New Beginnings for A Better Tomorrow: November 2009

Monday, November 30, 2009

The Problems with Sharing Needles

Sharing a needle or the reuse of syringes by more than one person can have disastrous effects. It is the way that diseases, which can be transmitted through blood, are spread to others. Two of these diseases include hepatitis and HIV which can lead to AIDS. If people inject themselves, or someone injects them, with drugs using a needle which has been used by someone else, they put themselves at risk for contracting a disease that another user may be carrying. Don’t kid yourself into thinking that you know if another person is HIV positive. They may not even know it themselves. You also can’t assume that someone who is infected will be honest with you, especially if it means you won’t share a needle with them.

If at all possible, take the drugs by mouth. If you have to inject the drug, always make sure you use a new needle, or at the very least one that no one but you has used before. Several large cities have syringe exchange programs. For every used one you turn in, they will give you a new one. The HIV virus can be killed by bleach. The needles should be washed first in hot soapy water and then rinsed several times with cold water. Then, completely cover the needles in a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts clean cold water. They should soak for 30 minutes. After soaking, they need to be rinsed several times as bleach is poisonous if injected.

Hepatitis B and C can be spread through the sharing of needles. In order to avoid this do not share any part of your injection supplies including the syringe, cotton, water, cooker and tourniquet. Hepatitis B can also be spread through having sex with an infected person without using a condom. Hepatitis C is less likely to be spread sexually. Studies show that 50% to 90% of injection drug users are infected with HCV.

Of course, the safest thing is to stop the habit all together. If you or someone you know is addicted to drugs, get them help immediately. A Better Tomorrow is waiting for a call from you.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Friday, November 27, 2009

Beautiful Boy

U.S. News interviews Nic Sheff and his father David Sheff, a journalist, about their new books "Tweak" and "Beautiful Boy." Both take different perspectives on the story of Nic's drug addiction, their family's struggle, and how they ultimately survived.
Full Story here : http://www.health.usnews.com/articles/health/2008/03/06/the-sheff-family-struggles-with-addiction.html

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving

May your day be full of good eats, great conversation, a warm home, and surrounded by love! Leaving you with a Thanksgiving poem to enjoyable and wishes for you and yours to have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

BE THANKFUL

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

~~Author Unknown.~~

HOOKED: OPIUM, MORPHINE & HEROIN 3 OF 3

HISTORY CHANNEL PRESENTS HOOKED: ILLEGAL DRUGS & HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY
HOOKED: OPIUM, MORPHINE & HEROIN 3 OF 3

HOOKED: OPIUM, MORPHINE & HEROIN 3 OF 3
Uploaded by Top-Notch112. -

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

HOOKED: OPIUM, MORPHINE & HEROIN 2 OF 3

HISTORY CHANNEL PRESENTS HOOKED: ILLEGAL DRUGS & HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY
HOOKED: OPIUM, MORPHINE & HEROIN 2 OF 3

HOOKED: OPIUM, MORPHINE & HEROIN 2 OF 3
Uploaded by Top-Notch112. -

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Hooked: OPIUM, MORPHINE & HEROIN PART 1 OF 3

HISTORY CHANNEL PRESENTS HOOKED: ILLEGAL DRUGS & HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY
Hooked: OPIUM, MORPHINE & HEROIN PART 1 OF 3

HOOKED: OPIUM, MORPHINE & HEROIN 1 OF 3
by Top-Notch112

Monday, November 23, 2009

Heroin Addicts Speak

Meet people deep in the throws of a heroin addiction, with no way out.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Pain Management and Addiction Part 2

Part 2 of Jim Fent speaking about Pain Management and Addiction. Sound is better on this segment.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Pain Management and Addiction Part 1

Jim Fent, from A Better Tomorrow, speaks about Pain Management and Addiction. The sound can be difficult to hear in parts when guest ask questions or speak, however, there is a lot of good information here.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Celebrities Who Have Overcome Addictions

Every addict lives in their own world of isolation, feeling that no one can understand where they are, or why they are there. An important aspect of the possibility of recovery is for the addict to believe that it is an attainable goal. Knowing that others have been in the same depths of despair and made it out has to be positive encouragement to their troubled souls.

Drew Barrymore was smoking cigarettes by the age of nine. At eleven, she was an alcoholic. By the time she reached thirteen, she was addicted to cocaine. At fourteen she attempted suicide. It took multiple trips to rehab, but she did overcome her addictions. She is not only an accomplished actress but has become a producer and formed her own production company.

Angelina Jolie was interviewed in 1998 and admitted to trying just about every drug possible including cocaine, heroin, Ecstasy, and LSD. She said her drug days are a thing of the past. She is one of the major female stars today, an Oscar winning actress, a mother of six and a dedicated humanitarian. She is well known for her work as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency.

Robin Williams was addicted to cocaine before he began his acting career. He admitted that he abused a number of other drugs as well. It took the death of John Belushi, caused by a drug overdose, to send him to a rehab center. He has since become a phenomenal actor and has had many comedy hits as well as serious ones. He won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in the film Good Will Hunting.
Maybe the most shocking case is Oprah Winfrey. She abused cocaine in the 70’s and 80’s but has been able to put it all behind her. A year ago, Forbes listed Oprah as having a fortune worth over $2.7 billion.

One thing that makes recovery from an addiction possible is that the person wants to beat the addiction. Once they accept that, they are ready to start the journey back to their former life. Seldom can this be achieved without the intervention of professionals. A Better Tomorrow is waiting to hear from you. Make the call today. Recovery is possible for you too.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN)

DAWN is a public health surveillance system that monitors visits to hospital emergency rooms that are drug related. They also track drug related deaths that are reported by medical examiners and coroners. In 2003 the program underwent some major changes to help communities and member facilities to identify emerging problems, improve patient care and manage resources.

DAWN is operated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) which is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The data collected is used by the government as well as those in the private sector. It can be used for public health planning or policy and program development; it is helpful in obtaining grant support to address local drug related problems; it is an invaluable asset when it comes to improving patient care and management of resources in participating hospitals. DAWN provides a picture of the impact of drug use as well as misuse and abuse in different areas across the nation.

The primary users of DAWN include federal agencies, communities in the private sector and members of the network. The Food and Drug Administration uses Dawn to identify new drug abuse trends with prescription drugs. It also uses DAWN to identify and track adverse reactions and other health consequences of prescription drugs. In the private sector DAWN pays particular attention to ER visits having to do with underage drinking, adverse reactions to new medications, accidental poisonings of young children and misuse of prescription drugs. Members of the network have immediate access to their own data through DAWN LIVE, a secure internet based query system.
If you or someone you love has a problem with an addiction, call A Better Tomorrow. Get the help you need along with the understanding you deserve.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Monday, November 16, 2009

Using Embalming Fluid to Get High ~ Drug Wet

Every adult knows what embalming fluid is, and what it’s used for, even if they do not know what it is made from. It is a combination made up mostly of Formaldehyde, methanol and ethanol, with other minor solvents added in. Like most chemicals which fulfill a valid need, this is also another chemical being abused by drug users. The combination is used to soak tobacco, cigarettes, and/or marijuana joints in and after it dries, the product is smoked. Some times PCP is added to the mixture.

Each treated ‘smoke’ can be sold for about $20.00. The street name’s include wet, sherm, fry, amp, illy, dank, hydro, and matrix. This is not an all inclusive list and terms vary depending on the location across the country. As with other drugs, wet has no boundaries. It is used by rich and poor, young and old, and in big cities as well as small towns. A regular cigarette soaked in this solution is seldom caught because these are not drugs that are normally tested for. There seems to be a certain morbid, gothic appeal to using embalming fluid to get high. It is more popular with children and young adults.

Symptoms may include coma, seizures, renal failure, and stroke. Depending on the mix and the individual, the high can last from six hours to three days. Users may appear spaced out and dissociative. When PCP is added there is often destructive behavior. Under the influence of “wet”, a 14 year old boy stabbed a thirty three year old neighbor 70 times. He told authorities he took the drug to quiet the voices in his head.

If you or someone you know has a drug problem, you need to know that there is help available. A Better Tomorrow is waiting to hear from you, today. Make the call; you are worth it.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Friday, November 13, 2009

Drug Identification ~ Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

Other Names: LSD, Acid, Microdot, White lightning, Blue heaven and Sugar Cubes

What It Looks Like: Colored tablets, blotter paper, clear liquid, thin squares of gelatin

How it's Administered: It's taken orally and in small doses. LSD is most often found in small squares of impregnated paper called blotter acid, or in sheets of paper like postage stamps. The drug is licked off the paper. The drug can also come in tiny tablets called microdots, or in small gelatin squares called windowpane, both taken by orally ingesting. A user can also get LSD in a clear liquid solution. This is most often dispensed by using an eyedropper onto sugar cubes or directly onto the tongue. Some users have also been known to put the droops into their eyes. Another type of LSD is the blue dot acid, which consists of paper slips smeared with a blue colored solution of the drug.

Effects on Users: Altered states of perception and feeling, nausea, persisting perception disorder (flashbacks), increased body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, numbness, weakness, tremors, and persistent mental disorders. Physical effects of LSD may include dilated pupils, high temperatures, rapid heartbeats, increased blood pressure, sleeplessness, appetite loss and tremors. The Psychological effects can last up to 12 hours.

Other Info: This drug has a high potential for abuse

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Thursday, November 12, 2009

Causes of Addiction

Research has shown that there are similarities between addictive conditions like alcoholism and drug addiction and many cases of eating disorders which are considered addictive behaviors. The human brain has within it reward centers that are activated when a person feels well, or does something well. This could occur naturally when taking care of the body, behaving sensibly, being praised, experiencing feelings of love and even when exercising.

It is also possible to stimulate the reward centers by artificial means. Drugs of all kinds produce chemical stimulation making it an important aspect of the cause of addiction. The same stimulation is caused by a number of drugs, both legal and illegal. This stimulation also blocks unpleasant feelings. It could explain why people with addictive disorders use them to block feelings that are unbearable. When the reward center is stimulated by drugs, alcohol or abuse of food, they stop functioning in the way they should. Abuse is merely a shortcut to false happiness which doesn’t come from achieving something good.

Incorrect use of these centers is especially common with people who have a personality requiring an excess of reward effects in order for them to feel well. There is accordingly a common factor with many types of addiction: Alcoholism and drug disorders, eating disorders, compulsive sex dependence, compulsive gambling, self-injury and anorexia nervosa (body injuries can stimulate the center in order to protect the body from pain) and even compulsive exercise.

Eating disorders and drug addiction are similar in the fact that the addiction is compulsively developed into an even stronger form regardless of the effect on their health. Serious medical complications do not assure that the addict will give up their addiction. Starvation in anorexia reduces the activity of the hormone Serotonin and in turn reduces the anxiety in a person with an overactive nervous system. Many drug addicts began with compulsive eating before switching to drugs. There are certain hereditary characteristics that increase the risk of eating disorders and drug addiction although the presence of the characteristics does not mean they will become addicts. Addictions are treatable and A Better Tomorrow is waiting to hear from you.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Addict Now, Addict Forever?

Addictions vary in severity. You don’t generally get addicted to a drug the first time you use it, although it is a possibility. Generally addiction is a process that occurs over many months and/or years of abuse. Some people are able to decrease the amount of the drug they are using and some may be able to stop all together. Others will be drug users until they die. Life time drug users don’t generally die of old age. Their lives are diminished in time and quality.

If the addiction is less severe, it might be considered a temporary disorder and the right treatment can help put your life back in order and you will be pretty much the person you were before the addiction. In more severe addictions, the disorder has more lasting effects. The goal for any addict is to stop the use of drugs. With more severe addictions there is a long history of use accompanied by many physical, emotional and social problems. There are situations where brain damage keeps the addict from being able to resist the impulse to use again. This often happens with alcoholics.

With all of that in mind, be assured that addiction can be treated and overcome. Do relapses happen? Of course they do, but it doesn’t have to accelerate to the level of addiction. Relapses create a feeling of dejection and that has a negative effect, and can actually push the person closer to the road back to addiction. The better approach is to examine the events surrounding the relapse and learn from the experience. If you can pinpoint the circumstances that pushed the person into the relapse, they may be able to avoid them in the future. There is strength to be gained from a relapse. Breaking the habit is not a cure, but a process, just as addiction was a process. Neither of them happens overnight. Breaking the habit also means there is a possibility of remission.

The biggest boost is not to lose hope. If you or someone you love is enslaved by an addiction, there is help available to you. Call A Better Tomorrow and get on the road to recovery.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Marijuana and its Paraphernalia

Would you be able to recognize marijuana and/or marijuana paraphernalia is you saw it? If you have a roommate or partner who smokes marijuana and gets caught, a search of your residence will most likely be done. If you are smoking too, that’s a risk you take. You may be charged as well, because marijuana is still illegal. If you do not use marijuana, and suspect someone in your residence is, then this article is for you. You may be a parent of a teen and as such you need to know.

Marijuana is usually sold dried and sometimes is compressed for easier carrying. Better quality marijuana will often appear to be covered in tiny crystals. Hashish, or hash, is a more concentrated form of marijuana. It is the collected resins off of the marijuana leaves. The THC content of hashish is usually much higher by weight that the THC content of green marijuana. It may be dry and crumbly or even oily, depending on how it was produced.

Cigarette rolling papers are used to roll joints. Blunts are cigar wrappers that have the tobacco removed and are re-stuffed with marijuana. A small pipe can be filled and used to smoke marijuana, but the smoke from a regular pipe can be very hot and irritating. A water bong is another type of pipe that channels hot smoke through a layer of water to cool and hydrate the smoke, making it less irritating to the throat and lungs, which allows deeper inhalation. Two hot knives heated on the stove can be used to press on a crumb of hashish to burn it for smoke, blackening the tips in the process. A small blowtorch, often a cooking torch can be used as a higher octane substitute for a lighter.

The marijuana in use today is not the same as it was even 10 years ago. The potency has risen almost 10 fold and so has the risk of addiction. Marijuana detox and withdrawal is not dangerous but it can be very uncomfortable. It can be difficult to overcome the cravings to use and abuse. Many people can smoke marijuana recreationally without developing issues of dependency, but many more hundreds of thousands cannot.

Withdrawal symptoms may include a loss of appetite, an inability to sleep, headache, nausea, anxiety, paranoia, irritability and even aggression. These sensations will be intense for several days before easing off. It’s during this period that the urge to use is the strongest and the risk of relapse is the greatest. You do not have to live with an addiction. A Better Tomorrow can help you; all you have to do is make the call.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Monday, November 9, 2009

Resisting Peer Pressure

When people hear the term ‘peer pressure’ most of them will automatically think you are talking about teens. That is not necessarily so. It does affect teens more than any other age group, but there are a large number of adults who are just as easily pressured by their peers. It most definitely occurs with college age kids. It also happens to several people at their jobs and during their socializing events. There is almost always a drink pusher at parties. You know the kind I’m talking about. They are drinking to excess and think everyone else should too. Some of those parties include drugs. If you’re there, they want you to participate. If you decline, your peers start pressuring you. Peer pressure is a problem that follows some people through a good part of their lives.

Some teens, young adults as well as older adults would never have tried drugs that first time if they hadn’t been pressured into it by someone. Not all peer influence is bad. In fact peers have a profoundly positive influence on each other and play important roles in each others lives. Positive peer pressure includes friendship, the setting of positive examples, encouragement, new experiences, feed back and advice.

Negative peer pressure might have you considering, or worse, doing something that is illegal or immoral. The person who pressures is usually an aggressive person who doesn’t like to take no for an answer. They have 6 reasons for you to do something, to your every 1 reason not to. It actually takes a strong person to resist negative peer pressure. Teens are still going through a maturing stage so it is harder for them to resist. Adults should have already reached the point where this is not much of a problem. Adults, who still can be pressured negatively, were probably pressured as teens and just never overcame it.

There are some things you can do to bolster your courage and overcome this problem. Listen to your gut. Maybe this person is not really your friend. Plan for possible pressure situations and avoid them if you can, like parties where you are pretty sure there will be drugs. Learn to say ‘no’ comfortably. You should never have to offer a real friend any reason or apology for the way you feel. It’s not easy to resist, but it is a learned process. If you or a loved one suffers from an addiction, A Better Tomorrow is waiting to hear from you.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Friday, November 6, 2009

Overcoming Shyness Without Drugs

Being shy isn’t necessarily a problem. It’s perfectly acceptable to take time to get to know someone and feel comfortable in their surroundings. But for some people, shyness is a debilitating fact of life. It blocks them from being as comfortable and/or sociable as they want to be. These people seriously want to overcome their shyness and some of them will turn to drugs to do it. There are better and safer ways to achieve the same end without putting yourself at risk.

A good place to start would be your own physician. He may be able to help or at least recommend a therapist for you. It may only take a few sessions for a good therapist to help you work through the reason for your shyness. Aside from professional help there are other things you can do to help yourself. Start practicing social behaviors with people that you know. Be sure to make good eye contact thinking about confident body language as you talk. Ask them questions and let them ask you questions. Practice making introductions and have sessions of small talk about different subjects.

Conversation starters are just that, something said to start a conversation. It doesn’t always have to be off of the top of your head. You can actually think of them ahead of time and practice, practice, practice. Sometimes it’s enough if you just introduce yourself. Try giving someone a compliment, that’s a sure way to draw them into a friendly conversation. You can rehearse what to say, by yourself in front of a mirror or with a friend or family member. Don’t try to memorize it; it will be close enough without that. No one is perfect, even those people who seem confident.

Find a group activity where you can be with people who enjoy the same interests as you. If you know your subject, conversation comes easier and with easier conversation comes confidence. Don’t be afraid to develop your assertiveness. Most shy people don’t like to rock the boat because they are overly concerned with other people’s reaction. Being assertive merely means speaking up for yourself when necessary, asking for what you need or want, or letting other people know they are bothering you in some way. A Better Tomorrow is a good place to go if you are suffering from an addiction, no matter how or why you got to that point.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Thursday, November 5, 2009

Fighting Depression

Depression is a state of unhappiness with feelings of hopelessness. It is considered major depression when a person has five or more of the following symptoms for at least two weeks: agitation, restlessness and irritability; extreme difficulty concentrating; feelings of hopelessness and helplessness; inactivity and/or withdrawal from usual activities; trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping; thoughts of death or suicide; feelings of worthlessness, self hate and inappropriate guilt; fatigue and lack of energy; dramatic change in appetite, often with a noticeable weight loss or gain. Depression can present as discouragement or even anger. With very severe cases it is not uncommon to see hallucinations and delusions focused on themes of guilt, inadequacy or disease.

Depression does not go away on its own. If you suffer from depression you need to get help from a doctor or therapist. After you have done that, there are other things you can do to make yourself feel better. Exercise is at the top of the list, especially if it is done outdoors. A 15 to 30 minute walk or bike ride every day will start to make a difference in your mood. There are some yoga poses that help relieve feelings of depression. Check yoga websites for the ‘downward facing dog’ or ‘legs up the wall’ poses. Deep breathing exercises and meditation can also help you feel better.

Good nutrition is a must since it provides energy and influences mood. Depression can affect the appetite, sometimes causing overeating or skipping meals. Keep a journal of any problems that you can identify that may have contributed to your depression, but don’t dwell on them. This is good especially if you don’t want to share your feelings with another person, for whatever reason. Writing problems down is a way to release the feelings that you have pent up inside.

Try something creative like painting, drawing, sewing, dancing, or even just doodling. This exercises your imagination and allows positive emotions to move in. Find something to laugh about, whether it’s a movie, a book or a trip to see a friend. Depressed individuals usually notice only the negative. Make a sincere effort to look on the positive side, it will grow on you. If you or someone you know or love has an addiction, please know that help is as close as your phone. Call A Better Tomorrow for the help you need today.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Diazepam as Chlordiazepoxide and Valium

Diazepam is a benzodiazepine derivative drug. Chlordiazepoxide was the predecessor to the improved version, Valium. Improved meant stronger, 2 ½ times stronger. It is commonly used to treat anxiety, seizures, restless legs syndrome, insomnia muscle spasms, alcohol withdrawal, benzodiazepine withdrawal, and Meniere’s disease. It can be used as a premedication for inducing sedation or amnesia before certain medical procedures such as an endoscopy. Valium has been one of the most frequently prescribed medications in the world over the past forty years. It was the incredible popularity of Valium that helped Roche to become a pharmaceutical giant. From 1969 to 1982, Diazepam was the top selling drug in the U.S. with peak sales of 2.3 billion tablets in 1978.

Diazepam is available in over 500 brands throughout the world. For oral use it comes in tablets, time release capsules and liquid form. It also comes in a solution for IV or muscular injection.

Its common side effects can include drowsiness, suppression of REM sleep, impaired motor function, impaired coordination, impaired balance, dizziness with nausea, depression, impaired learning, cognitive deficits, and reflex tachycardia. Less common inconsistent side effects can include nervousness, insomnia muscle cramps, irritability, and in some cases, rage and violence. In some people, self-harming behaviors are possible and in extreme cases, the drug may provoke suicidal tendencies. Side effects are worsened by drinking alcohol because both act as central nervous system depressants.

Anyone consuming too much diazepam will usually display one of more of the following symptoms for about 4 hours following a suspected overdose: drowsiness; mental confusion; abnormally low blood pressure; impaired motor function which could include impaired reflexes and coordination , balance and dizziness; coma. Diazepam is a drug that can be psychologically addictive. There should be a gradual tapering off the drug. Withdrawals can be life threatening especially when excessive doses have been taken for a long period of time. If you or someone you know is caught up in the hell of diazepam, A Better Tomorrow is only a phone call away.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Males vs Females with Alcohol

It’s a known fact that a male’s metabolism is different than a female’s. That is one reason why the male will lose more, on the same diet, than the female will. Proportion sizes of food for males are larger and the allowable daily calorie intake is larger. Of course, their bodies are mostly larger than the females too. But it is not all because of size. Alcohol metabolizes differently between the sexes too.
Females can consume less in a shorter space of time and experience the same effect as males who ingest more over a longer length of time. This occurs because the female body has more fatty tissue and less water than the male. Females, even though drinking less, experience more severe hangovers than males. Alcohol even affects their brains differently. Females are less sedated from alcohol consumption but their cognitive function and judgment are more impaired. Females become alcoholics at a faster pace than males, even though they may be drinking less. At the same time, there are more male alcoholics than female.

Besides brain damage, women tend to develop eating disorders, depression, cirrhosis, stroke and cardiovascular damage from alcohol quicker than the males do. The damage to the male’s organs is more severe but takes longer to occur.

When alcohol is consumed by adolescents there are some added concerns. The human brain continues to develop until age twenty one. Alcohol damages the female brain, liver and other body parts quicker than the males. Even with shorter histories of drinking, females may have more memory loss and more trouble solving puzzles, reading maps, understanding complex lectures or following a set of instructions. With younger females, alcohol can affect puberty and interfere with menstrual cycles.
All alcoholics will eventually lose brain cells and functions. The loss is more profound in the female. If alcohol is causing a problem for you or someone you know, there is help available. Call A Better Tomorrow today and begin the road to recovery.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Monday, November 2, 2009

Serious Risks with Energy Drinks

Ninety nine drug abuse and addiction experts have signed a letter, authored by Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Griffiths is a professor of behavioral science and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. It asked for mandatory warning labels, and restrictions on the manner in which the product is marketed.

Their hope is to make it a little harder for American teens to party like a ‘Rockstar.’ This comes after a study by Johns Hopkins University, questioning the safety of caffeine rich energy drinks. The study was published on the ScienceDirect website and in the September 2008 edition of the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Caffeine content in soft drinks is regulated by the FDA and is limited to no more than 71 milligrams of caffeine in a 12 ounce serving. A 12 ounce can of Coke contains 34.5 milligrams; Pepsi contains 38 milligrams per 12 ounce can; Mountain Dew has 54 ounces in a 12 ounce serving. Most energy drinks contain considerably more caffeine than the average soda. Red Bull has 80 milligrams of caffeine per 8.3 ounce serving; Tab Energy has 95 per 10.5 ounce serving; Monster and Rockstar have 160 milligrams in a 16 ounce serving; No Fear has 174 milligrams per 16 ounce serving; Wired X505 has a whopping 505 milligrams of caffeine per 24 ounce serving.

Depending on the user’s body weight and tolerance, ingesting 300 milligrams or more of caffeine can produce symptoms that are similar to overdoses of other stimulants. Caffeine intoxication can include insomnia, irritability, restlessness, excitement and increased urination. If the dose is significantly larger it can cause mania, depression, delusions and disorientation. In severe cases, an overdose of caffeine can cause death. Rob Stein, a writer for the Washington Post, noted that poison control centers reported at least 41 cases of caffeine intoxication from energy drinks between 2002 and 2004.

Manufacturers don’t come right out and suggest you mix an energy drink with alcohol but some of their slogans endorse an extreme lifestyle and encourage reckless behaviors. If you or a loved one has a problem with addiction, call A Better Tomorrow, and get on the road to recovery.