Teen violence

Teens who use drugs are twice as likely to engage in violent behavior. The National Drug Contol Policy also stated that about one-third of public high school (37%) and middle school principals (31%) report gang activity in their schools. By age 17, one-in-twelve teens (8%) report ever belonging to a gang. The report also states the following:

– Teens who use drugs, particularly marijuana, are more likely to steal
and experiment with other drugs and alcohol, compared to teens who
don’t; — One in four teens (27%) who used illicit drugs in the past year report attacking others with the intent to harm;

— Nearly one in six teens (17%) who got into serious fights at school or
work in the past year report using drugs;

— Teens who use marijuana regularly are nine times more likely than teens who don’t to experiment with other illicit drugs or alcohol, and five times more likely to steal; and

— Teens who do abstain from drug use, particularly marijuana use,
function better than users during the transition to young adulthood.

Drug and alcohol treatment is expensive

The Washington Times is running an article that states employer-sponsored health plans in 2006 provided limited coverage for substance-abuse treatment and did not provide the same level of benefits for substance abuse as those given for medical and surgical benefits.

The declining coverage rates are a concern, as alcoholism and dependency on illegal drugs remain a serious problem. In 2005, approximately 22.2 million Americans age 12 or older were “dependent” or “abused” illicit drugs or alcohol.

Crystal meth use

Crystal methamphetamine use is higher than previous estimates. The National Institute of Drug Abuse issued anew study suggesting the following:

The study, published in the July issue of the journal Addiction, found 2.8 percent of young adults (ages 18-26) reported the use of crystal methamphetamine in the past year during 2001-2002. This is higher than the annual prevalence of crystal methamphetamine use by young adults (ages 19-28) of 1.4 percent reported by NIDA’s 2002 Monitoring the Future Survey.

Ecstasy effects memory

This is from Ivanhoe Newswire:

Young people who use the recreational drug ecstasy may be doing more than just getting high. New research out of Amsterdam suggests they may also be damaging their ability to remember certain facts.

Thai detox

Americans are paying big money for this. This just shows you how difficult it can be and to what lengths people will go to, to overcome addiction.

Since its foundation in 1959, Wat Tham Krabok, 85 miles north of Bangkok, has put nearly 100,000 addicts through its “cold turkey” detox program and given them a grounding in meditation to help them stay on the straight and narrow. The treatment — a far cry from the picture-postcard beaches, jungle trekking and wild nightlife that draw millions of visitors to Thailand each year — is not for the faint-hearted.

In what is now a well-choreographed ceremony, patients sit cross legged and side-by-side in front of a long open drain. Accompanied by drums and chanting they then try to drink a bucket of water before sticking their fingers down their throats.

Fetal brain development damged by marijuana

A fetus who is exposed to marijuana will harm his/her brain.  Researchers have found that pot’s active ingredient, THC, interferes with the development of neurons.

Read the full Web MD article here

Meth mouth part II

The first installment of ‘meth mouth’ was so popular, I thought I would add a part II. Again, please be aware that following this link leads to graphic images of tooth decay.

Follow this link to the METH Awareness and Prevention Web Site (Meth Mouth Damage)

Sally D

In the ever changing drug market. I stumbled upon a drug called “Sally D”. Its from a plant called salvia divinorum, which is grown in Mexico. It looks like it is legal in Canada and in some U.S. states. If anyone has experience or references to this, please email or post in comments, thanks.

When smoked, its effects, although short-lived, range from a heightened sense of colour and texture, to open-eye hallucinations, to altered states of reality and out-of-body experiences.

 

Meth mouth

This is an article that was posted back in September of 2006. As I was drinking my Saturday morning coffee, the article surprised me and the picture of a “meth mouth” shocked me. Be warned, if you follow this link, you will be subject to the dirtiest mouth you may have ever seen.

Users can go from having a sparkling smile to one of decay and tooth loss in about a year. For one, the drug dries out a person’s salivary glands leading to the cottony-mouth feeling. Without the diluting effects of saliva, the acids in your mouth–produced by various foods and bacteria–begin to eat away tooth enamel.

Adding fuel to this mouth decay, meth users may forget to brush their teeth. Whereas the effects of cocaine last about an hour, a meth high can linger for 12 hours. During this half-day high, personal hygiene may not be at the top of the list of things to do.

Drug Dealers Looking to Market to Kids

      This is essentially a new way to market drugs. MSNBC is reporting out of Dallas that dealers are not only changing the street names of drugs. But are making the drugs a bit more kid friendly. For example, the dealers are making meth-amphetamines a strawberry flavor and color.

“They’re calling it ‘cheese,’ they’re not calling it ‘heroin,”’ said Dr. Collin Goto, a toxicologist at Children’s Medical Center Dallas.  “It becomes much more appealing to younger kids because it doesn’t have the stigma, they’re not as afraid to get started.”

MSNBC article here

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