Just saw this

[drewterry]

Originally Posted by vince.cadc

The problem with marijuana or any mind and mood altering drug is not so much the physical harm but rather the psychological effects it has in long term use. After a person uses a substance like this for several weeks their brain waves start to change and this causes the person to think, act and react in slightly different ways. The "new personality" created in this way often leads the person to make different choices then they would normally. With meth use people deprive their self of sleep and loose higher brain function. People don't function well after staying awake for long periods of time. After stopping use of marijuana brain wave studies show that a persons chartings will return to previous readings after around 60 days, with meth use it can take up to 90 days or more before you begin to think and act exactly as you did before use.
I see people every day who come up with every excuse in the book to justify their drug use. The simple fact is that you don't need one. You make your choice to use because you want to get high and that's all. The sooner a person can admit that, the better off they are and they can stop hiding behind all those lame excuses. Rationalizations and justifications just allow a person to keep using and not have to face any guilt or shame about what they are doing.
I have had people tell me that "they" should be allowed to drink and drive because they drive better after a couple drinks. Can you imagine?
How would you feel if the pilot of the 747 you were on announced that this was his 16th straight flight and we will take off as soon as the co-pilot arrived with another 8-ball.

Vince.cadc (Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor)

But where do you draw the line in what you consider to be a druggy? I mean the whole population are drug addicts arent they? Aspirin, Naproxen, Pills for this pills for that. We even had drug stores that are full of drugs. So it seems kind of funny to me to single out one person or group of people based on the particular drug they are addicted to when you are over looking the fact that most everyone is addicted to one drug or another.

[drewterry]

And as for meth doctors actually prescribe that to kids who have ADHD. Are those kids then druggies because they take meth every day in pill form?

[Vince1]

Doctors do not give kids "meth" they prescribe a mixture of 4 types of amphetamine salts. I suppose the line can be seen as where actual need for a substance exists and someone just wanting to get buzzed. You see, if something like radiation treatments for cancer are needed for some people to live, they are not indicated for others. If you could "get high" on it their would be people without cancer killing their selves with radiation if they could get it for the high.
I do agree that way to many drugs are being given these days. Some people need it, others just want it.
It also has a lot to do with the abuse potential of drugs. If you can't get high on it the abuse potential is almost zero, aside from a few hypocondriacts who will take anything, buzz or not.
Why do people drink? taste? Health benefits? No, it's for the buzz only.
People always want to "feel better" and it seems that we have been shown that some substances can give this to us, even if it is temporary.
Where do we draw the line for what we are willing to suffer just to feel better for a little while. Is alcohol poisoning acceptable if you felt better for a few days? Is amphetamine psychosis okay if you have a buzz for a while?
Should I be able to shoot heroine until I weigh 90 pounds if it keeps me from feeling some pain and discomfort in my life?
Humans have always wanted to feel good, nothing new there. The problem is that life can be painful and uncomfortable at times and we don't like that. Drugs can help avoid some of this but it is not a cure. I hid from life for many years and finally decided to just face it and am better for it. 21 years of addiction to every drug made. All ending the same. Life is still what it is and at least now I can deal with it to the best of my abilities and not just get high and avoid it.
I know first hand that drug use leads to a steady increase of that drug being needed until you're using an insane amount and the effects are very obvious to everyone but the person using it.
Tolerance is also an indication of a drugs abuse potential and prescription drugs are supposed to be taken at a certain amount no matter how much you may want more. this leads a lot of people who have narcotic prescriptions to start getting more off the street to feed their increased need.
I do agree with you're point about kids on narcotics. It is a fine line indeed.

[drewterry]

Well you are now talking about abuse or over use. That threat is present with all things. Eating chocolate for example or sugar or McDonalds cheeseburgers. I mean there are a lot of addicting things in society. Personally I think the main number one drug in america is food and the preservatives they add to it. I mean as a drug and alcohol counselor you try to get people to have self control basically. But why only certain drugs? Why not counsel people who are addicted to sugar or chocolate or pharamucetical drugs etc...? The answer is because some drugs are okay while others are not and all drugs are poison and harmful. Cocoa is poison. All drugs that a doctor prescribes are poison. The list goes on and on. So again I just think its kind of amusing that only certain poisonous substances are singled out while others are considered acceptable and okay to become addicted to.

[Vince1]

Yes , but what can a person do? Those 3 or 4 triples with cheese every day can kill you but it's you right, right? All anyone can really do is offer help if a person wants it, but at the end of the day it's up to each person to make the choices that effect their lives. The world is full of poisons, whether we use it or not is up to us. Big brother will always be trying to tell us what is best but we all know that will come back to $$$ for them in the end and is also just the opinions of some. I bet there are some 4 cheeseburger eatin' officials with their hands in things too.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by drewterry

The answer is because some drugs are okay while others are not and all drugs are poison and harmful.

It's not so much that some drugs are ok, when talking about drugs with abuse potential it is if the person needs the drug or not rather than just wanting to get high.

Take opiates for example some people can take opiates for extended periods for legitimate pain reason and never get addicted to them, other people that take it for pleasure are almost certain to get addicted. Some people are unlucky in that they take opaites for a legitimate reason and get hooked but in the people that are taking it for legit reasons the rate of people that get hooked is so much smaller.

As much as we understand about the human brain im afraid what we really know only scratches the surface.

This has turned into a very interesting thread, thnx for all the replys.

[Smkr]

Overdose from Inhalation
The oral LD50 for nicotine is >5 mg/kg in dogs and >24 mg/kg in rodents. Death is due to respiratory paralysis. The oral minimum acute lethal dose for nicotine in adult humans is reported to be 40 to 60 mg (<1 mg/kg). The effects of using several cartridges in rapid succession are unknown

Also, check out the Pfizer's NICOTROL Inhailer side effects study.