Lindsey Root

Should You Quit Cold Turkey?

Lindsey Root - Monday, November 30, 2009

Have you desperately tried to quit smoking and just can’t seem to kick the habit?  “Evidence suggests that nine out of 10 smokers will attempt to quit cold turkey at some point.”  If you really want to quit, but the thought of going a day without a cigarette makes you sick to your stomach, than you need to get some help.  You don’t have to quit alone and in fact most medical experts don’t recommend quitting the habit cold turkey.

“Research has found that fewer than 5 percent of smokers succeed when they go cold turkey.  The data generally don’t support cold turkey as a method of quitting.” Says Thomas Glynn, PhD, director of cancer science and trends and international cancer control for the American Cancer Society.  “A better way is to combine counseling with medication.”  Research has also found that people who use medications or nicotine replacement therapies like the nicotine patch, nicotine gum, or nicotine inhaler can double or triple their chances of quitting successfully.  When you go cold turkey, you are essentially shrugging off medical advances designed to make it easier for you to quit.

If you are ready to quit than don’t wait anymore.  Contact us now and get help.  You don’t have to do it alone.

 

Lindsey Root

Give Thanks

Lindsey Root - Thursday, November 26, 2009

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

What are you most thankful for this year?

Lindsey Root

Self-Test Questionnaire for Addiction

Lindsey Root - Friday, November 20, 2009

Do you ever wonder if you might be doing something too much? Maybe you're a social drinker or smoker, but have noticed that this social activity has turned into a daily routine and sometimes you even do it multiple times a day.  Maybe no one even knows about your little secret trial with meth or cocaine and now you can't even remember the last time you went a day without having one. 

Addictions are scary and seem to take over our lives.  Maybe you're in denial about your addiction or you know you have a problem and you just don't know how to stop.  Take this self-test questionnaire for Addiction.  Answer the following yes or no questions.  Most questions have more than one part, because everyone behaves differently in addiction.  You only need to answer yes to one part for that question to count as a positive response.


Self-Test Questionnaire for Addiction
1. Tolerance.

Has your use of drugs or alcohol increased over time?

2. Withdrawal.

When you stop using, have you ever experienced physical or emotional 
withdrawal?

Have you had any of the following symptoms: irritability, anxiety, shakes, sweats, nausea, or vomiting?

3. Difficulty controlling your use.

Do you sometimes use more or for a longer time than you would like?

Do you sometimes drink to get drunk?

Do you stop after a few drink usually, or does one drink lead to more drinks?

4. Negative consequences.

Have you continued to use even though there have been negative consequences to your mood, self-esteem, health, job, or family?

5. Putting off or neglecting activities.

Have you ever put off or reduced social, recreational, work, or household activities because of your use?
 
6. Spending significant time or emotional energy.

Have you spent a significant amount of time obtaining, using, concealing, planning, or recovering from your use?
 
Have you spend a lot of time thinking about using?

Have you ever concealed or minimized your use?

Have you ever thought of schemes to avoid getting caught?

7. Desire to cut down.

Have you sometimes thought about cutting down or controlling your use?

Have you ever made unsuccessful attempts to cut down or control your use?


If you answered yes to at least 3 of these questions, then you meet the medical definition of addiction.

You don't have to overcome this addiction alone, please Get Help.  We are here to help you.  Thank you for reading our blog.  Please feel free to comment below.

Lindsey Root

Addiction: Do I have a problem?

Lindsey Root - Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Have you ever tried something, want it all of the time, and can’t seem to quit?  You might suffer from a serious addiction.  What is an addiction anyway?  “Addiction is a chronic, but treatable, brain disorder. People who are addicted cannot control their need for alcohol or other drugs, even in the face of negative health, social or legal consequences. This lack of control is the result of alcohol- or drug-induced changes in the brain. Those changes, in turn, cause behavior changes.” (HBO | Addiction)

Addictions can start at anytime and with almost anything.  What are the different addictions that you can think of that come to mind first?  Addictions can range from alcohol and drugs to gambling, eating, shopping, sex, work, video games, Internet, pornography, ect.

An addiction can come in many forms and will take over and destroy the addicts’ life.  Statistically speaking, the cost of addiction is mind blowing.  Here are some statistics from www.AddictionsAndRecovery.org:

At least twice as many people die from alcoholism in the US every year as die from motor vehicle accidents.  Alcohol intoxication is associated with 40-50% of traffic fatalities, 25-35% of nonfatal motor vehicle injuries, and 64% of fires.  Alcohol is present in nearly 50% of homicides, either in the victim or the perpetrator. 

Alcohol intoxication is involved in 31% of fatal injuries, and 23% of completed suicides.

One study found that 86% of homicide offenders, 37% of assault offenders, and 57% of men and 27% of women involved in marital violence were drinking at the time of their offense. 

As you can see by the statistics above, these addictions can kill you and the people around you.  If you suffer from some form of addiction than you know that you must get help now.  Don’t wait any longer!  You don’t have to hide this addiction anymore.  Come on in and Get Help.  

Do you suffer from an addiction or know someone who does?  Check out the next blog that will feature a self-test questionnaire for Addiction.  Thanks for reading and please feel free to comment below!

Kat Mathena

Drunken Fruit Flies Help Scientists Find Potential Drug Target For Alcoholism

Kat Mathena - Monday, November 16, 2009

A group of drunken fruit flies have helped researchers from North Carolina State and Boston universities identify entire networks of genes -- also present in humans -- that play a key role in alcohol drinking behavior.

This discovery, published in the October 2009 print issue of the journal Genetics, provides a crucial explanation of why some people seem to tolerate alcohol better than others, as well as a potential target for drugs aimed at preventing or eliminating alcoholism. In addition, this discovery sheds new light on many of the negative side effects of drinking, such as liver damage.

"Translational studies, like this one, in which discoveries from model organisms can be applied to insights in human biology, can make us understand the balance between nature and nurture, why we behave the way we do, for better or worse, and what makes us tick," said Robert Anholt, a Professor of Biology and Genetics at North Carolina State University, Director of the W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, and one of the senior scientists involved in the work.

To make this discovery, Anholt and colleagues first measured the amount of time it took for the fruit flies to lose postural control after exposure to alcohol. At the same time, changes in the expression of all the flies' genes were recorded. Using statistical methods to identify genes that work together, the scientists were able to pinpoint specific genes that played a crucial role in adaptation relating to alcohol exposure. Armed with this information about fruit flies, the scientists set out to determine if the same genes contribute to alcohol drinking habits in humans. Indeed they do: expression of the human counterpart of a critical gene in fruit flies could be directly tied to alcohol consumption in humans.

"From a scientific point-of-view, research like this is almost intoxicating," said Mark Johnston, Editor-in-Chief of the journal Genetics. "We've known for a while now that genetics played a role in alcohol consumption, but now, we actually know some of the genes that are involved. As a result of this work, we have a potential drug target for curing this insidious condition."

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091103121618.htm

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