The mystery of Whitney Houstons death

Whitney Houston talking to the audience before proceeding to perform "Saving All My Love for You" during the HBO-televised concert "Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston" honoring the troops, who took part in Operation Desert Storm, their families, and military and government dignitaries. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)There have been rumors circulating and many fans of the late singer have questioned the coroners findings with regards to what exactly killed Whitney. Many forums discussing her death seem to have fans in confusion about how she could have drowned from Cocaine, stating that Cocaine doesn't make a user drowsy.
Here's some interesting things to consider:
Cocaine if taken in small doses will not necessarily make one hyperactive and super alert but can induce calmness. If Houston had take a small amount prior to bathing it may, along with the other sedative like substances may have made her drowsy.

Cocaine, depending on how it is taken will remain in the body for different amounts of time. We do not know when the Cocaine was taken by Ms. Houston. The coroner said just prior to her drowning.

Cocaine can cause sudden death, by constricting the blood vessels in the heart. If one has blocked arteries and experiences rapid palpitations caused by the Cocaine,  the heart can suddenly stop or slow down and cause unconsciousness. Ms. Houston reportedly had 60 percent narrowing of her arteries.

Ms. Houston may not have had the strength or may have been unconscious but still breathing when she slipped beneath the surface of the water when her heart started going into cardiac arrest. (These are just theories)

Here are some concerns and questions:

How long was Ms. Houston alone in the bathroom?

Why did her staff forbid her to take baths? I suspect she has had a near drowning event before, perhaps from the same drugs.

Some reports indicate Ms. Houston was found face down. She may have tried to pull herself up and out of the tub, but lost consciousness doing so, slumping forward..

Ms. Houston did have Cocaine in her system, who knew, who bought it for her, who sold it to her? Most addicts can not hide an addiction for long from those around her and many famous addicts have someone to purchase or secure their drugs for them.

Did Ms. Houston do the drugs somewhere else? There was no sign of the drug in her home at the time of her death.

Why was Ms. Houston not still in treatment? She had other drugs in her system, which may have been legal but this does not mean she as an addicted was supposed to be on them.

What the reader must take away from this death
 Ms. Houston was clearly still an addict, not in recovery. She ultimately died as a result of a relapse assuming she had been sober at all since her last treatment. She may have rolled the dice one time too many, as most addicts that have been in treatment are well educated as to what drugs can and will do to them on any given day. Addicts are told any amount is a no no, any drug is a no no.

She was well informed. She was an addict that needed to be in treatment, not going to Grammy Awards. She was a singer in trouble, and it is hard to believe, her boyfriend, staff and family members were unaware of her still using. Very hard to believe. A long time addict remains under suspicion for a long time by their family, friends and loved ones. They become well schooled in what signs to look for and will always be keenly observant of any changes in their behavior.

Ms. Houston should not have been having alcohol, or marijuana. Most addicts use secondary drugs to heighten the high experienced by their primary drug of choice since it takes more and more of the addictive drug to give them the same high. Many couple up their drug usage with alcohol and marijuana, and prescription medicines for this purposed.

Many will say it is no one's fault but the singers, but truthfully speaking, she was still an addict, and those around her that knew it can share in the blame for not seeking help for her. After all, addicts rarely seek help for themselves. The best way to help an addict is not to hide their secret from everyone,but to bring it to light so it can no longer hide them, from their problem.

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• Does an addict choose to be addicted?

Addicts and choices

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The popular television show, Intervention took a look recently at the story of Suzon and uncovered a supermom turned crack addict. Through out the show we saw Suzon struggle with addiction, and with different family members. In one segment of the show Suzon's mother made a statement that needs taking a look at, where she confronts Suzon by telling her she is "choosing" drugs over her mother, and her family.

An addict chooses?
To clarify for those who do not understand addiction, an addict, only makes one bad choice deliberately, and that was the first time they chose to do drugs. Once addicted there is no choice. The definition of addiction: a compulsive physiological and psychological need for a habit-forming substance. Notice there is no mention of choices. It does not define addiction as: when a user chooses drugs instead of all things. To have a choice is to have control. Addiction strips the user of the control.  To have a choice, is to not be addicted. Addiction in itself eliminates options like "choices" and this is what family and friends must understand. Their addicted loved one made one bad choice, the addiction took over  from that point and now the addict can no longer have control over the impulse, the physical craving.

Guilt strengthens addiction
Making the addict feel guilty by telling them they are choosing drugs over their family is likely only to make the addict feel worse which then in turn makes them crave the drug more so that they can escape the bad feelings they have over the guilt. It is more important at this stage for the family to make the choices that must be made, and that is Intervention. Once an addict is clean they will naturally feel all the guilt and hurt they hid from. It is far better they deal with it sober than still under the addiction's grasp. If you need to, take the most drastic steps necessary. This may include having your addict arrested.

The choice is yours
If you love your addicted family member there is the ability to control what happens in your life and the life of the addict if you are prepared to make the changes that might have to come about. This means choosing an intervention, offering consequences for the addicts refusal and taking control over your own issues. Suzon's mother was a clear case of co-dependency and seeking help for herself was the best choice she could have made.  If you, as the family or friend of the addict is willing to make these choices, you have the control to shape what happens in the future for all concerned. Seek help, get support, become informed about what addiction really is, and understand that addiction is not addiction until the ability to choose has been taken away from the user. Drugs are like that jealous, abusive, selfish lover, promising all things wonderful in the beginning, but in reality, they isolate, numb, demand exclusivity, ruin outside relationships and kill both the spirit and the soul of the other person.

Related articles by the author:

• A & E's show Intervention takes a look at Norco addiction 
• Handling the holidays with an addicted family member 
• Suboxone treatment for addiction to opiates 

A & E's Show Intervention takes a look at Norco addiction

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Recently the drug Norco was featured on an episode of A & E's popular show Intervention. In this episode,a young addict named Christina was not only addicted to Norco but also crystal meth. Many may not be familiar with the drug Norco referenced in this episode but it is classified as a narcotic pain reliever. Norco contains a combination of acetominephen and hydrocodone, and is subject to abuse if taken inappropriately.

Norco is also known as the following, Anexsia, Co-Gesic, Hycet, Liquicet, Lorcet, Lorcet Plus, Lortab, Maxidone, Norco, Polygesic, Stagesic, Vicodin, Xodol, Zamicet, Zolvit, Zydone. Norco is for moderate to severe pain.

The acetominephen in the drug alone is not a very powerful painkiller however, when combined with hydrocodone it has the ability of increasing the hydrocodones effect. Norco contains the highest dose of Hydrocodone and the lowest dose of acetaminophen.

Prolonged or inappropriate use of Norco can cause physical dependence, and tolerance to the drug can develop. Norco can cause side effects that impair reactions and thought processes. Care should be taken when driving or performing other tasks that require you to be alert. Norco can pass through breast milk and may be harmful to fetuses. The opiate can cause addiction, withdrawal and breathing problems in newborn babies.

A & E Follow Up: Christina

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• Will Steven Adler be the next celebrity to succumb to drugs? 

Cocaine statistics

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Cocaine Statistics

Cocaine is one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs a user can run across during their lifetime. The reasons are numerous, but the most prevalent would be these statistics below?

• 1 of 4 Americans of the age range 26-34 reportedly have already taken drugs.
• Certain drug prevention resource centers report that around 5,000 adults in America take Cocaine for the first time every day.
• Statistical reports show that around 25 million people have taken Cocaine at least once in their life time. Additional collected various data suggest that there are more than two million cocaine-addicts in the United States.
• Known data suggests that a large amount of cocaine can still be detected anywhere from two to three weeks after use, if the addict does not die from the initial dose.
• More than half of all emergency room visits are linked to Cocaine overdose.
• The number of Cocaine addicts grows at a rate of 60,000 new cases yearly.
• The percentage of drug-users among students over the past 5 years has increased from 2% in the mid 1990's to almost 5% five years later.
• Over 8% of high school students questioned in the early 2000's, revealed that they have already taken Cocaine.
• Men are twice as likely to take Cocaine as women, however these statistics may not include those females in prostitution. The National Drug Control Policy reports that the amount of constant Cocaine addicts is well over 3 million people.
• Young adults between the ages of 18 to 25 are the fastest growing age group using and /or addicted to Cocaine
• The percentage of people who have taken Marijuana before using Cocaine is 90% which is one of the reasons why legalization of Marijuana is up against daunting odds.

Are Heroin and Cocaine in the same family?

Image via WikipediaHeroin is a depressant drug, with the chemical name, (diacetylmorphine), also known as diamorphine, is a semi-synthetic opioid drug synthesized from morphine, a derivative of the opium poppy. As with other opioids, diacetylmorphine is used as both an analgesic and a recreational drug. Frequent and regular administration is associated with tolerance and physical dependence, which may develop into addiction.

Cocaine is a stimulant drug, with the chemical name, (benzoylmethylecgonine) which  is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant.The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic. Specifically, it is a serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine re-uptake inhibitor, which mediates functionality of these neurotransmitters as an exogenous catecholamine transporter ligand. Because of the way it affects the mesolimbic reward pathway, cocaine is addictive.

Drugs that are depressant in nature like Heroin, usually have a sedative type of effect, while drugs that are stimulants like Cocaine, cause rapid heartbeat, and hyperactivity. Both of these drugs are derived in part from natural plant sources, which just goes to show that just because something is "natural" does not mean it is safe. Some of the most deadly chemical compositions occur naturally.

Has Heroin caused more deaths than auto accidents?

Image via Wikipedia
Well that depends on how this question was intended, if  you mean do more people die from automobile accidents than Heroin, the answer is probably yes.
Image via Wikipedia However, to put this into proper perspective first consider this, a greater majority of the population drive cars, so the odds of there being more deaths due to automobile accidents would naturally be higher especially if you take into account also that it is rare that there are ever just one vehicle involved in vehicular accidents resulting in death. However, if there were the same number of Heroin users as there are car drivers, those numbers would probably sky rocket. That doesn't even factor in how many vehicular accidents that may have occured from someone being high on Heroin.

A & E show Intervention takes a look at the drug GHB

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If you watched this past edition of the Award winning show Intervention on A & E then you saw the story of Tiffany, a former beauty queen turned junkie. This particular episode gave insights into a drug that for many may be unfamiliar, GHB. Because there are very few statistics and studies on this particular drug and it's addictive effects, it is of great importance that it be brought to the public through awareness. Here are the facts currently known about this addictive and potentially deadly substance.


What is GHB?
Gamma Hydroxybutyrate. GHB,also known as liquid X, Georgia home boy, Goop, gamma-oh, and grievous bodily harm, is a central nervous system depressant abused for its ability to produce euphoric and hallucinatory states and its alleged ability to release a growth hormone and stimulate muscle growth. Although GHB was originally considered a safe and "natural" food supplement and was sold in health food stores, the medical community soon became aware that it caused overdoses and other health problems.

What are its short-term effects?
At lower doses, GHB can relieve anxiety and produce relaxation. Combining use with other drugs such as alcohol can result in nausea, loss of muscle control and difficulty breathing. GHB may also produce withdrawal effects, including insomnia, anxiety, tremors, and sweating.


What are its long-term effects?
As the dose increases, the sedative effects may result in sleep and eventual coma or death. Other effects include difficulty thinking, hallucinations, slurred speech, headaches and amnesia. GHB has reportedly been used in cases of date rape. Because GHB is odorless and tasteless, it can be slipped into someone’s drink without detection.

Date rape and GHB

The drug  GHB has been identified as a date rape drug,much the same way as alcohol and potent benzodiazepines, often known colloquially as "Rohypnol", the trade name of a potent hypnotic benzodiazepine, flunitrazepam. It has a salty taste but, as it is colourless and odorless, it has been described as "very easy to add to drinks" that mask the flavor. GHB has been used in cases of drug-related sexual assault, usually when the victim is vulnerable due to intoxication with a sedative, generally alcohol. However it is difficult to establish how often GHB is used to facilitate rape as it is difficult to detect in a urine sample after a day, and many victims may not recall the rape until some time after this.[

GHB, produced as a sodium salt (sodium oxybate), may provide a noticeable salty character to the drink, although individual sensitivity to the taste of salt varies.[ GHB can also be produced as different salts, some of which may not have a taste as distinctive as the sodium salt (e.g., magnesium oxybate), or much less commonly in the unstable free-acid form.

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Can smoking crack cocaine put you at risk for HIV

 
Image via Wikipedia Answer:
People who smoke crack cocaine are at increased risk of becoming infected with HIV and other diseases — a finding that highlights the need to adopt and to evaluate the use of safe inhalation rooms and safer crack kits, B.C. researchers say.  However there are NO safe crack kits because crack cocaine can be deadly from one hit.  Some of the reasons for this risk is the users impaired ability to rationally make safe decisions, as well as participating in risky behavior to obtain money for their habit, such as engaging in sexual conduct.

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What is Heroin, and why it can kill you

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Heroin is a member of the opiate family. Since Heroin is derived from Morphine, once it enters into the users brain it is changed back into Morphine. Heroin is particularly lethal because of its ability to enter the brain more quickly than Morphine. Addicts prefer Heroin over Morphine for this reason alone. Heroin is often seen as a white powder, that is usually dissolved in saline and injected into the bloodstream. It is also smoked and snorted as well.
What Heroin does to you
Once Heroin has been introduced into the user's body, the abuser  experiences what is called a "rush". The intensity of this "rush" varies according to the amount of the drug used and how it is introduced into the body. The "rush" is described predominately as a warm flushing sensation of the skin, while extremities feel heavy or weighted down. There have been reports of vomiting, extreme nausea and even an itching sensation.
Heroin has a powerful effect on the users' nervous system. Mental functioning becomes severely impaired, breathing is greatly slowed to the point the user becomes unconscious and dies due to the cardiac functions Image via Wikipediabreaking down. Because it is difficult to know how pure the Heroin may be at the time of purchase, overdose is a constant threat to the user.
Treatment for Heroin addiction involves initially detoxification of the users body. Detoxification rids the body of the drug and once this occurs the patient adjusts to their body being drug free. This is the first short term treatment but the long term treatment is to use various methods, such as using drugs that block the effects of the Heroin and eliminates the withdrawal symptoms experienced by the user. Studies show the most effective treatment involving Heroin addiction is by using a combination of treatments, including pharmacological treatment with behavioral therapies.
Long term damages
Using Heroin over a long period of time will render the user not only an addict but also very unwell health wise. The user will have scarred and collapsed veins,cardiac infections, bacterial infections, abscesses, soft tissue infections, HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis C, and  Hepatitis B (sharing needles), liver disease, kidney disease, lung diseases like Tuberculosis and Pneumonia. Street Heroin poses additional risks as the additives found in street Heroin often clog blood vessels that have the ability to severely compromise lungs, heart, liver and brain.
If you or someone you know needs help or information, more can be found on addiction here:

The effects of Crystal Meth on your body

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Of all the addictive drugs out there, the one you probably do not want your loved one or friend to ever encounter is Crystal Meth. Crystal Meth is highly addictive, leads to risky deadly behavior, and additional health problems that all pave the path to a tragic end. Early intervention is one of the few actions that can improve long term help for this terrible drug. 

What is Crystal Meth?
The chemical n-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-2-amine is called methamphetamine, methylamphetamine, or desoxyephedrine.



What are some of the dangers associated with using Crystal meth?
Crystal meth causes a wide range of symptoms including causing a rapid increase in the users libido, often used in conjunction with Viagra and other known sexual enhancers. Because there is such an impact on the users sexual desire, many meth addicts often engage in sexually risky and dangerous habits that lead to HIV and AIDS infection. Users who inject the drug potentially expose themselves to not only HIV, but hepatitis B and C and other viruses that pass through the blood from an infected needle. The user may remain awake for days on end, have little fatigue. The user will develop a tolerance to the drug and this is where the greatest danger of addict lies with this drug. Because a tolerance is built up, the addict finds themselves craving greater quantities of the drug.  High quantities of the drug cause heart rate increase, body temperatures can raise to dangerous levels. Paranoia, agitation, bizarre sexual behaviors, all of which increase the users death rate probability.

Problems that arise from the use of Crystal Meth include:
Paranoia
Anxiety
Confusion
Hallucinations
Insomnia & Violent behavior.
Psychotic symptoms may last for months, or possibly years, after someone has stopped using the drug! Overuse of the drug can bring on short term memory loss, wild rages and drastic mood swings, as well as the obvious damage to the immune system.

How addictive is Crystal Meth?
Most experts in the field say this drug is highly addictive and becoming addicted to it is likely in almost every instance. So addictive is Crystal meth, that as the user graduates to injecting the substance into their veins, addiction becomes imminent. The occurrence of relapse is high with the user of Crystal meth. The addiction is strong enough to cause great emotional distress as well, and the longer an addict uses, the projected success of getting off of the drug is often slight. Successful intervention, needs to occur immediately. Rehab for a Crystal meth addict may have to become a lifelong commitment.
Users who inject the drug potentially expose themselves to HIV, hepatitis B and C and other viruses that pass through the blood from an infected needle.

Other issues that can arise from repeated injections of crystal meth include:
1. Infections of the heart lining and valves
2. Scarred or collapsed veins
3. Abscesses
4. Pneumonia
5. Tuberculosis
6. Liver disease
7. Kidney disease
8. Death

What are the chances for over coming this drug?
Prolonged use of Crystal Meth renders the user eventually of being incapable of producing the chemicals needed in the body to experience pleasure. The body can no longer have the sensation of enjoying pleasure on its own and the drug becomes the mood enhancer. As depression overcomes the addict, the drug becomes a necessity to avoid and fight off the depression. It fails to fight off the depression, and as continued use occurs, more and more is needed to achieve any results.  Many meth addicts use prostitution as a way to obtain the drug. Users on Crystal Meth have only a limited opportunity to overcome the disease, and intervention and treatment have to occur quickly in the history of the use.

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Opiates in the Human Body

Opiates elicit their powerful effects by activating opiate receptors that are widely distributed throughout the brain and body. Once an opiate reaches the brain, it quickly activates the opiate receptors that are found in many brain regions and produces an effect that correlates with the area of the brain involved.
Two important effects produced by opiates, such as morphine, are pleasure (or reward) and pain relief. The brain itself also produces substances known as endorphins that activate the opiate receptors. Research indicates that endorphins are involved in many things, including respiration, nausea, vomiting, pain modulation, and hormonal regulation.
When opiates are prescribed by a physician for the treatment of pain and are taken in the prescribed dosage, they are safe and there is little chance of addiction.
Read more information here:
Opiate

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