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Archive for the Drugs & Mental Illness Category

What is Skunk and how does it differ from the usual Cannabis?

Skunk is an addictive and powerful form of cannabis that has been linked to mental health problems in users.

Skunk is a particularly potent form of Cannabis and has been linked to schizophrenia in several studies. It is thought that up to 25% of new cases of Schizophrenia could be linked to its use.

Young men who smoke cannabis seem to be particularly at risk of developing mental health problems which include loss of concentration, paranoia, aggressiveness and possible development of psychosis

Because of its potency users are more likely to become addicted to Skunk and may require a detox to come off it. Withdrawal symptoms from Skunk may include anxiety, sleep disturbance, headaches, mood swings, & tremors.

Some clinical studies have suggested that prolonged Skunk use causes brain damage visible on brain scans

The recent reclassification of Cannabis & the government TV campaign about the dangers of Cannabis has sought to highlight the mental health effects of cannabis use on young people. Much of the cannabis on the streets today is much more potent and addictive than in the past and the dangers to users are increased

Click here to view cannabis drug testing kits for home use

Click here to view professional cannabis drug testing kits

Cocaine Risks

High doses can raise the body’s temperature, cause convulsions and respiratory or heart failure

Highly risky for anybody with high blood pressure or a heart condition. Perfectly healthy, young people can have a fit or heart attack after taking too much coke and you may not know you’ve got a pre-existing heart condition

Heavy use can cause depression and serious problems with anxiety and paranoia

Can bring previous mental health problems to the surface

Alcohol and cocaine together can be particularly dangerous as the substances interact in the body to produce a toxic chemical

Home Drug Test : Which home drug test to choose ?

Home Drug test kits are now available from specialist suppliers over the internet and in some shops. The choice of home drug tests can be confusing, but it can be simple if you first choose which drugs you need to test for and look for these on the test you are purchasing.

Most home drug tests use urine to test for the drugs being excreted. while messy and embarasing to collect, this form of home drug test does offer the longest detecting times for any home test kit. If you choose to test saliva, it will be easier to collect, but the detection times will be a lot less (14-24 hrs for most Drugs)

These codes are commonly used

  • THC=Cannabis
  • MOP or OPI =opiates (heroin)
  • AMP= amphetamine
  • COC = cocaine
  • MET = Methamphetamine (Crystal Ice)
  • MDMA = Ecstacy
  • MTD = Methadone
  • BUP = Buprenorphine
  • BZO = Benzodiazepines
  • BAR = Barbituates
  • TCA = Tricyclic Antidepressants
  • PXP = Propoxythene
  • OXY = Oxycodone

Urine tests come in simple dip strip formats, cassette tests with pipettes, or panel or multi-panel combinations which simultaneously screen a single sample for a pre-determined group of drugs with individual results for each drug group. some panels come in collection cup systems which contain and retain the sample if needed for confirmation testing.

See home drug test catalogues and options

Admissions to mental wards for drugs and alcohol up a third

Just read this interesting article online by Kate Devlin Medical Correspondent for The Telegraph. The article was published 10/10/08.

Here is an extract from the article:

The number of patients admitted to mental health wards because of drug or alcohol abuse has risen by almost one third in three years, latest figures show.

More than 47,000 patients were admitted in 2006, 10,000 more than in 2003, due to the effects of drink or drugs.

The rise come despite a drop in the overall number of patients in psychiatric units, from a high of 214,000 in 1998 to just over 180,000 in 2006.

Opposition parties said that the increases were “worrying” and accused the Government of failing to get to grips with a growing drugs problem.

Official figures released earlier this year show that one in three British adults admits to having tried illegal drugs.

More than three million adults were estimated to have taken at least one banned substance last year, according to the figures from the NHS Information Centre.

Doctors have warned that high strength types of cannabis are increasing mental health problems.

Earlier this year a study showed that people who use skunk cannabis, which can be up to 10 times stronger than other types of the drug, were 18 times more likely to develop psychosis than those who smoke milder forms.

 Click here to read the full article

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