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Where can I find information about drug treatment programs?

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Where can I find information about drug treatment programs?

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For referrals to treatment programs, call 1-800-662-HELP, or visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration online.

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samhsa behavioral health treatment services locators

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SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator

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An online source of information for persons seeking treatment facilities in the United States or U.S. Territories for substance abuse/addiction and/or mental health problems.

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Are there effective treatments for drug addiction?

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Are there effective treatments for drug addiction?

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Research shows that combining addiction-treatment medications, where available, with behavioral therapy is the best way to ensure success for most patients. Treatment approaches tailored to address each patient's drug abuse patterns and co-occurring medical, psychiatric, and social problems can lead to sustained recovery and a life without drug abuse.

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When is the best time to get someone into treatment?

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When is the best time to get someone into treatment?

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Treatment works regardless of whether a person has hit rock bottom; and catching a person earlier in the addiction cycle, may mean fewer accompanying problems and a better overall prognosis for long-term recovery. Further, "rock bottom" is a dangerous place to be, and for many addicts, that point is when a near-fatal overdose or other serious health or criminal justice consequence has occurred. It is advisable to do everything in your power to help them find the courage, determination, and means to seek treatment as early as possible.

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There are very few things more gut-wrenching than to watch a loved one's life continuously ravaged by a drug addiction. Whether their addiction is to prescription medications like Vicodin or Xanax or to street drugs like cocaine and methamphetamines, the long term damage can be very similar. You know that drug rehab treatment is what they need, but getting them to go may feel like a futile endeavor.

If you're like most people, you've probably experienced a wide range of emotions - sadness, fear, anger, and helplessness - as you've watched your loved one essentially self-destruct. You may feel like pulling your hair out at times out of sheer frustration - wondering why anyone would do something so foolish to their life; wondering why they won't get the help they so desperately need.

If only that was how addictions really worked...
Understand the power of an addiction
The most important thing to remember is that their continuous use isn't simply a choice on their part. Addictions are insidious and powerful. The vast majority of addicts have tried to quit many times - only to succumb to their cravings again and again. Let's face it; if an addiction was easy to overcome, most addicts - including your loved one - would have stopped long ago. Unfortunately, the process of becoming clean and staying sober is more complex than that. That's why a good drug rehab treatment program is a crucial part of the process - if you can just get them there.
Never lose hope
Before you lose hope, remember that thousands of people have walked in your shoes. Thousands of so-called "hopeless" drug addicts enter drug rehab treatment programs every sing day - and they leave treatment clean and stay sober. Far more often than not, the reason they finally got into drug rehab treatment was because a spouse, family member, or friend refused to give up on them. In fact, it's a very rare addict who can get clean entirely on his or her own.

So, that is the first and most important thing: never lose hope.
So, now what...?
"Okay, great", you're probably thinking... "I'm still hopeful, but now what? What do I do? What do I say to them? How on earth can I convey how much I care and how deeply concerned I am without putting them on the defense? I've been watching this person's life literally fall apart and everything I've tried in the past to get them into drug rehab treatment has totally failed..."

Good questions and very valid concerns.

There are things you can do that are often very effective, as well as things you definitely want to avoid doing as well. But before we talk about those, it is really crucial that you keep this important fact in mind: You're loved one is the only person responsible for his or her addiction - NOT you. Even if you've been an enabler at times, it's not your fault. Maybe your loved one has even blamed you for their problem - that's very common, since excuses and blame go hand in hand with addictions.
Don't blame yourself
Before making any further attempt to get your loved one into drug rehab treatment, it's vital that you remember this. Otherwise, the familiar pattern of excuses, denial, and blame will pull you right back in, causing your efforts to fail once again. On top of that, your irritation, resentment, and sense of futility may hinder your desire and willingness to help.
Staging an Effective Intervention
In many cases, getting a loved one into drug rehab treatment requires what is known as an "intervention". An intervention involves a group of the addicts friends and families, who come together to confront the addict. The goal of the intervention is to break through the addict's denial, get him or her to finally acknowledge the serious addiction problem, and agree that he or she needs treatment.

One of the most important elements of an effective intervention is to make sure you have a clear plan in place. This includes selecting a drug rehab treatment center in advance and making sure it is a good fit for the addict. You also want to check with the treatment facility to ensure that there's an opening available. This way you can admit your loved one immediately following the intervention.

Another important aspect of the intervention is making sure that, as much as possible, the people who attend are individuals whom the addict respects and trusts. An intervention can quickly backfire if there's anyone there who has a lot of anger or other negative feelings towards the addict. It's also crucial that every person who participates in the intervention is completely on board with the game plan. They can easily undermine the process and antagonize the addict, which is exactly what you don't want to happen.

An intervention is not the place for hurtful comments, blaming the addict, or arguing. Rather, the overall tone should clearly convey genuine caring and concern. Your loved one is already going to be guarded and defensive. After all, they've probably experienced plenty of harsh judgment and blame, and will likely be expecting more of the same.

The timing of the intervention is also really important. Often, an intervention is the most effective if it takes place soon after a fairly significant upheaval in the addict's life that's a direct result of their drug use. For example, a relationship breakup or job loss. These types of events are often wake up calls to the addict that it's time to make a change. They may be more receptive to the intervention and open to drug rehab treatment under these types of circumstances.

Interventions give you and those involved the chance to let the addict know that you're not willing to turn a blind eye to his addiction. Your love, genuine concern, and desire to help need to be abundantly clear to the addict.

Of course, even if you do everything right, there's no guarantee it will work. But following these guidelines for an effective intervention will significantly increase the likeliness of success. Hopefully, confronting your loved one in this manner will help break down the walls so he or she can finally get into a good drug rehab treatment program.
If your loved one refuses...
Despite your best efforts, your loved one may still refuse to go to drug rehab treatment. Although this can be heartbreaking, it's vital that you make it abundantly clear that none of you will provide any type of help or support - e.g. money, transportation, a place to crash, etc. - until he or she agrees to get help. Sometimes this is the turning point that will change the addicts mind - if not during the intervention then soon after when he or she realizes how serious you all are. It can be extremely difficult following through with tough love, but until you do, the pattern will likely continue.

You're loved one is worth the effort - no matter how futile it may seem. Do everything you can, but accept that you can't control what the addict chooses to do in the end.

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Getting Your Loved One into Drug Rehab Treatment - The Ranch

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There are very few things more gut-wrenching than to watch a loved one's life continuously ravaged by a drug addiction. Whether their addiction is to prescription medications like Vicodin or Xanax or to street drugs like cocaine and methamphetamines, the long term damage can be very similar.

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Other than addiction, what are some other health consequences of abusing drugs?

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Other than addiction, what are some other health consequences of abusing drugs?

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Drug abuse can cause kidney diseases.

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If a pregnant woman abuses drugs does it affect the fetus?

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If a pregnant woman abuses drugs does it affect the fetus?

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A pregnant woman who abuses drugs may have other risk factors that could adversely affect the health and well being of her child. These can include poor nutrition and health care, lack of prenatal care, and a chaotic home environment. Further, alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs of abuse can directly affect the developing fetus because they travel across or through the placenta.

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If you're pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant and want a healthy baby, then it's very important to avoid drug use during pregnancy. Illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine aren't the only drugs that are harmful to fetal development; Commonly used over-the-counter medicines, along with substances such as caffeine and alcohol, can have lasting effects on an unborn child.

Why are pregnant women warned not to use drugs?

It's possible that you may not have a serious or long-lasting problem after using drugs. But the same is not always true for a fetus. Drug-using mothers often give birth to "drug babies." These children have a host of developmental problems.

Studies show that using drugs -- legal or illegal -- during pregnancy has a direct impact on the fetus. If you smoke, drink alcohol, or ingest caffeine, so does the fetus. If you use marijuana or crystal meth, your fetus also feels the impact of these dangerous drugs. And if you are addicted to cocaine -- also called coke, snow, or blow -- you're not only putting your own life on the line, but you are risking the health of your unborn baby.. The consequences of using cocaine include heart attacks, respiratory failure, strokes, and seizures. And these life-threatening health problems can also be passed to an unborn baby.

Taking drugs during pregnancy also increases the chance of birth defects, premature babies, underweight babies, and stillborn births. Exposure to drugs such as marijuana -- also called weed, ganja, dope, or pot -- and alcohol before birth has been proven to cause behavior problems in early childhood. These drugs can also affect the child's memory and attentiveness. In addition, some findings show that babies born to women who use cocaine, alcohol, or tobacco when they are pregnant may have brain structure changes that persist into early adolescence.

While cocaine's effects are usually immediate, the effect it can have on a fetus may last a lifetime. Babies born to mothers who smoke crack cocaine during pregnancy -- so-called ''crack babies'' -- usually have their own set of physical and mental problems. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, exposure to cocaine in the womb can lead to subtle, yet significant, deficits later in children. These deficits usually show up in areas such as cognitive performance, information-processing, and attention to tasks. These are areas that are vital for success not just in school, but in life.

Continued

Which drugs have the most serious consequences for the fetus?

Taking almost any drug during pregnancy can have serious consequences for the fetus. For instance, babies who are exposed to cocaine have a tendency to have smaller heads that indicate a lower IQ. Cocaine-exposed babies have a higher risk of birth defects that impact the urinary tract or heart. Cocaine may also cause a stroke in an unborn fetus, resulting in brain damage or even death.

Using cocaine or methamphetamine -- also called speed, Tina, crank, or ice -- increases the risk of miscarriage early in the pregnancy. Later in the pregnancy, these illicit drugs may cause pre-term labor and low birth weight, as well as babies who are irritable and have feeding difficulties.

Pregnant women who smoke marijuana face a higher risk of premature birth and low birth weight. Smoking pot may cause developmental delays in the child. And after delivery, babies who have been exposed to marijuana seem to undergo withdrawal symptoms with excessive crying and trembling.

What about cigarette smoking during pregnancy?

Cigarette smoking causes serious illness and premature death in the general population. But pregnant women who smoke pass the nicotine and other carcinogenic chemicals to the growing fetus. According to the Centers for Disease Control, mothers who smoke early in their pregnancy are more likely to deliver babies that have several different heart defects, including septal defects - essentially a hole in the wall between the heart's left and right chambers. Sadly, most infants with congenital heart defects die in the first year of life. Those infants who survive often face lengthy hospital stays and numerous surgeries along with a lifetime of disabilities.

Women who smoke are also more likely to have placenta problems. This is a serious concern because the placenta provides nourishment to the baby in the womb. Smokers also have low-birth-weight babies, premature deliveries, and babies with cleft palate. In addition, smoking during pregnancy and after delivery is one of the causes associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Does drinking during pregnancy cause fetal alcohol syndrome?

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) refer to a range of disorders caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome can cause abnormal facial features, growth deficiency, and problems with the central nervous system. Children with fetal alcohol syndrome may also have learning disabilities, attention span disorders, and other physical disabilities, including vision and hearing problems.

There is no "safe" limit of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Some studies have found that small amounts of alcohol consumption can have the same adverse effects on the fetus as binge drinking.

Continued

Why is caffeine considered a "drug" during pregnancy?

Caffeine is legal and prevalent in foods such as chocolate and drinks such as coffee and sodas. But experts claim it's still a drug and should be limited. Caffeine has been a controversial subject in FDA guidelines. In the early 1980's, the FDA released a study that stated caffeine use had toxic results in studies of rats. However, this warning has since been loosened a bit.

Pregnant women who need caffeine should regulate it. It can cause low birth weight and irritability if taken in large quantities.

Are prescription drugs harmful to the unborn fetus?

They might be. It's necessary to monitor intake of prescription drugs and over-the-counter (OTC) medications if you are pregnant. However, because it's unethical to test drugs on pregnant women, the effects of many drugs during pregnancy simply aren't known.

Pharmaceutical companies are required to report any problems with medications to the FDA. You and your doctor can also report problems with a medication to the FDA. The FDA has guidelines for drug companies to follow in labeling medications about their effect on pregnancy and the growing fetus. By reading the product information, you can learn more about how the medication may affect your pregnancy.

The FDA requires drug companies to conduct special studies called pregnancy registries. Women who take a certain medication may enroll in the study. After delivery, their babies are compared to babies of moms who didn't take the medication during pregnancy. When the data is compiled, these studies can help agencies monitor the effects of medications after they are made available.

Some women must take drugs during pregnancy. They may need to take them for pain or for a serious condition such as asthma, epilepsy, hypertension or depression. If you are concerned about using a prescription or over-the-counter medication during pregnancy, talk with your doctor and get more information about the drug's safety.

How many pregnant women abuse drugs each year?

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 5.4 percent of pregnant women between ages 18-44 had used alcohol during their first trimester, 4.8 percent in their second trimester, and 2.4 percent in the last trimester of pregnancy. Similar numbers were seen with marijuana, cigarette, and binge alcohol use.

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Are any drugs safe during pregnancy?

While a few prescription and over-the-counter medications are considered "safe" during pregnancy, most drugs are not. If you are taking medications for medical purposes, here are some safety tips to follow when you are pregnant:

Always read the medication label. Many of the products will tell you on the label if they are safe for use while pregnant. If you are unsure about taking an OTC product, call your doctor.

Natural dietary supplements -- herbs, amino acids, minerals, mega-vitamins -- might be considered natural, but that does not mean they are safe. Talk with your health care provider before taking any unproven or "natural" remedy.

According to the FDA, aspirin and ibuprofen should not be taken during the last 3 months of your pregnancy unless you are instructed by your doctor to take it. These drugs can cause problems for your baby or cause problems when you are in labor.

Talk with your doctor about special prenatal vitamins that are safe for mom and baby. OTC vitamins may have doses that are too high.

Sources

SOURCES:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - National Survey on Drug Use and Health, September 2014.

National Toxicology Program: "Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR)."

March of Dimes: "Illicit Drug Use During Pregnancy."

Medline Plus: "Pregnancy and Substance Abuse."

CDC: "Smoking Early In Pregnancy Raises Risks Of Heart Defects In Newborns."

FDA: "Pregnancy and the Drug Dilemma."

National Toxicology Program: "Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR)."

Bruce, D, PhD. Making a Baby: Everything You Need to Know to Get Pregnant, Ballantine Books, 2000.

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If you're pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant and want a healthy baby, then it's very important to avoid drug use during pregnancy. Illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine aren't the only drugs that are harmful to fetal development; Commonly used over-the-counter medicines, along with substances such as caffeine and alcohol, can have lasting effects on an unborn child.

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What happens to your brain when you keep taking drugs?

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What happens to your brain when you keep taking drugs?

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Drugs produce abnormally large surges in dopamine in the brain's reward structures that lead to the "high" drug users often refer to. In response, the brain becomes less reactive to the drug, and the user feels less and less of a "high" from the same amount of the drug - an effect known as tolerance. As addiction deepens, the drugs become less an added positive experience and more a necessity for the brain (and the abuser) merely to feel "normal."

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What are withdrawal and detoxification "detox"?

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What are withdrawal and detoxification "detox"?

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Withdrawal is the all-inclusive term used to describe a complex variety of unpleasant physical symptoms that occur when the use of some addictive drugs is reduced or stopped. Detoxification is the process of allowing the body to rid itself of a drug while managing the symptoms of withdrawal.

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How do I know if someone is addicted to drugs?

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How do I know if someone is addicted to drugs?

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Behavior, appearance, lifestyle, and their background in life can determine whether they are just another normal person or if they are a drug abuser.

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Why do some people become addicted, while others do not?

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Why do some people become addicted, while others do not?

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Biology, environment, and development are factors that can determine how one person can become a victim of addiction while the other does not. People whose families were victims higher the chances of one also attracting the disease. A person who lives in an environment that could influence him also highers the chances.

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Imitating natural neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) and over-stimulating the reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation, and feelings of pleasure.

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Addiction is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain - in structure and in function. It's true that for most people, the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary. Over time, however, the brain changes that occur with drug abuse erode a person's self control and ability to make sound decisions, while prompting intense urges to take drugs.

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Drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease that affects the brain and causes compulsive drug craving, seeking, and use despite harmful and often devastating consequences.

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NIDA Drugs of Abuse and Related Topics - Medical Consquences of Drug Abuse

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As a way to succinctly present some of the significant reasons why drug abuse and addiction are such challenging public health problems, staff at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) have compiled some key facts, graphics and messages. We hope this resource will be useful to you as you continue to educate yourself and others on this critical issue.

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Where can I learn more about the science of drug addiction?

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Where can I learn more about the science of drug addiction?

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In 2007, NIDA released a comprehensive booklet Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction. This booklet aims to help people understand why individuals become addicted to drugs.

Another resource is the NIDA website, which provides detailed information on drugs of abuse, latest research findings, and multiple links to information tailored for teens, parents, and teachers.

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Teens: Facts on Drugs and Their Effects | NIDA for Teens

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Teens get the latest facts on how drugs affect the brain and body. Find videos, games, blog posts, that explore the effects of drugs on the brain and body.

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What are the costs of substance abuse to society?

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What are the costs of substance abuse to society?

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Estimates of the total overall costs of substance abuse in the United States - including health- and crime-related costs as well as losses in productivity - exceed half a trillion dollars annually: approximately $181 billion for illicit drugs,[1] $168 billion for tobacco,[2] and $185 billion for alcohol.[3]

The $181 billion illegal drug use cost is subdivided as follows:

$129 billion in lost productivity;

$16 billion in healthcare costs; and

$36 billion in other costs, such as efforts to stem the flow of drugs.

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Alcohol, Marijuanna, Prescription Drugs, Cocaine, Heroin, Hallucinogens, and Inhalants are commonly abused.