Fake Or Real Marijuana Which Is A Greater Problem For Teens

While many of us understand the very real dangers of marijuana amongst American youth and adults, it appears a new and even worse drug has entered the scene. Experts now say that fake marijuana use is a serious problem for teens that parents and teachers must be aware of.

What is Fake Marijuana?

Although coined with a name like “fake marijuana,” synthetic pot is anything but fake. The substance may be man-made and chemically engineered to mimic marijuana (hence the “fake” part), but many experts consider the substance to be even more dangerous than pot itself.

Chemicals called synthetic cannabinoids are sprayed onto a leafy mixture that appears very similar to dried oregano leaves. The ensuing high is described by users in widely different ways—some find it enjoyable and addictive, while others describe it as frightening and mentally disturbing.

Fake marijuana use is a serious problem for teens largely due to the inconsistency present in these drugs. Legislators across America have made attempts to outlaw them completely but thus far have only succeeded with bans of particular chemical ingredients, with the hope that such a ban might prevent further manufacture of synthetic marijuana. Unfortunately, this has pushed drug makers to get creative with the ingredients. Hence, nearly every batch of synthetic marijuana has the potential to be completely different from any others. This puts the adverse effects and risks up on a level akin to a game of Russian roulette.

Synthetic Drugs—How to Spot Them in Your Home

The first thing you should know in spotting synthetic cannabis in your home is what the drug itself looks like. As mentioned above,

Additionally, the foul smell given off from the drug, when smoked, is similar to burnt hair—nothing at all like actual marijuana.

Last, look for brightly colored packages and plastic tubs or tins with any of the following names on them:

K2
Spice
Herbal Incense
Bliss
Skunk
Black Mamba
Blaze
Moon Rocks

Adverse reactions from synthetic marijuana include dizziness, nausea/vomiting, gastrointestinal irregularity, anxiety, seizures, tremors and extreme violence. Watch for signs of any of these conditions and, if you feel something may be up, get help right away.

Prevention is the Best Form of “Treatment”

Every day, new trends and substances emerge which prove to us more and more the importance of employing self-education as a primary method of prevention. Protecting your family and keeping your kids drug-free begins with understanding what today’s threats are exactly, and acting from there.

Take the time to understand what issues plague your local community and schools, and set aside time to talk to your young children/teens about the dangers of “fake marijuana.”

You may also find it beneficial to talk to your child’s school faculty and community leaders to see what local drug preventions efforts could use your help. Even just by simply raising awareness, you could save hundreds of individuals and families from a lifetime of devastation and tragedy at the hands of substance abuse.

For more information on this topic or the Narconon program contact us today.

Source: http://teens.webmd.com/news/20121203/fake-marijuana-teens

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Binge Eating Linked To Marijuana And Other Drug Use

Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States, and is the most popular substance abused by teens and young adults aged 18-25. We have seen evidence of marijuana’s lasting negative effects on the body and the mind, but is it also possible that eating disorders are yet another a byproduct of substance abuse?

Researchers now say that binge eating is linked to marijuana and other drug use.

Marijuana’s Effects On The Mind

Scientific findings indicate that the earlier one begins using marijuana, the more potential neuro toxic damage is possible. Duke University researchers recently analyzed the lives of over a thousand individuals from birth through age 38. The researchers found that those who began smoking marijuana early in life and continued through to present-day showed lower IQ scores than those who were marijuana-free.

Additional impairments were seen in cognitive function, learning and recall skills amongst those who were persistent pot users. Further, individuals who began using pot during their teenage years were seen more commonly to become persistent users.

Mental and physical adverse reactions to marijuana include the following:

-Depression
-Fatigue
-Loss of motivation
-Skin conditions
-Gastrointestinal conditions/irregularities
-Nausea/vomiting
-Headaches
-Anxiety

What is “Binge Eating”?

Binge eating is technically defined as excessive eating with a loss of control, often to the point of discomfort mentally and physically. Binge eating is often seen in a consistent pattern, and is usually followed or preceded by other non-optimum eating conditions like anorexia or bulimia. Binge eating is now classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Statistically, binge eating is more frequent amongst females than males. Some females will binge eat on a regular basis and vomit (bulimia) while others will binge eat during times of stress or depression.

The Link Between Marijuana Drugs And Binge Eating

Marijuana is infamous for giving its users “the munchies,” but this could hardly be considered binge eating. So, what is the connection?

According to the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine’s study (published online), Boston Children’s Hospital researchers looked into the subject of excessive food intake and its connection to drug use.

After surveying nearly 17,000 male and female youth over nine years, it was seen that binge eating is linked to marijuana and other drug use. Those who engaged in excessive or binge eating were seen to adopt worsening conditions of depression, obesity and substance abuse. In other words, the binge eating forecasted drug abuse.

In truth, the connection isn’t hard to grasp. Drugs and alcohol are used as an escape from unwanted feelings. Those with food and eating disorders are most certainly dealing with underlying issues to their condition; marijuana and other drugs are an easy replacement substance that are used in “self-medicating” mental conditions.

Yet another important common denominator between binge eating, substance abuse and addictions of other natures is the factor of loss of control. One could be addicted to shopping or gambling in the same way an individual could be addicted to food or hooked on pills.

If you are a loved one are struggling with any of the above conditions, we encourage you to get educated and seek help right away. Drug use and eating disorders wreak havoc on the body and the spirit. Get help now for an addiction; contact us today to learn more about Narconon.

Source:  http://www.everydayhealth.com/addiction/1210/binge-eating-linked-to-marijuana-and-other-drug-use.aspx

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Elevated Crime A Product Of Drug Use

Prescription drug and street drug abuse both have shown clear connection to crime rate over the past several decades—statistics and empirical evidence exist which make this point hard to debate.

Recent emergence of prescription painkiller abuse all over the country has those in law enforcement questioning what can be done to further fight against this issue. It is clear that elevated crime is a product of drug use, but what substances are our biggest threats today?

Pharmaceutical Painkillers Emerge As One Of America’s Biggest Addiction Threats

Sadly, painkillers like Vicodin, Percocet, Oxycodone, etc., are used recreationally today in staggering numbers. Abuse of such medication rose 75% between 2002 and 2010, and an estimated 2.5 million people begin abusing painkillers each year.

Such pills, in their close relationship to heroin, have actually become somewhat of a gateway substance to the infamous street drug. An Oxycontin habit is hard to maintain when cost is high, and not all doctors are willing to blindly and endlessly fill prescriptions. Heroin serves as a fine alternative, but the consequences of both dependencies are felt nationally in a big way.

Additionally, Medicaid restrictions have made it more difficult for abusers of the system to get high on their prescriptions. Resultantly, burglaries and thefts related to painkillers have been seen to be on the rise in recent years and more heroin abuse cases have become prominent.

Opiate Pills as a Gateway to Heroin

Opiate pills like Oxycontin and Vicodin work in a similar fashion as heroin.

All of these substances are opiates, meaning they have powerful pain-relieving properties and chemicals that produce a euphoric high as well. For those who begin taking pain drugs for an accident or injury, dependency can creep up rather insidiously and rapidly.

Over time, when pills are no longer a viable option, heroin is the “logical” alernative for someone seeking a stronger and more affordable high.

Protecting Yourself And Your Family

We know that elevated crime is a product of drug use. Hence, protecting yourself and your loved ones from crime begins with understanding the basics of addiction as well as a few preventative measures that we all can take to better our health.

Addicts between highs have one primary goal: to get high again.

This is a product of the biochemistry behind substance abuse. An addicted body and brain “crave” drugs for normal function. In the absence of such drugs, painful withdrawal symptoms and mental instability will set in as an emergency indication from the body that it “needs” drugs right away.

As such, be cautious of any drug user you come across in your environment. These individuals are not bad people, but their thoughts and actions are probably motivated by the thought of obtaining more drugs.

Keep your family safe from such tragedy by responsibly storing and disposing of any prescriptions you may have in the house. Additionally, do your homework before bringing any kind of pills into your home. Find out all the potential risks, expected adverse reactions and drug facts before deciding one way or the other.

Make sure you talk to your children about the dangers of drugs and addiction. And, if you know someone with a problem make sure that they seek immediate help. Contact Narconon rehab for more information.

Source: http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/delmarvanow/access/2831136171.html?FMT=ABS&date=Dec+04%2C+2012

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Marijuanas Health Effects Include Memory Problems Addiction

For a drug so widely supported as “safe” and “non-addictive,” it may come as a shock to you that marijuana carries some serious risks and adverse reactions. In fact, marijuana’s health effects include memory problems, addiction and a slew of other things.

Take this information to heart, and pass it along to others.

Is Marijuana Addictive or Not?

The fact that this is still considered a debatable topic is startling—especially when so many thousands of individuals in the United States enter drug treatment every year strictly for marijuana rehab. Scientifically speaking, marijuana makes the body dependent on its chemical effects just like cocaine, heroin, tobacco products and even coffee.

Over any period of time of receiving the same substance, the brain begins to assimilate these chemicals into normal body function. In the case of marijuana, the brain actually starts to shut down its own natural hormonal production. Upon receiving marijuana’s psychoactive chemicals that make the user generally feel temporarily happy, calm or relaxed. Eventually, the body forgets how to perform these functions naturally, without marijuana.

An individual might start out smoking pot once in a while and eventually will graduate to smoking up several times a week, or on a daily basis. Over time, these individuals will experience real withdrawal symptoms if marijuana is abstained from for too long. These include:

-Headaches
-Nausea/vomiting
-Anxiety
-Depression

Marijuana’s Lasting Impression on Health

It is true that there are less Americans currently in treatment for marijuana addictions than there are for other drug addictions to substances like cocaine, ecstasy, meth, heroin and prescription drugs. However, if you were to ask 10 addicts what the first drug they tried was—majority would say, marijuana.

As covered above, marijuana is addictive in an insidious way. Over time, more and more of the drug is required in order to produce the same result.

Sadly, a great number of people believe that marijuana is safe, natural and harmless because of its plant properties. Truthfully, marijuana itself contains over 400 toxic chemicals that attach themselves to the fat and muscle tissues of the body where they remain stored for months and even years. It is known that marijuana’s health effects cause memory problems and addiction, yet it remains one of the most popular drugs used in the world.

A lesser known fact about marijuana is that it can increase your hear rate from 20-100%. This substantially increases one’s risk of heart attack and other health conditions.

Marijuana Proven to be Mind-Altering

Teens who are misunderstood about marijuana should take care to understand the truth about the substance before making a decision on what to do. Experts now state that the following adverse mental reactions can be expected from smoking up:

1.    A slowed reaction time with impaired motor skills. This will affect one’s ability to appropriately or rapidly react in a situation, or play sports.

2.    Short-term memory loss and malfunction. One’s ability to learn, remember information and recall it later are greatly reduced by marijuana and all other drugs.

3.    Changes in mood, personality and general behavior. As with many other substances, marijuana can send your emotions all over the place (sad, anxious, angry, paranoid, etc.)

If you know someone using marijuana get them help through Narconon meetings, or the residential rehab program that we offer.

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/06/nih-marijuana-effects/1751011/

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Rogue Pharmacists Fuel Addiction

Each year, millions of Americans abuse painkillers, pills for anxiety, stimulants, etc., non-medically. That is to say, medications like Xanax, Adderall and Oxycontin are abused recreationally for their mind-numbing or otherwise euphoric effects by teens and adults every single day. To understand exactly how addicts are enabled down this devastating road, requires a closer look into the rogue pharmacists who fuel addiction across the country.

How does this kind of dependency begin? And at what point is it called “addiction”?

Dependency And Addiction Explained

Physical dependency and addiction, though closely related, are two different stages along the same road.

If you drink coffee over any period of time, you will start to notice that the “one cup in the morning” just doesn’t do it for you anymore. Over time, two or three cups of coffee are needed to produce the same effect. This same cycle applies to all drugs—whether street drugs, prescription pills and even Advil.

Those who eventually become pharmaceutical addicts generally do not intend to become so. Opiate pain drugs are especially insidious, and a physical dependency can creep in rapidly and fixedly. Further, the manifestation of withdrawal symptoms encourages the body to seek more of the opiate drug (such as Vicodin or OxyContin.)

The Pills Are Only Half of the Problem

While it is certain that rogue pharmacists who fuel addiction with “pill mill” practices are expanding this epidemic to greater proportions, the medications themselves are only half the problem.

This is illustrated by the fact that if you take the pills away, millions of addicts would seek alternate substances to continue abusing, or (for first-time users) to experiment with. Today’s youth are reportedly abusing household items like hand sanitizer and even nutmeg. It doesn’t help that pharmaceutical pain drugs are so rampantly accessible to us today, but again—so are all drugs, and potentially abusable household items.

Using the Tools of Rehabilitation, Education and Prevention to Fight Back

Recent reports of 4 Arizona youth who died of prescription overdoses, has many feeling frantic about protecting Americans from this deadly public health issue. Rogue pharmacist Thang Q. Tran is sure to face criminal prosecution for filling a shocking number of prescriptions to addicts and abusers of opiate pain pills.

This trend is all too common across the nation. In fact, prescription-related fatalities have doubled nationwide in the past decade.

Support treatment centers that apply drug free methods of rehabilitation. By treating former drug abusers without the use of addictive pharmaceuticals, these individuals are given hope that they can get off all substances once and for all and live life drug free.

Further, apply methods of prevention and education to your own family. Talk to your children and teens about all types of drugs (including prescriptions), and clear up any misconceptions they may have. Some teens think that medications, because they come from a doctor, are safer than street drugs.

Last, if a situation necessitates the use of any kind of prescription drug—be sure you store and/or dispose of leftover pills responsibly. Doing so will keep pills out of the wrong hands.

If you know someone addicted or need help go to Narconon.org.

Source:  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-prescription-pharmacies-20121220,0,3760978.story

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Three Reasons Prescription Abuse Is An Epidemic

Although many shy away from the term “epidemic,” it is hardly avoidable in today’s addiction field. Drugs like marijuana and heroin are no longer our only threats. New substances like synthetic marijuana and bath salts have become an issue in several states, while prescription drug addictions continue to rise each year. Although there are many more than just these few, let’s examine three reasons why prescription abuse is an epidemic worthy of the use of such heavy words.

Americans Consume Nearly 80% Of The World’s Pain Pills

“Epidemic” is a term used to describe an outbreak of health threats which cause great harm to the general public. What makes a flu epidemic or the Plague any different from the condition of prescription drug addiction affecting literally millions of Americans each year?

Although the United States makes up only a mere piece of the world puzzle (our nation is about 3% of the world’s population), our nation consumes nearly 80% of the world’s pain pills that are produced each year. This boils down to an average of about 60 Vicodin for every American citizen—a staggering number.

Sadly, many doctors are accused of overprescribing opiate pain drugs for symptoms and conditions inappropriate for such heavy pharmaceuticals. This excessive distribution of pills is one of the main reason why youth and teens are able to get their hands on them for non-medical abuse.

No National Plans For Alternative Treatment To Opiate Medications

A large contributing to these three reasons why prescription drug abuse is an epidemic, is the factor of physical tolerance. Many understand that you can become hooked on pills—but why?

The body and brain become tolerant of chemicals and drugs received. Over time, an increased amount of the substance is required to produce the same amount. This is true of all drugs—including caffeine, nicotine and pain pills. This is why so many patients become hooked on their prescriptions without even realizing what’s happening. The dependency is gradual and builds upon itself, but can creep up rather rapidly.

Doctors can, but rarely do, offer alternative treatments and remedies for acute pain to their patients. This kind of recommendation is not nationally required, but depends on the doctor’s personal practice preferences. There are currently no national or state laws that encourage doctors to offer drug-free medical advice to patients where appropriate. Instead, even low-scale cases of pain (such as strep throat) are used as opportunities to hand out prescription pain drugs.

Federal Government Recognizes the Issue as an Epidemic

While the medicinal value of prescription drugs is high, it is simply undeniable that more and more people become hooked on these drugs each day. Even when the doctor’s intent was merely to relieve his patient from pain, the risk of dependency and addiction still looms for opiate drug consumers.

As such, the federal government recently stated that prescription drug abuse is now the fastest growing addiction problem in our country. In addition to painkillers, tranquilizers, stimulants and sedatives are recognized as well by the DEA to be habit-forming and dangerous.

For more information on this epidemic or to find a Narconon program call 800-468-6933.

Source: http://www.inquisitr.com/411504/addiction-to-prescription-drugs-reaching-epidemic-proportions/

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Top Five Reasons RX Abuse Is Local Problem

For law enforcement and anti-drug workers, the emergence of prescription drug abuse has turned the tables in a big way. Although heroin, cocaine and other street drug abuse cases continue to trickle in, the abuse of pharmaceuticals like Vicodin (hydrocodone) and Oxycontin has overtaken the addiction scene almost completely. The misuse or excessive use of prescription drugs is not a far-fetched issue only manifesting in large cities, however. This issue may be closer to home than you think—read on to learn more about the top five reasons RX abuse is a local problem, and what you can do to help.

Prescription Drug Issue Worsens Across America

It may be shocking to some, but pills are abused in small towns just as much as in larger cities—this problem is not restricted to Los Angeles and Miami, but in rural parts of America as well. Some reasons for this are:

1.    Over-prescription by Irresponsible Doctors
In some cases, youth and adults can walk into a doctors’ office and receive a prescription for the most minor situations, or without proper screening. For example, a patient complaining of pain from strep throat may be offered Vicodin.

2.    Under Education of American Adults and Youth
Sadly, doctors hand out these drugs quite readily and, in many cases, without properly educating their patients about the risks or alternative remedies. Public school drug prevention programs do not traditionally include information about pharmaceuticals, but programs are starting to appear that do this.

3.    Biophysical Addiction to Prescriptions
Addiction to prescriptions is rarely an “intentional” problem. Rather, the body becomes tolerant of and dependent on pills in order to feel good. This physical addiction drives a mental addiction to develop.

4.    Youth Have Easy Access to Pills
75% of teens get the prescriptions they abuse by stealing them from home. The medicine cabinet is much less daunting than a drug dealer.

5.    Misconception About Prescriptions Drives Their Popularity
Because prescription drugs are understood to be “medicinal,” they are taken recreationally with the misconception that they are safer than street drugs. This point alone is one of the most important of the top five reasons RX abuse is a local problem for so many communities.

Experts Recognizing Major Changes In Addiction Scene
Addiction counselors, treatment centers and law enforcement alike agree that there are a great deal more cases related to pills than street drugs like heroin, cocaine or meth.

Marijuana continues to be the most commonly used illegal drug in America. Sadly, this gateway substance leads many youth to abuse harder substances in later life.

The abuse of prescription substances is now the fastest growing addiction problem in the United States. Drugs ranging from stimulants (Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, etc.) to painkillers (Percocet, Oxycodone, etc.) are abused for their various euphoric or performance enhancing effects. Sadly, many people don’t realize that these pills are powerfully addictive both physically and mentally.

How Can I Help?

Learn how to responsibly store and dispose of prescription pills so as to prevent them from getting into the wrong hands. Further, set a positive example to others by living drug and alcohol free. If you are a parent, teach your kids about the dangers of prescription drug abuse and the consequences of using these drugs.

If you see the signs or symptoms that there is a problem get the user immediate help. Call Narconon rehabilitation for more information or to get someone enrolled today.

Source:  http://www.sentinelsource.com/life_and_style/health_fitness/rx-abuse-proves-local-issue-too/article_20a33014-bdfa-5b6f-aa3e-6e5ba761ea1f.html

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Why Drug And Alcohol Use Increases During Holidays

According to statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of alcohol-related fatal traffic collisions per day is significantly higher during the holiday season. The car accident death rate experiences a significant spike in the period between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. During that week, 40% of fatal crashes are ones in which either of the drivers is alcohol-impaired, compared with 28% throughout the remainder of December. These figures reflect a larger trend during the holiday season. Beginning around Thanksgiving, many people notice a significant increase in the consumption and abuse of alcohol and drugs, along with the consequences they bring such as DUI accidents, domestic violence incidents and even suicide. Why should this be? Is there any reason why people tend to abuse drugs and alcohol more during the holidays?

Holiday Festivities and Gatherings

Perhaps the first reason that drug and alcohol consumption increases during the winter holidays is the fact is that there is more to go around. From office parties to gatherings at friends’ houses to family feasts, there is often an abundance of wine, liquor and beer made freely available to the party guests. Alcoholics will often use this–and the fact that others around them are drinking–to indulge in their habit. Along with the ready availability of spirits, there may be drugs at certain parties, with the result that people who don’t normally take drugs will do so and those who already have an addiction will feel more comfortable using them among others.

Another aspect of the holiday festivities is the pressure that they often cause. For many, the holidays bring a unique combination of joy and stress. While we may be delighted to visit with certain family members, the thought of seeing others makes us cringe. To make matters worse, people often find themselves struggling to handle the stress and anxiety of finding the perfect Christmas present, planning the perfect meal and sharing the perfect moments with loved ones–expectations which are often difficult to fulfill and frequently lead to friction or letdown.

The Downward Spiral of Substance Abuse

Most of us have various ways of dealing with these stresses, but some turn to drugs and alcohol as a way to cope with their problems and find a way to avoid confronting the situation. This is, unfortunately, a losing proposition. Part of the operation of drugs and alcohol in the body is to deplete the natural reserves and throw the body’s chemistry out of balance, with the result that the user is physiologically less capable of standing up to a stressful situation and is, therefore, more likely to resort to further substance abuse.

Dark Days of the Holidays

One more factor to consider when discussing the increase in alcohol and drug use during the holidays is the effect that the seasons have on the human body. To put it simply, humans need a certain amount of sunlight to be happy and healthy. In most areas of the United States, and particularly in the Northern regions, the winter months mean that the Sun sets far earlier than in other parts of the year. For many people throughout the country, sunrise occurs after they get up and sunset happens before they leave work during the holiday season. The resulting sunlight deprivation can have a depressing effect on one’s mood, an effect which has been formally labeled as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This aptly-named SAD often leaves the individual feeling down and looking for a way to cheer up which, all too often, is some form of alcohol or drugs.

Avoiding Holiday Drug and Alcohol Abuse

While the most effective solution to alcohol and drug abuse during the holidays and year-round is to seek help through a rehabilitation program, there are short-term solutions to help you or a loved one make it through the upcoming holidays safely:
•    Avoid parties where you know that drugs or alcohol will be available
•    Bring your own non-alcoholic beverages to a party
•    Bring food, and don’t worry about overeating–it’s healthier to gain a few pounds than to abuse drugs or alcohol
•    Find someone you can talk to about your problems
•    Bring a friend or family member you can count on for support at a party
•    Make plans in advance for leaving a party when you start to feel pressured to drink or take drugs, such as by having a convenient excuse for why you have to go
•    Avoid situations which you know will cause you stress

Perhaps the best strategy for making it safely through the season is to focus on doing the things you enjoy and visiting with those you love, which is, afterall, the purpose of the holidays.

For more information on getting help this holiday season for an addiction contact Narconon Arrowhead today.

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Substance Abuse Varies But Overall Is Making Records

Addiction has permeated nearly every sector of American life. From small businesses and quaint communities all the way to some of the most devastating national tragedies, drugs and alcohol leave their fingerprints on our society on a daily basis.

Substance abuse making records and wreaking havoc will continue so long as we are uneducated as a populous and, hence, unable to fight back with knowledge. It will also occur with our kids if we do not talk to them about the dangers of drugs and addiction.

American Drug and Alcohol Abuse Varies from State to State

While substance abuse has gone up overall the problem changes depending on the part of the country the person is from. In fact according to researchers at the University of Oregon, teenagers from Oregon show a strong prevalence of drug use onset in early years of life. In some counties, it is two times more likely that an Oregonian 8th grader will have used drugs or alcohol in the past 30 days than teens from other counties or states.

California also has its own trends. The state is almost notorious for parties, clubs, etc., and the drug abuse that goes hand-in-hand with them—ecstasy, marijuana, meth, synthetic drugs, heroin, etc., are just some of the drugs that the California party circuit has seen in recent months.

Sadly, the interior American states (like Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, etc.) see a great deal of meth labs and man-made drug concoctions that are truly life threatening and purely toxic to the body.

Nearly the entire country has fallen victim to prescription drug abuse. It is truly a problem affecting just about every state.

While we contribute a mere 5% of the population, we consume a shocking 80% of the world’s painkiller drugs. Pills like Vicodin, Oxycontin, Percocet and Hydrocodone have emerged to the forefront of the drug problem in this country. Ironically, such pharmaceuticals have maintained and strengthened their position as a mainstay in the medical community. Over the past 20 years, prescriptions for opiate medications have jumped over 40%.

In addition to prescription pain pills, trends in synthetic drugs (like synthetic marijuana and bath salts) as well as “club drugs” (ecstasy, mephedrone, etc.) have fueled the fire of substance abuse making records nationwide.

Unconventional substances and even household items have recently been added to the “watch list” as dangerous. Some of these are:

-nutmeg
-hand sanitizer
-cough syrup/cold medicines
-air conditioning freon gas
-glue
-empty whip cream cans

What Causes Addiction?

A recent survey of drug education audience member reinforced the fact that most Americans are unaware of what causes addiction and how to prevent it. When asked why substance abuse is making records in our country, audience members offered legitimate issues as possible answers to such an out-of-control public health issue.

What does cause addiction? Is it lack of parental involvement? Hormonal changes in the case of a growing teen? Or is addiction caused by something else entirely?

In all the many thousands of possible reasons and/or situations that might drive a person to try drugs for the first time, there is one constant fact that uncovers many answers for so many parents.

A drug abuser consumes substances (for the first time, or the first time in a long time) to rid oneself of unwanted emotions. These emotions could be manifest as anxiety, fear, depression or anger. No matter the specific circumstances, individuals who abuse drugs and alcohol, do so as a mechanism for relief.

If the drugs work to create the relief they are used again and again. The more they are used the more addicted one becomes. They end up not being able to stop. The only solution for this is through rehabilitation.

While addiction seems to be a complicated subject, it is not. Finding the right help is the most important thing.

Contact us today for more about this topic at www.narconon.org.

Source:  http://www.dailyastorian.com/free/substance-abuse-making-records/article_4e031dae-3a51-11e2-98aa-001a4bcf887a.html

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The Club Drug Abuse Problem In The US

Drugs like ecstasy, ketamine and mephedrone are known for their popularity in clubs, raves, bars and at parties. According to the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA), “club drug” abuse is on the rise across the country. Experts urge all individuals, treatment centers and community leaders to be on the lookout for these dangerous party drugs.

Club Drug Trends in the United States

The risks of club drugs like ecstasy and mephedrone are coming to be more widely understood now that we have seen a consistent rise in their popularity over the past six years. Numbers of those treated for club drug addiction in 2005/2006 compared with the numbers from last year show definite increases, according to the NTA.

Ecstasy has maintained its position as the most popular club drug abused today, although ketamine and mephedrone follow closely behind. Especially with “club drug” abuse on the rise, it is vastly important that the truth about these harmful substances get out quickly. Short and long-term exposure to drugs like ketamine can bring about bladder damage and/or pain, addiction and psychosis.

Additional Synthetic Designer Substances Emerging

Unfortunately one of the reasons for the rise in club drug use are the new club drugs that are being used. The primary of these are synthetic drugs. They consist of substances like synthetic marijuana or K2/Spice as well as synthetic methamphetamine or Bath Salts. There is also ‘herbal’ or ‘natural’ ecstasy often marketed as incense by some sellers.

Rehabilitation and medical service providers should take great care to understand the new, dangerous designer substances that have been engineered in recent years. Having knowledge of the risks and adverse reactions that can be expected from these substances is the first step to protecting whole communities from epidemics of abuse and addiction.

Bath Salts have been a major contributor to the club drug issues in recent years and have emerged as a hallucinogenic and speed-like drug used at parties and raves. The synthetic, man-made drug is known for its erratic, violent and even disturbing high. Intoxication from bath salts is often described as a mix between the effects of LSD and methamphetamines, combined. This combination has been known to produce devastating results, such as:

-Violence (inflicted both outwardly and upon self)
-Anxiety
-Extreme depression
-Delusions and hallucinations
-Vomiting
-Continued use, dependency and addiction

Further, prescription substances and synthetic marijuana should remain on watch lists as chemically engineered designer drugs that mimic other drugs. The toxic substances that compose these drugs can be life-threatening in some cases.

Is Ecstasy Addictive?

Over the years, ecstasy has developed a reputation as being a “love drug” that is fun, relatively harmless and non-addictive. Factually, ecstasy does invoke strong feelings of sensuality, but it is far from harmless.

Many thousands of Americans enter treatment each year for addiction to club drugs such as ecstasy. While the high is in full-force, an ecstasy consumer can expect strong euphoria and feelings of “happiness.” The day after, however, brings extreme depression and mental instability that is generally only thought to be curable through another hit of ecstasy.

Whether you are a parent, nurse or merely a loved one to someone—don’t wait to educate yourself on these issues. Take care to understand the drug abuse threats that exist today and take action if you notice warning signs of abuse around you.

If a problem exists get the user immediate and professional help. To find more information follow Narconon on Twitter or contact us today.

Source:  http://www.nursinginpractice.com/article/club-drug-abuse-rise

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