Strong warnings about Strawberry Quick, also known as Strawberry Meth, began in 2007 and spread fast over the internet and television. The warnings reported drug dealers are manufacturing a new type of crystal methamphetamine that specifically targets children. The warning was revamped and sent out as a Halloween scare.
Crystal methamphetamine is a dangerous, and highly addictive stimulant drug that is referred to as meth, ice, crystal, glass, speed, etc. Methamphetamine use is devastating and causes damage to the user, families, friends, and can have severe societal repercussions.
Strawberry Quick Meth gets the name from Strawberry Quik, the pink powdered flavoring that can be added to milk for a strawberry flavor. The supposed strawberry meth is reported to look like Pop Rocks candy, which makes it appealing to kids. This form of crystal methamphetamine is a hoax. It does not exist. Warnings spread like wildfire that the evil drug dealers are now trying to lure kids with candy flavored meth. There is no strawberry quick methamphetamine.
However, drug dealers and manufacturers do sometimes make their crystal methamphetamine with a color to it. Sometimes this is a dealer trying to "label" or brand his or her product or it can be a manufacturing mistake. Therefore, it is true that dealers or makers may add something like color to their product, but not to unwittingly hook kids by making them think it's candy. Color can be the same marketing strategy as the type of wrapping or baggy. Besides, I don't think there is anything you can do to mask the taste of meth as it's very bitter and disgusting.
Although this meth is a myth, methamphetamine is still a very dangerous threat to everyone. There is no immunity to addiction. It is extremely important to talk to kids about dealing with peer pressure, coping strategies, and making responsible decisions about the use of alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Could someone have some of this meth that appears to look like candy and offer it to a child? Sure, just like someone might offer your kid a beer, marijuana, or pills.
This scare also reinforces the concept of not taking candy from strangers. As simple as it seems, this is still a tactic used by many child molesters and kidnappers. It's very important to educate kids to avoid taking candy or drinks from people that they do not know.
From the Join Together website: "Experts say that there's a real possibility that local police are confusing colored meth -- which is relatively common -- with flavored meth. Tom McNamara, a meth trainer and special-projects coordinator for the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force Group, told Join Together that meth made from Sudafed or some generic versions of the drug will have a light-pink color because of the dye used in the pills. Moreover, he said, meth made from anhydrous ammonia treated with GloTell -- a chemical marker designed to discourage thefts -- will be bright pink. The drug also can appear greenish or blue."
EDIT on February 6, 2010: In a recent unpublished comment, I was accused of being a drug dealer posting inaccurate information. Please, read this article carefully as well as the rest of the website. This site is geared toward the ACCURATE education of people about addiction.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
No, this time is it.
"This is the last time." It's a common phrase for many addicts. And, in truth, it is probably one of the most genuine statements spoken because the intent behind the words is usually just that one last time. Of course, this isn't to say that some don't lie behind it, but it's not those people I'm talking about. Many addicts really think it's going to be the last one...the last drink, the last high, the last time gambling, the last day of starvation or purging, just the last time.
Sometimes it's hard to be the family member, friend, lover, partner, or any other person who is listening to this line of justification only to have it seem like broken promises. And, they are. Finding a way to set boundaries with the person that you know who is addicted is something that we all have to do to maintain sanity. It's very difficult and feelings will have you wavering.
More to come.
Sometimes it's hard to be the family member, friend, lover, partner, or any other person who is listening to this line of justification only to have it seem like broken promises. And, they are. Finding a way to set boundaries with the person that you know who is addicted is something that we all have to do to maintain sanity. It's very difficult and feelings will have you wavering.
More to come.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Are You Really Just Shy - Identifying Social Phobia
Social phobia also called Social Anxiety Disorder is miserable for the person who suffers from it. Oftentimes it can go unidentified or noticed and passed off as a person's shyness or even quirkiness. This phobia or disorder can wreck havoc and prevent a person from engaging in everyday social activities so it is essential to identify it so that treatment can occur.
...continue reading for symptoms and further information.
Social phobia can increase a person's chances of beginning an unhealthy relationship with alcohol or other drugs. Underlying disorders are attributing to a person's addiction. It's extremely important to be on the lookout for these disorders in young folks because spotting it early and getting proper treatment can possibly save someone from having to go down the road of misdiagnosis and other coping problems.
...continue reading for symptoms and further information.
Social phobia can increase a person's chances of beginning an unhealthy relationship with alcohol or other drugs. Underlying disorders are attributing to a person's addiction. It's extremely important to be on the lookout for these disorders in young folks because spotting it early and getting proper treatment can possibly save someone from having to go down the road of misdiagnosis and other coping problems.
Watch The Cleaner
A junkie who survived, made it out, made it through and is now helping other addicts get clean. Yes, it's only an A&E television series, but it's based on the stories of a real man who helps produce the shows. It is not always a show of happy endings and recovery wrapped up in a bow. I like this because it's real. Of course, I wish happy endings for every addict that tries to crawl out, but damn if we don't have to roll down a lot of hills before standing up. This show is good. Check it out. Warning though, if you are sensitive to seeing paraphernalia and using then make sure you're in a safe place to watch it. Addiction has embedded cues so part of recovery is identifying them and being proactive against the triggers.
The second season starts on Tuesday, the 23rd, but you can also catch up online.
The second season starts on Tuesday, the 23rd, but you can also catch up online.
Friday, June 19, 2009
About the Speaking of Addiction Blog
Addiction comes in many forms. Often hand in hand with addiction comes judgment and many other social constructs and emotions. In this blog I'll be exploring many of these things and more. There will be focus on specific drugs and how they affect the brain, but there will never be any pictures of drugs or paraphernalia. While this is an educational and informative site it is a personal belief that the repeated showing of drugs on so many websites do more harm than good. Seeing a picture of cocaine, a meth pipe or a syringe is a violent trigger for many addicts no matter how much time clean we have, so making a blog that is welcoming is a top goal of mine.
If you ever have any questions or a particular topic that you want to hear more about, please comment on any of the posts. I do not yet have an email set up to take "addiction requests", but I want to know what you want to learn. I believe the way out of addiction is through education although even the most educated people continue to use drugs. Education in the form of college and school is not the type of "smarts" it takes to stop or prevent drug use. Relapse prevention at its best will still produce people who keep using drugs, and that is alright. We just try harder. Learning how to educate about addiction without triggering addicts is tricky because someone will be always be triggered.
So, welcome. I'll be getting this page up and running, re-sorting the layout, and getting information on here. Thanks for stopping by.
If you ever have any questions or a particular topic that you want to hear more about, please comment on any of the posts. I do not yet have an email set up to take "addiction requests", but I want to know what you want to learn. I believe the way out of addiction is through education although even the most educated people continue to use drugs. Education in the form of college and school is not the type of "smarts" it takes to stop or prevent drug use. Relapse prevention at its best will still produce people who keep using drugs, and that is alright. We just try harder. Learning how to educate about addiction without triggering addicts is tricky because someone will be always be triggered.
So, welcome. I'll be getting this page up and running, re-sorting the layout, and getting information on here. Thanks for stopping by.
Speaking of Addiction Privacy Policy
Speaking of Addiction Privacy Policy
At Speaking of Addiction, the privacy of our visitors is extremely important. Please read this privacy policy document as it outlines the type of personal information received and collected by Speaking of Addiction and how it is used.
Log Files
Like many other Web sites, Speaking of Addiction makes use of log files. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol ( IP ) addresses, type of browser, Internet Service Provider ( ISP ), date/time stamp, and referring/exit pages. This information may be used to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement around the site, and gather demographic information to enhance the site and provide better navigation. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.
Cookies and Web Beacons
Speaking of Addiction does use cookies to store information about visitors preferences, record user-specific information on which pages the user access or visit, customize Web page content based on visitors browser type or other information that the visitor sends via their browser.
DoubleClick DART Cookie
Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on Speaking of Addiction.
Google's use of the DART cookie enables it (and partners) to serve ads to users based on their visit to Speaking of Addiction and other sites on the Internet.
Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy at the following URL - http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html.
Users can opt out of a third-party vendor's use of cookies at the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page.)
The third-party ad servers or ad networks use technology to the serve advertisements and links on Speaking of Addiction sent directly to your browsers. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies (such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons) may also be used by the third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertisements and/or to personalize the advertising content that you see.
Speaking of Addiction has no access to, or control over, the cookies used by third-party advertisers.
You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information on their practices as well as for instructions about how to opt-out of certain practices. Speaking of Addiction's privacy policy applies only to Speaking of Addiction and subsequent pages/posts within its domain. Our privacy policy does not apply to any other site and we cannot control the activities of other advertisers or web sites.
If you wish to disable cookies, you may do so through your individual browser settings. More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers' respective websites and at the Network Advertising Initiative.
Other Third Party Advertisers and Affiliates
Speaking of Addiction may also use other third parties that collect cookies through your internet browser(s), or using web beacons. These third parties collect information as a result of serving an ad.
Speaking of Addiction may use third parties for affiliate marketing, including Amazon.com.
Information Sharing
Speaking of Addiction does not sell, trade, or transfer email addresses or other personally identifiable information. In some cases, an email address may be used to reply to its originator.
Revisions to This Privacy Policy: Speaking of Addiction reserves the right to revise, amend, or modify this policy at any time and in any manner. Notice of any revision, amendment, or modification will be posted.
For questions please contact us.
At Speaking of Addiction, the privacy of our visitors is extremely important. Please read this privacy policy document as it outlines the type of personal information received and collected by Speaking of Addiction and how it is used.
Log Files
Like many other Web sites, Speaking of Addiction makes use of log files. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol ( IP ) addresses, type of browser, Internet Service Provider ( ISP ), date/time stamp, and referring/exit pages. This information may be used to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement around the site, and gather demographic information to enhance the site and provide better navigation. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.
Cookies and Web Beacons
Speaking of Addiction does use cookies to store information about visitors preferences, record user-specific information on which pages the user access or visit, customize Web page content based on visitors browser type or other information that the visitor sends via their browser.
DoubleClick DART Cookie
Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on Speaking of Addiction.
Google's use of the DART cookie enables it (and partners) to serve ads to users based on their visit to Speaking of Addiction and other sites on the Internet.
Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy at the following URL - http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html.
Users can opt out of a third-party vendor's use of cookies at the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page.)
The third-party ad servers or ad networks use technology to the serve advertisements and links on Speaking of Addiction sent directly to your browsers. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies (such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons) may also be used by the third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertisements and/or to personalize the advertising content that you see.
Speaking of Addiction has no access to, or control over, the cookies used by third-party advertisers.
You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information on their practices as well as for instructions about how to opt-out of certain practices. Speaking of Addiction's privacy policy applies only to Speaking of Addiction and subsequent pages/posts within its domain. Our privacy policy does not apply to any other site and we cannot control the activities of other advertisers or web sites.
If you wish to disable cookies, you may do so through your individual browser settings. More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers' respective websites and at the Network Advertising Initiative.
Other Third Party Advertisers and Affiliates
Speaking of Addiction may also use other third parties that collect cookies through your internet browser(s), or using web beacons. These third parties collect information as a result of serving an ad.
Speaking of Addiction may use third parties for affiliate marketing, including Amazon.com.
Information Sharing
Speaking of Addiction does not sell, trade, or transfer email addresses or other personally identifiable information. In some cases, an email address may be used to reply to its originator.
Revisions to This Privacy Policy: Speaking of Addiction reserves the right to revise, amend, or modify this policy at any time and in any manner. Notice of any revision, amendment, or modification will be posted.
For questions please contact us.
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