health ABC > Addiction
Gambling addiction
Like all addictions, Gambling or risk taking involves escaping from reality. It is not just the actual risk, but the whole panoply of events leading up to taking the risk and the fantasy whic...read more
Gambling as addictive behaviour
Whilst gambling is not a substance addiction as with drugs or alcohol, it is a craving for excitement, the adrenaline producing a ‘high’ that comes from taking risks. Pathological gambling...read more
Heroin: signs that tell you something...
What is heroin Heroin is one of a group of drugs which are derived from the Opium Poppy which are collectively know as Opiates. Other examples are Codeine and Morphi...read more
How to help a gambling addict
One to One Counselling This service is provided by some GP surgeries, voluntary organisations and private sector providers. As the name suggests it is a less intensive therapy usually involving sessions of about one hour pe...read more
Immediate and social effects of alcohol
Immediate Effects Alcohol is a sedative hypnotic drug and affects people in diverse ways. When alcohol is drunk it is absorbed directly into to the blood stream via the stomach and small int...read more
Important things to know about alcohol abuse and alcohol testing
While alcohol consumption is considered to be a recreational activity for adults, it can carry with it potential health hazards including dependence, addiction, liver damage and all kinds of ...read more
Managing alcohol
Alcohol is our favourite drug. Most people associate it with fun, with being sociable and with celebrations. We may also use it to help us feel better when we are tense or unhappy, or to feel more confident.S...read more
Nicotine replacement therapy
Nicotine, when inhaled with tobacco smoke, creates a physical addiction. Nicotine withdrawal can result in unpleasant symptoms: craving for cigarettes, irritability, depression, inability to concentrate,Nutrition and alcohol
ALCOHOL Alcohol is an anti-nutrient. It is well proven to deplete almost every vitamin (A, B1, B2, B6, folic acid, B2, C, D and E),minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium, z...read more
Physiological effects of high alcohol intake
The risks to an individual who binge drinks only once in their lifetime, suffering from immediate short-term effects and more immediate behavioural costs is quite distinct from an individual who binge drinks regularly and the...read more
Sex addiction
Sex is a powerful driving force, and for some people it becomes an all pervading preoccupation which can lead to dangerous behaviours and life threatening habits. Like any source of pleasure, sex can become addictive,...read more
Shopping addiction
People use what is called retail therapy as a way of enjoying themselves. The normally buy items for which they have a need or have developed a desire for. Compulsive or addictive shopping is...read more
Smoking cessation
Non-nicotine Products Zyban Zyban (bupropion hydrochloride) tablets address the biology of the addiction and help reduce intense withdrawal symptoms from nicotine. Nortriptyline ...read more
Some information about internet addiction
The internet appears to have become an ever-increasing part of many people’s day-to-day life and there have been reports in the press in recent years about ‘internet addiction&rsq...read more
Statistics of alcohol addiction
Drinking statistics for Great Britain 1 in 25 people in Britain are dependent on alcohol – twice as many as are dependent on drugs. 1.4 million men (6%), and half a million womenStatistics of drugs misuse
Drug misuse and young people aged under 25 years in 1998 In 1998, 11% of 11-15 year olds in England had used drugs in the last year. The prevalence of drug use increased sharply with age: only 1% of 11 year ...read more
Teens and drugs
Research seems to show that a significant number of young people have access to, experiment with or misuse drugs of some sort, at some time in, particularly, the teenage years. Parents want to talk with their...read more
The Definitive Health Advice
Living a Life of Balance is the order of the day. We are urged to live in harmony with Nature, in harmony with ourselves, and not only spiritual arguments but now even Western science is prov...read more
The effects of smoking
Smoking affects everybody differently. The number of cigarettes smoked per day and the age at which you start smoking are some of the things that may influence what affect smoking has on you. Research has sho...read more
The social impact of binge drinking
Excessive alcohol consumption can have a wide range of adverse effects - medical, personal and social. These depend on both the overall amount of alcohol consumed and on the pattern of consumption.There is no...read more
Tips for controlling your drinking
There are a number of things you can do to keep your drinking under control, including the following:• Set limits for yourself and stick to them• Start with a non-alcoholic drink&bu...read more
Tranquillisers
What are tranquillisers There are various chemical names for tranquillisers these names include: Diazepam, Temazepam (mazzies), Nitrazepam, Flunitrazepam and Rohypnol. These drugs are members of the Benzodia...read more
Treatment options for alcohol addiction
Detoxification Detoxification is a process of facilitating safe withdrawal from drugs or alcohol. Withdrawal without medical assistance can be dangerous or life threatening (particularly in the case of alcoh...read more
Treatment options for drugs addiction
Inpatient Care Intensive inpatient treatment programmes, which can include detoxification,are available from N.H.S., private and voluntary sectors. Duration varies from 4 weeks to 6 months ...read more
Warn your children about drugs!!
As parents, we need to know about alcohol and other drugs so that we can provide our children with current and correct information. In addition, well-informed parents are better able to recog...read more
Ways to minimise the risks of drug use
It is not uncommon for young people to experiment with drug use. Being well informed about safer drug use is important. Of course it is safer not to try illegal drugs but if you use drugs the...read more
What does cannabis do?
The effect of cannabis depends not only on its composition, dosage and mode of consumption, but also on the mood of the individual, on the individual's expectations, and on the atmosphere and setting. These f...read more
What gave it away ?
Drug addiction signs There are many signs that an individual may have a drug addiction. The drug addiction signs listed below are clues to look for when evaluating this matter. Be aware that possessing sever...read more
What we know about addictions
Addiction is when somebody becomes dependant on an activity, substance, behaviour or object . It can control someone’s life to the extent that it can harm them physically, emotionally, mentally or socia...read more
You can and need to quit smoking!
We've all heard the statistics. Smoking is the number one preventable risk factor for a variety of diseases in our society. One in five deaths in the United States can be directly attributed to smoking. It in...read more
