Narcomania

The term "narcotism" is etymologically connected with

the word 'narcotic' (from Greek narcoticus — sleeping-
draught, soporific) and is used to denote toxic substances
that, when using, can cause euphoric, soporific, analgesic or
stimulant effect. Besides, there is another viewpoint on the
problem. Narcotic is a substance that corresponds to three
criteria: medical, social, and juridical:

• medical criterion: this substance produces specific

(sedative, stimulatory, hallucinogenic) influence on
CNS;
• social criterion: the substance is used in non-medical
purpose in great quantities and the consequences of
that acquire social importance;
• Juridical criterion: the substance is recognized as a
narcotic according to the law of the country.

Narcotism is often observed with the people suffering

from some chronic ailment and to whom drugs (mainly
analgesics) are prescribed. Addiction is more often develops
with the people having constitutional personality disorder or
acquired psychopath-like changes and also having latent
forms of endogenous diseases.

There exist three stages of narcotism development:

• physical dependence;
• psychical inclination;
• Somatic pathology.

The first stage of narcotism development is

characterized by the appearance of syndrome of mental
dependence from the drug and by the reduction of its
euphoric action when administering it repeatedly. Mental
dependence is conscious or unconscious need in use
psychoactive substance to relieve psychic anxiety and to
obtain the state of psychic comfort. At this stage, when
narcotic dependence is being formed, the rise of tolerance is
watched, as well as during all period of disease; organism is
getting used to increasing dose.

The second stage is characterized by forming of physical

dependence from narcotic. Physical dependence is an
adaptive state of the organism and intensive physical
disorders prove it. As it was mentioned above the organism
becomes adopted to toxic substances, narcotic intertwines
with metabolism and cessation of drug intake at this stage
leads to different functional disorders, which are typical for
abstinence syndrome. Abstinence syndrome is a complex
of psychopathological, vegetative, neurological and somatic
disorders. Clinical presentation, terms of forming and
duration of abstinence depend upon type of substance, its
dose, the period it was in taken and functional peculiarities
of the organism. The following symptoms are typical for
abstinence syndrome (at any form of addiction): mydriatic
pupils, yawning, tremor, dyspepsia, hypertensive syndrome,
anorexia (hyperglycemia), insomnia, anxiety, agitation or
depression.

At the third stage, the stage of development of somatic

pathology, in taken drugs do not cause euphoric effect,
that's why drugs are necessary only for relieving the
abstinence syndrome. Besides psychic defects appearing as
negative emotionally-volitional disorders (apathy, asthenia,
and anergy), somatic defects (degeneration of myocardium
and parenchymal organs, atrophic changes of genitals,
changes of CNS i.e., changes in nervous cells ultra structure,
especially cerebral cortex neurons.) In hard cases of
narcotism definite changes in core apparatus of nervous
cells are observed. As a rule, systemic exhaustion is
observed. Lethal outcome are mainly the result of total
degeneration of myocardium, nephropathy, combined
infection.

Our centre suggests a number of programs for

treatment of drug addiction; it can be either hospitalization
or out-patient treatment. Ambulatory programs worked out
in our clinic, suggest care for 'chemicals' addict patients who
can't be hospitalized due to different personal
circumstances: a very busy work schedule, studies, etc.

Every patient and his/her relatives is given detailed

information about the methods used for treatment and
rehabilitation in clinic "Polinar". Immediately after
addressing to the clinic, the patient is examined by
experienced doctors, express-analysis is made to discover
the contents of narcotic substances in blood; the patient is
diagnosed

The doctors render assistance in choosing optimal

treatment programmed for every patient, taking into
account the patient's physical state and financial position. By
the patient's or the the patient can be hospitalized (two-
place ward the treatment in our hospital begins with
detoxication. For opioid addicts we use rapid opioid
detoxication (ROD). This method differs from other ones by
total absence of painful sufferings typical for abstinence. The
procedure is carried out by a skillful anesthetist in conditions
corresponding to the conditions of intensive care
department.

After relieving the abstinence syndrome, the period of

recovery (somatopsychic correction) starts and specific
pharmacotherapy, neuropathies, immunotherapy, ozone
therapy, MIMEX®-technology are used. Treatment and
recovery programs are made with the regard for the
computer diagnostics of the organism and concomitant
diseases.

To prevent our patients from breakups and frustration

we use methods of a long-term blockade of opiate receptors
of prolong form naltrexone hydrochloride after which
narcotic has no effect.

For relieving psychical dependence and for

rehabilitation, there is carried out a course of psychotherapy
together with dependence psychology, Gestalt-therapy,
family psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. At the beginning
of rehabilitation process personal peculiarities of he patient
are examined with the help of modern methods of computer
psycho diagnostics, and it helps both specialists and the
patient to analyze and find out the problematic personality
areas, pathologic protection, immaturity of vital viewpoints,
the presence of inner conflict. According to mentioned above
individual plan of psychotherapeutic treatment is worked
out. The plan provides for individual and compound
psychotherapy.

Important!
Conditions on which the patient can be treated:

• patient can come to the clinic in the state of

intoxication as well as in the state of abstinence;
• Patient should not be ill with mental or infection
diseases or have an acute myocardial infraction or
acute stroke!