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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Alcohol Does Not Discriminate




If you would like to read about how anyone - including politicians - can suffer from substance abuse problems, read this article. Alcohol does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, wealth, class, or profession. And politicians from the left, right, and middle have all experienced problems.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Cocaine and the Facts


Our thanks to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for the following facts about Cocaine. 

Cocaine affects your brain. The word “cocaine” refers to the drug in both a powder (cocaine) and crystal (crack) form. It is made from the coca plant and causes a short-lived high that is immediately followed by opposite, intense feelings of depression, edginess, and a craving for more of the drug. Cocaine may be snorted as a powder, converted to a liquid form for injection with a needle, or processed into a crystal form to be smoked.

Cocaine affects your body. People who use cocaine often don’t eat or sleep regularly. They can experience increased heart rate, muscle spasms, and convulsions. If they snort cocaine, they can also permanently damage their nasal tissue.

Cocaine affects your emotions. Using cocaine can make you feel paranoid, angry, hostile, and anxious, even when you’re not high.

Cocaine is addictive. Cocaine interferes with the way your brain processes chemicals that create feelings of pleasure, so you need more and more of the drug just to feel normal. People who become addicted to cocaine start to lose interest in other areas of their life, like school, friends, and sports.

Cocaine can kill you. Cocaine use can cause heart attacks, seizures, strokes, and respiratory failure. People who share needles can also contract hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, or other diseases.


Pee Wee Herman Talks About Crack Cocaine

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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

From Drunk Boating to Drunk Driving in Anne Arundel

 



Don Dwyer, a member of the Anne Arundel County House of Delegates, had another alcohol related incident.  Last year he was arrested after crashing his boat while intoxicated.  There were several injuries.  That story is here
Delegate Dwyer was out on bond for the boating incident when he was arrested again.  He was arrested for drunk driving last month.  That story is here.  He is reportedly in rehab.

Want to more about driving and drinking?  Here are some facts from the Feds:

 -  Drunk driving is often a symptom of a larger problem: alcohol misuse and abuse.
 -  Alcohol-impaired motor vehicle crashes cost more than an estimated $37 billion annually.
 -  In 2010, more than 10,000 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes - one every 51 minutes.

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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Gateway Drugs


What is a Gateway drug?  Gateway drugs are those that lead to the abuse of other more harmful drugs.  Generally, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana are considered to be Gateway drugs.  The theory is that young people begin using alcohol and tobacco because they are available.  To a young person, there is a lure to drinking and smoking (or dipping) because such use is exciting, risky, and it’s what adults do.  Marijuana is increasingly available as it becomes legalized.  Marijuana use is likely to increase the more it is decriminalized, particularly if it becomes completely legal, and marketed and distributed like alcohol and tobacco products.

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