Abuse

Posted by Lura Seavey

Physical tolerance & dependence: Moderate

Street Names: K, Special K, vitamin k, kit cat, cat valium, jet.

Packaging: may be powder, liquid, or pill form; small plastic bags or tied off corners for pills and powder, usually original pharmaceutical packaging for liquid form.

How it's Used: Pill form taken orally or crushed and smoked or mixed with water and injected. Powder form either as above, or mixed in food or beverages (often covertly). Liquid form injected intramuscularly.

Symptoms during Use: Hallucinations, including visual and auditory distortion which may last longer than 24 hours, disorientation, delirium

Effects on the Body: incapacitation (hence its use as a “date rape” drug), slowed heart rate and breathing

Long Term Effects: severe cognitive dulling, amnesia and other memory problems, depression, high blood pressure, respiratory problems

Withdrawal signs and symptoms: Moodiness, anxiety, sweating, agitation

Symptoms & Effects of Overdose: loss of motor control, unconsciousness, coma; death

More Quick Drug Fact Pages:



Crack Cocaine Facts



Heroin Facts



Methamphetamine Facts



Sources:

NDIC

DEA

Posted by Lura Seavey

Marijuana, one of the most widely used illegal drugs, is one that faces great debate. For some, it provides relief of physical ailments and symptoms just as narcotics are used under medical supervision. Others may use the drug occasionally, and although it is illegal, have not suffered major consequence. They may imbibe in such a way that one might have a single glass of wine at the end of an evening.



But what of those with substance abuse issues? Doctors may agree that a glass of red wine is “good” for your heart, but surely an alcoholic would not risk sobriety to test this theory – perhaps he would choose to take up running instead. Where those who do not have chemical dependencies may indulge occasionally in a few extra beers, a joint or bong hit, or even a harder drug on occasion, for a person who struggles with any sort of addiction taking a mind-altering substance into their body is like playing Russian roulette with their life.



Even after sustained periods of abstinence, people with substance abuse histories will set the addictive process back in motion instantly once they introduce a mind altering chemical to their bodies, which is one reason those in recovery often seek a great deal of support when facing surgeries or other times when narcotics or other drugs are required, even if they were not their drug of choice. This concept may be very difficult to understand for those who have not experienced addiction firsthand, yet anyone who has experience with recovery will agree entirely.



Although there is no physical addiction or withdrawal to THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, there is a strong psychological dependency that forms with continued use. As well as its potential for relieving physical symptoms, many feel that marijuana helps them relax mentally and relives them from the stresses and realities of everyday life, especially at first. Contrary to popular belief, both a physical and psychological tolerance to the drug does occur over time, requiring the user to use larger quantities and more frequently in order to feel the expected and perceived results and relief desired. This type of dependency, just as any other, does not happen in every person – chemical dependency is an individual phenomenon governed by many factors.



I strongly feel that it is unwise to say that marijuana is either bad or good; but I will share what I would ask myself as a recovering person (or a mother, a human being) before I spark up a joint:

-Am I willing to risk my family and freedom for a few hours high? (Are the potential consequences of possessing and illegal drug worth it?)

-Am I willing to risk reversing a path of successful recovery just to test a theory or make a political statement? (Is this really worth it?)

-If I am truly trying to solve a problem, are there any alternative solutions, and what other potential problems am I creating for myself and others by putting an illegal substance in my life and my body?

Posted by Lura Seavey

As the youngest person on the residential treatment unit at the Brattleboro Retreat, I was already feeling insecure. Most of the other patients had already been to some sort of treatment center at least once, usually four or more times. At least half of us were there for a primary self-diagnosis of heroin addiction. My second night there, as I sat on the back porch freezing with a cigarette in my hand, a seasoned veteran of rehabs & fellow junky "M" informed me in a matter-of-fact tone that heroin addicts just plain can’t get sober. That would not be the last time I heard this - it came from discouraged roommates, and plenty of other people during my stay. I even heard it at "outside" AA meetings a few times from disgruntled members, who for whatever reason were terribly misinformed.

I was troubled deeply. If I knew one thing at that point in my life, I knew I didn’t ever want to go back to the way I had been living for the past year or two. So why this terrible curse? Was I doomed forever, no matter how hard I tried? Was recovery all a big lie? Did it only apply to alcoholics, to pill poppers, cokeheads and pot smokers? I refused to believe that I would never be able to keep heroin out of my life. So I started asking WHY.

I realized after not too long that the people who stuck by this prophecy were the ones who were relapsing, leaving treatment before they were released with drugs already in their system. I began to think that maybe they had been defending their right to go back out and do it again. And then I began meeting other junkys - heroin addicts that had been sober for a long, long time. At first I didn’t believe it, my first sober junky friend had been clean for 16 years when I met him, and was working at another treatment center as a counselor. The number astounded me - it seemed impossible. "He must have just tried it once or twice, he can’t be a real addict" I thought. But I heard his story, and realized that he was just like me - worse, actually - he had been homeless, lost his family, everything, was addicted for years and years. Most of what I lost had been self respect.

During the following years, I met many more heroin addicts in long-term successful recovery, as well as watched others get and stay clean and sober, while hearing the same old rumor from time to time that it couldn’t be done.

Posted by Lura Seavey

Physical tolerance & dependence: Very High

Street Names: meth, ice, tin or tina, crank, tweak, chalk, crystal, glass, speed, blade, chrome, CR, Cristina,

Packaging: Small plastic baggie, twisted off corner or wrapped in aluminum foil Photos of Crystal Methamphetamine

How it's Used: Smoked, infrequently injected (IV) or ingested nasally (snorted)

Symptoms during Use: decreased appetite, increased breathing rate, paranoia, insomnia, excessive sweating, excessive speech, irritability, euphoria, compulsive behavior, hallucinations (most often the sensation of bugs crawling under the skin)

Effects on the Body: Elevated heart rate, increase in body temperature, physical addiction & dependence, severe nerve damage within brain, severe and rapid tooth decay

Withdrawal signs and symptoms: cravings, anxiety, aggression, moodiness, restlessness, drug seeking (i.e. theft to access money, lying to achieve goals, etc)

Symptoms & Effects of Overdose: hallucinations, psychosis, stroke, heart attack; death

More Quick Drug Fact Pages:

Crack Cocaine Facts

Heroin Facts

Marijuana Facts

Posted by Lura Seavey

A talk this morning with a long-time friend, recovering addict, and sufferer of a major anxiety disorder left me with more questions than answers.

In the years that I have been in recovery and working in the field, I have been relatively staunch in my opinion that certain prescription medications are off-limits to addicts and alcoholics alike, especially when used as a course of treatment over the long-term. I have not been alone in my opinion – many others agree that the use of narcotics, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and even nicotine may trigger certain receptors in the addicted brain and greatly increase the chances of relapse (the return to active addiction).

Yet when looking at the problems that face those with co-occuring issues such as severe anxiety and phobias, adult ADHD, and chronic pain, it seems that there has to be a middle ground.

It seems that for my friend, this middle ground has been reached successfully. After a rocky start, attempting to stay sober and battle both chronic pain and severe anxiety using both narcotic and non-narcotic medication and non-addictive anxiety treatments, this man has finally found relief. Through both successful surgery without the use of narcotics for aftercare, the use of a longer acting form of an anti-anxiety medication, support groups and friends, and most importantly a deep level of self-honesty, he has maintained sobriety for over four years.

So I am forced to regroup, take a look at my black-and-white thinking, and remind myself that everyone is different. What works for me may not work for you, or maybe just a part of it – which is why everyone sharing their stories is so important to recovery.

And please remember, nothing said here should be taken as advice – it is simply my observations and opinions!

Posted by Lura Seavey

Here in New Hampshire, it has been cold, very cold. Even the most seasoned in recovery can find themselves feeling pretty negative after the pipes have frozen twice, the furnace quit, the kids can’t go outside for more than 10 minutes, and it takes 45 minutes for the car to heat up. So, as I was clenching the steering wheel with two frozen fists a few days ago, I realized that I had come to that cynical, unhappy mindset that is no place for someone in recovery. Flipping on the radio, I found my answer.

Time and time again, when my mind has been fixed on some negative thought or stuck in the blues, it was music that pulled me out of it. Not the music I hear every day, but always one of those songs from long ago – something outrageous that I’d never admit to my friends that I like (like C&C Music Factory – yeah, clean the house to that and just try to feel bad afterward!).

So here’s my suggestion for the day if you’re feeling stuck in the dumps: Take a few minutes to surf your favorite music engine – most will only charge 99 cents per song, and find some of those old feel-good favorites. The ones that remind you of driving on a sunny day when you first got your driver’s license, or of the one junior high dance that didn’t embarrass you. You’ll be amazed at how fast you find some great stuff – that will pull you right out of that funk.

For less than what you would pay for a case of beer or a bag or your drug of choice, you can download a custom-made set of songs for your CD player or iPod that you can use any time you need to snap out of that space.

What are some of my other secret feel-good songs? Aha’s “Take on Me”, Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (hope my friends aren’t reading this!), and the David Bowie songs from the Labyrinth soundtrack.

What are some of yours?

Posted by Lura Seavey

Physical tolerance & dependence: High

Street Names: coke, “C”, powder, snow, blow; rock, poor man’s coke, freebase

Packaging: plastic bags, usually slid into a corner and tied off to make the smallest package possible, or tiny zip-type baggies Photos of Cocaine & Crack

How it's Used: Cocaine is most often ingested nasally (“snorted”) or mixed with water and injected intravenously. Crack is a chemically modified form of cocaine that is smoked.

Symptoms during Use: increased heart rate, dilated pupils, dry mouth, decreased appetite, decreased need for sleep, restlessness, paranoia, anxiety, grandiosity, euphoria, numbness of nose & mouth if inhaled, fast paced speech, hallucinations

Withdrawal signs and symptoms: cravings, shakiness, irritability; physical withdrawal varies

Symptoms & Effects Overdose: extreme increase in heart rate, severe anxiety, heart attack, death

For more information:

National Institute on Drug Abuse (U.S.)

US DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency)

Narcotics Anonymous

More Drug Facts Pages:

Heroin - Facts, Street Names, Use & Withdrawal Symptoms

Marijuana - Facts, Street Names & Symptoms of Use

Crystal Methamphetamine Facts

Posted by Lura Seavey

As the hoiday season whizzes by, most of us are at best feeling a bit overwhelmed by the expectations put on us by our children, spouses, friends, and neighbors to be ready to deliver the perfect family celebrations in all their glory. For those in recovery, a time of extra stress is perfect to pull out one of the most valuable tools available to staying sober: Gratitude

Gratitude, appreciation, thankfulness - usually associated with the Thanksgiving holiday - is more than a token "thank you". For a recovering addict / alcoholic, a true sense of gratitude can mean the difference between falling into the pit of despair and choosing to use again, and realizing that sobriety is truly worth the effort - that a drink won't fix the electric bill, and that life would be far worse if drugs and booze were still part of it all.

As a writer, I find it easiest to write down what i'm grateful for when I'm feeling down. If there are days that seem far too hopeless, I start with the simple things, and move my way up from there. "I am grateful for...my wonderful children, my sobriety" What else? "My health" The basic needs of life are being met, whereas they are not for many other in the world. "I am grateful that I have a home, water, and electricity".

Just a simple list begun like this can be the spring from which hope can bloom, at the very least turning thoughts of drinking or drugging into the realization that our problems are not all-encompassing, that we all have positive things in our lives. Some of us have our health, others have fulfilling jobs, wonderful pets, people who depend on them and love them dearly, so many things that make us incredible people when we are sober.

So this weekend, as you are in a frenzy of worry and despair over finding "TMX Elmo" or getting the table set just right, take a moment to stop and think about what you DO have, the stuff that really matters - and thank whovever or whatever you believe is in charge of the universe.

Someone, somewhere said, "A grateful heart won't drink"

Posted by Lura Seavey

Physical tolerance & dependence: Moderate

Street Names: pot, weed, grass, herb, mary jane, 420; rolled to smoke called joint, spliff or blunt. Often referred to in quantity such as dime-bag ($10 bag), 8th (eighth of an ounce) or q-p (quarter pound); plant derivatives such as hash also known as hasish, ganja, tar. Also named by plant “varieties”, such as Northern Lights, Sativa, Skunk, Purple Haze, Cannabis, and many more.

Packaging: Usually transported and stored in plastic baggies or sealed glass containers to prevent drying

How it’s Used: Most often smoked, may also be ingested by eating for a somewhat longer, milder effect. When smoked, marijuana may be rolled into a “joint” (cigarette) by itself or with tobacco, or smoked in a traditional or water-filtration pipe called a bong. Unlike cigarettes, the smoke is inhaled and then held in the lungs for at least a few seconds. When eaten, marijuana is most often cooked into other foods (“pot brownies” perhaps being the most famous of these).

Symptoms During Use: Lethargy, increased appetite (known as “the munchies”), euphoria, slowed motor skills, increased paranoia, bloodshot eyes, dry mouth (known as “cotton mouth”)

Withdrawal signs and symptoms: mild to severe agitation, symptoms varied and individual

Symptoms & Effects Overdose: racing heart, difficulty breathing, extreme paranoia

To find Out More:

National Institute on Drug Abuse

Wikipedia: Cannabis

More Basic Facts:

Crystal Methamphetamine Facts

Heroin - Facts, Symptoms of use & Withdrawal, Street Names

Crack / Cocaine - Facts, Symptoms of use, Street Names

Posted by Lura Seavey

• Call a SOBER friend
• Eat something sweet (seriously – alcohol is a sugar – this will help calm cravings!)
• Get online and post your frustrations in a sober forum or chat room
• Clean the bathroom ‘till it shines
• Go to an AA or NA meeting & go out for coffee or ice cream after
• Write yourself a list of 3 reasons you want to be sober
• Make a list of things you always wanted to do but never had time
• Find somewhere you would like to volunteer your time (use Yellow Pages for ideas)
• Read if it relaxes you