Despite the military’s superb daily efforts to protect the country, they are human beings too. The stress of war leads some military personnel to reach for something external as a source of relief. Since illicit drugs are banned from military grounds, inhalants are frequently used to create a high. Mainstream media venues boast very limited documentation on the subject of inhalant abuse within the military. The US military’s handbook entitled Health Behaviors of Our Troops includes three chapters on substance abuse. However, none of these chapters mention inhalants and the dangers they entail.

Military personnel turn to inhalants not only because they do not show up in drug tests, but because they are also inexpensive and accessible. Nearly any drug or grocery store sells at least one type of household inhalant. In the middle east, for example, the combat zone is in a dry area. Alcohol is banned from surrounding regions. Products conducive to huffing, such as Dust-Off, are prevalent due to the high volume of sand within the premises. Thus, the tendency for military personnel to reach for inhalants is increased tenfold.

Huffing is the term that refers to an individual inhaling vapors and gas from aerosol products. Aerosol products include whipped cream, Febreeze, or Computer-Duster.

The vapors from huffing replace the body’s natural source of oxygen. Thus, the brain is temporarily deprived of oxygen, creating a combination of symptoms such as:

• Lightheadedness
• Euphoria
• Drowsiness
• Disorientation and sensations of dissociation
• Lowered inhibitions
• Excitement

Symptoms do not last very long, but they can be profound and potentially addictive. Huffing is dangerous on a number of levels. For one, 30 percent of individuals who huff chemicals, die instantly as a consequence of oxygen depletion. Others risk serious damage to their health, particularly dangerous for long-term inhalant abusers. Health risks from huffing include:

• Muscle depletion and weakness
• Weight loss
• Permanent organ damage
• Convulsions or seizures
• Heart failure and heart damage
• Brain damage, which can contribute to personality changes, comprised cognitive abilities, and memory impairment
• Liver failure
• Death

Military personnel incurring negative ramifications to their health compromise their ability to be emotionally present. Trying times call for a sharp mind. When a soldier is abusing inhalants, he can be held back by apathy and impairment of motor coordination in light of a crisis.

In the event of an inhalant addiction, military personnel are exceptionally compromised to fulfill their duties in active service. Addicts go to any lengths to seek out and use inhalants — despite physical, legal, and emotional ramifications. A military service member with an addiction prioritizes inhalant use above and beyond all other obligations. His peers, his officers, and his constituents will lose faith in him over time. His capacity in which to serve the country will be jeopardized. Barring treatment for his addiction, he will continue to compulsively huff chemicals, or die from Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome. The fact that service members can fall privy to an addiction illustrates the insidious nature of addiction, and the way in which it crosses boundaries of age, race, employment, and ethnicity.

The Law Change That Affects Designer Drugs

The president of Poland, Bronislaw Komorowski, recently signed legislation that would crack down on designer drugs. This legislation specifically bans them from being manufactured and marketed. Any type of drug that could be used as a narcotic or is determined to be solely used for the purpose of “getting high” is subject to this law.

The Danger Of Designer Drugs

So what makes designer drugs so dangerous? For one thing, it’s easy to take a lethal amount. One woman reportedly died after taking just six pills. Though it’s not certain what other substances she may have had in her body at the time, six pills isn’t a lot for a drug abuser. Many prescription drug addicts take dozens of pills a day. If someone doesn’t understand the potency of a certain type of smart drug, they may easily take much more than they intended.

Another danger is the unpredictable composition of these drugs. Some may contain banned narcotic substances, making them far more dangerous than they might appear. Some are designed to mimic powerful illegal drugs like cocaine, meth, or heroin. And when they are chemically similar to these harder drugs, the illusion of safety and legality gets very thin.

Alcohol is a legal drug and it is possible to use it safely without getting addicted. However, as we all know, alcohol can cause problems if used excessively. Also, the alcohol industry generally prides itself on the consistency of its products. Designer drugs are far from that standard. Their legality in certain parts of the world has created an illusion that they are safe to use. Clearly, this has not been the case.

The Bottom Line On Designer Drugs

The bottom line is this: if you take enough of a drug to get a high, you risk some kind of physical harm, psychological damage or possible addiction. There’s no way around this. If the point is to get high, then a person intentionally loses touch with reality and control over their body. At that point, no matter what drug has created the high, the person takes on a significant risk. The unpredictable danger of these designer drugs prompted the government of Poland to take dramatic action.

Is it enough to completely shut down the industry of designer drugs? Maybe not. But easy legal access has at least been slowed in this European nation. Poland’s drug enforcers need to stay vigilant however. Manufacturers who aren’t ready to give up their lucrative businesses may see the legislation as just a temporary setback. Some of these operations could go underground, adding to the already difficult worldwide drug problem.

The battle with designer drugs may be just beginning, but the public is starting to see the reality behind these potentially dangerous substances. Legal or not, they aren’t to be trusted.

Get a Strong Body For Pregnancy

When it comes to getting fit, why wait until you are pregnant? Start your exercise habits now by choosing simple things you can do nearly every day. This could be walking, swimming, yoga, or other activities. Of course, when the time comes, you’ll need to speak with your doctor about the types of exercise that are safe during various stages of pregnancy.

Remember, exercise can be an important part of your recovery plan as well. And if it isn’t yet, it should be. Exercise is a great way to keep your stress levels low all the time. And when you do have a tense day, it’s a great way to unwind. Plus, exercise can help your blood circulation, your energy level, and your mood. These are all vital to your continued addiction recovery plan as much as they are your pregnancy.

Getting Good Nutrition

Nearly every drug addict or alcoholic has poor nutrition when they start recovery. Addiction isn’t a healthy lifestyle, so they aren’t getting regular well-balanced meals. Addiction can change a person’s appetite dramatically. Just two examples make this point – meth addicts typically lose a great deal of weight because of a suppressed appetite, and alcoholics can have weight problems because of the empty calories in alcohol.

No matter what your drug of choice was, you’ll need to be sure you are on track with your nutrition before becoming pregnant. Good eating habits help a person’s body recover from the punishment of addiction. If you went to a treatment center that focused on nutritional counseling, you may be a step ahead. If not, talk to your doctor or a local nutritionist for some guidance.

Establish good eating habits well before your pregnancy so you can be as healthy as you can from the beginning. Once you become pregnant, you may notice some differences in appetite and food preferences. While these may be unavoidable, you can handle it all better if you have been sticking to a healthy diet. Plus, everything you eat will benefit your baby down the road.

Double Check Your Relapse Triggers And Support Network

Pregnancy can be a time of wonder, but it can also be a time of stress. Well-meaning people give unsolicited advice, you may or may not feel confident about your mothering skills, and your emotions may take a real roller coaster ride. And once the baby is born, some women have more trouble with their emotions. The last thing you’ll want to face is an overpowering craving for drugs.

If there is any time you need to get your support network around you, it is now. You need to have people around you who will keep you encouraged and keep in touch after the baby is born. You may even want to arrange for some help after the birth so you can get enough rest. The lack of sleep and constant care are stressful enough for most mothers without addictions. You need to watch for anything related to your relapse triggers – family issues, sleep loss, trouble focusing on positive things under stress, etc.

Healthy Pregnancy After Getting Sober

You can have a healthy pregnancy after getting sober. Just be sure you plan ahead to get a healthy start. That makes it much easier to stay on track once things start to change in your body and your mind. Be prepared so you can enjoy the ride.

Across the country, different states are trying to implement state-wide systems that monitor the prescriptions for drugs of addiction including hydrocodone, oxycodone, alprazolam, amphetamines and others. The hope is to prevent multiple prescriptions for opiates and amphetamines that are fraudulent that could result in drug overdose and prescription drug addiction. How do they work? Are they effective? Can they pinpoint prescription drug addiction and help addicts get treatment?

How Prescription Drug Monitoring Systems Work

In states where monitoring is in effect, there is a confidential state-wide database and an agency that runs it. When a doctor prescribes a drug, the pharmacy filling the prescription electronically submits that information to the database. The information submitted will vary from state to state but may include the name of the prescribing doctor, the date and quantity of the prescription, the doctor’s DEA number, the pharmacy’s ID number, the patient’s name and ID number (social security number or driver’s license), the National Drug Code for the prescribed drug, which gives information about the strength of the drug.

Two Types of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs

Proactive prescription drug monitoring and reactive prescription drug monitoring programs are the two types of programs. Proactive programs are designed to generate reports about people with suspicious prescription drug activity in a given period. These reports can alert doctors and law enforcement to those who may be getting controlled substances for illegal use or abuse.

Reactive prescription monitoring programs do not spontaneously generate reports unless someone asks but they do gather the same information. Law enforcement, doctors, and pharmacies can request a report on anyone they work with if they believe that the patient is fraudulently getting prescriptions for controlled substances.

Do Prescription Monitoring Systems Work?

When used properly, prescription monitoring systems can be effective. Like anything, however, it is only as effective as the people who use it. Some pharmacies may or may not report every prescription, intentionally or unintentionally. If a patient uses a fake name or identifying information to procure fraudulent prescriptions, the system obviously won’t be able to do its job. And there’s always the issue of crossing state lines or order prescription drugs online – there is no system in place to monitor these activities.

Perhaps most significantly, if the state uses a reactive prescription drug monitoring system, it will only work if someone suspects fraudulent use of prescriptions and orders a report for a specific person. For these systems, there is no preventative measures in place to alert doctors or pharmacies.

Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment at The Canyon

If you or someone you love is procuring double prescriptions for the same drug, buying prescription pills illegally or getting multiple fraudulent prescriptions from different doctors, prescription drug addiction is an issue. It’s important that you get help at a medical addiction treatment center. Note: do not attempt to stop taking your prescription on your own without medical supervision. Contact Michael’s House and consult with a counselor about the best way to treat your prescription drug addiction through prescription drug detox and addiction treatment. Call now.

It’s a concept that Ongley Raymond Ocon III of Danville, California, learned again the hard way the other night. According to ABC 7, when the 19 year old Ocon asked a Redwood City police officer for a ride home to Danville after a party, the officer asked Ocon if he was carrying anything illegal. Ocon replied “yes” before pausing and changing that answer to “no.” Clear to both him and the officer that he had been caught, Ocon consented to be searched. The officer found cocaine in his possession and gave him a ride alright… to the police station where he was arrested for felony possession.

Drugs make you stupid.

Cocaine Addiction: It’s Effect on the Brain

Whether or not Ocon was under the influence of cocaine or other drugs that night is immaterial. If he had been using cocaine regularly in the days leading up to the night of his arrest, then his brain would have been still working at a diminished capacity due to his cocaine abuse. Brain scans taken of a person who hasn’t used cocaine shows a fair amount of activity. Brain scans of a cocaine addict show almost no brain function. When that same addict stops using cocaine for a 10-day period, there is still minimal brain activity on the scan. Only after months of abstinence does the brain scan show that brain function is returning and, depending upon the amount of cocaine used and how long the person lived as a cocaine addict, the brain still may not be functioning at normal capacity.

Recovering from Cocaine Addiction at a Cocaine Rehab

The problem with cocaine addiction treatment or trying to maintain sobriety after stimulant addiction is that while there are few hardcore physical withdrawal symptoms, the psychological withdrawal from the drug is intense. It hits hard in the first few weeks of recovery and then returns a few months later. This pattern of cravings and compulsive behavior with cocaine addiction, crystal meth addiction and addiction to prescription stimulant medication means that long-term residential cocaine rehab is the best choice for cocaine addicts.

Through inpatient treatment, you make sure to put a buffer between yourself and your connection: if you can’t get coke, you can’t use coke. It’s that simple. Practicing that basic principle for as long as possible means that you build up time and time is so important in drug addiction recovery. With time, you begin to meet new people, experience new things and learn how to get through the day without cocaine or other drugs. Reintegration back into the “real” world is much easier on those who have more clean and sober time at a drug rehab.

Cocaine Rehab at Michael’s House

If you would like to learn more about our sober living program or long-term cocaine rehab program here in Palm Springs, California, contact us at Michael’s House today.

How Junk Food Hurts Drug Addiction Treatment

When you eat badly, you don’t feel good. Extra sugars and saturated fats slow everything. Your energy decreases, your brain slows down. Many people feel nauseous or have headaches. Cavities develop more frequently. Carbonated sodas can ossify your bones, making them more susceptible to breaking and, later, bone disease. Your body has a hard time processing these foods and as a result becomes more run down more quickly.

When you don’t feel good, you are more susceptible to relapse. Having a poor frame of mind due to your diet keeps you one step closer to making bad choices and less energy overall means less energy to invest in the positive new activities in your life.

Additionally, it is not uncommon for those in drug rehab to gain weight. This can be a significant issue, especially for those who started using stimulant drugs in order to lose weight. It is important to find positive ways to keep your diet healthy to avoid putting yourself in a position to feel bad about yourself.

How to Keep Junk Food Out of Your Drug Recovery Program

There are ways to make healthy food convenient, but it takes a little bit of forethought. If you live at your drug rehab, you can ask for refrigerator space to keep healthy snacks. If that’s not allowed, take an hour or two to scout around town for prepackaged salads and single serving healthy snacks or sandwiches. If you know where to go for the good stuff, you’ll be less likely to give in and choose unhealthy food on the go.

Choose Healthy Living During Drug Rehab

When you are exercising and taking care of yourself, you naturally want to eat better. Few people go for a run and then want a greasy hamburger. Your body wants to feel good and when you take the first step in that direction, you start to want to stay in that place of healthy living. Start your day with a walk or go for a run. Take another short walk after dinner and work in some weight lifting a few days a week (it doesn’t have to be high weights; just enough to work your muscles). If you find a sport you like, indulge in that. Take a yoga class or learn how to kayak. Anything to keep active.

Choosing Sober Living

If you are trying to stay clean and sober but you’re finding it difficult, a sober living home may be the right choice. When you surround yourself with people who are dedicated to staying away from drugs and alcohol, you have a better chance at maintaining your sobriety. If you’re interested in sober living, contact us at Michael’s House today. Let us help you stay on track and avoid relapse in drug addiction recovery.

Crystal Meth Addiction Treatment Goal #1: Patience

Many who use stimulants find that angry outbursts and mood swings are common. Developing patience, or the ability to stop and think before you act, can be the single most important factor protecting you from relapse. It can be as simple as counting to 10 or perhaps mentally taking the steps from the bus or your car to your favorite peaceful spot: an ice cream shop, the beach, a rooftop, a secluded bench. In this time, you are giving yourself the opportunity to relax when you feel agitated or upset and remain silent as the initial emotion fades and you find the best way to react.

Crystal Meth Addiction Treatment Goal #2: Modesty

Arrogance is a big issue. When someone insults you or makes you feel “less than” for any reason, a common compulsive reaction for crystal meth addicts is to respond in kind with insults and attacks. Anger and depression can result, especially if you feel that the insults are true, and many crystal meth addicts try to make themselves feel better through drugs. If you are modest, you have no illusions. You accept someone’s harsh view of your actions or past behaviors without attachment to whether or not there is truth to their words. What they say doesn’t matter because you know that you are now and will always be a work in progress with room for improvement. Modesty allows you to let it go rather than relapse.

Crystal Meth Addiction Treatment Goal #3: Joy

The last goal of crystal meth addiction treatment is the hardest to define and the easiest to obtain. It comes naturally after the first two. When you are patient with others and keep arrogance to a minimum, joy will come automatically and unexpectedly. Without the stress of health problems, strained relationships that come through judging others and anger at being judged, maintaining lies and manipulation you will breathe easier. You’ll find yourself noticing small things and experiencing genuine happiness. The sullen angry undertones of crystal meth addiction fade and before you can really pinpoint what’s happening, you will realize that there is balance to your life and that that balance is interesting and joyful. It may happen slowly, but with dedication to the principles set forth in crystal meth addiction treatment, it will happen.

Crystal Meth Addiction Treatment at Michael’s House

At Michael’s House, we provide a crystal meth addiction treatment program. If you would like to learn more about the specifics of the program or if you would like to schedule a tour of our inpatient drug rehab facility, contact us today.

Drinking Excessive Amounts Alcohol

Social or moderate drinking is defined as one to two drinks per day for most people. This is based primarily on body size and gender. When people have five or more drinks at a sitting, it’s considered binge drinking. Many alcoholics drink far more than this. It’s not uncommon for some alcoholics to have a dozen drinks a day or more.

Loss of Control While Drinking

At some point, many alcoholics make a promise to someone that they will cut back on their drinking. However, they are rarely able to keep this promise. They cannot stop drinking at a certain amount or time. They don’t think ahead about the consequences of drinking too much. Once they start drinking, they keep going until they are completely intoxicated.

Persistent Use of Alcohol Despite Awareness of Problems

Getting a DUI or receiving divorce papers may not be enough to make an alcoholic change their life. Alcoholics are often made aware of the problems caused by their drinking. They may feel powerless to change. Others are so caught up in their denial that they don’t understand the full impact of these consequences. Their downward spiral continues because they lose control and perspective.

Lots of Time Spent On Alcohol-Related Activities

Alcoholics spend a great deal of time doing alcohol-related activities. They also neglect nearly everything else that matters to them. Family commitments, job requirements, financial obligations, hobbies, home and property care – all of these activities go by the wayside. An alcoholic will often defend their actions by saying they need to unwind or that no one understands their problems.

Experiencing Withdrawal Symptoms

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms develop when a heavy drinker suddenly stops their alcohol use. Some physical symptoms include nausea, vomiting, insomnia, rapid heartbeat, sweating, headaches, and tremors. A person may also feel fatigue, symptoms of depression, difficulty concentrating, irritability, or anxiety. Anyone with severe withdrawal symptoms such as fever, blackouts, hallucinations, or convulsions should seek immediate medical help.

Increased Tolerance to Alcohol

After drinking excessively for some time, a person’s body develops a tolerance for alcohol. This means that a person needs to consume more alcohol to feel the same effect as when they drank more moderately. Many alcoholics think they don’t have a problem because they don’t always always feel drunk. They still do a lot of damage to their body despite a lack of feeling impaired or intoxicated.

Symptoms Add Up To Alcoholism

Well, what did you see of yourself here? If you found just one fleck of truth in this article, you may want to consider how drinking is affecting your life. It may be time to ask some questions about getting sober. Please call our alcohol treatment counselors today. They understand your concerns and will help you get answers.

Get A Good Plan For Alcoholism Recovery

The most effective way to create a recovery plan is to go through alcohol treatment first. You learn to face reality, learn to open up in front of others, and learn to live life in a totally different way. Alcohol rehab really is a challenge, and anyone who goes through it has a lot of courage.

When you go through alcohol rehab, counselors will help you develop a personalized treatment plan. You start following it during treatment and continue after you finish your program. It will include aftercare choices, ways to find social support, the red flags and areas of strength you discovered in rehab, and many other things to guide you through your recovery. When you have a good plan and good support, you’ll be up for the challenges of recovery.

The Steep Learning Curve Can Get Smoother

When you stop drinking, you have to get used to a lot of new experiences. Waking up sober, eating while sober, going to work while sober, interacting with others while sober – it can all seem a little uncomfortable at first.

You’ll need to work on your coping skills to keep your sobriety in check. But the passage of time has a way of making new things feel easier. Listen to your favorite music, take a walk, talk to a friend, write in your journal, or whatever makes you feel better in a healthy way. These ways of coping can help you move through your tough moments.

The whole idea of using coping skills is to replace your alcohol use. When developing a new habit, you need to stop one behavior and immediately fill the void with something different. Coping skills not only help you with cravings and stress during alcohol recovery, they literally take the place of your drinking activities.

The next time you have a difficult moment, it will seem more natural to use your coping skills. You’ll have tough moments ahead because life is like that sometimes. But your ability to rely on your coping skills and good habits will make it easier to bounce back.

No Magic Pill For Alcoholism Recovery

It would be great if alcoholics could take a pill every day to fix all the problems caused by their addiction. But since that can’t happen, it’s best to focus on everything that is possible. Alcohol treatment can give you the road map to sobriety. It won’t just show up on it’s own. You have to follow the plan and do the work. And for every minute of every day that you stay sober, you can see more hope for the future.

You really don’t want that kind of life as an adult, but you have fears of getting sucked into an addiction like your parents did. How can you build a different life for yourself with this kind of family history?

Take An Honest Look At Your Life

First, take a look at yourself. You need to identify any areas of your life that take you in the wrong direction – a dead-end job, social isolation, financial troubles, etc. Anything like this can lead to chronic stress. Chronic stress can make people reach out for desperate solutions just to cope with each day. The temporary escape of intoxication may be the only sense of relief they feel.

To avoid this pitfall, identify your problem areas and get a handle on them right away. Focus on your financial issues, your social connections, or whatever is pulling you down. If you can become more satisfied with your reality, you won’t need a desperate escape like drugs or alcohol. Also, stay away from chronic negativity to keep your mind healthy.

What Really Happened In Your Family

Getting to the truth can be tough when it involves drugs and alcohol. But honesty is essential when you need to keep a healthy lifestyle. Do your best to identify the biggest problems your family members had with drugs or alcohol. The better you can understand the cycles of addiction and chaos in your family, the better you can understand your own blind spots and possible triggers.

For example, conflict between your dad and your grandpa may have played a big part in your dad’s alcoholism. If you also have a conflictual relationship with your family, you need to pay attention to this. Chronic generational family stress can be slow to change, particularly when it involves addiction.

If nobody in your family ever went to drug treatment or alcohol rehab, you might be fighting an uphill battle. You may need to distance yourself from family conflict if you feel like this could be a trigger for chronic stress and negativism.

Keep Looking Forward But Don’t Forget History

If you spend too much time looking backwards, you might miss out on the joys of the present moment. But with a family history of addiction, you need to remember how your family’s troubles developed. Use this knowledge to keep you on a positive healthy path. Stay on track and you won’t need to worry about alcoholism or drug addiction knocking you down.