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What is the dopamine addiction relationship?

Alternative Treatment, Treatment, United States

Background on what a dopamine addiction relationship truly is

  • Dopamine is a strong and addictive neurotransmitter. It is increasingly recognized as a central player in motivation, pleasure and reinforcement of behaviors, thus guiding both adaptive routines and maladaptive, addictive behaviors.
  • In relationships, unhealthy triggers such as overuse of technology or fighting with a partner produce dopamine spikes repeatedly. These highs can erode intimate emotional bonds and create addictive loops.
  • It’s important to identify warning signs of dopamine addiction. These are the dopamine addiction of seeking never-ending novelty and the relationship apocalypse of stonewalling, which can both kill a relationship.
  • Addiction is deeper than a nuisance habit. It involves real neurological changes that make quitting difficult and often require professional support and structured treatment programs available in the United States.
  • Dopamine addiction tends to affect men and women differently. By employing personalized strategies and understanding specific sensitivities, we can improve both treatment and recovery results.
  • Put the emphasis on non-drug dopamine enhancers! Shared experiences, movement, and conscious communication can begin to heal the imbalance and create conditions for intimate, vibrant, lifelong bonds.

Dopamine and Addiction’s Grip

Dopamine and Addiction's Grip
Dopamine and Addiction’s Grip

Addiction proves itself a psychological condition. It is not simply the development of a habit or compulsive behavior. Addiction is a disease that profoundly changes brain function.

Eventually it starts impacting the brain’s ability to feel pleasure and joy, followed by a disruption of essential drives such as learning and motivation. Whether it’s with drugs, alcohol, gambling, social media, or gaming in general, this shift is possible.

The reach of addiction extends far wider than most understand. In the U.S., an estimated 23 million people—almost one in ten—are addicted to alcohol or drugs. Society, stress, and access combined are why addiction rates remain persistently high.

More Than Just Bad Habits

Habits develop with repetition, but addiction is much more profound. A habit is brushing your teeth before bed; addiction is needing that drink or that dopamine hit even though it’s damaging.

The main difference is in the loss of control. Addictions are characterized by compulsions and lack of control. Like all emotional trauma, the toll only compounds with time.

Coupled with addiction’s weighty, guilt- and shame-laden burden, the normal anxieties of daily life become overwhelming challenges.

How The Brain Gets Hijacked

Addiction physically and chemically rewires the brain. Pleasurable behaviors release dopamine to reinforce these behaviors, instructing our brain about what is pleasurable.

Drugs and certain behaviors, on the other hand, cause dopamine to spike—sometimes as much as ten times the usual rate. The brain attempts to counteract this sudden spike by producing less dopamine or decreasing the number of its receptors.

This rewiring cements the cycle: cravings, reduced control, and use despite harm. Because of conditioned learning, even after years of abstinence, old cues can trigger a relapse.

Why “Just Quitting” Is Tough

Overcoming addiction isn’t a matter of willpower. Withdrawal symptoms—like anxiety, fatigue, and mood swings—can make quitting extremely difficult.

These changes in the brain make for intense cravings and psychological hurdles. Triggers can still hijack a person’s brain.

This is one reason why addiction is considered a chronic disease, not just a matter of poor choice.

What is the role of Dopamine in Addiction?

What is the role of Dopamine in Addiction?
What is the role of Dopamine in Addiction?

Dopamine plays a major role in how we form attachments, make connections, and experience pleasure—both to behaviors and to people. In the Bay Area and beyond, social lives increasingly reflect tech-fueled activities, which can lead to unhealthy relationship patterns. This overlap creates a unique context of dopamine’s effect on relationships, particularly in the realm of love addiction.

Dopamine is the star of the brain’s reward system, rewarding behaviors such as eating, exercising, and drug taking, including addictive substances. Its impact goes well beyond these behaviors; it influences the way we connect socially, emotionally react to closeness, and foster or break down healthy relationships.

Dopamine dysregulation can be caused by lifestyle factors, stress, or substance use disorder. These changes disrupt the chemistry of connecting to others and trigger effects of addiction treatment. As dopamine guides us toward rewards, it can draw us into cycles that short circuit authentic connection. In the next few sections, we’ll explain how dopamine impacts addiction and intimate relationships, chronicling the pursuit for both temporary solutions and permanent connections.

1. The Dopamine-Addiction Connection

Dopamine is sometimes referred to as the “feel-good” hormone. Its true influence is in pushing us toward our rewards. Yet it’s this same drive that allows us to create connections.

It is what gets us high on new love, what makes us feel good when we’re held, but it keeps us stuck in patterns of desire. In relationships, dopamine drives us to seek out the highs of love, attention, validation, or even toxic drama. For others, this cycle looks like an ongoing need to chase novelty or validation, preventing them from feeling comfortable in more peaceful, stable relationships.

Soon, individuals begin to desire these dopamine-induced “hits.” This pattern is seen in drug addiction, where relationships and other facets of life become increasingly unstable, as they are only as good as the next emotional reward.

This cycle of pleasure-seeking and dependency can lead individuals to feel empty or isolated, particularly when the dopamine high subsides. Rather than developing a consistent, predictable foundation of trust, the partnership might turn into emotional highs and lows.

Partners might find themselves locked in a loop: seeking new thrills or emotional spikes, then feeling let down by the routine of daily life. This same dynamic plays out on the friendship side as well. It can poison relationships as one or both partners start to rely on the next high rather than investing in their lasting relationship.

2. How Dopamine Builds Up Tolerance

The more often this happens, the more the brain has to adjust to cope with an excessive amount of dopamine. This is called tolerance. When the pleasure or excitement of a relationship becomes habitual, the brain begins to crave even more.

It requires more intense experiences to reach the same threshold of pleasure. So individuals begin to pursue riskier, more severe experiences. They want an avalanche of texts, a parade of gestures, or a knockdown-dragout fight to get back to that honeymoon phase high.

This increasing tolerance can destroy fulfillment in a marriage. What used to be exciting or relaxing is suddenly boring. Others react by seeking out replacement mates or creating drama to try to trigger another dopamine hit.

This can lead to a vicious cycle. The quest for novelty or drama frequently wins out over authentic connection or nurturing. The long-term price paid for this behavior is usually frustration and a feeling that relationships just never seem to be “enough.

3. Quick Hits vs. Lasting Bonds

Short, predictable bursts of dopamine—perhaps a flirty text, a social media like, or a surprise date—are much more rewarding. When our relationships are solely based on these quick hits, the emotional connections start to dissipate.

While these quick hits give us the feeling of social bonding, they lack the depth needed to create lasting trust and intimacy. For instance, couples who only prioritize shared exhilaration may struggle in managing mundanity or stress as a unit.

Deep relationships develop over time, constant support, vulnerability and shared experiences. Though these aren’t guaranteed to spark the same dopamine rushes, they do lay the foundation for the real closeness we all crave.

In the Bay Area’s rapid-fire, tech culture, the lure of instant gratifications is overwhelming. Studies indicate that developing stronger connections contributes to greater sustained happiness and relationship quality over time.

4. Dopamine, Rewards, and Relationship Joy

Whether it’s the joy of laughter, the excitement of collaboration, or the thrill of conquering an obstacle, those positive experiences flood both partners’ brains with dopamine. These small, positive interactions build our sense of relationship with one another and buffer our bonds against stress.

Even mundane tasks, such as cooking dinner or climbing Mount Tamalpais in Marin, instill a feeling of collective reward. Doing volunteer work together can help build that connection as well!

You see, mutual celebration and support increase dopamine, too. Simple things, such as acknowledging your partner’s success at work or expressing appreciation for something they did, can create moments of joy and deepen your connection.

When only one partner enjoys these rewards, the relationship is unbalanced. It’s an even greater letdown when those positive experiences are few and far between.

5. Unhealthy Cycles: Dopamine Imbalance

Symptoms of dopamine imbalance in relationships can include irritability, restlessness, or increased jealousy. Partners tend to pursue these dopamine-driven highs and they start missing out on the consistent support or emotional safety.

This can create cycles of anger, retreat, or emotional exhaustion. To avoid falling into these cycles, maintain distinct boundaries and prioritize your well-being!

Prioritize shared values over the novelty for novelty’s sake approach. Restoring balance typically involves relearning how to feel content with consistency. It means leaning into the thrill and being aware when the quest for dopamine is leading the relationship astray.

6. Dopamine Highs Fueling Codependency

Other relationships end up being codependent, with both individuals relying on one another for dopamine highs—be it via the chaos, salvation, or ego stroking. This cycle can be difficult to escape, particularly when emotional needs are fulfilled almost exclusively through the other individual.

In codependent relationships, cycles of addiction are commonly maintained, wherein partners enable one another’s toxic behaviors. Encouraging and building independence should be the foundation of any healthy recovery.

This may involve cultivating interests and friendships outside the relationship. It can mean developing personal coping mechanisms, so that the relationship is not the sole source of emotional gratification.

In time this is a mutually pleasing tradeoff. Instead of being swept along by the pursuit of the next dopamine spike, they are fulfilled by one another and by themselves.

7. Your Unique Dopamine Sensitivity

Your unique dopamine sensitivity Everybody’s brain responds to dopamine a little differently. Those who are more sensitive may be more likely to crave excitement or develop cravings as a habit.

Personal history—whether trauma, stress, or early attachment experiences—determines how a person processes dopamine as well. Being aware of your own patterns is key to minimizing risk.

If you notice a tendency to chase highs or struggle with boredom, it’s worth exploring healthier ways to find reward. Knowing about these differences can foster healthier relationships and mitigate some of the back and forth between addiction and disconnection.

Dopamine’s Gendered Addiction Impact

Dopamine operates essentially at the nexus of addiction treatment, as it influences the dopamine reward system, which plays a crucial role in both substance abuse and unhealthy relationships. However, its effects vary widely by gender. It’s a complicated interplay between brain chemistry, biological changes in hormones, and social cues that account for how men and women fall into addictive relationship behaviors. That’s why effective addiction treatment programs must consider not just a person’s biology, but the context of their daily lives.

Men: Dopamine’s Pull in Addiction

Men: Dopamine's Pull in Addiction
Men: Dopamine’s Pull in Addiction

Men tend to suffer from substance-related addictions more frequently. I believe part of this is due to social pressure to be risk-takers or limit-pushers. The male brain, influenced by testosterone, is more likely to demonstrate a connection between dopamine and impulsive behavior.

Men, for instance, are more likely to engage in binge drinking or drug use in order to conform or differentiate themselves. It has been well documented that men enjoy the excitement and payoffs of risky decisions. This pull is frequently connected to the way that dopamine shoots off in their minds.

These practices can accumulate over time. As a result, addiction becomes difficult to escape without treatment that not only tackles the brain’s wiring but society’s expectations.

Women: Dopamine and Withdrawal Differences

Women: Dopamine and Withdrawal Differences
Women: Dopamine and Withdrawal Differences

Women face unique dopamine and withdrawal challenges because hormones such as estrogen affect how their brains process dopamine, particularly in regard to the menstrual cycle. In short, research has concluded women experience more intense cravings and increased withdrawal symptoms as they quit drugs such as cocaine.

Women are more prone to use substances to self-medicate stress or depression, adding another layer of emotion to the recovery process. The brain’s reward system is much more sensitive in women. This increased sensitivity can help elucidate how women are able to foster addictions quicker or more intensely than men.

Different Paths, Same Recovery Goal

Men and women deserve recovery plans that reflect their unique narratives. What’s effective for one might be completely ineffective for the other. When treatment acknowledges these disparities, recovery can happen at a much quicker pace.

Rehabilitation tales reveal that a combination of science and compassion inspires transformation that lasts. This toxic mix wreaks havoc on all women and men alike.

Dopamine Addiction’s Toll on Relationships

Dopamine Addiction's Toll on Relationships
Dopamine Addiction’s Toll on Relationships

Dopamine, one of the principal neurotransmitters in the brain’s reward circuit, influences how individuals connect with each other, experience pleasure, and pursue novelty. In relationships, her role is complicated. It can increase feelings of emotional intimacy; however, when left unchecked, it frequently turns into dependency or obsessive cycles.

Those of us who live in urban digital hubs such as San Francisco often feel the negative effects of these issues in real life. Tech and social media intensify these dopamine triggers, altering the landscape of human connection.

Tech Overload: Supercharging Dopamine

New technologies—smartphones, apps, social media—make it so that dopamine never stops pumping. Each thumbs up or DM increases visibility, but this algorithmic culture of engagement turns meaningful dialogue into a mere mile a minute.

One partner could scroll during dinner rather than engage in conversation or even keep looking at their phone while talking to their partner. Over time, this unrelenting digital commotion obstructs even the simplest of tasks, like being able to concentrate or developing trust.

Cutting down screen time, creating device-free zones, and establishing family tech agreements keep relationships in the real world.

Chasing Excitement, Losing Connection

The excitement addiction’s chase—big dates and grand gestures—often blinds us to the quiet, consistent love. When the desire for novelty becomes automatic, more meaningful connections are pushed to the back burner.

Individuals will choose excitement-seeking over real conversations or common purpose. This can drive wedges between partners and erode emotional support. When more care is given through small, consistent acts, balance and trust can be restored.

Is Conflict Your Dopamine Fix?

Conflict and fighting may be the dopamine trigger. In fact, for many of us, conflict might turn into an addiction, leaving us bored by the absence of drama. This cycle drains your patience and creates a pattern of arguing again and again.

Breaking the cycle requires setting firm boundaries and rational conflict resolution, rather than seeking immediate emotional pleasure.

Mental Strain from Relational Stress

Cognitive depletion from chronic relational stress persists as dopamine addiction continues. As dopamine addiction persists, so does stress on relationships and mental health. Breakups or rejection cause dopamine drops, leading to sadness or withdrawal.

Healing is possible when both the cause and the stress—either through self-care or professional help—are addressed.

Spotting Dopamine-Driven Relationship Issues

Spotting Dopamine-Driven Relationship Issues
Spotting Dopamine-Driven Relationship Issues

Identifying dopamine-driven issues in relationships requires a discerning eye and true self-awareness. In high-tempo metropolitans such as San Francisco, its fast-paced lifestyle and the prevalence of dating apps can be overwhelming. The thrill of new love can get complicated by patterns learned from technology and work.

Dopamine, a key brain chemical, often drives this high. In the beginning it seems like profound love. Long term, it can manifest as fixation or desire for that continuous “high,” which can destroy authentic connections.

Early Red Flags to Watch

  • At worst, compulsive refreshing of messages or social media accounts to see what your partner might be doing.
  • Feeling restless or anxious if messages go unread.
  • Ignoring long-term compatibility for instant excitement.
  • Needing constant validation or attention.
  • Losing interest quickly once the “newness” fades.
  • Overlooking personal needs or boundaries.

Identifying red flags early can prevent minor relationship issues from escalating into major ones. For folks with ADHD, these red flags are exacerbated. Open conversations about emotions, unplugged time, and some genuine internal reflection can go a long way in pumping the brakes.

Friends or mentors can provide outside perspectives before things get knotted up.

Love or Just a Dopamine Rush?

True love is formed over time, brick by brick. A dopamine-driven romance is steamy and speedy. When a partner is more addicted to the thrill than to long-term loyalty, that’s chemistry, not love.

In a healthy love, security trumps excitement. Self-reflection—like asking whether both partners are putting in the same effort—can help identify if it’s true love or just a temporary euphoric high.

When Communication Breaks Down

These dopamine-driven habits can negatively impact communication between couples. When the excitement dissipates, one partner might feel abandoned. The long conversations that were once the norm are now replaced with short texts or one-word replies.

When one starts seeking new highs with someone else, trust is shattered. To counteract this, slow down to hear each other out, ask what you both need, and communicate your boundaries clearly. Truthful language goes a long way in regaining trust, even if you’ve strayed off course.

Healing: Dopamine Dependency Treatment in Thailand

Dopamine is central to how individuals learn behaviors, experience pleasure, and maintain addiction. In Thailand, dopamine dependency treatment takes a broad approach, employing both medical and behavioral methods. Most plans address the underlying issues, such as stress or trauma, through therapy and deep community support.

This section explains the resources – spiritual, mental and physical – that are available for anyone seeking healing from dopamine dependency. Most importantly, it details how each path serves different purposes and needs.

Rebalance Your Brain’s Chemistry

Repairing dopamine function takes baby steps that you can do every day. New, healthier habits—like walking every day, cooking at home, and improving sleep cycles—bring the body’s brain chemistry back into balance.

These foods high in protein, leafy greens, nuts, and seeds are all great allies to help maintain balanced dopamine levels. For folks in cities like San Francisco or New York, group fitness classes or local farmers’ markets offer easy ways to build these habits.

Exercise is a known mood-booster that can help reduce cravings long-term. Mindfulness practices, such as guided meditation or breath work, reduce stress and allow people to become more aware of their triggers. Most people are able to find something through apps or local meditation groups.

These are effective lifestyle changes, but they’re most effective when done alongside professional help.

Thailand Dopamine Dependency Treatment Explored

Treatment Type Approach Example Effectiveness
Medication Dopamine modulation Naltrexone, Buprenorphine Reduces cravings, relapse rates
Therapy Behavioral change CBT, Group Therapy Addresses root causes, builds skills
Support Groups Peer support SMART Recovery, 12-Step Lowers isolation, boosts accountability
Lifestyle Changes Natural dopamine boost Exercise, Nutrition Improves mood, brain health

Therapy, medication, and group support all play an important role. CBT and contingency management are two therapeutic modalities that assist in breaking those patterns.

For patients, some individuals find they respond best to medication, while others thrive in an environment of peer groups. Your doctor or counselor can work with you to create a plan that works best for you as an individual.

Dopamine dependency treatment FAQs

What is dopamine and how does it affect addiction?

What is dopamine and how does it affect addiction treatment? When levels of dopamine are artificially increased, it can encourage addiction, particularly in unhealthy relationships, by making activities or addictive substances seem more pleasurable.

How does dopamine addiction impact romantic relationships?

Dopamine addiction often results in relationship addiction, causing individuals to chase never-ending novelty, which leads to emotional volatility and unpredictable relationship patterns.

Can both men and women experience dopamine addiction the same way?

Can’t both men and women experience dopamine addiction equally. Men could become more susceptible to risk-taking, whereas women could pursue emotional highs.

What are common signs of dopamine-driven relationship issues?

Other warning signs of relationship addiction include obsessive texting, needing constant reassurance, and feeling bored unless there’s drama or chaos in the toxic relationship.

How can someone in the US get help for dopamine addiction?

Treatment involves a combination of therapy, support groups, medication, and lifestyle changes. Specialized addiction treatment programs at many US clinics, like those at We Level Up, provide tailored approaches to restore healthy dopamine levels and address substance abuse impact.

Can social media contribute to dopamine addiction in relationships?

Indeed, the instant gratification of social media can help perpetuate unhealthy relationship patterns, making individuals crave likes and false connections more than genuine romantic love.

Is it possible to recover from dopamine addiction and repair relationships?

Definitely, definitely, definitely. The good news is, with the appropriate addiction treatment and support, individuals can escape the cycle of relationship addiction, recover, and establish healthier, more secure connections.

Ecstasy (MDMA) has Found a Market in Oceania

Ecstasy (MDMA) has Found a Market in Oceania

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

What is Ecstasy?

Plain and simple, ecstasy is a recreational drug that is supposed to contain MDMA. Once a legal drug to treat depression, once the addictive properties became clear, this drug was made illegal for all uses. As mentioned, ecstasy is sold with buyers often believing it contains MDMA, but this is rarely the case. To offer a better understanding look at the quoted statistic below from Science Direct (2005):

61% of ecstasy tablets that were tested contained other drugs; 46% of ecstasy pills contained 0 MDMA; and 39% contained only 5% MDMA

This means ecstasy is not all it is thought to be. A large number of pills are mixed with DXM, the main ingredient in cough medicine, caffeine, methamphetamine, pseudo-ephedrine, and many unknown substances. A combination of medications and unknown substances can be dangerous as the user may have a reaction or die from a deadly combination.

Ecstasy most often comes in pill form. The pills are usually colorful with a picture or symbol on each. The picture or symbol represents the maker and a specific type or strain is often sold exclusively by a given dealer. Just because the same picture is on two pills it does not mean the pills contain the same ingredients in the same amounts. Since ecstasy is not regulated, due to it being illegal, the potency or amounts of any given ingredient are totally unknown.

Oceania Ecstasy Market

Though ecstasy use has leveled out or even dropped in some places, Australia and New Zealand continue to have a large market for the drug. This is likely because Western and Central Europe remain large scale trafficking hubs for ecstasy among other drugs. Specifically, high levels of ecstasy use continue to be reported in Oceania. In the past year the prevalence rates for ecstasy use in the region are the highest in the world. This makes the 24 countries in this region a hot bed for ecstasy use.

Though there is no single reason why this highly diverse area is such a hotbed for ecstasy, part of the problem may be related to the environment. Oceania is faced with considerable challenges related to poverty, political instability, and poor governance and technical capacity. The area is also in close proximity to major drug producing countries in East Asia. This all comes together to create a highly trafficked area with plenty of supply.

Effects of Ecstasy

The effects of ecstasy are dependent upon what is mixed to create the pill. If taking pure ecstasy, which would be an anomaly today, then the world could feel perfect and the user totally euphoric with enhanced touch and bodily sensations. Users may also feel a greater empathy toward others and seem to connect on a deeper level. The side effects of coming down from pure MDMA appear to be jaw clenching, lack of appetite, thirst, impaired balance, and anxiety.

Taking ecstasy that has other substances mixed in, as most ecstasy, can mimic the effects of pure ecstasy with increased alertness and euphoria, but may also lead to anxiety. These more common forms of ecstasy are often found at music festivals, nightclubs, house parties, or even raves. When people use ecstasy as a party drug it is often in a crowded, over heated environment. This leads to dehydration and many other problems as a person on ecstasy forgets to eat or drink. This is made worse by mixing ecstasy with other drugs or alcohol. Dehydration ultimately leads to the body shutting down and the related complications.

Signs of Ecstasy (MDMA) Use

If you suspect that a loved one has been using or experimenting with ecstasy look for the following signs:

  • Heightened sensory perceptions
  • Increased positive sensations
  • Energy (high levels)
  • Extreme empathy
  • Staying awake for long periods of time (days)
  • Paranoia
  • Impulsive behaviors
  • Desire to touch others and be touched
  • Lack of pain perception
  • Jaw clenching or teeth grinding
  • Sweating and thirst
  • Euphoria

These signs and symptoms should decrease as the drug works out of the system, but if the person takes more ecstasy they will return or lead to worse conditions. These may include seizures, rapid heart beat, heart attack, or even stroke.

Getting Help at DARA

Ecstasy (MDMA) has Found a Market in Oceania

If you or a loved one live in Australia or New Zealand and need help in dealing with an addiction, consider DARA. DARA is an affordable, luxury style, in-patient facility with locations in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland, among other countries. DARA facilities not only help with addiction, but work to heal the mind, body, and spirit of each and every patient. This is accomplished through individualized plans for each patient that focuses on counseling, education, and physical wellness. Physical wellness and nutrition are included because addiction harms the body as much as the mind.

It is common for addicts to quit taking care of themselves physically in the areas of nutrition and hygiene. This can lead to health problems that make it even harder to get on the road to recovery. Each day includes a physical activity with a personal trainer and healthy meals prepared by top chefs in the area. As the body heals the mind will follow. Each patient also receives individual and group counseling. Individual counseling covers private matters while group counseling teaches addicts tools that will help in recovery. Group counseling also allows for shared experiences to be brought to the group and people to relate to one another’s triumphs and struggles. Finally, there is an educational component that helps patients understand addiction and what it does to the body over time. When leaving DARA, the hope it that you will be well prepared to stay in recovery long term.

Act Now

When you or your loved one is ready for the help you need and deserve, call DARA. Someone will answer your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also check out the website online to get further information. Life can be better without an addiction to tie you down. Get started on the rest of your life today by calling DARA.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment. Alternatively, you can click on the live chat icon to chat with someone right now.

Australia Cocaine Use on The Rise

Australia Cocaine Use on The Rise

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

Australia Cocaine Use on The Rise

Drug use is on the rise almost everywhere in the world. Cannabis is still the most commonly used drug, but in Australia cocaine use is on the rise in an extreme way. According to a 2018 annual report by UNODC, the rate of 15-64 year-olds using cocaine has shown extreme growth. This has only gotten worse since that report was released. There is no specific reason why cocaine has gained in popularity though it could be that the price has decreased or access has increased due to the use of and knowledge about the darknet. However, any rise in cocaine use should be a cause for concern, no matter what country it is occurring in at the time.

Australia Cocaine Use on The Rise

Currently, Australia is facing a supply driven market with opium and cocaine productions at an all time high. Though there was a peak in 2000 followed by a long-term downward trend in the coca bush cultivation, used to make cocaine, but this ended in 2013 when it increased by 76%. This drove an increase in cocaine sales expansion. Though America is still the largest area of use, Australia cocaine use is quickly catching up. The biggest area of production is still Colombia which accounts for 60 percent of the manufacturing of this deadly drug.

Signs of Cocaine Use

Cocaine is a powerful, addictive stimulant drug that originates from the coca leaf. For thousands of years people have chewed and ingested these leaves as a source for the stimulant effects, but when the purified chemical of cocaine hydrochloride was isolated over 100 years ago, things changed. Originally, even with the purified substance, cocaine was thought to be safe. It was included in everything from elixirs to soft drinks to anesthetic. However, once the addictive properties became better known and understood it became highly regulated. Currently, it is a Schedule II drug, one that is extremely rarely used due to the likelihood of addiction. For the most part, cocaine is misused in order to get high.

The Dangers of Cocaine Use

People tend to abuse one of two chemical formulas of cocaine, the water-soluble type or the water insoluble type. The water-soluble type is a powder form that is either injected or snorted, while the water insoluble type is smoked, earning it the name crack from the sound the rocks make when heated. No matter what form of cocaine is being used, there are dangers associated. Some of the dangers of cocaine use include:

  • Increased risk for stroke and heart attack due to higher blood pressure and thicker heart wall muscles
  • Seizures
  • Respiratory failure
  • Overdose
  • Bleeding in the lungs
  • Chronic nose bleeds
  • Increased risk of HIV and Hep C

These issues tend to increase in likelihood if cocaine is used repeatedly or mixed with other drugs. There is no safe amount of cocaine. Though users sometimes believe they can use once or twice or only on weekends and then stop or control usage, this is not true. With continued use, even sporadic use, an addiction is likely.

If you suspect a loved one has a cocaine addiction problem then look for the following signs and symptoms. If any are present, then seek help immediately as a cocaine habit can be difficult to break. Addiction signs and symptoms include:

  • Excitability
  • Dilated pupils
  • Runny nose
  • Weight loss
  • Mood Swings
  • Risky behaviors in spite of known consequences
  • Social isolation to allow for more use (wanting increased privacy)
  • Talkativeness
  • Nosebleeds
  • White residue on the nose and mouth or burn marks on the hands and lips
  • Poor or deteriorating hygiene
  • Financial difficulties
  • Increase in paraphernalia (spoons, razor blades, plastic baggies, etc)

Withdrawal Symptoms

Though cocaine users may not admit that a problem exists, when it comes time to stop using, they will suffer the consequences. The body is damaged by cocaine use and some of those damages could be permanent, but the sooner a person stops the better off they may be. As with many drug users, the fear of stopping and withdrawal symptoms is what keeps them using. This is even if they want to stop. Unlike withdrawal from many other drugs, cocaine is not as physically intense, but it does come with severe psychological withdrawal symptoms. These can include:

  • Difficulty concentrating with slow thinking
  • Slowed activity and physical fatigue (often intense)
  • Exhaustion, but restlessness
  • Inability to feel pleasure, including sexual arousal
  • Depression and/or anxiety
  • Nightmares (often vivid)
  • Suicidal thoughts (and attempts)
  • Increased cravings
  • Increased appetite
  • Chills, muscle aches, and nerve pain (among other physical symptoms)

The length of these withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on the amount of cocaine used and for what length of time, other addictions, and any medical or psychological conditions that are present. In some cases, a medical detox may be necessary, but this is usually for extreme and emergency cases.

Seeking Help

If you or a loved one has an addiction to cocaine or other substances, then seek professional help. DARA rehab facility with locations in several places in Australia is one of the top-rated facilities available. With locations in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland, among others, DARA can help your loved one with overcoming addiction and getting on the path to recovery. This is accomplished through treating the mind, body, and spirit in a variety of ways.

DARA is a luxury, resort style in-patient facility that is both affordable and effective. Using physical activity and proper nutrition, DARA treats the body to help the toxins leave and the body to build back up as cocaine depletes the body of nutrients due to poor eating habits and poor hygiene. Education about addiction helps a person understand what is happening to their mind and body in order to better stay in recovery. Finally, group and individual counseling is provided through highly trained staff to help the individual gain the tools necessary for life long changes.

DARA is waiting for your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You or your loved one deserve the best treatment option available and DARA can provide. Make the call that can change your life for the better.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment. Alternatively, you can click on the live chat icon to chat with someone right now.

Australians Seek the Darknet to Purchase Drugs

Australians Seek the Darknet to Purchase Drugs

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

 

Australians Increase of Drug Usage

Australians are using more drugs than ever according to the UN World Drug Report of 2018. This is scary enough as a statistic, but what is more concerning is that the drugs are being purchased online using the Darknet. Both the range of drugs available and the markets in which they can be obtained is expanding and changing. No longer are dealers found on street corners and in dark alleyways. Now they can be found at a few clicks of the keyboard and drugs readily ordered to be shipped anywhere one desires. This makes fighting addiction nearly impossible as the web is accessible from almost anywhere in the world. This also brings about a new problem, not knowing exactly what one is receiving. This article will review not only what the Darknet is, but how to get help if someone you love is buying drugs and using them.

Australians Seek the Darknet to Purchase Drugs

What is Darknet?

The internet has become a baseline requirement for most individuals and businesses alike. This is a way to connect with those across the world, across the street, and often across the room. Whether you are checking your email, reading the news, or making purchases from digital stores, the internet is an integral part of life. Unfortunately, this has spilled over into illegal businesses as well with what’s called the Darknet. While this is not a new concept, it is one that is growing rapidly.

The Darknet, otherwise known as the deep web, consists of content that cannot be directly accessed via the surface web, what most people know as the internet. The dark web sites require credentials to log in, usually a registration of some type, because the activities are often fall from above board. That being said, some instances of the deep web are legal, like governmental databases, patient records, etc. Though for the purposes of this article the dark web focused on will be that used for the selling of illegal drugs.

Criminal prefer the Darknet because of anonymity. This makes sense because they are obviously committing an illegal act. The Darknet illegal activities tend to include things like:

  • Dealing drugs or other illegal substances in a black market format
  • Counterfeiters
  • Stolen information
  • Weapons
  • Hackers
  • Terrorists
  • Gamblers
  • Murderers or assassins
  • Explicit illegal material

Any one of these categories could lead to trouble, but the buying and selling of illegal drugs and pharmaceuticals is not only illegal, but dangerous.

Why use the Darknet?

Though anonymity is the prominent reason that people choose to buy drugs through the Darknet, there are others. One is that the drugs are often cheaper or unavailable in the area in which the addict lives. Another is the ability to keep the habit a secret as the drugs are delivered through the mail, though often to a different address or PO box. The final is a somewhat lessening of risk. If buying on the street a person risks being involved in violence, but ordering online can often make a person feel safer.

Just as there are reasons to buy online to feed a habit, there are reasons not to that addicts often overlook. The Darknet is illegal which should be cause enough, but other problems such as never being sure what you really received as far as purity and ingredients is also a concern. Another concern is that you must register which means your name is linked in some way and if discovered could mean jail time. Finally, Darknet sites are found and taken down often. If you pay for a purchase and the site disappears, there is no way to retrieve the money without signaling that you bought illegal substances.

Drug Use in Australia

As mentioned, drug use in Australia is on the rise, especially the non-medical use of prescription drugs. Since new laws have made it more difficult to gain access to strong, potentially addictive prescription medications, many people are turning to the Darknet. This may not initially be for an addiction, some people may have legitimate pain or simply be dependent on a medication they cannot readily obtain, but continued use of such substances, if that is what is even received, can easily lead to addiction.

Common Symptoms of Drug Use

If you are concerned that you or a loved one may be using drugs, obtained on the Darknet or otherwise, there are common symptoms that can point in that direction. These include:

  • Increased aggression and irritability
  • Personality and attitude changes
  • Depression and/or lethargy
  • Change in social media posts
  • Excessive computer use (Darknet use)
  • Bloodshot or glazed eyes
  • Weight changes (up or down)
  • Pupil extremes without reason
  • Unusual body odors
  • Poor hygiene
  • Sleep disturbances (increase or decrease)

Depending on the type and amount of the drug being used the symptoms may vary. Before assuming drugs are involved, it is often useful to seek medical help if only one or two signs are present to make sure they are not being caused by a medical problem. A doctor can also test for drugs in the system if necessary.

Seeking Help

If you or a loved one does in fact have an addiction or problem with drugs or alcohol then seek professional help. Addiction is a disease which means treatment can help. One of the best treatment facilities around is DARA. DARA has several locations that include Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland. DARA offers in-patient facilities for all types of addiction at affordable rates. The luxury type facility works with each individual to get into and stay on the road to recovery long term.

DARA treats the mind, body, and soul through healthy physical activities, nutrition, counseling, group therapy, and education. Learning about addiction in general can offer a person insight into their personal addictions. Group and individual counseling addresses common problems and personal issues for each person. Physical activities and proper nutrition are used to heal the body that is often suffering from extended drug use. By getting the body back into shape it can better heal and this will also positively affect the mind. DARA offers all this in a 6 to 12 week stay in a high-end resort style facility to get you or your loved one on the road to recovery. Call anytime, day or night to start on your journey to a better life.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment. Alternatively, you can click on the live chat icon to chat with someone right now.

Choosing the Right Rehab Center for Your Loved One

Choosing the Right Rehab Center for Your Loved One

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

When to Seek Help 

Anytime a dependence on alcohol or substances is present or when it goes further and an addiction forms, you should seek professional help. While it is best to seek help early on, there are few that are so beyond help that a rehab center cannot be beneficial. However, denial is the biggest reason people refuse treatment. It is important to understand why refusal may come and what it may take to offer a wake up call for that individual. These wake-up calls may include:

  • Loss of Income or Relationships
  • Loss of Life
  • Hospitalization

Denial

Denial of an addiction or dependence is one of the biggest reasons for not seeking help. The person may deny any problem exists or make excuses for why a drug or alcohol is used. Someone may say they use cocaine when they are feeling down or that their drinking is not truly hurting anyone. Perhaps they feel that they have not hit ‘rock bottom’ and will seek treatment when they have in their own lives. Unfortunately, it may take a true wake up call to help a person realize that real help is needed. This may take on the forms shared above and will be explained below.

Loss of Income and/or Relationships

Addictions is commonly associated with loss and this loss is often the wake-up call that addicts need to realize an addiction is present. It can be painful to watch an addict experience loss, but sometimes, this is what it requires to push them toward real help.

Where there is addiction, there is also a need for money. The cost of addiction often eventually exceeds the necessary funds to keep it going. It is common for addicts to miss work, often, days or weeks at a time. Some may try to work drunk or high when they do go, which results in loss of the job. When this happens, they may ask for loans from others or even steal to support the habit. However, this can only last for so long before others get wise or get tired of their consistent borrowing. This can help them admit a real problem exists.

Furthermore, the lack of money and resulting issues like a loss of home, can leave the person so stressed that they may finally admit to an issue being present. This can also apply to a loss of relationships. Many people prefer to keep their addictions secret which results in a withdrawal from friends and family members. They may begin to skip social engagements with a preference for more time to use as the alternative. Sadly, it is not uncommon for friends and family to know about the addiction and want the person to get help, but unable to connect with them in any way. This tends to make both the addict and loved ones get further apart due to disappointment and continued use.

Loss of Life

Though extreme, loss of another’s life can be a rude, yet huge wake up call. This can come in different ways. The first is the most common and that is driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This can often result in accidents that are deadly for others. It may be a wake up call to kill someone in an accident and will hopefully result in rehab, but this could also result in jail time. Another opportunity may be if a fellow user overdoses and dies. This is sometimes a wake-up call as the person puts him or herself in the place of that fellow user. These are opportunities to open a dialogue with the addict and bring up rehab.

Hospitalization

Hospitalization is a huge wake up call medically for an addict. There were 4.6 million drug related emergencies in 2009 and that number has increased over time. Many of these hospital visits occurred months after the beginning of an addiction. These drug-related issues can be painful to handle and a potential overdose may force the person into admitting there is a problem.

Finding the Right Rehab Center

When your loved one does admit to a problem you are then faced with finding the right treatment option for their situation. There are both out-patient and in-patient options available. The out-patient options include group therapy, individual therapy, and in some cases meetings. These options are best when the person is not heavily into addiction and has a desire to stop using. These options may not be best for those experiencing extreme withdrawal symptoms as it may be too tempting to start using again. For those that wish to do out patient, it still may be best to do a medical detox as an in-patient to make sure no medical emergencies arise.

In-patient facilities are much more common and tend to last between four and twelve weeks or longer, if needed. An in-patient facility likely offers a place for detox and extended treatment. In-patient facilities are widely varied in approach, availability, and cost. Location may also be an issue for some, but if possible, a facility a good distance away from former, familiar users is typically best.

DARA Rehab Center

Choosing the Right Rehab Center for Your Loved One

One highly accredited and recommended in-patient facility is that of DARA. DARA has rehab center locations in many countries and offers affordable rates. DARA rehab center uses a multi-pronged approach to treating addiction that heals physically, mentally, and spiritually. Each day begins with some type of physical activity in the resort style locations with beautiful views and many amenities. Each client is given a personal trainer to help them improve their physical well being while staying. This is necessary as physical health typically declines as addiction continues. Meals are provided and are nutritious and focused on better health. The facilities also offer individualized and group counseling paired with education about addiction in general. By better understanding addiction as a disease, the person will learn to combat the issues that will arise in the future.

If you or a loved one has an addiction and are ready for help then DARA is ready to provide that help. Simply call one of the centers 24/7 to speak with someone who can schedule a stay and prepare you to reenter your life addiction free. You are worth the time spent at the rehab center and your life will be better for making the effort to get on the road to recovery.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment. Alternatively, you can click on the live chat icon to chat with someone right now.