Drug addiction is a problem of modern society. Every year more and more cases of psychic dependence on drugs are registered. This is harmful to society as a whole, since this category of people, even after treatment, is recognized as mentally traumatized. Individuals who decide to quit drugs will initially endure an irresistible desire to take a new "dose", this phenomenon is called MacGregor's disease. The syndrome is named after the author who first described the clinical signs after drug withdrawal. McGregor Syndrome - what is it, a mental desire to take a drug or a physically conditioned demand of the body?
Why does the syndrome occur?
Prolonged exposure to a narcotic substance leads to the fact that the cells of the body adapt to it, changing their internal biochemical processes. This does not happen immediately, but after a long period of time, when a person uses drugs in an increasing dosage. If there is no supply of a chemical substance, then the cells require its supply, because of this, the functions of all body systems are disrupted. McGregor's syndrome begins to be expressed after 4 hours of the absence of a narcotic substance in the blood.
Alcoholism: features of McGregor's syndrome
The syndrome has different clinical manifestations, it all depends on the use of a particular drug. In alcoholics, withdrawal manifests itself in the form of a hangover the next morning after drinking. Cells require the intake of ethyl alcohol inside. However, in this case, spontaneous improvement is possible without taking ethyl alcohol, which cannot be said with cocaine or heroin addiction.
If McGregor's disease (the syndrome is, however, a more accurate term) does not stop on its own after large-scale drinking, then a person is able to help himself. It is necessary to take the optimal dose of alcohol to eliminate headaches and nausea. The syndrome lasts, as a rule, about three days in the absence of ethanol intake into the body. Every day you need to reduce the dose so that toxic substances are gradually excreted by the kidneys and liver.
What are the symptoms of drug addicts?
Heroin and cocaine addicts experience the most severe McGregor syndrome. Symptoms will have a vivid clinical picture immediately after the concentration of the drug in the blood begins to decrease. How does McGregor's syndrome manifest itself in this case? The syndrome has the following clinical manifestations:
- anxiety, smoothly turning into psychomotor agitation (patients are worried, looking for a drug to take, there may behallucinations);
- catarrhal phenomena (runny nose, lacrimation, cough);
- high body temperature with chills;
- increased blood pressure;
- dyspeptic disorders (diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain);
- fluid loss.
If the withdrawal syndrome lasts 5 days or more, then the person begins to lose weight, muscle fiber dystrophy occurs. Objectively, one can detect retraction of the skin into the costal spaces, as well as on the extremities. The patient takes on the appearance of an asthenic.
Due to conduction disorders in the smooth muscles and pelvic organs, uncontrolled ejaculation is observed, as well as the act of defecation.
The duration of the syndrome depends on the quality of medical care and the drug the patient is taking. For example, with heroin, the duration of withdrawal is 10 days, but after the withdrawal of marijuana or spice - 5-6 days.
How to fight?
At the present stage of development of medicine, it has become possible to stop McGregor's syndrome. The disease requires the help of a narcologist or psychiatrist to eliminate all symptoms.
To get rid of the syndrome, you need to completely overcome drug addiction. Unfortunately, this is not yet possible, because addiction is caused both from the mental side and the physical side. Nevertheless, it became completely possible to control the doses of drugs and reduce them. This is done by specialized narcological dispensaries.
In a hospital setting, the doctor prescribes analogues of narcotic substances that are not so harmfulact on the human body. Drugs are prescribed individually according to a specific scheme, the task of which is to reduce the dosage of the drug, as well as to fight the euphoria that occurs after taking the drug.
Besides medicines, psychological help is an important part. Psychiatrists conduct interviews with patients whose main task is to recognize themselves as drug addicts. If a person admits to himself that he has an addiction, he can be cured. It will be important to have support from loved ones so that the patient can be distracted and replace the usual activity with some games.
How to prevent the development of the syndrome?
The only way to prevent the syndrome is to never try drugs. Any harmless substance is instantly addictive (nicotine is no exception). You should not test willpower, remember that no one has yet been able to consciously give up drugs.
