Posts Tagged heroin

Use Internet to Combat Drug Abuse

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Addiction, Drug Facts, Drug Rehabilitation, Prescription Drug Abuse on September 4th, 2009

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Access to drugs has become so easy nowadays with computer savvy teenagers purchasing drugs online. Internet pharmacies are now preferred by most teenagers since they can access any dangerous prescription drug as well as other street drugs like heroin, without any question. But parents now can take a sigh of relief. The Treatment Research Institute (TRI) in collaboration with Unyos, a Maryland – based software developing company, are helping parents, professionals and others by developing a software which will deal with the dangers that the internet pharmacies pose to the teenagers.

The resource will be available at the website www.websafeparent.com from September, 2009. “Drug addiction is a major problem of our society. It destroys human potential and community and has led to an overburdened criminal justice system. We are excited by the opportunity to help TRI address this misunderstood health care problem and continue the shift to prevention and treatment” said Mr.Carey Krez, CEO of Unyos.

TRI is a non-profit making research and development organization. It conducts researches in the field of addiction and transforms the findings into products that can be of use to service providers, policy makers, etc. The innovative approach taken by the alliance will provide science-based information and other multimedia resources as well as an online network. The site will be extremely beneficial for professionals and parents who are concerned about drug abuse, in understanding and dealing with threats of internet pharmacies. The information available in the site will be downloadable as well.  

Constance Pechura, Executive Director of TRI said “TRI conducts some of the best addiction research in the nation and is committed to increasing the impact of our findings by communicating them as broadly as possible.” She also added that “the TRI – Unyos collaboration has the potential to extend the reach of our discoveries to the very people who need but otherwise might not get them.”

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How Drugs Affect the Brain?

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Addiction, Drug Facts, Drug Rehabilitation, Drug Testing, Prescription Drug Abuse on August 18th, 2009

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The human brain, in very simplistic terms, has two parts – the neocortex which is located in front of the head and which receives, processes and stores information for decision making and for remembering.

The other part is the limbic system whose function is to control all the automatic systems of the body and the emotions. It also controls the survival responses, i.e. in a threatening situation it tells you to adopt “fight or flight” responses, i.e., either to defend yourself or run away from the situation.

Drugs and alcohol program the limbic system to avoid uncomfortable situations instead of making healthy responses to resolve the associated stress and the Cortex protects such faulty behavior pattern by a filtering process called denial. The result is the addictive brain.

A communication system exists within the brain whereby the information is received and processed. The individual brain cells or neurons communicate with one another through neurotransmitters or biological messengers. Psychoactive drugs change the normal pattern of communication in two ways:

  • By  imitating the brain’s natural communication
  • By overstimulating the brain’s reward system with dopamine

The chemical structure of drugs like marijuana and heroin is similar to that of neurotransmitters. Thus they can easily deceive the brain receptors and activate nerve cells to send abnormal messages. Cocaine and methamphetamines, on the other hand prevent the recycling of brain chemicals by releasing large amount of neurotransmitters. This blocks the signal between the neurons and the amplified message thus produced, disrupts the normal communication patterns.

Almost all drugs target the dopamine secretion which is normally related with emotions and feelings of pleasure. When overstimulated, it produces euphoric effects in response to drugs thereby reinforcing the habit of abusing drugs.

Artificial stimulation of the brain undoubtedly leads to irreparable damages in the brain cells.

Would you compromise your BRAIN for DRUGS?

Make a healthy choice, stay away from drugs.

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Does Cigarette Smoking Initiate Drug Use?

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Addiction, Drug Facts, Drug Testing, Prescription Drug Abuse on August 8th, 2009

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Is cigarette a drug? The obvious answer is “NO”. But cigarette smoking has a direct influence on alcohol and other drug use. Can you ever think of a marijuana or a heroin user who has never smoked cigarette? Drug abuse and alcoholism has been a source of major concern for ages. Today young people are being exposed to drugs at a very tender age. Most of us are concerned with addiction to marijuana, heroin, cocaine, prescription drugs and others. But why do we overlook nicotine? It is high time that we deal teenage and adolescent smoking professionally. Since nicotine exposure at an early age increases the vulnerability of other drug use.

Tobacco has often been termed as a “GATEWAY DRUG” since it is the first substance consumed by the teenagers.

Studies conducted to find the origins of alcoholism and addiction to other drugs have indicated that smoking facilitates drug abuse. According to National Centre on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), nicotine makes adolescents vulnerable to alcohol and drug addiction by affecting the structural and chemical changes in the brain. As compared to teenagers who do not smoke, smokers are 9 times more likely to meet the medical criteria for past year drug alcohol abuse and 13 times more likely to meet the criteria for drug abuse. In a press release, the Jr. Chairman and President of CASA said, “Smoking by teens may well signal the fire of alcohol and other drug abuse and mental illnesses like depression and anxiety disorders”. One of the studies found that those who started smoking before 12 years of age were 3 times more vulnerable than non-smokers to binge drink, 13 times more likely to smoke marijuana and 7 times more prone to use heroin, cocaine.

Spread the message. Reach out to children. Talk to them about the ill-effects of smoking. Help them in making healthy choices.

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Risks of Marijuana Use

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Addiction, Drug Facts, Drug Rehabilitation, Drug Testing on July 31st, 2009

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In my earlier posting I spoke about the legalization of marijuana. But as a counselor it is my responsibility to sensitize people on the risks associated with its use. It is high time that people understand that smoking pot is not as harmless as it is thought to be.

This is specially for kids and their parents since contrary to the popular belief that marijuana is not popular among kids, the fact is the number of teens in treatment for marijuana dependency is more than that for all other illegal drugs. Teenage is the age of experimentation which might lead to addiction. Research shows that the potency of today’s marijuana is very high and is thus highly addictive. It also serves as a gateway drugs for teenagers who might gradually switch over to other extremely harmful substances like heroine, cocaine, etc.

Smoking pot has hazardous effects on the health of the smoker. Marijuana smoke destroys and leads to abnormal functioning of the lung tissue. The amount of carbon monoxide absorbed and tar inhaled is 3-5 times greater than cigarette use. Loss of motor co-ordination, increased heart rate, heightened anxiety and panic attacks are short term effects of the drug.

Marijuana also affects the brain activities. It impairs the attention, memory and learning capacities leading to poor academic performance. Pot smoking creates a trance like state which impairs judgment leading to risky decision making and involvement in unsafe behavior.

Longitudinal studies show that chronic use of the weed leads to deviant behavior patterns like aggression, delinquency, rebellious, poor relationship with parents.

Often we have found teens resorting to marijuana as a way to overcome depression. But pot can worsen the situation by increasing the level of depression and paving a path for other serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and even suicide.

Will you still believe that marijuana is not harmful?

Be on the guard. Spread the message, save children from using marijuana.

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Brown Sugar Addiction

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Addiction, Drug Facts, Drug Rehabilitation on July 17th, 2009

We all know that the problem of brown sugar addiction has been a challenge to society for more than three decades. It has reached alarming proportions, eroding the potentials of the younger generation – the future citizens of a country.

Brown Sugar is one of the most commonly used drugs. It is an adulterated form of Heroin – a derivative of opium. It is highly addictive in nature and is available in a powdered form in small vials. Brown sugar is around 20% heroin mixed with other impurities like chalk powder, rat poison (yes! It is true), zinc oxide or even strychnine.

Though the presence of such impurities makes the drug cheaper than heroin, it makes the users even more vulnerable to casualties, which might even lead to death. The route of intake of the drug varies. I found many who prefer to smoke it as cigarettes and there is yet another group that inhale the fumes of the powder heated on a foil while some inject subcutaneously or intravenously. In the long run they develop ugly looking and painful polyps on their nasal cavities.

The first episode of drug taking, as reported by most of the users, is not a very pleasant experience, as it may lead to a feeling of restlessness, vomiting. A person may even lose his or her senses. Gradually, they start to get the kick or high and the demand to use the drug increases and become drug dependant. The drug completely overpowers them. And, the thoughts and actions are controlled by it.

There are many ill effects of brown sugar. On the physical side, it leads to weight loss, loss of appetite, insomnia, respiratory tract infection, tuberculosis, gastrointestinal problems, viral hepatitis, skin infections and even dental problems. On the psychological side, it leads to irritability, lack of concentration, depression and frustration. There are also behavioral and social effects of brown sugar that lead to socially deviant behavior, involvement in criminal activities, compulsive lying and manipulation.

The ultimate destination of a brown sugar addict is prison or a rehabilitation centre or in the worst case, death.

Never experiment with Brown Sugar. Be assertive and say NO the very first day. If you know someone get him or her to the rehabs as fast as possible!

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