Teen Deaths Related To Prescription Drug Abuse Skyrocket

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Family Drug Intervention

Teenagers have a lot on their plate with trying to figure out who they are as a person and what direction they want to go in. Teenagers in America face several tough decisions all the time and one of the major decisions is dealing with drugs. It is around this age that you are normally introduced to illegal substances.

Drugs have become much more prevalent in teens and one of the main reasons behind it is the increase of prescription drug abuse.  Teenagers are dying all over the country with the new epidemic of prescription drug abuse. It is hard for a teenager to realize how bad prescription drugs can be because they are legal and prescribed by a doctor. They even see lots of their family members take prescriptions to ease their mind or their pain.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that prescription drugs are sending the second highest numbers of teens into addiction, following marijuana. These drugs include pain killers that might be prescribed after a person undergoes surgery, depressants that are taken for sleep aid, depression or anxiety or stimulants such as those used for ADHD.

Why Teens Are Choosing Prescription Painkillers

What it really comes down to is it has become a lot easier for teens in America to get their hands on prescription drugs than other things. They also see it as being a safer alternative to getting high because the pills are legal. They may not realize that it is illegal to obtain them when you are not prescribed them, but when they see an easy way to get high in their medicine cabinet it can be confusing. Many teens may stay away from illegal street drugs, but studies are finding that more and more teens are turning to prescription drugs and over the counter medicines to get high.

These drugs include narcotic pain killers such as Vicoden, Percocet, or Oxy Contin, which are most often prescribed after someone has surgery. There are also lots of depressants that teens are getting their hands on that are used for sleep aid or to relieve some anxiety.

All of these prescription pills can be deadly and it is crazy to think that teens are now being pressured into taking things like this.

How To Stop Teen Prescription Deaths

There are many things that we as a society can do to stop the growth of teens dying or addicted to prescription pills. First, we must educate our teens on the seriousness of the topic. They need to understand that people are dying and becoming addicted from these pills prescribed by doctors and they are not to be fooled with.

Also, if you are prescribed painkillers or depressants you must keep them out of reach of children. Don’t just put a prescription of Vicoden in the medicine cabinet for anyone to touch. If you are prescribed something and you don’t take all of them please get rid of the ones that are left. This has been a big problem because people aren’t throwing out the additional prescribed medications that they don’t use. They are winding up in the hands of teenagers.

Talk with your teenagers about these topics and get a feel of where they stand on it.

Narconon Of Vista Bay Services Speaks On Teen Prescription Issues

All of the above information is correct regarding prescription drug abuse by teens, according to Narconon of Vista Bay Services. The organization also suggest that one should never wait to get the family member or loved one help for a prescription problem or it can get much worse than ever expected.

Programs like NA and Narconon of Vista Bay services exist to help those struggling. For more information contact us today.

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Chronic Alcohol Abuse Information

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Family Drug Intervention

The definition of chronic alcohol abuse is a prolonged period of recurrent, heavy alcohol use. Alcohol is one of the most widely used and abused drugs. Alcohol is readily available at so many stores that people go to everyday. Since alcohol is legal in the United States many people don’t understand the seriousness of alcohol abuse.

One of the main problems with alcohol is that it is so socially acceptable that many people don’t realize when it is becoming a problem and as a result people begin to chronically abuse alcohol. It has been proven that alcohol in moderation has some medical benefits including lowering the risk of heart disease. The key word there is in moderation and many people don’t do it in moderation. Many people abuse alcohol for long periods of time.

Right now alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States and is responsible for approximately 85,000 deaths annually, about half from injury and half from disease. Alcohol impairs your judgment, which is why half is from injury and half is from disease. The continuing abuse of alcohol is very common and it has become a serious problem.

Causes For Alcohol Abuse

Generally one will turn to alcohol use as a solution to a problem. The problems vary depending on the individual but alcohol seems like a solution for this.

Some will turn to alcohol at first to give them that false sense of confidence. They want to go out and enjoy themselves with their friends. They may be the quiet type, but when they have a few drinks it gives them “liquid courage” to be the life of the party. Everyone wants to be the life of the party. They may love the feeling of fitting in. Loneliness plays a big factor in continuing to abuse alcohol. As humans we just want to be part of something and we may start to believe we are only part of it when drinking.

All these are core problems that alcohol can act as a solution for as well as things like loss, divorce, dealing with the pain of the death etc.

Effects of Chronic Alcohol Abuse

The more one uses alcohol the more addicted they will be come and the more problems will result because of the use. The effects of chronic alcohol abuse affect all of the main vital organs. Chronic alcohol abuse affects the nervous system in a few different ways. The chronic abuse of alcohol causes sleep disturbances, so sleep quality is diminished.
One may feel some numbness and tingling in their arms or legs. Also, they may begin to lose some of their memory and it affects new learning as well. Over time alcohol weakens the immune system significantly. People who are chronic abusers of alcohol are much more at risk for infections and other diseases.

Chronic alcohol abuse also affects the gastrointestinal system causing acid from the stomach to flow back into the esophagus, burning those tissues, and causing severe pain and bleeding. It even affects the heart. Long term abuse of alcohol can result in irregular heartbeats and even blood clots forming in the hearts chambers. Alcohol essentially beats down the whole body over time.  It can be a very slow and painful death. Long term abuse can result in liver diseases such as cirrhosis or even liver cancer. As we can see there is a lot of harm done to the body with chronic alcohol abuse.

Solutions Through The Drug Narconon Program

Anyone with a chronic alcohol abuse problem needs help whether it’s through NA or the drug Narconon program. Long term, residential treatment is the key to overcoming the problem.

For more information on the Narconon drug program contact us today.

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Amount Of Elderly Drug And Alcohol Abusers Might Be Increasing

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Family Drug Intervention

The use of prescription drugs, alcohol and even some illicit substances has been becoming more and more popular amongst the elderly. Some have a life-long history of substance abuse problems but the largest percentages of the elderly are using drugs and alcohol after the age of 48 for the first time.

This is according to a recent study that also found that of those reportedly using drugs the most common substances of abuse were prescriptions and alcohol. The amount of elderly drug and alcohol abusers might be increasing is a nebulous statement as the numbers have increased and are expected to double by the year 2010.

Alcohol and drug use among the elderly encompass many problems. This starts with excessive or mis-use of prescriptions or alcohol and usually develops into full blown dependence. Because they are older a variety of health problems can set it and they can end up dying an early death because of the body’s inability to stop the problems caused by these substances.

Risks For Elderly Drug And Alcohol Users

Health risks for the elderly who are abusing drugs or alcohol can be severe. Many will develop certain cancers, liver or kidney disease and even other organ damage. Often the person will appear weak and have a difficult time getting out of bed in the morning and getting things done.

Despite the health risks and problems associated with using, some elderly persons will blame the problem on feeling depressed or on having anxiety about the problems they face in life and feel that drugs are a solution for them. The truth is that the problems are only made worse by the substance abuse.

Why Use Occurs

Surveys indicate that most elderly people use drugs or mis-use prescriptions because they are dealing with one or more problems that are causing them stress. Some even get valid prescriptions to try to deal with these problems and soon become addicted. The most common problems that elderly people feel that they have are as follows:

•    Economic Stress
•    Financial Concerns
•    Retirement Concerns
•    Anxiety
•    Depression

Using drugs or alcohol may temporarily alleviate these symptoms but adults that develop addictions to the substances end up with a variety of additional problems.

Narconon Reviews The Problem

Surveys and experience with working with elderly people who are addicted has uncovered some interesting information, according to Narconon reviews on the topic. Many older drug users feel that they can start to mis-use alcohol or prescriptions because they have no history of addiction and do not feel that they can or will get addicted to these drugs.

Many also feel that prescription drugs and alcohol are not dangerous.

These myths are why so many have gotten hooked on them. Statistics indicate that over 7 million people are mis-using prescription drugs in the country and struggle with addiction problems. There are also over 13 million people who meet the criteria for alcohol dependence in the country.

However, even with the ever-growing problem Narconon reviews also show that long-term residential treatment can completely rehabilitate any elderly person struggling with abuse issues. The Narconon program, which is not an NA program, is a 4-6 month inpatient treatment program with a 76% success rate for permanent recovery from substance abuse.

The treatment center has a unique method to treatment where a physical aspect to handling addiction is used to reduce cravings for alcohol and drugs. The program also used Life Skills therapy to handle the mental aspects of the problem.

For more information on Narconon reviews or to get help for an elderly person with an abuse problem contact Narconon today.

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K2 Drug Effects And K2 Abuse Causes Concern

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Family Drug Intervention

A synthetic marijuana product called Spice or K2 is a mix of various spices and herbs that are then sprayed with chemicals said to produce the same effects of the active chemical in marijuana, THC. The drug was promoted and mostly purchased in tobacco and smoke shops as well on online. Current legislation has banned the drug in 48 states making it nearly impossible to purchase in stores but many still sell the drug illegally through the Internet where it is purchased and abused.

Known as Bliss, Fake Weed, Black Manba and Bombay Blue, K2 is sold in a small bag usually silver in color that looks like herbs and leaves. It is often marketed as smoke-able incense. Mostly users will smoke the substance although it has been reported that some put the drug in tea and drink the tea.

There are many K2 drug affects and K2 abuse has hit an all new high.

K2 Drug Effects

The effects of K2 have been reported as unpredictable at best. Users have experienced several different feeling when high on the drug and many side effects. When someone smokes K2 and smoke goes into the body and hits the lungs and the brain. The heart rate and blood pressure go up and the person feels the initial high. Some have reported feeling anxiety or paranoia after taking the drug and others have had major lung damage from the smoke.

There have also been reports of headaches, lightheadedness, tiredness and general lethargy. Other short term effects of K2 have been lack of response to pain, agitation, losing the color of the skin, loss of control, nausea and vomiting, sweating, trembling, and heart palpitations. Those using K2 feel the effects several minutes after smoking it and they can last nearly a day and a half.

K2 Abuse

A number of news stories have been published on deaths related to the use of K2 as well as health issues and Emergency Room Visits. Some statistics report that 11% of teens have at least tried the drug and some use it regularly.

When a person suffers with K2 abuse they generally feel the uncontrollable need to continue to get and use the drug. K2 produces intense cravings in users making them unable to stop and often unwilling to get help unless a major problem occurs.

Those addicted to the drug, especially young people, will continue to do things that are out of character such as lying, stealing and committing other crimes in order to get the drug or to get money for it. Eventually things will get so bad that they will end up with legal, financial and health issues related to the addiction. The only solution is K2 treatment.

Narconon Addiction Treatment Can Help With K2 Abuse Issues

No matter how severe the addiction, programs like Narconon addiction treatment program can get results for handling the addiction. The program is unlike NA as it handles both the physical and mental aspects of the problem of substance abuse. The Narconon addiction program achieves a 76% success upon full completion of the treatment which is an average of 90 days or longer depending on the individual needs of the client.

K2 drug effects and K2 abuse can be a difficult topic to address if one is not informed on how the drug works and its addictive potential. However, full recovery is possible for those who have abused K2 with professional treatment. For more information call Narconon addiction treatment program today.

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Why Kids Use Fake Marijuana

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Family Drug Intervention

As if the current drug problem with prescriptions and actual marijuana wasn’t enough, kids across the country are turning to fake marijuana or synthetic marijuana to get their next high. The drug, also called K2 or Spice became popular over the last 5 years when smoke shops and online web-sites started marketing and selling it. The drug emerged in Europe in 2004.

Because of the unpredictable and chemical properties of the drug it has been linked to many deaths, suicides and health problems.

Fake marijuana is both herbal and chemical that is supposed to cause the same effects that someone would get if they smoked actual marijuana.

Dangers Of Fake Marijuana

The chemicals used in fake marijuana can produce all types of side-effects and dangers that many users think are impossible because the form of the drug is synthetic. Some of these include permanent psychosis, lung damage, extreme anxiety and paranoia, and suicidal thoughts and actions.

Many users have died after using fake marijuana or ended up in the hospital and some had permanent lung damage. The result of this has been tougher legislation leading to the drug being banned in 48 states.

The Reason Why

There are several different reasons why kids use fake marijuana. It generally boils down to a problem that the child, adolescent or teen is having that they think the drug provides a solution for. Some of the most common problems include:

•    Trouble fitting in.
•    Peer pressure.
•    Environmental factors that make the drug seem cool or make it acceptable to use the drug.
•    Using the drug to deal with some type of pain or loss in life.
•    Using out of boredom and this becoming the main focus of attention for the teen.

There are many things that can be done to prevent the use of fake marijuana and stop the problem before it starts. Finding out what a child’s interest is and helping them to do drug-free activities that they enjoy can often deter them from drug use. In addition to this communication about the dangers of fake marijuana and the consequences of use can also help to prevent it.

In addition helping a child get through any issues with communication and addressing losses can also be beneficial.

Getting your child involved in drug-free groups and with friends that do not use drugs or drink alcohol is also key and planning activities for them to do that they are interested in and enjoy.

Narconon Rehab Centers How To Handle Fake Marijuana Use

If your child has used fake marijuana or is struggling with a substance abuse problem, Narconon rehab centers suggests that you never wait to get him or her treatment. Left alone, a drug problem can get larger and larger until it is completely uncontrollable. The sooner one is able to get treatment; the sooner he or she can start the recovery process and live a life without drugs.

Programs like NA often use a 30 day approach but the best type of treatment with the highest success rate is programs that are 90 days or more of residential care. Narconon rehab centers do provide this and achieves a 76% success rate for permanent sobriety from fake marijuana.

The Narconon program is available 7 days per week with trained counselors who can help anyone addicted, their loved ones and family members. Call today for more information on Narconon rehab centers.

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Teenage Drug Abuse When The Line Is Crossed

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Family Drug Intervention

While you may think your teenage child is as innocent as they come, you may want to take a second look at them. The majority of teenagers are exposed to drugs and alcohol by their peers and there is a good chance they will try drugs. If teens do try these illicit drugs, it is even more likely that some of them will use drugs for a second and third time.

Many teenagers have an invincible attitude towards drugs and think they will never be the one that becomes addicted to drugs. Teens view the drugs as a way to have fun or party.

These teenagers begin to use drugs every weekend when they are out with their friends and think nothing of the consequences. Eventually your teen will start using drugs during the week to have fun after school or for whatever reason they can come up with. You may not notice they are using drugs at the start of their use though.

The biggest problem when teenagers begin to use drugs as a way to party and then just as a way to have fun whenever they are bored is that teenagers do not realize the line that has been crossed. Soon after they begin using drugs their brains start to crave drugs and their use will increase. Teenagers will not realize they are changing or that they have an addiction to drugs. Foremost they think they are invincible and secondly teens think that drug addiction will ever happen to them.

Your teenager will not realize changes in their emotional or behavioral state, but you will. They will begin alienating themselves from family and friends and lose motivation to do anything. Certain characteristics your teenager may notice on their own is memory loss and health issues, but they will try to justify these by blaming something else than the drugs.

How To Handle Teen Abuse

If you suspect your teenager is abusing drugs, there are specific characteristics you can look out for. Some of the main ones are your child will not want to partake in activities they once loved to do, their school grades will begin to change in a negative way and they will start having mood swings. The mood swings many try to blame on hormones, but mood swings you get from drug abuse are much more than hormones. The mood swings will be much more extreme such as yelling, telling you that you are wrong or just freaking out for no rhyme or reason.

The issue then becomes that your child does not see a problem with any of their behavior or the fact that they are abusing drugs. This becomes a problem because if your teen does not think they have a problem, you are going to have to find a way to show them that they truly do have a huge problem on their hands. The sooner you recognize changes in your teen and get to the bottom of those changes the better it is for you and your child.

Narconon Of Vista Bay Services Helps With Teen Abuse Problems

Narconon of Vista Bay Services, a residential substance abuse treatment program has had much experience with teen drug abuse. Often providing drug prevention to teens early enough to stop the abuse is a solution. For those already addicted the sooner they get into treatment through NA or Narconon of Vista Bay services the quicker they will be able to fully handle their addiction and move on with their life. One of the biggest mistakes with handling abuse by teens is waiting too long for treatment.

For more information on Narconon of Vista Bay services call 888-419-9222.

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Celebrity Drug Abuse Becoming Major Issue

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Family Drug Intervention

Celebrity drug abuse has been an issue that’s been everywhere for the past century. Many of these celebrities end up spiraling out of control, which ends in huge disasters. The worst problem about celebrity addiction is that the issue is plastered all over the media for everyone to see. This kind of coverage on drug addiction exposes teenagers and adolescents at a very young age. It also teaches these young people that drug addiction is a part of life and their role models use drugs, so why can’t they abuse drugs too? The kind of coverage that is put on celebrities that use drugs is an enormous amount and is not something people need to be exposed to; the way the media covers it basically glamorizes it and puts it in a nonchalant context.

The first celebrity known to abuse drugs was the famous Elvis Presley. While he was and still is very well known for his musical abilities; he also abused drugs. His death was on every news channel and every newspaper cover when it occurred. Although his drug use was not publicized like the celebrities of today, there was not as much media coverage of anything when he was at his all-time high.

Of course everyone knows who Marilyn Monroe was. She was famous for music, modeling and acting. The celebrity was also found in her room dead with drugs in her system. Once again her death covered all media angles possible, but just like Elvis the police tried to cover these drug induced deaths up and keep as low a profile as possible. You can see that in today’s world this has changed drastically.

Now on television you can watch Celebrity Rehab, which shows famous people in treatment and receiving help together. If you watch Entertainment Tonight or read any magazines related to celebrities you can see the latest celebrity abusing drugs. It is very upsetting to see any person become addicted to drugs, but to publish it in every place possible is just completely wrong. Just think if you were addicted to drugs, would you want everyone on the face of the earth to know about your struggles. While celebrities are subject to this media coverage, some things are better left unsaid.

Some of the well-known celebrities that have gone in and out of treatment centers in the last few years are Brittany Spears and Lindsay Lohan. These two have had every kind of media coverage you could imagine. Both have been subject to harsh criticism and tabloid exposes. Yes they abused drugs and you should try to steer away from drugs, but when you are put into that group of people and fall into addiction it does not mean you need to be exposed to the world as a bad person. You know as many do, that drug addiction is something that happens in our lives today and an issue that is difficult to deal with for the addicted and the loved ones of that person. While drug addiction is something many in this nation have to deal with, you should be able to handle the situation in privacy and without more pressure from media as the celebrities have to do every day when they face battles in their lives.

Drug Narconon Program Says Celebrity Abuse Can Not Differ From General Abuse Problems

The drug Narconon program, a residential, inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation center says that the components of addiction and how someone gets addicted can be similar no matter how severe the problem. Programs like NA have likely experienced the same.

No matter the reason, the only way to get help is through the drug Narconon program or a residential treatment center. For more information call 888-419-9222.

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Heroin Abuse Signs That Indicate Your Loved One May Be Using

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Family Drug Intervention

Most families’ worst nightmare is when they find out their loved one is addicted to heroin. Heroin is known as a drug that is very difficult to recover from, especially for those who inject the drug because of the risk of overdose and health problems. But even those who are snorting the drug through the nose or injecting it are at risk for overdose and other problems.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that over 600,000 Americans have used heroin over a one year period and the drug is used by nearly 3% of high school students between grades 10 and 12.

On average a heroin abuser that does not get help will use 33 years of his life; those 65 and under will lose 18 years according to a study done by the National Institute of Health.

However, there is one way to reverse the destruction caused by the drug and that is by knowing the heroin abuse signs, catching them early and getting treatment for the user.

Signs Someone Is Abusing Heroin

A very addictive white or brownish powder heroin is made from morphine and is either in powder form or sold as a stick substance that is black called Black Tar Heroin. The latest drug trends have shown that many new users get hooked on heroin after abusing prescription drugs because the chemical make-up of some painkillers are very similar to that of heroin and the effects almost identical.

After a person uses heroin once the effects are clear. The first few minutes after taking the drug the person will experience a euphoric high for several minutes. The skin will feel warm and the extremities of the body will feel heavy. Some users also report having dry mouth after using heroin.

Those under the influence of heroin often have small or pin-point pupils even in changing light. They also appear to be going in and out of consciousness with their eyes rolling in the back of their heads, which is called “nodding off.”  This could last for several hours after taking the drug and as a result cloud the mental or thought functioning of the body.

Breathing may slow down as well. There are also those who experience nausea from the drug and even vomiting as well as itching all over the body.

The above are the physical signs that someone is abusing heroin. There are also mental as well as environmental signs that someone is on the drug.

Most heroin addicts will feel euphoric or calm while on heroin. Once they start to withdrawal they will experience anxiety, anger or even sadness and depression. Physical withdrawal will also occur after using heroin for just a few weeks. Those coming off the drug will have “flu-like” symptoms where they will have body aches including chills and sweating, vomiting and nausea, diarrhea, muscle pain and bone pain and insomnia.

According to Narconon of Vista Bay Services, often a heroin user will neglect those around him and only spend his time getting money for heroin or obtaining and using the drug. This will become his major priority in life. His or her possessions may get sold off for drug money or even stolen by other drug users. The individual will have difficulty keeping a job or handling responsibility. They will physically and mentally deteriorate without some type of help through rehabilitation.

Help Through Narconon Of Vista Bay Services

Some heroin users are educated with a BA and even business professionals and others are as young as high school students. The addiction does affect everyone but there is a solution with Narconon of Vista Bay Services as through their treatment addicts can fully recover from heroin use.

For more information on Narconon of Vista Bay Services or to get help for a loved one call 888-419-9222.

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The Facts About Alcohol Withdrawal

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Family Drug Intervention

Withdrawal from alcohol is one of the most difficult parts for someone who is trying to stop drinking. An estimated 13.5 million people struggle with alcohol dependence in the United States. Each one is at different stages in their alcoholism.

Most start out drinking for social reasons based on the environment they are raised in and the use of alcohol in that environment. For some drinking does not ever become a problem but there are many that fall into the trap of alcohol addiction and cannot get out.

History Of Alcohol Use & Withdrawal

For centuries alcohol has had many roles in society. Early on it was used in religious ceremonies and rituals. Later, it was prohibited causing many to illegally market the substance. Once that era was behind the country using alcohol became a common pastime.

Today many weddings, birthday parties, dinners and even office events serve alcohol. Bars are located in nearly every city and town in the United States. Drinking is very common across the country no matter the race, sex or specific demographic of the group.

However, in every group there are those that allow their drinking to get out of control. This leads to several problems which include:

1.    Alcohol Abuse
2.    Alcohol Dependence
3.    Alcohol Related Problems
4.    Alcohol Withdrawal

The Alcohol Withdrawal Breakdown

When someone has used alcohol to the point that they are having trouble coming off of the substance and experiencing alcohol withdrawal then it is clear that the drinking has become a major problem.

Some don’t even realize how severe their alcohol addiction has become until they try to quit. When this happens they experience a variety of symptoms which include:

1.    Uncontrollable Shaking
2.    Headaches
3.    Nausea
4.    Vomiting
5.    Confusion
6.    Weakness
7.    Anxiety
8.    Inability to eat.
9.    Insomnia
10.    Severe Depression

In the very severe stages of alcohol withdrawal there are also those who experience seizure, and suicidal thoughts and actions related to coming off of the substance.

Tips For Withdrawing From Alcohol

For those addicted to alcohol that are trying to stop drinking withdrawal is absolutely necessary to start the treatment phase. Some tips to coming off the substance are to make arrangements for a medical detoxification if the alcohol withdrawal is going to be severe or in any way threatening to the individual’s life.

The individual must communicate to the detox specialists about the symptoms he or she is feeling to aid in a smoother detox process. If complications should occur it is important to say exactly what the person is feeling mental or physically during detox.

Once the detox if over it is key to enroll in long term, residential alcohol treatment to get the best results and get and maintain permanent sobriety from alcohol use.

Narconon Meetings To Aid In Alcoholism

Narconon, a residential alcohol rehab facility does not necessarily use NA meetings or any other type of meetings in their treatment. Through group and individual study, a detox program to help with alcohol cravings and a unique drug free method the facility has a high success rate with treating alcoholism.

Narconon has treated the problem since the late 1960’s using the same treatment modality which gives the alcohol user control over his life again to be a productive, ethical and alcohol-free member of society. With a 76% success rate many graduates of Narconon to see a clean and sober future free of drinking.

Alcohol use is a problem throughout the country as are the alcohol withdrawal effects that hurt addicts daily. For more information on Narconon meetings or treatment call 800-419-9222.

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Methamphetamine Side Effects Should Be Known To New Users

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Family Drug Intervention

Even though nearly 1 million people abuse methamphetamine on a regular basis in the United States, many are completely unaware of the dangerous and fatal side effects of the drug when they initially try it.

A brownish-yellow powder, meth is considered an illegal stimulant or upper drug. The synthetic chemical is often produced in homemade meth labs across the states which are set up by dealers and users to manufacture the drug so it can then be used or sold for profit.

Most new users of meth will smoke the drug by itself or possibly mixing it with other drugs like marijuana. Users who have been on methamphetamine for a while may turn to injecting the drug for a stronger high. Any route of administration of meth carries with it many problems and dangerous side effects.

Meth abuse continues to increase in the United States with the abuse starting on the West Coast and spreading to the mid-West. Now meth use affects the entire country.

Effects Of Meth

There are many dangerous methamphetamine side effects that affect the physical well-being of the user. Some of these include:

•    Skin problems from the chemicals used in making meth. This includes pock marks and scars from users scratching and picking at the skin and rashes from there the chemicals are trying to push themselves out of the body.
•    HIV or AIDS from needle usage and sharing needles to inject meth.
•    Kidney Disease
•    Collapsed veins or abscesses from injecting methamphetamine.
•    Inflammation of the heart lining.
•    Rapid heart rate.
•    And increase or rise in blood pressure.
•    Increase in body temperature.
•    Pneumonia
•    Liver Disease
•    Stroke
•    Convulsions
•    Tuberculosis
•    Cardiovascular Collapse
•    Brain Bleeds
•    Seizure
•    Sudden Cardiac Arrest
•    Death
The longer a person uses meth the more severe the effects on the health of the individual. The drug attacks nearly every organ in the body and causes complications throughout.

The Mental Side Effects Of Meth

Meth also modifies the natural reward chemicals of the brain leaving users feeling depressed and even suicidal. Most users have anxiety or are paranoid. They may also hallucinate or see and hear things that are not real.

Meth has also been said to be the cause of many cases of schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder. It can create strange, insane and completely bizarre behavior in users.

The drug has been responsible for many violent crimes as well as emergency room visits among users.

Narconon Schools Must Stop Meth Use Before It Starts

Narconon schools or a series of drug prevention lectures delivered to schools through the country about the dangers of drugs feels that the best way to stop meth addiction is to handle it before it starts. Narconon programs such as Narconon California and locations across the country let school aged kids know that methamphetamine is a poison and give real information about how it damages the body.

The organization also has real lectures that have experiences addiction problems with meth and lived to recover in full from the problem. The lectures through Narconon schools about the dangers of methamphetamine have been nationally recognized because of the results they achieve with young people who report they are less likely to use the drug after the talk.

Many adolescents, children and teens have also used the talks to get help or information for a family member or loved one who has been affected by meth use.

With so many dangerous methamphetamine side effects it is surprising that anyone would engage in using the drug. However, for those addicted there is help. For meth rehab call 888-419-9222 or to get more information on Narconon schools and their effective drug prevention program.

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