Rob Ford's mother thinks her son's biggest problem is his weight
Ford admitted earlier this week that he has smoked crack cocaine after months of denials. He also acknowledged … Hours after admitting to his drug use and his drinking problem Tuesday, Ford vowed to stay on as mayor and run again in 2014. His brother … Read more on National Post

Epilepsy Drug Gabapentin Shows Promise In Treating Alcohol Dependence
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 18 million people in the United States are affected by alcohol-use disorders, but there are few drug options available. [7 Ways Alcohol … It was detailed this month in the journal JAMA Internal … Read more on Huffington Post

SPECIAL REPORT-How Big Formula Bought China
"The nurses told us not to use our own formula. They told us if we … It bars hospital personnel from promoting infant formula to the families of babies younger than six months, except in the rare cases when a woman has insufficient breast milk or … Read more on Reuters UK

Question by Sarah: How does Crack Cocaine use affect Diabetes, specifically?
Hi – I’m a Type 1 – insulin dependant – diabetic (have had it for 23 years, since I was 5 yrs old), and I am / have been in drug treatment / “rehabilitation” for crack cocaine and heroin addiction for the past 10 years. Every 3 months, when it is mandatory to see an actual Doctor, rather than just a key-worker, for a so-called “medical review”, when I tell the ‘Doctor-Of-The-Day’, (dubbed so because my treatment centre is SOOO good and consistent that I get to see a new and totally unfamiliar Doctor each and every time!), that I am diabetic, I am ALWAYS, without fail, met with the cliche, car-mechanic style sharp intake of breath, followed by, “Oooo! Well then you REALLY need to be careful of what you’re doing then, in that case!”…. But NEVER an explanation as to WHY, EXACTLY, I, especially, i.e., more than other, NON-diabetic clients need to be SO careful! I have asked, more than once, why diabetics in particular need to be so much more especially careful when using drugs, as a result of the condition, but the Doctors (don’t know why I insist on using a capital D for Doctor, like they’re all God-like or something?!?! but that’s besides the point here isn’t it?, SO…), The ALL the doctors I’ve so far put this question to just fob me off with, “Well, you’re key-worker can/will answer that for you if you ask them another time; I’m simply here to review your prescription and unfortunately don’t have the time to discuss other, non-drug-related matters, at this time.” I.e., I don’t really know, so I’ll use my apparent/imagined importance to avoid the question altogether.”!!!!!!! I think it’s obviously needless for me to say here that my key-workers are just as baffled / ignorant on the subject as I and all the so-called ‘professional’ doctors are, so I still don’t have an answer! I understand diabetes, and I studied Biomedical Science at degree level for one year, so I’m not STUPID and I DO understand how the human body works better than most, so I tried to find the answer for myself using information that is available online – However – Trying to find info’ that explains or describes how crack and/or heroin use / addiction affects a diabetic user, specifically, with regard to their diabetes only, I’ve found is near enough impossible! Everywhere you go, for info’ on “effects of crack cocaine and heroin on diabetes/diabetics” supplies only generic info’ on the drugs’ common (side) effects with NOTHING specific pertaining to how exactly diabetes does, or potentially could, affect or complicate the drugs’/body’s usual interaction / metabolism of the drugs in question. Can someone with REAL knowledge on this subject please tell me why a diabetic addict/user is so much more at risk than a non-diabetic addict/user?!?! I would really appreciate REAL, solid, scientific info’ on this subject rather than simple conjecture, theory and suggestion/personal opinion! Many thanks, Sairra x X x

Best answer:

Answer by Mr. Peachy®
You’ll never catch me capitalizing doctor unless it’s a salutation like “Dr.”, for example. There are a few doctors worthy of respect, but I suspect they won’t be found in a treatment center. At any rate, I have learned (the hard way) that drugs… all drugs, tend to interfere with the metabolism in one way or another. Many of them can either increase insulin resistance or cause excess release of cortisol which causes the liver to release stored glycogen as glucose into the blood. As a type one, the last thing you want is insulin resistance (my particular situation as a type two). It would, in effect, make you “double diabetic” meaning you would have to increase your insulin dose for the same amount of carb intake. Trust me, you don’t want to go there. As to specifically which drugs cause what, I don’t really know as I have investigated myself (a former meth and alcohol user) and found very little specific information on the subject. What I can tell you is this. Since getting off of all drugs (that includes the diabetes drug, Metformin), and learning a lot on nutrition, my life has improved significantly. I would never consider going back. Sorry I couldn’t have been more help, but there just isn’t a lot of stuff available out there. Perhaps this might be an opportunity for you to continue your Biomedical Science education and become an educator on the subject. The more I learn about what drugs do to me, the less I want them in my body. And that includes legal, and especially prescription, drugs

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

New Assortment of Treatment Options Are Now Available at Drug Rehab Maryville
One common reason people struggling with substance abuse do not seek help is because they have predetermined ideas of what a treatment center will be like, and do not feel like these methods are for them. Drug Rehab Maryville has restructured their … Read more on PR Web (press release)

Drug Rehab Center Elyria is Altering the Face of Addiction
Drug Rehab Center Elyria has restructured its substance abuse treatment programs in order to create a positive environment for those seeking treatment while attempting to remove any stigma associated with addiction and recovery. Share on Twitter Share … Read more on PR Web (press release)

New York Drug Rehab Announces Services Now Available Through Drug …
Drug rehab allows clients time to discern and figure out what is their truth around these situations. Counselors and therapists with many years of experience in the field of substance abuse treatment and addiction can help make the transition from … Read more on PR Web (press release)

VA hospital workers sold heroin and crack cocaine to vets, feds charge
"The safety and welfare of veterans in our care is of primary importance, and the VA New Jersey Health Care System is cooperating fully with the U.S. Attorney's Office, VA Office of Inspector General, and the FBI in this investigation." Jeffrey Hughes …
Read more on NJ.com

State commission misses the point on heroin: Editorial
Most of them were addicts from the start, according to prison surveys. And few received treatment. And yet, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence estimates that 1 in 2 adults seeking treatment in New Jersey cannot get it, and 2 in 3 teens.
Read more on The Star-Ledger – NJ.com (blog)

Question by Stephanie: Is it ever too late to get a person help with drug addiction?
I’m just curious to see what everyone thinks…

My uncle is in his late 50’s and he has been an addict for several years. He seems to have severe psychological problems due to his constant use of crack cocaine. His siblings, who are known to be uneducated about the effects of drug abuse, claim that he is “too far gone.” They don’t believe that anything would be able to help him… Basically, they are giving up. I can see that he is showing signs of chronic paranoia and schizophrenia, but is it ever too late to get a person help with an addiction?

Thanks for the help!

Best answer:

Answer by Ginny Jin
If he is unhappy, unable to function on any level but agrees for you to intervene and get help great
If he is happy the way he is, don’t bother.

I was an alcoholic (until age 38) and glad people intervened.

What do you think? Answer below!

Judge lowers Josh Brent's bail, requires alcohol monitoring
thejuddstir A rehab facility is only useful if he's an alcoholic. Otherwise it's wasted money. @metalhead65 Joe Six Pack would be on the streets if he could make bail. The court was right in reducing the bail amount to what it would be for anybody else.
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He beat addiction, and then the odds
He was on crack cocaine by age 15 and hooked on heroin by 18. He went through 16 rehabilitation programs, more than two years of methadone and four incarcerations, he said. "I was into theft, robbery, all for the drug addiction." In 2003, while …
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