Rehab Articles
alcohol use, sleep disruptions
Alcohol use before bed may seem like a good way to get to sleep, but new research shows that this can actually promote sleep disruptions in the night. A drink will have an initial sedative effect but it will not help you get a restful sleep, and researchers performed studies using EEGs and other diagnostic tests to identify why this happens. University of Melbourne in Australia researchers looked at EEG activity which showed the changes that occur during sleep after alcohol is consumed. One of the study authors, Christian L. Nicholas, Ph.D., said “People likely tend to focus on the commonly reported sedative properties of alcohol, which is reflected in shorter times to fall asleep, particularly in adults, rather than the sleep disruption that occurs later in the night. The reduction in delta frequency EEG activity we see across the ages is thought to represent normal brain maturational processes as the adolescent brain continues to develop to full maturity.
Dr. Nicholas continued by saying “Although the exact function of non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep, and in particular SWS, is a topic of debate, it is thought to reflect sleep need and quality, thus any disruption to this may affect the underlying restorative properties of sleep and be detrimental to daytime functioning.” Since alcohol use causes sleep disruptions later in the night it should be avoided. The initial sedative effect benefit does not outweigh the drawbacks that occur. Nicholas noted that alcohol should not be used as a sleep aid, and said “Similar increases in alpha-delta activity, which are associated with poor or unrefreshing sleep and daytime function, have been observed in individuals with chronic pain conditions. Thus, if sleep is being disrupted regularly by pre-sleep alcohol consumption, particularly over long periods of time, this could have significant detrimental effects on daytime well being and neurocognitive function, such as learning and memory processes.”
Rehab Articles
e-joint, marijuana, tobacco
A recently launched e-joint device combines marijuana and tobacco in an e-cigarette, an d it was first reported by the New York Times. This device is being used in areas of the USA where medical or recreational marijuana has been legalized, places like Colorado, Washington, and Oregon. JuJu Joint, one of the brands of an e-joint, contains 100 mg of THC, it is designed to be disposable, and it can be used without causing any smoke or smell to alert others that the person is using anything. According to Rutgers New Jersey Medical School psychiatry department chairman Dr. Petros Levounis “In some ways, e-joints are a perfect storm of a problematic delivery system, the e-cigarette, and in addition a problematic substance, cannabis oil.”
The inventor of JuJu Joints, the e-joint that can be used for both marijuana and tobacco, told reporters that every inhalation is metered by the electronic device. Rick Stevens stated “Our goal is not to get people stoned so they sit in the corner and vegetate. I wanted to eliminate every hassle that has to do with smoking marijuana. I wanted it to be discreet and easy for people to handle. There’s no odor, matches or mess.” Many have voiced concerns that those under 21 could get their hands on these devices, and there are some suspected cases of this already in places where marijuana is legalized. Anyone who wants to purchase one of the e-joints must be at least 21 years old, and they cnan expect to spend between $65 and $100 for it.
Rehab Articles
teen drinking, parental influence
New research shows that parental influence can help lower the rate of teen drinking. When parents engage in good parenting practices, they keep the lines of communication open, and they place restrictions on teen drinking then this activity is less likely as a result. Craig Colder, a psychologist with the University of Buffalo, was the lead researcher on the study. The results showed that when parents had a consistent and sustained attitude about alcohol abuse then there was a lower risk of teen drinking, but it also showed that parents who talk with kids about the dangers of alcohol use when the children were younger did not continue these discussions when the children reached their teenage years. According to Colder “This finding suggests that parents shouldn’t underestimate the impact of maintaining that messaging as their children move through adolescence.”
The study on teen drinking and parental influence can be found in the publication Addictive Behaviors, and it is titled “A latent growth curve analysis of alcohol-use specific parenting and adolescent alcohol use.” Colder explained “What our data is suggesting is that you can’t control all of your kids’ decisions, but you can help them to make good choices in situations where alcohol is available. You want kids to think about and reflect upon the pros and cons of drinking based on your previous discussions.” Colder said that the research study was undertaken because “We wanted to understand how kids’ attitudes develop.” Many parents loosen rules as their children get older, and prohibitions against alcohol use tend to weaken. This can lead to a higher risk of teen drinking.
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substance abuse, criminal behavior
Substance abuse and criminal behavior often go hand in hand, and not just because the drugs being used or the activities engaged in while drunk are illegal. Alcohol and drugs both impair good judgment and normal caution, causing people to lose their usual inhibitions and do things that they would never do sober. Does this mean that substance abuse excuses criminal behavior as long as the individual was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the crime was committed though? For most people the answer is a big no, because the individual chose to drink or do drugs so they made a conscious choice, and the criminal acts resulted from that conscious choice. There are others who argue that addiction is a disease though, and that the criminal justice system should show some leniency towards these individuals by offering treatment instead of a criminal record and possibly incarceration.
Criminal courts have long held that substance abuse does not excuse criminal behavior, and individuals are held responsible for acts that they commit while under the influence if they knowingly took the drugs or alcohol. If someone has been secretly drugged then the situation is different because the individual did not knowingly and voluntarily get intoxicated. If you or someone you know has been in legal trouble because of alcohol or drug abuse, or you have a problem with substance abuse that has not reached this low yet, there is help available. There are programs with high success rates and effective programs that actually work as expected.
Rehab Articles
substance abuse triggers, recovery
1. In order to manage your substance abuse triggers they all need to be identified. Each individual will have specific triggers, and these are not the same. You have to identify what triggers your cravings and negative emotions in order to avoid these until you can deal with them and work past them.
2. Expect to have some triggers during recovery, this is part of the process and one reason why so many people relapse. Understand going into recovery that you will have some bad times and moments when you feel torn and want to go back to the substance abuse. When you are aware of these facts you can prepare for them so that you do not relapse.
3. Put a plan in place so that you are better prepared when substance abuse triggers occur. Role playing, discussing possible scenarios, and even setting up an extensive network of support people and groups so that when a trigger happens you know just what to do and how to respond.
4. Take good care of yourself during your recovery. Negative emotional states, poor health, too much stress, and even a lack of sleep or a poor diet can cause triggers to happen. Take the time to pamper yourself once in a while, and make sure that you eat right an get plenty of sleep and exercise.
5. Avoid trying to cause substance abuse triggers in order to test your will to stay sober, this is not a good idea and will usually end badly with a relapse.
