There is no doubt that drug addiction is one of the most dangerous and most common diseases of the current era, especially among young people. special centers have been found in Turkey for the management and treatment of drug addiction.
What is the meaning of addiction?
Addiction is defined as the inability to stop doing a certain act even though that act causes physical, psychological or social harm to the person doing it.
This act may include the use of tangible substances such as smoking, drugs and alcohol, or another non-tangible behavior such as addiction to gambling or sex.
In other medical terms, addiction is defined as a chronic functional disorder in the reward system in the brain, so the addict's brain becomes dependent on a specific action in order to obtain the desired pleasure.
According to a statistical study conducted in 2017 in the United States of America, one out of every 25 adults suffers from drug addiction.
Signs of a drug addict
Symptoms of drug addiction that may appear on the addict are:
- taking the drug daily or more than once a day
- Continuing to take the drug for too long
- Buy large quantities of dugs and carry it with him wherever he goes
- Mood changes such as irritability and anger
- notice psychological symptoms On the addict such as depression and anxiety
- Inability to sleep and excessive thinking (insomnia)
- Sudden behavioral change such as introversion and social isolation for a period of continuous days
- Lack of interest in oneself
- Urgent need for money to buy the drug
- Sudden weight loss or gain
- Eye redness and dilated or constricted pupils
- Dental and skin problems due to continuous use of drugs
The most addictive drugs
There are some drugs available in pharmacies that may cause drug addiction if used excessively and without medical advice, so drug addiction is not limited to illegal drugs.
Let's learn about the most common type of drugs that cause addiction:
AlcoholAlcohol is one of the most addictive substances in the event of excessive use. The sources of alcohol vary, the most famous of which is wine and liquor.
Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with poor balance and ability to think, in addition to liver problems. Heavy consumption is defined as consuming more than 4 cups for a man and 3 for a woman per day.
benzodiazepamIt is one of the pharmacological groups that are used in calming and sedation and used to treat psychological disorders such as anxiety and panic attack.
opiumIt is one of the medicines used to relieve acute or chronic pain, and it is considered an effective medicine if it is used according to the doctor’s instructions.
Opioids pose a risk of addiction if they are used indiscriminately in high doses, as the opiate addict pretends to be sick, where the addict visits doctors repeatedly and claims pain in an attempt to get opiates, some examples of opiates (morphine, codeine and tramadol).
marijuanaOr as it is known as hashish, it is extracted from herbs, specifically from the cannabis plant, which is dried and wrapped to be smoked. This substance can lead to weak brain functions and lung problems.
cocaine: It is one of the most widely used and most effective narcotics, it is usually taken by inhalation, and its side effects include severe weight loss and nasal damage caused by irritation of the nose by inhalation.
heroin: It is one of the strongest narcotic substances on earth and the most harmful to health. It is derived from morphine and is associated with serious complications and skin ulcers in place of prolonged use.
meth: A narcotic and deadly substance whose scientific name is metametafine. This element can be manufactured from lithium batteries, and as a result, the manufacture of the substance can be associated with a high risk (carcinogenic substance).
sleeping pillsInsomnia patients use sleeping pills to help them sleep, but in the event of excessive use of pills and an increase in the dose without consulting a doctor, patients may develop a dependence on these pills, gradually increasing the dose and falling into the trap of addiction to these drugs.
Why does an addict use drugs?
You may wonder why an addict in the first stage resorts to using drugs that put his life in health and legal danger.
In fact, the first reason that prompts a person to start his story with drugs is the “experience,” meaning that he wants to try the drug. He wants to experience the temporary euphoria that these drugs give him. Soon, the person turns after several “experiments” into a prisoner of this poison. crawl
Another reason related to the start of drug abuse is depression and extreme sadness that pushes the person to try to escape from the reality in which he lives to feel a false euphoria or happiness given him by the drug.
In many cases, an ill-advised prescription, especially one that contains opiates, can be the primary cause of addiction. When the doctor prescribes high doses of opiates to the patient for several reasons, the patient may develop a drug dependence phenomenon.
Drug addiction treatment in Turkey
The first step in treating drug addiction is to acknowledge the existence of a type of addiction to a particular substance and to realize the negative effects that that substance has on the affected person.
This is followed by the patient's desire to stop using. When there is a desire and will to quit drugs, the methods and steps of treatment can be discussed with the patient.
The methods of treatment differ for each patients, according to the substance taken, the severity of the addiction, and the degree of response to treatment.
Let's get acquainted with the stages and steps of drug addiction treatment in Turkey:
Detoxification
The phase of detoxification is defined as stopping the use of the substance to allow the human body, specifically the liver, to remove the remaining toxins from the body while managing the withdrawal symptoms of the drug from the body.
In the event of stopping the use of a drug after addiction for long time, effects that may be dangerous on the patient appear. Therefore, a doctor should be consulted before starting to withdraw the substance. We mention the symptoms and effects of sudden drug withdrawal:
- Irritability
- Nausea, vomiting and heavy sweating
- Mood and appetite changes
- Insomnia and frequent shivering
- In severe cases, symptoms such as hallucinations, seizures, and delirium may be seen
Psychotherapy sessions in Turkey
In fact, psychotherapy sessions are considered one of the most important ways to help treat drug addiction in the post-detoxification stage. Sessions can be individually with a psychiatrist who works to motivate the patient and solidarity with him on his way to quit addiction.
Sessions can be in groups so that the patient is encouraged, motivated, socialized with peers, and aware that he or she is not alone in the battle to quit drugs.
Psychotherapy sessions help change the patient's perception of the drug, give him motivation and help him avoid returning to his addiction.
The reasons that may lead to the return of addiction (the triggers) are discussed for the patient to be avoided. If the patient feels the desire to use when hanging out with his addicted friends, the patient is advised to stay away from them.
Drug therapy
Medications, along with psychotherapy sessions, play a role in drug addiction treatment and recovery, as they help relieve the symptoms of sudden substance withdrawal, help improve mood, and prevent the victim from returning to drug abuse.
The drugs given vary according to the addictive substance. Together, we review the most important drugs:
lofexidineA drug that is used to relieve a patient's desire and help treat opiate addiction.
acamprosateThis medicine is used to help with alcohol withdrawal, as it reduces the long-term symptoms of alcohol withdrawal such as anxiety and insomnia, and improves the mood of the patient in the recovery stage.
Deep brain stimulation
One of the advanced techniques in the field of neurosurgery, where a small device is implanted that releases electrical charges to stimulate certain areas in the brain. In the case of drug addiction treatment, the areas of the brain responsible for feeling satisfied after taking the drug can be stimulated, and this area is called the nucleus accumbens, which Leads to the demise of the craving to take drugs.
Rehabilitation programs in Turkey
Long-term rehabilitation programs aim to ensure the patient's full recovery and re-entry into social life, as these programs have proven to be highly effective.
There are specialized centers in this field that help the patient by not returning to use again, secure the environment surrounding the patient, and provide the necessary medical and psychological assistance.
Drug addiction treatment centers in Turkey
Turkey is famous for specialized centers for the treatment of drug addiction, where the appropriate environment is provided for patients to recover and rehabilitate within the communities. Individual or group psychological sessions help treat the causes of drug addiction in patients, help them get rid of addiction and provide them with the necessary support.
Turkey is famous for addiction treatment clinics By providing the latest treatment methods and a team of doctors with experience in treating addicts and helping them in their recovery journey.
You can contact us In the event that you have a medical consultation about drug addiction treatment centers in Turkey, we in Bimaristan center guide you to the best specialized hospitals all over Turkey.
Complications of drug addiction
If the addict does not seek help, drug addiction may be associated with many problems and complications, including:
- Involvement in illegal activities such as violence and often theft.
- The spread of infection among addicts due to the use of contaminated syringes, the addict can become infected with AIDS or hepatitis.
- The addict turned into a homeless person as a result of selling all his possessions to get drugs.
- Doing reckless activities such as driving a car while high after taking drugs.
- Self-harm or suicidal thoughts may eventually lead to suicide.
- Family problems, problems within the workplace, and a problem communicating with people.
Risk factors that increase the risk of addiction
Everyone is exposed to the risk of addiction of all ages and conditions. A rich person may be exposed to drug addiction despite the availability of entertainment means for him. A poor person, despite his poor financial conditions, may be exposed to drug abuse, so he may resort to theft in order to secure these materials.
According to studies, there are a number of factors that may increase the risk of infection in the public, including:
Having another family member who is an addict
The reason for this may be due to genetic reasons and factors that play a role in the mechanism. The presence of a first-degree relative who is addicted to drugs increases the risk of addiction among his relatives, or the reason may be due to the influence of family members on each other.
psychological diseases
People with mental disorders such as depression, attention deficit disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at greater risk of substance abuse and addiction.
Patients resort to narcotics as a way to relieve their reality, but the situation soon gets worse.
Age
Young people, especially teenagers are more at risk of addiction. This can be due to psychological and hormonal changes and the pressures they are going through, in addition to the ease with which they are influenced by their friends and the environment that surrounds them.
bad relationship between kids and parents
The weakness of the bond and the relationship between parents and children increases the risk of exposure of young people, especially teenagers to narcotics.
strong drugs
In the case of taking a drug with a strong effect, such as cocaine or heroin, the risk of addiction increases due to the severity of the effect of the drug.
prisons
Drug use is common in prisons, as prison is an environment in which drugs spread among prisoners. According to studies, one out of every 3 prisoners has used drugs at least once during his sentence in prison.
Prevention of drug addiction
The best way to treatment is prevention, and prevention is done by staying away as much as possible from these substances and their abuse and from the promoters of these substances.
Avoid taking high doses of the drug without consulting the doctor, especially pain relievers such as morphine or combinations that may cause addiction.
If you are a father and you have teenage children, talk to them, make sure to maintain a good relationship between you, sit down with your children, communicate with them well and explain to them the dangers of engaging in these activities.
Statistics about drug addiction
Many studies around the world have included the negative impact of the problem of drug addiction, including some of them Statistical studies Conducted in the USA:
- About 20 million adults suffered from a substance use disorder in 2017.
- 74% of people with drug use abuse also suffer from alcoholism.
- 1 in 8 people suffers from drug or alcohol addiction or both.
- In 2017, 8.5 million Americans suffered from mental illness in addition to drug addiction and abuse.
- The costs of drug abuse and addiction in America total more than $740 billion annually and include drug costs, health care and the cost of addiction-related crime.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, a quarter of a billion people have used a drug at least once in their life, which is equivalent to 5% of the world's population.
We refer to some figures for this study published by the United Nations Office in 2015:
- 12 million people use drugs through intravenous injections (needles).
- 1.6 million injecting drug users have contracted the immunodeficiency virus (AIDS).
- 6.1 million people who inject drugs have hepatitis C.
- 1.3 million drug users have both HIV and hepatitis.
- For injecting drug users, the number of deaths due to hepatitis exceeds the number of deaths from HIV.
In fact, the negative impact of drug abuse extends not only on the health level of individuals, but also goes beyond that to affect the economic level of countries. Studies indicate that drug abuse has a major role in weakening the economic growth of countries, especially developing countries. Therefore, detection and combating drug trafficking has an important role in improving the quality of life. for the state as a whole.
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