Drug Side Effects

Drug side effects are becoming more and more of an issue for addiction professionals. This is especially true in light of the epidemic rise in the abuse of and addiction to prescription painkillers, anti-depressants, and anti-psychotics. These often have life threatening side effects when taken as prescribed, let alone at abusive or addictive levels. More and more individuals seeking drug treatment for addiction to some sort of street drug are also reporting abusive and addictive use of prescription drugs at the same time. This is an explosive and potentially deadly combination. In this culture, at this time, one should always suspect more substances are being used than what is being reported.

All drug rehab programs are not created equal; there are many different types and formats. There are long term, short term, in-patient, out-patient, traditional 12 step, and non traditional to name but a few. One big difference to be aware of is whether or not the drug rehab programs you may be looking at are drug free or whether the program embraces the use of other or substitute or additional drugs and ‘medications’ in an effort to control or alleviate addiction. Narconon Arrowhead is a long term, non traditional, drug free approach to the problems of abuse and addiction. These points set us apart from many of the other drug rehab programs available. We start with the assumption that the being is basically good and despite any appearances to the contrary actually wants to attain a completely drug free productive life. The Narconon program embraces many, many different factors that stop or inhibit the individual from reaching this goal. The majority of Narconon staff are ex-addicts and alcoholics themselves and know what it takes to get lasting results – we’ve been there! When examining the various drug rehab programs look for one thing – LASTING results and success.

When we say addiction treatments it implies more than one, and so it is. If we define treatment per the Encarta dictionary as ‘the particular way somebody or something is dealt with or handled’, we can see that there are usually various ways to achieve this. When it comes to the many addiction treatments available one can be overwhelmed with all the options. Narconon Arrowhead is a long term and non-traditional approach to solving addiction. What this means is that Narconon methodologies do not use the disease approach to addiction where one is considered ‘sick’ or ‘ill’ for a lifetime. Narconon is an empowering approach where we assist the individual to fully confront and handle the mental and physical cravings, guilt and depression that are the actual sources for drug and alcohol addiction.

There are many different types of rehab programs using many different philosophies and methodologies. Some are long, some are short, some are drug free, some are advocates of using drug therapies to handle other drug addictions, and some built the individual up, while others tear him down with a philosophy of being diseased for life. Narconon Arrowhead is a long term, non-traditional, completely drug free rehab program. We do not operate from the disease concept of addiction but rather assist the individual in confronting their own cravings, guilt, and depression that are the three main points needing address to resolve addiction or alcoholism for a lifetime.

Cocaine addiction can involve the use of powder cocaine or the more potent form of cocaine known as crack. Both are highly addictive, but crack creates an almost instantaneous short lived feeling of euphoria. More and more of the substance is used more and more often in an attempt to regain the feelings of euphoria. The cocaine initially filled some sort of need for the individual. Perhaps it was only the need to fit in. Cravings, guilt, and depression soon set in and only get worse as the individual violates his own values and those of his family and loved ones in an attempt to simply get back to some feeling of normality. It is a deadly trap that can only end one of three ways – jail, death, or sobriety