My Experience Witnessing Crack/Cocaine Abuse

When I first moved here, it was the off-season, and everything went rather smoothly. Then the summer season kicked in and rocked my world. Being a working person in the middle of tourists and on a beach was cool, but it really did a number on me the first time around.

Then, the off-season came around again, and I was looking for a break. But, I had this neighbor, and he invited me to have a drink or two with him. Everything seemed okay at first, but then he introduced the fact that he was networked with locals in the area who were into doing much more than just drinking and socializing.

The guy had a major crack problem, and come to find out he was bipolar and borderline schizophrenic. He was a nice guy for the most part, but he had major issues. Being my next door neighbor, it made the issues come way too close to home.

I dealt with that throughout the entire off-season last year, trying to help him the best I could. At times, he would get off the stuff and just enjoy his day, but without work and discipline, he kept going back.

What he really needed was to be in an inpatient treatment center so that he could get his life back in order. But, who knows if that is what is going to happen or not. I do know, however, that he moved to Texas to be near his Mom once the season kicked in again.

Hopefully, she will get him the help he needs and be able to convince him to check himself in so that he straightens his life out. He went through some pretty rough times, including a seizure, so time is definitely of the essence for him.

Addiction to Sleeping Pills is a Growing Concern

 

In the busy world of today, many people have difficulty winding down and going to sleep. Often, they will seek help from their doctor if the insomnia begins to interfere with their daily lives. While many people have benefited from the use of sleeping pills, there are a growing number who are dependent upon them. At that point, they may cross the line into addiction.

Someone who is addicted to sleeping pills, like Lunesta or Ambien, may find themselves unable to sleep without the drugs. Though it is possible that the doctor prescribing it will increase the dosage, there does come a point where the practitioner will no longer write a prescription for a higher dose.

Even at the lower levels, taking sleeping pills can be dangerous. If the patient has kidney or liver disease, the medication can make it worse. This is because the drug must go through the entire body. A damaged liver will have difficulty processing it.

The possibility of overdose can be high if the person believes that they can not sleep without it. Sometimes, the patient may even forget that they have already taken a dose. Because it puts the person to sleep, they may simply lie down for bed and never wake up again.

Generally, sleep medications should only be used for a short period of time. The patient needs to work on other therapies to help them go to sleep without the use of pain medications.

If someone has become addicted, it is important that they tell their doctor. Though this honesty may be difficult, the doctor can help the individual to wean off of the medication. It may even be necessary for the patient to enter a drug rehabilitation program. They can supervise the withdrawal and help the patient with alternatives.

Why Robotripping and Cough Syrup Abuse Demand Attention

Most readily available over-the-counter cough medications feature DMX as their active ingredient. These medicines also typically include acetaminophen as a pain relieving agent. Though the manufacturers of these products warn against using them in a manner contrary to their intended applications, cough and cold treatments have rapidly become a favored recreational drug among teenagers across the country. "Robotripping," as it is called, has gained an alarming popularity among this most vulnerable demographic group.

The ease with which cough medications can be obtained is what makes this trend especially hazardous. It is not uncommon for teens engaged in the abuse of these medications to consume somewhere between 25-50 times the dosage recommended on the product label. They combine this type of excessive dose with alcohol or other sorts of mind-altering agents to formulate a very potent drug. Because there is little risk and few hurdles involved in purchasing cough medicine, this particular brand of drug abuse often serves as a pathway to more serious substance abuse issues down the road.

Sadly, far too many parents are unaware of the real threats to their teenagers posed by alcohol and drug abuse and miss the warning signs along the way. There are many parents who simply prefer to sweep the issue under the rug and hope it goes away as the kids grow older. Unfortunately, indifference or denial on the part of parents often results in a dangerous escalation of the underlying problem.

Estimates suggest that ten percent of all American teenagers have had a robotripping experience. Unfortunately, kids are often under the false impression that because cough medicine is an everyday household product that is easily obtainable, they are not doing anything particularly dangerous by using it. However, tussin (also known by the name DMX) can be extremely addictive when used to excess. Furthermore, it can prove deadly when combined with pills, alcohol or other drugs.

Ingesting large quantities of DMX can produce hallucinogenic episodes akin to those that result from the use of ecstasy and LSD. Some of the more frightening potential effects of DMX abuse include brain bleeds, seizures, irregular heartbeat and death.

It is essential that teenagers are made aware of the true danger posed by robotripping. A thorough understanding of the risks involved may be enough to dissuade a large number of kids from participating in this highly damaging pastime. Teenagers need to realize that they are not simply dabbling with a harmless household product. They are putting their health and safety in dire jeopardy.