Smoking Pot May Lead To Nicotine Addiction

nicotine addictionOften when people think about gateway drugs, they imagine a series of more and more dangerous and damaging drugs and substances, one leading to the other in a progression, or a downward spiral really, from drug to drug, each one worse than the last. For example, most people imagine this slippery slope starting with tobacco and alcohol and leading to marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, among other types of drugs, synthetic or even prescription.

But the results of a new study flips this imagined progression on its head, suggesting that marijuana use can increase the risk for nicotine addiction down the road. It seems marijuana may be a gateway drug for tobacco, not the other way around. There is some anecdotal evidence that supports these findings. Some marijuana users have said that being stoned makes them fiend for a cigarette to a greater degree than they would sober. Other marijuana users have said that smoking marijuana makes stopping smoking more difficult.

The Study On Pot And Nicotine Addiction

The study, which involved mice in a lab setting, was quite complex. To begin with, the study involved dosing mice with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—the active ingredient in marijuana—or a placebo over a period of several days. Researchers then attempted to teach these mice how to access nicotine through a small hole in their cage where it was injected into their blood stream each time they poked their noses through. Researchers hypothesized that the mice who learned quickly how to repeatedly access the nicotine—not all the mice did learn how—and who also sought out the nicotine portal with greater alacrity, did so because they were extra motivated by their addiction to nicotine.

It turns out that 95 percent of the mice who were given THC figured out how to obtain the nicotine and did so with greater frequency and more determination. Only 65 percent of the mice who had been given the placebo learned how to access the nicotine and those that did were not willing to work as hard for a dose of nicotine as were the THC mice. In short, the results showed that nicotine was more valuable to the THC mice and that the THC mice were more prone to addiction to nicotine than the placebo mice. Research that has been conducted in the past has failed to find this connection between marijuana use and tendency towards addiction to other drugs like cocaine and heroin. Researchers note that there may be many reasons—social factors mainly—that someone who smokes pot may be more likely to become addicted to nicotine.

Certainly this study needs corroboration from other studies and the relevance to humans needs to be more firmly established, but given what stoners have been saying for years about how pot makes them feel about cigarettes, this study establishes a pathway for new research.

What It Means

Given the serious health issues that can result from tobacco use—heart disease, lung cancer, and emphysema to name but a few—and given the fact that tobacco use has been and continues to be the number one cause of preventable death in the United States, these new findings are alarming for many people.

Many experts agree that more work needs to be done to prevent substance abuse on any level and that the notion of gateway drugs maybe isn’t helpful because it makes some drugs seems more dangerous than others when in fact they are all dangerous and potentially destructive. These findings also press the need for more research into medical marijuana and the potential negative side effects of the medical applications of that drug.

Contact Narconon today for more information on this topic and others. Call us now at 800-468-6933 for information on enrollment for marijuana or other drug problems.

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/03/25/smoking-pot-may-lead-to-nicotine-addiction/

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Lawyers Struggle With Substance Abuse At Nearly Twice The Rate Of General Population

lawyerMany people would agree that being a lawyer is a very intense and high-stress occupation involving many long hours working on cases that have very serious implications for all those involved. In other words, for most lawyers the stakes are very high in the cases they work on and this result in unusually high-stress levels, long hours of work, and an inability to step away from work even in hours at home trying to relax. The result of this high-stress level for lawyers appears to often be depression and or substance abuse problems as lawyers attempt to cope with the stress with alcohol or drugs.

According to the Lawyer Assistance Program, lawyers are at double the risk for alcoholism and depression as other non-lawyers. Efforts are being made to create support systems for lawyers with substance abuse problems or depression and the way to decrease incidences of these problems, many experts agree, is with programs and educational plans for raising awareness of the problem and offering a way out as well.

Why Is There a High-Incidence of Substance Abuse Problems and Depression Among Lawyers

Lawyers are more likely to have a substance abuse issues and depression mostly because of the extreme levels of stress inherent in the work they do—the long hours, the high-stakes nature of their cases, the inability to take a moment off to relax and enjoy life. There are other factors involved, however. Lawyers are often exposed to drinking in the social aspect of the work place and this can help to induce a substance abuse problem not only because of the exposure to alcohol but because of the signal of cultural acceptance that it sends out. It may be that lawyers are also used to solving other people’s problems and believe that they should also be able to solve their own even if that means hiding the problem and not seeking out the treatment and support that could help them. In short, the problem is sometimes denial of the problem.

Because of the seriousness of their profession, lawyers and judges are often hesitant to seek help because they are afraid that if it is disclosed or revealed somehow that they have a problem that they may find themselves in hot water with ethical boards or the Bar Association or otherwise have their reputations compromised. Apparently, the increased risk for substance abuse is also found in lawyers-in-training for many of the same reasons—high-stress, denial, cultural acceptance of drinking, and worries about reputation and their ability to get and keep a job. It is likely in a law student’s best interest, however, to deal with the problem as soon as possible lest it prevent them from getting a job in the first place. In other words, keeping the problem cloistered and persistent may have more of a negative effect than acknowledging the problem and seeking help or otherwise taking action to end it.

What Lawyers With Substance Abuse Problems Can Do

So prevalent have substance problems become for lawyers that programs have been set up specifically to deal with the problem. The Lawyer Assistance Program, which operates in all 50 states and Canada, too, is one example of the type of programs and groups that have been organized with the intent of decreasing the incidence of substance abuse in the law profession.

This group, among other things, advises lawyers how to talk to another lawyer regarding a problem with drugs or alcohol, and how to intervene in a situation that has gotten out-of-hand or dangerous. Most experts agree that the best way to deal the problem is to bring it out into the open so that the stigma dissolves and lawyers can deal with their problems in an open and honest way.

For more information on this topic contact Narconon news or call 800-468-6933 now.

Source: http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/lawyers-struggle-substance-abuse-nearly-twice-rate-general-population-2013-03-25-134500

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Meth Scourge Is Growing

Meth SchourgeMany experts, researchers, law enforcement officials, and everyday Americans too, would agree that the popularity, familiarity, and availability of methamphetamine—also commonly known as crystal meth, glass, ice, or crank—has grown steadily throughout the last two decades. Many would also acknowledge the drug’s potential to cause serious and lasting damage to people’s lives.

This potential to do damage has recently been highlighted in popular culture on shows like Intervention and award-winning drama series like Breaking Bad, where millions of viewers have watched vivid and compelling dramatizations of what meth can do to people—their health, their livelihoods, their relationships, and their future. According to law enforcement data from across the country meth is experiencing a boom in popularity across the United States and elsewhere. Last year in Connecticut, for example, meth seizures went from 5 ounces total the year before to over 14 pounds the next. In New York, one study found that the meth market in New York City was worth over $640 million and involved over 63,000 meth users and addicts.

What Is Meth And What Can It Do To You

Meth is a synthetic drug first invented in 1893 and was used by both the Allies and Axis forces during World War II as a way to maintain alertness and energy in fighting forces. Eventually by the 1960’s people began to manufacture it on their own in guerrilla style operations run out of their personal houses, garages, outbuildings, or hotel rooms even.

Motorcycle gangs in California began to see the profit potential in the drug and began to manufacture and sell it. There is generally a progression of use methods for addicts: first, they smoke meth; next, they snort it; and finally, they inject it. Meth is often made out of everyday common household items like cold remedy pills, cleaning products, battery acid, and various tubes, pots, pans, and containers.

The investment required for these tools and supplies are minimal compared to the potential profit someone could make selling one batch of meth. And for those already addicted to the drug, the idea of simply brewing up your own batch at home and on the cheap was very appealing. So, the United States was inundated with meth labs by the late 90’s, according to experts. Because of the volatility of the ingredients used to manufacture the drug, there were and continue to be many accidents, fires, and explosions in meth labs.

Meth ingredients are also toxic by and large, and this toxicity, experts say, is the main reason that the drug has deleterious effects on the body’s organs, destroys teeth, destroys hair and skin and the mind. Experts note that there are very few elderly meth addicts or meth cooks—they all die before they have a chance to grow old. The drug has the ability to induce psychosis in users, many of whom describe experiencing the sensation of an extreme itching, like bugs crawling under their skin. Experts on addiction say that meth is extremely addictive and that 50 percent of first time users develop an immediate craving for more. Because the drug messes with the brain’s chemistry in such a radical way, extreme depression can set in once the drug begins to wear off and users scramble for another hit in order to stave off this horrible, impending pain.

How To Curb The Meth Problem

Many would agree that while law enforcement is doing their part to keep the drug off the street, more needs to be done to address the problem on a systemic level and that means increased education about the drug, more and better treatment plans and methods, and increased involvement from parents in preventing drug use in their children in the first place. Centers like the Narconon program achieve a success rate where seven out of ten graduates remain permanently drug free, for example.

Many health care and drug treatment workers acknowledge that meth abuse has been a major problem.

Source: http://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Meth-scourge-is-growing-4380954.php

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Increasing Number Of Babies Being Born Addicted to Drugs

pregnant woman having backacheAccording to a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan. they have found that an alarming increase in the rate of babies being born with neo-natal abstinence syndrome (NAS). This is a painful analog to adult withdrawal from opiate and other powerfully addicted drugs. It occurs when an expecting mother takes powerful prescription painkillers or other medications during pregnancy; the baby absorbs and becomes dependent on those drugs and then has withdrawal symptoms upon birth and the removal from the mother’s body where the drugs are.

The University of Michigan study indicates that one baby is born addicted to opiates every hour in the U.S. And in Tennessee, a state that has seen neo-natal abstinence syndrome rates increase by 10 times since 2000. In fact, 7.6 out of every 1,000 babies born in 2011 had some form of NAS. The way that this is happening is that especially difficult problem to deal with especially because the drugs that these mothers are using and passing on to their unborn children. The main culprit are prescription medications whose use has often been prescribed and sanctioned by a doctor. Many would argue that the increased rates of NAS in babies born across the country are a sign of the greater hazard that prescription pain medications as a whole pose.

What Happens to the Babies with Neo-Natal Abstinence Syndrome

Apparently, the effects and consequences of NAS are so intense and disturbing that some health care professionals report that they have trouble dealing with NAS patients. Newborn babies with NAS typically spent many days in extreme pain, shaking, with diarrhea, and suffering from extreme dehydration and an inability to keep fluids down even with the assistance of an IV drip. NAS babies are often placed in a neo-natal intensive care unit and as such miss out on time spent with mom breastfeeding and otherwise bonding.

Babies with NAS are often given methadone to ease them their opiate addictions, and methadone itself is a leading cause of drug overdoses and requires a long and rigorous schedule for weaning off that can be a trial in and of itself. Evidence also suggests that babies with NAS are prone to complications further down the line like autism, a condition that in itself often treated with potentially addictive prescription drugs. Because it is often perceived that the mother made an enormous mistake—even if she was prescribed the opiate prescription medications in the first place—NAS children can also end up in the custody of Child Protective Services.

A Good Place To Start To End The Problem

A good place to start, many experts and substance abuse workers agree, is to better educate women who are pregnant and potentially considering the use of a prescription drug of one sort or another. The risks of using prescription pain medications and especially opiates during pregnancy. Some people think, it should be made abundantly clear to pregnant women so that they can make a smart and informed decision about the matter. Many folks also think, given the fact that over 60 percent of NAS mothers had been legally prescribed the medication that resulted in the syndrome, that the prescription process should be scrutinized and potentially overhauled.

It may be that, as some suggest, alternatives to prescription pain killers need to be explored so as to completely eradicate the risk for prescription opiate pain medication based neo-natal abstinence syndrome. Once NAS has occurred in a child many people might recommend finding alternatives to methadone and other prescription pills so that the cycle of addiction and the slippery slope effect are averted.

For more information on Narconon rehabilitation program call 800-468-6933.

Source: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130217/NEWS01/130217010/BORN-ADDICTED-Increasing-number-babies-hooked-drugs

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Kidney Failure And Marijuana Use Linked

kidney failureA study was recently published in a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Because of the recent synthetic drug epidemic, a lot of attention has been on the fact that the side effects of such drugs are largely unknown. This new study suggests that kidney failure is high on the list of risks associated with smoking synthetic marijuana.

Synthetic Marijuana

Called Spice or K2, or any of a number of other names, synthetic marijuana is composed of dried, clumped herbs which have been treated with a chemical compound that is very similar to the active psychotropic in marijuana, THC. Synthetic marijuana is sold legally in head shops and convenience stores all across the country, if not the world. This is a major problem and it is only getting worse.

Synthetic marijuana maintains its legality by staying one step ahead of lawmakers. Every time a law is passed against one particular chemical molecule contained in synthetic marijuana, the manufacturers just change the chemical slightly so that it is no longer illegal. It makes it almost impossible to stop it from getting into people’s hands. And these new drugs are untested, the side effects unknown.

Kidney Failure

Among other things, a person’s kidneys filter waste products from the bloodstream. They deposit these wastes into the bladder and they are passed from the body as urine. A person is usually born with two and can make do with only one, but they have a tough time. When a person’s kidneys fail, very bad things start to happen.

Urea, the main component of urine starts to leak into the blood stream causing nausea and/or diarrhea. Memory problems, dizziness, foamy or bubbly urine, swelling, itching, etc are all symptoms of kidney problems. The kidneys are very important to keep a body functioning properly. In the case of drug overdose causing the kidneys to fail, it is often possible to bring the kidneys back up to full health once the burden has been taken off of them with supportive therapies. However, the person will have an increased risk of future kidney failure.

Side Effects

Synthetic drugs are not as well documented as the drugs which have been around for hundreds of years like alcohol, opiates, mushrooms and marijuana. They are deliberate alterations of these base drugs in order to find a loophole in an existing law. A law which is designed to save lives and property from being lost or damaged. The more people do drugs, the bigger the strain will be on the entire system.

Now kidney failure is a known common side effect of these synthetic drugs. There have been news stories about some of the other side effects as well. Increased risk of stroke, increased risk of violent tendencies up to and including cannibalism, etc. There is no way to know what these drugs will do to a person once they enter the system. There is no way of knowing how long the drugs will stay in the system. Some have reported tripping bad for days.

Every drug has side effects; some worse than others. But with non-synthetic drugs, we, as a society, know the risks. Alcohol could make you barf and will impair all your senses. Cocaine will give you headaches and nausea and is habit forming. The list goes on and on, but we don’t know what these synthetic drugs will do to us when they enter our systems. People are dying (and dying painfully) or just becoming brain dead, which can be considered worse by some.

Call the Narconon program at 800-468-6933 for more information on this topic or to talk to a counselor.

Source: http://frenchtribune.com/teneur/1316080-researchers-link-smoking-synthetic-marijuana-increased-risks-kidney-failure

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Women Abusing Alcohol Similar To Men

woman with beerWomen born between 1953 and 1962 had their first drink at the age of 17 on average. For men, it was 15 years old. Nowadays, the average for both sexes is 14 years of age. These numbers come from a study published by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of New South Wales in Australia. It would seem that the equal opportunity movement has come a long way, though these statistics don’t number among the good changes we have already seen as a society.

Boys Vs Girls

There are a couple more troubling reports from the study. Apparently women are less likely to seek help when they show signs of alcohol addiction as compared to men. The reasons for this are currently being researched but it can be conjectured that women may be less likely to seek help because until fairly recently not as many women were drinking compared to men. Most of the societal mores and customs around drinking probably have a more masculine skew to them.

Another problem with women and alcohol is that women tend to weigh less than men. This means that alcohol has a stronger effect on women, in general. This also means that women are more likely, statistically speaking, to develop alcohol related problems such as addiction.

The Status Quo

Everyone thinks it’s normal to drink. A lot. It’s a fun party game most people have participated in. There are beer and alcohol commercials all over tv, magazines and the internet. It is the most widely used and available drug in the entire world. It is definitely, definitely a drug that alters a person’s mental state, but is treated as a recreational past-time. Like having a picnic or going to a movie. “Let’s go get drunk.”

Everyone knows someone who drinks heavily and gets along great in life. All our lives, we’ve grown up around people who seem competent and serious and then they get fun and crazy when they start drinking. We can’t wait until we’re old enough to drink so we can have fun like the grown ups have. It is a strange thing when someone doesn’t drink. Everyone kind of stares at the sideways and tries to steer the conversation to something else.

The Truth About Alcohol

Like all drugs, alcohol has long term and short term side effects which are supposed to tell us that we’re doing something our bodies don’t like. It is far too easy to take alcohol to excess. That’s why so many people throw up or have their stomachs pumped. This is also why so many people “get out of hand” and start acting anti-social, becoming oblivious to the negative reactions of the people around them.

Alcohol tastes bad. There. I said it. Nobody seems to pay attention to this fact. Alcohol doesn’t taste good. A person has to mix it with something else so it becomes tolerable to swallow. If you give someone a pickle, but they don’t like the taste of pickles, they will tell you they don’t want the pickle.

Alcohol not only tastes bad but it impairs every single one of a person’s senses. They have reduced peripheral vision and ability to spot movement. Their skin and other nerve endings become numbed. Many people are relieved to find their sense of taste has numbed after a drink or two because they can’t taste the alcohol as much anymore. They can’t hear as well. Not in the sense that their ears don’t pick up the vibrations of sound, but in the sense that they can’t tell if something is too loud. You’ll notice a lot of drunk people talk more loudly, some practically shout.

Generally most awareness starts to fall away as one drinks more and more alcohol, whether male or female. For more information contact Narconon rehabilitation program.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/women-now-abusing-alcohol-at-similar-levels-to-men-20130206-2dyql.htm

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Molly Drug Has Doctors Concerned And Warning Parents Of Dangers

“Molly” is not just a nice name for a girl these days; it is, in fact, also a new moniker for an old drug called ecstasy that has been refined and distributed in a purer form. “Molly” is very popular amongst youth these days, especially at dance parties and rave-type events, where the drug allows for energetic, all-night dancing and intense feelings of connection and love with fellow revelers.

But despite the euphoria and pleasant feelings that many have while using the drug, and despite the drugs popularization by rap artists and other musical luminaries, doctors are warning kids and their parents that the drug is very dangerous indeed.

What Is “Molly” Exactly?

Molly is basically the drug Ecstasy with a new name. Purportedly, Molly is a purer form of ecstasy. It is composed only of the psychoactive chemical in Ecstasy; MDMA. So basically “Molly” is MDMA in concentrated form. “Molly” is often distributed and used in pill form, and oftentimes the pills are decorated, engraved really, with little motifs like butterflies, question marks, and birds.

The drug may also come in a powder form that can be snorted or mixed in a drink of some sort and ingested orally. It is becoming more and more common for MDMA to be replaced by dealers with methamphetamine so that this purportedly “pure” drug is in fact something else altogether. “Molly” may cause intense feelings of euphoria, heightened awareness of the environment, and intense feelings of love and personal connection. Apparently, despite these enjoyable seeming effects, “Molly” has addictive qualities and users can easily become physically dependent on the drug.

Molly In Popular Culture

Kids these days may be talking about “Molly” as if she were an actual person; phrases like “Have you seen Molly?” are in fact code for determining if someone has taken MDMA recently.  In fact, so common is this manner of referring to the drug that parents should beware if they hear their kids referencing a new friend or acquaintance named “Molly” on the phone or even on Facebook. Referring to MDMA as “Molly” is something that has entered into the mainstream, especially in the music and entertainment industries. “Molly” has become a motif in many rap and hip-hop songs, and there is even a popular shirt with the question “Have you seen Molly?” emblazoned across the front.

At a recent concert, uber-diva Madonna asked the entire crowd how many had seen Molly that night.

“Molly” Has Doctors Worried

“Molly” is addictive, according to many doctors, who have found that the increased levels of serotonin that MDMA produces in a user are impossible to sustain and that once they go away, frequent users develop a craving for the drug and the associated elevated levels of serotonin. Often, frequent users of MDMA are prone to depression and anxiety as their bodies struggle to function without this very strong and dangerous drug.

According to doctors, MDMA is a sort of neurotoxin as well, and use of the drug may damage or otherwise injure brain cells. MDMA also may cause seizures, high fevers, and suicidal tendencies, and in cases of severe overdosing, death. Doctors acknowledge that it is very difficult for parents to stay up to date on all the new drug trends their children may be exposed to or taking part in, and that the best tactic for preventing drug use in the household is to maintain healthy communication channels with kids in an open and trusting atmosphere. Prevention is and has always been the best medicine.

For more information on this topic or to view Narconon photos.

Source:  http://www.kare11.com/news/article/1007970/396/Doctors-warn-parents-about-the-Molly-drug

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4 Tips For Staying Sober After Treatment

For many substance abusers, the real trick in getting clean doesn’t lie in attending rehab—it’s staying clean once you leave.

Relapse is a common occurrence for addicts who, in the presence of environmental stimuli, become overwhelmed and give into negative influence or drug cravings. Some treatment modalities refer to relapse as an “inevitable part of recovery.” This is merely one opinion.

Relapse does not have to be a part of your recovery path. Read on to discover a few helpful tips obtained from others who have overcome their struggles with substance abuse.

Getting Clean Is Only Half The Work

Staying clean once an addict has returned home is often a real feat. This is understandable when the presence of old friends and a drug-using environment serves as a reminder of old habits.

Getting clean at a rehab facility is a very large accomplishment, undoubtedly. Even larger than that, however, is managing to maintain sobriety and stay clean in the presence of adversity.

Thus, here are 4 tips for staying clean after leaving a treatment facility:

1.    Surround yourself with other positive, clean individuals—build a support structure for yourself.

2.    Leave rehab with a life plan, as well as a backup plan.

3.    While in treatment, get to the underlying issues of your addiction; this will make you conscious of present time risk factors.

4.    Find new and exciting hobbies you enjoy doing; fill your life with constructive activity.

The Importance Of A Support Structure

A support structure could be defined as people who are “on your team.” This could be friends, family, your employer, local community groups, your drug counselors, etc.  These individuals act in support of your drug and alcohol-free lifestyle.

Old friends, drug dealers, fellow users, etc., are not a part of this support structure. Instead, these individuals will seek to draw you back into their destructive lifestyle. It is important you recognize who is on your team and who isn’t, and operate accordingly.

With a firm and positive support structure in place, you will have a much stronger shot at staying clean. The more people you have on your team, the more eyes you have to watch out for negative influences, suspicious activity or potentially dangerous situations.

Most importantly, these are the people who will support you and be there for your on tough days when you need a friend.

Constructive Activities—More Than Just A Distraction

Some mistakenly refer to hobbies as a mere distraction. While this isn’t completely wrong, constructive activities which invoke joy, creativity and happiness could hardly be referred to as a “distraction.”

Focus on finding activities and groups surrounding hobbies you love. For example:

•    Pottery
•    Hiking
•    Yoga
•    Mountain biking
•    Surfing/kayaking
•    Drawing or painting
•    Cooking
•    Writing/reading (as in a book club or writer’s guild)

Immersing yourself into such positive creativity will likely become your number one outlet for building the happy, drug-free life you have always wanted.  It is key to staying sober after treatment and staying positive about having continued sobriety.

For more information or tips on staying sober contact Narconon Arrowhead now at 800-469-6933.

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10 Over The Counter Medicines Abused By Teens

Your medicine cabinet can be your teenager’s treasure-trove for either making money from their friends or for their new way of “getting their kicks” (getting high).  Just because a lot of your medicine cabinet drugs are obtained Over the Counter (OTC) doesn’t mean they are safe. These OTC drugs are safe when “taken as prescribed” or “taken as instructed by your doctor”.  Dosages of OTC drugs can be safe for an adult but lethal to a teenager.

We feel that if parents or adults who supervise teens and children in their homes understood what the side effects of these OTC drugs are, would take better care to keep them out of the hands of youths. Here is a list of some of the more common OTC drugs and their side-effects:

  • Dextromethorphan: This is the active ingredient in more than 100 OTC cough and cold medicines such as Robitussin and NyQuil. One teen in every ten has reported abuse of cough medicine to get high.  Large doses can cause euphoria, distortions of color and sound, and “out of body” hallucinations that last up to 6 hours. Other dangerous side effects including impaired judgment, vomiting, loss of muscle movement, seizures, blurred vision, drowsiness, shallow breathing, and a fast heart rate. When combined with alcohol or other drugs, a large dose can lead to death. Not much is known about long-term abuse, but cases of bone marrow and nerve cell damage, high blood pressure, heart damage, and permanent brain damage have been reported.
  • Pain relievers: Adults and teens have taken pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen in doses higher then recommended because they want the medicine to work faster. They don’t think of the side effects. They don’t know that liver failure can happen with large doses of acetaminophen, and that stomach bleeding, kidney failure, and cardiac risks are heightened when taking large doses of ibuprofen.
  • Caffeine medicines and energy drinks: OTC caffeine pills like NoDoz or energy drinks like “5 Hour Energy,” or pain relievers with caffeine have all been abused for the buzz or “jolt of energy” they seem to impart. Large doses of caffeine can cause serious dehydration, gastric reflux, panic attacks, and heart irregularities that have occasionally been linked to accidental deaths, particularly in those with an underlying heart condition. Taking too much of a pain reliever can also cause serious side effects as noted above.
  • Diet pills: In large doses, diet pills can create a mild buzz. But misuse of diet pills can also signal a serious eating disorder. Abuse of diet pills often starts with trying just a few in order to lose weight. But these OTC medicines can be highly addictive. Although the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned several of the most dangerous stimulants commonly found in OTC diet pills—phenylpropanolamine, ephedrine, and ephedra—other ingredients in these OTC products can be dangerous. To cite an example, bitter orange is a common ingredient that acts much like ephedrine in the body. It can cause nervousness and tremor, rapid and irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, and death. Many other diet pill ingredients cause digestive problems, hair loss, insomnia, anxiety, irritability, extreme paranoia, blurred vision, kidney problems, and dehydration. Furthermore, even the most “natural” diet preparations can have serious side effects when misused, particularly those containing ma huang (ephedra). An earlier FDA ban on ephedra pertained only to diet pills considered dietary supplements, not herbal remedies such as teas and Chinese preparations.
  • Laxatives and herbal diuretics: Like diet pills, some teens and young adults also abuse OTC laxatives and herbal diuretics (water pills), including uva-ursa, golden seal, dandelion root, rose hips, and others, to lose weight. Laxatives and herbal diuretics can cause serious dehydration and life-threatening loss of important minerals and salts that regulate the amount of water in the body, acidity of the blood, and muscle function.
  • Motion sickness pills: Motion sickness pills that contain dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl) taken in large doses can cause one to feel high and have hallucinations similar to street drugs. The dose needed to cause these symptoms varies widely according to body weight and tolerance. Some teens and adults may take as many as 40 pills of Dramamine, for example, to experience the desired high. Extremely high doses of Dramamine have caused dangerous irregular heartbeats, coma, heart attacks, and death. Long-term abuse can cause depression, liver and kidney damage, memory loss, eye pain, itchy skin, urine retention, and abdominal pain.
  • Sexual performance medicines: OTC sexual performance medicines, often purchased via the Internet, are sometimes abused by teens and adults who are drinking to counteract the negative effects of alcohol on sexual performance. These medicines can cause heart problems, especially when combined with alcohol or when taken in large doses.
  • Pseudoephedrine: This nasal decongestant and stimulant is found in many cold medicines. Its similarity to amphetamines has made it sought out to make the illegal drug methamphetamine.  People have taken pseudoephedrine to lose weight, and athletes have misused the medicine to increase their state of awareness and to get them “pumped up” before a competition. Dangerous side effects include heart palpitations, irregular heartbeats, and heart attacks. When combined with other drugs, such as narcotics, pseudoephedrine may trigger episodes of paranoid psychosis.
  • Herbal ecstasy: This is a combination of inexpensive herbs that are legally sold in pill form and swallowed, snorted, or smoked to produce euphoria, increased awareness, and enhanced sexual sensations. Marketed as a “natural” high, the main ingredient is ma huang (ephedra), an herb banned in the US but only in dietary supplements. The product can be purchased in gas stations, health food stores, drug stores, music stores, nightclubs, and online. It is easy to overdose on the product because the dose needed for desirable effects varies widely. The adverse effects can be severe, including muscle spasms, increased blood pressure, seizures, heart attacks, strokes, and death.
  • Other herbals: Other herbal products are increasingly being abused for their stimulant, hallucinogenic, and euphoric effects. Besides being legal, another draw is that many herbals are not detected during routine urine drug screens. One example is salvia (aka Deer Sage), which is ingested or smoked to experience a short-lived distortion of reality and profound hallucinations. Users can experience severe anxiety, loss of body control, extreme psychosis, and violent behavior. They are also at risk for accidents and injuries that may result from an altered mental state. Another example is nutmeg, which is eaten as a paste to experience giddiness, euphoria, and hallucinations. Nausea and vomiting set in within an hour and hallucinations begin within 3 hours and can last for 24 hours or more. Effects such as blurred vision, dizziness, numbness, palpitations, low blood pressure, and rapid heartbeat may occur.

This is a short list of OTC drugs and herbals. There are more and more study should be done on what is in your medicine cabinet to ensure they are safe. If there is any question as to the safety of what’s in your medicine cabinet, then lock and key is the safest of all solutions.

For more information and videos go to www.youtube.com/user/narconon.

Source:  http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/healthcare/10-over-the-counter-medicines-abused-by-teens.html

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Drug Abuse Amongst The Homeless Leading Cause Of Death

There is a new and unique situation plaguing local governments in municipalities which is an ever-increasing amount of homeless people in America. Along with this upsurge of homeless Americans is the ever-increasing amount of drugs abuse of these folks who do not have places to call their own.

More and more Americans who are living without a home are developing drug and alcohol abuse problems. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (USHUD) and its most recent report on homelessness, more than 42.9% individual homeless adults have disabilities, which include drug and alcohol problems.  This statistic can be compared to 14% percent of adults who have disabilities and are living without a home but are living with their families.

Furthermore, drug and alcohol use and homelessness are related according to whether or not a person is homeless for a short term or long term.  Specifically, of the 5% of the nearly 2 million homeless people reported by the USHUD in 2009 categorized as chronically homeless, nearly all people living without a home for more than a month have family problems and some kind of disability, including drug or alcohol addiction or mental illness.  Based on the 2009 HUD Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, about one-third of sheltered homeless persons reported chronic substance abuse problem, which means they are addicted to drugs or alcohol.

With such varying rates and numbers (chronic vs. short term homelessness, homeless individuals vs. homeless families, and the lack of precise data on “disability”), it is difficult to come up with a definition conclusion on the relationship between addiction and homelessness.  But it seems logical to conclude that drugs and alcohol can play an important role in either getting a person on the streets, or keeping that person on the streets. And this seems to be in line with real experiences on the streets.  Obtaining prescription drugs or cheap alcohol is easy for homeless who panhandle the public for money for “food” and usually use it to purchase drugs.

What Comes First

It’s safe to say that addiction comes first. If a person is a homeless addict, most likely they became homeless because of their addiction. It is an all-too-common story that persons who were once successful started to abuse drugs or alcohol and started the vicious downward spiral until he finds himself or herself on the streets without a home. They have already “burned bridges” with family and friends whom they’ve worn out their welcome with and have nowhere to turn and find themselves on the street. But where there’s a will there’s a way and these people find how to obtain drugs on the street and are kept there because of their dependence.

It is important to address addiction within the homeless population at large. While people who abuse drugs and alcohol make up a relatively small share of the homeless population, they consume more emergency and transitional shelters and occupy hospitals and jails at high rates.

In the interest of social welfare, we need to address the root causes of homelessness, and disability caused by addiction is one that is treatable.  Local governments are seeking to solve the problem by getting people off the street and into subsidized housing.  But there is some resistance to this idea, as citizens don’t feel that it solves some of the deeper problems of mental disorders and/or substance abuse.

For more information contact Narconon drug rehabilitation now.

Source:  http://www.examiner.com/article/drug-abuse-becomes-the-leading-cause-of-death-among-the-homeless

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