Withdrawal

___________________________________________________________________

With continuous drug abuse, the addict begins to crave the sense of euphoria that taking the drugs has produced.  Due to the fact that this pleasant feeling is so overwhelming, the addict is motivated to continue taking drugs.  When this happens, the brain, in effect, has been conditioned to “tell” the addict that continued drug abuse is the fastest and the most effective way for the addict to “feel good.”

When an addict abruptly stops taking the drugs to which he or she is addicted, the brain triggers “messages” that are sent to the addict, essentially informing him or her that something is terribly wrong and needs to be corrected.   The “messages” that the brain sends to the addict consist of a number uncomfortable, painful, and dangerous withdrawal symptoms that can possibly lead to death if the proper treatment is not immediately undertaken.

Withdrawal Symptoms, The Brain, and Tolerance

With regular drug abuse the brain gradually adapts to the drugs so that normal functioning is possible.

When an individual who has exhibited a pattern of continuous and excessive abuse, however, suddenly stops taking drugs, he or she usually suffers from withdrawal symptoms that can be so prolonged that they can take the body days or weeks before it returns to "normal."  Essentially, then, drug withdrawal symptoms are responses by the brain and by the body to the lack of the drug or drugs to which they had become adapted.

This not only explains how physical tolerance develops but it also explains why increasingly more of the particular drug is needed to get the same "buzz" or "high" with regular use. 

Drug withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to moderate to severe and include both behavioral and psychological components.  The major factors that influence the severity of the drug withdrawal symptoms include the following:

• How long the drug was abused (has the abuse lasted years or is it fairly recent?)
• The type of drug that was abused (e.g., withdrawals from methadone are usually more painful and more severe that withdrawals from heroin).
• The quality or “purity” of the drug (has the drug been “cut” with rat poison or cleanser or is it in its “pure” form).
• How strong the craving is for the drug (for instance, is the craving relatively mild or is it intense?)
• The amount of the drug that was abused (for instance, did the heroin abuser take 2 bags or 6 bags for his or her “high”?)
• The health of the individual (is the person generally in good health or sickly?)
• The frequency that the drug has been abused (for example, did the person abuse the drug every 4 hours, every 2 days, once per week, etc).

An Analysis of Twenty-Five “Common” Drugs

An analysis was done of the withdrawal symptoms of 25 well-known drugs (that also included alcohol).  Included in this list were the following drugs:

• Alcohol
• Ambient
• Ativan
• Cocaine
• Codeine
• Crack
• Darvocet
• Demerol
• Dexedrine

• Dilaudid
• Ecstasy
• Heroin
• Hydrocodone
• Lortab
• Marijuana
• Meth
• Methadone
• Morphine
• Opium
• Oxycontin
• Percocet
• Ritalin
• Ultram
• Vicodin
• Xanax

Common Drug Withdrawal Symptoms

The most occurring withdrawal symptoms in order of most occurring to lease occurring concerning the above "common" drugs were the following:

1. Intense craving
2. Nausea
3. Insomnia
4. Sweating
5. Irritability
6. Anxiety
7. Vomiting
8. Depression
9. Diarrhea
10. Runny nose
11. Watery eyes
12. Yawning
13. Muscle pain
14. Tremors
15. Disturbed sleep

Withdrawal:  Conclusion

Based on the above, it is clear to see that getting "off" of most drugs, including alcohol, leads to terribly uncomfortable, painful, and disgusting withdrawal symptoms.  As a consequence, breaking free from one's addiction to drugs and/or alcohol is an extremely difficult process.  In fact, since most drug addicts relapse within six months of attaining abstinence, it is highly advisable that all addicts seek and receive comprehensive, professional, and long-term treatment (including long-term follow-up counseling) for their addition.

Due to the fact that drug withdrawal symptoms can be hazardous, dangerous, and in some instances, fatal, the first concern when experiencing withdrawal symptoms should be who the addict should contact about the withdrawals he or she is experiencing.  In other words, when addicts are suffering from drug withdrawal symptoms, they should always see their doctor or healthcare provider immediately so that he or she can assess the severity of the addict’s situation and suggest the best option for treatment.

Please Add Our Website To Your Favorite Bookmarks!

______________________________________________