For those interested in seeing Europe without the constant, hectic bustle of tourism, relaxing cruises on the Rhine River have proven to be a hit. In addition to a never-ending opportunity to learn to speak German, here is a list of several fun activities to partake in during a Rhine River cruise: Allstate: This town includes a medieval castle, a parish church dating to 1794, a historical museum, and numerous delicious restaurants. Glattfelden: Situated on the River Glatt just above its junction with the Rhine, this town is the hometown of Swiss writer Gottfried Keller and is frequently referred to in his novel “Der grüne Heinrich.” Over an old stone bridge is the nearby old town of Eglisau. Rheinfelden: A little town of 7,000 inhabitants situated on the left bank of the river, Rheinfelden is home to a popular salt-water spa, ancient walls and towers, the Fricktaler Museum, and St. Martin’s Church, which dates back to the 15th century. German Beer: Germans produce the best beer in th...
On the scene today, there is a new face for the heroin user that barely resembles the former. For many years, the stereotype heroin user was pale, gaunt, and a "dirty" street person. Heroin is a problem for children, teens, and blue and white collar workers. Not only does it affect all types of people, but also every race and culture. Public attention has been drawn to the new generation of heroin users, with the recent death of Cory Monteith, the clean cut star from Glee. The main concern regarding Monteith's celebrity status, is that it could mislead parents into thinking that heroin use is a Hollywood problem.
The new profile for the heroin user in the United States is one of a white male in his 30's. The National Institute of Drug Abuse, states that the heroin problem more than likely started in their early years as a teenager. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), reported that the overdose rate of the heroin users in 2009 increased by an alarming rate of 80 percent from 2002. With the death rate of overdoses being 198 a decade earlier, in 2009 it was 510 teens and young adults between the ages of 15 and 24.
What accounts for the sudden rise in users and the change in demographic? For starters, you have to look at production, at one time the bulk of heroin came from Southwest Asia or the Far East. In the modern age heroin is being produced much closer to home in Mexico and South America. Experts believe there are several factors involved in the changing face of heroin, not the least of which is availability and price. Bottom line, heroin is easier to get and cheaper!
Afghanistan has gotten on the heroin bandwagon too, with production jumping from 150 metric tons to 664 metric tons between 2002 and 2006, according to the United States Department of Justice. Government officials have also made tremendous effort to regulate prescription pain medications like Oxycodone, so much so that they are difficult to get and expensive as well. These changes have led to many people turning to heroin instead.
The Pinnacle Schools in northern Alabama, have not seen this trend at the adolescent treatment program that is provided for its students. Teens from all over the United States can get treatment at the Elk River Treatment Program (ERTP). The teen's ages range from 12 to 18 and they have myriad of problems from behavior and mental illness, to drug and alcohol abuse. Martez Rogers, and Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor at the facility has reported that although they have treated residents who have reported use, it is hit-and-miss and usually occurs with the residents from the bigger cities.
Teens and young adults from Pinnacle report Promethazine as a commonly used drug. This prescription medication is used for nausea, vomiting, motion sickness or pain after surgery. Less commonly, it may be used as a sleep aid. This medication is in the drug group Phenothiazine. You will find a number of young people into codeine or 3-Methylmorphine, a commonly prescribed prescription pain med. According to Rogers, the kids like to use both of these with marijuana and tend to dip their cigarette, joint or blunt in the liquid form. Combining promethazine and codeine with a variety of sweet treats like skittles, sprite, jolly ranchers and of course, leine became popular in the hip-hop scene and is referred to as Purple Drank, Dirty sprite, Sipping Syzurp or sipping Leine.
The Alabama School of Alcohol and Drug Studies (ASADS), presents a week-long conference every spring. Although the clinicians are not seeing a large spike in the heroin use at this time, they are still on the look-out for it. At the conference, they learn to address current trends and developments in the world of addiction counseling and support services for the children they serve.
Rogers stated that at the conference this spring, the relationship of the increase in heroin use to the push to have medications such as Hydrocodone, Percocet's, and others changed to a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance was discussed. There is such a high potential for the abuse of these drugs. As new laws are passes, these medications will be harder to get and the penalties will be stiffer. Unfortunately, the user will naturally progress to the illicit opiate that is usually cheaper. Rogers reported that this can be even more dangerous because of the harmful chemicals added to the heroin to increase its potency.
The new profile for the heroin user in the United States is one of a white male in his 30's. The National Institute of Drug Abuse, states that the heroin problem more than likely started in their early years as a teenager. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), reported that the overdose rate of the heroin users in 2009 increased by an alarming rate of 80 percent from 2002. With the death rate of overdoses being 198 a decade earlier, in 2009 it was 510 teens and young adults between the ages of 15 and 24.
What accounts for the sudden rise in users and the change in demographic? For starters, you have to look at production, at one time the bulk of heroin came from Southwest Asia or the Far East. In the modern age heroin is being produced much closer to home in Mexico and South America. Experts believe there are several factors involved in the changing face of heroin, not the least of which is availability and price. Bottom line, heroin is easier to get and cheaper!
Afghanistan has gotten on the heroin bandwagon too, with production jumping from 150 metric tons to 664 metric tons between 2002 and 2006, according to the United States Department of Justice. Government officials have also made tremendous effort to regulate prescription pain medications like Oxycodone, so much so that they are difficult to get and expensive as well. These changes have led to many people turning to heroin instead.
The Pinnacle Schools in northern Alabama, have not seen this trend at the adolescent treatment program that is provided for its students. Teens from all over the United States can get treatment at the Elk River Treatment Program (ERTP). The teen's ages range from 12 to 18 and they have myriad of problems from behavior and mental illness, to drug and alcohol abuse. Martez Rogers, and Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor at the facility has reported that although they have treated residents who have reported use, it is hit-and-miss and usually occurs with the residents from the bigger cities.
Teens and young adults from Pinnacle report Promethazine as a commonly used drug. This prescription medication is used for nausea, vomiting, motion sickness or pain after surgery. Less commonly, it may be used as a sleep aid. This medication is in the drug group Phenothiazine. You will find a number of young people into codeine or 3-Methylmorphine, a commonly prescribed prescription pain med. According to Rogers, the kids like to use both of these with marijuana and tend to dip their cigarette, joint or blunt in the liquid form. Combining promethazine and codeine with a variety of sweet treats like skittles, sprite, jolly ranchers and of course, leine became popular in the hip-hop scene and is referred to as Purple Drank, Dirty sprite, Sipping Syzurp or sipping Leine.
The Alabama School of Alcohol and Drug Studies (ASADS), presents a week-long conference every spring. Although the clinicians are not seeing a large spike in the heroin use at this time, they are still on the look-out for it. At the conference, they learn to address current trends and developments in the world of addiction counseling and support services for the children they serve.
Rogers stated that at the conference this spring, the relationship of the increase in heroin use to the push to have medications such as Hydrocodone, Percocet's, and others changed to a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance was discussed. There is such a high potential for the abuse of these drugs. As new laws are passes, these medications will be harder to get and the penalties will be stiffer. Unfortunately, the user will naturally progress to the illicit opiate that is usually cheaper. Rogers reported that this can be even more dangerous because of the harmful chemicals added to the heroin to increase its potency.
About the Author:
For more information see The Pinnacle Schools Discuss Abuse. Thank you to Teen Troubled for their valuable subject matter. The author is not associated with any referenced program or site and did not have this article checked for validity.