CALL OUR 24HR treatment specialists:
+66 8 7140 7788
WE'LL CALL YOU:
CONTACT US
Excessive drug use continues to ruin many lives the world over. We will consider some of the issues that surround drug dependence, and also explain why the thriving Thailand drug rehab establishments are getting such positive industry reviews and very encouraging client testimonials. Continue reading “Thailand Drug Rehab Establishments”
If you type into Google “benefits of alcohol” no doubt you will get thousands of results providing information on these benefits, with studies to back up the claims. Studies have found some small benefits when alcohol is consumed in moderation, such as red wine containing lots of antioxidants and beer having certain vitamins and minerals.
But whilst these finding may be true, as soon as you start drinking more than the recommended daily allowance, you will likely start causing much more damage to your body than good. Try typing into Google “long term side effects of alcohol” and you will get a complete list of the damages that long term alcohol use does to the body.
So while you may consider that drinking small amounts of alcohol is providing you some health benefits, you must always be aware of what the damaging long term effects are too.
Long Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse
The effects that alcohol can have on a person’s health will depend on a number of factors such as their overall health and how much they drink and how often. Alcohol is primed to destroy certain parts of the human body, so even those that drink small amounts; overtime it can still wreak havoc on the body.
Here are the top 5 damaging effects that alcohol has.
Damage to the Liver
It is probably one of the most well-known effects that alcohol causes damage to the liver. The liver is a vital organ which does amazing work by filtering harmful substances out of the body, as well as converting the nutrients that we consume into energy. So whilst it is designed to encounter damaging substances, it cannot keep handling them in large amounts. Drinking too much alcohol at one time will overwork the liver and this can eventually lead to conditions such as massive amount of scarring and eventually cirrhosis. If too much damage is done then the liver will not be able to filter out other harmful substances and this can be fatal. The good news is that the liver is able to heal itself, so if there is not already too much damage done, stopping drinking will give a person’s liver a good chance of recovery.
Damage to the Digestive System
The digestive system is another important part of the body which is made up of a number of organs that can become damaged from alcohol abuse. Some of the parts of this system that can become damage include the mouth, throat, salivary glands and stomach. Conditions that can relate to these include irritable bowel syndrome, pancreatitis, gastritis, heartburn, ulcers and certain types of cancers.
Damage to the Immune System
Even though you do not notice it, the immune system is working full time to prevent infections in the body and fight off disease. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can cause damage to the immune system by weakening it, which in turn can increase the risk of getting ill. Alcohol can also have an effect on the amount of white blood cells that the body produces. These are produced by lymph nodes to attack any foreign invaders.
Damage to the Bones
Calcium is required throughout the body to help create and maintain strong bones. Calcium is absorbed into the body with the help of the pancreas and combines with the liver’s activation of vitamin D to create healthy bones. Since alcohol can cause damage to both the pancreas and the liver, it can have an effect on calcium absorption in the body and ultimately lead to conditions such as brittle bones or arthritis.
Damage to the Brain
Alcohol has a sedative effect on a person which is why people often become slurred and have poor coordination and judgement. It is believe that long term alcohol use can cause the frontal lobes of the brain to shrink which in turn, increases the risk of developing dementia in later years.
For some individuals, cutting down on alcohol or quitting completely can be a simple thing to do, but for others, it can be extremely hard. If you are struggling to quit alcohol use then one option is to attend rehab. Rehab has a high success rate and will get you on the road to recovery, even if you attend for just a few weeks.
A recent study which has been conducted by The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) might be able to help develop new treatments for alcohol misuse and dependence.
The study that took place surprisingly revealed an important difference when comparing the brains of rats who were dependant on alcohol with those of nondependent rats. Both groups, when consuming alcohol, showed an increase in activity in part of their brain known as the central amygdala (CeA), however, this was due to different brain signalling pathways.
Marisa Roberto, TSRI professor who conducted the study has said that findings will enable researchers to develop personalized treatment plans for those who are dependent on alcohol as they should be able to evaluate how someone’s brain responds when differing therapeutics are given.
Found! The Brains response ‘switch’ to Alcohol
This new research has built on a previous study carried out by the same team which found that neuronal activity is increased in a rats CeA when alcohol is consumed. The team saw increased activity in both dependant and non-dependant rats.
As this phenomenon was investigated further in their new study, the team were excited to discover the mechanisms involved in the increased activity were actually different between both groups.
When a non-dependant rat was given alcohol, the team engaged a set of protons known as calcium channels which resulted in heightened neuronal activity. The calcium channels increased the release of the neurotransmitter GABA causing neurons to fire. Blocking these calcium channels reduced the voluntary alcohol intake amongst the rats.
However, in the rats which were dependant on alcohol, the team discovered a decreased amount of calcium channels on cell membranes therefore causing disruption to their usual capacity to drive alcohols effects on the CeA activity in the brain. Instead, the increase in activity was actually driven by the stress hormone known as corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and CRF-1, its type 1 receptor. The team discovered that when they blocked CRF1’s, alcohol consumption (voluntarily) in the dependant rats was reduced.
By studying both of these groups, a light has been shed on how alcohol can alter the brains functions.
Roberto Explained:
“There is a switch in the molecular mechanisms underlying the CeA’s response to alcohol (from LTCC- to CRF1-driven) as the individual transitions to the alcohol-dependent state,” she said.
The researchers who conducted the study hope that the findings will lead to increased and improved ways to treat alcohol dependency. There are many root causes of alcohol abuse, but this research suggests that health professionals could analyse symptoms or genetic markers and determine if a patient has CRF–CRF1 hyperactivation. If a drug is developed that blocks this activity then it could be a game-changer.
Addicts are usually very selfish beings. Not that anyone can hold that against them, really. It is, after all, a byproduct of their condition. Addiction can make anyone suffer from severe tunnel vision and inability to empathize. How to regain the ability to be selfless and caring for someone else but yourself? By slowly chipping away at the self-imposed shackles of selfishness most addicts have chained themselves up with.
But how? How do you get out of the routine of caring only for yourself?
To begin, it is important to remember that addicts generally being selfish do not make them bad people. As a rule of thumb, anyway. There are always exceptions of course, but we are talking about the overwhelming majority here.
Midbrain once again is at the front and center of today’s topic. It dominates so many addiction related issues for a very good reason. Without repeating ourselves too much from our previous article, midbrain governs impulsive satisfaction of urges, desires, and needs. Since addiction and drug use in general hyper-stimulates this particular part of our brain, it has a proverbial monopoly on blood supply. This allows for midbrain and its urge satisfying functions to dominate the addict’s behavior.
Selfishness as a character trait becomes more and more prominent in the addict as the time passes and the disease takes hold. This can cause the addict to distance themselves from people they used to love and care for. It can turn a social and loving person into a social outcast and a pariah.
Service as a tool for recovery
What does one do when a scale is lopsided? You must add to the short side until equilibrium is restored. Sounds simple, and in theory, it really is, however when it comes to applying this idea in real life, various obstacles begin to appear.
Selfless acts, generosity and community service contribute to addicts recovery because it stimulates entirely different part of the brain, specifically, the frontal cortex. This is where the brain considers and processes wisdom, calculated thought, pre-meditated actions, and empathy. Stimulating this area of the brain with acts of kindness and selflessness the addict is able to control his impulsive urges of the midbrain, which would make him act selfishly and without a solid scale of values.
The aforementioned obstacles that make this process so hard are the resilience of our brain. It can be both a blessing and a curse at times. For an addict to become addicted, this resilience is broken down with help of drugs and various addictive substances. Changing the way your brain operates without such “help” is much harder than one might think.
It takes many years of rigorous training by doing community work, helping people move their home and generally helping others out in one way or another, for the brain to accept this kind of behavior as the norm.
Speaking of norms in brain activity in the context of addiction is almost silly. There is no such thing really, knowing how different each and every one of us is. If you present a situation to 100 people, you will witness 100 different ways of dealing with said situation. Sure, there will be similarities, but ultimately for one human being to deal with a challenge or an obstacle in an identical way as someone else is practically impossible. Our individual way of thought is as unique as our DNA sequence or fingerprints.
It is highly recommended and encouraged in most self-respecting rehabs to do some kind of selfless act every day, as little and insignificant as it may be. Help someone with carrying something heavy, lend them a needed item for a while. Even just complimenting someone on their appearance or actions goes a long way towards addiction recovery. Every little bit counts.
Be selfless. Be kind. Be considerate. Sounds easy enough, but for an addict to reach a point in their lives where this kind of attitude comes naturally is a huge stepping stone towards recovery. One stepping stone of many, but every one of them counts.
Patience is a skill that addicts generally lack. They may have had a firm grasp on the concept of patience at some time in the past, but with addiction, that skill just slowly disappeared. Waiting and giving things time to progress is a concept that is altogether alien to a veteran addict. How can it be any other way, considering that he needs that next bump just to survive, or at least he believes he does. Continue reading “Hardest Skill To Learn – Patience”
Due to the philanthropic subsidy and gratitude of key alumni members, DARA is able to offer one of the worlds’ most affordable and cost-effective luxury rehabilitation solutions. The treatment center has been re-appropriated from a former luxury tropical resort, and so a comparable level of care elsewhere in the world can cost anywhere from three to six times more. DARA provides a range of luxury accommodation options including sea view, garden view and private pool villas. Our villas are surrounded by beautifully landscaped tropical gardens and command elevated sunset views over the Western Pacific.
"Alcohol became my best friend. Before coming to rehab I was as low as you can be. This place has save my life, really"
Learn More
"You're in here with people from all around the world. Addiction doesn't just effect one type of person, it effects people of every age, nationality and religion."
Learn More
"I lost everything. It was paramount for me to get my life back. DARA Rehab has turned my life around."
Learn More
The first Drug and Alcohol Recovery Center in Asia with world-class care and treatment. DARA Drug & Alcohol Rehab Asia is a full licensed bu Thailand's Ministry of Public Health, Located on the exotic island of Koh Chang.
DARA Rehab has been changing lives for more than 10 years and has been trusted by international clients around the world.
Owned and ran by Australian Operators, our English-speaking facility offers privacy, luxury and comfort, all necessary for effective recovery from substance abuse.
View Photo Gallery