Abuse - Physical And Psychological Effects, Recognizing Signs Of Abuse, Ten Great Questions To Ask A Drug Counselor
After taking a dose of heroin, the user quickly feels the “rush” take hold of the body and brain.
Common Street Drugs
Addiction Recovery - Calling It Quits, Drug Testing For Opiates, Reducing The Ravages Of Abuse
A heroin addict's life can quickly crumble. The consequences of the habit can cost him his job and the support of family and friends. Feeding the habit can leave him destitute. A squalid lifestyle can wreck his health. He lives with the constant danger of a heroin overdose. Eventually, he may have to pay the legal consequences for drug offenses. The heroin addict may feel that he is alone …
Ancient Dreams, Modern-Day Dreamers - Natural Hallucinogens, Synthetic Hallucinogens, Hallucinogens Throughout History, Medical Experiments, From Medical Practice To Peace Rallies
Drug abuse became a major public health concern during the 1960s, as millions of young people began experimenting with LSD and other substances.
Beating Peer Pressure - Sources Of Peer Pressure, Beating Peer Pressure
Peer pressure could be one reason why you start using drugs.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Belliner, Karen, ed. Drug Information for Teens: Health Tips About the Physical and Mental Effects of Substance Abuse (Teen Health). Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, Inc., 2002. Dunham, Will. “U.S. Teen Drug Use Down, but Problems Remain: Survey.” Reuters, December 11, 2007. Ginther, Catherine, ed. Drug Abuse Source Book (Health Reference). 2nd ed. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, Inc., 2004. G…
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Babbit, Nikki. Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Abuse: How to Spot It, Stop It, and Get Help for Your Family. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates, 2000. Bone, James. “First Murder Charge Over Heroin Mix That Killed 400.” Times (London), August 26, 2006. Retrieved February 1, 2008 (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/ world/us_and_americas/article619947.ece). Dunham, Wil…
Breaking Addiction - Getting Help, How To Choose What's Best For You, Expectations
Drug abuse is a very difficult problem to tackle.
A Brief History of Heroin - Heroin's Soundtrackheroi, The Lure Of Heroin, Myths And Facts
For about five thousand years, human beings have used opium for its properties as a painkiller. One of the earliest descriptions comes from the Greek physician Hippocrates (460 BCE), who wrote about the effects of “poppy juice.” Opium was commonly used in Europe throughout the Middle Ages. During the early history of the United States, preparations containing opium were often prescr…
Choosing to Quit - Withdrawal, Hospital Treatment, Recovery Programs
It's not easy to quit abusing any drug. Depressant withdrawal can be even more difficult because you need medical supervision to stop. The withdrawal symptoms of barbiturates and benzodiazepines are very dangerous. Addicts should not try to quit these drugs without medical help. If an addict tries to stop alone, his or her life is at risk. While quitting depressants is not easy making the…
Drug Abuse and Addiction - Who's At Risk?, Tolerance, Addiction - ABUSE
There are different stages of drug abuse and addiction.
The Effects of Depressants - Physical Effects, Psychological Effects, Denial, Codependency - DEPRESSION
Depressants affect the central nervous system and cause the body and brain to slow down. They depress normal body and brain functions. As soon as they enter the bloodstream, they lower blood pressure, and affect the heart and breathing activity. Because of their effects, an overdose (taking too much of a drug) or a combination of drugs and alcohol can be fatal. Addicts are often depressed and ash…
The Effects of Stimulants - Short-term Effects, Long-term Effects
Tymaine was a quiet, shy sophomore who had a crush on Tasha.
Epidemic or False Alarm? - Why The Special Concern About Drug Use?, Questionable Reputations, How Likely Is “moderate” Use?, Conclusion
“Turn on, tune in, drop out.” That slogan became a battle cry of the restless young counterculture of the 1960s. It was coined by Timothy Leary, a psychologist and college professor who believed psychedelic mushrooms could be useful in psychotherapy. Personal and group experimentation with those and other hallucinogens, particularly LSD, persuaded Leary that psychedelics were benefi…
The “Gentle” Enticement of Hallucinogens - Why Do Young People Use Hallucinogens?, Playing With The Brain, Where Does It All Come From?
Because most hallucinogens are not addicting or fatal, many young experimenters assume they are safe.
Getting Help - Parents, Religious Leaders, Crisis And Drug Hotlines, Certified Alcohol And Drug Counselor (cadc) - TEACHERS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS
If you, or someone you know, has been abusing depressants, it's very important to get help.
Hallucinogens or Humans—Which Control? - Casual Use Can Become Controlling Abuse, What's “vitamin K”?, Treatment And Recovery
Maddie was an A and B student until her last semester of ninth grade. Transferring to a new school two summers before, she had easily made new friends. Some of them persuaded her to try marijuana for the first time in her life, and she enjoyed the sensation. She began smoking joints every weekend and sometimes at weeknight events with her friends. As months passed, she felt less and less high fro…
Heroin and the Media - Early Sensationalism, Heroin Chic, Celebrities In The Spotlight
The media have never had an easy job of covering drug issues. Conservatives accuse the “liberal media” of not casting drug use in enough of a negative light. Liberals accuse the media of parroting national drug policy without in-depth analysis. The media have the job of objectively reporting stories on drugs that could be easily sensationalized, politically charged, or offensive to …
How Do Hallucinogens Impact Society? - Damaged Lives, Families, Neighborhoods, Coping With Social Risks, Institutional Treatment, Ten Great Questions To Ask A Doctor
In November 2000, Drug Enforgement Administration agents seized a major LSD laboratory near Wamego, Kansas.
Introduction
The little white pill Claudia took is a kind of drug called an amphetamine. Amphetamines are stimulants, which means that they increase activity in the nervous system and cause a number of physical and psychological changes. Although amphetamines are often prescribed by doctors to treat a wide range of conditions, including obesity, depression, and sleeping disorders, they are often abused becaus…
Introduction
Although barbiturates are not the drug of choice for most teens, using barbiturates to counteract the effects of other drugs is quite common. In these cases, teens see depressants as a cure for other drugs that they consider more detrimental—those they may think of as the true hard drugs. The truth is that all drugs are damaging, and teens should never use them. It is even more harmful to …
Introduction
Brilliant colors. Strange sounds. Indescribable feelings of love toward others. Life moving in slow motion. “Floating” in air outside the body. The world of hallucinations is a dream world, a state of unreality. To hallucinate means to have an imaginary perception. Many people today—especially young people—have discovered a cool way to dream without going to sleep: by …
INTRODUCTION
In one of the most vivid scenes from the movie The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy and her companions set out across a vivid field of poppies. Dorothy begins to stumble, her eyes closed, and she collapses into the flowers. The exact details aren't accurate—the scent of opium poppies do not cause any effects—but there's no doubt that Dorothy has fallen under the influence of opia…
The Law - Opium Production In Afghanistan, The Law, The Drug Policy Debate
In 1914, the passage of the Harrison Narcotic Act by Congress became the first measure intended to regulate drug use in the United States. The new law placed stiffer regulations on derivatives of coca (the source of cocaine) and opium. Both drugs were still legal, but now there were new taxes and restrictions that applied to their sale. Overall, the Harrison Act failed to curb drug use. Instead, …
Laws and Legal Issues - Federal And State Laws, Peyote: Legal And Sacred, Legal Or Illegal?, Criticism Of The Drug War
It is illegal to manufacture, distribute, possess, or use hallucinogens in the United States—with rare exceptions. A few of the substances are approved for medical prescription and, in a few U.S. states, for ceremonial use by Native Americans. Violations of drug laws can result in heavy fines and jail or prison sentences. Nationally, drug laws and government policies attack the substance a…
Living A Drug-Free Life
The best choice you can make for yourself is not to use drugs. That's not an easy choice in today's fast-moving world, but it's one worth making. Drugs remove any control you have over your life. Before you try any drug, think about all that you have to lose. Take responsibility for your life and do something positive that makes you feel good about yourself. Robert found that…
FOR MORE INFORMATION - WEB SITES
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse 75 Albert Street, Suite 300 Ottawa, ON K1P 5E7 Canada (613) 235-4048 Web site: http://www.ccsa.ca This Canadian agency was established to “mobilize collaborative efforts to reduce alcohol- and other drug-related harms.” National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 6001 Executive Bouleva…
FOR MORE INFORMATION - WEB SITES
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) Rm. 12-105 Parklawn Building 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857 (301) 443-8956 Web site: http://www.samhsa.gov/centers/csap/csap.html CSAP works with states and communities to develop comprehensive prevention systems that create healthy communities in which people enjoy a quality life. This includes supportive work and school environments, drug- and…
Stimulant Addiction - Withdrawal, Addiction Is A Process
Stimulants create a cycle of feelings and behavior in users. When someone is high on amphetamines, he or she feels invincible, happy, and alert. But after those feelings fade, the person crashes and feels depressed, anxious, and nervous. In order to feel good again, he or she will take more stimulants and then crash again. That's the cycle: get high, crash, get high, crash. This cycle of g…
Teens and Drug Abuse - Loss Of Inhibitions, Peer Approval, Rebellion, Other Problems
Teen drug abuse is a growing problem. Teenagers are encountering drugs at younger ages than ever before. It is difficult to cope with all the changes that are happening to your body and in your life. Making the right decision about drugs or sex is not always easy. But knowing what is right for you and how to say no if something makes you uncomfortable is an important skill everyone needs to learn…
Types of Depressants - Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Abusing Barbiturates And Benzodiazepines, Alcohol, Alcoholism
Depressants are among the most widely used drugs in the United States.
What Are Stimulants? - Types Or Stimulants, History Of Amphetamines
Stimulants (also called uppers) are drugs that speed up the mind and body.
Where to Go For Help - IN CANADA
American Council for Drug Education 164 West 74th Street New York, NY 10023 (800) DRUG-HELP (378-4435) Web site: http://www.acde.org Narcotics Anonymous P.O. Box 9999 Van Nuys, CA 91409 (818) 773-9999 Web site: http://www.na.org National Center on Addiction & Substance Abuse at Columbia University 633 Third Avenue, 19th floor New York, NY 10017-6706 (212) 841-5200 Web site: http://www.casa…
Where To Go For Help
Al-Anon/Alateen 1600 Corporate Landing Parkway Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5617 (888) 4AL-ANON (425-2666) Web site: http://www.al-anon-alateen.org American Council for Drug Education 164 W. 74th Street New York, NY 10023 Web site: http://www.acde.org Benzodiazepine Anonymous 11633 San Vincente Boulevard, Suite 314 Los Angeles, CA 90049 (310) 652-4100 Nar-Anon Family Groups PO. Box 2562 Palos …
Why People Abuse Stimulants - Loneliness, Family Problems, Depression
You may turn to drugs to ease conflict and unhappiness.