Marijuana: Misinformation and Poly-Behavioral Addiction
By James Slobodzien
Fact or Fiction
1. Marijuana is a very harmful, highly addictive, dangerous, illegal, gateway drug that currently has no accepted or proven medical use.
Posts Tagged Narcotics_Addiction
Methadone and Its Unintended Consequences in Society: A Historical Perspective
By William L. Smith Ph. D.
It has been more than forty two years since Dr. Marie Nyswander and Vincent P. Dole, a husband and wife team, announced a scientific breakthrough which was considered, at that time, the most advanced step in the American Medical community. This advanced discovery was a synthetic drug that would enhance medical supervision of drug addicts and their heroin addiction. Dole and Nyswander indicated that the use of methadone by heroin addicts appeared to alleviate their hunger for heroin, thus reducing the necessity for crime against property; and the need for addicted individuals to enlist new converts to the drug culture. “Methadonia,” a documentary by filmmaker, Michel Negroponte, recently aired on HBO created a renewed interest in the synthetic opiate methadone. During the 1960’s methadone was used primarily to block the euphoric effect of heroin addiction and to alleviate the symptoms of withdrawl from heroin. Mr. Negroponte’s film focused mainly on recovering addicts at the New York Center for Addition Treatment Services, which is located on Broadway at Houston Street.
The 90 minutes film followed the addicts through their murky world of addiction while respecting their efforts to stay clean. The film also shows how methadone can lead to an addiction worse than heroin or other addictive drugs. The documentary highlighted a trend in which methadone users often develop secondary additions to prescription drugs. These prescription drugs, combined with methadone, produce a euphoric rush and, too often, an addiction that is more life-threatening than caused by heroin addiction. Before proceeding further, my readers should understand what methadone is. Methadone is a synthetic chemical discovered by Germany during World War II, when their supply of pain killing opiates were in short supply. Today, in some instances, it continues to be used as a pain-killer. Methadone is addictive as is all other opiates such as heroin, demerol, morphine, barbituates, and alcohol. Therefore, abuse or over-use of these drugs will result in two major consequences; (1) systemic bodily tolerance, and (2) specific physical withdrawal symptoms that occur with discontinued use.
Can Online Counseling for Drug and Alcohol Addiction Problems Be Effective
By Jan Edward Williams
The answer to the question in the title of this article is: “Yes, but with the need to understand the limits of online help.”
Definitions
The words “alcohol dependence” or “addiction” are often used without definition. So, let’s first define some terms. As used in this article, alcohol or drug addiction means that a person’s alcohol or other drug use has reached the point that the person cannot use without loss of control over use of the substance and/or cannot use without producing adverse consequences in significant life areas. The addicted person has developed a psychological and/or physical dependence upon the substance. An addicted person will continue to use the substance in the face of adverse consequences.
The term alcohol or drug dependence is often used interchangeably with addiction, but here I use the term dependence to mean physical dependence on a substance, meaning that stopping use of the substance will result in withdrawal symptoms. A person can develop dependence on a substance without developing addiction; the best example of this physical dependence would be the person who takes a narcotic analgesic (pain killer such as oxycodone or morphine) as prescribed by a doctor long enough to be physically dependent on the drug, a natural, inevitable consequence of chronic use of such a drug. Under these circumstances, abruptly stopping use of the substance will result in the withdrawal syndrome typical for the class of substance involved. Most persons with addiction (for ex., alcoholism) are NOT physically dependent on their drug and will not experience the full blown physical withdrawal for the substance. They will, however, experience cravings, sleeplessness, and other symptoms caused by their psychological dependence on the drug.
Quit Smoking Lozenges - The Secret to Quit Smoking is Simply Using the Right Supports
Quit Smoking Lozenges - The Secret to Quit Smoking is Simply Using the Right Supports
By Mark Tern
Stop smoking is a difficult task. You are going to encounter any kind of psychological and physical discomfort and this will make you more and more uncomfortable until your decision weakens and you finally restart smoking.
These discomforts can be lightened recurring to appropriate quit smoking products. Quit smoking lozenges are one of such products and a very popular one for many reasons.
Ricky Williams Suspended
The Miami Herald reports that RB Ricky Williams is interested in playing for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Williams has been suspended by the NFL for violating their Substance Abuse Policy and will miss the entire 2006 season.
[MORE: Ricky Williams | NFL Football at CBS SportsLine.com]
[MORE: Miami Dolphins, Ricky Williams, National Football League - CBS SportsLine.com]
No shortage of methadone say addiction treatment officials
Last updated Mar 14 2006 09:53 AM EST
CBC News
Methadone treatment centres across Ontario are assuring their patients that there is no shortage of the drug, despite recent fears clinics would run out after two major suppliers were shut down.
Monday was the deadline for two Kitchener-based suppliers to stop shipping methadone to clinics across the province, including to those in Toronto.
Genetic Technologies Reports Breakthrough in the Genetic Basis of Drug Addiction
3/14/2006 9:24:00 AM EST
Genetic Technologies Limited (”GTG”) (Nasdaq:GENE) (ASX:GTG) is pleased to refer to a “breaking news” item released in London yesterday by BBC News. BBC reported a significant breakthrough had been made in understanding the genetic basis of cocaine addiction, quoting a scientific paper just published online by the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (”PNAS”).
The report announced a genetic variation had been identified which could significantly increase the risk of an individual developing cocaine addiction or dependence. The discovery also validates the logic of a new basis for the design and use of novel drugs to treat cocaine abuse in the future.
