Drugs 101: The Most Commonly Abused

Drug addiction is a complex disease and can be fatal. In 2017 there were over 70,000 drug overdoses in the US and over 18 million people struggling with substance abuse disorder. It’s a common misconception that drug addicts can just stop using whenever they want. Addiction is like any other health complication, it needs to be treated and if it’s left untreated, there are serious complications. 

While there are numerous drugs circulating the market, there are five common ones we see people abusing in the treatment industry. 

Heroin

Heroin is the most potent and powerful of all of the opioid drugs. Although it’s illegal to sell or purchase, it’s readily available throughout the United States. When mixed with the drug Fentanyl, it’s not only more addictive than it was before, but the chance of overdosing is increased and has led to countless deaths across the country.

As of 2017, about 494,000 Americans over the age of 12 became regular heroin users and nearly 900,000 Americans had tried the drug at least one time.

Opioids 

According to the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, about 130 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose and nearly 400,000 people lost their battle with opioids between 1999 and 2017.

Opioids are commonly prescribed for pain management. Oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine are all opioids. It’s common to open up a household medicine cabinet and see at least one of these drugs. Opioids are becoming a crisis in America because they’re easily accessible and it’s easy to build a tolerance when taking them. 

The sale of opioid-based painkillers skyrocketed from 1999 to the present time a total of 300 percent. Several drug companies have recently been sued and held accountable for pushing opioids onto patients with the knowledge that they are highly addictive and can easily lead to overdose deaths.

Cocaine

Cocaine comes from the coca plant that is grown mostly in South America. It’s addiction rate generally includes young users, anywhere from the age of 15-34. It’s estimated that about 7.4 million people in that age group have used cocaine at least one time in their lives. Cocaine can be snorted, ingested, or smoked (normally referred to as crack cocaine) and is highly addictive. It’s the most trafficked drug in the world since the demand for the supply is always present.

Many cocaine users or drug dealers at some point begin to mix the drug with heroin and fentanyl, leading to an increase in overdose deaths.

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most abused substance of all and affects about 300 million people throughout the world. Many people try alcohol at a very young age since it is legal and easily obtained.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an average of 30 Americans die each day due to a car crash involving a drunk driver, and about six people die each day from alcohol poisoning. Approximately 88,000 people die as a result of alcohol addiction every single year in the United States. About six percent of all adults in the United States, which is about 15 million people, have an addiction to alcohol and only a small percentage seek treatment for their addiction.

Crystal Meth (Methamphetamine)

Crystal Meth can be smoked, injected, or snorted. It can cause users to be awake for days at a time and make them feel invincible. It’s highly addictive with an addiction rate of approximately 774,000 Americans each year who are regular users, and approximately 16,000 of that figure are teenagers between the ages of 12-17. In 2017, 10,000 Americans suffered fatal overdoses. 

Seek Treatment Now

If you or someone you know is addicted to drugs or alcohol, or battle drug abuse, you can get help at Laguna View Detox. The unique program offered by the professionals at Laguna View encompasses detoxification and inpatient treatment for all types of addiction. Call us today! 

What Does Alcohol Withdrawal Look Like?

Addiction is a serious issue that impacts people of all ages, races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This is a disease that does not know the difference. One of the most common addictions is alcoholism. Those who suffer from this addiction will do almost anything to get their hands on alcohol. They can destroy relationships with family members, friends, and damage their professional careers beyond repair.

Fortunately, many people who live with alcoholism have people who love, support and care about them. Therefore, they might end up trying to stop drinking. When someone has been using alcohol in excess are in danger of suffering something called alcohol withdrawal syndrome. When someone goes into withdrawal from alcohol, the symptoms can be severe. It is important for everyone to know what it looks like when someone is in alcohol withdrawal.

The Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

The impacts of alcohol withdrawal will primarily impact the central nervous system. The severity of alcohol withdrawal can vary from relatively mild to potentially life-threatening symptoms. Typically, alcohol withdrawal will follow a set progression. Depending on how long and how severe someone’s alcohol abuse has been, the symptoms are going to set in between six and 24 hours from the most recent alcoholic beverage. Once alcohol withdrawal, it can last for up to a week. In order for someone to be diagnosed with alcohol withdrawal, they need to have several of the following symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include:

  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • The development of psychosis, including hallucinations and delusions (they can be auditory, visual, or tactile)
  • The development of emotional lability and agitation
  • Anxiety
  • The development of seizures (typically tonic-clonic in nature)
  • Autonomic instability, such as changes in temperature, heart rate, or blood pressure

In some cases, these symptoms can be quite severe. The severity of the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal will depend on a number of factors. Some of the most important factors that will dictate how severe someone’s alcohol withdrawal is will include how long someone has been using alcohol, the amount of alcohol someone has been consuming, and someone’s past medical history. There are multiple types of alcohol withdrawal that everyone should know.

The Various Types of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

If someone has developed alcohol withdrawal syndrome, this can be classified in a variety of ways. Labeling the medical picture is important for making sure that someone gets the help that he or she deserves. Some of the types of alcohol withdrawal syndrome include:

  • Alcohol Hallucinosis: This is a type of alcohol withdrawal where someone has hallucinations (either visual, auditory, or tactile) but is otherwise medically intact
  • Withdrawal Seizures: This is a type of alcohol withdrawal where someone develops seizures within two days of the most recent drink. These seizures can either come in isolated events or be grouped together.
  • Delirium Tremens: Also known as the DTs, this type of alcohol withdrawal is particularly severe. Anyone experiencing this form of alcohol withdrawal needs urgent medical attention. In addition to the various hallucinations, people with the DTs are very confused, shaking, and can lose consciousness.

Clearly, alcohol withdrawal can be particularly serious. It is important for everyone to know how alcohol withdrawal will progress.

The Progression of Alcohol Withdrawal

If someone has entered a state of alcohol withdrawal, it is important to know how the symptoms are going to progress. Even the most serious symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can develop within only a few hours after the most recent drink. A few hours later, the most common symptoms that will show up include shaking, sweating, anxiety, headaches, and vomiting. Finally, once people have gone a day without a drink, the worst symptoms are going to become more common. This might include agitation, hallucinations, confusion, and more. Seizures start to set in shortly after this time.

After a few days have gone by the symptoms will start to fade. Most people will get better. Those who have developed DTs need to remain with trained medical professionals because the symptoms may continue to worsen. For this reason, anyone who is going through alcohol withdrawal needs to make sure they have the necessary help. This is where trained professionals are essential for withdrawals.

Trust the Professionals with Laguna View Detox

Withdrawals are a serious concern following alcohol abuse and anyone who suffers from alcoholism needs to make sure they rely on the professionals when it comes to addiction treatment. At Laguna View Detox, we take a tremendous amount of pride in the services we provide to those in need. Our professionals have worked hard to make sure they offer the latest treatment methods to everyone who comes to see us. To learn more about how we can help you, please contact us today! We look forward to meeting you.