Drug Abuse

Opiate Abuse Fact Sheet

An opiate is an addictive drug, and opiate addiction is becoming a series issue in the United States. Studies have been showing that more people are snorting and smoking opiate drugs rather than injecting them because of an assumption that smoking and snorting are safer options. People also believe that there is an increased level of purity in the drugs used for these forms of taking them, which is not necessarily the case.

Abuse of opiate drugs has been associated with a number of really serious health issues including spontaneous abortion, fatal overdose, collapsing veins and a number of different infectious diseases such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. If you are addicted to an opiate drug, it is vitally important that you get help in order to overcome the addiction and move on with your life. If you know someone who is dealing with an opiate addiction, one of the ways that you can hold them accountable for their drug use is by testing their urine regularly. There are drug testing products that allow you to test urine at home, so you will be able to determine whether or not the opiate drug has been used in a certain period of time using such a test.

There are short term effects that tend to occur immediately after use and will disappear within a couple of hours. After taking an opiate like injecting heroin, the user will feel a rush, which is a feeling of euphoria. He or she may experience heavy extremities, dry mouth and flushing in the skin. The next phase of the drug effects is called “on the nod,” which feels like alternating between a wakeful state and a drowsy state. For most people, the mental functioning will become cloudy next because the central nervous system is being depressed. People who use opiates on a chronic basis may grow accustomed to the short term effects, but not the dangerous health effects that these drugs can cause.

It cannot be stressed enough: If you or someone you know is dealing with an opiate addiction, get help right now.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse Tagged With: Addictions, Drug, Opiate, United States

Heroin Addiction Fact Sheet

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Definition: Heroin is a type of opiate drug that is processed from the naturally occurring morphine found in poppy plants. Heroin typically appears as either a brown or a white powder.

Trade Names: There are a number of different names used to refer to heroin, including “H,” “Smack,” “Junk” and “Skag.” There are also names that refer to products produced in one specific region, such as “Mexican black tar heroin” for example.

“High” Effects: After taking heroin, users experience a sense of euphoria that can last for several hours. They may experience warm flushing and a feeling like their arms and legs are heavy. Later they will experience an alternation between feeling very awake and very sleepy. It is normal for someone to have clouded judgment and poor mental functioning while under the influence of heroin. Most effects of heroin wear off within a few hours.

Side Effects: There are a number of serious health conditions that are linked to the use and abuse of heroin. These serious health issues include the risk of fatal overdose, collapsed veins, spontaneous abortion and infectious diseases. These symptoms may not initially appear, but can develop over time with repeated drug use and can become more serious with time.

Other Issues: There are a number of other serious issues associated with heroin addiction and drug abuse. For example, since street drugs often have additives in them, heroin can contain additives that may not dissolve readily in the blood vessels, clogging them. This can cause cell death, infection and other issues in the most vital organs, including the liver, lungs, kidneys and the brain. You cannot know how pure your heroin is when you buy or use it, so there is no real way to protect yourself against these potentially deadly issues.

Heroin is perceived to be one of the most deadly drugs as it is one of the four most frequently involved drugs when it comes to drug-related deaths. Drug related deaths associated with heroin and other opiates have actually increased over time, meaning that the heroin addiction problem is becoming worse and more widespread.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse Tagged With: Drug, Helping Addicts, Heroin, Opiate

Crystal Meth Addiction Fact Sheet

Definition: Crystal meth is a popular street drug that is produced by combining a variety of completely legal chemicals to create an illegal drug. Everything that it takes to make crystal meth can be purchased at an ordinary store. The mood-altering effects that are associated with meth are said to last for a very long period of time, which is another reason for why crystal meth is such a popular drug.

Crystal meth is an amphetamine, also known as methamphetamine and speed. It is a powerful stimulant that can create powerful euphoric feelings lasting as long as 8 hours or more. Immediately after the ingestion of this drug, the user will begin to feel powerful euphoric feelings and an intense rush. The effects of the high will then gradually diminish over a lengthy period of time.

Use: Crystal meth can be snorted, smoked, taken by mouth or injected into a vein. The most popular method of taking crystal meth is smoking it.

Creation: Batches of this drug are created or cooked in regular homes, garages and basements. The production is typically done by United States drug-trafficking cartels, though these drugs are also made in Canada and Mexico and trafficked into the United States as well. The manufacturing of crystal meth is actually a dangerous process because it is both potentially explosive and extremely toxic. Although the chemical structure of methamphetamine is very similar to regular amphetamines, the effect that it creates on the central nervous system is much more pronounced.

Addiction to crystal meth is a serious problem. People promote the use of crystal meth because the “high” that it gives comes with energy, upbeat attitude and other qualities. Unfortunately, the other side of methamphetamine addiction is very rarely seen. People who do meth are typically painfully thin, experience serious dental problems, and have a host of other health problems including hair loss, damage to the brain and damage to the other vital organs. If you know someone who is dealing with a crystal meth addiction, do what you can to help them get assistance before the problem becomes worse.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse Tagged With: Amphetamine, Helping Addicts, Methamphetamine

Marijuana Addiction Fact Sheet

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Marijuana drug use is wide-spread, and many people incorrectly believe that this drug does not have addictive properties. As a result, many people rely on the drug for recreational use, and do not think about the consequences associated with using any drug. The addiction to marijuana is described as any uncontrollable urge to have and use marijuana. People who are addicted to marijuana may feel like they cannot stop using it, even if they want to. People who are suffering from such a drug addiction may continually make excuses about their drug use, such as by saying that now simply is not the right time to try and quit.

The potency of marijuana drugs is constantly becoming more powerful, and so admission to drug rehabilitation facilities has been growing significantly in recent years. Marijuana is a gateway drug that many people begin using because they perceive it to be harmless. Unfortunately, once they develop a marijuana habit or addiction, it is only a matter of time before they consider other drugs that are available to them, including cocaine, methamphetamine and so on.

Marijuana drug addictions often lead to obsessive feelings about the drug. People who are addicted will begin to think about the drug all the time, where they can get it, how and when they can get it. They may become consumed with whether or not they have enough, if their product is good enough, how they will acquire money for more and so on. Marijuana addiction also often leads to physical cravings because the body develops a tolerance to the drug and wants more and more to get the same effects. With increased drug use comes an increased addiction, and the cycle becomes increasingly difficult to overcome.

There are many consequences associated with an addiction to marijuana, including social consequences and health consequences. Repeated marijuana use can lead to learning and memory problems, along with isolation from loved ones and placing strains on relationships. Marijuana addiction becomes a vicious cycle and the problems only become worse as long as the addiction continues.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse Tagged With: Addictions, Cannabis, drugs

Drug Addiction and the Art of Denial

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Unfortunately, denial is all too easy when someone you know has a drug problem. If someone you know may be suffering from an alcohol addiction or drug abuse problems, you have to be willing to pay attention to the symptoms. There are a number of warning signs that you can look out for, both physically and behaviorally. These physical and behavioral symptoms may let you know that someone you love needs help.

The physical warning signs of a drug addiction include bloodshot eyes and pupils that appear smaller or larger than normal. Someone who is addicted to drugs may also experience noticeable changes in their sleep patterns or their appetite. They may suddenly begin to gain or lose weight without any apparent cause. They may also experience a deterioration in their grooming habits or their physical appearance, no longer appearing to care how they look. Other physical signs include smells that are unusual, slurring of the speech, tremors or impairments in coordination.

There are also behavioral signs that point to drug addiction and drug abuse. For example, their attendance or their performance at school or work may suddenly drop. They may suddenly seem to have financial problems or an unexplainable need for money. They may even deteriorate into stealing money or borrowing money for no clear reason. They may engage in behaviors that are secretive or suspicious. They may suddenly change who their friends are, or may change their mind about favorite hobbies or hangouts. They may also seem to be getting into trouble more frequently, such as by getting into accidents or fights or participating in illegal activities.

Finally, there are psychological signs that indicate drug abuse and addiction. For example, the person may be displaying sudden or surprising mood swings, angry outbursts and irritability. They may seem hyperactive, giddy or agitated during periods of time, or they may seem lethargic or may seem to be lacking motivation at odd times. They may appear to be paranoid, fearful or anxious without any apparent reason, or may experience unexplainable changes in their attitude or personality at random times.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse Tagged With: Denial, drug abuse, Uncategorized

Nicotine Addiction Fact Sheet

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Nicotine exists to protect tobacco plants from the insects that attempt to eat it. Nicotine is a toxin, considered to be a super toxin, that is extremely lethal. Nicotine has been deemed more toxic and more lethal than arsenic, strychnine and the venom from a diamondback rattlesnake. It is a natural insecticide that has an interesting reaction inside our brain. The chemical signature that it produces is so similar to acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, that when it enters into our brains it takes control over the neurochemicals, causing an unintended response.

Some people become addicted to nicotine, and the cigarettes that deliver it to the brain, with the very first puff. The nicotine arrives in the reward pathways of the brain and generates an onrush of dopamine. Immediately the body and the brain want more, and an addiction is formed. When the rush wears off, the brain seems to crave more. Another puff. One more cigarette. It does not seem to occur to the brain that the cigarette is harmful, because the nicotine reward is all that matters.

Cigarettes are toxic, and a nicotine addiction can be deadly. Smoking cigarettes or consuming nicotine by other means causes an addiction response that is extremely difficult to overcome. While cigarettes may be legal, that does not mean that they are safe by any means. A nicotine addiction can be just as harmful, just as damaging and just as deadly as an addiction to any other type of drug. Just like other drugs, nicotine reprograms the brain to crave the substance, requiring more and more of the addictive substance simply in order to function.

When you become addicted to cigarettes, you will feel unable to function without them. You will not be able to get through your morning coffee, let alone your entire day, without first having a smoke, or two, or three. The need to smoke will grow and grow until cigarettes are an ingrained part of your life. You have to find a way to get help, you have to determine which stop smoking aid is right for you. You must quit your nicotine habit today, before it becomes a deadly habit.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse Tagged With: Helping Addicts, Nicotine, smoke

Sleeping Pill Addiction

For insomniacs, nighttime can be a dreary, frustrating time. While most people are sleeping, insomniacs are flipping through television channels, surfing the Internet or cleaning their house. Sleeping pills have brought comfort and relief to many insomniacs, allowing them to get the rest everybody needs. But with this relief can also come dependency and an inability to sleep without medication.
Sleeping pill prescriptions are skyrocketing: according to a 2008 report by IMS Health, a pharmaceutical research company, more than 54 million prescriptions for sleep drugs were doled out in 2007.
A sleeping pill addiction occurs when an individual has an uncontrollable need to take sleeping pills. Doctors who prescribe sleeping pills often recommend patients use them on an occasional basis, but addicts will develop a need to take the pills and will build a tolerance for them, driving the addicts to take more than the intended amount.
Sleeping pill users could take their addiction even further: they may go to different doctors to get multiple descriptions, or they may take them during the day, to knock them out during long car or plane rides.
It’s not only the dependence on sleeping pills that poses a problem; what the users do while taking sleeping pills can be highly problematic. Sleeping pill users have reported they excessively eat or shop online during the night, only to wake up the next morning with no memory of what happened. Others have reported more dangerous situations, such as driving and crashing their cars while on sleeping drugs.
There is help available for sleeping pill addicts. Like with any drug addiction, it can be a challenging problem to kick. The user must first recognize he or she has an addiction, and be willing to get help. If the user is willing, treatment centers across the country can teach insomniacs how to become accustomed to a healthy sleeping schedule without the aid of medication.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse Tagged With: Insomnia, Research

Huffing and Teens

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Often associated with teenagers and young adults, huffing is becoming common addiction and a mounting concern among parents and teachers. According to Inhalent.org, in the United States over 2.1 million children ages 12-17 have huffed. Huffing, which is also referred to as inhalant abuse or inhalant addiction, is considered a serious addiction because it can lead to life-altering side effects and even death.
Unlike alcohol and drugs, huffing has become such a troubling problem because teens can easily obtain the substances they use to inhale. Inhalant abusers can use a variety of common household products such as computer duster, nail polish remover or aerosol sprays to experience the euphoric high that’s associated with huffing.
Short-term side effects of huffing include dizziness, hallucinations, apathy and impaired judgments, while long-term side effects can be anything from depression and weight loss to lack of coordination or weakness.
Huffing can also lead to much more serious consequences, including permanent brain damage, damage to other organs and death. Sudden cardiac arrest, asphyxiation and suffocation have all been reported as the causes of death among inhalant abusers.
While clear parental guidelines and disapproval of huffing can be an effective way to prevent teens from huffing, parents should also always be on the lookout for signs of inhalant abuse. These signs include sores and rashes around the mouth, paint stains on the teens hands or clothing or possessing rags soaked with chemicals or empty cans. Inhalant addiction can happen in any family, so it’s important to be vigilant about the signs to prevent tragedy.
If parents do suspect their child has been huffing, they should seek professional treatment immediately. Huffing is treated as an addiction, and quitting the addiction can be just as difficult as recovering from any other drug or alcohol problem. Withdrawal symptoms can last for weeks, and without proper long-term care, the relapse rate is high. The family physician or school counselor or nurse can help parents take the first steps toward helping their child recover.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse Tagged With: Adolescence, Centers and Counseling Services

Sweet Dopamine

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Most people now realize and accept that humans are affected in many ways by chemicals — both those in the environment, and those produced by our own bodies.

The human brain uses chemicals — called neurotransmitters — to move information around to the different areas of the body through the nervous system. Dopamine, an important neurotransmitter, moves information from the brain stem to the more evolved areas but also plays another very important role that of reinforcement. Dopamine is known as the œfeel good chemical because it rewards the body. Anything that releases dopamine feels good and makes you want to do it again.

Scientists, using dopamine blocking chemicals, have shown that if an activity or substance doesn’t release dopamine and feel good, humans don’t do it. Unfortunately for addicts looking for some assistance to break free from their addiction, these chemicals can’t be used on a therapeutic basis because they cause dangerous side effects.

Though scientists haven’t yet figured out if there is a genetic fault in the dopamine release system in some people that leads to addiction, one thing has become clear from their research; people attempting to stop an addiction to one substance are highly susceptible to becoming addicted to another. Many alcoholics who succeeded in breaking their addiction to alcohol replaced it by becoming addicted to sugar — and it turns out that sugar causes the same dopamine release that alcohol does. Alcoholics also reported problems with binge eating after abstaining from alcohol and sweet foods topped their preferred binge foods.

These studies raise many interesting questions, including the possibility that the reason that humans can become addicted to so many different substances and behaviors isn’t because of the substance or behavior at all — it’s because of the release of dopamine that the substance or behavior causes. Take that method of release away and a human will locate another to replace it. This could change the face of addiction treatment world-wide. It may be just a matter of replacing an addiction with a more socially acceptable one that is less harmful to the individual.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse Tagged With: Dopamine

The Real Danger of Addiction

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Scientists used to think that only humans exhibited addictive behavior and that only humans engaged in certain behaviors or ingested certain substances even when they knew it was bad for them. But researchers have now identified addictive behavior in rats, and are now able to gain new insights into addiction and the real danger it poses.

The puzzle of addiction has always been its inconsistency — not everyone who drinks alcohol, even every day, becomes an addict — and not all drug users become addicted. Contrary to what some support groups would have you believe, only a very small number of users of anything actually become addicts someone who can’t say no. These groups and most addicts believe that it is a matter of getting to the point where you just say no and with enough support, beat the addiction. But the new research seems to contradict that way of thinking.

Due to new technology and the ability to study addiction in rats, researchers are coming closer to understanding the point-of-no return where addiction is concerned. They have discovered that repeated exposure to chemicals like drugs or alcohol, or even the feel good chemicals that the body itself releases, can cause physical changes in the brain or human or otherwise. These physical changes in what is referred to as œsynaptic plasticity ” actually limit the brains ability to learn how to deal and adapt to the chemicals and these changes, for some people after a long period of time, become permanent. The important point here is that these are real physical changes, not just behavioral changes that the addict is experiencing.

Scientists now think the changes in the brain don’t occur during short term usage, but do occur after a longer period of use in all users. After a long period of time or with heavy use, the changes will become permanent and cause compulsive behavior and addiction.

This research suggests that addicts will have a higher rate of success in beating their addiction if they start trying earlier rather than later after the physical damage has already occurred.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse Tagged With: Centers and Counseling Services