AUTHOR: Eric DATE: 6/11/2007 06:42:00 AM ----- BODY:
Prescription drug abuse in Tennessee causes more deaths than heroin addiction A recent article highlighting the prescription drug problem in Tennessee stated that prescription drugs now cause more deaths than heroin addiction, methamphetamine and cocaine. Over 1200 deaths were linked to prescription drugs from 2002 to 2005, according to Medical Examiner (ME) records, and the number increased by 62 percent over that four year period. The deaths of several people are covered in the article, one of them the daughter of a man who, in retrospect, wished he had gotten a court order to force his adult daughter into drug rehab when he saw there was a problem. That would have been exactly the right thing to do. The State ME said that this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the overall problem as most people who abuse prescription drugs don’t die, they just live with the consequences. What are the consequences? The daughter who was not forced into drug rehab was a nurse who damaged vertebrae in her neck while on the job. The doctor prescribed mild painkillers, but they didn’t work. More prescriptions followed, as did dependency and addiction. She became completely non-functional, had to quit working, moved back home with her parents and couldn’t even cook a meal. On four prescription drugs simultaneously – methadone (which used to be used to help end heroin addiction but is now prescribed as a painkiller and is highly addictive in itself), an antidepressant, and two other powerful medications – she finally died of an overdose at age 42. Those are the consequences. Don’t let them happen to someone you love. Get them into a successful drug rehab program.

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-------- AUTHOR: Eric DATE: 6/06/2007 07:50:00 AM ----- BODY:
Successful drug rehab saves one lucky guy’s career – do the same for someone you love This morning I read an article about the reinstatement of a pharmacist whose license had previously been revoked because of addiction to Vicodin. Reinstatement took two years, during which time he was subjected to random drug tests. He’s under drug watch for another five years, but, nevertheless, he’s one of the lucky ones. For every life that’s saved, there are millions out there who never get into a successful drug rehab program that can help them end their addiction. What’s his story? A clean guy, no drug problem, he got started on Vicodin when suffering from a painful knee problem. Before you know it, he was hooked. At one point he was taking 45 pills a day. All told, he admitted to stealing thousands of pills from work. Is it really that easy to get dependent on or addicted to a prescription drug? Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, prescription drug addiction has become so common it’s threatening to overtake heroin and methamphetamine. That’s a big problem. Don’t for a minute think that because a doctor prescribed a pill, you cannot become addicted to it. You can. And those drugs are no less dangerous than street drugs. If someone you know is taking prescription drugs, make sure you do something about it. Unlike this pharmacist, not everyone gets a second chance. The longer you leave it, the harder it will be. Get them into drug rehab.

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-------- AUTHOR: Eric DATE: 5/02/2007 08:01:00 AM ----- BODY:
Methamphetamine use, in particular, has been a growing problem in the rural South for years, reports The Herald Banner. Illegal drug use takes a heavy toll on families and relationships torn to the breaking point by chemical addiction and the poor decisions it causes people to make... Police statistics link drug use to property crimes and violence, both of which can be spurred by the drugs themselves and the irrational need to acquire more of them. Drug users waste millions of dollars to feed their habits, taking money from the legitimate local economy and giving it to criminals. Lives are lost as a direct result of drug use. People are killed in car accidents, by overdose and in violent, drug-related crimes. Effective drug rehab programs that do not substitute one drug for another, but actually free the person from their addiction and help them to rebuild their lives can impact these statistics.

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-------- AUTHOR: Romie DATE: 4/17/2007 10:41:00 AM ----- BODY:
A recent report by a non-profit children’s advocacy group has found that there is a lack of good information to determine the effects of methamphetamine on Arkansas’s child welfare system. Methamphetamine “is seen as the leading cause of all the problems that plague the child welfare system and is considered a significant factor and something that has to be addressed, but you can’t prove that,” said Paul Kelly, senior policy analyst with Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. “With all the public attention on it, is that warranted, and, should we be focusing on methamphetamine or should we be focused on substance abuse?” he said. The report by the AACF did find that meth was one of the drugs abused by adults that harm children. According to the study, pregnant mothers are more likely to test positive for cocaine and amphetamines. The study, “Poison, Problem and Perspective: the Impact of Methamphetamine on Arkansas Child Welfare System,” also found that in 2004, parental substance abuse surpassed parents going to jail as the most prevalent factor for placing children in foster care. Kelly said this is troubling because there is a shortage in Arkansas of substance abuse treatment for women and children. Arkansas is widely believed to have a statewide problem with methamphetamine abuse and with the lack of good treatment available this will continue to be an issue. What do you think? Should the focus in Arkansas be on methamphetamine or substance abuse in general? Article by Eric Digg It | Reddit | Newsvine Seed Add to your bookmarks in: del.icio.us | Yahoo! | Google | Furl | ma.gnolia | Spurl

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-------- AUTHOR: Romie DATE: 4/12/2007 10:19:00 AM ----- BODY:
According to a recent study done by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, the use of methamphetamine and amphetamines increase the risk of stroke in young adults. This includes the use and abuse of the illegal drug methamphetamine, which is a dangerous stimulant that is widely abused in the United States, as well cocaine and other amphetamines. Currently there are many legally prescribed amphetamines for “diseases” such as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) that produce the same effect as a drug like methamphetamine and/or cocaine that have been widely abused over the last few years. The abuse of prescription drugs like Adderall and Ritalin is a national problem. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, visits to U.S. emergency rooms rose 21% from 2004 to 2005 because of the misuse of prescription drugs. Visits to the ER because of abuse of illegal drugs stayed the same. Many people who were prescribed drugs such as Adderall or Ritalin as children later end up abusing illegal stimulants such as methamphetamine or even cocaine as adults. According to many drug treatment centers and those using both methamphetamine and/or legally prescribed amphetamines are at a higher risk for stroke and other health issues as young adults and later in life. The most alarming thing about this is that many school age children are put on these drugs on a daily basis. But, do we really understand the side effects and long standing damage we are doing by putting kids on drugs? Are we setting them up for major medical problems and even addiction later in life? And is there a better way to handle learning disabilities and problems in school that does not involve drugging children? Article by Eric Digg It | Reddit | Newsvine Seed Add to your bookmarks in: del.icio.us | Yahoo! | Google | Furl | ma.gnolia | Spurl

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-------- AUTHOR: Romie DATE: 3/09/2007 01:22:00 PM ----- BODY:
By now you’ve probably heard about all of the toxins used to make methamphetamine and what kind of damage the drug causes to a person’s health — but have you seen what the drug does to a person’s appearance?
These photos are courtesy of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and are pretty typical pictures of what happens when people become addicted to meth. One common occurrence has been dubbed “meth mouth”.
Meth, like other drugs, burns up the vital nutrients in the body that are needed for it to function properly and be healthy. Factor in some extremely poor personal hygiene, reduced protective saliva and a large amount of sodas and cigarettes, and this is what you get. Teeth will not just rot away, but they also break off from excessive teeth grinding and jaw clenching – it is a ghastly sight. Oddly enough, some women start using meth as a weight loss drug because it is an appetite suppressant. However, when someone is on meth they often feel like bugs are crawling all over their bodies under their skin and start picking at themselves. These hallucinations are sometimes called crank bugs, and the continued itching and scratching creates open sores that can become infected and also leave hideous scars. This is hardly the picture of beauty. Maybe if more people can SEE what they are doing to themselves they wont be so apt to go down this road. Article by Eric Digg It | Reddit | Newsvine Seed Add to your bookmarks in: del.icio.us | Yahoo! | Google | Furl | ma.gnolia | Spurl

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-------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:Mar 9, 2007 3:35:00 PM COMMENT-BODY:This article on methamphetamine is something that anyone who has considered using the drug should see before they try it. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:Mar 10, 2007 2:34:00 PM COMMENT-BODY:Ok - so if you are taking drugs to hang out with the "cool" kids or maybe attract a guys attention at a party - how attractive will people think this is? GROSS!!! What is really scary is that the people who get in this condition are so out of it they dont even care - can you imagine NOT caring that you look like that? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:Mar 11, 2007 4:12:00 AM COMMENT-BODY:I feel that anyone that even comes close to this should reconsider their way of life. I can't imagine in my wildest NIGHTMARE looking like that, The pain and turmoil that these poor people had to endure to get to that point is truly beyond me. (Thank GOD). I have to go now. I am going to pray to GOD that it is not me! This was a real eye-opener!!! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:Mar 13, 2007 11:41:00 AM COMMENT-BODY:If this isn't a dose of reality I don't know what is. I hope lots of people see this before they think of trying it one time to see how it feels. -------- AUTHOR: Romie DATE: 2/23/2007 02:31:00 PM ----- BODY:
Recent reports have surfaced of a pink-colored, strawberry-flavored methamphetamine that was seized in Nevada. The idea of a candy-like substance, which some officials fear is targeting youth, has created quite a buzz. News outlets have covered the story from at least nine states, yet it appears there is still only one confirmed seizure of the substance. This leaves some people wondering whether it was an isolated incident that got a lot of attention or if there are legitimate fears of some meth manufacturers trying to target new users by making the drug more appealing to young people. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that more than 10 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried methamphetamine at some point in their lives. According to results from the 2005 Monitoring the Future Study, current meth use among high school seniors decreased from 1.7 percent in 2003 to 0.9 percent in 2005. Methamphetamine found on the streets is often made in home-based labs that use an array of toxins to create the chemical transformation. Some ingredients may include lithium battery acid, red phosphorus, anhydrous ammonia, and its base of pseudo-ephedrine. Taking even small amounts of methamphetamine can result in increased wakefulness, increased physical activity, decreased appetite, increased respiration, rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, and hyperthermia. Other effects of methamphetamine abuse may include irritability, anxiety, insomnia, confusion, tremors, convulsions, and cardiovascular collapse and death. Long-term effects may include paranoia, aggressiveness, extreme anorexia, memory loss, visual and auditory hallucinations, delusions, and severe dental problems. Article by Eric Mitchell

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-------- AUTHOR: Eric DATE: 2/09/2007 02:05:00 PM ----- BODY:
Original posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 Good news is that a new analysis of data from The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) shows that use of methamphetamine declined between 2002 and 2005 among persons age 12 or older. According to the study, in 2005, approximately 1.3 million persons ages 12 or older (0.5 percent) had used methamphetamine in the past year; 741,000 were male and 556,000 were female. The number of persons who used methamphetamine for the first time in the prior 12 months did not differ significantly between 2002 (299,000 persons) and 2004 (318,000 persons) but did decrease significantly between 2004 and 2005. In 2004, an estimated 318,000 persons aged 12 or older first tried methamphetamine in the year prior to the survey compared with 192,000 persons in 2005. Part of this decrease can be attributed to the massive anti-meth awareness campaigns in recent years promoted by both the public and private sectors. Many younger people have been deterred from using meth when they see the damage it causes to someone in such a short time, including their appearance. Another major contributor, which has also resulted in a significant decrease in the number of meth labs busted, has been the fact that several states have taken a primary ingredient (ephedrine and pseudoephedrine) and put products containing behind the pharmacy counter. Buyers of pseudoephedrine have been limited in quantity and frequency and have had to sign a log in many cases as well as show picture identification. SAMHA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) showed that in 2004, nearly 8 perccent of all treatment admissions were for amphetamine or methamphetamine abuse. Forty-five percent of treatment admissions in 2004 for methamphetamine/amphetamine use were for women. What is Meth? Methamphetamine is either snorted, smoked or injected. Meth users may become addicted quickly, needing higher doses and more often. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II stimulant, which means it has a high potential for abuse. Some forms are still sold as prescriptions, often to active young kids who become addicted early in life. It can be made in small, illegal laboratories, where its production endangers the people in the labs, neighbors, and the environment. Street methamphetamine is referred to by many names, such as "speed," "meth," and "chalk." Methamphetamine hydrochloride, clear chunky crystals resembling ice, which can be inhaled by smoking, is often referred to as "ice" or "crystal." Effects Some of the effects of methamphetamine abuse may include irritability, anxiety, insomnia, confusion, tremors, convulsions, and cardiovascular collapse and death. Long-term effects may include paranoia, aggressiveness, extreme anorexia, memory loss, visual and auditory hallucinations, delusions, and severe dental problems. Meth addicts will often go many days without sleeping because of the powerful stimulant effects of the drug. This sleep deprivation, along with the combination of toxins themselves, are what cause the hallucinations and paranoia. Article by Eric Mitchell

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