Alcohol Consumption and Cancer Study Finds Link

Alcohol is extremely toxic for your health. In 1980, there was a study done in Canada that linked heavy alcohol consumption to an increase of incident rates of six types of cancer: esophagus, liver, stomach, colon, prostate, and lung cancer. The subjects studied were all male. More recently in 2009, studies have been done linking alcohol and cancer in women. Again, six cancers were found to be influenced by alcohol consumption: esophagus, liver, breast, rectum, mouth and throat.

Alcohol is an irritant to body tissue, damaging cells in the mouth and throat. The cells need to repair themselves changing DNA slightly. This can be a contributing factor towards the development of cancer. Alcohol is also a solvent slowing down the body’s ability to get rid of other harmful chemicals, such as nicotine. Alcohol lowers the body’s ability to absorb vitamin B from foods. Lastly, alcohol raises levels of estrogen increasing a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer.

In addiction we choose to believe that none of these types of heath issues will happen to us. The disease of alcoholism tells you that the most important thing is to obtain and consume alcohol, leaving out the possible consequences of consumption, cancer and

alcohol addiction. In sobriety we are more apt to pay attention to our health and avoid additives which may contribute to the development of health issues.

Bromo-Dragonfly (B-Fly) Hallucinogen

There is a new synthetic drug called Bromo-benzodifuranyl-isopropylamin but more commonly referred to as Bromo-Dragonfly, B-Fly or Fly. It is a hallucinogen that is supposed to last up to three days when ingested. This drug has three forms: powder, liquid and blotter. The drug shuts down the oxygen going to the heart and the rest of the body, as reported by a drug prevention coordinator at the Wicomico County Health Department.

 So far inWicomicoCountythere have been two deaths related to intoxication of Bromo-Dragonfly. Many adolescents are experimenting and taking risks using this substance because it is not illegal, yet. The lack of research means that helping an intoxicated individual on Bromo-Dragonfly is difficult because remedies are based on counteracting chemical compounds.  This drug has not been regulated and therefore the chemical compounds are unknown.

Addiction is so tricky with the way it entices people to try different things. Addictive thoughts will tell an addict that it is ok to use a substance because it is legal. By this train of thought, alcohol is legal yet it still destroys lives. Taking hallucinogens is extremely dangerous and can cause a psychotic break, especially if there is a family history of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders. Three days of non–reality with the risk of death or psychosis doesn’t seem that enticing to me. In most cases treatment for addiction in a drug rehabilitation facility is recommended to break the addiction cycle and distorted thinking of using drugs just because they might be legal.

Synthetic Marijuana Called K2 and Newer Version K3

An article was recently written on a study done that showed 1 in 9 high school students are getting high off synthetic marijuana referred to as K2. The hazardous effects of this type of drug are just as bad, if not worse than good old THC.

K2 is made in home labs where people add chemicals to leafy substances to induce the effects of a hallucinogen. Kids who smoke this drug report feeling high. The other side effects are paranoia, loss of consciousness, high blood pressure, vomiting and headaches. The article reports that an 18 year old was driving under the influence of alcohol and K2. He drove his truck into another kid who was standing next to his car, crushing him.

It seems that synthetic marijuana is a growing epidemic and according to this article the rate of use is increasing along with marijuana use. Different states are trying to ban the chemicals used in making synthetic marijuana; however, the makers are finding new ways to change the chemical compounds and change the name of the chemical(s) to avoid the law and being banned. For example, K2 is now K3 and Spice is now Splice.

The desperate attempts of kids getting high is leading them to ingest substances that are extremely harmful and the short term and long term side effects are still being researched. For these kids the gamble of getting high outweighs the damage that might possibly be done.  Abuse of these new drugs must be treated the same as a marijuana addiction, they are not substitutes.

Heroin Addiction Cuts Chris Herren’s NBA Career

Chris Herren, drafted by the Boston Celtics lost his basketball career to heroin.  Herren was both a high school and collegiate level basketball star. He was drafted by the Denver Nuggets and later traded to the Boston Celtics. During his rise to the top he dabbled with using alcohol, cocaine and heroin. While Herren had many opportunities to play basketball in several other countries, his drug addiction was his main priority.

Herren drained his wife’s bank accounts and wound up having tens of thousands of dollars a month heroin addiction.  After almost dying from an overdose, Herren went for heroin addiction treatment to work on his substance abuse addiction and the reasons why he used in the first place.

Sober for three years, Herren promotes his sobriety and recovery by encouraging kids to live out their basketball dreams. Hoop Dreams with Chris Herren, Inc. is a basketball player development company that he started in 2009. Within his company he educates students in high school about the disease of addiction and promotes a clean and sober lifestyle.