We Restore Hope -

Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there. ~Josh Billings

Holistic drug treatment augments conventional treatment with ancient spiritual practices to effectively the patient’s body, mind and soul. Holistic drug treatment can encompass yoga, tai chi, massage, meditation and a focus on nutrition.

The removal of negative thinking and negative influences is at the core of a holistic program. This helps clear the path for a drug-free life. Holistic treatment, however, is not for everyone. An open mind and attitude is key to success in a holistic treatment program.

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. ~e.e. cummings

It began with the Prozac defense. Then came the Ambien defense. And now the Zoloft defense.

The side effects of certain drugs have emerged in court cases as the defense for crimes such as vehicular homicide and physical assault. The most recent example of this defense is happening now in the First District Court in Hempstead, New York.

Brandon Hampson is charged with the 2006 assault of his then-girlfriend, Lisa Essling. Hampson tackled Essling to the ground, then kicked her repeatedly in the face, head and back. Hampson is charged with third-degree assault, as well as four other counts of violence. Hampson’s attorney believes that the fact that his client had been taking Zoloft, but had been off the medication prior to the incident, strongly suggests that withdrawal from the anti-depressant could explain his behavior.

Pfizer, the manufacturer of Zoloft, said in a statement that no evidence exists to suggest that Zoloft would have violence-inducing side effects that could lead to such a crime.

“Zoloft is a safe and effective medication that has been used to treat millions of patients with depression and anxiety disorders. We continuously monitor the postmarketing safety of our medicines and evaluate all available data to ascertain any signal of increased risk. Pfizer’s evaluation of Zoloft data never has revealed any signal of an increased risk of violence related to either use or discontinuation of use of Zoloft.”

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. ~Kahlil Gibran

Anger is a natural emotion. When it gets the best of you, it is expressed with hostility and aggression, which could lead to violence and many personal and professional consequences.

Anger management is not just the title of a movie. It is a crucial life skill. Anger itself is not a bad emotion. When it is expressed appropriately, anger can be healthy. It can help protect you from dangerous situations and help to resolve problems.

Many people are successful in controlling their stress and anger. The key is to express your anger in a calm and assertive way. Your physical and mental health will thank you for it!

I feel that there is an angel inside me whom I am constantly shocking. ~Jean Cocteau

Stress is our body’s ability to respond to our environment. It is how we react to family, work and daily events. Stress is normal. All of us are under some degree of stress every day. Good stress can be getting a new job or buying your first home. Bad stress can range from experiencing a difficult financial situation to having a sick family member.

Short-lived stress rarely affects long-term health. Stress becomes a problem when it is chronic and difficult to identify. Stress manifests itself through feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, frustration, guilt or excitement. If the stress continues, our health can suffer. It can cause high blood pressure and weaken our immune system. Stress contributes to heart disease, diabetes, obesity and addictions. Learning to control stress in your life is a key element in optimal mental health.

The only correct actions are those that demand no explanation and no apology. ~Red Auerbach

A persistent decline in the rate of Americans, especially children, newly diagnosed with depression followed the first federal warning on risks connected with taking antidepressant drugs.

In 2003, the Food and Drug Administration first warned about the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in young people taking the drugs. That action may have helped reverse a five-year trend of rising rates of diagnosis for depression.

The findings were recently published in the Archives of General Psychiatry and are based on an analysis of eight years of data from nearly 100 managed can plans and more than 55 million patients.

It was already known that antidepressant use among young people had dropped since the drugs began carrying a so-called “black box” warning about risks. But the data showing an extended decline in the level of depression diagnoses are new. In some cases, untreated depression can be more dangerous than suicidal feelings when starting antidepressant therapy.

The new research can’t explain why diagnosis rates have declined. Diagnosis rates for anxiety and bipolar disorder, also sometimes treated with antidepressants, also fell.

The white light streams down to be broken up by those human prisms into all the colors of the rainbow. Take your own color in the pattern and be just that.

– Charles R. Brown

Six German states have told retailers to stop selling Red Bull Cola after a random test found a trace amount of cocaine last week in the drink. The region of North Rhine-Westphalia found 0.4 micrograms per liter in the drink in a sample test conducted by authorities. Five other states banned it over possible narcotics law violations.

The banned drink is Red Bull Cola – not Red Bull Energy Drink. A byproduct of cocaine was found in the test – not active cocaine. The drug equivalent dose would be drinking 12,000 liters of the drink. Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment said that the cocaine level was too low to be a health risk.

Red Bull said its cola is “harmless and marketable in both the U.S. and Europe.” The company said similar coca leaf extracts are used in their products. Even without traces of cocaine, caffeinated energy risks can have adverse effects on people with pre-existing heart conditions or children. Large doses of caffeine can increase heart rate and blood pressure and may induce heart attacks and strokes.

To fear is one thing. To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another. ~Katherine Paterson, Jacob Have I Loved

Wealth, fame and good looks may be a formula for stress and anxiety rather than happiness, according to a new study.

Psychologists at the University of Rochester evaluated survey responses from 147 recent graduates, noting their achievements and their level of happiness over a two year period. People’s goals were divided into two categories: extrinsic (things like wealth, fame and personal image) and intrinsic (meaningful relationships, health and personal growth). Achieving intrinsic goals led to higher self-esteem and a greater sense of well-being. The attainment of extrinsic goals of wealth and fame led to anxiety.

The more people achieve the extrinsic goals, the more “they tend to feel like pawns, like they’re on a treadmill running forever and they’re not really in charge of themselves” said Edward Deci, the co-author of the study.

Remember, if you’re headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns! ~Allison Gappa Bottke

A Cambridge University researcher has announced the discovery of a biological trigger in the brains of some drug users that he believes causes them to switch from occasional use to compulsion and addiction.

Barry Everitt, a professor of behavioral neuroscience at Cambridge’s Department of Experimental Psychology, said that the switch from recreational to compulsive use occurs when control over one’s desire for a drug transfers from the vertial stratum of the brain (which has been linked with pleasure and rewards) to the dorsal stratum (which is associated with the development of habits).

Everitt and his research team has previously separated rats into groups based on behavior patterns, then gave the rodents access to cocaine. The rats that had previously been identified as “highly impulsive” exhibited a compulsion to ingest the cocaine in increasingly larger amounts, while rats from the “novelty seeker” group did not demonstrate the development of addictive symptoms when exposed to the cocaine.

“Taking drugs might begin as a voluntary, or goal-directed, action, but may transform in time to become a compulsive habit that is extremely difficult to relinquish. This transition from initial drug use to addiction may occur through the progressive engagement of different learning systems in the brain and we have growing evidence that this is so.”

Nothing is as real as a dream. The world can change around you, but your dream will not. Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties need not obscure it. Because the dream is within you, no one can take it away.
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-Tom Clancy

Methadone was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1947 as a painkiller. It is one of the most thoroughly studied and researched drugs in modern medicine. Almost immediately after approval, it began to be used to treat the pain and discomfort associated with opioid withdrawals. In 1964, thanks in large part to its slow onset and long-duration properties, it was discovered that methadone could help treat opioid-dependent patients more effectively than any previously considered treatment if administered continuously and daily. Since then, methadone has featured prominently at clinic-based maintenance programs and has helped many heroin addicts kick the habit.

If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today. ~E. Joseph Cossman

Club drugs have become the drug of choice for young people. The proliferation of all night dance parties – called raves or trances – has made the use of these drugs popular over the past 20 years. The danger of mixing alcohol and club drugs also has the potential to cause serious intoxication and fatalities are not unheard of.

MDMA, GHB, Rohypnol, methamphetamine, LSD and ketamine are the most common club drugs used at these parties. One reason for their increased popularity is the easy availability, low cost and intoxicating effects. Because the majority of these drugs are colorless, tasteless and odorless, they can be easily added to beverages in an inconspicuous manner.

Because of this fact, date rape has become a grave concern. These drugs have the potential to cause retrograde amnesia and the victim is usually unable to remember anything of the event. These drugs also have the ability to decrease a person’s inhibition and other mental capacity.

Because of the increased demands for these drugs and the potential for making money on the sale of these drugs, many people manufacture them under less than ideal conditions, thus contamination and impurities are another concern.