The prevailing belief in West Virginia that marijuana is harmless has significant implications for public health. Believing that marijuana is harmless can pose risks because it may lead to underestimated dangers. These dangers include impaired coordination and cognition and can encourage excessive use, potentially leading to adverse effects and addiction. Harmony Ridge Recovery Center WV will examine the dangers of marijuana usage, which is important for debunking myths about marijuana’s harmless reputation in West Virginia.Continue reading →
Across the state of West Virginia and across the nation, drug addiction and homelessness are intricately intertwined. The two exert a profound influence on the physical and mental well-being of affected individuals. The convergence of these two societal challenges poses a critical dilemma for those caught in their grip. As such, we feel this profound overlap between drug addiction and homelessness in WV deserves exploration. At Harmony Ridge Recovery Center, we are proud to offer the most comprehensive drug and alcohol rehab in West Virginia. Between our experience and deep concern for our communities, here we want to address this complex intersection. Continue reading →
Amidst the towering Appalachian Mountains lies the vibrant city of Morgantown, where hope and healing intertwine to create a haven for those on their journey to recovery. Our experts from the detox center in WV invite you to explore the profound influence of managing emotions on your path to resilience. Recovery is an intricate dance, where the steps may sometimes falter, but it’s the way we embrace and manages our emotions that determines our progress. With compassionate support and creative approaches, we embark on a transformative voyage, harnessing the power of emotions as a catalyst for growth. Discover the art of managing emotions during recovery in Morgantown WV, and enjoy the power of this nurturing community. Continue reading →
Many individuals who struggle with addiction find it difficult to break free from the cycle of addiction on their own. That’s why seeking professional addiction treatment is so important. When it comes to addiction treatment, there are many different options available. However, one option that may be particularly beneficial for those seeking addiction treatment in Parkersburg is relocating during treatment. Taking a move of this kind can be a daunting decision. However, relocating during addiction treatment in Parkersburg may be a good idea, and our experts at detox centers in WV are here to tell you why. Continue reading →
Recovering from addiction is an incredibly challenging journey. It takes immense strength, determination, and perseverance to make positive changes during addiction recovery. However, despite the best intentions and efforts, many people face significant obstacles that hinder their progress and make the journey toward sobriety more difficult. By recognizing thecommon obstacles to making positive changes in life during addiction recovery, the journey becomes a lot smoother and likely to have a desirable outcome. Continue reading →
The field of modern psychology and psychiatry that concerns alcohol and substance abuse has a broad terminology. Sometimes, it might be hard to keep up. And sometimes, terms simply overlap for various reasons. But, with this being a rising problem all over the world, it’s important to distinguish essential terminology. We know that is hard to worry about terminology when you have more significant problems on your plate, but it can make solving a problem a lot easier in the long run. That’s why our experts from the West Virginia treatment center try to explain terms from article to article. Today, we’ll talk about the difference between dependence and addiction, why it is important, and how to separate the two in reality. Continue reading →
We often hear of the sheer significance of community support in rehabilitation. In the same way, we recognize that peer pressure and influence can lead one to addiction; we understand that peer support can help liberate one from it. The value of community in rehab is widely accepted, especially among addiction treatment professionals. From group counseling and 12-step programs to other aftercare programs, we at Harmony Ridge Recoveryhave applied this principle ourselves. Continue reading →
Without a doubt, substance abuse is a very prevalent challenge of our times. Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) affect different demographics with comparable frequency, and swiftly lead to health complications and even overdose deaths. Prescription drugs, illicit drugs, and even legal substances can kindle addiction, often inescapable without treatment. Still, you may not know what to expect during substance abuse treatment in WV, and uncertainty might discourage you. Continue reading →
Barbiturates are drugs that can be used for a wide range of reasons. These drugs are known to depress the central nervous system and are therefore utilized for surgery as well as for sedation or as anticonvulsants. They can be used to treat insomnia, anxiety, or seizure activity, for euthanasia purposes or during executions. They also have been used recreationally and are highly addictive.
Barbiturates are a group of drugs that have calming effects on the body. They can produce effects similar to those of alcohol, ranging from mild relaxation to an inability to feel pain and loss of consciousness.
At Harmony Ridge, we understand that barbiturates addiction treatment is a complex condition that must be treated carefully. We’ll take you through several steps to ensure that you achieve a complete recovery from your substance abuse. Today we’re going to take a look at what you need to know about barbiturates.
When did barbiturates become a problem?
These drugs were first developed in the late 19th century. Use of barbiturates as a recreational drug then became popular in the 1960s and 1970s, leading to abuse in some cases. The first barbiturates were made in the 1860s by the Bayer laboratories in Germany. Barbiturates increase the activity of a chemical in the brain that helps transmit signals. This chemical is known as gamma amino butyric acid (GABA).
A class of drugs known as benzodiazepines has largely replaced barbiturates for both medical and recreational use, although benzodiazepines also carry a high risk of physical dependence and other adverse effects. Examples include Valium and Ativan.
Why are barbiturates prescribed?
Barbiturates (mainly phenobarbital) are occasionally used by doctors to treat the following conditions:
seizure disorder (epilepsy)
increased pressure in the skull
severe trauma to the skull
some types of convulsions
Barbiturates can also be used as a form of anesthetic.
Off-label uses include treatment for:
migraines
alcohol and benzodiazepine poisoning and withdrawal
jaundice
Trauma
What are examples of barbiturates?
Barbiturates belong in a class of drugs called Central Nervous System Depressants and are typically prescribed to treat people with insomnia or symptoms of anxiety.
When looking for signs of barbiturate abuse, it may be helpful to know which barbiturates are on the market. Barbiturates are classified in four groups: ultra short acting, short acting, intermediate acting, and long acting. Ultra short acting are typically used in anesthesia, injected intravenously, and produce anesthetic results in one minute or less. Short acting to intermediate acting achieves results in 15 to 40 minutes. Long acting barbiturates take effect in about an hour, and last about 12 hours.
Barbiturates are available under the following different brand names: amobarbital (Amytal), secobarbital (Seconal), butabarbital (Butisol), pentobarbital (Nembutal), belladonna and phenobarbital (Donnatal), butalbital/acetaminophen/caffeine (Esgic, Fioricet), and butalbital/aspirin/caffeine (Fiorinal Ascomp, Fortabs).
Commonly known as “downers,” street names for Barbiturates include:
Barbs
Red
Red birds
Yellow jacket
Pinks
Tooies
Christmas trees
Phennies
Double trouble
Blues
Blockbuster
Sleepers
Gorilla pills
Goof balls
What is Phenobarbital?
This is used to control seizures, relieve anxiety, and is also used to prevent withdrawal symptoms in people who are dependent on another barbiturate medication and are going to stop taking the medication. It works by slowing activity in the brain. This drug is considered to be a high addiction risk for youth and young adults, and use should be monitored closely if it is prescribed to treat epilepsy or anxiety in these populations in particular.
Are barbiturates addictive?
As with many drugs, barbiturate users can develop a tolerance for the drugs, meaning that they require increased dosages to achieve the same effect. The problem with barbiturate tolerance is that is very little difference between a safe dosage and one that is potentially fatal.
Stopping them (withdrawal) can be life-threatening. Tolerance to the mood-altering effects of barbiturates develops rapidly with repeated use. But, tolerance to the lethal effects develops more slowly, and the risk of severe poisoning increases with continued use.
Withdrawal from barbiturate dependence is itself dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Depending on a variety of factors including the length of use and the amount of the drug used, withdrawal symptoms can range from restlessness and anxiety to convulsions and death.
Because of the dangers and medical complications of barbiturate withdrawal, detoxification should be done under medical supervision, often in an inpatient setting.
Side effects of barbiturates
Barbiturates have been associated with many, potentially serious, side effects. Some of the more common side effects include:
confusion
diarrhea
dizziness
drowsiness
a headache
irritability
low blood pressure
nausea and vomiting
Vertigo.
Barbiturates are extremely dangerous in overdose. Symptoms may include:
difficulty concentrating
impaired judgment
incoordination
sluggishness
speech disturbances
staggering
unusually slow and shallow breathing
coma and death
Barbiturates have a very narrow therapeutic index, meaning small differences in dose can result in big differences in the effects of the drug and patients can easily develop side effects. Combining barbiturates with other drugs such as opioids, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, or over-the-counter (OTC) medications with antihistamines could be fatal.
Why Are Barbiturates Addictive?
The calming effects of barbiturates and other sedatives can cause users to develop a dependence on them. This means that they’ll need higher and more frequent doses to achieve a similar effect over time. Once you have a tolerance to barbiturates, you’re in danger of forming an addiction to them. Soon you’ll need them just to get out of bed in the morning. Many celebrities suffered from barbiturates addiction or died from a barbiturate overdose in the 1960s and 1970s. These include Judy Garland, Jimi Hendrix, Marilyn Monroe, and Edie Sedgewick.
Responding to a barbiturate overdose
Most overdoses of this type of medicine involve a mixture of drugs, usually alcohol and barbiturates, or barbiturates and opiates such as heroin, oxycodone, or fentanyl. Some users take a combination of all these drugs. Those who use such combinations tend to be:
New users who do not know these combinations can lead to coma or death
Experienced users who use them on purpose to alter their consciousness
In the event of a suspected barbiturate or polydrug overdose, call 911 immediately, especially in the event of any breathing problems. The presence of medical professionals on the scene can improve the chances of surviving the overdose, which can be deadly.
Knowing whether or not an individual mixed a barbiturate with an opioid can be helpful for medical professionals to know when they arrive on the scene, as naloxone may be a viable immediate treatment.10 Naloxone is a drug that can help the person regain consciousness and reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, although naloxone cannot reverse a barbiturate-induced coma.
Benzodiazepines: A better alternative?
As mentioned above, barbiturates are being used far less than they were originally, partly because they were replaced by the drug benzodiazepine class. At first, this class of drugs was considered to be a much lower abuse risk, and therefore was offered as a safer alternative to barbiturates. In many cases, when used properly, they are. As explained in the Medical Pharmacology, benzos are much easier to dose in safe amounts.
However, subsequent experience and research, such as this article from American Family Physician, demonstrates that chronic abuse of these drugs – including simply using them for too long – can lead to addiction. And, similar to barbiturates, the detox process from benzos can lead to similarly dangerous seizures and other withdrawal symptoms. As a result, benzo use must also be monitored and undertaken with the awareness that these drugs are highly addictive.
Barbiturate Detox with Harmony Ridge Recovery Center
If you know someone who needs help for barbiturate abuse and addiction, do not despair. Treatment is not impossible—it’s actually quite possible when you find the right help. Inpatient rehab centers offer a quality of care you won’t find elsewhere.
Going to a rehab center difference is a comprehensive treatment plan for all addicted individuals. This means participants get help with treating any and all disorders (dual diagnosis). Healing at our rehab center allows you to get away from the triggers of your usual environment.
Harmony Ridge Recovery Center is nestled in the Mid-Ohio Valley surrounded by 50 acres of scenic tranquility, lakes and forestry. Located inside the beautiful and serene Mountwood Park, 12 miles east of Parkersburg, WV, our campus provides the perfect environment for a successful journey to recovery. Learn more about our campus online and contact us today!
It is difficult to deal with drug addiction in your personal life, either your own drug abuse or those of someone you care about. How do you know what to do next?Unless an individual has lived through a substance abuse problem, it is hard to understand the scope and damaging effects that addiction can cause. There are a number of popular myths about drug addiction that many of us take as fact, simply because we’ve never been faced with the truth before.
To better understand what drug addiction is, and what it is not, let’s take a look at some of the most popular myths concerning drug addiction.
Myths About Drug Addiction
Myth #1: Only “hard” drugs like cocaine and heroin are addictive.
FACT: Drugs like cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines are definitely dangerous and come with a lot of risks. However drugs that are used in a more recreational manner, like alcohol and marijuana, can be addictive as well. Even drugs prescribed by a doctor, like opioid painkillers, can lead to addiction, so be careful to follow your doctor’s directions.
If drugs like heroin, cocaine and alcohol couldn’t cause dependence and addiction, the problems of substance abuse and drug-related crime might not exist. However, this isn’t the case. These things have chemicals that are specifically meant to cause addiction. Almost all addictive drugs act on the brain’s natural reward circuitry. These change the way you feel, act and behave as you become increasingly dependent on the substance of your choice.
Addictions don’t have to be drugs or alcohol. Behaviours as diverse as gambling, exercise and even work can all become addictive. The most important thing to take away from this myth is that it’s up to you to manage your level of intensity in anything.
Myth #2: Addicts are bad people.
FACT: Addicts aren’t “bad” people trying to get “good,” they’re sick people trying to get well. They don’t belong to a particular race or exist only in certain parts of the country. Those addicted to drugs may be lawyers, farmers, soldiers, mothers, and grandfathers who struggle with drug dependence on a daily basis.
Every person struggling with drug addiction is proof that addiction doesn’t discriminate—but, thankfully, neither does recovery.
Popular opinion, television shows and media stories create the impression that addicts are selfish, weak and lacking self-control. The idea may also come from fear and a lack of understanding about addiction. The sooner we replace fears and misconceptions with understanding, the easier it will be for addicts to get the help they need.
Myth #3: If someone just uses willpower, they should be able to stop.
FACT: For people who are vulnerable to addiction, substance use can lead to profound changes in the brain. These changes hijack the natural “reward pathway” of the brain. In nature, rewards usually only come with effort and after a delay. But addictive substances shortcut this process and flood the brain with chemicals that signal pleasure. The brain sends signals of powerful and intense cravings, which are accompanied by a compulsion to use. These brain changes make it extremely difficult to quit and often a treatment program is required.
When the disease takes hold, these changes in the brain erode a person’s self-control and ability to make good decisions. While sending highly intense impulses to take drugs. These are the same circuits linked to survival, driving powerful urges no different from those driving the need to eat or drink water.
These overwhelming impulses help explain the compulsive and often baffling behavior around addiction. People will keep using even when terrible things happen to them. Many people think that there’s only one path for addiction treatment, but this isn’t the case.
Myth #4: There is only one way to get sober when dealing with drug addiction.
FACT: There are, in fact, numerous approaches to tackling drug and alcohol addiction, and everyone requires a different method of treatment. Some people may respond differently to treatment, and as a result, they require a plan that is carefully tailored to their specific needs. While there are many forms of treatment out there, the common end goal is always long-term sobriety.
As well, addiction is a chronic disease, which means it’s a long-lasting condition that can be controlled but not cured. Treatment can be the first step toward wellness, but it’s just the very beginning. Many people need more than one treatment visit to get on a stable path to wellness. More importantly, staying well requires a lifelong commitment to personally managing the disease.
Myth #5: If someone relapses in drug addiction treatment, they’re a lost cause.
FACT: Try not to be too discouraged by a relapse, which is a recurrence of symptoms. Addiction is a chronic illness very similar to type II diabetes or hypertension, meaning it requires lifelong management. Relapse is no more likely with addiction than it is for these other chronic illnesses.
Getting well involves changing deeply embedded behaviors. This takes time and effort and sometimes results in setbacks. This doesn’t mean previous treatments failed, because the person with the disease still made progress overall in getting well. A recurrence may be a sign that the treatment approach or other supports need to change, or that other treatment methods are needed. There is hope. Keep in mind that most people with addiction who suffer a recurrence will return to recovery.
Like virtually any other medical treatment, addiction treatment cannot guarantee lifelong health. Although nearly one-third of clients achieve abstinence from their first treatment attempt. Relapse, often a part of the recovery process, is always possible and treatable. Even if a person never achieves perfect abstinence, addiction treatment can reduce the number and duration of relapses.
Myth #6: Those with a drug addiction will not benefit from treatment until they hit rock bottom.
FACT: This myth is particularly troublesome because it packs a one-two punch. It propels a user deeper into drug abuse – increasing negative behaviors and creating a stronger addiction. At the same time, the myth causes family and friends to believe they are powerless to step in until someone has lost it all.
This logic is extremely dangerous. Family and friends should not wait until their loved one is at or near rock bottom. Experts specializing in behavior therapy and addiction recovery can help users during any point in their journey. The sooner users get treatment, the more likely it is they will recover and live a life free from drugs and alcohol.
When your body becomes dependent on the drug, addiction can quickly spiral out of control. Addicts who hit rock bottom may lose their job, loved ones, and even their life. By that point, it may be too late. Do you suspect that you or a loved one has a problem with drugs or alcohol? Do not hesitate to get help immediately.
Do you think you might have a problem with drug abuse?
Is it possible that your recreational use of drugs has grown into an addiction? Ask yourself these questions and give yourself the benefit of honest answers. According to the diagnostic characteristics for drug addiction, if even one of these characteristics applies to you, you could have a serious medical condition. If you are concerned that you have a problem, please contact us so we can guide you to a program that can help you.
Do you choose to use drugs over spending time with your family or meeting your responsibilities for school or work?
Do you use drugs even in dangerous situations, such as when driving a car?
Have you ever been arrested because of your drug use, either for behavior related to drug use or simply for possessing drugs, but you still continue to use drugs?
Do you continue to use drugs even though your social and family relationships are suffering? Does your drug use cause family fights and other interpersonal problems?
Managing Drug Addiction with Harmony Ridge Recovery Center
For many people who have never struggled with a drug or alcohol addiction, they do not understand the in and outs of this problem. A shockingly low number of Americans who need addiction treatment actually receive it – only 2.5 million people out of 22.7 million. Our treatment programs see addiction and recovery as a health issue, not a moral issue. Treatment centers play a necessary role in addiction treatment. Clients do best when their unique needs are addressed and they can focus solely on recovery. Has your addiction left you feeling helpless with no way out? Our team of admissions professionals are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Give us a call today! (888) 771-8372
