Crack Cocaine Help 247

Maricopa Cocaine Addiction - Psychologist Argues Against 12-Step Model

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:19:00 +0000

Maricopa Cocaine Addiction - About 93% of addiction treatment facilities in the United States are based on the 12-step program or incorporate 12-step theory into their treatment.

Similarly, almost 100% of treatment facilities endorse abstinence only as their treatment goal. However, one psychologist, Dr. Stanton Peele, disagrees with both of these traditions.

Specifically, Dr. Peele believes abstinence-only treatment programs are simply not viable or effective for recreational cocaine, alcohol, and other drug users. These occasional users are often sent to treatment on court mandates, and the treatment ends up backfiring.

Dr. Peele argues that it is not productive to tell addicts or occasional users that they are "powerless" over their addictions. He believes that doing so only gives addicts an excuse to go on out-of-control binges when they relapse.

Surprise Cocaine Addiction - Judiciary Committee Approves Cocaine Sentencing Bill

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:16:00 +0000

Surprise Cocaine Addiction - The House Judiciary Committee recently approved a bill that will balance the stiff penalties for crack cocaine with the much less harsh penalties for powder cocaine.

The bill, called the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act, was introduced by Representative Bobby Scott of Virginia. President Obama has repeatedly voiced his support of such a bill.

The bill will now be put to a vote in the House of Representatives. If passed, the bill would reduce the amount of powder cocaine necessary to warrant a five-year mandatory sentence.

"For 20 years, the disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentencing has been a blight on our justice system," a representative for the ACLU explained in a statement. "This historic legislation is long overdue."

Avondale Cocaine Addiction - Venezuela Cocaine Trafficking to U.S. Increasing

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:45:00 +0000

Avondale Cocaine Addiction - Governmental and military corruption in Venezuela are helping cocaine trafficking into the U.S. flourish according to a new United States congressional report.

The report indicated that the amount of cocaine imported from Venezuela quadrupled from 2004-2007. President Hugo Chavez dismissed the report as a "new lie" from the United States.

The corruption in Venezuelan government enables rebel groups to profit from exporting drugs over the country's borders. The U.S. is worried that cocaine will proliferate if Venezuelan cartels are not reined in.

Allegedly, members of the Venezuelan government are taking bribes to allow drug lords to export cocaine to the U.S. Drug enforcement agencies have had a tense relationship with Venezuela since Chavez accused them of spying several years ago.

Buckeye Cocaine Addiction - Tennis Player Beats Cocaine Charges with Kiss Defense

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:46:00 +0000

Buckeye Cocaine Addiction - Tennis player Richard Gasquet has beaten charges of cocaine use by claiming that he ingested trace amounts of the drug by kissing a woman in a bar.

An independent anti-doping tribunal convened to hear Gasquet's defense, argued by his three attorneys. The tribunal bought the story and lifted Gasquet's suspension that was issued in March.

According to Gasquet's lawyers, the tennis player kissed a woman who had done lines of cocaine in the bathroom prior to kissing him. They claim the drug entered his bloodstream through her saliva, which is why he tested positive the next day.

The woman he kissed, however, claims she did not do cocaine the night she saw Gasquet. She also alleges that she only gave him a kiss on the cheek that night.

Chandler Cocaine Addiction - Treating Cocaine Addicts Successfully

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:05:00 +0000

Chandler Cocaine Addiction - The end goal of any drug treatment is to help the addict abstain from using permanently. However, in the short run, the goals of treatment may be less lofty.

For example, the short-term goals of treatment may be to help the person reduce his/her use, function better socially and occupationally, and minimize the medical consequences of the drug use.

For cocaine addicts, there isn't just one effective treatment; the success of the treatment method will depend on the individual. Studies have shown everything from prescription medication to cognitive-behavioral therapy to be effective with cocaine addicts.

The secret to successful treatment, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, is treating all of the individual's needs, not just the addiction. Additionally, the treatment must be flexible and change with the individual's evolving needs.

Scottsdale Cocaine Addiction - Paper Currency Usually Has Traces of Cocaine

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:20:00 +0000

Scottsdale Cocaine Addiction - Whether you know it or not, you're probably carrying around at least trace amounts of cocaine in your purse or wallet.

According to a new Spanish study, paper currency from around the world is often contaminated with the drug cocaine. Bills in the United States had an average of 28.8 micrograms of cocaine, while some country's bills had as much as 1,300 micrograms.

Of the European countries, Spain's money is the most cocaine-contaminated. Ireland had the least-contaminated currency in Europe.

"These findings should not be surprising, because cocaine and other drugs are traded using cash, which is handled by the same fingers that directly touch the drugs or wrappings," explained the author of the study.

Glendale Cocaine Addiction - Attorney General Continues Push for Cocaine Sentencing Reform

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:49:00 +0000

Glendale Cocaine Addiction - In keeping with President Obama's agenda, the Attorney General has continued his campaign for reform of cocaine sentencing disparities.

Attorney General Eric Holder asked for crack cocaine sentencing reform on Wednesday. Holder wishes to see more consistent sentences between the crack and powder forms of the drug.

Speaking at Harvard Law School, the Attorney General called the discrepancies in sentencing for different types of the drug unwarranted. He asked for the Department of Justice's cooperation in the matter.

Currently, sentences are much harsher on offenders caught using and selling crack rather than powder cocaine. Some social justice advocates claim that the sentencing disparity harms the African-American community.

Gilbert Cocaine Addiction - Border Patrol Seizes 37 Pounds of Cocaine

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:34:00 +0000

Gilbert Cocaine Addiction - Earlier this week during morning rush hour, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 37 lbs. of cocaine.

The cocaine was valued at $371,000. The drugs were hidden in the dashboard of a car in a secret compartment.

The vehicle was a 2008 Jeep Patriot. A 19-year-old man was driving the vehicle when the drugs were found on June 10.

Officers became suspicious when a drug-sniffing dog alerted to the car's dashboard. The officers later inspected the vehicle with a gamma ray scan and found irregularities in the car's firewall.

Mesa Cocaine Addiction - Cocaine Affects Brain Neurons

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:20:00 +0000

Mesa Cocaine Addiction - Studies that were presented at the annual meeting for the Society for Neuroscience suggested that neurons in all areas of the brain are affected by cocaine use.

Cocaine damaged the function of these neurons in multiple areas of the brain, but especially the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex helps with risk evaluation and controlling impulses.

The addicts in the study showed several deficits as a result of this neuron damage. Specifically, many addicts in the study could not assign values to various amounts of money.

The researchers hypothesized that these findings may explain why monetary consequences don't motivate addicts to change. Researchers also believe that some of the damage found in the study could persist after the user quits.

Tempe Cocaine Addiction - Heroin Addiction Treatment Also Works on Cocaine Addicts

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:17:00 +0000

A new Canadian study suggests that methadone, a pharmacological treatment for heroin addiction, may also work on cocaine addicts. The psychologist who authored the study performed experiments with cocaine and heroin on rats.

The researcher created rats addicted to cocaine and then treated the animals with methadone. The study indicates that the rats responded positively to the methadone treatment.

Reportedly, the methadone-treated rats lost their urge for cocaine. In essence, their brains had reprogrammed themselves to the point where they were before cocaine was introduced to them.

"It can be done tomorrow with humans, and should be done tomorrow," Francesco Leri, the study's author, said.

Phoenix Cocaine Addiction - Traces of Cocaine Found in Red Bull

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Sat, 30 May 2009 14:28:00 +0000

Phoenix Cocaine Addiction - The maker of the Red Bull energy drink, GmbH, is under fire after traces of cocaine were found in the soft drink in Germany.

After authorities found trace amounts of cocaine in the drink, they started pulling Red Bull Simply Cola off of shelves. A study by German state Northrhine Westfalia was released on May 19 and confirmed that the cola contained small amounts of cocaine.

The amounts found in the soda were too small to be addictive or harmful. However, the amounts were enough to qualify Red Bull as a hypercaffeinated beverage and a narcotic as defined by German law.

Red Bull isn't the first soft-drink maker to use coca to flavor its drinks. Infamously, Coca Cola did the same thing in the early 1900s until the practice was outlawed in the U.S.

Arizona Cocaine Addiction - Cocaine Addicts Show Disconnect Between Behavior and Brain

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:31:00 +0000

Arizona Cocaine Addiction - The portions of the brain responsible for monitoring emotions and behaviors display different activity levels in cocaine users compared to non-drug users.

These results were discovered by the Brookhaven Institute by using brain-imaging technology. The existence of these impairments in the brain may explain vulnerability to addiction.

Researchers theorize that treatments geared at correcting these impaired functions may help cocaine addicts resist the drug. They are unsure whether the impairments are an antecedent or a consequence of drug use.

According to psychologist Rita Goldstein, the study found "dramatic differences in the brain regions that play a very significant role in the ability to monitor behavior and regulate emotion, which are both important to resisting drug use."

Apache Junction Cocaine Abuse - Brain Perceives Cocaine as Reward

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Thu, 21 May 2009 04:28:00 +0000

Apache Junction Cocaine Abuse - A study conducted by the Montreal Neurological Institute has confirmed a link between cocaine use and the brain's reward circuits. The risk of addiction was also associated with the reward mechanisms of the brain.

The study showed that snorting cocaine resulted in large levels of dopamine in an area of the brain called the striatum. Dopamine plays a pivotal role in the brain's reaction to reward and addictive chemicals.

Researchers measured the dopamine levels of research subjects by performing PET scans. The brains of the participants were scanned before and after they sniffed cocaine.

Interestingly, the subjects who had had more exposure to cocaine in the past showed a stronger response to the drug upon inhalation. Researchers hypothesize that this learned response plays a role in the development of addiction.

Maricopa Cocaine Abuse - Torture Common in Drug-Related Kidnappings

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Wed, 20 May 2009 02:48:00 +0000

Maricopa Cocaine Abuse - In Phoenix, drug-related kidnappings happen frequently. Sadly, gruesome torture is a hallmark of these kidnappings.

Drug kidnappings commonly take place among cocaine and other drug traffickers trying to get back at one another. Usually, the kidnappers hold a drug trafficker for a ransom of either money, drugs, or both.

One particularly horrifying kidnapping case involved Jaime Andrade, a cocaine smuggler. Jaime was kidnapped from his Phoenix home, held in a closet for days without food or water, and tortured brutally.

The kidnappers beat and threatened his family until they delivered the requested ransom. Phoenix police say the kidnappings are growing increasingly violent and have become more common in recent years.

Surprise Cocaine Abuse - Cocaine-Related Genes Increase Addiction's Behavioral Effects

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:40:00 +0000

Surprise Cocaine Abuse - New research published in the journal Neuron illustrates how cocaine abuse affects the expression of genes. According to the study, cocaine affects gene expression in the area of the brain responsible for reward and pleasure.

The drug's impact on gene expression causes it to have a powerful effect on behavior. The altered gene expression is most prominent in the nucleus accumbens of the brain.

"Although we have known for some time that changes in gene expression contribute to the long-lasting regulation of the brain's reward circuitry that is seen during drug addiction, how those specific genes are regulated is not well understood," commented research author Dr. Eric J. Nestler.

The study's findings are expected to advance the treatment of cocaine addiction. Scientists will try to focus treatments on medications that target gene expression.

Avondale Cocaine Abuse - Online Self-Test for Cocaine Addiction

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:38:00 +0000

Avondale Cocaine Abuse - If you suspect you might be addicted to cocaine, you can take a self-test online to find out if you meet the criteria for addiction.

Cocaine Anonymous has one of the best self-tests online. You can find the test at CA.org/literature/selftest.htm.

The test consists of 24 yes/no questions. For example, one of the questions asks if you've ever used more cocaine than you originally planned.

At the end of the test, Cocaine Anonymous will explain your results. If you answer "yes" to most questions, you will likely be classified as an addict.

Buckeye Cocaine Abuse - Cocaine Use Causes Long-Term Depression

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Fri, 08 May 2009 23:33:00 +0000

Buckeye Cocaine Abuse - A new study by a Stanford University professor suggests that cocaine addiction causes long-term depression in certain areas of the brain.

The study found that the administration of cocaine caused long-lasting depression in the nucleus accumbens of the brain. The nucleus accumbens is known as the brain's "pleasure center."

This area of the brain is thought to play a central role in signaling good feelings and rewards. In former cocaine users, this region showed decreased synaptic transmission, or poor functioning.

The lasting damage cocaine apparently does to the nucleus accumbens may help explain the phenomenon of addiction. When recovering users experience this depression, they may relapse and initiate the cycle of addiction once again.

Chandler Cocaine Abuse - Cocaine's Effects on Brain Metabolism

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:50:00 +0000

Chandler Cocaine Abuse - Cocaine's impact on the metabolism of the brain may explain why it has such high potential for abuse, according to a recent study conducted at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Prior to this study, research on cocaine's neurological effects has focused on dopamine transporters in the brain. However, the Brookhaven study found that cocaine affects the brain's metabolism even when dopamine transporters are absent.

In the study, the researchers monitored brain metabolism after cocaine administration in rats with and without dopamine transporters. For both groups, cocaine significantly decreased brain metabolism.

Researchers believe that these metabolic effects may play a strong role in the use of and addiction to cocaine. Scientists believe that correcting these effects may help treat cocaine addiction.

Scottsdale Cocaine Abuse - Why Teens Get Hooked on Cocaine More Easily

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Sun, 03 May 2009 21:06:00 +0000

Scottsdale Cocaine Abuse - New research with rats may explain why teenagers get hooked on cocaine more readily than adults. In a recent study, adolescent rats demonstrated a heightened sensitivity to cocaine-related cues than adult rats.

When given cocaine, adolescent rats more strongly preferred the place where they obtained the drugs compared with adult rats. This learned association persisted even after researchers broke the cocaine-linked preference.

The findings confirm real-world evidence that teens are more likely to become addicted than adults. Researchers suspect that dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with cocaine abuse, sends more powerful messages in adolescent brains.

The study was conducted by Harvard Medical School. The research was reported in the journal of Behavioral Neuroscience.

Glendale Cocaine Abuse - President Obama Seeks to End Crack/Cocaine Sentence Disparity

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Fri, 01 May 2009 02:47:00 +0000

Glendale Cocaine Abuse - President Obama has asked Congress to revisit the existing sentencing disparity between cocaine powder and crack cocaine. The current law provides much stiffer penalties for those who abuse and sell crack cocaine.

The existing sentencing disparity was created by the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act. Under current law, someone caught selling 5 grams of crack cocaine would receive a mandatory minimum sentence of five years.

By contrast, someone would have to sell 500 grams of powder cocaine to receive the same sentence. Experts believe the existing laws unfairly discrimnate against the poor and African-Americans, who tend to use crack cocaine over the powder form.

President Obama has asked Congress to raise the amount of crack cocaine necessary to trigger a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. He is supported by over a dozen advocacy groups who have also petitioned Congress.

Gilbert Cocaine Abuse - Brief History of Cocaine

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:31:00 +0000

Gilbert Cocaine Abuse - In the late 1800s, cocaine was isolated from the leaf of the coca plant. Soon after, cocaine became a popular ingredient in certain medications and products.

After concern grew over cases of addiction, death, and psychosis in users of the substance, the Pure Food & Drug Act of 1906 was passed to help combat some of these problems. Eventually, the 1914 Harrison Act outlawed the over-the-counter use of cocaine and opiates.

Cocaine's popularity immediately diminished, though doctors continued to use it as a local anesthetic. By the 1960s, however, cocaine had reemerged as a wildly popular drug of abuse.

Today, cocaine sells for about $100 per gram and remains popular with middle- and upper-class drug users. Additionally, cocaine is one of the most commonly implicated drugs in emergency room visits.

Mesa Cocaine Abuse - Facts about Methods of Use

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:33:00 +0000

Mesa Cocaine Abuse - Cocaine comes in two forms: freebase and hydrochloride salt. The salt form is soluble in water.

Addicts who inject the drug dissolve the salt form of cocaine in water and then inject it into their veins. This method is called "slamming" or "mainlining" cocaine.

The freebase form of cocaine, called crack, is smoked in a pipe. Smoking crack cocaine results in the rapid absorption of the drug into the bloodstream, causing an intense and short-lived high.

Cocaine may also be taken intranasally by snorting the powder. Users who snort the drug usually experience a slower and longer-lasting high than those who smoke or inject the drug.

Tempe Cocaine Abuse - Wealthy Cocaine Addict Believed Sexual Assault Victim Was a Spy

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:51:00 +0000

Tempe Cocaine Abuse - Wealthy entrepreneur and cocaine addict David Atherton sexually assaulted and attempted to rape a woman because he believed she was a spy for the police. Atherton is now on trial for his crimes.

After years of heavy cocaine use, Atherton had become violently paranoid. He believed that secret passages existed in the walls of his home and that his victim, a mother of two, was sent by the authorities.

"As his addiction increased, so did his paranoia," prosecutor James Goss explained in court. "He believed that the woman was working for the 'bent police'."

The attack on the woman was captured on Atherton's home security cameras. Atherton assaulted the woman and then allegedly threatened to drown her in his swimming pool.

Phoenix Cocaine Abuse - Scientists Discover New Way to Combat Cocaine Dependence

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:10:00 +0000

Phoenix Cocaine Abuse - Pharmacological scientists may have found a new way to battle cocaine addiction.

A new study out of UC Irvine reports that when a hormone associated with hunger regulation is blocked, cocaine cravings are also reduced. The findings of the research could mean a new and effective method of treating cocaine dependence.

The hormone, called melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), works with dopamine in the pleasure center of the brain to induce cocaine cravings. When researchers blocked MCH, cravings were limited.

"We believe that efforts to target MCH may lead to new treatments to break addiction to cocaine and, possibly, other drugs, like amphetamines and nicotine," explained Dr. Olivier Civelli, a professor of neuropharmacology.

Arizona Cocaine Abuse - Signs of Cocaine Addiction

noreply@blogger.com (SJennings) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:05:00 +0000

Arizona Cocaine Abuse - Learning how to spot the symptoms of cocaine addiction can help you get a loved one help before it's too late. This post will explain several of the most common signs of cocaine abuse.

Cocaine users often manifest extreme mood swings. Addicts may vacillate between manic euphoria and despondency.

In addition, addicts will usually experience drastic weight loss and may also have frequent nosebleeds. Red eyes and incessant sniffing are also signs of cocaine abuse.

When high, cocaine users may sweat excessively and have very dilated pupils. They may also have sores on their skin from picking at hallucinated bugs or objects while high.