Archive for March, 2010

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Five Reasons Not to Do Heroin

People abuse heroin in a number of ways – injecting, snorting, sniffing or smoking the opiate drug in an effort to experience a surge of euphoria (or “rush”).  Over time, frequent heroin use leads to a tolerance, where physiological and psychological responses to the illegal street drug decrease.  As a result, the user will require more of the drug to achieve the same effect – a pattern that can easily lead to a heroin addiction.  In fact, statistics show that an estimated 23 percent of heroin users become dependent on the drug.  Unfortunately, heroin abuse carries with it incredible risks to your health and well-being.  Below are five serious reasons not to do heroin.

1. Physical Health Ailments – Physical health problems commonly associated with heroin use include collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses and liver or kidney disease.  In addition, heroin users are at a greater risk for pulmonary complications including various types of pneumonia.  A dose of heroin, which may contain toxic contaminants or additives, can clog blood vessels and lead to lung, kidney, liver or brain damage.  Further health complications include depressed respiration (which can lead to stopped breathing and death) and the risk of contracting infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS and hepatitis) through needle sharing.

2.  Birth Complications – Heroin users who are expecting run the risk of serious health complications regarding their pregnancy.  Heroin abuse during pregnancy can lead to spontaneous abortion and low birth weight babies.  Mothers who are regular users may give birth to a baby who is physically dependent on the drug, often causing serious medical complications that generally require hospitalization.

3. Severe Withdrawal Symptoms – People addicted to heroin who stop or reduce using abruptly without help of a medically supervised detox center are at a tremendous risk for severe and sometimes fatal withdrawal symptoms.  Common symptoms of withdrawal include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps and involuntary kicking movements. Further complications of heroin withdrawal include severe cravings for the drug, where the user is at a great risk of continued abuse or relapse.  Withdrawal symptoms, which peak approximately 48 to 72 hours after the last dose, subside in about a week and up to a few months.

4. Long-Term Changes in the Brain – While medical experts do not fully understand the effect of the changes that may occur in the brain after long-term use of heroin, research has shown that chronic abuse of heroin does, in fact, lead to changes in the way the brain works.  It may take months or even years for the brain to return to normal functioning state after the heroin use has stopped.

5. Relationship, Legal and Financial Problems – Once a heroin abuser develops dependence for the drug and is in constant need to obtain it, he or she is at a greater risk of criminal involvement and/or other high-risk behaviors.  In addition, since heroin is highly addicting both physically and psychologically, abusers often spend most of their money on a fresh stash.  In terms of personal and business relationships, heroin dependency causes a breakdown of family life, loss of employment and serious problems in other areas of life.

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Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Five Reasons to Say “No” to Blow

Over thirty-five million Americans experiment with cocaine each year, with regular users reaching close to the two million mark.  While cocaine is not a new drug to hit the streets, research shows that today’s cocaine is more potent than it has been in years – often cut with a purity of up to 50%.  In addition, cocaine is cheaper now than it was over the last few years (costing users a mere $20-80 per gram), making it more accessible to users.  While these facts may sound like good news to a user, the seemingly unavoidable consequences of cocaine abuse remain the same.  Below are five reasons to say “no” to blow.

1. Physical Health Ailments – Physical health problems associated with cocaine use include insomnia, dramatic weight loss and malnutrition. On a more serious note, cocaine abuse can disrupt the normal beating of the heart, thus increasing the risk of heart attack and sudden death in users who are otherwise healthy. Cocaine can also create surges in blood pressure, which can weaken or even rupture blood vessels in the brain (a stroke).  A cocaine-induced stroke can lead to coma or death. 

2. Mental Health and Psychological Dependency Issues – A highly addictive illegal drug that carries strong and long-lasting psychological dependency issues, cocaine often causes emotional problems including anxiety, irritability and depression.  In terms of mental health, cocaine users are at a significantly greater risk of developing mental health issues than their non-using acquaintances. 

3. Shattered Personal and Business Relationships – Cocaine is a powerful illegal drug that often destroys personal relationships with close friends and especially, families.  Cocaine users generally steal from their families to purchase drugs and are more inclined to abuse family members both physically and mentally.  Cocaine abuse is also detrimental to your business relationships, as cocaine users often lose their jobs at the hands of random drug screening.  Job termination resulting from cocaine abuse will also hurt your chances of landing work in the future.

4. Financial Problems – Cocaine abuse is an expensive habit, where the abuser will often do anything to get their hands on a fresh dose.  Some will even go as far as selling drugs just to make enough money to manage their own supply.  Cocaine abusers often borrow, steal and even turn to prostitution for drug money.

5. Wasted Time – It takes time for cocaine abusers to access a plentiful stash, where the abuser will often spend an entire day just seeking out their next fix.  Drug abusers also spend a lot of time just using their drug of choice.  Schoolwork, work, family time and other responsibilities take a back seat to a good buzz.

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Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Ways the Economy has Affected Drug and Alcohol Abuse

With the economy on the rocks, more and more people are struggling with not only their financial situation, but also with problems including domestic violence, depression, thoughts of suicide, anxiety and especially substance abuse.  The fact of the matter is that most of the funds many people have acquired over the years have started to diminish, leaving them aggravated by a poor outlook and at an increased risk of both substance abuse and mental illness.

Proof of how the stressed economy is affecting the number of people using illicit drugs and abusing alcohol lies in the recent increase of the number of people enrolling in substance abuse treatment programs.  Lakeview Health Systems, an inpatient alcohol and drug rehab center in Jacksonville, Florida, has seen an overall increase in its number of patients within the last year.  Jonathan Huttner, Lakeview Health’s VP of Marketing sees a direct correlation between the poor economy and drug and alcohol abuse.

Professor of family studies at Arizona Western College, Christina Hawkey, said that people today are looking for relief in any form they can find, often turning to substance abuse to gain “a cheap escape from reality.”  Hawkey adds that people who are scared, frustrated or worried about their financial situation are now looking for anything that can ease their minds, consequently causing an increase of dealers who are looking for some type of income to feed their families.

Unemployment seems to also play a significant role in the increase of drug and alcohol abuse. The more free time people have, the more difficult it is for them to control their consumption of drugs and alcohol. “If you have a job,” Hawkey adds, “you have to be sober to go to that job.  But if you are unemployed, you never have to be sober for anything.  The isolation of not going out into public can also increase consumption.”

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