Warning signs & symptoms.

Although different drugs have different physical effects, the symptoms of addiction are similar.

Common signs and symptoms of drug abuse

• You’re neglecting your responsibilities at school, work, or home (e.g. flunking classes, skipping work, neglecting your children) because of your drug use.

• You’re taking risks while high, such as driving while on drugs, using dirty needles, or having unprotected sex.
• Your drug use is getting you into legal trouble, such as arrests for disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, or stealing to support a drug habit.
• Your drug use is causing problems in your relationships, such as fights with your partner or family members, an unhappy boss, or the loss of old friends.

Common signs and symptoms of drug addiction

• You’ve built up a drug tolerance.You need to use more of the drug to experience the same effects.
• You take drugs to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms. If you go too long without drugs, you experience symptoms such as nausea, restlessness, depression, shaking, and anxiety.
• You’ve lost control over your drug use. You often do drugs even though you told yourself you wouldn’t. You may want to stop using, but feel powerless.
• Your life revolves around drug use.You spend a lot of time using and thinking about drugs and recovering from their effects.
• You’ve abandoned activities you used to enjoy, such as hobbies, sports, and socializing, because of your drug use.
• You continue to use drugs, despite the major problems it causes, such as blackouts, infections, mood swings, depression, or paranoia.

Warning signs that a friend or family member is abusing drugs

If you’re worried that a friend or family member might be abusing drugs, look for the following warning signs:

Physical warning signs of drug abuse

• Bloodshot eyes, pupils larger or smaller than usual
• Changes in appetite or sleep patterns. Sudden weight loss or weight gain.
• Deterioration of physical appearance, personal grooming habits
• Unusual smells on breath, body, or clothing
• Tremors, slurred speech, or impaired coordination

Behavioral signs of drug abuse

• Drop in attendance and performance at work or school
• Unexplained need for money or financial problems. May borrow or steal to get it.
• Engaging in secretive or suspicious behaviors
• Sudden change in friends, favorite hangouts, and hobbies
• Frequently getting into trouble (fights, accidents, illegal activities)

Psychological warning signs of drug abuse

• Unexplained change in personality or attitude
• Sudden mood swings, irritability, or angry outbursts
• Periods of unusual hyperactivity, agitation, or giddiness
• Lack of motivation; appears lethargic or “spaced out”
• Appears fearful, anxious, or paranoid, with no reason

5 Myths about drug abuse & addiction.

MYTH 1: Overcoming addiction is a simply a matter of willpower.

 Prolonged exposure to drugs alters the brain in ways that result in powerful cravings and a compulsion to use. These brain changes make it extremely difficult to quit by sheer force of will.

MYTH 2: Addiction is a disease; there’s nothing you can do about it.

The brain  changes associated with addiction can be treated and reversed through therapy, medication, exercise, and other treatments.

MYTH 3: Addicts have to hit rock bottom before they can get better.

 Recovery can begin at any point in the addiction process’and the earlier, the better. The longer drug abuse continues, the stronger the addiction becomes and the harder it is to treat.

MYTH 4: You can’t force someone into treatment; they have to want help. 

Treatment  doesn’t have to be voluntary to be successful. People who are pressured into treatment by their family, employer, or the legal system are just as likely to benefit as those who choose to enter treatment on their own.

MYTH 5: Treatment didn’t work before, so there’s no point trying again. 

Recovery from drug addiction is a long process that often involves setbacks. Relapse doesn’t mean that treatment has failed or that you’re a lost cause.

How drug addiction develops?

People tend to continue using drugs because the substance either makes them feel good, or stops them from feeling bad. In many cases, however, there is a fine line between regular use and drug abuse and addiction. Very few addicts are able to recognize when they have crossed that line.

• Problems can sometimes sneak up on you, as your drug use gradually increases over time. Smoking a joint with friends at the weekend, or cocaine at an occasional party, for example, can change to using drugs a couple of days a week, then every day. Gradually, getting and using the drug becomes more and more important to you.

• If the drug fulfills a valuable needyou may find yourself increasingly relying on it. For example, you may take drugs to calm you if you feel anxious, energize you if you feel depressed, or to help you relieve chronic pain. Until you find alternative, healthier methods for overcoming these problems, your drug use will likely continue.

• If you use drugs to fill a void in your life, you’re more at risk of crossing the line from casual use to drug abuse and addiction. To maintain healthy balance in your life, you need to have things other than drugs that make you feel good.

• As drug abuse takes hold, your job or school performance may deteriorate, and you may neglect social or family obligations. Your ability to stop using is eventually compromised. What began as a voluntary choice has turned into a physical and psychological need.

Understanding drug use, drug abuse & addiction.

Many people experiment with drugs out of curiosity, to have a good time, because friends are doing it, or in an effort to improve athletic performance or ease another problem, such as stress, anxiety, or depression. Use doesn’t automatically lead to abuse, and there is no specific level at which drug use moves from casual to problematic. It varies by individual. No matter how often or how little you’re consuming, if your drug use is causing problems in your life—at work, school, home, or in your relationships—you likely have a drug abuse or addiction problem.

Drugs & Your Brain:

Drugs tap into the brain's communication system and disrupt the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information. Drugs work in the brain by:

• Imitating natural neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain). Because of the similarity in chemical structure between drugs and neurotransmitters naturally produced by the brain, some drugs, such as marijuana and heroin, are able to "fool" the brain's receptors and activate nerve cells to send abnormal messages via the network.
• Overstimulating the reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. And nearly all drugs of abuse, directly or indirectly, activate this system. Some drugs, particularly stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine, cause nerve cells to release abnormally large amounts of natural neurotransmitters or prevent their normal recycling, which is needed to shut off the signal between neurons.

What happens to your brain if you keep taking drugs?

• The brain adapts. In response to the overwhelming surges in dopamine, the brain adjusts by decreasing the number of dopamine receptors available– thus diminishing the function of the reward circuit. Drug addicts are compelled to abuse drugs to bring their dopamine function back up to normal, requiring ever larger amounts to achieve the initial dopamine high– an effect known as tolerance.
• Changes in neurotransmitters other than dopamine. Long-term abuse causes changes in other brain chemical systems, including glutamate, a neurotransmitter that influences the reward circuit and the ability to learn. When the optimal concentration of glutamate is altered by drug abuse, the brain attempts to compensate, which can cause impairment in cognitive function.
• Drug abuse can trigger nonconscious memory systems.Conditioning is one example of this type of learning, whereby environmental cues, such as certain people or places, become associated with the drug experience and can trigger uncontrollable cravings if the individual is exposed to these cues, even without the drug itself being available
• Addiction. Brain imaging studies of drug-addicted individuals show changes in areas of the brain that are critical to judgment, decisionmaking, learning and memory, and behavior control. These changes are likely what drive an abuser to seek out and take drugs compulsively despite adverse consequences.

Why do some people become addicted, while others do not?

No single factor can predict whether or not a person will become addicted to drugs. Risk for addiction is influenced by a person's biology, social environment, and development. The more risk factors an individual has, the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction. For example:

• Biology. The genes that people are born with– in combination with environmental influences– account for about half of their addiction vulnerability. Additionally, gender, ethnicity, and the presence of mental disorders may influence risk for drug abuse and addiction.
• Environment. A person's environment includes many different influences– from family and friends to socioeconomic status and quality of life in general. Factors such as peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, stress, and parental involvement can greatly influence the course of drug abuse and addiction in a person's life.
• Development. Genetic and environmental factors interact with critical developmental stages in a person's life to affect addiction vulnerability– with adolescents experiencing a double threat. Although taking drugs at any age can lead to addiction, the earlier drug use begins, the more likely it is to progress to more serious abuse. And because adolescents' brains are still developing in the areas that govern decisionmaking, judgment, and self-control, they are especially prone to risk-taking behaviors, including trying drugs of abuse.

Is drug addiction a disease & How is it?

Yes. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease that affects the brain and causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences.

 Addiction is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain—in structure and in function. It's true that for most people, the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary. Over time, however, drug abuse can cause changes to the brain that erode a person's self control and ability to make sound decisions, while sending intense impulses to take drugs.

STOP,THINK, ASK YOURSELF!

ADDICTIONS CAN BE WITH ANYTHING

"ADDICT" ... IS THAT YOU?

Addiction is a whole lot more than;

"DRUG ADDICTION & ALCOHOLISM"

 

"ADDICT" ... IS THAT YOU?

Addiction is a whole lot more than;

"DRUG ADDICTION & ALCOHOLISM"

 

"ADDICT" ... IS THAT YOU?

Addiction is a whole lot more than;

"DRUG ADDICTION & ALCOHOLISM"

 

"ADDICT" ... IS THAT YOU?

Addiction is a whole lot more than;

"DRUG ADDICTION & ALCOHOLISM"

 

"ADDICT" ... IS THAT YOU?

Addiction is a whole lot more than;

"DRUG ADDICTION & ALCOHOLISM"

 

ADDICTIONS CAN BE WITH ANYTHING

Meth & it's Darkside:

Seriously, yet honestly; the dark side of Methamphetamines is when the very moment it first gets into your soul, it starts to destroy all the connections to your ability to effectively reason, feel real emotions & make a moral decision with a conscience that knows the difference between right & wrong. The user/addict, who once functioned as a logical & loving human being before the Methamphetamines had gained control, now functions no more than an emotionless & programmed robot. In reality, Methamphetamines (Meth) definitely couldn't, doesn't & never will/shall care who it destroys & has this undeniably great ability to strip away every connection that attaches the conscience to every human being. Then & only then, can & does Meth transform a person to think, feel & behave in a cold & heartless fashion. But, this programming only lasts however long it takes for a fatal glitch to happen & then; all chaos breaks loose. Most of the Meth created robots either & up making their life an endless occupation as a prisoner in correction facilities, making a mental institution their lifetime homestead, or just simply become a recluse from all of society & pass on/die without ever knowing what life could have been like free from their addiction to Meth. Only the very few that somehow find that one last connection to their soul, will reach out & hold on to it for dear life. That is the moment, they can see how horrific their life has become & fight like hell to break free from Meth's control. For the ones that are successful in climbing their way out of the pit of darkness that Meth created for them to fall in, it can be a tremendous struggle to recover & heal. Every single day, hour, minute & even every single minute can seem so overwhelmingly difficult while learning to live without Meth. But, what happens in this process is the further destruction of Meth is halted & those once dead & dormant connections to the soul come alive & begin to function again as they get healed/progress through recovery. From the moment we are born, we learn how to eat, crawl, walk, speak, make logical decisions with good judgment & become loving & moral adults.

Honestly, I am convinced that Meth's destruction of one's soul, makes a person to have to go back as a newborn & theoretically be retrained all over again how to function normally. This can be so frustrating to the adult mind of the addict to have to go through this learning stage all over again. It would be so awesome if the moment one decides to stop using Meth, that every bit of it's destruction could magically disappear & instantly be healed. This is when you start to feel the harsh betrayal of Meth as you recall it's promise. A promise to always love you without end no matter if you turned you back on it or not. Anger, fury & dismay set in as you learn it was all a big lie. For Meth is like an abusing spouse, who fills your head & heart with sweet & wonderful intentions. Feeling much like a victim of domestic violence, you experience a sensation of drowning in the sea of hurt, confusion, guilt & depression. You keep saying to yourself over and over again, "I did everything my lover (Meth) wanted. I became everything Meth wanted me to be. I gave away everything important to me. I even gave up the person I was born to be & all the happiness & success I wanted for my life just so Meth could be my number one focus." It's only then that you start to question about where it all went wrong & slowly you begin to realize Meth was only using your trusting heart that was starved for love, affection & protection to lure you in to it's wicked, wide web of destruction. You ask yourself, "How stupid are you? How could you have been so blind? Why did you let yourself get caught up in Meth's lie in the first place?

Also not to mention, why oh why would you keep letting Meth treat you this way when you were on the losing end? Why did you not leave Meth before it had a chance to destroy you this much?" Remorse & feeling the shame of allowing yourself to stay locked up in Meth's abuse kicks in. You begin to feel mistrust of yourself to make healthy decisions & judgment's that help you pick a mate who will really love you like you deserve. A mate who has a moral foundation of honesty, a true desire to see you happy and full of joy, and an endless love that only seeks for ways to show you that you are important and worthy to be loved.

Addictive Behaviors

Along with addiction, there are addictive behaviors that are quite common among addicts. Lying, keeping secrets, hiding pills and obsessively counting them, making unnecessary emergency room visits and constantly "doctor shopping." As the addiction escalates, engaging in such illegal activities as stealing prescription pads, committing forgery, and buying drugs off the street is also quite common behavior.

These behaviors usually stem from the desperation an addict feels regarding getting, securing, and taking their drug of choice. Under other circumstances, the individual would probably not engage in the behaviors listed above, unless they were previously part of his/her personality structure. In other words, addictive behaviors are limited to the addiction itself and are generally dissonant with the person’s beliefs and values in any other area of their life.

Dependence or Addiction?

There is a difference between dependence & addiction. Dependence occurs when tolerance builds up & the body needs the drug in order to function. Withdrawal symptoms will begin if the drug is stopped abruptly. Yet, on the other hand, when a person turns to the regular use of a drug to satisfy emotional & psychological needs, they are addicted to that substance! Physical dependence also exists, but the drug has become a way to cope with (or avoid) all kinds of uncomfortable feelings.

Majority of drug addicts do begin by needing the drug weather they are prescribed for medical reasons or making themselves believe they need the drug in order to function/live. Which at some point/somewhere along the line, the drug obviously/clearly/unintentionally yet slowly begins to take over their lives & becomes more important than anything/anyone else & majority of the time nothing will stop/get in the way of  them gaining/receiving their drug of choice.

Many people surrounding someone suffering the disease of addiction or currently within an active addiction or even someone that is completely against drugs find it extremely difficult to understand how someone could let addiction even happen. Majority of people constantly ask: "How could someone who is reasonably intelligent & sophisticated in regards to drug addiction become an addict?" Without the realization or even somewhat thinking about the fact that addiction seriously has absolutely nothing to do with intelligence & addiction to legal drugs is no different than any other substance abuse problem (illegal drugs). Clearly, the potential risks and dangers involved with taking narcotics doesn’t stop someone from becoming an addict.

The Disease: Addiction.

What makes us addicts is the disease of addiction-not the drugs, not our behavior, but our disease. There is something within us that makes us unable to control our use of drugs. This same "something" also makes us prone to obsession and compulsion in other areas of our lives. How can we tell when our disease is active? When we become trapped in obsessive, compulsive, self-centered routines, endless loops that lead nowhere but to physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional decay.

Character Defects: We All Have Them

Character Defects: All Have Them 

 

In 12-step programs, steps six and seven deal with human failings, otherwise labeled character defects, or shortcomings. All three phrases mean the same thing. In some of the literature of recovery, they are also likened to the Seven Deadly Sins of greed, lust, envy, sloth, pride, anger & gluttony. Recognizing them in our own lives is difficult, while recognizing them in those around us is easy. For this purpose, many people in recovery groups will say that they act as a mirror to show others what behaviors they cannot see in themselves.

  

 

 

 

No One’s Perfect:

 

For most, the substance abuse was to cover up feelings of fear, inadequacy, insecurity and social awkwardness. Nearly every newly recovering person can relate to these and admit feeling them before the onset of their using and again after stopping the substance use. How to deal with them? Consider this idea, if you will: Perhaps everyone feels these things from time to time. How then, does the rest of the world deal with self-doubt? For most, it is a matter of looking around to see if they can spot someone else who looks like they feel that way and approach them for a short conversation. Or quickly say a prayer that you be given the courage you don’t really expect to receive, (but ask anyway), and go on as though you had received it. Strangely enough, many people report that they have done this and have successfully conquered a small but important social fear. This gave them enough courage to try it again on a bigger and more important level. Soon they felt confident that they could accomplish many things that seemed impossible a short time before.

 

Acting As If..

 

Find a way to walk into the things that frighten you. Find a partner to walk with you if possible. Many of life’s situations can be challenging when first encountered without the prop of drugs and alcohol. Walking into and through these experiences will give you enough confidence to continue. Remember the fear that went through your heart when you first considered not drinking/using drugs? And here you are now, free from those and looking at how to live life without character defects that can cripple relationships, jobs, school and other social environments where you long to feel a sense of belonging. A common phrase in recovery settings is to “act as if,” meaning to behave as if you felt confident and go right ahead with what you are afraid to do. This can be a job interview, speaking in a group, taking a class, going to the dentist, driving a car, an endless list of things that bring fear into many hearts and minds. For a large number of those in recovery, it is simply a matter of wanting to do something badly enough to dare to do it! So, say a prayer and jump right in.

 

 

Personal Opinion & Views: Life.

 

We are given a life with our name as the title when we enter this world which they say is our own yet we are taught right from wrong due to the fact we are taught by those that gave us the gift of life! Which goes back decades which technically leaves us walking this life  somewhat on our own! As we progress throughout our personal journey through our life we tend to make choices & act out in certain ways which causes you to receive certain reactions, opinions & consequences from others surrounding you as a result of your choices or actions effected someone or something else which obviously isn't accepted by the eyes of the law/religion/family! When we experience these consequences for our behavior, choices & actions we tend to be in a severe state of denial of any wrong doings as we have taught ourselves to honestly believe that the things we do are okay & effects no one else but ourselves! Majority of the time we repeat certain behaviors/actions with the hope that we receive a different outcome rather than the same as previous experiences. Some may learn the first time others may take a little longer... Like myself! I have repeated the behaviors a million times over because even though I'm after the same result as in the past I strongly believed it's a different situation to the past ones yet it's only now that I have comprehended the reasons & gained an understanding why certain results were received! Once accepting & gaining knowledge of my past/choices & actions I had come to realize the reality of my personal decisions which was a never ending cycle leaving me no choice yet to change the direction path of my life journey!

 

Honestly, I must admit;

Life.. It's not easy & seriously far from simple! Life's a lesson... Past & Present! YOU are the choices that you choose to make!

 

 My personal opinion regarding the past & present results/outcomes caused by your decisions is to at least memorize the reactions/outcomes of your actions & if you make the same mistake(s) again... It's actually okay, we are only human & we are constantly learning! We will get it right in the long run! Just accept your fuckups, take responsibility for your actions & just move on, what's done is done! Oh, Also... If someone or something decides to stay within the journey of your past it's for whatever reasons you'll come to realize at a later date! Sometimes the things or people come back into your life sometimes they don't & if they don't they obviously not acceptable nor needed within your present & future journey!

 

Personally Admitting Effects of Decisions;

Honestly, I know that in the past I have made bad choices/decisions. Yes, I have hurt those I seriously shouldn't of & that I have made certain mistakes repetitively sometimes with intentions yet majority of the time unintentionally! Yet, In reality... I'm only human & I am still currently learning as you are too! I have honestly & stupidly had to learn majority of things the hard way! At the end of the day at least then or within time I can admit my wrong doings & the fact I have flaws & that I have sadly yet only myself to blame for those no longer within any aspect of my life! I'm truly, deeply & ever so honestly, extremely apologetic for the hurt & pain my life of destruction has caused! I do have complete understanding & acknowledge that I only have myself to blame! In reality to me, Life's like a gamble, day in, day out... You never know what's just around the corner! So, from now... I shall seriously attempt to mend all my wrongs where I can; accept the things I can not change, Change the things I can & have the Wisdom to know the difference because... LIFE GOES ON weather you like it or not!

 

 

 

 

 

Has my disease been active recently? In what way?

When I had finally admitted to a few close Friends and my Family that I was an Addict that was highly dependent on my poison of choice (Methamphetamine) and that I have tried to stop using on numerous occasions yet constantly relapsed! It had gotten to the point I had seriously quit quitting because I was completely powerless over my Methamphetamine Addiction along with being  extremely angry within myself and the constant failure of attempting to rid my disgusting drug habit! At this point in time I was honestly left with very few options and wasn't about to go through another Hitting Rock Bottom scenario again! So, I admitted that in actual fact; My names is; Ebony & I'm an Addict! Accepted the help from several Drug & Alcohol Facilities that helped me with all the information needed about my addiction and the help available before quickly making the decision about admitting myself into a rehabilitation facility as it was one of my only options left! This is where Serenity Lodge came into being a huge part of my recovery as they were the rehabilitation facility to accept me as becoming a resident that resided on the complex slowly working my way through recovery..... One day at a time!

Once I had moved into Serenity Lodge I had become to think and believe that the answer to this question was "No, My disease has NOT been active recently!" Yet it wasn't until I was Four or Five weeks through Serenity Lodge's Program (Narcotics Anonymous Step Working Guide) that i had finally comprehended that even though I wasn't outside the walls / gates of the Rehab Complex using Methamphetamine's daily I was still inside a Rehabilitation Facility due to the fact I was a recovering addict which in reality means more than being a person who was just dependent on Methamphetamine's! I was a human being that still and will continue to suffer from the disease of addiction for the rest of my life... I Just have to learn how to manage my life, change the things I can, accept those things I cannot change and have the wisdom to know the difference! 

Throughout my journey so far over these past few months of learning to live life without resorting back to old behaviors of using drugs to cope I have unintentionally began to become obsessed with other things such as; Caffeine, Sugar, Exercise, Narcotics Anonymous Meetings, Step Work and Etc. which in reality means the answer to; Has my disease been active recently? would honestly have to be answered with;

 

 Yes, My disease has been active recently! 

 

ADDICTIONS CAN BE WITH ANYTHING

"ADDICT" ... IS THAT YOU?

Addiction is a whole lot more than;

"DRUG ADDICTION & ALCOHOLISM"

 

What does "The Disease Of Addiction" mean to me?

 

When I was originally informed about "The Disease Of Addiction" during my first week I had accounted at Serenity Lodge...  I can honestly say I seriously couldn't gasp the concept of it completely nor could I even bear to attempt to comprehend what it would even mean to me! Which had me led me to constantly over-thinking the reality of the Disease causing me to make myself believe it was most probably yet i was semi somewhat certain it defiantly had no connection of any kind to my past, present or even my methamphetamine addiction! 

 

Yet when going over my Step One work during the 6th & 7th week into my journey of recovery at Serenity Lodge I had realized that the whole "Disease Of Addiction" thought(s) / meaning(s) was a whole different kind of scenario / angle compared to my original thoughts on the apparent meaning of the; "Disease Of Addiction!" Being in the 7th week I had self received a great deal of realization which is why iI now know that the Disease Of Addiction means that I have next to none / great lack of self-control which isn't only with my past, present & yet to be future behaviors! It also has great deal dictation via my actions & which had amazingly served me countless times throughout my active addiction which had featured a large scale of compulsive & obsessive intakes of my beloved poison; Methamphetamine which became detrimental effectively yet nearly suddenly due to the amounts I personally forced myself to inhale on a daily basis which theoretically left me constantly dissatisfied within the drug yet the Disease Of Addiction (Chronic Brain Disorder) has in reality taken over my mind, body & soul which is the reason I am Powerless over this Primary Disease which can be cured... Which is where Rehabilitation at Serenity Lodge had come into my life as The Disease Of Addiction Must be treated, managed & monitored over a lifetime to receive the freedom you've longingly been seeking!

The Disease of Addiction:

 

 

Is more powerful than you could ever believe!

It's not easy but honestly;

YOU CAN BREAK FREE & CHANGE!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Written By:

Ebony Kara

Perth, Western Australia