Addiction advice thread

[HyperBudgie]

MANDRAX.

What is it exactly?

Description and History:

Mandrax is the name of a particular "downer" tablet that was first manufactured in Britain during the late 60s and early 70s. Its active ingredient is Methaqualone, which is chemically and functionally related to barbiturates.
Street names for Mandrax include:
"Mandies," "buttons," "MX," and "white pipe."
Mandrax tablets were initially a controlled substance prescribed as a sleeping aid but were pulled off the market and banned because of their extremely high addiction rate.

Though legal production of Mandrax ceased long ago, it is still illegally manufactured in many African and south Asian countries and is fighting a losing battle with crack cocaine on the African drug market. Mandrax tablets were designed to be taken orally but in abuse it involves grinding the tablets into powder and snorting them, or more commonly grinding the tablets and mixing them with Dagga before smoking it inside a specialized Dagga pipe (hence the nickname "white pipe"). When taken orally, Mandrax is almost always abused in conjunction with alcohol which serves to magnify the euphoric effects.

Side effects :
Cramps, insomnia, headaches, emotional instability, and so forth, with the added effects of toxin-induced psychosis as well as loss of muscle control.

I, personally have done Mandrax....I used to smoke crack and use the "dagga-mandrax" combo to come down and alleviate the "hanging" after finishing my crack....I later substituted Mandrax for Heroin and eventually stopped crack as Heroin took over my life.....

 

[HyperBudgie]

Schizophrenia-like Psychosis Following `Mandrax' Overdose

This is quite common and often results in violent crimes as a result of the addiction...The psychosis is there but its entire focal point is Mandrax:

Mandrax abuse can cause a person to develope a short-lived paranoid psychosis after recovering consciousness from an overdose of `Mandrax'. They show visual and auditory hallucinations, ideas of reference, and rambling paranoid delusions, features that have been described after excessive diphenhydramine. There is no evidence of confusion. Diphenhydramine is one of the constituents of `Mandrax', and is considered responsible for the psychotic features seen in addicts.

The drug is cheap and dominates the slums and low income/poverty stricken areas.

You can buy a Mandrax tab for R20 and a "bompie" (small package of dagga wrapped in news paper) for R3.

Very cheap and highly addictive with terrible side-effects especially after long-term abuse....

 

[Sherbang]

I'm quite anti drug addicts because of her and will advise anyone to run, if possible. I don't believe in NA, rehabs or councellors. It's totally up to the individual - and with such a high relapse rate, very indivduals are interested in changing themselves.

My exgirlfriend would not - and will not - admit anything. If I catch her with a pipe up her nose, she'll deny drug use. You cannot ever prove to them, no matter how much physical evidence you have. They lie about every single thing you can imagine.

I agree with you to an extent, in that it is up to the individual. But people use drugs for a reason, sometimes they literally need it to survive. I knew a woman who was gang raped as a teenager, for example, she had tried suicide twice before discovering heroin. Heroin was what enabled her to stop attempting suicide, enabled her to live - at first... as the addiction grew though, so did her despair but by that time she was 'trapped' in the addiction shame cycle. It may be something less traumatic like a low self esteem, often a lot of shame is involved.

Counseling can help bring a person to a point where they are ready to make that decision to change, to believe that life is worth living. By raising a persons self esteem and teaching coping mechanisms, working through past trauma.

Addicts do lie, to themselves as well as those closest to them. They steal and manipulate too. But they didn't just wake up one day and decide to become a lying, thieving, manipulative addict! The lying and stealing is a symptom of the addiction and the addiction itself is a symptom of a much deeper psychological/spiritual problem.

Whether you are an addict or not, changing yourself is hard work and not always pleasant - in my experience it requires the assistance of a counselor, rehab or other professional help.

Edit: Just looking at one of the links you posted:
(http://www.crystalmethfaq.com/)

What treatment methods work best?

A: It is virtually impossible for a crystal meth addict to recover without professional treatment. Treatment that incorporates individual therapy, group counseling, behavior modification and other skill-building techniques can be most effective. Due to the extreme physical symptoms of withdrawal, many treatment centers offer medical detoxification, which can blunt the severe pain of the body's adjustment to the lack of the drug in the system.

 

[HyperBudgie]

Addicts do lie, to themselves as well as those closest to them. They steal and manipulate too. But they didn't just wake up one day and decide to become a lying, thieving, manipulative addict! The lying and stealing is a symptom of the addiction and the addiction itself is a symptom of a much deeper psychological/spiritual problem.

Examples of what I used to do to get Heroin (None of which I am proud of)

1. Stole my dad's petrol card and spent time filling up cars with the card in exchange for a discounted amount in cash...Moved from garage to garage...

2.Back in the day...I spent my last R30 at a video store renting a video machine...I proceeded to sell the video machine at a pawn shop.

3.Told my mother that I had to see a heart specialist and needed R1000.00 (I pulled many cons on my mother over the years)

4.Waited until my flatmates had all left our fully furnished dwellings and sold all the furniture, Tv, Fridge...EVERYTHING...I then locked the place and broke in forcefully to make it look like we'd been robbed.

5.Whilst being confined to the house in order to "come clean" I nicked my Mom's sleeping tablets and Valium supply...Told everyone that I wanted to do something nice forthem so I cooked sunday lunch....With all the valium and sleeping tablets in....Once they had all fallen asleep I raided wallets and stole my mom's laptop...

I've done worse...but only my wife and therapist know about them....

I am a good man, but once you become a slave to addiction you are no longer in control..

 

[HyperBudgie]

Is your GP also your Dealer?

Benzo Addiction:

Because there is a very strong problem of anxiety in our culture as well as insomnia, benzodiazepines are often used to treat these disorders.
In the past the benzodiazepines prescribed included valium and librium. Now the more frequently prescribed medications are xanax and ativan to deal with anxiety. Other ones include dalmane and halcion.

Addiction can be subtle and it's important to not stop without doing so gradually. The benzo drugs are often abused due to the calming results they bring to people and eradication of anxiety.

If you are using a benzo (alzam,pax,serapax,xanor,urbanol etc..) Please Be carefull:
Because the sedation effect, it's important to be wary about mixing with partying beverages and even cough syrups. Also your judgment may be impaired and driving may not be recommended.

Depending on the medication and dosage, withdrawal symptoms can include: convulsions, stomach problems, trembling and appetite suppression. Don't deceive yourself about these symptoms if you notice them.

It is important to gradually come off the benzos, especially for the medications that leave the body quickly. Not all benzos leave at same rate.

Be honest with yourself to examine if you have a strong dependency on the medication. Are you afraid if you weren't going to take it? Do you plan your day around taking the meds? Don't beat yourself up if you think you have an addiction but see a professional so you can discuss and form a plan for withdrawal.

Certain disorders such as panic problems and other phobias may require continuous need for benzodiazepines to maintain stability and again this needs to be determined by a physician or psychiatrist.

Cheers!

 

[HyperBudgie]

Benzo addiction continued....

My ex wife was addicted to benzos and painkillers.....

Eventually she had to be admitted to a clinic for treatment...The treatment included loads of therapy and she had underlying emotional problems that she resolved at the clinic...(One of which was the fact that she was miserable in our marriage - hence the divorce).....

She has been off benzos for almost 3 years and is doing fine...So there is always hope.

 

[HyperBudgie]

Is a loved one on drugs? Spot the signs:

Drug addiction signs:

• Increase or decrease in appetite; changes in eating habits, unexplained weight loss or gain.
• Smell of substance on breath, body or clothes.
• Extreme hyperactivity; excessive talkativeness.
• Needle marks or bruises on lower arm, legs or bottom of feet.
• Change in overall attitude / personality with no other identifiable cause.
• Changes in friends: new hang-outs, avoidance of old crowd, new friends are drug users.
• Change in activities; loss of interest in things that were important before.
• Drop in school or work performance; skips or is late to school or work.
• Changes in habits at home; loss of interest in family and family activities.
• Difficulty in paying attention; forgetfulness.
• Lack of motivation, energy, self-esteem, discipline. Bored, "I don't care" attitude.
• Defensiveness, temper tantrums, resentful behavior (everything's a hassle).
• Unexplained moodiness, irritability, or nervousness.
• Violent temper or bizarre behavior.
• Unexplained silliness or giddiness.
• Paranoia -- suspiciousness.
• Excessive need for privacy; keeps door locked or closed, won't let people in.
• Secretive or suspicious behavior.
• Car accidents, fender benders, household accidents.
• Chronic dishonesty; trouble with police.
• Unexplained need for money; can't explain where money goes; stealing.
• Unusual effort to cover arms, legs.
• Change in personal grooming habits.
• Possession of drug paraphernalia.

There is a simple 5-in-1 urine drug test kit that can be obtained from a pharmacy for around R150.00.

It screens for: Dagga (THC), Cocaine (coc), Amphetamine (Ecstacy -AMP), Methamphetamine (TIK - Met) and Morphine (Heroin, Pethadine etc - MOR- [THis is dodgy though....If the person tested has recently taken pain pills containing codeine such as Adcodol, Napacod or Myprodol - then the codeine will be detected as MOR [codeine is also opiate based and part of the same family])

One can also not rule out things like depression as many of the above signs are symptoms of emotional/psychological problems...
When wanting to test the individual it is important to handle it delicately...Once drug abuse is ruled out then look into the depression.

 

[Dolby]

I think I asked this earlier in thread, but do you believe there is shame (for the addict) in using drugs ... ?

I reckon not - but this where I tend to disagree with most. Most people say they are shameful and try hide the fact etc etc But from what I've seen, addicts tend to look down on non-drug users. The non-user is uncool and they're out of the 'cool' circle. Comments such as :

"he thinks he's such a hardcore drug user, but he couldn't even handle those lines ..." or "I know many dangerous men that'd drop big money on me anytime"

I get the feeling like where they are (at least, initially ...) and they like being in this circle doing the random sex, hotels, manipulating (conquoring?) and differing from the societal 'norm'

 

[HyperBudgie]

"he thinks he's such a hardcore drug user, but he couldn't even handle those lines ..." or "I know many dangerous men that'd drop big money on me anytime"

I get the feeling like where they are (at least, initially ...) and they like being in this circle doing the random sex, hotels, manipulating (conquoring?) and differing from the societal 'norm'

You're talking mainly about "Coke-Heads"....When they're high they feel so confident and get "God complex" and become arrogant and rude...The True addict won't be in that environement or be running in those corcles...Addicts are selfish and don't share....Coke is EXPENSIVE...A Cokw addict will spend his time trying to get his hands on his powder..Never will he share and/ or encorage you to use unless he can get You to pay...Then he'll be extatic when you can't "Handle those lines" as there will be more left over for him...

In the end all addicts become self loathing minipulative liars and slaves....What you're talking about is the social user that thinks he's cool....Until he becomes an addict...then his tune will change completely...

If anything drug addicts envy those who live normal lives without drugs and addicts yearn for the same freadom that clean people have...

 

[HyperBudgie]

Ritalin Withdrawal Symptoms

Anxiety
Depression
Hot and Cold flushes
Panic Attacks
Paranoid delusions
lathargy

It takes a while for the body to recover due to the fact that it is not used to producing dopemine unassited...

But TIK and Heroin are of bigger concern right now....

I merely posted this so that parents think twice before puttting their kids on Ritalin...It's not schedule 6 for nothing...

 

[HyperBudgie]

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depressive disorder or bipolar affective disorder.
""""TRUTH"""

Not much you can tell me about Bipolar...

“I admire addicts. In a world where everybody is waiting for some bline, random disaster, or some sudden disease, the addict has the comfort of knowing what will most likely wait for him down the road. He's taken some control over his ultimate fate, and his addiction keeps the cause of death from being a total surprise.”

Nothing admirable about being an addict...

“Addiction should never be treated as a crime. It has to be treated as a health problem. We do not send alcoholics to jail in this country. Over 500,000 people are in our jails who are nonviolent drug users.”

Addiction has a stigma attached to it but it is ultimately considered to be a disease and is treated as such...

 

[Sherbang]

Addiction has a stigma attached to it but it is ultimately considered to be a disease and is treated as such...

Addiction is considered a disease by AA/NA, among others, but it is NOT actually a disease. Most rehabs currently use the 'disease' model when treating addiction which is one of the reasons, IMO, that there is such a low success rate in treatment.

What other disease do you know of that is treated by 'letting go to a higher power' as recommended by AA/NA?

By treating addiction as a disease you absolve the addict of any form of responsibility for their addiction. A disease is something that happens to you that is out of your control. Diseases are not brought on by the sufferers themselves and are not treatable by the desire and will to be well. The brain disease model implies that one can never be fully free from their drug problems and is counter productive IMO.

 

[HyperBudgie]

What other disease do you know of that is treated by 'letting go to a higher power' as recommended by AA/NA?

The brain disease model implies that one can never be fully free from their drug problems and is counter productive IMO.

Not all treatment centres are religious.....

The "brain disease" is caused by the addiction....addiction is considerered a disease that requires treatment...."Once an addict always an addict"...So yes...addicts can never be fully free from their addiction..

 

[Sherbang]

Not all treatment centres are religious.....

The "brain disease" is caused by the addiction....addiction is considerered a disease that requires treatment...."Once an addict always an addict"...So yes...addicts can never be fully free from their addiction..

Not all treatment centres consider addiction to be a disease.....

I know addiction is considered a disease, that's a problem IMO, because it is not a disease. There is no real (as in scientific) evidence to back up this view of addiction being a disease. The 'once an addict always an addict' is also not backed by evidence, it is just part of the AA/NA philosophy of addiction...

 

[matt loves telkom]

yoh this thread is scary ! just read most of the pages and it was a little depressing.

eish i should tone down on the MJ for abit

 

[petercandid]

Hi BipolarDude.ADHD,

Well,We all need a buzz in our life. It can help deal with anything from stress to boredom. Whatever turns us on, everyone feels the desire sometimes to indulge themselves and take a break from reality. Anything from sex to shopping, gaming to gambling, drink or drugs.

But you can have too much of a good thing and sadly, many don't realise this until it's too late to quit. By then, the buzz has become a way of life: an addiction.

An addiction is a compulsion to use a substance or persist with a certain behaviour in order to feel good or to avoid feeling bad. It can dominate your mind, and keep you coming back for more, while some habits can also create a constant craving in your body. An addiction is different for everyone, depending on your vice and the kind of person you are.

Thanks

 

[HyperBudgie]

Not all treatment centres consider addiction to be a disease.....

I know addiction is considered a disease, that's a problem IMO, because it is not a disease. There is no real (as in scientific) evidence to back up this view of addiction being a disease. The 'once an addict always an addict' is also not backed by evidence, it is just part of the AA/NA philosophy of addiction...

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disease_model_of_addiction

http://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/is-addiction-a-disease.htm

http://www.medical-online.com/addict.htm

 

[Sherbang]

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disease_model_of_addiction

http://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/is-addiction-a-disease.htm

http://www.medical-online.com/addict.htm

Thanks for the links. I don't, however, see any evidence or references to studies showing that addiction is a disease in them.

The following page is reserved for evidence supporting the disease theory of addiction:
http://www.rational.org/index.php?id=47

(and by the way "There is one who has all power, that one is God: may you find Him now!" is not considered an effective way of treating disease - as found in the last link you posted)

 

[HyperBudgie]

Thanks for the links. I don't, however, see any evidence or references to studies showing that addiction is a disease in them.

The following page is reserved for evidence supporting the disease theory of addiction:
http://www.rational.org/index.php?id=47

(and by the way "There is one who has all power, that one is God: may you find Him now!" is not considered an effective way of treating disease - as found in the last link you posted)

Alan I. Leshner:

"Scientific advances over the past 20 years have shown that drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease that results from the prolonged effects of drugs on the brain. As with many other brain diseases, addiction has embedded behavioral and social-context aspects that are important parts of the disorder itself. Therefore, the most effective treatment approaches will include biological, behavioral, and social-context components. Recognizing addiction as a chronic, relapsing brain disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use can impact society's overall health and social policy strategies and help diminish the health and social costs associated with drug abuse and addiction."

I agree...God can't cure addiction...

 

[HyperBudgie]

Thanks for the links. I don't, however, see any evidence or references to studies showing that addiction is a disease in them.

The following page is reserved for evidence supporting the disease theory of addiction:
http://www.rational.org/index.php?id=47

(and by the way "There is one who has all power, that one is God: may you find Him now!" is not considered an effective way of treating disease - as found in the last link you posted)

Link:

http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/sa/a/blut040120.htm