Category: <span>Health News</span>

Popularly known as K2 or synthetic marijuana that gets its name based on the ingredients used in the drug that are mostly man made with chemicals sprinkled on grass clipping, tea leaves, and plant content are cannabinoids that belong to the psychoactive substance prominent in marijuana. Using this substance can lead to seizures and psychotic episodes. This has become a problem for lawmakers and health care professionals with the incidence of doubling in comparison with last year. The ingredients and effects of this street drug vary largely.

Syracuse University has a new inmate Edwin Santana (52) addicted to a drug called spike. Born in the Bronx, Santana is into a detox program. He is homeless and addicted to heroin. Now for two years he is addicted to spike. Speaking on the drug Santana says that the drug gives him fear. Since the chemical ingredients are changed constantly what to expect after taking spike is unpredictable informs drug enforcement officers. Sometimes they fine tune cannabinoids and other times chemical mixtures are used alter its effects.

Speaking of the symptoms Angel Stanley, the psychiatric nurse informs that patients using Spike are vulnerable to visual hallucination, auditory hallucination, and disorganization thinking. Spike is similar to the pot, and it is sold as synthetic marijuana. This became popular among teenager that want to get high for less. Now older users are also using the drug. People who have problems with life find solace in spike. Spike is not only cheap but effective as well informs an inpatient at Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare.

The challenge lies in treating spike users that constitute of unknown ingredients. Rehab centers are facing problems with treatment procedures. Speaking on this Jeremy Klemanski informs that alcohol, opiate, and cocaine can be treated easily but those with the use of synthetics are tough to treat as the ingredients are unclear.

Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research, Founder, and Director, Dr. John Knight says that addiction is turning into a pediatric disease. When questioned addicts on when the habit started the answer are identical, it started when young, during their teens. Despite habits like smoking, alcohol and drugs are decreasing recently in the US, around 8.8 percent of youngsters between the age of 12 and 17 years are using illicit drugs informs 2014 Behavioral Health Barometer for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Youngsters when using drugs can change their brain development turning them into addicts inform Knight. When drugs are being used from a young age, the changes in the brain structure are pronounced. Addiction in the US can be contained if youngster postpones alcohol and drugs. In some parts of the country, teenagers are using drugs at a very early stage. Kids in the recent times are sicker than those compared to the past informs Clinical Supervisor Sara Ellsworth, True North Student Assistance and Treatment Services in Olympia.

Sara adds that last year 700 students were attended from the 44 rural schools in the district. She informs that most of these victims have a history of trauma from domestic violence, sexual abuse, homicide, rape or parental substance abuse. It is also analyzed that over half have at least a mental condition. Another disturbing pattern that is peeking is the use of marijuana or alcohol at a tender age as part of self medication. This turns into an extreme drug habit over a period of time. Kids that are using less are better but those that are crossing the limits are being victimized fast.

Rob Vincent, SAMHSA public health analyst, says that around 10 percent of people in the United States are vulnerable to substance abuse at one point in time or other. These people need therapy, he informs, and the youth find it hard to overcome. Statistics say only 1 of twenty kids get treated of those kids between 12 and 17 that come for a treatment. Health officials have understood the need for early prevention as treatment for drug and alcohol abuse is turning impractical. This is dubbed as Screening, Brief, Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT).