Drug Addiction Treatment

You may want to begin by reviewing the information on Alcoholism Treatment. Substance addictions -- whether the substance is alcohol, narcotics, stimulants, or depressants -- have a lot in common, and treatment for the dependence is similar. Special expertise is required, however, in the various types of detoxification techniques for each.

Willingway is a licensed hospital, and the Willingway drug addiction treatment center has all of the medical resources needed for the initial detoxification process. It's the first step in helping patients reclaim their lives, and these resources are a specialty at Willingway.

Here are some warning signs and dangers of various types of drug use:

Substance	Symptoms	Warning Signs	Risks
Cocaine	Brief euphoria, elevated blood pressure/heart rate, restlessness, excitement followed by depression	Glass vials or pipe, white crystalline powder, razor blades, syringes, needle marks	Addiction, heart attack, seizures, lung damage, severe depression, paranoia
Depressants (Sedatives, Valium, Alcohol, Tranquilizers)	Depressed breathing and heart rate, intoxification, lack of coordination	Capsules and pills, confused behavior, longer periods of sleep, slurred speech	Possible overdose, muscle rigidity, addiction
Hallucinogens (Acid, LSD, PCP, Ecstasy, E, Ketamine)	Altered mood, focus on details, anxiety, panic, nausea, synesthesia	Capsules, tablets, "microdots," blotter squares	Unpredictable behavior, emotional instability, violent behavior (PCP)
Inhalants (Aerosols, Glue, Nitrites, Rush)	Nausea, dizziness, headaches, lack of coordination/control	Odor on clothing/breath, intoxication, drowsiness, poor muscular control, flushed skin	Unconsciousness, suffocation, nausea and vomiting, damage to brain, sudden death
Marijuana	Altered perceptions, red eyes, dry mouth, reduced concentration and coordination, euphoria, laughing, hunger	Rolling papers, pipes, dried plant material, odor of burnt hemp rope, roach clips	Anxiety, loss of motivation, impaired short-term memory and learning, slowed thinking and reactions, addiction
Stimulants (Meth, Speed, Uppers)	Alertness, wakefulness, increased blood pressure, loss of appetite, mood elevation	Pills and capsules, loss of sleep and appetite, irritability, anxiety, weight loss, hyperactivity	Fatigue leading to exhaustion, addiction, paranoia, depression, confusion, possible hallucinations