Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by a strong craving for alcohol, a constant or periodic reliance on use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, the inability to limit drinking, physical illness when drinking is stopped, and the need for increasing amounts of alcohol to feel its effects.Addiction Addiction implies that a drug dependency has developed to such an extent that it has serious detrimental effects on the user (referred to as an addict). They may be chronically intoxicated, have great difficulty stopping the drug use, and be determined to obtain the drug by almost any means. The term addiction is inextricably linked to society's reaction to the user, and so medical experts try to avoid using it, preferring dependence instead.Oxycodone Addiction Oxycodone works by stimulating certain opoid receptors that are located throughout the central nervous system, in the brain and along the spinal cord. When the oxycodone binds to the opoid receptors, a variety of physiologic responses can occur ranging from pain relief, to slowed breathing to euphoria. Withdrawal reactions include anxiety, irritability, sweating, trouble sleeping and diarrhea. Xanax
Addiction
- As one of the class of drugs benzodiazepines Xanax has been shown to be a dangerous drug to withdraw from. The reason that Xanax withdrawal is dangerous is that as a CNS depressant that slows neural activity in the brain when the drug is abruptly stopped brain activity can rebound and accelerate out of control. Prolonged Xanax users should not attempt to withdraw from the drug without medical supervision.
Depression as a Cause of Substance Abuse and Addiction: The Vicious Cycle in LifeStyle and Addiction
Depression as a Cause of Substance Abuse and Addiction: The Vicious Cycle
Why does substance abuse become a cycle? Is it weakness on the part of the drug user? Is the failure of the drug treatment system? The answer to these questions cannot be answered in a single sentence. Most people, who do not have a substance abuse disorder, blame the individual. It is an easy thing to do since the assumption is the individual must have control over his or her behavior. This is true to a certain extent. Perhaps the best way for individuals without this issue to relate to substance abusers is to think about when he or she has had a depressed mood. Most people, at some point in their lives’ have been depressed. Depression can stem from a specific life event. Depression can also be a deficiency of chemicals in the brain. The effects of a depressed mood can take many different forms including drinking, substance abuse overeating, gambling among other destructive behaviors.
When an individual is depressed it may genuinely be difficult to function. Getting out of the bed in the morning can become a task. Personal hygiene, activities which were previously a source of joy the individual no longer reaps any benefit from. For anyone who has ever felt this way, it’s no mystery that whatever is necessary will occur in order to heal the pain. The following are the most common symptoms of clinical depression:
• Decreased sleep or sleeping excessively
• Lack of concentration, previously easy tasks are now difficult
• Feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness
• Can’t control negative thoughts, no matter how much one tries
• Loss of appetite or can’t stop eating
• Constantly irritated or become upset at small things, this is something that doesn’t usually happen.
• Thoughts that life is not worth living, having a plan for how you would end life. Should this be the case, please seek help immediately.
How does substance abuse occur in these situations?
In all likelihood the individual experiencing such symptoms, has turned to drug use in order to feel ‘normal’. In many cases, alcohol use is the entry drug for depressed individuals. This can lead then to the use of drugs such as cannabis, as well as prescription drug use. Which drug is used depends not only on diagnosis of depression but also on socioeconomic status as well as the age of the abuser. For instance, cannabis is found to be more common among young males while prescription drug use is correlated with higher socioeconomic status.
The use of analgesics and sleeping aids is common and often abused. Since the depressed individual doesn’t feel like him or herself, they may be complaining of general malaise. If this is the case, then going to the primary care provider may entail complaints of various aches and pains which are manifestations of depression which then merit the writing of a pain medication prescription. One of the main problems with treating the side effects of depression with substances is things like alcohol, cannabis and prescription medications can eventually lead to further depression. Though these drugs may relieve depressive symptoms for a short period, they can then in turn lead to a depressive state that is worse than what the individual had initially experienced.
Solutions?
The solution to issues such as this, often come back to the healthcare provider. Physicians and clinical staff are not often trained in mental health issues, so instead of treating the root of the problem, the physician may be treating the physical manifestations of depression. Though they are trying to help, by prescribing medications he or she may be spurring the start of a substance abuse problem which will only get worse. Most research shows that if healthcare providers are better informed on how to screen for these issues they may be able to better assist their patients.
What if a Substance Abuse Issue Has Already Occurred?
Once depression has manifested in a substance abuse disorder it is important to then treat both problems so that the solution as a whole is taken care of. Having said that, it is then important for substance abuse professionals to thoroughly assess the individual for multiple substance abuse disorders as he or she may need help with various issues. Once the depressed individual is assessed a treatment plan can be developed. In all likelihood this will include a regime of anti-depressives or anti-anxiety medications which will have to be coordinated and managed. Prior to prescribing medications, it behooves the healthcare professional to assess whether the depressed individual succumbed to substance abuse as a result of situational depression (i.e. job loss, death, moving or other life stressors) or if the depression is a result of a biological component most likely such as a chemical imbalance.
What Can You Do For the Depressed Individual?
Get them help. As the very nature of depression includes a lack of motivation to live or for life, it is important to push the depressed person to take care of him or herself. This can take the form of a support group, making an appointment with a psychiatrist, or in the case of substance abuse, making sure that the proper professional team is identified. Depression and the problems that come with it, including substance abuse, are treatable. The most important part is identifying and treating the issue.
Rachel Hayon, MPH, RN
This article was last updated on 5/15/09
References
Coulehan JL, Zettler-Segal M, Block M, McClelland M, Schulberg HC: Recognition of alcoholism and substance abuse in primary care patients. Arch Intern Med 1987; 147:349-352
Havassy BE, Schmidt CJ: Alcohol and other drug abuse disorders in primary care settings, in Current and Future Research in Mental Disorders in Primary Care. Edited by Miranda J, Hohmann AA, Atkisson CC, Larson DB. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 1997, pp 34-63
Roeloffs, C.A., Wells, K.B., Ziedonis, D., Tang, L., Unützer, J. (2002). Problem Substance Use Among Depressed Patients in Managed Primary Care. Psychosomatics 43:405-412
Warner LA, Kessler RC, Hughes M, Anthony JC, Nelson CB: Prevalence and correlates of drug use and dependence in the United States: results from the National Comorbidity Survey: Arch Gen Psychiatry 1995; 52:219-229
Wells KB, Golding JM, Burnam MA: Chronic medical conditions in a sample of the general population with anxiety, affective, and substance use disorders. Am J Psychiatry 1989; 146:1440-144
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