Alcoholism Recovery & Treatment

Question by rissahearts8876: Are these really the facts?
Got this from http://www.checkyourself.com/FiveMyths.aspx
Can you say if these are true? Actual users, y’know?

Five Myths About Marijuana

1. MYTH: Marijuana is Harmless
TRUTH: Sure, it can’t directly kill you – but that doesn’t mean that pot is risk-free. Regular marijuana use has been shown to be associated with long-term problems, including poor academic performance, memory loss and lung cancer. To a developing brain, like those of teenagers, marijuana can be especially toxic — using pot can lead to panic attacks, depression and other mental health problems, not to mention increased anxiety.

2. MYTH: Marijuana is Not Addictive
TRUTH: But what you didn’t know is that more teens enter treatment each year with marijuana as the main substance that they abused. In 2004, 64% of teens were admitted for treatment for marijuana as their main drug of choice vs. 36% of all other substances including alcohol. Marijuana is addictive, as it meets the criteria for substance dependence established by the American Psychiatric Association including:

Tolerance (needing more of the substance to achieve the same effects)
Withdrawal symptoms, using a drug even in the presence of adverse effects (you smoke even though bad things have happened when you do)
Giving up social, occupational or recreational activities because of substance use (you quit your sports team or job because they get in the way of your drug use.)
The desire for marijuana can have a powerful pull over a user – and can make it hard to quit.

3. MYTH: Marijuana Isn’t As Bad As Cigarettes
TRUTH: Nope, sorry. Pot actually contains many of the same cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco. Puff for puff, smoking marijuana may increase the risk of cancer more than smoking tobacco does.

Therefore, if you smoke pot regularly, you may experience the same breathing problems as those who smoke cigarettes. To put it plainly, walking up flights of stairs will seem difficult, and if you’re an athlete — that unattractive wheezing and coughing caused by excessive smoking won’t look so hot (or feel so good) on the playing fields.

4. MYTH: Driving While High is Safer than Driving Drunk
TRUTH: Hardly. In a study reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, even a moderate dose of marijuana was shown to impair driving performance, since it affects alertness, concentration, perception coordination and reaction time – essential skills required for safe driving. Researchers also found that 17% (1 in 5) of crash victims under the age of 18 tested positive for marijuana.

5. MYTH: I Can Smoke Pot and Still Get Straight A’s
TRUTH: Hey, anything is possible – but there has been a lot of research done that states the opposite. Researchers have found that heavy marijuana use may be especially problematic during teens’ peak learning years, when the brain is still developing, since smoking pot can impair your ability to concentrate and retain information. This can cause poor academic performance. You might think you’re doing well in school – but you’ll never know if smoking pot is inhibiting your true academic potential.

What do you think? I call scare tactics.

Best answer:

Answer by Exploring the World
Treu

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Question by Hannah: Are these signs of alcoholism?
I have seriously low self esteem… If i need to go out somewhere like to town for example, on my own, then i will have a few drinks before i go (even if its in the day time). This is because i dont feel confident going anywhere on my own, so alcohol makes me feel more confident because im less self concious of my surroundings. Should i be wrorried?

Best answer:

Answer by PROBLEM JPAS A.R.T.
It may not be a sign of alcoholism, but it is a sign you need some help.
You may have a drinking problem if you…

Can never stick to “just one” drink.
Feel guilty or ashamed about your drinking.
Lie to others or hide your drinking habits.
Have friends or family members who are worried about your drinking.
Need to drink in order to relax or feel better.
“Black out” or forget what you did while you were drinking.
Regularly drink more than you intended to.

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Question by macmanf4j: what does these historical facts about drugs and prohibition teach us?
* in russia they use to cut ones lips or nose for smoking tobacco
** alcohol and tobocco abuse have decreased in time significantly since it was legalized
*** the first population which was a victim of prohibition in USA was the middle class “white” women since they were encouraged to use drugs that contained opiates(opiates were on the shelf drugs) by their husbands and doctors to make them passive ie; calm down so they don’t talk much specially argue with heir husband etc. this meant that as soon as drugs became illegal, they found themselves to be criminal, since opiates are addictive. this caused them to do anything ie; prostitution, etc to get their dope.
**** before prohibition people of all backgrounds used drugs. the pope at the time was drinking a wine that besides alcohol, it contained cocaine and opium! coca cola was used by many and contained cocaine
***** sexism and racism was used to prohibit drugs, ie; these Mexicans brought marijuana, and the name is also Mexican
cont.: to destroy our race and country. and these black people are giving drugs to white women and have them listen to jungle music and have sex with them, etc.
****** “whiteman” created Morphin to help opium addicts to quit opium, then made Heroine to have Morphin addicts to quit Morphin and then methodone for heroine addicts. it only got purer
******* if one is on methadone can say he or she is clean and sober ie; in a7d meetings
many physicians have addiction to Morphin but the only problem they have in time is: decrease in sexual drive, and going to restroom since it consopates them. no overdose since they know their dosage. no deseases since have access to clean needle. and no crime since they have access and can afford it and don’t have to deal with risky population so not a victim of crime,etc. for the ignorant people who are part of th problem the illegality kills, think about this last fact

Best answer:

Answer by Mary W
I don’t know what it ought to teach those that make the laws, but it ought to force them to legalize marijuana, cocaine, meth and heroin for personal use. If someone takes an OD and dies from it, who’s going to miss them?

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Question by Fluffy Girl: Are these symptoms consistent with alcohol poisoning?
If a person drinking feels as if their heart is racing, shortness of breath, headache, nausea and has fingers and lips that are cold to the touch, is this a sign of alcohol poisoning? Or another sickness in relation to drinking? Thanks

Best answer:

Answer by Kim L.
YES IT IS.The symptoms of alcohol doesn’t show as early as you think.Alcohol destroys the organs little by little .When you drink alcohol it is absorbed into your bloodstream through the esophagus,stomach and small intestine.The reason why our body has trouble breaking down the alcohol is because we have inactive enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), which is normally responsible for breaking down acetaldehyde, a byproduct of the metabolism of alcohol. Acetaldehyde is a toxin and, as result of your body not being able to properly break it down, this toxin accumulates and causes symptoms like dizziness, nausea, headaches,migraine and an increased pulse.

Did you know that the H2o content in the body is crucial to the most probable outcomes that alcohol might provide a person? Alcohol passes through the gastrointestinal tract and with water, it gets spread to many other parts of the body. The greater the volume of h2o, the more diluted the alcohol. Females, generally with a weight of under males, contain less water in their physiques. Therefore, the alcohol-water concentrate is much more deadly compared to in males. This simple variation in women’s physiology is the factor for the presence of grave effects that their drinking might bring according to this site http://alcoholhelp.co.uk/facts-about-alcohol/

Migraine is also hereditary so its quite possible that this condition will worsen if you keep on drinking alcohol.Alcohol by itself is not a migraine-provoking chemical,but the histamine & tyramine contained in several beers are said to trigger migraine.

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Question by Rob Tt: Are these signs of being an alcoholic?
First off for the last few weeks I have started drinking with my friends, nothing hard like vodka or anything just beer, when we drink I always feel that unless you get drunk there’s no point in drinking because beer just doesn’t taste good. I do this a few times a month 3-5, is drinking only to get drunk at 15 signs of being an alcoholic or just what the typical teenager does?
if anyone here thinks that anybodys not drinking at 15 then your naive to the real world

Best answer:

Answer by Dustin
Probably not a big deal 3 times a month is fairly normal for a teenager.
Warning signs of alcoholic : drinking alone, getting drunk to the point of blacking out, getting smashed more than twice a week, and needing alcohol to deal with everyday life.

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