Drug addiction is compulsive use of a substance despite negative consequences which can be severe; drug abuse is simply excessive use of a drug or use of a drug for purposes for which it was not medically intended. Dependence on a substance is not necessary or sufficient to define addiction, there are some substances that don’t cause addiction but do cause dependence (for example, some blood pressure medications) and substances that cause addiction but not dependence (they are mainly characterized by depression).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Drug abuse can lead to drug dependence or addiction. Drug addiction may also follow the use of drugs for physical pain relief, though this is rare in people without a previous history of addiction. The exact reason of drug abuse and dependence is not yet known. The genetic make-up of the individuals, peer pressure, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and environmental stress are all factors which seem to be involved. Children who grow up in an environment of illicit drug use may first see their elders using drugs. This may put them at a higher risk for developing an addiction later in life for both environmental and genetic reasons.

Commonly abused substances include:

· Opiates and narcotics are powerful painkillers with sedative and euphoric qualities. These include heroin, opium, codeine, Oxycontin and others.

· Central nervous system stimulants have a stimulating effect and can produce tolerance. These include amphetamines, cocaine, commonly used stimulants are caffeine and nicotine.

· Central nervous system depressants produce a soothing sedative and anxiety-reducing effect and which leads to dependence. These include barbiturates (amobarbital, pentobarbital, secobarbital). Commonly used depressants, by far, is alcohol.

· Hallucinogens produce psychological dependence. These include LSD, mescaline, psilocybin (”mushrooms”).

· Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the active ingredient found in cannabis, marijuana, and hashish. Although used for their relaxing properties, THC-derived drugs can also lead to paranoia and anxiety.

Drug intoxication and drug overdose may be accidental or intentional. Drug withdrawal symptoms can occur when use of a substance is stopped. Withdrawal symptoms vary, depending on the particular substance. The withdrawal symptom depends on the length of time the drug was being used. Drug intoxication, overdose, and withdrawal can be life-threatening in some situations.

Treatment for the person with drug addiction begins with the recognition of the problem. Though earlier “denial” was considered as a symptom of addiction, recent studies has shown that this symptom can be dramatically controlled if addicts are treated with love and care, rather than being told what to do or “confronted.” Treatment of drug addiction involves detoxification, support and abstinence. Emergency treatment may be indicated for acute cases. Often, there may be a loss of consciousness and the person may need special medical attention temporarily. The specific treatment depends on the drug. Detoxification is the gradual withdrawal of an abused substance in a controlled way. Sometimes a drug with a similar action is substituted during the withdrawal process to reduce the unpleasant symptoms and risks associated with withdrawal. If depression or other mood disorder exists, it should be treated appropriately. The need for treatment is underscored by the severity of illness of those who undergo detoxification and the societal costs of untreated substance use disorders.



By: Marvist

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When it comes to infertility and becoming pregnant, it is typically the female who will first seek professional help to deal with the inability to conceive. That may be because in our society it is commonly the woman who carries the burden of responsibility when it comes to conception, pregnancy and childbirth.

It is usually the female who tries to “correct” the problem and is evaluated and tested before the male partner is ever involved. That is usually a last ditch effort to find the fertility problem. However, according to statistics, it is male infertility in forty to fifty percent of the cases of couples facing infertility issues.

There are many explanations for male infertility. They can be anything from lifestyle and family history to medical issues or testicular injuries. Some common problems associated with male fertility are hypogonadism and varicocele or azoopermia, which can typically be treated depending on the severity. Studies show males who smoke cigarettes or marijuana or consume large amounts of alcohol tend to have reduced sperm counts and a lower quality of sperm.

Another study suggests that males who have taken certain antidepressant drugs had lower sperm counts as well. There are also other studies that have linked obesity with reduced or lower sperm counts. Issues with family history can also cause infertility.

Yet another family related cause may be the use of certain medicines or drugs by the effected male’s mother during her pregnancy with him. Some studies point towards environmental exposures, such as radiation exposure or excessive heat, as playing a role in reproductive health.

If corrections are needed, then the good news is that there are many surgical procedures and medications available to help with complications of infertility and trying to conceive. The male partner will usually be examined by a specialist and/or a urologist as well. The doctor will want to test the quality of the man’s sperm to determine the sperm count and the rate of mobility.

If there is some sort of a blockage, then that has a good chance of it being treated and fixed. In the case where sperm is not abundant in the semen, the doctor can actually go into the tubes and retrieve sperm through a medical procedure. There are other causes as well, but most can be solved with the use of fertility drugs.

As medical science has advanced, the treatments that are available for infertility and the inability to conceive have allowed couples to become more and more successful at getting pregnant. The stigma of infertility has also been taken off the women’s shoulders, as it is now becoming clear that men can have infertility problems as well.

Now many couples are taking the infertility issue head on as a couple and no one is getting the blame. Once you take away the stigma of blame, it makes for more open communication and a healthier relationship.



By: MIKE SELVON

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Depression in adolescents is a disorder which occurs due to persistent sadness, loss of interest, loss of self worth and discouragement. Depression is normally a temporary reaction towards situations of stress. Depression is a normal part of the maturation process of adolescents. It is even induced due to production of sex hormones. Adolescent females are depressed twice more than adolescent boys according to a study.

Adolescent behavior is normally marked with good and bad moods. The transition from a good mood to bad mood and vice-versa, can take minutes, hours and even days. That is the reason why true depression is very difficult to find out. Depression in adolescents can be caused due to bad school performance, break up with boyfriend or girlfriend, and failing relations with friends and family. These causes can lead to persistent depression. Other serious causes are chronic illness, obesity, child abuse, stressful lifestyle, poor social skills, unstable care giving and depression in family history.

Symptoms of depression in adolescents are eating disorders, weight change, irritable mood, excessive sleeping in daytime, excessive temper, criminal behavior, memory loss, fatigue, self preoccupation, sadness, difficulty in concentrating, worthlessness feelings, loss of interest, self hatred, obsession with death and thought & attempts of suicides. When these symptoms are being noticed for more than two weeks, it is important to get treatment for the adolescent. Depression not only affects interpersonal relationships, but school performance as well. Depressed adolescents are more prone to take onto drugs and alcohol as an attempt to overcome their depression. Such problems require intensive treatment.

The doctor will take blood test and perform physical examination to determine the cause of depression. The adolescent can also be tested for substance abuse such as smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, marijuana smoking, and usage of other drugs. After the physical examination, psychiatric evaluation is also done to understand the cause of sadness, loss of interest and irritability. Depression can also lead to the development of other psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, mania and anxiety. It is also important to determine whether the adolescent poses a risk for himself/herself and others. Family and school personnel can provide valuable information about the adolescent to the doctor.

Treatment for depression for adolescent is similar to the treatment of depression for adults. Along with the treatment, the adolescent are given antidepressant medication and psychotherapy. Antidepressant medications include tricyclics, Prozac, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRI. Some of the medicines increase the risk, so it is a good idea that parents discuss the possible risks with the doctor. Only some of the antidepressant medications are meant for children and adolescents. Adolescents with severe depression need to be hospitalized as they are more prone to kill themselves.

Family and school support is necessary to tackle the depression of the adolescent. Parents can get their children admitted in emotional growth schools, boot camps or wilderness programs, to solve the behavioral problems. These programs consist of non medical staff and confrontational therapies. But care must be taken as some of the programs can in turn harm children who are depressed and sensitive. Adolescents, who get caught due to criminal offense, should be taken special care of by their parents. It is best that the child face the consequences and learn a lesson from it. Depressed adolescents respond well to treatment if they are treated comprehensively and early. More than half of the adults are known to have depression when they were in their teens.



By: Krishan Bakhru

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Drug Use Among Workers Declines to 17-year Low in 2005 – Amphetamines use, which includes amphetamine and methamphetamine, declined significantly among general U.S. workforce employees during 2005, according to the semi-annual Drug Testing Index, released by Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX)on June 19, 20006. The findings were based on the results of more than 7.3 million workplace drug tests performed by Quest Diagnostics around the country during 2005. The Drug Testing Index compares positivity rates for various drugs by calculating the proportion of positive results for each drug to the total number of drug tests performed.

The Drug Testing Index is published as a public service for government, media and industry and has been considered a benchmark for national trends since its inception in 1988. The 2005 Drug Testing Index summarizes the results of workplace drug tests performed by Quest Diagnostics between January and December 2005. It examines positivity rates among three major testing populations: federally-mandated, safety-sensitive workers; the general workforce; and the combined U.S. workforce. Federally-mandated, safety- sensitive workers include pilots, bus and truck drivers and workers in nuclear power plants, for whom routine drug testing is mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

In 2005, the incidence of amphetamines drug-test positives declined 8% to 0.48% of all drug tests of general U.S. workforce employees that identify amphetamines use. During 2004 amphetamines drug-test positives were 0.52%. Among federally-mandated, safety-sensitive workers, the positivity rate for amphetamines rose by 13% to 0.35% in 2005 from 0.31% in 2004.

Prompted by strong interest from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Quest Diagnostics performed a preliminary review of amphetamines drug-test positives for the first five months in 2006. Between January and May 2006, amphetamines drug-test positives among general U.S. workforce employees declined by 10% versus 2005, reaching 0.43% of all drug tests that identify amphetamines use. Among federally-mandated, safety- sensitive workers, the positivity rate for amphetamines declined by 20% during the 2006 period reaching 0.28% of all drug tests that look for amphetamines use.

Among a large group of general U.S. workforce employees, the incidence of methamphetamine positives of all drug tests that look for amphetamines, declined from 0.33% in 2004 to 0.26% in 2005 and to 0.18% in the first five months of 2006. Compared to 2005, this represents a 31% decrease in the first five months of 2006, and a 45% decrease since 2004. For federally-mandated, safety-sensitive workers, the incidence of methamphetamine drug-test positives declined by 28% during the first five months of 2006, compared to 2005, reaching 0.18% of all drug tests that look for amphetamines. Amphetamines positivity in the first five months of 2006 is at its lowest point since 2002- 2003 among general U.S. workforce employees and federally-mandated, safety- sensitive workers.

Amphetamines belong to a category of drugs known as stimulants, which are used by individuals to increase alertness, relieve fatigue, feel stronger and more decisive.(1) Amphetamines include the drugs amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, methamphetamine and their various salts. Chemical properties and actions of these individual drugs are very similar. Methamphetamine is typically produced clandestinely for illicit use.

“During 2005 we detected a downward trend in amphetamines positive test results in the general U.S. workforce and in 2006 the trend took hold among all U.S. workers,” said Barry Sample, Ph.D., Director of Science and Technology for Quest Diagnostics’ Employer Solutions division. “In the first five months of 2006 amphetamines drug-test positives declined to a three-and- a-half year low among both groups, driven by significant declines in methamphetamine drug-test positives. This finding could reflect the increased efforts by federal, state and local authorities to shut down clandestine methamphetamine laboratories.”

Overall, the testing data indicated that workplace drug use fell to the lowest level since Quest Diagnostics began publishing the Drug Testing Index in 1988. Of all tests for all drugs performed by Quest Diagnostics during 2005 for the combined U.S. workforce, 4.1% had positive results, compared to 4.5% in 2004 and 13.6% in 1988. A significant decline in positive marijuana drug test results among all U.S. workers drove the decline. Use of marijuana among U.S. workers, as measured by positive drug test results, decreased by approximately 12% in 2005 among all categories of workers compared to 2004.

Color graphics of the Drug Testing Index, including regional maps which show positivity rates by type of drug, are available on-line at www.questdiagnostics.com to provide more localized workplace drug test data. The Drug Testing Index is released every six months as a service for government, media and industry, and is considered a benchmark for national trends.



By: Dave Gosine

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Intoxicating driving can be defined as driving when a drug “renders the driver incapable of driving safely” or “causes the driver to be impaired”. The effects of specific drug abuse differ depending on their mechanisms of action, the amount consumed, the history of the user, and other factors.

Why Intoxicated Driving is dangerous?

The primary concern regarding intoxicated driving is that driving under the influence of any drug that acts on the brain could impair one’s judgment, reaction time, and motor skills. Intoxicated driving is a public health concern because it puts not only the driver at risk, but also passengers and others who share the road.

How dangerous is driving while intoxicated?

A number of studies have examined illicit drug use in drivers involved in motor fatal accidents, reckless driving, or vehicle crashes. For example,

• According to NHTSA 2006 report, during 2005, 16,885 people in the U.S. died in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes, representing 39% of all traffic-related deaths.

• For every 31 minutes someone is killed with alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes and nonfatally hurts someone every 2 minutes.

• According to National Hardcore Drunk Driver Project 58% of alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2006 involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or above.

• Studies conducted in several localities have found that approximately 4 to 14 percent of drivers who sustained injury or died in traffic accidents tested positive for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana.

• One study found that about 34% of motor vehicle crash victims admitted to a Maryland trauma center tested positive for “drugs only”. About 16% tested positive for “alcohol only”.

• According to 2006 NHTSA data, more than half of the 414 child passengers ages 14 and younger who died in alcohol-related crashes during 2005 were riding with the drinking driver.

Intoxicated Driving must be closely monitored and strictly punished. People should voluntarily take the responsibility of safe driving. Every single injury and death caused by drunk driving is completely preventable. Drunk driving, like most other social problems, resists simple solutions. Unfortunately, in spite of great progress, alcohol-impaired driving remains a serious national problem that tragically effects many victims annually.



By: Drugteststrips.com

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Success and failure in the workplace depends a lot on an employee’s ability to recall valuable data and implement it as required. This calls for sharp memory focus which involves purposefully targeting information that pertains to work excellence. Memory focus is responsible for worker productivity because it is directly related to decisions in the workplace. There are several factors that can interfere with memory focus in the workplace and they are:

- Stress

- Sickness

- Substance abuse

- Emotional health

Stress

Memory focus can be definitely affected by stress. This is because stress bombards brain cells with stress signals and this has a direct impact on the chemical balance and neurotic connections and an employee can find that it is taking a toll on his focus as far as memory is concerned. Stress also causes the employee to focus on the cause of the stress and try to formulate ways to arrive as a resolution instead of focusing on his or her job

Sickness

Certain illnesses can affect the employee’s ability to focus at work and also interfere with memory. Accidents that cause severe or even mild trauma to the head can affect an employee’s ability to focus by degrading the capacity of the memory to function as needed. That is why employees who work certain jobs which are dangerous are required to wear a hard hat.

Substance abuse

Drug use such as marijuana, cocaine, crystal methamphetamine (”meth”) and others that are popular in the streets can cause short and long-term memory focus issues. Most companies now invest in drug screening at work and others even conduct random tests periodically to see whether employees are drug-free. This is because these drugs directly affect the brain and its ability to focus.

Emotional health

Emotional health can definitely affect the employee’s ability to focus. Studies have shown that there is a relationship between the emotional well-being of an employee and his or her memory focus. By emotional well-being, we mean the employees state of mind and whether there are any stressful feelings that are bearing down on the employee. Emotional stress can be caused by a number of factors one of them being marital strife. Employees who have shaky marriages will inevitably have problems with memory focus. So do employees suffering from acute financial difficulties.

These are the factors that affect an employee’s ability to excel and meet maximum productivity levels. But with the right balance of discipline, memory focus can be achieved.

Focus, but not for too long

If you feel like you have trouble remembering facts it could be that you’re multitasking while you’re learning them — and therefore they never actually get stored permanently in your memory. The trick is to focus on one thing at a time (especially when you’re learning or hearing something for the first time) but to switch that one thing up regularly throughout the day to stimulate new brain areas.

Meditate

The brains of people who meditate are generally bigger, and thicker, than those of people who don’t meditate — specifically in the areas responsible for focus, thoughts, and emotions. Meditation improves attention, which in turn helps slow (or even reverse in some cases) age-related memory loss.



By: Bill Romanowski

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Marijuana is listed as being among the most abused psychoactive drugs in the US today. Cannabis shares that distinction with the “designer drug” called Ecstasy and the easily-produced variant of cocaine known as “Crack.” However, cannabis differs from most other abused narcotics and drugs in that it has a sizable number of people who are pushing for it to be legalized. Theoretically, “weed” has a number of medical uses that serve as the main reason for it to be made legal. However, for every study dedicated to finding a medical use for marijuana, there is also a study that has managed to find detrimental side effects to the use of it. In most cases, researchers have found the effects to have ties to mental health and cognitive abilities.

The first of the many side effects listed would be poorer attention span and loss of memory retention skills. According to studies conducted by the American Medical Association, long-term users of cannabis had shorter attention spans than both short-term users and non-users. According to the results published by the AMA, people who are long-term users gradually lose the ability to maintain focus on a single thing and inevitably find ways to be distracted faster than others. Memory also seems to have been affected, particularly for long-term users. According to reports, short-term memory is severely affected by long-term marijuana use, with subjects being unable to accurately recall objects shown to them mere minutes before. However, these results are still being held in dispute by mental health experts.

Cannabis also reduces the overall flow of blood to the brain, which can lead to a number of mental health issues. The most obvious of the side effects of this is the relative drop in IQ scores for long-term users. Studies conducted by the Canadian Medical Journal indicate that long-term users drop several IQ points over prolonged use. In the same vein, short-term users also experienced a loss of IQ points, with a small difference in the points lost between long-term and short-term users. One long-term test conducted showed that people who were users but had quit managed to recover their IQ scores from before using marijuana for an extended period.

The decreased blood flow, as already stated, could have disastrous side effects to a person’s central nervous system. One of these side effects is an effect on the appetite of users, both long-term and short-term. Users tend to consume more sodium, fats, and salty foods, while cutting down on fruits at the same time. This dietary change causes changes in the level of carotenoids in the body, which can increase the risk of cancer. The effect is seen as being less of a problem directly related to the marijuana use and more associated with the sort of lifestyle that marijuana users tend to develop.

Finally, the respiratory system can suffer numerous side effects due to extensive use of marijuana. People who have engaged in long-term use of cannabis tend to have an increased risk of developing lung cancer and various other respiratory conditions. Pulmonary infection is also a major problem, as prolonged cannabis use causes damage to the alveolar macrophages and alters certain aspects of the respiratory system. While the risk of lung cancer is considerably lower than that of a smoker, the compromised system is more susceptible to other respiratory ailments than the average smoker.



By: malo

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