Signs and Symptoms of Drug Abuse

Author: Drug Alcohol Test

Drug abuse, involves the excessive and repeated use of a substance to escape reality to produce pleasure despite its destructive effects. The substances abused can be illegal drugs such as opium, cocaine, marijuana and their derivatives or legal substances used improperly, such as prescription drugs and inhalants like nail polish or gasoline.

Drug addiction can be physical, psychological, or both. Physical dependence refers to the physiological effects of drug use. On the other hand, using a drug to numb unpleasant feelings, to relax, or to satisfy cravings are examples of psychological addiction. Physical addiction is characterized by ‘tolerance’ - the need for increasingly larger doses in order to achieve the initial effect and withdrawal symptoms when the user stops.

How Would Marijuana Legalization Affect Our Health and Safety?

Author: Paul W. Lovinger

By Paul W. Lovinger
Before deciding to put neatly-packaged marijuana cigarettes on store shelves or counters, ask yourself these questions:

1. Are you willing to ride in a bus, plane, or train operated by a stoned driver, pilot, or engineer?
2. Would you entrust your life to someone, like a surgeon, who's under the influence of an intoxicant?
3. Despite the public concern for health care, are you ready to throw another hazardous drug onto the market?

If you answered yes to all three, feel free to add marijuana to the list of drugs that are dangerous to health or safety but sold legally. Once it goes on sale in stores, expect to introduce a myriad of newcomers to the pot habit.

Heroin Detox

Author: Chris Salue

Heroin is one of the most dangerous and highly addictive drugs with adverse effects. It is also has one of the highest incidences of drug-related deaths. Because of these things, the importance of overcoming an addiction to heroin is paramount. Even if a person doesn’t die from an overdose, their use of this drug will be extremely damaging to them personally. It can also quite possibly ruin their lives. It will without a doubt negatively impact the lives of those who love and care for him or her. People suffering from heroin addiction should undergo a strict heroin detox program to rid their bodies of all traces of heroin and its harmful effects. A good heroin detox program should be properly formulated in order to match the needs of the patient.

Cocaine Rehab

Author: Chris Salue

Cocaine is dangerous and powerfully addictive drug. Once having tried cocaine, an individual may have problem predicting or controlling the extent to which he or she will continue to use the drug. Cocaine's addictive and stimulant effects are thought to be primarily a result of its ability to inhibit the re-absorption of dopamine by nerve cells. Dopamine is a product released as part of the brain's reward system, and is either directly or indirectly involved in the addictive properties of every major drug of abuse.

Individuals with an addiction to cocaine may find that cocaine rehab gives them the best opportunity of getting clean. Attempting to stop using cocaine on ones own after a person has become addicted can be extremely difficult. In some instances, it can even be impossible. A person can be so far gone, that only help from an external source can help them.