Five years ago our nation’s most costly natural disaster took place, and unfortunately many people are still trying to recover. Hurricane Katrina made landfall this week in 2005, killing 2,000 people and displacing more than 250,000 others. While New Orleans suffered the worst attack because of the city’s massive flooding, the southern part of our country, from Louisiana to Florida, was affected.

The hurricane naturally caused much devastation, injury, and death, but even after surviving the initial blow, residents have found the recovery process to be brutal, and mental illness and substance abuse have been some of the results.

Mental Illness among Victims

Anxiety is a huge concern among Katrina survivors, as well as depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The hurricane was traumatic, the flooding was overwhelming, and the loss of homes, schools, and churches was disturbing. Then there was the death of loved ones that many endured. Trauma like this can be expected to cause mental disorders such as anxiety, PTSD, and depression. Feelings of helplessness can really affect the mind, and many people initially felt the toll caused by the devastation.

But long term effects are also plaguing residents. Many lost jobs and have not been able to find new employment. Deserted neighborhoods can still be found, some people still don’t have real homes, and frustrations with insurance and finances are often a daily struggle.

Substance Abuse a Result of Mental Illness

Alcoholism and drug abuse are more common when depression or PTSD are present. Someone who has experienced a shocking event or who daily struggles with feelings of depression often finds substance abuse to be the way they can make it through the day. The mind-numbing drugs or alcohol help them forget their worries, and they become the crutch people begin to rely on. But the effects of drugs and alcohol will eventually catch up to a person and then they are left with substance abuse or addiction on top of all their other troubles.

Help for Hurricane Victims

The way to deal with stress and worry is not to take up drinking or experimenting with drugs. These will only make it worse. What will help these residents is solid advice and counseling from a professional. The residents of Louisiana also need to have some assurance that they will be able to get back on their feet again. Louisiana’s “Road Home” program was made to provide financial aid to hurricane victims, and the Louisiana Spirit Recovery program was a temporary project to help with stress management among residents. We shouldn’t forget about the hurricane victims, or assume they are ok because it has been 5 years. Those with ongoing struggles still need the support and programs to continue to help them rebuild their lives, and to maintain a healthy state of mind.

Sources

Katrina Five Years After: Hurricane Left a Legacy of Health Concerns

Hurricane Katrina Exacts Another Toll: Enduring Depression

A Look Back to 2005: President Bush and Katrina

Everyone seems to have their own theory about how to improve our country’s border security. Maybe the ones to ask are the residents living in border towns that live and experience the effects of illegal entrants and drug smugglers everyday.

Most of us in areas far removed from the Mexican border know our country has had a hard time regulating who gets across the border and who is kept out. Illegal entrants, illegal drugs, and drug dealers are constantly finding their way into the U.S. But beyond these basic facts, we may actually know little of the everyday lives of those fighting to secure the borders, and of those living near the border zone.

Transporting Drugs across the Border

For example, in places like Nogales or Rio Rico, stories are common of encounters with people and drugs that were smuggled across the border. Residents all know about “throw away” cars, which are purchased by drug smugglers, who leave the title in the previous owner’s name. The cars are used to smuggle drugs across, but go undetected for some time because they are in the former owner’s name.

Locals also know about the shuttle service that still flies under the radar and regularly transports people and drugs farther into the country, and how horses are used to carry drugs across. Border residents know about stash houses, which are rented with the purpose of storing hordes of drugs until they can be moved throughout the country. Many people also see the desperate situation some of the illegal entrants find themselves in. Dropped in the desert, the illegal immigrants travel to these towns looking for food or shelter.

Border Patrol is the arm of law enforcement set up to manage areas like the ones in Arizona. They have come under fire recently for being too harsh and for racial profiling. Others see Border Patrol’s dealings as ineffective. Some people just want our country to provide basic aid to those illegal immigrants that find themselves in trouble, but to crack down on the drug smugglers.

Partnering with Residents in the Border Zone

If our country is serious about keeping drug smugglers and their supplies out, more needs to be done on our southern border. Especially now, with the dangers of the drug cartels looming closer and becoming more violent, we should take a close look and learn from locals who live in the high traffic areas. The drug trafficking has to stop, and law enforcement should use all of its resources to carry this out. In the future, it will be important to build positive relationships with the residents of border towns. Instead of the continual clash between Border Patrol and residents in the border zone, a partnership could be very beneficial to everyone.

Sources

Horses play a vital role in American border security

Life on the border — the residents of Nogales, Rio Rico and Tubac

Drug smugglers’ horses entered in rehab

Performance enhancing drugs are not just for humans anymore, apparently. Two horses at a local fair in Connecticut tested positive for anabolic steroids this summer. These steroids, which are used to increase muscle mass and condition the body, were detected during random tests on the fair’s horses. The drug tests are being done in more and more locations throughout the country, as fair officials want to ensure horses are not mistreated, and also that the competitions are honest. In the case of the two Connecticut horses, owners and horses have been banned from future contests for one year.

Kentucky Officials Make New Policy

Other horse events are cracking down even more with drug testing and penalties. Officials of Kentucky racing have recently set up new regulations for this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs. The new rules would allow any horse that is going to compete, including those from out-of-state, to be tested for a variety of drugs. Among the drugs they will be testing for are blood-doping agents, nerve-blocking venoms, and growth hormones. Many of these drugs are the same ones used by human athletes, and can be hard to detect. Regulators have been pushing for the pre-competition testing because they feel it will catch more offenders than the old regulations. Some of these drugs, which increase the strength and speed of horses, can only be detected within a day or two of administration, while the results can last for weeks or months.

Punishments for Offenders

If performance enhancing drugs are such a part of sports today that it is now spilling over to animal competitions, do we really have much control over the situation? The variety of drugs and the new derivatives that are being created are a big part of the problem. Money and energy are constantly being pumped into coming up with new tests to detect new drugs, and still, the offenders are one or two steps ahead of officials. Is there a better way to deter people from doping for sports or competitions? Would stricter punishments be more effective? An athlete that is caught with drugs in their system is banned from their sport for a few games, and usually pays a fine. Either the punishments aren’t tough enough, or people don’t think they will get caught, because they keep doing the drugs. Fines are usually slaps on the hand for pro-athletes and their multi-million dollar salaries.  What if doing drugs would essentially end a player’s career? Would they still take the risk?

Kentucky racing officials have proposed a 10 year ban and $50,000 fine to owners whose horse fails the drug test. Opponents believe the length of time for the ban is way too long, and would essentially mean the horse and owner team would be out of competitions for good. But maybe doping owners will be deterred by the strict punishment, and maybe this is all it will take to clean up horse racing. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could find an easy solution to end doping by human athletes?

Sources

Draft horses test positive for anabolic steroid

Drug tests bar North Stonington horses from fairs

Out-of-competition drug testing proposed for Ky. racing

Some people will do anything to get high, including stealing and taking animal medications. Veterinary clinics have been broken into throughout recent years for their stocks of medications, by desperate people trying to get their hands on some drugs, any drugs. It sometimes doesn’t even matter to an addict what they are injecting or popping – as long as they think it might give them a high, they will try it.

In the last 15 years, vet clinics have had to tighten down their storage practices of controlled substances. Human drugs like Ketamine, Morphine, Buprenorphine, and Diazepam are commonly used also in animal medicine. Addicts have now started to break in and raid the drug cabinets, which, until recently, may not have even been locked up very securely.

Dangers of Animal Drugs

Many of the veterinary controlled substances are exactly the same as the human ones, but there are sometimes differences, which at times can be deadly. The strength is likely to be different – for example, a veterinarian treating a horse or a cow will have stronger meds than human doctors. If a person is searching for drugs to get high on, they aren’t necessarily thinking of their own safety. They are not going to sit and figure out the dosage needed for their body weight. In fact, more is usually better in the mind of someone coming off a high. Mixing drugs can also be common, as well as injecting something they aren’t even familiar with.

Burglaries in the last few weeks have been particularly disturbing and dangerous. Thieves in Calgary last week stole, among other controlled substances, some vials of Euthasol, the drug used to euthanize animals. If someone mistakenly got a hold of it and decided to inject it, it would be immediately fatal. Other medications designed specifically for animals can be just as harmful.

Abusing Veterinary Prescription Pills

Humans also sometimes abuse animal prescription medications. More and more animals are being maintained on things like Valium and Phenobarbital pills to manage pain or seizures, or as a sedative. Just as addicts go from doctor to doctor, requesting more pills, so some people take their pet from vet to vet. Since the animal can’t communicate how much pain they are or are not in, it can become very difficult to prove that a person is just on a pill hunt for themselves.

It is unfortunate that drug addiction has gotten so bad that not even animal medicine is safe from drug abusers or dealers. Many vet clinics have developed stricter ways of recording their controlled substance usage and storage. Many vets have also begun to look more closely at pets that are on prescription pain pills, because the danger of these getting in the wrong hands is real.

 Sources

Burglar found sleeping inside vet clinic

Police issue warning after euthanasia drug stolen from Calgary vet clinic
Dangerous drugs stolen during vet clinic break-in

Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 13, 1947, Methadone is a narcotic pain reliever, analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain with people who have not responded to pain relievers. Its main uses also include being given to patients who are battling narcotic addiction or in the maintenance treatment of narcotic drug addiction.

The drug targets the central nervous system and opioid-receptors in the brain to provide analgesic relief from pain. Methadone is a Schedule II narcotic under the United States Controlled Substances Act and has been a vehicle for potential drug abuse, addiction and misuse. There is a definite possibility several patients who take Methadone for withdrawal circumstances may develop a dependence which can lead to further abuse.

A Black Box warning was issued in 2006 for methadone, meant to alert healthcare professionals, patients and consumers about the chance of cardiac toxicities that may be associated with the drug.

Side Effects and Information

There can be a chance for developing a physical addiction or abuse when taking methadone. Patients who have a history of addiction or abusing other medications, alcohol, emotional problems may be at a higher risk for this. Different cases may apply to certain individuals, so speak with your personal doctor before stopping the drug.

Several serious side effects may occur when taking the medication. If any of these are experienced, please see a physician as soon as possible:

• Breathing that slows down
• Change in heart beat or chest pain
• Dizziness and confusion
• Drowsiness and faintness
• Hallucinations
• Shallow breathing

Do not combine methadone with any of the following medications, unless you have consulted with a medical doctor: anti-depressants, anxiety medications, muscle relaxers, narcotic pain medications, sedatives and sleeping pills.

By providing FDA alerts, drug information, interactions and drug side effects about prescription and over the counter medications, we can ensure an environment where patients have the best knowledge on their medical treatment and health.

Disclaimer:
This article is for purely informational purposes and does not intend to prevent, treat, or cure any disease. It was not written by a medical professional. If you have any questions about your own methadone use, or are considering using methadone contact your physician.

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

One of the most widely used illegal drugs in the United States is cocaine, and like many other drugs, it comes from a plant that has been used for thousands of years in other parts of the world.  Cocaine comes from the coca leaf, a plant that has a long history in spiritual rituals.

Coca and Andean Indians

It used to be that in the Andean Indian culture, the coca plant was linked to a sacred goddess.  These cultures believed that they had to please the coca goddess in order to have a successful harvest.  The leaves of the coca plant were chewed or smoked to help these natives connect with spiritual beings, as well as provide magical protection and powers.

Traditionally, coca leaves were chewed only by the leaders or royalty.  Over time, however, even lower classes were encouraged to chew the leaves to experience the benefits.  When the Spanish invaded the Incas land, they tried to outlaw the chewing of coca leaves.  But it soon became apparent that the Incas worked better when they were given leaves to chew.  Coca leaves give the user a boost of energy, as well as prevents hunger.  Mood stabilizes and stamina also increases in those that chew coca leaves.

First use of cocaine

Cocaine was first extracted from the coca plant in the 1860s.  At first it seemed to be a miracle drug that was useful in treating depression and morphine addiction, and it was prescribed by many physicians for various reasons.  However, it became evident that there were some serious problems with using cocaine, and it decreased naturally in popularity by the 1920s.

It was still being produced heavily in South America and other areas though, and cocaine made a comeback to the United States in the 1970s and 1980s.  At that time, it was illegal, yet in great demand.  The cost for cocaine was high, and violence became connected to the use and selling of cocaine.  Areas of cities that had many drug dealers became dangerous because of the guns and violence they brought with them.

Cocaine has had a rocky history in the United States.  There has been much controversy about the connection between the United States government and cocaine dealers.  There have been articles and books written about the CIA working with cocaine dealers to help win the war on communism.  Others argue that the aggressive role the U.S. government played in banning the drug actually led to the smuggling of it into our country.

Cocaine today

Cocaine is still being used illegally in our country by many today.  Cocaine stimulates the central nervous system, which increases heart rate and blood pressure.  The user feels a high and a feeling of satisfaction and energy.  Cocaine causes the user to disregard everything else besides the drug, leading to addiction.  For those dealing with cocaine addiction, the best help is most likely a treatment facility that offers detox, as well as long term residential care.

Sources

The History of Cocaine

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0812715.html

U.S. Drug Plague Of 1980s Was Spurred By Earlier Interventions In Andes March 20, 2009

Ayma, Evo Let Me Chew My Coca Leaves March 13, 2009

The debate about the safety of Ibogaine has gone on for years.  Some people think it is the greatest drug ever found for addiction treatment and can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t give it a second thought.  Other people believe that the drug is dangerous and the risks far outweigh the benefits.

History

Ibogaine comes from the roots of an African shrub, Tabernanthe iboga, and has been used by Shamanic tribes for centuries in rituals that connect humans with the spirit world.  The use of Ibogaine in the treatment of drug addiction was discovered by accident in the 1960′s, and the use of it for treatment has been argued about ever since.

Addiction Interrupter

Ibogaine at low doses is a mild stimulant.  At higher doses it causes hallucinations and an experience that interrupts a patient’s addiction to a variety of substances.  Ibogaine is known by scientists to have anti-addictive properties, and actually seems to alleviate withdrawal symptoms of substances such as heroin, cocaine, nicotine, and alcohol.  The problem is that the experience that comes with taking Ibogaine is severe and scary and dangerous to the patient.

Effects of Ibogaine

Someone that has taken a high dose of Ibogaine will experience two phases.  The first phase is the visual phase and it consists of hallucinations of objects moving around the room, colors flying, memory impairment, and dreamlike sequences.  This phase can last up to four hours before the second phase begins.  The introspective phase consists of a feeling of euphoria and thought clarity.  The patient will often reflect on their lives and the background behind their drug addiction.  This phase can last one hour, or it can last a few days, depending on the patient.

Risks

It is the experience that comes with taking Ibogaine that has many people concerned.  The patient is not in control of their body, and often is paralyzed by their altered mental state.  There have been a number of deaths from Ibogaine, possibly caused by interaction with other drugs, or pre-existing medical conditions.  But because of all these things, the U.S. government put Ibogaine on Schedule 1 in 1967, making it illegal in this country.  Other countries have banned Ibogaine as well, while there are as many as 12 countries that do allow its use.  Canada and Mexico both are among those that do allow the use of Ibogaine in clinics.

Future of Ibogaine

Boston’s Northeastern University recently held the Boston Ibogaine Forum, where those interested in the future of Ibogaine met for a conference filled with information about the drug.  Supporters want more research to be done on the drug in the hopes that it will soon be legal to use.  Perhaps, though, it is actually the study of the drug that both sides are waiting for, to determine whether or not it is as effective and safe to use as some say.

Sources

Greene, Doug Feature: The Boston Ibogaine Forum — from Shamanism to Cutting Edge Science 3/1/09

Sanchez, Carolina Banishing addiction forever? March 17, 2009

Why Choose Ibogaine for Drug Detox?

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 has been much talk in the past about the best way to help addicts come clean from heroin, with some people arguing for the use of drugs like methadone to treat patients, and other people holding firm to the idea that you can’t successfully treat a drug addiction with a drug.

Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence to conclude that either way is better.  Numbers do show that the use of methadone is successful in getting patients to give up heroin, but then the patient does not really end up being drug-free because they are addicted to the methadone.

History of Heroin
Heroin has been around for a long time, and is currently grown around the world, with large supplies in the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.  The drug had been a problem in the United States for decades, but the Nixon administration actively tried to diminish supplies of heroin when he declared a war on drugs in the 1970′s.  It was during this time that methadone maintenance treatments came to light, and experiments were done to measure its effectiveness.  However, incomplete data recording, complex situations of treatment, and inconclusive evidence have all aided in the differing of opinions that we have today.

Heroin Withdrawal
What we do know is that heroin is a hard drug to beat.  The addict’s body quickly becomes so dependent on the substance that to go without it would mean a severe withdrawal.  Nausea, vomiting, pain, sweating, fatigue, depression and insomnia are what an addict goes through when trying to quit.  But, if a patient is put on methadone when stopping the heroin, the symptoms are not nearly as bad.  The patient will need to work to withdraw from the methadone, but that can often happen over weeks or months.

Another thing we know is that addicts that are required to quit heroin without the use of medication are less likely to stay in treatment than those that are assisted by drugs such as methadone.  Perhaps it gets to be too big of a task before them to be rid of drugs completely, but whatever the reason, more heroin users will stay in treatment if it involves using methadone or another medication.

Methadone Treatment Facilities
Many drug treatment facilities have built their programs around these pieces of information.  By using medications such as methadone, physicians are able to ease the withdrawal symptoms and to keep the addict in treatment.  Facilities may not be able to come up with statistics that say their patients have completed their program and are clean and drug-free, but that they are heroin-free.  According to many, this is a better alternative.  Many facilities work to help their patients become responsible members of society, by keeping a job or taking care of their family, something heroin addicts find almost impossible.  For those patients that require the use of methadone to achieve those goals, the benefit of living a normal life is worth it.

Schneider, Eric The War on Drugs Redux 1-12-09

Mooney, Bette From Yale to Jail

Mattick, RP Methadone maintenance therapy versus no opioid replacement therapy for opioid dependence

http://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/teds05/TEDSD2k5Hi.htm