Archive for December, 2009

Drug Abuse and Irreversible Brain Damage

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction, Prescription Drug Abuse, Steroid Abuse, Tobacco Abuse on December 22nd, 2009

In our lives, it is a well-known and sometimes unaccepted fact that all things change. While the good parts in life may not last as much as we would like them to, be relieved that the opposite also applies: the bad things in life don’t last forever either. With this in mind, we must stand resilient against life’s challenges and find ways to move forward.

brainThis nugget of wisdom may be true, but in the context of brain damage caused by drug abuse, it’s a different story altogether. You may think that the process is reversible, but it is actually not. Most are probably thinking that our brain can just go back to the way it used to be if we have absolutely no contact with drugs for a prolonged period of time after a few episodes with drugs – just like getting some sleep to relieve yourself of fatigue or recovering from a dreadful hangover. Well, most are wrong.

If it were that easy, then it will be perfectly okay for everybody to do drugs and be heedless of the consequences of the act. However, our brain’s neurons do not restore themselves the way the rest of our body does. Anything that adversely affects our mental capacity and physical state is dangerous for our brain, and drugs are especially guilty in this case.

So before you even think about getting your fix or trying drugs for the first time, consider the long-term effects first. Is it really worth losing your mind over? Is it really worth wasting your life for?

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Win Over Drug Addiction!

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction, Prescription Drug Abuse, Steroid Abuse, Tobacco Abuse on December 21st, 2009

Drug addiction is a difficult battle to fight alone. While beating it is dependent on the will power of the individual, it really is not that simple. While the drive to kick the habit off may be present, the body’s dependence on the drugs states otherwise. It becomes a battle between the mind and the body, where both struggle for dominance over the other. So what must the individual do in order to win over the trap of drug addiction?

Win over drug addiction!The first step is probably the most difficult part – accepting the weight and reality of the problem. This is something that is easy for us to say, but excruciatingly difficult to do. After all, who in the world wants to admit to having a drug problem? That would be equivalent to saying that you have become a slave to an object; it’s also the same as saying that you no longer have full control of your life, and that your habit is the only thing that keeps you going.

Beating drug addiction is more than just changing modes of behavior. The main thing to remember about it is that it is a condition that is hard to control. The next step would be to seek out help from close friends and family about the addiction. The primary reasons for doing drugs are mostly social in nature, mainly revolving on self-esteem and acceptance of problems. Having close social links around you can help you slowly get over it.

The recovery stage is the longest one, after all. A lot of pain may come during this phase, but when you are finally done with everything, all the struggles will be worth it.

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Drug Abuse Trends in the US: Where Are We Headed?

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction, Prescription Drug Abuse, Steroid Abuse, Tobacco Abuse on December 20th, 2009

To combat the condition of drug abuse within society, it is important to understand the current trends of the phenomenon within the country. Knowing the patterns of behavior of those addicted to drugs can help us determine what measures to take in order to minimize, if not completely eliminate, drug addiction in its roots. Let us begin by going over these facts one by one.

teen drug abuseAccording to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the most widely used drug by adolescents is marijuana, since the numbers for drugs other than marijuana have seen a decline in the past decade, with lifetime use decreasing from 18.2 percent to 15.9 percent. While a 3 percent decrease might not seem too large, it is a substantial enough number considering the total number of drug addicted individuals across the nation.

The abuse of prescription drugs has also become more prevalent, with 15.4 of 12th graders reported nonmedical use of the drugs in 2008. Looking at the variety of prescription drugs used – which includes amphetamines, sedatives, and tranquilizers – it can be observed that stimulants are not the adolescent’s drug of choice.

Perhaps the most pressing of these trends is that adolescents have become increasingly tolerant of drug use. They don’t perceive drug use as dangerous anymore. Drugs are now perceived as relatively harmless by many individuals.

This could serve as a challenge to us to strive more to better educate our children regarding the risks of drug abuse. While certain substances may have found significant use in the health industry, this does not mean that we can use them irresponsibly. These substances must still be taken with utmost care and at the right amounts only.

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Drug Abuse Among Teens: Understanding Your Role

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction, Prescription Drug Abuse, Steroid Abuse, Tobacco Abuse on December 19th, 2009

Teenagers and drugs may be likened to macaroni and cheese – it can be difficult to separate one image from the other. Maybe it’s because of the raging teen hormones, or maybe it’s something more. Whatever the case, both of them are inextricably linked, owing partly to the influence of mass media in society today. The main thing here is to understand how and why drug addiction begins among adolescents.

teen addictionTeenagers are highly social beings, and it is during this stage of life that the identity crisis begins. In high school, they struggle to be recognized, while some struggle just to be accepted for who they are. In some scenarios, drug use has become a culture among them, and those who refuse to try it are labeled as “uncool”, effectively casting them out from the main group. It is during this stage that teenagers start to rebel, and where their behavior starts to become a bit unpredictable

It is not wrong to want to be accepted, but drug abuse definitely is. Teenagers know this deep down, but at this stage, they may not yet see the long-term effects of addiction. This is the challenge that adults must face – to make them understand that drug abuse is not as glamorous as they make it out to be.

Whenever possible, try to stop their drug use during the early stages. Convincing them to quit after a prolonged amount of time would be more challenging; they would simply refuse your help. Some might relent for a while, but the relapse can prove too strong for them to fight alone, and you would have to go through a lot of time and spend money just to help him. All the same, reassure them that they can kick the habit completely, and support them on the road to recovery.

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No Magic Pill Needed to Enhance Sports Performance

Posted by Drug Free in Steroid Abuse on December 18th, 2009

Many teen athletes seem to believe that “bigger, stronger, faster” is the way to go. Many think that these are the key factors that separate the star players from the bench warmers. Add this to the fact that most well-established athletes actually make good money, as sportsmen and as celebrities, you end up with more teenagers simply trying to look like the action heroes or wrestling superstars they see on magazines.

Teenagers, being in the time of their lives when they start wanting everything, try the one thing most people actually try to do during puberty — make time go faster.

college footballTeenagers engaged in sports or have started body composition training want the results to be seen in the shortest possible time. However, growing one’s physique is an intricate process in which the whole system should participate in. Becoming leaner means improving metabolism, and improved metabolism actually assists the body in assimilating the proper nutrients to be transported to the different body parts.

To absorb the optimum amount of nutrients, one would need the right amount of the right food at the right time. Yes, TIME is exactly what is needed by the body to process all these improvements to be translated into better body composition, and the time needed by your bodies should be spent by infusing a particular catalyst: exercise. Many teenagers try to find a “magic pill” or a “secret recipe” for achieving the results they want while skipping the entire natural process.

Teenagers should know and understand that their adolescent years provide their bodies the perfect environment for muscular growth. They are at a point in their lives wherein their levels of testosterone (growth hormones of the body) are at its peak. If they spend this time exercising regularly at the right pace and intensity, they already have their own personal and all-natural steroids working for them.

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The Reality of Teenage Smoking Addiction

Posted by Drug Free in Tobacco Abuse on December 17th, 2009

There is an alarming estimate looming: about 80% of adult smokers started smoking when they were teenagers. The issue at hand is not why teens smoke, but why is it that despite all the warnings posted against smoking and promotions on healthy living, smoking seems to be an appealing practice for teenagers.

Teens are at an age wherein they want to stand out, feel special, and ultimately belong. They see smoking as a means to look “dangerous” because they know they are not allowed to smoke in the first place. Most may see this as “cool”.

teen smokingSmoking enables the smoker to suppress feelings and achieve relaxation for those who feel disturbed, or to suppress appetite for those who are trying to manage their weight. Smokers also tend to huddle together in groups, which makes for conversation and companionship. Sometimes, complete strangers can start to engage in friendly conversation, after sharing a light.

Teenagers are the most affected, since they are at an age when they need to belong. In a social aspect, they seem to think that smoking helps them fill this particular void. The problem is, most teenagers, after taking their first puff, end up getting addicted.

Smoking is addictive because of nicotine. When the body starts to tolerate it, a smoker needs larger doses of nicotine to achieve the same effect. This vicious cycle eventually leads to a dependence of the body on the presence of nicotine to function normally.

Teenage smoking should not be simply taken as a bad lifestyle practice. Smoking should be viewed as a dangerous habit that can only lead to serious illnesses, such as lung cancer, heart diseases and pregnancy complications among others. Teens should keep themselves in an environment free of addiction, and should immerse themselves in sports and better education.

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