Prescription drug addiction
Years of research have shown us that addiction to any drug, illicit or prescribed, is a brain disease that can, like other chronic diseases, be effectively treated. But no single type of treatment is appropriate for all individuals addicted to prescription drugs. Treatment must take into account the type of drug used and the needs of the individual. To be successful, treatment may need to incorporate several components, such as counseling in conjunction with a prescribed medication, and multiple courses of treatment may be needed for the patient to make a full recovery.
The two main categories of drug addiction treatment are behavioral and pharmacological. Behavioral treatments teach people how to function without drugs, how to handle cravings, how to avoid drugs and situations that could lead to drug use, how to prevent relapse, and how to handle relapse should it occur. When delivered effectively, behavioral treatments – such as individual counseling, group or family counseling, contingency management, and cognitive-behavioral therapies – also can help patients improve their personal relationships and ability to function at work and in the community.
Some addictions, such as opioid addiction, can also be treated with medications. These pharmacological treatments counter the effects of the drug on the brain and behavior. Medications also can be used to relieve the symptoms of withdrawal, to treat an overdose, or to help overcome drug cravings. Although a behavioral or pharmacological approach alone may be effective for treating drug addiction, research shows that a combination of both, when available, is most effective.
Treating addiction to prescription opioids
Several options are available for effectively treating addiction to prescription opioids. These options are drawn from experience and research regarding the treatment of heroin addiction. They include medications, such as methadone and LAAM (levo-alpha-acetyl-methadol), and behavioral counseling approaches.
A useful precursor to long-term treatment of opioid addiction is detoxification. Detoxification in itself is not a treatment for opioid addiction. Rather, its primary objective is to relieve withdrawal symptoms while the patient adjusts to being drug free. To be effective, detoxification must precede long-term treatment that either requires complete abstinence or incorporates a medication, such as methadone, into the treatment plan.
Methadone is a synthetic opioid that blocks the effects of heroin and other opioids, eliminates withdrawal symptoms, and relieves drug craving. It has been used successfully for more than 30 years to treat people addicted to opioids. Other medications include LAAM, an alternative to methadone that blocks the effects of opioids for up to 72 hours, and naltrexone, an opioid blocker that is often employed for highly motivated individuals in treatment programs promoting complete abstinence. Buprenorphine, another effective medication, is awaiting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treatment of opioid addiction. Finally, naloxone, which counteracts the effects of opioids, is used to treat overdoses.
Swedish Massage Therapy Swedish massage therapy uses various techniques, which are generally sequenced as follows: 1. Effleurage this is a gliding stroke using the palms, fingertips and/or thumbs 2. Petrissage a general kneading of the muscles 3. Friction this is a circular pressing motion using the palms of the hands as well as fingertips and thumbs 4. Vibration the use of oscillatory movement to vibrate or shake the body 5.
Percussion a brisk tapping or hacking movement 6. Passive and active movements a variety of bending and stretching movements One way that Swedish massage deeply relaxes muscles is by rubbing in the direction of blood flow to your heart. It can also lessen the amount of recovery time from a strained muscle by helping release uric acid, lactic acid, and other wastes accumulated. In other words, when our muscles are injured or stressed they contract and inflame, preventing oxygen and nutrients to travel through and trapping toxins inside. Massage is a great way of releasing those toxins and restoring health to the muscle.
Swedish massage can also significantly benefit those with sciatica, stiff joints, fractures, and arthritis. It also stretches tendons and ligaments and increases range of motion. Swedish massage may also reduce physical and emotional stress, which can create a greater sense of awareness about the body. Deep tissue massage can also reduce or eliminate scar tissue and improve circulation. People with fibromyalgia, edema, frequent muscle cramping, neck and back pain, or other chronic pain conditions may significantly benefit from deep tissue massage.
However, even if you do not have any of these illnesses you can still enjoy the effects of this type of massage. There are several types of massage, and one that is rapidly becoming very popular is deep tissue massage . This is a type of massage that is aimed at the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. During a deep tissue massage, your therapist will use his or her fingers to apply pressure and knead your muscles in a motion that goes against the grain. The purpose of this method is to release built up tension and undo the knots in your muscles.
Deep tissue massage also has many health benefits as well. When we become tense or stressed out, our muscles contract and become rigid. The stress in our muscles prevents essential nutrients and oxygen from traveling to the right parts of the body. This traps toxins inside our muscles and causes inflammation, which can be very painful. However, deep tissue massage targets the knotted up muscles by applying pressure to loosen muscles and release any built up toxins.
In general, you should make sure to drink lots of water after receiving a deep tissue massage to help rid your body of these toxins. Pre-event sports massage helps to stretch and warm up muscles, making them flexible so that the athlete is at peak performance. This is also a way to stimulate oxygen, nutrient, and blood flow to the muscles and help prevent a serious injury. It is also common for an athlete to get nervous or stressed out before an event. Pre-event massage therapy is a way of soothing the athlete, relaxing his or her muscles, and instilling a sense of eagerness to perform.
Post-event sports massage is used as a form of healing microtraumas that are caused by heavy exercising. This type of massage also reduces cramping, helps maintain flexibility, loosens stiff and tired muscles, and increases blood flow. Post-event massage therapy can also make recovery much faster for strains, pulls, and soreness. Maintenance massage is generally used as part of the training program at least once a week. It is basically used to increase blood flow and prevent scar tissue from forming, while keeping muscles flexible.
Shiatsu Massage Shiatsu massage, also commonly referred to as acupressure, uses the technique of applying pressure with the fingers on certain points of the body. Traditionally this is done to maintain harmony and good health, yet we also know there are many healthy benefits as well. Shiatsu massage is known to boost the immune system, improve circulation, relieve stress, and reduce pain. It has also been known to treat various gastrointestinal problems such as indigestion, constipation, and diarrhea. Shiatsu massage has been attributed to improving emotional well-being and enhancing physical vitality.
People who suffer from depression and anxiety can be positively impacted by shiatsu massage, as well as those affected by insomnia. According to a study from 1999, the people who received shiatsu massages slept better and woke up less during the night. There has also been a study concluding that shiatsu massage may help stroke victims rehabilitate, along with other forms of treatment. Thai Massage There are a great many ways that Thai massage can benefit a person’s health. It can eliminate muscle spasms and muscle pain, while improving range of motion and flexibility.
Thai massage also stimulates internal organs, blood flow, and lymph drainage. It relieves headache, fatigue, painful joints, and swollen limbs while allowing a release of emotional stress. Studies also show that Thai massage instills a great sense of relaxation, calms the nervous system, and helps promote increased energy levels.