Linkin Park co-frontman Chester Bennington opened up about his long battle with drugs and alcohol in a new interview with Noisecreep, and admits that his experience with addiction influenced many of the songs on Out of Ashes, his upcoming album with his side project Dead by Sunrise.
Bennington told Noisecreep, “My life was falling apart in many ways that I was writing about on this record in terms of getting divorced, in terms of diving very hard into alcohol and drugs throughout this process.”
Tramadol is a synthetic opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain, and is available in both injectable and oral forms. It can produce euphoria in many users, and the high is similar to opioids like morphine and heroin, but not as intense. This can lead to physical and mental dependence and severe withdrawal symptoms. In addition, the possibility of convulsions at high doses makes recreational use of tramadol very dangerous.
A&E might be the only channel that devotes two shows to drug abuse intervention: There’s the reality show “Intervention,” which profiles real people who struggle from drug and alcohol abuse and their loved ones, and then there’s “The Cleaner,” a drama about a recovering addict, William Banks, who spends his life helping addicts recover—especially those who don’t want help.
“The Cleaner” is back for a second season, with Benjamin Bratt starring as Banks. The character is based on the real life of Warren Boyd, who had nine DUI convictions and had already spent five years in prison at the age of 32. Addicted to alcohol and cocaine, Boyd had been in and out of 26 rehab programs without success. In 1990, his then-girlfriend Deedee gave birth to their child right before Boyd returned to prison. When his daughter was placed in his arms, he said he returned to his senses.
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By Leslie Thompson
In recent years, the medicinal value of marijuana has largely been scrutinized and contested. Proponents of the drug argue that cannabis provides help for individuals with life-threatening illnesses; opponents contend that there isn’t enough medical evidence to prove that marijuana has any positive effects on patients, and that the drug could actually cause further complications and ailments. As the debate over medical marijuana continues, a new cause for concern has developed—are individuals using this new prescription drug just to get high?
Marijuana, or cannabis, is the most widely abused illicit drug in the United States, and it is currently listed as a Schedule I drug under the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. Marijuana comes from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, and it is one of the oldest known psychoactive plants in the world—some approximate that it appeared as early as 2700 B.C. In the early years of its existence in the United States, the plant was cultivated and farmed, and its hemp was used in the production of rope and clothing.
During the 1800s, the drug was slowly introduced into the medical world and became a common ingredient in medicine. The early 1900s brought regulation of the drug, thus bringing an end to the legality of marijuana—until now. There are currently 14 states that have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes and a handful of others are considering the proposition.
Although medical research is still up for debate, studies suggest marijuana is helpful in treating illnesses such as nausea, glaucoma, migraines, and asthma. It can also be useful in treating rheumatoid arthritis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and AIDS. If marijuana can bring pain relief to individuals in need, why does legalizing the drug still cause so much controversy? Well, as with any prescription drug, there runs the risk of individuals misusing it. Given how popular marijuana already is in America, abuse is likely.
When legalizing marijuana was first proposed, it was under the premise that the drug would be strongly regulated and it would be prescribed to patients with serious medical conditions. Fast-forward ten years and it has become apparent that patients are no longer using marijuana to relieve serious pain, but instead to get high. In California, where pot dispensaries or “potshops” are legal, it is quite common to see the waiting rooms filled with people with a variety of “painful” ailments who don’t appear to be sick at all. While under California law it is not illegal for a physician to prescribe marijuana, there is little discretion taken as to which patients are prescribed the drug versus those patients who really need it.
While supporters of legalizing marijuana argue the health benefits it has for patients, opponents are worried that by legalizing the drug, it opens the door for all narcotics to become legal. Legalization will also pose problems for law enforcement agencies that will be faced with the challenge of regulating the distribution and sale of marijuana. One final concern addressed by opponents is the social implications. Legalizing marijuana may lead teens to believe that marijuana is safe to use recreationally and the increased availability of the drug will make it easier to come by.
As more states weigh the options of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, it is safe to say the debate will continue. Several states are already hard at work tightening their medical-marijuana bill to avoid abuse in the future.
By Colin Gilbert
The human brain is wired for survival; it is programmed to promote the longevity of both the individual and the species. One of the main ways it helps us survive is by initiating specific cravings. Hunger and thirst, for example, remind us (sometimes quite urgently) that we need to eat and drink to survive. Correspondingly, the human sex drive encourages the propagation of the human race. When we satisfy our cravings for hunger, thirst, or sex, our brain rewards us with sensations of pleasure and contentment, and that reward comes in the form of the neurotransmitter dopamine.
Amy Winehouse, the 25-year-old British singer who consistently makes headlines due to alcohol and drug abuse, is “in denial” over her drug addiction and continues to drink heavily, according to her parents. Janis Winehouse, her mother, said that “the need to rescue her is enormous. Amy is in denial all the time.”
The Stanford neurosurgeon who died in a solo plane crash near Lake Tahoe in August 2008 had a cocktail of drugs in his system, including opiates, cocaine, Prozac, mood stabilizers, and anti-psychotic drugs. The accomplished doctor was known for his work on the neuropharmacology of addiction and had a long history of substance abuse himself.
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Perhaps you’ve seen the ads—one shows a hunched-over, bloodied woman with the caption, “My mother knew I’d never hurt her, then she got in the way.” Another image shows a jail cell complete with bunk beds and a urinal that reads, “No one thinks they’ll spend a romantic evening here. Meth will change that.” These disturbing images are courtesy of the Meth Project, a nonprofit organization that says it’s showing the ugly truth about methamphetamine use through graphic print and broadcast ads.
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Many people casually joke that their children are “addicted” to television or video games, but a recent study from Iowa State University shows that nearly one in ten American youths (aged 8 to 18) are pathological video game players. This means their video game habits cause family, social, school, or psychological damage.
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