Therapist Unlimited Blog

Parents around the world need to be careful since a recent medical study revealed that some stimulant drugs used to treat  attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) resulted in a sudden cardiac death in healthy children.
In the data gathered by Dr. Madelyn S Gould of Columbia University, New York, New York, and colleagues, they found out that some 564 healthy children suddenly died after taking some stimulants such as methylphenidate (better known in the US under its brand name of Ritalin).
Gould and her team studied the children aged 7 to 19 from across the US who died suddenly and most likely due to sudden cardiac disturbance after taking stimulant drugs.
She said parents of children facing ADHD should always be careful in the use of stimulants as treatment since it could be deadly for their children.
Meanwhile, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned parents who have children with ADHD to discuss concerns with the treatment of their children to the prescribing doctor to avoid any risk.
To dig deeper into the report, the FDA is already co-sponsoring another larger study that is looking at the link between increased risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular problems and use of stimulant medication by children, the results of which are expected to come out later this year.

Parents should be careful in using stimulant drugs used for ADHD treatment since it offers health risk to their children.

The federal agency also urged doctors to follow the current prescribing information that accompanies the product label, which recommends that young and adult patients being considered for ADHD treatment.
The FDA said parents of children facing ADHD should work with their health care professional to develop a treatment plan that includes a careful health history for cardiovascular disease in the child and his or her family.
The FDA added such preparation should include a physical exam that pays particular attention to the cardiovascular system, and should consider screening tests such as electrocardiogram and echocardiogram, depending on the patient’s history and whether it suggests possible risk factors for heart disease.

According to a latest study mothers who are brave enough to admit they are formerly hooked on illegal drugs can achieve good results in their action.
Based on the research conducted by the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada some 3,530 Alberta youth Grades 7 to 12 revealed that teens were more likely to use drugs if they knew that their mothers had used drugs but did not pressure their kids to avoid the illegal practice.
Researcher Lori Harach, a professor of human ecology at the University of Alberta revealed the findings suggest that adolescents might benefit from parental talks about the dangers of drug use, especially when their mothers have experience with drugs.
Harach said factor might give extra credibility to the messaging in the eyes of the teen.
She said mothers who have previous illegal drugs experience should not hide their unfavourable past since opening it could their children valuable lesson to avoid using illegal drugs.
As the saying goes, the best testimony is your own experience.
Mothers around the world should keep in mind that their children would not scorn them if ever they admit using drugs since their children love them deadly.
Instead of being scorned, their children would love them more and will keep away from the things that put their mother in the bad light in the past.

To keep their children away from drug addiction, mothers should be bold enough to admit they are using drugs in the past.

A recent research from Vanderbilt University showed that aggression sports like boxing and football are the same in importance like sex, food and drugs.
Craig Kennedy, professor of special education and paediatrics of the said university explained brain processes aggression as a reward like sex, food and drugs.
“Aggression occurs among virtually all vertebrates and is necessary to get and keep important resources such as mates, territory and food,” Kennedy said.
“We have found that the ‘reward pathway’ in the brain becomes engaged in response to an aggressive event and that dopamine is involved," Kennedy added.
The result was achieved on the experiment the school conducted on a pair of mice - one male, one female -, which was kept in one cage, and five “intruder” mice were kept in a separate cage.
The female mouse was temporarily removed, and an intruder mouse was introduced in its place, triggering an aggressive response by the “home” male mouse. Aggressive behaviour included tail rattle, an aggressive sideways stance, boxing and biting.

Aggression sport like boxing is the same in importance like sex, food and drugs.

The home mouse was then trained to poke a target with its nose to get the intruder to return, at which point it again behaved aggressively toward it. The home mouse consistently poked the trigger, which was presented once a day, indicating it experienced the aggressive encounter with the intruder as a reward.
The same home mice were then treated with a drug that suppressed their dopamine receptors. After this treatment, they decreased the frequency with which they instigated the intruder’s entry.
In a separate experiment, the mice were treated with the dopamine receptor suppressors again and their movements in an open cage were observed. They showed no significant changes in overall movement compared to times when they had not received the drugs. This was done to demonstrate that their decreased aggression in the previous experiment was not caused by overall lethargy in response to the drug, a problem that had confounded previous experiments.
The Vanderbilt experiments are the first to demonstrate a link between behaviour and the activity of dopamine receptors in response to an aggressive event.
“We learned from these experiments that an individual will intentionally seek out an aggressive encounter solely because they experience a rewarding sensation from it,” Kennedy said. “This shows for the first time that aggression, on its own, is motivating, and that the well-known positive reinforcement dopamine plays a critical role.”
 

What is Marijuana and how is it used?

Marijuana is part of a group of drugs known as hallucinogenic drugs. That is, they can cause the drug abuser to hallucinate when they are using it. It has a dried herb like appearance, and is usually smoked, often mixed with other herbs or tobacco. Marijuana is produced from the leaves of the cannabis plant. Other names for Marijuana include ‘weed’, ‘dope’, ‘blow’, and ’smoke’. The effects of the drug Marijuana. People who abuse the drug Marijuana will often say that they feel ‘chilled out’ and that it relaxes them. They may become more talkative, although they will often not make any sense. Time will often slow down for the Marijuana drug abuser, and it is not unusual for them to experience intense hunger; this is known as the munchies. The drug Marijuana is often thought by people who are less informed to be relatively harmful, or something that the user will grow out of using. However, Marijuana does carry harmful side effects, so it is wise to test anyone that you think may be using and abusing this drug. Drug testing can be easily carried out by using a drug test kit. Using a drug test kit to test for Marijuana is important because of the harmful effects this drug can have on the user. These include the user developing a psychological dependency on the drug. They may also show signs of paranoia and anxiety when they are not taking the drug. There has been links of Marijuana with schizophrenia. Drug testing for this substance using a drug testing kit is also important because the most common way to smoke Marijuana is to mix it with tobacco which also carried health risks that can lead to cancer. Increased use of the drug Marijuana can lead to a slowing down of the brain functions and make it difficult for the user to learn. If you know of a teenager showing these signs, then it is important that you use a drug testing kit to determine the facts.

What are synthetic opioids and how are they used?
Synthetic opioids are drugs that are manufactured for medical purposes. They include the drugs methadone and buprenorphine. Although they are manufactured for medical use, and it is possible to obtain the drugs methadone and buprenorphine legally on prescription from a medical practitioner, over the years these drugs have been open to abuse.

They are often used as substitutes for heroin as part of a drug rehabilitation program, and they usually come in liquid form that is taken orally. However they are also available in table form, and they can be injected. Buprenorphine, or Subutex is taken by dissolving it in the mouth.

What are the effects of the synthetic opioids methadone and buprenorphine?
The effects of the drugs methadone and buprenorphine can last for several hours. Synthetic opioids are sedatives that will depress the nervous system. The drugs will also reduce pain, of both physical and psychological nature. People using this drug will often have feelings of relaxed detachment and warmth.

A drug testing kit is available to use to test for synthetic opioids. It is wise to use a drug testing kit if you feel that someone is abusing this drug, as the effects of drug abuse can be harmful.

The harmful effects of abusing methadone and buprenorphine are that the user can soon become addicted to the substance. If it is being used as a substitute for heroin addiction under medical supervision then the person needs to be checked regularly.

These drugs can often induce vomiting, and it has been known for people to choke on their vomit. An overdose of these drugs can lead to a coma, or the person may stop breathing and die.

Urine drug testing kits are available to test for synthetic opioids drug abuse.

What are propoxyphene’s and how are they used?
Propoxyphene is a synthetic opiate and come into the group of drugs known as narcotic pain relievers. These are drugs that although can be used legally for the treatment of pain, they are also highly addictive.

The brand names for the most common propoxyphene drugs are darvon and darvocet. These drugs are available legally on prescription from medical practitioners and are used to treat patients who suffer from prolonged mild to moderate pain. They are often prescribed to people who suffer repeated migraine attacks. Because of their highly addictive nature, they are only available on prescription.

They are usually supplied in capsule form and are taken orally.

However, when they are being used in drug abuse cases, the capsules may be opened and the powder is often snorted (or tablets are crushed to a powder and snorted). The powder is sometimes mixed with water and injected into the drug abuser.

The effects of propoxyphene drugs.
The have a sedative effect and can be similar to the effects of methadone. The person taking the drug will not feel pain to any great degree due to the pain relieving properties of the drug. It can give the user feelings of relaxation and general well-being.

It is possible to carry out a drug test for propoxyphene drugs such as darvon and darvocet by using a drug testing kit.

Propoxyphene drugs such as darvon and darvocet can produce unpleasant and harmful side effects. These include slowing the heartbeat, causing breathing to become shallow and inducing feelings of nausea or actual vomiting. People have been reported to have choked on their vomit and died in some cases. These drugs can also cause hallucinations and blurred vision.

If you know of someone who is displaying these symptoms you should get them medical help immediately.

Propoxyphene drugs such as darvon and darvocet are particularly dangerous as they are prescription drugs, and therefore often thought of as safe. A person may legitimately have a prescription for these drugs without realizing how easily they may become addicted to them. The withdrawal symptoms are unpleasant, and patients should not suddenly stop taking the drug. Withdrawal should be undertaken with medical supervision.

Drug testing kits are useful for those taking long term pain relief, who may be concerned as to what their medication contains. Drug testing for propoxyphene drugs is both easy and reliable. Drug testing kits are available for purchase.

What is PCP and how is it used?

PCP is the abbreviation for the drug known as phencyclidine. Another more common street name for this drug is ‘angel dust.’ PCP was developed during the 1950’s as an anesthetic that could be used in the treatment of mild to moderate pain and also to treat aching limbs. Production of PCP stopped during the 1960’s when patients were beginning to show significant unwelcome side effects from taking the drug. PCP began hitting the streets as a drug that was open to abuse around 1967. It is usually taken by smoking it, often mixing it with herbs such as mint or parsley. It is also sometimes smoked by mixing it with tobacco and marijuana. The effects of the drug PCP. The drug PCP has been known to reduce the feeling of pain. It can also cause feelings of being ‘out of it’ and confusion. Drug testing for PCP is easy and reliable. Urine drug testing kits are available that are easy to use. Drug testing for PCP is important because of the side effects of this drug. These include the person abusing PCP becoming confused and agitated, and often depressed as the drug depresses their brain. PCP increases the abusers heart rate and raises blood pressure. Chronic abuse of the drug PC has led to kidney damage, muscle damage and even brain damage. Another harmful effect of the drug PCP is that the person will feel no or reduced pain. This can often lead to abusers seriously injuring themselves. Some drug abusers have been reported as becoming agitated and violent and getting into fights. Because they do not feel pain, they will fight for longer which may result in serious injuries for themselves and others. Drug testing kits for PCP and other drugs are easily available and give reliable results.

What is Nicotine and how is it used?

Nicotine is the stimulant found in tobacco products, and can be smoked in cigarettes and pipes, or chewed. It is highly addictive and can cause long term damage to the user, sometimes resulting in death. Why people begin to abuse Nicotine. Many people will begin to abuse nicotine in their early teens, and most will not stop until they are much older, if they are able to stop at all. Unfortunately this drug is often seen as a social drug, and the effects of the drug abuse are not thought about. Young teens will often begin to smoke and abuse nicotine due to peer pressure. The effects of the drug Nicotine Nicotine in tobacco produces a stimulation effect when a person first begins smoking it. This continues until the drug user it addicted. When addicted, the drug user will have to take in more nicotine to fend off the feelings of irritability and anxiety that can occur when the drug is stopped. Rather than taking the drug nicotine for its stimulating effect, the user now has to take it to feel ‘normal’. Nicotine now goes from being a drug that stimulates, to one that relaxes the user. How the drug Nicotine harms the user. Nicotine harms the drug user in a variety of ways. It can increase blood pressure, and in some cases, the heart rate can be raised up to 40 per cent. There is also the risks that taking nicotine in tobacco brings with it. The tar that tobacco produces releases chemicals known to cause cancer into the bloodstream. These increase the risk of the user contracting lung cancer, which in many cases can lead to death. Smokers who obtain nicotine in this way also run the increased risk of suffering from emphysema and other bronchial conditions. Nicotine can also harm people who do not abuse the drug. Smoking in a public place can cause second hand smoke to enter the bloodstream of others. This has been found to have a detrimental effect, with some developing the same health conditions as smokers. Fortunately there is an easy to administer drug test that can detect if someone is abusing nicotine. The Nicotine Screen-Cassette is easy to use and if used as part of a program designed to help a user give up nicotine, this can be helpful and beneficial to the user, by ensuring that regular checks can monitor their progress. A simple drug kit to test for nicotine can also be helpful for people who may be worried that they are suffering the consequences of second hand smoke from nicotine abusers close to them.

Drug addiction can destroy you. Losing a job can put you under so much pressure it feels like you are, in many ways, gasping for air. The route to go when you combine work and an addiction may seem obvious. However, in my experience nothing is obvious for a recovering drug addict. Working a job is just one step back into normal society. Itís time to take it, while handling pressure at the same time. Do what you want: Choose a career that is applicable to you. That, actually, isnít always obvious. ìWork isnít ever fun,î I hear you saying. But it can be fun if you put the footwork into it. Sometimes you may think a job has to be boring if it pays well. You can go to school for ten years, perhaps, and still not know the job you want. There are options, but you have to make the choice. By doing what you want your mind stays healthy. You will need support in these times, when looking for this dream job, and it may mean financial support. Get Support from Others: You may need financial support in the beginning. Drug addicts have more than a mental disease Ö often their pockets are empty from all the partying. If you cannot get help from friends or familyóand some of us canítóthen consider applying for things like food stamps. There are many services out there willing to support you. Friends and family are your best options. If you show how hard youíre working to get this ìdream jobî or just to stay clean, it would be hard to say no to loaning you some money in the short term. It may be hard to pay it back, but you should. Find Healthy Escapes: Work pressure will do things to your mind. Your pocket book may be empty, but there are many healthy escapes after quitting drugs. First, you quit using drugs. Then, the money will come. Think about it: You are no longer spending money on drugs. You wonít become rich overnight, but you will be spending less money. So with this money invest in some healthy escapes. You could get a gym membership, take a class at a community college, or pick up an art like painting. These escapes will keep your mind working; instead of sitting alone all day, you will be doing something. Ask Questions: You may have found a job. The next step is to start asking all kinds of questions at the job, and being as honest as possible yourself. You donít tell everyone youíre a drug addict, but you can tell people you meet you have trouble handling pressure. ìI hate working weekends,î you can tell your boss, ìso can I get a regular shift?î You can also ask for advice from friends and family. Coming in First With all this pressure coming to youóand it will comeóyou will have to remember you come first. Whatever happens, you will stay away from drug use. If the pressure at the job is too much, you may have to quit. You come in first; youíre the one trying to cope with all these things. Final Tips: Some bosses will be more than helpful when you ask them questions or for help. Itís smart to have a good relationship with your boss, but you usually keep your secrets to yourself. Do reward yourself after getting a job. It shows, again, you come in first. A Warning: What will you do with all the money you make? Pressure will rise again. You may even want to celebrate with drugs. Think your way through all these things. Play the story of going back to drugs to the end, where you are broke again and no one wants to help. By Jacob Malewitz