drug addiction,nairobi kenya

Drugs are prescribed for many injuries and illnesses, we find them in our foods, our beverages, and in cigarettes. So what is drug addiction?

Drug addiction is characterized by compulsive and uncontrollable behavior. It turns even the mildest of people into drug seekers who will do almost anything to obtain their drug.
Drug addiction can become chronic which means that even after long periods of abstinences the addict can relapse back into the addiction.
The progression of acute drug use will create this pathological condition and develop into a harmful and dangerous lifestyle for the addict.
Drug addiction is categorized in three stages:

1. Preoccupation/Anticipation: The addict will display drug seeking behavior, they cannot focus on anything but obtaining the drug.
2. Binge/Intoxication: Once the drug is found it is taken until the affects are visible to the addict and intoxication is reached.
3. Withdrawal: When the drug begins to leave the addicts system this can cause a very negative affect resulting in illness and severe pain.

There are many things in our daily life that can be considered to be drug addictions, caffeine for instance or nicotine are legal and bought over the counter at any local store. These are common addictions and do not require rehab treatment, so what is drug addiction that needs special treatment?

• Amphetamine
• Methamphetamine
• Cocaine
• Alcohol
• Barbiturates
• Benzodiazepines
• Opiates
• Morphine
• Codeine
• Heroin
• Oxycodone
• Methadone

These drugs in some instances (except alcohol and cocaine) are prescribed by a doctor to the patient to relive pain from an injury or to treat depression. Some of these drugs are prescribed long term and as the patient builds up a tolerance more is needed. Many of these “medical” drugs are also abused as street drugs.
Street drugs such as heroin or cocaine can create an addiction with the first use as the person wants to attain that first initial euphoric feeling again and again. The drugs such as codeine require that the patient be exposed to them for a much longer time frame before addiction usually occurs. The slow progression of the pills becoming a staple in their life can lead to a very difficult time trying to overcome the addiction. In any type of drug addiction, a drug treatment clinic should be located and the addict admitted for a speedy recovery. If you were wondering “what is drug addiction” because a loved one or friend is in trouble, do not hesitate to take the initiative to get them help.

How to Complete a Successful Addiction Intervention

It may be difficult to admit that a loved one has a drug addiction problem, let alone confronting them. Unfortunately without addiction intervention the loved ones will continue to spiral downwards. Drug addiction has changed from what it once was. There is no longer an easy way to determine a drug addict from the crowd. The past was a place where drug addicts lived on the street, were dirty and noticeably high. The future holds drug addicts that are your siblings, your teacher, and even in some cases your doctor.

With so many drugs being prescribed for injury and illness it has become entirely too easy for anyone to find themselves addicted. This also makes addiction intervention much harder as the addict will argue they are not doing anything wrong. It is hard to admit you have a problem when you are doing something legal. The fact that they are abusing prescribed medication does not mean they are not addicted or the doctor has neglected their addiction.
Drug addiction intervention is a necessary step in recovery and should be handled with care. The addict needs to be surrounded by people who love them as well as someone there to offer support through a drug rehab program or addiction recovery centre. In most cases the loved ones will share feelings and fears they have for the addict and explain how the addiction has affected them and their life. The addict is there to listen and to be extended a helping hand only if they agree to seek help immediately.
The addict will normally try to put it off saying they can stop on their own and want the chance to prove it, in most situations this does not happen and they will often times become worse. The feeling of having loved ones close in on you will leave a scent of betrayal and frustration. The pain they feel without the drug will be a crutch to make you feel sorry for them and enable their behavior.
The addiction intervention is a painful but necessary process to go through in order to get the addict to seek help. It should have an end result of the addict going directly into a drug recovery program and if the addict refused they need to understand that their behavior will no longer be condoned or assisted. It is hard for both parties involved but the outcome is a better life.

EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

Immediate effects of alcohol on the brain and body

The first few drinks affect judgment and reaction time.
More alcohol causes reactions to become even more sluggish and delays physical coordination.
Far too much alcohol can suppress some body functions and, in extreme cases result in death.

The physical effects of alcohol

From the second you take your first sip, alcohol starts affecting your body and mind. After one or two drinks you may start feeling more sociable, but drink too much and basic human functions, such as walking and talking become much harder. You might also start saying things you don’t mean and behaving out of character. Some of alcohol’s effects disappear overnight – while others can stay with you a lot longer, or indeed become permanent.
If you’ve drunk heavily the night before, you’ll almost certainly wake up with a hangover. Alcohol irritates the stomach, so heavy drinking can cause sickness and nausea and sometimes diarrhoea. Alcohol also has a dehydrating effect, which is one reason why excessive drinking can lead to a thumping headache the morning after.

Appearance

Drinking too much alcohol isn’t good for your skin either. As well as causing bloating and dark circles under your eyes, alcohol dries out your skin and can lead to wrinkles and premature aging. If you drink heavily you may develop acne rosacea, a skin disorder that starts with a tendency to blush and flush easily and can progress to facial disfiguration, a condition known as rhinophyma.

Alcohol poisoning

In the worst cases alcohol poisoning can cause lung damage (as you inhale your own vomit) and even lead to a heart attack.
Many traditional ‘cures’, such as drinking black coffee; just don’t work – or even make things worse.

Diseases and cancers

Liver disease
Liver disease used to affect mainly drinkers in middle age, but now sufferers are getting younger. Up to one in three adults drinks enough alcohol to be at risk of developing alcohol-related liver disease.

Cancer

Alcohol misuse is an important factor in a number of cancers, including liver cancer and mouth cancer, both of which are on the increase. Alcohol is second only to smoking as a risk factor for oral and digestive tract cancers.
Evidence suggests that this is because alcohol breaks down into a substance called acetaldehyde, which can bind to proteins in the mouth. This can trigger an inflammatory response from the body – in the most severe cases, cancerous cells can develop.

Pancreatitis and diabetes

Chronic pancreatitis is another disease associated with heavy drinking. It’s caused when your pancreas becomes inflamed and cells become damaged. Diabetes is a common side effect of chronic pancreatitis. There’s evidence that heavy drinking can reduce the body’s sensitivity to insulin, which can trigger Type 2 diabetes.
For more information read our Alcohol and pancreatitis factsheet and Alcohol and diabetes factsheet.

Heart disease

While studies suggesting that alcohol can help heart disease often hit the headlines, the reality is that the jury’s still out on the extent of any benefits. And it is clear that any benefits which there may be are limited to very low levels of consumption – probably no more than 1 unit alcohol per day.

Mental health

Alcohol alters the brain’s chemistry and increases the risk of depression. It is often associated with a range of mental health problems A recent British survey found that people suffering from anxiety or depression were twice as likely to be heavy or problem drinkers.

Extreme levels of drinking (defined as more than 30 units per day for several weeks) can occasionally cause ‘psychosis’, a severe mental illness where hallucinations and delusions of persecution develop. Psychotic symptoms can also occur when very heavy drinkers suddenly stop drinking and develop a condition known as ‘delirium tremens’.

Heavy drinking often leads to work and family problems, which in turn can lead to isolation and depression. For heavy drinkers who drink daily and become dependent on alcohol, there can be withdrawal symptoms (nervousness, tremors, palpitations) which resemble severe anxiety, and may even cause phobias, such as a fear of going out.

Dependence

If you drink large quantities of alcohol on a regular basis you run the risk of becoming addicted. This can have serious effects on their families, friends and partners, as well as their mental health.

Statistics and Trends

Current use of alcohol is defined as those reporting use of alcohol in the last one month. About 16.6% of urban dwellers are current users of various types of alcohol compared to 11.4% of rural dwellers. This represents a marginal decline from the estimates of the 2007 rapid assessment survey. Besides North Eastern and Central regions where current usage of alcoholic drinks is less than 10%, in all other provinces at least 10% of the residents are current alcohol consumers. Considering individual alcoholic beverages, Nairobi has the highest current usage of packaged/legal alcohol (15.7%) followed by Central (9.2%). For chang’aa, Nairobi has the highest current usage (7.2%) followed closely by Western (7.1%). Rift Valley has the highest current usage of traditional liquor (6.0%) followed by Nyanza (5.1%). For current usage of 2nd generation alcohol, it is highest in Rift Valley (2.0%) followed by Nairobi (1.3%)
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LIFE AFTER RECOVERY-SERENITY PLACE REHAB

Learning to live again after addiction

Recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction is not a simple, short or straightforward process. Many people believe that the toughest part of recovery for an addict are the initial stages of abstinence where they may experience withdrawal symptoms that can result in severe emotional and physical turmoil. Of course this is a harrowing experience but the recovery process doesn't end after that part eases. There are many models of the stages of addiction recovery but all of them include early recovery and ongoing recovery/maintaining abstinence. Early recovery is generally categorized as the first 90 days of abstinence but once that time is up many recovering addicts may be left feeling lost. Yes, they are doing well but their life, their health and their relationships are all in need of some serious rebuilding. It is in the ongoing recovery stage that a former addict really starts to put the pieces of their life back together again which can be a very challenging and sometimes painful task – particularly when those around them may wrongly assume that the hard part is already over with. Here are some tips on how to support an addict in the later stages of their recovery.

Help build self esteem

Studies show clear links between low self esteem and drug dependency in later life. They also indicate that low self worth and a general lack of respect or consideration for one's own body and well being can be a major factor in relapse – even after the early stages of recovery. For this reason it is important to encourage a recovering addict (who's self esteem is probably at an all time low) to start to love and value themselves. Simple things like positive reinforcement, reassurance, compliments and displays of affection will help them to feel loved and if they start to believe that they are worthy of the love of others then it will enable them to love themselves too. Look out for any warning signs of low self esteem such as anxiety, withdrawal or irritability around others and constantly reassure them that your presence and support is permanent and unwavering.

Help them to get back into work

There are many benefits of helping a recovering addict to get back into work and the ongoing stages of recovery is the perfect time to start this. Not only is a set routine a positive move away from the inconsistency and chaos of an addicted lifestyle, but having a job with responsibilities and independence is another great way to boost self esteem, confidence and it will also keep them busy. On a more practical level it will enable to addict to start taking control of their finances again. One article by Forbes suggests that addiction and poverty are intrinsically linked due to the nature of addiction – a compulsion that constantly escalates meaning that the longer an addiction continues for the more of a substance the addict will need to feel satisfied. Therefore the cost will increase and in the meantime other areas of their life may begin to dilapidate leading to expensive mistakes such as job loss or criminal/legal charges. As they emerge from early recovery into ongoing recovery, a steady job will give a recovering addict the opportunity to start dealing with any creditors whilst building for the future. Certain employers are even taking part in a new scheme that offers incentives for employing recovering ex-addicts in order to give them the opportunity to move forward with their lives. Look into any such programmes in your area and encourage the addict to be confident and positive – their history will not affect their ability to be a good worker.

Be committed and considerate

Understand that if a recovering addict lives with you may have to make some lifestyle changes in order to help them through. If the addiction is related to alcohol then you should never present immediate temptation to an addict by drinking around them or even keeping alcohol in the house. Understand that recovery is a commitment that will affect the whole family and even though most addicts are reportedly unlikely to relapse after a five year period of abstinence, you need to remain cautious and considerate forever.

Help them by helping you

The most important thing to a recovering addict is a strong support network. If this is you then you need to take care of them by taking care of yourself. There are many support groups for the families of recovering addicts where you can go for advice and information on the best ways to handle such a difficult situation. Make sure that the addict is aware of you seeking help – this may make them more inclined to reach out themselves and become involved in support groups or aftercare programmes.

Alcohol and Recovery Terms

Acamprosate
Acceptance
ACOA
Acute Alcohol Poisoning
Addiction
Adult Children of Alcoholics
Alcohol
Alcoholism
Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol Dependence
Alcohol Liver Disease
Alcoholic
Alcoholics Anonymous
Al-Anon
Anonymity
Antabuse
Big Book
Binge Drinking
Biochemical Restoration
Blood Alcohol Content
Boundaries
Cirrhosis
Codependent
Craving
Dementia
Denial
Detachment
Detoxification
Dry Drunk
Dual Diagnosis
DUI/DWI
Enabling
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Hangover
Hepatitis C
Intervention
LifeRing Recovery
MADD
Moderation Management
Nalmefene
Naltrexone
Ondansetron
Pharmacotherapy
Rational Recovery
Recovery
Relapse
Rehabilitation
Revia
Serenity
SMART Recovery
Sponsor
Treatment
Withdrawal
Women For Sobriety
ADD ANY THAT IS LEFT OUT

Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction

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Drug addiction is a complex illness characterized by intense and, at times, uncontrollable drug craving, along with compulsive drug seeking and use that persist even in the face of devastating consequences. While the path to drug addiction begins with the voluntary act of taking drugs, over time a person's ability to choose not to do so becomes compromised, and seeking and consuming the drug becomes compulsive. This behavior results largely from the effects of prolonged drug exposure on brain functioning. Addiction is a brain disease that affects multiple brain circuits, including those involved in reward and motivation, learning and memory, and inhibitory control over behavior.

Because drug abuse and addiction have so many dimensions and disrupt so many aspects of an individual's life, treatment is not simple. Effective treatment programs typically incorporate many components, each directed to a particular aspect of the illness and its consequences. Addiction treatment must help the individual stop using drugs, maintain a drug-free lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society. Because addiction is typically a chronic disease, people cannot simply stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Most patients require long-term or repeated episodes of care to achieve the ultimate goal of sustained abstinence and recovery of their lives.

Principles of Effective Treatment

Scientific research since the mid–1970s shows that treatment can help patients addicted to drugs stop using, avoid relapse, and successfully recover their lives. Based on this research, key principles have emerged that should form the basis of any effective treatment programs:

Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior.
No single treatment is appropriate for everyone.
Treatment needs to be readily available.
Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug abuse.
Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical.
Counseling—individual and/or group—and other behavioral therapies are the most commonly used forms of drug abuse treatment.
Medications are an important element of treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies.
An individual's treatment and services plan must be assessed continually and modified as necessary to ensure that it meets his or her changing needs.
Many drug–addicted individuals also have other mental disorders.
Medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage of addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long–term drug abuse.
Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective.
Drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously, as lapses during treatment do occur.
Treatment programs should assess patients for the presence of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases as well as provide targeted risk–reduction counseling to help patients modify or change behaviors that place them at risk of contracting or spreading infectious diseases.

Effective Treatment Approaches

Medication and behavioral therapy, especially when combined, are important elements of an overall therapeutic process that often begins with detoxification, followed by treatment and relapse prevention. Easing withdrawal symptoms can be important in the initiation of treatment; preventing relapse is necessary for maintaining its effects. And sometimes, as with other chronic conditions, episodes of relapse may require a return to prior treatment components. A continuum of care that includes a customized treatment regimen—addressing all aspects of an individual's life, including medical and mental health services—and follow–up options (e.g., community – or family-based recovery support systems) can be crucial to a person's success in achieving and maintaining a drug–free lifestyle.

Medications

Medications can be used to help with different aspects of the treatment process.

Withdrawal. Medications offer help in suppressing withdrawal symptoms during detoxification. However, medically assisted detoxification is not in itself "treatment"—it is only the first step in the treatment process. Patients who go through medically assisted withdrawal but do not receive any further treatment show drug abuse patterns similar to those who were never treated.

Treatment. Medications can be used to help reestablish normal brain function and to prevent relapse and diminish cravings. Currently, we have medications for opioids (heroin, morphine), tobacco (nicotine), and alcohol addiction and are developing others for treating stimulant (cocaine, methamphetamine) and cannabis (marijuana) addiction. Most people with severe addiction problems, however, are polydrug users (users of more than one drug) and will require treatment for all of the substances that they abuse.

Opioids: Methadone, buprenorphine and, for some individuals, naltrexone are effective medications for the treatment of opiate addiction. Acting on the same targets in the brain as heroin and morphine, methadone and buprenorphine suppress withdrawal symptoms and relieve cravings. Naltrexone works by blocking the effects of heroin or other opioids at their receptor sites and should only be used in patients who have already been detoxified. Because of compliance issues, naltrexone is not as widely used as the other medications. All medications help patients disengage from drug seeking and related criminal behavior and become more receptive to behavioral treatments.

Tobacco: A variety of formulations of nicotine replacement therapies now exist—including the patch, spray, gum, and lozenges—that are available over the counter. In addition, two prescription medications have been FDA–approved for tobacco addiction: bupropion and varenicline. They have different mechanisms of action in the brain, but both help prevent relapse in people trying to quit. Each of the above medications is recommended for use in combination with behavioral treatments, including group and individual therapies, as well as telephone quitlines.

Alcohol: Three medications have been FDA–approved for treating alcohol dependence: naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram. A fourth, topiramate, is showing encouraging results in clinical trials. Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors that are involved in the rewarding effects of drinking and in the craving for alcohol. It reduces relapse to heavy drinking and is highly effective in some but not all patients—this is likely related to genetic differences. Acamprosate is thought to reduce symptoms of protracted withdrawal, such as insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, and dysphoria (an unpleasant or uncomfortable emotional state, such as depression, anxiety, or irritability). It may be more effective in patients with severe dependence. Disulfiram interferes with the degradation of alcohol, resulting in the accumulation of acetaldehyde, which, in turn, produces a very unpleasant reaction that includes flushing, nausea, and palpitations if the patient drinks alcohol. Compliance can be a problem, but among patients who are highly motivated, disulfiram can be very effective.

Behavioral Treatments

Behavioral treatments help patients engage in the treatment process, modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug abuse, and increase healthy life skills. These treatments can also enhance the effectiveness of medications and help people stay in treatment longer. Treatment for drug abuse and addiction can be delivered in many different settings using a variety of behavioral approaches.

Outpatient behavioral treatment encompasses a wide variety of programs for patients who visit a clinic at regular intervals. Most of the programs involve individual or group drug counseling. Some programs also offer other forms of behavioral treatment such as—

Cognitive–behavioral therapy, which seeks to help patients recognize, avoid, and cope with the situations in which they are most likely to abuse drugs.
Multidimensional family therapy, which was developed for adolescents with drug abuse problems—as well as their families—addresses a range of influences on their drug abuse patterns and is designed to improve overall family functioning.

Motivational interviewing, which capitalizes on the readiness of individuals to change their behavior and enter treatment.
Motivational incentives (contingency management), which uses positive reinforcement to encourage abstinence from drugs.

ADDICTION TREATMENT-the serenity place rehabilitation centre,nairobi kenya

Drug Addiction

Nowadays there are all forms of drugs available with all sorts of mixtures of highs and lows for anyone seeking something different or new. This gives people we know, friends or family members an addiction to either alcohol or drugs both legal and illegal ( drug addict ). Addiction in this case being a physical dependence and an overwhelming desire for more as tolerance levels constantly increase. With this in mind it’s hardly any wonder that not everyone gets ongoing recovery simply be entering into an addiction treatment center or that knowing there will be severe consequences is still not enough to stop an addict from using his or her drug of choice addictively.

Some are fortunate and do manage to maintain active recovery straight from there first introduction to it and this does not mean that those who do not have failed in any way at all. We can never tell when any particular drug addict will get the message and all we can hope is that when they are actually ready to hear it a treatment facility somewhere has a welcoming space no matter how many drug rehabs they may have gone through previously.

Also once the residential program has been completed there is further commitment to continually working the program on self as well as connections to self-help groups and others following the same ongoing journey.
Most addicts did not become addicted over night and usually spent years thinking they where in control before realising they where using anything as well as a drug of choice against there own will. Once a drug addict realises this then it’s either time to ask for help or accept it and carry on with active drug addiction regardless, trying not to think to much about where it will end ( NA literature states Jails Institutions or death ) or the consequences that are stacking up behind them.

If a solution is sought then it can be addressed with help from trained staff that are professionals in this area and have the experience and qualifications needed to guide someone into receiving the appropriate care. Rehab centers now have a wide variety of programs available that gives many options to any addicts seeking help from all walks of life.

Treatment Centers

Very important part of the search is considering the different types of drug addiction treatment center available these days. Rehabilitation centers offer many forms of treatment to assist successful ongoing reco very for drug addicts, like outpatient or inpatient treatment, day-care programmes, residential rehabilitation ( drug rehab ), detox facilities, dry houses and sober living homes.

Detox facilities are a very early step in seeking help with a drug addiction problem and again must be staffed by qualified professionals. These will be staffed 24 hours a day 7 days a week with plenty of supervision for the detoxification process to be successful.

A residential addiction treatment center is probably the most effective for addicts in need of intensive focused help with their addictions. This will give them qualified professionals to assist in any difficulties all day long with the programme.

Outpatient help can help those addicts who may not be able to enter residential and may be able to start the process of change with counselling sessions and a small amount of group work each week. A qualified professional would need to make this assessment, not the addict themself as they may believe things are not that bad when in fact they need to be in residential rehabilitation as soon as possible.

Dry houses, sober living homes or sober houses are ideal for aftercare once a residential programme is finished. Those who have been in ongoing recovery before also use these if they have relapsed. Sometimes a place in a sober house or sober living home for a few months is enough for an addict to get back on the road for ongoing recovery if the relapse has been arrested early enough.

The sober house, sober living home experience helps the addict return to being a productive member of society while receiving support evry step of the way. While residing in such a property the client is encouraged to seek voluntary work or able employment, attend regular 12 step self help meetings, engage with a sponsor and work the 12 step program. This is also an ideal time to face past consequences outstanding warrents and fines etc, again while being supported by professionals in this field as well as the peers every step of the way.

These are obviously very brief descriptions and not every facility is exactly the same and not every drug addict needs whats on offer. Do remember to ask as many questions as you need answering prior to making a decision on which sort of drug rehab is best suitable to you.
Good luck