a question about crack.....am confused
 

I do not mean to sound ignorant but I would appreciate feedback on a few questions...........
1. Is crack considered an opiate?
2. Is there medication to lessen cravings for crack?
3. Is there a certain type of doctor who would suggest this or at least counsel you?
4. Are there any doctors that are specialists in addiction and how would you find them if you live in a very small town?
Thank you in advance for any information feedback. my thanks, dixie

No crack is not an opiate. (On the drug test Opiates are separate from cocaine or crack) Opiates are painkillers, herion, hmm....that's all I know.
No meds to get off crack (that I am aware of), however a huge bag of candy helps. And some tylenol PM's so they can sleep.
Not sure what you mean about doctors. Any MD should be able to refer you to the proper person, whether psychiatric or addiction therapists.
NA is the best place for someone needing help. They are everywhere, just do a search for a meeting in your area.
Hope this has been helpful.
Love, SM

Jewel just did a post today about a new drug to help with crack addiction although the cost of the drug is out of this world. it starts with a P look on the first page for a thread started by jewel. A dr that could help with addiction I believe is called an addictionologist and they specialize in treating people with addictions. Should be able to ask your MD if they are aware of any in the area or look in the yellow pages and u can get a referral to go see this Dr. Good luck with everything.

Dixied , it seems that Prometa may help with crack addiction but its in the early stages and the complete data isnt back yet. The cost for treatment for crack is $15000. but the man also said that abf might qualify for a sliding scale. I dont know much about it I learned about Prometa through SR. When I find out more I will let you know.

Jewel

A large bag of candy and a box of tylenol PM's is way cheaper and does the same thing. IMHO

On Oprah today the one man that was addicted to crack is in some experimental treatment with a drug that they hope will show promise in reducing the cravings. The doctor on the show showed his brain activity when craving. Almost his whole brain was lit up with red showing activity. It was like his brain was screaming for the drug. They showed his brain during normal stimuli and it showed almost no red. They are trying to find drugs that will target those areas. Marle

We are all desperately searching for a miracle cure. There is no such thing yet...and we shouldn't be getting people's hopes up for something that may or may not work. I'm desperately waiting for the cure to nicotine addiction, but with the tobacco lobbyists, will probably never happen.
However, if you have a crack addict that really wants help...a large bag of candy and a box of tylenol PM's will do it. Honest!
Key is they have to want help. If they don't want "out", nothing will work.

this is an interesting post and i pray that if they don't have a cure that they hurry up and find one cause i believe that unless the doctors are recovering addicts themselves, they can only do the clinical part of addiction, i just don't know how anybody could know the power of addiction until they have actually been addicted. even though anvil do a really good job in putting her experience into words, still, its so hard to describe and a non user still probably cant come close to imagining what its like, so i do pray that they find something soon, but my concern would be how addictive would this drug be. this would be a money maker it they can pass it off.

i'm with the old way of doing things, but whatever works will be good but still only if the addict choose to want it and commit to working at it.

The doctor did say that the medication is only one tool for the addict. It is in no way meant to be a cure. But if the cravings can be reduced so that the addict can work on the other problems and really want to get help, then it can used in conjunction with other programs. I do understand that the key in any recovery is the willingness of the addict to get help. But maybe the drugs can help to prevent relapses. That in itself would be wonderful. Kind of like suboxone and methadone for opiate addicts. Although they are controversial, many addicts have been helped. Marle

I agree with you Marle, like I just said, unfortunately not everyone is me, not everyone just stops.... Some wait till they die instead. If they can save some lives then good for them.. If it could have saved some of the lives I've seen lost, then who am I to care what gets the user to stop smoking crack, meth, etc...

I agree with secret mom a bag of hard candy, or blow pops can be a big assistance. Also a gallon of oj helps get your bodies vitamin levels back in tact and beats a bit of the day after yuckys

Oh how I only wish there was something...we did go to the Dr here for this drug that I read helped with the cravings for crack...now I am not to sure how to spell it but it was something like Serequel...Dr told me he will precribe it but if he is not wanting to stop it was going to be of no use.

Well we got it, he took it and it made him sleepy...he fell asleep on the couch snoring so loud I thought the roof was going to come down, but he was sleeping so I dozed off thinking this was going to be a peacefull night...NOT...3hrs later he was rolling me for the bank card.

I watch the show today as well, it so went to show just how addiction is with them for the rest of their life....a recovering addict for 7years had a trigger on the show, something he said has not hit him so hard as this did...he was watching an addict inject and he said he could taste the drug after seeing this...

Rose