Leading the wave of new designer drugs is a horrific substance referred to as “Cosmetics” that users are ingesting in order to get a hallucinogenic high. The new Cosmetic products contain research chemicals (mephedrone, methylenedioxypyrovalerone or MDPV), stimulants that can be broken up and snorted, smoked or reduced to a liquid for injection just like cocaine. Since the effects of ingesting cosmetics are similar to cocaine, meth and ecstasy, dangerous amounts of Dopamine and very low levels of Serotonin impact the user’s brain, which results in severely damaged brain chemistry and inevitable psychosis with prolonged use.

“Similar to Bath Salts, Cosmetics are found after users ingest the drug for multiple days. Since the drug has a much longer half-life than other drugs, abusers stay under the influence longer, and after just a couple of days, a staggering number of users experience full psychotic breaks, which often result in extreme delusions, violent outbursts and severe depression,” said Dr. Mohammad.

Dr. Mohammad continued, “Cosmetics are packaged as actual make-up for young kids and look very similar to legitimate cosmetics. If parents and experts aren’t made aware that some of these make-up products are manufactured with the sole intention of getting users high, we will undoubtedly have a problem of epidemic proportion.” Mohammad added, “The manufacturers of Bath Salts have just altered the formula and repackaged the product as cosmetics, which is a travesty. While legislators made Bath Salts illegal, the research chemicals used to make the products have not been controlled, which means that manufacturers will continue to produce these chemicals, package them as different products not outlawed and make them available to kids. Until research chemicals are controlled, this will be a never ending process and we must remain vigilant.”

 Dr. Mohammad said, “While the holiday season is typically a time for over-indulgence, ushering in the new year generally means that the over indulgent make a drastic effort to stop indulging cold turkey; there could be no greater recipe for failure and in some scenarios, significant health risk or death.” Mohammad added, “Whether you wish to stop smoking, drinking, eating or abusing drugs, you must have a well-planned, health-conscious strategy or the outcome will be disastrous under most circumstances. It is far safer and healthier to consult a medical professional when attempting to get control of addictive behaviors.”

Dr. Mohammad and his team will answer any questions and provide guidance to all those who submit addiction and behavior-related questions through the Malibu Horizon website. Mohammad added, “More often than not, people underestimate their physical and emotional dependency on the various vices they attempt to curb by making yearly resolutions. If they are lucky, they will white-knuckle their cravings and find some degree of success; however, the vast majority will resume their addictive behaviors – while many run the risk of severe discomfort, severe mood swings, seizures, irreversible medical conditions and even death if not in the care of a qualified medical expert. Contact our team today and we will help you not only make and stick to healthy, realistic resolutions, but also will work with you to create the best possible you for 2012 and beyond.”

Dr. Mohammad said, “While there is absolutely no doubt that when dealing with a medical disease, proper and careful intervention by a qualified individual is the key to healing; well, that sentiment holds particularly true for the disease of addiction.” Mohammad added, “Sadly, a shocking number of interventionists working today are not just unqualified to perform quality interventions, but they are also drastically overcharging people in need for their questionable services. In my opinion, this behavior is borderline criminal and must be stopped”

Dr. Mohammad and his peers have decided that until there is a consistent and respected regulatory system in place to monitor the actions of qualified interventionists, they are forming an alliance of addiction experts throughout the recovery industry that will be keeping a registry of qualified and reputable interventionists, and making their list available to the public upon request. Mohammad added, “Our team is launching this campaign to not only educate the public about the intervention process and how to find the best qualified interventionist for your situation, but also to provide some system of checks and balances to an intervention industry that until now has operated below the radar. There is no room for error when treating this disease and the professionals responsible for critical interventions need to be qualified or out of business; it is that simple and an awareness campaign is a much needed first step.”

Dr. Mohammad said, “Aside from the countless studies in the United States and Europe, which undoubtedly prove the effectiveness of certain medications for the exceptional treatment of alcohol detox and alcohol treatment through relapse prevention, it is considered ‘off label’ by the FDA, which leaves physicians susceptible to litigation. This is not just frustrating, but also makes it more difficult for us to provide alcohol abusers with the lifesaving medication they need.” Mohammad added, “For instance, Topiramate (Topamax) is an antiepileptic drug, or seizure medication; however, numerous studies have shown that Topiramate can and should be used for Alcohol Detox and Alcohol Treatment through relapse prevention, due to it effects on GABA and Glutamate receptors, which are unbalanced during Alcohol Detox and during abstinence. It’s not FDA indicated for Alcohol Treatment but Clinically we see significant effects as shown in studies.”

Dr. Mohammad and his team will include this sensitive topic in their forthcoming series of ‘town hall’ meetings in an effort to educate the public and encourage physicians to become more vocal about these unfortunate limitations. Mohammad added, “It is beyond unfortunate when the best possible medications for alcohol treatment aren’t indicated as such by the FDA, which makes the process of treating this disease more difficult. While I understand the FDA’s need to set boundaries, there are more than enough conclusive studies regarding the ‘off label’ benefits of various medications and the simple truth is, we can save more lives by using these medications but we need to work with the FDA to protect physicians from various legal pitfalls that emerge when working with non-FDA indicated medications.”

Trends
According to the report, during the ‘80s and ‘90s, the majority of drug-induced deaths were attributable to illicit drugs (e.g., heroin and cocaine), drug-induced mortality rates were higher among blacks than whites.

This change occurred as prescription drugs, especially prescription opioid painkillers and psycho-therapeutic drugs, were prescribed more widely by physicians. Prescribed drugs eventually supplanted illicit drugs as the leading cause of drug related overdose deaths.

Conclusions
The report concluded that physicians should follow existing guidelines for cautious use of prescription drugs that tend to be misused by patients. Regulations designed to prevent illicit use of prescription drugs need to be strengthened and enforced. Persons who misuse prescription drugs should be identified and receive a referral for substance abuse treatment.

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OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is very treatable.

OCD is the fourth most common mental disorder. It is as common as often as diabetes and asthma. Most adults that were diagnosed with OCD as a child will often recall childhood OCD experiences of some kind.

Signs and symptoms
Sings and symptoms may include continual hand washing, fixation with sexual or aggressive tendencies, disliking certain numbers, nervous habits or extensive hoarding. Severe emotional and financial consequences can result from OCD because these symptoms can become overwhelming in some cases.

People with OCD may appear overly suspicious, or perceive them as threatening or psychotic. Sufferers of OCD recognize their thoughts and actions as irrational and may become distressed.

An OCD person will perform repetitive tasks to relieve their related anxiety. Sometimes they believe that their life will not continue as normal unless they preform these obsessive activities. They may have the thought or image of someone close to them dying. They may also obsess someone or some thing or disease will kill them or someone they care about.

Sexual obsessions for people with OCD include kissing, touching, oral sex, intercourse, incest, or rape. This might be with someone they have met or even a family member, including the family pet. They understand that their belief does not correspond with the outside world but they feel that they must act in case their beliefs are correct.

Some OCD cases feel they have to do their compulsive habits even though they cannot explain why. Others might feel that these actions will help avoid a dreaded event from happening, and their actions alleviate the anxiety that triggers certain obsessions.

OCD signs include excessive nail biting, hair plucking, and skin picking. These actions are designed to fend off feelings of panic and dread. They feel bound to comply with irrational thoughts and behavior even though they may be aware they are acting irrationally.

People with OCD rely on their compulsions as an escape from their enslaving thoughts. They are usually aware that the relief is temporary. Sometimes they use their compulsions to prevent triggering their obsessions. The anxiety and fear that typically accompany OCD makes it hard for a person to fulfill their work, social, or family roles. Individuals with OCD will sometimes use rationalization to try and explain away their behavior.

OCD Treatment
One type of OCD therapy is called exposure and habit prevention. It involves slowly learning to tolerate the anxiety associated with not performing the habitual, obsessive, compulsive behavior. The person gradually adjusts to the anxiety producing situation and discovers that their anxiety level has decreased considerably. The exposure habit prevention is considered one of the most effective treatments.

Medications
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are medications that prevent excess serotonin from being pumped back into the original neuron that released it. Instead it then binds to the receptor sites of nearby neurons and send chemical messages that can help regulate the anxiety and obsessive thoughts.

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GAD progresses gradually over time and affects more women than men. Some researchers attribute this to certain biological differences caused by hormonal fluctuations in women. Others suggest it may be the stereotypical gender roles a woman has and the societal expectations of perfection. As a wife, mother, caretaker, and worker, women have a lot to worry about. She cannot stop worrying about everything in her life, day in and day out. Some men can shut their worried thoughts off before it gets to be a problem.

Doctors are not absolutely sure what causes GAD, some research shows genetics can play a role. Brain chemistry can also be a factor. If neurotransmitters are imbalanced, the brains reactions to some situations are altered and this may trigger anxiety. There are also environmental factors that lead to GAD. Such things as trauma, physical and mental abuse, divorce, shifts in a person’s life could be activators.

Besides their excessive, never ending worry and tension that is due to their unrealistic perception of their problems, a person with GAD  disorder often display physical symptoms such as exhaustion, muscle tension, headaches, queasiness, sweating, fatigue and bathroom habits. People with GAD may also show trouble concentrating and may be unable to fall or stay asleep at night. It is not unusual for them to experience trembling and some are easily startled.

It is common for anxiety disorders sufferers to also have panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, or other phobias.

GAD Diagnosis and Treatment

Once anxiety is suspected, symptoms are evaluated, and if confirmed to be GAD, the doctor will propose a treatment plan that frequently combines medication and cognitive behavior therapy. Benzodiazepines, also known as tranquilizers, like Xanax and Valium, may be prescribed to calm and reduce the patients physical symptoms. Antidepressants, Zoloft, Effexor, and Paxil, to name a few, are also being used to deal with GAD.

Cognitive behavior therapy teaches people suffering from these types of anxiety disorders to identify and adjust their thinking and behaviors that control their anxious feelings. This manner of therapy helps restrict distorted thinking by allowing them to look at their worries more rationally.

There are alternative treatments that may help decrease some of the symptoms associated with GAD. Instead of having a morning cup of coffee, substitute it with a cup of herbal tea. Cutting out alcoholic beverages is thought to help also. Some recommend keeping a tight rein on their sugar intake and refined carbohydrates, too.

Calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B complex are essential to a healthy nervous system and support the production of neurotransmitters; the nerve cells message carriers.

Cardiovascular exercise burns lactic acid which produce the mood enhancing chemicals called endorphins which cause the body to use oxygen more efficiently. Regular exercise and relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga can also help ease panic attacks.

addiction help

Being drug free can be a very difficult task to overcome especially for someone who has been addicted to them for a very long time. In most cases these types of facilities will offer two kinds of care. Care for those who are trying to remove themselves from a drug, and care for those who have already completed a program with success but still need a little help maintaining their drug free lifestyle.

There are also two ways in which one can begin to remove themselves from opiates. Medical treatment is one option and the other option is simply to quit cold turkey. Being able to just quit cold turkey comes with some consequences such as being very sick, this is why a treatment facility may be an important step in being fully drug free.

Choosing to use medicine to help alleviate some of the effects of being taken off of drugs is always an option. One way to begin a program that will help you be drug free is to start using methadone. This methadone must be given to you by a physician and in most care facilities is given on a daily basis by a doctor. This medicine will help decrease the side effects that come along with a detoxification program. Some of the side effects are shaking, and actually craving the drug. This medicine is given to the patient daily and with each successful use is withdrawn by milligrams until it is no longer needed.

Cold turkey is also an option however being in a facility is almost a must if this is the choice being made. Cold turkey can be very painful because the body will crave the drug and go through many symptoms that are uncomfortable. It is important to be around medical personnel who can be supportive or can take medical action immediately if needed.

Being addicted to opiates is a terrible way to spend life and almost everyone who is addicted would like to have a normal life again. In many instances living this normal life again means completing a treatment program that will be supportive even after completion.

Being afraid of what life will be like after the drugs are gone is also a concern for some addicts. Some are also afraid of what is going to happen to their bodies when going through the withdraw symptoms.

Do not let fear ruin the chances of being drug free. Continuing to use opiates such as heroin, Oxycontin as well as other pain killers can lead to severe brain damage as well as overdose and death. These treatment facilities are wonderful places that are trained to deal with and support those who are willing to help themselves be drug free.

As many as one in two people with a serious mental illness will also fight drug or alcohol addiction at some point in their life. This is not just because of people attempting to self-medicate, but also because people with mental illnesses are often more vulnerable to the effects of drugs and alcohol. They may not need as many doses to become addicted, or as much of the drug to see effects.

Most dual diagnosis patients will be able to achieve recovery if they are serious about putting in the effort. But it is very important that both issues be dealt with at the same time, because either one left untreated is likely to aggravate the other. Treating alcoholism in a person who also has depression must include dealing with the depression, or the alcoholism is likely to recur, for instance.

Being able to talk to professionals about both major issues at the same time can help people with addictions to figure out how to best treat their problems. Specialists who are experienced at dealing with the problems facing mentally ill alcoholics and addicts can be an invaluable resource. A support system is also vital– those who have recovered from similar issues can share tips and inspiring stories.

A dual diagnosis treatment center is a specialty facility itself, but some centers additionally specialize within the field. There are facilities that treat people with mostly eating disorders and a drug or alcohol addiction, and centers that treat mostly people who are bi-polar and have a drug or alcohol addiction, for example. There are even facilities for people with a sex addiction and a drug or alcohol problem. These centers may provide additional help for patients in the form of vast experience with the same issue, not just similar ones.

An inpatient facility is the best choice for people who have not had previous treatment and counseling. These provide detox treatment, which allows the drugs or alcohol to leave the patient’s system, and then transition into further care. Outpatient care might be appropriate for people who have already detoxed, or those leaving inpatient programs. Many facilities offer both inpatient and outpatient programs.

It is very important that any person going into a program be committed to their recovery. No one except the courts can force an adult to enter a program, but those who have been cajoled into going by well-meaning family members or friends are unlikely to see results unless they fully participate and commit to their own recovery. Only those people who are determined to succeed are likely to do so.

Choosing to go into alcohol or drug rehab is a big decision, and for people with another condition, picking the right one is very important. People with mental issues as well as addictions need to address both of their problems simultaneously in order to have the best chance of achieving recovery, and a dual diagnosis treatment center is often the best option for this. When patients understand how their problems interact, they can learn how to deal with them in more functional ways.

* Make sure the center is clean and cleaned regularly. Look through the rest rooms that are both public and private. The cleanliness of the facility will tell you a lot about the treatment as well. Look to ensure there is a regular cleaning schedule that the facility stays on.

* Talk with the people that will be taking care of and providing the treatment. How friendly are they? How open are they about their facility? The best rehab centers will be open and honest, they will understand and treat each patient as an individual.

* Does the facility have the latest technology in case there is a problem? Do have they have plenty of equipment for multiple patients? This can be extremely important in an emergency to ensure that yourself or loved one will taken care of immediately in case something happens.

* Look through the meal plans and what type of food is being served for an inpatient facility. This is extremely important that the meals are healthy and delivered on time. Make sure there is a range of food choices and can they accommodate allergies if necessary. You want to make sure that the food and snacks being offered are nutritious, especially when going through rehab.

* Does the facility accommodate wheelchairs, walkers and other physical equipment that a person may need? Make sure there is ample room between tables, down hallways and into rooms. The staff too should be knowledgeable in the needs of many different patients and be able to handle these accommodations.

* Definitely look into their rehab methods. Do they use counseling sessions and other treatments? Are they only use other medications to help rehab a person? You will want to check into this thoroughly to make sure they will be offering the treatment you are looking for. Are they open to changes to the treatment when it is not working or doing things differently depending on the person’s situation? These should all be discussed with the doctors and the operator of the facility to ensure that the best treatment possible is received.

* Do they have ways to segregate patients when necessary? If there is a problem are they equipped to keep patients apart they may be having problems? You want to make sure there are safety measures in place in case anything should happen while there and to make sure that facility is equipped with enough staff too to handle any situation that could occur.

When looking for the best rehab centers, you may have to go back a few times to ensure that it is up to your standards and will meet your needs. You will want to possibly even show up unannounced to see how the facility looks and how they react to that.