




Facts
The field of research that explores the relationship between injury and drugs other than alcohol is relatively new. This research has been greatly aided by improved drug testing, which allows investigators to detect drugs in samples of blood, urine, saliva, sweat, or hair. Most of this research occurs in facilities such as hospital trauma centers and emergency departments, where more severely injured victims receive treatment. Other important research is conducted by medical examiners who test for the presence of drugs during an autopsy, which is the close investigation of a deceased person's body to determine the cause of her or his death. In the case of questionable deaths, autopsy results can lead medical examiners to conclude that injury was the cause. They can then rule these injury deaths as homicides or suicides (intentional injury) or accidents (unintentional injury). The Drug Abuse Research Center at the University of California at Los Angeles began a study in 1964 in which 581 male heroin addicts in their early twenties were monitored over the course of thirty years in an effort to determine the survival rate and long-term physical effects of heroin addiction. The results of the study, published on Doctor's Guide Online, were alarming. After thirty years, the study showed that 284 of the original 581 participants— more than half—had died. Of these deceased participants, 22 percent died of overdose, 15 percent died of chronic liver disease, and 20 percent died from homicide or suicide. Many of the remaining 43 percent died of either cancer, cardiovascular diseases, or AIDS. Of the 297 participants who were still alive after thirty years, 43 percent were still using heroin. Little space or specialized equipment is needed to produce methamphetamine. Labs may be located in houses, high-rise apartments, motels, barns, storage sheds, or vehicles. Recipes for producing methamphetamine are readily available on the Internet, although surveys suggest that most producers learn from other “cookers.” The production involves precursor chemicals (raw materials – e.g. pseudoephedrine), reagents (substances that react chemically with the precursor – e.g. red phosphorous), and solvents (substances used to cool, mix, and cleanse impurities from the finished product – e.g. camping fuel), and equipment that can be bought in retail stores. Production of methamphetamine in large-scale laboratories and, to a lesser extent, in some smaller labs, is linked to distribution of the drug for profit. Production is linked to trafficking where large quantities of methamphetamine are produced. However, the reverse is not true: trafficking in methamphetamine does not necessarily indicate local production, as methamphetamine may be produced in one jurisdiction and trafficked in another. Some of the most common symptoms of alcohol abuse in teenagers include lying, making excuses, breaking curfew, staying in their room, becoming verbally or physically abusive toward others, having items in their possession that are connected to alcohol use (paraphernalia), the smell of alcohol on their breath or body, mood swings, stealing, and changes in friends. |
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 Abuse
Drug abuse is defined as the chronic or habitual use of any chemical substance to alter states of body or mind for other than medically warranted purposes. Drug abuse is a problem which has an effect on people of all income levels,
ages, and stations in life. Quite often the last person to see that there is a
problem is the drug abuser them self. Every year, more and more people become
drug addicts in their pursuit to get "high".
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.
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.
Relapse
Relapse is a term used to describe when an individual who has quit using drugs starts using once again. A relapse can mean just a one time use, a long term continues period of using or anything in between after a period of sobriety has taken place. An individual begins to experience a psychological relapse long before their first use after
quitting. Some things that can lead to relapse both physically or psychologically include: 1. Being in the presence of drugs or alcohol, drug or alcohol users, or places where you used or bought chemicals. 2. Feelings we perceive as negative, particularly anger; also sadness, loneliness, guilt, fear, and anxiety. 3. Positive feelings that make you want to celebrate by using. 4. Listening to others past drug use stories and just dwelling on getting high. 5. Believing that you no longer have to worry (complacent). That is, that you are no longer stimulated to crave drugs/alcohol by any of the above situations or by anything else – and therefore maybe it’s safe for you to use occasionally.
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