Drug & Alcohol Treatment: Case Study, Cannabis

Drug Repair & Recovery: Case Study, Male, Cannabis

Over time, I will follow this intriguing case study further with related posts, and endeavour to take you through a client case from a "whoa to go" perspective. Demonstrating, through case notes and reflections, "how" drug repair and recovery is achieved using "natural law", sensible and easy daily lifestyle adjustments and a few "inside" tricks from an "evidence informed" clinical practice approach.  

My professional training was "evidence based" in atitude.  For which I am grateful, as I certainly know how to cover my arse and learned a few useful things.  Over time, however, I have simply shifted the "goalposts" to better reflect the simple proposition; how can I serve my clients interest better. 

Drug addiction and treatment is a sensitive issue. In order to protect the clients privacy, his name has been kept confidential. The following is taken from reality, as it is.

Male, Full-time labourer, 45 years old
Aetiology. (The study of causation, or origination. The word is derived from the Greek, aitiologia, "giving a reason for").

Single as recently separated (divorced). Primary care giver for seriously ill parent. Has recently relocated and now lives with parents. Works over 38 hours per week. Daily lifestyle routine is reported as the following. Wake early, cigarette, make breakfast prepare for work. Strong coffee another cigarette, arrive at work “ready to go”. Work is reported as tense and stressful from the start. This is reported as normal. Lunch is taken anywhere between 12 and 3pm dependant on the requirements of work, which “always” come first. A “feed” is followed by more cigarettes and coffee. Work till late afternoon then head to hospital for a couple of hours, then home for dinner. Around this time cannabis use is reported, “cut” into a cigarette (spliff) and consumed. Over the course of the evening 4 or five times before bed which is usually around midnight.

Client reports the following symptomatology. Waking is uneasy and he sometimes feels “confused”. A general feeling of tension (possibly even anxiety) during the day. Fatigue, lethargy are very common in the afternoons. The evenings are more “contained”. Client reports feeling “lost”, with a lack of any meaningful personal direction and an overwhelming sense of “helplessness”. Client thinks he is probably depressed, and/or possibly distressed that his life is “out of control”. Once he had identified this point of reference he sought professional assistance.

Next post on this topic will delve into a detailed professional observation and the treatment plan that was developed between the two of us.  If you can identify with this story, the information will be priceless.

Better and better

a:)

Drug Music: Australian Crawl

Australian Crawl or Aussie Drawl as more affectionately known.

For your listening entertainment, please to enjoy the hugely underrated, "White Limbo".

James Reyne, (lead singer), never sounded more coherent and this band knew something of which they sang.

White Limbo.

Enjoy

a:)

Alcohol: One Mans Story Escape

"Escape", or "Radically Changing 'Place and Space'" arrangements can be a very successful strategy to employ if you wish to alter any kind of habitual behaviour that no longer serves it's purpose, or endangers your life.  In Chinese Medicine terms it could be called a Yang or "masculine" style of strategy.  You have to physically move.

Today's article is reprinted without permission of any kind.

Author: Vic Plume

~Cockatoo Concerto in F-Sharp~

A few of days ago I had a couple of thousand drinks with friends in celebration of the Lord Jesus Christ’s birthday, the next day was Boxing Day and over a few more drinks we celebrated the birthday of boxing. The next day we celebrated the amazing fact we were still able to celebrate and, again, after a few too many celebratory drinks I took myself to bed just before the sun hit me and turned me into dust. When I woke, about noon that very same day, I felt crooker than a 2-headed Irish wino after a Saint Patrick’s Day long-weekend and I realised I had a 3-day hangover to deal with, which was when a mate of mine, who’d come down from Brisbane for Christmas, rang and told me he was at my local pub and wanted me to come down and celebrate with him. I told him I’d already been celebrating for 3 days straight and, if I kept it up, the next time he’d be celebrating with me would be at my funeral unless they cremated me in which case he’d be joining me in the afterlife after the alcohol-fuelled fireball sent us both to our great reward. He sent a couple more text messages stating I was weak and how I probably didn’t have a hangover at all and that I was probably just tired from taking knitting classes. I responded that he was correct in that I didn’t have a hangover, in fact, I had 3 hangovers and explained how I wished I had taken knitting classes instead. He sent back another humorous text-message and that’s about the time I contemplated heading down to the pub to have a few brews with him, which was about the time my liver moved into a separate bedroom, which was when I knew it was time to get the hell out of Melbourne.



I was in an alcoholic Christmas rut and needed to go ‘walk-about’, or, more to the point, ‘drive-about’, so I packed my Toyota van, which comes with a double bed, oh what a feeling, and headed north to the river Murray, which is Australia’s longest river and one of the best because, although it looks like the type of river where you’d find Tarzan swinging and crocodiles lurking, there’s no crocodiles anywhere near it and I haven’t yet seen Tarzan swinging... or lurking. I headed for a massive eucalypt-forest I’d been to a fair few times before, on the Victoria-New South Wales border, it’s the biggest river-red-gum forest in the world so I knew I could find somewhere to be alone. I realised there’d be a few scattered Christmas campers here and there but, because there’s only a rough dirt-road going into the forest, the further you go into the forest the less people there are. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against people and, in fact, some of my best friends are people but I needed time-out so I went deeeeep into the forest, about one hour up the bumpy dirt road full of large holes, and selected my home for the next week or two. It was a beautiful open-grassed-space, roughly an acre, surrounded by towering shady river-red-gums and set at the top of a huge, horseshoe bend in the river. It had the perfect swimming spot where you could swim against the current and stay in the same spot, which was just the therapy I needed because I’d fractured the right side of my rib cage a few days earlier while riding my pushbike, with no hands, down a hill alongside 2 magpies who decided not to land in their designated trees every time I squawked loudly and sharply clapped my hands. I’d managed to stop them from landing in 2 trees and was going for a 3rd when I accidentally landed in one myself. A branch had fallen over the road and as I untangled myself from it I heard 2 kookaburras laughing loudly... but I swear it was the 2 magpies. I won’t be tormenting magpies again... not till I’m better anyway.



Here I was at last; I sat on the riverbank and took it all in, the river was wide and flowing like molten chocolate, the sunlit leaves glowed and glistened and waved at me as the warm breeze caressed and cooled my forehead. The flies too were extremely friendly but they weren’t pushing me to have a celebratory drink and, besides, I was miles from any pubs. Before long a Superb-Blue-Wren started dancing around a tree beside me, it whistled and I responded. Its head feathers stood up like a sulphur crested cockatoo, or like hair on an angry dog, but because these critters are only as big as a large thumb it just looked cute. He whistled again and so did I. It was very confused as to where the whistle was coming from and he hopped frantically up and down a tree-trunk looking for another wren and when I whistled a third time his head went from side to side like a confused puppy. I was having a bit of a giggle to myself until I remembered the magpies and then I stopped immediately.



By this time it was even warmer and the flies were getting even friendlier and had invited their friends and family along to welcome the new, big, 2-legged, wingless fly sitting and whistling on the riverbank, so I decided to escape them for a while. I got my pushbike out of the van and went for a ride down the bumpy dirt road for a couple of hours to check out some of the tracks. On one side of the road the tracks lead to prospective campsites along the river and the tracks on the other side are mostly used by pig shooters although the road and all the tracks, as far as I know, were originally put in for timber cutting. The first track I found was very narrow with mini grand canyons to manoeuvre around along the way. I followed it for about 5-minutes and as I saw the river up ahead I also saw a tent, a 4WD and a very athletic pit-bull terrier that, I reckon, hadn’t seen fresh meat in days. It was a scary looking dog that came charging at me, scary enough to send the flies packing with me close behind. I heard a bloke scolding the dog but with the tone in his voice of “Good doggy, come to daddy and I’ll give you a good pat and some beef jerky.” We made it back to the road, me and the flies, and everything was going smoothly until I went down another track where a fisherman-person had left a lead-sinker attached to 20-feet of fishing line, which in turn attached itself to me and got tangled around my bike. Luckily the fisherman wasn’t there because it would’ve been very embarrassing being seated on my bike while he held me up by the scruff of the neck to take the photo. I was hot and sweaty but got busy with both hands untangling the line, which took about 5 minutes, which was excellent because it gave me and the flies a better opportunity to get to know each other on a whole other level. Finally I was free of the fishing line and down the road again we went. The corrugations and bumps in the road were causing quite a bit of pain to my ribs but I thought I’d be ok and that’ll teach me for thinking. After being chased by another dog, which was much less scary but much more (yap-yap) annoying, we turned around and made our way back to the camp, just me and my 40,000 new, over-friendly, flying friends.



After arriving back at camp I sat my weary ribs down on a chair in front of the sparkling river. The flies were exceptionally grateful that I’d taken them out for a long ride and thanked me by dive-bombing my face and eyeballs with wet kisses and by flying back and forth against the inner-walls of my nostrils and ear-holes. I’d had friends before who were annoying but these guys you couldn’t shake. It wouldn’t be long before the sun would begin to set so I took the opportunity of daylight to get out my guitar and play some songs by the river. The guitar was out of tune so I unpacked my electronic guitar tuner, which is highly sensitive, much more than my ears which were now like amphitheatres filled with an excited, vibrating audience eagerly buzzing in anticipation of their first song. I plucked the first string and tuned it to the key of ‘E’ when, out of the blue, home to roost came 27,000 large white sulphur crested cockatoos all screeching in ‘F –Sharp’. I know it was “F-Sharp’ because my guitar tuner said so just before the casing cracked and springs shot out of it. I’d heard cockies squawk before and I knew they were loud and raucous but so many of them had landed in the trees above me and the noise was so intense that even the flies stopped for a second and poked their heads out of my orifices to see what the racket was. Their shrieking-screams were so harsh it brought tears to my eyes and I apologised to the flies for thinking any less of them, then checked my ears for blood and unintentionally tuned every string of my guitar to ‘F-Sharp’. As the cockies fought and battled for their hierarchical positions in the trees their screeching just intensified but only to the stage that would make a deaf-mute vegetarian Christian-hippy drop to their knees, cover their ears and yell, “Christ on a bike, get me a gun, it’s dinnertime!!” It was hell on Earth but then, quite amazingly, just as I was throwing the noose over the tree branch, the cockies, having finished battling for their positions in the trees, began to quieten down and, even more surprisingly, the flies decided they’d given enough love and left me in peace. It was like a miracle from the bible. The plagues were over and there I was, alone at last, seated in front of the mighty majestic Murray River, taking in its awesome energy and watching the sun set over the magnificent radiant river-red-gum forest. It was too good to be true and then the sky turned black.



It was only a rough estimate but going by the sound of the ever increasing hum and the ever blackening sky I reckoned there would’ve been between 25 and 30 billion mosquitoes descending upon me and upon anything else that may have contained even a drop of any life-sustaining fluid; and it wasn’t even dark yet. I stood up from my chair and saluted the brave men and women of Pearl Harbour and Darwin and apologised to the cockies for thinking any less of them. Oh how I missed their ear-shattering, blood-curdling, screeching shrieks. Oh what I would now give to sit and play my guitar in ‘F-Sharp’ while my old mates, the flies, filled my holes with ever-loving bizz-buzzing. Oh just to be able to enjoy what I was now considering peacetime with my previous flying friends again and avoid the horror that was about to reign down upon me. As I stood at attention, alone for the last time, I now understood why the flies had left in such a hurry and why the cockies had fought so aggressively for the best position in the trees. They knew what was to come. They simply wanted to fly away, again to fly another day... and so did I.



The humming of the mosquito squadrons was now so loud it put the cockies to shame and, with only precious seconds left, I about-faced, withdrew my salute, cried out feebly for my mother and raced for the safety of the van. The vehicle was only a couple of metres away and I must’ve killed 5000 of those wretched bloodsuckers before I even got halfway. One metre to go and the loss of blood was taking its toll, I was weakening but somehow managed to take-out another five or ten thousand of those flying filth before making it to the vehicle. These callous creatures of the night hadn’t seen fresh meat for longer than that pit-bull whom I’m sure was now either hiding in the river and breathing through a piece of bamboo or stopped dead in its tracks halfway to the river like a deflated football. I desperately reached for the door handle but barely had enough strength to open it. It was now do or die. I was fading fast and I knew if I didn’t make it inside the van I was done, these vampires were voracious and I would be their venison. With every last fibre of my body and soul, and with every last ounce of strength, I heaved the door open but the sheer vacuum of air sucked-in a couple of hundred thousand with more flying in every second. I had no choice but to dive inside the van, close the door and take my chances. Better to try and fight off a couple of hundred thousand inside the van than stay outside with billions of them and be sucked drier than a pharaoh’s mummy. I slammed the door shut, turned on the ignition and set the fan to ‘flat-knacker’. It was going to be a rough night... but I had no idea.

The next morning I woke to find I hadn’t slept all night. I’d managed to kill a large percentage of the parasitic pirates but there were always ten or 15 taking bad violin lessons in my ear-holes while the others put-down mine-shafts around my ankles. The pain in my fractured ribs had gotten worse from my long bumpy bike ride, which in turn had caused severe muscle cramps in my upper spine. Standing upright wasn’t too bad but laying down and then trying to move was as much fun as asking your dentist to kick you in the balls during a root-canal operation, so even thinking about swatting a mosquito made me shudder, which in turn made me wince, and it was at about that time they started open-cut mining. By the time they finished with me it looked like I was wearing Red-Rocky-Road ankle bracelets and when I opened the van door next morning the mosquitoes were so bloated they floated out the door and up into the sky like party balloons. I gingerly removed myself from the van and took a look in the driver’s side mirror, I was as pale as a quadriplegic alter-boy at a Christian brother’s nudist camp and when the sun hit me I ran for the shadows. The cockies were already awake and practicing their screeching shrieks for the coming sunset and my furry, flying friends from the bike-ride the day before were back and buzzing with excited anticipation of another trip. My ribs and back-pain, which were throbbing all night, had now magically disappeared and the 8-mile line of marching ants who were dutifully soldiering in and out of my sugar container didn’t seem to worry me a bit. Some campers named, ‘The Grizwalds’, arrived and put their tent so close to me that when I farted I cooked their toast. They were going into town to have a meal before sunset and said they’d be back after dark to avoid the mozzies. “Smart idea, I look forward to your return,” I replied eerily, “try the steakhouse in Echuca, they’ve got the most tender steak around. And oh...” I said as I put-on my sunglasses from the shaded side of my van, “You’ll find they’re best eaten rare.”

THE END 

The following video is also by author, Vic Plume.  It is called the "Swearing Chef", and my Mum loves it.  The final word.  More fun and such can be found at http://www.vicplume.com/

Better and better

Enjoy

a:)

Xanax: "Mothers Newest Little Helper" Going Epidemic

The following is a precis of an article that appeared in July 14, 2012, Age Newspaper
“Experts warn Xanax usage may reach epidemic proportions”.  A TGA report that has been seen by "The Saturday Age' says that the drug is addictive and "once dependent, withdrawal is markedly unpleasant and may be fatal".  Xanax is reportedly as addictive as heroin and harder to stop using.  It is creating an invisible, potentially lethal epidemic, unfolding across Australia.  

A special committee of the Therapeutic Drugs Administration (Australia) has twice reviewed Xanax to consider tougher restrictions on its availability - but ruled against the move both times. It would seem that perhaps "Big Pharma" has good connections and possibly deep pockets.  Perfectly rational, they are simply pursuing profit.  Which is a lawful endeavour, until found to be otherwise.  

Todays video is by a former pharma sales rep with an interest in alprazolam (the generic name for Xanax).

The Age article also reported that Xanax was ''over represented in deaths or injury from overdose, suicide, motor-vehicle collisions and crimes''.  Patients who overdosed on alprazolam were twice as likely to require admission to intensive care as those taking other benzodiazepines such as valium.

Xanax: Some of the facts.

Generic Name: al-pra-zo-lam.  Brand Names: Niravam, Xanax.  Belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. It works by slowing down the movement of chemicals in the brain, resulting in a reduction of nervous tension or anxiety.  It is used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression.

"Xanax may be habit-forming", according to the manufacturer

The half-life for Xanax is short, around of 6-20 hours.  It acts quickly and is fast to be absorbed and utilised by its target organ (your brain).  Very desirable qualities in any drug prone to addictive behavioural use.

Your bodies "Law of Least Effort" program says that if you are already taking Xanax, "I will stop or slow down producing my own "xanax-like" substance called GABA", (gamma-amino-butyric-acid) a brain chemical indicated in moodal stability.

The following sage advice is by some fellow bloggers who go by the name "Shrinkrap".

http://psychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com.au/2007/02/why-docs-dont-like-xanax-some-of-us.html

"Here's where the trouble begins. If Xanax wears off in just a few hours, but it takes a week for your brain's natural Xanax to kick back in, what happens in the interim? Withdrawal. What does that feel like? It feels like a panic attack, but worse. High blood pressure, rapid heart beat, tremors, confusion, delirium, hallucinations, seizures. What do folks do when they feel a panic attack coming on? Take another Xanax.

So, here are my rules of thumb about Xanax:

Avoid it.

Keep the doses small.

Do not use in older folks or forgetful folks (more likely to forget it, thus more likely to have problems).

Do not use in anyone with a history of alcoholism or addiction 

Tell folks to avoid daily use.

If they are on it, warn them that stopping it suddenly, even for a day or two, can result in confusion, hallucinations, seizures, and even death."

Also watch out if any of the following relate to you, as Xanax may have

contraindication issues:

• asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), or other breathing problems;
• glaucoma;
• kidney or liver disease (especially alcoholic liver disease);
• a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or behavior; or
• a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

Again manufacturers guide:

“You may have seizures or withdrawal symptoms when you stop using Xanax. Ask your doctor how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using Xanax.”  That would be a very interesting discussion.

Of note: Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Xanax and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor, or just don't mix them.  Doctors or grapefruits.

Potential side effects, get settled, it is a big read.

• depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself, unusual risk-taking behavior, decreased inhibitions, no fear of danger;
• confusion, hyperactivity, agitation, hostility, hallucinations;
• feeling like you might pass out;
• urinating less than usual or not at all;
• chest pain, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
• uncontrolled muscle movements, tremor, seizure (convulsions); or
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

Less serious Xanax side effects may include:

• drowsiness, dizziness, feeling tired or irritable;
• blurred vision, headache, memory problems, trouble concentrating;
• sleep problems (insomnia);
• swelling in your hands or feet;
• muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination, slurred speech;
• upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea;
• increased sweating, dry mouth, stuffy nose; or
• appetite or weight changes, loss of interest in sex.

Drug Music: John Lee Hooker

 One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

John Lee Hooker

Any more laid back, he would be dead.

Enjoy

a:)

Heroin: The Gateway Cycle Part 3

The Law of Homeostasis states that the body-mind looking for balance will seek Jing. However no drug can give you Jing as it is endowed from birth, and such this cycle is now complete. Only functional organs in conjunction with working spirit can yield the manifestation of Jing.  Look for post as relates to this mysterious substance, "Jing".

Now back to the real world. Free flow, as we have discovered is the feeling of life in harmony with the elements. When free flow meets the stress of resistance there is a disruption of the flow of Qi. As these blocks and shocks become reinforced throughout life, these disruptions become organic blockages, memories held deep within the body-mind and by late teens it’s a slow, possibly sluggish experience of energy. Now opens the door of potentiality to the typical “gateway” cycle for illicit substance use.  In part 1 we looked at the typical initiation phase of Cannabis.  In part 2 the journey escalates toward Amphetamine Type Substances.  In part 3  we look at the concluding chapter of an atypical gateway cycle of drug using behaviour; Heroin.

The following video is by Jost Sauer, and is entitled, "How Drugs Work Part 2".

The following article is by me.  Of note are the paragraphs entitled, Cannabis part 1, ATS part 2, and Heroin, part 3, the summation of which were largely taken from notes that I transcribed during two seminar series’ conducted by Jost Sauer, during May and October of 2006. I am very grateful and acknowledge Jost as the author of this framework of Elemental explanation. 

Heroin.

Yin, sedating, opiates. 

Qi needs to flow simply because it’s the experience of life. The more obstructed the meridian system, the more overwhelming the experience of the symptom. The Law of Homeostasis is now indicating the introduction of heroin, one of the world’s best painkillers, into the gateway cycle. 

Water Kidney, Yin/Yang, rejuvenated blood, a feeling of inner wisdom and knowing 

Wood Liver, passively contented, smooth 

Fire Heart, settled in the mind resonating peace and warmth 

Earth Spleen, intensive focus, concentration and clarity 

Metal Lung, now, “rite” now, transfixed within the moment 

Every action has a reaction, however heroin is a corrupt correction which depletes Jing and organ size. Jing is derived from the pure Yin of the universe, the essence of pure potential and natural ability. Essence refers to the material aspects of existence and spirit to the non-material. The fusion of the spirit (Shen) with essence (Jing) is the ineluctable event that creates life, (Hammer, L. pg6). Persons enduring this experience, have a “life force fuel” deficiency, oscillating between cycles of pain and heroin intoxication. Symptomatology includes living in fear, with no willpower, tooth decay and a decline of interest in sex. Scratching, fidgeting, angry outbursts, selfish behaviour, a sense of spiritual defeat, incidences of theft, no internal judgment, a will do “anything” context, kill, prostitution etc. Vomiting, due to the inability to assimilate and digest food. Bad skin, immunity problems and a lack of control over life events. 

Reference:

Dragon Rises, Red Bird Flies, Psychology and Chinese Medicine, Eastland Press Inc, Seattle, USA 

Amphetamine: The Gateway Cycle Part 2

"Free Flow" is a concept from the the Oriental Cosmological perspective.  "Free flow" is the feeling of life in harmony with the elements. When free flow meets the stress of resistance there is a disruption of the flow of Qi. As these blocks and shocks become reinforced throughout life, these disruptions become organic blockages, memories held deep within the body-mind and by late teens it’s a slow, possibly sluggish experience of energy. Now opens the door of potentiality to the typical “gateway” cycle for illicit substance use.  In part 1, we looked at the role of Cannabis.  In part 2 we advance the journey into Amphetamine Type Substances (ATS)

The following video is by Jost Sauer, it is entitled, "Mission with Drugs Part 1".

The following article is by me, and is largely transcribed from notes taken from one of Josts seminars.

“An Elemental Perspective of Drug Use, Repair and Recovery” 

Amphetamine Type Substances (ATS) 

Yang, speed, coke, ice, meth, crystal, shabu

The Law of Homeostasis says, “I want Liver Yang”, as the body-mind is programmed to correct imbalances. Next drug of choice will very likely be ATS, which push through the obstructions and correct the imbalances immediately. 

Earth Stimulates the spleen, giving immediate focus with mental clarity and fluid consistency of thought, decreases appetite. 

Metal Lungs, the spontaneous energy of living in the “now”, controlling destiny, Godlike. 

Water Kidney, heroic quality, very high sex drive, personal strength and will power 

Wood Liver, increased happiness, effortless action with patience. 

Fire Heart, joyful and excited about purpose  

Every action has a reaction, ATS induced free flow is a corrupt correction which depletes Spleen, blood and Yin. A life giving and grounding deficiency, a very sad, difficult and tough experience. Symptomatology includes scattered thought process’s, long periods of blankness, paranoia with a persistent feeling of someone watching/following you, neither earthed nor centred. No destiny, no control and feelings of heavy sadness and grief. Weakened willpower coupled with sexual dysfunction, (particularly with cocaine). Extremely angry, possibly violent emotional outbursts with a rigid aching body. The anxiety of a chronically unsettled mind, confusion and possibly extreme and life threatening depression. 

Cannabis: The Gateway Cycle Part 1

“An Elemental Perspective of Drug Use, Repair and Recovery”

Free flow is the feeling of life in harmony with the elements. When free flow meets the stress of resistance there is a disruption of the flow of Qi. As these blocks and shocks become reinforced throughout life, these disruptions become organic blockages, memories held deep within the body-mind and by late teens it’s a slow, possibly sluggish experience of energy. Now opens the door of potentiality to the typical “gateway” cycle for illicit substance use.

The following video presentation is by jost Sauer and is entitled, "Marijuana, Magic or Madness"

The following article is by me, taken from notes from one of Josts' seminars.

“An Elemental Perspective of Drug Use, Repair and Recovery”

Cannabis 

Yin/Yang, magnifier, purely subjective experience 

Corrects the imbalances instantly, by overriding the blockages of the meridian system. 

Wood/Liver; smooth flow of Qi in all directions, happiness, smooth and mellow 

Fire/Heart; spreading, feelings of joy and warmth 

Earth/Spleen; stimulates digestion brought on by the “munchies” 

Metal/Lung; cannabis resonates in the lung with the feeling of nowness and mindfulness 

Water/Kidney; heightened sex drive, easily its most addictive quality 

Every action has a reaction, a functional Newtonian concept, as such cannabis induced free flow is a corrupt correction, which depletes “Liver Yang”, or movement action deficiency. Eventual feelings of irritability, frustration and a general lethargy of bodily movement occur. Further symptomatology reveals feelings of anxiety, the hallmark of the unsettled mind, insomnia. Vagueness, cravings for sweets, potential psychosis, low affect of a generalised sadness, feeling “stuck”, the use of blaming behaviour, a strong tendency to live in the past as opposed to the “now”, feelings of loss, but may not know what it is that was lost. Passive aggressive tendencies, due to a pronounced lack of individual will power and/or personal strength. 

Drug Trivia: The Language of F@#K

Drug Trivia: the Language of F@#K

Consider the peculiar circumstance that the most common two-word verbal aggression in English, and in may other languages, refers to an act of unsurpasing physical pleasure.  Yin/Yang is poetry in motion.  F@#k, as a word form, originates probably in the Low Germanic, or middle Dutch verb, fokken, meaning to strike or hammer.  How appropriate.  I can remember, quite distinctly, and on more than one occasion, in my drug monkey days saying; "what the fuck have I just done".  All too common.


The following video explores, in depth, the etymology and every day use of this most interesting multi-functional word.  Hilarious.

Better and better.

Enjoy

a:)

Drug & Alcohol Treatment: Epigenetics & The Powerful Art Of Repetition

Drug & Alcohol Treatment: Epigenetics & The Powerful Art Of Repetition 

This article was sent to me from a colleague.  I re-post it here for you reading interest.  The article that follows covers some interesting observations and relates closely to what is required, if a meaningful change in behaviours is desired.  After watching this video, then reading this article, let discipline be your best friend.

Video

Article

Author: David Shenk 
Title: The Genius in All of Us

Practice. Rather than being the result of genetics or inherent genius, truly outstanding skill in any domain is rarely achieved with less than ten thousand hours of practice over ten years' time.

"For those on their way to greatness in intellectual or physical endeavours, several themes regarding practice consistently come to light:

1. Practice changes your body. Researchers have recorded a constellation of physical changes (occurring in direct response to practice) in the muscles, nerves, hearts, lungs, and brains of those showing profound increases in skill level in any domain.

2. Skills are specific. Individuals becoming great at one particular skill do not serendipitously become great at other skills. Chess champions can remember hundreds of intricate chess positions in sequence but can have a perfectly ordinary memory for everything else. Physical and intellectual changes are ultraspecific responses to particular skill requirements.

3. The brain drives the brawn. Even among athletes, changes in the brain are arguably the most profound, with a vast increase in precise task knowledge, a shift from conscious analysis to intuitive thinking (saving time and energy), and elaborate self-monitoring mechanisms that allow for constant adjustments in real time.

4. Practice style is crucial. Ordinary practice, where your current skill level is simply being reinforced, is not enough to get better. It takes a special kind of practice to force your mind and body into the kind of change necessary to improve.

5. Short-term intensity cannot replace long-term commitment. Many crucial changes take place over long periods of time. Physiologically, it's impossible to become great overnight.

"Across the board, these last two variables -- practice style and practice time -- emerged as universal and critical. From Scrabble players to dart players to soccer players to violin players, it was observed that the uppermost achievers not only spent significantly more time in solitary study and drills, but also exhibited a consistent (and persistent) style of preparation that K. Anders Ericsson came to call 'deliberate practice.' First introduced in a 1993 Psychological Review article, the notion of deliberate practice went far beyond the simple idea of hard work. It conveyed a method of continual skill improvement. 'Deliberate practice is a very special form of activity that differs from mere experience and mindless drill,' explains Ericsson. 'Unlike playful engagement with peers, deliberate practice is not inherently enjoyable. It ... does not involve a mere execution or repetition of already attained skills but repeated attempts to reach beyond one's current level which is associated with frequent failures.' ...

"In other words, it is practice that doesn't take no for an answer; practice that perseveres; the type of practice where the individual keeps raising the bar of what he or she considers success. ...

"[Take] Eleanor Maguire's 1999 brain scans of London cabbies, which revealed greatly enlarged representation in the brain region that controls spatial awareness. The same holds for any specific task being honed; the relevant brain regions adapt accordingly. ...

"[This type of practice] requires a constant self-critique, a pathological restlessness, a passion to aim consistently just beyond one's capability so that daily disappointment and failure is actually desired, and a never-ending resolve to dust oneself off and try again and again and again. ...

"The physiology of this process also requires extraordinary amounts of elapsed time -- not just hours and hours of deliberate practice each day, Ericsson found, but also thousands of hours over the course of many years. Interestingly, a number of separate studies have turned up the same common number, concluding that truly outstanding skill in any domain is rarely achieved in less than ten thousand hours of practice over ten years' time (which comes to an average of three hours per day). From sublime pianists to unusually profound physicists, researchers have been very hard-pressed to find any examples of truly extraordinary performers in any field who reached the top of their game before that ten-thousand-hour mark."

Publisher: Anchor
Date: Copyright 2010 by David Shenk
Pages: 53-57

Drug Companies: The bad, the unlawful and the ugly

This article could also be called, "How drug companies deceive and manipulate doctors".  As global behemoths of private enterprise, pharma companies are, in a rational sense, driven toward profit.  This rationale allows them to explore, identify then exploit emerging markets for pre-existing products.  As in all things economic, a morality void will accompany their endeavours.  Ultimately it is up to the drug using person to exercise his/her "free will" in making the choice of whether or not to use these products.

Ultimately, drug companies behave in much the same manner as dealers of illicit substances, with one key difference.  They operate "lawfully".

Today's video and accompanying article cover drug companies playing bad and getting caught.

"One of the world's largest drug companies has been fined $3 billion for promoting anti-depressants to children and adolescents when they weren't approved for use. The British drug maker (Glaxo Smith Kline) has admitted it held back key data and made unsubstantiated safety claims about its high-selling diabetes drug Avandia".

Of note:  Australian researchers played a key role in exposing the unlawful marketing of antidepressants to teens, reporting failures, and bribing of doctors that mark the biggest case of health care fraud in the US, faced by Glaxo Smith Kline.

And this is not a new story. The following article is from three years ago and reports much the same, by a different pharma company, who previously held the world record for law breaking guilt and punitive punishment.

The Australian, 3 September 2009, journalist Alexandra Frean 

Pfizer fined $2.7bn over false drug claims 

PFIZER, the drugs giant, has been ordered to pay $US2.3 billion ($2.7 billion), America's largest healthcare fraud settlement, for making false claims about four prescription medications. 

US Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, with Associate Attorney General Tom Perrilli, announces that Pfizer will pay a record $2.7 billion settlement for illegal drug promotion Picture: AFP 

The payout - comprising a $US1.3 billion criminal fine and a $US1 billion civil fine - includes $US102 million to be divided between 11 whistleblowers. All thought to be former employees, they became so concerned that the company was asking them to break the law and mis-sell the drugs - Bextra, Geodon, Zyvox and Lyrica - that they reported it to the authorities. 

Announcing the settlement, Mike Loucks, acting US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, who led the criminal investigation of Bextra, said he hoped that the case would send a powerful message to corporate America that "blatant and continued disregard of the law" would not be tolerated. "The size and seriousness of this resolution ... reflect the seriousness and scope of Pfizer's crimes." 

To promote its drugs, Pfizer invited doctors to consultant meetings at resort locations, paying their expenses and providing perks. "They were entertained with golf, massages and other activities," Mr Loucks said. 

Pfizer had pleaded guilty in 2004 to an earlier criminal charge of improper sales tactics and its marketing practices have been under federal supervision since then. Mr Loucks said that at the same time that the company was resolving the allegations of criminal conduct with the authorities in that case, its other operations were "violating those very same laws". 

Tony West, the assistant attorney-general, said: "This civil settlement and plea agreement by Pfizer represents yet another example of what penalties will be faced when a pharmaceutical company puts profits ahead of patient welfare." 

Of the overall $US2.3 billion fine, nearly $US1 billion will be returned to Medicare, Medicaid and other government health-insurance programs. 

Pfizer disclosed in January that it had taken a $US2.3 billion charge in the fourth quarter of 2008 over allegations connected to Bextra and possibly other drugs, but details were not available then. Pfizer shares fell slightly to $US16.25. 

The case centres on the company's use of "off-label promotion", in which it marketed the four prescription medications for treatments that did not have the approval of the US Food and Drug Administration. Bextra, used to treat joint pain, swelling and menstrual cramps, was withdrawn from the market in 2005 by Pfizer after it was shown to have adverse side-effects. Geodon is an anti-psychotic drug, Zyvox an antibiotic and Lyrica an anti- epileptic drug. 

While the use of drugs for so-called "off-label" medical conditions is not uncommon, drug manufacturers are not allowed to market them in this way. As part of the settlement, Pharmacia & Upjohn, Pfizer's subsidiary, agreed to plead guilty to misbranding Bextra with the intent to defraud or mislead. 

Amy Schulman, senior vice-president and general counsel of Pfizer, said that the company regretted its past actions, adding that the agreement had now resolved all "material pending matters" with the US Department of Justice. 

"Corporate integrity is an absolute priority for Pfizer and we will continue to take appropriate actions to further enhance our compliance practices and strengthen public trust in our company," Ms Schulman said. 

Last October Pfizer agreed to pay $US894 million to settle thousands of personal injury claims relating to Bextra and Celebrex, the arthritis treatment that is another of its drugs. 

Scott Simmer, of Blank Rome, the Washington-based legal firm that represented three of the whistleblowers said his clients - David Farber, Mark Westlock and Casey Schildhauer - were heroes for taking on the world's largest drugs maker. "They took a huge risk for themselves and their families. Each came forward only reluctantly. This should send a very powerful message to companies that they should play by the rules." 

Link to story: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,26020289-5017996,00.html

Drug & Alcohol Treatment: Exploring Complementary & Alternative Therapies

 Introduction

This post briefly examines the nature of drug addiction in the light of one of the oldest living medical systems amongst human culture, the Chinese Elemental system.  Some aspects of this material and following essay may appear contentious to the western mind, trained to relentlessly ask, is it?  May I suggest using the oriental frame of reference, if it works, then it is.

And that’s been good enough for more than a third of the world’s population health needs for a very long time.  Summary explanations for key concepts are in the essay following the video presentation, entitled "How drugs work", it is by jost Sauer.

Better and better

Enjoy 

a:)

“An Elemental Perspective of Drug Use, Repair and Recovery”

Anthony Eaton

Brief explanations of some important concepts.

·      Our bodies regulate their own internal environment; an unceasing process called homeostasis, the state of relative stability of the body’s internal environment.  It is the first principle of anatomy and physiology that we are set to seek homeostatic balance, and in a powerful sense we are naturally addicted to this balance.  All of us, no exceptions.

·      Beneath our bodies lie the atomic world of positrons, electrons and neutrons.  Below this world of amazement is a world of pure energy, defined by quantum mechanics as the Universal Energy Field (UEF).  We are all working out of it.  No exceptions.  The first law of thermonuclear dynamics says that energy cannot be created or destroyed.  Further, energy always has been, always was and always will be, and further again energy moves into form through form and out of form.  The ancient Chinese who observed this natural phenomena gave it a name, Qi, (Chi).

·      As a biological species we are carbon based, gelatinous sacks of salt water, generating electrical charge, all contained within an electro magnetic field, known as the Human Energy Field (HEF) (Brennan p3-5).  Supporting our perception of the reality of life are the organs of our bodies.  They nurture, assimilate and transform the Qi of food and air and water into the life giving properties that we take for granted.  They produce “control” from “chaos” and store the mysteries of our universe. 

·      Chinese medicine is paradoxically complex and simple.  Each of our bodies contains 12 meridians (in pairs), containing 365 acupuncture points.  Meridians may be conceptualised as energetic irrigation channels, each acupuncture point, a special point where energy is distributed, irrigating Qi into functional bodily systems.  Acupoints provide fresh chi to each of the organs, which in turn are responsible for reality as we comprehend it through our emotions, thoughts, attitudes, physiology and spirit; the experience of the body-mind.

·      Everything is relative with no absolutes, only complimentary pairs or opposites of polarity.  In Chinese thought this phenomenon is known as the principle of Yin/Yang.  Yin is conceptualised as the shady side of the mountain, feminine, dark, receptive, contracting, cold, left, “force of the earth”, inner.  Yang is conceptualised as the “sunny side of the mountain”, masculine, light, expanding, hot, active, right, “force of heaven”, outer.  Yin is non-active and going within, Yin is stillness.  Yang is active and expansive.  Yang is doing it.  Yin/Yang regulate flow of Qi, through the frequency of expansion and contraction.

·      The phases of energy between Yin/Yang of the Five Element system have been observed to be related to each other in an orderly, organised and predictable cycle of generation and control, known respectively as the Shen (generation/production/creation) and the Ko (control) cycles (Hammer p56). The following summary reflects the nature of the Law of the Five Elements with respect to bodily organ, emotional and psychological function:

 Fire Heart & Pericardium Houses the mind (Shen), governs the flow of blood

Joy, awareness, self-identity, harmony, sensitive, well integrated, joyful; Love

Shen Fire nutures Earth, the ash returns, summer to late summer

Ko Fire melts and warps the Metal

Earth Spleen/Pancreas & Stomach Transforms & transports Qi, controls the blood

Reflection, concentration, cognition, sympathy, attentive, thoughtful, supportive; Empathy

Shen The minerals of the Earth create Metal, late summer to autumn

Ko Earth contains the Water

Metal Lung & Large Intestines Governs Qi & respiration, distributes Qi & bodily fluids

Grief, boundary, instinct, interaction, communication, vital, connected; Reverence

Shen Metal nutures Water, autumn to winter

Ko Metal cuts the Wood

Water Kidneys & Bladder Stores the genetic essence (Jing), control of water

Fear, will power, stamina, ingenuity, determination, resourceful, wise; Wisdom

Shen Water nutures Wood, winter to spring

Ko Water puts out the Fire

Wood Liver & Gallbladder Ensures smooth flow of Qi and blood, stores the blood.

Anger, purpose, foresight, adaptability, motivated, well organised, easy going, Compassion

Shen Wood stokes the Fire, spring to summer

Ko Wood covers the Earth

·      The Law of the Five Elements determines health all of life.  There is no need for pathology or psychology, only an appreciation for the art of living.  Nothing is by accident; all in our world has a reason, synchronicity.  There is no right or wrong, only a world of energetic adventurers.  From this perspective all drug taking action is correct action by the individual.  No exceptions.

References

Brennan, Barbara Ann, Light Emerging, The Journey Of Personal Healing, pp3-5 Bantam Books, USA, 1993

Hammer, Leon, MD. Dragon Rises, Red Bird Flies, Psychology and Chinese Medicine, Eastland Press Inc, Seattle, USA