Posted by azdrugrehabctr on April 27, 2016 under Addiction Trends, Prescription Drugs | 
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, or ADHD, is one of the most common mental illness diagnosis for children in the United States. so common that many people do not even consider it abnormal. However, like most potential problems with children, there is plenty of information that parents can research if they suspect or have just learned that their child has ADHD.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has published this type of information for parents, however it has been discovered that the information provided is not only confusing, but contradictory. A study was conducted by researchers in Sweden that examined the type of information that parents receive on the subject. Not only is the information confusing to parents, but making the diagnosis parameters more concise might help to eliminate the increasing amount of ADHD medication available for abuse.
Adderall and Ritalin are the most common medications given to those that suffer from ADHD. They are designed to help with the inability to focus, complete tasks and have healthier relationships. They are also extremely addictive, popularly abused, and often sold to addicts by people with legitimate prescriptions.
“Although ‘ADHD’ is characterized as a floating spectrum of symptoms, it is transformed into a distinct entity that appears clearly defined solely by its name. While it is difficult to define the dividing line between normal and abnormal, the label ‘ADHD’ appears sharp and exact and explanatory in itself,” explained the researchers.
The study specifically states that the wording of the NIMH can confuse parents and make it difficult to determine if a child is actually displaying ADHD symptoms, or if they are just experiencing typical frustrations and assertions that children go through. Misdiagnosis of ADHD is common and can lead to the influx of medications available for non-ADHD users.
Narrowing the definition and making the symptoms clearer is the first step in preventing more ADHD medication abuse. Being able to discern between normal child behavior and true ADHD symptoms is crucial when it comes to properly treating children and adults.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on April 21, 2016 under Addiction Trends, Prescription Drugs |
An alarming study conducted by researchers at the University of Virginia uncovered a major problem among medical students and may reveal why prescription pain medications are being overprescribed to certain kinds of patients. The study looked to find why white people are more likely to be prescribed prescription painkillers over black people.
Researchers were able to determine that many white doctors held false beliefs about black people that will likely prevent them from properly treating black patients, as well as potentially answering the question of why so many white people are addicted to prescription painkillers after being prescribed the medication for real or falsified pain.
False beliefs such as black people age more slowly than white people, black people’s skin is thicker than white people’s skin and black people’s nerve endings are less sensitive than white people’s were discovered in the study of 222 white medical students. In addition to having a significant misunderstanding about the anatomy and constitution of black people, doctors have a harder time empathizing with patients that they have less in common with.
“What we found is those who endorsed more of those false beliefs showed more bias and were less accurate in their treatment recommendations,” explained Kelly Hoffman, a UVA doctoral candidate in psychology, and leader of the study. The report was presented to the National Academy of Sciences.
This study, while alarming in the sense that medical students have such an extreme misunderstanding regarding black people, points to another question about the overwhelming amounts of prescription painkillers that are being prescribed to white patients in this country. If medical students believe that white people are more sensitive to pain, or are more in need of prescription painkillers, then they would be more apt to believe someone who is complaining of pain. Unfortunately, it has become clear that sometimes they are really just seeking out a prescription for painkillers so they can abuse them or sell them on the streets.
As more and more researchers look into the prescription painkiller problem and conduct studies about doctor’s beliefs, practices and histories it is becoming clear that a change in the medical system is needed in order to stop the prescription painkiller epidemic.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on April 13, 2016 under Addiction Trends, Opiate Abuse |
Cocaine addiction is very common among heroin users in the United States. Often times the same people who sell heroin also sell powdered and crack cocaine. The euphoric low of heroin and the euphoric high of cocaine are sometimes mixed and used alternately with addicts. Both addictions are common problems that rehabilitation facilities treat, however, sometimes there is difficulty in the treatment.
Currently there are medications on the market that are designed to block heroin cravings and help the addict get through the painful withdrawal symptoms, but there isn’t anything specifically designed like that for treating cocaine addiction. Scientists in the Europe recently tested the use of another stimulant to treat people dealing with addictions to both drugs. The study, which appears in the Lancet medical journal, included trials with sustained-release dexamfetamine (dextroamphetamine).
The idea is that the drug, which is otherwise commonly used as a treatment for ADHD, works in the brain to help with cocaine cravings. A trial was recently conducted with 111 heroin and cocaine addicted patients in the Netherlands. Some patients received the dexamfetamine while undergoing talk therapy and other patients were administered a placebo while they were taking their prescribed doses of methadone. Those that received the dexamfetamine were able to abstain from cocaine for longer than those that only received the placebo. On average, addicts who received the trial drug were able to stay clean from cocaine for 60 days, while those that did not receive the medication stayed clean from cocaine for 45 days.
“We found SR dexamfetamine to be superior to placebo on all cocaine use – related outcomes, with effect sizes that were at least comparable to those found in studies on other chronic disorders, including alcohol dependence and many other psychiatric and general medical conditions,” explained Mascha Nuijten, a doctoral candidate at the Parnassia Addiction Research Center.
Understanding that addicts who are reliant on both heroin and cocaine need specialized help is vital in improving treatment. Because cocaine and heroin use often go hand in hand, these types of trials are extremely important. The major difficulty with these forms of treatment, however, is that they are still leaving the addicts dependent on drugs that are similar to the ones they were already taking, such as a stimulant for a stimulant or an opiate for an opiate. Although any form of improvement is welcomed in most treatment arenas, caution should be applied to see if there are other non-drug methods that can work first.
