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What is Addiction?
Addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder of the brain characterized by compulsive seeking of and use of a substance, action or activity despite negative social, psychological and/or physical consequences. Components of addiction can include the following: Tolerance- increased use over time. Withdrawal symptoms of irritability, anxiety, shakes, sweats, nausea, and vomiting, when the use or the activity stops. Difficulty controlling the activity/action or the use of drugs. Neglecting/postponing activities reducing social activities or missing work because of the activity or the use of drugs. Spending significant time or emotional energy planning, thinking about obtaining, using, concealing, planning, or recovering from an activity or drug use . Desire to cut down wanting to curtail the activity or cut down use and being un-successful. Substance Abuse is defined by the following characteristics: *Continued use despite social or interpersonal problems. *Repeated use resulting in failure to fulfill obligations at work, school or home. *Repeated use resulting in physically hazardous outcomes. *Use resulting in legal problems.

Volume 7 Issue 4

April 2012

A major study by researchers at Columbia University, published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that residents of states with medical marijuana laws has marijuana abuse/dependence rates almost twice as high as states without medical marijuana. Heavy drinking is the third leading cause of preventable death in America (CDC) There is a new soft drink sold in some parts of the country - organic hemp iced tea. Hemp is a relative of marijuana, but, DOES NOT contain the chemicals that produce the marijuana high. Prescription drug abuse results in one death every 19 minutes in the U.S. (CDC)

APRIL 21 is PowerTalk 21 day - the national day for parents to start talking with their kids about alcohol. These conversations could save the life of a teen, especially with the partying and celebrations that go along with the upcoming prom and graduation season. MADD is hoping parent/ teen talks will raise awareness about underage drinking and the many negative consequences. MADD is concerned that movies such as the new movie Project X which depict the risky behaviors associated with underage drinking, do not show the often devastating results of such drinking. Movies like Project X show fun, silliness, laughs, etc, but does show, auto accidents, falls, drowning, violence, alcohol poisoning, coma, and death that could happen when drinking is excessive. REAL LIFE UNDERAGE DRINKING HAS CONSEQUENCES. Teen alcohol use kills about 6,000 teens each year - more than all illegal drugs combined. Parents, taking away the key to a car doesnt take away risk; and, if someone is hurt or killed after a teen home party where alcohol is provided, the parents of the teen hosting the party, or the adults hosting the party where alcohol is available, are legally liable and may be sued under the Social Host Law.

Behavior Addiction:
In the world of addiction treatment there are two types of addiction - addiction to a substance and addiction to patterns of behavior. Behavioral addictions involve problematic repetitive behavioral actions. These actions include gambling, eating, sex, running, working-out, shopping, etc. There is a biochemical pleasure process that is a key element in the development and maintenance of both substance and behavioral addictions. Repeatedly engaging in a pleasurable behavior or using a substance, teaches the brain that the way to feel better is to take more of the drug or engage in more of a particular behavior. Eventually the brain becomes hardwired for a drug or behavioral addiction and it becomes necessary to take the drug or engage in the action. Addiction to a behavior or action, (also referred to as process addictions) differs from substance addictions in one very particular way. In treatment for a substance addiction, complete abstinence is expected; and sobriety depends upon that abstinence. Most behavioral addictions are normal, essential aspects of life - eating, working, sex, exercise, etc. so it is not possible to isolate ones-self from these activities. Treatment for a process addiction requires a person to learn to engage in the behaviors that she/he is addicted to in a moderate and appropriate way. A way that is acceptable to society .

More about synthetic marijuana:

K2 and spice are sending growing numbers of teens to the hospital. (USA Today) These synthetic canabinoids are a blend of plant and herbal materials that have been sprayed with chemicals which cause toxicity. The drug can leave users catatonic and listless. Very little is known about synthetic marijuana or how to treat an adverse reaction or an overdose. The American Academy of Pediatrics has published a report for physicians about the side effects of the drugs to help them identify symptoms. Some of the signs include agitation, excessive sweating, inability to speak, restlessness and aggression. Similar to marijuana, these synthetic drugs cause euphoric and psychoactive effects. If used over a long period of time, some experts predict the synthetic drug may effect memory loss and cause psychosis. (CNN Blogs) (www.drugfree.org)

More about Inhalable Caffeine: (drugfree.org)

The U.S Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to Breathable Foods Inc. for the product AeroShot Pure Energy. The company has labeled the product as both inhalable and ingestible a dangerous statement. This product is not inhalable. Inhaling caffeine into the lungs has not been studied and therefore may be a hazard to health.