From the category archives:

Recreational drugs

Cigarettes and second hand smoke…

Just The Facts

Smokers and non-smokers alike often do not fully appreciate the health risks of tobacco use, particularly cigarette smoking.  The latest epidemiologic studies indicate that death rates for smokers are two to three times higher than for non-smokers at all ages.  This means that half of all smokers will eventually die as [...]

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Alcohol

The hazards of alcohol abuse

Alcohol occupies a unique place in many human societies.  It is a widely used drug, tolerated physiologically and socially, with a place in religious ceremony, in ritual, in spontaneous celebration, and in everyday social transactions.  However, it also a drug that contributes extensively to illness, to violence, to social [...]

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Caffeine

Caffeine is probably the most abused drug in our society.  Six out of ten adults drink coffee every day and almost all children regularly eat chocolate and drink cola, both of which are laden sources of caffeine.  With a single cup of regular coffee providing 100-150 mg. of caffeine, the average intake per person each [...]

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Cocaine

What is Cocaine?
Cocaine hydrochloride is a central nervous system stimulant derived from the coca plant.  Abused for the intoxicating effects, cocaine interferes with the reabsorption process of dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain responsible for controlling pleasure, alertness, and movement.
How long has cocaine been used?

The Incas were probably the first [...]

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Ecstasy

MDMA, called “Adam,” “ecstasy,” or “XTC” on the street, is a synthetic, psychoactive (mind-altering) drug with amphetamine-like and hallucinogenic properties.  Its chemical structure (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is similar to two other synthetic drugs, MDA and methamphetamine, which are known to cause brain damage.
Health hazards

Beliefs about MDMA are reminiscent of the claims made about [...]

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Marijuana-Medicinal Uses

A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report recognized, but did not condemn marijuana’s health hazards since there is insufficient research available to prove its effectiveness as a medicine.  The WHO came to the conclusion that, “Weighed in the balance with other legal drugs, there is no compelling public reason to prohibit marijuana.”
The report [...]

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