The Problem of Addiction in India

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The Problem of Addiction in India
The Problem of Addiction in India
By admin

One thing is certain; the problem of addiction is increasing day by day in India. And it is a very disturbing trend. Alcohol has always had social acceptability in our society and is very common substance of abuse and the percentage of alcoholics has remained more or less the same, even though it is the most commonly abused substance by all strata of society. Youngsters start with beer and graduate to stronger stuff. The next most abused substance in my opinion is weed or ganja. Marijuana is being made legal in more and more countries. Earlier, only Holland was the only country where it was legal. Now, Canada has made it legal and a few states in U.S. have made it legal even for recreational use. There is talk to make it legal even in India. Bhang thekas have been legal in many states in India. And it is possible to get weed or hash from these outlets. Marijuana has a very strong historical, cultural and religious association in India. But these days if you take a walk in the evenings, you are very likely to get a whiff of the smoke of Marijuana. The youth today is smoking it left, right and center. It has gained in social acceptability tremendously. Under the guise of being herbal or organic the concept of it being illegal is swept away. Every person who smokes is not an addict, just like every person who drinks is not an alcoholic. In fact if 100 people drink alcohol, only 12 of them are alcoholics. Similarly, if 100 people smoke marijuana, in my opinion, only 5 are addicts. They are people who continue to smoke even after experiencing adverse effects of Marijuana. Adverse effects can include Amotivation Syndrome and Cannabis Psychosis. Besides the fact that Marijuana is a gateway drug, which means that people who have tried smoking weed are more likely to experiment with other drugs. The next area of concern is prescription drugs. Because they are available with the chemist and have a pharmacological function their harmful effect tends to minimized. The most common prescription which is abused in my opinion is cough syrups. The extent of cough syrup abuse is astonishing. The spectrum includes college students and even housewives. The active ingredient in cough syrups is codeine, which is made from opium. So, codeine is an opiate and codeine addiction is similar to opium addiction. Another commonly abused opiate is dextropropoxypene, which is the active ingredient of Spasmo-Proxyvon. Again, students and even people who have been prescribed by doctors get addicted to it. Sleeping tablets are also very commonly abused. They include Valium or Calmpose, Alprax, Ativan, Nitrest and a whole lot of other benzodiazapenes. A drug which is freely available with chemists and is very popular in China but for some reason has not taken off in the same way is Ketamine. Ketamine is used by vets and is used for dissociative anesthesia by doctors and is commonly used to cut cocaine by drug dealers. Since all the cocaine comes from South America and is very expensive, Ketamine is used in its place by many. Another area of concern is designer drugs like Meow – Meow. Youngsters are getting smart and are using uppers and party drugs in abundance. They work hard through out the week and party hard on weekends. Most of them are only psychologically addictive like cocaine but addiction is likely to occur. These drugs are mostly used by the more affluent section of the society. Rave parties are another area where such drugs and drugs like Ecstasy are more often used. These drugs are mostly made in labs and newer and newer variants are constantly flooding the market. Because they are made in labs and are expensive there is no standardization and the quality and the adulterants vary a lot. The harmful effects are not only due to the drug but also due to the adulterants. These are very common in Metropolitan cities and are also called designer drugs. Last but not the least is inhalants like thinner, petrol, balms like iodex etc. They are commonly abused by school children and rag pickers. Erasex which was most commonly abused earlier is not so readily available anymore, so people abuse the organic solvents like sulochan. Hazing can cause total liver cell failure besides damage to lungs. With more affluence the drug use is increasing in India. The youth have no jobs. Punjab is a typical example where drug addiction is rampant. The government needs to tackle this epidemic of addiction on a war footing.

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Aspects of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
Aspects of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
By admin

Drugs, everyone knows from day one, are bad news, even though marijuana is becoming legal in many countries now for medicinal as well as recreational use and even the social stigma in the younger generation is waning, but alcohol has always had a different connotation. Everybody drinks-it’s good for you, Right? But believe it or not, alcohol too is harmful and kills countless people in the world. It kills by two ways: by damaging the body, as we have detailed in the earlier blogs and by causing accidents, violence, suicides etc. The medicinal benefits of alcohol are virtually nonexistent. A little research has of course shown that alcohol, red wine in particular can be good for the health of your heart. It is ”supposed” to increase the good cholesterol and increase the antioxidant activity, BUT-and it is a big BUT-the benefits seen in that research might have been due to other factors, such as being physically active and eating a diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fats. Besides you can get the same benefits by drinking red grape juice-without any risk. If you want a healthy heart, there are many other things you can do: control your blood pressure, cholesterol and weight; eat a healthy diet and exercise. There is really no need to drink alcohol to get health benefits. When friends and loved ones say that you have a drinking or drug problem and are after you to quit, it can be quite bothersome. Sometimes you think they might be right but most of the time you think that if they are wrong you will be giving up this stuff for nothing. Maybe you have a problem, maybe you don’t. Even if you DO have a problem, chances are that you will not be able to see it clearly. Self-deception is rampant in alcoholism and drug addiction. It is so, because it helps you escape a very unpleasant reality and you do not have to do any thing about it. It may not be easy to answer the question whether you ARE an alcoholic or a drug addict or not. One exercise you can do is write your life story listing all the problems in your life and your drinking and drug use. Be totally honest – even though that is a very tall order. List all the problems and how alcohol and drugs were responsible for those problems and how your life was affected by your use. Note opportunities missed, money spent or wasted, the impact on your family, job, friendships and other aspects of your life. Denial often keeps alcoholics and addicts from seeing the problems alcohol and drugs are causing, so rigorous honesty is required in doing this exercise. If your drinking or drug use is causing problems in your life, or if someone who cares about you believes it is, it could be time to entertain the idea that you might be an alcoholic or an addict. Some people with certain illnesses  –  for example, cancer, alcoholism and addiction –  practice denial. It is not because they are stupid or bad or just plain pigheaded. They are genuinely unable to see the truth for what it is, and they deny the fact that they are ill to protect themselves from facing a fearsome and unpleasant reality. The cancer patient does not want to know about his or her illness out of fear of the unpleasant treatments that might be needed and even a greater fear of the consequences should the treatment fail. Similarly, the alcoholic or addict does not want to know about his condition because of the stigma attached to the conclusion and even a greater fear of having to give up their most trusted chemical support. Denial is a defense mechanism and as long as a person has denial he or she will be able to drink alcohol or use drugs till his or her dying days. It is a primitive mechanism – a self deception that is useful in the short time period but is extremely dangerous and destructive over the long term. This self-deception is common in alcoholism and addiction; your psyche knows that the behavior you are indulging in is self-destructive and not in your own best interest and is unacceptable at many levels coupled with a strong desire to continue using alcohol and other drugs. Learning about alcoholism and addiction and the hope and happiness that treatment at Sahyog Detox and De addiction Center can help overcome denial and open the door to Recovery and that is why Sahyog is the Best De addiction Center in Delhi.

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Harmful Effects of Alcoholism and Addiction
Harmful Effects of Alcoholism and Addiction
By admin

The main problem of any alcoholic or addict is stated very nicely by the phrase, “self-will run riot”. It is the self-will of the alcoholic or addict which lands him or her in trouble every time. The main question before the alcoholic or addict is quite simple. What is his/her will? We shall deal with it in a simple fashion to avoid the many complexities we would otherwise encounter. The truth is that their will is to drink and use drugs when and where they choose, resigned to the consequences of their drinking and using drugs. The fact that they have lost the power of choice narrows down the purpose of their to will to one choice, namely – to drink or use drugs. This flat statement of an alcoholic’s or addict’s will relates to his or her unpredictable drinking or using behavior and is open to argument. Few of them drank or used drugs all of the time. Some served their communities. Others held responsible positions contributing to the welfare of their families. But only by bluff, lies, imposition and the co-operative support of friends and families did they manage to conduct much important business. Therein lies the rub, for when the urge to drink or use drugs came, families, religion and business were neglected and disregarded in favor of alcohol or drugs. Medicine and psychiatry seek scientific reasons for their drinking or drug use. But not Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. They admit the results, surmounting them with their spiritual way of life. For this reason new members to A.A. and N.A. are advised to remain laymen. They tend to not remain clean and sober when they try to become able doctors or clergymen overnight. Knowing that members will try it, the stress is on avoiding it. The will of the drinking alcoholic or using addict seems to point in one direction – towards the bottle or drugs of their choice. Perhaps one should briefly consider their drinking or drugging attitude. There is no identical pattern of behavior to which alcoholics or addicts conform. There is fixed ratio of binges, however, for those who swear off for certain periods of time. The new binges are always in proportion to the resolution to stop drinking or using drugs. That is how the will of the alcoholic or addict functions. Even while drinking or using drugs they are not sure for how long they’d be using it. They know exactly the number of days they have been clean or sober, but have no idea of when they might take that first drink or drug. They claim that they want to quit drinking or using drugs. They think they mean it. But the truth is they only wished that they wanted to. What they actually want is to be able to control the amount they consume, at least enough to keep them out of trouble. The word trouble has a wide range of meaning for the drinking alcoholic or using addict. Physically, it can refer to anything from an upset stomach to an alcoholic death. Between these two extremes they are subject to many other infirmities, all because of their unconscious will to drink and use drugs without restraint. For example, there may be anemia, mineral and vitamin deficiency, wet brain. jitters, cold sweats, pneumonia, liver and heart conditions, alcoholic neuritis, low blood sugar, chronic alcoholic poisoning and kindred ailments. The greater the affliction, more the alcoholic will leans toward the bottle or drugs. Any one, or a combination of these maladies, can mean trouble for the alcoholic or addict. Blackouts, D.T.’s, insanity and other sickness adds to their difficulties. They all resulted in mental and bodily discomfort and loss of valuable time. Because of them they may even require hospitalization. At times, they sweat them out at home, but not without someone’s aid and tolerance or without loss to their business interests. Drunkenness begets drunkenness. It dulls their judgement and finer sensibilities. Financial difficulties appear. Creditors become bothersome. Sometimes they brawl, landing in jail or institutions. At times they are arrested for intoxication, drunken driving or other legal infringements. Divorces and sex problems mess up their lives. On most occasions their will to drink or use drugs amounted to an obsession and always ended in trouble. All this is explained at Sahyog Detox and De addiction Clinic in therapy sessions and that is why it is the Best Rehabilitation Center in Delhi.

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Harmful Effects of Brown Sugar
Harmful Effects of Brown Sugar
By admin

Brown Sugar or Smack is the adulterated form of Heroin. Because Heroin is so expensive it is adulterated with many things like talcum powder, lactose and many-many other things to increase its bulk. Pure Heroin is white in color but because of adulteration the color changes to brown and since lactose or glucose is a common adulterant the name Brown Sugar came about. Heroin is made from opium and opium comes from the poppy plant. Poppy plant has very beautiful flowers and at the base there is a pod called ‘dodha’. A cut is given at the base of the flower and the milky juice that exudes from it is allowed to turn black on exposure to air. This is then scraped off and becomes raw opium. Opium is called the mother of all drugs as many medicines are made from it. It has been used as a medicine since ancient times. Opium and all its products including Brown Sugar are highly addictive. This is the main drawback of opiates. The addiction liability is very very high. In toxicology opium is classified as a somniferous poison. The common opiates which are abused are raw opium, heroin and brown sugar, cough syrups containing codeine, Spasmoproxyvon capsules containing dextropropoxypene,  morphine and pethidine, fentanyl etc. Opiate addiction has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. and thousands of people die because of overdose. There the most common opiates are prescription based. The most prominent effect of opiates is euphoria. This effect is what makes the opiates so addictive. Even though there is rapid tolerance to this effect, i.e., a person stops feeling euphoria after a few times but the brain remembers it and the person keeps on taking it because of euphoric recalls. During the withdrawals there is intense dysphoria. The next effect is analgesia or pain relief. Opiates are still considered the gold standard as far as pain relief is concerned because not only do they increase the pain threshold but also modify the emotional reaction to pain. During withdrawals there is bone pain and because of this the addict goes back to using his substance again. There is vomiting initially because smack stimulates the chemo receptor trigger zone in the brain resulting in vomiting of central origin. It is effortless and projectile. In contrast the alcoholic retches and his vomit is not projectile. But the body soon becomes tolerant to this effect and vomiting ceases. There can be vomiting during withdrawals as well. One effect which remains constantly is constipation. The smack or heroin addict is perpetually constipated. The person never becomes tolerant to this effect. The constipation is because of three reasons. All the sphincters go into a spasm thereby reducing the propulsion of food. The secretion of all the digestive juices is reduced causing constipation and the speed of peristalsis is also reduced. All contributing to constipation. During withdrawals there are loose motions. Another organ which never becomes tolerant is the pupils of the eye. They become constricted and are typically described as pin-point. During withdrawals they dilate. Under the influence of opiates the blood vessels dilate resulting in excessive sweating. During withdrawals there is piloerection and cold sweats are common. Opiates suppress all secretions and during withdrawals they are reflexively increased. All this is taught in medical inputs at Sahyog and that is why it is the Best Rehabilitation Center in Delhi.  

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Harmful Effects of Marijuana
Harmful Effects of Marijuana
By admin

Marijuana or Cannabis or Ganja is the opening batsman, i.e., many people start using drugs from Marijuana. It has been made legal in many countries, not only for medicinal use but also for recreational use too. Many states in the U.S. now permit its use. That is not to say that it is harmless. It has got its own harmful effects. Many youngsters say that it is now legal, but then so is alcohol. And alcohol has been legal for such a long time and so many people suffer deleterious effects of alcoholism which cause so much morbidity and mortality. Marijuana is derived from the hemp plant. It is commonly known as weed or grass. Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa is the Latin name for the plant. Ganja is the flowering top of the plant. Hashish or Charas is the resinous extract of the plant and rest of the plant is called Bhang. Whatever the form, the active ingredient in all three is the same, namely, Tetrahydrocannibinol or THC in short. It grows wild in many parts of Asia and Americas and Africa. But people cultivate it now for their own personal use. Cultivation is also done since it has become legal. THC content has nearly doubled over the past few years as hybrid and high yielding varieties are now cultivated. It is most commonly smoked but it many also be eaten like Bhang or Hash Cookies etc. THC is the psychoactive chemical found in Marijuana.  While THC is not physiologically addictive it is definitely psychologically addictive as evidenced by the drug seeking behavior of addicts when they do not get their dose. It has no withdrawal symptoms except mild headache, insomnia or lack of appetite. Mood swings may also occur. Pharmacological effect of THC is that it opens the gate at the level of the spinal cord which regulates the inflow of sensory information to the brain. As a result of this increased sensory input lot of people have this misconception that they become more artistic after consuming Marijuana. Colors seem more vivid and music also takes on a different sensory perception because of this. It is one of the few psychoactive substances which has no known lethal dose, that is to say you cannot die because of overdosing on Marijuana. While it may not be lethal Marijuana is not without serious side effects. THC is a psychoactive substance and has been found in the fatty tissue of the brain even eight years after the person stopped using Marijuana. The most serious harmful effect of Marijuana is that it causes Amotivation Syndrome. The person who uses Marijuana lives in a dream world of his own and never gets down to actually doing the physical action required for work. It is an ideal nasha for two kinds of people, a king or a beggar. People who do not have to work in life. For everybody else it is a strict no-no, especially for addicts. With any substance there is use, misuse and then abuse. Abuse of Marijuana is very common. Very few people are able to use it and do their day to day work. Next deleterious effect of Marijuana is that it is a “gateway drug”. People who use Marijuana are more likely to use other drugs also. It is as if weed is the opening batsman and the other substances follow soon after. The most harmful effect of Marijuana is that it may cause Cannabis psychosis. It does not cause it in everyone who uses it but it is a distinct entity. It is not dose dependent, that is to say more use does not seem to increase the incidence but more of an allergic reaction. A single joint may flip a person. Anti-psychotics and total abstinence from Cannabis is required and the treatment is long drawn. Whether it causes psychosis itself or precipitates a preexisting underlying psychosis cannot be determined. But its accumulation in the fatty tissue of brain is well known. So, Marijuana may be herbal but it is not without its harmful effects. If you were to come to know before a flight that the pilot has had a few joints of Cannabis, would you feel safe to fly in that flight? While it is better than most other intoxicants it is not safe for addicts and people who have to do some work or study in life. All this is explained at Sahyog Detox and De addiction Clinic and that is why it is the Best Rehabilitation Center in Delhi.  

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Best Nasha Mukti Kendra in Delhi
Best Nasha Mukti Kendra in Delhi
By admin

Sahyog Detox and De addiction Clinic is the Best Nasha Mukti Kendra in Delhi by far. At Sahyog there is proper treatment of alcoholism and addiction. As part of treatment patients are taught to live life without the use of chemicals. This is a very important part of Recovery. Recovery does not mean that there will be no problems in life. It is just that what ever problems occur we are able to handle them better and in a more effective manner. The patients have to be aware of what they are doing and the consequences they will face. At the first sign of a problem, they can acknowledge that something is wrong and take action to correct it. They have to learn how to solve problems without the use of chemicals. Patients have to learn that they have to learn to think, feel and then act. Just because they feel something does not mean that they have to act on it. They can use their intellect to determine their emotions and behavior. If they face a problem, they can look within their self to see if they have any unresolved feelings such as anger, guilt or shame that might interfere with their finding a solution to their problem. Having identified their feelings, they can begin to resolve them and pursue the solution to their problem rationally. All this is explained in detail at Sahyog and that is why it is the Best Nasha Mukti Kendra in Delhi.

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Best De addiction Center in Delhi
Best De addiction Center in Delhi
By admin

Sahyog Detox and De addiction Clinic is the Best De addiction Clinic in Delhi and beyond. At Sahyog proper treatment of alcoholism and addiction is undertaken. As part of treatment the patients are explained how their life has been out of control. Alcoholics and addicts develop tolerance, i.e., they get used to the effect of the substance and require more and more of it to produce the desired effect. Because of this tolerance and the pain and anger in their lives the addict starts to act out in more and more dangerous ways. Episodes of being out of control are very frightening for addicts because it confirms what they have suspected for a long time, that they are out of control. These episodes are followed by many promises to straighten out and never do it again and act right. The promises are made to convince themselves that they are in control or at least will be in future. And they act right for some time too but as soon as the guilt and shame recedes they are back to their old behavior. After crazy episodes of acting out the addict needs to make sense of what happened and he or she turns to his or her delusional system of belief or addictive logic. Using this the person is able to explain away what is happening. All addictive logic is based on protecting the addictive personality. Because of this delusional system it is very difficult if not impossible for addicts to see why they are hurting. They think other people don’t understand them or because life is so tough. All this is taught at Sahyog and that is why it is the Best De addiction Center in Delhi and beyond.

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Best Rehabilitation Center in Delhi
Best Rehabilitation Center in Delhi
By admin

Sahyog Detox and De addiction Clinic is the Best Rehabilitation Center in Delhi by a long margin. At Sahyog proper treatment of alcoholism and addiction is done and how to recover from it is also explained in detail. Addicts and alcoholics are basically self centered. Instead of having a relationship with others they have a relationship with their addictive Self. In Recovery the person has to practice “To thine own Self be True”. This is the beginning of Recovery: Self care and a relationship with Self. A practicing addict has a relationship between Self and the Addictive Self whereas a recovering addict has a relationship between Self and ohers. Trust is the basis of any relationship. There cannot be any relationship if there is no trust. Whether the relationship is within oneself or with others. If a relationship is not based on trust it becomes a struggle. Trust allows us the ability to heal and the freedom to connect with others. Reaching Out                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Once addicts begin to accept their disease, they are ready to form relationships outside of themselves. For this they must feel safe. Then a person reaches out to others. The addict can even reach out for help. He or she is able to challenge the inward flow of addiction. The addict may reach out to family, friends, a Higher Power or the community. Eventually he or she will form intimate relationships. Spiritual Higher Power                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               In the beginning all seems lost.  Dealing with people seems frightening. The relationship with Self is too fragile. So, a relationship with a Spiritual Higher Power if often a logical choice. Intimacy                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Addiction is more powerful than me but then so is Recovery. One is based on dishonesty and destruction while the other is based on care and honesty. Addicts in Recovery want to have intimate relationships with others. Addictive logic says people are not to be trusted. Recovering addicts change that and start by having intimate relationships first with other Recovering Addicts. Honesty                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The Recovering Addict sees other Recovering Addicts

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Best Nasha Mukti Kendra in Delhi
Best Nasha Mukti Kendra in Delhi
By admin

Sahyog Detox and De addiction Clinic is the Best Nasha Mukti Kendra in Delhi for many reasons. At Sahyog a thorough understanding of addiction and recovery is given. As part of therapy the patients have to realize that  addiction and alcoholism is a disease and it is a disease of relationships. The root word of relationship is ‘relate’. Addicts and alcoholics cannot relate to things forget about people. The beauty of recovery if found in relationships. Recovery is all about having a good relationship with self, family, others and the God of your understanding. It is through forming good and healthy relationships that addicts and alcoholics are able to overcome their disease. Here we can state the definition of addiction as a pathological love and trust relationship with an object or event. Every person has a void inside and if we try to fill it with drugs and alcohol it will become our disease. Recovering addicts and alcoholics must try to learn how to get their love, trust and emotional needs met through healthy relationships with other people and their God. They must learn to fill the void with relationships. Many recovering people form their first relationships in the meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. They are based on the 12 Step Program. The first word in the Steps is “we”. This is an important word. By  using this word the addicts and alcoholics are able to connect with other people and break their relationship with their addictive self. They realize their emotional needs can be met by other people. If this is not done the addict or alcoholic can replace one addiction with another or revert to their old addiction. Addicts and alcoholics need to develop healthy relationships with other recovering addicts and alcoholics, their own spiritual side, family and friends and eventually the community they live in. All this is explained to patients in Sahyog and that is why it is the Best Nasha Mukti Kendra in Delhi.

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Best De addiction Center in Delhi
Best De addiction Center in Delhi
By admin

Sahyog Detox and De addiction Clinic is the Best De addiction Center in Delhi for many reasons. At Sahyog proper and complete treatment of alcoholism and addiction is done. After addiction and alcoholism is treated the patients come into Recovery. The goal of Recovery is to improve ones relationships. Relationship with self, others and the God of your understanding. A big part is to learn to function well in family and intimate relationships at work and with friends and to handle the ordinary ups and downs of life. As part of Recovery, people have to achieve a healthy and well balanced family and intimate life and are able to communicate openly and honestly with the people they love. If they are in a close relationship, their needs for intimacy, affection, closeness and sex are met. They are able to let others know who they are, including their strengths and weaknesses. After treatment, people have to evaluate their careers, attempt to repair any damage done and create plans for meaningful and satisfying ways to earn a living. They have to have a positive relationship with people at work and be in a secure and satisfying job. If they are out of work the priority should be to look for work to bring structure in their life and feel good about oneself as a productive member of society. To get along with bosses they must learn to follow instructions. To get along with peers, they need to learn how to cooperate. A part of balanced social life includes a network of friends, family and associates. It is important to have a positive relationship with a variety of people. Alone time is also needed and developing new interests or old hobbies is also essential. To know oneself is also important. Handling the ups and downs of life is also important. We have to learn to live life on life’s terms and not our own. In life sometimes you are the pigeon, sometimes you are the statue. All this is explained to patients at Sahyog and that is why it is the Best De addiction Center in Delhi.  

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