Pregnant Drug Addicts: Crime or Calamity?

Somewhere, a woman is

addicted to drugs and she

becomes pregnant. She abuses

these drugs while she is carrying

her baby and every time that she

takes a hit baby gets high too.

She has a disease, the disease

of addiction, so is she committing

a crime? But, why didn't she ask

for help? This is the calamity.



In the US alone, newborns that are born with neonatal

abstinence syndrome or more simply put, they are born

addicted, increased over 300% in the decade following

2000, states the American Medical Association. States

such as Kentucky and Florida fare the worst in the

nation. This only includes babies born addicted, not

those that are drug exposed and are able to go home.



Who is supposed to be protecting these innocent lives? It

doesn't do much good to do anything after the fact when

there is already a little life laying in the hospital NICU

fighting for its life. Charging the mother with a crime

seems a little late and useless. The only realistic thing to

do is make sure that she doesn't harm the baby that she

already gave birth to any further and try to make sure this

never ever happens again.



The best answer is to take away her parental rights to

the baby already born, permanently and to work on

efforts to intervene at the earliest possible point when a

woman becomes pregnant. This would require the help

of doctors across the nation to implement a plan to

detect addiction immediately in pregnant women and to

get involved.



Here's the problem with that plan. Most doctors are

clueless about addiction. They never received any

training on that in med school and getting involved

requires time and money so that is not an attractive

option to most doctors that are not looking for any extra

liabilities or paperwork.



So here we have the fetus which is the only thing that is

more defenseless than a child. There is also no doubt

that abusing drugs while pregnant constitutes criminal

child neglect since that was confirmed by the Supreme

Court in Whitner v. South Carolina1997. But, what

purpose does this serve?



A more recent ruling by the Supreme Court out of New

Mexico opposes the decision by South Carolina.

Currently, there is no national consensus about this so

some women are prosecuted and others are not,

depending on where they live. There is so much red tape

that makes the laws unclear.



Prosecuting a drug addict, pregnant or not, violates the

8th Amendment and then there is the other argument

about if the fetus is considered to be a person or not.

Then there are the issues of public policy and equal

protection that have to be hashed through.



In the meantime, women are giving birth to their fourth

addicted baby in five years. Some women are getting

convicted while others get a slap on the wrist. And, there

the babies lie, fighting for their lives, detoxing from drugs

they never had any control over using.



Find out more http://www.kleantreatmentcenter.com

Simple Tips to Help You Quit Smoking

By Sumith Kumar Roul



Smoking is the main cause for all kinds of health

problems and illnesses. The best way to quit smoking is

by first all understanding what it does to your body.

Before we proceed to the tips on how you can quit

smoking, I would like to mention few things. Did you

know that smoking causes cancer and more importantly

it can make you impotent?



Imagine yourself being in such a situation. I'm sure you

wouldn't want to have that situation. Cancer is not a

curable disease for many people. In many cases even

after the treatments are done, the complications still

linger on for many years. The main reason for that urge

to smoke is because of the nicotine that is present in the

cigarette.



Nicotine is a harmful substance that causes your brain to

get addicted to it. Once you get addicted to it, you find it

difficult to leave the habit. It is more like you getting

addicted to nicotine than smoking. When you get the

urge, you tend to smoke and get a feeling of relaxation in

your mind, which unfortunately is not true.

I think by now you have understood the seriousness of

this harmful habit. Let us have a look at few tips that can

help you quit smoking:



I quit: Sadly that is the first way to quit smoking. You

must have heard from someone, that you can quit this

habit slowly. Where does that lead you to? You still

smoke. When will that day come where you don't touch

the cigarette? When you still keep on smoking, you can't

leave that habit. It keeps haunting you as you want to

smoke.



It is like you see a cake. Your mind tells you nothing

wrong in having a small bite. So you go ahead and take

a bite. You continue doing that till you finish the whole

cake. You want to quit smoking, quit it completely.



Have gums handy: Once you are a smoker, you feel the

urge to smoke quite often in a day. Keep chewing the

gum till you leave the urge. A friend of mine got rid of this

habit with this method. Whenever he felt like smoking, he

put a gum in his mouth. Yes it was a difficult process, but

he finally succeeded.



Select friends who don't smoke: It is a good idea to have

friends who don't smoke. When you have the wrong

company, you tend to do that same as them. It is human

nature. If your friends smoke during the break time, try to

politely stay away from them during that time. You need

to also remember that the smell can trigger you to have a

puff and you are back to where you started.



Have support: It is good to have support from someone

who encourages you to stop smoking. You also need to

be motivated and determined to leave this habit. That

person can be your spouse, your friend, or even relative.



This step is very effective, mind you. You can try it out.

Reward yourself: It is a good idea to reward yourself

once you reach a target. To reach a target you can set

goal. For example tell yourself that you won't smoke for

at least couple of weeks. Once you complete that period,

you can reward yourself.



Friends I strongly advise you to leave this dangerous

habit. You are doing yourself a favour.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?

expert=Sumith_Kumar_Roul

10 Things You Didn't Know About Nicotine

By Lindsay M Fox



Nicotine, a chemical most

commonly found in the plants of

the Solanaceae family, is an

alkaloid and is found

accumulated in the leaves of

these plants, though the

biosynthesis of this chemical

occurs in the roots of the plants.



Nicotine is one of the major

components of addictive plants like tobacco (0.6%-3.0%)

and is the reason behind their addiction in humans due

to its psychoactive nature.

The follow are 10 interesting facts about nicotine.



1. Etymology



The name nicotine comes from the scientific name of the

tobacco plant Nicotiana tabacum. The scientific name of

the tobacco plant is itself named the French ambassador

to Portugal Jean Nicot de Villemain. Villeman is credited

for sending tobacco seeds and plant saplings to Paris in

1560 for its use in medicinal purposes.



2. Extraction



Nicotine was first extracted from the tobacco plant by

German physician Dr. Wilhelm Heinrich Posselt and

chemist Karl Ludwig Reimann in 1828. After its discovery

Posselt and Reimann labelled it as a poison. In fact

nicotine is an antiherbivore chemical, which causes

addiction when consumed in small amounts (1mg or

less) and death if taken in high amounts (30mg-60mg).



3. Chemistry



Nicotine is an alkaloid with the chemical formula

C10H14N2. Its IUPAC name is 3[{2,5}-1-

methylpyrrolidin-2-yl]pyridine. It has a molecular mass of

162.12g/mol. Nicotine is a hygroscopic liquid which is

miscible with water as a nitrogenous base. Its density is

1.01g/cm3, melting point -79oC and boiling point 247oC.

The nicotine molecule has a half life of 2 hours and its

metabolism is hepatic. Nicotine is also optically active

and has two enantiomeric forms.



4. Nicotine as an insecticide



As already said nicotine is an antiherbivore drug which if

taken in large amounts is fatal to life forms. That is why

nicotine laden tobacco has been used as an insecticide

even before the World War II. But after the WWII its

usage drastically lowered due to the availability of cheap

synthetic insecticides which are more readily available

than tobacco and less harmful to mammals. But in the

recent times the hype surrounding organic farming has

again increased the interest of the farmers in the use of

tobacco as a pesticide as an alternate to chemical

pesticides.



5. Nicotine addiction



Our central nervous system has certain nicotinic

acetylcholine receptors. Nicotine binds to several of

these and increases the amount of several

neurotransmitters. Among these neurotransmitters

dopamine is one such neurotransmitter which is

significantly increased during nicotine use and is

responsible for the sense of euphoria and relaxation

caused by the use of tobacco (nicotine) products.



6. Psychoactive effects of nicotine



Nicotine is a psychoactive substance as it is mood

altering. It causes both euphoria and relaxation. In the

body nicotine is metabolised in the liver. First after its

metabolism nicotine results in the release of glucose

from the liver and epinephrine from the adrenal medulla.

This sudden release of glucose and epinephrine causes

euphoria after the intake of nicotine. After the initial

euphoria nicotine leads to relaxation, increased alertness

and sharpness by working on different neurotransmitters

of the body. Nicotine also has pain relieving properties.



7. Side effects of nicotine intake



Tough it seems like nicotine is an excellent substance to

increase one's sharpness, induce calmness and elevate

one's mood there are more negative aspects of nicotine

intake than positive. Among these the most common side

effects of nicotine intake are an increased risk of

hypertension and heart attacks. It is sad that every

cigarette that a man smokes reduces his life span by 14

years. Moreover since nicotine has been found to affect

the working of Estrogen on hippocampus, hence in the

long run nicotine users are prone to amnesia and other

related diseases.



8. Toxicity



Nicotine is considered to be more toxic than most

common drugs like heroin and cocaine. More harm is

done by nicotine to the human body because it is readily

absorbed by the bloodstream and reaches the brain

through the lungs within 7 seconds of its intake either

orally or as nicotine patches.



9. Use of nicotine in medical science



Though nicotine is not a doctor's best friend, it is yet not

his worst foe. Nicotine known for its pain relieving

properties is being researched upon to be used as a

potential pain killer minus its harmful effects. Nicotine

has also been found to reduce preeclampsia, allergic

asthma; among others by acting as an anti-inflammatory

agent.



10. Nicotine in literature



Nicotine has been personified in popular literature as

Nick O' Teen, a humanoid villainous character in

Superman comics which was created as a part of anti-

nicotine drive to educate children about the ill-effects of

nicotine intake in any form.



Lindsay is an anti-smoking advocate and expert. She has

helped hundreds of people quit smoking and improve

their lifestyle. "One of the best methods I use to help

people quit smoking is by using the latest and most

advanced smoking alternative devices. It works 90

percent of the time," says Lindsay during an interview.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?

expert=Lindsay_M_Fox

A New Year, Lung Detox, And a New You

Opportunity For A Healthy Change, Or Same Old Same Old?

So here we are, a few weeks into 2013. Has anything changed for you? A new year is supposed to be brimming with new opportunities, isn't it? Have a quick look around. See any? If you do, congratulations, you are either very fortunate or are already working toward the sort of future you want. But for the rest of us, we need to make some decisions and start working toward what we want. And now we have the lucidity of being sober (compared to New Year's Eve), and are over the holidays and back into our real lives, we should have the clarity of the everyday to make some lasting resolutions to create the sort of future we want. Care to join me?

But How Do I Make The Future That I Want - Right Now?

It's very important when thinking about the sort of future you want, that you actually visualize yourself, being the way you want to be, in that future. This will give you a goal to aspire to, and when you are in the 'lows,' threatening to give it all in (and let's face it, we've all been there), you can remember back to your vision of yourself being the way you want to be, and hang onto that goal. That's where you want to be. That's WHAT you want to be. No one is going to get you there but you, because it's your goal, so you have to do it. And keeping that in mind, push through and keep going.

But there will be times that you falter, step off the path, slip back a bit. There are very few of us that achieve exactly what we want without going through a bit of 2 steps forward, 1 back. The important thing is what you do at those times. Do you give up, having 'failed' somehow? Do you distract yourself, by shopping, or drinking, or some other 'comfort' activity? Whatever you do when you have this sort of breakdown on the road to your goals, ask yourself 'Is what I am doing now getting me any closer to my goal?' If the answer is 'no,' then you need to change what you are doing! Next time you 'step back,' catch yourself wandering off to distract yourself, forgive yourself your weakness, and get back in the horse. It's the only way to get to where you want to be.

That is because the only place you can make any changes in your life is now. Right now. Now is all we have. But if you visualize yourself in the future being the way you want to be, that future will eventually become your now, and you will 'live into' what you have created for yourself. However, you can't ignore the simple fact that nothing worth doing is inherently easy. Notice I added 'inherently' to that old platitude? That's because the things worth doing become a LOT easier and more achievable with access to the right information. Information is power; the power to reach your goals and be the person you want to be.

Getting The Right Information Is Crucial

If you've quit smoking recently or plan/want to start down that road in the near future, then you will maximize your results with the right information; that is, to stay quit and detoxify your lungs as quickly and safely as possible. I always feel so fortunate that Mark Freeman and I have been able to research and gather the right, crucial information on this topic and are able to share it with you, at a great price when you consider how much you'd spend, even over a week, on the dreaded cigarettes.


Our flagship product, The Complete Lung Detoxification Guide Series is all about giving you the knowledge you need, and the preparation tips to maximize your chances of success. We do this with a straightforward lung detox and the tools necessary to stay quit, or a quit program and lung detox. It's all included. Now the Guides themselves give you a wealth of information that will help make your Lung Detox quick and highly successful (several months rather than up to 10 years), as well as a mass of Quit help, Stress Reduction tips, and Motivation methods that should hold you in good stead as you create that new future and work your way into it.

So sit down, make some plans, and start creating that future you want for you, right now. I wish you all the very best of good fortune in the endeavor!

Simple Tips to Help Quit Smoking

Smoking is the main cause for all kinds of health

problems and illnesses. The best way to quit smoking is

by first all understanding what it does to your body.



Before we proceed to the tips on how you can quit

smoking, I would like to mention few things. Did you

know that smoking causes cancer and more importantly

it can make you impotent?



Imagine yourself being in such a situation. I'm sure you

wouldn't want to have that situation. Cancer is not a

curable disease for many people. In many cases even

after the treatments are done, the complications still

linger on for many years. The main reason for that urge

to smoke is because of the nicotine that is present in the

cigarette.



Nicotine is a harmful substance that causes your brain to

get addicted to it. Once you get addicted to it, you find it

difficult to leave the habit. It is more like you getting

addicted to nicotine than smoking.



When you get the urge, you tend to smoke and get a feeling of

relaxation in your mind, which unfortunately is not true. I think by

now you have understood the seriousness of this harmful habit. Let us

have a look at few tips that can help you quit smoking:



I quit: Sadly that is the first way to quit smoking. You

must have heard from someone, that you can quit this

habit slowly. Where does that lead you to? You still

smoke. When will that day come where you don't touch

the cigarette? When you still keep on smoking, you can't

leave that habit. It keeps haunting you as you want to

smoke.



It is like you see a cake. Your mind tells you nothing

wrong in having a small bite. So you go ahead and take

a bite. You continue doing that till you finish the whole

cake. You want to quit smoking, quit it completely.



Have gums handy: Once you are a smoker, you feel the

urge to smoke quite often in a day. Keep chewing the

gum till you leave the urge. A friend of mine got rid of this

habit with this method. Whenever he felt like smoking, he

put a gum in his mouth. Yes it was a difficult process, but

he finally succeeded.



Select friends who don't smoke: It is a good idea to have

friends who don't smoke. When you have the wrong

company, you tend to do that same as them. It is human

nature. If your friends smoke during the break time, try to

politely stay away from them during that time. You need

to also remember that the smell can trigger you to have a

puff and you are back to where you started.



Have support: It is good to have support from someone

who encourages you to stop smoking. You also need to

be motivated and determined to leave this habit. That

person can be your spouse, your friend, or even relative.

This step is very effective, mind you. You can try it out.



Reward yourself: It is a good idea to reward yourself

once you reach a target. To reach a target you can set

goal. For example tell yourself that you won't smoke for

at least couple of weeks. Once you complete that period,

you can reward yourself.



Friends I strongly advise you to leave this dangerous

habit. You are doing yourself a favor.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?

expert=Sumith_Kumar_Roul

Addressing Teens' Smoking

Although there may be a chunk of reasons behind teenage smoking, an observation that may be made with great conviction is that teens make a considerable portion of smokers all around the world. A few intriguing yet worrisome signs with regards to teenage smoking include that about 30% of youth smokers are regular smokers and have made a transition towards addicts which poses a significant threat to their lives. Furthermore, since their level of addiction is at such intensity that teen smokers make a shift from nicotine to use of alcohol and other illegal drugs. Consequently, when they are not able to meet their addiction; depression, panic attacks and anxiety disorders are to follow. While nothing may be taken away from the devastating effects that smoking may have on teenagers, measures to control and finally to seal teenage smoking must be taken at earliest. A few effective strategies would include;



Creating awareness at institutions of the harmful effects that smoking has, and include it as a part of the curriculum that is taught at schools and colleges. Studies have shown that teenage smoking begins at college level with peer pressure or any other stress issues that teens usually face due to excessive study load or problems pertinent to their personal lives. Thus, if awareness is created at an early stage, this could result in addressing the problem at its root cause, hence lowering it significantly.

If parents smoke, the chances of teenagers adopting the sticks increase significantly. Therefore, parents are encouraged to set a good example by not smoking, at least not in front of your children. This shall help in reducing the upward trends in teenage smoking.

Government should regulate the price of cigarettes and set it high enough so that it becomes difficult for them to spend on smoking. While banning cigarette may be a difficult task, price regulation is certainly a lot easier and effective.

There may be instances where teenagers believe that severe results such as cancer or other chronic disease happens only in the abstract and have little to do with the real world, real life examples must be shared with them preferably of someone close or a person that they know personally as well.

Media and government agencies should look to hold campaigns and advertisements highlighting the sufferings that a teenager may later on be exposed to if they do not give up on smoking. Information should also be imparted that smokeless tobacco, candy flavored cigarettes and clove cigarettes are equally risky and teenagers must abstain from them.


Teenage smoking is a serious problem that needs a great deal of attention from various society players; family, government, academia and most importantly media. The prolific penetration that has been witnessed in terms of teenage smoking is a dangerous sign in itself and stern measures must be taken before the situation turns into a desperate one. These efforts may require some time to be fully effective; their execution must begin with immediate effect to be able to minimize the damage that cigarettes may cause to teenagers.

Lindsay is an anti-smoking advocate and expert. She has helped hundreds of people quit smoking and improve their lifestyle. "One of the best methods I use to help people quit smoking is by using the latest and most advanced smoking alternative devices. It works 90 percent of the time," says Lindsay during an interview.

Article Source

Cigarettes - The Killing Cachines of 2013

The statutory warning on your dose of daily tobacco doesn't bother you? Maybe this article will. Sad but true, smoking kills. Regardless of the last puff that can bring forth a different level of satisfaction altogether, smoking kills.

Does Cancer Scare You?

If it does, quit smoking because history has repeatedly narrated the same story through statistics:

Of all cases of cancer, lung cancer is the most prominent and smoking causes it.
Men have 23 times higher chances of developing lung cancer while women are 13 times more probable of the same if they smoke.
90 % of lung cancer deaths in men are owing to smoking. This number remains 80% for women.
It doesn't just end with lung cancer - it can be associated with other types of cancer like cancer of the pharynx, oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, etc. This is supported by the findings in the 2004 Surgeon General's report.
12,100 deaths that are estimated to occur annually in the US due to esophageal cancer are a result of smoking.

Another type of cancer that is claiming a thousand lives annually in the US is laryngeal cancer which is an outcome when cigarette smoking is accompanied with alcohol.
Back in 2003, 57,400 cases of bladder cancer were reported by patients who were smokers.
The possibility of a mouth cancer is enhanced by smoking.
30200 cases and an approximate 7800 deaths resulting from pharynx and oral cavity cancers are reported by patients who smoke cigarettes, pipes and tobacco containing products.
According to the 2004 Surgeon General's report, cases of new cancer have been discovered including that of the stomach, kidney, pancreas, acute myeloid leukemia and cervix.
People who have quit smoking are less prone to stomach cancer than people who haven't.
The likelihood of cervical cancer in women increases proportionately with the duration of smoking.
An estimated 22400 cases of stomach cancer, 31900 case of kidney cancer, 30700 cases of pancreatic cancer, 10500 cases of acute myeloid leukemia were reported in 2003 owing to the ill effects of smoking
In the US, about 90% of benzene exposure is a result of smoking cigarettes and benzene is one the root causes of acute myeloid leukemia.



If you smoke, you belong to a family of:

More than 1 billion who smoke! This number will cross the mark of 1.5 million by 2025
A profitable tobacco market where 10 million cigarettes are sold a minute. This market observes a total of 5 trillion cigarettes sold every year.
A world of smoke where you smoke approx 8 or 9 milligrams of nicotine per cigarette or 100-400 milligrams of nicotine per cigar
A risky generation in which a dose of nicotine present 3-4 cigarettes if consumed at once can kill a person.


Smoking has some 'uncool' additives besides the addictive nicotine you wouldn't be proud of:

Whale vomit is used to manufacture cigarettes.
Benzene which can cause an array of diseases finds its primary source in the environment in smokers.
A cigarette is not free from radioactive chemicals like lead and polonium though they are present in low levels.
Talk about the world war II and chemical warfare, maybe a cigarette might contribute to any global disrupt in the future - hydrogen cyanide present in cigarette can be used as a genocidal agent.
Passive smoke contains around 50 carcinogenic chemicals and some of them fall in the Group 1 category of carcinogens.


So What Makes the Cigarette so Harmful?

Acrolein - Creates problems in DNA repair and have the potentiality of disturbing the lining in the lungs that actually acts as a resistant to lung disease.
1,3-Butadine - It is otherwise used to make rubber - Cancer in the stomach and blood can be a result of this chemical.
Arsenic - If consumed it is very poisonous and taken in small quantities can cause heart disease.
Benzene - It is a proponent of Leukemia and most acute leukemia cases are owing to benzene.
Cadmium intervenes the smooth repair of already damaged DNA and causes problems in the kidney and artery lining.
Chromium VI which is an ingredient of paints, alloys, dyes is associated with lung cancer.
Formaldehyde which otherwise can destroy bacteria has a major influence in causing chronic lung disease. Primary source of formaldehyde is secondhand smoke.
Polonium is radioactive and radioactive materials are very dangerous in terms of them being carcinogenic.
Tar -How can we forget tar? This is the solid residue that remains on the lungs, nails and teeth. It increases the risk for cancer and influences lung diseases including lung cancer most prominently.
Nicotine and carbon monoxide: Carbon monoxide is an air pollutant. It can mix with hemoglobin in the blood and inhibit the oxygen carrying capacity of the red blood cells. It is known to increase cholesterol in the arteries and in the process can harden them. Finally this can result in various heart and artery diseases and also can cause a cardiac arrest.
Nicotine is addictive. This is why you smoke and this is what makes you long for that last puff. Like slow poison it spreads through the bloodstream. Nicotine will do all the menacing the bloodstream which wants to live long doesn't deserve - it will narrow your arteries, quicken the flow of blood to the heart and increase blood pressure. Cardiac arrest is also likely with high doses of nicotine. Quitting smoking is actually quitting nicotine and though its hard its important if you want to live long and live healthy.


For a better tomorrow, let's stop preaching "Can I borrow a fag?" and help ourselves.

Lindsay is an anti-smoking advocate and expert. She has helped hundreds of people quit smoking and improve their lifestyle. "One of the best methods I use to help people quit smoking is by using the latest and most advanced smoking alternative devices. It works 90 percent of the time".

What's The Best Way To Quit Smoking?

Once you've set your mind on quitting smoking, you have an important decision to make; just how do you plan on going about it? There are plenty of recognized methods out there (along with lots more unconventional ones!) and statistics are a very long way from declaring a clear winner.

To the contrary, an overview of meta-analysis of the methods most commonly employed by wannabe quitters makes depressing reading, with nicotine replacement therapies such as patches and gum scoring from 3 to 17%, and prescription medications averaging just 18%.

Chantix, the drug that not so long ago was being hailed as an industry game-changer, is currently the subject of multiple lawsuits as a result of alleged side effects that include suicidal and delusional thoughts as well as cardiac issues. Personally, I've witnessed a guy become so deeply paranoid that he threatened his family whilst taking this drug, and even though he eventually quit smoking okay, I feel that the means can't always justify the end!

Therapies generally score better, with acupuncture, group counselling sessions, hypnotherapy and workplace meetings all scoring between 25 and 36%. I incline strongly to the opinion that these significantly higher success rates reflect a greater realism amongst the participants - these people have correctly figured out they need psychological support to break their habit, rather than medicine.

Of all the data available, the only studies showing reliably measured success rates above 40% involve patients with heart disease. I guess the subjects were especially highly motivated, seeing as the consequences of failing to quit would, in so many cases, have proven particularly unfortunate?

This raises two extremely important points, namely the significance of statistics and motivation. The highest recorded success rate found by any empirically validated study into smoking cessation is 42%, and yet it's far from difficult to find businesses out there claiming much higher rates, such as 95%!

Well, just try asking these guys which organization independently verified their results? Because any statistics that haven't been confirmed by a follow-up breath test after 12 or 26 weeks simply shouldn't count, and it's pure mischief to presume that every client who doesn't bother to come back and complain was a success story!


Remember that all any therapy can ever do is help you to quit smoking, and so it's hardly an auspicious start if the provider begins by lying to you about his track record!

Having said that, one easy way for any therapist to attain a genuinely high success rate would be to refuse treatment to all but those who are obviously highly motivated to quit - because when it comes to giving up smoking, motivation really is everything.

Anyone who's reached a decision, at the deepest level, that they simply don't want to smoke any more, is going to succeed in quitting, whichever method they happen to employ. And if they choose to work with a therapist, then all he or she needs to do is guide them along the road to success.

Of course, we can hopefully speed up that journey, by helping them avoid some of the bumps along the road - presuming we're any good at our jobs!

Paul R Mather is a certified hypnotherapist and the owner of Cerulean Therapies, a company specializing primarily in helping people to quit smoking. For more information, please visit http://www.quitclever.co.uk

Shocking Statistics on Smoking

By Lindsay M Fox



Smoking - a common sight in our society. Even though shunned by the

puritans as an evil and harmful habit, it acquires a considerable fan

following. Let us have a statistical overview of the various aspects

of this tantalizing art.



WORLD STATISTICS



1. Smoking consumes the lungs of almost one-third of the

population worldwide.



2. Out of the 15 billion cigarettes that become the leading

cause every day to promote lung cancer, 10 million get

sold every minute.



3. Head west to the Pacific region and you will find one in

three cigarettes getting consumed.



4. The Chinese market is known as one of the most profit-

making businesses all over the globe. It is followed by

the American, Japanese and British conglomerates.



5. Eight seconds can be precious if you are smoking for it

has been estimated that a person dies every 8 seconds

due to use of tobacco



6. One in 10 adults worldwide die because they smoke

because they never paid attention to what that warning

on a cigarette packet said. If you live till 2030, be sure

you wouldn't want to be one in six.



These are certainly some staggering figures. Shows how

largely spread the habit is and also that it kills!

IT'S EFFECT ON YOUTH POPULATION



1. Teens find it so cool that you will find one in the age

group of 13-15 out of 5 smokers spread across age

groups.



2. Advertising does have an influence on teens and in

South Asia, movies and superstars have had a big

influence.



3. If you are a chain smoker, then maybe you started it in

your teens because it is highly probably you belong to

50% of the chain smokers.



4. Kids trying to find room for themselves in their peer

groups are starting smoking and this number has gone

up to 3000 a day in the United States and this figure

remains at around 100,000 a day worldwide.



HEALTH EFFECTS OF SMOKING



1. You lose 11 minutes of your precious life every minute

you finish off with your last puff.



2. One simple cigarette can inhibit your blood supply to

your skin for more than an hour.



3. If you have pale skin and have developed wrinkles during your

youth, maybe you smoke because smoking reduces the levels of Vitamin A

and inhibits the blood supply to the skin.



4. Blood pressure can lead to heart attacks and smoking

increases blood pressure manifold.



5. Smokers might be with impotency for all their life for with every

smoke, the tendency of erectile dysfunction

increases.



6. It is possible for smokers to lose their sight.



7. If you thought that radioactive materials were the only

source of cancer, then you are absolutely right because

even cigarettes have their share of such materials -

polonium and lead.



8. If there is a future world war, maybe cigarettes might be

used for they have hydrogen cyanide which was used in

the Second World War as a chemical weapon.



9. More than 90% cases of lung cases reported every year

happen because they smoke.



10. One billion lives have already been claimed by smoking. The question is -



11. Do you want more?



Smoking kills - Believe it or not!

Lindsay is an anti-smoking advocate and expert. She has

helped hundreds of people quit smoking and improve

their lifestyle. "One of the best methods I use to help

people quit smoking is by using the latest and most

advanced smoking alternative devices. It works 90

percent of the time".

Finding a Treatment Center for Teenagers With Addictive Behavior

Addictive behavior can entail

many different areas. When

someone is young, it will

probably show up in different

habits than when an individual

becomes a teenager or an adult.



There are centers available to

help those who have never had

anyone get to the root of their

issues. Make sure to find a treatment center that has the

same worldview as you and your family, has a good

reputation for progress, and one that is familiar with

helping young people.



There are a variety of approaches out there as people

look at addictive behavior. Some think it is the result of

neurological problems, some think it is in us because of

spiritual issues, others might believe that people have

the problem because they do not have self-control or

self-esteem; others have issues from brain damage or

issues at birth.



There are likely many other explanations,

but what is important is that you find what will work and

continue to work. Anyone can be put on medication in

order to keep from addictive behaviors. A treatment

center is not successful unless they are able to help a

person change their mind about who they are and what

they want to do in life without the use of mind-altering

medication. Medication may be necessary for a short

period of time, but it should not be a permanent need.



There are cases where addictive behaviors are due to

disorders at birth or brain damage from accidents. In

these cases, there is really no way to change the

damage that has taken place. If behaviors that a person

is doing are hurting themselves or others, then

individuals in these situations may need medication. It is

a totally different circumstance than those who were born

with no problems and have had no brain damage. It is

important to try all of your options before medicating.



There may be a therapy that will get through to the

individual and help to overcome habits.

Teenagers like to make enough excuses about their

behavior. It is just something that teenagers are known

to do. If your teen has addictive behaviors whether it is

drugs, stealing, lying, or even more serious habits, then

most likely he or she has tried to make excuses.



It may

be that your child has more of a propensity for some of

these habits. That does not give him or her an excuse to

do them. It is important to find a treatment center that will

not give your teenager excuses for his or her problems. It

is important for your child to take responsibility for

actions.



You can check on the reputation of a treatment center by

talking to your friends, church officials, doctors, and by

looking them up on the internet. As you are doing your

research in this area, try to find out if the facility workers

have experience with teenagers. This is important for you

to consider.



If your teenager is struggling with addiction and you are

looking for a treatment center Baton Rouge has a unique

option. To learn more, visit http://townsendla.com.

Drug Rehab for Recovery

Alcohol addiction can be described as a harmful disease that may hamper the development of an individual. This is because the individual develops bad habits of excessively using dangerous substances that may be harmful to their health. These addictions are known to instill fear of stopping the use of alcohol or other harmful substances in the mind of the addict.

It has been established that many young people get trapped into the bad habits of alcohol abuse and drug addiction with the hope that they will be able to get over their depression, financial problems, or loneliness. They have instilled a myth in their minds that consuming alcohol and drugs can help to alleviate their problems. To add insult to injury, these addicts fail to realize the harmful effects that come with the consumption of these substances.

Therefore, in such an instance it would be advisable for the addict to visit a drug rehab center, which can be of great help to individuals who are in dire need of recovery treatment. These centers provide the required medication, therapies, and counseling services in order to help people overcome alcoholism and drug abuse. In most cases, counselors at these centers usually prefer to employ a natural healing approach to their patients coupled with special care and attention.

The main goal of these drug and alcohol centers is to help individuals suffering from this problem to be able to reconnect with their friends, family, close associates, their outer world, and themselves. They are also able to undergo drug education in order to be able to understand the effects of drug and alcohol abuse.

Therefore, if you are suffering from an addiction that is related to drugs and alcohol, you ought to visit a rehab center near you in order to be able to receive drug and alcohol rehab services. Most drug treatment centers that are located across the globe are renowned for the cost-effective and dependable treatment for any kind of addict. The advantage of beginning a drug rehabilitation program such as Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation program is that it is able to provide total support to all the needs of a patient and does not focus on alcohol and drug substance abuse.

Furthermore, drug addiction treatment calls for cognitive therapy, professional counseling, and behavioral modification. All these are elements of counseling that are very important in any rehabilitation program. Moreover, treatment and medication are modified to fit the needs of the patient. A rehabilitation program enables the patient to overcome various issues such as violent behavior, low self-esteem, and social concerns. These problems can be associated with heroin addiction, which is a growing substance abuse problem.

However, it is important of all the drug rehab centers are available; you should go for the center that provides the best services and satisfaction to the patient. The selection of a good rehab center is a worthy investment as you would not want to take a patient to a rehabilitation program that will aggravate the problem further.

. Find more information, about Narconon Addiction Recovery Programs.

If you choose to stop drinking, and are looking for the best

option to get clean, alcohol detox is possibly the toughest,

yet the best way to go about quitting.



Since you remove the alcohol from your system entirely, rather than

try to do so gradually, you know it is going

to be tough at first, but is going to make the entire journey much

easier of a transition, as you get deeper in to the treatment, and

once you have completed the treatment that you choose to undergo when

trying to get sober, and lead an alcohol free life.



Support Systems



If you do choose to quit cold turkey, with any alcohol

detox program, you have to consider having a support

system in place; this can come from:



- The facility and the professionals who are going to

guide you through the treatment



- Family and friends who are going to help you get

through the toughest times



- Other members, staff, and individuals who work at or

are receiving treatment at the same facility you choose to

find help from



Although it may not seem essential, having people there

during, as well as after the treatment, is critical in getting

through the tough times, and staying clean after you do

quit.



Having Assistance at the Toughest Point



When you do choose to get treatment for an addiction

problem, the earliest phases of alcohol detox are the

ones that are going to be the toughest. Since you are

used to drinking on a daily basis, and in high volumes,

when you all of a sudden cut this out of your daily life,

you are going to experience a big change and a big

challenge. From the sweats and chills, to hallucinations,

fever, and other symptoms, each individual is going to go

through this phase a bit different than the next individual.



This is one of the main reasons you do need a strong

support system, as well as a strong staff, leader, and

guide, when you are trying to quit.



Where to Go Through Detox



It is up to each individual, but for most, when going

through the alcohol detox phase early on, an inpatient

facility might be the best option. You have a highly

trained staff to guide you, you have no access to alcohol,

and there are no bad influences around you, since you

are in a facility, trying to get you to drink.



In other cases, an outpatient facility might be a great choice.

Although you are going to leave the facility, if you have a strong

support team, family and friends who will help, and if you are

mentally strong, you can get through the tough phases, and push

through the toughest periods when trying to quit.



With many options for you to consider, and different

forms of treatment, you have to consider all when trying

to get clean. With alcohol detox, each person is different,

so the best form of treatment is really a personal

decision, and will differ from one person to the next.



For more information visit Alcohol Detox Program.

How Ex-Smokers Can Cope In Times Of Crisis

As we start the year of 2013

bush fires have destroyed many

homes in the southern states of

Australia. The stress of such an

event would be enormous. But

times of crisis can hit individuals

and families at any time, and

these moments can be a big

challenge for ex smokers.



It is in times of strong stress that can have ex smokers

reverting to old behaviours. The problem is

overwhelming and so you reach out for the old comfort

blanket of cigarettes.



Rarely does this action help. Most people just become

annoyed at themselves but continue to smoke as a form

of distraction. Within a day or so you are once again a

smoker. Of course your crisis is still occurring because

burning tobacco wrapped in paper can't ever solve a

problem



Firstly before you start, take a few moments to notice any

non smokers in your situation. What are they doing? How

are they managing the problem? The fact is they mightn't

be managing well at all, but at least they haven't added

smoking to their problems.



Nicotine causes an adrenal response which triggers a

release of the stress hormone cortisol. You may have

quit in the past using medications or patches or cold

turkey, but if you need to quit again as a result of starting

during a period of crisis there is another way.



Clinical hypnosis is a highly successfully way to

completely sever any old beliefs that smoking will help in

a crisis or during any stressful period. It is important to

understand that smoking doesn't solve stress but it is

critical that this understanding at a conscious and

unconscious level goes a big step further to knowing that

smoking won't help in a crisis.



The reason is simple, your unconscious has multiple

connections between smoking and stress, and these are

deeply ingrained and are typically dealt with using

hypnosis.



But there will be some connections between smoking

and a crisis state. Even if you have never been in an

actual crisis. You have seen people in real life and in the

movies fall back on smoking with severely stressed.



The point is it is important to treat all the different kinds of

stresses that either have a real smoking connection or

even a potential connection in order to prevent a return

to cigarettes in the future, should you find yourself in a

crisis situation.



And now for more free info on how to easily and quickly

quit cigarettes Ian Newton invites you to go to http://

www.60minutestoquitsmoking.com/

How You Could Quit Smoking With Confidence

Could you be a confident quitter and just not know it yet? Plenty of

people are, judging by all the ex-smokers who look back and figure it

was really no big deal!



But then, I guess that even the highest mountain poses no challenge to

those who've already conquered it?



How you feel about quitting smoking is of course terribly

important, because success or failure is going to be

decided entirely in your mind. And in my experience, the

greatest harbinger of doom is the word 'last'.

"If I can only last until... " I hear these words all too

frequently, from the lips of individuals who have

absolutely no chance of successfully quitting smoking

this side of a huge psychological reappraisal.



As things stand, they have doomed themselves to failure!

And why? Because they have pinned all their hopes on

the surprisingly common misconception that their

cravings for cigarettes are a purely physical

phenomenon, which will eventually disappear, if only

they can 'last' long enough...



In actual fact, nicotine withdrawal symptoms are just tiny

twitches that you may occasionally feel pulsing around

your body. On their own, they cause so little bother that

they're hardly even worth noting, and many smokers go

through life failing to notice them completely!



It's the special sense of deprivation they trigger, deep

inside the mind, that drives smokers to carry on lighting

up - and that's something that by no means depends

upon them. A thousand other situations can trigger it as

well.



Smoking is a form of habitual behaviour, and a smoker

will feel driven to light a cigarette in many situations

where the body isn't actually demanding nicotine. If this

were not the case, then nicotine replacement therapies

such as patches would be 100 percent successful, and

quitting would be no more arduous than taking a stroll

through the park!



To quit confidently, one needs to understand that the

challenge is entirely psychological, and that physical

withdrawal symptoms simply aren't the enemy - the

enemy is within one's own mind!



The great news is that, once this reality sinks in, the

whole process of giving up smoking becomes a whole lot

easier! Because, just think about it - so long as you're in

the right place psychologically on day one, there's no

need to worry about how you'll 'last' - you're already

there!



So if you're positively looking forward to treating those

first, precious moments after you've discarded your final

cigarette as the beginning of a new dawn, then

congratulations! Because you've already beaten

smoking, and what's more you know it.



Of course, you're aware there'll be minor challenges ahead, such as

not getting too carried away with your ravenous new appetite and

piling on pounds, but all in all, you're already in a great new place.

You are a confident quitter, whose success is guaranteed.



But if you're reading this with serious doubts - if

something's niggling you, especially concerning all that

'lasting' business - then why not take some time out to

seriously appraise your approach, question your values

and be honest about your motivation?

In the end, nothing pays dividends quite like getting into

the right frame of mind before you try and quit!



For more information, please visit http://www.quitclever.co.uk

Chicago's 2012 Murder Rate Tied to Drugs, Gangs and Personal Conflict

Chicago's 2012 murder rate has

been a constant fixture in the

media this year, with reports of

deadly shootings occurring nearly

every day. Most of the shootings

are related to interpersonal

conflicts between rival gang

members, and drugs often play a

central role in these altercations.

But despite strict gun control policies in the Windy City, it

seems that drugs and gang-related conflict will continue

to fuel Chicago's murder rate, begging the idea that it's

not gun control Chicago needs: it's drug control.

Chicago: A US Hometown War Zone



As of June, 2012, the number of homicides in Chicago

since 2001 numbered more than 5,000. 2001 was the

first year that American troops entered Afghanistan, and

since the inception of operations there approximately

2,000 US troops have been killed. These numbers

indicate that Chicago's homicide rates are more than

double the rates of troops killed in an established Middle-

Eastern war zone. (1)



How could this be happening in a city with more than

12,000 police officers? The answer lies in Chicago's long

history of gang wars, going all the way back to the

Prohibition and mobsters like Al Capone, Bugs Moran

and Dion O'Banion.



Over the last 70 years gangs have remained a part of

Chicago, and although gang members and styles have

changed, primary sources of income have not, with drugs

being the most important source of gang revenue. In the

80's and 90's Chicago's gangs were mostly young black

men ruling over a vast and well-connected empire

buoyed largely on sales of crack-cocaine.



Fortunately, Chicago police were successful in cracking

down on gang leaders and fracturing gangs into less

powerful and seemingly disorganized groups. However,

this strategy seems to be at least partly responsible for

the current high rate of gang-related homicides

considering that there are now more gang factions in the

city than ever before. And because the manufacture and

sale of illicit drugs is still the primary source of gang

income, violence is often not far away. (2)



However, many people believe that it's not gang wars

specifically that are directly causing the high rate of

murders. Although the deaths often involve gang

members, the shootings are generally not about "gang

business" - at least not initially. In a story for Chicago

Tonight titled: Are Chicago Murders all Gang Related?

Natalie Moore uncovers a concept of gang-associated

homicide that goes something like this:



*Gang member #1 feels slighted by rival gang member X

over an interpersonal conflict



*Gang member #1 makes derogatory remarks about rival

gang member X



*Gang member X retaliates by shooting rival gang

member #1 and anyone standing nearby



*Soon after, gang members supporting gang member #1

make a retaliatory attack on the rival gang



*Retaliations alternate back and forth, sometimes

culminating in multiple, separate but connected

shootings throughout the course of a day

In the process, innocent bystanders are sometimes shot

and killed, and police often erroneously cite their deaths

as gang-related. (3)



What law enforcement efforts have made clear is that the

binding glue of Chicago's splintered gangs isn't fraternity

or respect, and it definitely isn't a sense of security. It's all

about drugs. Using drugs together, selling drugs,

manufacturing drugs, engaging in crimes to procure

more drugs; this is the moral fabric that many gang

members are cut from.



The reality is that most gang related killings aren't worth

the offense supposedly committed, indicating a populace

that is hasty and paranoid. Add drugs to this picture and

it's easy to see how things get blown out of proportion in

the Windy City.



(1) Chicago Homicides Outnumber U.S. Troop Killings in

Afghanistan Huffington Post 06/16/2012 http://

www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/16/chicago-homicide-

rate-wor_n_1602692.html




(2) Belkin, Douglas Chicago Hunts for Answers to Gang

Killings The Wall Street Journal 07/12/2012 http://

online.wsj.com/article/

SB10001424052702303644004577520863051001848.html




(3) Moore, Natalie Are Chicago Murders all Gang

Related? Chicago Tonight 09/25/2012

Don't become a statistic or a story on the news about

another drug casualty: do what's right to save the life of

someone you care about, or to save your own life if

you're an addict or alcoholic. Treatment generally lasts

just a few weeks, so it's worth it if the decision is

between a life of drugs and potential disaster looming

around every corner, and a life of peace and satisfaction.



If you need help - even if it's not for you - you can get an

immediate, confidential consultation right now with one of

the country's leading centers for residential inpatient

treatment.



You can also click here to check your insurance for drug

rehab: http://recoveryfirst.org/verify-insurance.html

This article and information is brought to you by James

F. Davis.

Different Ways to Overcome Nicotine Addiction

If you will search the term "how to stop smoking" or "how

to quit smoking" in Google, Yahoo, Bing, or any other

search engine online - you will be appalled by the results.

It just means that there are really so many smokers out

there who are trying to break free from their nicotine

addiction.



Nicotine and the sugar content in the cigarette

are the main chemical compounds that are making each

stick so addictive. But, nothing is impossible. If others

have stopped smoking, then so can you.

Here are simple ways on how you can overcome your

smoking addiction:



Group Support - Just in case you don't belong to the 5%

of smokers who can successfully break free from the

nicotine addiction, there are many support groups right

now for smokers.



If you live in a community where there are none, you can always go

online. That is right, there are online support groups for those

people who want to become totally smoke free. It feels really good to

be with like-minded people from whose experiences you can

learn from.



Hypnotherapy for Smokers - Yes, you read it right. There

is indeed hypnotherapy for smokers now. Hypnosis is a

very powerful way to overcome different psychological

problems and this includes eating problems, trauma, and

all forms of addiction, especially nicotine addiction.



You might want to purchase the video and audio programs

that will allow you to listen to the self-hypnosis that will

help you completely stop smoking.



These type of programs are also sold online. Right now, there is no

need for you to actually approach a psychologist or a hypnotherapist.

You can save time, money and effort with the online hypnosis programs

that you can find on the Internet.



Nicotine Replacement Therapies - Of course, these are

the most common among all of the stop nicotine

addiction that are available right now. You always have

the choice between the over the counter and the

prescribed ones.



There are different medications that will help you stop smoking and

overcome the withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking. If you like,

you can

begin using the nicotine patch or the nicotine gum first

since these are the most common among the non-

prescription nicotine replacement products.



If you still think that you need the help of your physician,

then have a check-up and consultation. Your physician

knows which medication is best for your nicotine

addiction.



You then will have a better feeling knowing that your doctor is

guiding you step by step on your path to being nicotine free.

Remember, a healthier life is better. Smoking will only give you more

trouble - stay out of it now!



For more resources regarding nicotine addiction, visit the

the following link: http://

www.besthowtostopsmoking.com/.

How can you recognise when a loved one is caught in the thrall of

cocaine addiction? The highest rate of cocaine addiction worldwide is

in young adults aged between eighteen and twenty five.



It is notoriously difficult to get an accurate count of course, but

most estimates place more than half a million cocaine addicts in the

USA alone. How can you tell if someone you care about is in the grip

of this highly dangerous drug?



The symptoms of cocaine addiction usually fall into two

broad categories - the physical signs, and the social and

emotional side effects.



If you know someone who is exhibiting a range of these symptoms they

may be throwing their life away on a cocaine addiction - give us a

call today for free help and advice in confronting the addict and

encouraging them to seek professional help.



Cocaine is a stimulant, which means that the immediate

physical effects after intake can include fast breathing,

bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, increased body

temperature, sudden chills, physical tremours or shakes

and generally hyperactive behaviour.



Blood pressure often rises as the drug causes the coronary arteries to

constrict which affects normal blood flow. This diminished oxygenated

blood supply to the heart can cause convulsions and even heart

attacks.



Longer term there are additional physical symptoms to

watch out for. A constantly running nose and/or

nosebleeds are a well-known side effect of the "snorting"

method of taking cocaine.



Appetite often deceases which causes weight loss, and the body's

immune system also starts to shut down which leads to an increased

vulnerability to colds, flu and other such illnesses.



The behavioural symptoms of cocaine addiction can be

just as, if not more, visible to a caring friend or partner.



The most commonly witnessed behaviour - and often the

one which triggers initial suspicion of a problem - is

periods of incredibly high energy followed by prolonged

and excessive sleeping.



Addicts tend to lose interest in normal activities, even those which

once might have been their favourite hobbies and pastimes, and become

withdrawn and depressed. More erratic actions such as bouts of overly

speedy talkativeness and irritability are also common. This can give

rise to additional psychological issues leading to paranoia,

hallucinations and suicidal thoughts.



Isolation is also very common amongst addicts of all

types, including those addicted to cocaine. The addict

will be inclined to distance themselves from interaction

with their family, friends and normal social circles.



Holding down employment becomes difficult thanks to

the combination of increased physical strain, causing

absences, and the breakdown of relationships. Even

gainfully employed addicts can fall into habits of stealing

money or pilfering items of value in order to feed their

expensive habit.



This behaviour is normally first exhibited against family and close

friends but can rapidly degenerate into more extreme criminal

behaviour if not addressed with dispatch.



If you recognise any of these symptoms in the behaviour

of someone you care about, it may be time to contact an

intervention specialist or start looking into ways to help

the addict into cocaine rehab to address their problem.



The expert counsellors and addiction advisers at

services like www.rehab-recovery.co.uk

Cocaine Addiction Treatment

Cocaine is a powerful drug and can be very addicting.

Cocaine has destroyed many lives and taken the lives of

many before their time. Even a single use can result in

overdose and death and long term use can cause

serious health consequences including but not limited to

heart and other organ failure and dementia. Cocaine

addiction treatment can help those suffering from

addiction to reclaim their lives.



Neuroscience institutes can provide the latest state of the

art technology in cocaine addiction treatment. Brain

mapping can help determine if areas of the brain are

malfunctioning or misfiring.



SPECT brain scans can see deep into the brain and how it functions.

Neurofeedback/ EEG biofeedback can address regulation problems in the

brain and train the brain to function better.



These neurological and physiological tests can help determine

emotional issues and physical brain function associated with the

addiction. The biofeedback can help measure the effectiveness and

progression of treatment.



A holistic, integrated approach also known as a dual

diagnostic approach is important for a successful

rehabilitation program. In addition to neuroscience

advances, other treatments such as therapy, education,

and lifestyle counseling are incorporated into any

successful program. Most importantly, every program

should be individualized for each patient's unique

background, needs, and goals.



In a dual diagnostic approach, recovery from cocaine

addiction means the patient will receive help with the

physical aspects of his or her addiction as well as the

psychiatric and neurological issues that may be at the

root of the addiction.



This type of treatment can help identify and address cravings and

withdrawal symptoms, especially with long term or heavy cocaine abuse

where symptoms can last for weeks or months.



A committed dual diagnostic approach will not just mask

the symptoms leaving the patient in a vulnerable position

for relapse. Instead it will identify and address the

underlying causes, resolve symptoms and triggers, and

equip the patient with the necessary tools to handle the

emotional, physical, and mental aspects of his or her

addiction.



All of this means that a patient can achieve a complete and

sustainable recovery and leave his or her addiction behind for good.

This means no more chemical cravings.



The patient will be empowered with knowledge and with resolution of

the factors that drove him or her to

self-indulge and self-medicate in the first place.



If you or someone you know is struggling with cocaine

addiction, find a neuroscience institute specializing in

cocaine addiction treatment for help today.



Learn more about PTSD Treatment, Cocaine Addiction

Treatment and Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers visit

http://crosbycenter.com/.

Fighting Your Nicotine Addiction One Hour at a Time

If you want to really know how to quit cigarettes

effectively, the first step in doing this is conditioning your

mind.



The brain is very powerful and with a changed

mind-setting, you will think that smoking cessation is not

a mountain that is too tall to climb. You will have a more

positive attitude and this will help you through the

withdrawal symptoms.



For many people, they have found alternatives for a

cigarette. One of the most popular products to use is the

nicotine gum. You can just chew the gum whenever you

feel like grabbing a cigarette stick. Your nicotine

addiction will be lessened with these gums.



A good technique to try is to smoke just one cigarette each hour for

the first week of your journey to smoking cessation. On the second

week, try to smoke one cigarette every two hours.



If you feel you are ready to lessen the amount of cigarettes that you

are smoking on the third week, you can smoke one cigarette every 3

hours. Just keep on trying to lessen the number of cigarettes you are

smoking for the next weeks until you will eventually become a smoke

free person.



Sometimes smokers can be impatient people. We cannot

wait to see results. This is not actually your fault. The

nicotine in your body conditioned your brain to get

immediate relief.



It is best for you to exercise more to

replace the sense of well being given by the nicotine with

the endorphins given by each exercise session.



Not only will you feel better, your perspiration will also remove the

toxins that have been stored in your body because of your smoking

habit.



You should be prepared emotionally and mentally for the

withdrawal symptoms. The most common withdrawal

symptoms are the desire to eat more, feeling more

anxious, depression, irritability, headaches, difficulty in

breathing, dry throat, and difficulty in sleeping.



A good way to counteract all these withdrawal symptoms is to have

meditation techniques such as good breathing

exercises. You can also enroll in yoga and pilates

classes because these exercises will help you calm

down.



Another great thing to do is to eat more feel good

foods such as whole wheat foods, oats, more fruits and

leafy greens. You should avoid from drinking caffeinated

drinks too because this will increase your anxiety.

Instead of drinking coffee or soda, grab a fresh fruit juice

or milk.



It will not be easy because you had nicotine

addiction for some time, but the withdrawal symptoms

will only last for a few weeks. Just be brave enough not

to succumb to your desire to grab a cigarette stick. Do

this for a better health.



For more information: http://

www.besthowtostopsmoking.com/

How Smokers Can Achieve Their Quit Smoking Resolution

By Ian Newton



We're just a few days into 2013. Thousands of smokers, just a few days

ago made a new years' resolution to quit smoking. Many have already

forgotten and some will have

failed.



The two important questions are why is it so hard keep our

resolutions and secondly how can you make it happen

for you. For many people they get very excited about

their resolution, so excited in fact that just thinking about

it makes them feel good, for a while at least.



Then their resistance kicks in, the problems, the past

failures, the fear the lack of self belief and sometimes the

perceived benefits of smoking will override the need to

quit.



There are a few things you can do to help yourself.



1. Revisit your resolution, and decide that it is really

something that you want to do, at a conscious level.



2. Make a list of all the logical reasons for quitting, such

as health and finance.



3. Make another list of all the reasons you want to keep

smoking, and for each make a note of what it is it for you.

e.g I enjoy smoking, because it relaxes me. OK so

understand that if you can find another way to relax then

smoking won't be of use to me anymore. Or I smoke

when I'm stressed. So if you could create ways to

manage stress then again you wouldn't need to smoke.



I encourage you to spend some time doing this as it will

give you some clarity on why you are still smoking, plus

you will realise that there are healthy ways to meet these

same needs.



4. Decide to want more for yourself. Become absolutely

dissatisfied with yourself as a smoker. Decide you

deserve better than filling your body with toxic smoke.



5. Find someone to help you on this journey. Rapid

change hypnosis is the fastest most effective way to let

go of all your resistance, and to easily and simply

embrace the new healthy alternatives which will give you

all the emotional benefits which you thought that smoking

was giving you.



The key to the above statement is the benefits which you

thought smoking was giving you. Smoking and nicotine is

just a great big con job. Smoking doesn't help you to

relax or reduce stress or boredom or anything else.



Your brain has just been conned into thinking that you

are benefiting, in fact the only thing that smoking does is

destroy your health and burn your money. So take action

and choose to make your resolutions work for you with

the rapid change method.

How to Quit Smoking Step by Step

We are all aware of how dangerous nicotine addiction is

to our health, how it can cause lung cancer, stroke, heart

disease, and death. If you are a smoker and you would

like to stop smoking, try to apply the simple steps that we

will present to you in this short article.



First Step - Decide on a time frame and how many

cigarettes you will smoke in a day. You cannot just stop

smoking in one day because you will eventually crave for

it.



For instance, if you are smoking 15-20 cigarettes a

day, you need to decide on lessening the number of

cigarettes you smoke. This will be good to counter your

smoking addiction, because you have a very realistic

approach.



Let's say you decide to smoke just about 10

cigarettes a day for a week. At the end of the week, give

yourself a reward for the job well done.



Second Step - Find a support group. If on the second or

third week, you are finding it very difficult to smoke less,

tell your family and friends about your plan. Be sure to

tell them everything so that they can support you all the

way.



If you want, you can also choose to join a local

group for people whose goal is to stop smoking.

Together, you can motivate each other and exchange

tips on how to stop smoking.



Third Step - Keep a journal of your progress. It is good to

check how you are doing. If you are not doing OK on a

certain day, it will be evident on your journal. You should

also take notes on what triggers you to smoke more. This

journal will be your guide on what are the reasons why

you smoke, and when are the times when you want to

smoke.



Last Step - Prepare yourself for withdrawal symptoms

because your smoking addiction and all forms of

addiction definitely has a few withdrawal symptoms. You

need to be ready for this. This will last for a few weeks.



All you will have to do is not to give in to your cravings.

While putting a halt to your smoking addiction may not be

an easy task, and sometimes you might have to fail a few

times before you finally succeed, remember that you are

doing this for you to have better health.



Focusing on the health benefits will keep you motivated. When you feel

like giving up, take heart and just remember the prize that awaits you

- better health.



If you are looking for more information on ways on how

to quit smoking, visit http://www.besthowtostopsmoking.com/ for more.

Are Children Who Overeat And Drug Use Linked

Researchers at the Boston Children's Hospital have announced a recent

study which Looked into the relationship between overeating or "binge

eating" and drug abuse in children and young adults.



The study examined the behaviors and eating habits of children across

a broad spectrum, between the ages of 9 and 24 years old.



Among other things, it found that girls were more likely than boys to

engage in binge eating, and that overeating was linked to the use of

marijuana and other drugs.



The researchers concluded that lack of self-control is an

important indicator of overeating and drug abuse, and

while they observed a relation between the two, they did

not identify a specific cause driving both behaviors.



The new study may, however, spur others to perform further research

into the topic to find evidence similar to another recent study which

demonstrated a connection between a certain genetic variation and the

risk of becoming an alcoholic.



One thing that the researchers did forward was that the study results

provided yet another good reason to screen children and teenagers for

signs of eating disorders.

Other Studies on Food and Drug Addiction



The Children's Hospital study was not the first scientific

examination of the relationship between overeating and

substance abuse. Other researchers have looked into

the matter, spurred by the commonsense observation

that the two behaviors seem to be similar and parallel, if

not exactly the same. One study was performed by the



National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at

Columbia University, which found that half of all people

who suffer from an eating disorder will also commonly

engage in drug or alcohol abuse.



Another study was published in 2011 in The Archives of General

Psychiatry and concluded that obesity and substance addiction were

both driven by the same addictive factors.



Similarities Between Binge Eating and Drug Abuse

Are overeating and drug or alcohol abuse fundamentally

the same? They certainly do have many things in

common according to My Foxal.



Perhaps the greatest similarity between the two is that they are often

caused by the individual's effort to escape from stress and the

pressures of everyday life.



Many people who suffer from obesity or drug addiction will tell the

same story, that their problems began at a time when they were

struggling to cope with some type of stress, such as a difficult home

life or trouble fitting in socially.



Food and drugs both offer the individual a way to

escape. Some researchers have even found that drugs

such as cocaine depend for their function upon similar

chemical processes in the brain which occur in response

to eating.



Nearly anyone has experienced the feeling of relief or the sensation

of well-being which can occur after eating when hungry or when eating

foods that are high in sugar or fat.

Many drugs simply produce an effect which is far stronger, but is in

many ways the same.



Beating an Addiction to Food or Drugs



The good news is that there are proven and effective

methods for treating addiction, both to food and to drugs.



There are many non-drug based rehabilitation and

treatment programs which offer the individual help with

getting over an addiction and staying free into the future.



Success in beating addiction often depends not only on

quitting the habit but also finding a positive way to fill the

void which was previously being filled with food, drugs or

alcohol.



For example, the individual may benefit from education in

life skills for dealing with people and handling stress. If

you or a friend or loved one is currently struggling with an

eating problem, it may be possible to handle the matter

early before it progresses into morbid obesity or even a

substance abuse addiction if you take action now.



Whether it's drugs, alcohol or food, addiction is

something that can be handled for good provided that

you make the firm decision to do so and find help.



Contact Vista Bay drug rehab at http://www.vistabay.com

or http://www.twitter.com/#!/vistabayrehab to get more

information on this and other relevant topics.

Can You Die During Drug Detox?


If you're an addict and you're wondering if you can die during drug detox, the short but honest answer is yes. However, deaths from detox and withdrawal are rare considering the number of addicts that undergo detox and the fact that many will detox and withdraw from substances a number of times in their life. However, the potential for life threatening complications during detox is frighteningly real for a small amount of people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Understanding this risk is critical to overcoming the "fear" barrier to treatment considering that even high-risk individuals can get specialized medical detox treatment to reduce or eliminate the potential dangers.
Acute Withdrawal Syndrome
Acute withdrawal syndrome is the condition that is responsible for the unpleasant and potentially dangerous symptoms associated with detox and withdrawal. This condition is neurological in nature and is difficult to explain in non-scientific/medical terms. In lay terms, nerve cells in the brain become either sensitized or desensitized by drug use, causing changes in the central nervous system. When drug abuse or alcohol is suddenly stopped once dependence has set in, these changes are essentially reversed, causing a host of symptoms that vary from patient to patient.
The duration and severity of symptoms related to AWS depend on many variables, but special consideration must be given to a number of substances that can be particularly dangerous:
*Alcohol
When detoxing and going through acute withdrawal, alcoholics can experience life-threatening symptoms such as seizures, coma, delirium tremens and in rare cases, death.
*Barbiturates
Barbiturates are a class of drugs that are no longer prescribed as a result of the difficulty in regulating dosage. These types of drugs are still available on the street and can cause significant complications upon cessation and withdrawal, including many of the same problems as that of alcohol withdrawal; seizures, coma and death may result.



*Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines include highly addictive drugs like Valium and Xanax. This class of drugs can cause cardiac arrest, seizures, respiratory distress, coma and death.
*Opiates
While opiates are not generally known as a potentially deadly class of drugs to detox from, sudden cessation after addiction has set in can cause dangerous complications; most notably respiratory depression, which in some cases can be severe. Additionally, opiate-based drugs used to treat opiate addiction - such as Methadone, Suboxone and Naltrexone - can cause fatal complications during the initial stages of detox from the target drug, and later complications can result when withdrawing from the actual treatment drug.
Rapid detox is a relatively new technique that works by facilitating opiate withdrawal while the patient is under sedation. This method allows most of the unpleasant and potentially dangerous symptoms of withdrawal to occur while the patient is unconscious and being medically monitored.
Unfortunately, a number of reports of deaths from this practice have surfaced in recent years, and professionals have repeatedly stated that more research and peer-reviewed clinical studies need to be conducted before this can be accepted as a mainstream practice. In fact, several rapid detox centers have recently come under fire for patient deaths, including one in Australia where rapid detox services were blamed for 3 deaths at the same clinic (Care in three Sydney Detox Deaths Inadequate, Coroner Rules The Australian 09/27/2012.) and 6 deaths at a New Jersey rapid detox center (Davis, Robert 'Rapid detox' a quick fix for opiate addiction? USA Today.)
When Undergoing Rapid Detox, the Risk of Seizure, Coma and Death Depends on:
*Severity & Duration of Abuse
In general, the longer and more severe the substance abuse, the more challenging the withdrawal and detox process will be, and the more risks will be involved.
*Number and Severity of Previous Relapses/Withdrawals
As a result of a phenomenon referred to as the Kindling Effect, the severity and duration of withdrawal and detox will depend largely on the number of previous drug withdrawals and subsequent relapses. The Kindling Effect essentially states that the more relapse events that occur, the more severe each new withdrawal will be and the more likely it is that complications related to sudden drug cessation will lead to dangerous and potentially life-threatening conditions. (Davis, James F On the Downward Spiral: The Kindling Effect of Addiction Hive Health Media)
*Physiological Health
The physical health of the patient in question will have a significant impact on the body's ability to handle the symptoms and physiological processes of withdrawal. In general, poor states of health and hygiene often mean that detox and withdrawal will be worse than for those people who are in good health.
*Treatment Type and Protocols
The types of treatment and their various modalities play a large role in the safety and well being of a person undergoing detox. This is why it is critical that potential patients or their families carefully review or investigate the treatment or detox centers being considered, as each is likely quite different and some may not be an appropriate choice depending on the patient, the severity of their addiction and ability to pay for treatment.
In short, it is possible to die while going through detox and withdrawal. Fortunately, deaths are quite rare and in most cases symptoms can be easily managed with medication and various therapies. If you or someone you love is battling addiction and you're intimidated by the thought of detox; don't be. In most cases drug detox is safe and is proven to be effective at getting addicts through the initial acute stages of recovery from addiction or alcoholism. The consequences of continued substance abuse and a life of addiction are far worse and invariably lead to the loss of relationships, destruction of careers, violence, imprisonment, and for many; death.
Conversely, detox - when done correctly - only lasts for a few days to two weeks and can prevent a long descent into the desperation of addiction. Don't let fear of detox become a barrier to treatment; take action now, before disaster strikes.
Click here for an immediate, confidential consultation about an intervention or a Safe Drug Detox program that works. For special information for methamphetamine addicts, please use this link for detox for meth.