Youth And Addiction

The youth of any generation are the clay of which future adults emerge.
The youth today are the special ones who have the world literally in the palm of their hands. There is so much information bombardment. The minds that are already highly impressionable are spoilt for choice . There is also an excessive experimentation , use ,abuse and addiction to drugs and alcohol seen amongst them.
The incidences of dependency and addiction to substance amongst them is increasing by leaps and bounds. In India the legal age for drinking hard liquor is on an average 21-25 years.. But we see drinking beginning at as young an age as 14-15years.
Probable reasons for use
Young kids begin drinking with the intention of doing something taboo, then they discover it lowers their inhibitions and it seems to be more fun. Many times seeing their parents drinking and getting intoxicated on a regular basis makes them think this is as a norm. Family history of addictions, dysfunctional families , childhood abuse,  emotional traumas, a need to “fit in” may incline them towards using .
Effects on the Brain and Risks involved:
The brain of a human being develops till age 21years.Adolescents tend to binge drink to begin with i.e. having large quantities of alcohol in a short span of time. This results in affections of thinking , learning and memory as the hippocampus[ the region that is responsible for this] gets damaged.. The pre-frontal lobe of the brain gets damaged affecting the abilities of planning, reasoning , decision making and impulse control.
Risk behaviors increase in the form of being promiscuous and have unsafe , unprotected sex, fights, violent crimes, homicides, suicides, accidents due to DUI etc. Sexual assaults and date rapes increase. Grades are affected.
The patterns of drug consumption have also changed. Alcohol  intake is not to savor the taste but to to get completely “wasted” . Marijuana today is no longer just “ a herb” but comes in very potent forms and adulterated with chemicals too. We have treated too many young people with addiction to only marijuana and have their lives wasted by dropping off studies and being non productive.
Marijuana gets one acquainted with dealers and users who deal in other drugs, thus it becomes  a “gateway” for further use. A naturally curious adolescent and young mind craving for new experiences does not even realize before it is engaged and engulfed in usage of drugs that are  addictive even on single use.
Today heroin is laced wth fentanyl, Nbome is sold as LSD, mefedrone as cocaine etc and these are extremely addictive and potentially very fatal.
The young of today are thus looking fro answers  in drugs/alcohol , fanaticism  etc… the world gets more virtual and real time communication with family diminishes . A grounding within themselves is lost. This intelligence, curiosity and drive if it can be channelized through meditative practices inwards, then there can be tremendous progress in every sphere in life, physical, mental and spiritual and the world can progress. Else it is going to be a zombie world where a substance  is taken for everything from waking up[coffee], to work, to stay alert [adderal] , to stay calm[alprazolam] to sleep [alcohol,valium] and would be apocalyptic.
We at AH look at helping our young clients to be self sufficient pro-life individuals who do not find the need to use drugs/alcohol through our Alternate Life therapy program involving meditation, introspection and counseling.

http://anatta.in/youth-and-addiction/

CRYSTAL METH

Ice, glass, speed, hot ice, quartz, blade,cristy, batu crank,chalk… heard of these names ? they are all street names for Methamphetamine/ crystal meth .
Methamphetamine  is an old drug which has come back with a bang with easier methods of manufacture.

History
It was first manufactured in Germany in 1888. During the second world war it was discovered that the crystalline from was water soluble to make it injectable. it was given to soldiers on both sides of the war to stay awake ad focused. Large quantities were given by the Japanese to their Kamikaze soldiers before their suicide bombing missions. In the 1950s it was used to treat depression and as an aid to dieting as it kills the appetite ; students began using it to focus on studies and by the 1960s easy availability of the injectable form then made the abuse more rampant and has reached alarming proportions globally. in 1970 US declared it an illegal substance. in the 1990s the Mexican mafia established huge meth labs in California then spread to Europe and across the world.

In India crystal meth has entered the drug scene since 2years and addictions to it has increased by leaps and bounds.In Asia it is now produced mainly in Thailand, China and Myanmar.

Crystal methamphetamine is methamphetamine in a crystalline form . It is consumed orally , or as an injectable drug or chased.

It is highly addictive in nature probably from the very first use  and has become a cheap substitute to cocaine.
Long term use and addictive use results in several changes physically and psychologically.
Physically
Acute effects
It gives a rush a strong sense of happiness euphoria  confidence hyperactivity and energy. The effects last for 6-8 hours Upto 24hours
The physical effects of methamphetamine can include loss of appetite, hyperactivity, dilated pupils, excessive sweating, restlessness, dry mouth and teeth grinding (leading to "meth mouth"), headache, irregular heartbeat, rapid breathing, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, high body temperature, diarrhea, constipation, blurred vision, dizziness, twitching, numbness, tremors, dry skin, acne, and pale appearance.
Chronic physical effects
Premature aging , wrinkles, skin ulcers, tooth and gum decay ,  alopecia areata , rapid weight loss, insomnia, brain damage, stroke, heart ailments, chronic fatigue, muscle wasting , it is toxic to the nerves, sensations as if something is biting from within, crawling under the skin resulting in picking of skin  etc.

Psychological effects
Acute - paranoia, aggression, suicidal thoughts and ideations, hallucinations , increased libido resulting in risky sexual behaviors resulting in sexually transmitted diseases and HIV , obsessive behaviors, restlessness,methamphetamine psychosis etc.

We at Anatta have had consecutive crystal meth users coming into treatment in the past several months from the younger age group of early 20s . For us that is a very sombre indication that  addiction to this drug is on the rise and also in combination with alcohol at times with other drugs. Some users drink alcohol to cut the high of meth but due to the  euphoria of meth the alcohol consumed is much more in quantity and the polydrug addiction makes things worse.
Internationally it is known as a very difficult addiction to treat.
The treatment of meth addicts takes longer , the detoxification period is longer due to the severe physical and psychological withdrawals. Following that the emotional swings the person undergoes takes longer to settle down. we have however found meditation to be a fantastic tool along with counseling and homoeopathic medications to enable a faster healing  process.

There is a solution available and that is Anatta Humanversity. It is an alcohol rehab as well as a rehab for drug. Take help of this addiction treatment center and get treated quickly. Now help is only a phone call away.

INHALANT ABUSE

Ever seen a kid sniffing something from a pouch or a cloth on railway stations? Seen a school kid’s white ink getting over sooner than it has been bought? Office supplies ordered more than required especially cleaning fluids, glue etc? Most likely you are looking at an addiction to inhalants.
Inhalants are drugs that are rarely taken via any other route of administration though there are other illicit drugs that can be inhaled too. The term of usage is called “huffing.”
Products Abused as Inhalants
Volatile solvents—liquids that vaporize at room temperature
Industrial or household products, including paint thinners or removers, degreasers, dry-cleaning fluids, gasoline, and lighter fluid
Art or office supply solvents, including correction fluids, felt-tip marker fluid, electronic contact cleaners, and glue
Aerosols—sprays that contain propellants and solvents
Household aerosol propellants in items such as spray paints, hair or deodorant sprays, fabric protector sprays, aerosol computer cleaning products, and vegetable oil sprays
Gases—found in household or commercial products and used as medical anesthetics
Household or commercial products, including butane lighters and propane tanks, whipped cream aerosols or dispensers (whippets), and refrigerant gases
Medical aesthetics, such as ether, chloroform, halothane, and nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”)
Nitrites—used primarily as sexual enhancers
Organic nitrites are volatiles that include cyclohexyl, butyl, and amyl nitrites, commonly known as “poppers.” Amyl nitrite is still used in certain diagnostic medical procedures. When marketed for illicit use, organic nitrites are often sold in small brown bottles labelled as “video head cleaner,” “room odorizer,” “leather cleaner,” or “liquid aroma.”
These products are not considered as drugs of abuse but have been found to be so more so in young children than older teens or adults.
Methods of usage
Abusers of inhalants breathe them in through the nose or mouth in a variety of ways (known as “huffing”). They may sniff or snort fumes from a container or dispenser (such as a glue bottle or a marking pen or white ink), spray aerosols (such as computer cleaning dusters) directly into their nose or mouth, or place a chemical-soaked rag in their mouth. Abusers may also inhale fumes from a balloon or a plastic or paper bag. Although the high produced by inhalants usually lasts just a few minutes, abusers often try to prolong it by continuing to inhale repeatedly over several hours.
Effects on Brain and Body of Inhalant abuse
Repeated abuse of inhalants are addictive.
Inhalant effects are similar to that of alcohol- slurred speech, lack of coordination, dizziness , euphoria etc..  They can also experience hallucinations and delusions.  They may feel loss of control of self with light headedness and a lingering headache
Breathing difficulties also occur with at times stoppage of breath. There can be abdominal discomfort , nausea, ulcers, vomiting and vomiting of blood. Irregular heart beats might occur. Nervous system damage happens in the form of affection of sensations, muscle power and coordination, degeneration of brain function and capacity. Liver functions are also affected.
Inhalant abuse and addiction in India is becoming more prevalent amongst urban street children, especially addiction to cobbler’s glue, petrol fumes etc Even the well heeled school children are getting addicted to white ink, glue etc.  I have seen children afflicted with tremors, in coordination, confusion with difficulty to function psychologically or their capacity etc.
We at Anatta provide the right environs for growth , healing and a return to a regular vibrant life. We are the best alcohol rehab centres and drug addiction treatment centres in India.So take advantage of the most convenient and luxurious rehab centre in India.