When people take more than one drug at a time, this is considered to be polysubstance use. When different drugs are taken together, they can multiply, or potentiate, each other’s effects. The combined impact that mixed drugs create is called a synergistic effect, an effect that is usually greater in comparison to just taking one drug by itself. A huge change in body chemistry can result even if a small dose of one drug is combined with a small dose of another drug. There are two kinds of synergistic effects: similar actions and opposite actions. When two or more drugs have similar actions, such as alcohol mixed with benzodiazepines, they might greatly depress the central nervous system when taken together. When these are combined, even in …show more content…
Biological treatments consist of detoxification, antagonist drugs, and drug maintenance therapy. Detoxification is a withdrawal from a drug that is systematic and medically supervised. Outpatient detoxification programs exist, but hospitals and clinics also provide this service; individual and group therapy might also be available at the hospitals and clinics to provide a “full service” approach to treatment. There are two different approaches to detoxification. One way is to have clients gradually withdraw from a substance by taking smaller and smaller doses, until they are no longer on the drug. Another way, which is usually medically preferred, is to give clients other drugs that help with the withdrawal symptoms. For example, antianxiety drugs can be used to reduce alcohol withdrawal reactions that are severe, such as delirium tremens and seizures. Detoxification programs are successful in helping motivated people withdrawal from drugs, but relapse rates are usually high for individuals who don’t receive some type of follow-up
4. Both benzodiazepines and alcohol effectively suppress neuronal excitability in the CNS through the GABA receptor. Alcohol also has the ability to suppress the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate at the NDMA receptor. This drug combination can have a synergistic effect at the GABA receptor, resulting in an increase sedation and significant respiratory depression to the point where abuser stops breathing and loses consciousness. There is also an increased risk of accidents (i.e vehicle) due to cognitive
Working with any type of disorder can be challenging, let alone working with co-occurring disorders. It takes a skilled clinician to separate the symptoms of the diagnoses to best treat them. One way to assist the client in managing these symptoms is to educate the client on the slow process of repairing the brain, the post-acute withdrawal symptoms, and depressive symptoms. Non-judgmental and active listening techniques contribute in building a strong therapeutic alliance with the client while altering the experience of the client. Healing from substance use and depression is a very challenging and requires the partnership of the clinician and the client in order to have lasting recovery.
Some of the local and nearby drug rehab programs include Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Detoxification, Buprenorphine Used in Treatment, Naltrexone (oral), Vivitrol (injectable Naltrexone), Community Mental Health Center, Hospital Inpatient, and Partial Hospitalization/Day Treatment. Drug and alcohol rehab programs in the area provide residents with treatment methods ranging from “traditional” recovery options to those that offer alternative styles (e.g. holistic medicine). While the decision to get help with drug or alcohol addiction problems is often a personal choice, many people include their loved ones in the process in order to obtain insight and a different perspective. Ultimately, it is up to the addicted individual to make the effort and changes necessary to overcome their addiction
Polypharmacy among the elderly is a growing concern in U.S. healthcare system. Elderly who have comorbities and take multiple medications are at a higher risk for potential adverse drug reactions. Elderly who take over-the-counter medications, herbs, and supplements without consulting their physician are at risk for adverse reactions associated with polypharmacy. Polypharmacy can result from patients having multiple prescribers and pharmacies, and patients who continue to take medications which have been discontinued by the physician. There is a great need for nursing interventions regarding polypharmacy, including medication reviews also known as “brown bag”. As nurses obtain history data and conduct a patient assessment, it is essential to review the patients’ medications and ask open-ended questions regarding all types of medications in which the patient is taking. In addition, the patient assessment is also an opportunity for the nurse to inquire about any adverse reactions the patient may be experiencing resulting from medications. Nurses are in a unique position to provide early detection and intervention for potentially inappropriate medications and its associated adverse drug reactions.
There are many options for substance addiction treatment and utilizing medication as a means of eliminating substance use is one that has been called a double edge sword. There are two schools of thought with medically assisted treatment. First, let 's define medication assisted treatment (MAT): “it is the use of pharmacological medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a “whole patient” approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. Research indicates that a combination of medication and behavioral therapies can successfully treat substance use disorders, and for some people struggling with addiction, MAT can help sustain recovery” (Watkins, 2016). One side of this treatment option is that it provides that extra little nudge to start recovery with less or more withdrawal symptoms. For example, disulfiram is an alcohol aversion agent, that when taken with alcohol the person becomes very ill (Watkins, 2016). There are also other medications that help with reducing symptoms of withdrawal, such as methadone.
Substance abuse treatments are offered in a variety of ways. Some treatments can be done on an outpatient basis, while others may require a stay in a hospital or other facility. The two types of treatments are similar in nature. The main difference is that outpatient treatment is offered to those addicts that have circumstances or situations that will not allow them to get treatment in an inpatient rehabilitation program. Outpatient programs provide patients with more freedom of movement which allows them to maintain a regular commitment to family, work, and educational responsibilities. (Gifford, 2015). This service is also used for those that have already been a part of an inpatient rehabilitation program, yet still require some further support so they do not relapse. Both treatment types first seek to help the individual with their physical addiction and get them rehabilitated, and then focuses on the underlying causes of their addiction and help them deal with it to help prevent and avoid any relapse. Choosing which type of treatment is needed and which would best benefit the individual would need to be decided between the addict and their doctor or counselor. It is not a decision to be made lightly especially for those that need the extra care that an inpatient facility would
Addiction is a complex psychiatric disorder that consists of social and psychological factors, but at its most basic level it is a biological process. Addiction may come in many forms, but its primary choice of substance is drugs. In particular, prescription medications in the form of pills have become a major health problem, not only to those addicted but the clinicians who prescribe them. In order to fully understand this disorder, considering what brain mechanisms and functions are involved with addiction, the next area to look into is the factors that make the prescription drugs so addictive, along with long term effects, and to discover any new treatment options out in practice today, whether it be through medicine and/or counseling.
Arias, M.D., A. J., & Kranzler, M.D, H. R. (n.d). Treatment of co-occurring alcohol and other drug Use disorders. Retrieved from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh312/155-167.htm
There are many contributing factors and political issues that address substance abuse. Throughout the years, many researchers have designed many interventions and social policies designed to treat people who have used, abused, and became addicted to substances. Today, there are many new studies that address substance abuse at the individual, group, family, and community or policy levels. Today, there are many services that are effective for decreasing recidivism in youth who have completed a substance abuse program. A substance abuse treatment program or center is the best way to treat individuals who have abused substances.
Overcoming an addiction to alcohol can be a long and bumpy road. Many people feel that it is impossible to overcome an alcohol addiction. Many people feel that is it easier to be an addict than to be a recovering addict. However, recovering from alcoholism is possible if one is ready to seek the help and support they need on their road to recovery. Recovery is taking the time to regain one’s normal mind, health and strength. Recovery is process. It takes time to stop the alcohol cravings and pressure to drink. For most, rehab and professional help is needed, while others can stop drinking on their own. Recovery never ends. After rehab, professional help or quitting on your own, many people still need help staying sober. A lot of time, recovering
There are several different ways to approach substance abuse therapy but the approach must be fitting to the client and the client’s needs. The main goal of substance abuse counseling is to prevent the client from using harmful substances in excessive and potentially dangerous ways. A major portion within the therapy itself is relapse prevention. Relapse prevention is aimed at counseling the individual in such a way to prevent future relapse. The relapse prevention technique also helps the client to discover any underlying issues that may have caused them to start using drugs and alcohol in the first place. Substance abuse counseling focuses on the whole counseling technique, not just the small area of substance abuse. Because substance abuse is frequently related to other life issues, the counseling takes a more broad focus to not only help the client recover from their addictions but also to solve mental, emotional, occupational, and family issues as well. There is a growing need for substance abuse counseling in today’s society because of the more prevalent presence of drugs and alcohol. It is important to understand the different counseling techniques for substance abuse clients because of the growing number of clients in need.
These physiological changes result in withdrawal symptoms, including seizures, anxiety, toxic effects on nerve cells, and altered perception of alcohol’s effects. Any of those symptoms may increase the patient’s potential for relapse and vulnerability to brain damage. With a drinking pattern of repeated bingeing and abstaining, the imbalance occurring during withdrawal may intensify with each successive episode and may culminate in a state of persistent CNS hyperexcitability seen as a augmented withdrawal response.
Because of the complexity of substance abuse, different concepts of relapse and reduction in drug use need to be examined. Relapse is a complex, dynamic process that must be examined carefully by researchers and clinicians. The extensive treatment histories of many clients entering and re-entering programs suggest that recovery from drug use is long term, and episodic relapses are experienced. The process of recovery occurs throughout the drug use and treatment career. A better understanding of this process should lead to improved treatment and aftercare services that will reduce overall relapse rates, extend remission periods, and reduce the duration of relapse
Everyday around the world alcoholics attempt to defeat their alcohol vice, only to succumb to addiction once more. Alcohol addiction can plague one’s life, leading to a wide array of negative consequences. When alcoholics do attempt to quit drinking alcohol, they go through various withdrawal symptoms that dramatically complicates the road to sobriety. Quitting alcohol is far from a simple process and will require much initiative and perseverance on behalf of the individual. Although many alcoholics attempt to quit alcohol by simply by going “cold turkey,” there are more steps that people should follow in order to successfully quit drinking alcohol. For those struggling with alcohol abuse, sobriety from alcohol is a difficult process that will prohibitively improve the life of the addict.
“Defining Detox” had some good information for everyone to know about how detox works. Robin Foroutan is a dietitian that wrote this article and had some very interesting knowledge to pass on to the readers. While Robin explained the fact that the medical community that refrain from using the word “detox”. “…much of the medical community eschews the term “detoxification,”…” (Foroutan, 2012) The three main points that I got out of this article and that everyone should know is what the medical community thinks about detox, how detox actually works, and the detox products available.