Health Risks Associated With Substance Abuse

December 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

There are various health risks that are associated with the substance abuse. The person who is involved in this addiction to various drugs and other unhealthy products may suffer from certain side effects. These effects can even be life threatening at times. Various systems of the body are affected by the use of these spurious substances.

One of the most common substance abuse is the use of tobacco. Tobacco is used either while smoking cigarettes or when the person is chewing tobacco. The nicotine that is present in the tobacco can cause the person who is using it to suffer from various health problems including lung cancer. Other than cancer, the respiratory system of the person can also be affected because of the fact that the nicotine causes damage to the lungs.

The use of excessive alcohol can lead to various problems in the liver. Though other systems in the body may also be affected because of excessive consumption of alcohol, one of the systems that is severely affected is the liver. There are many people who have been substance abusers and have suffered from liver problems like liver cirrhosis, where there is uncontrolled bleeding in the liver. Death of certain parts of the liver, cancer of the liver and other diseases of the liver are very common in people who are alcoholics.

Drug addiction is the other common problem that can lead to various health risks. Many people who are chronic drug addicts may even die because of a fatal overdose of the drug. All the drugs can lead to various systems of the body being affected. Since many of the drug abusers share the same needle to inject themselves, they are at a high risk of being affected by AIDS. This is one of the common problems seen in substance abusers.

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Signs of Drug Addiction

November 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

People that are addicted to drugs may not be able to control themselves. Once addicted, it is hard to stop. Many times even treatment centers fail to control or help a person that is addicted to drugs.

While most users start out as a casual habit, many of them can’t seem to control themselves and find that they need more drugs to function every day.

Symptoms of drug addiction can vary, but most addicted people experience not being able to function without taking their drug of choice. Others may spend money on drugs even though they can’t afford to. You are also addicted if you have tried to stop many times and find that you couldn’t stop using. Some people exhibit risky behavior such as driving erratically while on drugs.

Other signs that someone might be abusing drugs is a drastic change in behavior. If a normally mellow person suddenly seems to be lashing out, they may have a drug addiction. Other people that are addicted to drugs tend to ask their friends and family for money frequently.

Sometimes people that are addicted to drugs forget about their appearance. They may not shower for a long time or not get dressed up for their daily lifestyle. Many may forget to brush their teeth and hair, while others just look like they are sickly all the time.

If you know of someone that may be abusing drugs, the best thing you can do is stage an intervention. An intervention is usually a group of family and friends that get together to talk to the drug abuser. While the abuser might get defensive, it is best to be persistent and have them seek the help that they need.

Try to talk the abuser into going to rehab. If they are ready to change their life for the better, they will let you take them there.

Filed Under: Drug Addiction

Health Issues Arise as Baby Boomers Continue to Use Drugs

October 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Pot smoking hippies from the 1960’s have grown into middle-aged Americans across our country, and unfortunately older people between 50 and 59 are continuing to use drugs in the 2000’s.

A survey conducted by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services determined that 8 percent of people between the ages of 50 and 59 used an illicit drug of some sort. The survey said most of them used marijuana, but many use prescription drugs, pain medications, ant-anxiety pills, and sleeping pills. Between 2002 and 2008, the percentage of potheads and pill users in their 50’s grew by over 50 percent.

Rightfully so, researchers are very worried that lifetime drug use by baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) is on the rise, and will complicate the lives and health of many aging Americans. Peter Delaney, Director of the Office of Applied Studies, mentioned that there are so many people in the 50 to 59 age bracket needing substance abuse help that the number of treatment facilities needs to double in the near future.

Delaney said the problem with older users is that drugs cause greater impairment, as people get older. As physiology slows down with age, it takes a lot longer to process drugs through the body. In other words, drugs like marijuana stay in the body’s system for longer periods of time. Also, a mix of marijuana and prescribed pills that lower blood pressure can produce lethal side effects. Unknowing drug users in their 50’s can easily land themselves and extended stay in the hospital for mixing marijuana and pain pills.

The substance abuse administration also queried over 20,000 adults over 50 and found that 5.2 percent of adults in the 50 to 59 age group used marijuana between 2006 and 2008. In addition, 2.9 percent of them took prescription drugs illegally. Lastly, 7.9 percent of these adults said they had taken some type of illicit drug as well.

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The Negative Effects of Methamphetamine

October 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Methamphetamine is a man-made chemical with properties that are very similar to adrenaline. Methamphetamine (commonly referred to as meth) affects the nervous system with a highly addictive stimulant. The common street names for meth are crank, crystal, speed, ice, and glass. For over three decades, meth has been the mostly widely produced controlled substance in the U.S. Unfortunately, many young people in the U.S. are meth users, and the numbers continue to rise. Meth can be manufactured secretly in meth labs throughout the country. Many of these so-called meth labs are found in people’s homes. The fact that it can be made so easily means that it is also easily sold and distributed. Aside from heroin and cocaine, meth is the most dangerous and lethal drug available in our society.

Meth is a powerful stimulant, and it can keep awake for hours at a time. It also decreases the user’s appetite, and increases his/her activity. The effects of meth are much the same as methadrine (or speed), a popular drug of the 1960’s. Younger adults took speed so that they could stay up all night studying for exams in college. Users say that meth gives you a brief, intense sensation when snorted or injected.

When a user does meth, a neurotransmitter called dopamine is released to the pleasure areas of the brain, and he/she experiences an immediate adrenaline rush or feeling of euphoria, as users typically describe it. People who take the drug also say they feel a sense of well being. Just like any other drug, the user needs to take larger doses of it in order to obtain the same high as before. Increased doses and prolonged use of meth produces feelings of irritability, depression, anger, and paranoia. Users also experience delusional thinking and visual impairment. Some even have visual or auditory hallucinations.

Most meth users go without food or sleep for days, injecting meth into their systems every two or three hours in order to stay high. This type of binging occurs until the user runs out of meth, overdoes, or becomes too delirious to continue taking the drug.

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Seeking Help for Teenage Substance Abusers

October 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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If you feel that your teenager may be involved with drugs, there are few behavioral changes to look for.

1. Friendship changes.
2. Increased hostility, irritability, defensiveness, and evasiveness.
3. Changes in appearance.
4. Skipping school and avoiding school activities.

If your loved one shows any of the above behaviors, chances are he/she has a substance abuse problem. You shouldn’t be alarmed, but keep in mind that early detection is the key to helping your teen with substance abuse problems. It’s important for you to get help as soon as you can.

Since drugs provide an alternative way to assimilate with the rest of the crowd, teens aren’t necessarily motivated to stop using them. It may sound trite or oversimplified, but once teens start using drugs, it’s very hard for them to stop. Teens don’t feel that drugs pose a problem because they feel invincible, especially when they ingest drugs into their system.

In order to get help for your teen, it’s essential that you get involved and encouraging them to get help as soon as possible. Without support, it is unlikely that teens will do it on their own.

Seeking Help

There are many drug treatment programs for adolescents in your community. The following are a few options to consider:

Teens who need safe and supervised relief from withdrawal systems can enter Detoxification centers anywhere in the country. These centers are available for teens and others who need abstain from drugs and receive medical attention.

Rehabilitation is also available within the teen’s residence or home. This type of treatment helps teens that need constant supervision (24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week). The types of teens seeking constant supervision simply cannot quit independently. They continue to use drugs and don’t care about the risks involved. These individuals may have attempted to stop using before, but have failed in those attempts.

All of the above programs offer therapy, twelve-step programs, relapse prevention, and more.

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Warning Signs For Teenage Substance Abuse

October 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Being a teenager in today’s society is a lot more stressful than days past. Expectations are very high for adolescents. They’re expected to have excellent grades and keep up with the other kids in sports, school clubs, and other social events. Sometimes the stress becomes unbearable, and teenagers turn to drugs to help deal with it. If you’re concerned that your teen might be using drugs, there are several warning signs to look for in your adolescent’s behavior that could be indicators.

The following are some of the warning signs or indications of substance abuse:

Evidence of drugs or paraphernalia. Teens often feel you’re invading their privacy when you search through their personal belongings, but it never hurts to look for blatant physical signs of drugs or paraphernalia around the house. For example, marijuana smoke has a very strong and distinct odor. It doesn’t smell anything like cigarette smoke at all. If your teen comes home wreaking of marijuana smoke, don’t be afraid to confront him/her with some questions about what they’ve been doing that evening.

Behavioral problems. If your teen suddenly seems disinterested in school and other activities like sports and social events, ask them about it. A major deterrent from drug use of any kind is simple, honest communication with your teen. We’re not recommending that you become nosey or intrusive, but it’s always a good idea to take a genuine interest in your teen’s welfare. Let him/her know that you care about their well-being. A simple question like, “How is school going,” is always a good opening to a good conversation with your son or daughter.

Emotional distance, depression, or fatigue. Young teenagers should be full of vitality and energy. They really shouldn’t act listless or apathetic in any way. After all, they’re young, and have a whole life ahead of them. If your teenage suddenly seems disinterested or depressed, ask them about it. Again, you don’t want to appear nosey, but a little bit of care and interest will go a long way. Sometimes teens just need a little push to get them going in the right direction.

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Teenage Substance Abuse

October 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Teenagers in today’s society are faced with challenges, stress, and confusion. As a result, many teens fall prey to substance abuse in hopes to deal with everyday problems and challenges, only to discover bigger problems by turning to drugs as solution. As a teen, it’s difficult to predict problems that can occur down the road. Younger people are more impetuous, and seek and immediate solution to problems. A small circle of friends at school may use drugs, and those kids say that there’s no harm involved. A vulnerable teenager sees his friends, taking drugs and decides to give it a try. After all, what is there to lose? Well, in the long run, there’s plenty to lose, but no one realizes the true facts of drug abuse until it’s much too late.

Today’s adolescents don’t perceive the problems associated with drug use. To them, it’s a harmless way to alleviate stress and escape from reality. At first, taking drugs is just another way to relax and have fun. They don’t realize the risks and consequences involved. Even though adolescent drug abuse doesn’t necessarily lead to problems later on, drug use at any stage in life has negative consequences. Although drug use at any early age doesn’t necessarily lead to addiction later on, it’s like a game of Russian roulette, no different than holding a gun to your head and pulling the trigger, hoping that the chamber is empty.

For most teens, drug use has consequences, including poor academic performance, deteriorating relationships with loved ones, and a general lack of interest in everything life has to offer. Substance abuse changes behavior in teens. A newly discovered obsession with drugs overshadows all other activities. A teen who was previously involved in sports and other productive activities suddenly becomes apathetic. The captain of the swim team stops showing up to practice due to his/her preoccupation with drugs. Everything valuable and important takes a second seat to drug users. Unfortunately, drugs will eventually take precedence over a teenager’s life.

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Preventing Drug Abuse in the U.S.

October 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Drug abuse in the U.S. has reached epidemic proportions. It’s difficult to determine why, but people abuse substances like alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, an more. The drug problem in the U.S. is a difficult problem to solve, since the people who use drugs don’t want to admit it. Since it’s against the law, the keep it a secret, and as a result, there are more drug users/abusers in our country than anyone realizes. People use drugs for their own personal reasons, whether they just want to get high or maybe even relieve stress, that high (or temporary feeling of euphoria) comes at a cost to the drug user and to society as well.

The toll for drug abuse can range from extended stays in emergency rooms and hospitals or even jail time. It’s a well know fact that the majority of offenders who spend time in jail are alcohol/drug abusers. It’s a growing problem in the U.S., and drastic measures need to be taken in order to stop it. Finding the right treatment to help prevent drug abuse is challenging, however, medical professionals are gaining a better understanding of the problem through knowledge and research. Since drug abuse often starts at an early age, drug education among teens and younger people is a major key to prevention.

According to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, the number of illicit drug users in the U.S. is around 13 million. Since the survey was performed several years ago, the number of drug users has grown significantly. The survey also said that 10% of all Americans either use or abuse alcohol, and 25% of them smoke cigarettes. Despite the health hazards and risks of tobacco, people still smoke cigarettes, saying that it gives them pleasure, increased performance, and less depression. People drink alcohol for many reasons. Although most people say they drink it for a “pick me up,” alcohol actually depresses the brain. It lessens your inhibition, slurs speech, and impairs judgment. For the most part, the disadvantages of alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs outweigh the advantages.

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Similarities and Differences Between Methamphetamine and Cocaine

September 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Since they produce very similar the same effects, Cocaine and Methamphetamine (Meth) are often linked together. Both drugs also belong to the class of drugs called psycho stimulants. Despite the similarities and differences of both drugs, however, they’re both very addictive and extremely dangerous. Both have a strong potential for dependence and abuse as well.

Meth is a chemical, and is man made, while cocaine (or coke) comes from the leaves of a coca plant. You can smoke, inject, or snort either drug. The main difference between the two drugs however, is that meth comes in a pill form, and cocaine typically comes in a powder form, with the exception of crack cocaine. Neither drug has much (if any) practical or medical purpose, however, cocaine can be used as an anesthetic and appetite stimulant.

Meth has a much wider defined area of use than cocaine. Its highest use is in California, Hawaii, and most Western areas of the United States. More recently, meth usage has increased in the urban areas of Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, and Washington. Cocaine has no geographic pattern, but studies have shown that it’s used largely in major metropolitan areas due to the fact that cocaine is very expensive.

As far as effects are concerned, both cocaine and meth are often confused with one another because they both produce the same effects. With both drugs, users experience a quick rush followed by feelings of euphoria or happiness. A meth high can last anywhere between eight and twenty-four hours, depending on the amount of drug ingested into the body. The high from Cocaine lasts only a short time, from twenty to thirty minutes.

Methamphetamine’s high can last from eight to twenty four hours and fifty percent of the drug is removed from the body in twelve hours. Cocaine’s high on the other hand, lasts from twenty to thirty minutes and fifty percent of the drug is removed from the body in one hour. Physiologically, Both meth and cocaine can cause make you irritable can cause anxiety. Both drugs also increase the heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.

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How Drug Abuse Affects the Brain

September 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Researchers are discovering that drug addiction can be prevented. Community leaders, medical professionals, and families have developed nationwide programs to help put a stop to drug abuse. It’s important for everyone to understand the risks involved when people take drugs. It’s a serious problem in our country, and people need to be aware of it. Most people believe that the majority of people spending time in jail are addicted to drugs, alcohol, or both. It’s important for the community to know that drugs are dangerous. However, by the same token, drug addiction can be prevented as along as people don’t abuse drugs in the first place.

Through years of study, researchers are beginning to understand how drugs interfere with the brain’s communication system. The nerves in your brain are responsible for calling, sending, receiving, and analyzing information. Drugs actually interfere with the brain’s natural communication system in many ways. Interestingly, drugs imitate the brain’s messengers. For example, heroin and marijuana have the same structure as the brain’s chemical messengers, so they are capable of imitating those messengers.

The chemical messengers in your brain are referred to as neurotransmitters. Since drugs have a similar structure as the neurotransmitters, they transmit abnormal messages and fool the brain. Drugs like meth and cocaine transmit large amounts of these messages to the brain.

Drugs also stimulate the reward portion of the brain with a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Dopamine is responsible for controlling peoples actions like movement, emotion, and motivation. It also makes the brain respond favorably to behaviors like eating, sleeping, and spending time with loved ones. Heroin and marijuana over stimulate the brain’s reward and produce a feeling of joy to the user. Drug users describe it as a feeling of euphoria.

In order for drug users to re-experience a feeling of euphoria, they continue to abuse drugs. After repeated usage, the brain reduces the amount of dopamine receptors in the brain. When this happens, it becomes more difficult for the user to achieve the same high as before, which is the reason why people take larger quantities of drugs.

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