Herbal highs are easily accessible, legal in the United States and many more countries. The natural high is derived from herbs, herbal blends, and in some cases by using extracts. A natural euphoric high is not the same as that gotten with alcohol.
There are a few important facts that you should be aware of before considering getting a natural high. Herbs are not tobacco nor are they Marijuana. They do not produce the same kind of high gotten with tobacco or Marijuana. Each herb also has its own distinct characteristics and flavor. Some smooth herbs may be ground into a very fine powder. They burn well but might be harsh.
Let me give you a tip regarding herbal highs. When you begin smoking, it is probably best to start out with small amounts. This will help you decide whether you like its flavor or its effects. Obtaining herbal sample blends will be your best bet. It will also help your body to be come used to it.
There are some herbs when smoked that can be as addictive as nicotine is. If you are using herbal highs as an alternative to tobacco and nicotine, you may be trading one addiction for another one. However, smoking herbs will be better than tobacco and it may be a way to reel yourself of tobacco smoking.
There are some precautions you should take before getting high with herbs or making purchases of the herbs. Check the ingredients: there should be no additives or preservatives. Do not buy any herb or blend that contains Kava or other bark or root herbs because they are not smooth to smoke.
Avoid or do not smoke any product that contains the herb called Salvia Divinorum. It must burn hot to get the desired affect. When used in a blend it is difficult to get the effects. When however, it is used in a blend to smooth out the smoke, it works well.
Do not use if you have any health conditions or are taking any kind of medications without consulting your physician. Also you should not get high with herbs if you are pregnant or if you are nursing. Not enough is known of its effect on the babies. While under the influence of herbal highs do not drive or operate any machinery.
Source: http://www.safetylit.org/citations/index.php?fuseaction=citations.viewdetails&citationIds%5B%5D=citjournalarticle_78400_19
Monday, November 26, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Highs and lows: patterns of use, positive and negative effects of BZP-party pills
Background
This study aimed to investigate patterns and context of use of BZP-party pills, function of use, and positive and negative effects experienced by a sample of New Zealand young people who had used the products.
Methods
A qualitative study comprised of semi-structured interviews and group discussions.
Results
The sample included 58 young people aged 17-23 years who had used BZP-party pills in the previous 12 months. Young people were using these substances in a range of settings - primarily during weekend social occasions - particularly as part of the dance party culture. They were mostly used for their stimulant properties and to enhance socialisation, and were often taken in combination with other legal and illicit drugs. Young people had suffered a range of physical and emotional negative effects, although none of these was reported as being life-threatening or long-term. Many participants had reduced the frequency with which they used BZP-party pills due to adverse effects. Potentially risky behaviours identified included taking large doses, mixing BZP-party pills with alcohol and other substances, and driving whilst under the influence of BZP-party pills.
Conclusions
Findings suggest that young people in this study were not suffering excessive or dangerous adverse effects. However, potentially risky use of these products raises the issue of the need for developing harm reduction interventions.
Source: http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/4/1/18
This study aimed to investigate patterns and context of use of BZP-party pills, function of use, and positive and negative effects experienced by a sample of New Zealand young people who had used the products.
Methods
A qualitative study comprised of semi-structured interviews and group discussions.
Results
The sample included 58 young people aged 17-23 years who had used BZP-party pills in the previous 12 months. Young people were using these substances in a range of settings - primarily during weekend social occasions - particularly as part of the dance party culture. They were mostly used for their stimulant properties and to enhance socialisation, and were often taken in combination with other legal and illicit drugs. Young people had suffered a range of physical and emotional negative effects, although none of these was reported as being life-threatening or long-term. Many participants had reduced the frequency with which they used BZP-party pills due to adverse effects. Potentially risky behaviours identified included taking large doses, mixing BZP-party pills with alcohol and other substances, and driving whilst under the influence of BZP-party pills.
Conclusions
Findings suggest that young people in this study were not suffering excessive or dangerous adverse effects. However, potentially risky use of these products raises the issue of the need for developing harm reduction interventions.
Source: http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/4/1/18
Monday, November 19, 2007
Drug Rehab News - New Zealand Outlaws "Party Pills"
The New Zealand government has decided to ban what they call party pills that contain benzylpiperazine (BZP) and triflouro-methyl-phenylpiperazine (TFMPP). Known in New Zealand as Herbal Highs, Pep Pills or Dance Pills, these drugs have been legal for several years. In 2005, the NZ government added restrictions to make them only available to people over 18 and a new law expected to pass in 2007 will ban the drugs entirely. Although the drugs are currently legal, they can be dangerous in themselves and they are part and parcel of the after-hours drug scene that leads so many young adults to powerfully addictive narcotics and eventually into drug rehab.
Estimated to be a $30 million industry in New Zealand, the manufacture and sale of the pills was originally allowed to counter the growing number of people taking illegal amphetamines and the associated rise in drug addiction and violence. The drugs effects are similar to and, in some cases, indistinguishable from amphetamines, including MDMA. Their popularity means that an estimated 5 million pills will be sold in New Zealand in 2007 before the ban takes effect. Once the new law is passed, anyone caught supplying, manufacturing or exporting the pills would face a penalty of up to eight years imprisonment, and anyone caught in possession of the pills could be fined and imprisoned for up to three months.
Why the change in heart? Although much is still unknown about the drugs, including whether or not someone will require drug rehab to get off them, BZP is known to have adverse effects such as dilated pupils, dryness of the mouth, itching, confusion, agitation, tremor, dystonia (sustained muscle contractions causing twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures), headache, dizziness, anxiety, insomnia, vomiting, chest pain, tachycardia, hypertension, palpitations, collapse, hyperventilation, hyperthermia, urine retention and, at its most extreme, psychosis, renal failure and seizures.
BZP is already banned in a few countries, including the USA, Australia, Britain, Sweden, but it still available in many countries. In March this year, the European Union initiated an investigation into the health and social risks of the substance.
Just this week, a young woman in Ireland collapsed and required hospital treatment after taking BZP pills that are legally marketed as an alternative to Ecstasy in some 30 shops across Ireland. And as long ago as 2001, a report from University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland details the death of a young woman attributed to a combination of BZP and MDMA.
From anyones perspective, a drug that causes physical collapse or death is not desirable. When the proposed ban in New Zealand takes effect, well find out how addictive these drugs really are and how many people wind up in drug rehab.From anyones perspective, a drug that causes physical collapse or death is not desirable. When the proposed ban in New Zealand takes effect, well find out how addictive these drugs really are and how many people wind up in drug rehab, trying to get off them.
Source: http://camera-filterslgqqrj.blogspot.com/2007/11/drug-rehab-news-new-zealand-outlaws.html
Estimated to be a $30 million industry in New Zealand, the manufacture and sale of the pills was originally allowed to counter the growing number of people taking illegal amphetamines and the associated rise in drug addiction and violence. The drugs effects are similar to and, in some cases, indistinguishable from amphetamines, including MDMA. Their popularity means that an estimated 5 million pills will be sold in New Zealand in 2007 before the ban takes effect. Once the new law is passed, anyone caught supplying, manufacturing or exporting the pills would face a penalty of up to eight years imprisonment, and anyone caught in possession of the pills could be fined and imprisoned for up to three months.
Why the change in heart? Although much is still unknown about the drugs, including whether or not someone will require drug rehab to get off them, BZP is known to have adverse effects such as dilated pupils, dryness of the mouth, itching, confusion, agitation, tremor, dystonia (sustained muscle contractions causing twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures), headache, dizziness, anxiety, insomnia, vomiting, chest pain, tachycardia, hypertension, palpitations, collapse, hyperventilation, hyperthermia, urine retention and, at its most extreme, psychosis, renal failure and seizures.
BZP is already banned in a few countries, including the USA, Australia, Britain, Sweden, but it still available in many countries. In March this year, the European Union initiated an investigation into the health and social risks of the substance.
Just this week, a young woman in Ireland collapsed and required hospital treatment after taking BZP pills that are legally marketed as an alternative to Ecstasy in some 30 shops across Ireland. And as long ago as 2001, a report from University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland details the death of a young woman attributed to a combination of BZP and MDMA.
From anyones perspective, a drug that causes physical collapse or death is not desirable. When the proposed ban in New Zealand takes effect, well find out how addictive these drugs really are and how many people wind up in drug rehab.From anyones perspective, a drug that causes physical collapse or death is not desirable. When the proposed ban in New Zealand takes effect, well find out how addictive these drugs really are and how many people wind up in drug rehab, trying to get off them.
Source: http://camera-filterslgqqrj.blogspot.com/2007/11/drug-rehab-news-new-zealand-outlaws.html
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Legal, Illegal - It's All Lost In The Haze
It is often difficult to see where the line is drawn when it comes to the topic of legal and illegal drugs. On a college campus, it especially becomes challenging because this is where many misconceptions about drugs can become prevalent.
According to Merrill Singer, a UConn professor of anthropology, addresses these misconceptions between legal and illegal substances in his new book titled, "Drugging the Poor: Legal and Illegal Drugs and Social Inequality.""In the book, I'm trying to make the point that our conceptions and the way we think about drugs - trying to make a separation between the legal and illegal - is to a degree, a fantasy," Merrill said, according to an article published in The University of Connecticut Advance.Merrill's book discusses the idea that, "drugs impact users in the same way and are intertwined."
In other words, differences can be drawn between the two types of drugs, yet the wall of separation between them can run very thin."The terms legal and illegal do not make a difference … there are legal drugs moving to a 'street level' type of drug," according to Barry Schreier, Director of Counseling and Mental Health Services at UConn. Schreier said that abuse of legal drugs, such as OxyContin and Ritalin is a growing problem.
Another point that Singer tries to make in his new book, is the idea that there are misconceptions about the type of individuals who abuse drugs. He also addresses how advertising and money runs the drug industry. Tom Szigethy, Director of Alcohol and Other Drugs Services at UConn, has various views on this particular issue."Students don't realize they have been affected by advertising [before they come to UConn] … they realize when they are on campus," Szigethy said. Drug and alcohol industries promote their products and they do not want to know the consequences that the products may have on consumers, especially underage consumers according to Szigethy.
"The alcohol industry does not have federal constituency to overlook them," he said. Singer's book also addresses social inequality and how "decade after decade [passes] with only occasional flare-ups of social unrest."Szigethy makes the point about socio-economic status and how "The impoverished have less resources … and money talks in society."Szigethy also said how most advertisements are targeted "toward a socio-economic stance," which tends to target the lower classes.Schreier says that everything "depends upon each individual." Szigethy added that "Students have the power to change a situation … a voice has to be given to those who use healthy behavior." Individuals simply need to see that they can make a difference.Singer addresses many issues in his new book, and they are issues he thinks that will take time to be addressed completely. Yet, he makes it clear that there are misconceptions when it comes to legal and illegal drugs. Singer also discusses how these industries are driven by money and advertisements, and how drug abuse is heavily targeted at the impoverished areas.
Source: http://media.www.dailycampus.com/media/storage/paper340/news/2007/10/30/News/Legal.Illegal.Its.All.Lost.In.The.Haze-3065157.shtml
According to Merrill Singer, a UConn professor of anthropology, addresses these misconceptions between legal and illegal substances in his new book titled, "Drugging the Poor: Legal and Illegal Drugs and Social Inequality.""In the book, I'm trying to make the point that our conceptions and the way we think about drugs - trying to make a separation between the legal and illegal - is to a degree, a fantasy," Merrill said, according to an article published in The University of Connecticut Advance.Merrill's book discusses the idea that, "drugs impact users in the same way and are intertwined."
In other words, differences can be drawn between the two types of drugs, yet the wall of separation between them can run very thin."The terms legal and illegal do not make a difference … there are legal drugs moving to a 'street level' type of drug," according to Barry Schreier, Director of Counseling and Mental Health Services at UConn. Schreier said that abuse of legal drugs, such as OxyContin and Ritalin is a growing problem.
Another point that Singer tries to make in his new book, is the idea that there are misconceptions about the type of individuals who abuse drugs. He also addresses how advertising and money runs the drug industry. Tom Szigethy, Director of Alcohol and Other Drugs Services at UConn, has various views on this particular issue."Students don't realize they have been affected by advertising [before they come to UConn] … they realize when they are on campus," Szigethy said. Drug and alcohol industries promote their products and they do not want to know the consequences that the products may have on consumers, especially underage consumers according to Szigethy.
"The alcohol industry does not have federal constituency to overlook them," he said. Singer's book also addresses social inequality and how "decade after decade [passes] with only occasional flare-ups of social unrest."Szigethy makes the point about socio-economic status and how "The impoverished have less resources … and money talks in society."Szigethy also said how most advertisements are targeted "toward a socio-economic stance," which tends to target the lower classes.Schreier says that everything "depends upon each individual." Szigethy added that "Students have the power to change a situation … a voice has to be given to those who use healthy behavior." Individuals simply need to see that they can make a difference.Singer addresses many issues in his new book, and they are issues he thinks that will take time to be addressed completely. Yet, he makes it clear that there are misconceptions when it comes to legal and illegal drugs. Singer also discusses how these industries are driven by money and advertisements, and how drug abuse is heavily targeted at the impoverished areas.
Source: http://media.www.dailycampus.com/media/storage/paper340/news/2007/10/30/News/Legal.Illegal.Its.All.Lost.In.The.Haze-3065157.shtml
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