Addiction

Xanax, also known as alprazolam, is the most prescribed psychiatric medication in the United States. Used to treat anxiety and panic disorders, nearly 44 million prescriptions of Xanax are written each year; this drug is used to suppress neurotransmitters in the body that release fear – and by eliminating some of the physiological symptoms that people tend to experience (such as sweaty palms, racing thoughts, hyperventilation and more), a person is likely to be more relaxed. Despite the benefits of using Xanax, it’s still incredibly addictive. By understanding more of the underlying mechanisms of this drug, we can hopefully begin taking additional precautionary measures so that we don’t become addicted – or, at the very least, so that we can seek help immediately if warning signs arise. Dr. Elizabeth Hartney, a psychologist, professor and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University in Canada, explained to Very Well Mind earlier this year that Xanax is a benzodiazepine, which means that when taken as prescribed, this medication can assist with anxiety and sleep – and many people do find relief from it. Over time, however, it can become easy to abuse the medication and take it in higher doses or for a longer period of time – and this potential for abuse is what can lead to severe addiction. Last year, The Guardian published the story of a young man in the UK who fell into selling drugs, but unintentionally became addicted to Xanax. He explained, “I gradually withdrew from the drugs and felt ill for a few weeks. I felt depressed and physically sick. I managed to get through it and most people I know have managed to. But it is very easy to relapse and that’s happened a few times.” The chemicals in Xanax boost a brain chemical called gamma-aminobutryic acid (GABA), which is what brings about those euphoric sensations. If not taken carefully, however, the risks for addiction are high.

Vicodin is a prescription narcotic that involves a semi-synthetic opioid, called hydrocodone. Vicodin is considered one of the most addictive painkillers, and tends to be used for high levels of pain that occur after an injury or surgery, for example. As a tablet or in liquid form, vicodin can bring about symptoms of drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, constipation and more – and while it can help reduce those feelings of discomfort that come with pain, it can also lead to dangerous risk levels for addiction. In many cases, it’s because patients begin taking more than prescribed – but for others, the quest for vicodin comes in taking someone else’s medication. The Truth, a movement that has been working for several years to combat addiction, published the story of a young girl who battled Vicodin addiction after having knee surgery from playing soccer. When her Vicodin prescription ran out, she would take drastic measures – even going as far as to hurt herself – to be given more medication. If you or a loved one are taking Vicodin, it’s important to recognize some of the warning signs that could lead to addiction, so that help can be sought sooner rather than later.

Social drinking is a mainstream activity in the United States, and it’s an expected activity whether you’re celebrating, gathering, eating, having a meeting or mourning. Alcohol has become a staple at any get-together, making it much easier to build a dependence to alcohol even in the subtlest of ways. If you’re not careful, however, you could get much more than a fun evening with friends – the line becomes much blurrier when social drinking develops into dependency – and that’s when alcoholism is at high risk. The University of Rochester Medical Center highlights the fact that alcohol disrupts mental and motor skills; by reducing inhibitions, lessening tension and inviting greater ease in social situations, it can become even more challenging to take a night off of drinking – especially when it seems to be so “normal”. There are many signs that a person should watch out for that signal problem drinking, however:

There are many types of approaches that can be taken to addiction recovery – and it all depends on what works best for the client. Holistic, comprehensive treatment is about assessing an individual’s needs and getting an understanding of who they are, including their medical history, their family history, major life stressors, mental health report and more. Put simply, recovery should consider a person’s mental, physical and spiritual wellness – and in some cases, didactic group therapy could be an excellent addition to a person’s program.

Marijuana addiction has been a long-debated topic over the past few years, as many people believe that since it’s considered a “natural herb”, it doesn’t have addictive properties. If you ask a large number of people, however, you might receive different stories; in 2015, writer Kitty Gray shared her story via Vice on how she struggled with marijuana dependency. She explained that for 6 years in a row, she’d deliberately smoke marijuana three times a day; she described her dependence as this: “I can now admit that I’ve been psychologically addicted to weed for the past decade-plus. If I need to eat, sleep, be amused, calm down, forget a horrible experience, practice self love, run errands of any kind, watch TV or create something: I smoke.”    No matter what your relationship to marijuana has been in the past, it’s important to know the facts. While marijuana may not be considered physically addictive, it’s psychologically addictive. Individuals who go through this dependence stage with marijuana tend to think about using a lot – and if they’re not able to use it in an effort to control how they want to feel, they’re likely to become disappointed. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains that those who use marijuana frequently already tend to report symptoms like irritability, cravings, restlessness, decreased appetite, sleep issues and more – and this is because the brain adapts to the effects that marijuana produces. The earlier that a person begins using marijuana – especially if they start using before the age of 18 – the more likely they are to develop marijuana dependency as an adult. If you’ve been struggling with marijuana or another substance, speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu today. Recovery is possible – and you deserve to get back control over your life.

There are some beautiful moments in recovery when we find ourselves at a steady pace – we’ve set a routine, we’re building momentum and we’re starting to see our goals become actualized as we continue to push forward. As this occurs in life, however, this too occurs in recovery; we find that even after having just been recently confident in our recovery efforts, we suddenly take a plunge and we begin to go back into the “lows”. There’s no stopping the highs and lows from coming and going, but if we take the lows too seriously, we may wind up holding ourselves back in recovery. A few years ago,  a young man shared his journey of recovery via Be Inspired Everyday. He explained that through addiction, he learned to become comfortable with conflict and chaos; even after he’d been working hard in recovery, he found himself self-sabotaging. He explained, “One of the lessons I learned in the process is that addiction and other forms of self-sabotage come from internal conflict…We become convinced, though usually not consciously, that our self-sabotaging behavior is necessary in order to protect ourselves.”

Valium (generically named diazepam) is a drug used for its calming properties; medically, it’s typically prescribed to help treat anxiety, muscle spasms and seizures. If not taken directly as prescribed, however, a person can become dependent on this drug, later developing an addiction. Just last year, WebMD reported that drugs like Valium and Xanax, along with other benzodiazepines, are being misused by around 1 in every 5 people who take the prescription drug. Drugs like valium are becoming used twice as much by adults than what was previously reported; by getting a clearer grasp on what Valium is, how it can affect a person and what a person needs to do to seek help, we can hopefully provide more support for our loved ones who are struggling with addiction.

Many people glamorize methamphetamine for its ability to produce bouts of energy and feelings of euphoria, but not enough emphasis is placed on the potential short and long-term dangers of this drug. In 2016, researchers conducted a study to explore how methamphetamine tends to become used – and they found that out of society’s perception of normalcy, how easily accessible it is, and how popular it has become amongst people looking to feel “good”, it’s become much more a drug of choice than originally thought. Short-term effects tend to include an increased heart rate, loss of appetite, disturbed sleeping patterns and violent behavior, alongside hallucinations, psychosis, convulsions and more (especially when high doses are taken). Meth is highly addictive, and it’s unlikely that a person would only use this drug once or twice without beginning to develop some sort of dependency on it. The long-term damages are irreversible, and that’s one of the most tragic outcomes of this addiction:

Relapse holds a lot of weight when it comes to fears and stigma, and many people in recovery want to avoid relapse at all costs. Relapse is defined by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) as, “…A return to drug use after an attempt to stop.” If you’ve recently entered recovery, you may be hearing intimidating messages from friends or family about relapse – but most of what people tend to believe regarding this topic is false. The more we can educate ourselves on what relapse is, how it normally tends to effect people and how common it occurs, the better our chances are of taking preventative measures – and of approaching recovery one step at a time. Take a look at the most common myths our society tends to hold about relapse, followed by the truth:

Relapse is an incredibly scary part of addiction recovery, because nobody wants it to happen. All of these stigmas and beliefs about relapse – such as that a person has failed recovery, a person is weak, a person won’t be able to get back on track – make relapse even more intimidating, even though they aren’t true. Relapse is a considerably normal part of addiction recovery, but by understanding what relapse is and how it affects a person, you may be able to take some preventative measures as you navigate this journey of sobriety.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that in 2016, 4 million people aged 12 and older qualified as having cannabis use disorder (CUD) – which tends to develop when a person has become tolerant of marijuana and needs to take more in order to feel the same “high” effects. Despite so many people meeting the criteria for this, most people don’t consider marijuana to even be an addictive substances – after all, it’s natural, right? Despite this common belief, the reality is that marijuana is just as addictive as any other drug that produces that feeling of being “high”. Even if a person doesn’t achieve physical addiction, they can reach psychological dependency – which still represents a major concern that not enough people address. In 2015, Kitty Gray wrote to Vice explaining that her daily ritual of “waking up and smoking marijuana” developed into full-blown psychological dependency. She stated, “If I need to eat, sleep, relax, be amused, calm down, forget a horrible experience, practice self-love, run errands of any kind, watch TV, or create something: I smoke.” While marijuana can have beneficial effects – as previous studies have emphasized the therapeutic benefits of marijuana for certain medical conditions – it seems as though recreational use can become a bit addictive for some people, especially when things get out of hand. What’s holding most people back, however, is the belief that they can “quit” anytime they’d like – and this strong belief is what draws people away from seeking help. How do you know if you’re struggling with marijuana dependency? Take a look at the following signs:

Every couple has their problems, but addiction can escalate a relationship to heights they’ve never seen before. When one person in a relationship is struggling with addiction, the entire dynamic can change – and this places the success of the relationship at risk. A 2019 study published in the journal Zero Three emphasizes the effect that this can have on families – such as through parenting and infant experiences – but what about for couples? How do those in intimate relationships manage the ups and downs of substance abuse?