Addiction Treatment Blog

To all those who have some idea of the different drugs used as a release from a stressful life, cannabis may not be considered as addictive a drug as many others. Research conducted on the effects of this drug has revealed that people who consume this drug are not known to be physically dependant on it. Instead, there is a severe emotional dependency on cannabis if it is administered over a period of time.

The damaging effects of a socially accepted drug
Many people feel that cannabis is a relatively harmless drug. For this reason, it is relatively socially accepted. Unfortunately, cannabis can result in a devastating impact on not just the user, but also that person’s family and friends. The onset of cannabis addiction can be severe and rapid and most users find that their addiction frequently spirals out of control. If prevented from intake of the drug, users tend to feel frightened and panicked.

Habitual users of cannabis usually experience different levels of anxiety, depression and paranoia. Most users feel de-motivated to do anything other than taking the drug. Cannabis addiction needs to be taken care of as soon as symptoms are noticed otherwise it can become very difficult for the user to kick the habit.

A person with cannabis addiction does not tend to seek help until symptoms have reached very serious levels. Generally, it is the addict’s family who reaches out for help initially. Despite how serious cannabis addiction can become, treatment for addicts can be very effective in helping them overcome their problems.

There are many antidepressant pills on the market, of which none of them should be used without consulting your GP.

Three main types of drugs are used in manic depression: drugs to stabilize the mood; drugs to calm and lower mood in hypomania and mania; and drugs to improve and raise the mood in depression. The number of drugs available for treating manic depression increases year on year, either as new drugs are specifically developed to treat mental illnesses, or as a result of discovering mood-altering properties of existing drugs. A number of anti-epilepsy drugs have proved particularly useful in manic depression.

There are three main types of drugs used in treating manic depressive disorder, as well as other, less common ones:

• Mood stabilizing drugs
• Mood lowering, anti-psychotic drugs
• Anti-depressants
• Sleeping tablets

1. Mood stabilizing drugs

Three mood stabilizing drugs are prescribed for the majority of people with manic depression. These are lithium, valproate or depakote and carbamazepine.

These drugs are well established in treatment, relatively safe and almost certainly do not hold and unpleasant surprises for the future. Other newer drugs are constantly under development and review and can be used if a person has frequent further episodes whilst on standard treatment or the standard treatment is causing too many side effects.

Valproate, like carbamazepine is used to treat epilepsy. However, it is also a mood stabilizer as well as having anti-manic properties. As with lithium, it is not yet clear how valproate works. It can be effective when lithium has not been, either instead of, or in combination with, lithium. Side effects include weight gain and tremor.

Carbamazepine has mood-stabilizing properties and can be used together with or instead of lithium and valproate. Side effects include dizziness, intestinal upset and drowsiness, though it does have fewer side effects than most of the other drugs prescribed for manic depression. However, one rare side effect is severe skin reaction and loss of white blood cells known as Stevens Johnson syndrome.

Newer mood stabilizing drugs include lamotrigine and gabapentine. Lamotrigine and gabapentine were, like carbamazepine and valproate, originally prescribed for epilepsy and were found, like carbamazepine and valproate, to additionally reduce mood swings in patients with both epilepsy and manic depression. Read more…

They affect growth and physical development, and are used to develop muscle tone.

Anabolid Steroids Effects: Increased capacity to exercise or train, increased competitiveness, Aggressive feelings can continue up to twenty-four hours after consumption, and the use of anabolic steroids has been known to lead to violence and sexual abuse. There are many other side effects connected to long term use: depression and paranoia; liver failure and erection problems amongst others.

Originally, highly popular in the 1960s and within the gay community. Amyl Nitrate, a.k.a. liquid gold or poppers,  became quite popular again in the 1970s disco culture, and the rave culture of the 1980 and 1990s.

Effects: Gives a powerful burst of energy that lasts for a few minutes. Risk of strong headache, faintness and nausea, flushed upper body  and relaxation of sphincters.

Amphetamines

The misuse, abuse or dependence on any recreational drug can seriously damage your mental health. Although an argument exists that anything taken in moderation can’t be harmful, using drugs to pump yourself up, anaesthetize feeling of depression, shyness or lack of confidence, can often delay a diagnosis of the real problem and make you feel worse. Anyone who knows they have a mental illness or an addictive personality should exercise extreme caution where taking any recreational drugs is concerned.

Amphetamines (speed, whizz, uppers)

Amphetamines were originally introduced into the UK in the 1930s as a treatment for colds, flu and hay fever.

The most common is speed – one of the most impure drugs in circulation – often mixed with talcum powder or bicarbonate of soda. Amphetamines were distributed during the Second World War among English, German, Italian and Japanese soldiers as a supplement to war rations. At the end of the war, the surplus flooded the streets and caused many addiction problems.

Medical use: Ritalin is an amphetamine-related drug used in the treatment of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Amphetamines were used for weight loss but are no longer commonly prescribed.

Effects: Last for several hours – like an adrenalin rush, with breathing and heart rate increasing. Appetite is suppressed and users feel increased energy and confidence. Risk of dehydration with body temperature rising. It is most commonly found in the form of powder which is sniffed up the nose. Usage does not cancel fatigue and hunger but merely postpones them until the following day, when the user can wake up feeling lethargic ravenously hungry and deeply depressed (the speed blues).

For obvious reasons, anyone suffering from a manic depressive condition should not consider taking speed.