Showing posts with label Dangers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dangers. Show all posts

Heroin Dangers - Mayo Clinic video

Dr. Daniel Hall-Flavin, a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist and addiction specialist comments on the dangers of heroin. http://buff.ly/1goWAj4



Drug abuse is changing fast: Old drugs are falling from favor, new ones are growing

In recent years, hundreds of new drugs have appeared on the recreational drugs market in Europe and the U.S. New psychoactive substances, mainly stimulants and cannabinoids from China sold on the internet, proliferate too quickly for anyone to keep track of them. Websites such as Erowid.org create lists of those drugs.

It is all part of the rapid diversification of recreational drugs, fuelled by chemical ingenuity and by new distribution possibilities opened up by the internet.

New drugs of misuse, including ketamine, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), and a range of synthetic stimulants, have become part of global recreational drug culture. Use in combination with other substances (especially alcohol) is common and increases the associated health risks.

"A to Z" list of substances

"Talk to Frank" is a British government-funded website for drug abuse prevention and treatment tips for the general public available at http://talktofrank.com

The "A to Z" list of substances explains appearance and use, effects, chances of getting hooked, health risks and the UK law. It also includes information on peer pressure, etc.



16% of motorists may be under the influence of drugs during weekends - one in six cars

16% of motorists may be under the influence of drugs during weekends - one in six cars
Motorists under the influence of drugs are a growing threat on U.S. roads. If you think about driving on a Friday or Saturday evening about 16% of the vehicles - one in six of the cars - the driver will be under the influence of an illicit or licit drug.

"Drugged driving" hampers judgment, reaction time, driving skills and memory.

References:

Drug use and abuse. The Economist, 2011.
New recreational drugs and the primary care approach to patients who use them. BMJ, 2012.
U.S. says drugged driving growing threat. Reuters.
Am I driving a car? Drunk motorist stuns police http://goo.gl/D9NOa
Drunk Driving, Distracted Driving, Moralism, and Public Health - NEJM
30% of U.S. adults have been arrested by age 23: study. Reuters, 2011.

Benefits and Dangers as Doctors Start to Use Social Media

From Medscape:

"Dr. Choi has more than 3000 Facebook friends, many of whom are patients and colleagues.

But he draws the line at talking about cases with colleagues or sending diagnoses or test results to patients on networking sites. "I can't do any patient care using their messaging or using the site because it's not HIPAA-compliant," Dr. Choi says. "I'll pick up the phone to discuss a case."

Because doctors can be hesitant to share their e-mail addresses -- and regular e-mail is not secure to HIPAA standards -- it's not unheard of for people to find their doctors on Facebook. But the doctors interviewed generally say they avoid making diagnoses or communicating test results over the Internet."

References:
Doctors and Social Media: Benefits and Dangers. Medscape, 2010.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/711717
Video: Teens See Dangers of Texting While Driving

Video: Teens See Dangers of Texting While Driving

AssociatedPress — May 16, 2010 — Teenagers are driving through an obstacle course with their cell phones in hand to see why texting while driving is so dangerous.
Related:
Proposal: All cell phones sold in Chicago to allow parents to block their children from texting while driving. Chicago Tribune, 2011.
Texting drivers deserve more than a fine - Chicago Tribune http://buff.ly/1mdoTVT