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What is Self Medication?:The act of taking drugs or alcohol in attempt to alleviate anxiety, stress, anger, or certain mental disorders (ie. schizophrenia & bipolar).
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Why do people self medicate?There are many reasons people self-medicate, but it usually comes down to an individuals inability to express their emotions. People often self medicate to curb things such as feelings of anxiety, depression, guilt, and anger.
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Who self medicates?
Anyone can self medicate, and it is usually seen in those who have trouble expressing or otherwise dealing with their emotions, as well as in people that suffer with mental disorders. While many people with mental health problems such as those that suffer with depression, fit under the anxiety spectrum, or have disorders such as schizophrenia often self medicate, bullying victims that are not affected by a mental health disorder are also at risk.
Types of self medication and their effects
Nicotine (Tobacco products): Tobacco smoke is enormously harmful to your health. There’s no safe way to smoke. Replacing your cigarette with a cigar, pipe, or hookah won’t help you avoid the health risks associated with tobacco products. Cigarettes contain about 600 ingredients. When they burn, they generate more than 7,000 chemicals, according to the American Lung Association. Many of those chemicals are poisonous and at least 69 of them can cause cancer. A few effects of tobacco go as follows...
Marijuana (Pot,weed):
A study published in The Journal of Psychiatric Research, says Marijuana is said to have a negative impact on the brain, especially in brain development in of younger users Another study reported that long-term use of marijuana could impair short-term memory. In high doses it can also cause the user to suffer feelings of depression.
Short Term Effects:
Long Term Effects Of Marijuana:
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Alcohol: While alcohol does provide temporary relief when used in small and occasional doses, long term use can lead to many health problems as it turns into alcoholism. Self medicating with alcohol only temporarily hides the problem you are trying to escape and often worsens your problem. Abusing this substance can lead to the following physical and mental health effects...
Ecstasy (MDMA, Molly, love drug): Ecstasy is one of the most popular drugs among youth today. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, there is an estimated 9 million worldwide Ecstasy users. The vast majority of users are teenagers and young adults. Mixed with alcohol, Ecstasy is extremely dangerous and can, in fact, be deadly. Short Term affects:
Long Term affects:
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Pills: Recreational use of prescription drugs is a serious problem with teens and young adults. National studies show that a teen is more likely to have abused a prescription drug than an illegal street drug. Many teens think prescription drugs are safe because they were prescribed by a doctor, but taking them for non-medical use to get high or “self-medicate” can be just as dangerous and addictive as taking illegal street drugs.
Types of abused prescription drugs: 1. Depressants: Often referred to as central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) depressants, these drugs slow brain function. They include sedatives (used to make a person calm and drowsy) and tranquilizers (intended to reduce tension or anxiety). Depressant Effects:
2. Opioids and morphine derivatives: Generally referred to as painkillers, these drugs contain opium or opium-like substances and are used to relieve pain. Opioids and morphine derivative effects:
3. Stimulants: A class of drugs intended to increase energy and alertness but which also increase blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. Stimulant effects:
4. Antidepressants: Psychiatric drugs that are supposed to handle depression. Antidepressant effects:
LSD (Acid): LSD is one of the most potent, mood-changing chemicals. It is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in the ergot fungus that grows on rye and other grains. It is produced in crystal form in illegal laboratories, mainly in the United States. These crystals are converted to a liquid for distribution. It is odorless, colorless, and has a slightly bitter taste. Known as “acid” and by many other names, LSD is sold on the street in small tablets (“microdots”), capsules or gelatin squares (“window panes”). It is sometimes added to absorbent paper, which is then divided into small squares decorated with designs or cartoon characters (“loony toons”). Occasionally it is sold in liquid form. But no matter what form it comes in, LSD leads the user to the same place—a serious disconnection from reality. LSD users call an LSD experience a “trip,” typically lasting twelve hours or so. When things go wrong, which often happens, it is called a “bad trip,” another name for a living hell. Physical Effects:
Mental Effects:
Crack: Crack cocaine is the crystal form of cocaine, which normally comes in a powder form. It comes in solid blocks or crystals varying in color from yellow to pale rose or white.
Crack is heated and smoked. It is so named because it makes a cracking or popping sound when heated. Crack, the most potent form in which cocaine appears, is also the riskiest. It is between 75% and 100% pure, far stronger and more potent than regular cocaine. Because of cocaine’s high cost, it has long been considered a “rich man’s drug.” Crack, on the other hand, is sold at prices so low that even teens can afford to buy it—at first. The truth is that once a person is addicted, the expense skyrockets in direct ratio to the increasing amount needed to support the habit. Short Term Effects:
Long Term Effects:
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Cocaine: Cocaine is one of the most dangerous drugs known to man. Once a person begins taking the drug, it has proven almost impossible to become free of its grip physically and mentally.
Short-term effects
Long-term effects:
Crystal meth: Methamphetamine is an illegal drug in the same class as cocaine and other powerful street drugs. It has many nicknames--meth, crank, chalk or speed being the most common. (See the list of street names.)
Crystal meth is used by individuals of all ages, but is most commonly used as a “club drug,” taken while partying in night clubs or at rave parties. Its most common street names are iceor glass. It is a dangerous and potent chemical and, as with all drugs, a poison that first acts as a stimulant but then begins to systematically destroy the body. Thus it is associated with serious health conditions, including memory loss, aggression, psychotic behavior and potential heart and brain damage. Short Term Effects:
Long Term Effects:
Inhalants: “Inhalants” refers to the vapors from toxic substances which are inhaled to reach a quick high. Of more than 1,000 household and other common products that could be abused as inhalants, most often used are shoe polish, glue, toluene, gasoline, lighter fluid, nitrous oxide or “whippets,” spray paint, correction fluid, cleaning fluid, amyl nitrite or “poppers,” locker room deodorizers or “rush,” and lacquer thinner or other paint solvents.“Inhalants” refers to the vapors from toxic substances which are inhaled to reach a quick high.
Short Term Effects:
Long term effects:
Heroin: Heroin is a highly addictive, illegal drug. It is used by millions of addicts around the world who are unable to overcome the urge to continue taking this drug every day of their lives—knowing that if they stop, they will face the horror of withdrawal.
Heroin (like opium and morphine) is made from the resin of poppy plants. Milky, sap-like opium is first removed from the pod of the poppy flower. This opium is refined to make morphine, then further refined into different forms of heroin. Most heroin is injected, creating additional risks for the user, who faces the danger of AIDS or other infection on top of the pain of addiction. In its purest form, heroin is a fine white powder. But more often, it is found to be rose gray, brown or black in color. The coloring comes from additives which have been used to dilute it, which can include sugar, caffeine or other substances. Short Term Effects:
Long Term Effects:
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Warning signs that someone you now may be on drugs
How to help someone else
If you suspect that a friend or family member has a drug problem, here are a few things you can do:
- Speak up. Talk to the person about your concerns, and offer your help and support, without being judgmental. The earlier addiction is treated, the better. Don’t wait for your loved one to hit bottom! Be prepared for excuses and denial by listing specific examples of your loved one’s behavior that has you worried.
- Take care of yourself. Don’t get so caught up in someone else’s drug problem that you neglect your own needs. Make sure you have people you can talk to and lean on for support. And stay safe. Don’t put yourself in dangerous situations.
- Avoid self-blame. You can support a person with a substance abuse problem and encourage treatment, but you can’t force an addict to change. You can’t control your loved one’s decisions. Let the person accept responsibility for his or her actions, an essential step along the way to recovery for drug addiction.
If you find out your teenager is addicted:
Discovering your child uses drugs can generate fear, confusion, and anger in parents. It’s important to remain calm when confronting your teen, and only do so when everyone is sober. Explain your concerns and make it clear that your concern comes from a place of love. It’s important that your teen feels you are supportive.
Five steps parents can take:
Discovering your child uses drugs can generate fear, confusion, and anger in parents. It’s important to remain calm when confronting your teen, and only do so when everyone is sober. Explain your concerns and make it clear that your concern comes from a place of love. It’s important that your teen feels you are supportive.
Five steps parents can take:
- Lay down rules and consequences. Your teen should understand that using drugs comes with specific consequences. But don’t make hollow threats or set rules that you cannot enforce. Make sure your spouse agrees with the rules and is prepared to enforce them.
- Monitor your teen’s activity. Know where your teen goes and who he or she hangs out with. It’s also important to routinely check potential hiding places for drugs—in backpacks, between books on a shelf, in DVD cases or make-up cases, for example. Explain to your teen that this lack of privacy is a consequence of him or her having been caught using drugs.
- Encourage other interests and social activities. Expose your teen to healthy hobbies and activities, such as team sports and afterschool clubs.
- Talk to your child about underlying issues. Drug use can be the result of other problems. Is your child having trouble fitting in? Has there been a recent major change, like a move or divorce, which is causing stress?
- Get help. Teenagers often rebel against their parents but if they hear the same information from a different authority figure, they may be more inclined to listen. Try a sports coach, family doctor, therapist, or drug counselor.
How to help yourself
Recognizing that you have a problem is the first step on the road to recovery, one that takes tremendous courage and strength. Facing your addiction without minimizing the problem or making excuses can feel frightening and overwhelming, but recovery is within reach. If you’re ready to make a change and willing to seek help, you can overcome your addiction and build a satisfying, drug-free life for yourself.
Don’t try to go it alone; it’s all too easy to get discouraged and rationalize “just one more” hit or pill. Whether you choose to go to rehab, rely on self-help programs, get therapy, or take a self-directed treatment approach, support is essential. Recovering from drug addiction is much easier when you have people you can lean on for encouragement, comfort, and guidance.
Support can come from:
Don’t try to go it alone; it’s all too easy to get discouraged and rationalize “just one more” hit or pill. Whether you choose to go to rehab, rely on self-help programs, get therapy, or take a self-directed treatment approach, support is essential. Recovering from drug addiction is much easier when you have people you can lean on for encouragement, comfort, and guidance.
Support can come from:
- family members
- close friends
- therapists or counselors
- other recovering addicts
- healthcare providers
- people from your faith community
Sources:
http://www.healthline.com/health/depression/forms-self-medication#1
http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/
http://www.healthline.com/health/smoking/effects-on-body
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/drug-abuse-and-addiction.htm
http://www.healthline.com/health/depression/forms-self-medication#1
http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/
http://www.healthline.com/health/smoking/effects-on-body
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/drug-abuse-and-addiction.htm