Posted by azdrugrehabctr on January 27, 2017 under Addiction Trends, Prescription Drugs | 
In the past, the NFL has been accused of unlawfully prescribing prescription painkillers and ignoring dangerous head injuries. But now, one player has been caught taking Adderall, violating the league’s drug policy for players. And while Adderall and other ADHD medication are not generally talked about in relation to professional sports, it is a major problem in high schools and college campuses throughout the country. The revelation that a pro football player has such easy access to the drug and took it, according to him, without thinking, may provide just enough reason for a questioning teenager to experiment with it as well.
Kenny Vaccaro, safety for the New Orleans Saints failed a drug analysis test for Adderall. He admitted to taking the drug, but his explanation appears to blame the decision on ignorance. “To be honest, I just made a mistake. I was just tired and I really wasn’t aware of the whole rule thing. The game’s early in the morning, the state fair was going on. I never took it before. I just did it, and it was just a dumb mistake by me, to be honest,” explained Vaccaro. He further explained that he was not taking the drug to enhance his on-field performance, he took it during a bye weekend while watching his younger brother play in the Texas-Oklahoma game.
While his explanation may be true, it does highlight one interesting fact. He did not take it to enhance his playing performance, he took it to party. This is important because it is something that teenagers and college students realized years ago. Yes, the drug genuinely helps those with Attention Deficit Disorder, but it also allows users to stay awake longer, drink more and socialize more. This is why Adderall is one of the fastest growing drugs among young people in the United States.
And while Vaccaro probably did not notice, his explanation of ignorance just underscored why so many people abuse Adderall. For failing his drug test, Vaccaro is suspended for five games and is anxious to resume playing, however he is well aware that he let his team and fans down.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on January 9, 2017 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News |
Methamphetamine is a drug that took the country by storm several years ago, but who’s popularity has appeared to be declining. Concerted efforts by law enforcement, state and federal governments and educators have reduced methamphetamine use throughout the country, but that is likely to change. The Mexican drug cartels have begun to set up super labs near the border and have started funneling in methamphetamine to towns all over the country.
When methamphetamine first made its presence known as an epidemic, the drug was mainly being produced in small labs in people’s homes or in remote locations. This is partly why the drug was so insidious, users could essentially make their own supply. Gathering ingredients that can easily be found around the home or purchased at a local hardware store, methamphetamine manufacturers began to distribute the drug to anyone looking for a high similar to cocaine.
In order to prevent at-home methamphetamine manufacturing, law makers quickly instituted laws on purchasing large amounts of certain ingredients vital for making meth. This, paired with an increased police presence, helped bring down the number of people addicted to the powerful drug.
However, while there is not as much methamphetamine being manufactured in the United States, the demand appears to have remained the same. In an attempt to capitalize on this, drug cartels have begun to manufacture the drug in extremely large quantities and smuggle methamphetamine into the United States where they have found a growing customer base with meth addiction back on the rise.
Perhaps what is most surprising about this new methamphetamine wave, is the destination of the smuggled drugs. Instead of going to places like New York, LA or Chicago, smugglers are focusing on states like Montana. The blue collar and seasonal workers that populate the area appear to be the targets of the cartel, and local law enforcement is struggling to keep up. “We’re just going to have to practice triage like an emergency room and take whatever happens to be the biggest problem at the time and deal with it. We’re just adding more and more issues here and no more resources at any level – treatment, prevention or law enforcement,” said Mark Long, chief of the state Department of Criminal Investigation Narcotics Bureau.
Posted by azdrugrehabctr on January 4, 2017 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News |
The earlier a young person starts experimenting with nicotine, even if it’s in the form of e-cigarettes, the harder it will be for them to quit the habit, according to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The report’s author, Dr. Lorena Siqueira stated in an AARP news release that the need for prevention is very important, given that adolescents have difficulty in stopping smoking once they have started using tobacco products.
The US Surgeon General’s office noted recently that e-cigarette use has increased 900 percent among US high school students in the years 2011-2015. By 2014, more high school students were smoking electronic cigarettes than traditional ones.
Some people claim that e-cigarettes are a healthier way of quitting smoking than using tobacco. The AAP states that this allegation has not been proven. The organization, which represents pediatricians through the US, suggests instead that these devices entourage smoking instead of discouraging young people from using tobacco.
Nicotine addiction at a very young age may increase the odds of smoking into adulthood, the AAP says. According to previous research, approximately two-thirds of children who smoke in Grade 6 will become regular smokers as adults. About 46 percent of those who delay smoking until Grade 11 will continue to smoke into adulthood.
According to the new report, 90 percent of adults with a tobacco addiction started smoking before they reached age 18. For teens, even occasional smoking increases their odds of becoming addicted. One study concluded that young people who smoke monthly are ten times more likely to become addicts.
Quitting smoking is just as difficult for teens as adults. The AAP released statistics noting that only four percent of young people who try to quit smoking will be successful. Five percent of adult smokers will end up quitting for good. Children and teens make more attempts to quit before succeeding than adults, according to the report.
The AAP went on to say that the rapidly developing brains of children and teens may be particularly susceptible to nicotine addiction. The report was published in the December 19 online version of the journal Pediatrics.
