ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES AND HEART ATTACK
Despite the fact that many people believe electronic cigarettes are a safe alternative to the traditional kind – and manufacturers encourage this idea – they can actually have some serious side effects. In addition to the variety of toxic and cancer-causing chemicals, the fact that e-cigarettes sometimes explode, and the potential for poisoning, researchers have […]
HEAT NOT BURN CIGARETTES
Electronic cigarettes, herbal cigarettes, vaping – people will try anything marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes if it means they don’t have to give up the habit completely. Despite the fact that none of these alternatives are completely safe, products continue to appear on the market. One recent addition to the playing field […]
MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION
An increasing number of states are decriminalizing the use of marijuana, both medically and recreationally. Recently, Canada became only the second country in the world – following Uruguay – to implement legislation to create a nationwide marijuana market. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited a desire to keep marijuana away from teens and reduce drug-related crime […]
THE DANGERS OF HOOKAH SMOKING
Many people are under the impression – thanks largely to inaccurate advertising – that hookahs are safer to smoke than cigarettes. The truth is that not only are they not a safer alternative, they pose a variety of health risks in themselves, including cancer, respiratory problems, and cardiac issues. Hookahs are water pipes that are […]
THE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA
Many people view marijuana, also known as cannabis, as a relatively safe drug, or one that can be used for casual recreation like alcohol. Keep in mind, however, even if you are using it legally, marijuana can become addictive. Studies suggest that 9 percent of people who use marijuana will become dependent on it, jumping […]
SMOKING AND WEIGHT
Smoking has long been associated with a trim body. Take a moment and picture Marlene Dietrich, (a young) Marlon Brando, James Dean, or Audrey Hepburn. Odds are you just imagined someone svelte and glamorous, lounging insolently while puffing on a cigarette. In the early days of Hollywood, everyone smoked, and everyone was beautiful. Even today, […]
DRUG-SNIFFING DOGS
Sniffer dogs, also called detection dogs, are trained to recognize the smell of certain substances, such as explosives, blood, electronics, and illegal drugs. Although any dog can be trained, those with a particularly good sense of smell include retrievers, German shepherds, and beagles. The dog is given a toy, which it will eventually learn to […]
CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS
Among the many reasons that people start abusing drugs or alcohol, mental health issues are one of the most common. Many people begin using in the first place in an attempt to self-medicate or drown out their feelings. People who have both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder are said to have […]
CAN TEENAGERS BE SCARED STRAIGHT?
There’s a popular television show distributed by the A&E network called Beyond Scared Straight. In it, teenagers spend a day in prison to see what everyday life is like for prisoners and to understand the many dangers, such as violence and sexual assault. The idea is that by seeing how terrible prison is, teens will […]
ARE YOU SELF-MEDICATING?
There are plenty of people who become addicted to prescription medications after first using them properly, and still more who used drugs or alcohol for the first time recreationally. Some people, however, first start using drugs or alcohol in order to cope with trauma, pain, or mental illness. This is called self-medicating, and it usually […]
