Marijuana use is a habit that may be seen as harmless by some individuals, but research is increasingly connecting its use to psychotic episodes and other possible negative consequences. Marijuana use may be thought of as an introduction to more serious drugs, according to some studies.
Most people with smart phones are thrilled with the slick packaging and full range of features they offer, but for one demographic easy access to online gambling is proving to be problematic. Online gambling via mobile device is still prohibited in the United States but in other countries it is legal.
The search for effective treatment of cocaine addiction could finally be taking a hopeful turn according to a research study recently published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology. The study gives hope to those working with coke addicts because until now FDA-approved medications addressed only the symptoms of cocaine withdrawal.
Read more about Blood Pressure Drug to Fight Cocaine Addiction
New studies are showing that those who may have an addiction to salt, can also be more apt to a cocaine or heroin addiction. Scientists in the United States and Australia have discovered that there is a correlation between salt and other drugs in the hypothalamus portion of the brain.
It was recently reported that Brooke Mueller, Charlie Sheen’s most recent ex-wife, is heading south of the border to kick her drug habit after being booted off a plane. Sources say that Ms. Mueller will be attending an exclusive drug rehab in Cancun that specializes in treating addiction with Ibogaine, a drug that comes from plants.
A scary new trend has pharmacists and their technicians a bit on edge with the recent rise in armed robberies at nationwide pharmacies. Law enforcement professionals in the state of Tennessee said that in 2009 there were 35 robberies in their state and all of the criminals were armed.
Read more about Armed Robberies on the Rise at Pharmacies Nationwide
A recent memorandum sent by James Cole, with the United States Attorney General’s office, stated that marijuana is a hazardous drug and the ramifications for anyone caught distributing, growing or selling it are serious.
Read more about Federal Government against Medicinal Use of Marijuana
What happens when you hear words like “drug use” and “drug addiction” in news stories night after night for years on end? As with anything else, endless repetition of certain phrases tends to cause the mind to blur or gloss over what’s really being said or the intent of the message to begin with. Case in point is the touted War on Drugs, a worthy initiative that somehow never really accomplished what could be classified as a victory. And drugs on the street today are deadlier than ever, boasting concentrations that are higher than ever before. From various forms of heroin to marijuana to methamphetamine and other drugs, the pure and deadly drugs are all over our streets.
Read more about The Pure and Deadly: Concentrations Higher in Today’s Street Drugs
Actor Jeremy Jackson, known for his role on the television show “Baywatch,” is speaking about his drug addictions and recovery, including recovery from injectable steroid abuse.
Read more about Addiction Recovery from Drugs, Alcohol, Steroids is New Message from Jeremy Jackson
You can buy imitation crab meat and imitation vanilla. There are egg substitutes and margarines that claim to taste like butter. Now, there is synthetic cannabis, available in Australia for the past two years, which promises all the pleasurable effects of marijuana with none of the legal dangers. No legal danger that is, until very recently. Its name is Kronic, though it has also been called Purple Haze, Voodoo, and Kaos. Whatever name it goes by, it is a blend of legal herbs that has been sprayed with chemicals which mimic THC, the compound which gives marijuana its psychoactive element. It is the compound THC which makes marijuana illegal in most countries.
According to some reports, Kronic is 100 times stronger than regular cannabis and gives the same sensations of bliss and relaxation yet can’t be detected on any drug test. And why should it, when it is legal? Quite as legal as an energy drink. Until only recently a child as young as 10 years old could buy Kronic in Australia with impunity.
Just because users test clean on a drug test doesn’t mean that Kronic is devoid of risk however. Healthcare professionals warn that Kronic doesn’t only imitate cannabis in its pleasurable effects but in negative ones as well. The heart palpitations, delusions, hallucinations and even psychosis that can accompany marijuana use may also result from smoking Kronic. There is also research suggesting that withdrawal from its use could produce symptoms similar to that of heroin or cannabis withdrawal. The bottom line, health experts say, is that so long as all the ingredients of Kronic remain unknown, so does any certain knowledge of how it may affect users.
Kronic was initially created for the purpose of testing lab rats. Like other less potent cannabis synthetics, such as K2 and Spice, it has found its way into the public marketplace. Being synthetic, Kronic does not even smell like marijuana. In fact, it is offered for sale in flavors. Which leads one to wonder to whom the product is being marketed? Some say that Kronic is the current craze on college campuses while others maintain that the very fact that it is legal makes it less appealing to the young crowd. Others say that Kronic appeals to an older demographic, one who perhaps experimented with marijuana in the past. There has been news of rampant use of Kronic by miners as well as reports of use in the prison population. People who are interested in feeling “high” but who are sensible enough to want to avoid losing their job or having a police record are the target market.
Whenever a legal substance touts its similarity to an illegal substance, health officials say ‘buyer beware’. And until more is known about its ingredients and their documented effects, the Medical Association in Western Australia has convinced authorities to ban its sale and use. New regulations in that area now make it a crime to either sell or supply synthetic cannabis punishable by 25 years in jail or a $100,000 fine. Other parts of Australia are considering following suit.