Addict in the Family

Addict In The Family


by Dr. Andrew Byrne

A NOTE TO THE READER

While every care has been taken to ensure that the content of this book is accurate, the author and publisher do not accept legal liability for any problems arising from the implementation of the various treatment strategies outlined therein. The high mortality amongst street heroin users means that deaths are occasionally encountered in this field. The aim of this work is to assist family members and others to ease the suffering of those affected by heroin addiction.

This work is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under copyright law, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the publisher.

ISBN 0 646 29144 0

ADDICT IN THE FAMILY
HOW TO COPE WITH THE LONG HAUL

CONTENTS

Review by Robert G. Newman, MD
Review by Jeffrey J. Kegley, MSW

Introduction: DRUGS ARE ALL AROUND US

2007 Update to Introduction

Chapter One: FINDING OUT


REALISATION OF THE FACTS
A CLASSIFICATION OF COMMON PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS
WHAT TERMS TO USE AND WHO TO TELL?
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?
DO'S AND DONTS FOR RELATIVES OF DRUG USERS

Chapter Two: BUT WHY?


REASONS FOR DRUG USE
WHO IS NOT A DRUG ADDICT?
PREVENTION: IS IT A DISEASE?
PREDISPOSITION: GENES & ENVIRONMENT
ENZYMES, TOLERANCE AND RECRUITMENT
INITIAL DRUG USE.
WHO ARE THE PUSHERS?
GATEWAY OR STEPPING-STONE MYTHS

Chapter Three: CAN'T YOU JUST GIVE UP OR SOMETHING?


DEFINITION OF ADDICTION - DRUG AND SUBJECT
FORMAL PROHIBITION AND LEGAL CONSEQUENCES
PRISON CULTURE
WHAT DO HEROIN ADDICTS ACTUALLY DO?
WHY DON'T ADDICTS GIVE UP?
ADDICT CHARACTERISTICS
HARMFUL MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES OF OPIOID USE

Chapter Four: OR SOMETHING - Treatment Options


ABSTINENCE ORIENTED TREATMENTS
DETOXIFICATION
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES
ALTERNATIVES TO ABSTINENCE
METHADONE MAINTENANCE TREATMENT
BUPRENORPHINE (added April 2007)
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN COMMENCING METHADONE?
'PROBLEMS' WITH METHADONE
METHADONE: RESEARCH AND MYTHS
PRESCRIBED HEROIN AND OTHER OPIOIDS

Chapter Five: GETTING OFF METHADONE


WHEN TO BEGIN REDUCTIONS
'CO-DEPENDENCY'
HOW TO REDUCE DOSES
"PLAN B"

Chapter Six: THE LONG HAUL


THE NATURAL HISTORY OF DRUG ADDICTION
FAMOUS DRUG USERS
RESEARCH
MORTALITY IN DRUG USERS
PAINFUL DISORDERS
PSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS
HEPATITIS C (Added April 2007)
OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Chapter Seven: SELECTED CASE HISTORIES


COMMON PRESENTATION FOR TREATMENT
COMPLICATIONS, THEN ABSTINENCE
DEATH IN A PRISON CELL
TEN YEARS ON METHADONE
TWIN SISTERS WITH DRUGS IN THE BLOOD
MIDDLE CLASS ADDICT
DISASTER TO DOMESTICITY
METHADONE JUST IN CASE
SABOTAGE FROM WITHIN
THIS TIME, FOR SURE!

APPENDIX -- OTHER DRUGS:
NICOTINE/TOBACCO
CANNABIS
ALCOHOL
OTHER DRUGS: BENZODIAZEPINE TRANQUILLIZERS
AMPHETAMINE AND ECSTASY
LSD, MAGIC MUSHROOMS, PEYOTE
COCAINE

Chronology: Some facts and figures

Reading List

Glossary: Street Language and Medical Terms

References

About the Author

Order form

This book is dedicated to the many Australian heroin addicts who continue to suffer. We should endeavour to minimise the harm resulting from drug and alcohol use, especially in the young. Prohibition of drugs has failed to achieve this goal and policy changes are needed to prevent the continuing tragedy. Many authorities have adopted the 'harm minimisation' philosophy including the limited availability of certain drugs such as cannabis, methadone and even heroin. As politicians enact more enlightened legislation, there will be fewer overdoses, less viral disease transmission, crime and other untoward consequences of illicit drug use.

Thanks are due to Rosemary Blayney, Bill Brooks, Allan Gill and Anne Love who all assisted in the preparation of this work. My father, John Justinian Byrne, has been the guiding light for most of the medical principles espoused in this small book. He still runs the 'family practice' started by his father, James Michael Byrne, at Ramsgate on Sydney's Botany Bay.

Other works by Dr. Byrne:

"Methadone in the Treatment of Narcotic Addiction"
A guide for those involved in prescribing methadone.

Available from Tosca Press

Published by Tosca Press,
75 Redfern Street, Redfern, NSW, Australia, 2016
Telephone 61 2 9319 5524 Facsimile 61 2 9318 0631
© Andrew James Byrne 1996

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Dr. Andrew J. Byrne received the prestigious Marie Award at the 2006 national conference of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence.
For more information about pain management and opiate pain medication, check out ManagingChronicPain.org.