Rehab Articles
Is an addiction to sexting becoming a big problem in North America? A new study shows that sexting is more common than what was previously thought, with more than 80% of the people who responded to online surveys admitted that they had engaged in sexting in the last year. The research behind these facts was presented at the 123rd Annual Convention for the American Psychological Association. The research was presented to the convention by Drexel University’s Emily Stasko, MS, MPH. Stasko explained that “Given the possible implications, both positive and negative, for sexual health, it is important to continue investigating the role sexting plays in current romantic and sexual relationships. This research indicates that sexting is a prevalent behavior that adults engage in for a variety of reasons. These findings show a robust relationship between sexting and sexual and relationship satisfaction.”
An addiction to sexting is possible, but this behavior can also play a role in healthy sexual relationships as well. The study involved 870 individuals who were between 18 and 82 years old. Researchers also discovered that many individuals who sexted more often had a higher satisfaction level and rating for their relationship when they were sending these messages to their significant other. When sexting occurs outside of a monogamous relationship it can be harmful to the relationship though. Many experts consider this activity as risky, although many people who engage in sexting view the activity as something fun and harmless. As this activity grows there well be more people who develop an addiction to this risk taking behavior and need treatment.
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A new study shows that addiction to prescription pain medication is something that a lot of primary care physicians do not understand, even though these same physicians are the top prescribers of these drugs in many areas. The survey showed that a significant number of PCPs do not have a basic understanding of how opioid abuse occurs or about the addiction potential that this class of drugs can have. According to the leader of the study, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School’s Department of Epidemiology associate professor and Center for Drug Safety and Effectiveness co-director Caleb Alexander, M.D., M.S., “Physicians and patients may mistakenly view these medicines as safe in one form and dangerous in another, but these products are addictive no matter how you take them. If doctors and patients fail to understand this, they may believe opioids are safer than is actually the case and prescribe them more readily than they should.”
The latest prescription pain medication study shows the continuing efforts to understand, identify, and treat opioid addiction in the communities across America. Opiod abuse and addiction has been on the rise, and so has the amount of these drugs on the street. Dr. Alexander continued by saying “Doctors continue to overestimate the effectiveness of prescription pain medications and underestimate their risks, and that’s why we are facing such a public health crisis. Opioids serve an important role in the treatment of some patients. However, our findings highlight the importance of patient and provider education regarding what abuse-deterrent products can and cannot do. When it comes to the opioid epidemic, we must be cautious about overreliance on technological fixes for what is first and foremost a problem of overprescribing.” Alexander also stated “Despite the high levels of support, there are many barriers to implementation and there may be reluctance to translate these changes into real-world practice. But for the sake of making a dent in an epidemic of injuries and deaths, we have to find ways to make changes. Too many lives are at stake to stick with the status quo.”
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Tramadol is a drug that is being prescribed more frequently today. It is a pain medication which is used for pain that ranges from moderate to severe, as well as being prescribed for certain other conditions. Tramadol is only available with a prescription from a physician. This drug is a central nervous system analgesic, and it does provide relief similar to narcotic pain medications. It is an opioid agonist and it has narcotic like effects. In fact according to medical experts and the drug literature Tramadol offers pain relief and other effects comparable to hydrocodone and morphine. The drug can be delivered orally, intravenously, rectally, and in other ways. Since this specific pain medication is not tightly regulated by the FDA many doctors are providing it instead of hydrocodone, codeine, or other opioid pain medications.
While many consider Tramadol to be a much better choice for treating pain it does have the potetial for addiction. Over time the effects of this prescription medication may start to lessen, and you may start taking more than the dose that your physician prescribed or taking the drug more often than intended. Tramadol is usually the most effective for the first 6 months, after this the drug starts to have less of an effect because a tolerance has developed. Since it is classified as a non narcotic many people believe than an addiction to Tramadol is not possible but this is not true. If you have been taking Tramadol and the prescribed frequency and dosage is no longer effective then this should be discussed with your physician.
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1. Discuss the problem with your family member. Any addiction is a cause for concern, and some may be deadly as well as devastating every aspect of daily life. If your loved one admits that there is a problem then professional treatment can be sought. If the individual is in denial then additional efforts may be necessary.
2. Arrange for substance abuse treatment and then present this as a fact to your loved one. It may be more difficult for them to refuse help when this is presented as a fact and the arrangements are already in place.
3. Do not enable your loved one with the addiction. We often want to take care of those that we love, and to make things easier for them. If you enable the substance abuse you are not helping your family member and you could make things worse instead of fixing it for them.
4. Arrange for an intervention. This step may help bring your loved one to their senses and make them realize what their addiction is doing to those close to them that they care about. Often the individual will not be honest about the complications that their drug or alcohol use has on others until an intervention is performed.
5. Seek professional assistance from your family physician. Discuss your substance abuse concerns and brainstorm with your physician about how to get your family member the help that they need and deserve. The physician may be able to come up with solutions that you have not considered up until this point.
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addiction, prescription medication abuse
Prescription medication abuse and addiction is a problem that occurs at almost all ages and income levels, and it is a problem that many people struggle with on a daily basis. In some cases the prescribed medicines are needed initially, but as time goes on the individual starts to engage in prescription medication abuse in order to get the same effects because they have built up a tolerance to the drugs. Eventually a full blow addiction occurs, and the user may search for drugs on the street because their physician will no longer prescribe the medications. This can also lead to doctor shopping, with the user visiting several physicians and clinics in order to obtain the drug that they are addicted to.
There is no specific age or income level that is at a higher risk for prescription medication abuse and addiction. This problem can be found at almost any age, and it occurs at almost every income level. There is a misconception that only low income individuals abuse prescription drugs, when the truth is that even high level professionals like doctors, lawyers, and pilots engage in this activity. Professionals may be more careful to hide prescription medication abuse and addiction out of fear that they will lose their licenses and practices, but they are just as susceptible to this problem as people who live in poverty. In fact those with higher incomes can afford their addiction more readily than lower income individuals, but these people can also usually afford to pay for treatment that is more effective as well.
