When will we learn that, as cute and talented as they are, child stars often struggle with drugs, failure, and bankruptcy later in life? Another former child star has died, and drugs are the suspected cause. Corey Haim, the teenage heartthrob of the 80’s, has died at age 38. Sadly, this death was not a surprise to most.

We’ve seen this too many times before. A child actor realizes young fame, transforming their lives from a normal childhood to one of undivided attention, wealth beyond imagination, and freedom from every day chores and school. We should know this kind of life for an impressionable teenager has its consequences – we’ve witnessed it in numerous lives.

Corey Haim and Drugs

Corey Haim lived this life of conflict. He was known by every teenage girl in the 80’s, and starred in several films, including Lucas and Lost Boys. But sometime after that fame settled, he began taking prescription drugs. Valium was said to be his drug of choice, although he reportedly used others along the way. Fans that kept up with him saw him go from a funny, hyper child to a depressed, incoherent, miserable adult. Other things in Haim’s life began to suffer the effects; he couldn’t land good work, his weight increased drastically, and he went bankrupt. Like so many people addicted to prescription drugs, he didn’t care about other things in his life and his addiction simply got too powerful.

Haim’s drug abuse was evident to anyone who cared to watch. Videos of him doing interviews with slurred speech or garbled words are all over the web. He entered rehab a number of times and claimed to be drug free a few times in the last decade, but he always went back to the drugs. For anyone that has been through the struggles of drug addiction, or watched a loved one go through it, the Corey Haim story publicly depicts the pain a drug addict goes through on a daily basis.

Haim was eventually paired up with Corey Feldman, co-star of the 80’s, for the A&E show “The Two Coreys”. The show documented Haim living in Feldman’s suburban home. At that time Feldman, married with a child, tried to help out Haim, who was struggling with drugs and trying to get his acting back up and going. The show only lasted two seasons, and didn’t seem to improve anything in Haim’s life.

Corey Haim was then rumored to be recruited by Celebrity Rehab for their show, but turned it down, saying he didn’t need the help. Like so many of us, he denied he had a problem or needed real help, until it was too late.

It is tragic that another celebrity has died, reportedly because of drugs. It is more tragic, that we all saw it coming, and no one could do anything to stop it. This is the same sad story of many other people in this world caught up with drug addiction. 

Sources

Still Buddies: 2 Guys With One Name

Corey Haim Dies

Corey Haim, Actor, Dies at 38  

It is well-known that drug abuse and alcoholism have devastating effects on a person. It’s not unusual for someone to lose their job, friends, and family because of an addiction. Some people, however, hit rock bottom, as many would consider it, when they lose everything and become homeless on the streets.

Homeless Camps

Hundreds of homeless people live around nearly every large city on our country. Some areas have become havens for those that are down and out, and sometimes these people form camps or colonies for safety and companionship. Alaska has a group of homeless that live in large parks, hidden among the trees. Other large groups can be found in San Francisco, Denver, and Washington D.C. These camps are not legal, but some municipalities or counties tolerate them simply because they don’t have a better place for these people to go, and if they are kicked out of one area, they will move to another.

These people hide out in forests, or in parks, eating scraps, or begging for food or money. Their beds are benches, or the ground, and they may build fires in garbage cans to keep warm. A few lucky ones will have tents to live in.

Homeless people around the country come from all different backgrounds. Not all were born homeless or even poor. Many of them at one time held decent jobs, some had families; none of them expected to be where they are today. Many of these individuals have something else in common: substance abuse. Statistics are hard to come by, but substance abuse and mental illness play a huge role in many of these people being homeless. Some people got caught up with drugs or alcohol, causing them to lose their jobs, family, and eventually homes. Others spent all their money and energy on getting alcohol, and soon found themselves out on the street. Still others have a form of mental illness that keeps them from living a stable life. In all these situations, these people could not find or would not accept the support and help that would have allowed them to overcome substance abuse or mental illness and lead normal lives.

Help for the Homeless

In order to help these people, we need to provide them with housing, food, and treatment for substance abuse and mental disorders. Once the person is living indoors and does not have to worry about their own personal safety or where their next meal will come from, they can start working on their future.

Many of these people, however, don’t get the treatment they need to get clean when they are homeless. Lack of resources from local authorities has led to poor facilities and programs for these groups. Many homeless people go through the motions of staying at a shelter until their time is used up there, then they move back out to the streets. With the right kind of help, these people can break the cycle and begin putting their lives together.

Sources 

Storyteller takes look at Anchorage’s homeless

Mental illness problems common among homeless

Pastor seeks housing for men living in Montgomery County woods

Even though it is considered by some to be the most harmless illegal drug there is, marijuana still causes a lot of problems. In a handful of states, marijuana is legal for medicinal purposes. This comes after years of advocates pushing for the drug to be legalized for patients, to treat things like chronic pain, nausea, and anxiety. Many people are trying to make marijuana completely legal, but that kind of progression seems pretty far off.

Medicinal Marijuana

For those states that do permit marijuana for medical purposes, authorities are having a hard time enforcing the laws regarding this substance. While they need to and want to maintain the rights of patients, lines are often blurred between medicinal use and recreational use. If police go after pot growers who are supplying for users for illegal recreational purposes, they run the risk of cutting off the supply also for patients who use it legally. Unless you legalize marijuana possession for growers, dispensaries, and distributers, there will be a negative effect on patients. But, if all these other people are allowed into the loop to supply it to patients, you can expect that some will be selling it to others who aren’t patients as well. The way some of these states are enforcing or not enforcing marijuana use has caused havoc for both authorities and patients.

Marijuana and Teens

Many people feel strongly one way or another about the place marijuana holds in our society. There is much support for the legalization of marijuana to relieve pain and distress to patient. But in many ways, even this is causing an obstacle for certain other groups of people, including teens and adolescents, who are easily influenced about things like drugs. A recent study done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) suggests that the medical marijuana issue is causing confusion among teens about the seriousness of marijuana and drugs in general. Many teens today think that marijuana is not that bad for them to use, since it is legal for some patients. The result is that marijuana usage in teens is on the rise again and more teens are even in need of treatment for the habit.

Effects of Marijuana

Then there’s the question of what marijuana does to the mind and body. It may not be as addicting as painkillers, or as life-threatening as heroin, but marijuana does have negative effects on the body. It slows the brain, it effects motor coordination, and it increases heart rate. Over time, marijuana is thought to cause brain damage, including memory loss and learning problems. Some people may deny it, but marijuana also is both physically and psychologically addicting. Part of the danger with marijuana is that it is often seen as so harmless. Many people are drawn into just trying marijuana, but then they find themselves years down the line, still using it, or moving on to more dangerous drugs. Before they know it they have lost control of their lives. We need to set boundaries with this drug, and make it clear to young people that it is dangerous to get caught up with any kind of substance.

Sources

Medical marijuana-The legal questions

Medical-pot bill one political puff away from passage

Medical marijuana blurs lines on dangers for teens

As much as we try to deny differences between different races of people, there are some characteristics that tend to run along ethnic lines. The benefit to identifying these tendencies is that it can help determine where help, education, and prevention are needed most.

SAMHSA Study on African American Drinking

A new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found differences between African Americans and other ethnic groups when it comes to alcohol abuse. African Americans have a lower drinking rate in general – 44% compared to 55.2% of the rest of the population. And they are much less likely to binge drink (25.3% compared to 41.6%) than the general public. However, the rate of illegal drug use among African American adults (9.5%) is slightly higher than the rest of the country (7.9%).

Past studies have also found that the consequences for minorities, including African Americans, that abuse alcohol are often more severe than for other groups. Minority groups are more likely to suffer health problems, legal consequences, and injury because of alcohol consumption.

The SAMHSA study also found that even though they drink less and do it less often, more African Americans are in need of addiction treatment. And among those that do enter treatment, minority groups are less likely to complete a program or see favorable results from the treatment program.

Giving Help to Different Groups

The purpose of these studies is not to simply point out differences between groups of people, but to determine the best way to provide help and prevention techniques. Maybe more education could focus on helping young African Americans stay safe and avoid negative situations when drinking socially, or where to go for help when someone is suffering from addiction. More education should be geared toward Caucasians and college students who are known for dangerous binge drinking.

A little education can go a long way. Programs can be offered in schools, at community centers, and through churches or social organizations. Any group of people that is found to be at a higher risk for substance abuse or to suffer consequences because of substance abuse should be the focus for more prevention campaigns.

Treatment is also vital for different groups of people. For those that have a hard time succeeding in an outpatient treatment program, other programs including residential or more intense outpatient treatment, should be encouraged. For those in low income areas, or those that do not have access to proper addiction treatment, efforts should be made to offer programs in these areas. Studies like the SAMHSA one help determine the best way to offer both prevention techniques and substance abuse help when needed.

Sources

African-American and Hispanic alcohol abusers need more residential alcohol treatment

Study: Blacks Drink Less, But More Likely to Use Illicit Drugs

Alcohol and drug abuse, flu shots and lactose intolerance

Relapse is such a big danger to those attempting sobriety, and it is important that both the rehab facility and the recovering addict have a solid plan in place to help avoid relapse. For recovering addicts that go right back to their old life and friends, the chance of relapse is going to be much higher. Someone breaking free from addiction needs to surround themselves with positive activities, support groups, and continuing treatment for the best chance at success.

Sober Housing

One problem that some patients encounter is finding suitable living conditions. These may be people that lost their house and family because of their drug abuse or alcoholism. It is difficult to rise up from rock bottom, being alone in the world, living on the streets or in a shelter, with no family left for support. These people may break free from drugs with the help of a facility, but for many people, entry back into the real world can be a difficult task. That’s when aftercare housing comes into the picture. Some organizations offer housing specifically for people recovering from drug or alcohol addiction. These may be apartments or multi-level houses that offer a place to live and additional support for those recovering from addiction. This kind of housing is often a great benefit to those working to stay sober because it allows them to be surrounded by others that are recovering, it gives them access to treatment programs and support groups, and it holds them accountable to staying sober. Drug tests are usually mandatory for these housing facilities in order to ensure that residents are keeping their commitment to stay clean. Other benefits to these types of housing may include reduced or free rent for a period of time, and access to things like food banks, clothing donations, and job opportunities.

Encouragement to Stay Sober

Living in an aftercare facility is not necessary for everyone recovering from addiction. Many people are fortunate to still have the support of close family or friends to help and encourage them to stay sober. A family that has gone through treatment together will be stronger and better equipped to help their loved one avoid relapse. But for all the people that have no one close to rely on, aftercare housing is a great option. The fellow residents become their extended family and together these individuals are able to encourage each other to stay clean.

Relapse will still be a problem, even for patients with family or aftercare housing. It is important for treatment programs to continue to work with their patients after rehab, in order to encourage them to remain sober. Support groups are a must, as they offer valuable healing and encouragement on the road to recovery. Recovery is a life-long journey, and the risk will still be there to relapse, but people are able to carry on with a normal life after some time, with the help of support groups along the way.

Sources

Communal Housing Settings Enhance Substance Abuse Recovery

Mass.gov 

Finding a way out

For most visitors, Canada has been the perfect host for this year’s Winter Olympics. They have friendly citizens, top of the line facilities, and beautiful scenery. The weather has been a bit unpredictable, but if that’s the biggest problem with the Olympics this year, the Canadians have put on a pretty winning event.

Marijuana Friendly City 

Vancouver has been successful in keeping their rowdies quiet, not talking too much about their heroin and methamphetamine addicts, and not bringing up their homeless or their crime statistics. It is a lovely place, and people are friendly and very welcoming. In fact, to some people it has been too friendly. While athletes are not allowed to use any kind of drugs, the city of Vancouver has been dubbed a “marijuana friendly city”. Marijuana is not officially legal in British Columbia except for medicinal use, but as long as people are not causing harm because of it, the police will generally not stop them. Many shops line the streets of Vancouver that sell all sorts of drug paraphernalia, including fancy bongs, designer glass hookahs, and other smoking devices. Shops, such as the Cannabis Culture Magazine Shop, are almost commonplace, as well as advertisements for the different kinds of marijuana people can buy.

British Columbia first made a name for itself as a pot smoking area when local athlete Ross Rebagliati tested positive in the 1998 Winter Games, but was not penalized because he claimed he had been exposed to pot at a local Vancouver party. Many locals use marijuana regularly and openly. Vancouver even had a short run of the marijuana Olympics at the Herb Museum in 2008, but that was soon shut down.

Stepping Up Patrols

But just because British Columbia is known for its leniency toward drugs doesn’t mean all the expectations of visitors are going to come true. Much of the marijuana use has slipped underground while visitors are in town. So while pot-minded visitors may be hoping to be allowed or even encouraged to get stoned with the locals, this might not be the case.

Authorities in Vancouver have stepped up security in an effort to protect both safety and the city’s image. Local establishments like the ones at Whistler have seen an increase in police presence, something that is usually minimal. The police force has more than doubled during the Olympics, sending 60 police out to patrol the party scene.

The result is that while normally active bars and establishments are usually jumping on weekends, there has been an apparent lower-keyed atmosphere. Some locals are disappointed that they aren’t able to show the area’s true colors, but for those focused on the competitions at hand, the city is doing a good job of welcoming their guests from around the world.

Near Olympics, Vancouver’s (mostly) legal drug zone

Revelers say Whistler cops are killing the buzz

Let’s talk about that elephant in the closet, BC

Cool Canadians are flying high, and dodging bears while we do it

The 2010 Winter Olympics are underway and along with them comes the task of separating out the true athletes from those that enhance their performance with some kind of substance. These Games are yet another sport that has been tainted by doping athletes. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has been in charge of testing the athletes to find those that are using banned substances.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be an end to sports-related drug abuse, and athletes keep finding new ways to get around the tests. The Olympics are no exception. This year before the start of the Olympics, officials found more than 30 athletes that were positive for banned substances, and as a result, these athletes are not participating this year. This number is down from the Beijing Olympics when more than 70 athletes were kicked out before the competitions began. But many people are concerned that the WADA is not catching all of the doping methods being used these days.

New Methods to Enhance Performance

The world is constantly coming up with new substances to alter the mind or body, and if the committee in charge of testing is not staying current on all the newest substances, they will likely miss something. An example is Johann Muehlegg of Spain, who won three gold metals in the 2002 Winter Olympics for cross country skiing. It was later found that he had been using a new generation of performance enhancers that wasn’t detected in current tests, but he eventually tested positive and was stripped of the metals.

Other athletes and managers are also becoming more sophisticated in their doping methods, in an effort to avoid getting caught. There are new drugs, new forms of old drugs, and ways for athletes to cheat on tests. Some have resorted to storing their own blood and then transfusing it back into their body in time for the testing. It is unfortunate that an entire committee of people has to be designated just to determine what these top-level athletes are using to improve their performances.

Tough Penalties

Some people, however, have been critical of the WADA’s all-encompassing methods. There have been athletes that have been suspended for taking hair loss drugs. But there are also exceptions to the penalties. Just before this year’s Olympics a Russian hockey player tested positive for a substance that was banned in the games, but she will be allowed to compete. Svetlana Terenteva was reprimanded, but allowed to compete because she took a prescription nasal spray for a cold a month before the games.

Sometimes the WADA has no choice but to penalize, but the best results come when the authorities are able to look at each case individually. A new trend in anti-doping agencies has shifted the approach from an all-encompassing process to one that focuses more on the individual athletes.

Sources

Doping’s rise; athletes’ fall

WADA: More than 30 will not compete

Russian official defends player

Unjust Outcomes Under Fire

Valentine’s Day has come and gone, and maybe you feel like you gave your sweetheart that perfect gift, but maybe this wasn’t your best Valentine’s Day. In fact, maybe your honey is not really happy with you right now, and you feel like you disappoint him or her more than you make them smile.

People living in a world of drug addiction or alcoholism often have a hard time staying connected with people they love and care about. It’s not that you don’t love them anymore; it’s just that right now the main thing you are concerned about is getting high again. You are tired of your wife or your family member nagging you to quit the substance or get help, and all you really want to do right now is get more of your drug.

Reasons to Get Sober

Some people need something to really get them motivated to get clean. Interventions, with the help of a trained professional, are often effective ways to convince someone to get help. Sometimes a person needs to hit rock bottom and feel totally helpless before they are ready to admit they have a problem. But other people have other wake-up calls in their lives that put an end to their substance abuse. There are stories of the man who was an alcoholic for most of his life until he met his newborn granddaughter for the first time, and he never drank again. There are those who lose a loved one to cancer or other illness, and it makes them look at life differently, putting an end to their substance abuse.

Sometimes people with an addiction will decide it’s time to get help when they see the plea in their loved one’s eyes.

There has to be a reason why someone with a substance abuse problem becomes willing to call it quits, and it often has to do with how the addiction affects people around them. While many people do get clean because it’s something they want to do for themselves, people are more likely to try to get sober for a loved one.

What a great Valentine’s gift that would be – the gift of their spouse, or son, or daughter back. The gift of a healthy, involved family member back in their life, no longer wasted all the time, but working hard to get their life in shape.

Help is out there. With determination and some hard work, there is hope for those struggling with an addiction right now. We don’t have to wait for a holiday to show our loved ones that we care. Getting help for an addiction is the first step to repairing strained relationships.

Sources 

Addict Learns To Repair Relationship With Son Thanks To Narconon Drug

Michael’s House

Drugabuse.gov

Mexico is a country under pressure right now with wars between the government and drug cartels, as well as between different cartel groups themselves. When Felipe Calderon came to power as the Mexican president in 2006, he declared a war on drug cartels in the country. To do this meant they would stop trying to catch and punish addicts that were dealing drugs to support their own habit. Rather, the focus turned to getting them into treatment for their addiction, while focusing on seizing the big dealers. The result of this is that many drug addicts have been channeled into treatment facilities, but it also has caused drug cartels to get desperate.

War in Treatment Facilities

In the city of Ciudad Juarez last year, just across the border from El Paso, TX, members of the Sinaloa drug cartel opened fire in a rehabilitation clinic. This was just one of many incidents by desperate cartel members. Over the year, numerous attacks were made on either former addicts that were no longer going to be dealing drugs, or on members of other cartels that were recruiting dealers in the clinics. The battlefield has moved from the streets into rehab facilities in Mexico.

Recruiting Recovering Addicts

Drug cartels are now trying to take over the treatment industry in certain cities of Mexico. Their goal is to recruit more drug dealers for their organized crime. Using intimidation, brainwashing, and force, cartels are able control those trying to get out of addiction. Some cartel members check themselves into rundown, unlicensed clinics, posing as patients. After a short time, the cartels take over the clinic and begin to try to convince the patients to go out and sell drugs. If they refuse, the patients are beaten or killed.

Some of these cartel members are successful in recruiting new dealers from rehab facilities. They have the perfect prey; people who often don’t have any close family or friends, are at a low point in their life, and feel they have no place to turn. They often have no money, no hope of a job, and they are easily convinced that they can do no better than deal drugs. With the threat of bodily harm, many people are easy to convince.

The whole situation in Mexico seems almost unbelievable. But many people don’t seem too worked up about it, and think that it is just a last ditch effort by the cartels to gain some power back. While the Mexican government knows their country has a problem with both drugs and crime, they are waiting out the effects of the decriminalization. Other countries, including the United States, are watching this state of affairs closely. Everyone wants to find a good solution to the drug problem, and there will most likely be things our country can learn from the way things are turning out in Mexico.

Sources

17 patients killed in shooting at Mexican drug rehab center 

New Threat to Mexico’s Drug Cartels: Rehab Centers

Mexico drug cartels go into the rehab business

For some people, prescription painkillers are a life saver. They ease acute or chronic pain, they give relief and comfort, and they may even prevent depression or suicide for those that have suffered for so long. It’s unfortunate, therefore, that the abuse of prescription painkillers has caused doubt in so many people’s minds about whether or not these medicines are a good thing or not.

For someone that is having surgery, or had a recent injury, or for some reason is in need of serious pain relief, it may be a hard decision whether or not to seek help from prescription painkillers. For some people, the fear of becoming addicted to them might be too much of a risk.

The advances of medicine weren’t designed for harm. Rather, the goal of medicine is to promote the health and wellness of people. When used correctly, prescription painkillers, even those that are abused the most, change people’s lives for the better. In order to prevent prescription drug abuse, consider the following:

The prescription should come from a trusted physician. Some doctors prescribe powerful medications to patients that just don’t need them. These should be reserved for the most debilitating of pain only.

The medication should be used as prescribed. Trouble starts when people start increasing their dosage, or taking medicine when they don’t really need it, or self-medicating for their emotions more than their physical pain.

Doctors should monitor the patient closely when on prescription drugs. Doctors should be in contact with their patients regularly, requiring check ups to see if progress is being made, and if they are ready to wean off the drugs. If someone takes certain prescriptions for a long time, the potential is there for them to become dependent on the substance, or to require more of it to get the same effects. To avoid prolonged and unnecessary use, doctors should be ready to get their patients off the drugs whenever possible.

Learn about the drugs and the risks. Many people don’t really know the side effects of their drugs, or how addicting they really are. All patients that are put on prescription drugs should be warned about misusing the pills, and be taught how to avoid addiction. Special care should be taken for people that are at a higher risk for addiction. New evidence shows that smokers may be more likely to abuse prescription drugs. The same could go for people that have more of an addictive personality. These patients need to be extra careful that they follow the doctor’s orders.

The FDA is working on weighing the pros and cons of prescription drugs. They plan to study 24 drugs, using a “Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy” which will ensure that the benefits of these drugs outweigh the risks. For those suffering from pain that genuinely need prescription painkillers, we need to make sure these drugs are used properly, and not abused.

Sources

FDA Steps Up Efforts to Control Painkiller Use

Drugabuse.gov

Smokers More Prone to Long-Term Prescription Painkiller Use