Early Exposure to Nicotine can Trigger Lifelong Addiction in Kids

Posted by azdrugrehabctr on January 4, 2017 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News | Comments are off for this article

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.

Food Cravings Associated with Marijuana Use

Posted by azdrugrehabctr on February 26, 2015 under Addiction Trends, AZ Drug Rehab News | Comments are off for this article

People often crave all sorts of foods and snacks after they have smoked marijuana. Scientists have recently looked into this phenomenon to find out why the brain gets affected in this way. Since marijuana is becoming legal in some states and has started to achieve broader acceptance, it is vital that more research is conducted on the drug and how it reacts with the body and what the long-term effects of using marijuana are.

Researchers from Yale University noticed that when people consumed marijuana an interesting thing occurred in the brain. There are neurons that are responsible for telling the body to stop eating. This prevents people from overeating and maintaining a healthier lifestyle. However, when marijuana enters the body the neurons change their job function. Instead of telling the body to stop eating, they tell the body to continue eating.

“It fools the brain’s central feeding system. We were surprised to find that the neurons we thought were responsible for shutting down eating were suddenly being activated and promoting hunger, even when you are full,” explained Tamas Horvath, the lead author on the study.

While this research may not be groundbreaking, it does highlight that the drug has a significant influence over brain chemistry. Altering the job of neurons is a powerful task, and marijuana seems to do it with ease. Many in the science community are calling for more research on the drug to understand all the implications of its use.