Law Battles Synthetic Drugs

President Obama signed the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 into law on July 9 as part of S. 3187, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act. The legislation bans synthetic compounds commonly found in synthetic marijuana (“K2″ or “Spice”), synthetic stimulants (“Bath Salts”), and hallucinogens, by placing them under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act click for more

A codependancy issue: Engaging in addictive dialogue

Addicts enjoy the the feeling of getting high, weather it be drugs or alcohol. They also enjoy the function it may serve(feeling more comfortable in social settings, enjoying the escape, etc.). It is safe to say that a good portion of addicts would continue to use if outside influences(family, legal, employment)didn't make it more uncomfortable for them to use. The impact of their use must outweigh the benefits derived from their use, otherwise there would be no incentive to stop.

Family members forget this when they are discussing their significant others substance use. They allow themselves to engage in an addictive dialogue. Addictive dialogue is any discussion that detracts from the dependent's substance use and impact of it. Discussion turns onto other areas, or areas that would hold him/her less accountable. Examples would include: shifting blame("if you didn't nag I wouldn't drink so much."), avoiding accountability("I will not drink as much","I will cut back.") minimizing("I know plenty of people who drink more.) or other misdirections. The more gray area an addict can create in the discussion about their use, the more likelihood they can continue to use. Family members could get more focused on the discussion and avoid addressing the actual use.

It is important to not allow subjectivity to be a factor in addressing use. This would especially hold true if the subjectivity is the addicted persons. Shift more of a focus on measurable or objective discussions. An example would be an addict saying they will be cutting back. That is a gray area. Cutting back how much? If someone is drinking a case a beer a day, forty beers a day is cutting back. A statement such as "I will not drink at all" is more realistic to gauge. Another example is discussing the belief about legalization of marijuana with an adolescent detracts from discussing his or her using. If as a parent you do not want your youth using mind altering drugs, the legalization of it is irrelevant. Stay in a black or white focus. The clearer you are in your expectations, the easier it will be for the addict or alcoholic to stay on track. Once you start engaging in a addictive dialogue, the greater the chance the addicted person will be less accountable for their actions.

Up in Smoke: The Medical Marijuana Debate

Containing over 400 chemicals, the cannabis plant is the source of marijuana, which has been labeled a Schedule 1 controlled substance since 1970. Once treated and dried, marijuana can be smoked (or even eaten!) to induce an altered mood, caused primarily by THC (delta 9 tetrhydrocannabinol). The terms "medical cannabis" and "medical marijuana" refer to the use of the chemicals in the cannabis plant and marijuana (such as THC) as a physician-recommended from of medicine or herbal therapy.

The potency of marijuana has increased over the years, with a 4% increase of THC presence in the drug from 20 years ago. Often taken as a recreational drug, marijuana has some adverse effects: short term memory loss, increased heart rate, weakening of the immune system, raised risk of lung infections, increased risk of lung cancer, decrease in perception and reaction time response (which is especially dangerous when driving), exacerbation of current mental health problems (or the creation of new ones), breathing problems, and addictive qualities (1).

The administration of medical marijuana is most frequently done through vaporizing or smoking dried buds, eating or drinking extracts, and taking capsules. Smoking has fielded the fewest positive outcomes (2).

Medicinal marijuana is a much-debated topic in the medical field, with no clear-cut agreement. Some research indicates that it could be effective for the relief of nausea and vomiting, stimulation of hunger in chemotherapy and AIDS patients, gastrointestinal illness, and lowered intralobular eye pressure (which has been effective for treating glaucoma).

Both pro and con sides of the medical marijuana debate present compelling arguments. It is important to remember that if the legalization of medicinal marijuana does occur, it should have no bearing on the legality of recreational use (which is a fear of many opponents of medical marijuana). As recently as May of 2011, the Illinois House of Representatives failed to pass medical marijuana legislation that came up for a vote. In fact, many legal medical drugs on the market are not only illegal, but also dangerous to use recreationally. Furthermore, there is a wide variety of marijuana with different potencies and additives (over 400 other chemicals), and street marijuana for medical use carries a greater risk than marijuana cultivated specifically for medicinal treatment.

Before an informed decision can be made, it would only be wise to undertake further research. Doctors have no guidelines or standards on when to use, how to administer, and the possible side effects of medicinal marijuana. With more research comes more knowledge, and with more knowledge comes the basis to train doctors to use medical marijuana effectively, and how to draw a distinct line between medical applications of marijuana and recreational use.

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Marijuana: Facts for Teens (http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/MarijIntro.html). NIH Pub. No. 98-4037. Bethesda, MD. NIDA, NIH, DHHS. Revised March 2008. Retrieved June 2009.

2. Wikipedia