Are there really differences between medicinal and illegal drugs?
Are medicinal drugs beneficial to society?
Can the spread of illegal drugs be stopped?
What leads people to the use of drugs?
The use of cocaine often causes addiction, depression, and withdrawl within its users.
What is a drug?
Drug= 1. a substance used as a medication or in the preparation of medication
2.something and often an illegal substance that causes addiction, habituation, or a marked change in consciousness Drug effects
http://www.addictionca.com/illegal-drugs.htm
- Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) estimates that 1,449,154 Emergency Department visits were related with drug misuse or abuse in 2005
- Illegal drugs account for about 52,000 drug-related deaths and an estimated $160 billion in economic costs each year, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Burke PJ, O'Sullivan J, Vaughan BL (November 2005). "Adolescent substance use: brief interventions by emergency care providers". Pediatr Emerg Care 21 (11): 770–6. PMID 16280955.
- Drug abuse including alcohol may lead to health problems, social problems, morbidity, injuries, unprotected sex, violence, deaths, motor vehicle accidents, homicides, suicides, physical dependence or psychological addiction
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/factsht/crime/index.html
- Past year (1996) illicit drug users were also about 16 times more likely than nonusers to report being arrested and booked for larceny or theft; and more than 9 times more likely to be arrested and booked on an assault charge. ]
- Illegal drug sales "fuel the various types of violence that we see," U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan said.
- "A reson why drugs lead to violence-"One is drugs as in input to violent crime–people committing crimes under the influence of drugs that they otherwise would not commit."
- "The other claim is that drug users commit crimes in order to get the money to pay for drugs."
- "people in that industry have wealth in highly portable forms–drugs and cash–which make them obvious targets for theft or robbery"
- "A second, suggested by Jeffrey Miron, is that violence occurs as a form of dispute resolution among people who cannot use legal channels because their disputes are occurring in an illegal industry."
http://www.addictionsearch.com/treatment_articles/article/the-symptoms-of-addiction-withdrawal-different-drugs-different-dangers_67.html
Hayon, Rachel. "The Symptoms of Addiction Withdrawal-Different Drugs, Different Dangers." Addiction Search. Addiction Search, 23 Oct 2010. Web. 24 Oct 2010. <http://www.addictionsearch.com/treatment_articles/article/the-symptoms-of-addiction-withdrawal-different-drugs-different-dangers_67.html>.
- Constant use of the drug means that the body requires, more and more stimulation, this leads to dependence
- Withdrawal syndrome is characterized by dysphoria, which is the opposite of euphoria
- Dopamine is used by this center to cause the euphoria drug users enjoy
Morton, W. Alexander. "Cocaine and Psychiatric Systems." PubMed Central. National Center for Biotechnology Information, 8 July 1999. Web. 24 Oct 2010. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC181074
- "In suicide, cocaine has been found to be present in as high as 18% to 22% of cases"
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cocaine_abuse/page2_em.htm
Arkangel, Carmelito. "Cocaine Abuse." eMedicineHealth. WebMD. Inc., 08 Oct 2005. Web. 20 Oct 2010. <http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cocaine_abuse/page2_em
- Researchers supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse indicate that repeated exposure to cocaine causes a change in genes that leads to altered levels of a specific brain protein.
- This protein regulates the action of a normally occurring brain chemical called dopamine. It is a chemical messenger in the brain associated with the cocaine's pleasurable "rush"-the mechanism of addiction.
- Addictive disease is believed to be caused by genetic background and environment.
- Those from high-risk family environments are particularly susceptible
- Users who have pleasurable experiences report varying degrees of euphoria; increased energy, excitement, and sociability; less hunger and fatigue; a marked feeling of increased physical and mental strength; and decreased sensation of pain
"Cocaine." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 24 Oct. 2010 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.
- Long-term use can result in digestive disorders, weight loss, general physical deterioration, and marked deterioration of the nervous system
Eckholm, Erik. "Cocaine's Vicious Spiral: Highs, Lows, Desperation." NYTimes.com. The New York Times, 17 Aug 1986. Web. 24 Oct 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/17/weekinreview/cocaine-s-vicious-spiral-highs-lows-desperation.html>.
- ''In this sense, cocaine is at least as addictive as heroin.'' (Dr. Michael A. Bozarth- Concordia University in Montreal)
"NIDA InfoFacts: Cocaine." National Institute on Drug Abuse. National Institute on Drug Abuse, Mar 2010. Web. 24 Oct 2010. <http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/cocaine.html>.
With repeated use, cocaine can cause long-term changes in the brain’s reward system and in other brain systems as well, which may eventually lead to addiction. - With repeated use, tolerance to the cocaine high also often develops.
- Cocaine-related deaths are often a result of cardiac arrest or seizure followed by respiratory arrest.
http://addictions.about.com/od/cocaine/a/What-To-Expect-From-Cocaine-Withdrawal.htm
Hartley, Elizabeth. "What to Expect from Cocaine Withdrawal." About.com. The New York Times Company, 12 Aug 2010. Web. 24 Oct 2010. <http://addictions.about.com/od/cocaine/a/What-To-Expect-From-Cocaine-Withdrawal.htm>.
- Feeling very tired is a normal part of cocaine withdrawal
- The initial "crash" of cocaine withdrawal can vary in time and intensity, and can last from hours to days
- Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) refers to withdrawal symptoms that continue to bother you after the acute initial detoxification of drugs has taken place
- Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome may last for weeks or months, sometimes even a few years after quitting.
"Cocaine Withdrawal." Medicine Plus. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 19 Aug 2010. Web. 24 Oct 2010. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000947.htm>.
- The craving and depression can last for months following cessation of long-term heavy use 0(particularly daily).
- Withdrawal symptoms may also be associated with suicidal thoughts in some people.
- People who have cocaine withdrawal will often use alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics, or antianxiety medications such as diazepam (Valium) to treat their symptoms
Morton, W. Alexander. "Cocaine and Psychiatric Systems." PubMed Central. National Center for Biotechnology Information, 8 July 1999. Web. 24 Oct 2010. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC181074
- At this time, levels of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and "serotonin are thought to be significantly lowered due to the chronic depletion caused by cocaine use"
- "Suicide may be caused by depression, which occurs frequently in people using cocaine."
"Symptoms of Cocaine Withdrawal." WrongDiagnosis. Health Grades Inc., 6 Oct 2010. Web. 24 Oct 2010. <http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/c/cocaine_withdrawal/symptoms.htm>.
- Symptoms incude depression, nausea, sleep disturbance, muscle pain, vomiting, and shaking
Trafficking/Spread
"About.com: Alcoholism." About.com. The New York Times Company, 07 Sep 2009. Web. 20 Oct 2010. http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/coke/f/coke_faq03.htm
- In 1997, an estimated 1.5 million Americans (0.7 percent of those age 12 and older) were current cocaine users, according to the 1997 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA).
- 19.5 million people over the age of 12 use illegal drugs in the United States (Mayo Clinic).
- At least half of all Americans takes at least one prescription drug (Department of Health and Human Services (HHS))
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