Question by Sarah: How does Crack Cocaine use affect Diabetes, specifically?
Hi – I’m a Type 1 – insulin dependant – diabetic (have had it for 23 years, since I was 5 yrs old), and I am / have been in drug treatment / “rehabilitation” for crack cocaine and heroin addiction for the past 10 years. Every 3 months, when it is mandatory to see an actual Doctor, rather than just a key-worker, for a so-called “medical review”, when I tell the ‘Doctor-Of-The-Day’, (dubbed so because my treatment centre is SOOO good and consistent that I get to see a new and totally unfamiliar Doctor each and every time!), that I am diabetic, I am ALWAYS, without fail, met with the cliche, car-mechanic style sharp intake of breath, followed by, “Oooo! Well then you REALLY need to be careful of what you’re doing then, in that case!”…. But NEVER an explanation as to WHY, EXACTLY, I, especially, i.e., more than other, NON-diabetic clients need to be SO careful! I have asked, more than once, why diabetics in particular need to be so much more especially careful when using drugs, as a result of the condition, but the Doctors (don’t know why I insist on using a capital D for Doctor, like they’re all God-like or something?!?! but that’s besides the point here isn’t it?, SO…), The ALL the doctors I’ve so far put this question to just fob me off with, “Well, you’re key-worker can/will answer that for you if you ask them another time; I’m simply here to review your prescription and unfortunately don’t have the time to discuss other, non-drug-related matters, at this time.” I.e., I don’t really know, so I’ll use my apparent/imagined importance to avoid the question altogether.”!!!!!!! I think it’s obviously needless for me to say here that my key-workers are just as baffled / ignorant on the subject as I and all the so-called ‘professional’ doctors are, so I still don’t have an answer! I understand diabetes, and I studied Biomedical Science at degree level for one year, so I’m not STUPID and I DO understand how the human body works better than most, so I tried to find the answer for myself using information that is available online – However – Trying to find info’ that explains or describes how crack and/or heroin use / addiction affects a diabetic user, specifically, with regard to their diabetes only, I’ve found is near enough impossible! Everywhere you go, for info’ on “effects of crack cocaine and heroin on diabetes/diabetics” supplies only generic info’ on the drugs’ common (side) effects with NOTHING specific pertaining to how exactly diabetes does, or potentially could, affect or complicate the drugs’/body’s usual interaction / metabolism of the drugs in question. Can someone with REAL knowledge on this subject please tell me why a diabetic addict/user is so much more at risk than a non-diabetic addict/user?!?! I would really appreciate REAL, solid, scientific info’ on this subject rather than simple conjecture, theory and suggestion/personal opinion! Many thanks, Sairra x X x

Best answer:

Answer by Mr. Peachy®
You’ll never catch me capitalizing doctor unless it’s a salutation like “Dr.”, for example. There are a few doctors worthy of respect, but I suspect they won’t be found in a treatment center. At any rate, I have learned (the hard way) that drugs… all drugs, tend to interfere with the metabolism in one way or another. Many of them can either increase insulin resistance or cause excess release of cortisol which causes the liver to release stored glycogen as glucose into the blood. As a type one, the last thing you want is insulin resistance (my particular situation as a type two). It would, in effect, make you “double diabetic” meaning you would have to increase your insulin dose for the same amount of carb intake. Trust me, you don’t want to go there. As to specifically which drugs cause what, I don’t really know as I have investigated myself (a former meth and alcohol user) and found very little specific information on the subject. What I can tell you is this. Since getting off of all drugs (that includes the diabetes drug, Metformin), and learning a lot on nutrition, my life has improved significantly. I would never consider going back. Sorry I couldn’t have been more help, but there just isn’t a lot of stuff available out there. Perhaps this might be an opportunity for you to continue your Biomedical Science education and become an educator on the subject. The more I learn about what drugs do to me, the less I want them in my body. And that includes legal, and especially prescription, drugs

Drug Rehab Sugar Hill Turning Heads in the Industry with New Approach to …
Prescription drug abuse in no minor problem here in the United States and one treatment center is doing everything possible to help those struggling with a potentially lethal addiction to opiate pain medication. The large increase in the number of …
Read more on PR Web (press release)

Trailblazing New Recovery Methods at Drug Rehab Macon Are Showing …
The addiction experts at Drug Rehab Macon are here to help however as they've instituted a brand new approach to addiction treatment that helps opiates addicts get control over their substance abuse once and for all. Drugs and alcohol are very harmful …
Read more on PR Web (press release)

Tampa Drug Rehab Reviews State Government Report, Announces Program …
A Tampa drug rehab center is turning its attention toward cutting back the number of deaths as a result of drug abuse through its programs at Drug Addiction Treatment Centers. According to a report released by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, …
Read more on DigitalJournal.com

FDA move aims to curb opiate abuse as painkiller addiction rises in county
In Pittsfield, 90 to 95 percent of break-ins and shopliftings are directly attributable to drugs, police say. A city substance abuse treatment center has seen an increase of at least 70 percent in clients treated for opiate dependency in the past three …
Read more on Berkshire Eagle

Painkillers growing drug of choice
However, where in the past patients were overwhelmingly treated for addiction to heroin, the battle now was often fought against prescription drugs such as oxycodone, which is now the No 1 prescribed medication for chronic severe pain in New Zealand …
Read more on Stuff.co.nz

Drug-resistant superbugs threaten century of medical advances – experts
Without antibiotics, treatments from minor surgery to major transplants could become impossible, and health-care costs are likely to spiral as we resort to newer, more expensive antibiotics and sustain longer hospital admissions." Strategies to …
Read more on Irish Independent

Question by Lauren Luxe: What is your opinion on medical marijuana?
Do you believe it is helpful or destructive? Do you think it is beneficial or dangerous? Do you think it helps solve more problems than it creatives? Do you think it actually destroys white matter in your brain? Do you believe that brain cells are not capable of producing more brain cells?

There are many different views on the issue regarding medical grade marijuana.
A lot of published online reports contain falsified information to persuade people in order to create this idea that may not necessarily be true.

In your opinion, what is the best way to legalize marijuana?

And on that topic, what do you think will happen to all the other “addicts” who wish to legalize their own “drug of choice.”

In the wise words of Bob Marley, “Smoke the herb and it reveals yourself to you.” Do you think that is true?

In the words written in some texts, people believe that every plant, every animal, every living thing, somebody saw all of the uses for them and saw that it was “GOOD.”

What is your stance on this argument?
Please include supporting information and trustworthy sources. Thank you.

Best answer:

Answer by Boiled Angel
I believe it’s helpful, I believe it’s beneficial, I think it will solve problems, and I do not believe it destroys brain matter and the brain is capable of producing more brain cells.

I think the best way to legalize it is to market it and tax it. It will generate so much profit that it will pay for some of our debt. We will also save money from having to convict those who are charged with crimes involving it. Putting someone in prison is expensive!

I do believe Bob Marley’s words are true. From my experience with the stuff, I have found out many things about myself that I wouldn’t have realized otherwise.

I’m not saying Marijuana is the best thing in the world that will solve all of our problems, I just think it’s ridiculous that it’s illegal. It makes no sense. Well, it actually does make sense because there are a lot of greedy rich bastards out there who would fall if it became legal.

Answer by Mrs. Eric Cartman
Looks like someone is doing a paper, haha. Visit cracked.com and read the arguments for and against pot. Do a search.

As for my opinion, I’m 100% for it. Prescription drugs are dangerous; pot is not. I’ve known two truly sick people who benefitted greatly from it. Cops never get called in for a domestic violence situation when it’s weed. It’s all drunks. Most of the dangerous stuff is legal. You can get it from ABC liquor or the doctor. Weed is harmless. If drugs were legal, it would destroy the illegal drug trade. The govt spends millions fighting the drug trade, and drugs are easier for minors to get than beer. People are dying over WEED. Going to jail over weed. The prison systems want to keep it illegal because they want money. They want to house people. It turns normal citizens into criminals and gets them in the system. It’s greedy and it’s irrational.

Dad's cocaine use may help protect son from addiction
A study of long-term heroin users' post-mortem brains, presented at the Society for Neuroscience meeting Sunday, showed that opiate addiction had altered the way the DNA programmed the production of proteins in the brain's striatum – again, a part of …
Read more on Los Angeles Times

Drug Rehabilitation: Acceptance helps recovery from addiction
Aftercare is a crucial part of drug rehabilitation. Drug abuse treatment centers offer a wide range of programs to help people maintain their sobriety after rehab. Personalized aftercare programs help recovering addicts respond to stressful situations …
Read more on Canadian National Newspaper

New Xulon Book is a True Journey from Addiction to Redemption
"It is my deepest desire that each person who reads 'Just Right' will have a greater sense of understanding regarding alcoholism and drug addiction," states the author. "[The most important thing about this book is] that there is always hope for the …
Read more on DigitalJournal.com

From champ to drug and sex addict: Tyson tells all
From champ to drug and sex addict: Tyson tells all. By Maureen Callahan. October 27, 2013 | 4:34am. Modal Trigger. From left to right: Mike Tyson celebrating after becoming the youngest-ever heavyweight champion in 1986; Tyson biting the ear of Evander …
Read more on New York Post

EXCERPT: Artie Lange's 'Crash and Burn'
He's grotesquely honest about his addiction to heroin and prescription drugs, too. Now happily engaged to his … In response to Jimmy Kimmel saying that he was friends with Tom Cruise and that what Lange wrote about Cruise in his first book didn't …
Read more on New York Daily News

Relapse Prevention Prescription Drug Abuse and Addiction – http://drugrehabcenter.com – Relapse Prevention Prescription Drug Abuse and Addiction – Call our Toll-Free Recovery Hotline at 1-800-839-1682 and discover th…

Actiq Withdrawal and Actiq Detox – http://TreatmentCentersDirectory.com Actiq Withdrawal & Actiq Detox – Call 800-839-1682 for immediate live support. You can call our toll-free hotline 24/7 a…

What punishment for drug addicts in Hungary?
Since July 2013, Hungary has a new Penal Code that will significantly tighten penalties for drug-related crimes. While several civil and professional organisations have supported decriminalisation of drug use for many years – they don't wish to punish …
Read more on euronews

That Other Big Afghan Crisis, the Growing Army of Addicts
The number of drug users in Afghanistan is estimated to be as high as 1.6 million, or about 5.3 percent of the population, among the highest rates in the world. Nationwide, one in 10 urban households has at least one drug user, according to a recent …
Read more on New York Times

LUADA Wants Support Against Drugs Abuse
A local anti-drug organization, Liberians United Against Drug Abuse or LUADA, is calling on the government here to increase financial and logistical support to the Drug Enforcement Agency, relevant security apparatus as well as anti-drug institutions …
Read more on AllAfrica.com

Chelmsford goes 'Behind Closed Doors' of teen drug abuse
More than 200 folks filtered into Chelmsford High School's Performing Arts Center last Thursday night for a "Behind Closed Doors" examination of current trends in teen substance abuse. "We did a great amount of advertising for this program, not just in …
Read more on wickedlocal.com/chelmsford

Hayes-Sammons warehouse owner wanted teen drug rehab, boot camp on site
But Hinojosa saw the warehouse as a way to help his drug-addicted teenage son and thousands others like him. He wanted to convert the hulking, graffiti-covered structure into a residential drug-treatment center and boot camp for troubled teens …
Read more on Monitor

Prescription Drug Abuse on the Rise, Iowa Teen Shares Her Struggle
The program, called Iowa Medicine TLC (Talk, Lock, Connect), is an effort by the Iowa Substance Abuse Information Center to get parents and their kids talking about abuse and misuse of prescription medication. 17 year-old Erbes says her first time …
Read more on KCRG