A dear friend of my son died this last week in when he was travelling about 80 miles an hour through a residential area and wrecked his car. Although nothing has been officially reported it is rumored that he had been using inhalants. It is a sad and terribly tragic accident and a great loss of a young boy. As I looked up inhalants in the news I found several recent articles posted just this week from several different states addressing the use of inhalants. I also found some of the following information:
Statistics show that over a 2.3 million people used inhalants last year. That one in five children will try inhalants before the eighth grade.
There are four main types of inhalants:
Volatile solvents: Paint thinners, correction fluid, markers, gasoline and dry-cleaning fluids.
Gases: (home) Butane lighters, refrigerants, whipped cream dispensers and propane tanks.
(medical) Chloroform, ether and nitrous oxide.
Aerosols: Spray paint, hairspray, vegetable oil cook sprays, air fresheners and fabric protection sprays.
Nitrates: Isobutyl nitrite, isoamyl nitrite and cyclohexyl nitrite. (aka "poppers") (harder to get)
The use of inhalants is often referred to as "huffing"or "dusting". One of the most popular products to huff is canned air (dust off) used to clean computers and such. Even though it is now a law that you must be 18 years old to purchase this type of product it is still very easy to get a hold of and if you are over 18 there is no limit on the amount you can buy. Unlike other drugs where people will sometimes build up a tolerance and start using more and more before overdosing or death may occur these things may happen on the first, tenth, or hundredth time.
Some signs of inhalant use include:
Drunken appearance
Weight loss / lack of appetite
Glassy eyes
Odor - chemical smells on clothing/breath
Pale skin
Slurred speech
Rashes/sores around mouth/nose
Restlessness/nervousness/mood swings
Missing/empty chemical containers left around or in garbage
Early education is the key to prevention. But, if you suspect that your loved one is using inhalants get them help now. Whether you seek counselling, or feel they need a drug rehab do not wait to see if they are just experimenting or if they have become addicted because with this drug next time could be too late.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Quit Smoking
Although this blog features drug treatment centers, because of several news items this week featuring smoking, I decided to address this addictive habit. Although there are not any drug rehabs designed specifically for tobacco addiction most have programs set up to help fight tobacco addiction in the process of fighting other addictions.
As if the smelly clothes, yellow teeth, bad breath, health insurance rates, and being short-winded all the time isn't enough reason to quit smoking...here are a few articles in the news today:
1. Around the world many people made a New Years goal to quit smoking in 2009. How are you doing so far? National Non-Smoking Week (Jan. 18-24) has just started in Canada. If you have already failed at your New Years goal it's not too late...you can stop again today with the Canadians. If you use the excuse that you smoke because your friends smoke(peer pressure), use positive peer pressure and quit together, or find friends that will support you.
2. Last week the House approved the expansion of the government funded SCHIP program, which provides health insurance for low-income children. Guess where the $33 billion dollars is to come from over about a 4 1/2 year time period...in part by an additional $.61 to a $1.00 tax increase on cigarettes. In most places cigarettes are already over $5 bucks a pack, in this economy is this habit really justifiable?
3. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 43 million Americans currently smoke, with 70 percent of them saying they want to stop. Yet over 170,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed every year. Tobacco statistics also show 3,900 teenagers under 18 start smoking a day. Stop smoking now so you don't become part of the statistics.
4. Do you use the excuse you cannot afford the $39.95 pack of gum or patches? Here's another solution...Walmart just announced they have expanded their affordable pharmacy program to include a smoking cessation prescription starter pack for $9.00. The starter pack of bupropion ER 150mg (generic equivalentof Zyban) is now available at Walmart and Sam's Club pharmacies in a 10-day supply.
Whether you want the help or not America is trying to help you quit smoking by making it impossible to smoke in restaurants or public places, many clubs now forbid it, some hotels have gone completely smokefree (or charge a huge fine for smoking in a non-smoking room), paid smoke breaks are nearly unheard of, insurance rates for smokers have increased, and now they want to do you a favor and allow you to pay another dollar for every pack you want to smoke. SEE...we are all here as a whole to support every smoker in their effort to quit.
But seriously, stop smoking just for today. And tomorrow, do it again just for today. Do it for yourself, your family, and your friends.
As if the smelly clothes, yellow teeth, bad breath, health insurance rates, and being short-winded all the time isn't enough reason to quit smoking...here are a few articles in the news today:
1. Around the world many people made a New Years goal to quit smoking in 2009. How are you doing so far? National Non-Smoking Week (Jan. 18-24) has just started in Canada. If you have already failed at your New Years goal it's not too late...you can stop again today with the Canadians. If you use the excuse that you smoke because your friends smoke(peer pressure), use positive peer pressure and quit together, or find friends that will support you.
2. Last week the House approved the expansion of the government funded SCHIP program, which provides health insurance for low-income children. Guess where the $33 billion dollars is to come from over about a 4 1/2 year time period...in part by an additional $.61 to a $1.00 tax increase on cigarettes. In most places cigarettes are already over $5 bucks a pack, in this economy is this habit really justifiable?
3. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 43 million Americans currently smoke, with 70 percent of them saying they want to stop. Yet over 170,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed every year. Tobacco statistics also show 3,900 teenagers under 18 start smoking a day. Stop smoking now so you don't become part of the statistics.
4. Do you use the excuse you cannot afford the $39.95 pack of gum or patches? Here's another solution...Walmart just announced they have expanded their affordable pharmacy program to include a smoking cessation prescription starter pack for $9.00. The starter pack of bupropion ER 150mg (generic equivalentof Zyban) is now available at Walmart and Sam's Club pharmacies in a 10-day supply.
Whether you want the help or not America is trying to help you quit smoking by making it impossible to smoke in restaurants or public places, many clubs now forbid it, some hotels have gone completely smokefree (or charge a huge fine for smoking in a non-smoking room), paid smoke breaks are nearly unheard of, insurance rates for smokers have increased, and now they want to do you a favor and allow you to pay another dollar for every pack you want to smoke. SEE...we are all here as a whole to support every smoker in their effort to quit.
But seriously, stop smoking just for today. And tomorrow, do it again just for today. Do it for yourself, your family, and your friends.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
I was reading over the 12 steps to recovery used in AA and found it to be a nice reminder. I decided to include them in this post as a reminder to recovering alcoholics as well as people who may just now be learning about alcoholism or have a loved one who is struggling with alcoholism but not sure what it is all about. There are also versions available for NA (Narcotics Anonymous, for people addicted to drugs) as well as some that do not refer to "God" but no matter how you slice it these steps help and they work.
"THE TWELVE STEPS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction to alcohol (or any other substances for that matter) and are ready to receive help and encouragement from others visit our website at www.4drugrehab.com to find a treatment facility near you.
Good Luck and Keep Strong, you will not be sorry!
"THE TWELVE STEPS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction to alcohol (or any other substances for that matter) and are ready to receive help and encouragement from others visit our website at www.4drugrehab.com to find a treatment facility near you.
Good Luck and Keep Strong, you will not be sorry!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
California Drug Rehab
We get a lot of requests for information on California Drug Treatment and drug rehabs in CA.
Today's post includes links to the most popular cities in California so you can find a drug treatment center or alcohol rehab.
Los Angeles, CA Drug Rehab - Find about 100 treatment centers on this list.
San Francisco, California Drug Treatment - another 50-60 listed here.
San Diego Alcohol Rehab - find about 60 here. Or try Sacramento, CA.
If you're still having trouble finding one near you - try www.4drugrehab.com - our site lists thousands of drug detox centers, drug treatment, and alcohol rehabilitation centers.
Thanks and good luck!
Today's post includes links to the most popular cities in California so you can find a drug treatment center or alcohol rehab.
Los Angeles, CA Drug Rehab - Find about 100 treatment centers on this list.
San Francisco, California Drug Treatment - another 50-60 listed here.
San Diego Alcohol Rehab - find about 60 here. Or try Sacramento, CA.
If you're still having trouble finding one near you - try www.4drugrehab.com - our site lists thousands of drug detox centers, drug treatment, and alcohol rehabilitation centers.
Thanks and good luck!
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