Drug Facts

Ten key facts for teachers about Cannabis!

October 15th, 2008  |  Full text  |  published by BRAHA Editor in For Educators, Interesting Information, Psychoactive Substances

The purpose of this article is to set out ten key facts that teachers need to know about cannabis if they are to be able to inform the pupils in their care authoritatively and which ideally they need to actively communicate when the context or situation arises: [...]

Harm Reduction Hoax

October 15th, 2008  |  Full text  |  published by BRAHA Editor in Drug Culture, For Educators, For Parents

In 2006, the UK Times reported that 35,000 British children, under the age of 16, were second generation heroin users. Harm reduction, Safe Sites, free heroin for hard core intravenous [...]

Drug-linked mental illness rises by 100%

October 15th, 2008  |  Full text  |  published by BRAHA Editor in Drug Culture, For Health Professionals, Interesting Information

The number of people admitted to hospital in England with mental illnesses linked to use of illegal drugs has doubled in the past decade, official figures revealed yesterday. The NHS Information Centre said 38,170 adults and children were admitted with [...]

Can Taking Ecstasy Once Damage Your Memory?

October 15th, 2008  |  Full text  |  published by BRAHA Editor in For Health Professionals, Medicine & Health, Psychoactive Substances

In the wake of a meeting of the UK government’s advisory body on drugs to discuss the harmful effects of ecstasy, Professor Keith Laws and Professor Fabrizio Schifano will reveal research findings about the drug at the university’s Health and Human Sciences Research Institute Showcase on October 21. [...]

Marijuana Research Review

October 15th, 2008  |  Full text  |  published by BRAHA Editor in For Health Professionals, Psychoactive Substances, Scientific News

“Studies of the effect of cannabis smoking on respiratory and general health indicate that the use of cannabis alone has an adverse effect on respiratory health…” [...]

Benefits of a Drug Free Workplace - I Am an Employer

October 7th, 2008  |  Full text  |  published by BRAHA Editor in For Employers, Interesting Information

How will a drug free workplace program benefit my business?
Employers have seen a decrease in workplace accidents, employee mistakes, absenteeism, employee turnover and in their workers’ compensation claims. Other benefits are less tangible, such as improved workplace environment, employee morale and customer satisfaction. Businesses in the state of Florida may also qualify for a 5% [...]

I Have Questions About Testing - I Am an Employer

October 7th, 2008  |  Full text  |  published by BRAHA Editor in For Employers, Interesting Information

Do we have to test all of our current employees when we implement the drug free workplace program?
Not necessarily; current employees can be grandfathered. Once the 60-day notice has expired, the employee could be tested under other circumstances (random, post accident, reasonable suspicion, fit for duty.)
Do we have to test all new hires?
Yes, if you [...]

Benefits of a Drug Free Workplace - I Am an Employee

October 7th, 2008  |  Full text  |  published by BRAHA Editor in For Employers, Interesting Information

What are the benefits of having a drug free workplace?
Employers have seen a decrease in workplace accidents, employee mistakes, absenteeism, employee turnover and in their workers’ compensation claims. Other benefits are less tangible, such as improved workplace environment, employee morale and customer satisfaction.
Why should I care if a co-worker is using drugs and/or alcohol on [...]

I Have Questions About Testing - I Am an Employee

October 7th, 2008  |  Full text  |  published by BRAHA Editor in For Employers, Interesting Information

Is drug and alcohol testing of employees legal?
Yes.   
Will I be tested when my company implements a drug free workplace policy?
All current employees are grandfathered in to the policy. Current employees are given a 60-day notice that their company is implementing a drug free workplace policy and are not pre-employment tested. They will fall under the [...]

Three things parents need to know about Meth

October 7th, 2008  |  Full text  |  published by BRAHA Editor in For Parents, Interesting Information

The abuse of the drug methamphetamine, or meth, is a growing problem across the country. Read on to find out what it is, why some young people are using it, and what you can do to help your teen.

What is Meth?

Methamphetamine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that dramatically affects many areas of the central nervous [...]


Medicine & Health »

  • Can Taking Ecstasy Once Damage Your Memory?
    Oct 15, 2008 | Full text

    In the wake of a meeting of the UK government’s advisory body on drugs to discuss the harmful effects of ecstasy, Professor Keith Laws and Professor Fabrizio Schifano will reveal research findings about the drug at the university’s Health and Human Sciences Research Institute Showcase on October 21. [...]

  • Cocaine Use and Cardiovascular Complications
    Oct 7, 2008 | Full text

    Lester Grinspoon, MD, a psychiatrist and associate professor at Harvard, is frequently used as an “expert” in support of “medicalization of marijuana.” He has publicly attested to his personal use of illicit drugs and on several occasions has published statements in leading medical journals that cocaine is neither harmful [...]

  • Cocaine Accelerates HIV Infection
    Oct 7, 2008 | Full text

    It has been known for more than two decades that many illicit drugs inflict damage on the immune system leaving the body open to a host of opportunistic infections, not the least of which is the HIV virus. Other drugs accelerate the progression of HIV to full blown AIDS. In fact, a study [...]

Psychoactive Substances »

  • Prescription Pain Relievers
    Oct 22, 2008 | Full text

    Relief from pain. In some people, prescription pain relievers also cause euphoria or feelings of well being by affecting the brain regions that mediate pleasure. This is why they are abused. Other effects include drowsiness, constipation and slowed breathing. [...]

  • Study shows Ritalin may cause long-term changes in the brain
    Oct 21, 2008 | Full text

    On Sunday researchers at the University of Buffalo reported that Ritalin, used on children diagnosed with ADHD, may cause long-term changes in the brain. Many clinicians regard Ritalin as short-acting but the research with gene expression in an animal model suggests that it has the potential for causing long-lasting changes [...]

  • Brain Receptors for Marijuana/Cannabis
    Oct 20, 2008 | Full text

    The body produces many chemicals and hormones, i.e., histamines, steroids, thyroid hormone, digitalis-like substances, adrenalin, etc, all of which work by attaching to corresponding brain receptors. The key is that these natural substances produced by the body are present in nanogram amounts [...]

Cultural Environment »

  • Conventional wisdom strikes out
    Oct 6, 2008 | Full text

    Among the things everybody knows is that Democrats, being the party of the little people, raise money in small contributions, whereas Republicans, being the party of fat cats, raise funds in huge basketfuls from wealthy corporate types. At least, that’s the way the world is usually portrayed by the “Today Show,” The New York Times and the Democratic Party. So it’s of more than passing interest to see [...]

  • Movie and TV violence and obscenity
    Oct 6, 2008 | Full text

    A full page ad appeared Sunday, April 25, l999 in the Denver Rocky Mountain News. It had a picture of Steve Allen and an appeal to Parents. A partial quote from the ad read: Are you as disgusted as I am at the filfth, vulgarity, sex and violence TV is sending into our homes? are you fed up with steamy unmarried sex situations, filthy jokes, perversion, vulgarity, foul language, violence, killings, etc.? [...]

  • If you drive, dont groove
    Oct 6, 2008 | Full text

    A study from Israel’s Ben-Gurion University looked at driving under the influence of various types of music using a virtual Volkswagen New Beetle. The music used was Kenny G, “Stranger on the Shore” at 56 bpm, Spyro Gyra’s “Cashaca,” at 112 bpm, and DJ Jurgen, pop trance mix at 132 bpm. The study’s findings are just [...]