Methylphenidate is the generic version of specific medications that are used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and narcolepsy. Methyl ER is one brand name of this medication and is available in other brand names, such as Concerta, Metadate CD, Metadate ER, Methylin, Ritalin LA, Ritalin-SR and Daytrana.
Parents may have good reason to pay attention to the style of music their children prefer. While parents are often shocked by the language and subject matter of the songs their kids listen to, there may be something more shocking going on: a change in how kids make decisions about using illicit drugs.
Read more about Study Examines Impact of Music with Cannabis References on Adolescent Marijuana Use
For decades we have heard of the heavy drinking that is so popular in Russia. At times it almost seems like a stereotype – the fur-hatted Russian slamming back vodka after vodka. The problem of abusive drinking in Russia, however, is a real one. Many stories of how alcohol abuse undercuts productivity and dramatically shortens life spans in Russia are sadly true.
Read more about Drug Addiction Major Problem in Russia According to President Medvedev
While Adderall is an important medication for those suffering with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), there are others who find the medication to be useful for non-medical reasons. According to a recent post in NWTN Today, Adderall is being increasingly abused by college students.
Read more about Adderall – The College Student’s Pill of Choice
With all the recent news stories about medical marijuana clinics, the number of states allowing access to medical marijuana, the push for legalization or decriminalization of marijuana, it might be tempting to think that marijuana is not really that bad, in the scheme of things, not really addictive or harmful at all. That would be a mistake. There are consequences to marijuana use and, while it may not approach that of hard drugs like heroin or methamphetamine use, the effects are still cause for concern – especially among teens. Parents and concerned caregivers take note: There is effective treatment for teen marijuana use.
How Big is the Problem?
Marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug in America, and has been for decades. It is also the number one drug of choice for millions of U.S. teens. While parents may find the statistics of teen marijuana use startling, the prevalence remains fairly consistent across numerous studies. In one recent study of 11,426 teens, one-quarter (25 percent) said they had already smoked marijuana, 13 percent had smoked it during the previous month, and 6 percent had smoked cannabis more than 4 times in the previous month.
In a press release (http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/pressreleases/09drugpr.pdf) about the results of the 2009 Monitoring the Future Study (MTF), researchers pointed out that teen marijuana use has been increasing gradually over the past two years, following years of declining use. The MTF has been tracking drug use among U.S. teens since 1975. Each year, about 50,000 8th, 10th, and 12th graders are surveyed (12th graders since 1975, 8th and 10th graders since 1991).
Lloyd Johnson, the study’s principal investigator said that while marijuana use isn’t up dramatically, the trending upward stands in sharp contrast to nearly a decade of declines. More troubling are attitudes and perceptions. “Not only is use rising, but a key belief about the degree of risk associated with marijuana use has been in decline among young people even longer,” says Johnson, “and the degree to which teens disapprove of use of the drug has recently begun to decline. Changes in these beliefs and attitudes are often very influential in driving changes in use.”
The 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) (http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUHlatest.htm) shows that of the 2.2 million recent initiates to marijuana in the past year, most (61.8 percent) were under the age of 18 at first use. Among youths aged 12 to 17, an estimated 5 percent had used marijuana for the first time within the past year.
Factors that Increase Risk of Teen Marijuana Use
Experts have identified the following factors that increase the risk that teens will begin using marijuana:
• Poor family relationships
• Household access to marijuana
• Poor school experience
• Low self-esteem
• Lack of (or little) religious identity
• Fear of dying
• Working more than 20 hours per week
• Poor grades
Potency of Marijuana Increases
Marijuana that is available in the U.S. today is much more potent than cannabis in the 1970s, according to research. Today’s levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main ingredient in marijuana (of more than 170 different compounds), is nearly 9 percent today, compared to less than 1 percent in the 1970s. Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), has been quoted (http://jcctcc.wordpress.holton.k12.ks.us/adults-and-parents-heads-up/er-visits-for-teen-marijuana-use/) as saying, “Marijuana is not a benign drug. Marijuana can be addictive: it interferes with brain functions, like learning and memory. And it may pose a threat to the health and well-being of children and adolescents at a critical point in their lives – when they are growing, learning, maturing, and laying the foundation for their adult years.”
Negative Effects of Marijuana Use
The increased potency of marijuana available today carries with it increased risk of negative effects in the users. In other words, marijuana use by teens is far from harmless, even in small quantities. Some of the negative effects of teen marijuana use include:
Short-term Effects:
• Increases in blood pressure and heart rate
• Increased risk of heart attack
• Increased tendency toward depression
• Impaired judgment and reduced coordination
• Problems with memory and learning
• Distortions in perception (sights, sounds, smells)
Long-Term Effects:
• Addiction – Not everyone who smokes marijuana will become dependent or addicted to the drug. But when someone feels they need to smoke it in order to feel better, to escape from their problems, to avoid tasks or responsibilities, they are said to be dependent on or addicted to it. In addition, frequent, heavy users of marijuana develop a tolerance to the drug. This means they require more of it and more often in order to achieve the same high or the same results they used to get from smoking smaller amounts. It is important to note that people can become emotionally and mentally addicted to marijuana. Getting the drug, so-called drug-seeking behavior, becomes all they think about. Their days are consumed by thoughts of, cravings for, and use of, the drug. This is classic addiction.
• Damage to brain cells – THC disrupts nerve cells in the brain where memories are formed. This makes it harder for someone who uses marijuana to recall recent events and also makes learning more difficult. Short-term memory is thus affected in learning or performing tasks that require more than 1 or 2 steps. In terms of long-term damage, researchers know that chronic marijuana use over a period of years takes its toll on the brain’s functioning. The extent of the long-term damage of marijuana use on the brain is still being studied.
• Lung and other respiratory problems – Studies show that people who smoke marijuana tend to have the same type of breathing problems that cigarette smokers do. These include frequent coughing, phlegm accumulation in the throat and chest, wheezing, and more chest colds than non-smokers.
• Compromised immune system – Studies of animals have found that THC can damage cells and tissues that protect from disease.
• Reproductive system difficulties – Heavy marijuana use can affect the reproductive systems of both males and females. The effects of THC could cause delayed puberty in males, and, in females, the drug may disturb the monthly cycle (menstruation periods and ovulation).
• Cancer potential – Scientific evidence is inconclusive whether marijuana can cause cancer, but marijuana smoke does contain many of the same – and sometimes more – cancer-causing chemicals as smoke from cigarettes. Studies have shown that someone who smokes 5 joints per week may take in as many cancer-causing chemicals as a person who smokes a pack of cigarettes daily.
• Increased risk of schizophrenia – Among persons with underlying substance abuse and mental disorders, the risk of schizophrenia (or other mental disorders) may increase with chronic, long-term cannabis use. Researchers are exploring the connection between co-occurring disorders (substance abuse and mental disorders) and marijuana use.
Marijuana usage, especially chronic, has other short- and long-term effect on teens. These include the way they are able to perform in a variety of settings. Marijuana use affects how they perform at school, at work, in extracurricular activities, sports, and other social interactions, and how they interact with parents and other family members. Since marijuana smokers tend to display reduced motivation and increased apathy, they are less likely to be on time for work, school, or appointments, and are more likely to show a lack of interest, enthusiasm or diligence in doing well at school or other activities.
Signs of Marijuana Use
Parents may fear prying into their teens’ lives, but it is important for parents and other caregivers to be on the lookout for telltale signs of marijuana use. Certainly the combination of several of the following signs should be cause for concern:
Researchers unveiled the first opioid-blocking, extended-release injectable suspension naltrexone (XR NTX) at the 2010 American Psychiatric Association (APA) Annual Meeting held from May 22–26, 2010 in New Orleans. The pharmaceutical company Alkermes, Inc. discussed new data on XR NTX gathered from company-sponsored studies that revealed its significant potential for combating alcohol and opioid addiction. Alkermes recently submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval of XR NTX’s commercial use in the treatment of opioid dependence. Currently, XR NTX is commercially available for the treatment of alcohol dependence as the once-daily pill Vivitrol® by Alkermes since being approved by the FDA in 2006. If the injectable form of XR NTX gains approval, it will become the first non-addictive, non-narcotic drug agent available in a once-monthly prescription.
Read more about Researchers Introduce New Medications to Treat Drug Addiction, Alcoholism
Rationalization continues to be a problem when trying to treat addiction. Too many individuals rationalize that as long as they use less than their friends, they believe they can handle it because it is not impacting their job and that they are too smart to let it become a problem.
Read more about Rationalization in Drug Use Can Lead to Death
It would stand to reason that drug smugglers and dealers would not want to sell customers a product that can kill swiftly as living customers are much more profitable. According to a recent Google News piece, however, a form of ultra-potent heroin is being pushed for as little as $10 a bag.
Valium (or diazepam) is an anti-anxiety drug found in the family of drugs called benzodiazepines, home to Xanaz (alprazolam), Ativan (lorazepam), and Klonopin (clonazepam) among others. Valium is used to help treat and manage anxiety disorders as well as agitation, alcohol withdrawal, and seizures. The drug works by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)—a neurotransmitter—in the brain in order to produce a calming effect.
Valium (diazepam) was developed by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche in the early 1960s and was approved for use in 1963. It was the second benzodiazepine to be invented by Dr. Leo Sternbach and was two and a half times more effective then its predecessor Librium. Sales of valium quickly skyrocketed and it became the top-selling drug in the United States from 1969 to 1982, reaching its peak in 1978 when 2.3 billion tablets were sold.
Before taking Valium, it is important to share your complete medical history with your doctor. Certain medications can negatively interact with Valium, so it is imperative that your physician is aware of all the drugs you currently take before prescribing valium. You should not use Valium if you are allergic to diazepam or if you have liver disease, a breathing problem, sleep apnea, or if you are pregnant as it can cause birth defects to an unborn baby. Do not drink alcohol while taking valium. Valium may be habit forming and should only used as your doctor has prescribed. Do not share the medication with others and keep it in a secure location, especially away from children and individuals with a history of drug abuse.
Since Valium is habit forming, the medication should only be used for short-term therapy. Individuals who are prescribed the drug for long periods of time have a higher chance of experiencing withdrawal symptoms once they discontinue taking the drug. Withdrawal symptoms include sweating, trouble sleeping, stomach pain, and muscle cramps.
Valium has a range of side effects. Some of the most common ones include: drowsiness, insomnia, impaired motor function, and memory problems. Some serious side effects that require immediate medical attention are: thoughts of suicide, hallucinations, muscle tremors, and flu-like symptoms. If you experience any of the serious symptoms listed above, call your doctor at once.
Valium has the potential for abuse and for many long-term users it can lead to dependence. It is usually taken as a secondary drug of abuse, mainly used to increase the effectiveness of the “high” caused by the primary drug. Overdosing on valium, especially if taken with alcohol, can lead to coma, respiratory failure, and in the most severe instances death.
For more information on valium, consult with your doctor or pharmacist.
Xanax, also known by its generic name Alprazolman, belongs to the class of medications called benzodiazepines and is a Schedule IV controlled substance under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA). The drug affects the chemicals in the brain by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical in the body that is naturally calming. When the GABA receptor is affected by the drug certain nerve signals in the brain are slowed down or stopped, relieving the patient from feelings of panic and depression.