Prayer For Loved Ones On Drugs or Medication

11 Powerful Prayers for a Son On Drugs

Prayer For Loved Ones On Drugs or Medication

Helping your child through a period of addiction can be one of the most devastating experiences you will ever experience. These powerful prayers for a son on drugs will encourage you to learn on the strength and shoulder of the Lord.

Prayer #1

Father God, I don’t deserve Your grace and mercy, but I ask in Jesus name that You would enable me stay away from drugs and those that would seek to draw me back into the destructive world of drugs and drug abuse.

Lord Jesus, I know that I am weak and that in my own strength I could so easily be drawn a moth to a flame if I did not have You to sustain me and support me.

Lord, You have promised in Your word that Your strength in made perfect in my weakness… Lord help me to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus; help me too take every thought captive and give each one to You and help me I pray to lean on You from this day forward – knowing that I can do all things through Christ , Who strengthens me – Thank You in Jesus name, Amen

Prayer #2

Lord it is my prayer that You would free my son from the drugs that have become almost an addiction to him.. and which have almost broken the family apart and caused us all such pain and distress.

Father You know the anger that seems to lurk within him and the explosive outbursts that are so difficult to cope with.

Lord He needs Jesus in his life and the indwelling Holy Spirit in his heart and I ask that You would convince him of his need for Jesus – and convict him of: “sin and righteousness and judgement”… just as Your Word has said..

and bring Him I pray, to recognise that this addiction to drugs is not Your will for anyone and is ly to end in tragedy if not dealt with soon. Thank You Jesus. Amen

Prayer #3

Dear Lord, I thank You that You care for people me who have gone so far astray from the way of truth. Thank You that You have never given up on me despite my addiction to drugs.

Thank You that I can come to You to seek for deliverance and know that You will not turn me away.

Thank You that Your mercies are new every morning and thank You that You are faithful and true to Your word – even when we prove faithless.

Lord I know that Your Word promises a way of deliverance to all who seek You and I believe that in Jesus is found healing and wholeness, salvation and security – deliverance and joy. And Lord I ask for You to deliver me from these drugs and free me from being in bondage to this cursed addiction.

Help me I pray. Save me Lord and set me free from these drugs on which I have become so dependant. Give me the means to break loose from drugs and the ability to see it through to the end. I know that on my own I will fail but Lord I do believe that in Christ I can be set free – help me Lord in Jesus name, Amen

Prayer #4

Dear Lord, please release my son from the angers that dwell inside of him. Almighty Father, take him in your hands and guide him to better choices, for a life without the need for drugs or alcohol.

That the trouble that he is now facing, is left behind him. Lord, my son is a wonderful young man, give him the courage and the faith to believe in himself, and realize how much he is loved and cherished.

Father, hear my prayers for him and all others that are living the same kind of life. Heal them Lord, let them rejoice in a life of self respect, love for themselves, and most of all the Glory of your love. I know in you, that he and all the others can find peace and happiness. O’ God our Father, please hear my prayers. Amen.

Prayer #5

Dear Lord I bring my brother to You whose reliance on drugs and addiction to medication is causing me and the family serious concerns and sadness.

Lord we really don’t know what to do and we seem to have run ideas and suggestions and there is no one but You to whom we can turn.

Lord he is prone to mood swings – sometimes seeming depressed and at other times hyper active.. and yet at other times is only able to sleep – sometimes for the best part of a day.. Help us we pray to help HIM..

and release him Lord, from this unhealthy reliance on drugs.

Heal him of the negative effects that they are having on his physical and mental health and return him to normal health and strength we ask in Jesus name, Amen.

Prayer #6

Lord, you as our creator, we trust in your name so we call for your help day and night. I have so many fears day and night, deep in my soul I cry every second of my life because of lost my son due to his extreme drug addiction for many years.I pity him a lot. If i could only embrace and tell him how much I really love and care for him as a mother,yet now he wouln’t understand it.

Lord, you know how I feel every moment I think of my son.I didn’t realise that the world can be so cruel to me as he choses drugs more than anything else in this world.I have always tried to mold him to become good boy yet things turned differently as I imagined.I hurts a lot to see my son being sick physically and mentally.

I will never stop begging for your help and for those parents who are suffering the same problem as I have.Abide us in those hard moments. Amen.

Prayer #7

You are a loving God and we praise and thank You for all Your goodness to us and to all men – We bless You for our lives and for all the joy and grace that You so readily bestow on all Your creation.

But Lord we lift up an increasing number of men and women who suffer from drug addiction and pray that You would provide them with the grace and strength to reach out to You for the necessary help and guidance that they may need – as they take the important steps to recovering their physical, emotional and spiritual health.

Give those that are addicted to drugs the will, perseverance, courage and ability to take the first step to regain their health and wholeness. Comfort and succour friends and family members that are affected by those that are trapped in drug addiction.

Give courage and hope to all who are seeking to break its demonic hold over the lives of so many and may the power of Your love and grace transform their lives – knowing that Jesus Christ alone is able to break the power of drugs, return a soul into freedom and bring beauty for brokenness – this we ask in Jesus name, Amen.

Prayer #8

Father, in the name of Jesus I believe that my child will be delivered from the spirit of drugs and alcohol. According to your Word I confess and believe that my child is free from the bondage of drugs and alcohol. Thank you that you are bringing my child back from the land of the enemy and that they will be in their right mind and sound in body.

I thank you that my child is whole and redeemed from every evil work and that they have complete control over their body. I believe that my child is set free and delivered because I have called upon the name of the Lord. Keep me in perfect peace as I wait for my appointed time with my child.In Jesus name Amen.

Prayer #9

Lord, I bring my child to You with such a heavy heart knowing that the precious child You blessed me with has become caught up with drugs.. and their life is spiralling control. Help us Lord I pray to know what to do and show us how we can help to stem and to stop these drug-related activities.

Wherever the blame for this situation lies.. I pray Lord that You would help us to address it so that our child is able to be freed from this drug-related trap. We pray in the name of Jesus that You would step into this situation and whatever it takes.. I pray that You would convict our child of the need to call out to You for help – for You alone have the power to help and heal their life.

Give me the strength I pray to support my child.. in prayer or therapy or any other way so that they may be enabled to leave this drug-related past behind.. and step out into the future having been freed from this bondage. And help I pray.. for me to trust in Your many precious promises and not lean on my own understanding. This I ask in Jesus name, Amen.

Prayer #10

Loving Lord Jesus we lift up all those who are suffering today from some form of addiction to drugs – whether they are prescribed medicines from a doctor or unlicensed drugs that have been gained illicitly – all addiction is detrimental to health and wholeness and Lord we want to lift up all who are addicted in one way or another.

Lord .. we believe that You were sent to heal those that are broken and damaged, crushed and hurting – in bondage to drugs or addicted to some form of medication.. and we plead Your grace and mercy over such people and pray that You would meet each man or woman at their particular point of need – and deliver each one.

Raise up those that would stand in the gap in prayer.. and bring friends and relatives who will be supportive to those that need to be liberated from their drug dependence or delivered from some form of addiction. Into Your hands we commit each one and thank and praise You for all that You are going to do in these lives – in Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Prayer #11

Lord it breaks my heart that my beautiful daughter has somehow become involved with drugs and she has almost become a different person with her mood swings, depression and anger. Lord this is not what I want for my daughter and pray that You would help her to reverse this terrible addiction, which has had such a devastating impact on all our lives.

We love her so much and I know that Your love for her exceeds our own (if that is possible) and I pray that in Your grace and mercy You would help her to break free from this addiction to drugs and medication.. and that You would help us to give her the help and support she needs during this most difficult time.

Give me wisdom I pray to know what to do and how to help with her. I feel at a loss to know what to do but my eyes are on You Lord. Visit us all with Your peace I pray and restore the joy and happiness we once had – this I ask in Jesus name, Amen.

Check out this amazing video from Pastor Rick Warren as he discusses how to be set free from self-destruction.
About the Author of this Blog Post
Crystal Ayres has served as our editor-in-chief for the last five years. She is a proud veteran, wife and mother. The goal of ConnectUs is to publish compelling content that addresses some of the biggest issues the world faces. If you would to reach out to contact Crystal, then go here to send her a message.

Источник: //connectusfund.org/11-powerful-prayers-for-a-son-on-drugs

When a Loved One Has a Drug Addiction

Prayer For Loved Ones On Drugs or Medication

When they first told us that a good friend of ours was drinking too much, we didn’t believe them.

Sure, he drinks, we thought, but I doubt it’s really all that bad. After all, he’s a really great guy. Smart, kind, a Christian… he has a lot going for him! Definitely not the kind of guy you picture when you think of an alcoholic.

And yet, they were right. He was drinking too much–way too much–and it wasn’t long before it caught up to him.

He lost his job, his friends… and while I believe he’s sober now (we’ve grown apart), I can pretty much guarantee that his life now is not what it would have been if he hadn’t picked up that bottle.

The truth is, “addiction” — whether that’s to drugs, alcohol, sex, food, gambling or whatever else — doesn’t always look the way we think it should. It isn’t limited to “those people.” You know, the non-Christians, the people who don’t have a lot going for them…

Because while research does show that Christians are less ly to abuse drugs, that doesn’t mean that Christians aren’t using them at all.

With 12% of Americans ages 12 and older struggling with addictions, according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, and another 24% at risk, there’s a good chance someone you know — perhaps even someone in your family — is currently addicted or dangerously close. 

So how should you, as a Christian, respond when a loved one has a drug addiction? Here are your five steps.

1. Pray, but Don’t Stop There

As always, the first thing you should do whenever you are facing a challenging situation is to take it to God.

Pray that the devil would not be able to establish a foothold in your loved one’s life. That his or her eyes would be opened to the severity of the situation and what it is costing him/her. That you would have the courage to speak up when needed and the strength to be quiet when needed. That God would ultimately use the situation for HIS good and HIS glory.

But don’t stop there. 

Yes, prayer is powerful and yes, God answers prayer. But sometimes the way He answers prayers is through the wisdom of the doctor, the warning of a good friend, the assistance of a much-needed medication or the reassuring connection with a trusted sponsor.

Sometimes, God wants to do big things, but He wants us to take action to help put His plan into motion too. 

2. Don’t Wait Until People are “Better” to Love on Them

When a loved one is caught up in drug addiction, it’s all too easy to distance ourselves. After all, “good Christians don’t do those types of things,” we think, and we wouldn’t want to be negatively influenced.

And yet, what did Jesus do? He loved people right where they are.

Take the 12 disciples for instance.

An extortionist, an extremist, a traitor… I love the colorful descriptions given in Relevant Magazine’s article Being a Christian Doesn’t Always Look You Think it Should.

And did Jesus avoid these men, lest they tarnish his good reputation or negatively influence him in some way? Did he say, “Sure, I’d love to use you, but you have to go work on yourself first.”

No! He made them leaders of the church!

Suffering from a drug addiction is hard enough — suffering as a Christian is even worse at times, due to the extra guilt, doubt and seeming abandonment.

When people are truly struggling isn’t the time to say “Well, bye. Good luck to you!” It’s the time to lean in and love on them even more — struggles and all.

3. Remember that You Have Your Faults Too

After all, it’s not you don’t have your own faults too…

Sure, maybe it’s not drug or alcohol abuse. But what about gluttony, gossip, or unforgiveness? Not to mention that every time you fail at Putting God First, that’s pretty much idol worship of whatever you’re prioritizing instead.

Ouch. 

Yes, as Christians, we should judge. We should stand up and say “This is wrong. It is hurting you. You need to stop.”

But it absolutely has to be done a place of love and humility, recognizing that we’re all sinners in need of grace, just trying to do the best we can.

4. Encourage Them to Get Help

The first time you turn to drugs instead of God, it’s a sin. The second time, and the third time… But eventually there reaches a point when it’s not just about self-control any more.

People who are severely addicted to drugs don’t do them because they to or because they enjoy hurting their families. They do them because addictive drugs actually alter the brain’s physical chemistry, even after the person stops using them.

When someone has diabetes, you don’t tell them, “Well, if you only believed in God enough…” When someone has cancer, you don’t say, “Well, maybe you should just prayer harder” or “Then maybe you aren’t really a Christian after all.”

No! You get them the help they need. Whether that’s medicine, therapy, rehab or whatever else.

Yes, your loved one might be resistant to getting help. No, they might not listen, and it’s not you can exactly force them (at least, not all of the time). But the least you can do is try.

5. Realize That It’s Going to Be a Process

Of course, even if you do succeed in getting your loved ones help for a drug addiction, it’s important to realize that the journey doesn’t end there. Recovering from a drug addiction is definitely NOT an overnight process.

There will be victories, but there will also be defeats. Time when you feel incredibly hopeful, and times when you feel almost hopeless.

But that’s okay, because God is bigger than it all and He still has a plan — even when you don’t know what it is yet. Pray, talk to a professional and most important, hang in there. God’s not through with the situation yet.

Have you ever been personally affected by a loved one’s addictions or struggled with an addiction yourself? What helped you get through it?

Источник: //equippinggodlywomen.com/community/when-a-loved-one-has-a-drug-addiction/

Is Your Elderly Loved One On A Dangerous Medication? Check This List

Prayer For Loved Ones On Drugs or Medication

Even without dementia, my dear 87-year-old uncle couldn’t keep track of all of his medications even if he tried. That’s because his med list covers a whole page — front and back. He’s got pills for just about every major organ system in his body, a confusing mass of medication that’s quietly been accumulating over the years. 

Does this sound familiar to you? It seems there’s a new type of drug abuse in America: the overmedication of the elderly. Here’s how to know if it’s happening in your family and what to do about it.

Drugs are meant to heal, not harm

The elderly, along with children, are two of the most overmedicated groups out there. Yes, that’s right — the most vulnerable groups in our population are routinely overprescribed powerful medications with a host of dangerous side effects. What’s wrong with this picture?

Overmedication, or “polypharmacy,” is commonplace in the states. According to a report, 30 to 40 percent of people aged 65 and older take five or more medications regularly. Of that group, 10 percent of seniors take 10 or more drugs. And according to a study by the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, between 15 to 25 percent of drug use among the elderly is completely unnecessary.

“An inappropriate drug is one in which the potential risks of taking the medication exceed the potential benefits derived from it. In many cases, a safer alternative may exist,” says the study. Researchers found that half of all adverse effects from drug complications were preventable. Yikes!

Risks of overmedication

Overmedication can result in loss of balance and falls.

It’s risky for anyone to take multiple medications, but especially so among geriatric patients.

As we age, we develop more chronic diseases, but our bodies also metabolize drugs differently than when we were younger.

According to a polypharmacy report by a Canadian health service organization, seniors may experience drug complications due to:

  • Physiologic changes, an increased sensitivity to benzodiazepines, analgesics and antihypertensives
  • Reduced kidney or liver function, which makes it harder to excrete drugs
  • Reduced body fat, which changes how drugs distribute
  • Existing conditions, such as dementia, delirium, poor kidney function, poor balance and increased lihood of falls

Increased medications also means increased risk of dangerous drug interactions. A report by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that when seniors take five or more medications, their risk of adverse drug reaction (ADE) increases by 88 percent. In older patients, some of the more common risks of polypharmacy include:

  • Dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Sedation
  • Bleeding
  • Upset stomach
  • Low blood pressure
  • Respiratory issues
  • Loss of balance or falls

You can see how each of these reactions would put seniors at risk for dangerous conditions. Negative drug interactions exacerbate the issues already associated with getting older. And when something Alzheimer’s disease is in the mix, the risks are even greater, due to a cognitive inability to effectively manage and distribute their own medication.

Beers list of meds to avoid

Overmedication can lead to adverse reactions in the elderly.

If you need to know if you or your loved one is on a dangerous medication, review this data. You may be surprised at what you find — even Ibuprofen is listed as unsuitable for seniors. According to Beers list (revised in 2015), here are the medications that are inappropriate to give to those who are 65 and older:  

  • First-generation antihistamines (Brompheniramine, Carbinoxamine, etc.): greater risk of confusion, dry mouth and other adverse events
  • Antiparkinsonian agents (oral Benztropine, Trihexyphenidyl, etc.): more effective agents available
  • Antispasmodics (Atropine, Belladonna alkaloids, etc.): uncertain effectiveness
  • Antithrombotics (Short-acting, oral Dipyridamole): may cause orthostatic hypotension
  • Ticlopidine: safer alternative available
  • Nitrofurantoin: potential for pulmonary toxicity, hepatoxicity and peripheral neuropathy
  • Peripheral alpha-1 blockers (Doxazosin, Prazosin, Terazosin, etc.): may cause orthostatic hypotension, safer alternatives available
  • Central alpha blockers (Clonidine, Guanabenz, Methyldopa, etc.): high risk for adverse events in the central nervous system
  • Disopyramide: may induce heart failure in older adults, other drugs preferred
  • Dronedarone: negative outcomes for patients with permanent atrial fibrillation or severe or recently decompensated heart failure
  • Digoxin: should not be used as a first-line agent in atrial fibrillation, may be associated with toxic effects and increased mortality, safer alternative are available
  • Immediate-release Nifedipine: risk of hypotension or precipitating myocardial ischemia
  • Amiodarone: risk for greater toxicities than other antiarrhythmics used in atrial fibrillation
  • Antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Amoxapine, Clomipramine, etc.): highly anticholinergic, sedating and may cause orthostatic hypotension
  • Antipsychotics, first and second generation: increased risk of stroke and mortality in those with dementia
  • Barbiturates (Amobarbital, Butabarbital, Butalbital, etc.): high rate of physical dependence and greater risk of overdose at lower dosages
  • Short-acting benzodiazepines (Alprazolam, Estazolam, Lorazepam, etc.): risk of cognitive impairment, delirium, falls, fractures and motor vehicle accidents
  • Long-acting benzodiazepines (Clorazepate, Clonazepam, Diazepam, etc.): risk of cognitive impairment, delirium, falls, fractures and motor vehicle accidents
  • Meprobamate: high risk of physical dependence, very sedating
  • Nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics (Eszopiclone, Zolpidem, Zaleplon, etc.): risk of cognitive impairment, delirium, falls, fractures and motor vehicle accidents, increased emergency department visits and hospitalizations
  • Ergoloid mesylates (Dihydrogenated ergot alkaloids Isoxsuprine): lack of efficacy
  • Androgens: risk of cardiac problems
  • Methyltestosterone: risk of cardiac problems
  • Testosterone: risk of cardiac problems
  • Desiccated thyroid: risk of cardiac problems, safer alternatives available
  • Estrogens (with or without progestins): evidence of carcinogenic potential and lack of cardiovascular or cognitive benefits
  • Growth hormone: associated with edema, arthralgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, gynecomastia and impaired fasting glucose
  • Sliding scale insulin: higher risk of hypoglycemia without improving hyperglycemia
  • Megestrol: minimal effect on weight, increases risk of thrombotic events and death
  • Long-acting sulfonylureas (Chlorpropamide): risk of prolonged hypoglycemia
  • Glyburide: risk of severe prolonged hypoglycemia
  • Metoclopramide: associated with negative extrapyramidal events
  • Mineral oil (given orally): risk of aspiration and adverse effects, safer alternatives are available
  • Proton-pump inhibitors: risk of Clostridium difficile infection, bone loss and fractures
  • Meperidine: not effective for pain control and associated with neurotoxic effects
  • Oral non-cyclooxygenase-selective NSAIDs (Diflunisal, Fenoprofen, Ibuprofen, etc.): risk of GI bleeding or peptic ulcer disease in high-risk groups
  • Indomethacin: risk of adverse central nervous system effects
  • Ketorolac (includes parenteral): risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, peptic ulcer disease, and acute kidney injury
  • Pentazocine: risk of confusion and hallucinations
  • Skeletal muscle relaxants (Carisoprodol, Metaxalone, Orphenadrine, etc.): Poorly tolerated because of anticholinergic effects

How to help an overmedicated senior

A few months ago, my uncle fell twice at his assisted living facility in a short period of time. Each accident landed him in the hospital because of the risk of internal bleeding, a dangerous side effect of one his heart medications.

A day later, he had forgotten all about it — but I didn’t. The next time we went to the doctor, the first thing I did was tell them about the falls and ask to ditch the medication that could cause internal bleeding.

Problem solved — well, at least one.

I now accompany my uncle to every single doctor’s appointment, so I can be his advocate. You may or not be able to take the same role, since most of us have a laundry list of obligations and time constraints. But if you can, try to get some face time with your loved one’s doctor.

If you or one of your relatives needs assistance, here are some tips to help:

  • Get a med list from your doctor and Google each drug to find out about side effects.
  • Check for potential drug interactions on healthline.com and medscape.com.
  • Take over-the-counter meds into account — even Tums may have negative interactions.
  • Bring up-to-date med lists to all doctors appointments. Before accepting a new drug, ask why it’s necessary. Also, ask if there are any drugs you can be taken off of.

If you’re caring for a senior, accompany your loved one to as many doctor’s appointments as possible, even routine check-ups. Alternative with other family members if needed. Regularly check in with your relative to keep track of any new symptoms.

If you don’t have time to keep track of your relative’s medical affairs, consider hiring a nursing assistant for a few hours a week who can report back to you.

You can also open up communication with the nursing director at your relative’s assisted living facility.

Before starting or stopping any medication, it’s imperative that you speak with a primary care physician. And remember this simple fact: drugs are supposed to make things better, not worse.

Источник: //www.thealternativedaily.com/dangers-of-overmedication-in-elderly/

Drug Addiction Medications: Effective Cure for Substance Abuse

Prayer For Loved Ones On Drugs or Medication

Drug addiction is a major public health concern in the United States and around the world. According to SAMHSA, more than 22 million Americans seek treatment for alcohol or illicit drug use every year. People who are dependent on opioids and hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and morphine need all the help they can get to overcome their addiction.

Although taking drugs is initially a voluntary activity, over time a person’s ability to control intake becomes compromised and the habit becomes a compulsive one.

During addiction treatment, some people respond well to drug counseling, but for many, this standard treatment approach is not sufficient.

Behavioral therapy addresses the emotional conflicts and hurdles faced by people in recovery, but it does not break the chain of physical dependency cultivated by years of abuse.

Fortunately, a number of effective medications are available to treat drug addiction and help recovering addicts get clean. Some of these medicines work by blocking the drug euphoria which drives the addiction. Others work by reducing cravings and act as a relapse prevention measure. Read on to find out more about medications for drug addiction treatment.

Hope Without Commitment

Find the best treatment options.Call our free and confidential helpline

Treatment Is Fully Covered by Insurance In Most Cases

Beating Addiction: Treatment Choices for Substance Abusers

Addiction treatment has two angles – a behavioral one and a pharmaceutical one. Both attempt to restore some normalcy to brain function and behavior in recovering addicts. Research has shown that although these treatments are extremely useful in their own right, for some addicts, a combination of both modalities is more successful.

Medicines to stop addiction are not without risk, but they are a less harmful alternative to illicit drugs. These medicines are effective in helping addicts overcome the unpleasant effects of withdrawal. This makes it more ly that a recovering addict will stay in rehab.

A number of medications are used during the rehab process. They work in conjunction with behavioral counseling to address all the addict’s needs. Some medications help an addict stay in treatment longer.

Others are used to effectively manage unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Yet others treat coexisting mental disorders that influence substance abuse.

Medications are also available to assist with detoxification in the first stage of treatment.

Addicts must make a lifelong commitment to recovery from addiction. For long-term success and relapse prevention, it is critical to tailor the addiction treatment program to address the unique needs of each addict. Treatment should ideally include a mix of medications and mental health services as well as family-based and community support systems.

How Do Medications for Addiction Treatment Work?

The ultimate goal of any drug rehab program is to ensure an addict stops using drugs, stays drug-free, and leads a productive life. No single treatment works for everyone. The most common forms of drug treatment are counseling and behavioral therapies, but medications are an equally important part of the rehab process.

Illicit drugs are addictive because they manipulate the pleasure centers in the human brain. Addicts come to rely on illegal substances as a source of comfort, excitement, or euphoria. Medications for drug addiction work in the following ways:

Withdrawal Symptom Management: Some medications help suppress unpleasant withdrawal symptoms during detoxification. Detox, which is a medically managed withdrawal from drugs, is usually the first step in the drug rehab process. In fact, medications are used in about 80 percent of detox programs.

Relapse Prevention: Certain medicines help decrease cravings and normalize brain function. These medicines are used to treat tobacco, alcohol, and opioid addiction. Medicines to prevent relapse to cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana addiction are under development. Poly-drug abusers often need to be treated for all the illicit substances they use.

Coexisting Conditions: Medications are available to treat co-occurring mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression, that frequently influence a person’s dependence on drugs.

Non-Pharmacologic Addiction Treatment

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 800,000 Americans are addicted to cocaine. So, one form of treatment or the other is a necessity. However, for many people, fighting drugs with drugs seems counterintuitive. Is it possible to use natural supplements to treat the withdrawal symptoms of hard drugs?

Addicts going cold turkey on illicit drugs experience a number of unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that can persist for up to two weeks. Orthomolecular medicine is a natural addiction treatment that does not use medicines and has shown some promise. It was conceptualized by Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling.

It restores an optimum environment in the body by correcting imbalances and deficiencies the individual’s biochemistry. It uses natural substances which are neutral to the body, such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and essential fatty acids.

There are case reports of massive amounts of vitamin C helping addicts reduce or eliminate withdrawal symptoms after going cold turkey on drugs.

Anti-Addiction Medications for Drug Withdrawal

Medications for addiction are one of the treatments for substance abuse disorders. In fact, in combination with behavioral therapies and counseling, medication-assisted treatment offers a holistic approach to recovery from substance abuse.

Medicines are primarily used to treat addiction to opioids such as heroin and opiate-containing prescription pain pills.

These medications work by normalizing the chemical environment in the addict’s brain, relieving cravings, and blocking the euphoric effects of the drug.

It is a common misconception that pharmacotherapy treatment for addiction is simply substituting one drug for another. In fact, medicine-assisted drug abuse treatment offers a comprehensive, customized drug rehab.

It is proven to be effective in reducing the need for repeat inpatient detoxification. When used at the proper dose under medical supervision, these addiction medicines have no adverse effects on the individual’s physical or mental health.

Medicines help addicts achieve full recovery by:

  • Ensuring survival
  • Increasing compliance with treatment
  • Decreasing illicit drug use
  • Improving outcomes in pregnant substance abusers
  • Lowering the risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis C
  • Treating comorbid mental health issues
  • Reducing the risk of relapse
  • Increasing the ability to become and remain employed

What medications are used during drug rehab? A number of medicines are used to treat opioid addiction. These include buprenorphine, which triggers the same receptors as opioids, but induces a weaker response.

Naltrexone works by blocking opioid receptors and keeping responses at bay. Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naltrexone that is used in people with an opiate dependence.

Methadone is used to prevent opioid dependence and withdrawal symptoms.

Ritalin for Cocaine Addiction Treatment

Studies have shown that methylphenidate (Ritalin) may be the answer to breaking free of cocaine addiction.

Researchers have found that Ritalin, which is a stimulant drug prescribed to treat attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is also useful in regulating the nerve pathways that are control in recovering addicts.

Interestingly, this powerful stimulant is very similar in structure to cocaine. Both substances increase dopamine levels in the brain. However, the uptake of Ritalin in the brain is much slower than cocaine.

Researchers have studied adults addicted to cocaine. The participants were given either Ritalin pills or a placebo. MRI scans of the study participants showed that brain activity had normalized in the individuals who received Ritalin. However, since the study relied purely on brain imaging, it did not confirm actual treatment of cocaine addiction.

Despite extensive research, no medication has been found to be consistently effective in treating cocaine addiction. Some promising medicines for cocaine addicts include Baclofen, topiramate, tiagabine, and modafinil.

These are known as GABAergic medicines and are administered as relapse prevention drugs. For people who have been sober from cocaine for a period of time, relapse prevention is often the most difficult phase of rehab.

GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system in humans. When GABAergic neurons are activated, they decrease the activation of the dopamine reward system. GABAergic medicines foster this reaction and decrease the brain’s response to cocaine intake. These compounds also reduce recollections of past cocaine use.

At this time, there is no FDA-approved medication to treat cocaine addiction. However, with advances in medical science and a better understanding of the cocaine dependence cycle, researchers are getting closer to finding a solution.

Buprenorphine to Quit Heroin and Other Opiates

Buprenorphine is a medicine that is used to treat opioid dependence, including heroin abuse, by reducing cravings and lowering the potential for abuse.

This medicine triggers the same receptors as the addictive drug it treats but produces a safer reaction.

Contrary to popular belief, buprenorphine is not an opioid antagonist which completely blocks receptors and interferes with the opiate response.

Scientifically, buprenorphine is known as a partial opioid agonist, i.e., it activates opioid receptors but produces a smaller response. In this manner, it gradually weans off dependence.

It is a very powerful trigger of opiate receptors, so it basically acts as a strong painkiller.

It is more powerful than methadone or oxycodone in terms of its pain-relieving effect and is safe and effective for opioid dependency.

Un methadone, which must be dispensed in a highly structured manner, buprenorphine can be prescribed by a physician’s office and is, therefore, much more accessible. Buprenorphine is available under brand names such a Subutex, Norspan, Temgesic, and Cizdol.

Naltrexone: Medication for Opiate Addiction

Naltrexone is an FDA-approved opiate antagonist that completely blocks receptors and inhibits the brain’s response to these substances. Therefore, it works by a different mechanism of action than buprenorphine or methadone.

Naltrexone makes it impossible for opiate drugs to provide an addictive high. If an individual suffers a relapse, naltrexone is used to block the sedative and euphoric effects of the abused substance.

By preventing feelings of euphoria, naltrexone discourages the addict from abusing the opiates.

Naltrexone comes in pill or injectable form. It is not addictive or sedative. It can be easily administered and has minimal side effects. However, it is not particularly effective because addicts often have trouble sticking to treatment.

Naltrexone is given after medically supervised detox has been completed. If it is administered while opiates are still in the system, it can lead to exceptionally bad withdrawal symptoms.

Naltrexone is available under the brand name Vivitrol (injectable) and ReVia and Depade (pills).

Suboxone: Combating Heroin Addiction with Medication

In the United States, suboxone is specifically indicated for the treatment of heroin and prescription opioid drug addiction. It is a combination of buprenorphine and naltrexone. As mentioned, naltrexone is an opiate antagonist that is administered intravenously. In combination with buprenorphine, naltrexone is a pill which addicts cannot shoot intravenously.

Suboxone is indicated for opiate dependence treatment. A starting dose of 2 mg once a day is prescribed, which is gradually increased to a maximum dose of 32 mg per day. Most addicts benefit from an 8-mg daily dose.

In fact, this accounts for about 80 percent of opiate addiction treatments. Suboxone is given to recovering addicts after opiates are already their system.

Typically, the last dose of opiate medicine should be at least 16-24 hours before suboxone is used.

Methadone: Beating Opioid Dependence

Methadone is a powerful medicine that is used to alleviate severe pain. Addiction to this drug is a common problem because some people make the mistake of taking it without proper medical supervision. Interestingly, it has been found to be useful in treating opioid dependency.

Essentially, methadone tricks the addict’s brain into believing it is getting the abused substance, and thereby, reduces cravings. In fact, methadone is a slow-acting agonist that cushions the high experienced with the abused drug. This prevents unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Methadone has long been the medicine of choice for individuals who do not respond well to other forms of addiction medications.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult their obstetrician before starting treatment with methadone.

It is available through outpatient programs and is usually dispensed on a daily basis through a highly structured medicine program. Methadone is available under the brand names Methadose and Dolophine.

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If you or someone you love could benefit from addiction medications, call our free helpline (888)-459-5511 for more information on finding the appropriate treatment. Advisors are available to answer your questions, give you more information on addiction recovery medicines, and direct you towards the help you need for drug rehab. Calls are always confidential and secure.

Источник: //addictionresource.com/treatment/drug-addiction-medications/

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