“The use of pornography can be both a cause and a symptom of behavior that serves to arouse or sedate individuals, depending on their neurochemistry and conditioning. Any kind of pornography is potentially addictive, as it serves the purpose desired by the user, to either provide escape from internal discomfort or to produce pleasure.”[i]

Photographic pornography has been around since the invention of the camera, and written/printed porn has been around for far longer. The Internet is a brand new creation. It is a completely new medium used to deliver any kind of porn imaginable, many times free of charge, to any house in the world where internet access is available.

Unlike adult bookstores, strip-clubs, massage parlors, or picking up prostitutes, internet porn is almost completely anonymous. While the possibility of being seen or caught doing the above things may act as a deterrent for most people (non-addicts) to overindulge in them, cyber porn can be seen in the comfortable privacy of one’s own home, almost totally risk free, by anyone of any age able to operate a computer.

Internet pornography is far more dangerous than other traditional forms of porn. It is sometimes called the “crack cocaine” of the porn industry because of the unique way in which it is delivered by the new technology. With the click of a mouse, a secret unknown world full of infinite possibilities becomes instantly available.

Most people have boundaries that naturally protect them from going into the nether regions in real life. The Internet bypasses those boundaries, and what seems at first like a little playful fantasizing or exploration can quickly escalate into compulsive sexual behavior. Innocently trying new things online can quickly lead to destructive real life behaviors like cheating on one’s spouse, anonymous sex, or in extreme cases even rape or child abuse.

The addictive behavior is started by forming a conditioned response to the use of pornography. As the porn is viewed, the user usually masturbates or at least becomes sexually aroused. The sexual arousal and orgasm causes a cascade of pleasure producing chemicals to be released by the brain and other parts of the body. After this process is repeated many times, a conditioned response is created in the persons body.

Much like the Russian scientist Pavlov, who trained his dogs to salivate to the sound of a bell by feeding them meat only after the bell was rung, the addict has conditioned his body to release endorphins, adrenaline, and other mood altering chemicals by looking at porn. Someone who has been conditioned can even elicit a strong physical rush by thinking about downloading porn.

The reason why online pornography is particularly high-octane is because of the way people are conditioned over time. Research has shown how rats in a cage will hit a bar thousands of times for a single dose of cocaine once they have been conditioned. People are no different. It doesn’t matter how intelligent they are, once they have conditioned themselves to the drug-like effect they can get from downloading online porn, the downward spiral begins.

The person slowly begins to turn to downloading for relief from life’s troubles, whether it be a hard day at the office or just physical fatigue. The process may take years to become problematic, but some become hooked overnight. After awhile, downloading sessions become longer and longer. The time spent online cuts into sleep or time that would normally be spent with family or taking care of social or occupational obligations.

Soon a level of tolerance is built up for the kind of porn that is preferred. In order to get to the same soothing drug-like trance state, the addict must increase to more exotic or intense forms of porn and/or increase the frequency or number of images viewed.

Most people who get to this stage are usually not aware that they are addicted. Here are some common rationalizations: “I work so hard, I deserve some time to myself.” “There’s nothing wrong with a little porn now and then.” “I’m not hurting anyone else.” “What I do with my own privacy is nobody’s business.”

When the person gets tired or feels disgusted by his behavior and time wasted downloading, he may delete his stash and vow never to download again. After a day or so physical withdrawal sets in. The body no longer receives the accustomed dose of happy chemicals it craves.

Common withdrawal symptoms are emotional pain, depression, sadness, anger, emotional highs or lows, even physical illness, exhaustion or suicidal thoughts.

The longer a person has been at downloading, the harder it is to quit and resist the withdrawal.

A person who vows to quit and deletes his stash only to go back to downloading may go through this cycle many times totally oblivious to the fact that he is deep in the grip of a powerful addiction. Many people live in a state of ignorance or denial about their habit and unfortunately have to have the very painful experience of hitting rock bottom before they begin to look for or accept any help at all.

Downloading pictures and video clips isn’t the only way to be sexually compulsive with the computer. Many people become addicted to the romance and intrigue of on-line dating or sexual chat rooms.

As the computer is becoming a household item, just as popular as the television, more and more people are becoming addicted to compulsive sexual on-line behavior. Many of these people are of very young age. How many parents know as much about computers as their children do? This author believes that a whole new generation of porn-addicted people is being created.

The Porn Addiction Cycle:

Are you downloading your way to sexual addiction and compulsive masturbation? It’s not even real sex! Want to quit?

Dr. Patrick Carnes describes the addictive experience in a four step porn addiction cycle[i]:

Preoccupation – the trance or mood wherein the addicts’ minds are completely engrossed with thoughts of sex. This mental state creates an obsessive search for sexual stimulation.

Ritualization – the addicts’ own special routines that lead up to the sexual behavior. The ritual intensifies the preoccupation, adding arousal and excitement.

Compulsive sexual behavior – the actual sexual act, which is the end goal of the preoccupation and ritualization. Sexual addicts are unable to control or stop this behavior.

Despair – the feeling of utter hopelessness addicts have about their behavior and their powerlessness.

Someone who is addicted to downloading porn becomes preoccupied by thinking about getting ready to download. Just the thought of downloading starts the cycle. A strong sense of excitement and anticipation coupled with the ‘Pavlov’s Dog’ induced release of happy chemicals creates the euphoric trance state that intensifies as the chance to act out draws near.

Once the preoccupation has begun, all other things become secondary. Work, family, and personal care fall by the wayside while the addict thinks about his next downloading session.

As he ‘gets ready’, different routines or rituals are usually performed. This could be something as simple as closing the blinds, locking the door, and/or preparing the paraphernalia used for acting out. Priests and shamans have used rituals for millennia to intensify concentration and awareness, but they do it to consciously reinforce positive, constructive states of mind. The unconscious ritual the addict engages in serves to reinforce the compulsive addictive cycle.

By the time the porn is actually viewed, and masturbation begun, the peak of excitement may actually have subsided. People spend hours and hours looking for the perfect picture or video to climax to. It’s not uncommon for a downloading session to last four to five hours or even longer.

After ‘finishing’, it is common to feel disgust about wasted time and the inability to stop. Over time as the behavior continues, the feelings of self-hatred, despair, hopelessness, and loneliness get worse and worse.

The easiest way to ease the pain is to start the cycle over again. That heady rush of excitement effectively masks the underlying emotional suffering.

Each time the porn addiction cycle is engaged in, it is intensified and entrenched deeper into a persons body and mind. After a certain point, it becomes impossible to stop.

The porn addiction cycle has now taken complete control of that persons life.

Is this happening to you? If it is, you have already taken the first step towards recovery by becoming aware of the problem. The next step, getting help to overcome it, is up to you.

[i] Carnes, Patrick. Out of the Shadows (Center City, Minnesota: Hazeldon, 2001) pg 19-20.

Where to Get Free Help:

A person experiencing suffering in their life due to addictive sexual behavior is not alone. Help is available, but effort must be made by the afflicted person to seek it. The following programs are free:

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA)

Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA)

Sexaholics Anonymous (SA)

Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (SCA)

There are many ways for a person suffering from addictive sexual behavior to get help. Remember, you are never alone, help is always available, but it’s up to you to reach out for it. Keep in mind, it may have taken years and countless hours of reinforcement for the addictive cycle that is currently controlling your life to come into creation. This addictive cycle, once established, always gets progressively worse unless conscious effort is made to arrest it, and new positive, healthy, and creative behaviors are reinforced to counteract the old destructive ones.

The most drastic way of getting help is to check yourself into a treatment program. If you can’t find a clinic that deals specifically with sexual addiction near you, try calling your local alcohol treatment clinic. More and more of them are adding sexual treatment programs.

Finding a therapist who has experience in dealing with sexual addictions can also be a big help. However, not all of them are trained to deal with sexual addiction. Make sure to call around and find one that is, it will speed up the recovery process tremendously.

There are many religious groups that can provide a support base and give a person a feeling of family and community to counter the isolation that the addict feels. Church groups also may only be able to provide limited help. There are so many taboo’s associated with sex and sexuality that can make it very difficult to gain understanding and recovery. There are, however, Christian support groups that have experience in dealing with sexual addiction.

Perhaps the most common way to get help is to join a 12-step group dealing with sexual addiction. The 12-step method was created by a group of alcoholics struggling to gain and maintain abstinence or sobriety from alcohol. Over the past 50 years, it has grown very large and meetings can be found in almost any city in the United States, and in many other parts of the world. Millions of alcoholics have found freedom from their addiction through the program.

Years later, some recovered alcoholics realized they still had addictive behaviors that were destroying their lives, happiness, and well-being, only this time it was addictive sexual behavior that was causing the problem. For many people, alcoholism was only a secondary illness, a supplement to their main problem which was sexual addiction. These people formed new 12-step programs modeled to deal directly with the issue of sexual addiction. They found that if they stayed together, shared their experiences with each other, and diligently worked the 12 steps, they were able to stop the addictive downward spiral and attain recovery.

Addiction is a demon with 1000 heads. Many 12-step groups have developed to deal with specific issues such as: overeating, debt problems, gambling, specific drugs(narcotics anonymous, marijuana, cocaine or crystal meth anonymous etc.), even codependents, just to name a few.

In my experience, I have yet to find a 12-step group that deals specifically with internet pornography addiction. This is not a problem though. Because internet porn addiction is a form of sexual addiction, any 12-step group that deals with sexual addiction can help break the addictive cycle, establish sobriety, and assist in rebuilding happy and emotionally healthy relationships and lifestyles.

There are four main national sexually oriented 12-step groups. Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA), Sexaholics Anonymous (SA), Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA), and Sexual Compulsiveness Anonymous (SCA). There may be more in your area. To find one try your local phone directory or an internet search. All the national programs have websites with contact #’s for people (hopefully) in your area.

You can also try calling your local hospitals or addiction treatment clinics. If after all that, you still cannot find a meeting to go to, you can start your own. Most programs supply starter kits by mail that you can use to get a meeting going. All you need is to find one other addict to work with, have a program to follow, and you’ve got yourself a meeting.

On-line meetings are also held regularly, but a computer and Internet access is required, which may pose a problem for the cyber-porn junkie.

If you still can’t get the help you need, you can call one of the national 12-step hotlines and ask for a long-distance sponsor who can work with you over the phone. This is highly advisable if you are starting your own group as a beginner.

What is Sexual Addiction?

A common definition of alcoholism or drug dependency is that a person has a pathological relationship with a mood-altering chemical…..the sexual addiction is parallel. The addict substitutes a sick relationship to an event or process for a healthy relationship with others. The addict’s relationship with a mood altering “experience” becomes central to his life.[i]

Sexual addiction is a problem which has only been recognized as an illness by doctors and therapists for several decades. This illness can take many forms. Some people develop an extreme dependence on one person for sex or emotional fulfillment, while others compulsively act out with anonymous strangers. Solo obsessive/compulsive behavior is common as well, such as dependence on pornography, excessive masturbation or fantasy. Still others develop a preoccupation with intrigue or romance. Some people known as anoretics suffer from a compulsive avoidance of emotional, social, or sexual intercourse. These are only a few of the ways this illness manifests. Whatever different form the illness takes, they all have one common denominator: the behavior gets worse and worse, and becomes increasingly destructive to the persons self-esteem, family, career and even health.

While our society is shifting to a more open attitude toward sexual expression, we still view the amount and kind of activity as a matter of personal choice. For the addict, however, there is no choice. No choice. The addiction is in charge. That addicts have no control over their sexual behavior is a very hard concept to accept when the addicts’ trails have left broken marriages and parentless children, or worse, victims of sexual crimes.[ii]

Sexual addicts can generally be defined as people whose out of control sexual behavior has made their lives unmanageable. They habitually engage in sexual activity to escape from pain or to increase pleasure. They have lost control over when or how often they engage in sex, how long it lasts, and/or who they have it with. Normal people may seek romance as a way to occasionally provide relief from life’s problems, but addicts lose control of this type of behavior and are completely powerless to stop.

How can a person tell if they are a sex addict? There is no clear-cut definition of sex addiction because the problem manifests in so many different ways. There are, however, danger signs or red flags that may point to the existence of a problem.

Suboxone has buprenorphine which itself is an opiate. As with all opiates, it causes withdrawal pains when you stop taking it. Buprenorphine is an opiate that is short acting and partially activates. The withdrawal symptoms that are induced are not as severe as it would be for drugs such as heroin or oxycontin and are much less severe than with methadone.

When does the opiate withdrawal occur?

This question has a very simple answer. If you should stop taking Suboxone you will soon start to feel the withdrawal, however, Suboxone is a bit more complex and has several scenarios that could induce a certain degree of withdrawal discomfort.

The first one is if you would try to shoot Suboxone. This drug contains two ingredients Buprenorphine and Naloxone. Buprenorphine is the opiate and Naloxone is the blocker.

When the medication is taken as directed which is under the tongue Naloxone is barely absorbed and has little effect. This allows you to feel the effect of Buprenorphine.

If shoot or snort Suboxone, the Naloxone would be completely absorbed and would block all of the effect of the Buprenorphine. The same would apply to any opiate you would take as well. The results would be an immediate and full withdrawal.

Naloxone is added to Suboxone in order to make the medication hard to abuse. In the event you would try to abuse it, you would feel withdrawal.

If you would take Suboxone while still being on opiates you would first be asked to remain clean for a certain period of time. The length of time required would be enough time for you to begin to feel the effects of opiate withdrawal. The reason you are asked this is to ensure that Suboxone works the way it should and does not cause you to go into a full withdrawal.

The ingredient Buprenorphine that is the opiate in Suboxone is an opiate agonist in partial form. This means that even though it activates the opiate receptors in your brain much like heroin and other opiates it only slightly activates them.

Buprenorphine has an affinity for opiate receptors that are in the brain. This means that if the opiate receptors in your brain are filled with drugs like oxycontin, the buprenorphine will displace all other opiates that are in the receptors.

So if you are on these and you take Suboxone the Buprenorphine bumps out all other opiates but it does not activate the opiate receptors completely. So the results are an immediate loss in the activation of the opiate receptors. The loss is what causes your body to go into opiate withdrawal.

If you are physically dependent on opiates and you take Suboxone, it will create what is called a ceiling effect. This means that the Suboxone will work well up to a certain point. Once that point is reached, it does not work any more.

People that have a heavy addiction will not find the Buprenorphine will give them the relief they need from withdrawal symptoms. They will more than likely have to start a methadone treatment instead.

Even though people can switch over from Methadone to Buprenorphine, they would have to take about 30 mg a day before they can switch to Suboxone and not feel the symptoms from withdrawal.

Once you find the stabilization dosage you need you can maintain that does indefinitely. If you take that dosage every day, you will not feel the withdrawal symptoms.

If you decrease your dosage or completely stop taking the medication, you will feel slight discomfort from withdrawal. The longer you stay on the decreased does the easier your transition will be. It is highly recommended that the decrease period last 30 weeks. Why you completely stop, taking the medication you will still feel some withdrawal.

While withdrawal symptoms can be intense, they are still less intense that the withdrawal symptoms experience from Methadone and other opiates.

Withdrawal symptoms from Suboxone may include:

• sweating
• yawning
• vomiting
• nausea
• pain diarrhea
• irritability
• leg restlessness
• cold symptoms or flu symptoms
• anxiety
• insomnia

These symptoms usually peak in intensity after approximately 2 days. They should gradually diminish after approximately 5 days. Many people feel lingering withdrawal symptoms for several weeks after stopping.

Suboxone is one method of treatment, however, it brings its own set of complication. Addiction treatment has greatly reduced this painless yet effect treatment. Suboxone is a boon to opiate addicts and when the proper guidelines are follow can work very well for treating addiction to opiate drugs such as methadone, morphine, hydroquinone, oxycontin, vicodin, codeine, percocet and darvocet. Suboxone is an effective treatment for most opiate addictions. Suboxone contain buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is an agonist and has high affinity to receptors and prevents other opiates from taking control of the addict. Naloxone is an antagonist and discourages the need or craving for any opiate substance. The treatment has dual benefits and aside from decreasing the craving from addiction, it can relieve the addict from suffering from withdrawal pains. Suboxone has an orange color and is hexagonal shaped/ it has several different strengths for the many different levels of addiction.

The treatment can only be given under supervision of an addiction treatment professional. Prescriptions can only be dispensed from a medical practitioner or addiction professional before starting treatment. There are two courses of treatment. The first is a long term treatment, which guarantees complete recovery over a certain period of time. It also reduces the chances of relapse and future drug use. The other is a short term treatment, which consists of detox from the drug. Your doctor can advise you which one is the right one for you.

It is crucial that the proper and regular dosage of this pill be administered. Suboxone must be allowed to completely dissolver under the tongue. It must not be crushed, chewed or swallowed. One other important factor is during Suboxone treatment, the patient must not any intoxicants. The combination of the two could prove harmful to the patient. In addition to this treatment, the patient must also have counseling session as well as seminars, which talk about the many risks of drug addiction.

Many addicts use Suboxone for addiction recovery maintenance. Addiction counseling helps many patients and makes the treatment successful once the addict stops taking opiates. A doctor will advise you that during maintenance a lower dose will help stop withdrawal symptoms or cravings. This phase has been known to last for several months and even up to a year or more.

If you or someone you know is addicted to opiates the best decision you or they can make is to seek a treatment program as soon as possible.

However, there are several groups that believe drug addiction indicates a far reaching human condition that has to be dealt with through spiritual intervention. A treatment for addiction uses medical methods, spiritual intervention and counseling based on Christian principles and beliefs.

People that suffer from drug addictions often use depression as one of the reasons they have an addiction. They are looking for a means to escape reality and create new realities where they don’t have to worry about or deal with their problems.

Addicts often feel isolated and push people away by using drugs to alter their minds. While under the influence, they feel blissful and elated. Because they are unable to get emotions from normal interaction with friends or family, they use drugs to main their high.

There are two reasons why many people take the dangerous path of self destruction. This clearly shows that drug addiction starts from mental and emotional conditions. Addicts have a feeling of hopelessness.

The Bible gives hope and helps those who need it. There are teachings that can be applied to drug addicts to help them pick up the pieces of their lives. These teachings can only be learned through Christ centered drug rehab programs.

Alcoholics Anonymous or AA is based on Christian principles. Alcoholics who attend AA follow a 12 step recovery program. Drug rehab centers also follow the same 12 step program only it is applied to drug addiction.

Christian rehab centers have patients that are treated using Christian principles, however, more emphasis is place on spiritual healing through prayer, sharing and applying Christian values. Patients are given partners and support groups with spiritual leaders who guide them through the process.

Drug abuse has been steadily on the rise over the last few years and as the result, there has been an increase in drug rehab facilities. If you are addicted to drugs, you have the right to use the services that are in your community for drug treatment. They provide services that will help you and your family get healed from the effect of drugs.

If you know someone who is addicted to drug as the result of a traumatic situation you can refer them to a Christian rehab center. These centers have more resources to help treat this disease. They will also help in spotting trigger points and triggers that spur relapses back into drug use.

There are many different drug treatment centers that have programs that are out of make a profit more than help the drug addict. Faith based rehab programs are proof that there are organizations that care about the addict and the community and do whatever it takes to cure drug addicts and by doing so lessening the burden of the community.

Adolescent drug use in our society is often times viewed as a harmless phase that teens will eventually outgrow. Many believe that teens need to use drugs for several years into adulthood before actually becoming addicted.

However, research indicates that the earlier an adolescent begins using drugs & alcohol, the greater the chances of his/her use progressing rapidly into chemical dependency.

Research conducted by Grant and Dawson showed that the age when a person started drinking was a strong predictor for future alcoholism as defined by DSM-IV.

This research focused on the age at drinking onset of 42,862 subjects and isolated factors such as age, sex, race and family history of alcohol abuse and dependence.

The results of this research indicated that when a thirteen-year-old starts drinking, s/he has a 43% chance of becoming an alcoholic. If however, the thirteen-year-old has a family history of alcoholism, the probability of him/her becoming an alcoholic increases to 58%.

In contrast, if the person starts drinking at age 21 and has no family history of alcoholism, the probability of alcoholism is reduced to 10% (Grant, Bridget & Dawson, Deborah, “Age at Onset of Alcohol Use and Its Association With DSM-IV Alcohol Abuse and Dependence: Results from the National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey, Journal of Substance Abuse, 1997.)

As this study strongly suggests, rapid progression of chemical addiction in teens appears to be highly correlated with age of onset of first use and a family history of alcoholism.

Why does using at an early age contribute to a rapid progression to addiction?

From birth to age 18, the brain is both growing and developing. During this process the brain is taking clues from the environment to determine how much serotonin, GABA and other neurotransmitters it should produce.

If a person is using drugs during this period of time, the brain will not recognize marijuana or alcohol as drugs. It will see them as an over abundance of GABA or serotonin and other neurotransmitters.

Because the brain thinks we live in a world were our necessary neurotransmitters comes from joints and beers, it stops producing its own supply. As a result, the brain has a chemical imbalance and craving for a drug occurs for the user trying to fulfill the missing brain chemistry.

This is how people develop addiction vs. being predisposed genetically.

· Adolescents tend to use a combination of drugs. While adults with drug problems typically use only one drug, the drug use history for a teen drug user can consist of 10 -15 different drugs.

A combination of drugs being abused effects a combination of neurotransmitters and fuels brain damage. As a result, the adolescent must use increasing amounts of these drugs in order to get the same desired effect which in turn, contributes to the rapid development of addiction.

· Use of Stimulant Drugs: Stimulant drugs appear to be another cause of the rapid progression of chemical dependency in adolescents. This is due to the fact that these drugs tend to cause dopamine to be released in very large amounts. As a result of this “rush” in dopamine, tolerance develops quickly and the user starts to loose the ability to experience pleasure unless they are intoxicated.

· School Environment: Easy access to drugs at school significantly contributes to the progression of drug use. Many schools have become a “drug supermarket” where adolescents can buy and sell drugs as well as join in the camaraderie of sharing their fun drug experiences and planning new times to get “high.” I am not saying that the schools are the problem, but it is the meeting place for kids to congregate Monday through Friday.

· For drug-using adolescents, intoxication is their social event. Although the social events of adults, such as weddings, New Year’s Eve, and Super Bowl Sunday, may promote the use of chemicals, the chemical use is only part of the social situation. However, for drug-using adolescents, drug use is the social event.

In other words, the main reason for socializing is to become intoxicated. Many adults (parents and professionals) tend to view adolescent drug use from an “adult” model of drug use. The “adult” model tells us that people need to use for many years and experience physical withdrawal symptoms to have addiction… This is not a valid view for adolescent drug users.

Sports Illustrated had an interesting article titled Jolt of Reality.

The article explores the increasing trend of teenagers “juicing their workouts with pills and powders -sometimes with tragic results.” This is the practice of attempting to enhance workouts with powders or pills that contain ingredients such as ephedra, synephrine, caffeine or creatine to name a few.

One such pill, called a Yellow Jacket, was mentioned in the article as containing ephedra and caffeine which speeds up the metabolism.

The use of Yellow Jackets was the cause of death for a young man in Illinois named Sean Riggins. Sean believed the pills were okay because they were sold over the counter labeled a dietary supplement.

(These supplements are stimulants which increase heart rate). He died because his heart was pumping too fast and gave out. He was only 16 years old.

Dr. Arthur Grollman, a professor of pharmacological sciences and medicine at the State University of New York at Tony Brook was quoted saying, “Basically, anyone who uses those products is a human lab rat.”

This is because these supplements are not federally approved and haven’t been subjected to clinical trials. Yet, millions of athletes are taking supplements.

“A 2001 survey conducted by Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Healthy Competition Foundation indicated that approximately one million kids had used supplements. Other experts wonder if the real number isn’t double that.”

Many times it is athletes who use these supplements in an effort to bench press more weight or run faster so that their chance of a college scholarship increases. Girls as well as boys use the supplements.

The appeal for girls is often to increase their aerobics as well as to lose weight.

The article goes on to say,” even the term dietary supplement can be confusing. It sounds innocuous, even beneficial. What kids-especially those health-conscious and interested in sports – don’t want to supplement their diet?

But the notion is a joke. No one is going to suffer because of an ephedra or creatine deficiency. We need to call these things what they are: drugs.” You may be asking, “why are these supplements legal if they contain potentially harmful stimulants?”

The article explains: “Dietary and sports supplements fall under the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health & Education Act (DSHEA), which mandates that products derived from herbs and natural sources be classified as food and not drugs.

This has been a boon to supplement manufacturers, which can skip the long and often prohibitively expensive process of seeking FDA approval.” However, it was stated that on February 27th the American Medical Association urged the FDA to take dietary supplements containing ephedra off the market.

Yellow Jackets POTENTIAL RISKS: Can cause elevated blood pressure. When taken in excessive doses or by people with certain medical conditions, can result in cardiac arrhythmia, heart attack seizure or stroke.

WHO BANS IT: NFL, NCAA, World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) which oversees Olympic drug testing.

Synephrine An extract taken from orange peel and used as a substitute for ephedra; sometimes called bitter orange.
FOUND IN Weight-loss, energy-boosting and bodybuilding products marketed as “ephredra free,” including Stacker 2 Ephedra Free, Xenadrine EFX Ephedra Free and Metabolife Ephedra Free.

POTENTIAL RISKS: Pharmacological and toxic properties similar to ephedra; could cause an athlete to test positive for ephedra, depending on test methodology.

WHO BANS IT: NCAA.
Androstenedione, Androstenediol Steriod precursors that stimulate the body’s production of testosterone.

FOUND IN: Supplements such as Andro 100 Poppers; the body converts Andro into testosterone, which is believed to increase lean muscle mass.

POTENTIAL RISKS: Have the potential to produce adverse effects linked to anabolic steroids; breast enlargement and testicular atrophy in men; breast shrinkage and deepened voice in women; growth retardation in teens.

WHO BANS IT: NBA, NFL, NCAA

Creatine Natural compound created from three amino acids; produced by the liver and kidneys and used by muscles and organs as an energy source.

FOUND IN: Supplements designed to increase muscle mass and build strength and endurance, such as Simply Creatine and Creatine Candy; also in red meat and some fish
.
POTENTIAL RISKS: Can cause dehydration, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and muscle and ligament tears.

WHO BANS IT: No governing body.

Caffeine Stimulant and mild diuretic causes a feeling of heightened alertness.

FOUND IN: Coffee, tea, chocolate, colas, energy drinks such as Red Bull and headache tablets; some supplements and drinks such as SoBe Sports System contain extract from guarana, a caffeine-rich plant.

POTENTIAL RISKS: Has mildly addictive effect; in large quantities, can cause cardiac arrhythmia.

WHO BANS IT: NCAA, WADA (in amounts roughly equivalent to consuming eight cups of coffee in a two-hour period.
Note: Red Bull has the caffeine equivalent to 8 cups of coffee and is banned by the NCAA.

Final Comments:
I hope the preceding information has been helpful in getting you started thinking about this issue of “dietary supplements.”

One of the reasons I believe this is an important consideration is because people who have drug/alcohol problems are at risk of substituting one drug for another.

In other words, if someone quits using their “drug of choice” they may choose a different chemical that they believe is not a “problem” in their life.

Another risk is the possibility of relapse to drugs/alcohol because of the physical aspect of brain chemistry, and these products may also interfere with the healing of brain chemistry.

Healing and protecting the brain is essential to recovery. This means total abstinence from all drugs including these products. Maintaining balance in life is important.

This balance includes plenty of sleep, healthy nutrition with vitamin, mineral and amino acid supplements and exercise. For information on the nutritional aspects to recovery you can read “7 Weeks to Sobriety” by Joan Mathews Larson Ph.D. and “Hidden Addiction and How to Get Free” by Janice Keller Phelps, MD, and Alan E. Nourse, MD.

Summer can be a risky time for teens. More teens smoke marijuana for the first time in the summer months of June and July than any other time of the year.

Every summer day, more than 5,800 teens try marijuana for the first time. This is equal to the enrollment of eight average-sized U.S. high schools. And marijuana is more harmful than many parents think. It can lead to a host of health, social and behavioral problems at a crucial time in kids’ lives, when their bodies and brains are still developing.

Marijuana can be addictive and more kids are in drug treatment for marijuana than for all other illicit drugs combined. Teens using marijuana are also more likely to take risks, such as having sex, engaging in violence, riding with someone who’s driving high or using alcohol or other drugs.

So how can you stop your teen’s summer from going to pot?

Here is a list of S-U-M-M-E-R tips — simple things parents (and adult influencers) can do and say to help prevent their teen from using marijuana this summer.

1. Set rules: Let your child know that marijuana use is unacceptable. Two-thirds of kids say that upsetting their parents or losing the respect of family and friends is one of the main reasons they don’t smoke marijuana or use other drugs. Set limits with clear consequences for breaking them. Praise and reward good behavior.

2. Understand and communicate: Take time to learn the facts about marijuana and talk to your teen about its harmful health, social, learning and mental effects on young users.

3. Make sure you know where your teen is: Know where your teen will be and what they will be doing during unsupervised time. Research shows that teens with unsupervised time are three times more likely to use marijuana or other drugs. Unsupervised teens are also more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as underage drinking, sexual activity and cigarette smoking.

4. Make sure you know who your teen is with: Get to know your teen’s friends and their parents by inviting them over for dinner or talking with them at your teen’s soccer practice, dance rehearsal or other activities. Stay in touch with the adult supervisors of your child (camp counselors, coaches, employers) and have them inform you of any changes in your teen. Warning signs of drug use include distance from family and existing friends, hanging out with a new circle of friends, lack of interest in personal appearance, or changes in eating or sleeping habits.

5. Engage your teen in summer activities: Enroll your child in a supervised summer camp, educational program, or a summer sports league. Research shows that teens who are involved in constructive, adult-supervised activities are less likely to use drugs.

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6. Reserve time for family: Spend time together as a family regularly.

Statistics show that the rate of teenage drug use remains at a very high level. According to a yearly study conducted by the University of Michigan and the Institute for Social Research, illicit drug use among eighth, tenth and twelfth graders rose from 1991 through 1996. For twelfth and tenth graders, use continued to rise in 1997 with a slight decline in 1998. Use among eighth graders dropped gradually in 1997 and 1998 (Johnston, O’Malley and Bachman). However, that does not mean that every adolescent has tried or will try drugs. Part of the myth of experimentation is that drug use is a “rite of passage” for teens into adulthood. This implies that all adolescents will pass through it.

In addition, not all adolescents will pass through their drug use without negative consequences. Drug use is risky and unhealthy behavior. In today’s society even “experimentation” can lead to car accidents, driving while under the influence, unplanned sexual activity, date rape, and sometimes death.

The word “experimentation” can be misleading. When we get calls from parents seeking counseling for their adolescent we often hear the words, “I think my child has been experimenting with drugs.” When asked how long the parent has been aware of the drug use, the reply can be anywhere from weeks to years. This implies that experimentation is a phase, when it is not a phase at all. In fact, it is a one-time event.

Once intoxication has been experienced, the experiment is over. The next intoxication indicates that the adolescent has gone past experimentation to a different stage of use. As with a scientific experiment, once the results have been achieved, the experiment is over. Once intoxication has occurred, the user knows what effects the chemical has on him and then decides (consciously or subconsciously) if he likes it and will do it again.

Myths #2 & #3: These myths go hand in hand: drug use is a phase in an adolescent’s life and I used drugs when I was a teenager and grew out of it.

There are no guarantees that your child will grow out of it as you did. Chemical dependency is a biochemical genetic disease. Your child might be genetically predisposed to chemical dependency even if you, as the parent, do not have the symptoms of dependency.

There is no test available at this time to determine whether a person has the brain chemistry of dependency. Therefore, a adolescent who is putting chemicals into his body and brain is playing Russian roulette. Some people will not become chemically dependent, while others will.

Still others will have a life-long relationship with chemicals that will affect many areas of their lives. These people might never become addicted, but will abuse drugs. The difference between addiction and abuse will be explained in detail in chapter three. Are you willing to take the chance of your child “growing out of it”?

Myth #4 It is just marijuana.

Marijuana is perceived by many as a harmless drug, because it is not believed to be addictive. However, marijuana is psychologically addictive for many people and can be physically addictive. Psychological addiction is preoccupation that becomes an obsession.

For example, there might be a preoccupation to use drugs on weekends. The marijuana user spends time and energy thinking about and planning for the weekend. As the illness develops, the preoccupation might include putting up drug-related posters or drawing pictures of marijuana leaves on backpacks or in notebooks.
It is also argued, by some of the adolescents that we see, that marijuana is a “natural herb” that God put on this planet for our use, so it can’t be bad.

There are also natural but deadly poisonous mushrooms (not to be confused with the mushrooms some adolescents use for intoxication) that we would not think of taking, nor would we allow our children to “experiment” with them. You or your friends might have smoked marijuana in your teenage years and remember the drug as being “not as bad as the others.” However, the marijuana that you or your friends might have smoked in the 1960′s was approximately 0.5% THC.

THC is the chemical in marijuana that produces intoxication. The marijuana smoked in the 1970′s was between 1.5 and 3% THC. The marijuana that your child is smoking today is most often a minimum of 10% THC. This is an entirely different drug than you or others smoked as teenagers. It is much more addictive than the marijuana of the 60′s and 70′s.

Myth #5: adolescents are going to drink alcohol, so I want them to do it in my home under my supervision.

At first glance this might seem to make sense. After further investigation, this is not the case. To allow them to drink in your home gives them the message that you think “it is only alcohol” and that it is okay.

From their point of view, you are giving them permission to use one kind of drug, alcohol. This assumes that alcohol is the only drug they will use.

We have found that this is not the case. Rarely do adolescents relate an accurate drug history that lists alcohol as the only drug ever used.

Alcohol, of course, is a legal and accepted drug for adults. However, research shows that the earlier a person begins to drink, the more likely he is to become an alcoholic. When an adult starts to drink (with no other drug use involved) after age 21, it can take many years to develop the symptoms of alcoholism if the person is genetically predisposed.

However, an adolescent who frequently drinks develops alcoholism much more rapidly, whether or not he is genetically predisposed. Also, the chemicals in the brain (neurotransmitters) do not know the difference between a “legal” drug, alcohol, and other illegal drugs.

Allowing your child to drink in your home assumes that he will not drink outside of your home. This is just not the case. If they like the taste or effect produced by the alcohol they have at home, why would they not want to achieve that same effect when they are out with their friends having fun?

We encourage you to think of this in terms of another scenario. If you had a child who you knew was going to have sex anyway, would you give him a condom and allow him to have sex in your home?

Would you consider that “good parenting”? Would you really believe he would not have sex anyplace else or that giving permission for a thirteen-year-old to have sex is acceptable?

The same is true of alcohol. Drinking “under my roof and only under my roof” is a myth!

When working with adolescent or young adult drug users, the order of process is as follows: Chemical Use Assessment, Feelings Assessment, Relapse Prevention Assessment, Behavior Change Assessment, Pre-discharge Review and On Going Recovery Plan.

Chemical Use Assessment: During the 4 – 6 week chemical use assessment, we are working with the drug-using teen to help them explore the negative consequences of their drug use.

Here we are exploring how they have experienced negative consequences in School, Work, Family, Friendships, Finances, Legal, Health, Safety, Motivation, Values and any areas of their life.

This information is not only processed with the user, but with the parents in a family session as well. During the family session, the parents listen to their child as s/he shares exactly how their life has been affected by their drug use.

During the same session, the parents also share how they have seen consequences in their child’s life because of drug use and their feelings about it.

We have found that this is an important process for decreasing denial in drug using – teens. After the child has been staying drug free and this process is complete we then move on to the

Feelings Assessment: During this process, we are helping the drug free adolescent, young adult, or adult recover their emotional health. At first, it is simply helping them to acquire a feelings vocabulary.

When they are able to distinguish the hurt, pain, sadness, anger, joy, peacefulness and other feelings with appropriate identification, we then help them to find appropriate ways to express them.

This is process is important because it is where the teen is learning the skills to express emotions in a healthy way so that they do not need to hide from them with drugs.

Relapse Prevention Assessment: During this process, we are helping the recovering person to identify the people, places, things and feelings that might trigger them to want to use drugs again.

We also help them to identify relapse warning signs in their behavior. Then we use all of this information to help the them see how these things can be avoided or dealt with appropriately.

This is a very important piece of the therapeutic process, because this is where the recovering person is learning new skills for dealing with the temptation to use drugs.

Behavior Change Assessment: By this time in the treatment program, the parents, the recovering person and the counselor have seen behavior change. Though, this process is where the recovering person is examining what behaviors still need changing. With that information a plan is developed and the client is working with his counselor to make the needed behavior changes possible.

Predischarge Review: Here the counselor, the recovering person, and the family are examining all that has been accomplished and determining what issues might still need to be addressed. Then a treatment plan is developed to address those issues with the counselor before discharge.

On Going Recovery Plan: This is when the client is discharged after successfully completing the program and an on going plan of support for recovery is developed and implemented.

The origination of the term has been attributed to the police radio code for marijuana smoking in progress, the California penal code section for marijuana use, the day Jim Morrison of the rock group The Doors died and the number of chemicals in marijuana.

None are true, according to an article by the San Francisco Chronicle that was posted on the Cannabis News Web site last year.
The most popular myth is that 420 is a police radio code, but that is indicative of teens’ desire to believe what they want to believe.

The kids really believe the origin is this police code. Kids don’t know what the effects of drugs are going to be either, but someone can tell them it will do certain things and they’ll believe it.

April 20 is a problem. Chemically dependent teenagers celebrate the day like a real holiday, Daily said, and schools are likely to see a long list of absences. April 20 means a time to get high.For chemically dependent kids, 420 happens every day. Parents and teachers have been in the dark.
Kids aren’t going to go to school that day. They’re going to go get high.

California penal code 420 refers to obstructing entry on public land. No police radio code for the Citrus Heights Police Department or the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department includes a 420 code, said Lt. Jim Bell of the Citrus Heights Police Department.

Jim Morrison died July 3, 1971, and according to High Times, a drug culture magazine, marijuana has 315 chemical compounds.Steven Hager, editor of High Times, said the term originated in 1971 at San Rafael High School. A group of about a dozen pot-smoking students who called themselves the Waldos used the term as the time of day they would meet to light up at a statue of Louis Pasteur on campus.

“Waldo Steve,” a former group member who owns a business in San Francisco, told High Times that the Waldos would salute each other in the school hallway and say, “420, Louis!”
“It was a joke, but it came to mean all kinds of things, like, ‘Do you have any?’ or ‘Do I look stoned?’ ” he said. “Parents and teachers wouldn’t know what we were talking about.”But, as more teens started to talk about it, parents, teachers and school administrators began to catch on.

The San Juan Unified School District has taken measures to educate parents, teachers and principals about the date.
“The rumors (that some students are planning to skip school April 20) prompted our biggest push,” said Joe Tucker, coordinator of attendance improvement with the school district. “A letter has gone out to administrators and parents making them aware of the issues that surround the date.”

Students are expected to be in school that day, he said, and off-campus hangouts will be monitored.
“We’re putting out a notice to kids, ‘You’re expected to be at school,’ ” Tucker said. “Law enforcement is aware of (the significance of the date),
as well as the school. If they’re caught skipping school, depending on where they are and how many ‘cuts’ they have, it does pose a risk to the kids.
“If it’s their first time ever, it would be just a Saturday school (punishment), but if they’re habitually truant, it can mean they lose their driver’s license or go to juvenile court.”
Plenty of companies make money on the term. It can be found on stickers, patches, T-shirts and baseball caps. Clerks at Evangeline’s in Old Sacramento say they can’t keep some of the items on the shelves.
“We have a calling list for some of the T-shirts,” said clerk Jennea Morris. “We can’t keep them on the shelf.” The 420 items have been popular for quite some time, said assistant manager Rob Teresi. He said the items sell well year-round, not just near April 20. “It’s been selling good for three or four years,” Teresi said. This article appeared in the Sacramento Bee last april and was written by Marsha Hart.