The study involved youth ages 12 to 17, and indicates that 9.3 percent of teens used illicit drugs in any one-month period in 2008, down about 2 percent over the course of the survey.

“The survey findings are important because they often point to emerging patterns of substance abuse," says Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy. "Although we see some success in the reduction of overall illicit drug use, methamphetamine, and prescription drug abuse among teens, there are indications that progress in other areas may be at a standstill, or even slipping back."

The Office of National Drug Control Policy is actively involved in prevention of teen drug use, aiming messages at both the youth and their parents.

While teen drug use overall appears to be down, the report sees an overall softening in attitudes toward drug use, highlighted by a decrease in the number of teens who view weekly marijuana use as a "great risk."

Teen Drug Use Down in Last Six Years; Prescription Drugs Still a Concern is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

“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.

Boyd spent the next 15 months in prison, but began attending 12-step meetings and got clean. Upon his release from prison, he decided to devote his life to helping others break the cycle of addiction. But he knew that sometimes addiction intervention calls for drastic measures, so he assembled a team (all recovering addicts themselves) to help rescue addicts through physical intervention.

Boyd and Deedee are now married and have three children. Boyd runs private rehab centers and has also helped celebrities. He also serves as the co-executive producer of “The Cleaner,” which is inspired by his life.

In the second season opener of “The Cleaner,” Banks deals with TV anchorman Davis Durham (played by Gary Cole), whose wife has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Banks knows the couple from his using days, and must break Durham down to get him to admit to his relapse and face it. Whoopi Goldberg plays Durham’s sponsor, who was also once Banks’ sponsor.

David Hinckley of the New York Daily Times says that Bratt has made Banks one of the most interesting characters on TV. “He balances the action elements with an almost Zen-like acceptance of the way life works, and his short reflections tonight on human imperfection are the centerpiece of the show,” Hinckley writes.

“If we’re honest, (Banks) says, we all know our imperfections, and then we still get up each day and try to do the best we can. It sounds trite on paper. It’s smart stuff on the screen.”

He continues, “Based loosely on stories from Warren Boyd, a former ‘extreme interventionist’ in real life and now co-executive producer of this series, ‘The Cleaner’ doesn’t spend a lot of time ruminating on why Banks’ line of work has both fans and critics. Its primary mission is to create compelling television, and tonight, it gets that job done.”

“The Cleaner” airs on A&E on Tuesdays at 10/9 Central.

A&E’s “The Cleaner” Highlights Drug Intervention is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

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.

The system of craving and reward, known as the limbic system, is a convenient feature of the human brain when it comes to survival, but, unfortunately, it also has a downside. When the brain becomes confused about what it needs and what it doesn’t need, it craves and rewards the wrong impulses, and addiction is born.

Mixed signals of this kind readily occur when drugs are involved, because drugs release dopamine in the brain, just like food and sex do. The pleasing sensation or “rush” created by drugs like alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, or heroin is similar to the reward given for satisfying survival instincts, but often more intense. As a result, the brain is given the impression that it will not survive without the dopamine-releasing drug. Then, as rational beings, we understandably begin to believe that we really do need the drug in the same way we need food or water.

Another dangerous vulnerability in the brain relates to its unique plasticity—that is, its ability to change. It’s another example of strength also being a weakness. The brain has the remarkable capacity to adapt when life throws unexpected curveballs. It enables us to heal from trauma and function in all kinds of unfamiliar environments, if we just give it enough time to rewire itself.

But the brain’s tendency to accommodate specific mental states can also open the door to addiction. When a drug enters the system, dopamine is released in unnatural ways, and the brain compensates by cutting off its need for natural dopamine. The receptors lose their sensitivity and neurons even produce less dopamine of their own. The process of the brain adapting to unnatural sources of dopamine by reducing its natural levels is called “down regulation.” It decides that the drug will be its new source of dopamine and, as a result, begins to crave it in increasing amounts.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the kinds of substances that people abuse can release 2 to 10 times the amount of dopamine that is released when normal rewards are received. Such an overwhelming flood of dopamine thoroughly convinces the brain that the drug is needed for its survival. Hence, the snowball effect of addiction takes place as the brain struggles to make sense of dopamine overloads by becoming less receptive to it and therefore more dependent on the drugs through which the dopamine comes.

All of this is compounded by the psychological and emotional components of addiction. Many addicts first tried drugs as a way to feel better about life. When they receive the deceptive “rewards” for taking the drug, it only solidifies their belief that they need the drug to feel good or even okay. When they try to stop taking it, the brain forcefully and immediately reminds them of its new source of dopamine. Painful withdrawal symptoms ensue, and life without the drug becomes a distant memory. Eventually, any absence of the drug yields crushing lows and an obsession for more. Breaking the dependence feels like an impossible dream.

Fortunately, though, the brain’s weakness is also its strength. With proper medical guidance, emotional support, and a great deal of discipline, the brain can once again learn to live without the drug. Over time, it can resume natural dopamine production and a healthy balance can be restored.

The human brain is astonishingly powerful and complex, yet it is also delicately balanced. Its internal harmony is easily disrupted when foreign chemicals interfere with its regular activity. To be sure, it is not a toy to be played with. The countless stories of drug abuse and alcoholism in the world, both tragic and triumphant, testify to the terrors of addiction.

Your Brain on Drugs is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

From an early age, Michael struggled with anxiety and depression. As a child, he always felt awkward in social gatherings, and, as a result, he did his best to avoid social interaction during adolescence and into his early teenage years. Solitude made him feel more comfortable, yet he couldn’t help feeling left out when he heard stories from his classmates about parties or school functions. Over time, he began to resent the social phobia and eventually decided to do something about it.

Michael had seen his dad drink beers after work and his mom share martinis with her friends, and he noticed how relaxed they seemed while drinking. So, during a family barbecue one summer afternoon, when his many relatives were socializing in the backyard, 14 year-old Michael spotted a half-empty beer and sneakily carried it around a corner. After a few cautious sips, he felt a rush of comfort and pleasure that thrilled him in a way nothing else ever had. He was tremendously excited by the foreign sensation of relaxed happiness, and before he knew it, the cup was empty. Instinctively, Michael went in search of another.

A short time later, Michael was considered “that crazy guy” at parties, doing keg stands and drinking vast quantities of whatever type of alcohol he could get his hands on. He liked the feeling of being known for something and the popularity that came with it, and before he knew it, he was secretly drinking before school to loosen up and remain “that crazy guy” at school. As an adult, Michael is now an alcoholic struggling with serious health issues. His marriage ended in divorce when his wife left him because of his drinking, and his life is spiraling out of control. And it all began with that half-cup of beer when he was 14.

For many people like Michael, alcohol and other drugs provide relief from daily struggles. However, for those who routinely look for something to “take the edge off,” serious problems with dependency may lie just under the surface. What may initially seem like a handy tool for dealing with uncomfortable situations can quickly become an all-encompassing, devastating addiction. Reliance on drugs like alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or painkillers to soothe the mind is nothing short of addiction, warranting a change in behavior and, in many cases, professional help.

Mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder are the most common targets of self-medication, although other conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or various forms of chronic physical distress, can also lead individuals to administer their own form of treatment.

The potential dangers of self-medicating are plentiful, and chief among them is the threat of addiction. A 2007 report in the American Journal of Psychiatry identified a clear correspondence between social anxiety and alcohol dependence. The report explained that people suffering from anxiety are vulnerable to a snowballing reliance on alcohol because as alcohol wears off, the resulting withdrawals can cause greater anxiety, which in turn increases the likelihood of further drinking. Alcohol can also exacerbate feelings of depression as it wears off, tempting users to drink more.

Although self-medicating is often considered to be an adult behavior, young people are also at risk. A 2008 report from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) revealed an alarming link between teen drug use and depression. The study described a common scenario of teens treating feelings of depression with marijuana and other drugs, only to prolong their suffering and develop more significant mental health problems in the future. According to the report, depressed teens are twice as likely as non-depressed teens to use illegal drugs, and many become addicted.

Those who self-medicate with alcohol or other drugs are urged to seek healthier, less dangerous methods of coping with their discomfort. Recommended alternatives to self-medication include improved dietary habits, regular exercise, natural remedies, counseling, and other forms of therapy. Also, a doctor can be consulted to decide whether prescription medicines would be beneficial. There are many healthy, legal options available for overcoming every kind of mental and physical pain, and for escaping the bondage of addiction.

Self-medication with drugs and alcohol may seem like an innocuous way to make it through the day, but in reality, it is not a prudent choice. Alcohol and other drugs mask unpleasant symptoms but never reach the roots of the discomfort. In order to truly conquer chronic pain, experts say the suffering must be courageously faced. Then, strategies for working through the hardship can be considered, and the affliction can be genuinely overcome.

The Dangers of Self-Medicating with Drugs and Alcohol is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment