Should being drunk in public from alcohol intoxication be a crime?

What Is Legal Alcohol Intoxication?

Legal alcohol intoxication is a definition that varies across cities, states and countries.  In fact, there is no common way that legal jurisdictions define what it means to be intoxicated by alcohol in public.  This makes it hard to define what it actually MEANS to be intoxicated by alcohol in public.

What’s more, doctors even have problems diagnosing intoxication, because specific blood alcohol content or alcohol consumption in and of themselves do not define intoxication.  Instead, medical definitions of alcohol intoxication are linked to displays of impairment, as are legal definitions.

As a result, alcohol intoxication is rarely legally defined using scientific terms that are precise (except for blood alcohol levels that define use of a motor vehicle).  This makes intoxication in public very subjective to define.  In other words, law enforcement officers can and do base their decisions on whether a person is drunk or not on the BEHAVIORS associated with intoxication.  This is how laws can become subject to interpretation in the hands of the police.

Docile Vs. Disruptive Drunks

People who are drunk in public can be either docile or cause disruption.  In disruptive cases, drunk people disturb the peace by being loud, causing fights, destruction of property, etc.  And in these cases, it seems pretty clear that disruptive drunks break social code by comitting anti-social acts.  But what about the docile drunks?  Is the mere POTENTIAL for disorderly conduct and the ASSUMPTION that drunks in public will disturb the peace enough to arrest and charge someone for intoxication?

Is Drunkenness Itself a Crime?

Laws exist to protect the public.  But docile drunks seem to do harm to no one but themselves.  So should we really punish people who are harming themselves?

Laws about Being Drunk Enforce Moral Judgments

The degree to which a society can accept another person’s personal choice is the degree to which that society shows tolerance.  When being drunk in public becomes a crime, simply for the sheer moral judgment that drunkenness (not the behavior associated with intoxication) is not acceptable, a society declares that it does not respect personal choice and that it will control the behavior of its people through governance. 

Shafa Home is country’s premier organization for treatment of alcohol/drug problems, de-addiction, rehabilitation, counseling, treatment for females, nasha mukti , psychiatric disorders and secondary addictions like gambling, internet etc.

Depression Can Be a Threshold for Transformation

‘Depression can be a threshold for transformation.’ Robert Hunt explores the illness and shares his insight and expertise on how to turn your life around.

Depression is a mental illness that has a bad rap. It comes with a stigma and, for many, depression feels like a life sentence of pain. Most who experience depression don’t even realize they are depressed until it turns into having thoughts of suicide and death. And, even if someone recognizes that they are feeling depressed, he or she is often shy about admitting it or getting help because of the stigma that mental illness carries.

However, experiencing depression can serve as a gateway for change. It can be a turning point for a new life. First, from a clinical perspective, depression is treatable(!), meaning that this illness can turn around. Depression doesn’t have to weigh someone down for the rest of his or her life. With psychotherapy, the right medication, and other lifestyle changes, such as exercise, depression can lift and life can be joyful.

Perhaps it’s best to begin by reviewing the symptoms of depression to help identify what depression feels like. Depression is a persistent experience of feeling down, despondent, or low. In order to be diagnosed with depression, there are clear behavioral criteria that a person must exhibit. Some of these include:

·         A depressed mood

·         Irritability

·         Guilt

·         Loss of interest in activities

·         Social withdrawal

·         Suicidal thoughts

·         Poor concentration

·         Poor memory

·         Indecision

·         Slow thinking

·         Loss of motivation

·         Sleep disturbance – insomnia / hypersomnia

·         Appetite disturbance – weight loss/gain

·         Fatigue

·         Headaches

·          

Someone doesn’t have to have all of these symptoms but having some of these consistently can indicate depression. Yet, even if you uncover that you’re depressed, if you didn’t already know it, depression doesn’t have to be a curse upon your life. It can be the very means for turning your life around.

This change might begin by diving into yourself. Often, depression is a way of being cut off from who you are, which is frequently a result of having had a destructive life. For instance, the difficult experiences of an abusive childhood, a life of addiction, growing up among strong criticism, living with intense guilt, and/or experiencing abandonment early in life can be situations that destroy the spark of life within. These situations and others can create thought patterns and beliefs like “I’m at fault”, “I’m not loveable”, “I’m not worth being loved”, or “My life isn’t worth anything”.

Of course, none of these statements are true for anyone! Although it might feel true temporarily because of the circumstances you endured, there is always a greater truth to be found. For this reason, uncovering who you are beneath the challenging circumstances, beyond the thought patterns, can be an essential part of healing depression. For instance, discovering what you’re passionate about, tapping into your strengths, and diving into your creativity can help turn depression into discovering joy. Essentially, finding out who you are and discovering your particular uniqueness can help brush away the debris of depression so that your inner light shines.

In fact, some clinicians feel that the presence of mental illnesses is indicative of our time. The prevalence of depression and anxiety are so common and the rates of occurrence are only increasing. Some experts say that it is Western culture itself, which is focused more on productivity than on personal relationships.

Depression might be the result of a collective disconnect that is pervasive throughout society. Today, men and women tend to have less sunshine and more computer light, less time with family and more time with strangers and co-workers, less real foods and more processed foods because they are too busy to make a meal. There seems to be a relationship between the growing urbanization of the world and the increase in mental illnesses. Perhaps it is the inaccessible beaches and parks that are common to cities. Perhaps it is the distance from nature, from others, and from oneself. Many individuals today are focused on their individual lives, lost in their smart phones, and shifting their attention from one piece of technology to another. There’s no real connection that is satisfying and psychologically nourishing.

It’s important to point this out too in order to say that if you are experiencing depression, you’re not alone. And, depression doesn’t only arise from your particular life; it’s a part of the collective experience we as human beings share. Knowing this alone can be empowering and perhaps provide the encouragement to reach into yourself and find the power that is waiting to be utilized.

If you’re feeling inspired to turn your life around, you should know that there are some traditional ways that depression is treated, which you may want to explore in addition to diving into yourself. For instance, the use of medication combined with psychotherapy has been incredibly successful for many individuals. Certain anti-depressants, known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, or SSRI’s, can increase levels of serotonin and ease depressive symptoms. Other forms of anti-depressants can also be useful.

However, sometimes medication alone act as a band-aid. Anti-depressants can help lift the symptoms of depression but not address the underlying issues that need healing. For this reason, psychotherapy is useful. For instance, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be a tool to identify negative and distorted thinking patterns that might contribute to a depressed mood. This successful form of therapy emphasizes the link between thoughts, feelings, and behavior, and more importantly, it attempts to change harmful thoughts for life-affirming ones. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is a form of therapy that helps treat depression by exploring in detail the nature of one’s relationships. IPT is based upon the idea that regardless of genetics, depression develops within the context of relationships. Other forms of therapy that might be useful are Psychoanalysis and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression.  Mindfulness is the practice of becoming intimately aware of one’s inner and outer experience, which can also help with restoring the relationship with oneself.

Healing depression takes time. It’s not going to lift overnight. In fact, there might be some steps backwards even though you’re climbing upward and onward. For many people, healing from depression is more than just healing from an illness; it’s healing your life. It’s walking through the darkness in order to find the light, and making that kind of journey is none other than a heroic one.

Shafa Home is country’s premier organization for treatment of alcohol/drug problems, de-addiction, rehabilitation, counseling, treatment for females, nasha mukti, psychiatric disorders and secondary addictions like gambling, internet etc.

What’s The Connection Between Addiction And Mood Disorders?

Mental health disorders are far more common among addicts than they are among the general population, and mood disorders specifically very commonly co-occur with substance abuse. Depression and bipolar disorder are frequently accompanied by heavy drinking, abuse of painkillers or sedatives, and/or use of a combination of different substances. When this occurs, the effect can be significantly impaired mental health symptoms due to the combined effects of substance abuse and the mental health disorder.

A co-occurring mood disorder with alcoholism or drug addiction can make treatment a challenge. So what can you do if you or a loved one is exhibiting signs of the need for dual diagnosis treatment? The most effective way to address both issues and stop the untreated disorder from sabotaging progress in the treatment of the other disorder is to enroll in a dual diagnosis rehab program that provides comprehensive care for both disorders simultaneously.

Self-Medication

Many patients first experience symptoms of a mood disorder and attempt to use drugs and alcohol to “medicate” those symptoms. Because the symptoms of depression or the anger or mood swings associated with bipolar disorder are uncomfortable, patients may attempt to drink to change their mood or in an attempt simply to feel better.

In the same way, some patients may turn to prescription drugs like opiate painkillers or benzodiazepines, but ultimately find that nothing helps them deal with their symptoms effectively or for the long-term. Many, in fact, instead find that drug use only worsens the symptoms, but rather than turn to a more effective solution, the pull of substance abuse can create an even deeper hole of isolation and despair.

Substance Abuse as the Primary Disorder

For some patients, drinking and drug use may have appeared before the symptoms of their mood disorder began to manifest. Diagnosable signs of these disorders don’t usually begin until the early adult years, but prior to diagnosis, many patients begin experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Though it can begin as a social experiment, patients may develop a substance abuse problem that accentuates the issues stemming from their mood disorder. Unfortunately, the following problems can result when the two disorders are co-occurring:

·         Worsened mental health symptoms

·         Intensified cravings for drugs and alcohol

·         Increased periods of depression

·         Increased difficulty during detox

Treatment for Addiction and Mood Disorders

The natural inclination of many patients is to attempt to isolate and treat either the mood disorder or the substance abuse problem, depending upon which one appears to be most intrusive in their day-to-day lives. Though this may seem easier than taking on a comprehensive treatment program that addresses both issues, it ultimately only creates more work and longer time spent in treatment. A treatment program that attempts to isolate the issues attached to just the substance abuse disorder, (addiction and depression for example), won’t be as effective as one that recognizes that the symptoms caused by the mood disorder are intense triggers.

Many patients will relapse because they are not getting help in addressing those symptoms in a healthier fashion. Similarly, those who attempt to treat the mood disorder while continuing to drink or use drugs will find that little progress will be made in managing their mental health symptoms because their substance use continually offsets the value of therapy and/or medication. This is why the need for dual diagnosis and specifically designed programs for its treatment exist. Mood disorders are best treated simultaneously with substance abuse issues.

Questions about Mood and Substance Use Disorders

At Shafa Home, we offer a comprehensive and personalized treatment program for patients who are struggling with a mood disorder and substance abuse. Your journey into recovery from both disorders can begin today. Get in touch with our resident counselors now.

Shafa Home is country’s premier organization for treatment of alcohol/drug problems, de-addiction, rehabilitation, counseling, treatment for females, nasha mukti , psychiatric disorders and secondary addictions like gambling, internet etc.

Lonely, addicted, depressed – Who cares?

Life can be overwhelming. Look around your community and see that depression, suicide, and addictions are on the increase. Clearly people are hurting and feel alone with their pain. But who cares? Maybe you feel there’s nothing you can do that would make a difference. Admittedly you may not be able to change the earth, but you may be able to change how someone feels about themselves and their world.

No matter how small your gesture, it can make a difference to someone. A smile costs nothing but it may just brighten someone’s day. A sympathetic ear can help someone feel that they are not alone with their problem. An offer of help may give someone an extra boost to achieve their dream. It’s not important how you show you care, as long as you do. For when you do, you initiate a chain of kindness that is passed on to others and it is this collective caring that creates change.

Sometimes though it isn’t the lack of care or love that is the concern, it is the ability to receive it that is difficult. If you’ve experienced rejection you can be left with a lack of trust which forms a barrier to accepting any level affection. I went through many years convincing myself I didn’t want anyone to love for me out of pure fear that I would attach to their love only to have it ripped away from me. And even believing that someone would want to care was improbable. How could anyone care about me when my own mother had physically abandoned me and mentally killed me off in her mind? Yet I did need someone to care. I needed it desperately. Yet whilst I was too terrified to take the risk to reach out, it was impossible for anyone to reach in. The combination of depression and alcoholism constructed an emotional barricade that was impenetrable.

Unfortunately my mental fortress served only to trap me further in my own cycle of despair by restricting me to living each day based only on my experiences of rejection and abuse. Worse, it prevented any chance of allowing healing or restoration. There was only one way that I was going to ever be able to be helped and that was for the walls to come down. Of course this was an inevitability that I hadn’t the courage to face, and so it was my mental breakdown that resulted in the collapse of my barriers. As they came crushing down, my vulnerability was exposed and I waited for the end of my life to come.

But it didn’t. Because someone cared. Professionals stepped in and there were friends who stood by me. They cared for me when I didn’t care. They loved me when I was at my most unlovable. They believed in me when I was unable to believe in myself. Over time I learnt how to renew my boundaries in a positive way. Life stopped being simply a battle against the bad, and became a home for the good.

Most importantly I found a faith founded in unconditional love. God cared. He loved me and done all along. When I was willing to receive the love that had been waiting for me, I was then able to heal.  And as I handed over my past, present and future into the security of His hands, so I found the refuge I had longed for. Today I am safe in His care.  We all need someone to care for us. But that love needs to be rooted in truth. And it needs to be given freely. A word of warning – if someone is showing you that they care only to want something from you in return, then it isn’t genuine. Steer clear.

Shafa Home is country’s premier organization for treatment of alcohol/drug problems, de-addiction, rehabilitation, counseling, treatment for females, nasha mukti, psychiatric disorders and secondary addictions like gambling, internet etc.

‘Who cares?’ 

I do. I care.

(These articles are the sole property of “The Cabin Chiang Mai”, they are its original authors.)

10 Daily Practices for a Successful Addiction Recovery

In early addiction recovery, getting into some type of daily routine can be very beneficial to staying sober long-term.  For many addicts who have just finished treatment at their addiction treatment centre, 'real life' can seem very scary. And too much free, unscheduled time can lead to thoughts about using again. And while it is important not to over schedule yourself, creating unneeded stress in your life, it is good to have daily routines that will assist you on your road to recovery.

Your Daily Rituals for Successful Addiction Recovery

It is true that not every method works for every person, but the following daily activities will most definitely help any recovering addict stay sober — especially when incorporated within the first year of recovery.

                      

1. Make your bed.

This may sound like a silly, overly-simple task that should have nothing to do with recovery. But in fact, making your bed each morning has many benefits for all people, not just those in addiction recovery. Firstly, it gives you a sense of accomplishment, giving you a 'feel-good' boost throughout the day. Being able to stick to a simple task such as making your bed each day, and seeing the positive effect that just a moment of your time can make on the rest of your day, you will be inclined to pick up other habits such as putting your dirty laundry in the hamper instead of on the floor. Plus, it feels so much nicer to climb into a well-made bed at night instead of a messy one.

2. Remind yourself to be grateful.

Each and every day, take a photo of something that made you feel grateful and upload it into an album. Whether it is a beautiful sunset, a photo of your friend that you went to dinner with or a bird you saw chilling in the park. Finding something each and every day to be thankful for will help you find the good in even the worst of days and help you keep a positive outlook on life. Plus, it will be a great way for you to look back on your life in years to come.

3. Go for a walk.

Whether you go for a walk around the neighbourhood, head to the gym or take a dance lesson, incorporating some type of physical activity into each day is important. Physical activity has incredible healing powers for the mind, body and soul and will accelerate your progress in addiction recovery if you let it.

4. Meditate.

Mindfulness meditation has been proven to increase chances of long-term sobriety for those in addiction recovery by giving addicts the tools necessary to take life one moment at a time. When you live life in the moment, you will experience much less stress and anxiety because you rid yourself of worrying and negative thought processes. Just 10-15 minutes of mindfulness meditation can increase your chances of a successful addiction recovery.

5. Talk to someone.

Hang out with people you love. Have dinner with a fellow recovering addict. Whatever you do, reach out and connect to someone who is important to you each and every day. Sharing things such as how your day went and how you are generally feeling will help you keep from bottling feelings inside, causing unwanted stress and anxiety. Plus, if they are having a bad day it feels great to be someone who can help cheer them up too.

6. Make lists.

Every night before bed, write down your schedule for the next day. Make a list of things that need to be done, and then schedule them. The more structure you have to your days, the less likely you are to run into stress by forgetting to do things or running out of time. Stress is one of the most significant relapse triggers, so anything that keeps stress at bay is helpful in addiction recovery.

7. Eat right and hydrate.

Food is fuel for your body. And just as you would only put the highest grade of petrol in your car, you should only put the highest grade of food in you! Eating right and staying hydrated by drinking lots of water will not only relieve stress, but it will make you feel great from the inside out – ready to conquer each and every day!

8. Do something you enjoy.

Reserve at least 20 minutes of each day to do something that relaxes you. Whether it is painting a picture, reading a book, or doing a crossword puzzle, it is important to take time each and every day to just let yourself go. 

9. Make meetings a priority.

Meetings are important. Whether you are feeling down, recovering from a cold or simply do not feel like going to your recovery meeting – just go. Especially in early recovery, it is important to keep up with meetings. Read “Do I Need Recovery Meetings to Stay Sober?” for more information.

10. Remind yourself why you are in addiction recovery.

Last but definitely not least, take a moment each day to remember the reasons that you are in addiction recovery in the first place. Why is getting and staying sober important to you? Write a list and keep it on your mirror or in your wallet and take a look at it each and every day.

Living Sober in Addiction Recovery

It is important to remember that addiction recovery will be most difficult in the beginning. But over time, if you incorporate all of these daily practices, and anything else that you find calming into your daily life, you can achieve success in recovery.

Shafa Home is country’s premier organization for treatment of alcohol/drug problems, de-addiction, rehabilitation, counseling, treatment for females, nasha mukti, psychiatric disorders and secondary addictions like gambling, internet etc.

(These articles are the sole property of “The Cabin Chiang Mai”, they are its original authors.)

10 WAYS HOW LIFE GETS BETTER WHEN YOU ARE LIVING SOBER

In early addiction recovery you are probably still struggling to imagine what life will be like without your addiction. Living sober is new and awkward, but it is also incredibly rewarding. Whatever benefits you thought you gained from consuming drugs and alcohol will be put to shame as you discover that nothing compares to the benefits gained from living sober. Here are just 10 examples of the many ways sober living will make your life great. 10 Ways Living Sober Improves Your Life

1. Relationships improve.

Once you are sober you will be able to form and maintain healthier relationships. If you are a parent this is a huge area where living sober will positively affect your life and those around you. It may take some time to rebuild healthy relationships with your children, but you will no doubt be a more patient, present, and positive parent.

You will also become a better friend. You will have more time to devote to nurturing meaningful relationships, plus you will probably become more reliable and honest. As you get to know yourself in recovery you will know what kind of things interest you and will find friends who enjoy the same. Sober friendships are likely to be the most nurturing and fulfilling relationships you have ever had.

2. Your memory improves.

No more forgetting and missing out on important events, like your kids' birthdays. No more waking up full of shame and regret as you wonder what happened the night before. When you are living sober you get to remember everything. You are more aware of the finer details in life — like a stranger's smile, or a newly blossomed flower. Plus, becoming sober will give you the mental clarity to discover your personal passions and accomplish your goals.

3. You look better.

Once you stop poisoning your body with toxins, your complexion will inevitably look better. Blemishes clear, wrinkles lose some of their definition, and dark circles are minimized. Some people find that once they start living sober they look 10 years younger. But it is not a superficial benefit. When we look better, we inevitably feel better about ourselves. All the other benefits of a sober life will also have you smiling more — which definitely keeps you looking great.

4. You can maintain a healthy weight.

Many in recovery report initial weight regulation as a benefit to living sober. When you stop consuming empty alcohol calories, and participating in drunken binge-eating episodes, you naturally lose weight. If you were underweight due to a substance abuse disorder your weight is also likely to return to a healthier level once sober. This will help you feel better physically and reduce your risk for weight-related health complications.

5. You have more money.

Living sober will leave you with extra money that you otherwise spent on fuelling your alcohol or drug addiction. It is an automatic savings plan. With more money you can pay off debts, save for larger purchases, and invest in new hobbies. Instead of emptying your bank account regularly and having nothing to show for it you can now spend your money gaining meaningful experiences with people who truly love and care for you. 

6. You have more time.

You probably did not realise exactly how much time you spent thinking about and consuming drugs and alcohol until you stopped. At first having all this extra time can be overwhelming and leave you not knowing what to do. However, it does not take long to realise there is a world of things to do once you are sober. You can use your time to do things like walking your dogs, visiting family and friends, learning something new, and getting more sleep — all of which turn out to be much more rewarding than getting drunk or high.

7. You have more energy.

Constantly feeling tired from sub-par sleep quality is a thing of the past. While at first sleep might be difficult as your body adjusts, once you are sober you will find that your sleep is of a higher quality and you get more of it. Plus, your body will not have to work so hard repairing the damage of drug and alcohol abuse, which frees up its available energy resources. Who does not wish they had more energy in a day? Sobriety will give it to you.

8. You have more fun.

Yes, you will have more fun living sober than intoxicated (even if it does not seem that way at first). With more time, money, and energy the possibilities for fun are endless and never involve a hangover. Your definition of fun will probably change for the better and eventually you will think to yourself “how did I ever think life like that was fun?” Once sober, you are able to play more, you will have a youthful radiance when your laughter is genuine, and you can enjoy the experience of daily life.

9. You gain respect.

When you are sober, you gain respect from others as they acknowledge your commitment to change. You leave a positive impression on people around you through volunteering and helping others. People look up to you and admire your sobriety. When you are sober you are able to follow through with commitments and people will begin to trust you again. Becoming sober is a great display of self-respect as you commit to discontinue the abuse of your body and mind — and when you respect yourself, people are more likely to respect you as well.    

10. You feel good about yourself.

Feeling good about yourself is one of the best gifts sobriety will give you. First of all you can free yourself from the shame and guilt tied to your addictive behaviour. Each day you can be proud of yourself for making it another day in recovery. While increasing your self-esteem will still take some work and does not just magically happen once you enter recovery, living sober will contribute to healthy self-esteem in the long term.

Not convinced yet that life is better when you have got more energy, more time and a clear mind? Or when you get out of bed each day feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead? Then go ahead and watch some of our alumni update stories to see how these real people's lives improved after leaving drug and alcohol rehab.

Shafa Home is country’s premier organization for treatment of alcohol/drug problems, de-addiction, rehabilitation, counseling, treatment for females, nasha mukti , psychiatric disorders and secondary addictions like gambling, internet etc.

(These articles are the sole property of “The Cabin Chiang Mai”, they are its original authors.)

HOW THE ‘SPICE’ DRUG IS KILLING YOUTH

Another synthetic drug is rampaging through India and taking lives with it. Alarmingly, the drug is disguised as a harmless — and often legal — marijuana alternative. Yet as innocent as the name may sound, spice is far from safe.

Alarming Increase in Hospitalizations and Death Caused by Spice Drug

Back in April 2015 police responded to a call that landed three boys in the hospital and one 18 year old high school senior dead after smoking spice. Another 19 year old boy recently fell into a coma after smoking spice and died a few days later. A mother reported her two sons were hospitalized after using the drug and one may have permanent kidney damage — a lifelong side effect that synthetic drugs can cause.

The parents of all the above cases are now advocating to spread awareness about the dangerous and deadly nature of synthetic cannabis. In their grief they state that their children were unaware that they were experimenting with such a dangerous drug. In the first five months of 2015 there were 15 deaths due to spice drug abuse. This is three times as many as were recorded in 2014.

In 2010, there were over 11,000 ER visits due to spice, and while no official total has been published since, many health officials across the globe have issued warnings about increased hospitalizations due to the drug this year. While it is now clear that the drug can cause toxicity and death in its own right, its use can also lead to severe psychosis and has been implicated in a number of deaths by suicide.

What is ‘Spice’?

'Spice' was originally one of many brand names of a synthetic cannabis product. By 2006 spice became the generic street name for all fake marijuana. Like many other synthetic drugs, spice was first legal and sold via the internet, pubs etc. as either an herbal smoking substitute or incense. The spice drug looks like potpourri and is often sold as such with the label 'not for human consumption.' Consumers, however, learned through the grape vine that spice was in fact meant to be smoked to produce a high similar to marijuana.

The story is similar to that of another dangerous drug, bath salts, which was originally sold legally and labelled 'not for human consumption,' but ended up causing cases of drug abuse, bizarre and psychotic behaviour and death. After bath salts, flakka joined the wave of dangerous and deadly synthetic drugs. With spice, the newest synthetic drug causing alarm, people first thought that what they were getting was a harmless mix of herbs with effects similar to that of marijuana. However, analysts found that the spice drug is actually plant material sprayed with various chemical concoctions of man made synthetic cannabinoids. They also found that many packages contained little or none of the harmless herbs that websites advertised.

Synthetic cannabinoids are meant to mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. They are far from natural and the chemicals used can vary widely so consumers do not know exactly what they are getting, and the effects can actually be more potent than that of marijuana. The chemicals, like those of other synthetic drugs, are often made in labs and then sold over the internet. While many of the most common synthetic cannabinoids have now been outlawed, labs are always one step ahead of the law tweaking the compound to create a new drug that will not be detected. The fact that there is no one spice drug, but rather a range of chemicals whose effects have not been tested on humans, makes the drug particularly dangerous. Most experts agree that synthetic marijuana is more dangerous than the real thing. However the public, especially teens and young adults with whom the drug is most popular, is often unaware of the real dangers this drug poses.

The Dangers of Spice Drug Use

The marketing of spice as a harmless natural herb that promises the high of marijuana, without the legal consequences such as a failed drug test, makes it seem like a safe alternative to other drugs. However, in reality, the spice drug is an unlabelled, untested, and unpredictable mix of chemicals that can have devastating consequences and severe side effects.

Spice drug use does produce some feelings of euphoria similar to that of marijuana, but spice drug effects can also induce a wide range of negative reactions including hallucinations, unhealthy heart rates, nausea and vomiting, confusion, extreme paranoia and anxiety, and even death. Because the chemical compounds are constantly changing, when someone presents with symptoms in the emergency room doctors may have a difficult time testing for the drug and knowing what to do to help. As it is still relatively new, there is no research on the long term effects of spice drug use on the brain and body. However, one can assume that with severe short term effects that lead to hospitalizations and death, long-term effects of spice drug use would be detrimental.

Help for Those Struggling with Spice Abuse or Addiction

Synthetic cannabis, or spice, is not simply “fake marijuana” made up of harmless herbs. It is a dangerous, addictive and deadly drug. Use of this drug can also lead to all the social, physical and mental health problems that accompany drug addiction. It is important that parents speak to their children about the drug and inform them of the dangers. If someone you know is currently suffering from addiction to synthetic cannabis or any other type of drug, contact an addiction specialist today to help you determine which type of addiction treatment centre is right for you and get on the road to addiction recovery.

Shafa Home is country’s premier organization for treatment of alcohol/drug problems, de-addiction, rehabilitation, counseling, treatment for females, nasha mukti, psychiatric disorders and secondary addictions like gambling, internet etc.

(These articles are the sole property of “The Cabin Chiang Mai”, they are its original authors.)