Why Marijuana Is A Problem Amongst The Youth

 The use of marijuana by teens has often been seen as something to be unconcerned about. Many of those who are now among the adult population remember their own days of using these drugs and some may still use them to this day. They assume that if their own children use then it will be “no big deal” and they will simply “outgrow” it.

Even if they don't, the promotion of marijuana legalization of it can many assume that the drug cannot harm them excessively. However, marijuana use is proving, to researchers, to be a very big problem with today's youth and seems to be far worse than it was in their parents' generation.

           

The levels of THC that are continually rising have not helped this. Or the fact that some will mix the drug with other substances like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.

           

What Studies Show

           

There are many different conclusions being drawn from the data that's been discovered. For one thing it's apparent that youth as young as 15 and possibly even younger are beginning to use drugs such as marijuana. The ages at which teen's first try this drug seems to be falling and the number that use seems to be rising. It's been found however, that rates are higher amongst boys than girls though both rates are very high.

           

Marijuana is available in different 'levels' and in some areas of Canada it's available at some of the highest levels recorded. Teens have also reported to using marijuana up to five times per day though most claim only to use occasionally at recreational times. Of course the majority of users fall into a middle-ground where they use somewhat more frequently than at recreational times yet less frequently than the five times per day of heavy users.

           

Another problem that researchers have found is that less than 50% (41.7%) of eighth grade students believe that using drugs such as marijuana only occasionally is harmful and only 66.9% see regular use as harmful. These numbers get even lower as the age of students surveyed goes up. In fact, only 20.6% of 12th graders think it could be potentially harmful to use marijuana regularly.

What Teens Believe

Many teens that use marijuana do not believe it to be harmful to them or believe that the benefits outweigh the risks. For example, many teens believe that smoking marijuana makes them cool, helps them focus, or makes them feel better talking away unwanted feelings or sensations.

Others believe that this is what keeps them “going throughout the day.” These teens are experiencing the side effects that can come along with the use such as feeling more open, relaxed or calm. This drug has also been compared to sleeping pills and ADHD medications such as Ritalin and many believe it to be helpful to them in some way even if it is done harm.

What Parents Should Do

It’s important for parents to talk with their teens about drug use. It's also important to get other people involved such as health care professionals or counselors or even teachers. All of these people together can play an important role in helping teens to overcome addictions or even to head them off before they start.

Being open discussing how teens use, why they use and to what extent is, according to researchers, crucial to helping them overcome their addictions and the destructive behaviors that come along with it.

Source: http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/19/marijuana-use-holds-steady-among-u-s-teens/

The Definition of Alcoholism and How to Spot It

Alcohol is the most widely abused drug, and while it poses a serious public health problem throughout the world, this is especially true in the United States. It has been estimated that more than one in ten American adults at some point in their lives experience problems with alcohol dependence, and this figure is particularly high for men, at one in five. It is difficult to say with accuracy exactly what percentage of the population suffers from alcoholism, partly due to the fact that there is some dispute over the criteria for applying that term, as well as the fact that many alcoholics are never formally labeled as such. The precise statistics concerning alcohol are of little concern, however, to the friends and family members of an alcoholic: what matters the most to them is helping the person they care about to put an end to the drinking problem and make a fresh start in life.

What is the definition of alcoholism?

As mentioned above, there is some dispute over the exact definition of alcoholism, but there are certain basic elements of the condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the characteristics of alcoholism include:

●       Powerful alcohol cravings

●       Ongoing use of alcohol in spite of chronic physical, mental, or interpersonal problems

●       Inability to place limits on one’s levels of drinking

In addition to the above elements, the Mayo Clinic describes alcohol as being a disease which is characterized by a preoccupation with alcohol, physical dependence which manifests as a need to drink increasing amounts to achieve the same effect, experiencing withdrawal symptoms upon stopping drinking, as well as an inability to predict or limit the quantity, duration, or consequences of drinking.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholism

To a large degree, the signs that a person is an alcoholic are similar to its characteristics. Alcoholism is typically recognized by the behavior of the alcoholic, rather than being diagnosed by a scientific test. The loss of ability to restrain oneself from taking the next drink, or to refrain from getting started drinking in the first place, is one of the most glaring indicators of a drinking problem. Most people who drink on a regular basis know their limits and at some point will put the bottle away or turn down an offered drink, but an alcoholic will often just keep on drinking. Further, alcoholics tend to develop a tolerance to the drug, so that they have to drink progressively greater quantities in order to feel the same effects. Further, while alcohol is normally consumed in social settings such as at parties, restaurants or bars, alcoholics tend to start drinking alone, and they will often take measures to conceal the fact of drinking, such as by hiding bottles in secret places at home or at work, and by making up excuses to sneak off and have a drink. Worse, an alcoholic will often develop rituals for drinking, and is prone to becoming irritated when the schedule is interrupted or questioned. Blacking out while drunk, which is characterized by engaging in conversations and activities which are not remembered later, is a common sign that a person is an alcoholic, as is experiencing withdrawal symptoms including nausea, sweating and shaking when it has been a while since the last drink. Another hallmark of an alcoholic is that you may notice that he or she no longer seems normal until having a few drinks; rather than getting drunk, the person simply starts to seem like their usual self. These are only a few of the common signs of alcoholism. The most important question to ask yourself or someone you care about and who you fear may be an alcoholic is, “Do you feel like you can stop?” If the answer is, “No,” your next question should be, “Do you want help in quitting?”

Is Caffeine Bad for You?

If you ask someone to name the most widely used psychoactive drug, he or she is likely to name marijuana, LSD or some other type of street drug -- and he or she would be wrong. The correct answer is one which many people do not think of as a drug, largely due to the fact that it is so ubiquitous in our society: caffeine.

The vast majority -- 90 percent -- of American adults consumes caffeine in some form every day, whether it is in coffee, tea, soda or energy drinks, and some even take it in more direct forms such as in caffeine pills. Unlike most other drugs, caffeine is fully legal for purchase in nearly every corner of the world, but this fact does not make it safe for consumption.

Caffeine is notoriously addictive, and its consumption can cause many harmful effects, whether it is taken in a single large dose or in smaller amounts over a long period of time. To understand how it is that caffeine may be harmful to an individual, one of the first things to understand is what exactly it is. Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance which is produced by certain plants, and its purpose is to serve as a pesticide. Insects that would otherwise devour the plants become paralyzed after eating a small amount, followed by death by poisoning.

Contrary to popular belief, consuming caffeine does not give you energy. Instead, it inhibits the function of a chemical in the brain which is associated with feeling drowsy. In other words, caffeine does not give you an energy boost, but instead simply staves off fatigue. Further, the increased levels of alertness and mental performance which are associated with caffeine consumption are not actually above and beyond the person’s normal levels, but are rather the effect of recovering from the early symptoms of withdrawal, according to a recent study conducted at Johns Hopkins University.

When you feel better after having your cup of coffee, this is simply a result of the fact that you are now no longer suffering from withdrawal. Regularly consuming caffeine, therefore, does not give you a mental edge; it gives you a handicap which you must continually fight to stay ahead of by repeatedly satisfying your dependence to this central nervous stimulant.

Dangers Of Caffeine Consumption

The effects of missing your regular caffeine dose -- drowsiness, slower thinking, headaches and irritability -- are usually bothersome but not overwhelming. The problem becomes more serious, however, when the individual has grown accustomed to consuming considerable amounts of the drug. The Mayo Clinic lists common side effects of heavy daily caffeine use as including insomnia, restlessness, muscle tremors, fast heartbeat and nervousness. Conditions such as these can have considerable ramifications, such as when insomnia causes serious sleep deprivation and a resultant inability to function during the day as well as reduced immune system performance.

It is not only the long-term health effects of caffeine which are cause for concern. The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) recently published a warning concerning a dramatic increase in the number of emergency room visits for patients who had been consuming large quantities of caffeine in energy drinks such as Monster and Red Bull, and the Food and Drug Administration is currently investigating a number of deaths which have been linked to these high-caffeine drinks.

Given that caffeine seems to be everywhere in today’s society and that it may be a significant part of your own life, it can be difficult to give the drug up all at once. If you are concerned about the risks that caffeine poses to your health, you should at least start by scaling back on you consumption, working your way down to no more than one drink per day. Then, work towards a life without drugs, including caffeine.

It may be difficult to get over the hump of withdrawal symptoms, but once you do it will be well worth it as you begin to wake up in the morning without craving the drug that so many other Americans do.

What Is Ecstasy And How Does It Affect You

More commonly known as ecstasy, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (or MDMA) is one of the most popular and dangerous hallucinogenic drugs available to American teens and adults today. Ecstasy’s stimulant and delusory attributes make it a curious experience which, for some, can be fatal.

Despite its popularity, many are still left asking—what exactly is ecstasy? And How does it affect its users?

Ecstasy: Facts And Myths

Like most street drugs, ecstasy is surrounded with falsehoods and myths which attempt justify its use. It is extremely important that youth and adults understand the truth about what ecstasy is and how it can affect you, over long and short term consumption.

“Ecstasy isn’t addictive.”

While every individual reacts differently to consumable substances, it would be a lie to say that ecstasy isn’t habit-forming. Ecstasy addiction is a very real issue which people enter treatment for on a regular basis. Even just one hit of the drug can produce a pull strong enough to drive a dependency.

As with cocaine, heroin, marijuana and prescription pills, continued use of a substance develops a bodily “tolerance.” Ecstasy is not an exception to this. After continued use of the drug, intense physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms set in which push users to continue to take ecstasy.

“If you take a little, it isn’t dangerous.”

Most people who take ecstasy do so without any concern for existing or potential health risks. In truth, even just one hit of ecstasy can produce brain damage, blood clotting, anxiety, convulsions, nausea/vomiting, kidney failure and heart attacks.

Those with any of the following conditions are considered at high risk of danger upon consuming ecstasy:

-diabetes

-heart disease

-liver issues

-epilepsy

The Highs And The Lows

Ecstasy didn’t get its name for no reason at all—the high is, for some, a short but intense, pleasure-filled peak. Users generally describe the positives of the high as an increase in confidence, energy and happiness. Ecstasy is also called the “love drug” for its tendency to make consumers feel extraordinarily affectionate towards one another.

The lows of this drug outweigh, by far, the highs.

The high from this “love drug” has a peak, plateau and a steep decline into a number of dark and uncomfortable come-down symptoms, including:

-depression

-exhaustion

-irritableness

-anxiety

As was mentioned above, all chemicals and drugs affect people differently. Hence, one individual may enjoy the short-lived high from a hit of ecstasy before crashing hard into the “come-down.” This is solved by taking another hit, and the cycle of addiction is not hard to discern.

Others may experience intense discomforts, physical harm or even death. Thus, it is extremely important that you take the time to educate yourself and those around you of the truth about ecstasy and the laundry list of its dangerous effects.

Additional effects of ecstasy that have been reported are headaches, jaw clenching, seizures, hypothermia, blurred vision and distorted perception/delusions. If a high enough dosage of ecstasy is taken, the user’s body temperature can rise sharply. This may result in cardiovascular system shut-off or failure of important bodily organs like the liver, kidneys, etc.

How Is Ecstasy Taken

Ecstasy is generally manufactured in a pill form which is then swallowed. These pills come in a number of shapes and sizes and are even referred to as “designer drugs.” They can be crushed and snorted, mixed into a drink or injected, and some users insert a pill into their rectum for fast absorption. This risky form of consumption is called “shelving.” dangerous

Ecstasy is illegal in all parts of the United States, and is also called by the following names:

-“E”

-XTC

-the love drug

-eccy

The drugs are often in pill-form shapes like hearts, triangles etc. and are brightly colored. If you see the drug or know someone who is using it make sure and get them immediate help.

The Importance of Drug Education

Drug Education And The Importance Of It

You have probably heard it said before, prevention is the best form of treatment. Of course, drug prevention is best executed at multiple angles:

1. Awareness
2. Family-based tactics
3. Education

 At the rate we are currently seeing, drug rehabilitation centers across the country will struggle to keep up with the influx of addicted individuals unless effective preventative measures are implemented in communities everywhere.

Raising Awareness Through Community Activity

Many communities, schools, hospitals and rehab facilities sponsor city-wide anti-drug activities like 5K walk/races, auctions or sports tournaments. Doing so gets increasingly wider networks of individuals to get involved in local efforts against drug and alcohol abuse.

Support these activities by joining in, telling your family/friends about them or volunteering to help run or manage the event. Even a simple Facebook “share” can go a long way. Lend a hand, and the fruits of your efforts will manifest in the form of a brighter community.

Prevention Starts In The Home

There are some parents under the misconception that drug education and prevention is a function of the community or the responsibility of the child’s school.

The most real and effective preventative efforts actually originate from within a child’s own home, from his or her parents. Our children and teens look to their parents for guidance and follow their example, even if it doesn’t seem like it all the time.

A few simple tips for a healthy child/parent relationship:

1.  By simply expressing an anti-drug opinion, your child learns what the “family position” is on drugs.
2.  Set boundaries and rules, founded by why those rules are in place. (Do not restrict your children from doing things without giving a logical explanation for it.)
3. Create a safe, open forum for questions and communication on these subjects.

 Stay involved in your child’s daily life, his/her friends and favorite activities or hobbies. By helping youth to achieve their goals, they will be much more able to stay focused. An accomplished, happy individual with reason to stay drug free is much more likely to do so than someone who has no future plans or objectives.

Educational Programs Nationwide

Drug education and its importance in schools cannot be overstated, but not all programs are equal in value and effectiveness.

As a parent or even just a member of your community, your voice matters. Speak out in support of drug education programs which offer the following:

• Factual information about drugs (not scare tactics or “war stories”)
• Engaging media or other tools interesting to youth
• Surveys and exercises which tie the information into students’ real life
• Real solutions to beating “peer pressure”
• Goal and future life orientation

 Conversely, programs which only offer “safe ways to use drugs” or scare tactics have less usability and actually act negatively in a teen or young adult’s decision to use drugs. Often, these worst-case scenario-style educational programs make one think, “That would never happen to me.”

Rather, stick to programs that give the truth about drugs and alcohol—plain and simple: potential dangers, mental and physical health effects, risks of addiction, etc.

There are plenty opportunities to try drugs and alcohol for youth today. At ages as young as 11 and 12, we see youngsters trying these substances for the first time. With proper early education, it is hoped that these individuals will be better able to make the right decision and stay drug free.

Additionally, look for programs which stay current with substance abuse trends. Today’s hot addiction topics are not the same as they were 10 or even 5 years ago. The arrival of synthetic and prescription drug abuse has necessitated a change in educational material.

The Rise Of Drug Use In The United States

Currently, across the United States, there is an estimated 22.5 million people that are dependent on alcohol and/or drugs. Painkillers seem to be what is driving the big increase in the rise of drug problems; however some illicit drugs are also to blame. 

The most prescribed medications in the hospitals and doctors’ offices are buprenorphine and methadone, which are used to treat people addicted to opioids. These are both powerful synthetic drugs which in turn people get addicted to as well.  In addition to this, prescription painkillers top the list of the most abused substances.

But according to new findings and research, there has also been a high rise in the number of drug and alcohol problems combined.  In fact, there was a 70 percent increase of drug and alcohol problems that were diagnosed by doctors between the years 2001 and 2009.  

There were two national surveys that were done recently on the number of doctor visits that involved alcohol or drug abuse or addiction.  In this survey it showed that there was an increase from 10.6 million between 2001 to 2003 to 18 million between 2007 and 2009.   

Over the same time period, the number of visits including diagnosis of opioid painkiller abuse, there was an increase from 772,000 to 4.4 million.  Unfortunately this is an ever-growing trend.  An estimated 14,800 Americans died from opioid overdose in 2008.  That is 3 times amount of overdose deaths that we had in America 20 years prior.  

Specifically, the number of medicines prescribed to treat drug or alcohol problems during doctors' visits increased by about as much as the number of visits related to opioid abuse.

Those medicines were prescribed to 643,000 people between 2001 and 2003. Between 2007 and 2009, that number grew to 3.9 million people.

Why Do People Use Drugs 

There are a number of reasons that people do drugs that contribute daily to the rise of drug abuse in the United States.  And unfortunately these days, drugs are easy to come by.  Painkillers are one of the gateway to many other harder drugs. Some of the reasons that people take drugs:  

-To escape from their problems, their life, reality, etc. To them it is a fast “solution”.   

-Young kids do it to try to “fit in”, to be “cool”, or to “experiment”.  

-Others do it because they want to change something about their life.  

-Then there are the physical injuries.  They take painkillers to relieve their pain, but then become addicted and cannot stop taking the painkillers even when there is no pain present.  The painkillers give them a false “high” in life.  

-They think drugs are the solution, but really the drugs become the problem.  

Abuse of prescription drugs has become more and more of a problem.  They have become more severe than street drugs.  There would be painkillers, sleeping pills, antidepressants, etc.  People think that these are “safe” drugs as they were prescribed and approved by a doctor; but in truth, these drugs as just as addictive as street drugs such as cocaine and heroin.  The prescriptions affect the body the same way as cocaine and heroin.   These lead to addiction and when one tries to withdrawal, it is very painful for them. 

Painkillers are used as a solution for physical pain, but unfortunately most painkillers are addicting and then the dwindling spiral starts with the addiction to the much harder and addicting drugs. 

Fortunately there are solutions out there to handle addiction.  There are groups to help people recognize that they have a drug problem and that they need help.  There are also drug rehabilitation centers that offer programs that get people off drugs successfully without using more drugs.   

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/10/23/substance-abuse-diagnoses-

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Fact or Fiction: Can Over The Counter Drugs Be Bad For You

We live in a world where many of our discomforts, obstacles and daily hassles are easily removed at the press of a button or by a mere pill. Is it possible that these conveniences could be harming us, physically or mentally?

Over the counter (OTC) drugs including cough syrups and diet pills each contain ingredients that, at high levels, can be toxic and even fatal. Yet, their value is considered by many to be far in excess of their dangers.

What are the facts behind this debate? Read on to explore further and decide for yourself whether it’s fact or fiction that over the counter drugs are bad for you.

The Evolution Of The American Substance Abuse Problem

With each passing decade, we have seen tremendous changes in drug and alcohol abuse trends. New substances emerge on the scene, putting others on the “backburner” of popularity. Today, it seems, nearly every month we see consumer alerts and frantic media reports about the most non-traditional substances being called “addictive” and “dangerous.”

Chemical dependency cases used to largely surround well-known drugs like heroin, cocaine, marijuana and meth. Modern government now calls prescription drug abuse the fastest-growing addiction problem in our country. Further, we see stories emerging of youth abusing pills stolen off their parents or, worse, the most basic household items you would never think of.

Just a few of today’s youth drug threats include:

Synthetic Drugs (Bath Salts and Synthetic Marijuana)

Nutmeg

Hand Sanitizer

Air Conditioning Freon Gas

“Whippits”

Glue

In addition to this, a staggering rise in the popularity of OTC drug abuse has manifested in teens and young adults. Diet pills and cough syrup have developed as youth drug threats among those who will go to nearly any length to get high.

Adverse Effects Of OTC Cough Syrups And Diet Pills

The problem of prescription drug abuse has nearly overtaken the field of chemical dependency and treatment. Powerful pills, packed with mind-altering substances, are underestimated in their addictive qualities. Over the counter drugs are not generally as potent as prescription pills like Vicodin or Xanax, but they are more affordable and obtained without a doctor’s note.

Dextromethorphan (or DXM) is a very commonly abuse OTC drug found in a wide variety of cold and flu medicines as well as cough syrups. If taken excessively, the drug can cause hallucinations, dizzy spells, loss of coordination, nausea and generally distorted visual/mental perception. In extreme cases (when taken excessively and mixed with other drugs/alcohol), DXM is potentially fatal.

Stimulant drugs are found in diet pills, and these substances affect the central nervous system of the user. By making the heart beat faster, one’s metabolism usually improves, causing weight loss. These kinds of drugs, taken excessively, can cause rapid and unhealthy weight loss, interruption of normal sleep patterns, urinary tract infections, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, visual impairment and a discontinuation of a normal menstrual cycle.

Abuse of diet pills is especially risky for individuals with preexistent heart conditions or blood pressure issues. Even the stimulant diet pills that are marketed as “natural” could, if taken excessively enough, cause any of the above adverse reactions or eventually a heart attack.

Education Is The Most Powerful Anti-Drug

Prescription and over the counter drugs both are surrounded by misconceptions and false ideas. OTC medicines are purchasable at your local pharmacy, with no doctor permission or supervision required before purchase. Thus, they are thought to be safe and “good for you” no matter what the case.

You’ve often heard the saying, “everything in moderation.” This is no exception.

Take the time to educate yourself and your family members on the OTC drugs you buy, before consuming them. Understand all the drug facts, risks and adverse effects that are possible, as well as potential reactions to other drugs or alcohol. By proper education and moderate “by-the-box” use of OTC products, you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe.