Addiction Recovery Strategies
You cannot do this alone.... seek assistance.
I've labelled this section "recovery strategies" because strategies may be the only course of effective action for someone who abuses or is dependant on drugs.
Generally speaking, substance abuse is described:
- continuing to use even when causing obvious work or personal issues at the time
- cognitive and behavoural activities are obviously adversely affected
- drinking or drug usage when it puts the user or others at risk
- usage over time, (daily, weekly, monthly) resulting in life issue problems
- Substance dependence is generally described:
- unsuccessful attempts to cut back or reduce or give up use
- continuing to use alcohol and drugs when when serious consequences apply
- upping the use of alcohol or drugs... needing more and more to get the same effect, your tolerance is either psychologically or physically dependant
- your income or time is dominated by acquiring drugs
- you are allowing your relationships (home and work) to suffer badly because of drugs or alcohol
Alcohol and drug abuse or dependence can be facilitated by circumstances: stress, family behavours or genetics which usually provide a fertile ground for the necessity for the user to feel good or better about things going on in their lives.
Drugs are fantastic pacifiers and people who need to satisfy and calm anxieties will be quickly drawn to these ways of self-medicating. Society provides an enormous variety of ways for humans to enable self-soothing. Drugs and alcohol are quick and efficient but ultimately ineffective. Overuse of drugs and alcohol turn humans into slaves, relying less and less on helping themselves to alleviate anxieties in a productive and rewarding manner.
Drugs and names
Offical name |
Street names |
| amphetamine |
Speed, whiz, uppers, goey, louee |
| dexamphetamine |
(ADHD medication used illicitly) Kidi-speed, whiz, uppers, dexies, pep pills |
| phentermine |
(Illegally imported weight loss medication used illicitly)
Adipex-p or fastin |
| methylamphetamine (solid) |
Meth, speed, whiz, fast, uppers, goey, louee, rabbit, tail, pep pills, base, pure, point or wax. |
| methylamphetamine (liquid) |
Leopard's blood, ox blood, red speed or liquid red |
| crystal methylamphetamine |
Ice, meth, d-meth, glass, crystal, batu, shabu (from the Philippines) |
| paramethoxyamphetamine |
Death, PMA, PMMA (often mixed with or marketed as ecstasy, all are known to be fatal) |
| hallucinogens |
acid, trips, blotters, mellow tabs |
| Heroin |
Smack, skag, hammer, H, horse, rock, white, slow, Harry cone, China white (from codeine) "homebake" |
Philip Johnson : BCHC :
MCAPA ID. 3219 :
PACFA Reg. 20611