In many cases it has been the intervention of family and loved ones that has turned the situation around.

Unfortunately, a family intervention alone is often not enough. It’s not always successful.

But our experienced intervention specialists who really understand drugs and drug abuse and alcoholism – and what the person is going through – know exactly how to reach someone who is addicted.

They know how to get through to them so they reach for help.

Need Help With A Family Member Or Friend?

If you have a situation that has led you to search the Internet for intervention specialists, give us a call today.

Please don’t wait – addiction certainly doesn’t wait for anyone and the next crisis could be the one that leaves a permanent scar on your lives.

Commit Them to Change

Once they make the decision to seek help and go to rehab we will help you find the best possible drug rehab program that fits your particular needs and budget, so that they can recover and start to rebuild their lives and prosper.

At Rehab Clinic we have performed interventions that have helped hundreds of families deal with the crisis of drug addiction and helped them to find a successful drug rehab program that will finally handle the addiction.

An Intervention Can Save a Life

Sometimes all people need is someone to help them understand that what they are facing is a disease and all they need to really do is commit to change and genuinely want to get well.

Get in Touch

If you would like some free confiedential and no obligation advice about any of the above or just want to know more about what options are available to you, please call 0800 118 2892.

Detox is phase one of drug withdrawal – the process of getting off the drugs or alcohol.

Without a thorough alcohol or drug detox there is the possibility that the person will go back to using the drug after rehab.

Depending on the facility you choose for detox treatment, it can be accomplished through many methods.

Treatments to alleviate physical symptoms of withdrawal to alcohol or other drugs are provided by most detox centres.

To decrease the chances of relapse a good detox program will make counselling available during the drug and alcohol detox and help with the physical effects as well.

A successful drug and alcohol detox program will also make an effort to get to the root cause of the person’s addiction.

3 Stages of Detox

Medical Detox: Medical withdrawal needs to be supervised by a medical doctor. This is to protect the client as they complete phase one safely and with the least possible complications. This process can take several days.

Physical Detox: Developing a quality health regime will be an important part of your detox stage. There are various methods of physical detox and each centre has its own protocol. We recommend detox centres that use a drug-free and natural detox method.

Emotional Detox: Counselling during detox is extremely important to your emotional health. As you go through detox you will need emotional support due to the fact that you are eliminating something from your body that has been a necessary part for so long.

Addiction can be overcome and we will help you. Detox is an important part of your recovery.

Contact one our counsellors for free information regarding detox programs today.

With cannabis, also commonly known as marijuana, in the national and world news so much lately you’d be hard pressed to find someone who isn’t at least vaguely aware of what the stuff is.

Other Names for Cannabis

Known by hundreds of nicknames like spliff, ganja, weed, hash, skunk, and herb to name just a few, cannabis actually has a lot of myths surrounding it for a substance that is so widely known.

To get some straight facts about cannabis beyond this article you can call Rehab Clinic at 0800 118 2892 any time, day or night.

What is Cannabis

Cannabis is naturally growing plant that when ingested or smoked acts as a relaxant, mood enhancer, appetite stimulant, and sometimes very mild hallucinogenic.

Users usually report feeling the effects are quite quickly from smoking and prefer marijuana as medicine to ease the pain and nausea of cancer, AIDS and other extremely serious health conditions. However, like most psycho-interactive substances the effects of cannabis can differ from one person to the next, with some users feeling intensely anxious and paranoid.

Cannabis Rehab Clinics

Because cannabis has long been the subject of much controversy in the medical and law enforcement fields, credible statistics about the level of use are hard to acquire. Many people can smoke cannabis regularly, as much as several times per day, and maintain a normal career and their health. Others contend that cannabis may not seem as harmful as other drugs but that it serves as a “gateway” drug, meaning that people who try marijuana are opening a gateway into a whole world of drug abuse.

Findings About Cannabis

The primary findings from a recent study from the official Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (UK) were that while there are some health risks associated with inhaling smoke of any kind, even frequent use of cannabis cannot be rightfully associated with major health problems for individual users or society as a whole.

Unlike almost any other recreational drug, the risk acute toxicity of cannabis is extremely low; studies have found an unusually large factor of separation (more than 10,000:1) between pharmacologically effective and lethal doses. In other words, it is nearly physically impossible to consume enough cannabis to die as a result of overdose.

There have been some suggestions that there is a minor risk of bronchitis or lung cancer from smoking marijuana, but study by the United States’ National Toxicology Program found “absolutely no evidence” to support these claims.

Extremely heavy and consistent use of cannabis will probably lead to dependence in some form, but its physically addictive potential is almost trivial compared to even tobacco and alcohol.

Think You or a Friend Has a Problem With Cannabis?

It is becoming more widely accepted societal wisdom that the occasional use of cannabis is less dangerous than socially accepted drugs like alcohol and tobacco, but sale and possession remains a criminal offence in the

UK and most countries. Cannabis can be discovered in the urine through drug testing for as many as to 2-7 days after a few sessions, but up to 30 days after the last time for heavy users.

Like a lot of information in the War on Drugs, facts about crystal methamphetamine can be hard to pin down. Also known by a plethora of street names such as crank, tweak, and ice, crystal methamphetamine is a very powerful stimulant concocted from a wide range of source substances and chemicals.

The Effects of Crystal Meth

The effects of meth are highly volatile because there can be potentially so many different toxic substances involved in a mix. After coming down last decade, rates of meth abuse have disturbingly been on the rise in recent years. If you know someone who needs help with crystal methamphetamine addiction, call the Rehab Clinic at 0800 118 2892.

Meth use really exploded in the 1980’s especially amongst certain demographics like the United States gay community, motorcycle gangs, and some long-haul truckers in order to drive long journeys with little or no sleep. However, a dip in prices to as little as £25 for half a gram, enough to last the majority of users a couple of days, has spread meth use deeper into mainstream culture. Until recently, meth use was rather rare in the UK but lately it has become more widely available even to suburban housewives.

Methamphetamine can be snorted, injected or smoked in a pipe to produce very strong feelings of euphoria, energy, and a perceived (but false) sense of focus. Smoking it provides the most intense sensation as the drug directly enters the bloodstream with results that can last from 2-16 hours.

Users describe a range of feelings and mental patterns ranging from obsessive compulsive behaviours to extremely strong sex drive and lack of sexual inhibitions.

This last effect is worth noting because it greatly increases the odds of unprotected sex. It is shocking but studies in the US have shown that crystal meth use has been a factor in as many as half of all new AIDS cases in recent years.

What About Short Term Use?

Short-term use of methamphetamine causes a rapid increase in body temperature, blood pressure, and cardiac rate. The drug can have unpleasant cognitive effects such as hallucinations, intense paranoia, and bizarre, psychotic behaviours.

Overdose is easily achieved with meth, marked by severe convulsions and circulatory and respiratory collapse, and death. Long-term abuse can create memory loss, wild rages, mood swings, and damage to the immune system.

Prescription drugs such as Benzies are used to both counter the effect of ‘uppers’ like cocaine, speed and E and ‘downers’ like heroin and booze.

Addiction to prescribed drugs can be extremely harmful to a persons physical and metal health.

Prescription Drug Rehab

Prescription drugs are often used as a ‘chill out’ drug on the club scene or as a downer, the drug comes in tablet form, although it can be injected introducing the risk of septicaemia, abscesses and attendant perils of using shared needles.

Prescription drugs are doctor-prescribed drugs commonly used for reducing stress and anxiety, promoting calmness, relaxation and sleep and as anti-depressants.

Types of Prescription Drugs

• estazolam (ProSom)
• flurazepam (Dalmane)
• quazepam (Doral)
• temazepam (Restoril)
• triazolam (Halcion)
• alprazolam (Xanax)
• chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
• clorazepate (Tranxene)
• diazepam (Valium)
• halazepam (Paxipam)
• lorazepam (Ativan)
• oxazepam (Serax)
• prazepam (Centrax)

Common Side Effects

Users can experience forgetfulness, confusion and drowsiness – so don’t drive on them. And if you work in an industrial crushing plant, perhaps it’s not a good idea to come in buzzing on benzies!

Always see your doctor before getting repeat prescriptions. Try not to use prescription drugs for long periods – restrict use to a 2-3 week period and if you’re using them as sleeping tablets, give yourself the occasional break of a few days.

Health Risks

Prescription drugs can cause physical addiction. Prescription drugs can become less effective as sleeping tablets after only 2 weeks of solid use and ineffective on controlling anxiety after 4 months of regular use – so users run the risk of taking ever increasing doses. Overdose is rarely fatal unless mixed with booze or heroin.

Statistics

US reports state that approximately 50 percent of people entering treatment for narcotic or cocaine addiction also report abusing prescription drugs.

Don’t try and stop overnight – it is best to come off the drug gradually. Ask your doctor or drug service for advice – swapping from longer- acting benzodiazepines to shorter acting ones (e.g. diazepan) can be helpful.

Withdrawal symptoms can drag on for weeks or months and come in the shape of anxiety attacks, agitation, insomnia, nausea and convulsions. A change of scene and diet can help, along with increased exercise and relaxation techniques.

The Law

It is not illegal to possess prescription drugs without a prescription – except temazepam which carries a 2 yr prison sentence and/or unlimited fine. Supplying any benzodiazepines is illegal, with a maximum punishment of up to 5yrs in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

Why would anyone become addicted to cocaine?

The effects of cocaine are immediate, extremely pleasurable, and brief. Cocaine produce intense but short-lived euphoria and can make users feel more energetic. Like caffeine, cocaine produces wakefulness and reduces hunger.

Psychological effects include feelings of well-being and a grandiose sense of power and ability mixed with anxiety and restlessness. As the drug wears off, these temporary sensations of mastery are replaced by an intense depression. The drug abuser will then “crash”, becoming lethargic and typically sleeping for several days.

How does cocaine produce its effects?

A great amount of research has been devoted to understanding the way cocaine produces its pleasurable effects, and the reasons it is so addictive. One mechanism is through its effects on structures deep in the brain. Scientists have discovered regions within the brain that, when stimulated, produce feelings of pleasure. One neural system that appears to be most affected by cocaine originates in a region, located deep within the brain, called the ventral tegmental area (VTA).

Nerve cells originating in the VTA extend to the region of the brain known as the nucleus accumbens, one of the brain’s key pleasure centres. In studies using animals, all types of pleasurable stimuli, such as food, water, sex, and many drugs of abuse, cause increased activity in the nucleus accumbens. Cocaine in the brain – In the normal communication process, dopamine is released by a neuron into the synapse, where it can bind with dopamine receptors on neighbouring neurons.

Normally dopamine is then recycled back into the transmitting neuron by a specialised protein called the dopamine transporter. If cocaine is present, it attaches to the dopamine transporter and blocks the normal recycling process, resulting in a build-up of dopamine in the synapse which contributes to the pleasurable effects of cocaine.

Researchers have discovered that, when a pleasurable event is occurring, it is accompanied by a large increase in the amounts of dopamine released in the nucleus accumbens by neurons originating in the VTA. In the normal communication process, dopamine is released by a neuron into the synapse (the small gap between two neurons), where it binds with specialised proteins (called dopamine receptors) on the neighbouring neuron, thereby sending a signal to that neuron.

Drugs of abuse are able to interfere with this normal communication process. For example, scientists have discovered that cocaine blocks the removal of dopamine from the synapse, resulting in an accumulation of dopamine. This build up of dopamine causes continuous stimulation of receiving neurons, probably resulting in the euphoria commonly reported by cocaine abusers.

As cocaine abuse continues, tolerance often develops. This means that higher doses and more frequent use of cocaine are required for the brain to register the same level of pleasure experienced during initial use. Recent studies have shown that during periods of abstinence from cocaine use, the memory of the euphoria associated with cocaine use or mere exposure to cues associated with drug use, can trigger tremendous craving and relapse to drug use even after long periods of abstinence.

What are the physical effects of cocaine addiction?

With the accumulating medical evidence of cocaine’s deleterious effects and the introduction and widespread use of cocaine, the public and government have become alarmed again about its growing use. To many, especially health care and social workers who deal with cocaine users and have witnessed the personal and societal devastation it produces, cocaine addiction is by far the most serious drug problem.

Cocaine use increases the risk of sudden heart attack and may also trigger stroke, even in users who otherwise are not at high risk for these sometimes fatal cardiovascular events. The risk is related to narrowing of blood vessels and increases in blood pressure and heart rate. Recently, NIDA-supported researchers at the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Centre at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, have identified changes in blood components that may also play a role in cocaine-related heart attack and stroke.

Changes in blood pressure, heart rates, and breathing rates, Nausea, Vomiting, Anxiety, Convulsions, Insomnia, Loss of appetite leading to malnutrition and weight loss, Cold sweats, Swelling and bleeding of mucous membranes, Restlessness and anxiety, Damage to nasal cavities, Damage to lungs, Possible heart attacks, strokes, or convulsions.

What effect does cocaine have on health?

Even though the public is often regaled with highly publicized accounts of deaths from cocaine, many still mistakenly believe the drug to be non-addictive and not as harmful as other illicit drugs. Cocaine’s immediate physical effects include raised breathing rate, raised blood pressure and body temperature, and dilated pupils.

By causing the coronary arteries to constrict, blood pressure rises and the blood supply to the heart diminishes. This can cause heart attacks or convulsions within an hour after use. Chronic users and those with hypertension, epilepsy, and cardiovascular disease are at particular risk. Studies show that even those with no previous heart problems, risk cardiac complications from cocaine.

Increased use may sensitize the brain to the drug’s effects so that less of the substance is needed to induce a seizure. Those who inject the drug are at high risk for AIDS and hepatitis when they share needles. Allergic reactions to cocaine or other substances mixed in with the drug may also occur.

What are the short-term effects of cocaine?

Cocaine’s effects appear almost immediately after a single dose, and disappear within a few minutes or hours. Taken in small amounts, cocaine usually makes the user feel euphoric, energetic, talkative, and mentally alert, especially to the sensations of sight, sound, and touch. It can also temporarily decrease the need for food and sleep. Some users find that the drug helps them to perform simple physical and intellectual tasks more quickly, while others can experience the opposite effect.

Increased energy, Decreased appetite, Mental alertness, Increased heart rate, Increased blood pressure, Constricted blood vessels, Increased temperature, Dilated pupils, A feeling of euphoria, Excitement, A feeling of strength and power.

The duration of cocaine’s immediate euphoric effects depends upon the route of administration. The faster the absorption, the more intense the high. Also, the faster the absorption, the shorter the duration of action. The high from snorting is relatively slow in onset, and may last 15 to 30 minutes, while that from smoking may last 5 to 10 minutes. The short-term physiological effects of cocaine include constricted blood vessels; dilated pupils; and increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Large amounts (several hundred milligrams or more) intensify the user’s high, but may also lead to bizarre, erratic, and violent behaviour. These users may experience tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches, paranoia, or, with repeated doses, a toxic reaction closely resembling amphetamine poisoning. Some users of cocaine report feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety.

In rare instances, sudden death can occur on the first use of cocaine or unexpectedly thereafter. Cocaine-related deaths are often a result of cardiac arrest or seizures followed by respiratory arrest.
Various doses of cocaine can also produce other neurological and behavioural effects such as:
Dizziness, Headache, Movement problems, Anxiety, Insomnia, Depression, Hallucinations.

What are the long-term effects of cocaine?

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug. Once having tried cocaine, an individual may have difficulty predicting or controlling the extent to which he or she will continue to use the drug. Cocaine’s stimulant and addictive effects are thought to be primarily a result of its ability to inhibit the re-absorption of dopamine by nerve cells. Dopamine is released as part of the brain’s reward system, and is either directly or indirectly involved in the addictive properties of every major drug of abuse.

Irritability, Mood disturbances, Restlessness, Paranoia, Auditory hallucinations, Addiction.

An appreciable tolerance to cocaine’s high may develop, with many addicts reporting that they seek but fail to achieve as much pleasure as they did from their first experience. Some users will frequently increase their doses to intensify and prolong the euphoric effects. While tolerance to the high can occur, users can also become more sensitive (sensitization) to cocaine’s anaesthetic and convulsant effects, without increasing the dose taken. This increased sensitivity may explain some deaths occurring after apparently low doses of cocaine.

Use of cocaine in a binge, during which the drug is taken repeatedly and at increasingly high doses, leads to a state of increasing irritability, restlessness, and paranoia. This may result in a full-blown paranoid psychosis, in which the individual loses touch with reality and experiences auditory hallucinations.

What are the medical complications of cocaine use?

There are enormous medical complications associated with cocaine use.

• Cardiovascular effects : Disturbances in heart rhythm and heart attacks.
• Respiratory effects : Chest pain and Respiratory failure.
• Neurological effects : Strokes, seizures and headaches.
• Gastrointestinal effects : Abdominal pain and nausea.

Cocaine use has been linked to many types of heart disease. Cocaine has been found to trigger chaotic heart rhythms, called ventricular fibrillation; accelerate heartbeat and breathing; and increase blood pressure and body temperature. Physical symptoms may include chest pain, nausea, blurred vision, fever, muscle spasms, convulsions and coma.

Different routes of cocaine administration can produce different adverse effects. Regularly snorting cocaine, for example, can lead to; loss of sense of smell, nosebleeds, problems with swallowing, hoarseness, and an overall irritation of the nasal septum. This can lead to a chronically inflamed, runny nose. Ingested cocaine can cause severe bowel gangrene, due to reduced blood flow.

Persons who inject cocaine have puncture marks and “tracks,” most commonly in their forearms. Intravenous cocaine users may also experience an allergic reaction, either to the drug or to some additive in street cocaine, which in some cases can result in death. Because cocaine has a tendency to decrease food intake, many chronic cocaine users lose their appetites and can experience significant weight loss and malnourishment.

Research has revealed a potentially dangerous interaction between cocaine and alcohol. Taken in combination, the two drugs are converted by the body to cocaethylene. Cocaethylene has a longer duration of action in the brain and is more toxic than either drug alone. While more research needs to be done, it is noteworthy that the mixture of cocaine and alcohol is the most common two-drug combination that results in drug-related death.

What are the symptoms of cocaine withdrawal?

Regular use of cocaine can lead to strong psychological dependence (addiction). Those who abruptly stop their cocaine use can experience cocaine addiction withdrawal symptoms as they readjust to functioning without the drug. The length of cocaine addiction withdrawal varies from person to person and also depends on the amount and frequency of use. Agitation, Depression, Intense craving for the drug, Extreme fatigue, Anxiety, Angry outbursts, Lack of motivation, Nausea/vomiting, Shaking, Irritability, Muscle pain and Disturbed sleep.

Many people with an eating disorder use the eating disorder as a way of controlling their lives.

We can help find the right treatment and support at specialised eating disorder clinics.

What most people don’t realise is that it isn’t them in control of their lives; their eating disorder takes control of their lives.

An eating disorder develops for many reasons and as well as treatment for the eating disorder, you will need specialist help to deal with your feelings inside which play a big part in your eating disorder.

How Eating Disorders Develop

When someone develops a problem with food, it is because they use it to cope with various problems and issues in their lives. People use what they believe is their control over food when they are lonely, sad, ashamed of something, bored, angry, isolated or angry.

They use their eating disorder as a way of dealing with emotions and feelings, sometimes without even realising it. Food is a very important part of our daily lives and we all know that we need to eat but for some people their eating patterns become damaging.

Eating Disorder Rehab

This is when you need to get help before it becomes too late. Sadly, it is not uncommon for people with eating disorders to have major health problems that can even lead to fatal consequences. We have specialisted treatment centres that can give you the right support and treatment for your specific need.

Sometimes the realisation of an eating disorder can make you feel ashamed and sad. A problem with food can make you feel like you are on your own but this is an important time to seek help and talk to someone who you can trust.

All our counsellors are highly qualified in this field and you can speak to any of them in complete confidence. They can advise you on what type of treatment would be best suited for you and help guide you to making the right choice of treatment centre for your specific needs.

We only give impartial advice and will only help you make a choice that is best suited to your specific needs.

Bad Eating Habits

Lots of people experiment with food and eating habits during their life. Whether you decide to be a vegetarian or change your diet for a healthy eating plan. But your eating habits become a problem when you use it to deal with painful situations, feelings and emotions. Some people even use their eating disorder as a way of dealing with stress.

Usually an eating disorder is made up from a combination of things affecting someone’s life. They believe they cannot cope with certain situations, feelings and emotions but this can change if you seek the right help and support on how you deal with these emotions and feelings. You can recover from an eating disorder but only if you seek help and support.

Counselling for an Eating Disorder

You can’t do this on your own and we can give you free impartial advise and support – we will help you get through this.

Low self esteem, lack of confidence, relationships, problems in work or with friends, problems with school, college and universities, sexual or physical abuse are all important factors that can trigger an eating order.

Sometimes it can just be the fact that someone feels fat or ugly and their feelings of not being good enough can lead to a problem with food which can develop into a dangerous eating disorder.

Sadly it can take a long time before you seek help and realise that you have lost control over food. As soon as you can acknowledge you have a problem with food, you can then seek help and treatment for your disorder.

Eating Disorders can Affect Everyone

Eating disorders aren’t just confined to young girls; young men can suffer from this problem too. It can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, culture. It will also affect family members and friends of the person suffering from an eating disorder.

Once you realise that your eating disorder has taken control over your life, you need to seek help and get the support that is needed for you, your family and friends – please call us now and seek the help that you need.

There are many different interpretations of addiction; we like to keep it simple:

Once the benefit of excessive drinking has been out weighed by the cost then the slide into ‘problem drinking’ has been made.

Problem Drinking

You do not have to drink or use everyday to necessarily be an alcoholic or addict, alcoholics and addicts can stop drinking for a period of time, its staying stopped that is the problem.

Problem drinking can slide quickly into alcoholism or addiction which is a disease and needs clinical treatment to overcome.

The disease is often progressive and fatal and is characterized by continuous or periodic impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with alcohol or drugs, use of alcohol or drugs despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial.

Alcohol or drugs are usually the symptom of the problem but not the actual problem, the real problem of addiction is how someone thinks and feels which is so unpleasant that alcohol and drugs are consistently used to ‘numb’ or anesthetises this experience.

Once an ‘emotional re-arrangement’ has taken place and an individual feels entirely different and begins to see the world and themselves from a much more positive point of view then the desire to drink and use drugs is removed and a far more productive and successful way of living is entered into.

Alcoholics or addicts are not bad people; they are sick people who need treatment.

Ask yourself the following questions?

1. Have people commented on or criticized your drinking or drug use?
2. Have you tried cutting down or stopping and failed repeatedly?
3. Have you woken up feeling confused, frightened or depressed on a regular basis after drinking or using?
4. Have you dropped hobbies or interests because of your drinking or drug use?
5. Do you use drink or drugs to self-medicate your feelings when you feel uncomfortable, frightened or insecure?
6. Is your alcohol or drug use becoming more frequent or the amount you use increasing?

If you answer yes to 3 or more of these question then you may have a problem with alcohol or drugs and should seek professional advice.

Alcohol Interventions

In many cases it has been the intervention of family and loved ones that has turned the situation around. Unfortunately, a family intervention alone is often not enough. It’s not always successful.

But our experienced intervention specialists who really understand drugs and drug abuse and alcoholism – and what the person is going through – know exactly how to reach someone who is addicted. They know how to get through to them so they reach for help.

Researchers have found that cocaine stimulates the brain’s reward system inducing an even greater feeling of pleasure than natural functions. In turn, its influence on the reward circuit can lead a user to bypass survival activities and repeat drug use.

Cocaine Addiction

Chronic cocaine use can lead to a cocaine addiction and in some cases damage the brain and other organs. An addict will continue to use cocaine even when faced with adverse consequences. Dependency can develop in less than 2 weeks.

Some research indicates that a psychological dependency may develop after a single dose of high-potency cocaine. As the person develops a tolerance to cocaine, higher and higher doses are needed to produce the same level of euphoria.

Facts About Cocaine

Cocaine is a white powder refined from the coca plant which grows in South America. It is usually placed on a smooth surface such as glass and cut up with a razor blade, forming thin lines or trails which can then be sniffed up through a makeshift straw such as a banknote.”Snorting” is the commonest form of consumption although it is sometimes injected.

It is easily absorbed through he lining of the nose. Repeated snorting of cocaine damages the membranes of the nose and can perforate the nasal septum (barrier between one side of the nose and the other.)

If you are suffering from cocaine addiction and want to explore the possibility of cocaine rehab or detox please get in touch. Our counsellors know what you are going through because most of them have been there themselves.We are 100% commited to advising you in the best possible way when choosing what course of action to take next.

How is Cocaine Used?

“Snorting” – absorbing cocaine through the mucous membranes of the nose. Injecting – users mix cocaine powder with water and use a syringe to inject the solution intravenously. Freebasing – Cocaine hydrochloride is converted to a “freebase” which can then be smoked. Crack Cocaine – Cocaine hydrochloride is mixed with ammonia or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and other ingredients, causing it to solidify into pellets or “rocks”.

The crack is then smoked in glass pipes. Cocaine and crack speed up the body in a similar way to amphetamines, but the effect is shorter and more intense – less than an hour for cocaine and as short as several minutes for crack. As with amphetamines, cocaine releases an intense rush of energy, makes a person feel good, mentally sharp, talkative and confident. When blood levels begin to dive, the craving is often overwhelming to take more.

Symptoms of Cocaine Use

The early euphoric experience disappears in heavy users, who can feel very restless, with nausea, excitability, extreme agitation, anxiety, paranoia and possible hallucinations. Very high doses can rarely cause heart failure, convulsions and death. Regular cocaine users often have interrupted sleep patterns.

They feel unable to cope until they’ve had some charlie, stressed-out and irritable. Life for weekend users can become a process of trying to get through the week until Friday.

Regular users may feel that they cannot have a “good time” without the drug. Stopping the drug produces terrible headaches, tiredness, nausea, sleepiness and depression.

Anxiety, panic, bloody nose, increased energy, talking rapidly, rapid pulse and respiration, Paranoia, confusion, dilated pupils, hallucinations, altered motor activities (tremors, hyperactivity), stuffiness and a runny nose.

Paraphernalia Commonly Associated With Cocaine?

Paraphernalia associated with inhaling cocaine includes mirrors, razor blades, straws, and rolled paper money. Paraphernalia associated with injecting the drug include syringes, needles, and spoons, along with belts, bandanas, or surgical tubing used to constrict the veins. Scales are used by dealers to weigh the drug. Sometimes substances such as baking soda or mannitol are used to “cut” cocaine in order to dilute the drug and increase the quantity of the drug for sale.

Effects of Cocaine

Through the use of sophisticated technology, scientists can actually see the dynamic changes that occur in the brain as an individual takes cocaine. They can observe the different brain changes that occur as a person experiences the “rush,” the “high,” and finally the craving of cocaine. They can also identify parts of the brain that become active when a cocaine addict sees or hears environmental stimuli that trigger the craving for cocaine.

Researchers know that certain kinds of experiences, such as those involved in learning, can physically change brain structure and affect behaviour. Now, new research in rats shows that exposure to stimulant drugs such as cocaine can impair the ability of specific brain cells to change as a consequence of experience.

Ecstasy is a powerful stimulant and mood changer that speeds up your body system and alters your perception of the world.

Ecstasy addiction is not as common as other class a drug addictions and it is not possible to become physically addicted to ecstasy in the same way as other class a drugs such as cocaine or heroin.

Long terms effects of ecstasy use are loss of memory and mood swings. Though ecstasy is not physically addictive, some users find it extremely seductive and during times of craving they can become stressed and lose the ability to concentrate.

If you think that you may be suffering from ecstasy addiction and would like some free advice on steps to take regarding treatment and recovery, call us or fill out the short online form.

It can make you feel both uplifted and relaxed and feeling very happy, usually with an overwhelming urge to dance. The effects of E vary considerably from one person to the next, depending on who you’re with, where you are and how you’re feeling at the time.

Usually coming in the form of small pills selling at around £8 – £12, or more rarely as MDMA powder, the effects of E can be felt for anything up to 8 hours, although this time reduces considerably for regular users.

Effects of Ecstasy

Within 20 minutes to an hour after taking ecstasy, your heart may go into bangin’ gabba overdrive and you might feel a bit hot and sticky while your mouth goes dry. Sometimes, you’ll come up with a huge exhilarating rush and possibly experience hallucinations.

During the two hours when the effects are their strongest, even the sound of a cutlery tray being dropped will sound unbearably danceable, you’ll be walking around with a ludicrous grin on your face and even a set of Millwall fans will appear hugely huggable.

Lights will seem brighter and colours more intense. You’ll feel firmly locked into the groove on the dancefloor and feel happy and confident. These feelings will slowly diminish as the drugs wear down.

Because E removes all feelings of tiredness and thirst it is vital that you keep yourself hydrated if you’re dancing non-stop. Try to drink around a pint of fluid an hour (not alcohol) to replace fluids lost by dancing – isotonic drinks are particularly good. If you’re not dancing then you don’t need to drink so much as it can be harmful – as in the tragic case of Leah Betts.

Side Effects of Ecstasy

Like most strong drugs, expect to appear very strange when encountering straight friends. E can make you strut wildly and enthusiastically to some of the worst tunes in the world while hugging very unsavoury characters. You will also quite probably talk a whole load of bullshit and any photographs taken of you in this state will prove wildly amusing to your friends afterwards.

Avoid taking ecstasy if you’re on anti-depressants, and try to avoid wolfing down cans of Super Tennents as the alcohol will dehydrate you – as well as weaken the effects of the E. Ecstasy puts a tremendous strain on your heart, liver and kidneys, and it’s important to take time out in a chill-out area during the night.

The Dangers

Most of the dangers come from people overheating and not replacing enough fluids while dancing, so it is essential to keep drinking water if you’re dancing. We can’t stress this fact enough. But also be careful not to drink too much – about about a pint an hour is right if you’re on the dancefloor.

Remember that water is not an antidote to E, it just helps combat the dehydrating qualities of the drug.

Always make sure that you can get home safely before taking E, and don’t try to drive. Because E is a stimulant, the comedown is much like that from speed. Once you’ve come down you might feel a bit depressed, anxious, hungry and tired with some people getting it worse than others. You might also notice a laxative effect. Long-term frequent users often get run-down from exhaustion and suffer colds, sore throats and flu. Women can be susceptible to cystitis and thrush.

How long do the effects last? MDMA: 4-6 hours, MDEA: 3-5 hours, MDA: 8-10 hours, MBDB: 4-6 hours. Note: These are approximate times as duration and intensity depend on a variety of factors including the amount of the drug taken, its strength, purity, body weight and the physical and psychological makeup of the individual concerned.

Health Risks of Ecstasy Use

There has been much hysterical speculation about the dangers of taking Ecstasy, and although the vast majority of these articles seem more interested in pursuing a moral agenda than dealing with the health issues, it’s important to recognise that there are some risks involved.

Although it’s true to say that E is a comparably safe drug, in 1999, Ecstasy was mentioned on 26 UK death certificates in 1999 (although on most of these other drugs were listed too).

Ecstasy use in the UK has remained constant over past 5 years, estimated at around 300,000 people per week. Depending on figures and assumptions made, the death rate for first time users ranges from 1 in 10,000 (the same as road accidents) to just 1 in 2,000 (source: Times, 6.Dec.01)

MDMA appears to disturb the body’s ability to regulate its temperature and this can lead to serious problems with overheating and ‘heat shock’. There is no conclusive evidence to the long-term effects of ecstasy, although some experts suspect that there may be a link between brain damage and long term ecstasy use.

In 1995 Leah Betts tragically died after taking an ‘E’ and drinking water to counter the drug’s effect.

Detection Periods

Ecstasy can be detected in the urine up to 2-4 days after use at common levels.

The Law

MDMA and Ecstasy are categorised as Class A drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1971