Drug Addiction Treatment Blog

Drug addiction can be effectively treated with behavioral-based therapies and, for addiction to some drugs such as heroin or nicotine, medications. Treatment will vary for each person depending on the type of drug(s) being used, and multiple courses of treatment may be needed to achieve success. Research has revealed 13 basic principles that underlie effective drug addiction treatment discussed in NIDA’s Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide.

RecoveryConnection.org offers addiction treatment information and drug rehab referrals. Please call 1-800-993-3869 for immediate assistance.

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Methamphetamine Treatment as HIV Prevention

For about a decade in California, the drug most tightly linked with HIV infection in Gay Bisexual Men has been crystal methamphetamine. The drug conveys a sense of heightened sexuality in the short term and is associated with risky sexual behaviors and extremely high rates of HIV infection in those seeking treatment. Sixty percent of the participants in Dr. Shoptaw’s study reported HIV-positive status, a prevalence much higher than his group has observed among GBM seeking treatment for cocaine (30 percent), alcohol (15 percent), or heroin (5 percent) abuse.

“The reductions in risky sexual behavior in this study exceeded those observed in HIV prevention trials among Gay BBisexual Men. We conclude that treatment for crystal meth abuse fits into a comprehensive HIV prevention strategy,” says Dr. Shoptaw. The findings have already made an impact: These data helped policymakers at the California Office of AIDS decide to allocate $3 million for programs that address methamphetamine abuse among GBM.

Methamphetamine and the Blues

The researchers were not surprised by the high percentage of their study participants who reported depression symptoms at the beginning of the study. Gay Bisexual Men are three times as likely as heterosexual men to have clinical depression.

Crystal Methamphetamine abusers often say they take the drug to kick the blues, but results from the current study suggest that continuing abuse may serve to relieve low moods related to stimulant withdrawal rather than alleviate underlying chronic depression.

When they analyzed the temporal link between crystal methamphetamine abuse and depression, Dr. Shoptaw and his colleagues found that a urine sample indicating abuse of the drug within the past 5 days strongly predicted high BDI scores and abstinence strongly predicted low scores. In contrast, BDI scores did not predict episodes of future methamphetamine abuse, which is what would be expected if the men were abusing the drug to alleviate depression. “Meth abusers probably remember feeling better after taking the drug, but this perception may not match the physiology of long-term stimulant abuse,” says Dr. James Peck, a member of the research team who led the analysis of the depression data.

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Many people view drug abuse and addiction as strictly a social problem. Parents, teens, older adults, and other members of the community tend to characterize people who take drugs as morally weak or as having criminal tendencies. They believe that drug abusers and addicts should be able to stop taking drugs if they are willing to change their behavior.

These myths have not only stereotyped those with drug-related problems, but also their families, their communities, and the health care professionals who work with them. Drug abuse and addiction comprise a public health problem that affects many people and has wide-ranging social consequences. It is NIDA’s goal to help the public replace its myths and long-held mistaken beliefs about drug abuse and addiction with scientific evidence that addiction is a chronic, relapsing, and treatable disease.

Addiction does begin with drug abuse when an individual makes a conscious choice to use drugs, but addiction is not just “a lot of drug use.” Recent scientific research provides overwhelming evidence that not only do drugs interfere with normal brain functioning creating powerful feelings of pleasure, but they also have long-term effects on brain metabolism and activity. At some point, changes occur in the brain that can turn drug abuse into addiction, a chronic, relapsing illness. Those addicted to drugs suffer from a compulsive drug craving and usage and cannot quit by themselves. Treatment is necessary to end this compulsive behavior.

A variety of approaches are used in addiction treatment programs to help patients deal with these cravings and possibly avoid drug relapse. NIDA research shows that addiction is clearly treatable. Through treatment that is tailored to individual needs, patients can learn to control their condition and live relatively normal lives.

Treatment can have a profound effect not only on drug abusers, but on society as a whole by significantly improving social and psychological functioning, decreasing related criminality and violence, and reducing the spread of AIDS. It can also dramatically reduce the costs to society of drug abuse.

Understanding drug abuse also helps in understanding how to prevent use in the first place. Results from NIDA-funded prevention research have shown that comprehensive prevention programs that involve the family, schools, communities, and the media are effective in reducing drug abuse. It is necessary to keep sending the message that it is better to not start at all than to enter rehabilitation if addiction occurs.

A tremendous opportunity exists to effectively change the ways in which the public understands drug abuse and addiction because of the wealth of scientific data NIDA has amassed. Overcoming misconceptions and replacing ideology with scientific knowledge is the best hope for bridging the “great disconnect” - the gap between the public perception of drug abuse and addiction and the scientific facts.

Source: NIDA
For additional information on drug abuse, addiction treatment, or to locate a drug rehab center, please visit www.recoveryconnection.org

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I got a disturbing phone call a couple of weeks ago: a friend of a friend had been found dead, at age 27.

This young man lived thousands of miles from his family, and was struggling with depression. He had a history of drug abuse. His death was first thought to be a suicide, but he left no suicide note. He had injected himself with cocaine in a hotel room. Lonely life, lonelier death.

His lover blamed himself for not getting him help when he was alive and is now struggling with the challenge of returning his remains to his family who live in another country. This is a real story. It is a heartbreaking story. No one should die this way. No one should get the news that a family member, a friend or a loved one left this world in such a tragic way.

When I talked to my friend he told me that the young man was a troubled person but also a great friend, a fun person, a common person who faced many ups and downs in his short life. Some of the downs were hard to live with, yet, in between depression spells and drug abuse episodes he was a lively guy who everyone enjoyed having around. Those close to him knew of his struggles, but did not know how to get him the help he so desperately needed.

That is why I am telling you this story. If you know someone who is struggling with depression and/or abusing drugs or alcohol, please remember that there are a number of sources for help, including Recovery Connection and 1-800-99-detox. Both offer help 24/7.

Do not hesitate to contact Recovery Connection if you know someone who needs help.

Sometimes it takes “tough love” to save someone - no matter if they are in their teens or facing a mid-life crisis. I hope this story may help someone out there who is struggling with the decision to come forward and help a friend, a lover, a family member or a co-worker who is abusing drugs or alcohol get into treatment. Now is not too late. Tomorrow may be.

Sincerely,

The editor

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