USING DRUGS TO CURE DRUG ADDICTION

Doesn't sound like it makes much sense, does it? How could injecting a drug take away an addiction to another drug? 

Vaccines to help guide recovery in nicotine, cocaine, heroin and meth addictions are in the works. Doctors have actually already seen a 38% reduced use of cocaine in addicts with the use of one of these new vaccines.

They work by stimulating the body’s immune system and creating antibodies that adhere to the abused drug and prevent it from reaching the brain. This process will inhibit the abused drug from creating a 'high' which is the characteristic in drugs people get addicted too. We start to crave the next 'high' and thus, abuse substances to achieve such. Without the ‘high’ in place we will no longer feel the need to continue use of addictive substances.

So what is the likelihood that vaccines for drug addiction will actually hit the market?

Legal and financial barriers seem to be set in place, but the government looks to fund a large clinical trial of a nicotine vaccine based on the findings of the cocaine vaccine. Recent scientific developments have shown enough promise of these vaccines to continue work, but only the nicotine vaccine has promise of reaching the market in the near future.

What do you think about these scientific findings? Should they be considered a medical advancement? Or are they a setback, in that, they are justifying injecting another foreign substance that alters the body’s natural processes?

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SONG LYRICS AND STIMULANTS

Stimulants are a class of drugs that work on the brain to temporarily increase physical or psychological abilities and functions.

Stimulants make the user more alert and aware, talkative and energetic. There are many drug stimulants, including caffeine and nicotine, but let’s take a closer look at crack and crack cocaine.

Crack and crack cocaine are illegal and highly addictive stimulants, and quite often addictive from the first dose.  The original level and duration of pleasurable sensations are almost never achieved, no matter how much cocaine is used in the future.

During laboratory studies, all tested animals became addicted to cocaine.  In one study a monkey had to press a bar to receive a dose of cocaine.  After a dose was given by pressing the bar, no more cocaine was available by repeating the same action, but the monkey pressed the bar 12,800 more times until another dose was given.  12, 800!  Addiction. Sadly, humans become their own personal lab experiments when they become addicted to drugs or alcohol.

There are so many street names for cocaine that it would take paragraphs to list them all.  This alone indicates the widespread use and effects of cocaine. 

Cocaine can be sniffed or injected, smoked, or ever rubbed into the skin. Crack cocaine is the crystallized form of cocaine. 

Internationally know guitarist and balladeer Eric Clapton is a recovering addict and alcoholic.  He made famous the JJ Cale song “Cocaine”, but in his concerts makes clear that it was written as—and still is— an anti-drug song that emphasizes the physical, social and emotional destruction of cocaine, and that cocaine use will keep you from getting back everything that you’ve managed to lose in your life because of it:  family, job, security, friends, health or a future. 

Cocaine effects on the body over time

• Increases the heart rate, blood pressure and temperature, all of which cause heart and tissue damage
• Nose bleeds or holes in the partition that separates the nostrils:  sniffing cocaine causes scarring and damage to the nose tissues 
• Breathing problems—wheezing and even bleeding of the lungs (“crack lung”)
• Neurological damage that can cause body jerking, eye blinking and other symptoms (often called “crack dance”)
• Seizures and strokes 

Cocaine and crack cocaine addiction require professional detox and rehabilitation if a user hopes to regain physical and emotional health. Recovery is possible, but it can't be reached without specialized help. 

View Original Post, Song Lyrics and Stimulants


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OPIOID FATALITIES DAILY IN MASSACHUSETTS

Heroin and cocaine are the most commonly used drugs of abuse and addiction in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with prescription drug abuse on the rise.  

A recent study by the Bay State reveals that at least two citizens daily die from opiate-related overdoses, and state authorities take these statistics very seriously, recognizing that the numbers are just a stand-in for the human stories behind them. 

Homeless statistics in Massachusetts and many other states show a direct correlation between drug use and homelessness. This is a rock-bottom point for many addicts and alcoholics. 

Use of alcohol by children under the age of 18 is also on the rise in Massachusetts, with over 80% of high school students admitting to having had at least one alcoholic drink. Another study reveals that 33% of 12-20 years olds say they have had alcohol in the last month.  Scary statistics, considering the fact that alcohol use is often combined with an automobile and a driver with only a few years of experience. 

While the statistics in Massachusetts are sobering, it is a state that recognizes the importance of increasing readily available drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation services to citizens of all ages, and has solid implementation of a wide variety of programs

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