AHS Views

Massachusetts and the rest of the North East have prescription drug addiction problems, along with the heroin addiction, and some doctors are getting rich preying on these addicts instead of getting them the addiction help they need.

According to a recent article, doctors are charging up to $3000 for the first visit, and hundreds for subsequent visits, just to examine the addict and give them a prescription for Suboxone, a drug used to suppress withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings.

Doctors are meeting patients in parking lots and telling them to come to the back door of their house to sell Suboxone prescriptions.

The cost of a safe medical drug detox and good addiction help at a rehab would be far less, and they would really get the addict off drugs.

If the addicts coming to these doctors knew they could go through a drug detox to help them get off drugs, and then get further addiction help at a drug rehab, they wouldn’t need to pay thousands of dollars to stay on Soboxone. They could go through a two-step process and become drug free.

It’s unfortunate that parents and friends don’t realize what they are doing by paying this sort of doctor instead of insisting the addict live drug free. Doctors who would prey on addicts certainly have confusions about the Hippocratic code. Parents should do whatever they can to get their kids the addiction help they need and turn the doctors who are extorting money from them over the DEA or the police.

All over the country there are unprincipled doctors using their licenses to get rich by prescribing drugs such as OxyContin or Soboxone to desperate addicts.

The important thing for families to remember is there is an option of a safe drug detox to get someone through withdrawal and physically fit. And they can then get further addiction help in drug rehab.

Not only is it the best thing to do, it would actually be cheaper than paying a doctor thousand of dollars for a visit and a prescription.

Dealing with addiction is hard –the first thing you have to do to get it out of your life is a little research, and then get help. If you need have a problem with addiction to prescription painkillers, or heroin, don’t go to an unethical doctor who will take advantage of your situation. Contact Addiction Help Services and they can help you find the real addiction help you need.

Now is the time to find addiction help for marijuana: New research out of the United Kingdom, compiled from earlier studies on the long term effects of cannabis use, shows that cannabis use increases the risk of developing psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia. Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug. In the US and UK, government research shows that around 40% of young adults have used it. Earlier research has suggested that marijuana use is linked to symptoms including paranoia, hearing voices, and so on. Before you or someone you care about falls into this category, find the addiction help you need.

The research cites thirty-five studies, lasting from one to 27 years. These confirmed the suspected link between cannabis use and increased incidence of psychosis. In order to address claims that some participants of the study may have already had psychotic tendencies which then led them to marijuana use, any participant in any of the studies with pre-existing mental health issues was excluded from the study.

The research is shaky, but who wants to take the chance? It might be a better idea to get addiction help soon rather than waiting for the results. Proponents of the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes would likely disregard this type of research. Rick Rawson, a professor at UCLA, suggests that the issue has been a point of tremendous debate and controversy for a long time and that science gets mixed together with personal views on the subject.

Glyn Lewis from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom says, “Although you cannot be certain that the cannabis is causing this increase in risk, we think there is enough evidence to warn people.”  In fact, the way the numbers play out, there is a 41% greater chance of suffering from those disorders for someone who has used cannabis than for someone who has never used it.

Take this information to heart, don’t wait to find out the potential results of using marijuana. Get help now. Contact Addiction Help Services to find the addiction help you need.

Addiction help for your cat or your kids? It sounds like it could be funny – but it’s not. Palo Alto High School is in California is a mile from Stanford University and about six miles from Internet juggernaut Google. I would think that in a place like Palo Alto, students would be intelligent and would think things through. But, in this case, I am not sure anyone is really thinking at all. They’re giving drugs to their pets. Should someone tell an animal rights activist and let a group picket Palo Alto High School, or should we just get some addiction help for the kids so they won’t be tempted to give drugs to their pets?

I am certain in Palo Alto a group like that exists and would protest heavily any cruelty to animals.

The cat looks small and the high school students are 14, 15 and 16. Lindsey luckily knows that giving her cat meth would be a bad choice. Apparently some of the students think that ecstasy is ok, but Carson draws the line at acid. “I don’t think it’s bad to give my dog marijuana or any such thing” says Carson. Sheesh, what are you thinking Carson?  You are abusing your dog’s rights.

I guess freshman Lindsey can talk to her cat - she blew marijuana smoke in her cat’s face and knew the cat liked it - there is no other explanation. Lindsey, this may be a surprise but you also are abusing your cat’s rights, no matter what the cat says.

The students, one for one, didn’t think there should be any laws opposing this behavior. But what about their rights, kids?

Then there is Dave, a senior who gave his cat whiskey and watched him stumble around drunk. Susan says her dog ate a sack of marijuana, she doesn’t know how he got it but she, at least, let him sleep.

One voice of reason, Dan Schwartz says “it’s not fair because animals can’t make their own decisions about whether or not to take drugs.,

My guess would be that one or more of these kids will end up with either a drug or alcohol addiction problem. Dave the senior could be fifty-fifty on becoming an alcoholic.

Don’t think because Palo Alto is an affluent area addiction help won’t be needed. If you find yourself wondering what to do about friend or family call Addiction Help Services, we will try and help.

Handlng the drug and alcohol problem is not only about finding the best or most successful alcohol and drug rehab, it is also about getting people educated about the dangers of prolonged alcohol and drug abuse. Without it, the need for addiction help services isn’t likely to decrease.

While we are not an education site per se, we do understand the necessity of educating people on this subject. As a society, our best chance of limiting drug and alcohol abuse is to provide the necessary education to young people. The opportunity for education presents itself in school, homes, religious centers and sports teams - for a start.
 
When 50% of high school students aren’t afraid of prescription drugs, there is something wrong with the way the drug education is being presented. The number of people abusing and addicted to prescription drugs is unacceptably high – higher than those using other drugs, in fact - and should be addressed. Teaching kids about prescription drugs should be part of any drug education.

If you were able to get the number from 50% to 90% you might have a better chance of shrinking the addiction help industry.

When it comes to other drugs and alcohol, how many students in your high school actually know and realize that drug and alcohol use is dangerous? There have been a lot of articles recently about drug use being down, except for prescription drugs of course, but I seriously doubt fewer people will end up needing treatment.
 
We see the realities of drug and alcohol abuse everyday, more and more parents are calling for younger people all of the time.
 
The more you educate people on drug and alcohol the less addiction help will be needed.

Have I missed the mark?

Mr. Donald Fehr could take some lessons from Andrew Demetriou, chief executive of the Australian Football League. Mr. Demetriou gave a speech that any executive would be proud of. In it he described a party where 80 young people were dealt with by the police: 14 had overdosed, 36 were sent to addiction help, and 3 were arrested for dealing.

I believe his quotes are worth reading: “It shows how the problem is all around us and it shows why all of us - individually and collectively - have to do what we can to battle the scourge of drug use in the community,” he said. “I want to make it clear that this is not my area of expertise. This is a complex area requiring a complex response and neither I, nor anyone at the AFL, have any claims to being an expert in this area.”

Expert or not, Mr. Demetriou is willing, and is committed to help handle the problem. Mr. Demetriou has his priorities and that of the AFL lined up to help his community. Commissioner Selig has the same, I would say.

The players union under the direction of Mr. Fehr seems to be confused about the purpose of a drug free environment and why you want to achieve that. Mr. Fehr’s unwillingness to support a drug free environment is causing him to throw his hat in with drug dealers and pushers. While he may want to protect baseball players, he is not taking into account the harm done to the rest of the community and the country as a whole.

The time will come when someone from Mr. Fehr’s circle of friends or a loved one will be ravaged by alcohol or drug addiction.

Commissioner Selig is taking the appropriate steps to handle baseball and Mr. Fehr should get out of the way.

I am a baseball fan and in support of drug free sports, at Addiction Help Services we see the effects that drugs have on communities and would like to see M.L.B. go in the direction of the Australian Football League.

The problem with addiction and sports is like spy versus spy in Mad Magazine: nobody is getting ahead. The first step in dealing with drugs and young people is education, but I can’t figure where the player’s union is on the issue of prescription drugs or whether or not players are going to get addiction help.

If you go to MLB.com and read through Mr. Mitchell’s Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of An Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances, it is pretty obvious that the players’ union wants little to do with a drug free environment. Mr. Fehr, head of the union, granted one interview, and offered no immediate help or a solution. Perhaps Mr. Fehr doesn’t want a drug free environment and doesn’t want the players to get addiction help – not an attitude I can root for.

The amount of addiction help that has been needed and will be needed in this country can’t be blamed on baseball, yet the players union is certainly contributing to the idea that prescription drugs are safe.

While past performance is no guarantee of future performance you can bet that whatever Commissioner Selig proposes, Donald Fehr will be there to stop it.

Prescription drug addiction and abuse is a plague, and it needs to be dealt with. Mr. Fehr should wake up. Commissioner Selig wants to put a stop on drug abuse in baseball and I hope he is successful. The players union should get behind the effort. If not Mr. Fehr, perhaps the players themselves should step up.

I am sure I don’t have all of the information Mr. Fehr has, but granting only one interview is pathetic. Maybe Mr. Fehr doesn’t read his local newspaper, or perhaps he hasn’t been apprised of the problems prescription drugs are creating with the youth of America. If not, one of his “advisors” should let him in on the secret. There is a problem with steroid abuse among young hopeful athletes.

Concerning the players that did take drugs for performance, if they have a World Series ring, take it away. And remove their names from the rosters of the champions. And you could take away the trophy from the club house. Tell the owners they will be treated like any other athlete who cheats in the Olympics, they lose their medals.

Players should realize they can help the situation and stand up to demand a drug free work place.

Mr. Fehr should be pushing to ensure that athletes get the addiction help they need, and should be doing everything he can to give them a drug free work place. Commissioner Selig should continue to push his plan forward. Oh, yes, and where will the owners be in all this? Let’s wait and find out.

Drug abuse and the need for addiction help services in professional sports is nothing new, maybe this report will be a step towards correcting that issue and making athletes perform “au natural”. Less addiction treatment will be needed when baseball players and other athletes are setting an example that young people can look up to and emulate.

A person ingesting poisons to get high is not a big surprise, using all sorts of natural or chemical based substances has been going on for decades. However, finding a frog that comes from the Colorado River, bringing it home, and using it to get high does sound unique. It also got David S. Theisss, 21, from Kansas City, arrested. I don’t know what other drugs David has been taking, but if it’s come down to ‘toad smoking’, chances are he could use some addiction help.

Copyright © 2003 Albert Most

Lucky for David, he may not have had to leave Kansas to purchase his little amphibian, but I hope he has read enough about this creature to know it could cause paralysis or death!

It is probably unlikely that you will find your kids buying frogs on line but if they do it’s probably best to get the origins checked out.

It’s hard to know what is the humane thing to do with the frog if it does end up as a family pet:you can’t really release it into the wild unless you live near its natural habitat – which, for this frog, is California or Mexico - and certainly the back yard is out of the question. You wouldn’t want a toddler or the family dog deciding to play with this little guy. I wonder if David lives alone or has any younger brothers or sisters who were at any risk to be poisoned by the toad.

It’s hard to get too worked up about a toad when so many people are becoming addicted to prescription drugs. Certainly using this toad, which is not a prince, to get high is an activity for a specialist. But, really, when things go that far, I do think it’s a good idea to look into the possibility of getting some addiction help.

More alcohol and inhalants are used by the 9 to 15 crowd than toads and that is a far bigger problem, especially since alcohol and inhalants are also hard-to-control everyday household items.

Hallucinogens are dangerous just like any other drug, and this frog is no exception.
Hopefully, people will drop this particular idea and let the frog live in his natural habitat.

Addiction help services will be available when the croaking stops.

Drug addiction help will be needed by more adults as teens graduate from high school and enter college. With 50 percent of high school students thinking prescription drugs are safe because they come from the doctor, the prescription drug problem can only get worse. And even more people will be checking into drug detox and drug rehab for prescription drug addiction help.

One study said that 40 percent of kids think prescription drugs are safer than street drugs, but when the Drug Czar spoke last week in Tampa, Florida, he said the number was actually 50%.when it comes to high school students.

High school students don’t seem to be particular when choosing a drug, Adderall, Vicodin, OxyContin, and Xanax are mentioned frequently. Prescription drug addiction is definitely going to be a problem for tens of millions of people in the future and those people will need addiction help services just as if they were on cocaine or heroin.
 
The drugs are available from friends and in many families’ medicine cabinets. If they aren’t available there, many students buy them on campus - Ritalin and Adderall on any high school campus go for $2 a pill.

Locking up your medicine cabinet will help, keeping track of your prescriptions and your kids’ prescriptions will also help.

Although everyday use of opiates or benzodiazepines will cause addiction sooner rather then later, drug addiction may come about slowly for some and quickly for others. As everyone metabolizes drugs differently, addiction doesn’t depend on taking a drug for a certain length of time, or at a certain dosage.

The hardest drugs to withdraw from, and the ones that need the most medical attention, are opiates (Vicodin and OxyContin) and anti-anxiety drugs such as Xanax and Valium. Addiction help services for those drugs almost always requires drug detox prior to drug rehab.

Facing up to drug addiction in the family can be very difficult – we see it every day. But if someone needs addiction help services, the sooner they get it the higher the chance of recovery and you could be saving their life. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Not too many people paid an awful lot of attention to methadone when it was used primarily as a substitute drug for heroin addicts. But now that it’s used as a painkiller and the death toll is rising, it’s in the news. Perhaps the increase in methadone-related deaths will prompt the right people to realize what an abomination methadone ‘treatment’ really is and heroin addicts may start to get the addiction help they need instead of being put onto another addictive, dangerous drug.

What took them so long? I suspect that junkies dying didn’t come as a surprise to anyone, and wasn’t particularly newsworthy. You don’t see too many stories about how many junkies are dying from methadone, although the number of methadone-related deaths have been about double those related to heroin. And many more people take heroin than methadone.

Thinking of getting into a methadone maintenance program? If someone is telling you that’s the way to go, forget it. Contact a medical drug detox program that can get you through withdrawal and into drug rehab. And if you’re already on methadone, do the same. You don’t have to settle for replacing one drug addiction for another. Get the addiction help services you need.

The O.S.U. student body needs some drug education and possibly drug addiction help.

Nearly 10% of the students or 2000 of them showed up at O.S.U.’s Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center for assessments during the past year.

Linda Meyers the centers coordinator said one in five admitted to taking Addrell, and that number is more then likely low. There are other surveys that state one third of college students are abusing prescription stimulants (Ritalin or Adderral).

Linda Meyers said she noticed the use of Adderall and other prescription drugs rising to “dangerous levels” at the school.

If 10% of the student body went to the abuse center for help, what percentage of the student body needs help but didn’t seek it? The issue also becomes something that parents should be made aware of. You could highlight something about drug problems in the school in an informational pack for all new or old students and you could have kids sign a consent form that allows the school to call their parents if a problem with drug or alcohol arises.

The binge drinking, prescription pain killers and marijuana use combined with the abuse of speed is something that needs to be addressed in campuses all over the country not just Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Adderall and Ritalin are two drugs that are just like cocaine, 50% of the student body thinks they are safe because the drugs are made by a pharmaceutical company. The issue of safety or drug abuse never comes up when you are getting them from a friend.
As a student you may not know which of your friends has a problem with drugs or alcohol but if you do, getting them into a drug rehab or some form of addiction help could change how they spend the rest of their lives.

Image Provided By Mike Adams