By: Bill Urell

There is a group of symptoms that arise as a drug addict or alcoholic attempts abstinence from their chosen mood altering chemicals. These symptoms which can include sleeplessness, unclear thinking and stress, generally appear 7 to 14 days into abstinence during the stabilization phase. This impairment is recognized as PAWS or Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome and can last 6 to 18 months after the addicts' last use.

While in active addiction the addict/alcoholic experiences a disruption to normal brain activity which impairs clear thinking and emotion expression. Additionally, short-term memory loss, lack of coordination, sleep disturbances and stress are all part of PAWS and can make the recovery process sometimes long and arduous. As a result of continued abuse of drugs and/or alcohol the brain needs to make an adjustment in order to 'right itself' as neurotransmitters return to normalcy and acclimate to a life without mood altering chemicals.

Essentially there is 3 major ways that Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome can impact a recovering person. They are:
1. Cognitive - racing or recycling thoughts with impaired concentration and intention span
2. Emotional - either an absence or an excess of emotions with a tendency towards hyper reaction
3. Memory - short-term (30 minutes) memory loss is often the most noted problem

These issues usually affect a person early in recovery so it is imperative that family, friends and colleagues recognize there presence. Another factor that greatly affects the addict is stress. As a result, the recovering individual needs to understand that the lowering of stress is vital and that specific lifestyle changes need to occur. Healthy habits such as limiting caffeine, getting 8-10 hours of sleep, eating three balanced meals per day and exercising 3+ times weekly will reap great benefits.

Additionally, meditation and/or other relaxation exercises are often recommended by healthcare professionals and implemented by Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers as part of their scheduled programs.

Lastly, involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous, which means regular meeting attendance and an ongoing relationship with an AA Sponsor, is mandatory for several proven reasons:
1. The building of a sober support system outside the circle of family and friends
2. The introduction of the 12 Steps of Recovery as set down in the AA 'Big Book'.
3. A relationship with AA Sponsor is one of the cornerstones of AA and a key component of the recovery process
4. Active AA participation will reduce the severity of PAWS.
The implementation of the above should go a long way towards restoring the recovering alcoholic/addict to health.

There is also another school of thought and treatment for opiate dependent PAWS sufferers which was somewhat controversial at one time but has gained general acceptance in the recovering community.

Because PAWS can last for years, if not a lifetime, the best treatment for opiate dependents can often be a maintenance program issuing drugs such as methadone or buprenorphine. This course of action is meant to restore the brain's chemistry to a more natural state thereby alleviating the common Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome symptoms of craving, irregular sleep patterns, lethargia and mood swings.

About the Author: Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading residential treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

For people who want to have a loved one undergo drug testing or for anyone who just wants to (or has to) go through it, here are some highly important points to take note of. First of all, however, it really is high time for people all across the United States, even the entire world, to put greater importance on the life threatening risks involved when it comes to drugs and substance abuse.

1. Testing: What Works?

As compared to having a drug testing by taking samples of the patient's blood, it is highly recommended that the medical technician use the patient's urine. The urine has been proven to be more reliable when it comes to the detection of any drug abuse. Unfortunately, it’s also a more expensive kind of drug testing. As an added benefit, it is also gives the clearest results; it is very easy for medical technicians to see whether or not a person has taken drugs into one's system.

One downside of drug testing using urine samples is that it is impossible to accurately say when the patient took the drug. Blood testing is more accurate and this associated information can be derived from a blood sample.

2. Future Techniques: Hair Sampling

Another drug testing technique is through hair testing which is not recommended because a lot of laboratories are finding some difficulty with regards to the reliability of the results especially, as most often than not, drug testing through the hair poses positive results for the patient. A lot of people don't buy into this kind of drug testing since with the simple act of washing one's hair as well as being subjected to other hair contaminants an incorrect reading is possible.

3. Problems With Drug Testing:

- Confirming the reliability of the testing
- Questionable accuracy of hair testing results
- Urine drug testing accuracy highly dependent on how the procedure has been carried out by the medical technician

Unfortunately, most especially during this time wherein more and more people are getting lured into doing drugs as well as other substance abuse, a lot of the clinics that are conducting drug testing all over the United States are not really capable of providing the reliable results that people need due to the rampant mishandling and as well as the improper ways that some clinics conduct their drug testings. Therefore, the top three most reliable aspects that people should need to look for in a drug test for it be considered as reliable: strict collection procedures, proper testing procedures and random notification.

Source: www.articlecircle.com

Amy Winehouse: O.C. Rehab Facility Recruits Amy Winehouse as Guest of Honor, As quoted from Defamer. The trend ticked upward this afternoon when a Huntington Beach rehab facility sent word that it's ready, willing and able to accommodate celebrity meltdowns; even if it means treating Amy Winehouse for free. A representative for something called "http://www.shorebreakdrugrehab.com/" Shore Break Drug Rehab extended its deal of the decade to Winehouse and jailed/estranged husband Blake Fielder-Civil. (via Defamer, natch, because we're like this with the couple), inviting them to settle in for bit of short-term detox "at no cost to them or their family." No cost?!? What's the catch? Well, you have to actually stay at Shore Break Drug Rehab, which is so popular among the A-list burnout set that its press releases read like coupons. Ms. Winehouse has been a regular figure in tabloids and news reports and there are several rumors currently circling around the internet about her drug use. Recent photos and videos of her show a haggard and malnourished individual. Shore Break Drug Rehab is worried about her well being, and doesn't want to see her go the way of so many other young celebrities and musicians like Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. Shore Break Drug Rehab wants to offer Ms. Winehouse and her husband a private luxury room for them to share, close proximity to the beach, and free services for a month. They are being offered luxury accommodations at a very private and secure gated facility well appointed with swimming pools, hot tubs, exercise rooms, and a private musician's studio and recording space specifically designed for Shore Break's Musician's Rehab. Anyone interested should contact Shorebreak for immediate assistance. If Mrs. Winehouse should see this please have her call, we will happy to arrange transportation for her. Well, then! We'll pass it along. Good luck!"Defamer" That's what rehab is all about! Submitted by Scott B. Ludvigson, CNDAI, CATC, CMAC. Owner of Low Cost Intervention, www.lowcostintervention.net Helping CA families with low cost interventions and treatment. Call (877) 224-9838 or 949-444-8393 out of State welcome also.