Addiction Affects Millions of Americans Many people suffer from severe addictions that can ruin lives and are extremely difficult to control. Nearly 2 million enter roughly 12,000 addiction treatment programs each year (…). Adi Jaffe is completing his Ph.D. in psychology at UCLA, where he specializes in addiction issues. A former drug addict who spent […]
Questions About Marijuana and Schizophrenia
Marijuana use has been shown to trigger and worsen psychosis in young people who are vulnerable to psychosis and may even cause psychotic illnesses in people who would not otherwise suffer from them. Can marijuana use trigger psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia? Yes. There is increasing research evidence to show that, particularly when someone starts using […]
Why do Kids use drugs?
Peer pressure - Young people may give in to pressures from other kids to try drugs. They may use a drug to feel like part of the crowd, or to act grown-up. Pleasure - Some teenagers say they take drugs to feel good. Curiosity or Experimentation - At first, teenagers may be tempted to try […]
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental health problems. It is estimated that one in 10 Canadians is affected by them. These disorders can be successfully treated so it is important to recognize the difference between being anxious in response to a real event, and an anxiety disorder which produces fear or distress […]
What Parents need to know about marijuana.
There are some signs you might be able to see. If someone is high on marijuana, he or she might: seem dizzy and have trouble walking; seem silly and giggly for no reason; have very red, bloodshot eyes; and have a hard time remembering things that just happened. When the early effects fade, the user […]
Dealing with family member who’s an addict
Dealing with an addict: If it feels uncomfortable, chances are you’re doing the right thing Helping a loved one battle the disease of addiction is painful and can make for some tough choices. You are not alone. I want to say that right at the start, because if you’re anything like me, finding yourself in […]
How does addiction affect children ?
When a family member has a problem with drugs or alcohol, the family develops ways of coping with it. Some of these coping strategies are far from ideal: keeping addiction a secret, less communication within the family, not expressing emotions, and taking on some of the responsibilities abandoned by the addict. These coping strategies appear […]
Drugs and the Brain
Introducing the Human Brain The human brain is the most complex organ in the body. This three-pound mass of gray and white matter sits at the center of all human activity - you need it to drive a car, to enjoy a meal, to breathe, to create an artistic masterpiece, and to enjoy everyday activities. […]
Cocaine and Crack
Cocaine- a Central Nervous System stimulant. Cocaine is a drug extracted from the leaves of the coca plant, a fine powder (often diluted with other substances). There are three routes of cocaine administration: snorting, injecting, and smoking. Snorting is the process of inhaling cocaine powder through the nose, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream […]
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens are drugs that cause hallucinations & distortions in a person’s perceptions of reality, including seeing images, hearing sounds, and feeling sensations that seem real but do not exist. Some hallucinogens also produce rapid, intense emotional swings. Hallucinogens cause these distortions by disrupting the interaction of nerve cells and the neurotransmitter serotonin. Distributed throughout the brain and spinal […]