04.24.09
Posted in Get Help, Party Drugs, Social Issues, Teens at 5:00 am by Ernesto
Methamphetamine affects your brain in many ways. In the short term, meth causes emotional changes such as anxiety, euphoria, and depression. Long-term effects include chronic fatigue, paranoid or delusional thinking, and permanent psychological damage.
Methamphetamine affects your body by creating a false sense of energy. The drug pushes the body faster and further than it’s meant to go and increases heart rate, blood pressure, and risk of stroke.
Methamphetamine affects your self-control. Meth is a powerfully addictive drug that can cause aggression and violent or psychotic behavior. An overdose of meth can result in heart failure. Long-term physical effects such as liver, kidney, and lung damage can also kill you.
Methamphetamine is illegal in all states and highly dangerous; get the facts. For example, the toxic nature of the chemicals used to produce meth can cause fires, produce toxic vapors, and damage the environment. Another fact is that in 2001, meth use sent more people to the emergency room than use of any other club drug. Over half of these cases involved meth in combination with another drug, such as alcohol, heroin, or cocaine.
There are a lot of risks associated with using methamphetamine, including irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain and the risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS for Meth users who inject the drug and share needles.
How can you tell if a friend is using meth? It may not be easy to tell. But there are signs you can look for. Symptoms of methamphetamine use may include:
Inability to sleep
Nervous physical activity, like scratching
Irritability, dizziness, or confusion
Tremors or even convulsions
Inhaling paraphernalia, such as razor blades, mirrors, and straws
Injecting paraphernalia, such as syringes, heated spoons, or surgical tubing
Other street names for methamphetamine, include: Crystal, Crank, Tweak, Go-fast, Glass, Black Beauties
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01.16.09
Posted in Get Help, Narcotics Anonymous, Party Drugs, Recovery, Teens at 5:07 am by community
Teen use of narcotics is an overwhelming problem among parents today. With the pressures of high school, not being able to connect with your teen during these times of young adulthood can be difficult as they are learning and growing in their own ways. Making mistakes is part of being a teenager but being a go-to parent and teaching your teen the consequences of Substance Abuse, is most important.
If your child has a substance abuse problem, including marijuana use, get them to a local teen group meeting. They are out there and more frequent than you think. You could also attend some Narcotics Anonymous meetings yourself. Even though pot’s not a narcotic, I promise hearing some of these people tell their stories would have an effect on you.
Marijuana has always been said to be the ‘gateway drug’ and I strongly agree with that. Teens feel like ‘oh, well its just a little weed, what could it hurt?’ but that kind of thought process is one that you then access EVERY TIME your faced with a new drug. ‘Oh well I did try weed and nothing happened, so why not cocaine?’ Once that initial boundary is crossed its hard to find the same mentality as you had before.
You may ask yourself, what can I do to prevent my teen from becoming so irresponsible and naive? Its simple, recognition is the first step. combined with the knowledge to do better, it can make approaching your son/daughter much easier and provide less tension.
Here is a great Group Support Link.
- Recovery Connection: This website focuses more on helping you find group support. Many argue that group support is a good first step is helping you realize that you have a problem. The website aims to connect you to every possible group support out there ranging from Overeaters Anonymous to Codependents Anonymous. Search within your state for a support Teen Narcotic group meeting near you
Keeping your Teen clear of drugs, will help prepare them for the tedious road into Adulthood. Help give your teen the opportunity of a life time and be DRUG FREE. Talk to them and keep them, as well as yourself, INFORMED.
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12.12.08
Posted in Narcotics Anonymous, Party Drugs, Teens at 5:39 pm by community
MDMA, called “X” or “ecstasy,” is a synthetic, psychoactive (mind-altering) drug with hallucinogenic and amphetamine-like properties. Its chemical structure is similar to two other synthetic drugs, MDA and methamphetamine, which are known to cause brain damage.
The rise in ecstasy use among young adults in the US has risen dramatically over the past 10 years and is believed to have been introduced into society in the 60s. Teens these days are becoming more and more aware of effects of Ecstasy and are itching to try it.
MDMA is taken orally as a capsule or tablet. It was initially popular among adolescents and young adults in the nightclub scene or at weekend-long dance parties known as raves.
Between 2005 and 2007, past-year abuse of MDMA increased among 12th-graders, from 3.0 percent to 4.5 percent; and between 2004 and 2007, past-year abuse of MDMA increased among 10th-graders, from 2.4 percent to 3.5 percent.
Repeated use of Ecstasy ultimately may damage the cells that produce serotonin, which has an important role in the regulation of mood, appetite, pain, learning and memory. There already is research suggesting Ecstasy use can disrupt or interfere with memory.
Users report a number of side effects, including:
- Heatstroke (also known as hyperthermia)
- Nausea
- Muscle tension
- Blurred vision
- Faintness
- Chills
- Sweating
- Teeth clenching
- Day-after depression
Also, pills sold as Ecstasy may not be Ecstasy at all. MDMA purchased on the street is frequently laced with other drugs like cocaine, heroine, PCP, or toxic chemicals like PMA and DXM, atropine, and rat poison. In a 1996 study of Ecstasy content, 19 out of 33 pills (58%) were found to contain less than 25% MDMA. Only 5 pills (15%) were more than 75% MDMA.
As you can see, Ecstasy is a dangerous drug that isn’t worth the risks involved. There are plenty of other ways to enjoy yourself than having to resort to street drugs.
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