Is Alcohol Really More Dangerous Than Heroin?

When discussing drug abuse, some people often claim that alcohol abuse is not as dangerous as heroin abuse. This misconception can also be blamed on the media, which normally focuses on the perils of heroin addiction. Since alcohol is legal while heroin is illegal, the myth of heroin addiction being worse than alcohol addiction may make sense to many people. The truth, however, is that alcohol addiction does more harm in society than heroin or any other drug for that matter. The question you may ask is, "Is alcohol really more dangerous than heroin?"

Why Alcohol is More Dangerous than Heroin

A recent study in the U.K. was carried out to determine the dangers of different types of drugs ranging from alcohol and heroin to tobacco and other types of drugs. Each drug was rated on a scale of 1 to 100, with the latter being the most dangerous. The results of the study revealed that alcohol was the most dangerous, with a score of 77. Heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis scored 55, 54 and 20 respectively. There are many reasons why people consider alcohol to be less harmful than heroin. They include:

• Alcohol is legal, so it is considered a recreational drug, while heroin is an illegal substance, so it is considered harmful. Possessing, manufacturing, using or distributing heroin is illegal and may land a person in jail.
• Alcohol use is usually shown in a positive light on TV commercials and programs, while heroin use is portrayed negatively, thereby influencing the opinion of the viewer.
• Alcohol manufacturers invest billions of dollars to make alcohol seem acceptable to consumers.

There are many other reasons why alcohol use may be considered acceptable and less harmful to personal health and the society in general. The truth, however, is that both drugs are harmful, but alcohol abuse is far more prevalent than heroin use. Think of the number of accidents that have been caused by DUIs, the domestic violence cases that were fueled by alcohol intoxication and the deaths caused by alcohol abuse. While the same can be said about heroin, alcohol-related cases are significantly more frequent.

What You Need To Know About Opana Drug Abuse

In the past, Oxycontin was one of the most widely-abused prescription drugs. However, more people are opting to use Opana, which is another type of opioid. Many news outlets have reported that people who abuse prescription killers are opting to use Opana.

The Rise In Prescription Drug Abuse

The Center For Disease Control And Prevention has declared prescription drug abuse an epidemic. In 2010, 1.3 million people visited the emergency room due to prescription drug abuse. That is a 115 percent increase since 2004.

There have also been a huge increase in pharmacy robberies. In fact, there was a case reported where a pharmacy was threatened to death if he  did not give the list of drugs the robber demanded. Opana was one of the drugs the robber wanted.

Why Are More People Switching To Opana?

In 2010, Oxycontin was reformulated to make it more resistant to tamper. It is now harder to dissolve and crush. If the drug is crushed, it can be injected or snorted. This can cause a person to experience an intense high. When it is harder to crush a drug, people just move on to the next one.

Deterring Opana Drug Abuse

Opana ER, or extended release has also been reformulated in order to deter obese. This drug will be preferred over Oxycontin as long it is available in its previous form. However, officers believe people will switch to another drug once the new version of Opana is available.

Law enforcement officers are predicting more people will start abusing Opana before they move on to the next drug. The number of people getting Opana prescriptions has increased by 46 percent within just a few months.

Kentucky is the state that could be seeing the worse of the Opana drug abuse. The key ingredient in Opana is Oxymorphone. Oxymorphone was involved in 23 percent of the overdose fatalities that occurred in Kentucky in 2011.

Opana drug abuse is a growing at an alarming rate, but fortunately, measures are being put in place to deter it. Follow us for more information and resources on drug abuse and treatment.

Could Medical Marijuana Be Used To Treat Opiate Addiction?

Medical marijuana is controversial to say the least, even though it is starting to gain acceptance among the general public for treatment of certain conditions. However, one treatment remains controversial--that of treating the growing problem of opiate addiction with medical marijuana.

According to clinical psychologist Shirley Stormo who works for  Gosnold on Cape Cod, an addiction treatment center in Massachusetts, medical marijuana is safer than opiates and has begun to focus her treatment efforts to prevent opiate addiction through marijuana use. Stormo has provisional approval to open a medical marijuana dispensary called Compassionate Care Clinics and hopes to help patients avoid opiates through this method if the dispensary is approved. She indicates that medical marijuana is safer than opiate use because it does not have a physically addictive component and thus no potential for overdoses or death.

Another medical professional, Thor Agustsson,a doctor with Integr8Heath, says that medical marijuana can be used as part of an exit strategy to for individuals addicted to opiates, alcohol or cocaine. Agustsson says some surveys and small sample studies show that when cannabis is taken appropriately, it can help individuals reduce the use of highly toxic substances. Although no controlled studies have yet been done, Agustsson believes medical marijuana may eventually be widely used in addiction treatment.

Other medical professionals believe that research is still preliminary. Kevin Hill, a McLean Hospital psychiatrist, believe it is risky to replace one harmful, addictive substance with another one. Hill indicates that about 9% of adults and 16% of adolescents who use it become addicted to marijuana. Additionally, Hill believes that medical marijuana will not make a difference in the rate of opiate addiction.

Others in the addiction recovery field feel that use of medical marijuana to treat opiate addiction is directly in contrast to what recovery is all about, namely abstinence and sobriety. Stormo, however, does not see a conflict in using medical marijuana to treat opiate addiction as she is interested in helping individuals with a variety of medical problems. She added that those who are fearful about the effects of medical marijuana would change their mind of they spoke to someone who has benefited from the drug.

How To Get Treated For LSD The Safe Way

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide is a substance that was originally made in the 1930s, something derived from fungus, specifically the type that grows on rye. Once it was extracted and processed, the scientists were able to create this odorless colorless substance that could be administered in gelatin, on a sugar cube, or on blotter paper. He was most effective when it was injected, causing almost instantaneous results, and although this substance is illegal, it can cause many beneficial things. It does, however, have very negative effects as well if administered in large amounts, and if you are addicted to LSD, you should get treated for it right away.

Positive Effects Of LSD Blotter

Some of the reported positive effects of this drug is that it can be used to actually help people that are suffering from alcoholism to stop. For those that suffer from pain, or that have chronic headaches, it has been shown to help people with these problems. This is contrary to what the DEA has stated officially, almost completely opposite verbatim. However, the people that have used it who have actually experienced the benefits, clearly understand that it can work in a positive way. The problem with the drug is that not only is it illegal per the United States of America, it is very dangerous if taken in excessive amounts.

Negative Effects Of LSD

When taken in large quantities, it can create what most people call an acid trip, something that can alter your awareness, your emotions, and even your memories. Your sensory perception will be greatly enhanced, but in strange ways, and depending upon how much you have taken, the sounds that you hear can take on physical form, and music can be seen. This can cause physical problems as well such as tremors, hypothermia, and elevated blood sugar. To get help for this addiction, you need to check into a treatment center as quickly as possible before you use too much and have an adverse reaction.

Oxycodone HCl And Hydrocodone Addiction Tips

If you want to stop being addicted to any type of pain medication, or even alcohol or high-level drugs, you can find places in your community where you can check into a clinic where you can get the help that you need. The problem is, you might want to not do this because it will take a considerable chunk out of your life. You can end your addiction on your own from painkillers, this is probably the better alternative. Here some tips on how to do this on your own, and also how to find a rehab center if you would like to go in this direction.

Addiction To Hydrocodone And Oxycodone HCl

Two of the most powerful opiate based drugs are oxycodone HCl and hydrocodone. They are opiate based which means they are derived from a poppyseed, and when they interact with your central nervous system, you will experience euphoria and also pain relief which is why people enjoy taking them, and why they are such a hot commodity on the street. Your addiction can only be stopped if you stop using the drugs, allowing your mu receptors to reset. Your only choices are to stop using them, go through the withdrawals on your own, or get professional help.

Professional Help For Opiate Withdrawals

You can go to a rehab center to get help for opiate withdrawals. You can usually end your addiction in about a week, longer if you have been taking them for quite some time. If you are taking strong opiates, those that are much stronger than Norco or Vicodin, several weeks may be necessary. The withdrawals will cause you to vomit on a shake, and potentially have convulsions, but when they are done, you will be absolutely 100% opiate free.

Hydrocodone And Oxymorphone Addictions And Treatments

Your treatment for pain relief may include a number of different possibilities. You could go to a pain management expert that specializes in alternative treatments such as acupuncture, acupressure, or even simple meditation. For most people, this won't work, not even hypnotism which has been proven to be effective for thousands of people nationwide. Your doctor will probably not recommend any of these because they are not scientifically based, and therefore will recommend some type of physical treatment and opiate-based medications. This article will address why hydrocodone HCl, oxymorphone, hydrocodone and meperidine are so addicting and what you can do to end your addiction quickly.

Opiates Can Be Addicting For The Following Reasons

The reasons that they are addicting have a lot to do with the way they change the way that your body interacts with certain forms of stimulation. Things that are connected to your central nervous system which include your mu receptors will cause problems when you are experiencing too much pain, and when they are overstimulated by the drugs, when you stop taking them, it can make you feel sick, nervous, and even schizophrenic when you cannot get the drugs that your body is used to. That's why when you try to quit any type of opiate-based medications, going through the withdrawals almost always requires you to find someone that can help you during this difficult time. This is what you'll need to do in order to stop your addiction completely which includes going to a treatment center that is nearby.

Getting Treatment Today

To get treated for these types of medications, a clinic is almost necessary in most cases because of the withdrawals and how difficult they can be. The more that you take them, the longer the withdrawals will last, which is why you need to be checked in to make sure that officials can help you get through this difficult time, allowing your body to reset, therefore negating the need for these drugs in your system any longer.

What Are The Most Addictive Drugs: Heroin

Drug abuse is not just a dangerous epidemic plaguing the United States, it is truly a deadly disease for those individuals who suffer from it daily. There is a vast amount of drugs, both prescription and illegal forms being used by addicts and people often wonder what are the most addictive drugs. While there are several that fit into this category, heroin is by far one of the most addictive and fastest rising substances to be used today.

Rapid Increase

The use of heroin is rapidly increasing at an almost exponential rate. While multiple reasons could be fueling this quick increase, the addiction to prescription opioids is the most significant cause.  Opioids are medications prescribed by a doctor to relieve pain such as hydrocodone and oxycodone. Recent times have seen the cost of these medications go up and there has been a substantial reduction in access to these prescriptions as well. These factors are leading addicts who are looking for that next high to turn to a comparable drug, which can be easily purchased on the street. That drug is heroin.

Facts About Heroin Use

In October of 2014, the CDC published findings from a 3 year study that brought to light several eye opening facts concerning heroin use. They discovered that overall heroin use was on the rise while the abuse of prescription pain killers was actually declining. In fact, in that 3 year period (2009-2012), it was determined that this particular type of drug use was up 79% and it correlated closely with the growing number of heroin deaths. In 2012, the annual death rates attributed to heroin use had increased more than 100% for a two year period.

Supply Chain

Another contributing factor seems to be the shift in supply chain for accessing heroin. This chain is working quicker than ever, bringing in huge amounts to the United States via Mexico. With the street price dropped and sources more accessible, addicts are turning to this cheaper alternative as opposed to opioid use.

If you or someone you know has fallen victim to the tight grip of heroin addiction or any other drug dependency , it is important to get help. 

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