What Causes Addiction

Posted on August 19, 2010 by admin
Drug addiction can ruin lives and cause chaos at the very least but what actually causes the addiction in the first place? Drug addiction starts out by the user craving more of the drug they are addicted to. Eventually, they feel that they cannot live without the drug. This may show up in the form of actual physical manifestations, in their mind; or both. More of the drug in question has to be taken to feel the same effects, if any at all.
The drugs that are taken change the nerve cells in the user’s brains and alters the pathways between. The neurons that are these cells interact with each other letting go of neurotransmitters into the synapses between nerve cells. These can be thought of as gaps in the cells.
While drug addiction is a physical and mental condition, it can be altered by many different kinds of conditions in the user’s life such as their genetic makeup, their personality, how they respond to peers and peer pressure and issues in life such as loss of a job, divorce, death and money problems.
Reasons a person may become addicted to a drug while others may not is a complex process that varies from person to person. Some can try a drug such as cocaine and never want it again while others are instantly addicted. Since there are so many factors in why a person becomes addicted, not including the addiction level of a particular drug, it can be hard to determine if you are the type of person that will become an addict.
It is hard for most people to overcome their addiction without professional help and rehabilitation center or counselor can help with the addiction and recovery process by a number of different means, catering to each individual.
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How Does Methadone Work

Posted on August 18, 2010 by admin
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We often hear about methadone clinics for heroin addicts but many people have no idea what methadone is and how it works. While methadone is a drug similar to heroin, the main feature and helpful aspect of it is that it lasts longer than heroin and takes longer to work. This alleviates the rush that some get from heroin and can help with maintaining abstinence since the high is still there but the sought after rush is not.  Simply put, methadone helps with a gradual transition away from heroin, which helps users stay clean more often than trying to stop heroin cold turkey.
While methadone is still a drug and is still unsafe, it is a better alternative than actual heroin use. The key to using methadone is the gradual transition away from all opiates. It acts as a gateway to abstinence and can also help an addict stay safer because the clinics make sure the users get clean needles and clean drugs. On the streets, a heroin addict risks getting a needle that may have been used by a person that is HIV positive or getting too much of the drug and overdosing. There can also be the chance of gaining an infection or damage to the circulatory system when using street drugs. Lastly, the purity is always in question, whereas methadone is administered by a health care official.
Methadone can help but the user has to be on a closely monitored program to ensure success and safety. Methadone cannot be combined with other drugs or alcohol because this can cause a fatal reaction. It is important that the person using it follows the physician’s strict orders. Although this can be hard for some users, it is still more helpful than a user sticking with heroin and not trying the gateway drug.
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Types of Cocaine

Posted on August 17, 2010 by admin
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There are two essential types of cocaine. They include freebase and hydrochloride and while each perform a different type of high for the user, both are addictive and dangerous.
The first type is hydrochloride salt, which is cocaine in a powdered form. It is what most are familiar with seeing in the movies; the long lines of white powder on a table or mirror that are snorted by using a rolled up piece of paper or money or a straw. This type of cocaine is created by utilizing acid to neutralize the cocaine to create a salt substance. This type of cocaine melts in water and can be snorted up the nose or injected into a user’s veins. Because of how it is used, this form of cocaine can take longer to create a high than by freebasing.
Street dealers may dilute their cocaine in order to gain higher profits. They use such products as sugar, talcum powder and corn starch or may add another type of stimulant such as procaine and amphetamines so that the user still gets a high but has less of the original product they purchased.
The second type of cocaine is freebase. This is created by not including the neutralizing acid, which makes the cocaine have the ability to be smoked instead or snorted or injected. This is a much faster high for the user and can take place in as little as 10 seconds after inhalation of the product. This form can be even more dangerous and addictive than powdered cocaine.
One such type of freebase cocaine that most people have heard of is crack cocaine. This is a type of cocaine that takes the powdered from of cocaine and processes it into a freebase format. When crack is smoked by the user, there is a noise that sounds like crackling which is where the name comes from. Crack is formulated over heat with baking soda, ammonia and water to take out the hydrochloride that makes it a salt.
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Huffing

Posted on August 12, 2010 by admin
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Inhalants for Getting High
One of the biggest drug problems suffered by teens and even pre-teens today is the inhalation of dangerous commercial chemicals for the purpose of intoxication. Kids normally aged 11 to 16 are increasingly finding ways to get high from items under the sink or in the garage, inhaling volatile fumes through the nose and trachea.  Some of the most serious abusers are children and teens living on the streets with no parental supervision. From the streets of Latin America to Asia you can see kids often sniffing glues or epoxies out of a plastic soda bottles.
What is Inhaled and How?
While street kids will inhale the cheapest options from open containers like glue, paint thinner, or other solvents inhalant users with access to a bit of money often buy aerosol propellant gases.  The nitrous oxide from hairspray, non-stick cooking spray, keyboard cleaner, whipped cream, and or gases such as butane are used to inflate a plastic bag. The user will then inhale the contents, blow back into the plastic bag, and then suck the remaining contents out of the bag.
The Rush & Aftermath
The gases inhaled fill the lungs and absorb into the blood stream so quickly via the capillaries that an intense high similar to that of intravenous drug use occurs. If glue or paint thinner is inhaled from an open container a level of impairment resembling drunkenness is common. However, if solvents or strong gases are inhaled a user can experience hallucinations, disconnect from reality, and strong inebriation. After the high goes away users will experience headache, nausea, and wheezing in the short term. The long-term adverse health effects are much grimmer with constant users increasing their risk of “sudden sniffing death” and the accumulation of huffing related ailments. Sudden sniffing death can be caused by inhalants responsible for inducing immediate cardiac arrest

Inhalants for Getting High
One of the biggest drug problems suffered by teens and even pre-teens today is the inhalation of dangerous commercial chemicals for the purpose of intoxication. Kids normally aged 11 to 16 are increasingly finding ways to get high from items under the sink or in the garage, inhaling volatile fumes through the nose and trachea.  Some of the most serious abusers are children and teens living on the streets with no parental supervision. From the streets of Latin America to Asia you can see kids often sniffing glues or epoxies out of a plastic soda bottles.
What is Inhaled and How?
While street kids will inhale the cheapest options from open containers like glue, paint thinner, or other solvents inhalant users with access to a bit of money often buy aerosol propellant gases.  The nitrous oxide from hairspray, non-stick cooking spray, keyboard cleaner, whipped cream, and or gases such as butane are used to inflate a plastic bag. The user will then inhale the contents, blow back into the plastic bag, and then suck the remaining contents out of the bag.
The Rush & Aftermath
The gases inhaled fill the lungs and absorb into the blood stream so quickly via the capillaries that an intense high similar to that of intravenous drug use occurs. If glue or paint thinner is inhaled from an open container a level of impairment resembling drunkenness is common. However, if solvents or strong gases are inhaled a user can experience hallucinations, disconnect from reality, and strong inebriation. After the high goes away users will experience headache, nausea, and wheezing in the short term. The long-term adverse health effects are much grimmer with constant users increasing their risk of “sudden sniffing death” and the accumulation of huffing related ailments. Sudden sniffing death can be caused by inhalants responsible for inducing immediate cardiac arrest

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Heroine

Posted on August 10, 2010 by admin
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In the News
Heroine has been mentioned in the news with frequency lately because of the war in Afghanistan. Over 90% of the world’s heroine comes from Afghanistan as the drug is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine, which comes from the opium poppy. Diamorphine (heroine) is used as a controlled painkiller and also a recreational drug. Inline with other opioids, addiction is common and several European countries have programs to legally satisfy the habits of long-term users.
Legal & Recreational
In some developed countries heroine is prescribed to treat acute pain or pain associated with a terminal illness despite morphine being a more common option. For recreational use, heroine is used to induce an intense euphoria. Normally heroine is injected and a user experiences an intense rush similar in nature to the feeling a patient feels when being treated with morphine, but much stronger.  Heroine may be a stronger opioid because of 6-monoacetylmorphoine, other opioids do not have this particular metabolite which is psycho-active. Recreational users also snort or smoke heroine with rolled tobacco and or a glass pipe. Snorting heroine by itself or with cocaine can be particularly dangerous as an overdose can be ingested by an unknowing user. When heroine is smoked the heated powder becomes liquid which yields smoke to be inhaled.
Administration
As with all drugs, when heroine is taken intravenously it yields the quickest and strongest rush. The drug can also be delivered with an intra-muscular injection where the high creeps on in 5 to 8 minutes. When smoked and snorted the drug ramps up a bit slower and peak effects occur within 10 to 15 minutes. Recreational users do not take the drug orally, but it can be administered that way and take 30 minutes to gather strength, but there is no rush. Heroine when administered in large doses is fatal.  It is responsible for many suicides and has even been used as a weapon by serial killers.

In the News
Heroine has been mentioned in the news with frequency lately because of the war in Afghanistan. Over 90% of the world’s heroine comes from Afghanistan as the drug is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine, which comes from the opium poppy. Diamorphine (heroine) is used as a controlled painkiller and also a recreational drug. Inline with other opioids, addiction is common and several European countries have programs to legally satisfy the habits of long-term users.
Legal & Recreational
In some developed countries heroine is prescribed to treat acute pain or pain associated with a terminal illness despite morphine being a more common option. For recreational use, heroine is used to induce an intense euphoria. Normally heroine is injected and a user experiences an intense rush similar in nature to the feeling a patient feels when being treated with morphine, but much stronger.  Heroine may be a stronger opioid because of 6-monoacetylmorphoine, other opioids do not have this particular metabolite which is psycho-active. Recreational users also snort or smoke heroine with rolled tobacco and or a glass pipe. Snorting heroine by itself or with cocaine can be particularly dangerous as an overdose can be ingested by an unknowing user. When heroine is smoked the heated powder becomes liquid which yields smoke to be inhaled.
Administration
As with all drugs, when heroine is taken intravenously it yields the quickest and strongest rush. The drug can also be delivered with an intra-muscular injection where the high creeps on in 5 to 8 minutes. When smoked and snorted the drug ramps up a bit slower and peak effects occur within 10 to 15 minutes. Recreational users do not take the drug orally, but it can be administered that way and take 30 minutes to gather strength, but there is no rush. Heroine when administered in large doses is fatal.  It is responsible for many suicides and has even been used as a weapon by serial killers.

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Crystal Meth – What is it Doing and Where is it Coming From?

Posted on August 10, 2010 by admin
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Crystal Meth’s Terrifying Reality

Often authoritative bodies working to combat drugs and drug use become exuberant in their campaigns discouraging the use of various drugs. Crystal methamphetamine might be one drug where that would be impossible. Some scary and surprising statistics are below:

• Treatment for Meth has overtaken treatment for cocaine and heroine in 14 US States
• In 2006 1.4 million American’s tried Crystal Meth
• 18-25 year olds are responsible for the biggest increase in treatment
• Meth use is greatest among 35-45 year olds
• It takes $1000 worth of ingredients to make $20,000 of Meth
• Over 10 million people in the US have used Meth

Where is it coming from?

Precursor chemicals were available in the US until recent new regulations surrounding the sale of cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, lithium batteries, rock salt, lye, iodine, paint thinner, drain cleaner, gasoline additives, and red phosphorus went into effect. Most of the Meth in the United States was supplied by super labs (usually houses retrofitted to produce large quantities of Meth) in California and Northern Mexico. In 2004 alone, 8,000 meth labs were raided and seized by law enforcement in the US where some 3,000 were children were recovered. Since the crackdown on precursor chemicals in the US, production has largely moved south of the border. In 2004 Mexico imported 200 tons of pseudoephedrine when around 70 tons would have been the amount Mexicans needed to control their colds. In 2006, 5.1 million tablets were seized by Mexican authorities hidden in a shipment of ceiling fans from China. That same year Mexican police seized the largest meth lab ever discovered in the Americas that was producing 400 pounds of Meth per day. In the midst of Felipe Caldarón’s cartel crackdown were the president is putting unprecedented pressure on Mexico’s drug cartels pseudoephedrine is no longer imported with impunity, but Mexico is still a country awash in precursor chemicals.

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LSD

Posted on August 8, 2010 by admin
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Origins of LSD
Commonly known as Acid the chemical LSD or Lysergic acid diethylamide is well known for its use among the hippy counterculture during the 1960s. It is used to produce psychological, sensory, and visual altered states. The drug was synthesized by a Swiss scientist named Dr. Albert Hofmann while he looked for ergoline, a chemical compound used to treat migraines and Parkinson’s disease. It wasn’t until some five years later that Hofmann discovered the psychedelic properties of the drug by accidentally ingesting some of it. Hofmann then did a number of controlled experiments testing the drug and found it to be a very potent psychedelic agent. LSD was later patented and marketed as a psychiatric drug in 1947.
The CIA and LSD
During the 1950s the CIA initiated Project MKULTRA. They tested the effects of LSD on CIA members, members of the US Armed Services, doctors, the mentally ill, prostitutes, and the general public. Some subjects did not know they were in fact subjects at all. The clandestine project was disclosed by the Rockefeller Commission Report in 1975.
The Effects of LSD
The psychedelic experience caused by LSD varies depending on the user, dosage, and environment. The hallmark psychological effects produce by LSD ingestion are visuals, change in identity perception or ego death, and perception of unity transcending all experience. The physical effects can be perspiration, goose bumps, increased heart rate, nausea, and an increase or decrease in body temperature. The visual distortions produced by LSD are not objects that are imagined, but instead a tree breathing or vibrant colors washing over a person you are looking at. Ego death and the resulting perspective have been purported by some to greatly change their personalities and lives – usually for the better. A user may state that new perspectives about his perception of the “self,” lead him to have a different relationship with the world around him in a positive way.
Is there harm?
LSD officially became illegal in the US in 1968, but FDA approved studies continued until 1980.  LSD is said to be physiologically well tolerated by the human body.

Origins of LSD
Commonly known as Acid the chemical LSD or Lysergic acid diethylamide is well known for its use among the hippy counterculture during the 1960s. It is used to produce psychological, sensory, and visual altered states. The drug was synthesized by a Swiss scientist named Dr. Albert Hofmann while he looked for ergoline, a chemical compound used to treat migraines and Parkinson’s disease. It wasn’t until some five years later that Hofmann discovered the psychedelic properties of the drug by accidentally ingesting some of it. Hofmann then did a number of controlled experiments testing the drug and found it to be a very potent psychedelic agent. LSD was later patented and marketed as a psychiatric drug in 1947.
The CIA and LSD
During the 1950s the CIA initiated Project MKULTRA. They tested the effects of LSD on CIA members, members of the US Armed Services, doctors, the mentally ill, prostitutes, and the general public. Some subjects did not know they were in fact subjects at all. The clandestine project was disclosed by the Rockefeller Commission Report in 1975.
The Effects of LSD
The psychedelic experience caused by LSD varies depending on the user, dosage, and environment. The hallmark psychological effects produce by LSD ingestion are visuals, change in identity perception or ego death, and perception of unity transcending all experience. The physical effects can be perspiration, goose bumps, increased heart rate, nausea, and an increase or decrease in body temperature. The visual distortions produced by LSD are not objects that are imagined, but instead a tree breathing or vibrant colors washing over a person you are looking at. Ego death and the resulting perspective have been purported by some to greatly change their personalities and lives – usually for the better. A user may state that new perspectives about his perception of the “self,” lead him to have a different relationship with the world around him in a positive way.
Is there harm?
LSD officially became illegal in the US in 1968, but FDA approved studies continued until 1980.  LSD is said to be physiologically well tolerated by the human body.

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Alcohol and Your Brain

Posted on August 8, 2010 by admin

Your brain controls your respiratory system, digestive system, and muscular system through a mix of electrical, chemical, and physical signals. Inside your cells electric pulses transmit messages and between autonomous cells chemicals or neurotransmitters are used. Neurotransmitters are emitted by one cell and received by another across a gap called the synapse. A neurotransmitter traveling from one cell to another binds with proteins along the way and then hits its specific receptor of the receiving cell. When this transaction occurs the receiving cell is told to either begin or cease a certain action. Neurotransmission, essentially your cells doing what they are supposed to do, can be interrupted when alcohol is introduced to the synapse.

Alcohol on Parts of the Brain

Cerebral Cortex – The cerebral cortex acts as an information processor for thoughts, senses, and voluntary muscle movements. Alcohol can affect thought process rendering bad judgement. Alcohol’s nickname the “medicine of courage” comes from its affect on the cerebral cortex depressing inhibition. Lastly, alcohol dulls the senses and increases the threshold for pain.

Lymbic System – Consisting of the septal sector and hippocampus, the lymbic system controls memory and emotions. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to fuzzy recollection of previous events or even complete memory loss often called “backout.” Exaggerated emotional states are also a hallmark of alcohols affect on the lymbic system.

The Cerebellum – While the cerebral cortex is responsible for initiating muscle movement, the cerebellum supplies the information for refining the movement. The cerebellum also controls balance and suffers impaired function with alcohol abuse resulting in a drunk person’s lack of balance.

Hypothalamus & Pituitary – The coordinator for hormonal release via the pituitary gland, alcohol depresses its functioning. Sexual desire often increases, but performance generally decreases.

Medulla – Also know as the brain stem the medulla influences automatic body functions like respiration, temperature, and heart rate. When you start to feel sleepy alcohol is affecting your medulla. Excessive consumption can result in unconsciousness or death.

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Thinking about Alcohol

Posted on August 6, 2010 by admin

Have you Really Ever Thought About it?

Most people young or old that drink alcohol don’t stop to think about about how alcohol works. It is one of the worlds oldest drugs and so woven into the fabric of society that alcohol consumption is a recreational activity enjoyed by teenagers to the elderly. Alcohol produces its desired effects by impairing normal brain function, here is how.

What does alcohol affect?

Alcohol impacts the cerebral cortex (responsible for processing thoughts, senses, and voluntary muscle movements) producing that desired effect of lowering inhibitions and making a person more chatty and confident. Alcohol’s affect on the cerebral cortex dulls the senses and can momentarily dull physical or emotional pain, but bad judgment is coupled with this desired effect. The impairment of the lymbic system can produce the desired result of exaggerated emotions where those long deep conversations about life occur. Conversely, the lymbic region controls memory so that long deep drunken conversation might not be recorded in your memory. The desired effect of physical looseness or relaxation has to do with alcohol’s affect on the cerebellum. The unwelcome side effect is poor balance. The hypothalamus and pituitary are affected by alcohol; sexual desire goes up, but sexual performance goes down. And finally, the medulla’s impairment also acts to release tension, but makes a person tired as well.

Blackout – What Occurs When the Brain is Overloaded

As mentioned earlier, alcohol affects the lymbic region of the brain in control of memory. When alcohol is consumed in excess total memory loss can occur. A person suffering “blackout” is at the least, usually embarrassing him or herself greatly. That kind of behavior can lead to mental anguish, depression, and a loss of self-identity. During blackout while all regions of the brain are significantly impaired from alcohol a person can freely engage in very risky behavior. While blacked out a person might freely engage in dangerous stunts or dares, physical confrontations, unprotected sex, driving, etc. Constant heavy drinking can lead to the brain’s increased susceptibility to blackout; complete memory loss can occur at lower levels of alcohol consumption.

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In Defense of Marijuana, but let’s be Honest

Posted on August 5, 2010 by admin
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What’s Up

Decriminalization and steps towards the legalization of marijuana are going on in many US states and European countries. The resources spent to enforce marijuana prohibition are seen as a waste by many and the Obama administration is no longer allocating federal resources to enforce prohibition. California has an upcoming vote to legalize the cultivation, distribution, and taxation of marijuana. Other west coast states are on the cusp of similar legislation. Groups against the legalization and wider spread use of marijuana harp particular myths surrounding marijuana usage, but also fail to mention certain truths.

Marijuana is too Potent!

There is common myth that the marijuana smoked today is much more potent than marijuana prevalent 40 years ago and thus a harsher drug. It is purported that a few samples of low THC content marijuana from long ago are used by the DEA to exaggerate the difference in THC content of present day marijuana. Either way, higher THC content marijuana when smoked does not produce a significantly increased high.

Marijuana is Very Addictive

If you smoke marijuana you are not at the risk of developing a physical dependence. Less than 1 percent of the US public smokes marijuana daily and even less develop some kind of dependence. However, it is possible to develop an appetite for the habit of relaxing with a daily smoke. The light freeing euphoria provided by marijuana is a pleasant way to relax and a minority of people make it part of their daily routines. The vast majority of daily smokers can still quit without drug treatment.

Marijuana Causes Brain Damage or other Irreversible Psychological Problems

There is no scientific evidence proving that marijuana causes any kind of permanent mental illness. When large quantities of marijuana are ingested it is possible that a user can experience temporary psychological stress like paranoia, panic, or anxiety. However, behavior and personality can be affected from the daily usage of marijuana. Many habitual marijuana smokers do not want to admit this is true, but daily smokers often are less outgoing and less motivated than they were prior to daily marijuana intake.

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