Tag Archives: Acamprosate

Drug Addiction

Drug Addiction

Disease, health and medicine, ,

Drug addiction is a disease that affects the brain and behavior of a person. It leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug. Substances such as nicotine, marijuana, and alcohol are also considered drugs. When you are addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the hart it causes. Drug addiction starts with the experimental use of a recreational drug. 

Causes

Just like many other mental health conditions, several factors may contribute to the development of drug addiction. The main factors are:

  • Genetics: The development of addiction may be influenced by inherited traits once you’ve started using a drug. As a result, it may delay or speed up the disease progression.
  • Environment: Environmental factors, including your family’s attitudes and beliefs as well as exposure to a peer group that encourages drug use, seem to play a role in initial drug use.

Risk Factors

  • Mental Health Disorder: If you have a mental health disorder, you’re more likely to become addicted to drugs. Using drugs can become a way of coping with painful feelings and can make these problems even worse.
  • Family History of Addiction: Drug addiction is more common in some families and likely involves genetic predisposition. If you have a blood relative with alcohol or drug addiction, you’re at greater risk of developing a drug addiction.
  • Lack of Family Involvement: Lack of a bond with your family may increase the risk of addiction.

Symptoms

  • Doing things to get the drug that you normally wouldn’t do
  • Spending money on the drug
  • Failing in your attempts to stop using the drug
  • Make sure that you maintain a supply of the drug
  • Feeling that you have to use the drug regularly
  • Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities

Diagnosis 

Drug addiction diagnosis needs a thorough evaluation and often includes an assessment by a psychiatrist or a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. Urine, blood, or other labs tests are used to assess drug use, but they are not diagnostic tests for addiction. Conversely, these tests may be used for monitoring treatment and recovery.

Treatment 

Your treatment depends on the drug used and any related medical or mental health disorders you may have. Long-term follow-up is important to prevent relapse. 

  • Detoxification: To enable you to stop taking the addicting drug as quickly and safely as possible.
  • Chemical Dependence Treatment Programs: This treatment usually offer you levels care and settings that vary depending on your needs, a focus on understanding the nature of addiction and preventing relapse, as well as family, group, or individual therapy sessions 

Medicine 

Medicine can play an important role in recovery when combined with behavioral therapies. Certain medications can be used to lessen cravings, improve mood, and reduce addictive behaviors. 

  • Lofexidine is usually the recommended medicine. It helps reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms in patients receiving treatment for opioid addiction. 
  • Acamprosate can also help reduce drinking behavior.
Alcoholism

Alcohol Misuse

Disease, health and medicine, , ,

Alcoholism is a medical condition involving frequent or heavy alcohol use. People with this condition can’t stop drinking even when it causes problems, physical harm, or emotional distress to themselves or others. 

Alcohol use disorder is a disease of brain function and needs medical and psychological treatments to control it. This condition can be mild, moderate to severe. It can develop quickly or over a long period.

Causes

Scientists are still trying to understand what causes alcohol use disorder. It appears to be a combination of one or more of the following:

  • Genetics
  • Early childhood events
  • Attempts to relieve emotional pain

People are more likely to become an alcoholic if they:

  • Experienced trauma, such as physical or sexual abuse
  • Consume alcohol often, in large amounts, or start early in life
  • Have a family history of alcohol problems
  • Have mental health issues, eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Have had stomach bypass surgery for weight issues

Risk Factors 

The use of alcohol may begin in the teens, but alcohol misuse occurs more often in the 20s and 30s though it can start at any age. 

  • Depression
  • Having bariatric surgery
  • Steady drinking over time 

Symptoms 

Signs of alcohol use disorder include:

  • Wanting to cut back but not being able to
  • Obsessing over alcohol
  • Drinking more or longer than you planned
  • Frequent hangovers
  • Feeling irritable or cranky when you’re not drinking
  • Blacking out or not remembering things that happened
  • Continuing to drink even if it causes distress or harm to you or others
  • Having repeated problems with school, work, relationships, or the law because of drinking
  • Having cravings for alcohol
  • Getting into dangerous situations when you’re drinking 
  • Giving up activities so you can drink 
  • Need to drink more and more to get the same effect
  • Not being able to stop drinking once you’ve started
  • Spending a lot of time drinking or recovering from drinking

A person who is alcohol dependent also might experience symptoms of withdrawal when they cut back or stop drinking, such as:

Diagnosis 

Your doctor will suspect you if you have a problem with alcohol by:

  • Asking you several questions related to your drinking habits
  • Performing a physical exam
  • Completing a psychological evaluation 
  • Lab tests and imaging tests 

Treatment 

Treatment for alcohol misuse can vary depending on your needs. Treatment for the condition may include:

Medicine 

  • Disulfiram (Antabuse) – helps prevent you from drinking, though it won’t cure alcohol use disorder or remove the compulsion to drink. If you drink alcohol, the medicine produces a physical reaction that may include nausea, flushing, vomiting, and headache.
  • Naltrexone – this blocks the good feelings alcohol causes. This may prevent heavy drinking and lessen the urge to drink.
  • Acamprosate – helps you fight alcohol cravings once you stop drinking.