Posts Tagged ‘drug abuse’
Question by James R: What are the best medications currently available to treat PTSD?
Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. And why are the medicatiosn you selected effective at treating it? Please, serious, informed answers only. Thanks everyone. Best answer gets 10 points.
Best answer:
Answer by bmac
There are a lot of treatment options. Some medication (it is an anxiety disorder) so some SSRI antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can be helpful. But most helpful is intense therapy/counseling. PTSD survivors have to work THROUGH the trauma. Medication alone won’t help much.
Answer by you_me_us16
Treatment of PTSD
A National Center for PTSD Fact Sheet
This fact sheet describes elements common to many treatment modalities for PTSD, including education, exposure, exploration of feelings and beliefs, and coping-skills training. Additionally, the most common treatment modalities are discussed, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapy, EMDR, group treatment, and psychodynamic treatment.
Common Components of PTSD Treatment
Treatment for PTSD typically begins with a detailed evaluation and the development of a treatment plan that meets the unique needs of the survivor. Generally, PTSD-specific treatment is begun only after the survivor has been safely removed from a crisis situation. If a survivor is still being exposed to trauma (such as ongoing domestic or community violence, abuse, or homelessness), is severely depressed or suicidal, is experiencing extreme panic or disorganized thinking, or is in need of drug or alcohol detoxification, it is important to address these crisis problems as a part of the first phase of treatment.
It is important that the first phase of treatment include educating trauma survivors and their families about how persons get PTSD, how PTSD affects survivors and their loved ones, and other problems that commonly come along with PTSD symptoms. Understanding that PTSD is a medically recognized anxiety disorder that occurs in normal individuals under extremely stressful conditions is essential for effective treatment.
Exposure to the event via imagery allows the survivor to re-experience the event in a safe, controlled environment, while also carefully examining his or her reactions and beliefs in relation to that event.
One aspect of the first treatment phase is to have the survivor examine and resolve strong feelings such as anger, shame, or guilt, which are common among survivors of trauma.
Another step in the first phase is to teach the survivor to cope with posttraumatic memories, reminders, reactions, and feelings without becoming overwhelmed or emotionally numb. Trauma memories usually do not go away entirely as a result of therapy but become manageable with the mastery of new coping skills.
Therapeutic Approaches Commonly Used to Treat PTSD:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) involves working with cognitions to change emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Exposure therapy is one form of CBT that is unique to trauma treatment. It uses careful, repeated, detailed imagining of the trauma (exposure) in a safe, controlled context to help the survivor face and gain control of the fear and distress that was overwhelming during the trauma. In some cases, trauma memories or reminders can be confronted all at once (“flooding”). For other individuals or traumas, it is preferable to work up to the most severe trauma gradually by using relaxation techniques and by starting with less upsetting life stresses or by taking the trauma one piece at a time (“desensitization”).
Along with exposure, CBT for trauma includes:
· learning skills for coping with anxiety (such as breathing retraining or biofeedback) and negative thoughts (“cognitive restructuring”),
· managing anger,
· preparing for stress reactions (“stress inoculation”),
· handling future trauma symptoms,
· addressing urges to use alcohol or drugs when trauma symptoms occur (“relapse prevention”), and
· communicating and relating effectively with people (social skills or marital therapy).
Pharmacotherapy (medication) can reduce the anxiety, depression, and insomnia often experienced with PTSD, and in some cases, it may help relieve the distress and emotional numbness caused by trauma memories. Several kinds of antidepressant drugs have contributed to patient improvement in most (but not all) clinical trials, and some other classes of drugs have shown promise. At this time, no particular drug has emerged as a definitive treatment for PTSD. However, medication is clearly useful for symptom relief, which makes it possible for survivors to participate in psychotherapy.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a relatively new treatment for traumatic memories that involves elements of exposure therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy combined with techniques (eye movements, hand taps, sounds) that create an alternation of attention back and forth across the person’s midline. While the theory and research are still evolving for this form of treatment, there is some evidence that the therapeutic element unique to EMDR, attentional alternation, may facilitate the accessing and processing of traumatic material.
Group treatment is often an ideal therapeutic setting because trauma survivors are able to share traumatic material within the safety, cohesion, and empathy provided by other survivors. As group members achieve greater understanding and resolution of their trauma, they often feel more confident and able to trust. As they discuss and share how they cope with trauma-related shame, guilt, rage, fear, doubt, and self-condemnation, they prepare themselves to focus on the present rather than the past. Telling one’s story (the “trauma narrative”) and directly facing the grief, anxiety, and guilt related to trauma enables many survivors to cope with their symptoms, memories, and other aspects of their lives.
Brief psychodynamic psychotherapy focuses on the emotional conflicts caused by the traumatic event, particularly as they relate to early life experiences. Through the retelling of the traumatic event to a calm, empathic, compassionate, and nonjudgmental therapist, the survivor achieves a greater sense of self-esteem, develops effective ways of thinking and coping, and learns to deal more successfully with intense emotions. The therapist helps the survivor identify current life situations that set off traumatic memories and worsen PTSD symptoms.
Psychiatric disorders that commonly co-occur with PTSD
Psychiatric disorders that commonly co-occur with PTSD include depression, alcohol/substance abuse, panic disorder, and other anxiety disorders. Although crises that threaten the safety of the survivor or others must be addressed first, the best treatment results are achieved when both PTSD and the other disorder(s) are treated together rather than one after the other. This is especially true for PTSD and alcohol/substance abuse.
Complex PTSD
Complex PTSD (sometimes called “Disorder of Extreme Stress”) is found among individuals who have been exposed to prolonged traumatic circumstances, especially during childhood, such as childhood sexual abuse. Developmental research is revealing that many brain and hormonal changes may occur as a result of early, prolonged trauma, and these changes contribute to difficulties with memory, learning, and regulating impulses and emotions. Combined with a disruptive, abusive home environment that does not foster healthy interaction, these brain and hormonal changes may contribute to severe behavioral difficulties (such as impulsivity, aggression, sexual acting out, eating disorders, alcohol/drug abuse, and self-destructive actions), emotional regulation difficulties (such as intense rage, depression, or panic), and mental difficulties (such as extremely scattered thoughts, dissociation, and amnesia). As adults, these individuals often are diagnosed with depressive disorders, personality disorders, or dissociative disorders. Treatment often takes much longer than with regular PTSD, may progress at a much slower rate, and requires a sensitive and structured treatment program delivered by a trauma specialist.
Janneke Sobeck: Death and denial: substance abuse in Winona
The Winona County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) is a coalition in its infancy, seeking widespread representation from various sectors of our community. Our alliance objectives are to prevent substance abuse among our youth and build …
Read more on Winona Daily News
Politicians, community members discuss heroin problem in Hudson
There was also discussion about more education and prevention programs in schools and efforts being made through the St. Croix County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition to bring communities together to prevent substance abuse locally. For more …
Read more on River Towns
TINA GUMMERSON: Drug prevention is working
The point is drug prevention IS working. There has been an overall downward trend in alcohol and other drug use nationwide since the early '90s. However, there are still too many people using drugs and too many public health and safety problems in our …
Read more on Galesburg Register-Mail
New Avon Lake drug, alcohol treatment center opens
Dan Haight, left, chief operating cfficer for Lorain County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, talks with counselors Deborah Broaddus and Tracy Hagedorn at the grand opening of The Wellness Clinic at 525 Avon-Belden Road in Avon Lake. STEVE MANHEIM/ …
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Alcohol & Drug Rehab Guelph Launches Program to Free Adults and …
Guelph, Canada (PRWEB) January 18, 2014. A Guelph alcohol and drug rehab center is launching a program to get adults and adolescents free from PCP addiction at Drug Addiction Treatment Centers. Information from a Government of Canada website …
Read more on PR Web (press release)
Substance abuse clinic set fro Madison Heights removes zoning application
A would-be substance abuse treatment center planned for Madison Heights has withdrawn its zoning application. The Florida-based Colonial Management Group sought a zoning permit for a clinic slated to occupy several suites of the Seminole Shopping …
Read more on Lynchburg News and Advance
Family warns teens to steer clear of synthetic drug Spice as they mourn dead son
The National Institute on Drug Abuse says Spice is sold under many names, including fake weed, K2, Yucatan Fire, Moon Rocks and Skunk. RELATED: FEWER TEENS USING SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA: STUDY. And though the packages are labeled "not for …
Read more on New York Daily News
Question by ima45limabean: I need an idea for a presentation in my drugs and addiction class?
I have to give a 10 to 15 minute presentation in one of my addiction study classes called “Drugs and Addictions” Any ideas??? Anyone?? I was going to do it on meth babies but Im just not sure.
Best answer:
Answer by Wide Awake
Well, that’s an interesting subject.
You could also do a presentation on Oxycontin abuse, since it is so widespread and has led to major societal impacts, especially in some small towns. We tend to forget that people can get addicted to prescription drugs as well as “street” drugs – look at Rush Limbaugh.
Or, you could talk about the epidemic of cough syrup abuse and addiction that seems to be sweeping entire schools lately, though I fear you will find less evidence and news stories on this.
Good luck!
Answer by Don’t Make Me Come In There!
Do your report on meth and tooth decay. I just saw a documentary on “meth mouth”…OMG, if anything will keep you from doing meth….THAT will. There was a dentist that traveled to prisons to extract the teeth of meth users…he was extracting 200 teeth per week!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meth_mouth
http://www.mappsd.org/Meth%20Mouth%20Photo%20Gallery.htm
"Drugs Aren't the Problem": Neuroscientist Carl Hart on Brain Science & Myths …
… Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society." In the book, he recalls his journey of self-discovery, how he escaped a life of crime and drugs and avoided becoming one of the crack addicts he now studies.
Read more on Democracy Now
State of the State address targets Vt. drug problem
But Wednesday was devoted to drug abuse, and Shumlin called on the state to abandon the law-and-order tactics used by Vermont and other states in the past and instead begin treating addiction as an illness that needs prevention and treatment. “We must …
Read more on Barre Montpelier Times Argus
Addiction News
For the latest addiction news, bookmark This Just In. From legal matters and celebrity troubles to addiction studies and recovery stories, this section features the hottest topics in alcohol and drug abuse news. We sort out the sometimes overwhelming …
Read more on TheFix.com
What If Holiday Stress Leads To Prescription Drug Abuse?
He says stress and depression could cause a holiday rise in alcohol and prescription drug misuse or overdose. "A lot of people really increase their drinking around the times of the holiday, their alcohol use. And there's a huge risk in mixing alcohol …
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Bradley Cooper admits early career doubt and drug addiction made him want to …
But life wasn't always so good for 39-year-old actor Bradley Cooper, as he opens up in an honest interview with GQ about his past addictions, and how during the beginning of his career he wanted to 'kill himself.' The Limitless and the BAFTA award …
Read more on Daily Mail
Big Pharma Pimps Alcoholics–With Government Help
Imagine a treatment for drug addiction and alcoholism that uses no drugs, requires no trained personnel, resources or insurance and makes no money for anyone. This "people's program" is the anonymous 12-Step groups which have quietly saved millions …
Read more on OpEdNews
Shia LaBeouf blames plagiarism woes on drug habit… in a mea culpa lifted …
The plagiarism apologies continue to mount as Shia LaBeouf took to Twitter on Saturday to blame his actions on a drug addiction… in a tweet mostly lifted from rapper Gucci Mane's own mea culpa. The 27-year-old tweeted: 'Im addicted to lean & that sh …
Read more on Daily Mail
The Ever-Present Problem of Teen Drug Use
Although their drug rehab stints receive far more attention, drug addiction is not limited to former child stars. Teen drug abuse is a widespread problem that has become woven into the fibers of our society. Unfortunately, it does not seem to be going …
Read more on Social Work Helper
Our Voice: Let's get at the root of teen drug abuse problems
Families, happy or otherwise, all face challenges and there is no sure-fire prescription for success. Much of this burden rests on parents. Tri-Cities Mobile Drug & Alcohol Testing of Richland is offering $ 10,000 of services free to parents who would …
Read more on Bellingham Herald