What is synthetic marijuana, also known as Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks, fake weed, Spice or K2? It’s not just one thing. It’s a wide variety of herbal mixtures that produce a similar feeling as marijuana (cannabis). They are marketed as a “safe” and “legal” alternative to marijuana. They are often labeled as “not for human consumption” to get around drug laws (in some States these products are illegal). Read more →
Scientists have identified a molecule, called CGP3466B, that in a recent study blocked cocaine addiction in mice. Scientist had already been testing the molecule or compound CGP3466B on humans for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but it was unsuccessful. Once researchers learned which brain pathway cocaine acts on, they knew CGP3466B blocked that specific pathway.
The new study tested mice by giving them a choice of visiting two room, one of which occasionally dispensed cocaine. When the mice spent all of their time in the cocaine room, they were considered addicted. Those mice then received CGP3466B. The scientists found that once they received CGP3466B, the addicted mice resumed spending equal time in both rooms, i.e., they were no longer addicted.
“What’s exciting is that this drug works at very low doses, and it also appears only to affect this specific pathway, making it unlikely to have unwanted side effects,” said researcher Dr. Risheng Xu at Johns Hopkins University. The study of CGP3466B also helped confirm the details of cocaine’s action and potential treatment options. (DrugFree.org)
Cocaine stimulates the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is a brain chemical that is responsible for controlling pleasure and seeking reward. Cocaine raises the level of dopamine in the brain and tricks the brain into thinking it was something positive that should be repeated. Chronic use of cocaine can cause down-regulation or even damage to neurotransmitter receptor sites, disrupting the brain’s natural chemistry. This leads to withdrawal symptoms, feeling of loss of control, anxiety, stress, depression, cravings, and deeper levels of addiction.
When navigating the waters of teens and alcohol, it can get tricky being a parent. There is a popular misconception that teens are safer and will have healthier attitudes regarding alcohol, if parents let their teens and teens’ friends drink under their roof. This way they can monitor it. However, allowing underage teens to drink at your house can have serious repercussions for both parents and your teens.
Here are 4 popular myths about parents, teens and alcohol debunked: Read more →
We are going to take a closer look at some of the most addictive drugs in the world. These drugs, because of their chemical components, cause drastic neurological changes that lead to an exceptionally strong level of dependency. Because these drugs affect the reward center of the brain, they keep a user hostage physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Read more →
Recently, Montreal police seized massive amounts of a dangerous new painkiller to hit the black market in Canada: Desmethyl Fentanyl, which is a derivative of the painkiller Fentanyl. Desmethyl Fentanyl is 80 times more powerful than morphine and 40 times stronger than heroin. This illegal synthetic substance is a dangerous new painkiller to be hitting the streets. The police intercepted the package that was on its way to an address in Colorado. The police are pretty certain that some of the drug has already been shipped to the U.S.
To give you an idea of how strong this drug is, a police officer, who was wearing a protective mask and gloves, briefly came in contact with the substance during the raid and he had to be hospitalized because of heart palpitations. Three other policemen were also effected after coming in contact with the drug. The police also seized during the raid sophisticated drug equipment that’s capable of producing industrial quantities of drugs, with one machine able to produce a pill a second. (Policeone.com) Read more →
Which pain medication are safe and which ones are dangerous? What’s surprising is that many of the pain medications deemed dangerous, are the ones that most often fill our medicine cabinets. When we think of dangerous drugs we think of heroin, meth, or other “street drugs.” We don’t tend to see every day pain medications we get from the local drug store as a threat, but pain medications and adverse drug reactions are the 4th leading cause of death in the United States. So which ones are dangerous?
Salicylates (Aspirin, Acetylsalicylate)
Higher doses or prolonged use of lower doses doubles your likelihood of perforated ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding (even the coated kind!). Research also shows that 90-95% of Reye’s Syndrome cases (a disease that severely damages internal organs) were preceded with taking aspirin. Read more →
