International Archives - Page 109 of 111

Jun042015Jun212018

Upswing In UK’s Alcohol Use Causes Concern

Upswing-In-UKs-Alcohol-Use-Causes-Concern Recent statistics showing an increased rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions in the United Kingdom, particularly among women, indicates an ongoing international need to address drug and alcohol abuse. As a respected worldwide leader for alcohol addiction treatment, DARA Thailand is prepared to provide solutions for the UK’s chronic drink problem. A recent article posted on Daily Mail.com reports that England’s public health officials are alarmed by a “deeply worrying” trend in alcohol addiction, particularly among women. A 2.1 percent rise in female patients compares with .7 percent rise for men over a yearlong period. Hospital admissions for alcohol-related illnesses include more middle-aged women and young mothers than ever before.

“Women are drinking much more than they used to, particularly wine in the evening, and that quantity of drinking is causing significant problems in terms of liver disease and other serious conditions,” said Dr. Niall Campbell, consultant psychiatrist at the Priory Hospital in London. “Women are literally dying for a drink, and it is a national pattern.”

DARA Thailand Serves International Clients

Our internationally certified therapists at DARA Thailand design personalized treatment plans for each individual who comes to us from near or far. We respect cultural norms, while at the same time we realize that addiction knows no geographic, social, ethnic, economic, gender or age boundaries. We have served clients from more than 50 countries to date at our rehab location in Koh Chang. At Koh Chang, our treatment uses cognitive behavioral therapy as its primary focus. Because of the intensive professional training our counselors receive, we specialize in dual diagnosis treatment for mental health issues that co-exist with substance addiction. DARA Thailand makes it a point to keep informed about drug and alcohol issues around the world, such as the alcohol abuse crisis in the United Kingdom. As the leading international destination for addiction treatment, we welcome all individuals seeking recovery solutions.

If you, or someone you care about, needs help for a drug or alcohol addiction,
contact us at 1-888-457-3518 US, 0-808-120-3633 UK or 1-800-990-523 AU.
We’re here to help you take that first important step.

Apr302015Jan272016

Handling of Russian Heroin Epidemic Raises Concern

Articles, International

The Russian heroin epidemic, widely reported on in the media, and the resulting proliferation of HIV through shared needles, have been called a threat to national security by Russian officials. Yet the Russian government has been severely criticized for its handling of the problem. Though statistics vary, it’s clear that between 1.5 and 2 million Russians are heroin addicts, with a percentage of population that’s about eight times higher than in EU countries. The Federal Antinarcotics Service, a Russian agency, reports that Russia now uses more heroin than any other country in the world, and the incidence of HIV is growing rather than abating as it is in most other countries. It’s not that the government is ignoring the problem, but critics say its drug policies may be exacerbating the national dilemma.

Human Rights Watch recently released a report on the Russian drug epidemic stating that Russian policies for treating drug users “deliberately ignore the best available medical evidence and recommendations.” For instance, there are no nationally sponsored needle-exchange programs to address the spread of HIV. Methadone is banned in Russia so there is no methadone substitution program to help wean users off of heroin. Independent agencies geared to help addicts are typically shut down by the government. Addicts seeking help are put on a state “narcological register,” available to the public and used by police who often find cause for arrest. Some say that medical care for drug users is inferior and that addiction is not viewed as a disease by most Russians, as it is in many Western countries, but instead is considered a moral travesty. Critics say these policies and attitudes discourage addicts from seeking help.

The world watches as Russia addresses its catastrophic drug epidemic. The saddest fact of all: Most of Russia’s heroin addicts are aged 18 to 39 – a generation lost to heroin.

Jan272015Apr252025

Is Marijuana a Global Addiction?

International, Understanding Addiction

A recent U.N. report on drug use revealed that cannabis is the world’s most widely consumed drug, indicating a possible global addiction may be culminating. Marijuana is produced or consumed in some fashion in most countries today. The World Health Organization reports About 147 million people, 2.5% of the world population, consume cannabis annually, compared with 0.2% consuming cocaine and 0.2% consuming opiates.

In 2010, marijuana use was most prevalent in Australia and New Zealand; the U.S. and Canada came in second, followed by Spain, France, Italy and the Czech Republic third, and Nigeria, Zambia, and Madagascar were tied for fourth). With the legalization of marijuana in some countries, and across some states in the US, many people are being conditioned by arguments that the drug is basically harmless. The potential risk of cannabis use may not be demonstrated by overt or sudden seizures and overdose, but marijuana dependency controls and impairs its users, like any substance of abuse, procuring it and smoking it will become the most important aspect of life.

Studies have found marijuana interferes with attention, motivation, memory, and learning. Statistically, students who use marijuana regularly receive lower grades, are more likely to drop out of school, and will show an overall IQ drop of up to 8 points. Generally people who use marijuana regularly report lower satisfaction with their life, are more likely to earn a lower income and more likely to be unemployed.

The global addiction trend shows 5.7 million persons aged 12 or older living in major cities used marijuana on a daily or almost daily basis in the past 12 months. However accessible and available marijuana continues to be, it can’t adequately substitute the benefits found in living a life free of addiction, discovering the potential to contribute to the world in a positive and dynamic way.

Jan202015Apr252025

7 Alarming Facts About Global Addiction

International

Addiction is not just a personal issue. It is a global threat. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that at least 15.3 million people worldwide have drug use disorders; of those, 2.3 million meet the criteria for drug use disorder. By examining addiction on an international level, agencies like the NIH, the United Nations, and the World Health Organization are sharing information, discoveries and solutions, opening doors to recovery that might have remained closed without public education across international borders.

Some recent findings that may surprise or even shock you:

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, by 2050, the number of illicit drug users is predicted to increase by 25% internationally.
Internet addiction is a growing global problem and now officially recognized as Internet Addiction Disorder (IDA). The first IDA Congress was held in Milan this year.
Turning up to work hung over or coming down from the effects of drugs is common, according to the 2014 Global Drug Survey, with over one-third of those surveyed reporting that they have gone to work hung-over from the use of drugs or alcohol.
The Global Drug survey also reports that In more than half of the world’s countries, prescription drugs were among the top three misused substances
Researchers from Canada’s University of Victoria have found that marijuana use reduces the odds of people between the ages of 15 and 25 entering college.
The National Institutes of Health reports that alcohol abuse is the leading risk factor for premature death and disability among people between the ages of 15 and 49.
Earlier this year, public health inspectors in the United Kingdom reported traces of cocaine in Britain’s drinking water; researchers have attributed its presence to high usage among Brits.

Dec092014Apr252025

Life-destroying “Spice” Drug Overtake Russia

International

Russia, a country with one of the highest per-capita alcohol consumption rates in the world, is now seeing a proliferation of young drug users, many of whom are abusing a substance called “spice”—a concoction intended to mimic marijuana in effect while evading anti-drug laws. The ingredients are often touted as “natural”—derived from herbs—but in fact they are at best synthetic analogs of cannabinoid compounds. Because their manufacture is unregulated, there is essentially no limit to or control over what is added to any product marketed as “spice.”

In recent months, over two dozen deaths and 700 hospitalizations have been attributed to spice, which is essentially a mixture of innocuous herbs sprayed with psychoactive chemicals. Smoking spice can produce a feeling of euphoria, relaxation, and altered perception, but can also produce hallucinations, seizures, and agitation. Other adverse symptoms include elevated heart rate, nausea, and dissociative states. One Russian woman claimed that while high on—and addicted to—spice she became convinced that killing herself and her children was the only way out of her predicament.

Research on spice has been limited, but it appears that the cannabinoid analogs bind to the same receptors in the brain as cannabis. However, some of the compounds seem to bind more strongly to the receptors, possibly resulting in unpredictable effects. This could also explain the increased potential for addiction.

With abuse running rampant, and reports of incidents including children jumping out of windows, Russian authorities are responding to spice by ramping up enforcement and enacting stricter laws. They claim that the drug is manufactured in labs in Southeast Asia and smuggled in by foreigners. Meanwhile, manufacturers play a game of Whack-a-mole with authorities by altering the chemical composition of spice to stay one step ahead of being on the banned substances list. In response, authorities are seeking a broader definition of the drug in order to remain current.