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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”
Claims that a person can become addicted after just one try of certain drugs are questionable, but there is no doubt that the first foray into dabbling with drugs opens a door that can very well lead to substance dependence.
Desensitizing parts of the brain:
Although different drugs work in a variety of ways those with addictive qualities all have the same mission.
That is to release certain neurotransmitters. The chief suspect being dopamine which is one of the hormones that affect the brain’s reward centre and amongst other things is responsible for a person’s feel good factor.
Differing routes – Similar results:
How 2 highly addictive drugs work differently but produce the same end result:
Heroin:
Many feel that heroin is up there with the most addictive drugs on the planet. This opiate works by binding opiate receptors and blocking the release of vital neurotransmitters which normally counterbalance the release of dopamine.
While these neurotransmitters are put on hold the brain is flooded with dopamine, hence the extremely good feelings heroin gives and the very strong feelings that more is not just a nice to have, but is very much needed.
Amphetamines:
Amphetamines have a similar structure to dopamine. This gives them a head start in terms of offering pleasant feelings. When taken they enter brain neurons by diffusing directly through its neural membranes.
Once reaching their destination amphetamines release dopamine, but just as importantly also prevent it from being withdrawn.
Repeated drug use halts natural production:
The problem a drug user has is that taking an addictive substance gives them thoughts and feelings that urge them to ‘go again’. These feelings encourage a user to have more. The more you have, the more you want, and this is a relentless cycle.
It is enhanced by the fact that the brains reward centre becomes desensitized by the ‘unnatural’ dopamine the drug is producing. The body naturally produces dopamine, but this false creation of dopamine means that natural production is stopped.
An unnatural replacement is required:
When this process occurs a person finds that if they stop using the drug then dopamine levels drop to unacceptable levels. This leaves them with feelings of unease and unwanted withdrawal symptoms.
The obvious and easy way to resolve these problems is to take more of the drug to ‘put themselves right’. If this cycle is allowed to continue then before many realise it they cannot do without their drug of choice.
Do not let this cycle overtake you:
No one sets out experimenting with drugs with the intention of becoming addicted. They feel they are stronger than any substance and will be able to control use.
Unfortunately, addiction and the heavy withdrawal symptoms a person feels when going without their drug of choice are very often stronger. They will continually urge the person to have just that little bit more.
If you find you are now in that situation then it is vital to seek professional help much sooner than later.
Stopping this problem is not easy, but the longer a person ignores the need for help the deeper the problems will become. The final result being an addiction that is very difficult to overcome.
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.
Alcoholics and addicts who are in recovery will often feel that remaining sober is a matter of life and death. This may prevent them from returning to normal activates such as going travelling due to them associating drink or drugs with holidays in the past.
While disruption from normal routine can be a trigger for a relapse, there are some strategies that can help you through your holiday which ensure you can still enjoy yourself and have a good time, while more importantly – remaining sober.
Before you pack up and leave, find out about local support groups and clinics in the areas that you are travelling too. If possible, try and work some of these meetings into your schedule. Doing this as soon as you arrive will help to set the tone for the whole trip.
When you arrive at your destination, try and seek out some contacts who are in the same situation as you. Maybe there are some local Facebook support groups that you can join to introduce yourself to people who are also recovering. Reaching out to people in a similar situation will make you feel less lonely; a feeling that can often lead to relapse. Local people who are in recovery can also offer support and recommend the best places for meetings.
No doubt that you have lots of reading materials or recordings that you listed too whenever you feel that you need a boost in your recovery steps. Travelling often requires lots of transport journeys so make sure that you have your reading material with you to keep you in the right frame of mind. The AA’s “the big book” is a great read and includes lots of stories from people about their recovery. There is also an audio version available via a free app
In addition to making new contacts on your travels, it is just as important to remain in contact with people back home who have an influence on you, like those in your support group. If you have a sponsor for example, make sure that you contact them regularly and give them updates on your progress.
If you are staying in hotels it would be best to contact them beforehand and inform them of your situation. Make sure that they remove any alcohol from hotel minibars. If you are staying with any people you already know or local hosts, the same thing applies.
This is an obvious one, but stay away from anywhere that may trigger a relapse such as bars and nightclubs.
Try and follow the same routine that you are used to back home. If you meditate in the mornings or go for a long walk, this same routine can easily be fitted in to your schedule while travelling. Although you are on vacation, don’t take a vacation from your schedule!
By following the above strategies you can be sure that you keep up the good work with your progress and avoid a relapse. Once you have managed it the first time, future trips should become much easier for you.
Heroin often comes with the label of being the worst drug to become addicted too and there is good reason for this. Not only can using the drug cause an addiction that is one of the hardest to break, it is strong enough to cause sudden death.
Some of the questions commonly asked are:
Below we will explore the answers to these questions
How Much Is a Safe Amount?
The fact of the matter is – no amount of heroin can be considered safe.
If you find that you need the drug to function normally, then you can consider yourself as having an addiction.
Even if you feel that you are strong enough to be able to quit at any time you feel like it, you are still exposed to the risk of serious addiction and the health consequence of using the drug.
How Much Can a Person Take at Once?
As with most drugs, it will depend on the purity of the drug as well as your own tolerance towards it.
Once heroin enters the bloodstream it reaches the brain very quickly. However, the more heroin that is used, the more that is needed to get the same desired effects. This effect of tolerance can be expected for any drug in the opiate or opioid class.
So, how much of the drug do people us on average?
When using recreationally, people report that they take daily doses of between 5mg and 1,500mg. The average dose is reported to be between 300-500mg. On average, an addict will inject themselves 2-4 times per day.
As mentioned previously, the purity of the drug will also have an effect on how much someone can take. Street heroin usually has a purity level of between 10-75% and is often cut with the following ingredients:
Whether you are a frequent user of the drug or you have recently taken it for the first time, you face equal health risks because different people will respond differently to the drug. Effects can range between mild and severe and can also result in long-term health issues.
How Much Will Cause an Overdose?
If you are worried that someone you know maybe taking too much heroin, there are a number of physical and mental symptoms that are noticeable.
The most common signs are:
Overdoses can be very serious and lead to loss of consciousness, coma and even death.
How Much is Fatal?
In some cases serious or fatal side effects can happen from heroin use. The amount of the drug which can be fatal will vary for each person depending on certain factors such as:
Can you die from taking heroin? The answer to this question is YES! Any dose of the drug can lead to an overdose which results in a fatal outcome. Some sources have quoted that between 75 mg to 375 mg can be fatal for a male adult weighing 170 lbs who has not used the drug before.
If you are worried about your own addiction or you know someone that you think may be abusing heroin, feel free to contact one of our professional advisors who will be able to discuss the option of rehab for heroin.
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.
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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.
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