The Effects Of Marijuana

There is a prevailing wisdom that smoking or ingesting marijuana does not adversely affect health. This folk wisdom is not completely true. Regular users of pot can be susceptible to a variety of health issues. If you, or someone you know, regularly smokes joints, there are some repercussions that you should be aware of.

Using or possessing weed is illegal in most states and it is against federal law. Possible legal consequences are the loss of a driver's license and jail time. In every state except for Washington and Colorado the use of marijuana is considered an illegal activity and each state has its own laws on the books.

Marijuana is considered to be a gateway drug. People who actively consume weed frequently find themselves in a situation where other drugs that are more dangerous and addictive are being used. The altered state contributes to the use of other drugs such as cocaine or heroin.

Most people smoke a joint when they use pot. This smoke enters your lungs and causes damage similar to the damage caused by cigarettes. The heat and other chemicals contained within weed can create suboptimal lung conditions.

Marijuana produces a strong odor when burned and this odor will linger long after you have stopped smoking. It creates a variety of symptoms during use such as dry mouth and eyes, excessive coughing fits, red eyes, and significant amounts of wheezing. Motor skills and cognitive function are almost always impaired significantly.

Marijuana strains differ in their psychoactive strength. Some strains are so powerful that they can cause hallucinations. Hospitals have treated patients for psychosis after an individual has smoked a strain that is particularly powerful.

Marijuana use can be quite addictive. People who try to quit report strange dreams and nervousness during withdrawal. It is a very popular drug but most people should stay away from it.

When Someone You Know Is Addicted to Heroin

The suspicion that a friend or family member battles a heroin addiction is painful and frightening. There is the desire to confront the individual combined with the fear of doing so. If your intuition is wrong, you run the risk of sounding accusatory. Even if you are correct, the individual may not readily admit addiction, or accept the offer of help.

Warning Signs

There are, however, several warning signs that may indicate a drug problem. Though harder to discern in the early stages of addiction, eventually the toll that heroin addiction takes on a person’s life will make the problem abundantly clear. The sooner you can confront the addict the better; each day spent in addiction only drags the individual deeper.

If you are anxious to find out how to know if a loved one is on heroin, there are several red flags to look for. The addict need not exhibit all of these behaviors or patterns. Likewise, the presence of one or a few of the red flag behaviors does not necessarily peg anyone as a heroin addict. Many of these are also symptoms of other addictions or mental health conditions.

Addicts generally exhibit unpredictable shifts in behavior and lifestyle patterns. Keep an eye out for erratic behavior, a change in social groups or emotional transformations. Heroin users gradually start to numb emotionally, showing a loss of enthusiasm, a lack of focus or attention, listlessness, and a flat affect. 

Physically you may observe extreme loss of weight with the addict appearing gaunt, tired and aged. Needle marks (‘tracks’) on various parts of the body, especially where veins are close to the surface such as forearms and groin, also suggest heroin use.

Perhaps you have discovered objects that indicate drug use such as needles and syringes, a scale, small plastic bags, a coffee grinder, etc. These supplies are often associated with heroin use and/or distribution.

A downturn in the individual’s financial situation may also suggest a drug dependency. Is the addict asking to borrow money and claiming to be in financial trouble? Do you notice large ticket items missing from their home? Many addicts will sell items such as electronics or jewelry to bankroll their habit.

A drop in professional or academic performance as well as an inability to keep commitments may also be an indicator of a drug problem.

Confronting the Addict

Though you may confront the individual about the situation, it is important to remember that heroin addiction and lying go hand in hand. Users become especially adept at deception and manipulation. Though you may receive a convincing answer to your inquiries, if your gut still tells you something is amiss, you are most likely correct.

Heroin use is never harmless or innocuous even if the addict claims that his or her use is purely recreational and ‘not harming anyone.’ In addition to the damage that the addict is inflicting on his mind and body, it is important to point out that heroin use is a crime. Users who are caught will face legal repercussions. Additionally, it has been shown that addiction to heroin leads to other crimes—commonly theft, prostitution and occasionally violence as well. Most heroin-related crimes are based in the addict’s need to secure more money in order to obtain more of the drug.

Not only is the addict’s personal safety at risk, but the safety of the people around the addict as well. If you suspect a friend or family member is using heroin, do not delay in seeking help.

Are You Sure You Need Performance Enhancing Drugs?

The world has become so competitive. It does not matter if we are talking about professional sports or just a friendly game among friends. Everyone wants to play for the win. Sadly enough, some people are so wrapped up about winning that they resort to taking performance enhancing drugs to reach their goal. They want a quick fix and a quick win. If you have been thinking about taking steroids, juice or any type of PEDs, you should stop right now and think about the long-term harmful effects that these drugs can have on your body.

Drugs have been used for decades despite the known harmful effects that they can cause. However, people fall into the temptation of winning at all costs. They want the attention and glamor, but they risk their health and the very strong possibility that they will get exposed for using drugs. Think of the shame that it will bring if that happens. Is it all worth it?

If you want to excel in your game, there is no better way than to work hard and train your body to be in the best shape possible. Eat a healthy diet and stick to clean living. Train hard and improve your skill. There are no shortcuts. Any drugs that promise you instant success are just fooling you into thinking that your success will last. Drugs are not sustainable and are easily discoverable. Think how disappointed your family will be if your drug use is ever exposed. You will lose all respect of your fans and supporters. Your reputation will be damaged forever and no one can trust you again.

So, think long and hard before you risk your future. That is a very high price to pay for a small edge that you may gain from using drugs, which really will not guarantee you of a win. Don't sell yourself out. The best way is to focus on training hard and have a winning mindset, knowing that you are doing it with your pride and integrity intact.

Keeping Kids Safe from Medications

There are so many things that we try and shield our children from these days.  Bad movies, poor relationships choices, internet scams and unhealthy food are just a few of those things attacking kids.  However, one place people may forget to look is in their own home, on their bedside table or in their cabinet. 

Every day children have at their fingertips very harmful products that can harm them.  Over-the-counter and prescription drugs are so prevalent in homes today it can be difficult to remember that children do not know what these drugs are for and not to use them.  Younger children particularly can ingest a medication by simply mistaking it for something else.  They can easily mistake a colorful pill for a piece of candy. 

Older kids can be accustomed to seeing their parents or other older family members take different kinds of medication, but not be fully aware of the effects of the drugs.  They may be tempted to try out a medication to see what affect it may have, or even be persuaded by another friend to get some of the drugs to bring to them.  The reasoning may be different for the older child, but the same horrible outcome can affect the younger or older child if they take someone else’s medication.

Some important things to remember if keeping medications in the home are to keep them placed in a secure location, out of the sight and reach of children.  It may require a child proof locking being installed on a high cabinet door to keep younger children from having access. Or in some cases, certain strong or addictive type medications may need to be placed in a safe or other locked location to keep them unavailable to a teenager.  These steps can hopefully prevent a mistake which could affect the child and entire family.

The Inpatient Detox Process and Its Benefits

Whether you are addicted to drugs or alcohol, successfully detoxing from the chemicals, and continuing a new life of sobriety all starts with a medical detox at in inpatient medical detox center.

Detox is very necessary for alcohol, and drugs like opiates, which can cause severe withdrawals including hallucinations, breathing problems, organ failure, and even death. Cessation from these chemicals can be very dangerous if an individual tries to stop by themselves, and should be done under medical supervision in an inpatient detox center.

Statistics show that individuals that first complete an inpatient detox program, and then continue into a full drug and alcohol rehab setting, are much more likely to successfully kick their habits -- with minimal side effects -- and are more likely to defend against future relapses.

Detoxification is a lifesaver, when done correctly and under medical supervision. If you are trying to clean-out from drugs or alcohol, please do it the correct way, through an inpatient detox center. Medical detox will not only make it easier to become sober, but it is much safer.

The Danger Of Using Inhalants

Inhalant use is when a user intentionally breathes in a vapor or gas for the purpose of getting a high. This problem is widespread as it is easy to obtain. The problem lies in the fact that these inhalants are usually found in household products.

The term huffing is when an individual will spray chemicals such as a solvent or glue into a bag usually made of paper. They will then inhale the vapor into their mouth and nose. The vaporized toxins will go directly into the person’s lungs, and into the bloodstream.

The effects of this huffing will cause a person to feel inebriated for a short period of time. The user will usually repeat this action again and again to obtain the euphoric feeling.

Glue sniffing is usually very toxic glue that is used for Airplane models. The glue works on melting plastic and then hardening again. When inhaled it will immediately give the user a high feeling.

These inhalants cloud the person’s ability to concentrate or make decisions. The action of inhaling can cause death, many people have been known to vomit and then choke to death on the vomit.

Other people have died due to heart failure this is more commonly known as (sudden sniffing death syndrome). When inhaling from a bag in a closed off area the person runs the risk of suffocating to death.

Whippets is a street name for this inhalant, it is a canister filled with Nitrous oxide. You usually find these canisters in homes or restaurants for the use of whipped cream.

Inhaling this gas runs the threat of suffocation. The suffocation is caused because the person is unable to get enough oxygen after using the gas.

These inhalants put a user at risk for various health problems these include: damage to the brain, lung, kidney and liver damage, headaches and severe nosebleeds.

Animal Assisted Therapy Programs Work

Animal lovers and those who work with animals will be the first to tell you that animals have a miraculous quality of being able to make humans feel better with seemingly nothing but a glance.

The link between human emotions and animal emotions has been studied for thousands of years, beginning when humans first began to domesticate animals for various reasons. Humans found out very quickly that animals -- especially horses -- can sense your emotions, and behave differently based on the emotion you are feeling, and how strongly that emotion is being felt. Basically, if you are scared, the horse is also scared.

Understanding this emotional relationship between man and animal, many in the medical field began trying to let animals emotions change human emotions. When this proved successful, animal therapy was born.

Equine therapy for addiction takes the principals of animal therapy and uses those as a tool for attacking the mental and emotional stresses that come with battling an addiction. The equine therapy allows recovering addicts to take care of horses and care for them while learning how to stay sober. By forming an emotional bond with the animals, the addict begins the tough work of rebalancing their thoughts, emotions, and activities, and begins to learn the responsibilities and rewards of a sober lifestyle.

Want to learn more about how equine therapy is beneficial to recovering addicts?

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