Archive for the ‘Drug Abuse Effects on Families’ Category

The cost of drug abuse is so staggering yet only a few people truly understand the problem and its complexities. The best way to describe the effects of substance abuse in one word is damaging. In the year 2000, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) said its cost to society was $161 billion annually. This covers lost productivity, health care costs and other costs including efforts to cut the source of drugs.

It is difficult to comprehend the actual effects drugs have on a person. Ask anyone who has been through the ordeal personally, or who has had to live with another suffering from this condition. But one thing is certain, timely intervention  and a solid addiction treatment program like the one offered at Hawaii Island Recovery must be taken before it is too late.

Drug abuse is not limited to illegal substances like marijuana, cocaine or heroin. A person falls into this pattern when he takes drugs, even those known for their therapeutic effects, excessively and compulsively. The purpose is no longer for treatment or healing. Rather, the discovery of habit-forming drugs has altered behaviour patterns and is proceeding to cause physiological and psychological damage that is often irreversible if left unattended.

Drug abuse is a result of addiction. Chemicals in drugs attack the brain, subtly manipulating emotional responses initially, then later progressing to hitting its more complex functions, including self control. Addiction is a brain disease. This is the state when a person so dependent on these substances can no longer function adequately unless provided a dose, or a “fix”, in the case of illicit drugs.

The brain is an intricate communication system. It controls how people think, react, feel and behave. Drugs target neurotransmitters, or the chemical messengers of the brain, disrupting its normal functions that include sending, receiving and processing information.

Under Hawaii Island recovery’s Big Island Recovery Program, it is explained to the clients during treatment how drugs fool neurotransmitters into thinking it is functioning properly, when in fact, the chemical from these substances have actually taken over resulting in abnormal thinking.

There are two ways drug abuse and addiction damage the brain’s nerve cells. First is when certain drugs, like marijuana, imitate neurotransmitters even as it performs abnormally; the second alters the brain’s “reward” circuit by releasing excessive quantities of natural neurotransmitters, specifically dopamine, found in regions of the brain that control our own movement, our different emotions, our personal motivations and most importantly, feelings of pleasure.

The brain, however, compensates for such changes and makes adjustments which in fact reduce its real capacity to function properly. When an individual no longer feels good even with regular drug use, he is compelled to increase dosage or frequency in order to get that level that will restore the euphoric feeling. This is what leads to drug abuse.

There is often a very fine line between drug use and abuse. Some people assume that frequency solely determines addiction. But frequency is not an accurate gauge to prove that line has been crossed. Addiction is not necessarily a result of frequent use. There are several factors that contribute to make an individual vulnerable to substance abuse. Aberrations in patterns of behaviour thought, speech, and actions are the strongest indicators of drug abuse.

What many drug abusers do not realize is the long-term effects these substances will have on their health because they are taken for non-medical reasons. It must also be emphasized that certain illegal drugs, specifically heroin, lysergic and acid diethylamide have never been known to have therapeutic value for humans. In other words, it is simply harmful to the human body. Without intervention, even death may result after long-term drug abuse.

By checking into the Hawaii Island Recovery’s Big Island Recovery Program, clients eventually learn what the drugs and their components have done to harm their system and what needs to be done to reverse such effects. Sometimes, it takes years to recover any health issues stemming from drug abuse. Nothing is short term nor can they be fixed overnight.

Excessive drug use can be detected. Relationships and the usual areas of responsibility (at work, in school or at home) bear the brunt of drug abuse. When the former is disrupted and the latter neglected, an individual is likely suffering from substance abuse. Therapy and treatment at the Big Island Recovery Program offered at Hawaii Island Recovery will help clients evaluate the areas that were grossly affected by drug abuse and introduce steps to restore normalcy to their disrupted life.

Not everyone is prone to drug abuse. Genetics, the environment and a person’s development all have a bearing on how susceptible an individual is to being addicted and resorting to drug abuse. Studies have indicated that people suffering from depression and have mental health case histories have a higher risk of being attracted to drug abuse.

Family support is important in recovering from drug abuse and addiction. This is one of the emphasis when clients choose to undergo treatment at the Big Island Recovery Facility at Hawaii Island Recovery.

A strong resolve to kick the habit is unfortunately not enough to overcome drug abuse. Call Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-906-6911.

Nevertheless, the most basic drug abuse effects on families and relationships are the level of communication and trust among family members.

A healthy family relationship necessitates a good grasp on reality. If illusions take the place of reality, relationships may suffer and the  balance in the family will start to disintegrate. When one member of the family enters into this drug-induced illusion, it might be possible for the family to sustain the balance in a healthy and lively way.

Drug abuse is an attempt to escape from the so-called unsound reality, and some individuals who are getting into it believe that the escape is the only solution where in fact it is just a part of the illusion. The drug abuse effects on family and relationships can be direct or indirect. And whatever for it takes, it can be disruptive and devastating.

One of the common qualities of individuals who are under the influence, or are in a drug abuse state is denial about having a problem. This has been very true in early stages, wherein a person denies that he is becoming addicted to drugs and wants to believe that they have full control of what they are doing. Drug abuse effects mean hindering family relationships because it inhibits  honest communication.

Once the trust begins to disappear, the family connection starts to deteriorate. The drug abuse effects on communication begin when a person with addiction begins to lie— either intentionally or not— to be able to get what he needs. Once a person is caught lying, the trust and the bond disappear. This circumstance is very evident in most of the clients who are in recovery.

With the drug abuse effects, the family of the person under drug abuse will know that they had a life before the addiction came in. However, the problem is that addiction can sometimes change the personality of the person. For example, some individuals get furious and combative when they drink, while other individuals get reclusive and withdraw from the world. Although the family will certainly still love the person with drug abuse issues, they may experience a hard time dealing with this new personality. The issue of drug abuse effects may lead to confusion on the family’s part, as they are still trying to be compassionate to their loved one.

For parents, knowing that their child is engaging in drug abuse may give them hard time dealing with it. They are known to be constantly looking out for their son’s and daughters’ welfare, and the first thing that a parent will feel when he discovers that his child is using drugs is an overpowering sense of guilt and anger.

The drug abuse effects done by their children on the parents are unbearably painful. The guilt that the parent experiences come from their feeling that they should have known this was happening and should have acted more aggressively. When parents are interviewed by counselors about drug abuse effects, they oftentimes blame themselves for not stopping the behavior. This is evident when their child has misbehaved in the past and was only given a light scolding or that the parents absolved him of all responsibilities. Counselors often have two clients, the addict himself, and his family.

Nevertheless, the most basic drug abuse effects on families and relationships are the level of communication and trust among family members. These elements tend to slowly fade away as there is an increasing amount of dishonesty and confusion as the problem progresses. For the addict, concealment becomes second nature. For the parents and those in the household, suspicion becomes the norm. And this is really the kind of drug abuse effects that has ripple effects on relationships all around.

Fortunately, there are several methods that can help people deal with their drug abuse issues. In order to regain the healthy relationship that they had before their crisis, they should reflect on the things that they had done in the past – and there are plenty of addiction rehabilitation centers that will help people address their addiction issues and the drug abuse effects on their families and relationships. One of the well known addiction rehab is Hawaii Island Recovery. Hawaii Island Recovery offers a Big Island Addiction Program that is situated in a peaceful setting that allows for temporary withdrawal of the client to find solitude and peace. It is far away from the frenetic pace of big cities. It is a reflection center where programs are custom tailored to clients needs.

Hawaii Island Recovery’s Big Island addiction treatment center believes that the path to one’s recovery should be unique, and this is the very reason why upon intake, all the information gathered gets analyzed and reviewed. A personal approach to recovery starts the minute the client sets foot in the center. Working on the addiction recovery together and following the set goal, clients can able to see the results that will enable them to reintegrate with their families and begin to repair relations damaged by the many drug abuse effects on family and relationships.

Hawaii Island Recovery has designed various treatment models that target clients in all their stages, from the intervention to post recovery. In short, the institution is dedicated to the client’s need to achieve their goals they set, especially those who are dealing with family relationships.

drug abuse effects on families and its Big Island addiction recovery treatment is designed for the client who wants to break the cycle, who recognizes the damage done, and who is willing to make amends and start repairing drug abuse effects on his relationships. In the end, the addiction program is designed by the client and their therapists. It’s teamwork and its success depends on integrity, hard work and discipline from the client.

Please call 866-906-6911 to receive more information about Hawaii Island Recovery.