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DESCRIPTION
Drug dependence is a compulsive and destructive use of mood altering and perception-altering substances despite adverse medical, psychological and social consequences. These substances can affect the central nervous system, liver, kidneys, and blood. Some abused drugs are legal substances such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, amphetamines and pain-killers. Illegal substances include marijuana, cocaine, crack, heroin, LSD, PCP (angel dust), and volatile substances, such as glue, solvents and paints.
MoonDragon's Health Information: Teratogens List
In pregnancy, the continued use of these substances can cause mild to major problems for the mother and for the unborn child.
STATISTICS ON DRUG USE DURING PREGNANCY
More than 5 percent of the 4 million women who gave birth in the United States in 1992 used illegal drugs while they were pregnant, according to the first nationally representative survey of drug use among pregnant women. The NIDA-sponsored survey provides the best estimates to date of the number of women who use drugs during pregnancy, their demographic characteristics, and their patterns of drug use. Information from NIDA's National Pregnancy and Health Survey can help to guide public health policymakers who have to make decisions about prevention and treatment programs aimed at reducing the problem of drug abuse during pregnancy, said NIDA Director Dr. Alan I. Leshner.
Dr. Leshner reported the survey's findings at a press briefing held during NIDA's conference on Drug Addiction Research and the Health of Women. The survey gathered self-report data from a national sample of 2,613 women who delivered babies in 52 urban and rural hospitals during 1992. Based on these data, an estimated 221,000 women who gave birth in 1992 used illicit drugs while they were pregnant.
Marijuana and cocaine were the most frequently used illicit drugs 2.9 percent, or 119,000 women, used marijuana and another 1.1 percent, or 45,000 women, used cocaine at some time during their pregnancy. The survey found that an estimated 113,000 white women, 75,000 African-American women, and 28,000 Hispanic women used illicit drugs during pregnancy.
The survey found a high incidence of cigarette and alcohol use among pregnant women. At some point during their pregnancy, 20.4 percent, or 820,000, pregnant women smoked cigarettes and 18.8 percent, or 757,000, drank alcohol.
Practitioners know for certain that these "legal" substances affect the health of the fetus and a woman during and after pregnancy, said Dr. Loretta D. Finnegan, NIDA's former senior advisor on women's issues. Health care practitioners should ask women about their use of cigarettes and alcohol during prenatal checkups and educate them about the health risks of licit drugs, said Dr. Finnegan, who now directs the Women's Health Initiative at the National Institutes of Health.
The survey also uncovered a strong link between cigarette smoking and alcohol use and the use of illicit drugs in this population. Among those women who used both cigarettes and alcohol, 20.4 percent also used marijuana and 9.5 percent took cocaine. Conversely, of those women who said they had not used cigarettes or alcohol, only 0.2 percent smoked marijuana and 0.1 percent used cocaine. This finding reinforces the need for health practitioners to monitor the status of both licit and illicit drug use during pregnancy, said Dr. Leshner.
Besides providing the first national estimates of drug use during pregnancy, the survey also examined differences in the amount and types of drugs used by several racial and ethnic groups of women. Overall, 11.3 percent of African-American women, 4.4 percent of white women, and 4.5 percent of Hispanic women used illicit drugs while pregnant. While African Americans had higher rates of drug use, in terms of actual numbers of users, most women who took drugs while they were pregnant were white. The survey found that an estimated 113,000 white women, 75,000 African-American women, and 28,000 Hispanic women used illicit drugs during pregnancy.
The survey also described different patterns of licit and illicit drug use among white women and ethnic minorities. African-American women had the highest rates of cocaine use, mainly crack, during pregnancy. About 4.5 percent of African-American women used cocaine compared with 0.4 percent of white women and 0.7 percent of Hispanic women who did so. White women had the highest rates of alcohol and cigarette use. Nearly 23 percent of white women drank alcohol and 24.4 percent smoked cigarettes. By comparison, 15.8 percent of African-American women and 8.7 percent of Hispanic women drank alcohol and 19.8 percent of African-American women and 5.8 percent of Hispanic women smoked cigarettes. These findings point to the importance of attending to cultural issues in drug abuse prevention and treatment efforts, said Dr. Finnegan.
Although women who used drugs during pregnancy generally decreased their rates of drug use throughout their pregnancy, they did not discontinue drug use, Dr. Leshner noted. This finding indicates how gripping an illness drug addiction can be, even in the face of what may seem to be the ultimate incentive to stay drug free, Dr. Leshner said. Nevertheless, it is a disease that can be treated and managed with appropriate interventions, he stressed.
With the information the survey provides about the patterns of drug use by women during pregnancy, practitioners will be better able to identify priorities we must address, said Dr. Finnegan. This will enable researchers to develop and test more effective approaches to the differential drug abuse treatment and prevention needs of women of childbearing age, she concluded.
Information obtained from Figures and Data ON Drug Use During Pregnancy by Robert Mathias, NIDA - The National Institute on Drug Abuse
FREQUENT SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Signs and symptoms depend on the substance of abuse. Most produce:
- A temporary, pleasant mood.
- Relief from anxiety.
- False feelings of self-confidence.
- Increased sensitivity to sight and sounds (including hallucinations).
- Altered activity levels (such as stupor and sleep-like states or hyperactivity).
- Unpleasant or painful symptoms when the abused substance is withdrawn.
CAUSES
Substances of abuse may produce addiction (a physiological need) or dependence (a psychological need). Some people seem to be more susceptible to dependency than others.
People take drugs for many reasons: peer pressure, relief of stress, increased energy, to relax, to relieve pain, to escape reality, to feel more self-esteem, and for recreation. They may take stimulants to keep alert, or cocaine for the feeling of excitement it produces. Athletes and bodybuilders may take anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass.
RISK INCREASES WITH
Women can have special risk factors for drug abuse. Women can become addicted quickly to certain drugs, such as crack cocaine. Therefore, by the time they seek help, their addiction may be difficult to treat. Women who use drugs often suffer from other serious health problems, sexually transmitted diseases, and mental health problems, such as depression. Many women who use drugs have had troubled lives. Studies have found that at least 70 percent of women drug users have been sexually abused by the age of sixteen. Most of these women had at least one parent who abused alcohol or drugs. Women who use drugs tend to have low self-esteem, little self-confidence, and feel powerless. They often feel lonely and are isolated from support networks. Women from certain cultural backgrounds or who have difficulty with the English language may not know how to find help for their addiction. Drug use is a serious health problem for many reasons. Women who use drugs risk becoming infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The virus can be spread through needles used to inject drugs. Therefore, women who inject drugs and share needles are especially at risk. The AIDS virus is also spread through sexual contact; women who have sex with men who inject drugs are at great risk. Today, almost 70 percent of AIDS cases in women are related to either injecting drugs or having sex with a man who injects drugs. AIDS is now the fourth leading cause of death among women. A mother who uses drugs risks her life and her baby's. When a pregnant woman uses drugs, she and her unborn child face serious health problems. During pregnancy, the drugs used by the mother can enter the baby's bloodstream. The most serious effects on the baby can be HIV infection, AIDS, prematurity, low birth weight, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, small head size, stunted growth, poor motor skills, and behavior problems. A mother's continuing drug use puts her children at risk for neglect, physical abuse, and malnutrition. However, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) research shows that care and treatment for the pregnant drug abuser can reduce many of the negative effects on the baby.
RISK FACTORS FOR DRUG ADDICTION & DEPENDENCY
The type, frequency and the method of use of certain drugs, e.g., cocaine. Different drugs have different dependency/addiction risks.
Illness requiring prescription pain relievers or tranquilizers.
Family history of drug abuse.
Genetic factors (possibly). Some persons may be more susceptible to addiction.
Excess alcohol consumption.
Fatigue or overwork.
Poverty.
Psychological problems, including depression, dependency or poor self-esteem.
Peer pressure.
HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG ABUSE
Mother
- Poor Nutrition
- High Blood Pressure
- Rapid Heart Beat
- Low Weight Gain
- Low Self Esteem
- Pre-term Labor
- Sexually Transmitted Disease
- Early Delivery
- HIV/AIDS
- Depression
- Physical Abuse
Baby
- Prematurity
- Low Birth Weight
- Infections
- Small Head Size
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- Birth Defects
- Stunted Growth
- Poor Motor Skills
- HIV/AIDS
- Learning Disabilities
- Neurological Problems
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Don't socialize with persons who use and abuse drugs.
Seek counseling for mental health problems, such as depression or chronic anxiety, before they lead to drug problems.
Develop wholesome interests and leisure activities.
After surgery, illness or injury, discontinue the use of prescription pain relievers and tranquilizers as soon as possible. Don't use more than you need.
EXPECTED OUTCOME
Strong motivation, good medical care and support from family and friends offer the best chance for improved maternal and infant outcome.
Drug use and abuse by a pregnant woman may be considered "high risk" and would not usually be suitable for a homebirth due to the possibility of severe complications associated with both the mother and the baby.
ILLEGAL DRUG USE AND PREGNANCY
Pregnant women who use drugs such as heroin, cocaine, marijuana, PCP, methadone, and/or amphetamines may give birth to drug-addicted babies. Many of these babies experience withdrawal symptoms known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Symptoms of NAS may include:
- Tremors.
- Increased sensitivity to noise or other stimuli.
- Feeding problems.
- Poor coordination.
- Excessive crying and/or irritability.
THE RISKS - ILLEGAL DRUG USE DURING PREGNANCY
The effects of illegal drugs, such as cocaine, can be devastating on a fetus. Unfortunately, many women of childbearing age in the US use some form of illegal drug.
A mother taking illegal drugs during pregnancy increases her risk for anemia, blood and heart infections, skin infections, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases. She also is at greater risk for sexually transmitted diseases. Almost every drug passes from the mother's bloodstream through the placenta to the fetus. Illicit substances that cause drug dependence and addiction in the mother also cause the fetus to become addicted.
A laboratory test, called a chromatography, performed on a woman's urine can detect many illegal drugs, including marijuana and cocaine. Both marijuana and cocaine, as well as other illegal drugs, can cross the placenta. Marijuana use during pregnancy may be linked to behavioral problems in the baby. Cocaine use can lead to premature delivery of the fetus, premature detachment of the placenta, high blood pressure, stillbirth. Infants born to cocaine-using mothers may have an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The effects of cocaine on the fetus may include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Growth defects.
- Intestinal abnormalities.
- Hyperactivity.
- Uncontrollable trembling.
- Learning problems.
Heroin and other opiates, including methadone, can cause significant withdrawal in the baby, with some symptoms lasting as long as four to six months. Seizures may also occur and are more likely in babies born to methadone users.
If a woman stops taking illegal drugs during her first trimester, she increases her chances of having a healthy baby.
SEEKING TREATMENT FOR DRUG PROBLEMS
Many women with drug problems are afraid to seek treatment. Studies have found that more than 4 million women need treatment for drug abuse. Unfortunately, there are many important reasons why women do not seek help. Some women may not be able to find child care. Or they fear that the authorities may take away their children. Some women fear they will be punished if they admit their drug addiction. Many women fear violence from their husbands, boyfriends, or partners. Friends and family can help relieve these fears for the woman who uses drugs. They can support her by helping her find good drug abuse treatment and by providing child care and transportation. Women can get help for their drug addiction.
It is hard to beat drug addiction. But the woman who uses drugs can get better with the right kind of treatment -- even if she has tried to quit before and failed. Treatment is available, often close to home. The first step is to find out what kind of treatment a woman needs and where she can get it. For a referral to a local treatment program, call the free National Drug Information Treatment and Referral Line, at 1-800-662-HELP or 1-800-66-AYUDA. Women who get treatment can rebuild their lives.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
MATERNAL:
Sexually transmitted diseases, which are more frequent among addicts.
Severe infections, such as endocarditis (infection of the heart).
Hepatitis, HIV or blood poisoning from intravenous injections with non-sterile needles.
Malnutrition caused by poor appetite.
Accidental injury to oneself or others while in a drug-induced state.
Loss of job or family.
Irreversible damage to body organs.
Death caused by overdose.
PREGNANCY:
Preeclampsia-Eclampsia (Toxemia of Pregnancy).
Abruptio placenta.
Premature rupture of membranes.
- Premature Rupture of Membranes (PROM)
- Pre-labor Rupture of Membranes, Pre-Term Guidelines
- Pre-labor Rupture of Membranes At Term Guidelines
- Prolonged Rupture of Membranes Guidelines
- Newborn Care For Prolonged (PROROM) or Premature (PROM) Rupture of Membranes
Pre-term delivery.
FOR THE FETUS OR NEWBORN:
Intrauterine growth retardation.
Congenital abnormalities (birth defects)
Medical problems in a newborn, including withdrawal syndromes to the drug, death of the fetus, stillbirth or infant death shortly after birth.
TREATMENT
According to standard medial protocol, drug addiction during pregnancy has been managed in two ways: the detoxification program and the methadone-maintenance treatment program. In the detoxification program, there have been few complications for the mother and child except for low birth weight, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and an increase in breech presentation. The methadone-maintenance treatment program at this time is the most satisfactory approach to the treatment of heroin addiction. The complications of pregnancy in this program are similar to those of the average obstetric population. Low birth weight at term is still frequent for those on methadone maintenance. The problem of multiple drug abuse, including heroin, cocaine, alcohol, tranquilizers, and amphetamines, requires more attention. The characteristics of the withdrawal syndrome and its treatment in infants are described. Excessive weight loss and irritability are common in these infants. Of the many drugs available for the treatment of the newborn withdrawal syndrome, diazepam is currently favored. The long-term effects of intrauterine drug exposure, the withdrawal syndrome, and treatment are generally unknown. Schedules for management of adult narcotic, alcohol, and barbiturate abuse and newborn narcotic withdrawal are suggested.
TYPES OF ABUSED SUBSTANCES
There are many levels of substance abuse and many kinds of drugs, some of them readily accepted by society.
LEGAL DRUG SUBSTANCES: Legal substances, approved by law for sale over the counter or by a health provider's prescription, include caffeine, alcoholic beverages (see alcoholism), nicotine (see smoking), and inhalants (nail polish, glue, inhalers, gasoline). Prescription drugs such as tranquilizers, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, steroids, and analgesics can be knowingly or unknowingly over prescribed or otherwise used improperly. In many cases, new drugs prescribed in good conscience by health care providers turn out to be a problem later. For example, diazepam (Valium) was widely prescribed in the 1960s and 70s before its potential for serious addiction was realized. In the 1990s, sales of fluoxetine (Prozac) helped create a $3 billion antidepressant market in the United States, leading many people to criticize what they saw as the creation of a legal drug culture that discouraged people from learning other ways to deal with their problems. Prescription drugs are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
ILLEGAL DRUG SUBSTANCES: Prescription drugs are considered illegal when diverted from proper use. Some people shop until they find a health care provider who freely writes prescriptions; supplies are sometimes stolen from laboratories, clinics, or hospitals. Morphine, a strictly controlled opiate, and synthetic opiates, such as fentanyl, are most often abused by people in the medical professions, who have easier access to these drugs. Other illegal substances include cocaine and crack, marijuana and hashish, heroin, hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD, PCP (phencycline or "angel dust"), "designer drugs" such as MDMA (Ecstasy), and "party drugs" such as GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate).
GENERAL MEASURES
Acknowledge that you have a problem and seek professional help.
Advise your midwife or health care provider about what drugs are used, frequency of use, how the drug was administered, when it was last used, any history of withdrawals or overdose. NOTE: Please be honest with your midwife or health care provider. Withholding information about drug usage and frequency can cause problems with you and your baby during your pregnancy and at the time of your delivery. Setting up proper prenatal care guidelines and preparations must be made accordingly to provide the best of care for you and your baby.
Appropriate laboratory tests will be obtained and prenatal tests will be performed to determine fetal well-being.
Be open and honest with your family and close friends, as ask for their help. Avoid friends who tempt you to resume your habit.
Treatment will involve a coordination of medical, social, nutritional and psychological help with long-term follow-up.
Depending on the specific drug(s) of abuse, outpatient or inpatient withdrawal treatment may be indicated.
Join self-help groups.
EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE: The effects of substance abuse can be felt on many levels: on the individual, on friends and family, and on society.
On the Individual: People who use drugs experience a wide array of physical effects other than those expected. The excitement of a cocaine high, for instance, is followed by a "crash": a period of anxiety, fatigue, depression, and an acute desire for more cocaine to alleviate the feelings of the crash. Marijuana and alcohol interfere with motor control and are factors in many automobile accidents. Users of marijuana and hallucinogenic drugs may experience flashbacks, unwanted recurrences of the drug's effects weeks or months after use. Sudden abstinence from certain drugs results in withdrawal symptoms. For example, heroin withdrawal can cause vomiting, muscle cramps, convulsions, and delirium. With the continued use of a physically addictive drug, tolerance develops; i.e., constantly increasing amounts of the drug are needed to duplicate the initial effect. Sharing hypodermic needles used to inject some drugs dramatically increases the risk of contracting AIDS and some types of hepatitis. In addition, increased sexual activity among drug users, both in prostitution and from the disinhibiting effect of some drugs, also puts them at a higher risk of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Because the purity and dosage of illegal drugs are uncontrolled, drug overdose is a constant risk. There are over 10,000 deaths directly attributable to drug use in the United States every year; the substances most frequently involved are cocaine, heroin, and morphine, often combined with alcohol or other drugs. Many drug users engage in criminal activity, such as burglary and prostitution, to raise the money to buy drugs, and some drugs, especially alcohol, are associated with violent behavior.
Effects on the Family: The user's preoccupation with the substance, plus its effects on mood and performance, can lead to marital problems and poor work performance or dismissal. Drug use can disrupt family life and create destructive patterns of co-dependency, that is, the spouse or whole family, out of love or fear of consequences, inadvertently enables the user to continue using drugs by covering up, supplying money, or denying there is a problem. Pregnant drug users, because of the drugs themselves or poor self-care in general, bear a much higher rate of low birth-weight babies than the average. Many drugs (e.g., crack and heroin) cross the placental barrier, resulting in addicted babies who go through withdrawal soon after birth, and fetal alcohol syndrome can affect children of mothers who consume alcohol during pregnancy. Pregnant women who acquire the AIDS virus through intravenous drug use pass the virus to their infant.
Effects on Society: Drug abuse affects society in many ways. In the workplace it is costly in terms of lost work time and inefficiency. Drug users are more likely than nonusers to have occupational accidents, endangering themselves and those around them. Over half of the highway deaths in the United States involve alcohol. Drug-related crime can disrupt neighborhoods due to violence among drug dealers, threats to residents, and the crimes of the addicts themselves. In some neighborhoods, younger children are recruited as lookouts and helpers because of the lighter sentences given to juvenile offenders, and guns have become commonplace among children and adolescents. The great majority of homeless people have either a drug or alcohol problem or a mental illness, many have all three.
The federal government budgeted $17.9 billion on drug control in 1999 for interdiction, prosecution, international law enforcement, prisons, treatment, prevention, and related items. In 1998, drug-related health care costs in the United States came to more than $9.9 billion.
Additional information is available from: Cocaine Abuse Hotline
1 (800) COCAINE
Do It Now Foundation
6423 S. Ash Ave.
Tempe, AZ 85283
(602) 257-0797
Drug Abuse Clearinghouse
11426 Rockville Pike, Suite 200
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 443-6500
FURTHER INFORMATION & EDUCATION
Crack Mothers: Pregnancy, Drugs, and the Media - Beginning in the late 1980s, the crack mother scare led to an unprecedented alliance between doctors and prosecutors, where health care providers turned in addicted low-income minority pregnant women to the police for arrest, trial, and incarceration. While middle class white women weren't treated in the same manner. The instant addiction of crack cocaine and its threat to the health of women and infants were exaggerated by the media and used to justify harsher social agendas regarding women and minorities. The book is a well-researched examination of the severe treatment of addicted low-income minority pregnant women. An issue that has not gone away.
Crack Mothers
Pregnant Women on Drugs: Combating Stereotypes and Stigma - A book that tries to fight stereotypes of pregnant drug users as selfish and unfeeling women who don't care about their baby. It shows the extent to which many drug-using women develop the motivation to achieve their dual goals of improving their children's health and maintaining maternal custody.
Pregnant Women on Drugs
The Nature of Nurture: Biology, Environment, and the Drug-Exposed Child - Explores the biological and environmental factors that impact the ultimate development of drug-exposed children and presents practical strategies for helping children reach their full potential at home and in the classroom. The health consequences for children exposed to alcohol, cocaine, and other drugs are enormous, but the implications for behavior and learning are even greater.
The Nature of Nurture
When the Bough Breaks: Pregnancy and the Legacy of Addiction - This is a remarkable book! It deals with the problem of pregnancy and addiction in a genuinely unique way, combining poems and photographs to bring home the gravity of the issue and the way it impacts on so many women's lives.
When the Bough Breaks
MEDICATION
Methadone for narcotic abuse. This drug is a less potent narcotic used to decrease the severity of physical withdrawal symptoms. It can have undesirable side effects on the fetus.
After delivery, you baby may need to be treated for drug withdrawal and/or birth defect problems (which may include surgery, such as in the case of congenital heart defects).
ACTIVITY
Regular daily exercise is recommended and will help get you in the best physical condition for delivery. Any exercise program will need to be reviewed with your midwife or health care provider.
DIET
Eat a normal, well-balanced diet high in protein. Vitamin supplements may be necessary if you suffer from malnutrition.
Many drug users suffer from malnutrition. Because drugs rob the body of necessary nutrients, those addicted to drugs need to take high doses of supplemental nutrients.
Substances That Rob the Body of Nutrients
Different substances deplete the body of different nutrients. Use the list below to determine which supplements you may need as a result of the use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs, including alcohol and caffeine.
Substance Depleted Nutrients Allopurinol (Zyloprim) Iron. Antacids B complex vitamins; calcium; phosphate; vitamins A and D. Antibiotics, general (see also isoniazid, penicillin, sulfa drugs, and thimethoprim) B complex vitamins; vitamin K; "friendly bacteria". Antihistamines Vitamin C. Aspirin B complex vitamins; calcium; folic acid; iron; potassium; vitamins A and C. Barbiturates Vitamin C. Beta-blockers (Corgard, Inderal, Lopressor, and others) Choline; chromium; pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5). Caffeine Biotin; inositol; potassium; vitamin B-1 (thiamine); zinc. Carbamazenpine (Atretol, Tegretol) Dilutes blood solution. Chlorothiazide (Aldoclor, Diuril, and others) Magnesium; potassium. Cimetidine (Tagamet) Iron. Clonidine (Catapres, Combipres) B complex vitamins; calcium. Corticosteroids, general (see also prednisone) Calcium; potassium; vitamins A; B-6, C, and D; zinc. Digitalis preparations (Crystodigin, Digoxin, and others) Vitamins B-1 (thiamine) and B-6 (pyridoxine); zinc. Diuretics, general (see also chlorothiazide, spironolactone, thiazide diuretics, and triamterene) Calcium; iodine; magnesium; potassium; vitamins B-2 (riboflavin) and C; zinc. Estrogen preparations Folic acid; vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine). Ethanol (alcohol) B complex vitamins; magnesium; vitamins C, D, E, and K. Fluoride Vitamin C. Glutethimide (Doriden) Folic acid; vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine). Hydralazine (Apresazide, Apresoline, and others) Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine). Indomethacin (Indocin) Iron. Isoniazid (INH and others) Vitamins B-3 (niacin) and B-6 (pyridoxine). Laxatives (excluding herbs) Potassium; vitamins A and K. Lidocaine (Xylocaine) Calcium; potassium. Nitrate/Nitrite coronary vasodilators Niacin; pangamic acid, selenium; vitamins C and E. Oral contraceptives B complex vitamins; vitamin C, D, and E. Penicillin preparations Vitamin B-3 (niacin); niacinamide; vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine). Phenobarbitol preparations Folic acid; vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine); vitamin B-12; vitamins D and K. Phenylbutazone Folic acid; iodine. Phenytoin (Dilantin) Calcium; folic acid; vitamins B-12, C, D, and K. Prednisone (Deltasone and others) Potassium; vitamins B-6 and C; zinc. Quinidine preparations Choline; pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5); potassium; vitamin K Reserpine preparations Phenylalanine; potassium; vitamins B-2 (riboflavin) and B-6 (pyridoxine). Spironolactone (Aldactone and others) Calcium; folic acid. Sulfa drugs Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA); "friendly" bacteria. Synthetic neurotransmitters Magnesium; potassium; vitamin B-2 (riboflavin) and B-6 (pyridoxine). Tobacco Vitamins A, C, and E. Thiazide diuretics Magnesium; potassium; vitamin B-2- (riboflavin); zinc Triamterene (Dyrenium) Calcium; folic acid. Trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra, and others) Folic acid.
HOLISTIC RECOMMENDATIONS
Eat a nutrient-dense, well-balanced diet that includes vegetables, fruits, grains, seeds, and nuts. Eat quality protein from vegetable sources. Increase your intake of fresh raw foods.
Add high-protein drinks to the diet.
Avoid heavily processed foods, all forms of sugar, and junk food. These foods are a quick source of energy, but are followed by a low feeling that may increase cravings for drugs.
Drink at least 2 quarts of quality water every day to keep well hydrated.
Fasting is beneficial. Follow the instructions. NOTE: Do not fast during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
HERBSNOTE: Consult with your midwife or health care provider before using any herbal or nutritional supplement while pregnant or breastfeeding your baby. Information given below is a general information for drug use recovery and does not necessarily take into account that you may be pregnant or lactating.
Siberian ginseng helps those experiencing cocaine withdrawal. Caution: Do not use this herb if you have hypoglycemia, high-blood pressure, or a heart disorder.
- Siberian Ginseng Root Tincture, 2 fl. oz
- Siberian Ginseng Root Extract, Nature's Way, 485 mg, 60 Caps
Valerian root has a calming effect. Used with the amino acid tyrosine, it has been found to be helpful for those undergoing withdrawal from cocaine.
NUTRIENTSThe nutrient program outlined below is designed to help those recovering from drug addiction. Unless otherwise specified, the dosages recommended here are for adults. For a child under the age of 17, use 1/2 to 3/4 of the recommended amount.
Nutrients Supplement Suggested Dosage Comments Very Important Vitamin B complex injections
Plus
Extra vitamin B-122 cc daily or as prescribed by health care provider.
1 cc daily or as prescribed by health care provider.Needed when under stress to rebuild the liver. Injections (under a health care provider's supervision) are most effective. If injections are not available, use a sublingual form if possible. Ultimate B Complex Formula, Nature's Secret, 60 Tabs Important Calcium
And
Magnesium1,500 mg at bedtime.
1,000 mg at bedtime.Nourishes the central nervous system and helps control tremors by calming the body. Use chelate forms. Cal-Mag Pre-chelated Calcium & Magnesium, Vital Earth, 240 GelCaps Free-form amino acid complex
Plus
Extra L-glutamineAs directed on label on an empty stomach.
500 mg 3 times daily, on an empty stomach.To supply needed protein in a readily assimilable form.
Passes the blood-brain barrier to promote healthy mental functioning. Increases levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which has a calming effect. Amino 1000 Complete Complex, NOW Foods, 120 Caps, L-Glutamine Powder, 100% Pure Free Form Amino Acid, Vegetarian, NOW Foods, 1 lb.And
L-tyrosine500 mg twice daily, on an empty stomach. Take these supplements with water or juice, not milk. Take with 50 mg vitamin B-6 and 100 mg vitamin C for better absorption. Tyrosine and valerian root taken every 4 hours have given good results for cocaine withdrawal. Caution: Do not take this supplement if you are taking an MAO inhibitor drug. L-Tyrosine, Pharmaceutical Grade, Free Form, NOW Foods, 500 mg, 120 Caps Vitamin A 100,000 IU daily for 5 days, then, 50,000 IU daily for 5 days, then reduce to 25,000 IU daily.
If you are pregnant, do not exceed 10,000 IU daily.Strengthens cell walls to protect against invasion by bacteria and promote tissue repair. Essential to the immune system. Use an emulsion form for easier assimilation and greater safety at high doses. Vitamin A, 10,000 IU, 100% Natural, Nature's Way, 100 Softgels Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) As directed on label, on an empty stomach. Acts as a relaxant and lessens cravings. GABA. Pharmaceutical Grade Gamma Aminobutyric Acid, 250 mg, 90 Tabs Glutathione As directed on label. Aids in detoxifying drugs to reduce their harmful effects. Also reduces the desire for drugs or alcohol. L-Glutathione, 250 mg, 60 Caps Lithium As prescribed by a health care provider. A trace mineral that aids in relieving depression. Available by prescription only. L-Phenylalanine 1,500 mg daily, taken upon arising. Necessary as a brain fuel. Use for withdrawal symptoms. Caution: Do not take this supplement if you are pregnant or nursing, or suffer from panic attacks, diabetes, high blood pressure, or PKU. L-Phenylalanine, Free Form, NOW Foods, 500 mg, 60 Caps Pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5) 500 mg 3 times daily. Essential for the adrenal glands and for reducing stress. Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B-5), 100% Natural, Nature's Way, 250 mg, 100 Caps Vitamin C 2,000 mg every 3 hours. Detoxifies the system and lessens the craving for drugs. Use a buffered form such as sodium ascorbate. Intravenous administration (under a health care provider's supervision) may be necessary. Enhances immune function. Ester C with Bioflavonoids, 100% Natural Calcium Ascorbate, Nature's Way, 1,000 mg, 90 Tabs, Vitamin C Liquid, with Rose Hips and Bioflavonoids, Kosher, Natural Citrus Flavor, 1,000 mg, 16 fl. oz., Dynamic Health Helpful Multivitamin & mineral complex As directed on label. All nutrients are needed in high amounts for healing. Use a high-potency formula. Completia Prenatal Multi-Vitamin, Nature's Way, 180 Tabs, Prenatal Multi Vitamin & Mineral, 100% Natural & Complete, Nature's Way, 180 Caps, Alive! Whole Food Energizer Multi Vitamin & Mineral w/Naturally Occurring Iron (No Iron Added), Nature's Way, 180 Tabs, Ultimate Matrix, Women's Multi Vitamin & Mineral, 90 Tabs Niacinamide 500 mg 3 times daily. Important for brain function. Caution: Do not substitute niacin for niacinamide. Niacin should not be taken in such high doses. Niacinamide, Non-Flushing Niacin, 100% Natural Vitamin B-3, Nature's Way, 500 mg, 100 Caps
NOTIFY YOUR MIDWIFE OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IF...
You or a family member abuse or addicted to drugs and wants help.
New, unexplained symptoms develop. Drugs used in treatment may produce side effects.
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