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Teens And Addicts Are Distilling Hand Sanitizer

Reports are coming in from all over the country of emergency rooms treating patients who have been abusing alcohol based hand sanitizers.  They are consumed due to their high ethanol content, easy availability and low price.  However, drinking hand sanitizer is a dangerous business, and becomes even more so when mixed with other over the counter products like mouth wash, or even worse when it is distilled with salt.

Distilling hand sanitizer with salt is becoming a serious problem, and news of it is sweeping the nation.  Details on the process can be found all over the internet, and it actually raises the alcohol content to over 100%!  That means only a few shots of this dangerous mixture can induce the same effects as a larger dose of traditional alcohol.

The appeal of this for teens and addicts is the ready availability of both the hand sanitizer and the mixing or distilling components used to increase the already high volume of alcohol.  Also the low cost makes is easily accessible for most any budget.

The health risks of using distilled hand sanitizer are not fully evident yet, but there are certain dangers already associate with it including organ damage, diarrhea and mental impairment or blindness.   Often these conditions are permanent and can even be fatal.  A number of crimes have been committed by persons under the influence of hand sanitizer concoctions, and police in some states are attributing homicides to its use.

Please be aware of the risks associated with alcohol based hand sanitizer with regards to teens and those suffering from the disease of addiction.  Consider switching to non-alcohol based hand cleansing products, and keep a watch for anyone you have concerns about possibly distilling hand sanitizer with salt as this is an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.

Please call us at 1-888-505-1969 for more information.

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Vodka Eyeballing or Eye Shots

Just when you think you’ve heard it all in the world of addiction treatment something new comes along to prove you wrong!  This new trend of taking shots of alcohol through the eyes (vodka “eyeballing” or eye shots) seems to have originated in Europe and now seems to be firmly embedded in American collegiate culture.  Those who partake in the activity claim that the alcohol effects are felt almost immediately and that the high is intense.  Experts tend to disagree, saying that a more likely explanation is the “I dare you too” concept of peer groups in college.

It doesn’t take a medical degree to see the potential downsides of pouring 40% alcohol into an area as sensitive as the eye, as the thin film protecting the eye is highly susceptible to damage by corrosive elements.  Damage in the form of scarring to this membrane can lead to eventual blindness or weakness and watering of the eyes.  Recent college graduates who participated in vodka eyeballing have begun to experience these negative aspects of eye shots, and their ophthalmologists are warning their site may only deteriorate as they get older.

So who in their right mind would partake of this type of activity?  Unfortunately it’s just another example of the age old issue of peer pressure coupled with the binge drinking mentality that has grown over the years at universities around the country.  For the most part, it seems that people “in their right mind” are not vodka eyeballing, but instead are making poor decisions once they are already under the influence to a point where their inhibitions are lowered.  According to most participants, it is quite painful (as one would imagine), but the rush and thrill coupled with the sense of status it lends in a group make the discomfort worthwhile.

As most of us are aware, binge drinking activities often are a precursor for alcohol related addictions later in life, and eye shots are just another instance of putting good judgement aside in response to peer pressure and the desire to impress.  The following are a couple of videos of students engaging in vodka eyeballing, judge for yourself whether it seems like a good idea!

And remember, if you or a loved one are suffering from alcohol or drug addiction and would like more information on treatment options, please call us at 1-888-505-1969.  We are an affordable inpatient facility with a focus on holistic addiction treatment, and have the expertise and caring to help you on your journey to recovery.

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The entire nation seems to be buzzing about the Intervention bath salts episode aired in February, which featured a young man who suffered from a crippling addiction to this deadly designer drug.  For those of you who missed it, here is a recap with more information, and an even more shocking video below.

Or get more information about bath salt addiction treatment.

As you can see bath salts are nothing to play with.  Although the chemical components of the drug have mostly been placed under governmental control, the drug is still readily available from a number of sources online and even in stores.  Similar knockoff bath salt drugs have been produced and marketed as fertilizers, external use only health aids, and potpourris to name a few.  There are entire forums dedicated to procuring bath salts, making them accessible to almost anyone with no more than a simple Google search.  Numerous deaths have been attributed to the drug so far, as well as thousands of injuries and acts of violence.  One female user even contracted necrotizing fasciitis (flesh eating bacteria) by shooting up with bath salts.  It is more commonly smoked or snorted, but incidents of bath salts injection are on the rise.

Users describe the drug in a variety of ways, but tend to compare it to hallucinogens like LSD, and stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine.  This is obviously a potent cocktail and a recipe for disaster.  Rehabs, hospitals and national help lines are seeing an alarmingly steady increase in the amount of bath salt related incidents due to their commonly experienced side effects that include paranoia, increased heart rate and blood pressure, hallucinations and suicidal thoughts.  Bath salts are dangerous!  They have also proven to be highly addictive, with users craving the drug after only one or two uses.

The following video shows even more shocking effects of bath salts abuse, it begins with a 911 call followed by video of the user in the back of the police squad car.  As you will see, his behavior is frighteningly erratic and potentially dangerous due to his apparent lack of coherence.  If you or a loved one are suffering from an addiction to bath salts, call us today at 888-505-1969 so that we can get you the help you need!

Additional resources on bath salts:

This is a really good blog article on the addictive qualities Can you get addicted to bath salts?

More information on bath salts

Oxycontin addiction has steadily risen over the years to become on of the leading drugs of choice for addicts.  Even more worrisome is the sharp rise in use by teenagers, studies have shown one out of every twenty high school students has at least experimented with this powerful and addictive painkiller.

Classified as an opioid analgesic, Oxycontin is a derivative of the opium poppy which has been used throughout history as both a painkiller and a mood altering substance.  While very effective at combating moderate to severe pain, Oxycontin is by nature also strongly addictive due to it’s mechanisms of action.  Binding to pain receptors in the brain, nervous system and gastrointestinal tracts, Oxycontin blocks the bodies ability to perceive pain.  This can be very helpful in the case of a condition that causes chronic or severe pain, but the addictive qualities of Oxycontin often outweigh the benefit.

Oxycontin addiction is caused by a number of factors, but the most common stem from the fact that there is no upper limit at which the medication becomes less effective.  In other words, the opioid chemicals continue to bring down the level of pain experienced by a user all the way up to a lethal dosage.  Oxycontin also causes a state of euphoria which is very attractive to many addicts, as it also increase accordingly with the amount of ingestion.  Long term use of Oxycontin can lead to a total dependence on it for pain and withdrawal symptoms as it decreases and eventually halts the production of endorphins in the brain.  These endorphins are produced by the body in response to pain, and without them the user becomes completely addicted to and dependent upon the Oxycontin for dealing with discomfort.

Another negative side effect of Oxycontin is the effect on the gastrointestinal system where it inhibits the ability for normal bowel function, resulting in sometimes severe constipation.  Under regular physician care this is something that can be dealt with through the use of laxatives and other medications that block uptake of the opioid by the intestines.  Oxycontin addicts on the other hand are often not careful in their usage of the drug or other aspects of their health and can be severely affected by this constipating action.

Due to it’s legal status as a painkiller, Oxycontin can often be obtained by addicts through exaggerated claims of pain or presenting false symptoms when visiting their physician.  Often they see several different doctors in order to obtain their medication, but can become desperate once those sources run out.  This can lead to criminal activities to obtain Oxycontin outside of the legal channels, where the drug can cost as much as $80 per dose.

The accessibility to prescription medications such as Oxycontin contributes to the increased usage by teens.  Patients often tend to keep their unused medication around if they don’t take the full prescription, or only need temporary relief from pain.  It’s quite easy for teenagers to get their hands on Oxycontin and other opioid pain killers by simply rummaging through their parents, or friends medicine cabinets.  It is a good practice to always throw away or properly dispose of unused medications in a safe manner to avoid this type of situation.  There have been an increased amount of medicine cabinet thefts in realtor open houses, home tours and other events where access to private residences is possible for users.  Oxycontin addiction treatment is the best way to deal with problems stemming from the abuse of this sometimes fatal drug.

Bow Creek and Bella Vista Addiction Treatment Centers have dealt with many cases of Oxycontin addiction, and have the knowledge, caring and expertise to make an Oxycontin rehab experience a successful one.  If you or someone you know is suffering from this or any other addiction, please.. Have them call us today, we are here to help. 1-888-505-1969

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