Category Archives: Drugs and Addiction

How drugs change your feelings.

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

Brain circuits.

Brain.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

Drugs of abuse alter the chemical balance in your brain.

The human brain is a very complex organ. Everything you think, feel, experience, or do is the result of brain activity. Drugs, especially drugs of abuse, can alter the chemical balance in your brain either temporary or sometimes permanently.

The brain is made up of millions of tiny nerve cells called neurons. These nerve cells connect to each other through billions of tiny nerve endings. In the early days of physiological psychology, this all seemed so simple.

Electricity moves information within a nerve cell.

Early on, we discovered that a nerve cell can develop an electrical charge and when this charge moved down the nerve cell, it transmitted information. Electrically stimulating a rat’s brain might cause him to move the leg.

Electrical stimulation doesn’t explain everything. Between one nerve cell and the next, there are infinitesimal, small gaps. Scientists refer to those gaps as synaptic gaps, or sometimes they speak of the connections between cells as synapses. It turns out that electricity doesn’t flow very well from one brain cell to another through the brain fluid.

Information moves from one nerve cell to another chemically.

The human nervous system manufacturers a large number of chemicals, some of which are called neurotransmitters. When I first studied the subject in the 1960s, we study two neurotransmitters. Today hundreds of neurotransmitters have been identified and studied. The more research I read, the more newly identified neurotransmitters I encounter.

Drugs of abuse alter the way information moves between cells chemically.

For a drug of abuse to affect the way you think, feel, or behave, it needs to do two things. First, it needs to get into your brain. The brain contains a large amount of fluid. Protecting that fluid from contamination is the blood-brain barrier. This membrane is designed to keep undesirable material out of your brain. All drugs of abuse must have molecules that can get through this blood-brain barrier.

Each neurotransmitter has a shape which fits a receptor in the next cell.

You hear a gun go off and your nervous system produces a stimulant chemical that gets your heart pounding and prepares you for action. That stimulant chemical is sometimes called adrenaline. A similar chemical is found in the nervous system. We, here in the US, call that chemical norepinephrine, in some other countries it is called noradrenaline. This chemical fits into receptors on other cells and causes them to act.

One of the explanations for how drugs of abuse affect your nervous system is called the “lock and key theory.” Each naturally occurring neurotransmitter has a shape, and other cells have a receptor designed to accept that shape. So, when your nervous system sends out norepinephrine, it fits into receptors throughout your nervous system to prepare you to take immediate action.

Drugs of abuse mimic the shapes of naturally occurring neurotransmitter.

Stimulant drugs, such as cocaine or methamphetamine, are shaped in a way that is similar to norepinephrine. Because they mimic a natural neurotransmitter’s shape, they can make all the circuits in your nervous system fire.

Drugs of abuse not only activate a few cells, but they can activate many cells in far more emphatic ways than your naturally occurring neurotransmitters do. Because of this, drugs of abuse can feel very pleasurable, but only for brief periods of time. Each time you use a drug, it changes the chemical balance in your brain. Over time it changes the balance so much, you are unable to feel the things you used to feel unless the drug is present in your system.

Of course, the process in the brain is far more complicated than this simple description. Many other things are taking place every time you think a thought or the chemistry in your brain changes. Understanding how drugs of abuse mess with the way your nervous system works helps to explain a large part of how those drugs can lead to abuse, dependence, addiction, and a whole range of disorders we call substance use disorders.

For more on this topic see – Drug Use, Abuse, and Addiction and Recovery

David Joel Miller MS is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC.)  Mr. Miller provides supervision for beginning counselors and therapists and teaches at the local college in the Substance Abuse Counseling program.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

Schedules of Controlled Substances.

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

Drugs.

Drugs.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

How drugs are classified for legal purposes.

The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 created another way to classify drugs. In another post, I talked about some of the ways drugs can be classified, by their origin, by their medical effect, or by the experience the user has. For legal purposes, some drugs are scheduled on one of five separate schedules of controlled substances.

The criteria for placing drugs on a particular schedule include whether they have an accepted medical use, their potential to be abused, and the likelihood they will produce dependence. Many people refer to drugs with a high abuse potential as narcotics. Narcotics technically are drugs that will put you to sleep, knock you out, and may potentially cause death. Many of the scheduled drugs are stimulants or Hallucinogens. When talking about the legal regulation of drugs, it is important to know that the correct term is, controlled substances.

Here’s a brief description of the five drug schedules and some examples of drugs on each schedule.

Schedule I drugs.

These drugs have an extremely high abuse potential. They are likely to cause dependence, have withdrawal effects, and produce cravings. They are not currently accepted for medical use in the United States. These drugs are not believed to be safe even when used under medical supervision.

An example of the need for scheduling some drugs on schedule one is illustrated by the drug thalidomide. This drug was approved and widely used in Europe, where it was often prescribed to women for the treatment of morning sickness. There was a good deal of pressure for it to be approved in the United States. One doctor at the FDA resisted the pressure to approve the drug for use in the US because of safety concerns.

After this drug was used in Europe for some time, it was discovered that the drug would produce serious birth defects when women who were pregnant were exposed to the drug. Even handling the medication could produce birth defects. Today this drug is used for treating cancers, but it continues to carry warnings that women who may become pregnant should not come in contact with this drug.

Some examples of drugs currently on schedule I include, heroin, peyote, psilocybin, ecstasy, LSD, methcathinone, marijuana, and most other products containing THC.

Schedules II drugs.

These drugs have a high abuse potential. They must have a recognized medical use, though it may require severe restrictions. Abuse of these drugs can result in either physical or psychological dependency. To prescribe these drugs, doctors must have a DEA number and use a triplicate prescription pad. One copy of each prescription stays with the doctor; one is given to the patient who must take it to the pharmacy, the third copy is sent to the DEA.

Examples of schedule two drugs include morphine, codeine, methadone, other opiates, Ritalin, methamphetamine, cocaine, PCP, and many other similar drugs.

Schedule III drugs.

Drugs on this schedule are more widely used for medical purposes. There are less likely to be abused than drugs on schedule II. These drugs can still be abused and may produce a mild to moderate substance use disorder.

Examples of schedule III drugs include Vicodin, Tylenol with codeine, Marinol a synthetic capsule containing THC, Ketamine, anabolic steroids, and similar drugs.

Schedule IV drugs.

These drugs have wide medical applications in the US. They have a low potential for abuse when compared to drugs on schedules I, II, or III. People may build up some tolerance to these drugs and experience withdrawal, resulting in physical or psychological dependence, but these drugs are less likely to produce cravings than the drugs on the earlier schedules.

Examples of schedule IV drugs are Darvon, Valium, Librium, Ativan, Xanax, and similar drugs.

Schedule V drugs.

These drugs have many accepted medical uses in the US. They have the lowest abuse potential of all the scheduled drugs. Abuse of the drug may lead to some types of dependency. Some drugs on schedule V are available in both prescription strength and an over-the-counter version. For example, some pain relievers are available over-the-counter in two hundred milligrams strengths, the stronger six hundred and eight hundred milligrams versions require a prescription.

Just because drugs are on schedule V does not mean they are totally safe. Many people abuse over-the-counter pain relievers. Taking too many of these medications can result in permanent damage to either the liver or the kidney.

Some problems with drug schedules.

Despite the movement towards legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, the federal government continues to keep it on schedule I. This creates conflict between the federal government and state or local governments. Doctors who prescribe medical marijuana are likely to lose their DEA numbers. Doctors who work in hospitals or chronic pain clinics are unable to prescribe marijuana without losing their ability to prescribe stronger opiate pain medications.

Heroin continues to be a schedule I drug. This has prevented doctors from prescribing heroin to people who are addicted to opiates. In other countries, addicts, can receive their drugs by prescription and can administer them in safe injection sites where the used needles are properly disposed of. Because heroin stays on schedule I, addicts are prescribed methadone a drug which is even harder to withdraw from than heroin.

For more on this topic see – Drug Use, Abuse, and Addiction and Recovery

David Joel Miller MS is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC.)  Mr. Miller provides supervision for beginning counselors and therapists and teaches at the local college in the Substance Abuse Counseling program.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

Hard drugs used to be legal in the U. S.

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

Drugs of addiction

Addiction.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

Making drugs illegal is a new thing.

It’s roughly 400 years since the Europeans arrived in America. For seventy-five percent of the time since that arrival drugs have been legal. The path from full legality to today’s many restrictions on drugs has been a long and involved one.

In early American history, first the colonial governments, and then the federal government not only allowed drug use but encouraged it. In colonial times, there were laws on the books requiring farmers to grow cannabis (Hemp) on a specific percentage of their land. During the US, Civil War more men died in camp of diseases than died in battle. Officers would routinely hand out opium gum for soldiers to chew. Whiskey was the primary painkiller. With the discovery of morphine, it became common to mix morphine into the whiskey to produce a beverage called laudanum. Between 1860 and 1900 the use of morphine, cocaine, and other drugs mixed in alcoholic beverages became commonplace.

Laws regulating drug use are a recent development in American history. Here are some of the more significant drug laws from US history.

The San Francisco Ordinance.

The first notable US drug law was an ordinance passed in San Francisco, California. Interesting to note that while today California takes a more lenient view of drug use, San Francisco is the first place to pass a significant drug regulation ordinance.

The San Francisco Ordinance, passed in 1875, banned the smoking of opium, in an opium den. Opium could still be smoked in private homes and beverages containing opium, or its derivative compound morphine could still be consumed. The main thrust of the ordinance was to try to keep white people, especially young females, from frequenting Chinese opium businesses. This ordinance only applied to the city and County of San Francisco. It would be over thirty years before another law was passed regulating drugs.

The Pure Food and Drug Act.

This law was passed by Congress in 1906. The Pure Food and Drug Act was primarily aimed at controlling opiate addiction. The belief was that by labeling products which contained drugs people would be less likely to consume them. Between the US Civil War and 1906, products containing morphine and cocaine had become extremely popular. Many women consumed tonics containing morphine and babies were often given soothing syrups which contained morphine and alcohol.

The early thinking was that if a parent had a choice between a baby product containing one percent morphine and another containing two percent morphine, the parent would probably choose the product with a lower percentage of drugs. Unfortunately, many parents thought that if one percent morphine stopped the baby from crying and allowed them to sleep, then two percent morphine would be even better.

The Harrison Narcotic Tax Act.

Many laws regulating drugs and alcohol began as taxation. Once you can tax something, you can also regulate its use. Raising taxes has repeatedly been tried in efforts to reduce drug consumption. Besides imposing regulations and taxes on drugs, the Harrison Narcotic Tax Act, passed in 1914, just before World War I, restricted sales of drugs to licensed pharmacies and required a doctor’s prescription.

One provision in the law continues to cause problems. Doctors are not supposed to prescribe drugs to maintain a drug addict’s addiction. Rather than prescribed heroin addicts heroin, or morphine addicts morphine, doctors now switch opiate addicts to methadone an even more addicting drug.

Alcohol Prohibition.

Prohibition was inducted in 1920 with the passage of the eighteenth amendment. At the time, it was described as the Great Experiment. The effects of the Great Experiment continue to be debated. There were widespread efforts to evade the law. The law did not prohibit the consumption of alcoholic beverages or the home manufacture of beer and wine. What it did prohibit was the commercial manufacturing, transporting, and sale of alcoholic beverages.

During prohibition, hospital admissions for alcohol-related health problems declined significantly. What didn’t decline during prohibition was illegal activity. Because of the widespread violence and the unpopularity of the law, prohibition was repealed by the twenty-first amendment passed in 1933.

The Controlled Substance Act.

The Controlled Substance Act passed in 1970 created a system of classifying or scheduling drugs which continues to this day. The period since 1970 has seen the passage of many additional laws attempting to regulate drug use. These laws include the law creating the Drug Enforcement Administration, anti-trafficking laws, Analog Act, Anti-Drug Abuse Act, and specific laws providing additional regulation and enforcement activities involving methamphetamine, ecstasy, tobacco smoking, and synthetic drug abuse.

Much of the legal activity in the period from 1970 to today was a part of the well-publicized “War on Drugs.”

That’s a little of the background on drug laws which people who work in the substance abuse treatment and prevention fields are expected to know. In a future post, we should take a closer look at the current system of scheduling drugs and why some of the newer laws have created enforcement problems.

For more on this topic see – Drug Use, Abuse, and Addiction and Recovery

David Joel Miller MS is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC.)  Mr. Miller provides supervision for beginning counselors and therapists and teaches at the local college in the Substance Abuse Counseling program.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

Why do drugs affect people differently?

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

Drugs.

Drugs.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Many factors affect the way people experience drugs.

Whether it’s legally obtained drugs, or the prescription kind, obtained from a drugstore with a doctor’s prescription, the way people experience those drugs varies widely. Recently we’ve seen an epidemic of deaths because of the use and abuse of prescription pain medication. Some people are in chronic pain; pain medications alleviate their suffering and allow them to function. Other people like the way those drugs make them feel or the way they keep them from having to feel anything.

People who take powerful painkillers for emotional reasons, to get high, run a high risk of becoming addicted. Three characteristics of addiction tell us that as people develop tolerance, experience withdrawals, and begin to have cravings for a drug of abuse, the risk that will take larger and larger amounts increases.

What are some of the factors that affect the drug using experience and may result in drug use turning into abuse, addiction, and the development of the drug use disorder?

Drug dosage influences the using experience.

With most drugs, small amounts of drugs produce smaller effects. Common over-the-counter pain relievers a relatively safe and not likely to cause addiction when taken as directed. Take large amounts of over-the-counter pain relievers and the risk of permanent damage to your liver or kidney, possibly even death, becomes a real possibility.

Drink one standard drink, let’s say a single twelve-ounce beer, each day, and you’re not likely to develop an alcohol use disorder. Drinking a six-pack a day and you will begin to build tolerance. Eventually, that drinker will need to drink a case of beer a day to feel the same effect. The higher the blood alcohol content goes on anyone drinking occasion, the more the risks.

A large percentage of the people in America have tried marijuana. Most find it doesn’t affect their lives. But a small number of marijuana smokers voluntarily seek treatment for cannabis use disorder.  What is different about the people who seek out treatment for a marijuana-related problem? Most of the people who develop problems with marijuana smoke every day and the quantity they smoke has increased over time.

When it comes to opiates, stimulant drugs, or other recreational drugs, the higher the dose, the more the risk.

How the drug gets into your body affects the experience.

The way in which drugs enter the body is referred to as route of administration.

Let’s use opiates as an example. It’s possible to smoke heroin, the high is experienced almost instantaneously, but a lot of the potency is lost in the process of smoking. Any drug that is smoked produces a rapid high and equally rapid withdrawal.

An equal amount of heroin mixed into a beverage and swallowed will be slower to take effect. Much of the potency is destroyed as the drug goes through the stomach. Stomach acids neutralize a large part of the potency of many drugs.

That same dose of heroin can be injected, producing a much more intense effect when the large dose reaches the brain. People who inject drugs experience much more intensive effects.

Psychological factors alter the experience of drug use.

Psychological set, the mood someone is in impacts the drug using experience. Someone who is in a happy mood and drinks alcohol may feel an increase in their happiness. They are celebrating. Someone who was angry and drinks may become angrier and more likely to act on that anger as the alcohol disinhibits them. A person who is sad and depressed who drinks alcohol is at an increased risk of developing severe depression and possibly making a suicide attempt.

Setting, the place where someone uses the drug, also alters the effects of the user experiences. Millions of people receive painkillers while in the hospital. Most of them do not become addicted. But the same quantity of drugs, purchased in an alley from a drug dealer for recreational use, are much more likely to result in a substance use disorder.

Other psychological factors that alter the drug using experience are the placebo effect and the Nocebo effect.

Your belief that the drug will have a beneficial effect is likely to produce that effect, whether that effect is positive or negative. If you think a pill will cure your headache, it probably will, even if it does not contain any active ingredient. People who believe that a particular medication will give them headaches are more likely to get headaches even when the pill is a sugar pill.

For more on this topic see – Drug Use, Abuse, and Addiction and Recovery

David Joel Miller MS is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC.)  Mr. Miller provides supervision for beginning counselors and therapists and teaches at the local college in the Substance Abuse Counseling program.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

What is Amotivational Syndrome?

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

Unmotivated.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

Have you lost your drive or your desire to do something?

Amotivational Syndrome is often connected with the smoking of marijuana.  This is something quite different from what we see in depression.  In depression, people lose the desire to do things they use to make them happy.  We call that loss of pleasure anhedonia.

In Amotivational Syndrome people seem to spend more time looking inward and contemplating things and less time actively doing them.  This syndrome was originally recognized in younger, marijuana smokers who were heavier daily users.

Does marijuana smoking cause a loss of motivation?

Things that are, or were, associated with Amotivational Syndrome include the development of apathy and loss of ambition.  Heavy smokers just seem to become indifferent and stop caring about anything except smoking.  They seem to have fewer goals and decreased effectiveness.  Problems with attention and concentration have also been attributed to heavy marijuana smoking and Amotivational Syndrome.

Many of these characteristics are seen in daily, heavy, marijuana smokers.  What is unclear is whether marijuana smoking causes this cluster of symptoms or whether those people who are low in motivation like to smoke marijuana.  At one point it was commonly accepted that some marijuana smokers are likely to suffer from Amotivational Syndrome.

Not all marijuana smokers are low in motivation.

Because of the many famous, popular people, who have been reported to be regular marijuana smokers, the connection between smoking marijuana and low motivation has come into question. It is unclear how common this condition is, or even if this is a valid syndrome.  Amotivational Syndrome has not been reported in countries other than the United States.  There’s some question whether Amotivational Syndrome is, in fact, a cultural rather than a mental condition.

Animals on marijuana don’t lose motivation.

Laboratory studies of both humans and animals have not found evidence of the Amotivational Syndrome for those using marijuana.  Amotivational Syndrome or loss of goals and direction has been found in many groups of young people who are not using marijuana on a regular basis.  This has led some writers to conclude that Amotivational Syndrome is a personality characteristic rather than the result of smoking marijuana.  It may be that those people with low motivation are attracted to using marijuana and other intoxicating substances.

One other possibility that has been suggested is that those people who are under the influence of drugs and alcohol or other substances may have low motivations to do anything while under the influence.  What we may be seeing in those people who were described as having Amotivational Syndrome may, in fact, be the effects of intoxication and withdrawal from marijuana or other substances.

As with the other things we are calling a mental illness or symptoms of a mental illness Amotivational Syndrome would need to interfere with your ability to work or go to school, your relationships, your enjoyable activities, or cause you personal distress for it to be the focus of clinical attention. Otherwise, while you may have lost some motivation you will not be identified as someone needing clinical assistance.  If the only time you have low motivation is when you are under the influence of marijuana or another drug this would be diagnosed as drug intoxication.

For more on this and related topics see the other posts on counselorssoapbox.com under        Drug Use, Abuse, and Addiction

FYI These “What is” sometimes “What are” posts are my efforts to explain terms commonly used in Mental Health, Clinical Counseling, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Psychology, Life Coaching, and related disciplines in a plain language way. Many are based on the new DSM-5; some of the older posts were based on the DSM-IV-TR, both published by the APA. For the more technical versions please consult the DSM or other appropriate references.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

What is Polydrug or Polysubstance use?

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

Polydrug use is common.

Drugs

What is Polydrug or Polysubstance use?
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

Polydrug use, sometimes referred to as multiple drug use, is an increasingly common pattern. Diagnosis of Substance Use Disorders used to be divided along the lines of the particular substance that someone used or abused. Treatment systems separated the alcoholics from the Heroin users and so on. There was a lot of validity to that model but it is becoming less and less possible as more people are using combinations of many drugs.

Most drug users have a preferred “High.” Stimulant users like being way up. Depressant users like the falling asleep, passing out kind of high. Hallucinogen users are chasing an altered reality. Some people dabble in all three types and their pattern of addiction is more to the process of using drugs than to any one particular substance.

I have heard people with a history of polysubstance use describe themselves as “trashcan junkies” just open the lid and throw something in. When asked what drugs they do, the standard answer is “What have you got?”

Drugs of abuse have cultures.

Alcohol users and abusers tend to hang out together. They have their preferred beverage of choice and their favorite method of consumption. If you drink the way others in your social circle drink then you can maintain the illusion that your drinking is under control. Some drinking groups divide up a 12 or 24 pack, some pass around a bottle of wine or a paper bag containing the hard stuff. Other groups order fancy mixed drinks from the cocktail waitress. Alcohol is everywhere and most people develop some familiarity with this culture.

Weed smokers have their culture also. They pass around the blunt, smoke a bowl or roll a joint. They have particular names for the varieties of marijuana they smoke or those they disdain. Most drink alcohol from time to time. Many weed smokers also have cultural decorations, tribal music, and cultural heroes who smoked a lot of weed. But in a group of consistent marijuana users, it is likely that most primarily smoke marijuana.

Heroin users develop their own special culture. They know the process of making a rig. Users learn the concepts of going to the cotton and cotton fever. They also know the struggles of kicking and going cold turkey.

Some of the younger opiate abusers believe they are from a different tribe. They do their opiates as pills and liquids, obtained from doctors, pharmacies, and diverted medical supplies. They may even hold fast to the myth that they are not addicts because they do not use needles. That myth gets shattered when their supply is interrupted and they have to kick along with the heroin addicts.

Polysubstance users move between cultures.

Increasingly we are seeing those whose allegiance is not to one drug of choice but to the process of doing drugs of any and every kind. The use of multiple substances is the norm rather than the exception. Most people in drug treatment and a major part of our jail and prison populations have long histories of using a wide variety of substances.

Polysubstance dependence is a problem without a diagnosis.

The most recent edition of the DSM eliminated the diagnosis of polysubstance dependence. We never did use polysubstance abuse. From here on the plan is to list each drug someone may have developed a problem with and then rate each use disorder as mild, moderate or severe.

For those working in the Substance Use Disorder field, this is problematic. While a client may have a mild problem with each of eight or ten different drugs, overall they can have a significant problem living life without using drugs or destructive behaviors.

My own experience has been that when someone has this “polysubstance dependence” problem, there are usually some other significant mental health issues going on.  The best treatment when polysubstance abuse or dependence is encountered is the treatment of the mental health issues and substance use issues at the same time.

Terms and their meaning can differ with the profession using them. The literature from the Rehab or AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) field may be very different from that in the mental health field. There is still a large gap between recovery programs and AOD professionals and the terms and descriptions used in the DSM.

FYI. These “What is” sometimes “What are” posts are my efforts to explain terms commonly used in Mental Health, Clinical Counseling, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Psychology, Life Coaching, and related disciplines in a plain language way. Many are based on the new DSM-5; some of the older posts were based on the DSM-IV-TR, both published by the APA. For the more technical versions please consult the DSM or other appropriate references.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

What are Bath Salts?

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

New drugs

Bath salts.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

How come people are abusing Bath Salts?

There is a growing tidal wave of use and abuse of Bath Salts. These are not the kind of Bath Salts you would ever put in water and soak in. Bath Salts are also sold under a number of other names including Plant Food, Water Pipe Cleaner as well as a host of brand and product names.

These products made use of a loophole in the laws of the U. S. and other countries, which exempted chemicals from regulation as drugs if they were “Not for Human Consumption.” These drugs were imported without restriction because of being labeled for uses other than human consumption. Here in the U. S. they were then repackaged in small amounts and sold in small stores. While labeled “not for human consumption” it has always been clear that users were buying these packages to consume them.

The primary ingredients in many of these products are amphetamine-like chemicals in the Cathinone Family. Cathinones are synthetic versions of a drug originally found in the Khat plant from north-eastern Africa. Before becoming popular as drugs of abuse these drugs were primarily used to kill insects hence the name “plant food.” The name “bath salts” is reported to come from the way these drugs are often packaged to look like bath salts.

Bath Salts can be consumed by snorting, swallowing, smoking, or injecting. Other possible routes of administration are sure to be attempted.

The use of Bath Salts has resulted in a significant number of admissions to hospital emergency rooms. Symptoms of Bath Salt intoxication include a number of serious symptoms including agitation, violent behaviors, heart palpitations, and psychotic symptoms. There are reports of these symptoms, particularity psychosis, lasting long after the drugs have been metabolized. At high doses, these drugs can be fatal.

The Synthetic Drug Abuse Act of 2012 was intended to reduce the problems with Bath Salts. Some particular ingredients have been made illegal. Unfortunately, this is a very large family of synthetic chemicals and many have never been tested. As fast as one chemical has been tested, found to be harmful to humans and banned, other chemicals have been substituted.

More and more synthetic chemicals are being sold and experimented with by drug users. The line between Bath Salts, Synthetic Cannabinoids, and other research chemicals has become fuzzy. New formulations are appearing so rapidly they are now being referred to as NPS (New Psychoactive Substances.) Expect Bath Salts of new formulations and other synthetics to become an increasing problem.

For more on these topics see:    Drug Use, Abuse and Addiction     Recovery      What is

Terms and their meaning can differ with the profession using them. The literature from the Rehab or AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) field may be very different from that in the mental health field. There is still a large gap between recovery programs and AOD professionals and the terms and descriptions used in the DSM.

FYI These “What is” sometimes “What are” posts are my efforts to explain terms commonly used in Mental Health, Clinical Counseling, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Psychology, Life Coaching, and related disciplines in a plain language way. Many are based on the new DSM-5; some of the older posts were based on the DSM-IV-TR, both published by the APA. For the more technical versions please consult the DSM or other appropriate references.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

What is Cannabis (Marijuana) Withdrawal?

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

Cannabis

Marijuana withdrawal.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

Is there really such a thing as Marijuana Withdrawal?

Marijuana withdrawal is real and a lot more common than many people think. Among heavy marijuana smokers who enter residential treatment up to 95% experience very real symptoms of marijuana withdrawal. This set of symptoms is so significant that it was included in the new DSM-5 under the name Cannabis Withdrawal (F12.288.)

Cannabis covers a number of preparations made from the Cannabis Sativa plant including Marijuana, Hashish, and Hash Oil. There are hundreds of different chemicals in the cannabis plant, though current thinking is that the primary psychoactive chemical is THC (tetahydrocanibinoid.)

When we say withdrawal many people think of severe physical symptoms the way someone might experience withdrawal from Heroin. The symptoms of cannabis withdrawal while more subtle than that can be very problematic.

Back in the 1960s the thinking was that there were no withdrawal symptoms from marijuana. Some people still think that. One difference then to now is that the levels of THC are higher now. There are also a much larger number of people smoking marijuana on a regular daily basis.

SAMHSA published a treatment guide titled “Brief Counseling for Marijuana Dependence” based on studies of people who voluntarily requested treatment for a Marijuana Use Disorder. One of their conclusions was that people who experience this problem smoked marijuana 28 days a month or more. In other words, daily smoking is much more likely to result in a use disorder and withdrawal disorder than the occasional one-time user.

Cannabis Withdrawal, according to the DSM-5, is only diagnosed if you have a moderate to severe cannabis use disorder. This requires smoking most days for two months or more. Symptoms customarily start 24 to 72 hours after you last smoked. Symptom peak at one week and most are gone by two weeks. Sleep problems may continue for 30 days or more.

Cannabis withdrawal can also occur when people reduce their consumption of cannabis even when they do not completely stop. Family members or others living with the heavy weed smoker may recognize the symptoms of cannabis withdrawal before the smoker does.

In Cannabis Withdrawal seven signs or symptoms have been described as significant enough that they are common features of withdrawal from Marijuana and or other forms of Cannabis. Each of these symptoms might better be called a category of symptoms. For example, emotional issues list three possible emotions and physical symptoms list seven. To get diagnosed with Cannabis withdrawal you need to have one of the signs or symptoms from 3 or more of the categories.

The seven signs or symptoms of Marijuana Withdrawal.

1. Negative, Grouchy emotions during marijuana withdrawal.

Irritability, anger, or aggression are common during marijuana withdrawal.

2. High Anxiety during marijuana withdrawal.

During withdrawal from marijuana, people can become nervous, anxious, or fearful.  It is common for marijuana smokers to conclude that marijuana was helping them control anxiety and return to smoking before the withdrawal is completed.

3. Messed up sleep during marijuana withdrawal.

During the initial withdrawal from marijuana, you may experience difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or you may have bad disturbing dreams. This initial period of poor sleep might also be followed by a period of rebound sleep during which you will experience an increased need for sleep.

4. You may lose your appetite during marijuana withdrawal.

Early in the withdrawal from marijuana you may lose your appetite or even lose some weight. This period of poor appetite may be followed by a rebound of hunger.

5. Restlessness accompanies withdrawal from cannabis.

6. Depressed mood is common during marijuana withdrawals.

This is one of the more common symptoms of giving up almost all drugs. Regular users get close to their drug of choice. Most miss the drug and the related rituals when they stop. Many become depressed or grieve for the loss of the drug’s companionship.

7. Physical symptoms can accompany Marijuana withdrawal.

Symptoms commonly reported during marijuana withdrawal include abdominal pain, shakiness, tremors, sweating, fever, chills, and headache.

These signs or symptoms need to happen during the first 3 weeks of abstinence otherwise we begin to look for other possible causes. Many marijuana smokers are using other drugs which obscure the signs of cannabis withdrawal.

Terms and their meaning can differ with the profession using them. The literature from the Rehab or AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) field may be very different from that in the mental health field. There is still a large gap between recovery programs, AOD professionals, and the terms and descriptions used in the DSM.

FYI These “What is” sometimes “What are” posts are my efforts to explain terms commonly used in Mental Health, Clinical Counseling, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Psychology, Life Coaching, and related disciplines in a plain language way. Many are based on the new DSM-5; some of the older posts were based on the DSM-IV-TR, both published by the APA. For the more technical versions please consult the DSM or other appropriate references.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

What is Drug Withdrawal?

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

Drugs.

Drugs.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

You’re more likely to have a drug withdrawal than you might think.

When people think of drug withdrawal the picture they see is the one of classic heroin withdrawal. Someone coming off heroin or other opiates does some “kicking” both drug wise and legs-wise. They also have diarrhea and “goosebumps.” Because opiates are pain relievers during withdrawals people can experience high levels of pain.

That dramatic type of withdrawal is not the only kind you might have. Each drug you might take can have some effects when the level in your body, principally in your bloodstream, begins to drop.

Drug Withdrawal Defined.

Drug withdrawal is an identifiable illness or syndrome that happens when someone stops taking a drug or reduces the amount they are using significantly. The symptoms begin when the level of a drug in the blood drops. Withdrawal symptoms can vary in severity and each drug has its own pattern of withdrawal symptoms. An alternative name for withdrawal is Abstinence Syndrome.

In the early stages of drug use, withdrawal symptoms may be minimal and go unnoticed. Once the body has adjusted to having that drug present and made adaptations the symptoms become more pronounced. Symptoms may not be entirely physical. For some drugs the primary withdrawal symptoms are psychological.

Withdrawal symptoms make it harder to stop using drugs.

The more severe the withdrawal symptoms the more likely the user is to pick that drug back up to reduce those symptoms. A withdrawal symptom of drugs taken to reduce anxiety, prescribed or self-medicated ones, is an increase in anxiety. People who smoke marijuana to reduce anxiety report that the anxiety gets really bad after they discontinue smoking it. This results in a return to marijuana use.

Getting rid of withdrawal symptoms is a strong motivator to resume drug use again.

The DSM-5 lists withdrawal effects for eight of the eleven classes of substances.

I find it interesting that some drugs such as Inhalants and Hallucinogens have no withdrawal symptoms specified. We also have only one diagnosis and F code for the group of drugs, Sedative, Hypnotic or Anxiolytic Drugs. Withdrawal from these drugs can be different with different drugs. Stimulant Withdrawal is separated and has one code for Cocaine and another for Amphetamines and other stimulants. These DSM-5 codes are a rough sketch. For the full details consult the DSM-5 text. Also, note that there are well-defined withdrawal criteria for Cannabis (Marijuana) and Caffeine.

Alcohol Withdrawal (F10.239 or F10.232)

Caffeine Withdrawal (F15.93)

Cannabis (Marijuana) Withdrawal (F12.288)

Opioid Withdrawal (F11.23)

Sedative, Hypnotic or Anxiolytic Withdrawal (F13.239, F13.232)

Stimulant Withdrawal

Amphetamine or other stimulant (F15.23)

Cocaine Withdrawal (F14.23)

Tobacco Withdrawal (F17.203)

Other (or Unknown) Substance Withdrawal (F19.239)

For more on drugs and recovery see:

Drug Use, Abuse, and Addiction      Recovery

Terms and their meaning can differ with the profession using them. The literature from the Rehab or AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) field may be very different from that in the mental health field. There is still a large gap between recovery programs, AOD professionals and the terms and descriptions used in the DSM.

FYI These “What is” sometimes “What are” posts are my efforts to explain terms commonly used in Mental Health, Clinical Counseling, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Psychology, Life Coaching, and related disciplines in a plain language way. Many are based on the new DSM-5; some of the older posts were based on the DSM-IV-TR, both published by the APA. For the more technical versions please consult the DSM or other appropriate references.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

What is Caffeine Withdrawal?

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

What is

What is caffeine withdrawal?
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

You can get sick when you stop caffeine.

There are five distinct symptoms that people often develop when they suddenly stop taking in caffeine, and yes those symptoms can get severe enough that the person reports they are sick. Caffeine withdrawal is extremely common. About 70% of those who try to permanently stop consuming caffeine experiencing this illness.

Caffeine is used more commonly than any other psychoactive drug. By psychoactive we are talking about a drug that changes the way you think, feel, and behave. Increasingly counselors in the substance use disorder field are looking at commonly used drugs like tobacco and caffeine and their impact on the client’s recovery from alcohol and other drugs.

Absolutely your body can get used to having caffeine in your system and there are physical withdrawal symptoms when you stop using caffeine. This problem is severe enough that in the DSM-5 it is a specific diagnosis Caffeine Withdrawal (F15.93.)

Caffeine use is more common than one might think. It is not just adults who are using caffeine and experiencing caffeine withdrawal. The DSM-5 reports that 85% of U. S. adults and CHILDREN use caffeine daily.

Drug and alcohol texts (Maisto, Galizio & Connors, 2015) report that worldwide 90% of the population uses caffeine. Aside from adults, the group receiving the highest daily dose are young preschool children. Caffeine is commonly found in sodas and energy drinks, both favored beverages among the very young. One has to wonder how this universal use of caffeine is affecting children’s thinking, feeling, and behavior.

Caffeine withdrawal sneaks up on you.

Many people are surprised when they experience caffeine withdrawal. The most likely times to have this disorder are when there is a sudden change in your routine. Weekends, vacation times, hospitalizations, travel, all are potential caffeine withdrawal experiences.

Caffeine withdrawal starts twelve to twenty-four hours after your last dose. The worst of the symptoms peak one or two days after you stop taking in the caffeine. Headaches from caffeine withdrawal have been reported up to three weeks after the last dose.

You do not have to be a daily or heavy caffeine consumer to experience caffeine withdrawal, though the more caffeine you take in each day the more likely you are to experience caffeine withdrawal. More important than your daily intake in the equation is how regularly you use caffeine and the suddenness of your stopping.

People experiencing caffeine withdrawal are likely to misattribute their symptoms and think it is the flu or another illness. The result is those withdrawing from caffeine use a lot more pain relievers than normal.

How do you know you have caffeine withdrawal?

To receive this diagnosis you need to have 60% or three of five of the possible symptoms, though each person may have a different group of symptoms. The hard part sometimes is to be sure all of these symptoms are the result of caffeine withdrawal and not some other issue.

One way to be sure your problem is caffeine withdrawal is to take in some more caffeine. That should work in an hour or less.

What are the five symptoms of caffeine withdrawal?

  1. Headaches
  2. Tired, fatigue, or drowsiness.
  3. Bad mood, unhappy, depressed, irritable. As a side note, people who consume a lot of caffeine can become very anxious.
  4. Concentration or attention issues.
  5. Is this a virus? Caffeine withdrawal can include muscle pain, nausea, and even vomiting that are characteristic of the flu.

As with all the other things that make it into the DSM, Caffeine intoxication only gets diagnosed if it interferes with your work, school, relationship with family and friends, causes you excessive discomfort, or makes you give up things you used to like to do. You also should not blame it on not having your coffee if this is better explained by another mental illness or the effects of another drug.

Terms and their meaning can differ with the profession using them. The literature from the Rehab or AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) field may be very different from that in the mental health field. There is still a large gap between recovery programs, AOD professionals and the terms and descriptions used in the DSM.

FYI, these “What is” sometimes “What are” posts are my efforts to explain terms commonly used in Mental Health, Clinical Counseling, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Psychology, Life Coaching, and related disciplines in a plain language way. Many are based on the new DSM-5; some of the older posts were based on the DSM-IV-TR, both published by the APA. For the more technical versions please consult the DSM or other appropriate references.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

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