Cocaine

coke, blow, snow, flake, snowball, nose candy, etc.

Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant that is put into the body in three common ways: smoking, sniffing, and/or injection. It gives users a feeling of extreme pleasure, but it lasts only a short amount of time. If cocaine is smoked (known as crack cocaine) the high is almost immediate but only lasts about 5 or 10 minutes; if it is snorted, the high may not occur as rapidly, but will most likely last longer, about 15-30 minutes.

Some Signs of a Cocaine User:
•Bloodshot eyes and/or frequent runny nose
•Nosebleeds
•Weight loss
•Dilated pupils

Some Risks of Using:
•Addiction
•Risk of paranoia and/or depression
•Headaches
•Decrease in strength of immune system
•Irritability, anxiety, or restlessness
•Decreased appetite
•Long term: cardiac arrest or damage to nasal septum

Cocaine is a very addictive substance and the high is only short-lived, so when the high ends, users continue to go back for more. They may experience a crash after their high has ended and this only helps to feed the addiction. The risks and side effects are very serious and often times using leads to serious addictions.

Sources:
Cocaine Facts (Blow) http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/facts/drugs-cocaine.aspx#
Cocaine http://www.theantidrug.com/drug-information/commonly-abused-
drugs/cocaine.aspx
Signs of Cocaine Addiction http://www.addictionca.com/signs-of-cocaine-use.htm

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (also known as PTSD) can occur after a person has witnessed or experienced a traumatic event.
These events can include:

•Combat
•Violent attacks (such as rape, abuse, or assault)
•Serious and sudden accidents (such as a car accident)
•Natural disasters (flood, hurricane, etc)
•Death of a loved one
•And other life changing events

It is natural for people to feel upset or anxious after such an event has occurred, but if the symptoms continue for more than a month without seeming to get better, the individual may have PTSD. These people may distance themselves from friends and family, become depressed, turn to drugs or alcohol, have nightmares or problems sleeping, and/or think about the event regularly. For some, these thoughts are overwhelming and can consume much of their life.

The onset of PTSD usually occurs soon after the traumatic event has occurred. However, it is possible that people will feel the effects of it years down the road. There are medications to help people diagnosed with this condition, but many professionals believe that therapy is a stronger, more long-term solution. It may help the person open up about their experiences and learn to think about life in a different way.

PTSD is a very serious condition that goes beyond people that go away to war. It is affecting more and more people, and treatment is readily available to those who seek it out.

SOURCES:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: 1372-4D20-C8E6CFE1B56A38AB>
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Overview: < http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-
panic/tc/post-traumatic-stress-disorder--topic-overview>

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Suicide

“More than 90 percent of people who kill themselves have a diagnosable mental disorder, most commonly a depressive disorder or a substance abuse disorder.” (www.nimh.nih.gov)

Suicide is a serious issue that is plaguing the world today. It is the third leading single cause for death in America and has been occurring more frequently in recent months due to the declining economy and other uncontrollable factors. People commit suicide when they feel that something is terribly wrong in their life and they cannot think of another way out. Friends or family members should try not to judge these people or try to counsel them alone; the best option is for the individual thinking about suicide to seek treatment.

Warning Signs:
•Talking about suicide or what life would be like if they were “gone”
•Depression
•Previous suicide attempts
•Getting rid of prized possessions
•Personality changes
•Engaging in risky behaviors

People who have attempted suicide before are very likely to commit suicide in the first year after the attempt. Also, people who are depressed make up about 30-80% of the population that does commit suicide. Statistics say that on average 8 out of 10 people give some type of warning sign before they commit suicide.

How to Help if you Fear Someone you Love is Considering Suicide:
•Trust your instincts
•Don’t swear to secrecy or leave the person alone
•Don’t be judgmental and talk to the person about their concerns
•Have them get treatment, even if they resist

Suicide is a very devastating event and can potentially be prevented if someone is brave enough to intervene. People who are thinking about killing themselves are often crying out for help, so help them if you can. And if you, or someone you know, is thinking about suicide, seek treatment- the benefits are endless.

Sources:
Fact sheet: Suicide
The Numbers Count: Mental Health Disorders in America

Image from: http://healthinmotion.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/


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How Substance Abuse Affects Families

When a person becomes addicted to a drug, it often affects the people around them. Although the others are not actually using the drug, they sometimes feel its effects in different ways. An addict does not always realize how their actions are impacting the people they love, but family and friends do pay a price as well.

Financial Effects:
When an addict lives with his/her family, they may spend more money on their addiction than their budget allows. Money that is needed for bills or food may be spent on drugs and it leaves the rest of the family responsible for making up the loss. Additionally, if the addiction becomes severe, an addict may steal from their loved ones in order to get a high and again the family is left to figure out the issues that are created.

Exposure Effects:
Exposure may begin in someone’s life before they are ever born. If a woman is pregnant and still using drugs, her unborn baby may face irreparable damages. And later, when someone begins (or continues) to use drugs in their everyday life, it is not long before the people around them begin to notice. Children are sometimes exposed to these drugs and do not even understand what they are. The largest problem with this is that exposure leads to familiarity and could potentially cause them to consider using drugs in the future.

Emotional Effects:
Despite the numerous battles that families of addicts have to fight, the emotional one may be the toughest. Children may lose their parents and adults lose their siblings or spouses to addiction, and the loss is immeasurable. Often times, the loved ones feel the stress from the addiction when they try to cover up the addict’s problems as well as argue with them about what is going on. Addiction may cause more arguments and sometimes even physical abuse, and people can only handle so much.

Sources:
Substance Abuse- Effects of Substance Abuse on Families
http://family.jrank.org/pages/1647/Substance-Abuse-Effects-Substance-Abuse-on-Families.html
Drug Abuse and Addiction
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/drug_substance_abuse_addiction_signs_effects
_treatment.htm
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Marijuana - The Facts

Marijuana may be the most commonly accepted drug within our society, but the truth is that it can be very dangerous. “Some common names are: pot, grass, herb, weed, Mary Jane, reefer, skunk, boom, gangster, kif, chronic, and ganja,” (teens.drugabuse.gov). A common misconception is that everybody uses it, when in fact marijuana use is on the decline. People generally choose to use it to escape from their everyday lives into a more calm and mellow place. However, this mellow place isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…

Short term effects:
(+) Dopamine is released which creates the good feeling
(-) Loss of coordination can occur
(-) Impacts perception, memory, and judgment skills
(-) May increase the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors
(-) Increases Heart Rate
(-) Effects are often unpredictable

The most dangerous aspect of using marijuana is that it may affect the brain in irreversible ways. The THC in marijuana is suspected to affect the hippocampus, the cerebellum, the basal ganglia, and the cerebral cortex of the brain; these areas of the brain are mostly responsible for coordination, learning and memory. Many users’ brains are still developing and because the effects of marijuana use are so unpredictable, one must decide if the risk is really worth the benefit?

Sources:
-Marijuana What is it? http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php
-Image from: http://latinolikeme.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/marijuana.jpg

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Employee Assistance Professionals (EAPs)

“In the US, over 97% of companies with more than 5,000 employees have EAPs. 80% of companies with 1,001 - 5,000 employees have EAPs. 75% of companies with 251 - 1,000 employees have EAPs,” (www.eapassn.org).

What does an employee assistance professional do?
EAPs are hired to assist both the employer and his/her employees. It is their job to address productivity in the workplace while assisting people who may have a mental health or addiction concern. A main component of their job is to make referrals to appropriate treatment facilities when the situation calls for it.

EAPs are beneficial to everyone in the workplace. Employees who seek treatment are more likely to maintain a steady job and create good work habits, which in turn will help the employer uphold a productive business and probably save money in the long run.

Employee Assistance Professionals have a large impact on the business industry as more companies are opting to hire them. Their responsibilities benefit both parties and their assistance has proven to be very beneficial overall.


Sources:
About Employee Assistance, http://www.eapassn.org
Image from: http://work-stress.biz/WorkStress.htm

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Wellstone & Domenici Parity Act (2008)

What is “parity”?
In this sense, parity means equal coverage for mental health, substance abuse treatment, and physical health conditions covered under insurance plans. Passing this bill was meant to ensure equal benefits for all types of treatment that people need, without any discrimination.

• Equal benefits (equal coverage)
• Equal limits (one can not be more restrictive than another)
• Equal Cost-sharing (deductibles, co-payments, etc)

Reimbursement charges are not included in the bill and the changes are expected to increase premiums by .4% for insurance companies. Although this act is meant to create equality, it is still possible for some parties to opt out of providing mental health and substance abuse benefits altogether. State laws also come into play and may cause some discrepancies among the people involved in this industry.

The Wellstone-Domenici Parity Act will be implemented beginning January 1, 2010 after being passed by the Bush administration in 2008. Some insurance companies have been fighting against this bill and changes continue to be made, but before long it will be the new way of the health care system. Equality may make an appearance in this bill, but only time will tell how effective the law really is.

Sources:
Wellstone-Domenici Parity Act FAQ http://www.phwa.org/resources/goodcompany/newsletter/article/113
Congressional Research Service Summary
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-6983&tab=summary

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