Is the UK Ranking System for Drugs Any Good?

Earlier we discussed the notion that LSD and other hallucinogens were possibly the most harmful drugs, simply for what they do to a person’s mind.

Well, a new ranking system of drugs has been recommended and was recently printed in The Lancet medical journal in the UK. This new system devised harm scores for drugs, examining the damage caused by each drug not just to an individual or how addictive it was, but also by the damage it caused to families and society as a whole.

Topping the list were heroin and cocaine, but an article in The Guardian seemed surprised that alcohol was placed fifth on the list.

Although it is the world’s most consumed addictive substance and is legal, it actually costs more to the population in terms of damage caused by its use. This includes deaths from drinking and driving, as well as domestic violence, assault and battery, and lost productivity at work.

Also mentioned in the article was that marijuana was ranked as being more harmful that Ecstasy, LSD and GHB.

Does this classification system make sense? These British research scientists seemed to think so. What do you think?

Article by Eric

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Is there a certain type of person who does drugs?

Despite any stereotypes about drug users, there is no definite outline of an addict.

There is not a single gene that defines one, or a certain family background, favorite food or economic status either. It’s not like only the rich can afford to use drugs or only the poor use certain type of drugs. It is intermingled.

However, some drugs do cost more than others generally.

Recent information from the United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reveals some of the world’s drug prices. It found that heroin could range from $50 to a few hundred dollars per gram, depending on the type and purity. Cocaine, which is often considered one of the most expensive drugs, averaged out to be about $100 per gram. However, crack-cocaine can be purchased for about $20 per rock and another stimulant, methamphetamine, is manufactured and sold at prices much less than cocaine.

Marijuana prices varied greatly depending on the potency of THC content, but generally averaged around $15 per gram, while Ecstasy has remained fairly steady at an average of $25 per pill.

Underground markets have also developed for pharmaceuticals, everything from painkillers, to sedatives and stimulants. Kids sell their Ritalin pills at school for $5 and dealers specialize in Oxycontin, selling 20 mg pills for about $15.

There have also been newer drug combinations, such as “cheese” found in Texas, which is a little bit of heroin mixed with over-the-counter painkillers. This was specifically targeted toward kids, both in marketing tactics and price.

A report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also states that more than one million kids tried inhaling household products in 2005. This means that it was basically FREE, and is a disturbing statistic.

The problem is that there will always be a product to meet the demand, and therefore more prevention efforts that work should be used, diverting funds from the supply reduction to education practices.

What’s your take on the illicit drug market?

Article by Eric

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Cocaine - on the rise again?

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, there are about 13.4 million current cocaine users in the world. While the U.S. is the world’s largest consumer of cocaine (not exactly something to be proud of), the next highest percentage falls in Western and Central Europe.

Ireland has seen a notable increase in cocaine use of late, as reported by their National Advisory Committee on Drugs. The organization says the number of cocaine seizures has quadrupled and cocaine-related offenses have increased by more than seven times in the last six years.

The number of treatment admissions for cocaine in Ireland has also increased noticeably, tripling since 1998.

There really hasn’t been a defining reason for the increase necessarily, but drug use throughout the world has increased and decreased by substance periodically.

Why do you think the use of any particular illicit substance increases or decreases on a national level?

Article by Eric

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Utah Highest in Nation for Prescription Drug Abuse

Among prescription drugs that are commonly abused, painkillers lead the category. As with other drugs, the usage varies from age range as well as by state.

According to an article by the Associated Press (AP), a federal study of painkiller abuse found that Utah led the nation in 2004 and 2005. The study was released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and it was found that approximately 6.5 percent of Utah's population 12 and over used prescription drugs non-medically (without a prescription). Among the age groups, the largest percentage of abusers was between 18 and 25, which is typical of most drugs.

People abusing prescription drugs often get them from a friend or relative's prescription, or participate in what is known as 'doctor shopping', which is going from one doctor to another with the same complaint to receive several prescriptions.

It has also been found, especially with narcotic painkillers such as Vicodin, Lortab, Oxycontin, etc. that there continues to be a growing illicit market for such drugs.

On our toll-free help lines, we get calls nearly every day from all over the country of people trying to break free from an addiction to painkillers, many of them starting with a legitimate prescription for an accident or injury.

The problem is that these drugs are so addictive that even some very well-intended people wind up becoming physically dependent on such substances. From there it can develop into a full-blown addiction, complete with all of the “normal” drug-seeking behavior and their world begins to crash down upon them.

Do you know of someone who wound up dependent on prescription painkillers? If so, how did it start for them?

Article by Eric

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