Thursday 18 December 2014

Kenya with Drugs Issues

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 abstinence 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.

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.

Denial Syndrome 

At Thika Rehabilitation home, we are careful to screen and only admit people in need of help. The Denial syndrome is part of the disease, and therefore few if any addict will come out clear to seek help without denial, that they are in control of their lives. 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.