Monthly Archives: February 2009

Prescription Drug Abuse Rampant in Nevada

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Studies suggest that people from Nevada take nearly double the national average of prescription drugs. This makes Nevada one of the most narcotic ridden populations in the United States.

The numbers have surely reached deadly proportions. In 2006, in Clark County, Nevada, more people died of prescription narcotics overdoses than any other illicit drug. Also In 2006, people of Nevada were ranked number 1 in drug users involved in car accidents.

The drugs typically involved in the accidents were the brand names Vicodin or Lortab. According to these statistics, people in Nevada took enough of these drugs to roughly equal 48 Vicodin pills for every single person (including women and children) in the state for a year.

Why Nevada? Some think that Nevada’s drug scene is one of the most secretive and out of control epidemics in the nation.
 
Painkillers, which are usually opiates (derived from opium), are made from poppies – which have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. In the early 1900s, doctors were already prescribing opiates in order to treat pain and the effects of withdrawal for addicts. Experts now believe there is a prescription drug boom in the United States.

Exposing the Facts: Marijuana (THC)

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Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States. It is a dry, shredded green and brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves derived from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. The main active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; THC for short.


Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette (joint) or in a pipe. It is also smoked in blunts, which are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana. Since the blunt retains the tobacco leaf used to wrap the cigar, this mode of delivery combines marijuana’s active ingredients with nicotine and other harmful chemicals. Marijuana can also be mixed in food or brewed as a tea. As a more concentrated, resinous form it is called hashish, and as a sticky black liquid, hash oil.* Marijuana smoke has a pungent and distinctive, usually sweet-and-sour odor.

Scientists have learned a great deal about how THC acts in the brain to produce its many effects. When someone smokes marijuana, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body.

THC acts upon specific sites in the brain, called cannabinoid receptors, kicking off a series of cellular reactions that ultimately lead to the “high” that users experience when they smoke marijuana. Some brain areas have many cannabinoid receptors; others have few or none. The highest density of cannabinoid receptors are found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thoughts, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement.

These facts were provided by The National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Staying within Faith and Looking towards a Brighter Future

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In today’s economic recession, more and more people are becoming jobless, homeless and just plain depressed. Not very good factors when it comes to relapsing, experimenting, and peer pressure. Times like these are what drugs and alcohol strive on. Making you break down and give into the numbness of intoxication.

All of us have to be able to differentiate between good times and bad times. Things will get tuff, things will get considerably difficult, and the path to drugs and alcohol are NOT the answer. Without hardship and tuff times, what good are the good times? For every good thing in your life there is always going to be an equal quality negative experience. Some of these negative experiences last longer than others and it makes losing the faith that much easier in the long run.

Keeping your head up and always looking towards the future and good things to come is what can separate you from the rest of our negative based society. The realization that bad times are inevitable and that they can and will be overcome, is the most important factor towards a drug and alcohol free life. No one needs to resort to these measures, they just do because its that easy. But sadly, in the jist of it all it only adds to the problem and creates a cloud of negative energy around yourself which is like a beacon light just calling for more and more negative experiences for yourself. Who wants that??

Surrounding yourself with positive people who share a lust for living life to its fullest is important when trying to make yourself see the light of positivity. Negative people will only bring you down, and the further down you get, the more desperate you are to get out. We are all in this together, so be there for your friends, make them see that YOU are that positive beacon of light and it will rub off on others. Bringing hope and joy to anthers life is what will keep your good times coming and your bad times at a lesser scale. Be the change that you need in your life and the rest will follow behind!

Beginning YOUR Recovery: Rehabilitation

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Rehabilitation centers are always the next best and most health conscious choice. Rehabilitation from drugs and alcohol is not just a destination, but a long journey.

Once addiction has taken hold, it’s permanent and it takes a lifetime of abstinence to maintain a healthy life. There is no cure for addiction as of yet, but there is treatment and it is that treatment, or rehabilitation that saves thousands of lives every year.

Many Rehabilitation facility’s are found in government funded centers, where the treatment programs offers sliding scale payment programs, payment assistance, or addiction treatment free of charge. Alternatively, there are many rehabilitation centers offered by private owners dotting the country, having higher concentrations in states like Florida, Arizona, and California.

Generally, inpatient drug-related rehabilitation programs have a standard length of stay of 28-30 days. Many addicts, however opt to stay longer and most rehabilitation programs offer lengthy stays of several months to a year.

Research has shown that the longer the rehabilitation program, the greater the chances for prolonged years of being drug-free.

Stories of Perseverance: Marjorie's Story

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I’m trying.  My name is Marjorie and I’m three days sober.  I know this isn’t a long time and I’m still scared and anxious and confused and weighed down by my demons but I’m trying.  This isn’t my first attempt at sobriety either. I’ve tried to stay clean already three times but it’s hard.

I guess life is hard too and I know I’m not the only one to have tried and failed before.  But I’m hoping this time I can stick with it.  Writing about it helps me get through those moments where you feel the dark fingers of addiction closing around your throat to the point that you feel like you can’t breathe. 

I’ve moved back in with my parents because I had to break ties with my old “friends” for lack of a better word.  I know my life and my recovery have to be about me right now but I’m not used to thinking about myself or putting myself first. 

I know there are a lot of success stories about recovery on the internet and I hope mine becomes a story of success too.  I know some people would consider three days with no drugs a success but I’m hoping for that long-term success where I can write about having a loving husband, a little house and a family. 

I think I would even like a dog or a cat too.  It’s hard, it hurts but I want to succeed.  Thanks for listening.  I know I’m not there yet but I’m getting there.

Exposing the Facts: Crystal Meth

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Crystal Meth is a colorless, odorless form of methamphetamine. It resembles small fragments of glass or shiny blue-white “rocks” of various sizes. It is a highly powerful and addictive man-made stimulant that causes aggression and violent or psychotic behavior. Many users report getting hooked (addicted) from the first time they use it. It is one of the hardest drugs to treat. Crystal meth is either inhaled or smoked. Low doses are in common as well in pill form.

Some street names for Crystal Meth are:

    • Speed
    • Ice
    • Quartz
    • Crystalz
    • Glass
    • Crank
    • Tweak
    • Crystal tea
    • Go-Fast
    • Tina

These effects stem from the association the drug has on the bodies’ nervous system. Crystal Meth when compared to cocaine produces a longer feeling of euphoria, which can last for over 12 hours. Without the required treatment for this addiction the end result is usually fatal. Due to the effects Meth has on the blood vessels, there is a high potential for stroke, which in many cases lead to death. Other patients die of hyperthermia and cardiac failure.

Over the past decade the use of Crystal Meth had produced staggering results. A research conducted by NSDUH, noted that over 10.4 million people over 12 years have tried Meth at some point in their lives. The monitoring youth survey showed that 4.5% of high school students said they have used the drug at least once in their life.

With these kind of numbers, its no wonder parents are more concerned than ever at their child’s risk at coming in contact with these types of Narcotics. Addiction to and problems with methamphetamine’s are best combated in a safe, therapeutic setting such as a recovery center. No matter the severity of a person’s addiction.

Creating the American Junkie: A Book Review

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By Caroline Jean Acker

Caroline Jean Acker’s book, “Creating the American Junkie”, has been called both fascinating and informative examination of the American drug policy.

The book pursues use of opiates and the gradual rise in the United States during the 19th century, hitting a peak in the 1890s. Cocaine was extremely popular in 1884, and its use peaked in the first decade of the 20th century. Many of these drug users were people on the fringe of society. These users were burdened with the image of what Caroline Jean Acker calls the “heroin-addicted male urban hustler.”

In a recent review of “Creating the American Junkie”, The New England Journal of Medicine wrote, “A well-written and thoughtful book… Acker presents a fascinating account of how addicts’ negative image came to dominate public and official perceptions, as well as how it forced some users into the mold.

Her careful analysis of research findings will make this book of interest to historians, drug-abuse workers, and anyone else who wants to examine the origins of American drug policy.”

The Good Times and the Bad

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All of us have to be able to differentiate between good times and bad times. Things will get tuff, things will get considerably difficult, and the path to drugs and alcohol are NOT the answer. Without hardship and tuff times, what good are the good times? For every good thing in your life there is always going to be an equal quality negative experience. Some of these negative experiences last longer than others and it makes losing the faith that much easier in the long run.

The better you understand yourself, the better you are able to accept or change who you are. Being in the dark about yourself means that you will continue to get caught up in your own internal struggles and allowed outside forces to mold and shape you.

Keeping your head up and always looking towards the future and good things to come is what can separate you from the rest of our negative based society. The realization that bad times are inevitable and that they can and will be overcome, is the most important factor towards a drug and alcohol free life. No one needs to resort to these measures, they just do because its that easy. But sadly, in the jist of it all it only adds to the problem and creates a cloud of negative energy around yourself which is like a beacon light just calling for more and more negative experiences for yourself. Who wants that??

Surrounding yourself with positive people who share a lust for living life to its fullest is important when trying to make yourself see the light of positivity. Negative people will only bring you down, and the further down you get, the more desperate you are to get out. We are all in this together, so be there for your friends, make them see that YOU are that positive beacon of light and it will rub off on others. Bringing hope and joy to anthers life is what will keep your good times coming and your bad times at a lesser scale. Be the change that you need in your life and the rest will follow behind!

Reaching An Understanding

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Narcotic Addictions are some of the hardest Addictions to overcome. Acknowledging that you have a problem is difficult for narcotic users because of the way the Narcotics affect the brain.

There is only the slightest of differences between substance abuse and addiction. Substance abuse usually refers to the use of any illegal substance in the wrong way.
Addiction begins as substance abuse, however, you can abuse drugs without having an addiction.

Individuals can become addicted to many types of substances. Some drugs (substances) are more addictive than others. Highly addictive drugs like crack or heroin may only need to be abused one or two times before a person can begin to get addicted. 

Facts about Narcotic Addictions:

- About 1 in 10 Americans over 12-years-old are classified with substance abuse or dependence

- Only 3.9 million 0f the 22.2 million Americans who needed treatment received it.

- After the age of 25, you are less likely to become addicted to alcohol or illicit drugs

- 44% of the people who didn’t recive treatment for substance abuse attributed it to cost barriers

As with any Addiction it is important to remember that we can’t all be perfect, and seeking help is OK. There are plenty of programs and help lines available with people you can talk to that understand YOU and what it is that YOU need.

Famous Narcotic Treatments Centers: the Meadows Clinic

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One of the the most well known Narcotic Rehabilitation Centers in the United States is The Meadows Clinic. Located in Wickenburg, Arizona, approximately an hour north of Phoenix in the high Sonoran Desert, with mountain views and clear skies, this center is lavish and calming to all those who come through its doors.

With rates at approximately one thousand dollars a day, The Meadows has been home to numerous celebrities including Kate Moss, Eric Benet, Mike Tyson, Robbie Williams.

The Meadows is a multi-disorder facility specializing in the treatment of Narcotic Addictions as well as many other types. The Meadows’ clinical experts reach beyond single-level treatment of addictions, behavioral disorders and psychological conditions to diagnose and treat the underlying problems.

Intensive treatment focuses on:

  • Addiction to alcohol and drugs.
  • Compulsive behaviors such as eating, gambling, work, sex, love addiction/avoidance and codependence.
  • Mood disorders including bipolar disorder and depression.
  • Anxiety disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder.

The Meadows’ comprehensive treatment program was created by Pia Mellody, a pioneer in the field of recovery. The facility is licensed as a Level I Psychiatric Acute Hospital by the Arizona Department of Health Services through the Office of Behavioral Health Licensing. We are licensed to provide psychiatric, detoxification, and substance abuse services. The Meadows is accredited through The Joint Commission with full standards compliance.

For more information on this Rehabilitation Center please visit The Meadows