The Canyon

Fox News published an odd story recently: in North Carolina, monkeys are being forced to get high. To be more specific, those monkeys are housed in a research facility at Wake Forest University and closely monitored. The goal of plying them with cocaine is to determine the effect of the drug on the brain and learn a little bit more about how addiction works so that it can be better treated.

The study is actually a pretty common one (there have been a multitude of studies on animals that were designed solely to under the effect of drugs on the brain, body and psyche). The issue that this particular study raises has more to do with its source of funds.

Who’s Paying to Get Monkeys High?

The United States Government, actually, in a roundabout way. The study received $71,000 of stimulus funds and there are some who are irate over the fact. The money saved a research position, which many don’t believe was a strong enough investment for that amount of money. But the real benefit may be in what the study reveals.

Should Drug Addiction Studies Be a Priority During a Time of Economic Crisis?

Though Fox News and other conservative organizations may disagree, it is my opinion that drug addiction studies are of primary importance particularly when the country is experiencing an economic downturn. The fact is, drug and alcohol addiction rises when people are frustrated with the outlook for the future. When people lose jobs, they lose their homes. They can’t pay bills. They lose the retirement savings they worked so long for. They lose focus and have a hard time getting back on track. When this situation persists, relationships are strained, often to the point of breaking. As a result, people turn to drinking and drugs more consistently during a recession than under almost any other circumstance. Economic decline almost always relates to a rise in drug and alcohol addiction.

How Can Research Studies of Effect Assist in Drug Addiction Treatment?

Because monkeys so closely resemble humans in physiological makeup, a study that focuses on the repeated use of cocaine and the development of addiction may assist us in learning how to treat addiction. There is no cure for drug addiction as yet, but there are a number of options in cocaine addiction treatment. In some instances, medications are indicated while in others a patient-led cocaine detox is a better choice. Followed by psychological and therapeutic addiction treatment, cocaine rehab is extremely effective; research can only improve the healing experience of those who need it.

Finding the Right Cocaine Addiction Treatment Program for You

Finding the right cocaine addiction treatment program is about determining your needs and resources. For most, an inpatient cocaine rehab is the best option as it allows for a full immersion experience in treatment. For others, when finances or commitments at home or work are an impediment, an outpatient cocaine addiction treatment program is a better choice. If you are unsure what will work best for you, call The Canyon today and speak to a counselor.

The effects of genetics on the development of addiction to drugs like cocaine, heroin, alcohol and others has been often studied. New research, however, is taking a look at how drug addiction—cocaine addiction, specifically—affects genetics and genetic changes.

What Research Has Discovered About Cocaine Addiction

According to EMaxHealth.com, “Researchers now understand how cocaine addiction occurs. Scientists have discovered that cocaine use leads to epigenetic changes from repeated exposure to the drug; linked to an enzyme that alters the reward pathway in the brain.”

The study goes on to say that cocaine addiction and continued abuse does not change DNA sequencing but actually changes how the gene acts and interacts. Over time, exposure to cocaine represses an enzyme that is important in determining how a gene is expressed.

How Does Finding the Link Between Cocaine Addiction and Genetic Change Help Us?

New data and understanding of the mechanism of drug addiction helps in a number of ways. An ounce of prevention, as they say, is worth a pound of cure, so if we can figure out how to stop the develop of cocaine addiction before it begins, we’ll be better off.

For those who are already addicted to cocaine, understanding its mechanism in the brain can aid in the development of new drug addiction treatment therapies and programs to treat it.

Dr. Nora D. Volkow is the NIDA director. She says: “This fundamental discovery advances our understanding of how cocaine addiction works. Although more research will be required, these findings have identified a key new player in the molecular cascade triggered by repeated cocaine exposure, and thus a potential novel target for the development of addiction medications.”

Cutting Edge Cocaine Addiction Treatment

The availability and development of more cutting edge treatments can lead to whole new approaches to cocaine addiction treatment but can also increase the efficacy of holistic cocaine rehab programs that already provide a well-rounded approach to drug detox and addiction treatment recovery.

Dr. Eric J. Nestler is the director of the Brain Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and was an investigator on the study. He says: “The more complete picture that we have today of the genetic and epigenetic processes triggered by chronic cocaine give us a better understanding of the broader principles governing biochemical regulation in the brain which will help us identify not only additional pathways involved but potentially new therapeutic approaches.”

Cocaine Addicts Versus Cocaine Abusers

Up until now, not much has been known about why it is that some people can use cocaine repeatedly and not develop an addiction to the drug while others can use it only a few times and develop a full blown cocaine addiction that requires treatment. The fact that mental disorders and drug addiction often come in pairs has been helpful in determining the causes of drug addiction as seen in this study and also in developing new treatments.

Holistic drug rehab is the most effective way to treat drug and alcohol addiction, as a result. With simultaneous treatment for dual diagnosis disorders, those who are living with psychological issues and drug addiction can more effectively be treated for cocaine addiction and addiction to other drugs. If you would like to learn more about holistic drug rehab, contact The Canyon today.

It’s common knowledge that abuse of cocaine and/ or alcohol can cause significant health problems. Regular use of alcohol builds up and causes damage to the liver and kidneys while even a one-time, experimental use of cocaine can result in an overdose, heart attack or seizures. Unfortunately, when cocaine and alcohol are combined, the resulting damage is much worse than the effects of either drug alone.

Cocaine Plus Alcohol Equals Cocaethylene

Cocaethylene is a chemical that is created by the combination of the two chemicals cocaine and alcohol. Over time, with continued use of both drugs simultaneously, this chemical builds up in the liver and remains, causing extensive damage to multiple body systems.

This is the only known case in which two drugs combine in the body to form a third drug, and few people know about it, let alone realize the devastating effects. Unfortunately, many who experience health problems due to cocaethylene build up don’t do so until long after their days of mixing cocaine and alcohol are over. Many never considered themselves addicts during their use and still don’t. In fact, many of the people who are having problems with the chemical buildup in their body now describe their cocaine abuse as merely a tool to help them drink more.

The Effects of Cocaine Addiction and Alcoholism

Not only does cocaethylene have an adverse and toxic effect on the liver, it may also be the reason why some under the age of 40 experience heart attacks. The full effects of the drug are not known due to the fact that so little is known about the drug at all. Studies are being undertaken to better determine the nature of the chemical and its effects upon users of alcohol and cocaine, including how much is too much and how long is too long.

The current statistics on alcohol addiction and cocaine use are staggering, however. Cocaine use is on the rise and is indicated in an increasing number of emergency room visits: one person in the United States is admitted to the emergency room for issues related to cocaine overdose about once every 10 hours. The US National Household Drug Survey reports that alcohol and cocaine are used by about five million people every month.

The Social View of Cocaine and Alcohol

Few today recognize this third drug and its effects as a risk. Most view their use as minimal or experimental; if they aren’t using every day, then they don’t think that the health concerns are relevant to them. Those who drink and opt to use cocaine on occasion as well view it as a lifestyle choice, not as an addiction or the medical problem that it is and can potentially become.

Unfortunately, denial doesn’t make it true. The fact of the matter is that even irregular use of cocaine and alcohol creates the drug, which then builds up over time in the liver and can cause heart problems years down the road.

If you or someone you love is drinking regularly and using cocaine but can’t stop doing so alone, contact a drug rehab. Get help today.

Provigil is a prescription drug that does exactly what it sounds like; it’s pro-vigilance. It helps you stay awake. The marketing spouts off on Provigil’s ability to keep you awake without getting you hooked, but some are saying that that may not be true. The concern is that Provigil is yet another route to prescription drug addiction.

What is Provigil?

The generic name is modafinil, but it’s sold on the shelves as Provigil. It’s FDA approval is for helping those who struggle with sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and sleep disorders associated with working the graveyard shift. But many who get a prescription for it don’t suffer these disorders. Because of its reputation as being non-addictive, it is often prescribed for those who are just tired and need a pick-me-up… with the result that they’re now awake, but unable to wake up without the drug.

Who Thinks Provigil is Addictive?

According to Daniel J. DeNoon at WebMD Health News, there may be a big prescription drug addiction risk with Provigil. Some researchers agree.

Nora D. Volkow is the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). She is one of the lead researchers who think that Provigil may be more addictive than previously thought. She says:

“There is an increasing use of this medication, and people have promoted the off-label use of stimulants and Provigil as cognitive enhancers with the belief that these drugs are safe. But these drugs have side effects, and their use without proper medical oversight could lead to abuse and addiction.”

Provigil, Cocaine and Crystal Meth?

The side effects to which she is referring and the chemicals released as a result of the drug resemble the effects of cocaine and crystal meth, though on a much smaller scale.

Volkow says: “The changes we are observing in dopamine concentrations with modafinil are equivalent to those we have reported for [Ritalin] in the human brain. So not only does [Provigil] increase dopamine in the human brain, but does it by similar mechanisms to Ritalin and cocaine, by directly blocking the dopamine transporter. It is not working by some distinct, different mechanism.”

Who Thinks Provigil is Not Addictive?

There are many researchers who disagree with Volkow, only because they feel that ‘addiction’ is too strong a word. David Weinshenker, PhD, is an associate professor of human genetics at Emory University, Atlanta.

He says: “What is Provigil’s street value? It is zero. There are not addicts walking around buying and selling modafinil. Most people who take Provigil don’t report euphoria or being high. They don’t even report feeling particularly stimulated, like caffeine. In terms of addiction and withdrawal, it just doesn’t do that.”

Provigil as a Cure for Cocaine Addiction and Crystal Meth Addiction?

Daniel J. DeNoon at WebMD Health News says: “Weinshenker and Vogel both note that because it blocks the brain receptors needed by cocaine and methamphetamine, researchers are exploring whether Provigil might help wean addicts from these life-threatening addictions.”

Just like methadone, which is an addictive opiate in its own right, is used to treat those addicted to opiates, Provigil may be a good medication to treat those addicted to stronger stimulants. What do you think?

Talladega has been struggling with drug addiction for over a decade now. And, thanks to the drug addiction problem, they’ve been struggling with the drug trade and crime as well. In an effort to make changes and turn the economy around, Talladega officials created the Talladega County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force to fight back, helping their citizens and those addicted to drugs and alcohol as well.

Fighting Drug Addiction

Unfortunately, fighting drug addiction is no cheap business and the Talladega County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force is not only fighting drug addiction and crime, but budget cuts as well. Jason Murray commands the task force. He says, “We were cut on our federal appropriation by $60,000, which hurt. We’ll probably be $15,000 to $20,000 in the red by the end of year, but we’ll be getting some federal money and we were recently able to sell some seized property. We’ll get a donation from the track, and although Childersburg hasn’t donated anything to us since 2003/2004, they may come back this year.”

And with limited funds and an overworked staff, which part of the problem of drug addiction do you tackle first? The crystal meth labs? The cocaine trafficking? The break-ins and robberies associated with drug abuse and addiction? Illegal prescription pill use? Underage drinking and drug use?

Crystal Meth Addiction

In Alabama, crystal meth addiction and crystal meth labs are a huge problem.

“Our fiscal year started Oct. 1,” Murray says. “Since then, we have found 45 meth labs that we’ve actually been able to make cases on, plus six or eight more that are basically just dump sites where we can’t prove who the stuff belongs to. But I’ve had to pull them off the meth cases here lately to deal with people distributing crack cocaine and marijuana. You spend too much time over there, everything else runs rampant.”

Cocaine Addiction

After meth, cocaine and marijuana are the number two and number three drugs of addiction in Talladega county, respectively. Murray says, “Although we’re kind of in a cocaine drought right now, prices are just skyrocketing. You used to be able get about $18,000 for a key (kilogram, or 2.2 pounds) of cocaine. New you’re seeing prices of $27,000, $28,000 per key. That’s a big jump.”

Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription drug abuse and addiction is another huge problem in Talladega, among young and old alike. Says Murray, “Pharmaceuticals are found in every household, and most kids know where they are and how to get to them. We’ve seen kids in the schools handing out their parents’ prescriptions like they were candy. We’ve got other people that start off using prescription pain killers legitimately, but can’t get off of them, so they either have to start forging prescriptions or buying them on the street. We made a pretty significant bust about a month ago on a woman who was buying up 80 milligram OxyContin prescriptions from here to Georgia, which has slowed things down some, but they will always find another way. We’ve had a few documented overdoses recently, too.”

Fighting Drug Addiction at Drug Rehab

If you are struggling with crystal meth addiction, prescription drug addiction, cocaine addiction, marijuana addiction or alcoholism, you can get help at The Canyon. Contact us for more information.

Yes, it’s in the works: an actual vaccine that stops cocaine addiction before it starts. According to Hilary Hylton at Time.com, it’s not yet here but around the world, researchers are trying to create vaccines to fight addiction to drugs like cocaine, heroin and crystal meth.

First Up: Cocaine Addiction Vaccine

Dr. Frank Vocci is the director of treatment research and development at the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA). He says that within “one to 10 years, and closer to one year” there may actually be a vaccine against cocaine soon, a vaccine that could help the two million cocaine addicts in the United States.

Under Construction

One such cocaine vaccine under development is called TA-CD, short for “therapy for addiction — cocaine addiction.” Dr. Thomas Kosten is a psychiatry professor and Therese Kosten is a neuroscientist and psychologist, both at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas. It did well in early clinical trials and is moving onto the next phase. According to early findings, those who got the vaccine were two times as likely to cut their cocaine use by at least half.

How Anti Drug Addiction Vaccines Work

Rather than treat the addiction once it is in effect, the vaccine works in such a way that it keeps the drug—in this case, cocaine—from ever reaching the user’s brain. This means that they stop the addiction cycle from beginning rather than dealing with it once it’s in full motion. The point of this is to stop the chemical cause and effect that happens when you experience the “high” that makes you just want to get high again, which makes you want to get high again, which makes you want to get high again, and so on.

Vaccine Not a Preventative Measure

Though it seems like it would be preventative like other vaccines, the cocaine addiction vaccine that is in development would only be given to those who are already struggling with addiction. The idea is to decrease the uptake of cocaine and slow down the high. If the drug doesn’t get you high anymore, then the idea is that you won’t use it or that you’ll use it less and less, thus overcoming your addiction to cocaine.

Theoretically, this can work. If you take all five shots of the vaccine required in three months. And you follow up with booster shots every two months. And you don’t just override the system and take more cocaine than your immune system can handle. Like any other drug addiction treatment, you have to want it to work in order for it to be successful for you.

Cocaine Addiction and Cocaine Rehab

While we wait for new medical treatments like TA-CD to hit the market or at least the medical community and become available to us, we still have viable therapeutic cocaine detox and cocaine addiction treatments in cocaine rehabs like the ones at The Canyon. If you’d like more information about what we have to offer, contact us today.

There are a number of drugs of addiction that have medical detox and maintenance treatments, if not cures: heroin addiction or prescription painkiller addiction has buprenorphine or methadone maintenance. Alcoholics may benefit from Naltrexone treatments. And now, cocaine is a big focus for possible drug treatments whether in the form of a vaccine or this unorthodox approach: amphetamines!

How The New Cocaine Addiction Treatment Might Work

The idea of substituting a chemically similar alternative for the drug of addiction is the principle behind substituting methadone for heroin or opiate painkillers. The body and the brain recognize the chemical as being close enough to the drug of choice to stave off withdrawal symptoms. In the case of this new possible cocaine addiction treatment, researchers are wondering if substituting amphetamines for cocaine will help the brain begin the transition from addiction to abstinence.

Frank Vocci is the director of the pharmacotherapy division at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). He says, “It’s an idea that really does need to be rigorously evaluated. But right now there is more discussion than data.”

Cocaine Addiction in the United States

A recent government study found that 2.1 million Americans had used cocaine in the month prior to the study and 1 million had used stimulants nonmedically. Cocaine rehab seems to be just as effective as other drug addiction rehabs; that is, the rate of relapse is no more or less than for other drugs: about 33 percent of users improve after attending cocaine rehab while most will relapse over and over again. Despite the research, there still is no federally approved medications for the treatment of cocaine addiction. Until now…. Maybe….

The Possible Risks of an Amphetamine Treatment

There’s a good reason why amphetamine treatments have not been much researched until now. One reason: high doses of amphetamines can cause heart attack, stroke, brain damage or psychosis. Even those who have a high tolerance can experience these effects, unlike users of opiates who can build up a tolerance and avoid some of the toxic effects. This is a problem because most patients will try at least once to mix their maintenance medication with other drugs of addiction. But so far, so good. The results have shown it to be pretty safe and the only people who experienced psychotic episodes had previously experienced issues with psychosis.

Another problem is that using stimulant don’t quench the desire to use but heighten it. The worry is that a maintenance stimulant will provide these same effects and provoke the person in treatment to want more rather than quench her desire to get loaded.

We’ll keep you updated!

Drug Addiction Treatment

For the first time, researchers have isolated a specific chemical that inhibits proteins necessary in the formation and recall of memories. It’s great news for the millions of people trying to get their lives back under control after struggling with an addiction to cocaine.

The Research on Reducing Drug Addiction with Medication

Extensive models with rats utilized cocaine as a reward for certain behaviors. When the rats pushed down on a lever, a small amount of the drug was dispensed. The more they pushed, the more the drug was given. After a few weeks of withdrawal (simulating detox and rehab), some of the rats were injected with the medication. Out of curiosity, they continued to push on the lever, but when nothing came out, they eventually lost interest. The rats who had not been given the medication continued to push the lever seeking the same reward stimulus as they did before withdrawal.

Exciting Breakthrough for Drug Assisted Therapies

While there are drugs available that perform somewhat similarly, there are no FDA approved drugs for the treatment of cocaine addiction. Clients must undergo an intense period of detox supervised by a medical professional then immersion in residential treatment with a focus on cognitive-behavioral therapies and desensitization to personal triggers. Not surprisingly, relapse is relatively common with a drug as addictive as cocaine. It’s a tough road to try to think yourself well.

The Future of Drug Assisted Cocaine Rehab

Perhaps someday soon, your family doctor or psychiatrist will be able to write a prescription that helps erase the stimulus circuits carved out by drug addiction. While it’s not a cure, it’s certainly an added advantage. Drug therapies shouldn’t be a replacement for counseling, though, because it’s important to understand the underlying reasons for your addiction so you can take control of your actions rather than allowing your actions to control you. It’s also possible that without psychotherapy you might find yourself following the same road with other, more dangerous substances.

What’s worked best so far for you – rehab, medication, a combination or something else entirely?

Cocaine addiction and compulsivity: the two go hand in hand, don’t they? The nature of the drug makes you a little bit compulsive, kind of chatty, super jumpy and ready to go! But did you know that if you’re an impulsive kind of person without the use of cocaine or other stimulants, it’s more likely that your casual use of cocaine will grow into cocaine abuse and addiction.

What the Experts Say About Cocaine Addiction and Compulsivity

According to Science Daily,

“Scientists at the University of Cambridge have found impulsivity, a trait often associated with addicts’ behavior, predicts whether casual drug use will lead to compulsive drug use. Drug addicts are often described as being impulsive, risk-taking or sensation-seeking and make poor choices (for example, taking drugs in the present whilst nevertheless being aware that this is a ‘bad choice’ because of the damaging consequences in the future).”

Professor Barry Everitt was a part of the Cambridge research team that ran the study. He said:

“It has never been clear whether these behavioral characteristics are a cause or a consequence of their long-term abuse of drugs. This is where animal studies have unique power, because they can probe causal relationships in a way that is impossible and unethical in human populations.”

Hmmm…. Verrrrrryyyyy Intereeeeeeeesting…..

So it’s a ‘chicken or the egg thing.’ Does your impulsivity cause cocaine addiction or are you more impulsive (or compulsive!) due to drug use? I imagine it’s much like depression and drug addiction: many take drugs to handle feeling sad or anxious or angry and the ultimate result is a deeper depression or anxiety and overwhelming anger. Which makes you want to get high even more. Vicious cycle.

So what do you think? Do you think compulsivity or impulsivity makes you predisposed for cocaine addiction? Or the other way around?

We’ve talked about women and the need for alcohol rehab, how more and more women are becoming alcoholics, and how depression and alcoholism affect women. Recently we even talked about women who are pregnant and in need of alcohol rehab. Today, we’re going to check out how pregnant women interact with another addictive substance: cocaine.

The Effects of Cocaine During Pregnancy

According to PLoS Medicine and Medical News Today, “when mothers use cocaine during pregnancy, the exposure of the developing brain to the substance can cause specific neurological and behavioral abnormalities.”

It’s the development of the fetus’ brain that is of primary concern, and a recent study focused on exactly how cocaine works during pregnancy to create these adverse effects. It turns out that cocaine metabolism affects how cells interact with each other, signal each other and basically work together to produce proteins that the baby needs for a healthy brain.

But it’s not just the brain development of the baby that is affected during prenatal cocaine use: the long-term health of the child is impaired when cocaine is present in utero. In fact, structural changes in the DNA occur, which in turn cause structural changes in your child.

Do You Need Cocaine Addiction Treatment During Pregnancy?

As if those who are struggling with drug addiction don’t have it hard enough in terms of stereotypes and the belittling judgments of strangers, just add a child to the mix and watch that judgment turn into outright disdain. It’s difficult to get treatment even when you aren’t pregnant. If you need cocaine addiction treatment, The Canyon can provide that to you without judgment. We congratulate you on making a healthy choice for you and your child expeditiously. Putting your child first starts with putting yourself first. Get the help you need to stay healthy and give your child the start he or she deserves.