Drug Abuse
Drug Abuse Treatment
The primary goal of treatment is detoxification (abstaining from the substance). Generally, detoxification involves gradually reducing the dose of the substance or the temporary substitution of a drug that has less severe withdrawal symptoms.
The substitute medication, if consumed, will also be reduced gradually. According to the severity of dependence and other factors (history of heart disease or lung, liver failure, high blood pressure, age over 65 years) may require that detoxification is done in the hospital. Read the rest of this entry »
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Drug Abuse Prevention
Duration
Addiction to depressants can be a chronic problem that lasts for weeks, months or years.
Prevention
Follow exactly as prescribed by your doctor and avoid taking nonprescription drugs. However, the biological, psychological and social forces that lead to addiction are difficult to avoid. If you feel you need the substance for longer than prescribed, contact your doctor immediately. Never take medications that were prescribed to another person. Read the rest of this entry »
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Drug Abuse Diagnosis
If the doctor suspects that you are addicted to depressants, we will ask questions about the type of substances you consume, how much and how often you consume them, that time has been consumed and in what circumstances. Also ask about physical symptoms, psychological or behavioral problems (poor job performance, personal relationship problems, arrests for crimes) related to substance use.
If you are using any other substance (alcohol, heroin, amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana) as well as depressants, it is useful to the physician’s knowledge. Many people who use these substances do not want to get help for his problem. It is difficult to talk openly about substance use with your doctor or counselor. Read the rest of this entry »
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Drug Abuse Symptoms
Symptoms of dependence depressants are:
- craving for the substance, often with failed attempts to decrease their use
- physical dependence (presence of physical withdrawal symptoms when a person stops taking the depressant)
- continuing need to take the substance despite the psychological, interpersonal or physical connection with this
No dose or number of tablets daily that indicates a person is addicted to depressants. Those dependent eventually develop a physical tolerance (the gradual need for increased quantities of the substance to feel the same effects). Addiction implies that a person also depends on the substance on an emotional level. Read the rest of this entry »
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Drug Abuse
Sedative-hypnotics, commonly called “depressing” delay or “lower” brain activity. The best known are barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital) and benzodiazepines (Ativan, Halcion, Librium, Valium, Xanax, Rohypnol). Other substances in this group include chloral hydrate (mixed with alcohol that became known as “drops of narcotic” or “Mickey Finn”), glutethimide (Doriden), methaqualone (Quaalude, Sopor, also called “ludes”) and meprobamate (Equanil, Miltown and other brand names).
Although alcohol is also a depressant, its use is so common that health experts classified separately to alcohol-related problems. Read the rest of this entry »