|
|
BBC 19 June 2011
Government policies for treating drug addicts in England are flawed and “doomed to failure”, a think tank says.
The Centre for Policy Studies says rehabilitation is a better use of the £3.6bn now spent on treating users with drug substitutes like methadone and keeping them on benefits each year.
But it says plans to reward groups which treat addicts so they can return to work were open to manipulation.
The Department of Health said it aimed to get users “off drugs for good”.
The coalition government wants to change the way drug addiction is tackled, with more people with problems diverted away from prison and into treatment as part of what it calls a “rehabilitation revolution”.
Part of this involves rewarding treatment providers who show addicts have improved their health and employment prospects.
Transfer of power
A report from the right-of-centre think tank, which has links to the Conservative Party, says these payment-by-results schemes were being run by the very organisations “responsible for the current failure of policy”.
Our approach will be to go much further and offer every support for people to choose recovery”
Department of Health
It says the current annual cost of maintaining treatment for 320,000 problem drug users is made up of £1.7bn in benefits, £1.2bn for looking after their children and £730m for prescribing the heroin substitute methadone.
The think tank calls for “a real transfer of power from large distant organisations to small innovative providers” for rehabilitation.
It says such units have a better chance of getting addicts off drugs completely, adding: “There is one simple measure of success: That of six months abstinence from drugs.”
According to the report’s author Kathy Gyngell, chairwoman of the prisons and addictions policy forum at the CPS, prescribing methadone to addicts delays their recovery.
She told the BBC: “The state is subsidising people to be any number of years on methadone, which has turned out not to be a cheap option and will only subsidise the tiniest proportion – 2% – to go into a rehabilitation unit that would actually free them from dependency and allow them to live their life.”
A Department of Health spokesman said: “The 2010 Drug Strategy is fundamentally different from those that have gone before.
“Instead of focusing primarily on reducing the harms caused by drug misuse, our approach will be to go much further and offer every support for people to choose recovery as an achievable way out of dependence.”
He added: “Work is under way to support local recovery systems tailored to the needs of communities, many of which are already showing positive results.”
12 June 2011 Last updated at 23:06 GMT
Prescription pills blamed for ‘Pharmageddon’ in Kentucky
Paul Adams By Paul Adams BBC News, Kentucky
In the green, wooded hills of eastern Kentucky, two mothers pore over photographs of daughters lost to prescription pills.
Sarah Shay and Savannah Kissick were school friends in Morehead, both addicted to an array of perfectly legal drugs.
Sarah died in 2006, at the age of 19. Savannah followed three years later, aged 22. Both victims of an epidemic of prescription pill abuse sweeping parts of America.
When their mothers reel off the names together, they make them sound like weapons.
“Xanax. Klonopin. Oxycodone. Hydrocodone.”
Earlier this year, the White House described the epidemic as the country’s fastest growing drug problem, accounting for more accidental overdoses than the combined total from heroin and crack cocaine in the 1970s and 80s.
Karen Shay and Lynn Kissick have become reluctant experts in the medicines which killed their daughters and which are eating away at rural communities throughout the area.
Savannah Kissick Savannah Kissick, Sarah’s best friend died in 2009 as a result of her own prescription drug abuse
Both have lent their passionate voices to an education campaign being led by Kentucky’s Attorney General Jack Conway.
Mr Conway has few illusions about the scale of the drug use ravaging his state.
“Kentucky has a peculiar problem with prescription pill abuse,” Mr Conway says of an issue which first emerged more than a decade ago but has grown steadily. He says Kentucky may have the worst problem in the country. And he says it’s hard to meet a family in the state which hasn’t been affected in one way or another. Including his own.
Prescription pills’ deadly toll
- In Kentucky 978 people died from prescription drug overdose in 2009.
- The average age drug addicts in Kentucky start using is 11.
- Abuse of prescribed medications kills more Americans every year than anything except automobile crashes.
- Seven people in Florida, four people in Ohio, and three people in Kentucky die every day from unintentional overdoses.
- In 2007, one American every 19 minutes died from an unintentional drug overdose.
Sources: Kentucky Govt, CDC
“We’ve had someone who’s had to deal with it,” he says, reluctant to go into details. It caused a great deal of pain and opened some eyes within my family.”
Across the state, a number of treatment and rehabilitation centres are trying to deal with the huge numbers of addicts.
Easy access
At Shepherd’s Shelter, located on the tranquil outskirts of Mount Sterling, east of Lexington, residents go through a programme that includes recovery dynamics, criminal thinking and relapse prevention.
There’s a wall of fame featuring pictures of men and women who’ve successfully completed the programme and stayed clean. Director Wayne Ross, himself a former alcohol and drug abuser, admits that there are plenty who don’t.
Lorraine, 26, isn’t quite out of the woods. For years, she couldn’t do anything without pills and resorted to criminality to feed her addiction.
But the photos of four children which adorn the small room she shares with a fellow resident represent the four reasons why she’s desperate to complete the programme.
“I’m just ready to get ‘em back,” she insists.
Adam, who’s completed the programme but is now volunteering at Shepherd’s Shelter in an attempt to stay on the straight and narrow, described how medicines designed as slow release pain-killers, like oxycodone, are ground up, mixed with water and injected for a powerful, instant high.
And he gives one simple reason why prescription drugs are so popular.
“We could all have found a better high,” he says, “it’s just the prescription drug is so easy accessed.”
Inevitably, the tidal wave of addiction has triggered a parallel crime wave that threatens to swamp the police, courts and jails of Appalachia.
‘Pharmageddon’
In Pikeville, among the coal mining hills and valleys close to the Virginia border, police officers recently rounded up dozens of dealers at the end of a six month undercover operation.
Most of those arrested were suspected of dealing in oxycodone from so-called “pill mills”, barely regulated, cash only dispensaries, mostly located in southern Florida.
Kentucky’s jails are overflowing.
“I believe I can safely say that over 80% of the inmates in the Pike County regional detention centre are in there for something dealing with their addiction to prescription drugs,” said Dan Smoot, director of law enforcement with Unite, an innovative Kentucky counter narcotics programme which brings together police investigations, treatment and education.
Karen Shay and Lynn Kissick lost their daughters to prescription drugs Lynn Kissick (right), who lost her daughter to prescription drugs, says some doctors give out prescriptions too easily
Responses to questions asked on Unite’s treatment line, he says, have revealed that the average age at which users first abuse prescription pills is 11.
It’s a statistic that makes him angry.
“We have basically robbed our children of a childhood.”
The pill crisis, which some are calling pharmageddon, is only now receiving national attention.
As part of an initiative announced in April, the White House demanded that the makers of one class of drugs, known as “extended release and long-acting opioids”, make more concerted efforts to educate doctors and patients.
But back in Morehead, Lynn Kissick wonders if any of this will work.
“I don’t know how to get a grip on something so large.” she says.
Some doctors, she says, are too busy making money.
“There’s a lot of them that just write it out and say ‘here you go’. And it doesn’t matter if my daughter dies from it. Or your child. They don’t care. They don’t know them. It doesn’t matter.”
The development of a positive self-concept, or healthy self-esteem, takes on a big role in life success and happiness.
Self-esteem is quite simply how we feel about ourselves and our behavior clearly reflects those feelings. The way we talk about ourselves is quite important in everything we do. What we think determines how we feel and how we feel determines how we behave.
A strong positive self-concept allows individuals to open themselves to new opportunities and challenges both personally and professionally. Individuals who lack self-esteem are less willing to move from their safety zone and so miss opportunities in life, love, and success.
We can often place the blame for low self-esteem on people in our past for example our parents, teachers, or other important people. However once we reach adulthood, we need to take responsibility for our own self-concept.
In lots of ways self-esteem is a self-fulfilling prophecy. People with a positive self-image will continually reinforce that image with new successes whereas those with a negative self-image will look for new failures to reinforce that image. If your self-esteem needs bolstering you then should find ways to bolster it.
One way to increase your self-concept is by means of self-talk. Psychologists have discovered that negative self-talk is behind depression and anxiety. It is essential to emphasize to ourselves both positive self-statements and mental pictures. Do this several times every day till it becomes a habit and you do not need to force yourself to imagine a positive self-concept but rather, allow it to turn out to be a reality.
A second important step is to decide what you can and can’t control. Change and act on the things that are in your control and release the things that are out of your control. You can control your eating and exercise habits but you can not change your body type. You are able to control your personal hygiene and appearance but you cannot control whether or not others find you attractive. You can control how you feel about yourself but you cannot control how others feel about you.
Third, establish a competition you are able to win. What this means is only compete to improve yourself, not to beat another person. Constantly setting meaningful, achievable goals for yourself permits you to keep improving yourself and can also develop your self-esteem by reinforcing your achievements.
Fourth, turn into a positive person. When you think of a decision or change in your life then bring to mind everything that could go right. Focus on the positives even when something unexpected happens. Know that mistakes are opportunities to try again. Keep the setback in perspective. Most mistakes are not personal tragedies but instead problems you now have the opportunity to solve. Success is frequently the tail of a string of failed attempts to get it right.
Lastly, accept responsibility for yourself. Discovering self-confidence requires accepting responsibility for your own happiness and recognizing that you’re a product not just of your genetic code and your environment, but of the choices you make. Let go of the blame for your past and don’t dwell on the others who could have brought to your low self-esteem. That was yesterday. You and you alone are responsible for the person you will be today and tomorrow.
Building your self-esteem is essential to your success and happiness. If you comply with these 5 steps you then should be able to give your self-esteem a boost.
Getting the best information on Self esteem is no easy task nowadays. If you are looking for more information on Self esteem, then I suggest you make your prior research so you will not end up being misinformed, or much worse, scammed. If you want to know more In-depth info about Self esteem, go here: Self esteem
Anyone who suffers from panic attacks knows just how serious they are. They can cause all kinds off ill effects and of course cause you issues along with your life. For many folks, the worst reasonably panic attack is the ones concerned with going out and meeting people.
There are various degrees of panic attack from minor nerves to outright terror. It depends upon the seriousness of things and how badly you suffer from them. What cures may you employ to resolve your panic attacks?
Medication
Many doctors prescribe (and typically prescribe incorrectly) medication to manage panic attacks. The hassle is, medication is not actually a cure! All medication does is camouflage the symptoms and hide them from view. As soon as you stop taking the medication your panic attacks come back and you’re back where you started. With the potential side effects and addiction, you probably do not wish to be taking any medication for too long.
A heap of folks can take medication and then suppose their panic attacks are cured. Correctly prescribed medication is in a position to supply you with a respite from panic attacks and permit you to continue living your life. However, remember that medication isn’t actually a cure for panic attacks.
Diet
You might not believe the effect that your diet can have on your level of anxiety. The human body is meant to be a balanced system however most individuals eat a really acidic diet that knocks it out of balance. Just by increasing your consumption of alkaline foods whilst reducing how much acidic food you eat will have a important impact on your level of anxiety.
We can’t call diet an entire cure for panic attacks but it will diminish the seriousness and frequency of them.
Deep Breathing
A great way to control panic attacks is by deep breathing. It is possible to stop some panic attacks just by deep breathing. If you relax your body through an exercise like deep breathing it is physically impossible for you to become anxious. A common technique of deep breathing is the seven – 11 method. All you do is breath in for seven seconds and out for eleven.
If you consider deep breathing once you feel a panic attack building you’ll be able to stop them from taking control of you.
Hypnosis
A professionally qualified clinical hypnotist will help you with a permanent cure for your panic attacks. The practitioner will use hypnosis to understand what truly caused your panic attacks in the first place and deal it. They can additionally teach you relaxation techniques to prevent panic attacks from taking complete hold of you. It is worth taking many sessions for this because it will overcome your panic attacks .
Whereas the exact cure for panic attacks will vary from person to person, the above three techniques are ways for you to begin to control and minimize the results the panic attacks have on your life. Through these methods you can start to require back management of your life and enjoy life to the full again.
Please Visit the the Linden Method for Anxiety Website & Learn How To Cure Your Anxiety, Panic Attacks, OCD or Agoraphobia PERMANENTLY. Drug Free – Medically & Psychologist Endorsed, 100% Guaranteed. http://www.LindenMethodReviews.org/
Drug addiction is a clinical condition, and because it generates both physiological and mental dependencies, it’s not something that a person can recover from through willpower on its own. Having said that, it is a treatable disorder, and with assistance it is practical for users to break away from the dependency. It will take lots of work, and it’s really a hard, and occasionally painful, process, but the appropriate treatment can do plenty of good for a number of people.
One estimate says that almost 12 million individuals in the country show some kind of symptoms of drug addiction. To be able to support these individuals work through their destructive addictions and remain sober for the long term, it is essential to understand but the causes and symptoms and then apply the solutions that will help them successfully beat the dependency.
To be able to overcome a drug addiction, the user is going to require some help. You can’t simply get past a severe condition by wishing it will disappear. That is why friends and loved ones, along with the professionals in a treatment facility, will need to focus on helping the abuser recognize the root cause of the condition. This must be addressed because if they do not know what drove them down this course in the first place, the probability of relapse is great.
The next task is to help the user admit that their substance use has gotten out of their control, and that they really have a drug addiction. Almost all addicts have already convinced themselves that they aren’t seriously addicted, or even worse, they’ve convinced themselves that they don’t desire to quit. They need to realize that there is a real problem.
Drug addiction is inclined to go through some recognizable stages and drug use progresses to drug seeking behavior, which then becomes a weakness to relapse and a decreased capacity to respond to normal and naturally fulfilling stimuli.
This process of drug addiction is often summed up in three categories. The very first is the preoccupation or anticipation stage, where drugs are continuously on the mind. The second is the binge or intoxication phase, where drug use begins to get out of hand, and the third involves tolerance, withdrawal, along with a decreasing desire to engage in normal life activities. It’s difficult to watch an individual go through these stages, however with the proper treatment, it is possible to break out of the never-ending cycle and begin living a healthy, drug-free life.
The progression of drug addiction is affected by genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors, and it isn’t always easy to spot the signs of addiction, but it is critically important to understand exactly what you are looking for so that you can step in and aid a loved one if it is necessary, or even to realize the symptoms in yourself.
Some of the well-known the signs of drug addiction include feeling you need to use the drug daily, failing repeated attempts to stop, always maintaining a supply of the drug on hand, and acting against your identity to get the drugs. There are also several signs which may be apparent depending on the kinds of drugs being used, such as red eyes, forgetfulness, slowed response, despair, weight loss, irritability, and much more. Always be familiar with these signs, and search for qualified help to defeat any drug issues.
One thing that Jamison knows about is alcohol treatment program and the problems it can cause. He will be able to teach you all about Malibu alcohol treatment and the concept of implement an effective program. For additional information see his related articles.
Anger is an issue which seems to be showing concern among many people nowadays. Perhaps that is because it is an issue which affects all generations, races, communities. In fact, anger has the potential to touch anybody without prejudice.
It is frightening for those who have to live with anger every day. Anger not only involves the person affected but also all those they come into contact with every day. Because it is such an important issue in society today, people are continuously striving to develop programs to help those affected by anger-related issues.
Reading anger management articles can be helpful to those affected by anger. There are different types of anger management articles, different in that they target specific groups such as teenagers, adults, men, women, couples, families and other social groups affected by anger.
These articles are informational; empowering individuals with powerful knowledge regarding the problems of dealing with anger, anxiety, frustration and aggression. With guest writers and specialists in the area of anger management, these articles are stuffed full with interesting details and effective tools that people can take home and use to transform their feelings of anger and frustration into healthy, normal feelings.
Reading an anger management article can provide an individual with a chance to acquire new knowledge on anger management, which may in turn provide some relief; a chance for people struggling with daily feelings of anger, rage and frustration to find hope and encouragement. This would not only allow a victim or his friends/family to find some hope, but it would also provide them a chance to realize that others also face similar problems. Sharing personal experiences can help people to own up to their problem and perhaps discover underlying reasons for their anger and frustration.
A large part of helping an individual get through anger-related issues is support. Assuring the person that they have people to count on, people who will stick by them no matter what may arise, this is extremely relevant to people who are fighting daily to overcome problems with anger. Encouragement is also important. Encouraging the individual to go to support group meetings, talk to a counsellor or read an anger management article may make a big difference in their treatment.
Yes, society appears to have a massive problem with violence, aggression, frustration and anger but, society is also attempting to create anger management programs to help decrease this sociological problem. Providing anger management certified people to work in public places such as schools, corrections, mental health centres, society is proving they are concerned. Aside from visiting counselors, doctors and treatment facilities, people can also attend anger management courses and read anger management articles and books.
These opportunities are available to people who are serious about making positive changes in their lives, it would be in their best interest to accept the opportunity. Reading anger management articles might be the turning point for an individual. If the article is effective in reaching just one person and making positive changes in their life and the lives of those around them, it was certainly worth writing it.
If this piece anger managent articles has made you curious you and you want to read more, please visit Anger Management Unique version for reprint here: About Anger Management Articles.
Do you find it difficult to get nicotine out of your system? Nicotine, after all, can be very addictive. Nicotine may not be illegal but it compares with dangerous drugs like cocaine and heroin in terms of addictiveness.
When you use nicotine, your body begins to rely on it both mentally and physically. You can’t quit smoking because you have to face both the psychological and physical issues facing you at this point, which is often overwhelming for anyone.
It bears repeating that nicotine is the addictive element in cigarettes and not the smoke or the tobacco itself – once the nicotine travels into your lungs with the cigarette smoke, it then manifests itself in your bloodstream and through the rest of your body, affecting your health and making you dependent.
Your heart and blood vessels, your brain, your hormones, and your metabolism are all directly affected by nicotine. Even though you may logically know the damage being done, your ability to quit smoking is diminished because the drug has the same effect as endorphins, releasing mood-elevating feelings that cause you to crave more.
But nicotine has another result. Even if you’re trying to maintain your current rate of smoking, or cutting down, your body is urged to have a few more smokes – after all, you’re at the point where you feel your usage is normal. Compared to intravenous drugs, nicotine can make your body react a bit faster.
If you are able to quit smoking, nicotine will still reside in your body for up to four days after you stop using it. And during these four days, you will experience nicotine withdrawal, which can be a harrowing experience, both mentally and physically.
The physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal – headaches, nausea, dizziness and fitful sleep – are bad enough, but not as bad as the mental symptoms, which could include depression, frustration, a quick temper or increased levels of stress and anxiety.
The feeling of withdrawal could be so depressing that most smokers will return to their cigarettes in order for the symptoms to go away. The dilemma of withdrawal symptoms when someone quits smoking can last for days or weeks, depending on the severity of the addiction.
It is possible, though, to quit smoking for good – all it takes is a little patience to deal with the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. One way you can quit smoking in the first try is through smoking cessation aids, though if you can’t quit smoking on the first try, it’s okay – many have to try several times before succeeding.
Interested in tips for living a healthy lifestyle? We’re your healthy living guide to eating well and living an active life.
Eating a diet filled with nutrients has forever been fundamental to health, but now research shows that there might be a connection between drug addiction and dietary insufficiencies. Carolyn Reuben, a nutrition expert (and the executive director of the Community Addiction Recovery Association in Sacramento, CA) states that our bodies often respond to certain dietary inadequacies in a manner that may ultimately contribute to psychological disorders and/or addiction.
She and other dieticians see deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids as one of the issues. Based on an individual’s preferred substance or primary complaints, Reuben says researchers can tell which amino acids, vitamins and nutrients are lacking.
Those suffering from substance often don’t follow a healthy diet. Moreover, drugs deplete vitamins and nutrients from the substance abuser’s body, so replacing and sustaining them are an important part of recovery. Furthermore, drugs drain vitamins and nutrients from the user’s body, so replenishing and maintaining them are an a significant part of rehabilitation.
Reuben asserts, paraphrased, that there exists an an important link between our demeanor and our sustenance, a direct link between our diet and happy disposition. When an individual starts drinking or engaging in substance abuse and their reply is, “I don’t feel high, I feel natural,” that’s the key that says they came into life with a neurochemical abnormality. They are deficient in something and we can fix that with our diet, sometimes with amino acids, fish oil, vitamin C or B. Fish oil benefits seem to be extremely important.
This method is based on a study by Professor Stephen Schoenthaler, PhD, who discovered a relationship between elevated sugar consumption, reduced vitamin intake and violence, in 1985. He noticed that prison inmates who were given daily nutritional supplements experienced as much as a 43% decrease in violence, which prompted investigators to commence researching the link between nutrition and dependency. More recent studies have also learned that giving inmates fish oil capsules also decreases violence.
The CARA program proposes that people (in conjunction with their doctor) begin a program of taking 3 meals a day, each having at least 20 g of protein, at least 4 cups of veggies, 2000 mg of vitamin C, a multivitamin, 1000-3000 mg of omega-3, 500 mg of L-glutamine, and 2-3 mcg of chromium.
It also suggests avoiding white sugar and flour, which could possibly deplete the body of vitamin B. It also encourages doing away with white sugar and flour, which can drain the body of vitamin B. Although many factors are responsible for substance and alcohol addiction, eating a diet rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals and fish oil pills is definitely an essential part of the successful route to recovery and a substance-free life!
For more information on how to help a substance or alcohol addict you ought to call 1-877-782-7409 or access Addicthelp.org.
Read more about fish oil supplements on the website of Brittany W. Wallace. Brittany is an expert on health who studied fish oil benefits for over 10 years.
From time to time, we are bound to be confronted with situations where we feel angry, and there is no way we can avoid this as it is part of our lives. That said, we need to know how to deal with these feelings effectively and constructively instead of destructively where you can actually hurt others while doing so.
In itself, anger is just a feeling, however the way we choose to express it to others can bring huge inconvenience to ourselves, not to mention that it contributes to the other person’s frustration and stress too.
The thing about anger is that it is actually a learnt skill, if you think carefully you might be expressing your frustration in the the ways that your parents did! If the way you’ve been handling your frustration has been causing you problems and inconvenience in your life, it may be time to rethink that strategy and change to a more constructive one.
Here are some ideas that you can use to help you deal with feelings of anger more effectively.
Showing others respect
One thing that we all sought as a society creature is to have other’s approval in terms of our opinions. Not able to gain that can quickly lead us to be frustrated, and as such what you need to do is learn how to give others respect in the first place. If you do not wish to have others imposing their ideas and opinion on you, why would you want yours to be imposed on them?
Finding yourself
One of the most important things anyone can have is to have the confidence and self belief about one. Having a sense of yourself will means that you will less likely feel as angry because you no longer seek approvals from others as you are self affirmed enough.
Understanding what you can control
Most people feel frustrated because they do not have the ability to thoroughly change the way the world works to their favour. When you understand this, you will stop trying to change anyone or the world and as such become less worried and frustrated in the process.
Failure to deal with anger in an effective way is a sure way to get you angry, losing your self respect and the respect of others in the process. It is not to late to relearn how you deal with anger and start leading a better and healthier life.
An addiction to alcohol is more than simply drinking too much; it is a dependency on alcohol from the body that can lead to nausea and immense anxiety when it is withdrawn. On top of this it puts a huge strain on relationships, work commitments, and general day-to-day activities. But while the symptoms of alcoholism are clear and apparent, the causes of alcoholism are not.
It is easier to think of potential causes of alcoholism as risk factors. Many people responsibly enjoy drinking but certain things may trigger the development of alcohol dependency. High levels of stress, depression, and low self-esteem have all been linked to underlying problems in alcoholics.
For example, heavy drinking in the short term as a response to the death of a close family member isn’t alcoholism, but there is a risk this initial use of alcohol to cope with the emotional shock develops into a greater dependency. With the help of a therapist, undergoing something known as cognitive behaviour therapy may help someone experiencing emotional problems find other coping strategies, minimising the risk of alcoholism progressing.
As with most conditions, it is thought a hereditary link may also be party responsible for alcoholism. Around 30% of men who have an alcoholic parent will go on to be alcoholic themselves (there is a weaker link among women). While it is very possible that it is not the genetic make-up that is responsible for this but rather learned behaviour, or a traumatic childhood, evidence for a genetic link has been found in studies carried out on identical twins separated at birth. This genetic link may account for the fact that many alcoholics have insulin resistance syndrome (a problem processing sugars).
This of course does not guarantee that if a family member was an alcoholic you will be too, it just means that you should be aware that statistically you are at a higher risk. Just as people who are aware they are at a high risk of developing other medical conditions may modify their lifestyle slightly, it is advisable that speaking to a GP about any concerns will give you the assurance that help is available should you need it. Equally, alcoholism has the potential to affect anybody, even those who don’t appear to fall into any of the risk categories – advice services are always there for anybody who is concerned.
Want to find out more about alcohol addiction, then visit Heather Boddington’s site on how to choose the best Thiamine for your needs.
|
|
