Category: Education

Krokodil

Krokodil – A Powerful and Dangerous Drug Sweeping Russia

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Krokodil Takes Russia By Storm

A devastating drug is sweeping Russia and taking out addicts one by one, but not before bringing about a slow, painful, flesh-eating death. Desomorphine, known by its street name krokodil, delivers a very powerful high similar to that of heroin. It is highly addictive. Many addicts use the drug just once and they are hooked.  

Krokodil is a very toxic and dangerous drug that gets its name because it produces dark, scaly patches of skin on the user that resemble that of a crocodile. It is made at home by cooking codeine, paint thinner, gasoline, hydrochloric acid, iodine and the red phosphorous from matchbox strike pads. Because codeine is sold over the counter in Russia and the other ingredients are easy to obtain, making krokodil is easy for those who know how to whip up the concoction. The liquid produced by a batch is injected using a needle.

The drug hit the scene in Russia in 2002 and has since spread across the country. It’s no secret that heroin is a major problem in Russia, but it is quickly replacing heroin as a drug of choice among users. The drug has a more powerful high, which lasts between an hour and a half to two hours, and it costs about a tenth of what heroin costs.

The Negative Effects of Krokodil – The Drug Is Extremely Dangerous

Krokodil is so toxic, it actually creates a flesh-eating disease among those who abuse the drug. The drug eats away at the skin and creates terrible abscesses. It also causes teeth to rot and fall out and it attacks the liver and other internal organs.

This is not surprising when you consider the ingredients. Anyone who ingests gasoline, paint thinner, and red phosphorous is signing their own death warrant. In fact, the life expectancy of those who abuse krokodil is one to two years. Also, many people who abuse krokodil share dirty needles, which increases the spread of diseases like HIV.

Withdrawal From Krokodil Is Extremely Painful

Once someone has been using krokodil for even a short time, they will go through the excruciating process of withdrawal if they try to stop taking the drug. While heroin withdrawal lasts about one to two weeks, withdrawal from krokodil lasts from four to six weeks and it is unbearably painful. Most users will quickly return to the drug to be relieved from the withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Chills
  • Tremors
  • Fever
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Head-to-toe body aches
  • Seizures
  • Coma and death in extreme cases
Medical Withdrawal Is Recommended For People Addicted To Krokodil

Those who are addicted should not attempt to stop taking the drug on their own. Withdrawal from this drug is not only extremely unpleasant, it can be deadly. A professional medical detoxification is recommended for people who want to stop using this deadly drug. A medical detox happens in a medical facility or an inpatient treatment center where medications are administered and progress is evaluated.

If you’re addicted to krokodil, get help now – before it’s too late.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Relationships in Recovery

Relationships in Recovery

Articles, Australia, Education, International, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Addiction can damage every aspect of life. Homes can be lost, children taken, finances ruined, but almost universally in the world of addiction, relationships are destroyed. These are not just romantic relationships, though those are included, but relationships with friends, family, and others who are important in your life. These relationships are touched by addiction even when only one person is using. Friendships and alliances are often lost when active addiction is occurring and families may be separated or tied together in an unhealthy manner by that same addiction. Though these relationships are severely damaged or lost, they can be healed and regained when in recovery. The rest of this article will offer the basics of how that can be accomplished.

Addiction damages the mind and body. Proper treatment and counseling, paired with abstinence from drugs and alcohol can heal the body and help the mind, but the relationships that have been damaged will require a little more. It is funny that the irony of addiction is that those closest to the addict tend to suffer the most. Those closest have to slowly watch as the addict damages their life and health. They may have to watch as the addict slowly kills their mind, body, and spirit. These individuals may also suffer from the behavior of the addict as lying, stealing, and destruction is often commonplace for an addict. This could mean money has been stolen, property damaged, or possibly worse, mental anguish caused. If you choose to repair these relationships than much work will need to be done. There are only two basic steps, but these steps will not be simple.

First you must stop using and change your bad behavior. Second, you must allow time for the person to come back to you, to trust you again. Trust is very different from love or forgiveness. It may take someone much longer to trust you than to forgive you or offer their love. Read on as this is broken down further.

The first step of no longer using and changing your behavior starts the day you enter recovery. You must abstain from drugs and alcohol, not just those you previously used, but all that can lead to another addiction. Additionally you must begin changing your behaviors immediately. Addiction often leads to lying and stealing. This must stop. In fact, brutal honesty with yourself and others should be the ultimate goal. Be honest with yourself and others about what you have done and where you plan to go. If you have harmed someone in a way that can be corrected, then do so. This may include paying back loved ones if you have taken money. This is a good step toward earning trust and forgiveness. Just know that some people may never again be able to trust you, but if the relationship is worth the effort to you, than make the effort.

The second step is time. Recovery takes time, as does building relationships as yourself in recovery. People will expect the same behaviors you demonstrated as an addict, but you must prove to them that you are a new person in recovery. Get into a routine, learn to trust yourself, and be honest in all dealings, even if this is difficult. Over time your behaviors will be proof of your commitment to your new life. Two steps seem simple, but the truth is that it will be hard to wait for those you care about to truly trust your changes. Be patient and know that in the long run recovery is well worth the effort. Those that do come back into your life and show they care are the ones that will be meant to be a part of your life.

Stay strong, the first steps have been made and you can make it to long term recovery.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Codependent

Codependency Leads To Enabling

Articles, Australia, Education, International, LGBTQ, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Being codependent Leads To Enabling. Which Is Devastating To An Addict Or Alcoholic. This is the second part of our series on Codependency.

When an addict or alcoholic’s family members and loved ones engage in codependent behavior, that behavior gives way to enabling. As it relates to substance abuse and codependency, when you enable someone, you are providing them with a means to continue to use alcohol or drugs. Your actions allow the addiction to continue, rather than putting it to a stop to it. Blurred boundary lines make it easy for the addicted person to continue to lie, manipulate, and continue drinking or drugging or engaging in abusive behaviors.

When you become codependent with a chemically dependent person, you may think you are helping them when you bail them out of the situations they have gotten themselves into, but you are actually hurting them. By not holding them accountable and forcing them to deal with the consequences they have created for themselves, you are playing an active role in the addictive cycle. 

Understanding How Enabling Shows Up In Codependent Relationships

Here are some examples of enabling behaviors:  

  • After a 25-year-old man has spent all his money on heroin, his mother pays his rent for him.
  • When a woman is involved in an alcohol-related hit-and-run accident, her husband lies to the police and tells them she has been home all night.
  • A teen is arrested for possession of methamphetamine’s. His dad bails him out of jail instead of allowing him to sit there.
  • After being beaten by her husband in a drunken rage, a wife lies to her friends about her bruises and says she was in a car accident.
How To Put An End To Codependent Enabling

When someone you care about is addicted to drugs or alcohol, it is very easy to slip into a codependent pattern and enable their behavior. Here are 5 ways to stop the madness:

  1. Recognize the situation for what it is. You are engaged in codependency and you have been enabling the addicted person in your life. Make the decision today that you are going to put a stop to it.
  1. Rally support. Talk to other people in the addict or alcoholic’s life and agree that, together, you are no longer going to engage in enabling behaviors. There is power in numbers. Consider staging an intervention to confront the addicted person to motivate them to go to treatment.
  1. Set boundaries. Decide that you are no longer going to lie for the addicted person, pay for their mistakes, or cover their tracks. Tell them so. Stick to what you say. Don’t waver in your commitment.
  1. Start taking care of yourself and show yourself some loving kindness. In the process of codependency, you lose yourself and you stop taking care of yourself. Start putting yourself first again.  
  1. Get some resources about codependency so you can learn more about the condition and find out how you can engage in healthy behavior patterns. The book “Codependent No More” by Melody Beattie is a great choice.

Remember, if you are engaged in a codependent cycle with an addict or alcoholic. You are enabling their behavior and you are not taking care of yourself. You simply must break the cycle if you hope to find healing for yourself and the addicted person.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

LGBTQ Issues in Addiction

LGBTQ Issues in Addiction

Articles, Australia, Education, LGBTQ, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

LGBTQ Issues in Addiction – Addiction is an all too common issue for many people. This is even more true for those in the LGBTQ community. There are numerous reasons that addiction is more prevalent in the LGBTQ community. Many of those reasons will be discussed in the following article.

LGBTQ Issues – Minority Stress

One main reason that addiction is a problem for LGBTQ individuals is minority stress. Minority stress is the negative effects associated with social conditions considered adverse and experienced by a group that is marginalized socially. This is unfortunately something gay and trans gendered people have to deal with on a daily basis.

The stress triggered by this social prejudice also comes across in discriminatory policies and laws. Often anti-gay and anti-trans gendered social prejudice comes from the belief that this lifestyle is wrong or bad. Prejudice is often expressed in roundabout ways like a secretary or receptionist asking the members of a gay or lesbian couple who the ‘real’ parent is of a child.  The threats may be more direct such as bullying or physical assault of a same sex couple. Stress can be damaging regardless of the way in which it is caused. Continued stress in this form can lead to a need for escape.

Many LGBTQ individuals escape through addiction.

LGBTQ Issues – Discrimination in Employment

Another common issue is discrimination in employment. It is still legal in some areas to refuse to hire someone based solely on sexual preference. Some areas also allow the firing or other forms of discrimination based on sexual preference. While this is becoming less common, the stigma of being LGBTQ is still prevalent. This leads to employment instability or the need to lead a double life to hide sexual preference. Additionally, if someone cannot find steady employment then housing and the meeting of basic needs may also become problematic. If basic needs being met and employment cannot be found then addiction may be a way to cope with the stress that becomes every day life.

LGBTQ Issues Discrimination & Housing

To further expound on the issue, numerous gay and lesbian couples have reported some issues with gaining housing simply based on sexual preference. Being denied housing makes stable employment more difficult and a horrible cycle can be created. Though it is changing, some states or areas also do not recognize same sex marriage meaning the relationships are not legally recognized. This can cause issues with children and gaining access to health care, among other things.

These are just some of the stresses that LGBTQ individuals face daily. The levels of stress are often higher than the general population and often drugs or alcohol are an outlet for such stresses. Drugs and alcohol can then lead to an addiction and at some point a need for recovery. This means finding a recovery center that understands and meets the needs of those who are LGBTQ. This should be taken into account if you are searching for a recovery center for yourself or someone you love. Life is hard, there is no need to waste time with a recovery center that is not going to help deal with the real issues you face.

Make sure to do your homework and find one, like Dara Rehab in Thailand, Dara will meet the majority of your individual needs and start you on the road to recovery.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

LGBTQ Culture and Addiction

LGBTQ Culture and Addiction

Articles, Australia, Education, International, LGBTQ, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

LGBTQ Culture and Addiction – Being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or trans gendered if often a tough lifestyle. Some believe it is a choice. Some believe it is a way in which you are born. Regardless of your feelings, if you are reading this it is likely that both LGBT culture and addiction is a part of your life in some manner. In case you are reading for someone else or just becoming more educated in the topic. Lesbians are women who are attracted to other women. Gay is often a term used collectively for someone seeking same sex relationships. More commonly though it is specific to men seeking other men. Bisexuals date and sleep with both genders. Trans gendered individuals feel that they are the opposite sex of what they are born. Perhaps you have someone who is questioning their sexuality and you are concerned about the LGBTQ culture.

Perhaps you are questioning your own sexuality and are worried about the lifestyle you are entering. Regardless of what brought you to this point there are some aspects of LGBTQ culture that are known but not discussed.

LGBTQ Culture – Drugs & Alcohol

LGBTQ culture often revolves around the use of legal and illegal drugs. Some believe this to help people move into a lifestyle that is considered unnatural or to be open to exploring new opportunities. Some feel this is because of a need to escape the often violent reactions and discrimination from the general population to being LGBTQ. In fact, the majority of those who use in the LGBTQ community cope with discrimination and prejudice through drug and alcohol abuse. It can be difficult to know you are discriminated against simply because of who you choose to share a bed with in life. Additionally, many in the LGBTQ community abuse drugs to deal with health problems, both mental and physical. Competent doctors are not always available to meet the specific needs of this community.

No matter the reason for this LGBTQ culture, it can be one that quickly leads to drug and alcohol addiction. When a person is addicted and it is considered part of the overall lifestyle, seeking help can be an issue.

LGBTQ Specialist Rehab Facility

Anyone, regardless of sexuality, who is an addict can struggle to ask for help or even realize help is needed. While some people can be confronted and will seek treatment once confronted, many must come to this decision on their own. Pushing someone into treatment before they are truly committed will likely result in failure and heartbreak. While no two people are exactly the same. Trying to force someone into treatment is not typically a great first step. If you know someone who is ready for help or who you would like to offer information to start the process, seek a treatment center that is LGBTQ specific for the best results.

Find a center like Dara Rehab in Thailand, that specializes in meeting the needs of those facing LGBTQ issues. Dara also meets any other needs the person may have. Best of luck in changing the life of yourself or someone you care about.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.