Signs of Heroin Addiction

According to the survey, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, there are approximately 560,000 people who are addicted to heroin indicated (data last year). Those who are addicted is all around you whether you realize it or not. You must be aware of these users and give support to them to seek help.

Actually a lot of the signs of these users. While the most prominent is the change in their lifestyle. And these are some of them:

Performance, be it at work or at school. Is that the negligent conduct in office like his job? whether the school is always getting into trouble or a bad? When someone who is usually good to do something and then suddenly become worse, maybe it's one of the side effects of heroin abuse. They like to come in late or not come at all.

Appearance, Someone who is caught up in the abuse of heroin is no longer noticed his appearance. They so rarely shower, even to change clothes, just everything related to the appearance had not they care anymore.

Recklessness, heroin users really have no common sense anymore about what the consequences of what they do or what they will do. Stealing seems to have become a habit that can not be avoided anymore, especially for the users of the lower classes.

Anti-social, this substantial heroin users have a tendency to withdraw from the environment or from their regular activities to do and enjoy.


There are additional signs of heroin substance abuse as well:

• Runny nose or constant sniffing.
• Needle marks on arms - and even on legs.
• Speech is sometimes slurred.
• Very little motivation, and no desire to form future plans.
• Displays of hostility toward others.
• Possession of drug paraphernalia.

It should be noted that heroin users is connected with depression, delinquency, or even normal behavior. If you see three or more of the above signs may be able to immediately ask the person. Ask a slow and gentle tone. Give a little explanation to them without seeming patronizing. Encourage them to seek help.

Signs of heroin overdose

Heroin overdose is a very serious because it can cause death. If you see people who overdose seek immediate medical attention. Remember, people who overdose can not be treated at home, they had to be rushed to the hospital and treated by a professional doctor. Do not induce vomiting in the heroin overdose victim.


Here are some of the signs of heroin overdose:

• Breathing is slow and the person shows difficulty. Breathing may also be shallow.
• Pupils may become very small. This is sometimes called "pinpoint pupils." It is a very serious sign of heroin overdose.
• The tongue may be discolored.
• Mouth is very dry.
• Pulse weakens with heroin overdose, and the victim's blood pressure will drop.
• Watch for the lips and fingernails to be tinged with blue.
• Stomach spasms are a sign of heroin overdose, as is constipation.
• Muscle spasms in various parts of the body.
• Disorientation is a sign of heroin overdose. This disorientation may even heighten to delirium.
• A victim of heroin overdose may even slip into a coma.

Now you can see that heroin addiction is a very serious situation. Once again, if you see symptoms of the one you love, seek help immediately.

Cocaine Use and Its Effects

Cocaine Use and Its Effects

Cocaine -- a high-priced way of getting high -- has a mystique. Called "the caviar of street drugs," Cocaine is seen as the status-heavy drug of celebrities, fashion models, and Wall Street traders. Movies like "Blow" and books like Killing Pablosensationalize the business and use of cocaine.

The reality of cocaine hits after the high. Cocaine has powerful negative effects on the heart, brain, and emotions. Many cocaine users fall prey to addiction, with long-term and life threatening consequences. Even occasional users run the risk of sudden death with cocaine use. Read on for the not-so-glamorous truth about cocaine use and its effects.

Coca, Cocaine, and Crack

Cocaine is a purified extract from the leaves of the Erythroxylum coca bush. This plant grows in the Andes region of South America. Different chemical processes produce the two main forms of cocaine:

·         Powdered cocaine -- commonly known on the street as "coke" or "blow" -- dissolves in water. Users can snort or inject powdered cocaine.

·         Crack cocaine -- commonly known on the street as "crack" or "rock" -- is made by a chemical process that leaves it in its "freebase" form, which can be smoked.

About 14% of U.S. adults have tried cocaine. One in 40 adults has used it in the past year. Young men aged 18 to 25 are the biggest cocaine users, with 8% using it in the previous 12 months.

Cocaine: Anatomy of a High

Smoking or injecting cocaine results in nearly instantaneous effects. Rapid absorption through nasal tissues makes snorting cocaine nearly as fast-acting. Whatever the method of taking it in, cocaine quickly enters the bloodstream and travels to the brain.

Deep in the brain, cocaine interferes with the chemical messengers -- neurotransmitters -- that nerves use to communicate with each other. Cocaine blocks norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters from being reabsorbed. The resulting chemical buildup between nerves causes euphoria or feeling "high."

What's so great about being high on coke? Cocaine users often describe the euphoric feeling as:

·         an increasing sense of energy and alertness

·         an extremely elevated mood

·         a feeling of supremacy

On the other hand, some people describe other feelings tagging along with the high:

·         irritability

·         paranoia

·         restlessness

·         anxiety

Signs of using cocaine include:

·         dilated pupils

·         high levels of energy and activity

·         excited, exuberant speech

Cocaine's immediate effects wear off in 30 minutes to two hours. Smoking or injecting cocaine results in a faster and shorter high, compared to snorting coke.

Physiological Effects of Cocaine

Cocaine produces its powerful high by acting on the brain. But as cocaine travels through the blood, it affects the whole body.

Cocaine is responsible for more U.S. emergency room visits than any other illegal drug. Cocaine harms the brain, heart, blood vessels, and lungs -- and can even cause sudden death. Here's what happens in the body:

·         Heart. Cocaine is bad for the heart. Cocaine increases heart rate and blood pressure while constricting the arteries supplying blood to the heart. The result can be a heart attack, even in young people without heart disease. Cocaine can also trigger a deadly abnormal heart rhythm called arrhythmia.

·         Brain. Cocaine can constrict blood vessels in the brain, causing strokes. This can happen even in young people without other risk factors for strokes. Cocaine causes seizures and can lead to bizarre or violent behavior.

·         Lungs and respiratory system. Snorting cocaine damages the nose and sinuses. Regular use can cause nasal perforation. Smoking crack cocaine irritates the lungs and, in some people, causes permanent lung damage.

·         Gastrointestinal tract. Cocaine constricts blood vessels supplying the gut. The resulting oxygen starvation can cause ulcers, or even perforation of the stomach or intestines.

·         Kidneys. Cocaine can cause sudden, overwhelming kidney failure through a process called rhabdomyolysis. In people with high blood pressure, regular cocaine use can accelerate the long-term kidney damage caused by high blood pressure.

·         Sexual function. Although cocaine has a reputation as an aphrodisiac, it actually may make you less able to finish what you start. Chronic cocaine use can impair sexual function in men and women. In men, cocaine can cause delayed or impaired ejaculation

Are You Depress? Test Here

Depression strikes millions each year, often with debilitating consequences. This psychological disorder is so common that it is sometimes referred to as the "common cold" of mental health, with nearly 10% of the population suffering from a depressive disorder at any given time.

 Depression also has a high cure rate. Effective treatments exist to help bring people's lives back under control. Yet tragically many people suffering from this illness go without diagnosis and treatment. This depression test is a tool that may help you recognize the symptoms of depression and decide to get help. Please note that only a licensed professional can diagnose depression.

check here to make sure that you are depress or not