We all know that many different substances are addictive. Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and even coffee are a few examples. Have you ever felt that you are addicted to some kind of social network like facebook, msn, myspace or twitter? Like substance addictions, social network addictions can also be "life altering" and extraordinarily hard to give up. For one week, try to see if you can completely get rid of all of your social media and technology. Stop using facebook, twitter, myspace and even stop texting. Do you think you could? I myself am definitely addicted to social media and social networks. When I get up in the morning, before doing anything else, I check my text messages. Following this, I check my msn messenger (which I leave on all night, because I waking up to messages). As I am clicking through different windows, I am also signing on to facebook to see if I have any messages there. After several minutes, I begin to browse or "creep" through my friends' facebook pages. I have a psychological "need" to be updated constantly with other peoples' information. Is it really that big of a deal knowing every little move that people make? This process happens numerous times a day. I rush home from work to check my computer (again, it is left on all day long).
This brings me to another little "secret" about my addiction. I have facebook on my cell phone. If people write on my wall, send me a message or comment on a post I wrote, I will get a text message. I usually reply to all of them, while at work. Not only do I have facebook on my phone, but I also get text messages constantly throughout the day. Do I really need to check my phone that often? No. Lets be real. Would it be easy for me to give up my phone and computer? No. In fact, I can more easily give up coffee and television. I thought that giving up pork and beef would be a challenge. You know what? It was not as hard as I had thought. I tried to give up the use of my computer and cell phone for social means. How long did I last? Less than a day. Pretty sad, but true.
I recently met a girl a little bit older than me (she was 27, I am almost 25). I told her to add me to facebook. She said "oh I do not have facebook". My mouth dropped. I stared at her thinking perhaps she was just kidding. She was not. I had always thought that everyone had facebook. It was strange to hear that someone in their 20s did not have facebook. I talked to her about this. Asked why she did not have facebook. She told me she simply did not want to conform and become addicted to facebook like a lot of people she knew. I told her "I think it is best actually if you do not get facebook. It becomes so addictive." It may not become addictive to everyone, but from what I have seen, a lot of people are addicted to facebook. When something fun, exciting or funny happens, I get my phone out and I change my facebook status so that all my friends on facebook knows. Do these people really want to know that I watched Beetlejuice? No. But the fact that people reply "omg I love that movie" click "like" on my status, makes me happy.These replies help feed my addiction. When I get lots of replies, messages or comments on facebook I get a rush that can be very similar to a euphoric feeling of certain drugs. It makes me want more. So, what do I do? I start updating my status more.
Is this "addiction" a problem? We see things as a problem when it starts to interfere with daily routines or lifestyles. Have I been late for work because I was on facebook? Yes. Do I text at work when (knowing full well it will lower my productivity)? Yes. Do I stay up late at night and lose sleep because of it? Yes. Luckily I am not married and have no partner (or kids), but in this situation is can also be viewed as "a problem". Spouses may be "together" in physical terms but, "psychologically" or "mentally" not "together" when they are using these forms of social networks. Even if the couple tried to carry on conversations while one (or both) partners are on facebook, the communication quality is not going to be a great as it would be if they just turn the computer off. We are beginning to enter an era where texting at the table is "normal" because people are seeing constant cell phone usage as "normal". I would not say I am "against" teenagers having cell phones. If I had a teenager, the only time they would get a cell phone is if they went out with friends and I was not going to be with them. They could call me if there was an emergency. They would not be going to high school with their cell phones. The only time they could have their cell phone on them is when they went out to hangout with friends. It would make me feel much more calm. "Dad, I am 18 I can do what I want". Okay, you're 18, do what you want. With your own money :).I know I am not even CLOSE to fatherhood, but I began to form my expectations and "rules" many years ago.
Am I going to get rid of my facebook and cell phone? No. It would be too difficult for me. I am going to try my best to limit my use of both and see how it goes.
Sunday 13 March 2011
Sunday 27 February 2011
Crack
We commonly hear the term "crack" in reference to a quite unappealing drug. Throughout my life I have commonly heard phrases like "crack-whore" or "you must be high on crack". A lot of people seem to be uneducated about many different drugs, so today's blog is devoted specifically to the topic of crack. What is crack? What are some of the possible psychological and physical symptoms of using crack? How do people use crack?
1. What is crack? To answer this we first must talk about cocaine hydrochloride, or more commonly known as cocaine or "coke". Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant. A stimulant refers to a drug that has an altering, arousing and stimulating effect on the central nervous system. In short, a stimulant such as cocaine can produce alertness, talkativeness, increases in confidence and a diminution of appetite. When users are using cocaine (and crack) they experience euphoria. Euphoria is an experience of intense pleasure and is usually accompanied by optimism and a deep sense of well-being.
The reason cocaine had to be discussed it because crack is created from cocaine. By removing the hydrochloride from cocaine, a more pure drug is created. The process of removing the hydrochloride from cocaine is called "freebasing" and is done chemically. This freebasing of cocaine creates crack. Crack is a more potent form of cocaine. Crack is highly addictive.
2. Some Possible Psychological Effects of Using Crack:
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Suicidal Behaviour
- Extreme depression experiences
- In some cases users can experience psychosis which when they lose touch with reality. The user may experience auditory hallucinations which is hearing things that are not actually there.
3. Some Possible Physical Effections of Using Crack:
- Increased body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Convulsions
- Abdominal pain
- Headaches
- Sudden death
4. How do Users Use Crack?
Crack gets the name "crack" because when it is smoked, it tends to make cracking sounds. Inhalation is the most common way of using crack. It gives users a high in just seconds. Another way of using crack is to inject it using a needle. The crack is melted down into a liquid form.
5. Other Names for Crack:
- Rock
- Freebase
In movies we commonly see people using cocaine or crack and movies tend to give the appearance that it is a high end, expensive drug. In reality, the price of these drugs has become much more affordable and more easily accessable than before. This is important to note because even adolescents can be able to afford these drugs. It is quite scary. After tolerance begins to grow, using cocaine and crack can be a very expensive habit because as tolerance builds, users dependent on these drugs rely on more of the drug to get the same effects as they once did.
Parents should first educate themselves on different drugs and teach their children about them. I never got any form of "drug talk" other than "stay away from drugs". My parents probably still have no clue as to what crack, coke or many other drugs even are. If parents educate themselves and their children about the negative effects of drugs, they are probably more likely to see their kids staying away from drugs. Here is a possible scenario:
A grade 10 student feels left out, lonely, and depressed. They become friends with someone that is not in their school and starts going to parties with this individual. They drink alcohol and smoke a little bit of pot here and there. One day, the "new friend" says "lets try something different". The grade 10 student (having no education or knowledge of drugs) agrees to try something new (not being aware of what could potentially happen). The student takes a few hits of crack. What could happen? Well, first of all, crack is highly addictive so it could be likely he will become addicted. He feels great. He loves the euphoric feeling. Finally, he fits in. Two years later... He dropped out of school. He spends approximately 60 dollars a day on crack. He lives on the street, and begs for money. He left his family because they wanted him to stop using.
This scenario is not an actual one, but it very easily could happen. When I was in high school there was VERY minimal education in regards to drugs and the effects so I urge parents to consider educating themselves and their children about as many different kinds of drugs as possible.
Below are some references as well as some information for getting yourself or someone you know help. Everyone has potential in life. Everyone has the ability to change and improve. Believe in yourself.
http://www.medicinenet.com/cocaine_and_crack_abuse/article.htm
http://www.adstv.on.ca/
http://www.connexontario.ca/
1. What is crack? To answer this we first must talk about cocaine hydrochloride, or more commonly known as cocaine or "coke". Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant. A stimulant refers to a drug that has an altering, arousing and stimulating effect on the central nervous system. In short, a stimulant such as cocaine can produce alertness, talkativeness, increases in confidence and a diminution of appetite. When users are using cocaine (and crack) they experience euphoria. Euphoria is an experience of intense pleasure and is usually accompanied by optimism and a deep sense of well-being.
The reason cocaine had to be discussed it because crack is created from cocaine. By removing the hydrochloride from cocaine, a more pure drug is created. The process of removing the hydrochloride from cocaine is called "freebasing" and is done chemically. This freebasing of cocaine creates crack. Crack is a more potent form of cocaine. Crack is highly addictive.
2. Some Possible Psychological Effects of Using Crack:
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Suicidal Behaviour
- Extreme depression experiences
- In some cases users can experience psychosis which when they lose touch with reality. The user may experience auditory hallucinations which is hearing things that are not actually there.
3. Some Possible Physical Effections of Using Crack:
- Increased body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Convulsions
- Abdominal pain
- Headaches
- Sudden death
4. How do Users Use Crack?
Crack gets the name "crack" because when it is smoked, it tends to make cracking sounds. Inhalation is the most common way of using crack. It gives users a high in just seconds. Another way of using crack is to inject it using a needle. The crack is melted down into a liquid form.
5. Other Names for Crack:
- Rock
- Freebase
In movies we commonly see people using cocaine or crack and movies tend to give the appearance that it is a high end, expensive drug. In reality, the price of these drugs has become much more affordable and more easily accessable than before. This is important to note because even adolescents can be able to afford these drugs. It is quite scary. After tolerance begins to grow, using cocaine and crack can be a very expensive habit because as tolerance builds, users dependent on these drugs rely on more of the drug to get the same effects as they once did.
Parents should first educate themselves on different drugs and teach their children about them. I never got any form of "drug talk" other than "stay away from drugs". My parents probably still have no clue as to what crack, coke or many other drugs even are. If parents educate themselves and their children about the negative effects of drugs, they are probably more likely to see their kids staying away from drugs. Here is a possible scenario:
A grade 10 student feels left out, lonely, and depressed. They become friends with someone that is not in their school and starts going to parties with this individual. They drink alcohol and smoke a little bit of pot here and there. One day, the "new friend" says "lets try something different". The grade 10 student (having no education or knowledge of drugs) agrees to try something new (not being aware of what could potentially happen). The student takes a few hits of crack. What could happen? Well, first of all, crack is highly addictive so it could be likely he will become addicted. He feels great. He loves the euphoric feeling. Finally, he fits in. Two years later... He dropped out of school. He spends approximately 60 dollars a day on crack. He lives on the street, and begs for money. He left his family because they wanted him to stop using.
This scenario is not an actual one, but it very easily could happen. When I was in high school there was VERY minimal education in regards to drugs and the effects so I urge parents to consider educating themselves and their children about as many different kinds of drugs as possible.
Below are some references as well as some information for getting yourself or someone you know help. Everyone has potential in life. Everyone has the ability to change and improve. Believe in yourself.
http://www.medicinenet.com/cocaine_and_crack_abuse/article.htm
http://www.adstv.on.ca/
http://www.connexontario.ca/
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