Author Archives: Texas Drug Rehab

Could Wastewater Tracking Improve the Understanding of Substance Abuse Patterns?

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Could Wastewater Tracking Improve the Understanding of Substance Abuse Patterns?When humans use drugs or medications, the breakdown products from many of these substances ultimately end up in the wastewater that passes through treatment plants in cities, towns and other jurisdictions. Previous research conducted in Europe has shown that chemical analysis of wastewater can help public health officials identify trends in substance use within a given population. In a study published in May 2014 in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, a team of researchers from the State University of New York at Albany conducted the first U.S.-based project designed to detect substances of abuse in municipal wastewater.
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Club Drug Could Help PTSD Sufferers

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Club Drug Could Help PTSD SufferersKetamine, known to most as a party drug, has been receiving more attention in recent years for its potential medical uses. For decades, the use of psychoactive substances in medical research has been taboo. Now, more and more researchers are finding possible uses for them in the treatment of mental health conditions. The latest study demonstrates that ketamine is effective in relieving the devastating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Big Tobacco May Help to Make Anti-Addiction Medications

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Big Tobacco May Help to Make Anti-Addiction MedicationsHelp sometimes comes from the most unlikely of sources. Big Tobacco has a long history of misleading politicians and the public about the significant harm caused by smoking and purposefully attempting to hook a new generation of kids on its products. But those same companies have done a lot of potentially important research into a compound that could help with a wide range of conditions, from delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s to improving attention in ADHD-suffering teens and even aiding weight loss. The chemical in question is none other than nicotine, one of the most addictive substances on the planet, but paradoxically one that a deeper understanding of may lead to a more effective treatment for smoking addiction. So is it all hype, or does nicotine really hold all this promise?
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Medication Shows Promise for Blocking Cocaine Cravings

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Many individuals who enter drug abuse treatment for cocaine addiction experience a frustrating cycle of recovery and relapse. In fact, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that 40 to 60 percent of those who receive treatment for addiction will relapse. At six months following treatment, the rates can climb to 80 percent.
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Methamphetamine Abuse: The Problem Hasn’t Gone Away

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Methamphetamine Abuse: The Problem Hasn’t Gone AwayRecent reports show that more than one quarter (27 percent) of California admissions for substance abuse treatment are related to amphetamines. In fact, the problem is pervasive among other western states as well. Admittance rates for stimulant drug treatment in those states tell the tale:

  • Nevada – 25 percent
  • Idaho – 25 percent
  • Arizona – 18 percent
  • Oregon – 16 percent
  • Washington – 14 percent

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Heavy Smokers Have More Sleep Disturbances

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Heavy Smokers Have More Sleep DisturbancesDoctors and researchers know that people who smoke cigarettes often develop problems with sleeplessness and other types of sleep disturbances. However, the underlying reasons for these disturbances are not entirely clear. In a study published in May 2014 in the journal Addiction Biology, researchers from over a dozen German institutions used a large-scale project to examine the connection between cigarette use and sleeping problems. The researchers also examined the role that nicotine addiction plays in establishing this connection.
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Inpatient or Outpatient Addiction Treatment? It Depends on the Person

Inpatient or Outpatient Addiction Treatment? It Depends on the PersonWhen a person is ready to face addiction head-on, the first crucial barrier has been crossed. But once that decision has been made, there are still some important things to decide – such as, should the person receive outpatient treatment or would residential care be more suitable? Both treatment options offer benefits depending upon an individual’s particular situation and needs. Here’s a bird’s eye view of both approaches.
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Link Found Between Cocaine Addiction and Autism

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Link Found Between Cocaine Addiction and AutismResearchers and addiction specialists know that drug and alcohol addiction have a biological basis in lasting changes that occur in the brains of people who repeatedly use specific substances over time. However, they don’t know all of the details about how these changes manifest inside the brain. In a study published in May 2014 in the journal Neuron, researchers from three U.S. universities explored the role that a specific brain protein, called FMRP, plays in setting the stage for the development of cocaine addiction. This same protein has a known role in the development of the childhood developmental disorder called autism spectrum disorder.
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