Drug abuse
Drug abuse is one of the leading health problems in the United States as well as many other developed countries. Drug abuse leads to increased health care costs as well as legal costs. The purchasing of illegal drugs encourages trafficking and the accompanying violence now commonplace in countries where drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, and poppy are cultivated. Drug abuse can lead to drug addiction, reduced productivity and quality of life, and death.
Posted under Teens
Social Networking Associated with Alcohol and Marijuana Use
Facebook has provided a new unknown for parents. Just as parents in the 1980s and 1990s may have felt uneasy about the introduction of rental movies and cable television into their worlds, parents now are aware that there might be risks associated with social networking. Continue Reading
Posted under Drugs
Oral Health and Substance Abuse
Individuals struggling with substance abuse often experience a wide variety of negative consequences, such as impaired social relationships, instability at work or school, and multiple health problems.
Researchers at Boston University recently discovered a previously unknown health risk for those with substance dependence problems. The study, appearing online in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, shows that a majority of those with substance abuse problems report having poor oral health. Opioid users had an especially high rate of oral health problems, showing a decline in oral health over the last year. Continue Reading
Posted under Marijuana
DEA Announces Ban on Fake Marijuana
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued its emergency scheduling authority to control the five chemicals used to make “fake pot” products (JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47,497, and cannabicyclohexanol) in an effort to prevent what it describes as an “imminent threat to public health and safety.” Because these chemicals—used in such brand name products as “K2,” “Spice,” “Red X Dawn,” and “Blaze”—have not been approved by the FDA for human consumption and no oversight of their manufacturing process is currently in place, the DEA has placed a 12-month ban on the chemicals so it and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) can investigate whether the synthetic chemicals should be permanently controlled.
Posted under Teens
Teens Experience Longer-Lasting Repercussions from Drug Use
Alcohol and drug use by teens is sometimes treated as a rite of passage, and is perhaps thought to be less serious than adult drug use. Although teen drug use may worry parents about their children’s physical health, social relations, academic performance, or immediate danger, the threat to teen’s future mental health can sometimes be overlooked. Yet researchers are saying that teenagers respond dramatically different to drug exposure compared to adults, spurring long-term damages to brain development and cognition.
Posted under Drugs
Former NFL Player’s Illegal Possession of Codeine Syrup Shines Light on the Dangers of “Purple Drank”
On July 5, former Oakland Raider quarterback JaMarcus Russell was arrested by police at his home in Mobile, Alabama, for possession of codeine cough syrup without a prescription. The arrest resulted as part of a two-month undercover operation by police from the Mobile County Sheriff’s Department. After posting bail on July 8, Russell is scheduled to appear in court on July 20 to face charges of possession of a controlled substance.
Posted under Community Programs
Drug Charity Gets Surge in Funding After Being Featured on BBC Drama
A small drug charity that was forced to lay off almost a third of its staff because of funding cuts has seen a surge in donations after being featured in a BBC drama this week.
Posted under International
Iranian Government Focuses on Afghan Drug Stockpile
The stockpile of illicit drugs maintained in Afghanistan is a growing problem. Iran’s Law Enforcement Police General Hamid Reza Hossein-Abadi warned there could be devastating consequences as a result.
Posted under Teens
Conference to Address Growing Drug Problem among Youth in Algeria Held
Drug use is a problem in Algeria. According to a report in the Magharebia, nearly half of all high school students have used drugs. This finding is from a new report from the National Office for the Fight Against Drug Addiction.
Posted under Cocaine
Cocaine Torches to Detect Cocaine Use Among Scottish Club-Goers
"Cocaine torches" (also known as flashlights) are to be issued to pub and club stewards in Renfrewshire, Scotland, in an attempt to tackle drug abuse. They work by illuminating the hairs on the inside of the nose and around the nose area. If cocaine has been taken, it shows up bright green.
Posted under Gambling
Georgia Concerned About Link between Gambling and Drug Addiction
Weeks before a controversial new law on casinos takes effect in Georgia, health workers in the capital, Tbilisi, say they have uncovered a worrying link between gambling and drug addiction.
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Everything you need to know to help a loved one struggling with addiction, from the writers and editors of Everything Addiction.
