illegal.

The rehab treatments available for addicts vary as much as the addictions themselves. The first step is to ascertain the severity of the person’s addiction and their drug of choice. Other issues, such as age, gender, race, sexual orientation and environment are also factored in to the mix. Once that information is gathered, the counselor can work to find the best treatment for that particular person. Most treatments begin with behavior modification to help people cope with their drug cravings while at the same time offer them suggestions on ways to avoid drugs This is sometimes the hardest lesson for people to accept as the first suggestion is usually to avoid known drug users, which often cuts the person off from their friends. There are many medications that have been used successfully in fighting drug addiction. These include, but are not limited to, methadone, naltrexone and Levo-Alpha Acetyl Methadol, known as LAAM.

Methadone has been an accepted form of detoxification from narcotics for over thirty years. The patient receives a carefully monitored daily dose of methadone, a synthetic narcotic suppresses the opioid receptor in the brain that is triggered by opiate use and allows addicts to change their addictive behaviors. It reduces the cravings and uncontrolled impulses seen with heroin addiction, but the patient must then be gradually weaned from the methadone, a process that could take years. However, since the harmful side effects of illegal drugs are gone, the patient can be helped to return to a normal life.

Naltrexone is not as well known as methadone, but it is highly effective in persons truly motivated to overcome their addiction. Naltrexone, when used in conjunction with clonidine, can shorten the detoxification time to one day as opposed to the two weeks necessary for the same results from methadone. This results in considerable cost savings. However, people using naltrexone have a higher relapse rate then patients using methadone. Doctors theorize that this is because naltrexone does not have side effects, such as the withdrawal symptoms experienced by methadone users, when it is discontinued.

LAAM is another alternative to methadone. It needs to be administered only three times a week, which, like naltrexone, results in significant cost savings. Studies have shown that patients on LAAM may need more counseling and support when they first begin treatment as their ignorance of the treatment causes more anxiety in them.

Besides behavior modification and medical intervention, there are many other forms of rehab that can be used concurrently with the former two treatments. These include substance use monitoring, support groups, counseling, family services such as childcare, housing and transportation, education, medical care, financial aid and legal services. These subsidiary services are needed to help the patient return to a productive life since many addicts have concurrent problems such as depression or other psychosis.

Alcoholics Anonymous, founded by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron,
Ohio in 1935 is known as the first twelve step program. Others would
soon follow, seeking success by applying the same basic formula outlined
in the official A.A. text to other addictions like cocaine and heroin
(Narcotics Anonymous), and to obsessive behaviors like overeating
(Overeaters Anonymous).

The twelve step program has it’s roots in religion and was begun as a
religious organization. With the evolution of A.A., and the inclusion of
an ambigous “Higher Power,” the concept of “spiritual, not religious,”
arose and seems to have derived from the desire to keep religion
separate from A.A. Historically and conceptually though, the practices
of A.A., and the Twelve Steps are Biblical in roots and nature.
The Twelve Step program is based upon the principles outlined in the
official text, “Alcoholics Anonymous” or the “Big Book” as it is known
to AA members. Written by Wilson and early members of A.A., the Twelve
Steps were essentially a rewriting of the 6 steps of the Oxford
Group(founded by Frank Buchman).

After moderate success in curing their addictions, or “illnesses,”
Wilson was asked by Dr. Smith and other members of the Akron group to
write a book about the program. Instead, Wilson returned to New York and
authored a completely different book which also included the teachings
of Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr., rector of Calvary Episcopal Church in
New York, and a leader of the Oxford Group in America. Shoemaker’s
ideas, which are found almost verbatim in the Twelve Steps, were added
to this new “Big Book”. Also added were theories about alcoholism from
Dr. William D. Silkworth, arguments for the necessity of conversion from
Dr. Carl G. Jung, and the idea of a “higher power” from Professor
William James, as well as thoughts from Anne Smith (Dr. Bob’s wife),
techniques from Richard Peabody and his Common Sense of Drinking book,
and elements of the writings “Universal Mind,” “Czar of the Universe,”
and “higher power.” The basis for the twelve steps can be found in the
Oxford Group teachings of Rowland Hazard and Ebby Thacher in late 1934
and early 1935, although neither the Oxford Group nor early A.A. in New
York or Akron used any “steps” at all.

Twelve step groups meet regularly to discuss problems and share
experiences, challenges, successes and failures, and provide support for
each other. All twelve-step programs follow a variation of the original
Twelve Step program. One of the most widely-recognized and satirized
characteristics of the twelve step program is the requirement that
members state their name and admit they are “an alcoholic”, the line
“Hi, I’m Pam and I’m an alcoholic” is a catchphrase now widely
identified with the twelve step program and support groups such as A.A.
And others. The main belief of A.A. members is that recovery requires
them to admit they have a problem, and to give themselves up and put
their faith in God, or a “Higher Power”.Additionally, The only
requirement for membership to A.A., “is the desire to stop drinking”.

You probably know a drug addict without even realizing it. When most people think of a drug addict, they envision a dirty, high strung; out of control individual that they fear may cause them harm. What most people probably don’t realize is that drug addicts can look and act as normal as your next door neighbor. In fact, your next door neighbor just may be a drug addict.

Prescription drugs are hooking millions of Americans and causing devastating consequences to their lives and the lives of their families. It starts off innocently enough, you have an accident and a doctor prescribes medication to stop the pain, before you know it you are taking more and more because the pain just won’t go away. That is the insidious nature of prescription drug abuse. It works fine in the beginning, but you begin to build up a tolerance to the medication and the next thing you know you are in constant pain unless you take the medicine. It is at this point that addiction has set in.

Prescription drug addiction is reaching epidemic proportions. Approximately nine million Americans used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes in 1999, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA.) And the problem has only gotten worse. Many people who are addicted to prescription drugs don’t even realize that they have a problem. Because it is medication prescribed by a doctor for a legitimate medical condition in the beginning, they feel as if there is nothing wrong with what they are doing. As long as they aren’t taking hard street drugs like cocaine or heroin, they don’t recognize themselves as drug addicts.

In cases where prescription drugs are being abused, the patient may notice that they have to take more and more of the drug just to feel normal, without ever understanding that it is the effects of the addiction that is causing this viscous cycle. On top of that, once the drugs enter their system there are other chemical reactions going on that in the beginning, are pleasant and hard to give up; feelings such as relief from anxiety, false feelings of self-confidence and increased activity and energy levels. Sadly, the elderly is one group that is at a higher risk for becoming dependant on prescription drugs.

Because the elderly are often on many legitimate drugs for ongoing health issues related to their age, they have a higher risk of becoming addicted to prescription drugs. The elderly are also often isolated and lonely, which only raises their chances of falling victim to drug abuse. Women are also in the high-risk category. With all of the work women do inside and outside of the home, they often suffer from anxiety and/or depression. In order to combat this, their doctors prescribe antidepressants or antianxiety medication, and these can become addictive. There are several risk factors to becoming addicted to prescription drugs that should be looked at.

The risk factors to a prescription drug abuser can include; medical conditions that require pain medication, family history of addiction, fatigue and overwork depression, dependency, or poor self-esteem. Any doctor prescribing prescription drugs should pay close attention to any patient who falls into these categories because they are at an increased risk of becoming addicted. In fact, a doctor should monitor any patient that is on prescription drugs very carefully to ensure that they aren’t abusing them. But, even in cases where doctors are diligent about maintaining the proper use of the drug, some patients will circumvent that by doing what is called, “doctor shopping.” In doctor shopping scenarios, patients will go from doctor to doctor complaining of pain in order to get more prescriptions. There have been cases where patients were found with hundreds of prescriptions from different doctors. The problem has become so pervasive that NIDA has launched a national initiative to educate the public about the dangers of non-medical use of prescription drugs, and the potential for abuse.

The frustration, when dealing with prescription drug addiction, lies in the fact that these drugs are beneficial to the health and well being of millions of people every year. So, how does society balance the need for these drugs with the potential for danger? This is a problem law enforcement faces almost on a daily basis. Indeed, it can be a very delicate balance of curbing criminal behavior related to prescription drug addiction and making sure people with legitimate health concerns are still able to access the care they need.

If you or somebody you love thinks they may be addicted to prescription drugs, ask yourself these questions: 1) am I taking more than was originally prescribed, 2) has my doctor refused to give me anymore of the drugs even though I’ve told him I’m still in pain, 3) have I had to go to more than one doctor in order to keep getting my prescription filled, and 4) am I running out of my prescription before I’m due to another one? If you answer yes to these, you probably have a problem with prescription drugs.

If you do find yourself in this situation, you need to get help. There are plenty of places you can go to help got off the drugs. The first thing you may need to do is to go through detoxification. Detoxification, or detox, is when you physically begin to withdrawal from the drug. It is best to go through detox under the strict supervision of a medical professional. Detoxification is an unpleasant state to be in and can cause moderate to severe physical side-effects; for this reason, it is not advisable to go through it alone. You may need medical intervention at some point in the first few days. That’s why most detox is done in a hospital, or a treatment facility that has a medical staff.

Prescription drug addiction is suburbia’s shameful little secret, but it doesn’t have to be. If you are addicted to prescription drugs, you are not alone or unique, unfortunately it is happening everyday and all over the country.

Prescription drugs can be a medical miracle, but only when taken safely and under the strict supervision of your doctor. If you find that you are taking more than you should, or taking it for a longer period of time than was first recommended, seek help. Talk to your doctor to ensure you are taking your medication properly, and advice him of any fears or concerns you may have about becoming dependant.

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. The pure chemical, cocaine hydrochloride, has been an abused substance for more than 100 years, and coca leaves, the source of cocaine, have been ingested for thousands of years.

Cocaine is generally sold on the street as a fine, white, crystalline powder, known as coke, C, snow, or blow. Street dealers generally dilute it with such inert substances as cornstarch, talcum powder, and/or sugar, or with such active drugs as procaine (a chemically-related local anesthetic) or with such other stimulants such as amphetamines.

Cocaine can be snorted through the nose, smoked, or injected. Injecting cocaine — or injecting any drug — carries the added risk of infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, if the user shares a needle with a person already infected with the virus. The drug can also be rubbed onto mucous tissues. Some users combine cocaine powder or crack with heroin making what is called a speedball.

Once having tried cocaine, an individual may have difficulty predicting or controlling the extent to which he or she will continue to use the drug. Use of cocaine in a binge, during which the drug is taken repeatedly and at increasingly high doses, leads to a state of increasing irritability, restlessness, and paranoia. This may result in a full-blown paranoid psychosis, in which the individual loses touch with reality and experiences auditory hallucinations.

Users often report feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety, and cocaine can trigger paranoia. Users also report being depressed when they are not using the drug and often resume use to alleviate further depression. In addition, cocaine users frequently find that they need more and more cocaine more often to generate the same level of stimulation. Therefore, any use can lead to addiction.