ADDICTION? WHY IT IS INCREASING LIKE A FIRE ? THE ROLE OF HOMEOPATHY IN DRUG DEPENDENCY.

 

 

ADDICTION? WHY IT IS INCREASING LIKE A FIRE ? THE ROLE OF HOMEOPATHY IN DRUG DEPENDENCY.

 

 

 

 

Addiction is a brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences .Addictive substances which when taken , have ability to change an individuals consciousness and modify perception , mood , thinking process , behaviour and mortar function, these substances are also called psychoactive substances , but not all substances acting on brain are addictive. Addictive substances primarily act on a particular area or a group of neurons in frontal region of mid brain which controls emotion, thinking, judgment and memory leading the individual to repeatedly administer the addictive or psychoactive substances that is drug seeking behavior.

 

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmits signals and regulate countless functions and processes in our body from sleep to metabolism. Dopamine and serotine play an important role in the functioning of the brain. When a person use the particular addictive substances , depending upon the substances level of dopamine and serotonin starts increasing and moderate their functioning that can lead to lots of nervous conditions like Parkinson’s disease , tremors, ADHD, restless leg syndrome and schizophrenia .

 

 

FUNCTIONS OF DOPAMINE AND SEROTONIN

DOPAMINE – motivation , pleasure, euphoria, motor function , compulsion ,perseveration ,loss of interest

SEROTONIN – mood, memory , processing, sleep, cognation

 

 

COMMON TYPES OF ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES:

Alcohol, tranquilizers , solvents , barbiturates, cannabis, opium, heroine

 

 

EFFECTS OF ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES – It may be addictive or it may slow down the nervous system.

Makes people feel less anxious and more relaxed.

It slows down the physical reactions and cause sleepiness or unconsciousness.

A mixture of these can be dangerous because vital process like heart beat gets slows .

 

 

STIMULANTS – It include amphetamines, tobacco, cocaine, caffeine

EFFECTS – Speed up the bodies reaction .

It makes people feel more alert and less tired .

Caffeine is a common stimulants taken in higher doses , it causes nervous anxiety and paranoia ( being convinced the world is against you )

 

HALLUCINOGENS – cannabis, LSD , magic , mushrooms

EFFECTS – After how people experience what is going on around them under its influence .people may hear, see and think things that are not really happening.

People experiences very , just as dreams my or my not be pleasant.

 

PAIN KILLERS – opium, heroine, medicines that contain codeine

EFFECTS – it takes away pain as the name suggest , people stop reacting to physical pain or emotional worries, heroine is common pain killer.

 

 

DRUG ABUSE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

CHANGES IN PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Red eyes and running nose.

Frequent congestion and coughing

Pale face, circles under eyes

Spots and sores around the mouth

Lack of personal cleanliness.

Messy appearance

Smell of drugs on breath , clothes or body

Needle marks of bruises on lower arm, legs or bottom of feet

CHANGES IN SLEEPING AND EATING HABITS

Difficulty falling asleep ,Insomnia

Significant weight loss or gain.

Poor appetite and sudden appetite

CHANGES IN BEHAVIOUR AND PERSONALITY

Abrupt changes in mood

Depression , I don’t care attitude

Lack of responsibility

For instance, not doing chores and work , forgetting family occasions.

Blaming , lying ,making excuses

Loss of memory

Shortened attention span

Disordered thought patterns

Withdrawal from family, isolation, secretiveness

Easily angered when confronted about drug abuse

CHANGES IN FRIENDS AND INTEREST

New or different friends, especially ones who use drugs

Friends really introduced or seldom come to the house.

More time spent in room or away from home

Secrecy about actions and possessions

Hobbies, sports or extracellular activities are given up , as everything seems boring .

 

 

RED FLAG BEHAVIOUR

Steals , run away from home , violent behaviour , threatens or attempt suicides

 

 

COPING UP WITH THE WARNING SIGNS

There are range of strategies you may find helpful in dealing with such signs . They may involve stress management , techniques and distraction activities such as –

reduce stress and stimulation

indulging in relaxing activities like exercising , playing sports , staying calm

use self talk , use a diversion like a distraction , meditation, watch tv , talk to someone, massage therapy

initiate social contact

do a reality check of the situation

Note people advice

Try some suppressive techniques, wear and flick a rubber band on your wrist

Seek assistance , tell someone like a friend or to a doctor

Think positively

Keep taking your medication

Get more sleep

Try to plan your day

Follow the action plan

 

 

SCOPE OF HOMEOPATHY IN DRUG DEPENDENT – CASES

Homeopathy is a unique science which is based on individualization which means , every person is different, his symptoms will be different , so well selected homeopathic remedy will be different for every individual.

 

IN CASE OF EMOTIONAL EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT SUBSTANCE USED LIKE SEDATIVE , EUPHORIC , MEMORY LOSS , SENSUAL PERCEPTION , INCREASED SEXUAL DESIRE OR ACTIVITY, LACK OF CONCENTRATION, FORGETFULLNESS , CONFUSION, ANXIETY AND PARANOIA , CURSE AND SWEAR , EMPTY FEELING , ABSENT MINDED, PANIC ATTACK , DEPRESSION , MANIA etc can be addressed by homeopathy differentiating on the type of drug patient is taking .what is the mental state of the person, what is the dosage of the drug patient is taking the physical symptoms that is different and unique need to be considered and very importantly what is life history , past experiences and the causation why patient got influenced to take such addictive substances. Getting addictive to such drugs means there must be a weakness inside that invited the circumstances around the individual that provoked him to be addicted by such circumstances . In homeopathy we not only treat the upper layer of the disease that is – not just stopping the more addictive drugs and giving the substitute of less addictive substance, homeopathy puts a ray of light on what and how it stated and patients mind set of what they are getting out of this. As with the complete approach of mental, physical and physiological aspect homeopathy can play very important role in substance abuse cases as it acts on all the plane it focuses on complete treatment of an individual as a holistic system of medicine along with that strict change in dietary regimen , fasting therapy ( naturopathy ) , yoga, meditation, accudetox , family support, counselling for family and proper guidance for long time till the patient restores to normal healthy happy positive life.

 

So I request people who need help and who really want from the core of their heart and soul that they want to get rid of the drugs they need to make very strong decision with themselves that they have to STOP drugs rest WE ARE THERE TO HELP YOU.

 

 

 

About the Author:

DR SAHIL GUPTA.

BHMS,MD(AM),PG HOM.LONDON,PGDACG,PGDEMS,PGCDD(DRUGDEADDICTION)NISD,NEW DELHI.

Author is Homeopathic Addictionologist & Counsellor

Practising in Jammu.

Sahil.gupta123892@gmail.com

Dr.Sahil Gupta (+91-9018067072)