Common Reasons People Turn to Drug Use

There is no good reason to take drugs illegally but there are reasons that make people think it might be an alternative for them. The world can be a scary place. The fast pace of life in general, the pressures we deal with on a daily basis and perceived dangers of everyday life are enough to put the most stalwart person on edge. The threat of international terrorism only added to the mix.

It’s no wonder that there are people looking for an instant escape from reality. In earlier times, about the only escape available was found in a bottle of alcohol. Today’s desire for instant escape has drug manufacturers scrambling to come up with better and faster acting chemical cures for anxiety and insomnia. There are dozens of new drugs to tranquilize us, making our problems appear trivial, at least for a while.

Anxiety is a psychological (mental) and physiological (mechanical, physical and biochemical) state that is characterized by cognitive (process of thought), somatic (cells of the body), emotional (feelings and thoughts) and behavioral (actions or reactions) components. Together they combine to create an unpleasant feeling that can be described as uneasiness, fear, or worry. Anxiety is simply a mood condition that occurs without an identifiable triggering stimulus. It’s actually just short of fear. The main difference is we know what we fear and why we fear it.

Insomnia is not a diagnosis or a disease, it is a symptom. By definition, insomnia is “difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or both.” There are several sleep disorders but they can generally be diagnosed and treated. Insomnia is typically followed by a period of functional impairment while awake. Some insomnia can be caused by a lack of exercise. Our minds are tired because they worked all day. Sitting at a desk does not make our bodies tired. A brisk walk, a run or another form of exercise may make it easier to fall asleep, without the use of drugs. More than 60 million Americans regularly suffer from insomnia every year and it is more common in women.

Downers are generally used to treat these two conditions and downers are the most prescribed and abused drugs in the US and Canada. If you, or a loved one, suffer from this addiction, get help now. A Better Tomorrow can show you how to escape the habit, and how to deal with life drug free. Make the call, we’re waiting.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow today. We are here to help.
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Ketamine

Ketamine is a powerful hallucinogen. It is used in human and veterinary medicine and was developed in 1962 by Parke-Davis, now a part of Pfizer. Ketamine induces a dissociative anesthesia. It is used more commonly with animals.

Its effects in humans include analgesia (pain killer), anesthesia (reversible lack of awareness), hallucinations (a perception in the absence of a stimulus), elevated blood pressure, and bronchodilation (opening of the bronchi to facilitate airflow). When ketamine is used as a general anesthesia, it is usually combined with some sedative drug. Ketamine is a core medicine in the World Health Organization’s Essential Drugs List, which is a list of minimum medical needs for a basic health care system.

Then, there is the illegal use of this drug. Recreational use increased through the end of the century, especially at rave parties. Because of the increase in illicit use the US has it classified as a Controlled Substance, while Canada has it classified as a Schedule I narcotic and the UK labeled it a Class C drug. Legally, it can only be used by health professionals, for university research purposes or with a doctor’s prescription.

Street names for this drug are mean green, rockmesc, K, Ket, Special K and Vitamin K. Ketamine is usually sold in powder form and inhaled. In its liquid state it can be inhaled, injected or mixed in a drink. It is possible to smoke the drug in a pipe or joint but the effects of the high are quicker when inhaled, ingested or injected into a muscle. Heavy users inject the drug into their leg, bypassing the liver, which would alter its effects. Injection is also the most dangerous.

Chronic users may suffer cognitive impairments including memory problems. Urinary tract diseases that can lead to kidney problems have been linked to Ketamine use. Severe side effects might include allergic reactions, tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, face lips or tongue, difficulty talking, irregular heart beat, muscle tightness, injection site trauma, and slowed breathing.

Ketamine addiction is most generally psychological, because of its ability to produce intense vivid psychedelic effects and out of body experiences. You can break the cycle of abuse and A Better Tomorrow can help you achieve it.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow 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
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Street Methadone

Methadone is a strong opioid medication that a doctor prescribes for a person who has been addicted to opioids. Codeine, morphine, Percocet, OxyContin and heroin are all opioids. When taken as prescribed, methadone is safe. It does not get a person high but it does stop opioid withdrawal for a full day. Street methadone is methadone that is sold or given to someone it was not prescribed for. Prescribed methadone is given to an individual to allow them to attend school or work without suffering from withdrawal symptoms.

Some drugs like heroin, crack and even nicotine work quickly but the effects don’t last long. Methadone works just the opposite way. It takes several hours to get the full effect, that’s why it lasts up to 24 hours. There is no rush with methadone but some of its other effects are similar to heroin and OxyContin. If you take too much you can go to sleep and stop breathing. A person who doesn’t understand how methadone works might take a dose and then later take another dose trying to reach a high. Because of this, you can overdose on methadone and never even realize it. Street methadone by itself can kill, but it is especially dangerous to take it with other opioids, alcohol or tranquillizers.

Some people who take prescribed methadone are allowed to take it home. These doses are called ‘carries.’ They may give doses away or sell them. If they are selling them they may dilute (cut) them with water or juice. Diluting it makes it even more dangerous because you never know the true strength of what you are taking. If injury or death occurs to someone you gave or sold methadone to, you can be held criminally responsible.

If you take methadone, don’t use it by yourself. Tell someone what you took and have them monitor you. Don’t forget, the effects can last up to 24 hours even though the dose is absorbed by the body within 15 minutes. Even a small dose of methadone is enough to kill a child. No amount of coffee, cold showers or walking will help a methadone overdose. Get immediate medical help at a hospital. Even if the dose does not kill you, it can leave you with permanent brain damage.

If you have a drug problem, A Better Tomorrow can help you get over it. Get your life back today, you deserve it.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow 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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They're not called Downers for Nothing

The term, ‘downers’, refers to the entire class of drugs known as depressants. They are chemicals which depress, or slow, the functioning of the brain and central nervous system. There are numerous downers available today with more in the designing stage. All downers fall into one of the two main categories which are tranquilizers and sedative-hypnotics.

Tranquilizers reduce physical and emotional tension. Sedative-hypnotics go a step further and induce sleep. In fact they are commonly referred to as sleeping pills. Most short term effects for all downers include increased muscular relaxation and decreased anxiety. They also decrease inhibitions, slow reflexes and impair coordination. They tend to dull thinking, reduce judgment and interfere with memory. All of these effects are serious liabilities on the road, at work or in other situations where clear thinking and fast reactions are necessary.

Barbiturates were widely available 50 years ago but since then have proved to be not only unpredictable but downright dangerous, even at prescribed doses. After the sheer addictiveness of the drugs, tolerance was perhaps the worst problem. The body adjusts to their effects quickly so increasingly larger doses were needed to achieve results.

The drugs act on all areas of the central nervous system including those that regulate respiration, raising the risk of fatal overdose. The side effects disrupt normal REM sleep and leaves the user feeling hung over, irritable and anxious.
Downers produce intense physical and psychological dependence, making withdrawal very unpleasant. Because of the serious risks involved, including seizures and hallucinations, detoxification should be attempted only under a doctor’s supervision in a medical facility.

A Better Tomorrow is just this type of facility. We are available to see that you or your loved one receives the best possible care. Make the call now, it might just save a life.

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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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Stimulants

Stimulants or psycho-stimulants are psychoactive drugs. They cause temporary improvements in mental functions and/or physical functions. They have been abused as performance enhancers and as recreational ‘highs’. As performance enhancers they suppress appetite to facilitate weight loss, increase wakefulness and movement, enhance alertness and increase focus and attention. The euphoric effects of stimulants usually occur when they are crushed and then snorted or injected. Because the effects of stimulants have an “up” quality to them they are sometimes referred to as uppers. Stimulants are widely used throughout the world as prescription medicines and as illegal substances of recreational abuse.

Stimulants enhance the activity of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Common effects, which can differ depending on the substance, may include alertness, awareness, wakefulness, endurance, productivity and motivation; increased arousal, movement, body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure; and give the false feeling that you don’t need food and sleep, which can lead to malnutrition. While many stimulants are capable of improving mood and relieving anxiety, many are also capable of causing anxiety.

Repeated use of stimulants can make a person experience feelings of hostility and paranoia. When taken in high doses they can lead to serious cardiovascular complications including stroke. Addiction is a possibility for anyone taking them without medical supervision. With chronic use you may see withdrawal symptoms including fatigue, depression and disturbed sleep patterns, when the drugs are discontinued.

In a nationwide survey in 2008 it was indicated that 1.6% of 8th graders, 2.9% of 10th graders and 3.4% of 12th graders admitted to nonmedical use of Ritalin. While these numbers are down slightly from previous years, it is still an alarming number who admit to use of the drug.

Addiction knows no age. If you are experiencing problems with stimulants, we can help you break that habit. Call A Better Tomorrow, today, for you or for someone you love.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow 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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Drug Identification ~ Phencyclidine

PCP
Angel Dust
Other Names: PCP, Hog, Angel Dust, Loveboat, Lovely
What It Looks Like: Liquid, white crystalline powder, pills, capsules
How it's Administered: It's taken orally, injected or smoked (sprayed on joints or cigarettes).
Effects on User: Increased heart rate and blood pressure, impaired motor function, memory loss, numbness, nausea/vomiting, possible decrease in blood pressure and heart rate, panic, aggression, violence, loss of appetite and depression.
Other Info: PCP is a synthetic drug that was originally developed for its anesthetic properties and marketed for surgical procedures in 1950’s. I was removed from the market because patients receiving it became delirious and experienced hallucinations, and it is now a drug of abuse used solely for its potent hallucinogenic effects.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow today. We are here to help.
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Abuse of ADHD Medications

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a real problem for some. People with ADHD often think and act differently. Their attention span is short because they get distracted easily. They may feel bored for no reason, say or do whatever is on their mind without thinking, lose things or interrupt when others are talking. Because of these symptoms, they are likely to have trouble in school, even college. You may look at these symptoms and imagine that they refer to kids, teens and young adults in general, but they do not. Persons with ADHD are not able to control the severe symptoms in any setting.

There are medicines that help improve the ADHD symptoms, helping individuals to concentrate and focus better. Methylphenidate drugs in pill form include Concerta, Ritalin LA, Focalin XR and Metadate CD. It’s also available in a patch called Daytrana. These drugs affect chemical signals in the central nervous system. Research suggests it increases the level of neurotransmitters in the brain called dopamine and norepinephrine. The neurotransmitters are chemicals that help in sending messages between nerve cells in the brain.

When these medications are used under a doctor’s care, for the purpose they were intended, and at the recommended dosage, they are safe and effective. If they are taken by someone who does not need them and/or taken at higher doses, these stimulants can cause some serious health problems. Long term, high dosage use can result in increased heart rate and blood pressure, tremors, changes in mood, confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions and irregular breathing. Overdosing can cause very high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, seizures, uncontrolled movements, sweating, dry mouth and eyes, and vomiting.

These medications can become addictive when abused. There was some belief that those who use these medications for the treatment of ADHD may be more likely to abuse other substances such as alcohol or drugs, but just the opposite has been demonstrated. Those who take their ADHD medications according to the doctor’s prescription do not become addicted to them.

If you, or someone you know, is suffering from addiction to one of these stimulants, help is as near as your phone. Call A Better Tomorrow and get the help you need to find the road to recovery.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow 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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