An editorial in the New York Times revealed troubling news on drug abuse treatment in America. The editorial cited data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that stated 2,355 young adults between the ages of 15 and 24 died in 2005 from poisoning and drug overdoses. That is more than double the number of similar deaths reported in 1999. They also found research by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that said less than 10 percent of teens suffering from drug addiction receive the treatment they need. The editor reveals federal funding for state drug treatment facilities and programs are not required to spend any given amount of the money on teens or young adults.

Adding insult to injury, some states are even cutting funding for drug related prevention and treatment programs. In a letter to the editor, Victor A. Capoccia responds and expresses some concern about the reduced funding for substance abuse treatment programs: “. . . cuts like these mean that thousands more adolescents will have no place to go for treatment.” If more young adults are dying from addiction and less funding is available to treat them, how can we hope to resolve such a serious problem?

A child’s introduction to drugs will sometimes be a story of being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people. For other kids, interactions with illegal drugs are a part of their environment – whether it comes from their parents, other family members, neighbors, local gangs, or peers at school. Once trapped in the vicious cycle of drug abuse, it’s a real challenge for addicts to get out. Drugs cost a great deal of money and selling drugs makes a great deal of money. A struggling economy can make turning down dealing even harder for some – this is especially true if allowances are cut or if young adults cannot find jobs.

Peer pressure, from gangs, friends or classmates is probably one of the strongest factors in substance abuse and drug trafficking at a young age. KSL TV ran a news report about Ramon Cairo, now 25, who ended up in a gang at the age of 10 and sold drugs growing up in Santa Rosa. Cairo became a success story against drugs and gangs for the area. He wanted to make a change in his life and a city-sponsored program gave him the opportunity to change his ways, become educated and start a career. It just goes to show the power of public prevention and intervention programs designed to stamp out gangs and drugs, replacing them with more positive alternatives. Some of the programs implemented by the city include a service animal training program and martial arts for the youth.

Alcoholism has affected yet another young adult Hollywood star. Shia LaBeouf’s future as an actor has been looking bright until now. Success from last year’s blockbuster Transformers and working opposite Harrison Ford in the franchise revival flick, Indiana Jones: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull has brought the young actor nothing but praise. Filming for Transformers 2 is underway, but LaBeouf had to undergo hand surgery after a car accident. He was driving drunk at the time. There is no official word yet regarding how long, if at all, his surgery will delay filming.

New evidence reported by the L.A. Times suggests that LaBeouf may not have caused the accident itself, but there is no question he was seriously intoxicated. Unfortunately, his substance abuse began at home. It’s difficult for young adults who have a parent or parents who use drugs or have an alcohol addiction. In LaBeouf’s case, in an interview that appears in the September issue of Details magazine he reveals that together him and his father “would drink together and smoke together, and it’s just a bad deal."

It takes a lot of hard work to achieve success and critical acclaim as an actor. It’s a real shame to risk it all due to problems with alcohol and drinking. LaBeouf is aware of his alcohol addiction. In the same Details interview he openly states: “I don’t know how to have one drink.” Do you think his Transformers co-stars should step in with an alcohol intervention?

Hopefully as he recovers from surgery he will also have some time to think about alcohol abuse treatment or an alcohol rehab program.

A new study found that the percentage of people that died after ingesting prescription medications, alcohol and street drugs increased by more than 3000% during the past 2 decades. One theory is that hospital stays are shorter now and patients take too much to control the pain. Clinical oversight is also to blame. There is a greater number of outpatient procedures performed with more drugs being prescribed and fewer follow ups. Painkillers and antidepressants can be found on the streets, which increases the opportunity for mistakes and misuse. These findings are a clear indicator of the harmful effects of using and mixing drugs. In fact, the study found that since 1983, over 50 million people have died as a result.

There is a lot of controversy over whether drugs should be legalized or not. Current federal laws prohibit the use, possession, and trafficking of numerous drugs, including marijuana. However, recently some states have passed laws or are considering passing laws that would legalize marijuana for medical use. 

While illegal drugs may yield some medical benefits for certain patients, there are a lot of other factors to consider. Most illegal drugs are illegal due to their severe side effects to the body. Generally they are documented to cause brain damage, heart problems, and other physical and mental diseases. Many of these drugs are also known to cause addictions, as well. Doctors would have to determine if using the drug would be more beneficial than other known side effects.

Another factor to consider is that currently prescription drugs have become a rampant source of substance abuse. As the New York Times recently exposed, more people in the state of Florida die from prescription drug abuse than illegal drug abuse.  From this we can see that in our current system, legalization of a drug does not take away its dangers or make it more controlled. Increased access to the drugs makes it easier for people to abuse them. Until the problems with prescription drug abuse are resolved, adding the current illegal drugs to the mix would be like putting more fuel on a raging fire.

It is important for these issues to be resolved before we can even consider the legal applications of currently illegal drugs to persons with serious medical conditions. With all of the serious illnesses in the world today, we should continue pushing for new alternatives in medicine. Discovering safer, more effective medications would help remove the need for drugs with dangerous, life-threatening side effects.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid’s son, Garrett, was sentenced to drug rehab for 2 years. Garrett Reid was serving time in jail due to an auto accident that occurred when he was on heroin. He was surrendering himself on the charges related to the crash and tried to smuggle 89 prescription pills inside his rectum. Because of this, a judge sentenced him to 2 years in drug rehab. Part of that time, about seven months, will be spent in jail. Following the jail time, Garrett Reid will be involved in a program that may include halfway houses, private facilities and possibly staying at private residences.  Reid will also be on probation for 3 years once he completes the program and subject to random drug tests. If he does not complete the program, Garrett Reid will have to face the judge again who will decide if Garrett will go to prison for two years. Judge Steven O’Neill told Garrett Reid, “You are an addict. The intention is to get this young man treatment. His addiction is deep, long-lasting and he is in need of treatment.”

The New York Times recently ran an article that recaps drug abuse and addiction and it serves as a great refresher for parents, teachers or anyone that knows someone using drugs or alcohol. It begins by defining drug abuse and drug addiction–these both have different meanings and are used incorrectly quite often. It also explains that addiction is usually the result of several factors. Those factors include but are not limited to using drugs to control pain,  the person’s genes, the action of the drug, peer pressure, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and environmental stress all can be factors.

It’s important to refresh our knowledge about abuse and addiction by reading articles like this. It helps to make you more aware of what loved ones are doing and it reminds you of any signs you may have forgotten.

An Inotropic drug influences the force of the contraction of the cardiac muscle, or heart, thereby affecting cardiac output. In other words, it’s a drug that if it works positively will increase the strength and force of the heart. This type of drug is often used in the management of various cardiovascular conditions. It is not a drug that is generally abused because it will not get a person “high” or even a bit fuzzy. If it were to be abuse, the effects on the heart would not be good. The heart would pump with too much force and it would likely cause cardiac arrest or any of the other heart conditions associated with access stress.

If you, or someone you care about, are seeking drug rehab then you are already well on your way to a brighter future. When looking at drug rehabilitation centers or other drug rehab programs, don’t be surprised that there are admission requirements. But don’t think that the admission process is out to stop people from getting help – that’s not true at all. Treatment for addictions and substance abuse is a highly personalized process. To help everyone succeed it is important for the professionals to know why you are there and what kind of mental and physical condition you are in.

Each drug rehab center and program is different, but most will want to know what the person is suffering from – whether it’s alcohol and drug addiction or substance abuse. They will also need to evaluate your physical condition. Any recent physical exam that has been completed by a doctor will be valuable to them, but many rehab programs do their own exams as well. Persons with complex psychological problems or physical handicaps may need to find specialized rehab programs. Some centers perform on-site detox, but not all do. It’s important to find out if you need detoxification and if that is something the rehab will provide.

Some rehab facilities may require that you know how to speak English well and have a social security number, and there may be different programs for people of different ages.

The most important requirement for admission into a drug rehab program is an open-mind and willingness to complete the program. The person seeking help can only be successful and change their life if they want to.

According to USA Today, a video game in development for the Wii console is causing some controversy. The game is called “Beer Pong” and it mimics a college drinking game growing in popularity. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) gave the game a T-Rating, saying it was suitable for those aged 13 and up. According to the article, the game’s creators are now removing references to alcohol and changing its name to “Pong Toss.”

Connecticut’s Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal raised concerns about the inappropriate rating for the game’s original content and marketing alcohol to teenagers. In a special interview, Fox News spoke with Blumenthal and a representative from the game’s developer, JV Games. It’s interesting to see the different viewpoints side by side and to see how receptive JV Games was toward changing the game’s content.

Should game developers make games with significant drug and/or alcohol content? How do you think the ESRB should treat games with drug and alcohol content?