Testing It Up

The efforts of the American Cancer Society to get smokers to quit continue, and one of the ways through which they attempt to do this is by organizing an annual Great American Smokeout. Basically, willing participants take a break from puffing cigarettes on this particular day of the year; this year marks the 34th year that the ACS is spearheading this effort. The rationale behind it is “if you can quit for a day, you can quit for good”.

Despite these efforts, however, the number of adult smokers reportedly rose according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to CDC’s estimates, between 2007 and 2008, the number of adult smokers rose by 2 million. The good thing, though, is that the smoking rate among young adults – aged 18 to 24 – dropped 3.6%.

Smoking is considered as the “leading preventable cause of death”; it is being linked to a number of diseases as a risk factor. Health authorities have long campaigned against smoking and implement various programs, including controlling who are able to purchase tobacco products and implementing smoking bans.

There are a number of options available to those who are intent on kicking the habit, including patches, medication and counseling. The American Cancer Society has an interactive webpage that will help interested smokers to quit for good.

One of the key things that smokers who would like to quit may want to consider is to find a method, or a combination of methods, that are realistic and achievable and that they are comfortable with. What may work for someone may not work for another, so it is important to find out what makes sense to a person. A counselor will be able to assist in setting goals and coming up with a plan for quitting.

The traditional stove style of cooking meth is gone and now it’s been replaced by a variety that is far easier to make and harder to detect than the old method. A self-contained bottle (generally an empty 2 liter soda bottle) is filled with the ingredients and then shaken not allowing the ingredients to settle out. Then the liquid is poured through a coffee filter. To make matters worse the new method and ease of use has attracted even more meth makers. Before there were usually only a few in the group who could cook the meth now many of them can do it, opening the ability of small drug producing groups to make quick efficient supply.

The drugs are also much stronger where before they had access to tabs that were 30 milligrams now they have the 24 hour 240 milligram tabs to make meth from. The risk of explosion is also less, meaning that makers can shake the product in a driving car if they’d like to. It also means that it’s easier to make up the meth outside of the home and away from their families, making for more conscientious meth labs.

Asian pop star and actress Noriko Sakai now faces 18 months in jail with a 3 year suspension for her drug use according to the ruling of the Tokyo District Court. The charges stem from her arrest in August of this year a week after her husband Yuicho Takaso was discovered in a public park bathroom with stimulants. The actress went into hiding for a week after the incident with her ten year old son and then later turned herself in. Her drug use it appears has been ongoing for the last two years. Her husband stated in court that Sakai had become an addict and Saki pleaded guilty to charges in court at her own trial. Prosecution demanded the 18 month sentence as a result and the court complied.

The trial drew the focus of the public and over 3,000 people made a bid to get one of the 20 seatings available to the public during the trial. The trial has drawn intense levels of media scrutiny since Sakai’s arrest as she is known on the Asian world for her wholesome pop star image. The star’s career began in the 80sa when she was a teen and had successfully merged into an acting career as she grew older. Sakai is known for her achieving the very unusual precedent of being successful in both China and Japan. Only time will tell if thus drug scandal will hurt the star’s career, though in many places fans say they stand by the star.

Golf is one sport that performance enhancing drugs don’t seem to play a part in and with the PGA’s new drug policy (instated last year) they’re out to make sure it stays that way. However Doug Baron has failed to pass a drug test and subsequently has been banned for the next year of play. It’s a surprising result seeing as Barron hasn’t been playing a consistent PGA tour schedule since 2006 and only managed to compete in four of the games in this year’s Nationwide tour.

While the tour declined further comment the 40 year old golfer apologized for his actions through them saying that he’d never intended to gain an unfair advantage over other players. As is standard the PGA only announced the positive result and the length of time Barron would undergo suspension as a result. The finer details of the incident and the exact drugs abused are details the PGA chooses to withhold. The announcement came November 2^nd after the drug test results came in.

The ban comes two weeks after the former head for the Chinese Olympics Committee admitted that most of the runners from China’s 2000 team had been disqualified for testing positive for drugs that had been banned. It had long been thought likely that these runners were abusing performance enhancing drugs to achieve their level of success. Wang has been told that she can appeal the ban if she’s willing to submit another urine sample for testing. While Wang is said to have accepted the ban she’s made statements that she never used drugs and a request for an investigation into the way testing is done. According to Wang’s results she tested positive for high levels of epitestosterone and testosterone. Her coach is also said to have received a lifetime ban.

China’s track and field athletes have been superstars in the world athletic spotlight since the early 1990s. In 1993 three of these athletes won gold medals for their efforts and earned world records in the 1,500 meters all the way through to marathons. At the time these runners passed drug testing without any trouble despite amazing skill and record breaking speeds. In 200 this changed as 6 runners had to be disqualified for failing in house drug screen in their own country.

Risk taking sexual behavior has long been connected to substance abuse but few doctors test for either if these high risk behaviors. CRAFFT, a diagnostic test developed for use at Children’s Hospital Boston allows physicians to test for substance abuse in only a few minutes time.  This same test, according to new research may also be able to test that child for high risk sexual behavior.  Children who were more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol were tested as being much more likely to fall into risky sexual behavior as well. These teens were much more likely to have sex with multiple partners, have unprotected sex and catch STDs from their partners. 305 adolescents ages 12-18 from 3 different urban clinics were tested to get the results.  The CRAFFT test was used alongside a self administered test about risky sexual behavior to reach the results.

When the CRAFFT results were compared to the questionnaire roughly 42.6% of those tested positive reported having had unprotected sex. 26.1% of those said that it occurred after drinking, 15.6% said it occurred after using drugs, and 21.7% had done so with a partner who had been drunk. The CRAFFT asks questions pertaining to drug use in specific situations. Those who answer ‘yes’ to more than two of these questions are generally dealing with substance abuse problems and are much more likely to have sexually risky behaviors as well. Having this testing available to the family’s regular doctor means that these behaviors can be caught at a point where they can be evaluated and stopped more completely through counseling, education and support about the risks involved.

According to recent research even a single cigarette can harden the arteries of the person smoking, even in the very young and healthy. In fact any amount of smoking can and will do major harm to the lungs, arteries and heart. Once that damage has been done it can’t truly be undone, meaning that the curiosity and peer pressure of the teenage years could end up making that person pay for it in the end.

Those between the ages of 18 and 30 who smoked a single cigarette had a 25% greater stiffness in the arteries after treadmill exercise than those who hadn’t. As arteries harden it puts more stress on the heart making it have to work harder to pump blood through arteries. According to this research even a small and inconsistent smoking habit can cause significant health problems for the smoker. This hardening of the arteries lessens the body’s ability to deal with stresses like running and going up and down stairs.

While researchers know that this change is there they’re not sure if the change will consistently remain over time. Even if the smoking of in the past and was limited it will put you at higher risk of developing diseases that can be potentially life threatening later in life. Next the research group intends to do a study into the effects of smoking cessation, whether or not those who quit smoking might be able to regain some use of their lungs lost while smoking.

Parents cannot just sleep with the thought that their children is under the influence of steroids. This is because of the dangerous side effects attached to the substance. Moreover, academic capabilities of the teenager suffer. But instead of living in fear, a parent must help his child out of the trap.

There are many ways parents may show their support to their teens before they even use steroids. First, a parent should learn how to adapt with the needs of their children. This can be done by taking time out to discuss matters that happen in school. A simple talk after dinner will do. It is important that parents show interest in their children’s activities.

If a parent learns that his child is under the influence of steroids, confrontation may be necessary. This should be done in such a way that the child will not feel discriminated. A parent should also increase his child’s self-esteem. Furthermore, it would be of great help if elders will act as role models to young ones.

For full version of this article, please visit “Helping Your Teen Overcome Steroid Abuse“.

Three advisers to the UK have dropped down over a few  weeks over a very controversial move to change the way that marijuana is treated in the UK. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs first removed Mr. David Nutt as chairman of the group and then advisers Les King and Marion Walker resigned from the board in protest of moves being made to the way Marijuana is dealt with in the UK. Marijuana will now be classified as a much more serious drug than it had been before (originally it came with a two year sentence as a ‘class C’ drug) making it a ‘B class’ drug punishable by as many as five years in prison for possession of the drug( the highest classification is ‘class A’ which warrants as much as a 7 year term for possession of drugs like ecstasy and cocaine.

Advisors from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs are leaving in protest of political pressure being placed on them to approve the new move. Nut feels that the rift could ultimately lead the advisors to break the group, a move that could potentially embarrass the UK government.  The advisors of the council made it clear that they felt differently about the idea of reclassifying the level of marijuana as a drug when they were asked about it before and to have their hand pushed against what they’d already determined stands against their ideals. Nut feels that the punishments and limitations placed on drugs should be based on their true level of harm, a level he feel for marijuana is much lower than that of alcohol. The council determined that Marijuana was not the harmful drug that the government feel it is and in reaction on the government declared the scientific evidence posted by the council unclear.

Nutt was forced to leave when he brought up the idea that the government had deliberately ignored their findings to follow its preferred course of action. The move has been problematic for the government ever since as the scientific community feels the action was based less on true purpose and more on unpopular opinion from the body.

The introduction of steroid use in the market affected more people in their teenage years. Truth is more US high schools are dealing with this tough situation right now. But one may not simply accuse the teenager that he is under steroid drugs without knowing the signs.

The signs of teen steroid abuse are manifested in two ways. First is a change in physical appearance and the second is a change in behavior. If parents want to get rid of the possibilities of their teenagers being trapped in illicit drugs, then they should focus on these signs.

Physical appearances of steroid users can be seen through sudden change in hair and skin texture in that their hair becomes greasy while their skin becomes oily. Acne breakouts and other skin eruptions become prevalent as well. Some may have thicker hair while others experience hair fall. Night sweats, disrupted sleeping patterns and nausea and vomiting may also be encountered.

As for behavioral changes, mood swings become more obvious. Some also become disrespectful and insensitive to the needs of others. At some points, they also shy away from other people including relatives and friends.

For full version of this article, please visit “How to Pinpoint Signs of Teen Steroid Use“.