Awareness

Getting Help for Someone Addicted to Drugs

September 12, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Drug addiction is a serious problem. Allowed to surface and become something permanent (relatively speaking), it can continue to ruin an individual’s life.

What can you do to help someone with drugs? Are there any steps you should take?
Sadly there are no easily-defined steps. Every situation is different, stemming from your relationship with the person to their willingness to receive help.

Look at how the individual acknowledges his or her problem. Perhaps they don’t see it, or refuse to see it. The level of their willingness to try some form of treatment is key in many cases, as some will do anything to avoid it, while others may genuinely be receptive.

Your relationship to the person may or may not be important. If the person is a family member or someone close to you, you may be able to persuade him or her to receiving help for their problem. This involves some careful actions in itself, of course, which is something to consider.

Talking to the person is one way to help elicit awareness of the problem and usher the situation towards help. Consult professionals to help you decide the best way to go about this, and reach out to others close to the person to plan a course of action to help the individual.

This will hopefully create a system of support for the person to acknowledge while going through these tough circumstances. If the individual has people behind him or her that are supportive, the individual may be more open to receiving professional help.

Of course there is much more to these dynamics in allowing others to get help. Carefully read and find out more information from professionals regarding the ways to go about this.

If you notice that someone around you may be addicted to drugs, do what you can to get them help. It may be the only thing that can save their life.

Filed Under: Awareness, Drug Addiction Tagged With: Addictions, Health, Substance Abuse, Substance dependence

How to Tell the Symptoms of Someone on Drugs

September 10, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

The signs of someone having a drug-related problem are many. You could read vast amounts of literature identifying common and not-so-common warning signs for an alcohol or substance abuse problem of any kind.

There are a few common physical signs that are linked to drugs and alcohol abuse. Sleeping pattern changes are one of the obvious signs here, along with bloodshot eyes.

Appearance can be another sign of abuse. Poor hygiene and a general indicator of appearance being neglected can be indicative of a drug problem.

Watch out for slurred or agitated speech, along with shifts in weight. A sudden or great loss or gain in body weight can be a sign of such abuse, related to a number of drug problems.

Accidents and injuries are also a common sign of abuse. Bruises and abrasions on the skin may form in relationship to this. Also, individuals with drug abuse are often sick more frequently, which rounds out the physical signs.

The category of many more signs are found in those relating to behavior. This is one area where you may want to consult a professional if you have questions, though some behavioral signs are very clear.

Emotional changes and indicators are especially worthy of attention. These include everything from depressive, aggressiveness, hyperactivity, and losses of interest in activities.

Actions that may cover up drug use are also common. For instance, if one always locks doors and spends extra time in the bathroom may indicate drug abuse. Hidden stashes of substances are also common.

Take note of the individual’s actions in order to determine whether he or he has a drug problem. This should not be done lightly; talk to professionals and others around the person when making such a huge decision, in order to move forward properly and at the right level.

These are just a few common symptoms of drug use. Be sure to read on others to improve your understanding of the signs of drug abuse.

Filed Under: Awareness, Drug Addiction, Drug Research Tagged With: Addiction, Centers and Counseling Services, Health, Substance Abuse

Counseling for Drug Addiction

September 1, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Treatment for drug addiction normally takes on two forms: counseling and medication. Each treatment enhances the other’s effectiveness.

Counseling is useful for drug-related problems. As part of a well-defined treatment program, it can allow the person to increase positive behaviors and attitudes toward the problem and other related issues.

There are a variety of environments and settings in which counseling can be done to help treat addictions to drugs. For instance, any of the briefly defined types of counseling can be done individually or in a group setting.

Behavioral treatments in an outpatient treatment setting are very common. Programs implement a number of types of therapy that are used in an individual or group setting.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on the client’s ability to deal with related situations. For instance, the patient will be able to acknowledge, avoid, and cope with situations where they are likely to use drugs.

Multidimensional family therapy is centered for adolescents and their families. It focuses on the patterns of drug abuse and allows the family to function more efficiently.

Motivational interviewing focuses on individuals who can become ready to change their behavior and make use of treatment.

Finally, motivational incentives promote moving away from drugs by using positive types of reinforcement. These types of therapy is a broad overview, and certainly not exhaustive, of those used in an outpatient behavioral treatment setting.

Apart from outpatient programs, residential treatment programs are also very effective. They may be more suitable for individuals with more severe programs, where some programs can last for 6 to 12 months. Of course everyone’s situation is different, which is something the individual will have to address with a professional.

These represent a few of the options for counseling options for drug addictions. Please do more research or speak to a doctor if you are looking for more information, for any reason.

Counseling remains a powerful option in a treatment program for drug addictions. Many are able to move past their drug addictions with programs involving medications and counseling services.

Filed Under: Awareness, Drug Addiction Tagged With: Addictions, Centers and Counseling Services, Substance Abuse

Huffing

August 12, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Inhalants for Getting High

One of the biggest drug problems suffered by teens and even pre-teens today is the inhalation of dangerous commercial chemicals for the purpose of intoxication. Kids normally aged 11 to 16 are increasingly finding ways to get high from items under the sink or in the garage, inhaling volatile fumes through the nose and trachea. Some of the most serious abusers are children and teens living on the streets with no parental supervision. From the streets of Latin America to Asia you can see kids often sniffing glues or epoxies out of a plastic soda bottles.

What is Inhaled and How?

While street kids will inhale the cheapest options from open containers like glue, paint thinner, or other solvents inhalant users with access to a bit of money often buy aerosol propellant gases. The nitrous oxide from hairspray, non-stick cooking spray, keyboard cleaner, whipped cream, and or gases such as butane are used to inflate a plastic bag. The user will then inhale the contents, blow back into the plastic bag, and then suck the remaining contents out of the bag.

The Rush & Aftermath

The gases inhaled fill the lungs and absorb into the blood stream so quickly via the capillaries that an intense high similar to that of intravenous drug use occurs. If glue or paint thinner is inhaled from an open container a level of impairment resembling drunkenness is common. However, if solvents or strong gases are inhaled a user can experience hallucinations, disconnect from reality, and strong inebriation. After the high goes away users will experience headache, nausea, and wheezing in the short term. The long-term adverse health effects are much grimmer with constant users increasing their risk of “sudden sniffing death” and the accumulation of huffing related ailments. Sudden sniffing death can be caused by inhalants responsible for inducing immediate cardiac arrest

Inhalants for Getting High
One of the biggest drug problems suffered by teens and even pre-teens today is the inhalation of dangerous commercial chemicals for the purpose of intoxication. Kids normally aged 11 to 16 are increasingly finding ways to get high from items under the sink or in the garage, inhaling volatile fumes through the nose and trachea. Some of the most serious abusers are children and teens living on the streets with no parental supervision. From the streets of Latin America to Asia you can see kids often sniffing glues or epoxies out of a plastic soda bottles.
What is Inhaled and How?
While street kids will inhale the cheapest options from open containers like glue, paint thinner, or other solvents inhalant users with access to a bit of money often buy aerosol propellant gases. The nitrous oxide from hairspray, non-stick cooking spray, keyboard cleaner, whipped cream, and or gases such as butane are used to inflate a plastic bag. The user will then inhale the contents, blow back into the plastic bag, and then suck the remaining contents out of the bag.
The Rush & Aftermath
The gases inhaled fill the lungs and absorb into the blood stream so quickly via the capillaries that an intense high similar to that of intravenous drug use occurs. If glue or paint thinner is inhaled from an open container a level of impairment resembling drunkenness is common. However, if solvents or strong gases are inhaled a user can experience hallucinations, disconnect from reality, and strong inebriation. After the high goes away users will experience headache, nausea, and wheezing in the short term. The long-term adverse health effects are much grimmer with constant users increasing their risk of “sudden sniffing death” and the accumulation of huffing related ailments. Sudden sniffing death can be caused by inhalants responsible for inducing immediate cardiac arrest

Filed Under: Awareness, Drug Addiction, Drugs Tagged With: Government, Health, Inhalant

Heroine

August 10, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image via Wikipedia

In the News

Heroine has been mentioned in the news with frequency lately because of the war in Afghanistan. Over 90% of the world’s heroine comes from Afghanistan as the drug is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine, which comes from the opium poppy. Sometimes it is grown in secret utilizing grow lights and other equipment. Diamorphine (heroine) is used as a controlled painkiller and also a recreational drug. Inline with other opioids, addiction is common and several European countries have programs to legally satisfy the habits of long-term users.

Legal & Recreational

In some developed countries heroine is prescribed to treat acute pain or pain associated with a terminal illness despite morphine being a more common option. For recreational use, heroine is used to induce an intense euphoria. Normally heroine is injected and a user experiences an intense rush similar in nature to the feeling a patient feels when being treated with morphine, but much stronger. Heroine may be a stronger opioid because of 6-monoacetylmorphoine, other opioids do not have this particular metabolite which is psycho-active. Recreational users also snort or smoke heroine with rolled tobacco and or a glass pipe. Snorting heroine by itself or with cocaine can be particularly dangerous as an overdose can be ingested by an unknowing user. When heroine is smoked the heated powder becomes liquid which yields smoke to be inhaled.

Administration

As with all drugs, when heroine is taken intravenously it yields the quickest and strongest rush. The drug can also be delivered with an intra-muscular injection where the high creeps on in 5 to 8 minutes. When smoked and snorted the drug ramps up a bit slower and peak effects occur within 10 to 15 minutes. Recreational users do not take the drug orally, but it can be administered that way and take 30 minutes to gather strength, but there is no rush. Heroine when administered in large doses is fatal. It is responsible for many suicides and has even been used as a weapon by serial killers.

In the News
Heroine has been mentioned in the news with frequency lately because of the war in Afghanistan. Over 90% of the world’s heroine comes from Afghanistan as the drug is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine, which comes from the opium poppy. Diamorphine (heroine) is used as a controlled painkiller and also a recreational drug. Inline with other opioids, addiction is common and several European countries have programs to legally satisfy the habits of long-term users.
Legal & Recreational
In some developed countries heroine is prescribed to treat acute pain or pain associated with a terminal illness despite morphine being a more common option. For recreational use, heroine is used to induce an intense euphoria. Normally heroine is injected and a user experiences an intense rush similar in nature to the feeling a patient feels when being treated with morphine, but much stronger. Heroine may be a stronger opioid because of 6-monoacetylmorphoine, other opioids do not have this particular metabolite which is psycho-active. Recreational users also snort or smoke heroine with rolled tobacco and or a glass pipe. Snorting heroine by itself or with cocaine can be particularly dangerous as an overdose can be ingested by an unknowing user. When heroine is smoked the heated powder becomes liquid which yields smoke to be inhaled.
Administration
As with all drugs, when heroine is taken intravenously it yields the quickest and strongest rush. The drug can also be delivered with an intra-muscular injection where the high creeps on in 5 to 8 minutes. When smoked and snorted the drug ramps up a bit slower and peak effects occur within 10 to 15 minutes. Recreational users do not take the drug orally, but it can be administered that way and take 30 minutes to gather strength, but there is no rush. Heroine when administered in large doses is fatal. It is responsible for many suicides and has even been used as a weapon by serial killers.

Filed Under: Awareness, Drug Addiction, Drugs Tagged With: Addiction, Cocaine, Drug, Heroin

Marijuana – A Subtle Danger

May 11, 2010 By admin 1 Comment

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Is marijuana really bad?

Marijuana is often championed as the natural drug that does not have any negative side effects. Because marijuana is seen as such a harmless drug when compared to Class – A drugs like cocaine, heroine, ecstasy, etc. marijuana is often thought to not have an affect on a person’s functioning. Marijuana is in fact a much less harmful drug than those Class – A drugs mentioned above, however, it can have a significant impact on a person’s ability to function normally.

What are the side effects?

When marijuana use becomes anything other than recreational (1-4 per month use) it can begin to change a person’s behavior. Marijuana affects everyone differently; some people maintain the same behavior during periods of heavy habitual use while others are significantly affected. Users that experience behavioral deviations often exhibit subtle changes in their social and or work lives. Heavy marijuana users are often less outgoing and willing to navigate unfamiliar social settings. They prefer to hang out in smaller groups of close friends and are more sedentary. Heavy marijuana users can also suffer a lack of motivation to do extra work outside of what they have to get done. For example, a heavy marijuana user might perform fine at work, but lack the motivation to pursue personal goals outside of work like continuing education, physical fitness, or entrepreneurial aspirations.

Does everybody suffer the side effects?

Not everyone suffers the side effects mentioned above; there are high functioning heavy marijuana users. There are heavy marijuana users that are lawyers, doctors, engineers, etc. just like there are high functioning alcoholics. However, the percentage of high functioning marijuana users among the total population of heavy marijuana users is scant. Most heavy marijuana users endure at least some of the side effects mentioned above.

What’s the big deal?

There is no big deal; marijuana is not going to ruin your life like heroine, cocaine, alcohol, or some other drugs. Despite that, marijuana is dangerous because of its ability to subtly change your behavior without evident warning signs. You won’t hit rock bottom, but you may end up being less extroverted, chasing less goals, seeking less self-renewal, etc. There are plenty of heavy marijuana users that are doing just fine in life, but that is all they are doing – just fine. If you are intent on being an extraordinary person heavy marijuana use won’t positively obstruct that prospect, but it will probably make it harder.

Filed Under: Awareness, Drug Research, Drugs Tagged With: Adverse effect, Drugs, Marijuana

Stop Smoking With Electric Cigarettes

March 15, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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The negative health effects of tobacco are enough to make just about any smoker want to kick the habit. However, that’s easier said than done. Nicotine is highly addictive, and smokers often need help to finally stop smoking. Have you heard of e-cigarettes? Also known as electric cigarettes, they look and feel like a cigarette without all of the toxic chemicals.

Electric cigarettes operate using a battery built into the cigarette. You hold the e-cigarette like a regular cigarette, and you smoke it like a regular cigarette. Someone next to you may not even know it’s an e-cigarette just by looking at it, but you’ll know all the benefits that you receive when you choose this healthier smoking option.

How do you know if e-cigarettes are right for you? Ask yourself these four questions.

1. Are you trying to live healthier? E-cigarettes contain a nicotine solution, but the effects of this solution aren’t anything like the nasty chemicals used in traditional cigarettes. The nicotine solution consists of glycerin or propylene glycol. Both substances are harmless, but they do contain nicotine.
2. Do you want to approach other people without smelling like cigarette smoke? When you use e-cigarettes, there’s no tar, no yellow teeth, no bad breath, and no smoke on your clothing. The only way someone will know you use electric cigarettes is if you tell them.
3. Would you like to smoke in restaurants, stadiums, and bars where smoking is prohibited? You can do this when you use e-cigarettes. Sure, the people around you may think that you’re smoking, but they’ll soon notice that what you have is different.

Even though companies can’t promote electric cigarettes as anti-smoking aides, thousands of smokers have seen results. Gradually reduce the nicotine you choose in e-cigarettes, from regular to light then ultra-light and finally nicotine-free, to reduce your dependency on nicotine.

Filed Under: Awareness, Drug Addiction, Smoking Tagged With: Addiction, Cigarette, Effects, Health

Links between Cocaine and Hepatitis C

February 9, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Cocaine and Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is an RNA virus that causes acute hepatitis. Hepatitis C can be spread by blood transfusions with infected blood or parenteral exposure like sharing needles. About 2.7 million Americans have the disease despite rates of Hepatitis C falling significantly in the last 10 years. For those that carry the hepatitis C virus 75% of them develop chronic Hepatitis and 20% to 30% of that subset die. Hepatitis C can attack the body in different ways, but those that die from hepatitis C often die from cirrhosis also known as liver failure. Obviously, IV drugs users that share needles are at the highest risk of contracting Hepatitis C, but health officials are now concerned that hepatitis C is spreading among people that snort cocaine or other drugs.

How does Hepatitis C spread if no one is sharing needles?

Eight out of 10 people that carry hepatitis C do not know they have the virus. Health experts are worried that the sharing of straws or dollar bills by cocaine users may continually increase the spread of hepatitis C. When cocaine users are passing around the straw or dollar bill small traces of blood are not noticeable and can transmit the hepatitis C virus from one user to another. It only takes a little bit of blood (not apparent to the naked eye) to transmit hepatitis C and it is transmitted easily unlike other viruses. After hepatitus C has touched a dollar bill or straw, levels of the virus can be detected for weeks, although infectious levels only last a few hours.

What happens if I get it?

Studies show that approximately 4.7% of Americans that have sniffed cocaine or heroin have hepatitis C. There is currently no cure or vaccine for hepatitis C and thousands of new cases are diagnosed every year. Some organizations are trying to start World Hepatitis Awareness Day and What Not to Share campaigns.

Filed Under: Awareness, Drugs Tagged With: Conditions and Diseases, Hepatitis C, Liver failure