To answer this question objectively, one needs to look at what is available as health care to the public in America. There are two major divisions of health care: Medicine and Chiropractic. Both will be examined here.

Let’s first define the terms that are vital to this study.

Health

From the DICTIONARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL TERMS (McGraw-Hill): 7

“A state of dynamic equilibrium between an organism and its environment in which all functions of mind and body are normal.”

William Boyd, in his famous textbook on pathology, defines health as follows:

“Health is a condition in which the organism is in complete accord with its surroundings, with that exquisite coordination of the different functions which characterizes the living animal or plant.”8

Disease

Dr. R. C. Schafer from the book, Chiropractic Health Care[1], offers this definition:

“Disease is not an entity but a process, an abnormal functional performance and alteration of form. Environmental agencies and conditions which irritate the nervous system and to which the body cannot successfully adapt, produce fluctuation in frequency of nerve impulses deviating from the norm. Thus originate the functional aberrations and structural alterations known as disease. Sickness is not the result of what something does to the body, but what the body does about it, because existing mechanical, chemical, thermal and/or psychic irritation of the nervous system prevents adaptation.”

Resistance

Dorland’s Medical Dictionary[2] defines resistance as:

“The natural ability of an individual to ward off the deleterious effects of such noxious agents as poisons toxins, irritants or pathogenic microorganisms.”

Our study of medicine will consist of comments by two medical doctors. I feel their comments accurately reflect the state of medical care.

Rudolph Alsleben M.D. Ph.D. has stated:

“I would be inclined to divide medical practice in this country into three parts. On one extreme we have acute and traumatic medicine: broken bones, gunshot wounds, and acute illnesses such as the flu and pneumonia. Medicine is well equipped to handle these problems. On the other extreme, we have terminal, catastrophic diseases, such as cancer, sclerotic heart disease and arthritis. Medicine is well equipped to handle these also, not by helping them, but by writing death certificates. In the middle, between these two extremes of acute and terminal illness, lays a gigantic no man’s land where supposedly healthy people live, without ‘apparent’ disease. According to that incredible philosophy of orthodox medicine, you do not qualify for a treatment until you have a disease. These people must first become acutely ill or terminally sick before they can expect to find help from their medical purveyors. The medical world has abandoned these people and left them to their own devices to maintain health. But what devices do these people have? NONE! Medicine has not provided doctors with the expertise to maintain health and prevent disease mainly because of medical ignorance in these vital areas.”

From his book, How to Get Well[3], Dr. Paavo Airola states on page 17:

“The rapid development of the chemical and physical sciences in the last two centuries has had a most negative influence upon medical thinking, and has slowed down the progress of the healing arts. Unbelievable as that may seem, the twentieth century concept of disease is not much different from the primitive voodoo concept. The only difference is that the ‘evil spirits’ have been replaced with ‘evil germs,’ the bacteria or virus that attacks the unfortunate and undeserving body. We believe that disease ‘strikes’ the unsuspecting and totally innocent body. We talk about disease as being ‘caught’. The job of modern medicine-man is to kill or drive out the evil intruders, the germ or virus, with the magic medicine power from his medicine bottle or injection needle, and thus, save the innocent victim from this vicious attack.”

As you will see, the primary cause of disease is not the bacteria or virus, but the weakened resistance brought about by man’s health-destroying living habits and physical and emotional stresses. This fact is brought out in Burrow’s Textbook of Microbiology,5 10th edition, p. 258 as it states:

“In general, resistance is at its height when the organism is functioning normally in every respect and is reduced by a variety of factors which interfere with and alter the normal physiological state.”

The scope of Chiropractic analyzes the spine. It is thought that he is limited to spinal conditions such as wry neck, sciatica, lumbago or sacroiliac strain.

This, however, is not the full scope of CHIROPRACTIC. The spine is the anatomical focus of our analysis, but it is the nervous system which holds our interest. The spine houses the spinal cord. The brain and spinal cord together are called the central nervous system. Chiropractors have known the importance of the relationship of the nervous system and the spinal column since the beginning of Chiropractic in 1895.

D.D. Palmer, the founder of the science and art of Chiropractic, wrote:

“Chiropractors do not treat, cure, heal or diagnose disease. As a science it is unlike any other system; it will not mix with any other… having analyzed the case, they adjust to relieve the confined nerves. They do not wait for special symptoms to develop in order that they may determine the disease so that they may decide on the proper treatment.”

To wait for symptoms to gauge health is folly. One must ascertain the integrity of the human body machinery. Why then does Chiropractic center its analysis on the nervous system/spine relationship?

Gray’s Anatomy states on p. 4 of the 28th edition:

“The function of the nervous system is to control and coordinate all the other organs and structures and to relate the individual to his environment.”

This control of “all the organs and structures” dictates the nervous system as the overall controlling factor in the body machine.

Gray’s Anatomy4 goes on to state the following about the nervous system:

“The nervous system is the most complicated and highly organized of the various systems which make up the human body. It is the mechanism concerned with the correlation and integration of various bodily processes and the reactions and adjustments of the organism to its environment. In addition the cerebral cortex is concerned with conscious life.”

Thus, “its structure and activities are inseparably interwoven with every aspect of our lives: physical, cultural and intellectual.”

The integrity of the spinal cord depends upon its relationship with that which houses it. The central nervous system, the brain and spinal cord, are the only two structures of our body completely encased in bone. This feature alone emphasizes their importance. The brain may be damaged by a head injury or concussion. The spinal cord is slightly more vulnerable. The housing of the spinal cord is composed of 24 individual structures called vertebrae. Due to this construction, plus the fact that there is hardly a moment that goes by that our spine is not in supportive or active use, the spinal column of vertebrae can more easily interfere with the normal function of the cord, which transmits the nerve impulses. This interference with normal functions of the nervous system will reduce the control that the nervous system has over “all the organs and structures” in the body machine.
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The ability to adjust or adapt to environmental stresses is mediated and balanced by the nervous system. Therefore, a properly functioning nervous system is essential for the proper adaptation of the organism to the environment. This principle is the constant and major factor in the maintenance of health for the organism since it pertains to every person on the face of the earth. The need for an unimpaired, undamaged healthy nervous system sits along with proper rest, exercise, and diet in the overall picture of health care.

Dr. Sandra M. McLanahan, M.D. who works alongside a chiropractor, nutritionist and massage therapist at their practice, Integrated Health Services of Putnam, CT defends their unique collective approach to health care:

“Our understanding is that health is not merely the absence of disease. A healthy person is someone who has all the aspects of life balances and integrated. A healthy person is conscious of how the physical, nutritional, emotional and environmental aspects of life can affect their health. Pain or disease is a warning signal that an imbalance exists. Looking past the cause is essential if health is to be restored. Once the imbalance is identified, use the most natural and efficient approach possible to correct it and help the body/mind heal itself.”

The integration of these various disciplines is designed to meet, fully and completely, the needs of its community. Dr. McLanahan points out that the doctor must look past the symptom to the root cause. The medical approach does not go the far on its own. It just establishes and structures the symptomatology of the ailing patient. The exam is completed when a collective “name,” for the symptoms is established. This is also known as the name of the disease. Furthermore, treatment is geared to relieve the symptoms, not the cause.

Todd Koren, D.C. points out that:

“Symptoms are not the real problem, but the result of the body’s functioning. If the body is functioning improperly or ‘diseased,’ simply getting rid of the symptoms doesn’t affect the cause. Symptoms, however, are often the last state in a disease process. According to the U.S. Public Health Service, seven out of ten Americans over the age of 48 have a chronic disease. Often, these are conditions that they’ve had for years and didn’t know it until symptoms presented themselves. So you see, waiting for symptoms is hardly a safe gauge for health.”6

We have seen two options for health care, one of which makes its determination of your health based on the presence or absence of symptoms. To receive care from this profession first you must be sick. As a matter of fact, when you make a medical appointment, you already know that something is wrong; you just don’t have a name for it yet. The doctor tells you what it is by running tests. Then to treat the malady, drugs and/or surgery is usually prescribed. This is the profession of medicine.

In the other profession we have studied, it is most imperative to ask and subsequently answer two questions: What? and Why? Why does this person’s body not function properly? What went wrong with the ‘Controller’ (i.e. the nervous system) of all the bodies’ functions and organs? Why is this person sick? This profession deals with the “Quality of Life.” It works to keep people healthy. It asks patients to be responsible to themselves, use common sense and not wait until they are ‘sick,’ i.e. symptomatic, before seeking professional help. It says, “GO TO THE DOCTOR TO STAY HEALTHY.” This profession is CHIROPRACTIC! Chiropractic is necessary and not a luxury, since it alone deals with health and not with just symptoms. When one is ill, time and money are lost from work and family life. To remind one of the obvious- when one is sick, the body mechanism is not working correctly; therefore, inherently shortening future livelihood and life span. Chiropractic does not just offer ‘hours and hours of temporary relief.’ Chiropractic offers answers to your health problems. It offers solutions to health problems that nothing from a bottle can give you. It offers CORRECTION, RESTORATION, AND MAINTENANCE of the body machine.
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Chiropractic will be a necessity as long as health is a necessity. The emphasis today is on ‘pain relief.’ Instead, it should be removal of the cause, for this is the real underlying factor in the maintenance of the human body. In 1974, a study conducted by the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Utah College of Medicine, concluded:

“On the basis of our study and others, it appears that the Chiropractor may be more attuned to the total needs of the patient than his medical counterpart.”

Let me conclude with a very reflective and inclusive statement made by Dr. R.C. Schafer, D.C. in Chiropractic Health Care:

“Only when all the healing arts begin to study a patient as a total being in relation to their environment, rather than from a purely chemical and organic viewpoint, will health care be able to meet its primary challenges. A comprehensive health care system must be more than an attempt to hide symptoms or remove diseased organs. While a drug may be helpful in easing the pain, or while surgery may be necessary to remove a pathological organ, it does not address itself as to why the organ failed to function normally. The suppression of symptoms or the removal of disease by products cannot be considered actions which automatically return a person to optimal health. Chiropractors feel that a comprehensive health care approach must be a great deal more than relief, repair or removal.”

1. Schafer, R.C. Chiropractic Health Care. The Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research, 1978.

2. Sanders, W.B. Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 25th Edition, 1974.

3. Airola, Dr. Paavo, How to Get Well. Scottsdale, AZ: Health Plus Publishers. 1974

4 Gray, Henry, Anatomy of the Human Body. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1918; Bartleby.com, 2000. www.bartleby.com/107/.

5. Burrows, William, Freeman, Bob. A., Freeman, William. Burrow’s Textbook of Microbiology. W B Saunders Co. 1985.

6. Koren, Todd. D.C. “The Best Diagnostician,” The American Chiropractor, Vol. 2 #3, March 1979.

7. 9th edition of the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology Copyright ©2000, 2001, 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies.www.accessscience.com

8. Boyd, William. A Text-Book of Pathology: an Introduction to Medicine. 6th Ed. Lea & Febiger, 1953.

For further reference: Chiropractor in Balmain, Sydney

Books:

Chiropractic First by Terry Ronberg, D.C.

It happens very seldom when a mother and her baby have the same cancer. Theoretically the immune system of a child has to obstruct the cancer. passing cancer in womb

The British-led team has made the investigation. Its results showed that cells, which can be cause of leukaemia in child’s organism, can come only from the mother, though. The investigations are published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Is it possible for mother to pass the cells of cancer to her unborn child? This question interests scientists during 100 years.

Theoretically the cancer cells can come through the placenta into the baby’s bloodstream just because of destruction by the child’s immune system. The last studies were held on the woman and her child. Both of them have leukaemia. An advanced genetic fingerprinting technique was used for investigations. It proved that the mother passed the leukaemia cells to her child.

The investigations showed that the patients had identical mutated cancer gene. But, they showed as well that this gene was not inherited by child from the mother. In isolation this gene could not have developed.

Source: HealthNova

Symptoms usually appear before age 6 and may appear as early as infancy, and 99% of children affected are boys, symptoms usually presenting themselves before the age of 5. With 1 in 3500 affected, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most prevalent of muscular dystrophies. Although in most instances its males that are generally affected, there are instances of females also affected by DMD.

The disorder is caused by a mutation in the DMD gene. The gene for DMD, found on the X chromosome, encodes a large protein – Dystrophin. Dystrophin is required inside muscle cells for structural support; it is thought to strengthen muscle cells by anchoring elements of the internal cytoskeleton to the surface membrane. Without it, the cell membrane becomes permeable, so that extracellular components enter the cell, increasing the internal pressure until the muscle cell “explodes” and dies. The subsequent immune response can add to the damage. (The National Centre for Biotechnology Information Advances Science)

Symptoms present themselves in male children before the age of 5 and may be visible in early infancy. Progressive proximal muscle weakness (originating at the ends of the muscle) of the legs and pelvis associated with a loss of muscle mass is first observed. Eventually this weakness spreads to the arms, neck, and other areas. Early signs may include enlargement of calf and deltoid muscles, lowered endurance, and difficulty in standing. Muscle tissue starts deteriorating and is eventually replaced by fat and inflamed scared tissue. By the time the child is 10 years old he is supported by braces to aid in walking and by the age of 12 he is permanently reliant on a wheelchair. Abnormal bone development follows leading to skeletal deformities, including curvature of the spine. Loss of movement occurs eventually leading to paralysis.

Symptoms of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

• Symptoms usually appear before age 6 and may appear as early as infancy. They may include:
• Fatigue
• Learning difficulties (the IQ can be below 75)
• Mental retardation (possible, but does not get worse over time)
• Muscle weakness

• Begins in the legs and pelvis, but also occurs less severely in the arms, neck, and other areas of the body
• Difficulty with motor skills (running, hopping, jumping)
• Frequent falls
• Trouble getting up from a lying position or climbing stairs
• Weakness quickly gets worse

• Progressive difficulty walking

• Ability to walk may be lost by age 12, and the child will have to use a wheelchair
• Breathing difficulties and heart disease usually start by age 20

Treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

There is no known cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Treatment aims to control symptoms to improve quality of life.

Steroid drugs can slow the loss of muscle strength. They may be started when the child is diagnosed or when muscle strength begins to decline.

Other treatments include:

• Albuteral–a drug used for people with asthma
• Amino acids
• Carnitine
• Coenzyme Q10
• Creatine
• Fish oil
• Green tea extracts
• Vitamin E

However, the effects of these treatments have not been proven. Stem cells and gene therapy may be used in the future.

Help raise awareness of DMD

Save Our Sons was incorporated in February 2008 by the Eid family, as a charity seeking to raise public awareness and much needed funding for research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

They are committed to finding a cure for DMD, there are number of research facilities locally in Australia and overseas working on some very exciting clinical trials and potential cures. With the assistance of our supporters, donators and volunteers, the funds raised through events, online donations and sponsorship.

To donate please visit Saveoursons.com.au > Fundraising for Charity

The vast majority of the population often confused arthritis and osteoarthritis. Arthritis is an inflammatory disease that was formerly known by our grandparents ‘rheumatism’. As for osteoarthritis, it is a chronic disease of the joints characterized by premature deterioration of the joint capsules, ligaments, cartilage (thin protective layer on the ends of bones) and the formation of osteophytes ( calcium deposition annoying movement and the nervous system). It is not uncommon for chiropractors treat patients suffering from this condition.

Despite popular belief, this phenomenon is not due to the effect of aging. Research shows that osteoarthritis is the result of repeated mild trauma, major strokes (auto accident, sports), a joint solicitation excessive, to excess weight and a lack of physical activity . These factors preclude adequate nutrition of the cartilage and result in abnormal and premature deterioration of the affected joint. Joints that support the body weight (spine) and the most mobile joints hips, knees, hands are more prone to injuries of all kinds.

Relationship between osteoarthritis and joint injuries

When you injure a joint or mobile, it is imperative to receive proper care in order to restore proper joint function and prevent softening of cartilage, ligaments and capsules involved. This softening will most vulnerable affected joints and they will be less able to withstand a normal workload. The body, by default, will try to compensate with calcium salts instead of repair with normal tissues. That’s when the radiographs perceive their presence and we will tell you that you have osteoarthritis. The presence of these calcifications may also affect the nervous system, especially when osteophytes invading the foramina, holes through which nerve roots emerge from the column.

The model of experimental research on animals confirmed that following an accident, the first day, biochemical changes occur already abnormal. By the third day, these changes appear under the electron microscope. After 45 days of immobilization, undesirable scar tissue begins to form between the surfaces of the joint. After 90 days, considerable degradation of cartilage are remarkable. Scientific research also tells us that it is essential, due to injury, to benefit from a rapid clinical management to restore normal joint movement. Within 45 days, the restoration of movement will allow the body to repair much of the damage.

It is incorrect to claim that osteoarthritis is a disease of older people, although it is true that the older the more advance signs of premature deterioration are present. Too often people are told it is normal to have arthritis when they reach their fifties.

If you suffer an injury and your mobility is impaired, if you feel back pain,  pain in a joint, if it is swollen, it could be either of osteoarthritis. No need to wait to be old to stop suffering! Chiropractic can help you.

Chiropractic Tips

1. In the first days and weeks following an accident, the application of cold is the best way to reduce inflammation.
2. The injured joint, in the process of inflammation and pain, does not condone activities where gravity is present (standing). It is recommended to rest.
3. Later, the regular movement helps your healing, then move rhythmically to the injured joint, do some swimming or cycling. Follow the instructions of your chiropractor.

Source: Chiropractors Association of Quebec

The danger and severity of this mental disorder may be reduced if you are aware of the early signs of depression.
Here is a list of the signs or symptoms of major depression:

Sadness, depressed mood, crying over seemingly minor setbacks
Increased irritability, crankiness, difficulty being satisfied
More easily frustrated, gives up quickly after initial failures

Poor self-concept, low self-esteem, reluctance toward attempting endeavors
Loss of interest in day today regular activities
Changes in appetite (decreased appetite most common) often signaled by rapid weight gain or loss.
Changes in sleep patterns (not enough or too much sleep)
Slowed, inhibited actions (slow, soft speech; slowed body movements).
Fatigue, loss of pep and energy
Poor concentration & attention
Poor memory
Thoughts or words about death or suicide.

Most people will experience some of these signs from time to time, but in order for it to be considered depression; you should be experiencing at least 5 of these symptoms, continuously for at least 2 weeks.

If you suspect that you, or someone close to you, may be depressed, book an appointment with your GP
Signs of Depression | Symptoms of Depression

METHADONE – SOLUTION OR PROBLEM?

The one exception has been methadone. When used properly, methadone can be an effective treatment for opiate addiction. However, the idea of maintaining addicts on a substitute drug led the Federal Government to restrict methadone so tightly that the drug could only be prescribed by specific clinics. These clinics vary widely in the quality of care they provide. In addition, methadone causes euphoria (a high), which has led to some addicts using methadone clinics to subsidize their opiate addiction and abuse methadone. Also, methadone maintenance clients eventually reach a point where it is nearly impossible to ever successfully detox from the methadone, because after long-term use, methadone withdrawal symptoms have been reported to be 10 times more severe than those of heroin and lasting sometimes as long as 3 to 4 months in duration, compared to the 7 to 10 days of withdrawal symptoms that an average heroin addiction can produce. The combination of these factors have proven methadone maintenance to be counter-productive in treating opiate addiction and has limited the effectiveness of methadone for detoxification purposes, as well.

SHOOTING UP, SLAMMING, INJECTING, SMOKING OR SNORTING HEROIN

There are three basic routes of administration used by heroin addicts. Injection, often called “shooting up” or “slamming heroin” in the illegal drug world, is by far the predominant method used by heroin addicts. Smoking heroin or “Chasing the Dragon” as smoking heroin using foil and a straw is known by heroin addicts, runs a distant second and sniffing or snorting heroin is rarely a heroin addicts method of choice. Ingesting heroin orally is almost unheard of.

Some prescription opioids such as Oxycontin or Dilaudid can be injected even though they come in tablet form. However, the manufacturers of more recently developed synthetic opiates such as Methadone and Suboxone have gone to great lengths in making it nearly impossible to inject them, thereby helping to minimize their abuse.

UNMISTAKABLE SIGNS OF OPIATE ABUSE AND ADDICTION

There are many signs that would indicate a person is addicted to, or at least abusing opiates. If a person is exhibiting any of the following signs, there is good cause for concern. If a person is displaying multiple signs, they should be considered red flag warnings.

Some of the more obvious signs of opiate addiction are: constricted (pinpointed) pupils, nodding out, increased activity level before nodding out, use of laxatives (heroin causes constipation), vomiting, loss of established friendships, new undesirable friends, depression, track (needle) marks on arms, sudden change in behavior, itching and scratching, weight loss, cessation of menstruation, finding bent spoons with burn marks, disappearance of spoons, stolen credit cards and checks or cash, aluminum foil with burn marks, new purchases returned for a cash refund, pawn slips found around the house, theft of household valuables, blood spots on clothing, bottles of vinegar or bleach (used to clean syringes) and little cotton balls.

SEVERE OPIATE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

Some of the more acute withdrawal symptoms associated with “Cold Turkey” heroin or opiate detox are 3 -7 days of severe muscle aches and spasms, profuse sweating, diarrhea and severe cramping caused by dehydration. Worse are the withdrawal symptoms caused by abrupt discontinuation of the use of some of the pharmaceutical opiates such as Oxycontin and particularly Methadone. These substances can produce weeks and sometimes even months of opiate withdrawal symptoms such as the sweats, muscle and joint aches, spasms, cramping, diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration leading to possible convulsions.

SUBOXONE® ELIMINATES BEDRIDDEN AGONY OF OPIATE WITHDRAWAL

The “Drug Abuse Treatment Act of 2000″ allows detox centers and physicians to minimize an addict’s symptoms of opiate withdrawal with Suboxone detox protocol. Whereas drugs like morphine, heroin and methadone are opioid receptor agonist – meaning they fully bind opioid receptors – Suboxone® (buprenorphine) is a partial opioid receptor agonist. This gives Suboxone® the ability to relieve even the acute symptoms of opiate withdrawal without producing the euphoria (high) of the full agonist drugs like oxycontin, heroin, morphine, demerol, vicodin and methadone. For the first time, physicians and detox centers can use Suboxone to provide a safe and comfortable detox for all opiate addicted patients with the capacity to comply with treatment.

THE FORMULA

Suboxone®, a sublingual tablet, comes in two dosage forms: 2 mg buprenorphine/0.5 mg naloxone and 8 mg buprenorphine/2 mg naloxone.

SAFETY

Because of its ceiling effect and poor bioavailability, buprenorphine is safer in overdose than opioid full agonists. The maximal effects of buprenorphine appear to occur in the 16-32 mg dose range for sublingual tablets. Higher doses are unlikely to produce greater effects.

OPIATE ADDICTION TREATMENT WITH SUBOXONE

This section provides a brief overview of the clinical use of buprenorphine (Suboxone®) for heroin, methadone and all other opiate addiction treatment.

Ideal candidates for heroin and other opiate addiction treatment with Suboxone® are individuals who have been objectively diagnosed with an opiate addiction, are willing to follow safety precautions for treatment, can be expected to comply with the treatment, have no contraindications to buprenorphine therapy and who agree to buprenorphine treatment after a review of treatment options. There are four phases of Suboxone Detox Protocol: induction, stabilization, titration and treatment.

INDUCTION

This phase is the medically monitored startup of buprenorphine therapy. Buprenorphine for induction therapy is administered when an opiate-dependent individual has abstained from using heroin or other opiates for 12-24 hours and is in the early stages of opiate withdrawal or detoxification. If the patient is not in the early stages of withdrawal, i.e., if he or she has other opioids in the bloodstream, then the buprenorphine dose could cause acute withdrawal.

Induction is typically initiated as observed therapy in the physician’s office and is carried out using Suboxone®.

STABILIZATION

This phase begins when the patient has discontinued the use of his or her drug of abuse, no longer has cravings, and is experiencing few or no withdrawal symptoms. The buprenorphine dose may need to be adjusted during the stabilization phase. Because of the long half-life of buprenorphine it is sometimes possible to switch patients to alternate-day dosing once stabilization has been achieved.

TITRATION

The titration phase is reached when the patient is doing well on a steady dose of Suboxone®. Once the patient shows no sign of opiate withdrawal, the patient is then titrated (stepped-down) from the buprenorphine therapy, until he or she is drug-free. This phase replaces what is otherwise known as “detoxification”.

TREATMENT

Effective treatment of heroin, methadone or any other opiate addiction requires comprehensive attention to all of an individual’s medical and psychosocial co-morbidities. Pharmacological therapy alone rarely achieves long-term success. Thus Suboxone® detox protocol should be combined with concurrent behavioral therapies and with the provision of needed addiction treatment services. This point is of such importance that physicians must attest to their capacity to refer patients for addiction treatment and counseling when they submit their Notification of Intent to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) before they can begin prescribing Suboxone® for the purpose of opiate detox.

Crystal meth is reported to attack the immune system, so meth users are often prone to infections of different kinds, one being an MRSA infection. This may simply be a result of long-term sleep deprivation and/or malnutrition.

The Tweakers

Other side effects of crystal meth use include twitching, jitteriness, repetitive behavior (known as “tweaking”) and jaw clenching or teeth grinding. It has been noted that methamphetamine addicts lose their teeth abnormally fast; this tooth loss may be due to jaw clenching, although heavy meth users also tend to neglect personal hygiene, such as brushing teeth. It is often claimed that smoking crystal meth speeds the tooth decay process by leaving a crystalline residue on the teeth and while this is apparently confirmed by dentists, no clinical studies have been done to investigate. This early tooth decay in the young is often referred to as “Meth Mouth or Meth Teeth”.

Smoking Crystal Meth

Methamphetamine is commonly smoked in glass pipes or in aluminum foil heated by a flame underneath. The latter is known as “chasing the dragon”. Meth must be heated (not burned) to cause the desired smoke. Smoking meth is probably the most impure form of ingestion. In addition to the possible effects on teeth, it is very damaging to the lungs. Methamphetamine users who smoke it sometimes experience mild asthma. Another problem with smoking meth is the potential presence of oxidation byproducts created when the heated drug comes in contact with air. Even if the initial drug is pure methamphetamine, the act of smoking it produces other chemicals, some of which may be toxic.

Snorting Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is a powerful nasal decongestant, so methamphetamine users who snort it often have very clear nasal cavities. However, there have been rare cases of people snorting so much meth that their nose cartilage deteriorates, though snorting cocaine is far more likely to cause nasal degeneration, due to its vasoconstrictive properties. Snorting crystal meth may also cause meth mouth or meth teeth (tooth decay), since the nasal passages are directly connected to the mouth region, and it is theorized that damaging crystalline particles can still attach to the teeth. Another theory is that meth directly affects calcium balance in the body. Crystal Meth has also been shown to decrease the production of saliva, the lack of which causes tooth decay.

Shooting Up, Slamming or Injecting Crystal Meth

Injection, often referred to as shooting up or slamming crystal meth, is a popular method for meth use, but potentially carries quite serious risks. The hydrochloride salt of methamphetamine is soluble in water; injection users may use any dose from 200mg to over a gram in one I.V. dose using a small needle. In methamphetamine research, injection users often do not experience severe tooth decay, presumably because there is no residue left as there is through smoking it. But injection users experience greater jaw-clenching than users who snort or smoke it, since injecting methamphetamine has a much more powerful effect. This can cause loose teeth, so injection users still do lose their teeth. Also, this method of ingestion brings the risk of infection; injection users often experience skin rashes that are sometimes referred to as “speed bumps” and all kinds of infections due to methamphetamine damage to the skin. The term “speed bumps” is also used to describe small bumps that sometimes develop on the tongue during meth use. As with any injected drug, if a group of users shares a common needle without sterilization procedures, very grave blood-borne diseases such as HIV or hepatitis can be transmitted as well. It has been reported that 60% of methamphetamine related deaths are a result of shooting up crystal meth.

Oral Administration, Ingestion or Ingesting Crystal Meth

The least-detrimental method of taking crystal meth may be oral administration. The effects are moderated over time to a greater degree, and neither teeth, skin, nor nasal passages are directly exposed to potentially harmful chemicals (assuming the user is careful not to allow pure crystal meth to come in contact with these parts of the body during ingestion). The less-intense “high” may make this a less popular choice for administration.

Crystal Meth Detox and Treatment

Methamphetamine use can be difficult to detect at first. However, it is easily revealed if the observer knows what warning signs to look for. Meth users exhibit a number of physical and psychological conditions that can be identified with methamphetamine. Among them are: dilated pupils, insomnia, decreased appetite and possible weight loss, increased agitation and physical activity, excited speech, intense paranoia, possible hallucinations or delusions, episodes of sudden, violent anger, repetitious behaviors such as pick at skin, tooth loss, acne/sores, increased sweating/body odor.

Crystal meth detox and withdrawal symptoms are typically characterized by drug craving, depressed mood, disturbed sleep patterns, and increased appetite. Anti-depressant medications can be prescribed to combat the depressive symptoms frequently seen in methamphetamine withdrawal.

There are cognitive behavioral interventions designed to help modify a patient’s thinking and behaviors, and to increase skills in coping with various life stresses that have been found to be effective treatment for crystal meth addiction. Social model, 12-step based programs have work out well for many, as well. There are also faith-based or Christian Programs available that may be helpful.

Drug addiction knows no geographic, age, gender or ethnic boundaries. It can strike anyone and everywhere! So one might argue that an addiction is an addiction and they all need to be treated the same. If it were only that simple! The disease of addiction is the only disease a person can have that tells you that you don’t have it. Also, when an addict finally realizes that he does have a serious problem, this disease assures him it’s going to be okay, just do some more and everything will be okay. Addiction is a cunning and baffling foe and your chances of beating it without help are slim to none.

Types of Drug Treatment Centers

There are many types of drug treatment centers available, some good and some, maybe not so good. We hope to provide you with some information that will make your search a little easier and help you avoid the pitfalls. First, decide what is within your budget. That doesn’t mean one should shop around for the least expensive center in the area and admit yourself, remember we’re talking about saving a life. Find one that you can afford to pay for. If you are like many addicts and the drugs have completely depleted your resources and there is simply no one left in your life that is willing to help, then “God Bless You” you’ve arrived in the nick of time.

It may be more difficult for a person with a very limited budget to access ethical and reputable drug treatment centers, but help is available for everyone. In fact, there are many organizations and treatment centers that recognize and address the financial barriers to treatment and recovery. In an attempt to screen out the insincere these facilities may require the indigent to display a little extra willingness that a paying customer would not be required to display, but they have limited space for these cases and don’t like them to be occupied by the reluctant to recover.

Many State and Federally Funded Drug Treatment Centers operate on a sliding fee scale (people pay what they can afford to, based on their income), are open to arranging payment plans, and/or participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs. To find one, check out SAMHSA’s Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center Locator or call 1-800-662-4357. Contact these drug treatment centers directly, because if somebody else makes the call for you, it may appear that the person that has made the call wants help for you more than you want it. Ask them what they can do for someone that’s arrived “Just in the nick of time.”

There’s President Bush’s substance abuse treatment initiative, Access To Recovery, which provides drug addicts with vouchers to pay for treatment. Keep in mind that not all states participate in this drug treatment initiative and most of the treatment centers that do are faith-based.

You can also check with your county’s Substance Abuse Division within it’s Mental Health Department and ask for a list of County Funded Drug Treatment Centers. Be persistent and don’t give up. There is always someone that is willing to help if you really want it.

Narrow Your Drug Treatment Center Search

If you can afford to pay for drug treatment your options aren’t nearly as limited. I can’t suggest strongly enough that you limit your search to gender specific treatment centers. If you can’t figure out why, please Email me and I’ll explain it to you. Many centers offer both men’s and women’s programs. This is fine as long as they have separate, gender specific housing and treatment schedules. Next, you’ll need to decide if entering a local center is really a good idea. Sometimes, for obvious reasons the farther away the better. We suggest that you find several drug treatment centers that offer individualized treatment planning. We might all have the same disease, but we all have a unique set of issues to address and a “one size fits all” type program may not address some of your more unique issues. Call these centers that you’ve narrowed your search to and ask them a lot of questions like: Are they licensed by the State? (If not, report them.) Do they provide detoxification services? Non-medical, medically-supervised or medical? For some substances such as opiates, without medication the withdrawal symptoms can be so severe that the pain is practically impossible to bear. What certifications or credentials do their counselors possess? What type of drug treatment do they offer? Traditional 12-Step based or non 12-Step? (This is a personal choice you’ll have to make for yourself.) How many residents are there in their group sessions? (Normally, 10 or 12 is about the maximum if the group is to remain manageable.) Is there a refund policy if one doesn’t complete the program? (Most don’t offer refunds, but the State requires them to put whatever their policy is in writing.) If you’re a parent calling on behalf of your son or daughter, ask them why you should trust your most precious commodity to their care rather than to the drug treatment center around the corner from them. (By the way, your child is still your most precious commodity, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the moment.)

Drug Treatment Center Success Rates

Last but not least. Please, shy away from drug treatment centers that boast what seems to be an unusually high success rate. They are probably beginning your relationship by being less than honest with you. These inflated success rates are impossible for a drug treatment center to accurately calculate. What are they basing it on? The number of clients that complete the program? If the success of a drug treatment center is to be related to the clients in any way, it should be based on what happens to the client after he or she leaves the program and when they are scattered all around the planet it is just impossible to collect any statistics with any real certainty.

A more honest response from a drug treatment center when ask about their success rate might be “We can’t collect accurate statistics, so we don’t want to mislead anyone.” or “I can tell you that if one puts 100% of his or her available effort into his or her recovery each day, it’s about 100% each day.

Stage One – The Early Years of Alcohol Addiction

In this, the adaptive stage of alcoholism, the drinker is no longer drinking for the same reasons he or she started drinking for in the first place. It’s no longer peer pressure, curiosity, social events or that they enjoy the taste of alcohol. No, they are drinking and probably more by now, for the effects that the alcohol can produce, though they probably don’t realize it. The effects that they are seeking could be a mood change or possibly stress relief from some problem in their life. The drinker hasn’t gotten sloppy or lost total control of his life or body yet and he, his family and friends still don’t know what personal hell awaits him, should he be a “real alcoholic”.

Stage Two – More Alcohol, More Often, More DUI

By now the alcoholic is drinking more often and for any reason. He may even be fabricating problems to drink over. He is now probably drinking until he exceeds socially acceptable limits or until he losses control of his physical and mental capabilities. He may have even been arrested by now for driving under the influence of alcohol. In this middle stage of alcoholism the family and friends become aware that there may be a problem, but the alcoholic himself, may think his only problem is that his friends and family think he’s got a problem. He is sure that they just don’t understand he could quit anytime he wants to. Not now of course, he just needs everyone to get off his back and he’ll be fine.

Stage Three – Is It Too Late?

The chronic stage of alcoholism is terrifying for the family and any friend that may be left in the alcoholic’s life. They are watching his body and mind slip away due to internal damage to vital organs. Damage that may be irreversible and can result in hepatitis, heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, etc. They try to talk some sense into him, but it may be too late. All of their talk just gives him more problems to drink over. In many cases it takes a traumatic or very embarrassing event, such as a DUI or drunk driving arrest to get the alcoholics attention to the extent that he really wants to stop drinking. Even if he really wants to stop, he’s about to find out how easy it is not!

Alcohol Detox or Withdrawal Symptoms – Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Alcohol detox or withdrawal symptoms that are experienced by people who have stopped drinking alcohol abruptly (cold turkey) can range from mild to life-threatening if not properly treated. The severity of these alcohol withdrawal symptoms is usually dependent upon how “alcohol dependent” the chronic drinker has become. Those who drink heavily on a daily basis of course have developed a high level of dependency on alcohol and will almost certainly experience at least some severe withdrawal symptoms, but even those who drink alcohol daily, but not heavily and those who drink alcohol heavily but not daily, can also be chemically dependent upon alcohol.

When someone who has become “alcohol dependent” stops drinking abruptly, they will experience some level of physical discomfort. This is why it is extremely difficult for alcoholics to stop drinking “on their own” without the assistance and support of an alcohol rehab center or support group.

The Shakes, Sweats, Nausea, Headache, Rapid Heart Beat and Increased Blood Pressure

For some, who are less chemically dependent, withdrawal symptoms might be as “mild” as merely getting the shakes, the sweats or night sweats – perhaps nausea, headache, anxiety, a rapid heart beat and increased blood pressure.

Although these alcohol withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable and irritating, they are not necessarily dangerous. But they are often accompanied by the “craving” for more alcohol, making the decision to continue abstinence much more difficult to make without counseling or support.

Even the “morning after hangover” of someone who only occasionally drinks to excess, is actually a mild form of alcohol withdrawal from the excesses of the night before, as the alcohol content of their blood begins to drop. The symptoms can appear within a few hours after not drinking.

More Serious – Hallucinations and Seizures

Within six to 48 hours after not drinking, hallucinations may develop for the more seriously alcohol dependent. These are usually visual hallucinations but they can also involve sounds and smells. They can last for a few hours or up to weeks at a time. Also within this time frame after quitting, convulsions or seizures can occur, which is the point at which alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal becomes dangerous if not medically treated.

I’ll Never Drink Again, Really!!!

After a particularly damaging or embarrassing alcohol binge, a seriously dependent alcohol drinker will make an oath to “never drink again” and really mean it this time.

However, when severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms begin and the “phenomenon of craving” sets in, the body is telling the drinker that it needs more alcohol. When the physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal begin to intensify, taking another drink simply becomes less painful than not taking one or so it seems at the time. Thus, the vicious, repetitive cycle of binge drinking, sobering up, emerging remorseful and swearing off, only to drink again when the pain gets too bad, begins and repeats over and over again.

Chronic Alcoholism – The DT’s (Delirium Tremens)

Chronic alcoholism and it’s severe withdrawal symptoms may progress to delirium tremens (DT’s) after three to five days without alcohol. The symptoms of DT’s include profound confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, hyperactivity and extreme cardiovascular disturbances. This condition causes shifts in your breathing, your circulation and your temperature control. It can cause your heart to race or can cause your blood pressure to increase dramatically and it can cause serious dehydration.

Once DT’s begin, there is no known medical treatment to stop them. Grand mal seizures, heart attacks and strokes can occur during the DT’s, all of these serious alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be fatal to an alcoholic if not properly treated.

If you or someone you care about is experiencing Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome, please contact an alcohol detox center before it’s too late!

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug. A tolerance is often developed when a user, seeking to achieve the initial pleasure received from first use, increases the dosage to intensify and prolong the euphoric effects.

Users of cocaine or crack cocaine often feel euphoric, energetic, talkative and mentally alert after taking small amounts of cocaine. Cocaine use can also temporarily lessen a user’s need for food or sleep. Short-term physiological effects include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils and increased temperature, heart rate and blood pressure. Ingesting large amounts of cocaine can intensify the user’s high, but can also lead to bizarre, erratic and violent behavior. Users who ingest large amounts may experience tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches and paranoia. Other possible effects of cocaine use include irritability, anxiety and restlessness.

Cocaine Detox

Detox or withdrawal symptoms from cocaine or crack cocaine may include severe depression, fatigue, generalized malaise, vivid and unpleasant dreams, agitation and restless behavior, slowing of activity or increased appetite.

During detox or withdrawal from cocaine, there can be powerful, intense cravings for more cocaine. However, the “high” associated with ongoing use becomes less and less pleasant and can produce fear and extreme suspicion rather than joy. Just the same, the cravings remain very powerful.

The craving and depression can last for months following cessation of long-term heavy (particularly daily) use. Withdrawal symptoms can also be associated with suicidal thoughts in some people.

The withdrawal from cocaine may not be as unstable as withdrawal from alcohol. However, withdrawal from any chronic substance abuse is very serious. There is a risk of suicide or compensatory overdose.

Symptoms of cocaine addiction and withdrawal usually resolve completely over time with treatment. People experiencing cocaine withdrawal often attempt to self-medicate with alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics or anti-anxiety agents such as diazepam (Valium). Self-medication is not advised, because it simply shifts addiction from one substance to another.

Problems Other Than Cocaine Addiction

Because at least 50% of all cocaine addicts have a co-occurring disorder (particularly bi-polar disorder, depression and attention-deficit disorder), these conditions must be considered and treated aggressively when treating cocaine addiction.

Relapse rates are dramatically reduced when these co-existing conditions are treated appropriately. All prescription drugs should be monitored carefully in patients who abuse substances.