One problem that occurs when many researchers study one topic in different ways over time is that the results can often be confusing, or contradict each other.  It is hard to deny results when a study clearly lays them out.  But conflicting points of view leaves the rest of us wondering who to trust and what knowledge is correct.  The world of science is constantly growing and changing, and what was once believed to be truth is often disproven through later studies.

The same goes for research about substance abuse and alcoholism.  Scientists are eagerly looking for new information that will aid in the treatment of addiction and why addiction happens in the first place.  Other researchers spend time determining the effects of things like drugs and alcohol on the human body.

Million Women Study
A new study done in the United Kingdom on 1.2 million women concluded that women that drank at least one alcoholic beverage a day had a higher risk of certain forms of cancer than those that rarely or never drank.  The Million Women Study, which lasted 7 years, followed the women’s alcohol intake and also recorded those that were diagnosed with cancer.  These researchers concluded that almost 13% of cancer of the liver and rectal and breast cancer may have been caused by alcohol.  They also state that the type of alcohol: beer, wine, or mixed drinks, doesn’t change the outcome when cancer is concerned.  Researchers are not clear about why there may be a link between alcohol consumption and cancer, but it may have to do with estrogen levels that are raised with alcohol intake.

While this study was very large and thorough with the numbers, there are those people that are left wondering about the results.  Some believe that other factors, such as what else the subjects were doing to take care of (or harm) their health should be considered.  We aren’t told whether or not the women were overweight, or ate healthy foods, or exercised.  What if those women that drink alcohol regularly are less likely to take care of their health in general?

With so many questions, there will likely be more research done on this topic before recommendations are made to the public.  In the meantime, we might have to wait and wonder what good or harm alcohol actually does to our bodies.  It is still widely thought that a glass of wine a day can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.  But possibly the best advice is to do everything in moderation.  If a woman can limit her alcohol consumption to a drink or less per day, experts do agree that she will be more likely to see benefits from this than binge drinking.

Sources

Even a little alcohol ups cancer risk in women Feb 24, 2009

Health Buzz: Alcohol Use and Cancer Risk and Other Health News February 25, 2009

Froeber, Jacqyelyne Women’s cancer risk may increase with just a few drinks February 24, 2009

Teens have a history of trying risky behavior, partly because they are learning about life and trying to find their way in the world.  Often times, this spreading of their wings is not harmful.  Sometimes, however, teens get hooked on trends that are downright dangerous, or that will expose them to a world of risky behavior.  Some of the latest risky teen behaviors take place with substances found in their own homes.  The choices that teens make today can affect them for the rest of their lives.

Inhalant Abuse

The use and abuse of inhalants is one of the biggest growing trends among teens today.  Teens inhale anything they can get their hands on, such as aerosol sprays (spray paint, air fresheners, deodorants), solvents (gasoline, glue, markers), and gases (propane tanks, whipped cream dispensers) and the list goes on and on.  Immediate effects of this kind of substance abuse include slurred speech, nausea, lack of coordination, and irritability.  More serious effects are brain damage, liver and kidney failure, heart damage, and potentially, “Sudden Sniffing Death” (SSD).

Over the Counter Drug Abuse

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a cough suppressant found in many over the counter cold medications.  When taken as directed, it works to sooth a cough.  But many teens today are taking this medication and other over the counter medications (motion sickness pills, acetaminophen, and ephedrine) in large doses in order to get high.  Immediate effects include euphoria, loss of coordination, hallucinations, and possibly seizure and brain damage.  Overdose is a very possible effect.

Prescription Drugs

Teens have also been getting away with taking their own family members’ prescription drugs, such as OxyContin, Valium, and Adderall.  In many schools, officials are facing the problem of teens bringing stashes of these drugs to school to sell to their friends.  Kids are also able to order prescription drugs at home from their family’s computer.  A growing percentage of teens have experimented with prescription drugs.

Gateway Drugs

Teens who start out with trying something fun and new with their friends because they are bored and unsupervised at home can quickly become addicted to the “high” they get.  Teens that regularly abuse household substances are more likely to try harder drugs, in an attempt to get a better high, or to try something more dangerous and thrilling.  Prescription drugs, inhalants, and over the counter medications have been dubbed “gateway drugs” because of the likelihood that they lead to more dangerous drug abuse.

Parents need to be vigilant about what their kids are doing and who they are hanging out with.  If teens are left unsupervised, the temptation will be there to try these things.  All of the kids are talking about it, and the internet and pop culture have a wealth of information (good and bad) for your teens.  Parents need to educate themselves about these risks, and then educate their kids.  Teens should know that they can go to their parents with questions or concerns they might have, and get reliable information.

Sources

Shook, Jennifer Cough suppressants can be big problem 2/23/09

Ivers, Marianne Risky teen trends: Parents, don’t be in denial February 11, 2009

Schimelpfening, Nancy Inhalant Abuse July 28, 2008

http://www.theantidrug.com/DRUG_INFO/drug_info_inhalants.asp

There can be many fingers pointed, and blame placed when a parent discovers their teen has been doing drugs.  Some would say it is the fault of a bad group of friends, or drug dealers that target kids, or not enough information given out at school or by the government.  But study after study has shown that parents are actually (or should be) the biggest influence on their children.  Therefore, it would make sense that part of the responsibility for a child staying drug-free lies with the parent.

A difficult topic
Some kids grow up in households where the parents don’t have a close relationship with their kids, and in these cases, it is difficult to even bring up the subject of drugs.  Other parents, with good intentions, simplify their talks and make them ineffective.  Just telling your teen to “Just say no” may not give them enough guidance or information, and it certainly doesn’t open up the lines of communication for when the teen is pressured to try drugs.

Open and honest
Another problem many parents are facing today is the guilt of their own past drug use.  Parents don’t want to be hypocritical with their teens, and they don’t want to lie.  A new campaign from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America this year is advising parents to be upfront with their teens about past drug use, but to do it in a cautious way.  Kids appreciate their parents confiding in them and being honest.  It’s ok to say you tried drugs, but then also say how or why you came clean.  Let your teen know that drugs are harmful to their health and family, and you stopped using them because you had hopes and dreams you wanted to fulfill.  Kids are influenced by pop culture and friends and too many places that glamorize drug abuse.  Parents can be honest about the effects of drugs, especially if they experienced them firsthand.

Not everyone would agree with this open and honest technique.  There are some that say if kids knew their parents did drugs, it might make it seem ok, because their parents turned out alright.

Either way, experts agree that parents need to have more conversations with their teens about drugs and alcohol.  Be aware of the risks, and the fact that teens today can go into almost any medicine cabinet in town (possibly even your own) and get prescription drugs.  Be aware that there is still peer-pressure to do drugs, and that unfortunately, certain drugs, like marijuana, are still pretty much accepted in society.  All these things make it difficult for a teen to resist trying drugs when exposed to them.  Teens need to stand strong when pressured to try drugs.  This strength comes from education about the risks of drug and alcohol abuse, and from parents they can go to for questions or advice.

Sources

Palmer, Kathleen Pot Debate Marijuana as gateway drug – is it still one? Was it ever? February 9, 2009

Oliviero, Helena Have you used drugs?  Kids should know January 28, 2009

Marijuana Policy Project

OPINION: Lying To Your Kids About Drugs Does More Harm Than Good 2/18/09

http://www.theantidrug.com

Help Your Loved One With Addiction

There are so many frightening stories out there of parents that have lost their teen to drug use.  Parents need to be aware of their teen’s friends and activities, as well as the potential risks for kids these days.  We have listed five of the most common substances that are abused by teens.

1. Marijuana:  Weed, pot, grass; it’s the same drug that many of the older generations used when they were young.  Perhaps that’s why marijuana is the most commonly used drug today.  “Everyone else is doing it, and our parents probably experimented with it.”  But the marijuana used today is more potent than the marijuana of the past, and the fact that many kids are trying it at a younger age means that these kids will be more likely to move on to a more powerful substance as they get older.  Plenty of lives have been wrecked by marijuana; it is not a drug to be taken lightly.
2. Prescription drugs: An estimated 20% of teens have used prescription drugs to get high.  This growing trend among teens and pre-teens is troubling because of how easy it is to obtain these drugs.  Most kids can open up their parents’ bathroom cabinet and have their choice of drugs.  Parents have been slow to catch on to this trend, and now the abuse of prescription drugs is a serious problem in schools.  Teens have begun having “pharming parties” where everyone brings a stash from their home and shares with the group.
3. Ecstasy: This drug is popular among the dance club scene and now is being marketed to kids.  With stamps of cartoon characters on them and their cheap selling price, this stimulant drug has become a popular past time among teens.
4. Inhalants:  Another danger in most homes is the presence of inhalants.  Teens and pre-teens have begun sniffing or huffing certain chemicals or household items in order to get high.  Often, teens don’t see this as being anything more than a game, and certainly don’t see it as being harmful.
5. Cocaine and heroin: These potent stimulants are causing growing concern for parents and law enforcement.  Often teens that start out with some of these other substances soon move on to more hard-core drugs, such as heroin.  Highly addictive, these stimulants cause such a high feeling that users are left looking for more.  The lives of many adults and teens have been ruined by these drugs.

A factor that is seen in many of these top substances is that teens don’t see the use of these them as being serious or harmful.  Teens are still learning and growing, there are many things they just don’t know.  Parents need to talk with their kids about drugs, and warn them about the severity of these substances.  Maybe with a little more time spent in education and prevention, these trends would not continue to surface among our teens.

Sources

Kowalski, Steve Cost, appearance of drugs appeal to teens January 25, 2009

Van Hollen, J.B. For teens, drug abuse genie is out of the prescription bottle 2/16/09

Ivers, Marianne Risky teen trends: Parents, don’t be in denial February 11, 2009

Drug Review A brief review of the most common drugs used by teens

Sometimes we feel helpless when it comes to acknowledging our thanks to the men and women in the armed services that have served in combat to protect our country.  We might even wonder what we can do to give our support to these troops, or how we can help them out.  One thing the government and veterans would suggest is to help find a way to end the long-term effects of war on the minds of soldiers.  One way to do this is to provide more mental health professionals to help with the issues service members deal with every day.

Mental Ailments Increasing
War veterans and those still in the service often suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, depression, and thoughts of suicide.  Statistics for these problems have worsened in recent years, and there are those who are pushing for solutions to these problems.

It is estimated that one third of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have mental health problems.  Many of these individuals end up turning to drugs and alcohol to silence their pain.  Returning service members often have a hard time integrating back into life in America with their families, and even those with a good support system can find themselves overcome by substance abuse and suicide.

Reasons for mental health issues and the problems they bring include the stress of being in combat (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), survivor guilt, grief, and Traumatic Brain Injury.  All these can drive people to despair and even alter the brain.  The way to handle these issues is to get professional help.

Seeking Help
However, some worry that there is an overall attitude in the armed forces that seeking help is a bad thing, and some people are working to change that.  Senator McCaskill (MO) met with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) this week in order to push for her initiative aimed at improving prevention and treatment programs for substance abuse.  “The notion that getting help is somehow a black mark on your service needs to be changed,” McCaskill said.

Solutions
In order to assist in the recovery of veterans, IAVA wants to have mandatory screening by a mental health professional for every service member returning from combat.  They also are asking for confidentiality for those seeking treatment.  And the group wants to be approved for advanced funding by Congress, in order to plan ahead each year financially.

The army has already begun to hire additional mental health care professionals (250 more this year), and provide more education on mental health issues for soldiers.  The army has also begun a 5-year collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health to look closely at causes of suicide such as combat, family stress, and long deployments.

Thank a soldier.  Service men and women give their service to our country.  But as a country we need to ask how we can best help our soldiers get their lives back again.

Maze, Rick Lawmaker urges drug abuse treatment for vets Monday Feb 9, 2009

Fattig, Paul PTSD expert offers presentations this week February 10, 2009

Alvarez, Lizette Suicides of Soldiers Reach High of Nearly 3 Decades January 29, 2009

Help for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Abuse

The bleak economy has had many impacts on our lives as Americans.  In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who has not been affected in someway by the financial situation of the last few months.

Money Trouble
Money troubles are being spread to every aspect of life.  People who have invested their hard-earned money over the years are finding that in a matter of weeks, they have lost huge amounts of their savings.  This has led to people not spending as much money, or investing as much, which has led to businesses struggling to stay afloat.  Countless companies are laying off employees, putting these now unemployed people in a far worse financial situation.  A downward cycle has begun, and for many people, the end is nowhere in sight.

Many Turn to Substance Abuse
This time of crisis is especially difficult for people suffering with substance abuse or mental illness.  Aggravated by a poor outlook, people are being driven to use drugs or alcohol to ease their worries, and suicide is a very real thought for some.  Suicide rates are predicted to increase two to three times in the next year because of the current economy.  Other problems, such as domestic violence, depression, and child neglect, are also increasing.  The more on-edge and upset people get about their financial situation, the less control they have and the more these problems seem to surface.

Treatment Trouble
Substance abuse treatment facilities have seen a big increase in the number of patients in the last few months.  Usually it is not during the good days that a person tries to get sober, but rather during the really low times.  Some facilities have had to accommodate upwards of 30% more patients recently.

While it is good for people to seek help and treatment, it is becoming more and more difficult for some places to give that treatment.  Government funding has decreased in many cases, and unemployment or loss of benefits has made it difficult for some patients to pay their bills.  Hospitals and some clinics have been forced to cut staff to keep up with the economic times; decreasing the number of patients they are able to help.

Other patients are feeling helpless because they know their employer will not hold their job for them while they go through treatment, or they know there won’t be any new jobs out there if they would quit or lose their job.  This has caused some people to avoid treatment or at least avoid inpatient treatment.

Hope for the Future
It is important to remember that there is help out there for those suffering with substance abuse or mental illness.  Hotlines are available for those in a desperate situation, and there are many facilities that are able to provide effective treatment for addiction and mental illness.  Now is the time for families to encourage one another and work together to get needed help, because it will be much easier to weather this economic storm being sober.

Sources
Thurber, Kathleen Substance abuse counselor says slow economy means increased clientele January 30, 2009

McCoppin, Robert Economy swamps suburban hospitals with depression, substance abuse 11/20/2008

Amoni, Marissa Economy down, demand up at Crisis Line February 8, 2009

Tough Economy Increases Suicide, Family Violence

Ever feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle?  That’s how law enforcement and groups like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) must feel right about now.  A growing group of defense lawyers for people accused of drunk driving are able to find loopholes in the system and get the judge or jury to acquit their client of DUI.  If a person is innocent, of course they should be acquitted.  But when all evidence supports the fact that a person was driving drunk, it’s not doing anyone any favors to let the person go — free and clear.

Four cases were recently in the news and many more go unnoticed every year.  In each of these cases, a driver was impaired by alcohol, as was proven through blood test or a breathalyzer.  However, the lawyers were able to find some way to convince the judge to either throw that evidence out, or let other factors overshadow the evidence of the blood-alcohol level.

Case A: A man in Winnipeg was accused of drunk driving.  The breathalyzer test came up with blood-alcohol level over .08.  But the defense argued that the breathalyzer sample was taken too long (89 minutes) after the man was pulled over.  According to Criminal Code, the test must be done “forthwith or as soon as practicable”.  Man goes free.

Case B: A man in Iowa was arrested for drunk driving.  The defense asked for an acquittal because the prosecution could not prove the man was the one driving the vehicle.  Judge forgot that the man admitted to being the driver and acquitted him.  Judge realized his mistake, but double jeopardy law prevented him from overruling his own acquittal.  Man goes free.

Case C: Three vehicles in Ohio ended up in a crash that killed one man.  The man who died had a blood-alcohol level of .228, while the other two were sober.  Even though the drunk driver was driving recklessly and crashed into a car that was turning in front of him, the man in the turning vehicle was accused of vehicular manslaughter.  Jury wasn’t allowed to hear the drunk driver’s blood-alcohol level, because the judge agreed that it wasn’t a factor.  Another few lives ruined by drunk driving.

Case D: A man in Wisconsin was seen driving at high speeds on the wrong side of a highway, and fled police when chased.  The man crashed his car into pole and was unconscious when police caught up to him.  When the man was taken to hospital, his blood-alcohol level was .259.  The defense argued that the police didn’t have reason to arrest the man for drunk driving in the first place, so the blood-alcohol level should not be brought in as evidence.  Judge agrees and man goes free.

Isn’t there something we can do to prevent these types of cases from crowding our court system?

Sources

Brodbeck, Tom Silly technicalities February 3, 2009

Danielson, Darwin Iowa Supreme Court says double jeopardy applies in Muscatine OWI case January 30, 2009

Dyer Bob Justice system fails on sobriety Jan 21, 2009

Supreme Court accepts two new cases January 20, 2009

It can seem like a big task to find just the right drug treatment facility for yourself or a loved one.  With all the different options, it may be hard to choose.  Below is a list of things that are important to consider about each facility on your list.

1. Types of treatment offered: The possibilities are endless, but take a look at the treatment programs and what they entail.  Make sure there are one-on-one counseling sessions, as well as family counseling.  Many facilities have begun offering a wide range of programs in various beautiful locations.  The most important thing, however, is that your treatment facility offers the basic addiction treatment that you are looking for.
2. Drug detox capabilities: For those that are heavily addicted to substances, a detox facility is necessary.  These facilities will have experienced physicians on staff to ensure the safety of the patient while withdrawing from drugs or alcohol.
3. Cost of treatment: Different facilities will charge different rates.  Based on the location of the facility, or the programs offered, there may be some that are more affordable to individuals that have to fit the bill on their own.
4. Insurance coverage or payment plan: Many major insurance carriers and employers will cover the cost of drug abuse treatment.  It is important to make sure your plan and the facility will work together.
5. Success rate: If you are going to select a treatment facility, you want to know that they are able to consistently produce the results you want.  Don’t be shy about asking for success rate statistics.
6. Credentials: Check the credentials of the facility and the staff to make sure the proper licenses are in place.  In general, a facility that is accredited will have fulfilled more requirements than one that has only applied for a basic license.
7. After or extended care: Research has shown that individuals are more likely to stay sober after completing a longer treatment program, such as extended care.  Effective treatment facilities will have measures in place to continue to help their patients succeed after they complete the basic programs.
8. Groups of people treated: Some facilities only treat certain age groups or gender.  Check to see if there are any requirements on age, or if there are special programs for certain demographics at your facility of choice.
9. Dual diagnosis: A fairly new approach to treating addiction is to also diagnose and treat mental illness that may be occurring.  Research has shown that substance abuse and mental illness often go hand in hand; leading many facilities to now treat both conditions together.
10. Typical Length of stay: You will want to know how long you can expect to be in rehab, so look at the typical length of stay at your facility.  Keep in mind, however, that each patient is different, and it would be better to stay in a facility for a longer period of time and come out sober, than rush through a program unsuccessfully.

Sources

http://www.michaelshouse.com/drug-rehab/

http://www.thecyn.com/

http://www.phoenixhouse.org/National/About/PhoenixFacts.html