Archive for the ‘Risk Factors’ Category

Drug Addiction

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Drug AddictionThey are known as such addictions to various toxic substances, which produce multiple adverse health effects, both physical and psychological, family and social serious repercussions.

1. What is addiction?
Substance abuse or addiction is a chronic primary disease process, infectious and progressive. It causes serious problems not only for the youth concerned but also for the family and society.

2. A growing problem
Drug abuse has been emerging as a major problem among youth in recent years to be seen as an epidemic.
Alcohol and snuff have been called illegal drugs and that young people often experience, however, the use and abuse of illicit drugs has been increasing in this population.

3. The effects of the drug
The physical and psychological consequences, acute or chronic drug use for adolescents are of great concern. Adverse effects of drugs are varied and include:

- Toxic reactions, potential crime, changes in mood, sensory impairment or deterioration of motor function.

- They can affect mental functioning, including impaired concentration, trial and cognitive function, formation of misconceptions, temporary memory loss, inattention, extreme agitation, delusions of persecution and hallucinations.

Drug addiction is often related to trauma. The leading causes of death in these young people are acts of violence such as homicides, suicides and accidents, especially traffic.

Chronic effects of alcohol and drug abuse include severe disorders such as cancer, cirrhosis, and respiratory disease. Both are more serious or chronic psychological disorders.

(more…)

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Definition, Drug Addiction, Risk Factors | No Comments »

The cocaine is carried in the genes

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

genes

Like the strip to the mountain goat, some people have a small mutation in their DNA that predisposes them to cocaine addiction once they try it. Although this is a very preliminary finding, a team of researchers has found a gene that could explain why one in 10 people taking cocaine become dependent on this drug.

“The important thing is that we have found a first gene linked to vulnerability to cocaine addiction,” he explained IMABIS Foundation in Malaga, one of the Spanish scientists who collaborated in this study.

Although the brain is still today a great mystery, the continuing investigation of the body sheds little flashes of light on its operation. One thing we know is that drugs can give pleasure and addiction to act on the reward circuits. Cocaine, in particular, work by increasing the concentration of dopamine (the pleasure neurotransmitter) in the neurons of this system, thereby strengthening its consumption. (more…)

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Cocaine addiction, Risk Factors | No Comments »

The skin also suffers the effects of cocaine

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

the effects of cocaine

Skin ulcers, itching, blisters, hives, rashes, warts on the nasal mucosa. These skin changes may be triggered because of the consumption of cocaine addiction. If a patient has chronic skin lesions and shows a strange and delusional behavior, should be an overall drug tests to confirm whether the use of this drug is the cause, as recommended by an article published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

“However, they must also be completely excluded other triggers of these skin reactions, even when they are illegal substances during testing, since a positive drug test does not always indicate the source of injuries,” warn the authors of the paper, conducted in the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota (USA). (more…)

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Cocaine addiction, Risk Factors | No Comments »

Family Risk For Drug User

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Family risk factors include:
- Family history of use of toxic substances. A study shows that a teenager whose parents use drugs, has a 3-fold higher risk of developing dependence at some point, with the rest adolescents.

- Disorganized family life is another important factor in predisposition to drug use of adolescents. Families in which there are various conflicts, physical or sexual abuse, intense psychological stress, have a high risk of consuming drugs. Clearing the emotional and familial warmth, are important in any family that is trying to avoid such abuses.

- Inadequate involvement of parents in education and adolescent life, also increase risk for abuse and drug addiction. Extremes of education, and severe punishments (often corporate) or increased affordability for parents, increase the risk for abuse.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Family Risk, Risk Factors | No Comments »

Personal Risk Factors for Drug

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Personal risk factors include:
- Genetic factors. People with substance abuse often have a family history of drug consumption. There are various medical studies which show that the order is different genetically predisposing factors in combination with environmental factors may lead to drug abuse;

- The type of personality and temperament. Adolescents with rebellious behavior, resisting parental authority, which are feelings of guilt or failure, have a special predisposition to drug use.

- Various conditions. Adolescents who have various mental illnesses, such as, hipereactivitate associated with attention deficit, conduct disorder, chronic depression, repressive (hide certain feelings), posttraumatic stress syndrome or anxious depressive disorders, predisposing to drug use. Also drogurilorr consumption may worsen these conditions.

- Temptation specific age is another factor that predisposes to drug use. Adolescents are often curious about the sensations and effects of the drugs they have on their person. Entourage, incorrect information in the media, stimulates curiosity, often enough to try a small boost staff these substances.

- Age than the first use. Tobacco and drug use early age greatly increases the risk of abuse and dependence.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Risk Factors | No Comments »

The Effects of Heroin

Monday, December 21st, 2009

The effects of heroin are basically the same as morphine but more serious:

Immediate negative effects:

* nausea

* sneezing, coughing

* nosebleed

* fatigue

* lack of coordination

* loss of appetite

* decreased heart rate and breathing. (more…)

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Risk Factors | No Comments »

Drug Addiction Victims

Sunday, December 13th, 2009

Addiction is a disease that becomes more and more victims among adolescents and young people in Argentina and worldwide. The consequences are devastating both for addicts and for the families and friends around him.

DRUG ADDICTION The victims of this scourge have disorders ranging from loss of physical, intellectual, social and even death. The drug addiction is serious, alters and affects mood and behavior, with negative changes in behavior leading to a deterioration in family and social relationships (more…)

Tags: , ,
Posted in Risk Factors | No Comments »

Principles for the Prevention of HIV in Drug User Populations:

Friday, December 11th, 2009

How can drug users reduce their risks of contracting HIV / AIDS?

It should advise drug users to stop using all drugs, including injectable drugs, is the most effective way to reduce their risk of contracting HIV / AIDS and other blood-borne diseases, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C. However, not every drug user is ready to stop using drugs, and many of those who stop may relapse. (more…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Risk Factors | 2 Comments »