The drug addict is a model of behavior that I like to study on a consistent basis. Why do drug addicts subject their bodies to synthetic "recreational" drugs? To escape real life? To get a constant physical "high" that feels good? There are a thousand other reasons most likely. But, once a drug is tried, the possibility for addiction sinks hooks into you.

The drug that man of us hear about these days is "meth." Commonly called "crystal meth," the technical term is methamphetamine, and the effects of this drug are outright damaging (psychologically and physically). Meth s produced cheaply (sometimes with off-the-shelf ingredients), which makes it very popular.

In an added note of absurdity, drug pushers are adding "sweet flavorings" and other junk food ingredients into the mix to get first-time meth users into the habit using "taste" hooks. If you know somebody using meth in any way (flavored or not), setting that person up to get help is the only humane thing to do.

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Recognizing that your child is using drugs is sometimes not that easy. Teenagers getting high on cold medicines, cough syrups, and similar items has increased. Also teenagers raid the medicine cabinets of their family and the family members of their friends in search of quick and easy ways to experiment with drugs. Maintaining a healthy open relationship with your child is important in helping them make the right choice not to use drugs.

One drug on the street that is hugely popular and becoming more widespread is Methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is a strong physical and mental stimulant available in both prescription and street forms. It is relatively easy to synthesize which has contributed to its widespread use. Street names for the drug are speed, meth, crystal, crank, tina, and sometimes confusingly called ice. Health risks and problems associated with methamphetamine use are agitation, inability to concentrate, cardiovascular stress, heart attack & hypertensive crisis, stroke, overheating, poor sleep, sleep deprivation, bad driving, poor diet, paranoia, risky sexual behavior, neurotoxicity and death.

Get to know the subtle drug behavior warning signs as well as the obvious signs of drug use.
Changes in friends, declining grades, negative changes in schoolwork, or missing school more frequently, increased secrecy about possessions or activities, use of incense, room deodorant, or perfume to hide smoke or chemical odors, subtle changes in conversations with friends, (examples are more secretive and using "coded" language), change in clothing choices with a new fascination with clothes that highlight drug use, increase in borrowing or asking for money, shoplifting, evidence of drug paraphernalia such as pipes, rolling papers, needles, evidence of use of inhalant products (such as hairspray, nail polish, correction fluid, common household products, and rags and paper bags are sometimes used as accessories), bottles of eye drops, which may be used to mask bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils, new use of mouthwash or breath mints to cover up the smell of alcohol, and missing prescription drugs, especially narcotics and mood stabilizers from your medicine cabinets.

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If you've suffered from one of the many nasty cold viruses being passed around this season, chances are you've run to the store for something to relieve the symptoms. You may have been surprised to find that your favorite cold medicine was no longer on the shelf, but hidden away behind the protection of the pharmacy's glass windows.

Because pseudoephedrine is one of the main ingredients in the illegal and often homemade drug methamphetamine, the FDA has taken the bold but necessary step of removing the OTC drug from store shelves. Cold remedies are still available, but consumers will need to show ID and sign a register before being allowed to relieve their sniffles. Some customers find this annoying, but reading just a few paragraphs about the devastation of meth addiction may have you convinced it's worth your extra trouble.

Some manufacturers have eliminated the drug from their products, replacing it with phenylephrine. There are plenty of natural alternatives to drugs that contain pseudoephedrine, too. Zinc products are said to shorten the life of a cold virus, and the good old fashioned moisture of saline drops, or a hot, steamy shower can go a long way toward relieving your symptoms without any side effects. Rest and plenty of fluids will see you through the 7-10 days most colds last, until your up and ready to go again.

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