Behavioral Addictions: A Basic Understanding
In 2012 the American Society of Addiction Medicine smartly set forth a definition of addiction that encompasses both substance abuse and certain compulsive behaviors. Using ASAM's definition it is easy to see and understand that Jane is every bit the …
Read more on PsychCentral.com (blog)

No real surprises in this year's Hall of Fame balloting
The Big Hurt was never implicated in performance enhancing drug abuse. And, while I am surprised he gets a free pass when so many … By definition, I think that makes him an incomplete player. I'm not going to jump up and down about it because Thomas …
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They're not just anti-democratic riff-raff
To their credit, however, the protesters show a genuine desire for tougher laws against corruption, abuse of power, and for devolution of centralised administrative control, among other sensible demands. The major sticking point is that as they try …
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Free Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment? We Can Fix That!
Less easy to see is why the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), often working closely with Pharma, is trying to fix one of the few things in the health care system that is not broken–free, anonymous treatment for alcoholics and addicts. “All …
Read more on The Epoch Times (blog)

KY Attorney General Announces M for Drug Addiction Treatment
Over the next two years, $ 560,000 will be used to help create 14 drug-free homes for people completing and transitioning out of residential substance abuse treatment programs. The money will provide for start-up costs and rental assistance. Residents …
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"Drugs Aren't the Problem": Neuroscientist Carl Hart on Brain Science and …
But when I started to look more carefully, started looking at the evidence more carefully, it became clear to me that drugs weren't the problem. The problem was poverty, drug policy, lack of jobs—a wide range of things. And drugs were just one sort of …
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Schools respond to drug initiative
"As a state trooper, one of the portions of my job was incarcerating people. … Tracy Plouck, director of the state's Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, said tackling the issue of drug abuse prevention is critical at the middle school …
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Weighing the Importance of Easing Patients' Pain Against Possible Drug Abuse
Mishael Azam, the group's chief operating officer, said the argument against the bill focusing on opioid abuse is just a diversion from the insurers' primary concern – saving money. She noted that not all of the expensive brand-name pain drugs that …
Read more on NJ Spotlight

Rodman Apologizes For Comments On Jailed American
Kim shocked the world in December by having his uncle, once considered his mentor, executed after being accused of a litany of crimes including corruption, womanizing, drug abuse and attempting to seize power. Rodman has refused to address those …
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Question by Liza Shevchuk: Natural Remedies For Brain Damage After Drug Abuse?
My older brother has done many drugs from about 16-21. Its been a year since his last use, and he’s been having some serious problems. He has high anxiety and he’s been having frequent episodes of “weird” (as he calls it) feelings. He doesn’t label it as feeling sick. During these episodes he feels jittery, emotional (even cry’s sometimes) out of control, his heart rate goes up. This also causes him to have insomnia. Maybe they’re panic attacks, but the thing is, what triggers it? This occurs randomly on a normal day. We believe its typical withdrawal symptoms, because he abused quite a few drugs. (Marijuana, cigarettes, ecstasy, crystal meth, shrooms, hookah, cocaine, inhalants, “uppers” (as he calls them))
He has gone to see his doctor several times to get treatment, and his doctor said he has migraines.
-____-
He prescribed him anti depressants and that didn’t help my brother AT ALL.
He does this herbal drop treatment (echinacea, other oils, etc) That help him sleep.
Now we’re trying to find him herbal remedies that would help repair his brain damage from all of the abuse he has done to it.
Thank you very much.

Best answer:

Answer by jannsody
I’m not sure that there will be repairing of the brain damage (presuming that he has that as I’m not a medical doctor :), but researchers believe that the brain is very “plastic” and may form new nerve pathways to *help* compensate for the injured areas.

With regard to inhalant use, my friend actually has a severe Brain Injury from huffing at the age of 12, now in her 30s. The chemicals in products used for huffing are actual *poisons* that were never meant to go through the bloodstream.

Please be *very* careful with herbal supplements or “remedies” (e.g., echinacea, ginkgo biloba, chamomile) as they can result in side effects and/or drug (medication) interactions. It’s best to check with a licensed pharmacist before taking any of them. Not everything that is “natural” is safe 😉

Regarding the panic attacks, some people have generalized anxiety (to know specific event) or other types of anxiety. The antidepressants may help to lessen the intensity and/or frequency of the anxiety symptoms. Such medications tend to take about 6-8 weeks before possibly noticing results. A caveat (warning) is that some antidepressants may cause insomnia (trouble getting to and/or staying asleep). However, there are medications that one may take to help counteract the insomnia.

Even though benzo’s (e.g., ativan, valium, xanax, klonopin) may be prescribed to help with sleep, they’re not always recommended as a medication due to their physical addictiveness. (Some withdrawal symptoms from benzo’s may include seizures, psychosis/mental break from reality, or even death.) Some psychiatrists (it’s best to get medication for mental health issues from a board-certified psychiatrist as opposed to “just” a family doctor) prescribe seroquel (or other medications), which is classified as an antipsychotic but in smaller dosages may help with sleep.

You’d mentioned that he’s gone to the doctor several times, and I’m wondering if he’s gone to a neurologist which is medical dr who can help rule out disorders of the nervous system – brain, spinal cord, nerves. I’m just thinking that to help “cover all the bases” (not trying to give false hope though, know what I mean).

I’m not sure that he’d still be going through withdrawal symptoms a year after stopping the drugs, but it’s a good idea to ask a doctor about that as well.

Pertaining to the anxiety, please show him this government site which may have some local counseling agencies: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ and can click the second link. Then one can click “near you” on the left-hand side of the page under “find facilities” and can type one’s city and state of residence into search. Their toll-free 24/7 referral helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Just an fyi that the first link is for those looking for substance abuse counseling/treatment, and that may be an option if he’s still “using” or having cravings for substances.

A 12-step program, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), may have some local support groups. The only requirement is having a desire to get sober. One may attend an “open” AA meeting if there is no drinking problem: http://www.aa.org

This site has some common mottos pertaining to those 12-step programs, including “One day at a time”, “First things first” and “People, places and things”: http://www.royy.com/toolsofrecovery.html

Al-Anon is a 12-step program for the *friends and family* of the problem drinker, but one may attend an “open” Al-Anon meeting if the loved one doesn’t have a drinking problem: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org

Drug settlement funds to benefit recovery centers
In addition to the $ 500,000 to build the new Recovery Kentucky facility in Ashland, Independence House in Corbin and Chrysalis House in Lexington will share $ 1 million to offer substance abuse treatment to pregnant women. The plan also provides $ 2.52 …
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New Helpline Assists Teens in Finding Help for Addiction
Teenagers who struggle with substance abuse and addiction often do not know where or how to get help in becoming sober. The Easthampton Adolescent Rehab Helpline has been created to give teens a reliable source of information on overcoming …
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Hamill: Chiara de Blasio's substance abuse admission an inspiration to …
The Daily News front page on Christmas Day, which spoke directly to those gathered at a South Bronx drug rehabilitation center on the holiday. RELATED: LUPICA: CHIARA'S DRUG ABUSE REVEAL PLAYED LIKE CELEB IN CRISIS. “She's alive,” he …
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New Adolescent Substance Abuse Helpline Assists Young Addicts in Lufkin
Thousands of teenagers throughout Texas struggle with drug or alcohol abuse every day. To help make a difference, the Lufkin Adolescent Rehab Helpline has been established to help young adults suffering from substance abuse get the proper help they …
Read more on PR Web (press release)