The Spiral Staircase: Live Drug Free

Many people may find it hard to grasp the concept that alcohol is a drug and alcoholism is a disease. Usually when people think of substance and drug abuse, they think of crack/cocaine, heroin and drugs of that sort. Alcohol is the most commonly used and widely abused psychoactive drug in the world and research has shown that it interacts with the body’s system in predictable ways that lead to physiological addiction. Alcoholism is a chronic and progressive disease and if not treated, can actually be fatal. Alcohol has the ability to affect every organ in the human body, including the brain, liver, kidneys, stomach and even your heart. Alcohol is a sedative drug it slows down the brain's processes which tends to lead to problems such as memory loss, learning disabilities and change of behavior, such as anger that may lead to violence. Many questions about alcohol can be answered by FADE.

Dealing with a loved one who is an alcoholic can be very difficult. Many times, the alcoholic will blame everyone except themselves as the reason they drink. This is also true with many other addictions, such as drug or porn addictions. They are all serious and most people will need to seek professional help battle their addiction. I have personally dealt with loved ones in my life that were addicts. My husband was an alcoholic. I know first hand how alcohol can affect the lives of not only the addict, but their loved ones also. My husband was a good man, but when he drank, I didn't know who he was. He was a totally different person and many times he would say some mean things that would cause us to fight. When he was sober, he didn't believe things I told him he said to me. Things he would never say sober. This is why many people stay in relationships with alcoholics or drug addicts. The sober addict is usually a good caring person with a great heart and lots of love to offer. But when the drugs and alcohol take over, the person is now a monster full of demons they cannot control. It is so hard, and I mean really difficult, for a non-addict to understand why the addict can't just stop abusing drugs. Just as everyone needs food to survive, it is the same concept with addicts. The drugs actually do enter the bloodstream and become stored in fat cells. Here is an excerpt from my post "10 Things You May Not Know About Drugs."

10. DRUGS STAY IN THE BODY FOR YEARS AFTER YOU TAKE THEM. Most drugs get stored in fat within the body and can stay there for years. Here is how that happens. Drugs easily mix with fat in the body. In this picture, you can see that fat is close to the vein and when drugs come through the vein the fat draws the drug into it like a magnet. This is a problem because later, when the person is working, or exercising or even stressed..the fat burns up and a tiny amount of the drug seeps back into the vein. He gets a tiny "taste" of that drug again. What happens when you get a tiny taste of sugar? You want MORE. What happens to the guy getting a tiny taste of that drug? He wants MORE. So he may still want drugs even years after he's stopped taking drugs.For more information, I highly recommend you visit the Narconon website. It is full of valuable information. The more you learn about addictions, the easier it is to understand why addicts just can't stop using without some kind of help. Narconon Drug Info is very informative and exploring all the website can be beneficial to you. Be sure to check out the studies and results pages to find out about detox studies and more.

The biggest difference between alcoholism and alcohol abuse is the physical and psychological dependence that comes with alcoholism.Alcoholism is a very serious, dangerously chronic and progressive disease that has devastating effects on the human body, the human mind and the loved ones of the alcoholic. Like many drug addictions, alcoholism is actually a disease that involves dangerous and compulsive behaviors. It often leads to the alcoholics life becoming extremely unmanageable and uncontrollable. Alcoholics cannot control their drinking and suffer from painful and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Alcoholism is one of the most dangerous disease affecting our society today.

Alcohol Abuse differs from alcoholism due to lack of addiction quality. Many individuals who abuse alcohol do not experience the same compulsive cravings for alcohol or withdrawal symptoms when they decide to stop alcohol consumption. People who abuse alcohol on a regular basis more often struggle with demons of their own and abuse alcohol to escape from the harsh reality of their problems.

The dangers of alcohol are the same in either case. An alcoholic's family are the one's who suffer and grieve the most over their loved one's addiction. It is highly recommended that anyone who has a problem with alcohol get help. There is a solution and the road to recovery may be long and hard, but the rewards in the end will prove to be extremely beneficial. The single most important thing that can be done in the life of an alcoholic is to get help. Left untreated, alcoholism will kill either through advanced liver and other health problems, or may result in an accidental alcohol related death.

I use to think that prescribing a drug called Ritalin to help kids keep their minds focused was ridiculous. I believed that if kids had parents that would make them mind and teach them manners, the problem wouldn't be so widespread. After all, years ago when discipline was still allowed in schools and parents made their children behave, you never heard of a doctor giving kids drugs to calm their wild asses down(Read this article I found about my theory). But apparently, in today's world, there are many kids that suffer a condition called ADHD, which stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It has also been referred to as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). The two main drugs prescribed for this condition are called Adderall and Ritalin. These drugs are classified as amphetamines and stimulants.

Adderall and Ritalin have now made it the list of abused prescription drugs. The main source of abuse is coming from high school and college age kids. Abuse of these drugs has increased nearly 75% over the past few years on college campuses. Kids are able to get these drugs from other kids who have prescriptions. They sell them to make money, and some consider it as a job because they can make alot of money selling on campuses. When abused, these drugs can have similar affects to that of cocaine abuse. This includes crushing and snorting or abuse by injecting the processed pill into the bloodstream. Believe it or not, the street value of these drugs vary from around $8-$15 per pill!

Why has this drug become so widely abused and sought after on campuses nationwide? Apparently, these drugs are considered as "study tools" among college kids. It is used to help increase the ability to focus and concentrate on schoolwork such as cramming for exams, reports and projects that may keep one up at night. Many students refer the drugs as "miracle drugs" or "brain steroids" because of its ability to boost concentration. On the negative side, it is also referred to as "kid's coke." There are many testimonies from college kids about how they use this drug and why. The majority simply use it for studying purposes and claim they only use it when they have a big exam or finals to study for. But that leaves room for the ones who have become addicted to and abuse these drugs. Just how safe are these type of drugs and what are the side effects?

No drug is 100% safe. No drug should ever be used for anything other than what it is prescribed for. They all have side effects. Some of adderall and ritalin's side effects include dry mouth, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, constipation, restlessness, weight loss, unpleasant taste, depression, stress, and even death. What many kids do not realize is that while taking one of these drugs to help them study may be helpful, it is only helpful short term. Anyone that stays up all night studying will remember the information long enough to take the exam, but after the pill wears off, so does the information. That is not in the best interest for someone who intends on learning the information for long term purposes. One more fact about adderall and ritalin is that it is only prescribed one time. In other words, a doctor must rewrite a prescription for these drugs every month, they are not allowed refills. If you think someone you know is addicted to any kind of drug, please encourage them to seek help or help them to get help. It may save their life.

It is great that instead of searching for a good post this week, the information actually came to me. I was contacted by someone that has some affiliation with a drug treatment center called "Synergy" which is located in California. I was very pleased and excited to get an email from someone there giving me credit for a great blog. It is my pleasure to give them a post on my blog and give up a few minutes of my time to post an article on their facility.

Synergy Drug Rehabilitation Treatment Center is the first drug and alcohol recovery center to offer the NTR detoxification drug rehab program with residential treatment in a 30 day package. Synergy sports aworld-class clinical staff to assist the treatment and recovery process. I encourage readers to read about the staff here, especially a staff member by the name of Kona Larkin.

NTR is the most advanced brain restoration detox process in the world. NTR stands for Neurotransmission Restoration Treatment System. What this process does is speed up the physiologic brain recovery process to just 10 days, instead of the months or years it can normally take to repair cell damage caused by drug or alcohol use. To read more about the NTR system, visit the Synergy website by clicking here.

The treatment programs offered at Synergy are astounding. Some of the programs available include treatment for addictions related to alcohol, cocaine, oxycontin, heroin, prescription drugs, opiates, and more. They also offer programs for men, women, gays and lesbians, and can help families with an intervention. Sometimes, different drugs require different treatment programs, depending upon what type of drug and how long it was abused. Please take a few minutes to read about all the programs.

It is my personal opinion that when a person seeks treatment for an addiction, that it is best to seek that treatment far enough away from home that the addict cannot have daily interaction with their previous surroundings, including family and friends. Some family members do not realize they actually encourage the addicts behavior by giving them money, providing them a home to live in and things of that sort. When an addict is removed from that environment, chances of a successful recovery are greater. Love is the greatest gift of all. Give a loved one the gift of life. Life is love.

Meth DetoxToday, as I was surfing and browsing the internet, I came across something I found to be very interesting and would be perfect to pass along to my readers. I am sure most people who have ever researched or even been treated by drug rehab centers know that many centers use a process called "Detoxification" to assist in ridding the body of drug chemicals. When an addict is addicted to a drug, the craving for more is similar to that of someone who is hungry. Ever had a craving for a certain food (let's say chocloate) and you eat everything you can find because you do not have that food around, but in the long run, you still have to have it and so you go to the store and get it? That chocolate is your drug. An addict is no different. After prolonged use, the drug embeds its chemicals into fatty cells which leads to the addiction. You may read more about that process here. There are many ads on tv and around the internet about colon cleansing. This is a process that rids your body of toxins and many use it to lose weight. I have not yet tried a colon cleanse product, but I would like to try it soon and I will. I have my eyes set on a product called "Dual Action Colon Cleanse" for which I saw an infomercial on tv a few weeks ago. I will update my readers after I test this product, or if you are interest click here. However, this post is not exactly about colon cleanse, but about a new product I found called "Crystal Clear" which is geared toward the meth addict. This is a must see product for meth users who want to stop or if you know somebody that is addicted to meth and want to help them stop. Click the ad below to learn more.

Several days ago, I received and email from a visitor of this blog. This email came from someone at Southcoast Recovery Center in California. This person was impressed with the contents of the blog and I would like to thank them for visiting. If you are seeking treatment options for yourself or a loved one, my best advice would be to GO! There are thousands of treatments centers, but for someone that is serious about getting clean, I would highly recommend finding a treatment center as far away from home as possible. Why? I am addicted to a program on AETV called "Intervention" which is about drug intervention(I have a previous post about this show). If you have never seen this show, you should mark your calendar to be sure you see at least one episode. This is an amazing, but heartbreaking show. For me, it is hard to even imagine how these people are still alive after all the drugs they have put in their systems. When these people agree to go to drug treatment, they are usually sent to a facility far away from home. By that, I mean that depending on what type of addiction they have, a center is chosen that will best be able to help the person. Different drugs sometimes require different types of treatment. I think sending the addict away from the source of the problem is a great idea. This is forcing the addict to be removed from their comfort zone and focus and getting the proper care and treatment. Sometimes, a change such as moving away from negative sources is what wakes up the addict and helps them understand how destructive they have become and encourages them to want to get better. Being in an environment in which others understand their problems can be beneficial to their recovery. Of course, if a person wants drugs bad enough, they will find them no matter where they go. I encourage you to visit the SouthCoast Recovery Center website and browse around their site. They have information about their recovery programs for alcohol addiction, meth addiction, heroin addiction,cocaine addiction and information aboutdetox. They also can help families with an intervention. Many people may prefer a supportive christian setting for recovery. At SouthCoast, they offer an individualized Christian Recovery Track to help addicts restore their faith and relationship with God. Also on the site, you can information about what you should and should not take with you to treatment. This information is useful for any rehab program or center an addict chooses to get treatment at. By choosing to get treatment, an addict is choosing LIFE! There is no greater gift than life, except for love, and love is why life exists. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

The poem below is also posted on several other websites. The author is unknown but many thanks goes out to the person who wrote this. If you are an addict, you will be able to relate to this poem as if it were your best friend. If you are the loved one of an addict, be prepared to shed a few tears because this is the harsh reality.

"Meth" is short for Methamphetamines. It is a highly addictive stimulant drug that strongly activates certain systems in the brain and greatly affects the central nervous system. Meth has a high potential for abuse and dependence. Studies have shown that meth use is widespread among the homosexual and bisexual communities. Meth can be snorted through the nose(intranasally), injected into a vein with a needle(intraveneous injection), smoked or taken orally(swallowed).Crystal Meth

How Is Meth Made?

Meth is made illegally in make-shift or homemade meth labs. Some of these labs are so small, they can be transported in something as small as a briefcase. Many household chemicals are used as "recipes" in the production or "cooking" of meth. Below are some of those chemicals or "meth ingredients" and where they may be found.

These are just a few of many chemicals that may be used for producing meth. As sad it is, there are many websites that actually will tell you how to make meth. The problem is widespread enough without the assistance of sources such as the internet guiding people to produce this drug. The U.S. has a major problem when it comes to drug trafficking and production. I honestly believe the federal government could do more to control the drug problem, but they are probably making money from this just as they do with tobacco. (Just my opinion) If you would like to see more chemicals used in production of meth or equipment that may be used in the process, visit this site.

Health Hazards of Meth

Methamphetamines cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure and may cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain, which can produce strokes. Other effects of methamphetamine include respiratory problems, irregular heartbeat, and extreme anorexia. Its use can result in cardiovascular collapse and death.

Methamphetamines release high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which stimulates brain cells, enhancing mood and body movement. It also appears to have a neurotoxic effect, damaging brain cells that contain dopamine and serotonin, another neurotransmitter. Over time, methamphetamines appear to cause reduced levels of dopamine, which can result in symptoms like those found in Parkinson's disease, a severe movement disorder.

Years of animal research show that high doses of methamphetamine damage neuron cell-endings. Dopamine- and serotonin-containing neurons do not die after methamphetamine use, but their nerve endings ("terminals") are cut back and re-growth appears to be limited.

Signs and Symptoms of Meth Abuse

Meth, when taken in large doses or for a prolonged period of time, can cause a person to become very aggressive and violent. Irritability, nervousness and frequent mood changes may become dramatic at times. Excessive talking, paranoia, including delusions, psychosis and hallucinations are common. Meth increases the body's metabolism and produces euphoria, increases alertness, and gives the abuser a sense of increased energy. An addict will tend to become very depressed and "droopy" when they have been without the drug for a long period time(a couple of hours for chronic users). Their energy level suddenly drops and they may tend to sleep for extended periods of time. After long peroids of sleep, an addict will show signs of severe depression and can even be suicidal if they don't get more drugs soon. (A sign of withdrawal) If this describes someone you know and love, please seek treatment for that person. The gift of life is the greatest gift of all. For more information on this subject please visit stop meth.

Signs of Meth Labs

If you suspect a meth lab is being operared in your neighborhood, here are a few things to be on the look out for:

Strong or unusual odors such as chemicals, ammonia, ether

Lots of traffic coming and going from a residence or hotel room

Residences with windows that are blacked out(dark coverings or even smoke burnt look)

Opened windows with fans even during really cold months

Alot of trash which includes many of the same items such as antifreeze bottles, coffee filters that have red stains, drain cleaner, lantern fuel cans, duct tape

Do not hesitate to call the local police if you believe this type of activity is going on in the neighborhood. Most cities have anonymous tip lines so that you do not have to go to the police station and report crimes. It is important to report any suspicious behavior whether it is concerning drugs, domestic violence, child abuse or even if you think you are being stalked.

Have you ever heard someone use a term you weren't familiar with and wonder if they may be referring to a certain type of drug? There are thousands of slang names for different types of drugs. Here, I will list some of the most common names and more familiar names for a few drugs. Please keep in mind that because of the region I live in, some terms may or may not be more common than other regions. In other words, some terms I may find as common, may actually be uncommon to other people and vice versa. Either way, a complete list of these terms can be found by clicking here.

Dangerous Drug Combinations:C & M(cocaine & morphine), Blotter(cocaine & LSD), Candy Flipping On a String(Combining or sequencing LSD with MDMA; mixing LSD, MDMA, and cocaine), Cigamos(Combination of crack cocaine and tobacco), Chocolate Rock(crack smoked with heroin), WhackCrack (Cocaine; heroin and PCP; Crack/PCP mixture or marijuana laced with insecticides), TragicMagic(Crack dipped in PCP), Purple Haze(LSD; crack cocaine; marijuana), Squirrel(Combination of PCP and marijuana, sprinkled with cocaine and smoked; marijuana, PCP, and crack combined and smoked; LSD), Speedballing(To shoot up or smoke a mixture of cocaine and heroin; ecstasy mixed with ketamine; the simultaneous use of a stimulant with a depressant) New Jack Swing( heroin and morphine)

References to people or places:C-joint: place where crack/cocaine is soldBase Crazies or Chicken Scratch: a person searches on hands and feet for cocaineBalling: vaginally implanted cocaineCrack House or Smoke House: Place where crack is usedSteerer: person who directs customers to spots where they can buy drugsHitters: People who inject others who have hard to find veins in exchange for drugs

(Please note that these are just a few of the names that refer to people and places like these. There are way too many for me to name here. Visit the website below to learn about more slang names)

Addiction Recovery Management: Help with alcoholism, drugs, codependency, gambling, food, sex, porn and other types of addiction. information on causes, effects, solutions and self-tests to determine the extent of the addiction and to recover.

“Why Don’t They Just Quit?” helps you achieve the peace of mind that comes from knowing what works, what doesn’t and why. This may be the most important step you’ve ever taken toward helping a friend or loved one overcome addiction, restoring sanity to their life…and yours.

"Warning folks, this site offers a very powerful information about addictions, that permeate the American experience and are fully entrenched into every nook and cranny of our world. The music is a perfect backdrop and well chosen to underscore the importance of the subject matter.Highly recommended."

"Unfortunatly the content of this blog is much needed in today's world. Having lost a son myself to drug/aclohol combining, I wish I had seen it or another earlier and will definitely refer others to it. Great job on the tightness of the information. I think I would like to see though a few more personal stories from both types of victims, in order to relate to more people, and easy identifiable links to them. Thanks! Lisa"

"Very nice blog site. Great background and it is easy to navigate. You've got some very informative articles and links. The poems that were written by Sandee very extremely touching ! I really liked the "widget", I have never seen it before. Nice tool to have, I'm going to check into getting one for the blog that I'm creating. "

"This is one the the best informational blogs i have ever seen on drugs. The blog explains the different types of drugs and the effect that it will have on a person.Therefore, this blog should be shown in schools all over america. This is one of the best blogs i have ever seen. I had to say it again"

"Sandra...wow, what a powerful website!! Coming from a drug addiction for more than 30 years it hits home for me. Thank you for getting this information out to the public. The organizations you give for those needing help are wonderful and the tips and what to look for are invaluable for letting loved ones know what to look for, but mostly being armed with this knowledge is the first line of defense in talking with our loved ones and friends..Keep up the good work and God Bless.."

"You are an angel on earth. I have experienced the living death that drugs cause from both sides (9 years clean!!!!) I hope that everyone who is affected by drugs finds your site. So inspirational!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck and God bless."