



Facts
There are over 400 chemicals in cannabis. By the mid-1960s the main psychoactive chemical was identified as tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly referred to as THC. Since then, other psychoactive compounds have been isolated from the plant and are being studied for their biochemical effects. To protect children from accidental drug overdose, all medications should be stored in containers with child-resistant caps. All drugs should be out of children's sight and reach--preferably in a locked cabinet. Prescription medications should be used according to directions and only by the person whose name is on the label. Threats of suicide need to be taken seriously and appropriate help sought for people with depression or other mental illness that may lead to suicide. Ecstasy was named a Schedule I substance by the U.S. government in 1985. Basically, that means that scientists have not found any safe medical use for the drug. Its production, sale, and consumption are illegal, and this affects the quality of each individual pill. Ecstasy is a synthetic drug, meaning that it is made in a laboratory—it does not occur in nature. It is created from chemicals. These laboratories operate in secret, with no official medical or government agency regulating or checking on the quality, dosage, or even the composition of the pills. Sold on the street, the ecstasy pills might also contain such substances as caffeine, dextromethorphan (deks-troh-meth-ORR-fan), or a dangerous HALLUCINOGEN called PMA. The levels of hydromorphone usually peak in the body about 45 minutes after oral administration of the drug. Injections into muscle produce effects within 15 to 30 minutes and reach peak levels between one-half to one and one-half hours later. The duration of effect usually lasts four to five hours. The actual amount of hydromorphone prescribed or administered depends on a variety of factors, including age, the degree of pain, the amount of opioid tolerance, and the body mass of the patient. Hydromorphone produces pain-relieving qualities in the central nervous system. It also tends to produce a euphoric feeling in the user. Negative effects by way of the central nervous system include decreased blood pressure and slowed breathing. Hydromorphone slows down the processes of the gastrointestinal tract and commonly causes constipation. Patients taking hydromorphone need to increase water and fiber intake to prevent and treat constipation. |
Drug Side Effects
Drug addiction and abuse comes with a heavy price. There are drastic drug side effects associated with drug misuse and abuse. Drug side effects from legal and illegal drugs can range from mild itching to comas and death. In addition to the physical drug side effects mentioned, there are many psychological drug side effects of drug abuse; the most serious being drug addiction and overdose.
Tolerance
Tolerance to a drug takes place when an individual is exposed to the same drug repeatedly and begins to build up an resistance to the drugs effects. The body then adapts and develops a tolerance for the drug. The addiction that is produced is so powerful that it creates cravings in the user. These cravings for the drug are the result of its impact on the individual's memory with feelings of pleasantness and euphoria which the individual has come to associate with the taking of the drug.
Alcoholism
Alcoholism, also known as "alcohol dependence," is a condition that includes craving and continued alcohol abuse despite repeated drinking-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law. It includes four major areas: Craving: - A strong need, or compulsion, to drink. Impaired control: -The inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion. Physical dependence: -Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking. Tolerance: - The need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects.
Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is a pattern of repeated drug taking that usually results in tolerance (the need for greater amounts of the drug to achieve the same effect), withdrawal (physical and cognitive effects when drug use declines or stops), and compulsive drug taking behavior (drug taking that persists despite efforts to reduce intake and despite problems with family, friends, and work). Drug addiction encompasses a diverse range of drugs (such as alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, and cocaine) and is caused by many different factors.
Residential Treatment
Residential treatment offers intensive drug addiction help over a period of weeks or months. This form of treatment has some advantages over out-patient treatment, although it may not be suitable for everyone. For example, those who are responsible for caring for young children may be better suited to attendance at an out patient treatment program. Residential treatment offers a safe, drug and alcohol-free environment where individuals can confront their own drug addiction and associated issues, with the help of qualified staff. Therapy usually consists of a mixture of group counseling, individual counseling and an introduction to the principles of a drug recovery program.
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