Teenagers and Drugs

The rate of teenagers getting involved with different kinds of drugs is escalating at an alarming rate.  Even though governments and other agencies are trying their best to educate teenagers and implement programs to spread information about the harmful effects of drugs, many teenagers still fall into its evil trap.

The Stage of Exploration and Experimentation

One of the major reasons why teenagers are very susceptible to drug usage and abuse is because they are in the life stage of exploration and experimentation.  The curiosity of an individual is said to be at its highest point during the adolescent years. 

Many glue-sniffing cases have been reported and most of the teenagers involved in such cases simply said that they did it because they were curious and wanted to feel what it was like to sniff glue.  Aside from being deemed as the stage of curiosity, adolescence is also considered to be a time of turbulence and adjustment.  Sometimes, teenagers fall into the trap of drug abuse because of peer pressure and the need to belong to social circles.

A Means of Socialization

As mentioned earlier, the stage of adolescence is a stage that needs the feeling of acceptance and belonging.  Teen parties can become a haven for inappropriate experimentation with alcohol and is often served and given to teens without limit. 

More often than not, teenagers experience their first experience with drugs when they are in the company of their friends.  Some are even reluctant to try drugs but their feelings of righteousness are overpowered by their need to be socially accepted.

Alcohol is a substance that can be very addicting and may cause many problems and complications in a teenager’s life.  Academic performance may deteriorate and the quality of the relationships, especially with family, may also be negatively affected.

OTC Drugs

OTC or over the counter drugs may seem harmless to most people, but for teenagers, it is an evil trap that would give them the opportunity to get involved in drug and substance abuse.

The most common OTC drugs that are used and abused by teenagers are cough and cold medicines.  Sleep medications are also popular among teenagers who want to get the feeling of being “high”.  Although some teens purchase OTC drugs for pure and honest health reasons, some tend to become addicted to the drug and may use it abusively.

A Matter Of Education And Monitoring

Even though drug abuse among teenagers may seem to be rampant and totally out of control these past few years, it doesn’t mean that the government, as well as parents and other people in authority should give up their fight to stop teenage drug abuse.

The education and monitoring of teenagers should start in the family circle.  Parents should start educating and informing their children about the do’s and don’ts of drug usage while they are still young.  Parents must also encourage their children to be open with them if ever they have issues or problems pertaining to school, friends, relationships, etc.  Open communication between parents and their adolescents serves as a great way to prevent or control drug abuse.

Some teenagers are using drugs because they want to escape from their problems and painful emotions.  By encouraging adolescents to speak up and share their worries and concerns with their parents or school counselors, they can be prevented from resorting to drugs or worse, suicide.

The school should also play its part in informing and honing the values and attitudes of the students.  Counseling programs as well as informative seminars should be implemented every now and then so as to keep the students in the right path.   

Even though adolescents may seem complicated and hard to understand, they should not be treated as such because deep inside they are still like little children who are confused and having a hard time adjusting to their new world and to the new feelings that they are experiencing.  Teenagers just need a little patience and understanding for them to feel that they are loved and accepted as they are.  Emphasize the fact that they don’t need to use drugs to escape from their problems or to fit in with their peers.

A-to-Z HERBAL HEALTH PROGRAM GENERAL HEALTH Thyromine Weight loss pill for people with hypothyroidism Revitol Hair Removal Cream Hair Removal Cream Revitol Skin Care Skin Care Store Bowtrol Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Colon Cleanser Acnezine Natural Skin Antioxidant Treatment Eazol Natural Pain Relief Glucosium Diabetic Formula Hair Removal Plus Hair Removal Cream HGH Energizer HGH Energizer Pill Melatrol Natural Sleeping Aid Nicocure Nicocure Quit Smoking THE EASY WAY! Provillus How to Regrow Hair and Prevent Hair Loss Relagen Stress, Anxiety & Weight Loss Formula Ultra Herbal Mega Herbal Site Venapro Hemorrhoids Treatment WEIGHT LOSS Hoodia Gordonii Plus Hoodia for Weight Loss Thyromine Weight loss pill for people with hypothyroidism Dietrine Carb Blocker Dietrine Carb Blocker Pill Dietrine Patch Dietrine Weight Loss Patch Herbal Phentermine Weight Loss Pill HGH Energizer HGH Energizer Pill Relagen Stress, Anxiety & Weight Loss Formula Weight Loss Patch Pro Weight Loss Patch Weight Loss Experts, Available Meet Our Experts Right Now! WOMEN'S HEALTH AND SKIN CARE Revitol Skin Care Store Revitol Skin Care Store Attract Mate Human Pheromone Spray Breast Gain Plus Breast Enlargement Pills Menozac Natural Menopause Relief Menozac Natural Menopause Relief Revitol Anti-Aging Solutions Anti Wrinkle Treatment Revitol Cellulite Solution Revitol Cellulite Solution Revitol Stretch Mark Prevention Revolutionary Proven Stretch Mark Prevention from Revitol! MEN'S HEALTH Attract Mate Human Pheromone Spray Deer Antler Plus Male Multiple Orgasm Pill Doctors Enlargement - Gay Niche Penis Enlargement Pills Doctors Herbal Group Penis Enlargement Pills Enlargement Patch Penis Enlargement Patch Enlast Stops Premature Ejaculation Virility EX Oil Male Enhancement Oil Virility EX Patch Male Enhancement Patch Virility EX Pills Male Enhancement Pills

What Are Depressants
(Back to Top of Page)

Depressants

There are a lot of drugs and other substances that teenagers seem to get addicted to and one of those drugs are called depressants.  What are depressants?  Well, from the name itself, they are substances that depress the central nervous system’s activity.  Depressants have a hypnotic, sedative and tranquilizing effect that’s why they are commonly referred to as “downers”.

Legal And Illegal Depressants

Not all depressants are illegal; there are also legal depressants prescribed by doctors to patients who are in need of medications that relieve stress, subdue anxiety and induce sleep.  One popular legal depressant that doesn’t need a doctor’s prescription is alcohol.  Alcohol only becomes an “illegal” depressant when it is purchased and drank by minors.

Alcohol is a class of molecules that includes propyl alcohol, ethanol, methanol, and others. Ethanol is the type that is safe for people to drink; the other types of alcohol are toxic if consumed. Alcohol is considered to be one of the popular depressants because it acts as a relaxant. Alcohol is considered to be a healthy tension reducer if taken in moderation. 

The problem with teens today is that they seem to drink alcohol like it’s just plain water.  Of course, too much intake of alcohol is not healthy.  It can induce aggressive behavior as well as make people perform risk-taking behaviors that they might regret in the end.  Teenagers are very susceptible victims of getting drunk and one of the causes of teen mortality is the abuse of alcohol.

Chilling Out

Most teenagers who have used depressants confessed that all they wanted was to chill out and relax.  More often than not, teenagers who use depressants desire an escape from their problems for a little while or forget about the issues that are bothering them.  The stage of adolescence is full of adjustments and turbulence that’s why some teenagers end up looking for ways to calm down and relax which unfortunately do them more harm than good.

Dangers Of Depressants

Teenagers who use depressants abusively are in danger of being addicted to it not only physically but also psychologically.  Inappropriate use of depressants may cause slurred speech, confusion, detached from reality, lack of coordination and slowed breathing.  If not monitored properly, depressants can cause serious health problems and complications.  

Tranquilizers, another kind of depressant, help people become calm and eventually make them fall asleep.  The most common tranquilizers today are benzodiazepines, which include the diazepam and alprazolam.

Tranquilizers such as benzodiazepine provide a calming effect by facilitating transmission at synapses that make use of the GABA neurotransmitter. Similarly, alcohol facilitates transmission at the same synapses but through a different mechanism.  If depressants and alcohol are taken together in excessive doses, it can be fatal because they increase the GABA transmission that in turn have a suppressing effect on the areas of the brain which are responsible for controlling heartbeat and breathing.

Another dangerous benzodiazepine drug is flunitrazepam.  This is popularly known as the “date rape drug” because guys can easily drug their date by just dropping a tablet of flunitrazepam in their date’s beverage.  It dissolves quickly in water and has absolutely no color, distinct odor and taste.  Flunitrazepam makes people feel drowsy, lose control over their muscles and makes people barely recall the events that happened when they were under the influence of the drug. 

Be Sensitive To Mood And Attitude Changes

A lot of teenagers resort to using depressants and alcohol to take their mind off things because they feel that they have no other place to go to, no other person to talk to.  Students who are under the abuse of alcohol and depressants may be observed to be drowsy and sleepy in class, unresponsive to class participation and lacking a sense of balance.

Teachers or parents should be sensitive enough to detect if a teenager is under the influence of depressants.  Early detection is helpful because it would mean that early intervention may also take place.  Parents and teachers should not shrug off sudden changes in the mood and attitude of a teenager.  The deterioration of academic performance may also be taken as a warning. 

Although it is not suggested that parents and teachers quickly jump to conclusions, it is always much better to be on the safe side and make sure that teenagers are not heading down the wrong path.

Alcoholism
(Back to Top of Page)

Teen Alcoholism

The number of teens involved in the excessive consumption of alcohol is growing. Another tragic statistical fact is that kids as young as 12 years old are already learning to drink alcohol as if it was just soda.

Parents are already alarmed with the rampant case of teenage alcoholism. Although the media and celebrities can be partly blamed for the popularity of teen alcoholism (take the cases of Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton), a lot of other factors can also be considered as to why teen alcoholism has become a societal disease.

A Matter Of Belonging

One of the most common lines that teenagers say is “but everybody’s doing it!” Parents hear those words every so often and teenagers frequently blurt it out of their mouth as if they were just saying “yeah” or “okay”. The need to belong and to be accepted is a really important need that simply cannot be ignored by teenagers. Their need to belong to a certain group or be accepted by their friends and classmates is a need that they must fulfill – even if it takes doing some things that are already way out of line.

Curiosity Kills The Cat

Another factor that leads teenagers to alcoholism is their curiosity. Perhaps their first intake of alcohol is just to satisfy their curiosity. The sad thing is that alcohol can be addictive and if teenagers get hooked, it’s as if there’s no stopping them.

Drink Like There’s No Tomorrow

Teenage social life is usually composed of house parties, dates, beach parties, sleepovers, etc. The social life of teenagers provides numerous opportunities for alcoholic drinks to be served. House parties are especially dangerous, especially if there’s no adult or parent around to supervise and monitor (which is mostly the case nowadays since most teenagers would demand that their parents get out of the scene when they are hosting a party).

Some teenagers also have their first glass or bottle of alcohol as a result of peer pressure. Since they don’t want to be called a “kill joy” or a “goody two shoes,” most teens do succumb to the offers of their friends to drink or taste alcohol.

Troubled teenagers also use alcohol as a way to forget their troubles and emotional anguish in life. Although drinking alcohol may be a somewhat better escape than committing suicide, in the long run, too much intake of alcohol can be detrimental to health, too! Let’s just say that teenagers who are depending on alcohol intake as their escape to their worldly problems are “killing themselves softly.”

Easy Come, Easy Go

Perhaps one of the reasons why alcoholism is very rampant among teenagers is because of the fact that it is very easy for an underage teen to purchase alcohol. Although it is imposed in most of the laws all over the world that teens under the age of 18 years old are not allowed to purchase alcoholic drinks, many teens still get away with it. Some clerks and salesmen are too lazy or too lenient to care if the teen is the proper age or not.

Healthy Distractions

To avoid teenage alcoholism, parents, teachers and the government must go hand in hand in trying to provide “cool” and healthy distractions for teenagers so that they will not fall into the tempting traps of alcoholic substances. One widely used “healthy distraction” is sports. Local community groups as well as academic institutions are great ways to entice teenagers to become busy and active in healthy and productive physical activities.

Teenagers must be given opportunities to express themselves and cultivate their hidden talents so that they can realize that there are more exciting ways to spend their life rather than waste it on life-threatening drinking sprees.

Parents and teachers should be ambassadors in making teenagers realize that the fun and excitement they get from drinking alcoholic drinks is only superficial and short-term; they must emphasize that there is more to life than trying to belong. It is better to belong through a healthy and productive way rather than through hazardous and self-destructive ways.

What Are Stimulants
(Back to Top of Page)

What Are Stimulants?

Stimulants are drugs that are known to increase an individual’s alertness and awareness temporarily. Stimulants affect the body by increasing the activity of the central nervous system, sympathetic nervous system or both. More popularly known as “uppers”, stimulants give a feeling of euphoria to people who take them.

If properly prescribed and consumed, stimulants are used to increase alertness (especially with people who are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), alleviate sleepiness, promote weight loss and counteract abnormal states pertaining to decreased consciousness or alertness (e.g. narcolepsy). Stimulants are also prescribed to treat depression.

Stimulants In Beverages

Teenagers use stimulants abusively because they like the feeling of being high and euphoric. Stimulants are not only found in drugs prescribed by the doctor but also in caffeine-rich beverages such as soft drinks, tea, energy or power drinks and coffee. Caffeine acts as a stimulant by increasing the release of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain, which in turn increase the blood pressure, constricts the blood vessels, increases blood glucose and the heart rate of the user.

Almost 80% of Americans consume caffeine daily that’s why there is only minimal restriction to its sale and consumption. On a normal note, teenagers consume caffeine because they want to stay awake or pull an all-nighter to study for an exam, to make a project, etc. However, there are some teenagers who become addicted to caffeine and they can’t seem to stop its intake.

Cigarette Smoking

Nicotine, which is found in tobacco is also considered one of the most popularly used stimulants in the world. Statistics show that there are a lot of teenagers who are already chain smokers and these teens can be considered as addicted to stimulants in one way or another since cigarettes have a strong stimulant in its composition, which is nicotine.

It is a well-known fact that chain smokers have a hard time stopping their smoking habit. Teenagers who want to stop their smoking habit must have a strong support group (starting from their parents, teachers and friends) so that they can be able to be successful in their goal to cease smoking.

Illegal Stimulants

The most popular illegal stimulants in the world are said to be cocaine, methamphetamine and crack. Cocaine is made from the leaves of the cocoa shrub and takes its most common form in a white crystalline powder. Although cocaine falls under the category of stimulants, it is used in the medical field not as a stimulant but as a local anaesthetic especially in the field of ophthalmology.

Most people who use cocaine do so for recreational use, to get the feeling of being “high”. The sale and possession of cocaine are strictly controlled in most jurisdictions, however, there are still some “drug pushers” who are selling cocaine discreetly and that’s where teenagers get their supply of cocaine.

Crack is cocaine that has not yet been neutralized by an acid to make the hydrochlorized salt that makes up cocaine. For short, crack is a form of cocaine and it takes form in a rock-like crystal that can be heated and smoked. Crack got its name from the “crackling” sound it makes when it is heated.

Cocaine and crack users are candidates for experiencing acute cardiovascular or cerebro-vascular emergencies such as stroke or heart attack. Excessive use of cocaine and crack leads to sudden death.

Methamphetamines are stimulants that are referred to in slang as “meth” or “ice”. Methamphetamine in powdered form is the hydrochloride salt form that is highly hydrophilic (absorbs water from the air quickly). The HCl salt is smokable and teens smoke this HCl salt during “pot sessions”. "Ice" refers to methamphetamine that is grown in crystals. Although the HCl salt form of methamphetamine is already smokable, most people prefer the “ice” form because methamphetamine is easier to smoke if it is grown in crystals.

Long Term Effect Of Stimulants

Anything used in excess is not healthy. Long term use of stimulants, whether they are legally prescribed or not, may lead to the degrading of one’s health. Stimulants can become very addictive to the point that some individuals use them compulsively. In addition, taking high doses of stimulants constantly over a short time can lead to psychological disturbances such as feelings of paranoia or hostility.



Opioids and Analgesics
(Back to Top of Page)

The World Of Analgesics

Analgesics are more popularly known as painkillers and as the name suggests, are used to alleviate pain. Analgesic drugs work on the body by affecting the central and peripheral nervous system.

Some famous analgesics are paracetamol, morphine, salicylates, and tramadol. There are basically two types of analgesics; the narcotics and non-narcotics. Analgesics relieve pain by preventing pain signals from going to the brain or interfering with the brain’s ability to interpret the pain signals that it picks up.

Non-Narcotic Analgesics

The most common over the counter non-narcotic analgesic is acetaminophen. It is a popular pain reliever because aside from the fact that it is really affordable, it can effectively alleviate mild to moderate pain. If acetaminophen is taken in excess, serious and harmful side effects may occur and may eventually lead to death. Long term use and abuse of acetaminophens may increase the chances of liver damage.

Narcotic Analgesics

There are basically two types of narcotic analgesics; the opoiods and the opiates. Opiates are alkaloids found in opium while opioids are derivatives of opiates.

An opioid is a chemical substance that has a morphine-like effect in an individual’s body. Opioids are mainly used and prescribed for the relief of pain belonging to the category of analgesics. Opioid receptors are found principally in the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. The receptors in these two major organ systems mediate both the advantageous as well as the harmful effects of opioids.

How Teenagers Might Purchase Opioids And Analgesics

There are some analgesics (paracetamol, acetaminophen) that can be easily bought over the counter. However, opioids are a bit difficult to purchase by teens and that’s why they resort to contacting their friends who have access to drug peddlers. Teenagers can also use the power of the internet to get their dose of opioids.

Clinical Use Of Opioids

Opioids have long been known to treat and alleviate acute pain. They have also been found to be very useful in the field of palliative care to lessen the chronic, severe, disabling pain of terminal conditions such as cancer. Contrary to popular notions and belief, high doses of opioids are not required to control the pain of end-stage or advanced diseases.

According to Drug Facts and Comparisons, 2005, the sole indications of opioids include the following: anesthesia and analgesia, cough, diarrhea, detoxification and anxiety.

Addiction To Opioids

Teenagers may become physically or psychologically addicted to opioids and in the long run, they will still be the ones who will suffer the dire consequences of addiction. Deciding to stop the excessive or addictive intake of opioids may be enlightening, but the effects of withdrawal may be otherwise. Sometimes, withdrawal to this substance may reinforce the addiction, which intensifies the need and desire of an individual to take the drug. People who use opioids for recreational use are more prone to opioid addiction rather than those individuals who just use opioids for medical use.

Adverse Effects Of Opioids

Teenagers who take opioids in excess are prone to its adverse effects on the health. Common adverse effects of opioids include nausea, drowsiness, miosis, vomiting, orthostatic hypotension, urinary retention, respiratory depression and constipation. Reversing the adverse effects of opioids can be done with substances such as naloxone or naltrexone.

These substances are called competitive antagonists and they work by binding the opioid receptors with agonists that have higher affinity without necessarily activating the receptors directly.

Opioids must only be used by people who are suffering from extreme and severe pain because people who are not suffering pain may experience fatal effects if they continue using opioids especially in high dosages.

Teenagers who have experienced taking analgesics and opioids are candidates of becoming addicted to these substances especially if they have proven to be very effective in instantly removing or alleviating pain. Although some teenagers abuse these drugs as a means of recreation, some teens are addicted to these substances because of the comfort and relief that it brings.

Admittedly, abusive and excessive use of opioids and analgesics may be a bit hard to detect by parents and teachers, especially if teenagers are good in hiding the drugs. Heightened vigilance and sensitivity to the health condition and performance of teenagers must be observed so as to stop the addiction and prevent further health deterioration.

 

Cannabinols
(Back to Top of Page)


The Deal With Cannabinols

Cannabinols comprised of marijuana and other related drugs. All forms of the marijuana plant (Cannabis sativa) belong to the category of cannabinols. Dronabinol (Marinol) is one pharmacologic agent that also belongs to this group.

Teens who are addicted or intoxicated with substances composed of cannabinols experience euphoria, giddiness, a feeling of being mellow and relaxed, hunger, decreased social interactions, and problems pertaining to the proper tracking of time. Teen intoxication between hashish, leaf marijuana, and other cannabinols reveal varying influences.

When used properly and within the range of a doctor’s prescription, cannabinols are great in producing a general feeling of wellness and relaxation. Clinically relevant withdrawal states occur only after an individual’s intake of cannabinol in very large amounts (e.g., 20 or more marijuana cigarettes per day).

Popular Street Names

Marijuana is the cannabinol which has a lot of “nicknames” and these include Mary Jane, Pot, That, Grass, Joint, Brick, and Weed. Hashish also has street names to disguise it such as Hash, Rope and Ganja. As mentioned earlier, marijuana is derived from the leaves, stems, bud and seeds of the Marijuana plant. Hashish is typically sold in the form of a brown or black wax-like substance since is derived from the prepared sap of the marijuana plant.

Where Teens Might Get Their Hands On Cannabinols

Aside from drug peddlers who can be contacted through friends and other social contacts, teenagers can now discreetly purchase drugs such as marijuana and hashish through the internet. Online buying and selling of drugs is becoming more and more popular and alarming because it seems as if teenagers are provided with easy access and sale of drugs. Modern technology has already opened doors to new ways to sell hashish and marijuana to teens inconspicuously.

Cannabinol Intoxication

Oral administration and inhalation are two of the most common administration routes of cannabinols. Individuals who are under the influence of cannabinols (such as marijuana) may experience impaired concentration, performance, lapse in judgement and may even make a person lose touch with reality. The heavy intoxicating effects of cannabinols may heighten the risk of accidents, injuries and even death.

A lot of teenagers use cannabinols, specifically marijuana and hashish because if it is taken in large amounts, it can give them a feeling of “being high.” Teenagers who have experienced being under the influence of marijuana and hashish reported that they were able to see more clearly and vividly and time seemed to pass slowly, as if everything was in slow motion. The colors of the things around them reportedly became more vibrant and sometimes, the shapes of persons and objects became sharper and eventually become distorted.

Other common effects of cannabinol abuse are decreased attention span, difficulty in forming concrete thoughts and ideas, mental distortion and confusion, impaired motor coordination, thinking and reading comprehension.

Several studies and researches have shown that regular use or intake of substances with cannabinols can lead to a person’s difficulty in executing or developing goal-directed behaviors, a syndrome better known as amotivational syndrome.

Individuals who have this syndrome are said to be less ambitious than normal people and they seem to be unconcerned and unwilling to make any plans pertaining to the future. For short, individuals suffering from amotivational syndrome have lost their sense of purpose.

Long Term Effects

The dangerous long-term effects of cannabinols must be highly emphasized to teenagers so that they will be aware and eventually realize that they are destroying their life by using these kinds of drugs.

Studies have shown that marijuana contains about 50% more cancer causing substances than regular cigarettes and tobacco! Since the most common way of infusing marijuana into the body is through deep inhalation, users are not only at risk for lung cancer but also for bronchitis and infection of the lungs. The respiratory system of an individual is highly at risk if he or she is a heavy or prolonged marijuana user.

Psychological problems may also develop in people who practice the excessive use of marijuana and hashish. Personality disturbances such as generalized anxiety disorder, paranoia, schizophrenia, and depression are few of the many psychological illnesses that may develop with long term abuse of cannabinols.


Hallucinogens and Other Substances
(Back to Top of Page)

Hallucinogens And Other Related Substances

Hallucinogens and related substances are part of a class of drugs called psychoactive drugs. These are so called because they act on the mind of the person using the drug, which may affect in varying degrees the perceptions, emotions, thoughts, as well as the level of consciousness of the person.

These alter the state of mind of the person in that they perceive something as another object entirely, and may connect other ideas and bizarre and seemingly unconnected ways. Unlike stimulants that increase the capacity of the mind to receive stimuli, this class of drugs instead change the way that a stimulus is translated by the brain.

How Hallucinogens Work

Based on the alterations to how signals being sent to the brain are received, the drug user's emotions will also be affected accordingly, and will react quite differently while under the influence of the drug taken. Hallucinogenic drugs are known to give individuals a feeling of being detached from reality.

The chemicals found in hallucinogens make drug users have a sense of distorted reality. Peyote cactus and psilocybin mushrooms produce visions that are not normally seen by individuals who are not users of hallucinogens. The effects of an “LSD” trip may vary depending on the amount taken, the environment, the individual’s tolerance of the drug and the current mood of the drug user.

Why Teens Are Hooked On Hallucinogens

Since pain is also dulled during the period of the high, it will add to the pleasure and intensify the decreased awareness of the user to his or her surroundings. What is addictive to the person is the effect of this drug on the pleasure center, and because it is such a desirable feeling, the drug user will desire nothing more than to experience this over and over, which creates dependence and an addiction to the drug.

Where Teenagers Might Get Hold Of Hallucinogens

LSD, psilocybin and PCP are popular hallucinogens being consumed by teens. The availability of these drugs thrive in places considered as “metropolitan” areas. Hallucinogens may also be bought by teens at raves or dance clubs. The Internet may also serve as a great venue for teens that want to purchase hallucinogenic drugs. They can easily place their order and the drugs will be delivered, or shall we say smuggled, a few days or weeks after.

Physical And Long Term Damage To The User

The effects of drugs on the body are not limited only to the brain, but also to the rest of the body. The immune system is weakened and increases the probability of succumbing to disease. There is also long term damage to the brain after the initial high has faded, often lasting up to four weeks in the user.

The aforementioned effects on the brain will linger long after the drug has been taken, and a few examples of what could happen is an increased likelihood of accidents because of impaired judgment and perception. Because the brain's pleasure center is also opened for long periods during the high period, repeated use of the drug causes depletion of the brain's pleasure chemicals, and leads to anxiety, and foremost among the effects, depression.

Reduced intellectual ability, motor skills and coordination, and social abilities are also part of the long-term effects of drugs. This is why drug addicts are more likely to be absent from work, and miss out on their social well being, as well as being withdrawn into themselves. In other words, they may be there physically, but not quite mentally.

Given the extent of the damage dealt to these persons, it's no wonder that these drugs are a danger to your children, and may affect the course of their lives as well. What should be done for the children's sake is education on the negative effects of these drugs, not only the short-term down periods but also the long-term effects on users. Another thing that should be shown is how these drugs' negative effects largely offset the short-term pleasure derived from their use.

Keep your child away from drugs, and steer him or her in a more positive direction. Drugs ruin lives.


Glues, Inhalants and Aerosols
(Back to Top of Page)

Inhalants, Solvents And Other Household Substances That Could Cause Addiction

Have you ever looked into your kitchen supply and cleaning agents? These are artificial substances, created from manufactured chemicals to do a certain purpose, which could be to clean, to disinfect, or for whatever purpose it was made. But could any of this stuff be addictive? You may find the answer surprising.

Too much of anything is bad and that you could be addicted even to something commonly found in your household that you use in your daily life.

What Substances Cause Drug-like Effects?

Most of the household items that you own that could cause addiction do so through inhalation. Chemicals used from anything like aerosols or cleaning agents to solvent glue can be used to intoxicate the user and become an addictive substance.

The chemicals found in these substances create different effects on the user. Some materials cause intoxication of the user, much like the effect of alcohol on the body. Another would be to alter perceptions or even to cause hallucinations. Substance abuse is dangerous to the body, and may even cause death when exposed to enough material at a single time.

Effects Of Inhaling Household Chemicals

If you've noticed strong odors from smelling chemical-based cleaning agents, then you probably also noticed that most often these odors are very strong even in small amounts. There are people that have discovered the effects of purposely exposing themselves to these chemicals, and inhale the vapor to achieve a high from these materials.

Solvent-based glue is a good example of a strong chemical that has an effect on the body. Even nail polish is a solvent, though this product is commonly available and completely legal. Acetone is a common ingredient found in these solvents, and it is this substance that creates the effects on the body. Another would be propellant found in pressurized spray cans and other aerosol products. Nitrous oxide is the main ingredient in this case, and has an effect much like the stuff that your dentist uses to make you drowsy, because it is the same material.

Methods And Processes Of Substance Intake

A common method of intake of these addictive chemicals is bagging, which involves spraying or otherwise putting the chemicals in a plastic bag and inhaling the vapors emanating from the chemical trapped in the bag. A variation of this would be to spray chemicals in a rag, and breath with the rag over the mouth and nose. Another way would be to spray the substance in the air, and inhaling directly, or even as extreme as spraying chemicals directly into the mouth. For solvents, aside from inhaling it is drinking the solvent with alcohol.

Dangers Of The Addiction Of These Substances

Because these chemicals arrive almost immediately to the brain, their effect is fast, and only a small amount is required to achieve intoxication. This causes neurological damage because these materials eat away at the brain's tissues, crippling the physical makeup of the brain.

The mind is also affected in that it could lead to changes in perception ability, mental capacity, and intellectual instability. All of these effects are long term and are mostly permanent, because most damage to the brain cannot be undone. An overdose is also easy to achieve and deadlier than most drugs because it may induce comas or even cause death of the user.

How To Identify If A Person Is Addicted To Inhalants

There are ways to tell if a person is a user of inhalants or solvents. These are strong chemicals, so use of these would result in a strong chemical odor lingering from the person, and smelling like the chemicals that he or she inhales, such as cleaning agents. Disorientation is also common, along with personality changes that result from the brain being affected by chemical substances.

An abnormal amount of the material used by the person could also be a sign of inhalant abuse. If this is so, then you might be seeing firsthand a person abusing these materials. You should help yourself and that person by notifying the proper authorities before substantial damage is done and the person having an addiction becomes dangerous.

We all need to watch out for addiction to materials, whether it's illegal drugs or household chemicals. We can save lives by stopping addiction in its tracks and saving the life of an addict before he or she ruins it.


Over The Counter – OTC
(Back to Top of Page)

Addiction To Cough Syrup And Over The Counter Drugs

Substance addiction can come in many forms and widely differing materials. Aside from being addicted to illegal drugs and household chemicals, there is now an inexpensive alternative: cough syrup, as well as over the counter drugs, both of which can be acquired quite legally. The sad thing about it is that the teens addicted to these drugs are abusing a substance that was originally created to heal sickness and alleviate pain.

Materials For Cough Syrup

Cough syrup contains codeine, commonly used for analgesic purposes. It can be extracted from opium or synthesized from morphine, both of which are addictive drugs in themselves. Prescription-grade cough syrup contains larger concentrations of this chemical.

A common effect is an altered state of mind and sedation of the user, causing numbness. Users can easily go overboard as well, with overdose symptoms in common with other opiates. Some medicines also contain antihistamines that can cause another sedative effect.

Promethazine is also combined with codeine to combat cough, but this is also a chemical that, on its own, could also cause strong reactions in the user. It is a sedative drug, and as normally goes with these types of chemicals, causes inhibited function in terms of vision, and being slowed and having slurred speech as well. Users describe this feeling as being "zazzed", when everything around you goes slowly.

Ingestion and Usage

Codeine in cough syrup is usually taken in a form called Purple Drank. The moniker comes from its color, which usually ranges from purple to pink depending on the cough syrup used and the ratio of mixing it with other drinks such as sodas.

This practice first gained influence in the southern states, and hip-hop artists popularized its use with the masses by including it in their songs. Effects include increased auditory sensations and visual stimuli, and leads to a feeling of being disconnected and strange, erratic behavior.

Easy Access To Cough Syrups

Among the foremost dangers in addictions of this type is how easy someone can get the materials, considering that it's legally purchased from drugstores. Another scary factor is how cheaply it can be gotten, and considering the prices for illegal drugs, this would seem like a no-brainer for most teens on tight budgets wanting to get high.

A few dollars is all it takes to get high. The chemical of choice for most of the youth is Dextromorphan, also known as DXM, a substance found in many cough syrup formulations as well. This is what is commonly referred to as "Skittles" in underground lingo, and may even cause heart palpitations if it is abused. Medicine in tablet form contains much larger quantities of DXM; therefore a similar effect of consuming large amounts of syrup could be duplicated by just a few tablets.

Even cough syrup based drinks are easy to obtain, because all it takes is some prescription cough syrup, a can of soda, a styrofoam cup, and you're ready to get high. This is a very simple process in comparison to other types of drugs. Scary when you think of the implications. This is used as a recreational drink, and the effect will depend on the amount of the cough syrup, the ratio of mixing, and what else you put in it, commonly other pain-relieving tablets.

Other Common Medicine Being Abused

Sleeping aids can also be addictive in large enough doses, and could also have long-term effects on the user. Narcolepsy is common, and causes episodes of micro-sleep. This is particularly dangerous when driving, then falling asleep at the wheel. Diet pills being taken in larger than prescribed doses to shed weight faster is also dangerous, because the effects on the body are increased to a dangerous level.

How To Combat Cough Syrup Addiction

Abuse of these substances is deadly, because overdose could quickly lead to permanent damage, or worst of all, death by overdose. It is not widely documented as to what effects it has on users, but most alarming is how much information you can gain from just a few Internet searches. Report any person you know abusing this and maybe you could even save a life.
 

Caffeine and Nicotine Among Teens
(Back to Top of Page)


Caffeine And Nicotine Among Teenagers

Caffeine and nicotine seem to be one of the most popular substances used and abused by teenagers nowadays. Although caffeine seems to be less evil than nicotine, let’s tackle these two substances one by one so that we can have a thorough and comprehensive discussion as to how they affect the lifestyles of teenagers.

Caffeine Boost

According to Simmons Research, 31% of teenagers in the U.S. report that they drink energy drinks. Put simply, that 31% represents about 7.6 million teens in America. Nutritionists say that energy drinks are abundant in sugar and caffeine and it can hook kids to a very unhealthy drinking cycle. The caffeine included in energy drinks comes from multiple sources and that’s why it is difficult to determine how much caffeine energy drinks contain. Most energy drinks are loaded with B vitamins, and if taken in heavy doses, it can cause numbness and tingling of the hands and feet as well as increase the beating of the heart.

How Teenagers Abuse Caffeine

Teenagers can easily abuse caffeine since most products laden with caffeine can be bought at local grocery stores or drug stores. Some may even fulfill their coffee craving in the middle of the night since a lot of caffeine loaded drinks and products can be bought at 24 hour convenience stores.

There have been reported cases of teenagers downing several cans of caffeine loaded drinks in a row to get a buzz, and a new study even found a surprising number of poison center calls from teens getting sick because of too much caffeine intake.

Most teenagers don’t really follow the warnings and reminders of their parents about too much intake of caffeine since most teens grew up seeing their parents drinking coffee. The reasons why young people drink caffeine is because they want or need to stay awake or they want to get “high”. According to Dr. Danielle McCarthy, “Many teenagers who abuse caffeine often end up in the hospital emergency room.” In a nutshell, caffeine is a drug and should therefore be treated with caution, just like any drug.

Teens And Nicotine

Teenagers turn to cigarettes and tobacco for a variety of reasons. Some teens smoke because they see it as a form of rebellion while some just want to fit in with the kids at school while some believe that smoking can help them lose their extra pounds. Adolescents may also claim that they feel sexy, macho, grown-up, or independent when they smoke.

How Nicotine Hooks Teens

Nicotine is a substance found in cigarettes that enhances the release of numerous brain chemicals or neurotransmitters that are related to an individual’s feelings of pleasure, relaxation and appetite. Most young people don’t really become afraid or cautious when they try smoking for the first time since they believe that they can quit smoking anytime they want to.

It has been said that a teen who puffs just one cigarette per day may experience withdrawal symptoms when he or she tries to quit smoking.

Nicotine And Its Availability

One factor as to why teenagers become easily hooked on smoking is because of the high level of availability of cigarettes. In addition, the sophisticated and well-planned advertising and marketing methods used by tobacco companies make adolescents become attracted to smoking. The small number of legal and social consequences of cigarette smoking may also be deemed as one of the factors as to why teenagers can easily buy cigarettes.

How To Help Teenagers Quit

Giving seminars and lectures at school about the harm and dangers of cigarettes has proven to be ineffective. Students treat these seminars and lectures as boring and a waste of their time. For authorities to catch the attention of young people, they must try to focus on the problems or symptoms that might currently be bothering teenagers who are addicted so smoking such as bad breath, yellow teeth, dark colored lips, chronic cough, decreased stamina, etc.

Most teenagers are conscious of their self-image and physical appearance so that’s why using this approach, it is much easier to grab their attention.


What To Do In A Drug Emergency
(Back to Top of Page)


Teenage Drug Overdose

Adolescents are highly susceptible to drug abuse. They are careless in the amount of drugs that they take and they usually think that they can handle more than what they can.

Drug overdose, more commonly known as OD, refers to the ingestion of a drug or substance in doses or quantities that are greater than prescribed or recommended. Drug overdose is very dangerous to one’s health and it may even lead to death.

Drug overdoses may be done intentionally to commit suicide or induce self-harm. However, most cases of drug overdoses are not done on purpose and are commonly the result of irresponsibility or carelessness in reading labels or overlooking the appropriate drug dosage.

Other reasons for drug overdose include the simultaneous use of multiple drugs with counter indications (e.g. heroin/specific prescription pain medicines and amphetamines /alcohol/cocaine).

Determine The Drug First

Before employing first aid on a teenager who seems to be exhibiting signs of drug abuse or drug overdose, you must first be able to determine what kind of drug that he or she consumed because the first aid treatment may vary depending on the drug that was taken in.

The help or first aid that will be administered will greatly depend on the circumstances presented at the time (e.g. whether the patient is drowsy but conscious, tense and panicky, overly excited, dehydrated, or unconscious). By properly assessing the physical symptoms that the patient is exhibiting, the proper first aid treatment can be given while waiting for the paramedics to arrive.

First Aid

For teens that abused the use of depressants, first aid can successfully prevent death since it takes several hours for the substances found in depressants to take over the body’s system. The common drugs under the category of depressants include opiates (ie. morphine, methadone and heroine), alcohol, and certain prescription drugs such as Benzodiazepines.

Signs and symptoms of depressants overdose include slow, shallow or infrequent breathing, bluish lips or fingernails, pale or cold skin, faint or slow pulse, gurgling or snoring noises, and unresponsiveness.

On the other hand, teenagers who have taken too many doses of Stimulants (such as amphetamines and cocaine) may experience rapid heartbeat, seizures, muscle cramps, psychosis, paranoia, confusion, loss of control of movement, lack of consciousness and vomiting. If not attended to right away, stimulants overdose may lead to cardiac arrest or excited delirium that’s why immediate rescue should be carried out to save a teenager from the fatal effects of stimulants overdose.

Since stimulants increase the excitement of a person, the first aid in this kind of case is to stay with the teenager and help him or her to remain calm. Bringing them to a quiet area may help alleviate the situation temporarily. Applying a wet cloth on their forehead and neck can also be helpful.

Stay Calm

When you find a teenager who is a victim of a drug overdose and you already find him or her in an unresponsive state, don’t panic. You should stay calm so that your presence of mind will be intact. You can try to confirm the teenager’s unresponsiveness by pinching the back of his or her arm, calling his or her name or by rubbing your knuckles against his or her chest. If you get no response at all, the next thing you should do is to check that the airway of the teenager is not blocked and make sure that he or she is still breathing.

If you can’t detect a pulse or signs of breathing, immediately perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If you don’t know how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, it’s best that you call for help immediately.

General Tips

All in all, the best thing to do when you encounter a teenager who is suffering from drug overdose is to remain calm and be observant to the signs and symptoms that he or she is exhibiting. If ever you find an unresponsive or unconscious teenager, don’t waste time in trying to revive him or her, especially if you have no specific knowledge on how to do so. Immediately rush the teenager to the nearest hospital so that the proper medical measures can be performed to save his or her life.


Is Your Teen At Risk for AIDS
(Back to Top of Page)

Teenager’s Risks In Acquiring AIDS And Other Immune Deficiency Diseases

What is AIDS? AIDS is a short cut for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. It is a collection of infections and symptoms pertaining to the specific damage of the immune system. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes AIDS in humans as well as similar viruses in other species (FIV, SIV, etc.).

Although there are available treatments and medication for AIDS and HIV, they are only good for decelerating the progression of the virus. For short, there is no known cure for AIDS.

How Is AIDS Acquired?

HIV and other viruses related with AIDS are commonly transmitted through the direct contact of the bloodstream or mucous membrane with any bodily fluid containing HIV such as semen, vaginal fluid, blood, breast milk and pre-seminal fluid. HIV transmission may come in the forms of oral, anal and vaginal sex, contaminated hypodermic needles, blood transfusion, fluid exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

Sexual Activity Of Teenagers Determine Their Potentiality To Acquire AIDS

Teenagers who are sexually active are prone to be at risk for AIDS, especially if they have different sexual partners. The risk of teenagers getting AIDS becomes higher if they don’t practice safe sex.

Studies have shown that most of the reported HIV infections among teenagers were acquired through unsafe and unprotected sexual relations between partners, one of whom has HIV. Transmission through sexual means occur through the mixture of sexual secretions of one partner with the genital, rectal, or oral mucous membranes of another.

The risk of HIV transmission from exposure to the saliva of a person infected with HIV is smaller than the risk from exposure to semen. In short, insertive sexual acts are more prone to AIDS transmission among teens rather than receptive sexual acts. An individual would have to swallow several pitchers of saliva from an HIV carrier before he or she can have the risk of becoming infected with HIV.

Practice Safe Sex

Nowadays, it’s a bit difficult to stop teenagers from engaging in premarital sex. Perhaps the best way to protect them from acquiring HIV is to constantly remind them to practice safe sex. A lot of advertisements are promoting safe sex through the use of condoms. Practicing the ABC (Abstinence, Being Faithful and Condom use) of safe sex can also help protect teenagers from AIDS.

Tattoos Can Put Teenagers At Risk

Teenagers who like to have tattoos on their body should take great care in choosing a tattoo parlor because HIV can easily be acquired through infected needles. A lot of HIV cases have been reported due to the misuse of needles in tattoo parlors. Teenagers should make sure that the tattoo parlor that they go to is clean, hygienic and has sterile gadgets and needles.

Recreational Drugs Can Increase Risks Of Acquiring HIV

Teenagers who are using drugs for recreational use are prone to acquiring HIV since most, if not all, of the drugs can alter the neurotransmitters in the brain and increase the sexual drives and urges of an individual. Over consumption of several drugs and substances such as methamphetamine, cocaine and alcohol may increase teenagers’ risk of acquiring the dreaded human immunodeficiency virus.

Contamination by injection

Most drugs and substances are administered to the body through inhalation or through oral methods. However, there are also drugs that are infused into an individual’s body through the use of needle injections. These drugs are referred to as injectable drugs and individuals who prefer injectable drugs over non-injectable drugs open the doors for HIV contamination through the risks of improper needle use.

There is no lesser evil between injectable or non-injectable drugs. Injectable drugs increase the risks of teenagers acquiring HIV by increasing their sexual urges that can lead to unsafe sexual behavior. On the other hand, teenagers who use injectable drugs increase their risk of acquiring HIV by the use of needles.

Group drug sessions are very popular among teens and the danger of HIV transmission is increased during group drug sessions because needle sharing takes place. If one member of the group is infected with HIV, needle sharing will contaminate all the other members of the group.

Symptoms of Teenage Drug Abuse
(Back to Top of Page)

Symptoms of Teenage Drug Abuse - What Should A Parent Be On The Lookout For

Are you worrying that your child might be a victim of drugs? Do you have reason to suspect that your child is a prohibited drug user? Or worst of all, is your child actually peddling drugs to others to finance his or her habit? If you’ve answered yes to any of these three simple questions, then you’ll want to read on, and find out exactly what signs you should be looking for to keep your child safe.

How Your Child Could Be A Victim Of Illegal Drugs

You can’t possibly monitor your child 24/7 without invading his or her privacy, and you can’t physically be there beside your child at all times. So you could have good reason to look out for signs of drug abuse. If the school that your child attends has a questionable reputation, then you should as well be on the alert.

The same applies to your neighborhood; because you will probably notice if something’s obviously wrong. School and the neighborhood are most often the first places that a child will get his first education, and possibly his or her first try when it comes to using drugs. Often, those who try drugs for the first time are coaxed by their peers to do it. It is an example of peer pressure getting to your child, because if his or her friends are doing it, then why isn’t he doing the same?

Signs And Symptoms To Look Out For

The most obvious thing to look out for is the behavior of your child. Typically, a child will display behavior different from his normal behavior before addiction. These changes may not be abrupt, but are the most obvious of drug abuse symptoms. A drug user will also have long-term psychological effects from drugs that change their mindset as well.

The most common is being withdrawn, irrational and displaying hostile behavior, as well as being defensive. You might also notice that your child is hanging out with peers that seem suspicious. Be wary, these might possibly be drug buddies and not normal friends. If your child also used to have good grades then suddenly starts failing subjects, it can also indicate that there is a potential problem.

How The Child Will Be Affected Physically And Mentally

There are also physical signs that can tell you if something is wrong with your child. Abnormal weight loss can be a very good sign that there might be an issue concerning your child. Illegal drugs are mostly psychoactive, that is, they affect the brain and mind of the child, thus causing odd behavior. Drugs are addictive, so your child will desire nothing else but to experience getting high on drugs over and over again.

This is a precursor to having depression, because the child will not feel happy until he is able to use drugs. A dependency is characterized by desire to obtain and use drugs to get the desired effect. Learning and social skills are also affected by drugs, which could quickly end your child’s bright future.

What To Do To Stop And Prevent Addiction

They say that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, so taking this into consideration, stopping drug abuse in its tracks starts from preventing it from ruining your child’s life in the first place.

Anti-drug education programs are prevalent in most high schools, among them the D.A.R.E. initiative, to educate your children on the dangers of drug addiction. You could also set an example by not taking drugs, and educating your child yourself on just how dangerous drugs can be and how they can ruin lives.

However, if worse comes to worst, and you discover that your child is already a drug user; you should know what to do to save the life of your child. It may be hard to turn in your own child to the authorities, but you have to know that it’s for the best: if you leave your child alone, he or she will most likely ruin his or her own life because of drug addiction. You could also do your child a favor and turn him or her in for rehab, so that the addiction can be cut off and your child’s life will be saved from drug dependency.
 

Therapies for Drug Addicted Teens
(Back to Top of Page)
 

Therapies For Drug Addicted Teenagers

You’ve just found unquestionable proof that your child is indeed a drug user, and now you don’t know what to do. It’s hard to even think of turning your child in to the authorities, because as a parent, you can’t live with the guilt of knowing that your child is in prison because you were the one to turn him or her in.

But, as a responsible parent, if you really love your child then you shouldn’t allow his or her life to be consumed and ruined by drugs. There are a few things that you could do to make sure that your child gets what is right for his or her life.

What You Should Do

The first thing that comes to mind when talking about drug addiction is the fact that your child is the one guilty of taking illicit drugs. There’s no turning back at this point, and what you can do instead for your child is to review your options for treatment.

This is the most important thing to do: weigh your options for treatment, decide which one would be most applicable to your case at hand, then go for it.

Some Common Options

You probably aren't considering turning your child over to the police at this point. Your child now is more of a victim than a criminal. Rehab would be the most viable choice for your child's treatment. You could enroll your child in a in-patient or residential rehabilitation center if you've come to the worst case scenario.

However, if the case is not as serious then you could probably go for less intense methods to stop addiction, like an out-patient rehabilitation center. At least this way you can still be with your child. There are also support groups in your locality, and they should also be able to help your child overcome his drug dependency. These centers operate much like your local AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) does, using much of the same principles to help lessen then stop addiction completely.

What Rehabilitation Can Do For Your Child

If you enter a situation in which your child is guilty of just a minor drug-related or influenced crime, then the court can, at its discretion instead of sending your child to prison, may sentence the child to rehabilitation. Drugs and other substance abuse is hard on the body physically, because for a time, the body itself will suffer from withdrawal symptoms, and possibly a relapse into the drug habit.

Chemical imbalances in the body will be compensated for by the treatment so that the body will not suffer such a hard impact. In time, when the rehab program is completed, your child will have stopped his dependency on drugs and learned from his lesson, so that he or she will not do drugs again, because now the child is aware of the dangers of drug abuse and will know firsthand the negative effects of addiction.

Pros And Cons Of Different Treatments

Different approaches to different drug problems are the norm these days. There are some alternatives that just accept the addiction and instead focus on damage reduction, like the free sterile needles program to prevent aids. This is good at reducing societal cost of drug use, but doesn't fix the problem itself.

There is also the abstinence approach, which would involve cutting use of the substance entirely. This is often hard to do, because when the body suffers from withdrawal, then it will itself look for drugs and possibly the drug victim could suffer a relapse of the drug habit.

There are also other methods of treatment for drug abuse rehab, like medical treatment for the patient. This would focus on stopping or cutting off the dependency and addressing the damage already done to the victim's body. This is a long-term method of treatment, and because of the stigma associated with being known as a drug user, victims may be unwilling to try it.

Whatever your situation, you should address your particular needs and consider all the factors, weigh it out. But you shouldn't take too long, the life of your child is possibly at stake and you should act as soon as you figure out what you need to do.


Resources
(Back to Top of Page)

Resources – What Is Available For Parents And Teens

Finding help on how to combat drug addiction is hard to come across – whether it is for parents looking out for the welfare of their children, or troubled teens wanting to kick their addiction, or anybody in between.

Drug Rehab Centers

If you want to seek treatment for yourself if you are a teen or for your child if you are a parent, then drug rehab centers would be the first stop you should make for treatment. At some point you may ask why, because you or your child might be strong enough to combat addiction using sheer willpower and abstinence. But you should remember addiction is not some shirt that you take off and throw in the hamper.

There is a physical and psychological dependence on the drug, so going cold turkey isn’t going to be a walk in the park for somebody who is suffering from addiction. Someone who is an addict would need professional help to monitor progress, ensure that the victim is keeping true to his or her goal to kick the habit, and to make sure as well that the victim doesn’t suffer from a relapse.

Types Of Drug Rehabilitation Available

The most common type of rehab treatment is the support group method of treatment. Here, victims interact with other victims and are guided by a counselor in scheduled meetings.

This is to show to the drug victims that they are not alone, that they have others as well that are also going through the same thing as them. With this knowledge, the challenge of stopping addiction is a little easier, because they have friends who can relate, offer support, and go together through treatment.

Another type of rehab is being treated at rehabilitation centers. Here, patients can either be in-patient or out-patient. Options also depend on the severity of addiction.

Specialists, no matter which treatment you choose for your child, closely monitor patients. Psychological, physical, and even social aspects of their recovery are closely observed to make sure that all needs of patients are addressed. Eventually after treatment is finished the patient will be released from rehab so that he or she can resume being a part of society. Many have walked this road before and they have their own stories to share on their addiction and how rehab saved their lives.

Other Types Of Rehabilitation Options

There are also other treatments aside from reduction of use and then completely stopping it, as is the common approach. There is also a medical method, in which medical centers specializing in rehab focus on treating the patient’s medical concerns while stopping the addiction entirely.

There are also pharmaceutical treatments for drug addicts, like ibogaine, extracted from the Tabernathe iboga plant. This drug treatment is an example of immunotherapy that uses the power of medicine to prevent drugs from reaching the brain and triggering physical processes to fulfill the addict’s craving. Depending on the type of treatment, checking up and reapplication of the medicine may be done weekly or monthly, just to keep things in check. This type of treatment is particularly focused on opioid treatment, to combat such drug types as methamphetamines, cocaine, and nicotine abuse from cigarettes.

Reasons To Put Yourself Or Your Teen In Rehab

Drug abuse, whether it is to enhance the performance of the body or using a recreational drug to get high, needs to be stopped for the drug user’s own good. It creates a physical and/or psychological dependence, and the body will crave the effects that the drug gives whenever the drug’s effects wear off.

The physical, mental, psychological, and social capacities of the drug abuser will also suffer from the effects of the drug. In essence, being withdrawn from the real world and putting the drug in the center of one’s universe is the effect of taking drugs. Drugs take away the life of the user, and destroy that person so that all that remains is an empty shell, filled only by the desire to use more drugs.

Drugs cloud the mind of your child and distract him or her from the real world. For whatever sickness or disease you may have, taking drugs is not the answer; there is always another way.