No one can live without any sleep . Two thirds of the population sleep an average of 7 ½ hrs per day. Some require more or less sleep. How much sleep we need depends on.
Genetics
Our overall state of health
Whether we are ill as sleep aids recovery from illness by actively suppressing infection.
As well when we are ill we sleep more
Age; as you grow older you generally need less sleep

What About Too Little Sleep:

Too little sleep causes a lack of concentration and poor judgment
We risk accidental injury especially when driving or operating machinery
Decision making is impaired
We make more frequent mistakes
Irritability increases
Memory loss increases
Depression and Stress are increased
The immune system is weakened as fewer white blood cells are produced
We are more at risk to infections and the recovery time from infections or injury is increased

How Alcohol Affects Sleep

Generally alcohol taken near bedtime reduces the time required to fall asleep . However this effect is short lived as sleep is disrupted and return to sleep is difficult. Periods of wakefulness and light sleeping often occur after this disruption. The adverse effects of sleep deprivation are increased following alcohol consumption increasing the danger that sleepiness and alcohol consumption may co-occur.

Among Alcoholics the effects on sleep are:

Increased time required and more difficulty in getting to sleep
Frequent awakening after getting to sleep
Poor overall Sleep quality

Recovery and Relapse with Alcohol

Even after years of abstinence sleep patterns may never return to normal
It is common for periods of wakefulness to occur making sleep less restorative
Daytime fatigue is common

Sleep and Cocaine
After continued use the euphoric effect of cocaine is replaced by
Restlessness
Extreme excitability
Insomnia
Paranoia
As if this were not enough severe confusion resulting from exhaustion due to lack of sleep impairs judgment and makes continued use a risk. Obviously the above symptoms are increased by the level of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as the length of the drug addiciton. One of the major goals of going to a drug rehab is to allow the establishment of a normal sleep pattern. This is absolutely essential to relapse prevention and continued sobriety.

Leading experts in relapse prevention found relapse is not generally triggered by physical cravings, even in the case of substance addictions such as to drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. Social pressures and interpersonal conflicts are one of several major causes of relapse. (Groups and individuals in our lives) The groups we associate with have a powerful social influence. The Berkeley Alcohol Research Group tracked Americansâ?? drinking problems for two decades and found the best predictor of whether you will have a drinking problem is how many drinking problems those in the groups you drink with have. Recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of the groups you associate with, will help you to identify influences and supports in your life.

One way to identify and create worthwhile relationships is to think about whether the friend(s) or the particular person(s) you are attracted to is worthwhile or not and why are you attracted to them. Questions to ask about your friend(s) or a mate are:

Do they display traits I admire, and enjoy, and would want to emulate?

Do they have good relationships and treat me and other people well?

Are they in control of themselves? Are they addicted to chemicals, love or fantasies?

Do they get real rewards in life? Do they have a positive impact on the world?

People who are positively involved with their families and coworkers and communities, are less likely to become addicted and more likely to get over addiction. Deal effectively with other people, so you can respond appropriately to the needs of others and have your own needs met. End relationships that have serious negative consequences for your health and your life goals. Addiction narrows life to a preoccupation with oneself and oneâ??s own needs. You now need to bring yourself back into contact with others in constructive, mutual ways. Rebuild or learn and practice positive social relationship behaviors. Develop concerns in life outside yourself - political, environmental, community and helping others.

There are several substances that increase stress and the anger response. Alcohol is the most dangerous legal drug available. Drinking one or two drinks will bring on euphoria and general good feelings. Drinking more leads to the second stage characterized by depression, fatigue, nausea and general bad feelings. Alcoholic hangovers are a major source of irritability which can lead to rage and physical aggression.

72% of male batterers are abusing alcohol or drugs (1.) Nicotine and caffeine increase insulin secretion which causes swings in blood levels, resulting in irritable mood. Many times guilt over alcohol and drug abuse leads to anger outbursts in different ways.

Defending against guilt
A woman points out to her husband that he spends so much time drinking that he is a stranger to their children. He defends himself with the anger trigger thought that his wife has turned his children into self-indulgent brats. â??The whole house is a pigpen. You let them wreck it, you live with it!â??

There are even instances where people use anger to defend against the helplessness of drug addiction:

“Timâ??s” family have given him an ultimatum. He has to go to a drug rehab center and address his addiction problems or they are not going to let him live at home anymore or give him anymore money. The drug life seems familiar and safe. He is afraid he canâ??t change and yet he does not want to lose his family. Tim defends against his feeling of helplessness with the anger trigger thought that his family just want to get rid of him. They donâ??t really care about him and donâ??t understand.

Anger and drug abuse mix on both a physiologic and a pyschological level.

1.)Pg. 125 â?? 126, â?? When Anger Hurts, Quieting the Storm Within,â?? Matthew McKay, Ph.D., Peter D. Rogers, Ph.D., Judith McKay, R.N., New Harbinger Publications, Inc., Oakland California, 1989

The physical toll of many of the common street drugs is quite well known.Heroin is not particularly harmful to the body except if overdosed. Then it is frequently fatal. The harm to the body comes from the method of using and long term or frequent use. Heroin for example destroys appetite, disrupts a womanâ??s menstrual cycle, and weakens the immune system, reducing the ability to fight off infection. Injecting street heroin with the impurities it contains and with unsterile injecting equipment is dangerous. Vein damage can be extensive, with abscess formation and thromboses. Can lead to gangrene and amputation. Infection can also be spread through the blood to other parts of the body including the heart, bone and brain. By sharing injecting equipment or through prostitution, injecting heroin users are prone to serious liver disease known as hepatitis C ( and to a lesser extent hepatitis B) and HIV (AIDS).

Long-term heroin addiction either contributes directly to lowered oral health status, or more likely, causes individuals to lead a life style which has ramifications to their oral health. Extensive damage to periodontal tissue and extensive tooth decay is often present. The direct effects on physical health of drugs and alcohol are compounded by effects of the lifestyle.

• Lack of regular sleep
• Lack of adequate diet
• Lack of regular exercise
• Lack of quality relaxation
• Lack of health and dental care

Sleep deprivation compromises the immune system by altering the blood levels of specialized immune cells and important proteins, resulting in a greater than normal chance of infections. Without sufficient rest, emotional mood deteriorates. With increased lack of sleep, individuals experience depression, loss of sense of humour, reduced desire to socialize, increase in irritability, and become indecisive. There is reduced ability to keep attention fixed, impaired memory, loss in logical reasoning ability, increased length of reaction time. Addiction leads to a disturbance of lifestyle in which adequate nourishment is neglected. Absorption and metabolism of nutrients are also impaired.

The combination of the actual harmful effects of the drug being abused, when multiplied by the affects of sleep impairment and other life style changes, mean the actual physical effects of drug addiction are many times what might simply be expected from the drug itself. Because of this combination effect the value of drug rehabs can be seen. The fastest correction in both stopping substance abuse and changing lifestyle tends to accur best in a drug rehab situation.

The old adage that once you are and “addict” that you will always be an “addict ” may not be true. Are drug addiction and alcoholism true diseases with genetic predispositions, which mean if you have had trouble with either in the past you will always be at a higher risk than the general population? The answer surprisingly to most people seems to be no.
The research shows the longer the period of sobriety after a period of substance abuse, the lower the chance of relapse. At approximately 5 years of sobriety, the probability for relaspe are the same as the odds of anyone in the general population. If there was a real predisposition to addiction, even after extended periods of being clean and sober, the chance of relapse or developing a second addiction would have to be higher than the general population.

It would appear, that drug addiciton and alcoholism are more behavioral in nature and when treated and corrections are properly made, people can move on and lead normal fulfilling lives. This is great news as people may not have to view themselves as “branded” an alcoholic for the rest of their days. Also when looking for a drug rehab facility, one stressing cognitive behavioral therapy would likely be a better choice.

The interactions between anxiety or depression and substance abuse are complex. Substances may be used as coping mechanisms by people with mental health problems. Substance use can trigger or worsen anxiety or depression.

The US National Co-Morbidity Study reported that 29% of the general population aged 15-54 had both an alcohol and/or drug problem and a mental disorder in the past year. British Columbia data (2002) indicate that over 79% of people aged 15-64 receiving addictions treatment services are also receiving mental health services. Also 20-40% of people with mental illnesses also have been treated for an alcohol and/or another substance use disorder.
Numerous studies in different countries confirm that having either a substance use problem or another mental disorder increases the probability of having both types of problems at the same time. It would seem that most people undergoing treatment for drug addicition might also seek treatment for their mental health concerns.

We have had numerous requests for free information that people can use right away. This source has been one of the best we have found. The Problem Substance Abuse Handbook has sections on the physical effects of drug abuse as well as substance abuse withdrawl. Discussions about abstinence as well as avoiding high risk situations make this a very useful resource.

The 52 pages are very well done and can be downloaded immediately free of charge. It is simple and easy to use, and may assist someone in deciding if self-management of their addiction is possible or if admission to a drug rehab might be considered.

The link is:http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/helpmewith/psuworkbook.shtml