Drug addiction 2...

[np251]

Hi there

I have a similar question to the one Partridge posted, but didnt want to hijack his thread. I assume there are contra-indications for diving when someone is an addict, but cant really find a definitive answer as to whether its a complete no-no. Say, if it was a shallow, short duration, one or two time thing as a 'there is more to life' kinda thing, is that going to be far too much trouble than its worth? If they have been clean for a while (a short while, mind you- she is persistant- 3-4 weeks), what then. Or do i need something else to focus her on to get her off the junk?

Any advice much appreciated.

And i really do sympathise Partridge- my sister got caught using heroin almost 3 years ago and its heartbreaking seeing the changes she has gone through.

 

[Dave Zimmerly]

Tough question. Lost a friend to herion. Personally, I think it would be a bad idea to take her diving. Too much to handle without having a clear mind and body, plus the added pressure on you to be responsible. As a goal, it would great...something to work for. I feel for the pain she and you are going through.

Dave (aka "Squirt")

 

[Ber Rabbit]

The effects of anything you take (legal or illegal) can be magnified by pressure. If you want to do a "more to life" kind of thing do it in a pool (or similar conditions) with a compassionate instructor who has a little background information on her. I don't know how long it takes to clear the stuff out of a person's system but I would accept 3-4 weeks for a pool session as long as they aren't having withdrawal symptoms.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Kim]

I don't know how long it takes to clear the stuff out of a person's system but I would accept 3-4 weeks for a pool session as long as they aren't having withdrawal symptoms.
Ber :lilbunny:

Actually it's a lot faster than that - around a week and you are physically fairly clean already. Normally the problems of quitting tend to centre around the mental dependencies (often why someone starts to begin with) rather than the physical ones. Obviously it also depends on the drug involved as well. If the drug has actually physically damaged your body then that damage will take longer to heal than simply withdrawing from the chemical hook. The only way you could be sure about that is through a very thorough medical check up.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Actually it's a lot faster than that - around a week and you are physically fairly clean already. Normally the problems of quitting tend to centre around the mental dependencies (often why someone starts to begin with) rather than the physical ones. Obviously it also depends on the drug involved as well. If the drug has actually physically damaged your body then that damage will take longer to heal than simply withdrawing from the chemical hook. The only way you could be sure about that is through a very thorough medical check up.

I know my students who have been on meds were told by their doctors to wait a week after the last dose of a prescription before diving but I wasn't sure about illegal drugs and the resulting withdrawal symptoms of some (the "shakes", etc).
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[TSandM]

Withdrawal syndromes are generally fairly rapid in onset (24 hours) and over in 3 or 4 days. Certainly, after several weeks, your system is clear of the chemical in question.

What would worry me more are the long-term effects of specific drugs. Amphetamines do significant damage to the blood vessels -- you can have a heart attack in your 20's if you do enough meth or cocaine. Anything which is injected intravenously can wreck your lungs, if the drug is cut with an insoluble diluting agent like talc. Nonsterile injection techniques can cause infections which damage heart valves.

I'd think anybody with a significant addiction problem should have a physical before going underwater.

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

Or do i need something else to focus her on to get her off the junk?

I'd think anybody with a significant addiction problem should have a physical before going underwater

I highly recommend a treatment facility/regimen to get past the addiction first. "Focusing" on something else is what they call "transfering" your addiction and doesn't really solve the issues behind the physical manifestation of addiction.

I'm living proof that you can do alot of crappy things to yourself and maintain the ability to dive. Clean and sober for almost 5 years and diving with the doc's ok for over 4 of them.

What would worry me more are the long-term effects of specific drugs.

Unfortunately we may not get a good answer, some genius SB God has decided this is better suited for "Non-diving related" instead of somewhere we might get a doc's input such as one of the medical forums.

 

[Kim]

Unfortunately we may not get a good answer, some genius SB God has decided this is better suited for "Non-diving related" instead of somewhere we might get a doc's input such as one of the medical forums.

Actually TSandM is a surgeon so I think that her medical advice is sound and is certainly a good answer. While I am not a doctor, I have reasonable experience in the field of drug rehabilitation. As she said, and I mentioned earlier, I would be more concerned with the potential long lasting damage done by the drug in question than the side effects of withdrawal.

I'd think anybody with a significant addiction problem should have a physical before going underwater.

If the drug has actually physically damaged your body then that damage will take longer to heal than simply withdrawing from the chemical hook. The only way you could be sure about that is through a very thorough medical check up.

 

[jonnythan]

I went ahead and moved this to the Diving Medicine forum, because it's clearly suited for that.

 

[H2Andy]

people are addicts for a reason. if you treat the addiction (which is awesome,
and needs to be done), you're just treating the sympton. you can't just stop
there.

you need move on to treat the underlying causes for the addiction. those are much harder to identify and resolve, but they are, in my opinion, the real "cure."