Do you know what the symptoms of drug use are? It's easy to say that there are personality changes in teens when they are using drugs, but puberty also brings personality changes! There are, however, other warnings signs of a drug abuse problem that you should be aware of.
Early detection of a drinking problem or drug abuse makes it easier to treat it. The longer somebody uses the more entrenched is their behaviour.
Watch for things that seem inappropriate or incongruent. How has your teenager changed his/her routine? Has he/she lost an interest, stopped playing sport, or changed his/her group of friends?
Not all drugs produce the same effects. There are stimulants (such as cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, crack cocaine) that result in people becoming quite restless and fidgety, even while not under the effect of the drug. They can experience paranoia and feel constantly "on alert".
The other group of drugs, known collectively as "downers" can result in people feeling lethargic, slowed, and sloppy in their personal routines. Marijuana is known to have increased appetite as a side effect as well as fits of giggles.
Needle marks, known also as "track marks", are usually an indication of heroin abuse but several other drugs are also commonly injected. Drug users will typically hide these marks by wearing long sleeve shirts or by injecting in out of sight places (eg: the groin).
The cause of alcohol addiction, or alcoholism, has been linked to genetic factors but this has not been conclusively proven. Drinking heavily has been linked to increased risk of throat and breast cancer. It can also lead to a condition known as "erosive gastritis" which reduces the effeciency with which the nutrients from food are absorbed into the body. This can produce many serious side-effects. An alcohol treatment facility will address alcohol abuse. Such programs will incorporate diverse treatment interventions such as psychodynamic counseling, group therapy, psychiatric assessment, psychological assessment, yoga, art therapy, equine therapy, relaxation therapy, and others.
Alcohol accounts for a large number of admissions in addiction treatment centers. Current surveys suggest that nearly 10% of America has a severe drinking problem.
Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to serious neurological impediment which results in cognitive deficits such as forgetfullness, and hallucinations. Other side effects include a lowered sex drive, insomnia, dementia, and damage to the peripheral nervous system.
South Africa has a good international reputation for medical and psychology personnel. Many people from Europe, Africa, and as far flung as Hong Kong fly to South Africa. The lower cost of South African drug rehab is made possible by the weak exchange rate. There is no compromise in standards.
Welcome to our website. You will find information about drug and alcohol addiction here.
A recent report focusing on the drinking and drug use patterns of young South Africans concluded that South Africans drink over 5 billion liters of alcoholic beverages each year. Possibly because it is more socially acceptable alcohol is the most widely abused drug in South Africa.
Not everybody sticks to just one drug. A lot of people abuse combinations of drugs together (eg: mix cocaine and heroin, or cocaine and alcohol). This pattern of drug use is referred to as polysubstance abuse.
It is a sad truth that millions of people are addicted to drugs of some sort. This causes terrible damages in their lives and the lives of their families. Drug use usually starts innocently as a childhood experiment or by being exposed accidentally to an addictive substance (eg: pain medication prescribed after an accident). If you find that you are taking increasingly high doses to get the same effect you are experiencing tolerance. This is a sure sign that you should consider quitting.
South Africa has an excellent standard of treatment and its attracts people from around the world. People fly across the globe to be admitted to a alcohol treatment facility because it is significantly more affordable than foreign options. A month in a top-class facility in South Africa will cost approximately $ 10,500 for a private room. You will be treated by a team that includes internationally trained doctors of psychology, an honorary lecturer in psychiatry specialized in addictions treatment, and several other luminaries of the field.
This is made possible by the weak exchange rate of the South African Rand.