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.

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.

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.”

1. Your Counselor – Substance abuse counselors provide special services to patients, including background assessments and planning for your drug or alcohol addiction treatment.  Your counselor is the person who will construct as well as execute your plan for recovery during your stay in an alcohol or drug rehab program.

2.  Your Sponsor –Often a critical help in dealing with impulses pertaining to drug or alcohol relapse, your rehab sponsor will offer personal one-on-one assistance after your and help you on the road after recovery.

3.  Alumni Director – Your alumni director is the person who will maintain contact with you after your discharge from an alcohol or drug rehab center.  Alumni directors also often coordinate aftercare services for patients who have successfully completed treatment.

4.  Friends – After your discharge from alcohol or drug rehab, your future support network of friends becomes an important factor in the success of your long-term recovery from substance abuse or addiction.

5.  Family Therapist – Addiction affects the whole family. A family therapist will work with you and members of your family to discuss feelings, rebuild trust, enhance coping skills, clarify boundaries and strengthen relationships.

6.  Yourself – Recovery from alcoholism or drug addiction is a process of self-mastery, expanding out for a lifetime and stopping only when we do. Your own personal awareness of chemical dependency, as well as the relationship between your body and mind, is the most vital tool you can acquire in realizing long-term recovery.

1.  State Licensing – If the state has not licensed the rehabilitation center you are considering, it is probably operating outside of the law – it may not even be an actual rehab facility.  People often confuse establishments such as sober living facilities with alcohol or drug rehab programs, but the two are not the same. Always ensure you are enrolling in a state-licensed facility.

2. Residential vs. Outpatient Rehabilitation – Prior to entering rehab, it is important to understand the difference between residential and outpatient treatment.  Outpatient treatment allows patients to return home at the end of the day, where residential treatment (ideal for individuals who desire a break from their daily lives) offers housing amenities to patients who plan to focus on nothing but their recovery.

3.  Dual Diagnosis Capabilities – Since psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder often accompany substance abuse and addiction, an alcohol or drug rehab center with dual diagnosis capabilities is often crucial for long-term recovery.

4.  Location…Location…Location – Recovery centers based in areas that encourage outdoor activities and exercise tend to have higher success rates for patients in need of treatment.  Try to find a treatment facility located near a relaxing recreational area such as a beach or a park.

5.  “Attitude Makes a Difference” – Entering rehab with a positive mental attitude is a surefire way to enhance the speed and effectiveness of your recovery.  Save your precious energy for the treatment to come and avoid fighting back against the people who are trying to help you. 

6.  Rehabilitation is an Enduring Process – Far too many people believe that rehabilitation ends when the program is over, when aftercare services are often the most important part of the treatment.  Aftercare programs, including 12-step programs and follow-up therapy sessions, provide the necessary preparation for a life free from substance abuse.

7.  Detox is Not Rehab – Although a vital element in the treatment of drug addiction, detox is only one part of the rehabilitation process.  Drug detox helps the individual overcome the physical component of their addiction, but not the crucial psychological component often addressed in individual and group counseling.

1. Their Success Rate– An alcohol or drug rehab center will typically hesitate to talk about their past success rates in treating patients struggling from drug or alcohol abuse and addiction.  The reason treatment centers often neglect this information is because the success rate of a patient in treatment often lies in their own involvement, attitude and efforts, and not necessarily the specific treatment methods administered to the patient.

2.  Details about the Facility and Rooms – Although a top-notch alcohol and drug rehab facility may disclose information pertaining to the appearance of their facility, many choose not to describe the look of their facility in detail.

3. The Length of a Patient’s Stay – Every patient in treatment is different, with their own set of circumstances and treatment requirements.   As a result, there is rarely a universal length of stay in treatment.  However, a rehab facility may require a patient to remain in treatment for a set length of 30 days, 45 days, 60 days or some other fixed period.

4.  The Cost of Treatment – Considering the many variables that affect the cost of treatment, including insurance, length of stay and other criteria, alcohol or drug rehab programs will rarely disclose a set price for their services prior to admission.

5. Information about the Food – The quality of the food served in a substance abuse rehab center varies from facility to facility and treatment providers rarely disclose information about their food.

6.  “There is No Cure for Alcoholism or Drug Addiction” – Patients enrolled in a substance abuse treatment program learn how to live with their addiction to alcohol or drugs.  Since there is no cure for alcoholism or drug addiction, treatment providers often hesitate to discuss this theory with patients as not to sound discouraging.

7.  How it Compares to the Competition – Although competition exists between substance abuse treatment centers, many will not disclose this information to patients entering their facility.

2.Available in 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg tablets, it varies in both color and size based on dosage.  Imprinted with 2 letters on one side and the number of milligrams on the other, the tablets contain a controlled, time-release formulation that many abusers remove to receive a rapid release of the medication. This process typically involves crushing the pill into a powder that can be snorted, chewed or cooked to inject, causing a rush of euphoria similar to heroin that can easily lead to an addiction.

3.Usually found on “blotter” paper, and often colored or with printed images, squares or “tabs” are taken orally.  Liquid and gelatin form , which can be put in the eyes, produce similar effects, which include synesthesia (delusions where people see numbers and letters as colors), a sense of time distortion, closed and open eye visuals, ego death (a Zen-like experience desired by people looking to expand their minds) and profound spiritual experiences.

4.Often branded with Playboy bunnies, Nike swooshes and other popular symbols or logos, these tablets have the tendency to induce a sense of intimacy with others. Commonly abused at clubs and other parties for both dancing stamina and mood enhancement,  users also experience diminished feelings of fear, anxiety and insecurity.

5.Available by prescription in .25 mg (white), .5 mg (peach), 1 mg (blue) and 2 mg (white) tablets, these pills take the shape of an oval in all dosages smaller than 2 mg.  A 2 mg tablet of  is a multi-scored rectangular tablet.  Imprinted with both the name and the dosage, these pills are depressants and minor tranquilizers that have a very similar effect on the mind as alcohol.

6.Available by prescription in 2.5-325 mg (pink/oval), 10-325 mg (yellow/oblong), 10-650 mg (yellow/oval), 7.5-500 mg (peach/oblong) and 7.5-325 mg (peach/oval) tablets, these pills can be taken orally or snorted when crushed. Abusers turn to this drug to experience a type of euphoria that replaces pain with artificial feelings of well-being.

7.Prescribed as pain relievers, these tablets are round and white featuring a “W” in a square on one side and an “M” on top of the score line on the other side, where the numbers 35 (used for 50 mg tablets) and 37 (used for 100 mg tablets) appear below the score line.  Also available in an oral solution or injection form, this works by dulling the pain perception center in the brain.

8.Both odorless and colorless, this drug takes the form of clear crystal chunks similar in appearance to actual glass or ice.  Often smoked, but sometimes snorted or injected, users abuse it for its euphoric effects, which are similar to those of cocaine – only longer lasting.

9.These are available in tablets or a liquid form, and typically taken in cycles of weeks or months. Athletes and other abusers take tend to take this orally or through injection to increase lean muscle mass, strength, stamina and intensity during training.

10.Distributed on the street in two main forms (a white crystalline powder and chips, chunks or rocks), this can be snorted, injected (when dissolved in water) or smoked .  Users experience immediate euphoric effects including energy, reduced fatigue and mental clarity followed by bouts of depression, irritability and fatigue.

Answers: 1)Heroin,  2)OxyContin, 3)Lsd, 4)Ecstasy, 5)Xanaz, 6)Percocet 7)Demerol, 8)Crystal Meth, 9)Steroids, 10)Cocaine

1. Their Success Rate– An alcohol or drug rehab center will typically hesitate to talk about their past success rates in treating patients struggling from drug or alcohol abuse and addiction.  The reason treatment centers often neglect this information is because the success rate of a patient in treatment often lies in their own involvement, attitude and efforts, and not necessarily the specific treatment methods administered to the patient.

2.  Details about the Facility and Rooms – Although a top-notch alcohol and drug rehab facility may disclose information pertaining to the appearance of their facility, many choose not to describe the look of their facility in detail.

3. The Length of a Patient’s Stay – Every patient in treatment is different, with their own set of circumstances and treatment requirements.   As a result, there is rarely a universal length of stay in treatment.  However, a rehab facility may require a patient to remain in treatment for a set length of 30 days, 45 days, 60 days or some other fixed period.

4.  The Cost of Treatment – Considering the many variables that affect the cost of treatment, including insurance, length of stay and other criteria, alcohol or drug rehab programs will rarely disclose a set price for their services prior to admission.

5. Information about the Food – The quality of the food served in a substance abuse rehab center varies from facility to facility and treatment providers rarely disclose information about their food.

6.  “There is No Cure for Alcoholism or Drug Addiction” – Patients enrolled in a substance abuse treatment program learn how to live with their addiction to alcohol or drugs.  Since there is no cure for alcoholism or drug addiction, treatment providers often hesitate to discuss this theory with patients as not to sound discouraging.

7.  How it Compares to the Competition – Although competition exists between substance abuse treatment centers, many will not disclose this information to patients entering their facility.