Addiction
Providing an accurate description of what Drug Addiction is has proven to be a controversial topic debated by medical doctors, psychiatrists, therapists, psychologists and scientists. Thus, it would be unacceptable to presume that this blog is an all-inclusive or conclusive definition of Drug Addiction.
Most professionals do agree that addiction is a brain disease. If you would like to know more about the specifics of this, please read the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s definition of addiction. Perhaps it may be easier for some families to understand what Drug Addiction is not, as opposed to what it is scientifically, medically or technically speaking.
This is a pretty basic list of some of the common misconceptions:
Addiction is NOT:
- Something that you or your loved one chooses
– Although initially it is the individual’s decision to pick up a drug with no intention of developing an addiction to it
- Something that you can stop on your own
– You may feel like you can and you may even develop strategies like only drinking one six pack of beer or just two glasses of wine or only one shot at the bar or only using drugs on weekends. If your strategies do work even for a little while, chances are you will not be able to maintain these using patterns for very long.
- Something that you can force anyone else to stop just because you want them to stop
– No matter how much your child, parent, friend or other loved one may want to quit using for you – once they have developed an addiction, not just casual drinking or drug usage, it is virtually impossible for them to quit on their own no matter how much they may want to or how much you want them to and believe that they should be able to.
- Something that is impossible to recover from
– Although it should be noted addiction is not “curable” as other diseases, such as cancer – once an addict always an addict – and the person must continuously work on their recovery for the rest of their life to prevent their addiction from taking over their lives again.
Synthetic Marijuana: What is it?
Synthetic marijuana/spice has caught some recent media attention due to reports of dangerous and even violent behavior from individuals who use it. These products contain dried, shredded plant material and chemical additives that are responsible for their psychoactive (mind-altering) effects. The component of cannabis that produces the desired effect is called THC, and synthetic marijuana is designed to magnify the effects of THC.
Synthetic marijuana has been on the market for a relatively short period of time and for many years it was available for purchase at gas stations, smoke shops and via the internet. Frequent unwanted side effects have been reported and include vivid and frightening hallucinations, delusional thoughts or beliefs and psychological breaks with reality. Popular Science magazine also reports that some teenagers who have tried this drug have suffered seizures, strokes or even loss of eyesight. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has now designated the five most common chemicals used in making spice as schedule I controlled substances, making it illegal to buy, sell or possess them. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse manufacturers of Spice products attempt to evade these legal restrictions by substituting different chemicals in their mixtures, while the DEA continues to monitor the situation and evaluate the need for updating the list of banned cannabinoids.
What makes synthetic marijuana especially dangerous is that it lacks a substance called cannabidol that minimizes the negative effects of THC. Due to the likelihood of permanent brain damage or psychosis, habitual users of synthetic marijuana present a liability to companies that employ them along with posing a possible threat to themselves or others.
Along with “spice,” some other street names for this drug include “black mamba,” “K2” and “sexy monkey.” The variations in synthetic marijuana’s composition also make it very dangerous because there is no way of predicting how different individuals will react to it. According to the scientist who first developed synthetic marijuana for research purposes, recreational use of it is figuratively a game of Russian Roulette. Spice products are popular among young people; of the illicit drugs most used by high-school seniors, they are second only to marijuana.
It is still not known how the use of Spice may affect human health. Many users have been taken to Poison Control Centers and the effects of using Spice could be serious and irreversible. If you suspect one of your friends, family members or colleagues is using this synthetic drug, don’t wait! Contact us now for further information about our instant or laboratory screening resources.
Opiates: Understanding Addiction and Testing
Opiate Addiction
When it comes to opiate addiction, it is important to know the facts about the affliction. From the perspective of an employer, it is essential to recognize the signs and symptoms of potential drug addiction in your employees. This is especially pertinent in the case of opiates, which can cause complications due to the wide abuse of prescription medication, even if they currently have a prescription for the drug. By investigating the facts about opiate Drug Addiction, protecting the integrity of your workplace should be accomplishable.
Constant and Prolonged Use is Necessary for Addiction
For someone to become addicted to opiates, they must use them on a consistent period for a long period of time. For those taking prescription pain medication to treat pain, alternating days of consumption is essential for preventing addiction and the build up of a tolerance. According to CRC Health Group, “With extensive, continuous opiate use, the body’s natural painkillers (known as endorphins) stop working as they are supposed to. With long-term use, the body stops producing endorphins altogether because it is used to receiving opiates from an outside source. In addicted individuals, nerve cells gradually become degenerated. This results in an increased need for and a high tolerance of the drug.”
Addiction Causes Fundamental Changes in Neuronal Brain Circuits and Cells
Since opiates replicate neurotransmitters in the brain, they often cause an excessive release of dopamine. If the dopamine levels are constantly raised, the brain will naturally deplete itself of dopamine receptors in order to maintain a balance. When this occurs, the user will not have enough natural dopamine to properly stimulate the the decreased number of receptors, leading to depression and anxiety.
Opiate Testing
The prevalence of drug use has shifted toward prescription drug abuse. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and The White House “nearly one-third of people aged 12 and over who used drugs for the first time in 2009 began by using a prescription drug non-medically.” In fact prescription drug abuse is the second most abused category of drugs behind marijuana. More specifically concerning prescription drug use, the biggest concern from employers is regarding oxycodone and oxymorphone, synthetic opiates. Oxycodone is a type of synthetic opiate that more popularly known through various brand names such as OxyContin, Vicodin and Percocet. Oxymorphone, also a synthetic opiate, is more commonly known as Opana, Numorphan. Because oxycodone and oxymorphone are opiates, most employers believe that the standard drug test will test for these synthetic opiates. Unfortunately, they are misled!
Most company’s standard 5-panel and 10-panel test will includes opiates, but will only test for morphine and codeine. At MedScreens, we have recognized the importance of this trend and have added an expanded panel to our standard laboratory based tests. Contact us if you have any questions about opiate drug testing.
An Innocent Drink?
Many people are able to have just “an innocent drink”, consuming alcohol in social situations and continuing their day to day life without their alcohol use causing damage to themselves or those around them. On the other hand, some people are NOT able to control their alcohol consumption. For these individuals, what was once “an innocent drink” becomes a chain that rules their life. Recent data from the National Institutes of Health reports that 15% of the people living in the United States are considered “problem drinkers”. Another study found that approximately 30% of people in the U.S. report experiencing an alcohol disorder at one point in their lifetime. Researchers from the University of California in San Diego have found that the lifetime risk of alcohol-use disorders for men is greater than 20%. They share that there is a risk of around 15% for alcohol abuse and 10% risk for alcohol dependence. Some employees and employers believe drinking after working hours will not result in negative job performance, however, over-consumption may cause lingering effects while at work. Whether they are aware of it or not, the effects of alcohol may still be in their system, which is why Alcohol Testing is an essential tool.
Individuals metabolize alcohol differently so it is impossible to say what effects having a certain number of drinks has on a person. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is used as a guide as to what affects alcohol may have on behavior. Alcohol takes an effect on the brain within five minutes of being consumed. The BAC peaks about 30-45 minutes after a drink is consumed. Rapid consumption of multiple drinks results in higher BAC because the average body can only break down one standard drink per hour.
The more you drink daily, the more likely you are to develop alcohol withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking. Physical withdrawal symptoms from alcohol can begin as early as 2 hours after the last drink. These symptoms usually worsen within 48 – 72 hours and may persist for weeks. Withdrawal symptoms occur because long-time alcohol abuse causes adaptations in the brain whereby the brain and central nervous system become physiologically changed to become dependent on alcohol. Once this physiological dependence occurs, a sudden drop in blood-alcohol levels can cause the central nervous system to enter a hyper-excitable state, which causes a number of physical symptoms – some of them potentially deadly. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can range from mild anxiety and shakiness to severe complications, such as seizures and delirium tremens (also called DTs). The death rate from DTs — which are characterized by confusion, rapid heartbeat, and fever — is estimated to range from 1% to 5%.
Our facility has provided Alcohol Testing services for over 10 years. We have assisted many companies in determining alcohol issues in their employees and referred them for treatment and/or counseling to a qualified professional. Call us if you need personal assistance to help you select the type of alcohol test that would best accommodate your needs. We offer several options for you to choose from, including instant breath alcohol testing kits, which allow you to administer the breath alcohol test conveniently by yourself on an employee or loved one. You may also have the test conducted at our facility without an appointment between the hours of 8am – 5pm on Monday – Friday. We provide breath alcohol tests that conform with DOT’s (Department of Transportation) stringent regulations. All of our testing is focused on maintaining the highest level of integrity as we are an Accredited Collection Facility by the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA).
Employee Assistance Program
An Employee Assistant Program (EAP) is a growing tool companies use to support the removal of various workplace problems by examining, assessing, intervening, referring and/or managing the employee’s mental health or substance abuse problem. The American Journal of Public Health reports that in 1985 only 31% of employers offered an EAP, while the Society for Human Resource Management documents that the number of employers offering an EAP rose to 75% by 2008. According to the Employee Assistance Trade Association (EASNA), the size of the company is directly related to the chance of a company offering an EAP. Research shows that 52% of companies that employ less than 100 employees the United States offer some sort of EAP while 89% of companies with over 500 employees offer an EAP As part of their benefit package.
The first EAPs began in the 1940’s as informal peer support programs for employees with alcohol problems. Due to World War II, the workforce demanded skilled and stable employees. The effects of the war were felt in the workforce and employers were forced to recruit employees in locations with high rates of alcoholism. This increased the amount of alcohol related workplace issues. Employers began to realize that rehabilitating these employees was more cost effective than replacing them; Therefore, Occupational Alcoholism Programs (OAP) were born. In the 1950s companies including Standard Oil and Consolidated Edison expanded these services to include counseling for mental health problems, and the resulting employee benefit became known as an employee assistance program.
Despite the growing rate of EAPs, companies are not required to offer an EAP to employees. For a company in MS to be a Drug-Free Workplace the employer must either directly contract with an EAP or maintain a list of available EAPs that an employee may contact. If an employer decides to offer an EAP they may do so by means of an on-site provider (internal) or an offsite provider (external). The EAP is completely confidential and services are provided by professionals who are prohibited from disclosing any information about the services you use.
An EAP is a essential component of a successful Drug-free workplace program. The EAP will provide consultation with regard to managing workplace alcohol and drug issues and can offer coaching on how to best approach an employee to make a referral. The EAP thus facilitates an atmosphere in which supervisors can focus on work performance rather than employee’s personal issues. Costs for an employer to provide an EAP varies due to utilization rate, program model and employer size. Over the past decade employer cost associated with EAPs averages $12 – $40 annually per employee. Several studies have been conducted to determine the return on invest of an EAP. All of the studies have supported the general conclusion that an EAP will save an employer between $3 – $10 for every $1 invested on an employee. According to the National Business Group on Health, studies have shown an average of 17 hours of loss work were saved in 60% of cases.
Contact us to learn more about a Drug-Free Workplace Program, Employee Assistance Program or Drug Testing.
Flesh Eating Drug
Illegal drug chemists are keeping busy, not only in the United States but across the world, synthesizing new and more dangerous drugs seemingly on a daily basis. Desomorphine has gained attention because of its cheap black market synthesis in Russia, where it began being sold as “krokodil” (pronounced like “crocodile”) in 2010.
Krokodil, the flesh eating drug, is so named because the user’s skin becomes blackened, green and scaly at the injection site–like a crocodile’s–as blood vessels burst and the surrounding tissue dies. Gangrene and amputations are a frequent result.
One internist and addiction specialist says that “it’s a zombie drug — it literally kills you from the inside out. If you want way to die, this is a way to die.” In addition to the damage to the veins and soft tissue at the injection site, the drug also fails to dissolve completely in the blood and thus clumps in the veins. These clumps make their way to other places in the body and start to damage tissue.
Most users die within 2-3 years and in the later stages are plagued by decayed structure of the jaw and facial bones; rotting gums, ears, noses and lips; bone infections; ulcers on the forehead and skull as well as rotting and liver and kidney problems.
Desomorphine is synthesized from codeine, which is sold over-the-counter in Russia, using chemicals like hydrochloric acid, iodine and red phosphorous; strong alkalis such as Mr. Muscle, a kitchen and bathroom cleaner; and organic solvents such as gasoline or paint thinner. The result is a toxic mixture of unknown substances that costs only a third as much as street heroin.
Experts hypothesize that the drug first spread across Russia and Ukraine when heroin became less available. So far Russia is the only country in the world to see the drug grow into an epidemic.
Last month (October 2013) CNN reported that five people had been hospitalized in the Chicago suburb of Joliet, IL, after using krokodil; one of the patients lost significant portions of her leg. In the past three days there have been reports that krokodil has surfaced in Ohio, but authorities deny this.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has not documented any officially confirmed American cases of krokodil abuse. To have official confirmation, the Drug Enforcement Administration would need to have a sample of the drug that caused the problem.
If you’d like to learn more about drugs that are commonly abused, or are interested in conducting drug screening tests—either in-home or in a laboratory–please contact us; we can help.
Drug Free Workplace
In 1988, the federal government adopted the Drug Free Workplace Act and required most government contractors and all federal government grantees to comply with it. Since that time, several businesses have established a drug free workplace policy, instituting random drug testing among their employees.
What is a “Drug Free Workplace?”
A Drug Free Workplace is an employment setting where all employees follow a program of policies designed to provide education and treatment for drug abuse occurring with employees and/or their families. The ultimate goal of the program is to increase and ensure safety in the workplace.
The components of the drug free workplace are a
- written policy,
- availability of assistance,
- employee education,
- drug testing and
- supervisor training.
The Benefits of Establishing a Drug Free Workplace
According to the Council on Alcohol and Drugs, research indicates that approximately 77% of illegal drug users are employed; add in the effects of alcohol abuse and the result is a sizeable segment of the national workforce that is impaired. For the employer, that means unsafe working conditions, loss of productivity and smaller profits, more accidents and higher medical claims expenses. Some states offer a 5% to 10% discount on worker’s compensation premiums for Certified Drug Free Workplaces.
Workers’ performance is also affected by substance abuse in their families. The Council on Alcohol and Drugs reports that in a national telephone survey 26% of employed adults stated there had been substance abuse in their families; 42% of these workers report that they have been unfocused or less productive at work because of it.
If you’d like to learn more about establishing a Drug Free Workplace or about drug testing, please contact us.
Are you loving or enabling?
Chances are you’ve heard the word “enable” to describe the actions of a family member or loved one of someone who has a drug problem. To enable someone means to make it easier for them to continue their drug abuse or addiction, usually by helping them avoid the consequences of their behavior.
Are you enabling a person with a drug problem? Before you read through this list, remember that denial is almost universal. Look at your behavior honestly and objectively; it’s quite common for the “enablers” to think that they’re not doing exactly what they are doing. That said, if you are acting in any of the following ways, you are enabling your loved one to continue abusing drugs, and placing them in danger.
Do you make excuses? For example, you tell yourself that you have to allow your adult child to live in your home and you must give her money because if you do not do these things, she’ll have to live on the streets and will surely die. The truth is, an addict is very likely to die anyway, unless they are arrested or institutionalized first. By providing what your child needs to continue being active in addiction, you are enabling. It may feel like love, but real love means letting your child face the consequences of their actions so they can make a decision to change. This won’t happen if you make using drugs easy.
Do you cover for your loved one at work or school? Another way of making excuses, but in this case you’re not just lying to yourself, you’re lying to other people. Do you call your husband’s boss to say he’s sick, when actually he just can’t get up in the morning because he was out too late drinking the night before? This isn’t the same as being sick, and perhaps losing his job is the one thing that will get him to enter a rehab program. You’re not helping him keep his job; you’re enabling him to drink.
Do you lie to your spouse about your child’s use to protect the child or your spouse from an unpleasant confrontation? You shouldn’t have to go through this alone! Furthermore, you do not have the ability to protect others from the truth, and it’s not your responsibility to do so. (If you’re afraid your spouse will become violent or suffer a breakdown, there are other problems that need to be addressed just as urgently as the drug or alcohol addiction.) By hiding the truth from any part of your family, you’re not preventing problems but merely creating more serious problems by avoiding the inevitable: you are enabling a dangerous situation to continue.
Do you take on extra responsibilities so your loved one won’t have to? Again, this is not loving behavior, it’s enabling behavior. You’re making it easier for the person to focus on their drinking or drug use, and not have to bother with fulfilling normal obligations. This is unkind to both you and the other person: you’re working twice as hard, and your loved one is not functioning like a responsible adult. In a committed relationship, this can create a dynamic in which one partner functions as the “parent” and the other as the “child”: a disastrous and destructive dynamic that will not sustain a relationship. It is very tough to remain lovingly interested in someone who reminds you of your mother or your father or a not-yet-mature kid.
It’s extremely difficult to stop enabling a loved one. It so often seems like the right thing to do; caring and loving and even an effective way to “help”. In reality, enabling behaviors only make the situation worse. It’s like giving a suicidal person a loaded gun.
Questions? Please contact us.
Drug Abuse or Drug Addiction: What’s the difference?
Sometimes the phrases “drug abuse” and “drug addiction” are used interchangeably, but this is actually an error. Drug Abuse and drug addiction are two entirely different issues; however, they are connected: drug abuse can lead to drug addiction.
According to the most common definitions in use, drug abuse occurs when a person uses an illegal drug to get high or uses a legal drug in a different amount or manner than that which was prescribed. For example, a person with a legitimate prescription for painkillers is abusing the drug if they crush the pills and snort them, rather than taking the prescribed dose orally as directed.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines drug abuse as “excessive use of a drug” or “use of a drug without medical justification.” The University of Maryland Medical Center characterizes drug abuse as the “use of illegal drugs, or the misuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs for at least a year with negative consequences.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has dropped the terms “drug abuse” and “substance abuse” in favor of the phrase “harmful use”, focusing on the consequences rather than the action of use. This suggests that not all illegal drug use is abuse; some persons are able to use illegal drugs in a way that does not lead to negative life outcomes.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction, also called dependence, as a “chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful effects”. Addiction is referred to as a brain disease because the chronic use of drugs alters the brain structure and functions.
NIDA notes the following as symptoms of addiction: drug taking in larger amounts than planned; inability to reduce drug use despite repeated efforts; a considerable amount of time spent in activities necessary to attain the drug; and repeated use despite knowledge of health or social problems caused by the drug.
Although there are many different definitions of drug abuse, the definition of drug addiction is consistent throughout the literature on the subject. If you’d like to find out more information about abuse, addiction or drug testing, please contact us.