Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, And Ibogaine Treatment
Although cocaine is mostly used recreationally, there are still a percentage of people who get addicted to its alluring effects. It’s actually one the most commonly used substances in the US after heroin. The high it offers is quick and intense, giving users a calm sense of confidence. As one of the most popular “party” drugs around, cocaine can seem harmless enough. That is until you’re using long after the party is over. What is Cocaine? Cocaine (or coke) is a stimulant derived from the coca plant native to South America. It’s a strong drug that stimulates the central nervous system, with a high that lasts about 30 minutes. Coca leaves have been used for thousands of years by natives throughout South America, a plant that has offered a surge in energy with no addictive effects. Cocaine (the substance derived from the coca plant) offers this energy in a synthetically made form that can prove to be extremely addictive to those who can’t resist the euphoric effects it offers. Cocaine instantaneously offers an energetic high, filling a person with self-confidence and mental alertness. What is Crack Cocaine? Cocaine comes in another form as well. Crack cocaine (or crack) generally isn’t recreationally used like cocaine, but offers an intense high that easily gets people hooked. Crack is made by mixing cocaine with baking soda. This combination forms into a rock when heated up and is smoked with a glass or metal pipe. The effects of smoking crack can be felt as quickly as ten seconds, with a high that lasts only a little longer. Crack works quick, which means people...
Ibogaine: Treatment for Alcoholism
Alcoholism is one of the most common addictions there is. As something that’s readily available and even encouraged as a way to relax and have a good time, alcohol is widely consumed by people all over the world. In the US alone, there are more than 16 million people that are addicted to alcohol or abuse it on a regular basis. Alcohol addiction can perpetuate devastating consequences when it’s left untreated. Anyone who’s lived with an alcoholic, had a loved one who is an alcoholic, or been an alcoholic themselves knows just how quickly an addiction to alcohol can ruin someone’s life. Signs of Alcohol Abuse or Addiction What starts as a few drinks after work or letting loose on the weekends can turn into full-blown dependency. Drinking greatly loosens up one’s inhibitions and can literally numb one to the stress and problems they feel. This is why so many people turn to alcohol in the first place. It’s an easy way to let go…until one drinks too much or begins to come down from their high. Alcohol is a depressant by nature. While it might make someone feel great for little while, in the end it can lead to some serious withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawals from alcohol are what lead many to fall into a regular habit of drinking…because the only way to get rid of them is by drinking more. Detox from alcohol can also be waited out, but for many a few more drinks (“to take the edge off”) can quickly become a regular habit. Some of the sign alcohol has become a problem include: Drinking...
How to Avoid Relapse After Ibogaine
If you’ve recently completed Ibogaine treatment, you’re aware of the feeling of elation it can leave you with. No other drug or alcohol treatment works quite the same, and many have reported feeling a complete shift in perception after treatment is completed. The thing is, no addiction treatment (no matter how good it makes you feel afterwards) is a guarantee of permanent sobriety. Relapse can become reality if the proper steps aren’t taken after treatment is over. Addiction treatment with Ibogaine is no different. And, though its success rate is one of the highest when it comes to successfully treating addiction, there isn’t a former addict known who hasn’t faced the temptation to use once treatment is over. Getting Real About Relapse The percentage of people who will relapse after addiction treatment may come as a big surprise. Many think that initially overcoming addiction is the hard part…and that after treatment life just gets easier. This, however, is unfortunately far from the reality at hand. Some 50-90% of people who seek addiction treatment will relapse. Statistics like these don’t offer much hope to those looking to get clean and sober for good. What these statistics don’t tell you is the reasons behind these relapses. Relapse can absolutely be avoided, but it’s up to the addict themselves to take the steps necessary to increase the rate of lasting sobriety. Aftercare is something many people who relapse don’t even consider, but is something vital for sustained sobriety. Support is also something that can help someone avoid relapse. Those without support from friends or family after addiction treatment is completed have shown...
How Ibogaine Affects Serotonin and Dopamine Receptors
One of the reasons Ibogaine is so effective at helping addicts overcome addiction is the way it works on dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain. When dependent on drugs or alcohol, these “feel good” centers in the brain can become severely altered and create extreme imbalance in the mind and one’s emotional state. Ibogaine, however, has an unprecedented positive effect on these neurotransmitters and can truly help one regain the balance they’ve lost due to addiction. Understanding the Role of Dopamine and Serotonin in the Brain Dopamine Dopamine is what’s responsible for the elating feelings life is often filled with. When we feel extremely motivated, experience doing something we really enjoy, or fall in love, dopamine is playing a major role. When dopamine levels are off in the brain, we end up feeling depressed and lack the energy to do much of anything. Using drugs increases the amount of dopamine in the brain. This is why doing drugs offers such a satisfying reward. With 5-10 times the normal amount of dopamine in one’s limbic brain, motivation and exhilaration are dramatically increased. The brain quickly learns that feeling this way is a direct result of doing drugs…and addiction often quickly follows. Consistently offering the brain an increase in dopamine through the use of drugs literally creates plastic changes to the brain. It ends up desensitizing neurons and decreases the number of dopamine receptors. Cocaine and methamphetamines are directly responsible for increasing dopamine levels. Serotonin Serotonin is the other “feel good” chemical in the brain. This is one that basically helps us function and cope with daily life. It regulates...
