Can you commit an alcoholic or other drug addict?

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Bill

In most jurisdictions, the police or a mental health professional can have people who are found to be a danger to themselves or others committed for a brief period of observation (usually 48 – 72 hours). Then the court can decide to commit them for further treatment, or not.

Most jurisdictions also have provisions for family members to commit for observation, under limited circumstances. You should call your local health department for direction to the correct channels.

You should also know that the great majority of treatment facilities are not locked down, and patients are free to leave (against medical advice, of course) at any time. They may face penalties for doing so, however.

Question: How long would it take the average person to recover from a heroin addiction?

Posted on July 28, 2009 by Bill

There is no “average person” when it comes to drug addiction, but we can make some generalizations.

Recovery from addiction depends upon a wide range of conditions: the degree and length of the addiction, the detox protocols used, the emotional and psychosocial factors affecting the addict, the quality of treatment, aftercare and support (including treatment of codependency issues in close family members, either therapeutically or by attendance at self-help meetings), and the desire of the addict to become and remain clean and sober.

We could guess that an individual who is successful at staying clean and free of ALL drugs ( including Methadone and Suboxone, after initial detox), would be able to handle most routine activities, jobs, etc. at between 9 months and two years, if they have good supports.

If the person continues with their program of recovery, support groups, and any necessary treatment for psychological problems not directly related to the addiction, they could in many cases be back in mainstream society in two to three years.

Continued recovery is contingent upon cleaning up the chaos in our lives caused by the addiction and any preexisting conditions, maintaining a healthy, relatively stress-free life, and avoiding circumstances that might tempt us to use.

Get The Most Nutrition From Your Veggies

Posted on July 27, 2009 by Bill

Get The Most Nutrition From Your Veggies : NPR

Tomatoes are certainly nutritious — a good source of the antioxidants lycopene and beta-carotene. But consider this: if you eat a tomato without adding a little fat — say a drizzle of olive oil — your body is unlikely to absorb all these nutrients.

Click the link. Lots more good stuff!

Alcohol can harm unborn or nursing babies

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Bill

Alcohol can harm unborn or nursing babies | stargazette.com | Star-Gazette

Just a few months ago ABC’s Good Morning America aired a segment titled “Can pregnant women drink alcohol in moderation?”

These pieces have two things in common: Both state there is no research on the topic or that the research is unclear, and both seem to define “harm to the infant” too narrowly.

I am writing to clarify this misrepresentation of the research literature as non-existent or unclear. …

College drinkers given real data take notice

Posted on July 21, 2009 by Bill

College drinkers given real data take notice – JSOnline

The majority of young people overestimate how much and how often their peers drink. And that can foster an environment that encourages heavy drinking.

“This creates a type of peer pressure, which drives levels of drinking upwards,” said David Foxcroft, professor of health care practice at Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom and the review’s co-author.

Fetal Alcohol Kids Have Serious Ongoing Problems

Posted on July 20, 2009 by Bill

Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Have More Severe Behavioral Problems Than Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Study Finds

Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have a high risk of psychiatric problems, particularly attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, or both. Often children with FASD are initially diagnosed with ADHD. A new study is the first to examine a range of cognitive factors and social behavior in children with FASD and ADHD, finding that those with FASD have significantly weaker social cognition and facial emotion-processing abilities.

Recovery Approach To Career Choices

Posted on July 16, 2009 by Bill

A recovering person faces the economic downturn:

I am at a crossroad in my career. My company is experiencing the downdraft of our economic situation and may not renew our distribution contract so we may fold in the next year.

It is amazing how life works. I made a move to this career 2 1/2 years ago from another line of work I did for over a decade and had anticipated retiring from in another 20 years. It was a tough decision, but I had to make it for the sake of my recovery….

Chaz’ journey back.

Question: What is Korsakoff’s Syndrome?

Posted on July 15, 2009 by Bill

Korsakoff’s Syndrome refers to neuronal damage to the brain caused by a deficiency of the vitamin Thiamine (B₁). It is common in long-term alcoholics, because alcohol greatly reduces the ability of the intestines to absorb nutrients (including Thiamine) from food.

Common symptoms are amnesia, confabulation (invented memories that fill in memory gaps caused by the brain damage or by alcoholic blackouts), reduced ability to carry on a conversation, loss of insight (inability to take current information and build on it) and apathy.

In the case of apathy, Korsakoff’s sufferers lose interest in things easily, and are little interested in the things that are happening around them. This could easily be diagnosed or interpreted as depression, but it has different causes from clinical depression.

Why is nicotine so addictive?

Posted on July 14, 2009 by Bill

Nicotine has just about everything going for it in the addiction department.

First of all, it’s legal, and even though it is becoming inconvenient to smoke, you can still have a smoke pretty much when you need one.

Second, and very much related to our first reason, are two factors: Continue reading →

Hand washing: An easy way to prevent infection

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Bill

Hand washing: An easy way to prevent infection – MayoClinic.com

Hand washing is a simple habit, something most people do without thinking. Yet hand washing, when done properly, is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick. This simple habit requires only soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer — a cleanser that doesn’t require water. Do you know the benefits of good hand hygiene and when and how to wash your hands properly? …

Ban on tobacco urged in military

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Bill

Ban on tobacco urged in military – USATODAY.com

One in three servicemembers use tobacco, the report says, compared with one in five adult Americans. The heaviest smokers are soldiers and Marines, who have done most of the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the study says. About 37% of soldiers use tobacco and 36% of Marines. Combat veterans are 50% more likely to use tobacco than troops who haven’t seen combat.

Question: How do genes affect addiction?

Posted on July 8, 2009 by Bill

It is believed that the genetic aspects of addiction are related to the way peoples’ brains handle neurotransmitters.

For example, a person with genetically low levels of dopamine (the “pleasure chemical”) might discover that a certain drug raises the level and makes him feel better — without, of course, knowing exactly what happened.

If that person continues to use the drug to overcome the deficiency in dopamine production, there will come a time when the brain no longer produces it at anything like a sufficient level without the presence of the drug. At that point, ceasing drug use is no longer an option as far as that individual is concerned. They now need the drug to function normally. This can happen to people who start off with normal dopamine levels, as well, but they are rather less likely to seek the relief to begin with.

This is only one example. There are hundreds of neurotransmitters, and all of their functions are set genetically — at least initially. The dopamine issue is a common one, but not by any means the only one.

What…Me Sober?

Monthly Archives: July 2009