



West Haven, Connecticut
West Haven, CT Profile
West Haven, CT, population 52,360 , is located
in Connecticut's New Haven county,
about 2.8 miles from New Haven and 15.2 miles from Bridgeport.
In the 90's the population of West Haven has declined by about 3%.
It is Estimated in recent years the population of West Haven has been growing at an annual rate of less than one percent.
Reports show that during 2003 property crime levels in the West Haven area were higher than Connecticut's average.
The same data shows violent crime levels to be lower than the Connecticut average.
West Haven Statistics
West Haven Gender Information
Males in West Haven: 24,995 (48%)
Females in West Haven: 27,365 (52%)
As % of Population in West Haven
Race Diversity in West Haven
White: 74%
African American: 16%
Asian: 3%
Other/Mixed: 7%
As % of Population in West Haven
Age Diversity in West Haven
Median Age in West Haven: 36.4 (Males in West Haven: 35.1, Females in West Haven: 37.6)
West Haven Males Under 20: 13%
West Haven Females Under 20: 13%
West Haven Males 20 to 40: 15%
West Haven Females 20 to 40: 15%
West Haven Males 40 to 60: 13%
West Haven Females 40 to 60: 14%
West Haven Males Over 60: 7%
West Haven Females Over 60: 10%
Economics in West Haven
West Haven Household Average Size: 2.42 people
West Haven Median Household Income: $ 42,393
West Haven Median Value of Homes: $ 117,000
Law Enforcement in West Haven
Reported crimes in the West Haven area during 2003:
Murder and non-negligent man-slaughter: 0
Forcible rape: 13
Robbery: 66
Aggravated assault: 76
Violent crime events per 100,000 people: 292
Burglary: 256
Larceny-theft: 1,416
Motor vehicle theft: 297
Arson: 9
Property crime events per 100,000 people: 3,709
West Haven Location Information
Elevation: 25 feet above sea level.
Land Area: 10.8 Square Miles.
Water Area: 0.2 Square Miles.
Nearby Towns & Cities to West Haven
New Haven 2.8 Miles
Woodmont 3.7 Miles
East Haven 4.1 Miles
Orange 4.1 Miles
Milford 6.6 Miles
Branford Center 7.3 Miles
Derby 8.1 Miles
Shelton 8.2 Miles
Ansonia 8.6 Miles
North Haven 9.5 Miles
Big Cities Nearest West Haven
(Population 100,000+)
New Haven 2.8 Miles
Bridgeport 15.2 Miles
Waterbury 20.6 Miles
Stamford 34.3 Miles
Hartford 36.7 Miles
Yonkers 54.9 Miles
Springfield 60.4 Miles
New York 67.4 Miles
Paterson 68.4 Miles
Jersey City 69.9 Miles
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Facts
Though heroin addicts arrive at the decision to enter recovery under a variety of circumstances and for a variety of reasons, they must all begin the recovery process with a common first step, which is detoxification from the drug. The experience of detoxification is one with which all heroin addicts are already familiar to some extent, since they experience the beginnings of it every time the effects of the drug wear off and withdrawal symptoms begin to occur. When addicts undergo detoxification without the aid of medications to ease their discomfort—an experience addicts often refer to as "going cold turkey"—withdrawal symptoms reach peak severity about twenty-four hours following termination of drug use, and can continue at this level for up to a week or more. Though intensely unpleasant, unless severe health problems already exist, the detoxification process is not ordinarily life threatening. To avoid the withdrawal symptoms that accompany detoxification, addicts entering recovery may elect to take medication to either prevent these symptoms or lessen their severity. The most commonly used drug for this purpose is methadone. Methadone, which is administered orally and given in decreasing doses over a seven-to tenday period, can provide a relatively symptom-free detoxification. A drawback of using methadone for detoxification is the fact that methadone itself is addictive, and causes withdrawal symptoms of its own when the addict discontinues its use. Its symptoms are milder than those of heroin, however, and can themselves be lessened with other medications. Although the Balkan Route is considered the primary supply line for Western Europe Afghan and Central Asian traffickers smuggle heroin along the Silk Route into Russia, the Baltic States, Poland, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and other parts of Europe. Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, K azakhstan, and Turkmenistan are vital transit countries, with an estimated 24% of Afghan heroin smuggled along this route. After taking ketamine the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream where it travels to the brain. In the brain, it acts by redistributing a neurotransmitter called glutamate. Glutamate is a type of neurotransmitter (brain chemical) involved in memory, learning, the perception of pain and responses to the environment. Like most plants, Cannabis contains many substances, perhaps two hundred or more. Those that relate most to the drug effects are a group of chemically similar compounds called cannabinoids. Of these, the most important and plentiful are cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and cannabinol (CBN). The biosynthetic pathway in the plant (that is, the step-by-step sequence in which the plant produces substances) goes from CBD to THC to CBN. Thus it is possible to identify the maturity of the plant by the relative content of these three cannabinoids. Immature plants show a preponderance of CBD; old plants may contain solely CBN; plants that are at their peak contain all cannabinoids, but mostly THC, which is the agent that produces the mind-altering effect. Some strains of plants contain variants on the THC structure, which usually have somewhat less drug effect than those with THC. Although some users contend that marijuana has different effects from those of isolated THC, most evidence indicates that virtually all of the mind-altering effects of marijuana are attributable to the THC content. |
Addiction Treatment
Addiction treatment is needed when an individual finds that they have developed a drug or alcohol addiction which they are not able to successful end on their own. With the help of addiction treatment, addicted individual can get help to control their drug taking behavior and live happy and successful lives. There are several addiction treatment options available for drug and alcohol addiction. Some of these options include self-help groups, counseling, drug rehabilitation programs (in and out-patient), and residential treatment facilities. Each of these differ
in their aims and outcomes and elements of these addiction treatment options are often
combined.
Therapeutic Community
An effective therapeutic community attends to the many needs of the individual, not just his or her drug use. Care given at a therapeutic community addresses the individual's drug use and associated medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal problems. Also, a therapeutic community will continue to be flexible and provide ongoing assessments of the individual's needs, which may change during the course of care.
Remaining in care at a therapeutic community for an adequate period of time is critical for treatment effectiveness. The time depends on an individual's needs. For most people, the significant improvement is reached at about 3 months in treatment.
Drug Overdose
A drug overdose occurs when you consume more drugs than your body can tolerate. Drug users are constantly flirting with the risk of a drug overdose. There is a
fine line between the high they're seeking and serious injury or death. While many victims of drug overdose recover without long term effects, there
can be serious consequences. Some drug overdoses cause the failure of major
organs like the kidneys or liver, or failure of whole systems like the
respiratory or circulatory systems. Patients who survive drug overdose may need
kidney dialysis, kidney or liver transplant, or ongoing care as a result of
heart failure, stroke, or coma. Death can occur in almost any drug overdose
situation, particularly if treatment is not started immediately.
Dependence
Dependence is the compulsive use of a substance despite negative consequences which can be severe; drug dependence is simply excessive use of a drug or use of a drug for purposes for which it was not medically intended. Physical dependence on a substance (needing a drug to function) is not necessary or sufficient to define addiction. There are some substances that don't cause addiction but do cause physical dependence (for example, some blood pressure medications) and substances that cause addiction but not classic physical dependence (cocaine withdrawal, for example, it does not have symptoms like vomiting and chills; it is mainly characterized by depression).
Addiction
Addiction is one of the many consequences of so-called 'casual' drug and alcohol abuse. A loss of control over drugs and alcohol can be driven by physical or psychological factors, or sometimes both. Physical addiction takes place when the body comes to need a drug to function normally. If it is not taken, unpleasant withdrawal symptoms occur. The only way to avoid this is to take more of the drug. Psychological addiction takes place when an individual comes to rely on a drug to supply good feelings, such as relaxation, self-confidence, self esteem, and freedom from anxiety. This is not just a casual desire, it's a powerful compulsion.
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