Archive for the 'Substance Abuse' Category
May 7th, 2008 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
From a recent study of 469 self-reported marijuana users, aged 18 to 64, researchers identified specific symptoms associated with marijuana withdrawal. Participants fairly consistently reported both physical and psychological symptoms that occurred during prolonged intervals between use which then prompted them to begin using marijuana again. The symptoms resolved once they resumed use. Psychological symptoms were irritability, anxiety, sadness, insomnia, increased or decreased appetite, increased or decreased libido, and boredom. Physical symptoms were primarily gastrointestinal, such as stomach upset and nausea. About one-third of the participants also reported improved memory, and more than 90% reported marijuana cravings.
The most common dependence-associated behaviors among those who resumed marijuana use because of withdrawal symptoms included using more than intended, inability to cut down use, spending a lot of time using, and giving up other activities in order to use.
via American Psychiatric Association, abstract #30, MedPageToday
February 22nd, 2008 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
According to a recent study, parents are the main reason for kids avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. In a questionnaire, reasons cited include the parents’ positive influence and also potential parental disappointment. This study underlines the importance of communication in the home. Parents need to build a strong relationship with their kids and talk to them about substance abuse. Fourth grade is a good time to start, but the earlier the better!
via Nat’l Crime Prevention Council
February 8th, 2008 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
In a recent study, 26% of the 32-year-old subjects who smoked pot weekly showed signs of serious periodontal disease, compared with 12.1% of infrequent users and 4% of non-users.
via Journal of the American Medical Association
June 30th, 2007 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
Since the 1950s, dextromethorphan has been the primary cough suppressant ingredient in over-the-counter cold and cough medicines. When taken according to directions, dextromethorphan produces few adverse side effects and has a long history of safety. But recently, an alarming number of teens are abusing this medicine and causing serious damage to their bodies. It is often readily available in the home medicine cabinet, and they think because it’s found in over-the-counter medicines that it must be harmless. Taken in recreational doses, far exceeding recommended doses, dextromethoraphan can cause serious, irreversible organ damage, even death. Unfortunately many parents have no idea this is happening.
via The Partnership for a Drug-Free America
June 11th, 2007 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
In a recent study, new users who took the street drug Ecstasy for a mean of 1.6 months at low cumulative doses showed a decline in verbal recall and recognition. This study adds to the growing evidence that Ecstasy is neurotoxic to humans.
via Archives of General Psychiatry
February 12th, 2007 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
Recently, Yale researchers conducted a systematic review of 34 studies that evaluated the effect of marijuana smoking on pulmonary function and respiratory complications. This investigation revealed that long term, smoking marijuana has many of the same effects as smoking cigarettes, such as coughing and wheezing.
via Archives of Internal Medicine
November 30th, 2005 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
A study involving new techniques for brain imaging strongly suggest that marijuana use is a risk factor for schizophrenia. Researchers have identified a brain region affected by both schizophrenia and marijuana use that is still developing during adolescence. This area is responsible for speech development, language interpretation and several other higher order functions. This language/auditory pathway continues to develop during adolescence, and is thus most susceptible to the neurotoxins introduced into the body through marijuana use.
via Radiological Society of North America
August 24th, 2005 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
Easier to manufacture and cheaper to use than cocaine, methamphetamine abuse has reached epidemic proportions and the devastating effects are taking a toll across America.
Immediately after smoking or injection, the user experiences an intense pleasurable sensation that lasts only a few minutes. After the initial euphoric “rush,” there is typically a state of high agitation that in some individuals can lead to violent behavior. Other possible immediate effects include increased wakefulness and insomnia, decreased appetite, irritability/aggression, anxiety, nervousness, convulsions and heart attack.
Meth is highly addictive, and users can develop a tolerance quickly, needing larger amounts to get high. In some cases, users forego food and sleep and take more meth every few hours for days, ‘binging’ until they run out of the drug or become too disorganized to continue. Chronic use can cause paranoia, hallucinations, repetitive behavior (such as compuslively cleaning, grooming or disasembling and assembling objects), and delusions of parasites or insects crawling under the skin. Users can obsessively scratch their skin to get rid of these imagined insects. Long-term use, high dosages, or both can bring on full-blown toxic psychosis (often exhibited as violent, aggressive behavior). This violent, aggressive behavior is usually coupled with extreme paranoia. Meth can also cause strokes and death.
via Partnership for a Drug-Free America
October 21st, 2003 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
There is a serious drug problem in this country, and marijuana is a much bigger part of the problem than most people realize. Marijuana is harmful and it is addictive. More young people are now in treatment for marijuana dependency than for alcohol or for all other illegal drugs combined.
via U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services
