internal medicine

An addiction is an uncontrollable strong craving for something
or to be abnormally dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming. There are many types of addiction
the most common are alcohol addiction
narcotic addiction
and drug addiction; also known as substance dependence.

Drug addiction is the compulsive use of drugs
to the extreme point where the user has no other choice but to continue to use them. A drug addict might address his beloved drug in De Quincey’s words
“thou hast the keys of Paradise
oh
just
subtle
and mighty opium!” An addict’s paradise is an inferno in disguise.

The demon of drug abuse has engulfed the entire world. It has clutched the youth of society in its deadly jaws.

The range of addictive drugs or substances and widely abused drugs include Alcohol
Anabolic steroids
Analgetics
Barbiturates
Buprenorphine
Butorphanol
Chloral hydrate
trichloroethanol & derivatives
Cocaine
Codeine
Dextroproxyp
Dextromethorphan
Ethchlorvynol
Fentanyl & its analogs
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
Glutethimide
Heroin (Diacetylmorphine)
Hydrocodone
Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
Ketamine
Laxatives
Levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM)
Meperidine
Meprobamate
Methamphetamine & other Amphetamines
Methaqualone & related sedative-hypnotics
Methadone
Methcathinone
Morphine
Nicotine
Oxycodone
Opium
Xanax
Paraldehyde (Paral)
Phencyclidine (PCP)
and Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol).

Drugs have dragged the addicts to the deep dungeons of oblivion. The whole international community that is direly worried about the problem of drug abuse
has given a loud and clear call to medical institutes and organizations to liberate the victims of drug addiction.

Psychological experts and researchers are always raking their minds to know why people fall prey to drugs. Their studies have divulged that drugs and intoxicants are used to forget or negate the frustrations of life
failures in life
dejected love affairs
depression
or sometimes for fun or adventure.

“Thank the Lord
there’s a ray of hope!” Doctors and researchers have been able to invent some treatments for drug addiction.

Standard drug addiction treatment may include behavioral therapy
medications
or a combination of both. Medication therapy includes medical treatment to beat drug addiction. Behavioral therapy consists of counseling
cognitive therapy
or psychotherapy. The third method
the combination of both
is proving to be the most effective treatment for addiction recovery.

In medication therapy
for instance
addiction treatment like methadone
LAAM
and naltrexone are helpful for opium addicted people. Nicotine replacement therapy
nicotine patches
gum
nasal spray and bupropion are quite effective for people addicted to nicotine. Antidepressants
mood stabilizers
or neuroleptics
are helpful for treatment of mental disorders such as depression
anxiety disorder
bipolar disorder
or psychosis.

As drug addiction is a chronic disorder
there’s no effective short-term treatment for it. It requires a long-term treatment to beat drug addiction.

Finally
strong will power plays a key role in addiction treatment and addiction recovery. Psychotherapists can play an important role in building up the patients’ will to beat drug addiction.

Martin H. Fischer says
“There is only one reason why men become addicted to drugs
they are weak men. Only strong men are cured
and they cure themselves.”