Dexedrine Abuse and Addiction

Dexedrine (dexetroamphetamine) is a psychostimulant drug that produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and decreased appetite.

Physical effects of dextroamphetamine can include hyperactivity, restlessness, dilated pupils, blood shot eyes, dry mouth, headache, tachycardia, hypertension, fever, diarrhea, constipation, blurred vision, aphasia, dizziness, twitching, insomnia, numbness, palpitations, arrhythmias, tremors, and convulsions.

In cases of high doses or long term abuse and dependence, physical effects may include coma, stroke, heart attack, and sudden death.

Psychological effects can include euphoria, anxiety, increased libido, alertness, concentration, energy, self-esteem, self-confidence, sociability, irritability, aggression, psychosomatic disorders, psychomotor agitation, hubris, excessive feelings of power and invincibility, repetitive and obsessive behaviors, and paranoia.

In cases of high doses or long term abuse and dependence, psychological effects can include a condition known as "amphetamine psychosis."

Withdrawal symptoms from dextroamphetamine primarily consist of mental fatigue, mental depression, and an increased appetite.  Symptoms may last for days with occasional use, but may last for weeks or months with chronic use.  The severity of symptoms is dependent on the length of time and the amount of dextroamphetamine taken.

Withdrawal symptoms may also include anxiety, agitation, excessive sleep, vivid or lucid dreams, suicidal thoughts, and psychosis.

Dextroamphetamine (along with amphetamine and methylphenidate) has become a popular recreational stimulant drug because of its euphoric effects and its common use as a so-called "study drug."  It is one of the most widely used and one of the most addictive recreational drugs available.

Treatment for Dexedrine abuse and dependence often requires medically supervised detoxification followed by concentrated psychosocial treatment.

Even short term Dexedrine abuse lasting only a few weeks or months may require medical and psychosocial treatment.  Severity of withdrawal symptoms are dependent on length and frequency of use, with the most severe cases requiring months of treatment.  Continued social support is usually recommended as psychological dependence lasts well after physical dependence has been successfully treated.

Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ)

The severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ, SAD-Q) was first published in the British Journal of Addiction.

The SADQ is sometimes used to to predict the levels of medication needed during alcohol detoxification.

The test is divided into 5 sections:

1. Physical withdrawal symptoms
2. Affective withdrawal symptoms
3. Craving and relief drinking
4. Typical daily consumption
5. Reinstatement of dependence after a period of abstinence.

Each item is scored on a 4-point scale, giving a possible range of 0 to 60.  A score of over 30 indicates severe alcohol dependence.

The SADQ Test

1. The day after drinking alcohol, do you wake up feeling sweaty?
   (1) Almost never
   (2) Sometimes
   (3) Often
   (4) Nearly always
2. The day after drinking alcohol, do your hands shake first thing in the morning?
   (1) Almost never
   (2) Sometimes
   (3) Often
   (4) Nearly always
3. The day after drinking alcohol, does your body shake violently first thing in the morning if you don't have a drink?
   (1) Almost never
   (2) Sometimes
   (3) Often
   (4) Nearly always
4. The day after drinking alcohol, do you wake up drenched in sweat?
   (1) Almost never
   (2) Sometimes
   (3) Often
   (4) Nearly always
5. The day after drinking alcohol, do you dread waking up?
   (1) Almost never
   (2) Sometimes
   (3) Often
   (4) Nearly always
6. The day after drinking alcohol, are you frightened of meeting people first thing in the morning?
   (1) Almost never
   (2) Sometimes
   (3) Often
   (4) Nearly always
7. The day after drinking alcohol, do you feel at the edge of despair when you wake up?
   (1) Almost never
   (2) Sometimes
   (3) Often
   (4) Nearly always
8. The day after drinking alcohol, do you feel frightened when you wake up?
   (1) Almost never
   (2) Sometimes
   (3) Often
   (4) Nearly always
9. The day after drinking alcohol, do you like a drink in the morning?
   (1) Almost never
   (2) Sometimes
   (3) Often
   (4) Nearly always
10. The day after drinking alcohol, do you gulp your first few drinks down as fast as possible?
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
11. The day after drinking alcohol, do you drink to get rid of the shakes?
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
12. The day after drinking alcohol, do you have a strong craving for drink when you wake up?
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
13. During a heavy drinking period, do you drink more than 1/4 bottle of spirits (or 1 bottle of wine, or 4 pints of beer) each day.
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
14. During a heavy drinking period, do you drink more than half a bottle of spirits per day (8 pints of beer, 2 bottles of wine).
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
15. During a heavy drinking period, do you drink more than a bottle of spirits per day (3 bottles of wine, 5 litres of cider or 10 pints of lager)
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
16. During a heavy drinking period, do you drink more than 2 bottles of spirits per day (7 bottles of wine, 9 litres of cider, 20 pints of beer).
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly alwaysFOR THE NEXT 4 QUESTIONS:
    Imagine you have been abstinent for a few weeks, then drink heavily for a couple of days.
17. The morning after would you start to sweat?
    (0) Not at all
    (1) Slightly
    (2) Moderately
    (3) Nearly always
    (4) I haven't been abstinent for that long, so it's hard to say
18. ...would your hands shake?
    (0) Not at all
    (1) Slightly
    (2) Moderately
    (3) Nearly always
    (4) I haven't been abstinent for that long, so it's hard to say
19. ...would your body shake?
    (0) Not at all
    (1) Slightly
    (2) Moderately
    (3) Nearly always
    (4) I haven't been abstinent for that long, so it's hard to say
20. ...would you be craving for a drink?
    (0) Not at all
    (1) Slightly
    (2) Moderately
    (3) Nearly always
    (4) I haven't been abstinent for that long, so it's hard to say

Scoring the Test

The test is scored by totaling the numbers in the parenthesis next to the answers given by the participant.

• A score of less than 3 indicates no alcohol dependence.
• A score between 4 and 20 indicates mild dependence.
• A score between 20 and 30 indicates moderate dependence.
• A score of over 30 indicates severe dependence.

12 Step Fellowships

12 Step Fellowships such as Alcoholics Anonymous are widely recognized as one of the best community resources available for recovering from alcoholism, drug addiction, and other compulsive disorders.

The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and the AA Fellowship are a complete program of recovery for people suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction.

12 Step meetings are traditionally open to anyone who wants to attend.  They offer peer support in one-on-one and group settings, as well as other social and recreational activities.  12 Step Fellowships such as Al-Anon are also available for family, friends, and colleagues of the recovering person.

12 Step programs for people recovering from chemical dependence:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Alcoholics Anonymous is the original 12 Step Fellowship, founded in 1935 by its first two members Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith.  AA membership is estimated to be near 2 million people, with meetings in nearly every country.

Cocaine Anonymous (CA)
Cocaine Anonymous is a fellowship of recovering cocaine addicts based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Crystal Meth Anonymous
Crystal Meth Anonymous is a fellowship of recovering from drug addicts, particularly crystal meth addicts, based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Dual Recovery Anonymous
Dual Recovery Anonymous is a fellowship of people who are chemically dependent and are also affected by an emotional or psychiatric illness.

Marijuana Anonymous (MA)
Marijuana Anonymous is a fellowship of recovering marijuana addicts based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
Narcotics Anonymous is a fellowship of recovering drug addicts based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Nicotine Anonymous
Nicotine Anonymous is a fellowship of recovering nicotine addicts based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Pills Anonymous
Pills Anonymous is a fellowship of people recovering from prescription drug addiction based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

12 Step programs for family, friends, and colleagues of people recovering from chemical dependence:

Al-Anon
Al-Anon helps families and friends of alcoholics recover from the effects of living with the problem drinking of a relative or friend.

Alateen
Alateen is Al-Anon for young people.  Alateen groups are sponsored by Al-Anon members.

Narcotics Anonymous Youth Committee (NAYC)
Narcotics Anonymous Youth Committee is Narcotics Anonymous for young people.  NAYC groups are sponsored by NA members.

Nar-Anon
Nar-Anon helps families and friends of drug addicts recover from the effects of living with the problem drinking of a relative or friend.

12 Step programs for people recovering from compulsive behaviors:

Debtors Anonymous (DA)
Debtors Anonymous is a fellowship of recovering compulsive debtors based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Gamblers Anonymous (GA)
Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of recovering compulsive gamblers based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Overeaters Anonymous (OA)
Overeaters Anonymous offers a program of recovery from compulsive overeating using the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of OA.

Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA)
Sex Addicts Anonymous is a fellowship of people recovering from sexual addiction or dependence based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

12 Step programs for people recovering from mental and emotional problems:

Depressed Anonymous
Depressed Anonymous is a fellowship of people recovering from depression based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Emotional Health Anonymous (EHA)
Emotional Health Anonymous is a fellowship of people recovering from emotional illnesses based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Emotions Anonymous (EA)
Emotions Anonymous is a fellowship of people recovering from emotional problems based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous
Obsessive Compusive Anonymous is a fellowship of people recovering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

12 Step programs for people recovering from marriage, romantic relationship, sexual, and related problems:

Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA)
Co-Dependents Anonymous is a fellowship of people developing healthy and loving relationships based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Domestic Violence Anonymous
Domestic Violence Anonymous is a fellowship of people recovering from domestic violence based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Recovering Couples Anonymous
Recovering Couples Anonymous is a fellowship of people recovering from dysfunctional patterns in relationships based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA)
Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous is a fellowship of people recovering from sex and love addiction based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Sexual Compulsives Anonymous
Sexual Compulsives Anonymous is a fellowship of people recovering from sexual compulsion based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Survivors of Incest Anonymous
Survivors of Incest Anonymous is a fellowship of people recovering from the effects of surviving incest based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Truly Holistic Program That Treats Body, Mind, and Spirit

Summit Malibu offers a holistic program based on our belief that we are treating the whole person and not just a collection of symptoms and problems.

Our program includes medically supervised detoxification for physical symptoms, psychotherapeutic counseling for mental and emotional distress, and optional practices such as Yoga, Meditation, and 12-Step Groups for the spirit.

If you are considering another treatment center, ask them if their program is truly holistic, or if they require their clients to adhere to limited programs such as an “addiction cure."

Owned and Operated by People Dedicated to Helping Others

Summit Malibu is owned and operated by people committed to helping other people, not by a corporation focused on continually increasing profits.

The owners of Summit Malibu are long-standing members of the recovery community, and many are in recovery themselves.

If you are considering another treatment center, ask them if their business is owned by people involved in the day-to-day operation of the program, or by a distant, profit-driven corporation.

Extremely Private and Secure Location

Summit Malibu is located on three acres of private land, one full mile inside a private gated community, surrounded on three sides by wild hills, and on the fourth side by a beautiful ocean view.

Many other residential treatment centers claim to offer privacy while they are actually located in typical houses on standard residential lots facing public streets.

If you are considering another treatment center, ask them how much private land surrounds their facility, and how much of their facility is within view of public streets.

Fewer Residents Means Individualized Treatment

Summit Malibu’s residential center is limited to seven clients, allowing us to provide individualized treatment to each and every client.

By maintaining one of the highest client-to-staff ratios in the industry we are able to customize treatment according to the specific needs of the individual, rather than having to impose a generalized treatment onto a large group.

If you are considering another treatment center, find out how many clients in total they can accommodate and what their client-to-staff ratio is when their facility is full.

Highly Experienced in Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Summit Malibu’s world class therapists have decades of experience treating the many dual diagnosis/co-occurring disorders that often accompany chemical dependency, such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Other treatment centers accept dual diagnosis clients but may not have the long-term experience required to treat these complex and demanding issues.

If you are considering another treatment center, find out how much clinical experience therapists actually have treating dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders.

Codeine Abuse and Addiction

According to the World Health Organization and others, codeine is the most widely used opiate in the world.  It is one of the most effective orally-administered opioid analgesics.  It is about one-fifth the strength of morphine.  It is commonly mixed with other analgesics such as aspirin or acetaminophen, and in this combination it is listed as a Schedule III or V drug in the United States.

In the United States codeine is listed as a Schedule II controlled substance for products containing codeine alone or in a dose higher than 90 mg.

Beyond its analgesic effects, codeine's effects include euphoria, itching, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dry mouth, depression and constipation. Some people may also be allergic to codeine, with skin swelling and rashes.

Another side effect of codeine abuse is lack of sexual drive and increased complications with erectile dysfunction.

Tolerance to codeine develops with prolonged use, and this tolerance includes its therapeutic effects.  A potentially serious adverse drug reaction is respiratory depression and the potential for a fatal overdose.

Codeine is metabolized into morphine, and morphine can be passed through breast milk in potentially lethal amounts, fatally depressing the respiration of a breast fed baby.

Codeine is often used as a recreational drug, and has similar potential for abuse with other opiates such as oxycodone or hydrocodone.  In some countries cough syrups and tablets containing codeine are easily available without prescription.

Codeine is also available in a syrup with the anti-nausea medication promethazine (brand name Phenergan with Codeine). This medication is quickly becoming one of the most highly abused codeine preparations.

As with other opiate pain killers, chronic use of codeine can lead to physical dependence. When physical dependence has developed, withdrawal symptoms may occur if a person suddenly stops the medication.  Withdrawal symptoms include: drug craving, runny nose, yawning, sweating, insomnia, weakness, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle spasms, chills, irritability, and pain.

Heroin addicts will take codeine to minimize the effects of heroin withdrawal, which will create additional withdrawal symptoms when codeine is no longer used.

To minimize withdrawal symptoms, long-term users should gradually reduce their codeine use through medical detox under the supervision of a doctor or addiction professional.

Adderall Abuse and Addiction

Adderall is the brand name of a stimulant drug made up of a proprietary blend of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.  It is believed to work by increasing the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.

The effects felt when using the drug include loss of fatigue, increased alertness and concentration, better cognitive ability, and heightened libido.  It is commonly prescribed for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and sometimes for depression.

Adderall is listed as a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act.  This means that it has a high potential for prescription drug abuse and drug addiction.

Prolonged use can lead to increased tolerance (needing more of the drug to achieve the same effect) and withdrawal (an intense craving for the drug along with physical and psychological distress) when use is stopped.  Continued use, especially over-use, can lead to the pathological conditions of drug abuse and drug dependence.

Extremely high doses, or high doses over a prolonged period of time, can result in a very serious condition known as amphetamine psychosis.

Adderral abuse and dependence often occurs when the drug is over-used for the treatment of commonly prescribed conditions such as fatigue, obesity, and depression.  Adderall has also become a favorite “study drug” in colleges and universities because of its ability to help the user focus their concentration and study for very long periods of time.

Many abusers were originally prescribed the drug for childhood ADHD, and then continued to use the drug in later life for reasons other than those for which it was prescribed, such as concentration, weight loss, and performance enhancement.

One study estimates that as many as 14% of college students abuse some form of ADHD drug like Adderall.

Withdrawal from chronic abuse of Adderall can include anxiety, depression, fatigue, excessive sleeping, increased anger and rage, and even psychosis and suicidal thoughts.  Physical effects can include heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, uncontrollable tremors, sweating, and more serious cardiac symptoms.

As with most stimulants, users who take high doses of the drug over a prolonged period of time will eventually “crash.”

This occurs when their bodies and minds are simply too fatigued to continue, sometimes after days and even weeks of continuous use.  Heavy users will often turn to other drugs such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and even illegal opiates such as heroin, to help soothe the effects of withdrawal.

Treatment for chronic Adderall abuse or dependence often requires medical detoxification, a period of rehabilitation from the physical effects, a period of psychotherapeutic counseling to deal with the mental and emotional effects, and possible psychopharmacological treatment to assist in re-regulating the effects of disrupted brain function.

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