DRUG INFORMATION RESOURCES - INTERNATIONAL
Methamphetamine – the Respiratory System & Covid-19: Bad Combination
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.
- Details
- Hits: 281
Sheree da Costa talks about losing son Joey, who suffered hallucinogenic persistent perception disorder, known as HPPD.
Many also experience out-of-body sensations and extreme anxiety.
It's triggered by the use of psychedelic drugs and has been described as the "trip that never ends".
With the use of illegal drugs on the rise and the emergence of psychedelics in the treatment of mental health disorders, there are calls for greater awareness and more research into the condition.
It's a condition described as a living hell by sufferers, and it's marked by stigma and shame.
- Hallucinogenic persistent perception disorder, or HPPD, is triggered by the use of psychedelic drugs.
- HPPD can result in disturbed vision, where a sufferer may constantly see visual snow, haloes or trails and experience depersonalisation or other feelings of isolation or confusion.
- One person developed the condition after their drink was spiked, while others became affected after taking drugs at parties.
For complete story ABC.NET
Also see - To Trip or Not to Trip – That is the ‘Killer’ Question?
- Details
- Hits: 304
Australian Children presenting with 'significant symptoms of withdrawal' as vaping rates rise among under 25’s Australia"Vaping I would say is definitely more addictive [than smoking] because of the ease of access"…"You can vape anywhere, so you can be lying in bed at night, and you can fall asleep with it in your mouth like a pacifier for a baby." (Source: ABC News March 2024)
Public Health Consequences of E-Cigarettes – Harm Reduction or?
Although e-cigarette use might cause youth to transition to combustible tobacco products, it might also increase adult cessation of combustible tobacco cigarettes. The net public health effect, harm or benefit, of e-cigarettes depends on three factors: their effect on youth initiation of combustible tobacco products, their effect on adult cessation of combustible tobacco products, and their intrinsic toxicity. If e-cigarette use by adult smokers leads to long-term abstinence from combustible tobacco cigarettes, the benefit to public health could be considerable. Without that health benefit for adult smokers, e-cigarette use could cause considerable harm to public health in the short and long term due both to the inherent harms of exposure to e-cigarette toxicants and to the harms related to subsequent combustible tobacco use by those who begin using e-cigarettes in their youth. Source: N.I.H National Library of Medicine
- Details
- Hits: 394
Vaping has become one of the most popular forms of substance use among young people, despite growing evidence of its health risks and harms. Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol produced when using an electronic vapor device. Typically, the ingredients include nicotine, flavourings and other chemicals, many of which are toxic. Some vaping products contain marijuana or other drugs. As parents and caregivers, we want to do all that we can to protect our children from the negative effects that vaping can have on a young person’s developing brain. Whether a child has not yet tried vaping, has already begun to vape or vapes regularly, this guide can help you. We break down what vaping is, why it appeals to youth, what the health risks are and what you can do to protect young people from its harms.
- Details
- Hits: 421
Trip-killers: a concerning practice associated with psychedelic drug use
Psychedelic drugs such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin (‘magic mushrooms’) induce hallucinations and distort thought-processes. The intensity of a psychedelic ‘trip’ can cause distress, agitation, and even psychosis. A recent report showed that at least 8.4% of drug-related presentations to European emergency departments involve psychedelics. This proportion may increase as the clinical use of these agents expands.
There are multiple ways to control a ‘bad trip’ and avoid hospitalisation. One is to take psychedelics under the supervision of a ‘trip-sitter’—a non-intoxicated friend who can provide psychological support. Another is to use additional psychoactive drugs—‘trip-killers’—to attenuate or prematurely end the psychedelic experience. Trip-killers are not new, but have received increased attention on social media in recent years.