Babies subjected to drug abuse during pregnancy are called “low birth weight” babies. The reality is that they are not only small but in many ways underdeveloped. Drugs have taken the place of adequate nutrition. The mother’s stress and anxiety leads to deprivation in the baby at both a mental and physical level. Addict help for an addict who is a new mother can pose many problems.

A child who is only hours old and already in crack withdrawal is a painful experience to witness, and extremely traumatic for the child. If the mother is willing to detox and go into rehab for addict help, when she gets her life into order, then very likely the child, also detoxed, will be returned to her. With system based support which is really only focused upon getting people to cope, chances are that the new mother will flounder due to lack of emotional support.

When a new mother has in the past reached for drugs to deal with emotional pain, instead of developing the support of a caring other, close family and friends, then with the stress of coping with a new child on her own, the crack addict is highly likely to simply re-offend.

There are cases reported of crack addicted mothers who have given drugs to their child – society responds quite fairly by sending the parent to jail. Society feels justified – but where does all this leave the child?

A mother with a new child is in a good place for drug rehabilitation. The child is a significant “other” in her life, and instinctively, all mothers in normal circumstances would fight hard to protect their child. Most drug addicted mothers would love to get addict help, to be drug free for their child.

So what is wrong and why are we failing as a society to provide drug addicted mothers with the addicts help that they need? When we ask that question we are really falling into the same way of thinking as the addicted mother, who makes it her demand

Responsibility for drug abuse and to get addict help rests with the individual. However, it is not easy to make a decision to quit drugs when under pressure and stress. Contact with welfare agencies often leads to delay and the fear that due to the addiction problem, the child could be taken away.

Holistic addict help is provided throughout Canada by many holistic rehab centers. Holistic rehab can really give addicts help, at the emotional level they need, using 100% drug free and completely natural methods. With emotional support a new mother can start to make plans for a drug free future and a healthy life for her child. Holistic addict help gives hope for the future and the promise of a life without addiction.

What better new start could there be for any new or expectant mother than to use holistic addict help for herself and for the new child?

With no wait lists and 24/7 availability – what are you waiting for?

Unfortunately at some point in this journey we call life, most of us will be affected by either drug or alcohol addiction at least once.   It doesn’t necessarily mean that we will become addicts (although the only people exempt from these problems are the ones who don’t indulge in the first place), but it could mean that someone we love is affected.  As you know, alcoholism and drug addiction doesn’t just affect the addict, but can touch everyone in that persons circle of friends and family in some way or another.

* Sometimes, we find that we live in one part of the country and the person who is struggling with addiction lives in another.

That makes getting help a little more difficult, especially if we aren’t familiar with the facilities in that particular area.    Often times, there are alcohol rehabilitation facilities within your area who are willing to work with other States in order to help the addict get the help they need.

An example would be if you lived in Delaware and someone you love has an alcohol problem and would like help, but she lives in Texas.   If you aren’t familiar with the facilities in Texas, you could contact a local alcohol rehabilitation facility and they could work together with the State of Texas in order to get the alcoholic the help that they need.

“Often times we tend to forget that not everyone lives in the same neighborhood, city or even State as their loved ones, which is why it’s important to know that even though you may not be in the same location as the person struggling with alcoholism, there is help available.“

* It’s important to know that you can still offer your love and support and help find them the inpatient facilities they need in order to begin the road to recovery.

As difficult as it may be, especially when you can’t be there physically to help in other ways, try to avoid sending money which could enable the alcoholic to further their addiction.  It won’t be easy, but it’s the only way you can ensure that you aren’t enabling their addiction.  Remember there is help available regardless of where you may reside, whether it be for you, or someone you love.

At the police station was a scared young girl sitting beside me, I guessed that she had just been arrested for the first time because her eyes were filled with tears. Looking at her reminded me of when I was arrested for the first time; it was Christmas Eve and I wasn’t even 21 years old at that point and I had been caught shoplifting. Basically, I was from a poor family and my mom and dad had been killed in an accident.

When I was in the tank, I met a woman who I thought was around 30 or 35 years old. I was wondering why she had been arrested. Slowly, she moved towards me and started talking. I was surprised when she told me that she was 25 years old. As time went on, we became much closer and started talking about her life and she told that she was a prostitute.

* I asked her how she could do it.

She told me that it was simple and said that she got some help from her little friend. She told me about heroin and how it made it easier for her have sex. She was also very passionate about sex because it was a way to make good money. She said that she made more than a 600% profit every day but it still wasn’t enough for her.

As my eyes got wide, she explained how heroin helped her have sex with customers. I mumbled something about wishing that I had the nerve and right then they called her name. She was being released. As she walked away, she turned and asked me if I was serious. I was desperate to get into that life, which seemed like a happy fantasy.

* An hour later, they called my name.

I was surprised that I was being released. When I got out, I saw the woman that I had been talking to an hour before—she had bailed me out. She took me to her hotel room and gave me some heroin. By the next morning, I had done my first trick.  Before long, I was so desperate for heroin that I would take a trick at any price to get money that I would spend just as fast as it had been earned, just to get that feeling that heroin gave me.

I turned and looked at the terrified girl next to me and I tried to convince her to do the same but she wasn’t convinced. I told her my story but after hearing it, she said she wasn’t interested and advised me to stop using. She was later bailed out and went away, but her advice haunted me and it was then that I wanted to get out.

But the story was a lesson to many. For the wise learn from other people’s mistakes and not from their own mistakes.

This is the painful story of Cate…

It all started when I was in high school. Exams were hard; we even called them ICU (Intensive cramming unit). A friend told me of how Marijuana would calm my mind and that I could read day and night. I tried for the first time and it worked pretty well. The next time I had this feeling of stress without much thinking I went into it again.

"On a further medical diagnosis it was discovered I was HIV positive."

* Before I could realize what I was doing this became a trend.

I was doing it often. I even joined a club of some students who were known to be drug addicts. Within some few days of joining the club a friend of mine suggested I take cocaine for marijuana was for the simple. Cocaine was a hard stuff meant for the tuff people.

I tried and the feeling it gave me was comparable to none. I had never felt like this before. I felt so good. I could not wait to get my next dose. The drug was expensive but I would rather steal than miss the dosage. From time to time I broke into other students boxes to get money to spend on the drugs.

For a month I was successful but after a month I was caught by other students, which led to my expulsion from the school. I went home but my parents could not believe it.  They vowed never to finance my education again. With no income and the intense desire for cocaine I could do anything to get money. That’s how I joined prostitution.  I sold my body in return for money. Can you imagine that?

I would con men, steal from them, get severe beat ups but I did not relent in my efforts to get money. But every action has a reaction. More intake of cocaine made me look awful. No man would like to be associated with me and I could not get any more money. I suffered from cocaine withdrawal. I almost died then.

* I survived and cleaned up thanks to the rehab.

Sooner, my parents started a business for me. I worked hard and started prospering. I even extended the business room and everyone was happy once again.

I started getting a persistent cough that could last unusually long. After one month I visited a clinic. I was diagnosed and given the drugs. But the cough was persistent. I was referred to another hospital. On a further medical diagnosis it was discovered I was HIV positive. I didn’t believe it but I had no ground to deny. I had once prostituted.

I have suffered for many years. Tuberculosis, headaches and diarrhea have reduced me to who I am right now.

* I am unlikable and dying. Watch out . . . !

It leads to many serious problems not only for the addicts, but also their family members. The sooner it is diagnosed, better are the chances to get rid off this problem. Nowadays there are various drug addiction tests available, making it convenient for anyone to easily find out whether they are suffering from drug addiction.

* Basically, there are five kinds of drug addiction tests that are in use off late.

They involve testing the urine, blood, saliva, sweat and hair of the addicts. These laboratory tests are accurate and have the ability to reveal all kinds of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, alcohol, marijuana, opium, morphine, etc. More extensive and detailed tests could also detect other serious drugs like methadone, vicodin, Librium etc. There is also another type of test which is known as “self test”, where some questions are present and the person has to answer them sincerely. The score of the test tells whether the person is a drug addict or not and if he is a drug addict, then what is his level of addiction.

* Urine Test is an inexpensive drug addiction test, hence extensively used by most of the employers, legal enforcements and also the house hold people. There are also some home based urine test kits available for individuals to take the test on their own, but the results may not be accurate. Most of the urine tests have the ability to detect the drug usage within the past week or up to 30 days later, but not beyond that.
* Saliva Tests are also reasonably priced, but they are only able to detect the drug usage within few hours. Although there are no cut-off concentrations for the confirmation of the drug usage and nationally accepted standards, this test is also commonly used.
* Hair Tests are the next inexpensive tests and are best suitable to detect the usage of drugs for longer periods – where they beat the urine tests. The only disadvantage with these kinds of tests is that there is a possibility of it giving false result for the people who are present in a room where there was a marijuana smoke.
* Sweat Tests are uncommon and rarely used as there is no guarantee that they give accurate results as such tests heavily relies on the contamination of the skin surface.
* Blood Tests are the most expensive and accurate of all drug addiction tests.

In United States, it is a rule that middle and high schools should conduct such drug addiction tests randomly to detect and prevent the spread of drug addiction in students.  However, the more number of tests that are getting invented and used, the more number of ways the teens and students are discovering to escape from them.

Many youngsters are falling prey to this drug that slowly poisons. This illegal drug is also known as methamphetamine and it is a member of the amphetamine medicine family. When the drug is in its crystalline form, it is known as crystal meth. This addictive drug is also available in a coarse powdered form. It is formulated with a highly combustible combination of chemicals, which may include household cleaning products. When crystal meth is consumed in even small quantities, it can produce effects that linger as long as 10 to 20 hours depending on the dosage and the manner in which it is used.

* Effects of Using Crystal Meth

There are several effects that are linked with using methamphetamine. The use of this highly addictive drug has several risk factors associated with it that can extend beyond those mentioned here.

+ General instant effects:

• Improved concentration and alertness
• Exhilaration
• Nausea and diarrhea
• Reduced appetite
• Insomnia, jaw clenching and tremors
• Irritability, panic, agitation, violence, mystification, loquaciousness and compulsive interest in recurring tasks
• Contraction of arteries
• Improved blood pressure, heart beat, body temperature and blood sugar level
• Excessive sweating
• Increased libido

+ Effects linked with persistent use:

• Addiction to the drug
• Short-term weight loss
• Depression and anxiety
• Tolerance to the drug with more usage required to achieve the same effect
• Tooth decay and tooth loss known as “meth mouth”
• Psychosis due to prolonged drug use

+ Effects of an overdose:

• Brain damage
• Hallucinations, delusions, paranoia and headaches
• Muscle cramps and kidney failure
• Cardiac arrest, sudden stroke and high body temperature

* The Risks of Using Crystal Meth

There are several risks that are involved with the prolonged use of crystal meth. Some of the threats of using this highly addictive drug are:

• Insomnia and a disturbed mind after taking this drug
• Frequent use of methamphetamine may lead to addiction and dependency on the drug
• Regular use may lead to extreme weight loss, damage to the immune system and metabolic changes
• Persistent use may lead to dental problems and speed up the aging process
• Using unsterilized or used syringes may often lead to contracting HIV other STDs

“Crystal meth falls under the Class A addictive drug category and it is illegal to possess, produce and supply this drug or let anyone use this drug. Crystal meth is a highly addictive drug that may lead to serious health problems when it is used for a prolonged period. Methamphetamines that are prescribed by doctors for obesity or mental disorders are legal, but crystal meth is illegal.“

Is good to know that this kind of treatment really helps!

That means, over some period of time patients get addicted to those substances leaving the actual drugs to which they were addicted. However, not all such substances will give negative results. Treatments involving Subutox Detox is an example for that and in this article I will explain about such substances.

“The medical term used to refer Subutox is Buprenorphine and is one of the FDA approved medicated formulations for the treatment of drug addictions such as Opioids.“

This is the first medicated substance among other Opioid partial agonist medicated substances to receive such approval. The unique and effective properties of Buprenorphine are the reasons behind the success of Subutex Detox. These substances take place the human organs with strong power that are affected by the misused drugs and thus block the external opioids from entering. They make good use of the already present substances in reducing the cravings for the drugs and so significantly help in reducing the painful withdrawal symptoms.

* What are the properties that are making the Subutex detox work efficiently in helping the people to come out from the drug addiction?

As said above this is the Opioid partial agonist medicated substance. There are three kinds of drugs when classified how they react in the presence of Opioids. The first one are the Opioid Agonists, when used, activate the already present drugs on the Neurons. Repeated usage of these drugs makes the persons more dependent and less tolerable on them. Heroin and Methadone are part of Opioid Agonists. On the contrary there are Opioid Antagonists, which completely block such substances. Naltrexone and Naloxone fall under this category.

The properties of Buprenorphine make it fall under Opioid partial agonist medicated substances which also block the drugs but not as extremely as Opioid Antagonists do. However, increasing the dosage of Opioid partial agonist medicated pills such as Subutex never make the person get addicted to this. This is the reason behind the success of Subutex Detox.

Methadone is a prescribed medication which is an Opioid, generally used to treat the heroin and other dangerous illegal street drugs. Main intention of this medicine is to provide relief from severe pains and was initially manufactured and used by the German Pharmacies during the Second World War. This is still used as pain reliever but occasionally. The effect of this substance can last for 24 hours and so the usage of this pill is limited for only once in a day. However, many people without knowing the actual effects of excessive dosage tend to take more, leading themselves to a stage of Methadone Addiction.

* In many cases, death can occur in the drug addiction recovery treatments in which Methadone is involved.

The side effects of Methadone alone resemble those of the entire group of Opioid substances so you can imagine how vulnerable this substance is. Methadone Addiction has serious adverse effects on one’s health and it can result in dangerous diseases such as concomitant diseases, pneumonia, hepatitis, hypotension etc.

“Other problems include respiratory depressions, constipation, nausea, vomiting, sedation etc. Human Body builds up certain tolerance level beyond which it can not react and as a result it requires more dosage than normal.“

Methadone Addiction affects the entire body system and almost all organs. For example nose, eyes, ears and throat are affected and so they suffer from pale blue skin, bluish fingertips and nails. Similarly it affects the heart showing out the problems such as low blood pressure and low pulse rate. Nervous system is also touched resulting in the drowsiness disoriented and sometimes can also lead to coma state. Methadone Addiction also causes the physical and psychological dependence.

No one intends to become a drug or alcohol addict but several factors influence them to take such substances followed by the emotional feelings they get after taking them, making people use those drugs frequently and excessively. Those factors differ from individual to individual, but by identifying and taking the appropriate recovery treatments at the correct time, anyone can get rid off the addiction. However, strong willpower and determination are also required.

This article is an illustration of alcohol and drug addiction explained theory about how a person initiates such habit and what makes him a drug addict.

Get help today!!!

* What makes a person to start taking drugs?

Drugs are mind altering and certain chemical substances are present giving some artificial pleasure to the persons who take those drugs. According to many alcohol and drug explained theories, the primary reasons for initiating usage of drugs are because of the stress in the addict’s personal life, underlying hopelessness, sense of unhappiness, physical pain or any kind of suffering.

The chemical substances present in the drugs and alcohol cause several changes to happen in a human’s brain. As a result, the brain releases some senses, and the person can feel the artificial happiness and pleasure. Such emotional feelings last only till the presence of the effect of the drug and since they seek more pleasure, they again go for such drugs. The persons will be in the same trouble of what made them to initiate the drugs and so, they tend to continue them. After some time they even increase the dosage and also the frequency of the intakes. There are many technical aspects behind this alcohol and drug explained hypothesis and all of them state the same.

* While the cycle of taking the drugs continuous, there will be adverse physical and social effects happen on the person.

Alcohol or the drugs becomes more valuable for the addict, and he tends to spend most or all of his money on them. He might loose the sources of his earnings, dreams, ambitions and his sole concentration at this point obtaining the drugs consequently to enjoy the artificial feelings coming out of them. By now his body might have adapted the presence of foreign substances and it can not withstand without them, making the addict feel the drug cravings. At this stage, the person will do anything to obtain the alcohol or drug he needs becoming a formal drug addict.

Many alcohol and drug explained thesis warn that such drug addicts get involved in certain criminal activities to obtain money  like stealing to purchase the drugs.

If he enters to rehab thinking and (at some point) knowing that after the treatment he is going to drink or use drugs again, it is a waste of money and everyone’s time.

This is how drugs and alcohol rehabs work:

Drugs and alcohol rehabs really work!!

* Detoxification. Some rehab facilities have personal detoxification programs, but more centers require clients to complete Detox before entering their facilities. You need to clean up and be sober before you can even enter a rehab. The trend today is to have the addict go through the withdrawal process at a facility that specializes in dealing with drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

* Facilities. Rehab facilities are different as far as physical facilities are concerned. They range from simple settings to the very luxurious facilities. * You get what you pay for or what you can afford. * The type of physical facilities that the treatment offers has little to do with how successful their program might be in keeping you sober.

* Education. It is the fundamental component of all treatment and rehab programs. It may vary from facility to facility, but generally the process is aimed at getting you to look at your addiction honestly and realistically, and change your attitude about your drug and alcohol use.

* Counselling and Group Therapy. During the rehab, you will probably receive individual counselling with a trained addictions counselor and you will possibly participate daily in group therapy meetings with others at the facility. These sessions are designed to begin to teach you the skills that you will need to live life without drugs and alcohol. You will learn how to recognize situations in which you are most likely to drink or use drugs and how to avoid these circumstances if possible and you will learn new coping skills.

* Family Meetings. Many successful drug and alcohol rehab programs will include members of your family in your treatment program. Research has shown that including family and friends in the educational process significantly improves rehab outcomes. Some programs include family members and friends throughout the entire rehab process, from the initial assessment through continued follow-up aftercare.

* Aftercare Program. A drug and alcohol rehab program will last about 28 days, sometimes longer, during which you are in a structured environment where no drugs are alcohol are available.