Hippy Crack Addiction Treatment

Hippy crack is dangerous: Very dangerous.

Nitrous oxide, laughing gas, whippets or NOS: Call it what you like.

It has been around since the 1800’s. Nitrous oxide is nothing new. While manufactured and licenced as an anaesthetic it is now being widely abused.

Discarded aluminium canisters and balloons after festivals. Not the sign of harmless teenage fun.

Addiction to Nitrous Oxide can kill.

Recovery is possible. Let our experienced addictions clinicians give you the benefit of their experience and expert advice.

Hippy Crack Addiction Treatment is available.

What is Hippy Crack?

Nitrous Oxide is an anaesthetic.

Originally discovered in 1772 by an English chemist, Joseph Priestley,it it was many years later, in 1844 that a dentist, Horace Wells, discovered how useful it was for sedating patients.

He combined it with oxygen and discovered that it can produce a state of euphoria as well as pain relief. Furthermore he found that it reduced anxiety in patients, very useful in a dental chair!

The discovery of nitrous oxide made painful treatment painless and led the way for the research necessary to develop more modern techniques of anaesthesia.

Hippy crack is what is known as a dissociative anaesthetic. This means that, when you take it, your perception of both sight and sound is altered. You feel very detached from reality. Ketamine produces a very similar effect.

It is illegal to possess it in the UK unless it is for legitimate medical use in a hospital/licenced healthcare setting. It has largely been replaced, in medical settings, by Penthrox.

How does it work?

When you inhale it, you will feel euphoria for about one to five minutes. Some people, who use it, say it feels like you are drunk but happy.

Nitrous Oxide, when it reaches the brain does three different things:

• It stops the actions of the NDMA receptors. These stop pain because they block pain signals.
• At the same time it ignites the release of naturally occurring opioids as well as dopamine which is a natural “feel good” chemical.
• Nitrous Oxide restricts the brainstems breathing control circuits which raises nitrous oxide levels in the blood: This makes you feel “high”.

Why is it dangerous?

Hippy crack use can be fatal: The first time you use it.

When it is inhaled, it can move oxygen out of the lungs. This means there is not enough oxygen in the blood which will mean not enough reaches the brain. It is very easy to suffocate on Nitrous Oxide. Users can become unconscious and without urgent medical help death soon follows.

Long term damage can also be caused by a phenomenon known as Apoptosis. This is the name given to brain cell death caused by inhaling Hippy Crack. It can also inactivate vitamin B12 which is absolutely essential for brain function.

Without vitamin B12 the brain will malfunction and parts die off. It can cause a form of dementia known as Korsakoff’s which is untreatable. Unless the vitamin B12 deficiency is caught at a very early stage and treated with high potency vitamin B12 injections, nothing can be done.

Symptoms of Overdose

There are some major symptoms of Hippy Crack overdose:

• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Difficulty breathing
• Choking sensation
• Tightness in the chest
• Seizures
• Psychosis
• Severe headaches

Nitrous Oxide Detox

Unlike Alcohol or Heroin , Hippy Crack does not produce a physical dependence because it is a very short acting drug. However, withdrawal creates very severe psychological cravings and some physical symptoms:

• Psychological: Increased feelings of worry and distress/irritability. Some people develop a depressive illness.
• Neurological: Poor sleep, recurring headaches and feelings of light headedness.
• Cognitive: Short-term memory loss. Difficulty focussing on tasks. Poor attention span.
• Physical: Chronic fatigue and muscle weakness.

There is no medicated assisted detox for hippy crack addiction.

Adjunctive medication such as pain relief, anti-anxiety and sleeping medications are offered to assist the user while in rehab.

While the neurological symptoms can last for a week, physical and psychological symptoms can last up to a fortnight. Some people may experience problems for a few months.

Hippy Crack Addiction, detox, rehab, therapy

Recovery from Hippy Crack is possible.

As with all drug and alcohol addiction, the use is a symptom of a deeper issue.

Hippy Crack gives a temporary escape from reality. When the effects wear off the reality of life is still there. Rehab exists to help people to confront the problems that lead to drug use.

There are four elements to rehab: Detox, therapy, relapse prevention and aftercare.

Detox

While there is no detox for Hippy Crack as there is with alcohol or heroin, medication can play a vital role.

Users, when they stop inhaling, will soon experience physical and psychological symptoms. The easiest way for them to relieve these is to use more. In rehab, adjunctive medication is used to alleviate both the psychological and physical symptoms.

For those who use is chronic, potent vitamin B12 medication, sometimes in the form of injections, is given. This is essential to prevent permanent brain damage.

Therapy

Without therapy, relapse is inevitable.

People do not make a conscious decision to become a drug addict. It is a symptom of a wider problem. Childhood trauma, an abusive relationship, work stress, PTSD. Whatever it is unless there is a shift in perspective and thinking nothing positive is going to happen.

Therapy is there to help someone lift the lid on the can of worms that is holding them back. It will help them to regulate their emotions and to make more positive choices.

Using both group and individual sessions, experienced and highly qualified therapists (many who have been in recovery for decades) will provide the tools to get you through.

12 STEP/SMART/eclectic. It really doesn’t matter which model is used. You don’t need to have any religious belief to benefit from a 12 step approach. Don’t worry about which model is used. This is time wasted.

Relapse Prevention

People recovering from addiction relapse: FACT.

It doesn’t happen to everyone but it happens. Addiction is a chronic illness just as asthma and diabetes is a chronic illness. There will be periods of remission and periods of crisis. If you can learn how to prevent a relapse and deal with it if it happens, you are in a much stronger position.

Hippy Crack Addiction Treatment doesn’t end with medication and therapy.

Aftercare

All rehab centres provide at least twelve months aftercare.

This is usually in the form of a weekly support group as well as regular telephone check in.

There will also be a dedicated phone number to contact should you find yourself struggling.

Hippy Crack Addiction Treatment is a long term commitment.

Free, Independent, Confidential and impartiial advice from an Expert

You can speak to an expert addictions clinician for free, independent and confidential advice on any aspect of addiction treatment, detox, rehab and therapy.

We do not charge for treatment referrals.

Our service is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Our advice service only signposts to legally registered rehabs.

Hippy Crack Addiction Treatment is available: Now.

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