Question by Liza Shevchuk: Natural Remedies For Brain Damage After Drug Abuse?
My older brother has done many drugs from about 16-21. Its been a year since his last use, and he’s been having some serious problems. He has high anxiety and he’s been having frequent episodes of “weird” (as he calls it) feelings. He doesn’t label it as feeling sick. During these episodes he feels jittery, emotional (even cry’s sometimes) out of control, his heart rate goes up. This also causes him to have insomnia. Maybe they’re panic attacks, but the thing is, what triggers it? This occurs randomly on a normal day. We believe its typical withdrawal symptoms, because he abused quite a few drugs. (Marijuana, cigarettes, ecstasy, crystal meth, shrooms, hookah, cocaine, inhalants, “uppers” (as he calls them))
He has gone to see his doctor several times to get treatment, and his doctor said he has migraines.
-____-
He prescribed him anti depressants and that didn’t help my brother AT ALL.
He does this herbal drop treatment (echinacea, other oils, etc) That help him sleep.
Now we’re trying to find him herbal remedies that would help repair his brain damage from all of the abuse he has done to it.
Thank you very much.

Best answer:

Answer by jannsody
I’m not sure that there will be repairing of the brain damage (presuming that he has that as I’m not a medical doctor :), but researchers believe that the brain is very “plastic” and may form new nerve pathways to *help* compensate for the injured areas.

With regard to inhalant use, my friend actually has a severe Brain Injury from huffing at the age of 12, now in her 30s. The chemicals in products used for huffing are actual *poisons* that were never meant to go through the bloodstream.

Please be *very* careful with herbal supplements or “remedies” (e.g., echinacea, ginkgo biloba, chamomile) as they can result in side effects and/or drug (medication) interactions. It’s best to check with a licensed pharmacist before taking any of them. Not everything that is “natural” is safe 😉

Regarding the panic attacks, some people have generalized anxiety (to know specific event) or other types of anxiety. The antidepressants may help to lessen the intensity and/or frequency of the anxiety symptoms. Such medications tend to take about 6-8 weeks before possibly noticing results. A caveat (warning) is that some antidepressants may cause insomnia (trouble getting to and/or staying asleep). However, there are medications that one may take to help counteract the insomnia.

Even though benzo’s (e.g., ativan, valium, xanax, klonopin) may be prescribed to help with sleep, they’re not always recommended as a medication due to their physical addictiveness. (Some withdrawal symptoms from benzo’s may include seizures, psychosis/mental break from reality, or even death.) Some psychiatrists (it’s best to get medication for mental health issues from a board-certified psychiatrist as opposed to “just” a family doctor) prescribe seroquel (or other medications), which is classified as an antipsychotic but in smaller dosages may help with sleep.

You’d mentioned that he’s gone to the doctor several times, and I’m wondering if he’s gone to a neurologist which is medical dr who can help rule out disorders of the nervous system – brain, spinal cord, nerves. I’m just thinking that to help “cover all the bases” (not trying to give false hope though, know what I mean).

I’m not sure that he’d still be going through withdrawal symptoms a year after stopping the drugs, but it’s a good idea to ask a doctor about that as well.

Pertaining to the anxiety, please show him this government site which may have some local counseling agencies: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ and can click the second link. Then one can click “near you” on the left-hand side of the page under “find facilities” and can type one’s city and state of residence into search. Their toll-free 24/7 referral helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Just an fyi that the first link is for those looking for substance abuse counseling/treatment, and that may be an option if he’s still “using” or having cravings for substances.

A 12-step program, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), may have some local support groups. The only requirement is having a desire to get sober. One may attend an “open” AA meeting if there is no drinking problem: http://www.aa.org

This site has some common mottos pertaining to those 12-step programs, including “One day at a time”, “First things first” and “People, places and things”: http://www.royy.com/toolsofrecovery.html

Al-Anon is a 12-step program for the *friends and family* of the problem drinker, but one may attend an “open” Al-Anon meeting if the loved one doesn’t have a drinking problem: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org

Give your answer to this question below!

Question by rachel r: know of any good books on teen delinquency?
i love the books crank, glass, burned, and impulse by ellen hopkins along with the abigail vona story “bad girl” anyone here know of any books that deal with similar topics? i love non-fiction when it comes to this topic.personal accounts are prefered but im up for any suggestions. thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by Emily W
Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines Nic Sheff

Nic Sheff was drunk for the first time at age eleven. In the years that followed, he would regularly smoke pot, do cocaine and Ecstasy, and develop addictions to crystal meth and heroin. Even so, he felt like he would always be able to quit and put his life together whenever he needed to. It took a violent relapse one summer in California to convince him otherwise. In a voice that is raw and honest, Nic spares no detail in telling us the compelling, heartbreaking, and true story of his relapse and the road to recovery. As we watch Nic plunge the mental and physical depths of drug addiction, he paints a picture for us of a person at odds with his past, with his family, with his substances, and with himself. It’s a harrowing portrait — but not one without hope.

Give your answer to this question below!

West Virginia Governor's Task Force fights prescription drug abuse
Kathy Paxton, Director Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse with the Bureau for Behavioral Health & Health Facilities says, "We've actually decreased prescription drug abuse for the first time since 2006, but we are still in the top three for overdose … Read more on WOWK

2 young men share their story of addiction, relapse and recovery
Two local men, who have a lot in common with Monteith, were willing to share their addiction stories with us. They are both 31 years old and both made multiple attempts to overcome their drug addictions before they succeeded. I asked them to describe … Read more on MyFoxAL

Toronto mayor says he is not a drug addict
When asked by the host of The John Oakley Show if he has ever used crack, Ford responded by saying only that he was not a drug addict or an alcoholic. Ford continued to insist that he … The video was recovered from a computer hard drive during an … Read more on USA TODAY

Question by Don F: tough question about someone on drugs?
So, I know that someone is on drugs, crystal meth, using all the time and spending money on it hand over fist. Until broke in all cases and borrowing and stealing people blind to pad the habit. She has kids, two, and I feel closing in on serious health and legal problems. Of course, she doesnt think she has a problem and denys heavy use. The next problem is that she is my wife of now 10+ years. I could walk away with the kids and leave her high(pun intended) and dry, but I dont want to see her dead in a ditch. She wont listen to rehab or to councling. What can I do??
ok, quickly seen answers with forceful intervention. How and where do I get info on it? What does it intail????

Best answer:

Answer by TIMOTHY D L
You have to force an intervention. What ever that takes

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Question by rachel r: know of any good books on teen delinquency?
i love the books crank, glass, burned, and impulse by ellen hopkins along with the abigail vona story “bad girl” anyone here know of any books that deal with similar topics? i love non-fiction when it comes to this topic.personal accounts are prefered but im up for any suggestions. thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by Emily W
Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines Nic Sheff

Nic Sheff was drunk for the first time at age eleven. In the years that followed, he would regularly smoke pot, do cocaine and Ecstasy, and develop addictions to crystal meth and heroin. Even so, he felt like he would always be able to quit and put his life together whenever he needed to. It took a violent relapse one summer in California to convince him otherwise. In a voice that is raw and honest, Nic spares no detail in telling us the compelling, heartbreaking, and true story of his relapse and the road to recovery. As we watch Nic plunge the mental and physical depths of drug addiction, he paints a picture for us of a person at odds with his past, with his family, with his substances, and with himself. It’s a harrowing portrait — but not one without hope.

Give your answer to this question below!

Question by rachel r: know of any good books on teen delinquency?
i love the books crank, glass, burned, and impulse by ellen hopkins along with the abigail vona story “bad girl” anyone here know of any books that deal with similar topics? i love non-fiction when it comes to this topic.personal accounts are prefered but im up for any suggestions. thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by Emily W
Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines Nic Sheff

Nic Sheff was drunk for the first time at age eleven. In the years that followed, he would regularly smoke pot, do cocaine and Ecstasy, and develop addictions to crystal meth and heroin. Even so, he felt like he would always be able to quit and put his life together whenever he needed to. It took a violent relapse one summer in California to convince him otherwise. In a voice that is raw and honest, Nic spares no detail in telling us the compelling, heartbreaking, and true story of his relapse and the road to recovery. As we watch Nic plunge the mental and physical depths of drug addiction, he paints a picture for us of a person at odds with his past, with his family, with his substances, and with himself. It’s a harrowing portrait — but not one without hope.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Fentanyl Addiction Treatment and Fentanyl Drug Rehab Announced by …
Fentanyl Addiction Treatment and Fentanyl Drug Rehab Announced by Recovery Associates. Fentanyl is a potent narcotic analgesic that's even more potent than morphine. It can turn people into addicts if overused. Recovery Associates has plenty of …
Read more on PR Web (press release)

Crystal Meth Addiction Treatment and Crystal Meth Drug Rehab Announced by …
Crystal Meth Addiction Treatment and Crystal Meth Drug Rehab Announced by Recovery Associates. Crystal meth is a stimulant named for the structure that is formed while being made. Recovery Associates delivers multiple tracks of drug rehab treatment for …
Read more on PR Web (press release)