Harmful Substances in Tobacco

Tobacco can be the safest substance among cocaine and other drugs, but it still imposes different health threats for individuals consuming it. In fact, not only are the users being at risked of developing diseases, even the people around them can acquire health problems by just inhaling the smoke. Tobacco is considered as an addictive substance since the body can be dependent on it. Tobacco addicts find it hard to quit, and they usually go through a California detox just to quit smoking.

Why tobacco is addictive remains to be a question to many. While most people know how it works inside the body, only a few are familiar with the specific substances it contains. Here are the substances in tobacco that makes it addictive and harmful.

·         Acetic acid is a powerful substance used in chemical plants. It is also chemically present in the body and causes health threats when the body produces too much of it. Inhaling tobacco means consuming more acetic acid which will make the blood become acidic. It also contains acetone, a known substance to remove nail polish, and ammonia which is a common ingredient in household cleaners.

·         Tobacco is found to contain arsenic, which is poisonous when taken in large quantities. Benzene and butane are also found in tobacco. The former is used in rubber cement, while the latter is used to produce fire. Carbon monoxide is a known substance to cause pollution, and cadmium is a mineral that is used in manufacturing batteries. All of which are contained in one stick of tobacco.

·         Other substances include formaldehyde, lead, hexamine, naphthalene, nicotine, tar, and toluene. Each of the ingredients will cause harmful effects to the body especially when taken in excessive amounts.

These substances contribute to the addictive nature of tobacco, and will cause health problems in the long run. Tobacco may seem harmless, but it does allow the body to be dependent on it. A person can smoke more than ten sticks a day, while others go beyond numbers. To know more about tobacco and how to quit smoking via California detox, visit http://www.paxhouse.org/Residential-Treatment.html.

How Support Groups Are Vital To Drug Abuse Recovery

In the treatment and intervention of drug abuse, the whole healthcare team is involved. The treatment process is so diverse that all personal issues have to be addressed. A drug abuse victim needs to cope up with issues regarding mental, behavioral, and even spiritual issues. The common treatments include medications, consultations, and of course, the support groups. Support groups are necessary as a patient can actually relate to the story of someone. In this way, coping up may seem to be more possible.

In a California rehab, support groups are considered vital to drug abuse recovery. Some facilities include it in their after-care program to ensure that all patients will live a life of sobriety. Support groups have far more advantages than medications and one-on-one consultations. A solid support system can be from new social network, family, friends, and other trusted individuals.

·         The influence of family and friends: The influence of the patient’s close social circle will make a big impact on recovery. This is an invaluable asset since the patient commonly trust family and friends more than anyone else. Turning to the loved ones, who will support the patient without judgment, is one of the greatest support groups that can help out in drug abuse recovery.

·         The support from new social circle: New connections are a great way to increase the influence of positive recovery.  A patient can be encouraged to join different groups such as in charities and non-profit organizations. Taking a class do to hobbies and sports is also a great way to meet new influences and pre-occupy the mind away from substance abuse.

·         The advantage of living in a sober home:  Sober homes usually are the last option, especially when the patient has no one to turn to, or when the living environment is not ideal for recovery. Sober living homes are well-operated by healthcare groups and the patient can relate from the story of fellow patients.

Support groups are very crucial in drug abuse recovery. This is also the reason why many California rehabs are requiring their patients to participate in such groups. 

The Truth about Opiates

Opiates are one of the most common substances of drug abuse. It is a narcotic drug responsible for altering the functions of the central nervous system. Humans have opiate receptors located in the brain. When these are taken, it can result to relaxation, sleepiness and decreased inhibition. These substances are created initially for medical purposes but due to its relaxing effects, it becomes a source of drug abuse. There are different kinds of opiates. These include heroin, morphine and codeine.

Despite the initiatives done by the government and other institutions, opiates remain to be overly consumed by millions of people. It contributes to the alarming rate of substance abuse in California. These are the truth behind opiates:

Opiates Are Were Made Safe

The use of opiates trace back from hundreds of years ago. In fact, it was used as a medicine by the ancient people. Opium plants were cultivated thousands of years ago (3400 BC) in the countries of Egypt, Babylon, Assyria and Sumer. After many years, opium has gone through massive development and in the nineteenth century, morphine was discovered by Friedrich Wilhelm Adam Sertuner. The rest, as they say, was history. Over time, different kinds of opiates emerged and some of which are considered illegal, like the heroin.

The Addictive Process in Opiates

Opiates work by releasing more endorphins, which will provide a deep relaxing feeling. It stops the brain from producing its own endorphins and makes one for the body instead. This ‘switch’ of function is the reason for the addiction. The brain will shut down and the body will automatically search for other sources of endorphin. In this case, the huge craving to take another dose becomes strong. The impact of opiates is stronger than what the brain secretes. In fact, there are opiates that produce 100 times more endorphins and this imposes huge impact on the cells in the body.

Substance abuse in California includes the use of opiates. Every day, thousands of people are put into rehabilitation center due to addiction. This destroys health, personal perspectives and social relationships. Be sure to talk to the experts if you know someone addicted to opiates.

Commonly Prescribed Medications for Substance Abuse Treatment

Medications are important factors in the treatment of substance abuse. That is, aside from the therapy that the health providers do. There are different kinds of medications for a particular case but there are medicines prescribed for a certain substance. Every medication has a specific mechanism of action. It is good to know how certain medicine affects the body, keep in mind that its usage should be prescribed by doctors in rehab centers in California.

Disulfiram

Disulfiram has been prescribed by doctors over the years. It is specially formulated to help the patient cope up with alcohol addiction. This drug works by providing unpleasant effects to the body every time the patient drinks alcohol. Once the alcohol enters the body, Disulfiram will break it down immediately creating different reactions like nausea and flushing. Eventually, the patient will get tired of it and the addiction is treated.

Methadone

Methadone is commonly prescribed to treat patients with opiate addiction. This is often used when the patient has to undergo extensive treatment of drug abuse in which opiate withdrawal is experienced. The treatment process usually involves visiting the drug rehabilitation clinic to receive a dose of Methadone. This is done with psychological counseling and interventions. Methadone provides long-term maintenance as it eliminates withdrawal symptoms – that is, with continued after care program and monitoring.

Buprenorphine

This drug is fairly new in the market as it gained approval in 2002 for office-based treatment of opioid abuse. Basically, there are two forms of buprenorphine, the Suboxone and the Subutex. These drugs are used during the detoxification process and maintenance. Like any other drugs, it has to be in-line with regular psychological intervention to make sure that the patient will achieve a permanent drug-free life. One of the great advantages of buprenorphine is that the patient is not required to visit the rehabilitation clinic a few times a week. It can be administered right in the comfort of the patient’s home. However, the administration can be a taken for granted especially when it is not coupled up with after care programs.

 Other drugs are Naltrexon, Acamprosate and Levo-alpha Acetyl Methadol. These are prescribed according to the patient’s case by the health experts at rehab centers in California.